FOs and WIPs for Fall

Happy September to you! I hope that you are settling into your fall routine, whatever that might be. For me it means taking a class and seriously considering settling down and writing my dissertation. I have a plan to get the proposal to my committee by the end of October ...

I'm a little sad that I'm not teaching this semester. I miss interacting with students, but I'm thankful to not have the grading and lecture prep to worry about while I'm trying to write. There are three jobs that I'm trying to apply for with Aug 09 start dates, but it's all so daunting to tackle at once. So, instead of worrying about those things I knit :)

FO #1: Ellen's V-Neck Tank (ravelink)Pattern: Chevron Tunic by Kirsten Hipsky (ravelink) (WEBS link)
Yarn: Ella Rae Bamboo Silk, 6 skeins
Needles: US 7
Modifications: I knit this pattern in the round, instead of in 2 pieces as the pattern called for. I subtracted 4 stitches from the original CO to account for my change and I chose to leave 2 stitches at each side seam in stockinette stitch to keep the Chevron pattern consistent. I didn't make a lot of modifications to the decreases at the bottom, but on the top I made the piece significantly shorter. I used the Kitchener stitch to join the front and back at the shoulder seams. The yarn substitution was probably not the smartest as the fabric was very stretch - not good for a tunic. But, the person I made this for picked out the yarn and it is very soft - and fuzzy!

FO #2: Claire's Blanket (ravelink)
Pattern: Alpaca Baby Shawl by Marie Grace Smith (ravelink) (link)
Yarn: Knit Picks Comfy in Flamingo (which is NOT like a flamingo in color), 10 skeins
Needles: US 6
Modifications: None except for the yarn substitution. This was a great pattern that grows before you know it.
Here's a look at some of the things I have on the needles:


The one on the left is the Vine Lace Cardigan from Sweater Babe. It's coming along very quickly so hopefully it will be ready to go as soon as the first real cold snap hits. I'm excited about it. The one on the right is, well, socks. I'm trying my first stockinette stitch plain vanilla socks. I'm loving them, mainly because of the yarn I think. The color changes are so subtle and pretty ...

And Bend ... and Stretch ...

I'm busy practicing up for the Ravelympics. I made a gauge swatch for #222 Chevron Tunic (ravelink) from WEBS. I am making this v-neck top for the woman who invited me to live with her and her family this year while Luke and I are apart. I figured it was the least I could do! Plus, she purchased the yarn. I've made 2 trips to the yarn store in the last month to help other people buy yarn, which has stopped me from buying any new yarn for myself. (Score!) She picked out a gorgeous Silk/Bamboo blend from Ella Rae called Bamboo Silk. It's 70% Bamboo and 30% Silk. I rarely make gauge swatches, but this thing had better fit her so I decided to "warm-up" before the opening ceremonies. I started with US 6 needles and knit up a much larger gauge swatch than I normally make (if I make one at all). Too small. I was getting 24 sts and 32 rows instead of 20 sts and 28 rows. Then I checked the ball band. Don't ask why I waited until then to check out the recommended needle size for the yarn. US 7's. Sounded right given the gauge I got on Us 6s. So, gauge swatch part II is now complete and I am getting the recommended gauge. I actually like the look of the US 6's better, but I'll use the US 7s.
I'm trying to decide what to do about my second Ravelympics project (because one project was just not enough!). I want to make the Puff Sleeved Feminine Cardigan (ravelink) from Fitted Knits. I bought the yarn in desperation after I'd already moved all of my yarn here but I was still living in Baltimore. The pattern calls for 5 balls of Merino Style from Knit Picks. That's what I bought. But I spent some of this afternoon reading comments from people who made the top using Merino Style and almost all of them needed more yarn than what was called for. BUT several people also complained about the tops growing after blocking and being too big in general. So, it seems like somewhere in between those two problems there should be a compromise where it just fits, right? Either this project is doomed from the beginning with those two issues or I sort something out. Option B is to take the 5 skeins and make a baby sweater for Claire (my niece) ... or two.

So true ....

I relate to this so much at this moment -- maybe this is why I got a Mac a month ago ....I'm about to wrap up my Sunday of writing for some knitting time. I think I'm going to do some "practicing" (i.e., gauge swatching) for my Ravelympic projects....

FO: Chic Lace Cardigan

Did you know that you pronounce "chic" as "sheek"? It's true - I looked it up on dictionary.com. For some reason with all of my "education" that information never reached me. I guess that tells you a little something about how important being chic is to me! Nevertheless, I am quite pleased with my "chick" (as I was pronouncing it) little cardigan.This was a pattern that my friend from knitting group found at Patternfish. She is my ultimate source for the best and most up to date knitting info. For example, have you checked out Twist Collective yet? Goes online Aug 1. Very exciting stuff! And what about Planet Purl? A friend like her can get you in trouble - that much is for sure.
So, she found this pattern and convinced me to do a KAL with her -- just the two of us. Mind you, this woman churns out at least one sweater per WEEK. She is the most prolific knitter that I know. Also, keep in mind that I am fairly competitive (and so is she). Therefore, this sweater came together very quickly. I CO the Wednesday before fourth of July and finished up last week.
Pattern: Chic Lace Cardigan by Lanaknits Designs (Ravelink)(Patternfish link)
Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca - 5 skeins in Chianti
Needles: US Size 7 and US Size 5 dpn (for the front and neck edges)

Notes: This pattern was fantastic! We had our doubts in the beginning. My friend didn't like the lace pattern so she modified it to something similar (see her version here) but mainly we were skeptical about the front and neck on smaller needles. This sweater has very interesting construction. You start at the bottom with the larger needles for the body stitches and then you have two smaller dpns holding the edge stitches. It eliminates have to pick up the button band at the end, because you're knitting it at the same time as the sweater. It's very clean and convenient.
I also love the construction of working the two sleeves in the round and joining them at the armpit with a yoked top. Neither of us had ever seen this construction with a V-neck cardigan before. It fits perfectly in the shoulders. I'm very pleased. So pleased that I wore it to knitting last night in the middle of summer humidity and nastiness!

I have two projects actively on the needles right now Baby Lady E (ravelink) and Alpaca Baby Shawl (ravelink):

They're coming along pretty quickly, but I'm going to have to put them down where they are starting next Friday. I have signed up to compete in Ravelympics and I will be attempting not one but two knits! We'll see how that goes....

FOs: Claire Bear & Baby Kimono

Pattern: Baby Bobbi Bear designed by Bobbi Intveld (Ravelink)
Yarn: Blue Sky Organic Cotton, 1 skein beige, 1 skein tan
Needles: 16" US 8 needles and 4 US 8 dpn
Notes: I am so pleased with the way this turned out. The pattern is easy to follow and eliminates almost all seaming. You mainly pick up stitches and increase and decrease to create the shaping for the head. (As a side note, before I stuffed the bear and added his ears he greatly resembled Stewie from Family Guy.) The only modifications I made were using US 8 needles, mainly because I had those in 16" circulars, and going directly from the front and back sections to the head. Then I went back to pick up stitches for the legs. I didn't have any problems stuffing the bear after the head was already on. I also added a little "C" on the chest for "Claire," my niece's name. Oh, and I decided to do this to his backside ........charming, no? I'd highly recommend this and the Organic Cotton is the SOFTEST, SQUEEZIEST yarn. I basically used exactly one skein of the lighter yarn. There was enough left to seam and to do the duplicate stitch around his neck. However, I got about an inch into the "tight duplicate stitch" and decided that I liked the way his neck looked without it. So, I didn't do the duplicate stitch.

One more FO that's going in the package to my new niece is this:
Pattern: Baby Kimono from Mason Dixon Knitting (Ravelink)
Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Sport -- less than 1 skein
Needles: US Size 6 straights (bleh)
Notes: I enjoyed this, but eh? I mean, it's cute, but it's not the most darling thing ever. Quick and easy? Yes. The thing I'm most proud of making? No. But I guess I don't have to be "open mouth smiley face" with everything .... then what would be the point of the smiley face rankings in Ravelry? Yeah.Staci at Very Pink suggested that I might want to think about participating in the 365 day photo taking self-portrait thing. Several people whose blogs I read have participated in this and I do enjoy looking at their pictures. I also know though that half the reason I don't post on my blog is the agony of taking the pics, downloading them to my computer, uploading them to the blog, etc, etc, etc. Someone give me food for thought. Would it be fun and worthwhile to play in this game? Would you enjoy seeing my smiling (or not smiling) face in posts?

Gettin' Ziggy With It

Towards the end of the Spring semester I got a teeny, tiny bit bogged down with all of the grading and whining and packing and moving and selling and contracts that I really wasn't knitting a whole lot. I did start and finish a Hemlock Ring Blanket, which I am very proud of, but otherwise there was very little knitting going on.I am proud to say that the Spring semester is over, I will not be teaching again for at least a year, the house is sold, Luke and I are moved into our new places and (ignoring that little thing called a dissertation) I am free to knit!
I have been working on the Circular Shrug since March for a co-worker. She bought the yarn and then we tried to find a pattern. I'm still not sure if it's going to fit her, but it looks awfully nice on me:Pattern: Circular Shrug by Julia Allen
Yarn: Plymouth Yarns Suri Merino - 5.5 skeins
Needles: US 7s

Comments: This pattern is well written and fairly easy to understand. You have to do a little mental gymnastics to figure out exactly what it's going to look like when it's finished and even then it's still not quite what you had imagined. If you do attempt this one be warned that you will also have to find ways to explain the architecture of this to knitters and non-knitters alike. Things can get complicated and you may dislocate your shoulder in the process.

My only other complaint with this one is just that it was SOOOOOO boring. Twenty inches of mock rib brought me to my knees and made me want to cry every time that I looked at this project over the past 3 months. Should it have been finished sooner? Absolutely. Am I glad that it's finished now -- HELL YES!

Gettin' Ziggy

Unlike the last project, I am madly in love with Get Ziggy. I CO for this during my cousin's high school graduation and I am pleased to say that I was more than 3/4 of the way finished with the back by the time she was throwing her hat in the air and taking her first steps into the "real world" (of college ) - HA!
I love the cable on the front and if you haven't checked out this pattern recently, you have to see the adorable matching hat! It makes the whole outfit. I am making this out of pretty craptastic yarn, but it's in my stash and it's pink and my future niece will probably not mind. The irony of the whole situation is that out of all of the knitted gifts for future niece that I have started, this lovely wintery 12 month sized sweater is the closest thing to being completed. Future niece arrives at the beginning of July! Ha. Guess I should finish up the February sweater, baby kimono, baby blanket and start on that Baby Bobbi Bear .....

Sorry for the crappier than normal pictures, but I'm learning to work with my built in iSight camera ... we are learning to work well together. Next time, hopefully more FOs and a report from Luke's place in Birmingham - did I mention that he has Max with him? I miss my beaglemutt and husband, but I get to see both of them this Thursday! Hooray!

Knitting Fame!

My knitting group is FAMOUS -- in Baltimore :)

Check out our new story here.

I did actually finish a knitted item, but I have no camera so it'll have to wait until later! Have a nice weekend!

I'm Still Here!

March 11, 2008? Really? Wow.

We went to Hawaii sometime after that. It was fun :)So, Luke (HD) is in Birmingham now for grad school. We sold our condo in Baltimore 3 weeks ago and I have moved in with a co-worker who lives 15 minutes away from campus! There was much rejoicing and loading and unloading of a 16' Budget truck. And driving it to Alabama. From Maryland.

I got a new computer that doesn't freak out every time I try to type out a blog post. It's a Mac. I got it yesterday and I heart it.

I left my camera in Birmingham due to luggage constraints on the plane ride back to DC.

I completed a Hemlock Ring Blanket and I am currently working on a Circular Shrug.My knitting group will be in the Baltimore Sun at some point in the near future and maybe there will be a quote from me! The writer and photographer came to interview/photograph our group tonight and when I left the writer had been taught how to knit by our leader. I'm seeing a front page spread. Depending on how successful the writer was at learning to knit the headline will be one of the following: "Knitter's Spread Joy of Knitting" or "Knitter's Terrify Customers at Local Panera's with Yarn Swift and Pointy Needles." Let's hope for the first one!