2007 FO's

here they are - the 7 items i finished this year. it doesn't look like much. especially after seeing tentenknits' knits of 07 - there were 8 sweaters! damn. well, at least i have something to work toward.

1. knitted ornaments, 2. knitted ornament, 3. shane's hat, 4. super-easy legwarmers, 5. here and there cables, 6. berroco knitting tote, 7. orangina

i think the ornaments were a hit with my sis and i'm pretty sure my brother-in-law likes his hat (i have seen him wear it more than once). i love my legwarmers but don't wear them as much as i should. i love the scarf i made for my sis and i think she does too - but i'm still not too sure about the color. the knitting tote may be one of my all-time favorite knits that i've made. and orangina - well, hopefully she'll be a FO for another year.

look's like there's a new FO in town

my my my, what a girl can do when she's unsure of her next project.

oh, what? what can she do? well, she can weave in all those pesky ends so her UFO doesn't sit in her closet for another month.


it's good i'm not into this color or else i'd want to keep it for myself - maybe one day i'll make one for me. (if you're in ravelry, there's more info here)

Pattern: Here and There Cables from Scarf Style
Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Worsted in Terra Cotta
Amount: 11 skeins
Needles: US 6/4 mm

i finally finished the scarf - at least the knitting part. now i have to weave in all those ends - ick.

it makes me want my yarn NOW though. i ordered from fabulousyarn for the first time and it said it should be here within 7 days. it's been 10 and the tracking number they gave me still isn't bringing up any info. i'm going to try and be patient though.

to procrastinate weaving in those ends a little longer, to get ready for xmas AND to satisfy my knitting urges i hauled out some REALLY old Wool-Ease yarn and tested out the pattern for Knitted Ornaments in Handknit Holidays (or free here). i think it's my first project that i finished in one day - not only does it feel great but makes me confident i can make enough for presents for xmas. and i had to learn how to do a crochet chain(thank you, youtube) - super duper easy and fast.

oh and i had to write out the pattern for only 4 dpns - size Small only (the rest of the pattern can be found here):

CO 12 sts: distribute evenly over needles. Join for working in the round.

Bottom:
Rnd 1: knit
Rnd 2: [k1-f/b, k1, k1-f/b] 4 times -- 20 sts
Rnd 3: knit
Rnd 4: [k1-f/b, k3, k1-f/b] 4 times -- 28 sts
Rnd 5: knit
Rnd 6: [k1-f/b, k5, k1-f/b] 4 times -- 36 sts
Rnd 7: knit
Rnd 8: [k1-f/b, k7, k1-f/b] 4 times -- 44 sts

Work even for 5 rnds.

Top:
Rnd 1: [skp, k7, k2tog] 4 times -- 36 sts
Rnd 2: knit
Rnd 3: [skp, k5, k2tog] 4 times -- 28 sts
Rnd 4: knit
Rnd 5: [skp, k3, k2tog] 4 times -- 20 sts
Rnd 6: knit
Rnd 7: [skp, k1, k2tog] 4 times -- 12 sts
Rnd 8: knit

so, on thurs i thought i had joined the 2nd to the last skein for the Here and There Cables. i was so excited to see a light at the end of the tunnel i've been knitting more than usual. then last night (sat night) i go to get the last! skein and i find 2 in there! aww jeeshz. it was just so disappointing. i know, it's not too bad, but i thought i was so much closer.

and since i'm so close to the end of this scarf it's time to plan my next knit. after 5 years of knitting i've never made myself a hat. i thought Foliage was ok the first time i saw it but Skrilla's version made me fall in love. she used a double strand of Malabrigo Worsted, which is what the pattern calls for, but i'm not sure if i want it to be 100% wool. seems like it might get a bit itchy. but i've never felt Malabrigo Worsted before either. guess i'll have to see if i can find it at a LYS.

it's september right? then why is it 80 degrees? not that i'm complaining - just confused - i really love it though.

Bumbershoot was great. but we only managed 2 days. i was really sick - no voice for 3 days, just a squeak. Menomena is such a great band and their shows are always entertaining. Andrew Bird was also an amazing show. music never sounds too good outdoors so mostly we checked out the art, films, market, performance and literary discussions. i just wish i hadn't missed Miranda July's stuff on monday.

i read a lot of knitting blogs and it seems everyone is in love with the Tangled Yoke Cardigan from IK Fall 07. i have to admit i am too. coincidentally, i have been saying how much i need a basic button down cardigan. too bad i've never knit a real sweater. guess it'll just go on my "to knit one day" list.

well, i've been working away at the Here and There Cables scarf and i'm about half-way done. it looks really great but it gets boring. i forgot what it was like making scarves - they are never ending.

progress is being made

nothing like a few ferry trips to get some knitting done. i may actually get this scarf done by xmas.

we had a wonderful trip and there are so many pictures i'll never get through them all. soon enough they'll be put online. but for now - there's knitting! before the trip i was focused and knitted a real(!) gauge swatch for the Here and There Cables scarf. (the color is actually more orange and less pink)


using knit picks shine worsted i got: 20 sts & 25 rows = 3.5" in St st on size US6 needles. the pattern says 4" for size US7. i thought the scarf was too wide originally so this should be perfect. and today i started the pattern and persevered when i had given up before - after the first cable row this piece did not look right to me and that's why i ripped it a while ago when i first tried it - but i just kept going this time and now it looks great - just like it should. why do i doubt patterns? actually i think i just assume i messed something up. silly me.

ok, so i think i know what's going on - with the knitting. i think i've been in a standstill because of my sis's scarf. she left it up to me what pattern to choose and i really want her to like it so i keep changing my mind about which pattern to use. i need to get excited about knitting again and not feel like it's another thing "i have to do". i don't want to spend a lot of time on a scarf that my sis potentially won't even like or use. oh ya, and the fact that's it's almost summer and i'm trying to knit a scarf? maybe that's slowing me down too. i may just force her to choose which pattern she likes so i can be sure it'll work out - now i just have to worry about the yarn i've already purchased working with whatever pattern she may want.

i have to add that while i'm typing this i'm thinking that maybe i'll just go back to the originally planned pattern - the Here and There Cables. maybe i gave up on it too quickly - i was having problems at the beginning. i always want to jump into a project and have it go smoothly from the very beginning - if it doesn't i get really discouraged.

so i'm thinking of jump-starting my knitting by starting a new project i'm excited about - those sexy Leg Cozies from Lace Style that i've mentioned before. i think i'll use the recommended Filatura di Crosa Zarina but in Dark Camel #1730. i'll try to stop by Weaving Works on thursday when i meet my friend for our stitch n bitch.

i finally got some pics from last week when my mom was here. this peacock was showing off at the Chateau Ste. Michelle.


Seattle from the ferry:


Seattle from Pier 66:

First order from Knit Picks

yay! so thursday i got the yarn i ordered from Knit Picks for my sis's scarf. it was just in time too cuz friday night i had to go to a basketball game with the boy and i really needed something to occupy my time. hehe...here we have it in my brand new plant pot made from recycled materials from Madison Market.


even Raja can't take his eyes off it

my head is buzzing. today was filled with scanning patterns from the knitting books i got from the library: Scarf Style, Nicky Epstein's Knitted Flowers, Vintage Knits and Loop-d-Loop. to be honest, i'm really not sure if this is ethical but really what else would you do with a knitting book from the library (i mean use the pattern for free). i don't plan on giving the patterns to anyone else so i guess it's ok. i only do this with books that i'd never buy because there just aren't enough patterns to justify the cost.

anyway, the majority of the morning was spent researching the kind of yarn to use for my sis's scarf. it's a pain since she's allergic to most animal fibers and i really want it to be warm. i think i'm going with KnitPicks Shine Worsted in Terra Cotta. it's 60% Pima Cotton, 40% Modal - supposedly super soft and great for cables. i'm making Here and There Cables from Scarf Style.