Knitting, Knitting, Knitting

keep on knitting, knitting, knitting.  I feel a bit like Dori of Finding Nemo fame!  Loads of knitting finishes at the end of 2011 and the beginning of 2012 have gone unreported.  Time to change that!

Shall we start with socks?

These Simple Skyp Socks http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/simple-skyp-socks   were knit with 6 ply Opal yarn and while the stripes are the main feature, the pattern provided a nice break in the ribbing.  I will be using this pattern again!

How about a pair of Frosted Cable Socks  http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/121-15-knitted-socks-with-cables-in-karisma ?  I modified the pattern a bit, but am happy with the way this pair turned out.  They were knit with Schoeller+Stahl Fortissima Colori Disco Socka.  Gotta love the yarn names – lol!      And this lovely pair of Gillyweed socks http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/gillyweed-socks used up a couple of balls of Patons Stretch yarn.  Definately a different yarn to knit with and I love the pattern texture!

The Brioche Scarf http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/reversible-cabled-brioche-stitch-scarf, Rib Cloche hat and Brioche hat http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/brioche-hat-2 were all knit with 2 skeins of Malabrigo worsted weight wool.  These are so soft and warm!

And finally, I have been busy knitting baby things in an attempt to utilize some of the cone yarn that I have stashed in the basement.  All of these were knit using the same two cones – one a no label cream color, the other a Spindlecraft by Bouquet cone in the Dreamland colorway. Do I know anyone having a baby?  Why no, but what does that matter?

This Bobbles Blanket is from a vintage Leisure Arts leaflet, while the dishcloth bunny is a free pattern here http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bunny-blanket-buddy—knit

and the little Flour Sack hat is here http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/flour-sack  That one is simply too cute!  I am working on a kimono to use up the last bits of the Dreamland yarn, and then this baby set will be put away until there is a need 🙂

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Hurray for a cool down!

Aug and Sept to date have been long hot months, but that is no surprise to most of you in the US and Western Canada.  So I can now say Hurray for a warm ‘seasonal’ temperature day!  With the kids back in school and the yardwork mostly caught up, I finally have time to sit and write!

How about a quick knitting update?  This summer was a productive one – have a peek:

  These are Twisted Socks by Jodie Lucas, and I love both the cross over a the toe and the fit!  The yarn was gorgeous too – a merino superwash from Rocketyarn on Etsy.

This beauty is Cobble by Kitman Figeuroa done in Austermann Step sock yarn.  Can you see the yarn floats in the closeup of the edge?  Perfect for our fall weather to come!

There were more socks for my DH and a pair of felted clogs for my brother – quick projects!

This cape is from Susan Pandorf.  She is doing a series based on The Lord of the Rings – and this is Lothlorien!  Lots of twisty cabled goodness here – all from a $3 cone of wool I found at a thrift store.  I love the frog closures!

For a change of pace, I spent a weekend knitting this beret or slouch hat – Day’s Eye Hat by Kristen Cordozo, knit with a Briggs and Little wool.

and these gorgeous socks are from Luise O’Neill of Sputh Mountain Naturally http://purplesagedesigns.wordpress.com/  Her charts and directions are meticulously written and a real pleasure to knit – I will be doing more of her designs in the future.  The Whitney Pier socks were knit with a merino superwash from Amazing Grace Farms on Etsy!

So how was that for a hot summer’s knitting?

February’s Loose Ends

For a short month, there was a lot going on in February!  In addition to the ornament and the SAL pieces, I finished a square on my longtime UFO – Chatelaine’s Waterlily Quilt!  I am so happy to be working away on this one again.  I stitched the first four blocks way back in 2008, and then stitching took the back seat to knitting.  This is the first block of 2011:

Would you believe there is 3 hours of beading in this little square?  All together, the whole piece is here:

I have to decide on something to put in the shield blocks – maybe a large dragonfly charm for this one?

And now for something Twisted – socks…. that is!

I love the pattern, the yarn, the color – and most importantly, the fit!  Aren’t they something?  This is Twisted, available for free at Knitty: http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEss10/PATTtwisted.php   Knit with 1 ball of Austerman Step on 1.75 mm dpns.

Finally, I dug into my personal ‘finish this up’ stack, and found these two little pieces!  Both were given to me by an online friend.  Here is Happy Halloween – a freebie from Whispered In The Wind, and a lion square who’s designer is unknown:

The fabric on the back of the lion ornament has a Gryffindor crest on blue – my DD loved it!

And a January Knitting/Finishing WrapUp Too!

I am happy to report that Christine’s giveaway package is on its way to her house!  I hope you enjoy it!
January was a busy month for knitting too – I was finishing off projects started in December 2010 and completing a few knitting projects for friends.  I started this Feather and Fan scarf as a travelling project before Christmas – and it is now on its way to its new home.  I love how the colours worked out in this yarn – JoJoLand Harmony – a sock weight superwash wool.  Feather and Fan is a classic knitting pattern, and was easy to memorize for knitting in the car.  Good thing DH drives!

I knit a pair of socks for a friend’s husband and new grandson – there is nothing like matching socks to tickle a grandparent’s heart.  I have to laugh at how long and skinny k2p2 rib makes these socks look – but I do like how stretchy that ribbing is!  I finished the baby socks with 6 inches of yarn to spare – talk about knitting fast before the yarn runs out!  The colour is a bit washed out – the socks are a much richer deeper green combo than the pic shows.

My final knitting project was this lovely sheepie pillow that Karleen sent all the way from Australia!  The kit was originally from England, so this is one well travelled pillow!  It was  fun knitting with the natural sheep fleece to give all those lovely curls, and the cats had many good long sniffing sessions.  Can you see the resemblance?

It is sad that the Sheep Shop company that produced this kit is no longer in business.  I am now without a single project on the needles!  LOL – an uncomfortable position to be in.  I have already selected yarn and a pattern for a pair of socks for me, so no worries!

There was a bit of finishing during January – have a look at all of Cheryl’s lovely pieces!  Cheryl has a great collection of this furniture now.

I really must stitch up some of these for myself – I have just one lonely arm chair!

It is time to get busy with February projects 🙂

And Now, The Knitting of 2010

2010 was a busy year for knitting too!  There were socks from tiny to large and a pair of felted clogs:

and there were a variety of shawls, from lacey to bulky weight – some of these have detail pics too:

I must not forget the scarves of 2010:

and another in the same pattern but different wool

and finally, to round out the lot, how about a couple of knitted toys? 

With any luck, my needles will be just as busy in 2011!

A New Look

it was time for a little spring cleaning here, so I made a few changes!  Hopefully this will prompt me to post a bit more often.

April flew by with Easter break, a trip to Grandma’s house, and early yard cleanup.  I promised a knitting update back in March, so here we go!

        This beauty is Luscious Lacy scarf by Gina Macris, and I knit it for a good friend’s birthday in February.  The yarn is Nyoni by Fleece Artist, in the Morgana colorway.  What a lovely definition this yarn has!

Next up off the needles was another pair of felted clogs I knit for my oldest brother.  His feet get cold on their new tile floor!  And yes, I used the  Bev Galeskas felted clog pattern again. 

A stitching friend and I joined up for a KAL, or knit along, of the Dragonscales scarf – otherwise known as the Choke silk garden scarf by Ailsa Daly.  I knit this using one ball of Noro Silk Garden sock yarn that Cheryl gave me, and I adore the colors!   

My last knitting finish for March was a pair of basic k2p2 rib socks, following Ann Budd’s basic sock recipe.  I used a couple skeins of Regia Bamboo for these, and I love how soft the knitted fabric is!    When I finished these socks, I just had to use up the bit of yarn remaining, so I made these anklet socks too

    using the Impressionist sock pattern by Closca de nou.  I have loved this pattern since I first spied it on Ravelry!  I found the picot edge the pattern calls for a bit too loose and heavy, so changed it to a simple k2p2 rib that fit a lot better.

And finally, I ventured into toy making with this little guy…. here is Slash, named for the Guns n Roses guitarist!  The colorway is Rock n Roll (now does it make sense??) in Wildfoote Luxury sock yarn, and the pattern is a freebie available here:  http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/Knitting/Projects/BabyChild/WR1923+Red+Heart+Sock+Monkey.htm  I changed the hat to include the i-cord curl, and changed the scarf to a k2p2 rib to match the hatband.  This one was a request by my DS!

             

It’s Spring, It’s Spring!

Can you tell I am a wee bit excited??  I spent yesterday working in the front yard, cleaning away all the debris from this very long, cold, snowy winter, and clearing away all the plants that I leave long in the fall.  There are a few crocus blooming, the daffodils are peeking up, and the Liver Leaf is about to burst into beautiful bloom!  We won’t talk about the snowdrift that is left in the back yard, or how soggy everything is back there.

We had a few visitors last month – our local neighborhood gang!

 These are the yearlings – the moms have kicked them out of the herd in preparation for the arrival of this year’s babies.  So this little herd wanders about looking for mischief!  I am happy to report that the snow on the ground is all gone! 

Are you ready for a knitting update?  I finished this lovely piece for my friend Cindy’s birthday gift

   This is the Print O’ The Wave stole pattern written by Eunny Jang – knit in Heritage Hand Dyes wool & silk laceweight blend in Aquamarine.  When Cindy was here last May I showed her this yarn and asked her to pick out a pattern.  Good choice, don’t you think?  Cindy was thrilled with her gift and actually wears it – lol – which is enough to make this knitter happy.

   I finished this Dropped Stitch Scarf as well – this is a 100% soy silk tape yarn called Phoenix – the color is Purplexed, by South West Trading Company.  The pattern is a freebie by Christine Vogel.  I love the finished product, but spent many hours unwinding the yarn so the tape was not twisted.  Many thanks to Jodi for sending the yarn!
  So who knits for the knitters in the world?  I made this stole for my SIL, who knit many beautiful baby doll and barbie outfits for my daughter.  This pattern is aptly named Lacy Shawl – another freebie, this time from Lion Brand Yarn, and the yarn is Paton’s Cotton Rich in peach.  Maureen was surprised and happy to receive her shawl too!

Finally, I finished this pair of Rivendell socks, from Janet Laidman’s ‘The Eclectic Sole: Socks for Adventurous Knitters’.  This was a fun knit – I love the patterning!  A vintage cone of Paton’s Kroy yarn in teal was used. 

It is time to get out and enjoy some of that sunshine.   Happy Spring!