by Sarah

Here's the WIP UP...

I should probably be a little embarassed I have so many projects in the works.
Oh well, I guess my crafting a-d-d continues...

Baby Knits in Progress - This shouldnt even really be a category, since baby knits are so fast, but I think you'll agree once you look below, that I am a bit of a baby knits overachiever:

Yep, you just saw it yesterday.  I only knit like 5 rows since the last pic, but really, this is the THIRD sweater of the same size I knit up for the little tykes this fall.

Christmas stockings for the boys, one down TWO to go.  They only take a few days to knit if I focus.  Of course, since I am crazy, I think I had the idea I was also going to knit a couple to decorate my house.  Crazy I tell ya.

Sock Knits in Progress - Since I just showed the stockings, which are really just giant socks, it is a nice transition into regular socks:

These socks are anything but regular.  I have been wanting to knit kneesocks for a while, and after only ripping out ONE ENTIRE sock, they are perfect.  I cobbled together about 4 different sock techniques from various patterns, and worked in my own increases based on my sisters measurments.  These are planned to be my #2 project to complete, after that baby sweater.

Just a plain pair of socks to carry around in my purse, they havent gotten any knitting time, because the nephew sweaters are pretty simple too.  It will be a quick knit to finish up this second sock, when I get around to picking them up.

A super cute and fun to knit sock pattern. It has been set aside because i just dont really like knitting socks on DPN's, or on size ones...both of which this sock is.  They sort of live in the someday I may finish this pile. 

Shawls in Progress:

A massive handspun yarn-eater...i started this traditional danish wrap shawl in not so traditional colors to keep me cozy when I am too cheap to turn the heat up this winter. It hasnt been cold, so I havent been inspired to knit.  I am sure I will get back to it eventually.

This trevi shawl is fun to knit. I really like the pattern and the yarn, I just haven't really been in a lace knitting kind of mood.

This brandywine shawl is the BEST colors of red.  Sadly, you have to follow the chart on BOTH SIDES of this one. I really want to wear it someday. But apparently not enough to sit down and pay attention.

Its not really a shawl, but I also have this lengthwise knit mobius scarf I cast on for airplane knitting a while back.  I apparently didnt knit too much on the plane.  I will eventually finish it.

TOYS!

I really want to knit every single pattern in my "Itty Bitty Toys" Book.  But apparently I dont love knitting ANYTHING in cotton.  Even super clever toy patterns.  I will finish this hippo eventually though.

I also have a Sweater In Progress:

This is probably the 4th or 5th thing i want to finish.  After the baby sweater, knee socks, stockings and also MAYBE something on deck I am about to mention below.  It is a sweater for me.  And I expect I will wear it later this winter.

ON DECK:
The insanity continues when you realize that even with all the projects above, I still have a couple more all ready to knit in bags with their patterns.  And I may finish them before some of the other stuff above...

Grey Lopi Sweater from the Bridgette Cardigan Pattern in a compilation book.  The main grey yarn is on its way from Webs as I type this.  And honestly, I am super excited about this sweater.  I may not be able to stop myself from casting it on.  Immediately.

The Cedar Leaf Shawlette.  I have really been wanting to knit this for a while...its been in a little project bag with a photocopy of the original pattern (so I wont ruin the original) pretty much all summer.

And last but not least...I knit a mitt for Judy this spring for a demo, and I've been meaning to do up the second one for her, so she has a pair.  I will probably sneak this guy in between some other stuff.  Partially because holding Judy's yarn is a joy (3 of the projects above involve yarn from Ball & Skein), and partially because it really only takes an evening to knit one of these knits, so I might want some instant gratification.

So yeah, thats 14 projects in all.  Fifteen if you count the christmas stocking separately.  Which I probably shouldn't.  I am sure I will have them all done in no time.  You know, If I don't start working on something else.

Another Baby Sweater...

Here's a pic of Eric's half done baby sweater.

I'm hoping to finish it up this week, so it can get blocked this weekend with the scarves from yesterday, and Kevin's sweater still needs blocking too.

I think later this week I'll do a little photo tour of all those WIP's I was bragging about earlier this week, so stay tuned!

 

Two scarves in one night...

I finished up that Morning Surf Scarf for Jen.  Less than 200 yards of bulky weight yarn knits up FAST.
I still needs to be blocked, but here's a pic:

This is all the yarn I have left - from both ends.  I am proud of literally using it all up.

I also found a use for that creamy white warp:

I used up a couple of skeins of my handspun to make this lovely woven wool blend scarf.

More crafting tomorrow, I promise.  So come back and visit soon!!

The Perfect Project - For THIS Yarn...

Do you sometimes have a yarn that you think is BEAUTIFUL, but you dont know quite what to do with it, and every time you try to use it, it ends up looking TERRIBLE?

My sister Jen bought a marled bulky handspun superwash wool with medium length color changes at Maryland Sheep and Wool a couple of years ago, and wanted it made into something she could finally wear. 

It took me 5 tries (the first 3 of which were prettty terrible) to find something that showcases the yarn in a way she will actually want to wear, but here is my unblocked, half knit winner:

Project  Stats:
Folktale Handspun Yarn
Color: Luned
4.1 oz - 165 yards (I consider this to be bulkyweight)
Knit on size 10 straight needles
Final Pattern Choice: Morning Surf Scarf (Ravelry Link)

I feel like I owe the blog a HUGE apology, and when I was knitting the first 3 FAILS, I didnt consider the blogworthiness photos would have before I ripped them out and started the next thing.  It IS sort of typical that I would forget to take pictures though!  Here is a summaryl of the first 4 attempts:

1. Handwoven Scarf on my Loom - Using a creamy white alpaca blend warp, I wove about 45 rows before I realized the medium length color repeats were just too long for the scarf, they made kind of unmatching and unflattering colorblocks.  Plus the cream colored warp was too bright.  I wove and unwove all 45 rows in less than an hour.  Luckily, now my loom is all warped up and ready for me to choose another yarn to weave a 5 inch scarf with!
2. Regular stockinette hat with a 1.5 inch 2x2 ribbed rim - This didnt look horrible, but it didnt really flatter the yarn very much, and I didnt think Jen would ever have it as a favorite hat she actually gravitated towards.
3. Entrelac Hat - WHOA. This looked really REALLY homemade.  In an extra bad, no one will EVER want to wear this kind of way,  I spent about an hour on this one before I pulled out the row of initial triangles, plus 6 entrelac blocks.  I am sort of glad I dont have a picture to remind me of it.
4. Morning Surf Scarf Pattern - I used this pattern with handspun to make some really pretty Christmas presents a couple of years ago, and I thought it might work.  I acutually ripped out 3 Morning Surf Scarf attempts before I got the right scarfwidth and drop stitch length.
5. FINALLY!!  This Morning Surf Scarf (Ravelry Link) has only 23 stitches, and I have reduced the drop stitch pattern to make the waves a little shorter, but I really think it works.

I will be sure to post another pic of this after the blocking.  And don't worry, I emailed a picture of the last attempt to Jen before I kept on knitting, just to make sure she liked it too, and she does.

Want to see a picture of the yarn before its knit up?  Here you go: 

I should have gotten one while it was in the skein, it was much prettier that way. 
One thing I will say for this yarn, it has held up pretty well to being ripped and remanipulated so many times.

More knitting project details coming your way later this week, as I dig through my WIP's and projects-in-waiting for inspiration!!

 

Welcome back!

Ok, welcome back to ME.
Sorry I've been gone so long.
Part of the time, I've been away, i got to hang out with these people:

And that was awesome!

While I was traveling, I did virtually NO crafting. (Although, since I was driving, I DID bring a ridiculous amount of knitting with me, kind of like a crafting security blanket.)

Once home, I spread my projects out, and instead of picking up ANY of them, decided to take a stab at using a special ball of handspun up for my sister Jen.  She bought it at Maryland Sheep and Wool a couple of years ago, and wanted it made into something she could finally wear.  

I'll detail my adventures to find the perfect project for a marled bulky handspun with medium length color changes in my next post. 

Its great to chat with you all...next post SOONER THAN YOU THINK.