Sarah's Cardi is done

I finished the sleeves last night. It looks quite nice, I am pleased.
Pattern: Girls Raglan Cardigan from Knit It! Magazine, Spring 2007
Yarn: Reynolds Saucy
Modifications: knitted top-down in the round, steeked front center.
Comment: knitting from the top-down changes the shapes of the flowers along the bottom, because the v's run in the other direction.

Need some help

I have started a new pair of socks. I love this yarn, the muted colors are absolutely lovely, and it is creating a very nice color pattern. I started doing a BasketWeave knit on the top of the foot, but I'm not sure if this is a waste of my time. Is it getting lost in the colorway? Am I loosing the overall effects of the colors by adding a texture? Or does it look fine, keep going. Hubby likes the BasketWeave and says keep going, but I also wanted your opinions. Thanks.

Sock on the right has the BasketWeave, and sock on the left is flipped over to the sole, showing no knitted texture.

Pattern: mSKS Six Stitch Basket Weave (page 90)

Yarn:"marks & kattens" clown 1854

Needle: one circular 2.25mm Hiya Hiya

Started: August 16th

Yummy! Crosshatch Lace

I love these socks! After all my troubles they are wonderful. Here is a recap of what I did:

Pattern : Crosshatch Lace from mSKS

Yarn : Regia Bamboo, Jamaica #1066

Needles : started with 2.25mm moved down to 2.0mm, up to 2.5mm and finished with 2.25mm

Construction: Toe up Magic Cast On, Reversed Heel shaping, Hemmed cuff.

At 9.5sts/1" and foot measure 9.5" it looked as thought I should have 96 around. But this appeared too big, so I used 84. This was still too big, so when I got to the ankle I went down to 72sts. Although this is still quite loose, the hemmed cuff holds it in place. Next time I will go smaller than the book indicates.

Runway Knits, Roman Candle

I love this pattern. When I was buying yarn, I told Berta that I was concerned with a tight fitting top to be wearing wool. Although her opinion was that the wool would be fine, she did recommend the vintage cotton as a replacement. I just spent today knitting a swatch in the round. And I am not sure how to measure the gauge when the stiches are cabled.....It looks to me though like it is almost right, I have 60 stitches in the round (30 each side) and it is almost 4 inches wide. So it appears that it is right on for 32sts/4". But it looks to me to be too loose....probably a result of the non-fuzzy yarn? So I might consider using this yarn for another pattern. I'll need more time to think on this, but in the mean time I welcome any and all suggestions.

Vintage Cotton Yarn : 6sts/1" on US3 needle stockingnet stitch.

Boise Yarn (indicated in Pattern) : 5.5sts/1" on US5 needle stockingnet stitch

Pattern : 8sts/1" on US 8 needle in Pattern stitch.

A nice little gift

It is always such a sense of accomplishment to finish a knitting project. Knitting is very relaxing and calming, most of the time. Except when I get near the end of a project I tend to want to rush it into completeness. This top has taught me a few things. I was rushing the sleeves to get them done, and therefore had to rip them out and start over a few times to get it right. If I had tackled them with a relaxed, "I have all the time in the world" attitude, they probably would have gotten done faster. And this is the first pieced top I have done, and I still MUCH prefer knitting in the round. I think I will continue to convert patterns to round knitting, I find the finished product to be so neat and clean looking.

This summer when we went to visit my Brother in MS, my Nieces expressed an interest in knitting. Well, I didn't have much time to teach them, although I tried. To hopefully encourage their desires, I have made this sweater for Madison and will ship it with the pattern, a childrens knitting book and the left over yarn. I hope she will enjoy it.
Pattern: Sausalito size 8
Yarn: Schachenmayr Crazy Cotton #87
Needles: size 5
Buttons: Walmart, believe it or not, they are really cute!
Modifications: Did a scalloped edge in front & back, added 1 1/2" bands on sides under arms, and short row sleeve shaping.

A Comedy of Errors

You would think this was my very first pair of socks, with all the problems I have encountered. First, following the gauge chart in the book (More Sensational Knitted Socks) the socks ended up too wide, I first compensated by changing to a smaller needle, that was taking forever and you could not even see the gusset increases :-) So I then went to a larger needle and continued working even stitching until I was ready for the heel. Well, it appears I started the heel too soon and the socks are now too short. As you can see in the photo, there is enough ease due to the width to make up for the shortness and they just about make it onto my foot. I love this yarn as well as the crosshatch pattern, so I will love these socks when they are done, but right now they are making me laugh and laugh! Next I plan to do some decreases to find a comfortable width for the leg, and then I can have fun just finishing them up. hee hee hee I'm still laughing!

Ughhhh!

Ok, so I think this is the ugliest thing I have ever made. Took my chances, and I know for sure I never want to work with boucle again. I officially do not like boucle!

The pattern was quite fun to knit and it was easy to assemble. I think if this sweater ever gets worn it will be to keep warm on a very cold winter day (in the house only!)

The back is cute; however, the front is not in the least flattering. And the way in which you make the curve with the front pieces makes a little "bubble" effect. I think that is why in the book, all the pictures are taken with the 2 "bubble" spots hidden. I think I did a very good job of easing the knit so as to avoid that, but I think it is unavoidable. Maybe some short-rows would have worked better there!

The yarn is lovely, in the fact that it is very soft and not itchy. I enjoyed the feel of it while working with it. Karabella yarns seem to be soft and luxurious, although expensive. Maybe I can turn the shrug into a pillow case and snuggle up with it on cold days is front of the fire (lol).
I must say, while I was making this it make me think of a cozy bath mat. I need a new one in the guest bath, too bad it is the wrong color.

Titanic

What a great day I just had! The girls were at camp, the hubby at a conference and I had the afternoon to myself. Do you think I caught up on housework? Or do you think I put in a film I have not watched since it's release, and knitted socks. Hmmm let me think....Yes- I had a blast watching Titanic and knitting my Crosshatch socks.

Although I do have to say I am dissapointed in the sizing from mSKS. On first calculations, I needed to knit 96 stitches. I started at the toe and increases seemed to go on forever, so I quit at 84. Then after about 16 rows I reallized the socks are still too big. So instead of frogging, I went down a needle size. They fit much better now, but I am going through yarn at an increadible rate. I wonder if I will get much of a leg on these socks. Oh well, I am enjoying knitting them anyhow.

First Blocking experience

I have finished the shell of the white summer cardigan. When I tried it on, though, it was TINY. I guess with all the ribbing, I will have to block it. So my first attempts seemed to work OK. I pinned the sweater to the ironing board and sprayed with cold water. Looks better, but I think it still turned out alittle on the small side. (Actually after comparing it with the pattern photo, it is definately small.....I'll still wear it though). Check out the ribbing photo, isn't it pretty? Now it is time to pick up stiches and start working the sleeves.

Pattern: Katia Twist Jacket (pattern no longer available on-line)

Modifications: 1. worked as one peice instead of 3.

2. Finished shoulders with kitchener stitch.

3. Work both sleeves together on one circular needle.

Yarn: Reynolds Saucy White, 100% Cotton, Worsted weight

Needles: Denise Circular #7

I am Officially addicted

Ok, not only do I have a yarn stash, but I currently have 5 active projects on needles. I think I have finally made it into the realm of nutty knitters! And proud of it. Right now I am busy trying to get to the sleeves on my white sweater so I can feel comfortable starting a new project. I want to start the "Cozy Moss Shrug" from "Runway Knits". It seems like it will go quickly and I am at a need for completing a project.

Ooh and let me show you the socks I have started (although they too are on hold till the sleeves get picked up). Are they great; my best pair yet! I am proud and hardly past the toes (hee hee hee). Hope they continue this way. I am using a size US 0 circular needle, and the Regia Bamboo yarn. Knitting the Crosshatch Lace sock from the toe up (duh) from Charlene Schurch's book "More Sensational Knitted Socks".