Scarf Love

I love scarves! As a knitter, I should really knit more of them. Surprisingly, this is the first scarf I knit for myself. And there is no wonder that there are currently 3,643 of them on Ravelry and it is in 6,069 queues. I totally love it! It is a pretty darn good first scarf to have.

Pattern: Lace Ribbon Scarf by Veronik Avery from Knitty Spring 2008
Yarn: Classic Elite Alpaca Sox in gray
Needles: size US 3 straights

There it is, kids. All 80 inches of it. I like that it is really long but I feel like it took forevah to knit. It was well worth it in the end. With the cooler weather this summer, I have already worn this a few times. It is so stylish and so easy to dress up a plain t-shirt when I throw it on as I walk out the door. Did I already mention that I love this scarf?

This is also my first time knitting lace. I made a ton of mistakes but this pattern is so forgiving that only I can tell where they are. It is even harder to tell after blocking.

I used the recommended yarn and I am so glad that I did. The alpaca is so soft and the scarf drapes beautifully. It is a little bit hairy, which gives the scarf a nice look. I only used around 1/4 of the second skein that I have enough left over for another project. I already started a pair of socks for Oliver - because he asked me so sweetly. I just can't say no to that.

Getting a Head Start

I know it is only June, but I thought I would get a head start on my fall knitting. I usually tend to wait until the appropriate season rolls around to knit for that season - and I never have enough time to finish everything, especially if I actually want to wear my finished objects in that season. Seeing as I didn't have anything queued up for summer, I dove straight into fall with a fairisle sweater.

I have had this yarn sitting around for quite some time. Look at how pretty these colors are. I couldn't resist starting this.

Birthday Socks

About a year ago, on a trip into NYC, I paid a visit to String Yarns and purchased a skein of Colinette Jitterbug. I stopped at my mom's house afterward and showed her my purchase and she fell in love with it and proceeded to tell me how much she loved that particular yarn no less than a thousand times after that. She also complained that I never knit her anything. She is not too subtle with her hinting. So for her recent birthday I knit her a pair of socks with that skein that she loved so much.

Pattern: Par 5 Socks by Ingrid Hiddessen
Yarn: Colinette Jitterbug in Velvet Olive
Needles: size US 2

These were a relatively quick knit and I love the cables. The yarn is so soft and squishy, it is a really great sock yarn. After putting them on my feet I debated keeping them for myself. In the end, I reluctantly wrapped them up for my mom - and she loves them!

Sachets

I saw these in the Holiday issue of Knit Simple magazine and they were actually the only reason I purchased this issue. I thought they would be a great Christmas present for my grandmother. I started knitting these back in December and then decided I had too much to do during the holidays so I put my knitting aside. I picked them back up again after the holidays to finish them in time for my grandmother's birthday in March.

Pattern: Sachets by Rosemary Drysdale from Knit Simple Holiday 2008
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas, Alpaca Silk in cream and lavender
Needles: size US 3 and US 4


I must tell you, I did not enjoy knitting these - at all. They are very pretty, but sooo fiddly to construct. There were so many pieces not to mention the lace border - and then seaming it all together. Ugh! I really dragged my heels on these. I rarely complain about knitting but these were a total pain in the butt! My grandmother loved them so I guess that is all that matters.


The yarn was a dream to work with. It is lovely - maybe the softest yarn I have ever felt. I am planning on using this in a sweater. I had also found a very nice lavender scent to fill the sachets with.

Hello There!

I have been ignoring this blog. Big time. I am still knitting - I just got a little lazy about blogging about my projects. I have some catching up to do. Besides having three finished projects, I have a few more sitting on needles. So... let's get started!

FO: Aran Tee

PATTERN: Cabled Tee by Michael Kors from Vogue Knitting
YARN: Cascade 220 in white
NEEDLE SIZE: Size US 8
MODS: I added an inch and a half to the length

I believe I finished this back in February. It was a fun knit and it kept my interest. Besides, this was sweater love at first sight - and I was excited to be knitting it up! It came out a little bit big width-wise, but other than that, it is perfect. I love it!

The yarn turned out to be a good choice (even though the yarn called for in the pattern was cashmere). I really like the choice of a good workhorse wool for an aran sweater.

It isn't getting much wear now but this should be perfect for the fall weather. I'm all set!

My other finished projects will be blogged about soon...........

If At First You Don't Succeed......

Back in November, before the holiday craziness set in, I had the grandiose idea of knitting Oliver a matching hat/scarf/mitten set for the winter. I found the pattern for the Norwegian Star Earflap Hat by Tiennie and loved it. I cast on for it right away and I was going to adapt the star pattern to a scarf and some mittens. I followed the pattern for the child's size, measured Oliver's head, was spot on for gauge, and it came out way too big. He was swimming in it.

Now that the holidays are over and things have settled down and we are stuck inside due to freezing temperatures, I figured it was a good time to revisit the hat. I cast on again for another hat and I made some modifications which worked out well because now it fits my son perfectly.

Pattern: Norwegian Star Earflap Hat by Tiennie
Yarn: Cascade 220 Wool in Natural and Ella Rae Classic in Blue
Needles: Size US 7
Mods: only knit 5 rows below the pattern (eliminated 8 rows) and eliminated 2 knit rows at the decreases, added a pompom

This was my first try at Fair Isle and its not that difficult. Oliver really likes his new hat and he was the one that insisted on the pompom because his other hat has one. So picky. I have no idea where he gets it from.

Mmmmm...mittens

It has been quite a while since I have blogged. Then again, it has been quite a while since I have knit anything. I took the Christmas season off from knitting. I had too many other things to do and I had to prioritize. It was the first Christmas that my 2 year old could really understand and I wanted it to be extra special. But as soon as the holiday was over, I was more than ready to get my needles moving again and the first thing on my list was to finish the mate to the mitten I had finished way back in November.

Pattern: Green Autumn by Jared Flood from the Fall 2008 issue of Vogue Knitting
Yarn: Jamieson's Shetland Spindrift in color #130 Sky
Needles: size US 1 dpn's
Mods: Knit the mitered pattern on the cuff of the right mitten to go in the opposite direction than the cuff of the left mitten

These mittens were a tour de force. The chart alone was daunting but to actually knit them required my full attention and they were not a quick knit. I have not, so far, had second sock syndrome but I was pretty close to second mitten syndrome with these. Luckily, I am not someone who likes to leave my projects unfinished. The end result was well worth the effort. It is quite a stunning design and they are mittens you will not likely find anywhere else.

I had a little trouble with needle size when I first started. I used the recommended size 3 and the stitches were way too loose. I ripped it all out and started again on the size 3's but tried to knit much tighter with pretty much the same result. Thank goodness for Ravelry - I checked there to find many people having the same issue and they all suggested to move down to size 1. After that, things moved along.

I used the yarn that was recommended and I love the wooliness of it. I also love the different colors that run through it but it still looks solid. This was my first time knitting mittens and I love them! They are nice and warm - and very pretty!