I’ve been looking for a new knitting tote for a few months. I’ve been looking in stores and at Etsy, and today I found something I wanted, so I ordered it. Woohoo!
Yay for new knitting bag! I am really looking forward to the arrival!
Purchased from seller Camille Star Handcrafted Bags & Accessories.
I have two hanks of KPPPM. I have heard many, many good things about it and I’m looking forward to working with it, and I’d like to do an informal poll. If you had this yarn, would you make socks, fingerless mitts, or something else? I’m leaning towards fingerless mitts at the moment but I’ve had a few people tell me that you haven’t lived until you’ve worn Koigu socks, so I want more opinions on the matter.
The mystery shawl is coming along. I’ve slowed down a lot since beginning the 4th section. It’s requiring more undivided attention so it’s getting less knitting time. I haven’t had a lot of time for ‘undivided attention knitting’ the past two weeks or so. It’s looking good though, and I’m halfway contemplating doing a second one using different chart options as a gift for a friend. But only halfway.
My boyfriend was nice enough to help me out by taking a few pictures for me. Actually he took way too many of me, not enough of the shawl. Maybe he didn’t realize the shawl was off center…but the pictures came out good anyway. So here they are!
Resting.
Hiding.
The eyebrow (Adam sees this face a lot).
The yarn is Three Waters Farm Merino Tencel. It’s a fingering weight/4 ply that I picked up at the Montpelier Fiber Festival several years ago. I went back and forth trying to decide if I was going to do this shawl or Ene’s Scarf from Scarf Style, and settled on this one. I’m glad I did…but I may still do Ene’s some day.
The pattern called for lace weight yarn on size 4 needles, and had blocked measurements of 49″ across and 23″ down the center. My blocked measurements are 60″ across and 31″ down the center. I’m really glad it turned out that way because if it I had used lace weight and ended up with those measurements I might have been disappointed. I used my newly acquired blocking wires. What a great purchase. Next, I need to invest in a blocking board.
I kept track of the total time spent on this project, but I am missing the first page of notes. My notes pick up on 19 February 2007, at which point I had finished the 3rd repeat of the second Budding Lace pattern. From that point, it took me about 40 hours to finish. I started on it at some point in February 2007, worked on it for about a month, left it for about two months, worked on it for another 3 weeks or so, then I got to a tangled mess of yarn barf that couldn’t be remedied. I ended up having to cut the yarn to keep going. Then I made a mistake and couldn’t figure out what I did so I got pissed and put it in ‘time-out’. That was on 21 June 2007. I picked it up again on 12 May 2008 and worked on it fairly steadily until it was finished. When I picked it back up last month, my goal was to have it completely finished before the Goddess Knits Anniversary Mystery Shawl began, and I succeed. I know there are some mistakes on it but overall I am pleased with the results and happy to have it finished.
This is still blocking. I will post details later when I have pictures of the shawl ‘in action’, but I was too excited to wait to post this!
I wore them to work today, hooray!
I liked working with this pattern. Despite the 11 row repeat it’s actually really easy to memorize. Also, as you can see, it works great with multi-colored yarn! I used Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock. The colorway is 48 Purple Iris. I did the socks on size 2 birch needles. I have other things to work on but it’s taking me a bit of restraint not to cast on for another pair of socks.
I’ve sort of abandoned my “no new projects” resolution. I have made progress in that direction; however, holding myself to such strict guidelines was taking some of the fun out of things, and what is knitting supposed to be, if not fun? Here’s where I stand with that list:
Finished or Ripped
Unfinished
The Goddess Knits Anniversary Mystery Shawl
A few weeks ago, a couple of gals were talking about this at knit night, and it really interested me. I’ve been wanting to complete a large shawl and decided this was my opportunity. I’m really looking forward to it. I went to the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival looking for a yarn to use for this project, which I did find…
Maryland Sheep and Wool
I had a great time! I got there early, stayed almost all day, and ran into both Richmond and Northern Virginia knitting folks! I was especially happy to run into Amanda very shortly after arriving. Unlike last year, this year I did not make it out without a few purchases. I bought a little String Doll, which I do not have pictures of because it is at work guarding my desk. I also got YARN. Not as much as most people, but enough for me.
I decided to get a semi-solid sock yarn, and found a green I absolutely loved. From Brooklyn Handspun I present Brooklyn Handspun Signature in colorway Hopping! Approximately 480 yards of superwash merino goodness.
I also successfully procured a yarn for the Mystery Shawl. This yarn is from Chewy Spaghetti. The colorway is called Lucky and it is approximately 1250 yards of lovely 50/50 merino/silk laceweight.
I am really excited and ready to jump in using this yarn for the shawl. Woohoo!
There was also a booth with the art of Conni Togel which involved lots of adorable sheep. I brought home this print. TOO CUTE!
A little detour from all my other stuff, I made this yesterday.
Pattern: Soft Drawstring Pouch from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts
Needles: Size 7
Yarn: Karabella Aurora 8 in black
Thanks to Suzanne and Beth for the compliments on the Classy Slip-Up Socks. Beth, these have no special washing instructions. I told him machine wash is fine but they will last longer if he hangs them to dry. I have experience with this yarn for a pair of my own socks and they have been in the washer and dryer with no problems. So they should be safe.
I started another pair of socks for myself last weekend after I finished Adam’s socks. This is my first ‘breaking’ of my Knitting New Year Resolution. Oh well. I’m making Monkey with my Lorna’s Laces in Purple Iris.
I spent quite a bit of time trying to find a pattern I thought would work well with the colors in this yarn and I think I succeeded.
I’m really enjoying sock knitting. I never thought I’d be a sock knitter but it’s starting to look that way…
I haven’t totally decided yet about Maryland Sheep and Wool, but right now I’m leaning in that direction. I may wait to decide until I can see what the weather will be like that weekend.
I made Adam a pair of socks that ended up shrinking in the wash. he managed to stretch them out to make them fit, but not before I started a NEW pair of socks for him.
Details:
Needles - Lantern Moon Rosewood Sox Stix, US 3 / 3.25 mm
Yarn - Louet Gems Sport Wt.
Colorway - Hummingbird
Purchased at: Nature’s Yarns
Pattern:Classy Slip-Up Socks from the book Knit Socks!
Each sock took me about a week and a half. I did the first sock in November, then life got in the way, and I finished the second sock this afternoon. The four row repeat is easy to memorize. It’s easy enough to be ‘mindless’ knitting without being so easy that it is impossibly boring.
This is taken verbatim from the email I received from Nature’s Yarns. For any additional questions, please contact the store (703.273.3596).
March 16, 2008
Re: MD Sheep & Wool sponsored trip
The Maryland Sheep & Wool bus trip offers free time at the annual Sheep & Wool festival. All ages are welcome. Children under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult. The bus trip cost is $45 per person. This is a great opportunity to travel in comfort and style with Nature’s Yarns customers & staff.
The bus will depart from Nature’s Yarns at 6:30 AM Saturday May 3rd, 2008. Passengers should arrive at the Jermantown Square parking lot no later than 6:15 AM to ensure an on-time departure.
Passengers will have from approximately 8:00 AM to 4:45 PM of free time to spend the day as they please. To see the schedule of events, click http://www.sheepandwool.org/schedule/saturday.pdf.
Only 50 seats will be available, so early reservations are strongly recommended. All passengers must reserve and pay for their seat in advance.
We are using a modern motor coach equipped with restrooms and air conditioning. In consideration of others, smoking and alcoholic beverages are not permitted. The gratuity for the bus driver has been included in the price listed above.
We must reach a minimum of participants by April 18th or we must cancel. Should we have to cancel, you will receive a full refund, otherwise, no refunds.
For a map of the fairgrounds, click here, and for a list of participating vendors, click here.
Hope you join us.