Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Finished Christmas Present

I have another Christmas present now checked off my list. This one is for my mom. She asked me for a cowl in a blue color. When I saw this yarn, I absolutely loved it, so I had to buy it. I don't know if she will like this color, or this style of cowl (it is not a 'lush' as I had originally wanted), therefore, this is only 1 of the 2 cowls I will be making her. The next one will be a worsted weight cowl in a blue yarn.
 

Jeweled Cowl:
Yarn: Araucania Botany Lace 
Needle Size: US size 8 (5.0mm) circular needles
Pattern Source: Jeweled Cowl (free Ravelry download)
 
I did not add the beads to the pattern, as I thought the colors of the yarn were good enough to keep this project interesting to look at. I enjoyed making it, and it didn't take me as long as I thought it would to knit up, considering it was lace weight yarn.
 
 
Now I am on to my next Christmas project. I am trying to finish making the Squared Afghan I started for my aunt ages ago. It is almost done and I hope to be able to show you the finished object soon enough.
 
Until then,
Happy Knitting!


Sunday, September 22, 2013

What's on my needles?

A lot of stuff...  On top of the Smocked Lace Scarf for my mother-in-law and the Squared Afghan for my aunt , I have added a few more projects to my WIPs list:
 
Jeweled Cowl: A beautiful cowl that I am knitting for my mom for Christmas. The yarn is  Araucania Botany Lace and I love the jewel tone colors. I am using a (free) pattern that I found on Ravelry. I am omitting the beads since the colors of the yarn are enough for this project.
 
 
Naturally Comfortable: A slouchy hat that I am knitting for my boyfriend. It's a quick knit but since I can only knit it when he isn't around, it is taking my awhile. I am using Rozetti's Always Dreams yarn and a pattern from the booklet Leisure Arts #75357, Knit Celebrity Slouchy Beanies for the Family

 
Zig-Zagged: Another project for the boyfriend for Christmas. Again this is taking me awhile since I can only do it when he isn't around. The yarn is Opal's Sweet & Spicy in a colorway that he chose (I don't think I would have ever picked up this yarn on my own). The pattern is another one from Sock Innovation called Cauchy.
 
So far that is what is on my needles, and I have told myself that I am not adding anything else until I finish some of these projects. I have a list of projects that I need to finish for Christmas and it seems to get longer every day. I hope I will have time to finish everything.
 
Happy Knitting

Friday, September 20, 2013

Knitting Bags

I have needed some new knitting bags for a while now. A lot of my projects are in the same bags and the yarns from different projects like to get tangled. So when we finally bought a new printer this weekend, I thought it would be the perfect time to print off some iron transfers and make up some cute bags for my knitting.
 
The front of the three bags: a Hunger Games quote, a Harry Potter quote and a knitting quote.


The backside of the Hunger Games and Harry Potter bags.
 
I bought three canvas bags from Michaels and printed a few designs I found on Google images onto some iron-on transfer paper (don't forget to flip your image before you print!). Then it was simply a matter of cutting out the designs and ironing them onto the bags.

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Pointed

Another Sock Innovation sock? Have I gone completely sock crazy? Yes, yes I have. When I get into sock knitting, I can't seem to stop myself. It also helps that I have bought some gorgeous sock yarn lately (as seen here and here). So here is the sixth sock from the book:
 
 
Pointed:
Needle Size: US size 1 1/2 (2.5mm) 9" circular needles
Pattern Source: Devon from Sock Innovation

 
These were great fun to knit, though the pattern was simple and easy to follow, it kept me interested through both socks. The yarn is very splitty and at times hard to work with (especially when doing decreases) but I love the colors and the feel of it. I think it worked really well for these socks.
 
I am working on some other non-sock projects right now that I hope to bring to you soon. In the meantime,
Happy Knitting!


Sunday, September 15, 2013

Fascinated

I love to work with gorgeous yarn and a great pattern. It makes the knitting experience so much fun. That was the case with these socks, I had such a great time making them, that they just seemed to fly right off my needles.
 
 
Fascinated:
Yarn: Super Sweet Sock in verve
Needle Size: US 1 (2.25mm) DPNs
Pattern Source: Angee from Sock Innovation 


 
These are the 5th socks I have knitted from the book! Sock Innovation is by far my favorite knitting book and Cookie A is my favorite designer. I am always looking at her new stuff and I can't wait to see what she comes up with next.


Tuesday, September 10, 2013

I love new yarn!

I love buying more yarn. I finally have a stash of sock yarn to work with and I even have bought more yarn for Christmas presents. I feel like I am really on top of things!
Here are some of my latest additions:
Opal Sweet & Spicy in 6751. The boyfriend chose this yarn when we were in the store - I am planning to make him a pair of socks with it for Christmas.

 Sandnes Garn Mini Palett in 0968 which is a nice beige with some light green mixed throughout it. I already casted on a pair of socks with this yarn.
 
Infiknit Rayanna in Bumbleberry. This is being used to make a scarf for my mother-in-law for Christmas.

 Araucania Botany Lace in 1790 Pt. This lace yarn is going to be used to make a cowl for my mom for Christmas. I haven't found a pattern yet, but I will be casting on soon so I have time to finish it.
 
Rozetti's Always Dreams in 116-11. Another yarn chosen by the boyfriend. He wants a slouchy hat made from this. 


Saturday, September 7, 2013

Lace Knitting

After the ordeal with my cabled socks I decided to do some nice, relaxing lace projects. I have casted-on for these 3 projects all within 3 days of each other. I have been switching between them to avoid getting bored with any one project.
 
Fascinated - This is the fifth sock that I have made from the Sock Innovation book. I am using sweet fiber's Super Sweet Sock yarn for this project and I am loving it! So squishy. The pattern is simple, but I have not memorised it, I keep referring back to the book. It will easily keep me interested.
 
Pointed - Another sock from Sock Innovation. This pattern is great and is working up nicely. The yarn I chose for this project is Sandnes Garn Mini Palett (discontinued). I only have a few more rows left on the foot to finish the first sock! 
 
 Smocked Lace Scarf - This will be a present for my mother-in-law for Christmas. She picked out this project in the book Knitting 24/7. The yarn is Infiknit Rayanna and is working up nicely, it has really nice drape.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Cables, Cables and more CABLES!

 
Wow - these socks were a pain to knit. As I have said countless times before, I hate cables. For some reason, I just don't enjoy doing them and these socks had a LOT of cables. I absolutely love the end result, but I would never make them again.
 
Winged:
Yarn: On Your Toes Bamboo by S.R. Kertzer  in electric blue
Needle Size: 1 1/2 (2.5mm) 12" circular needles
Pattern source: Kristi in Sock Innovation
 

 
The design of this sock is gorgeous. I think my sister is really going to like them (she better after all the work that went into them). They did take me a while to finish, and I did get frustrated with all the cables that had to be done, but that was not the fault of the design, just personal preferences. The pattern was well written with clear instructions.

 
The yarn is nice and soft, but I came really close to running out of yarn. Like 2.5g close.