January 5, 2007
Melissa’s Scarf
My friend Melissa just moved from San Diego California. She needs scarves. Lots and lots of scarves. Her favorite color is red. So without further ado….
What: Melissa’s Red Scarf.
Pattern: Cast on 20, knit every row.
Started: Saturday, December 30, 2006
Completed:Friday, January 5, 2007
Yarn: A little more than one skein of Jaeger Mohair Art. I got this from my last secret pal.
Needles: size 9 24″ knitpicks options
Lesson: None, it was nice to take a breather with a really simple project like this.
Modifications: None.
Knitting Time: 5.25 hours.
December 30, 2006
Crocheted Scarf
Well, for a while now I’ve said I want to learn how to crochet. I really like those japanese crocheted animals, so I figured a scarf was a good way to learn the ropes of crocheting. I really enjoyed myself.
I finished crocheting it over a week ago, but didn’t add the fringe (which you can’t see) until yesterrday. It’s long and can be wrapped around my neck several times if needed. I LOVE it!
specs:
What: Crocheted striped scarf.
Pattern: Nothing published. I just did two rows of double crochet and then switched colors.
Started: Sometime Early December
Completed:Friday, December 29, 2006
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool, less than one skein of blue and a little more than one skein brown.
Needles: size “H” hook
Lesson: CROCHETING!
Modifications: None.
Crocheting Time: I didn’t actually time this project, but it took me 42 minutes per row, so that equals approximately 7 hours, plus about 30 minutes for fringe, for a total of 7.5 hours.
December 29, 2006
Cable & Rib Socks
Done.
What: Cable & Rib Socks, Interweave Knits Fall 2005
Started: Sunday, November 12, 2006
Completed:Friday, December 29, 2006
Yarn: Koigu KPPPM color P613, a little less than 2 skeins.
Needles: size 1 addis (magic loop)
Lesson: Cabling without a needle.
Modifications: None.
Knitting Time: 8.75 hours for the first sock, 7 hours for the second. A total of 15.75 hours.
December 28, 2006
Lots of yarn and FO’s.
I got a secret pal gift yesterday! Well, actually it arrived the day before yesterday, but I couldn’t get down to the office to pick it up until yesterday.
There was also chocolate included but it’s gone already. 🙂
My secret pal either pays really close attention or I’m just that predictable… but this manos is the color way of my block of the month blanket. (which I haven’t worked on most of this year- but now that I have another skein it’s VERY tempting to pull it out again!) I also got those fantastic yarn greeting cards. I can’t wait to see MY secret pal her next gift. THANKS SECRET PAL!!!
I also have a few finished objects. My sister’s socks were completed on Christmas Eve. I didn’t get to get pictures of them. 😦
But here are the specs:
What: Erin’s High Socks
Started: Sunday, November 5th
Finished: Sunday, December 24, 2006
Yarn: Kroy Sock yarn.
Needles: size 2 32″ addi (magic loop)
Pattern: Garter Rib, from Sensational Knitted Socks
Knitting Time: 16 hours.
I also finished Uncle Dick’s Golf Club covers. Also finished these on the morning of the 23rd. (I gave them to him that night.) So here they are drying after a light wash/block.
Specs:
What: Uncle Dick’s Golf Club Covers
Started: Monday, November 27th
Finished: Saturday, December 23, 2006
Yarn: Cascade 220. A little more than one skein of the slate. Scraps of light grey.
Needles: size 7 32″ addi (magic loop)
Pattern: My own. I used Lion Brand’s pattern as a guide.
Knitting Time: 2.5 hours each. 1 hour for the pompoms for a total of 8.5 hours.
Finally, Mom and Erin really pulled through for knitting Christmas gifts. Check them out!!!
Top left- merino lace weight in Natural.
Top right- 8 skeins of Merino Syle in Asparagas. This is to make the Knitted Bodice. (eventually.)
Bottom left- 2 skeins of Sock Memories in Cape Cod.
Bottom right- 2 skeins of Sock Memories in Redwood Forest.
Top left- Essential sock yarn in Petunia.
Top middle-Essential in Grass.
Top right- Essential Tweed sock yarn in Inca Gold.
Middle- Shadow lace weight in Jewels.
I got some more blocking pins (can never have enough of those.)
Some wool wash, and best of all, in the black case: KNIT PICKS OPTIONS!!!
Also, not shown…I also got some extra cords, and tags to label which needles I’m using when I take them off the project to put them on something else.
Finally:
Blocking Wires! Am I lucky or am I lucky?
November 25, 2006
Finished Object- Jenny’s Baby Blanket
I finished the blanket!
And a closeup:
Yes, it truly is that fluffy. And I guarantee it’s softer than it looks!
Specs:
What: Jenny’s Baby Blanket
Started: Tuesday, October 10, 2006
Finished: Saturday, November 25, 2006
Yarn: Plymouth yarn; Heaven, color 1 (light blue). 4 balls. 220 yards. I bought 5, but 4 was plenty to make it a square blanket.
Needles: size 15 24″ bamboo
Pattern: Simple garter stitch border, stockinette center. I forgot to measure before tieing it up, but I’d estimate it to be about 36″ square.
Knitting Time: 4.25 hours.
November 8, 2006
I am the SWEATER QUEEN
Okay, not really. But I totally finished my 2nd sweater!
The minute I get home from work everyday my face gets washed and my hair goes back. So I appologize for my appearance. I swear I am not this ugly on a normal basis.
Specs:
What: Hourglass Sweater from “Last Minute Knitted Gifts.”
Started: Saturday, October 7th, 2006
Completed:Monday, Novebmer 6th, 2006
Yarn: Kitten Mohair, a little less than 4 skeins. I’ve read that many people run out of yarn. I bought 8 skeins to start. If I remember correctly there was 179 yards per skein. That’s 1439 yards that I bought. I used only 716 yards. The pattern called for somewhere around 1000, and even then people were running short. I’m not quite sure how that happened, but am delighted that my LYS lets me trade in unused yarn for store credit.
Needles: size 6 addis and plastic dpns.
Lesson: Even though I am tiny circumfrence wise, I do have a long torso. I made the body and sleeves about 4″ longer than written.
Modifications: I changed the gauge. The yarn I used was quite a bit thinner. This sweater was straightforward. I just made changes as I went along.
Knitting Time: 28.75 hours.
More pictures:
The armpit doesn’t actually bunch up like that under my left (your right) arm. I was just standing funny.
I like this picture because it actually shows the debth of the yarn. Look how fuzzy my arm is. This sweater (although knit at a pretty open gauge) will be so warm.
No, I’m not normally this much of a dork, but I am just so PSYCHED. I have two finished sweaters and they both fit great. This one fits absolutely amazing. And I know that I’ve doubted my skill a bit in the past, but I am SOOO proud that I did this all by myself. and in one month too!!!
November 5, 2006
Finished Object- Black Sea Hat
Well, it’s done.
Rather cute. I’ve come to the conclusion that it’s not a totally warm winter hat- I need my next knitted hat to come down over my ears. BUT… I had so much fun knitting this hat. I’m planning on making two more for Christmas for my friends Nicole & Sara. I have some black rowan 4 ply from my old secret pal Nic that I’ve never quite found the use for. They’ll be so cute in matching black sea hats! (This is all stated, of course, in a perfect world where I get all the time for knitting Christmas gifts that I want to. HA!)
This hat cost me QUITE a bit of money to make.
Here are the supplies at the beginning. $4.00 for beads. $7.95 for yarn. $15 for addis 16″ size 3. $24 for 16″ ebony lantern moon needles. They were out of plastic, bamboo, or addi’s 16″ size 4. For $24.00 I was not throughly impressed. Actually I hated them. I might have liked them better if the needles were just a bit shorter. There was a little too much effort that went into knitting every stitch and constantly moving stitches around the needles. What a waste.
Anyway, Stats:
What: Black Sea Hat from Gumperina.
Started: Sunday, October 22nd, 2006
Finished: Friday, November 3rd, 2006
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino
Needles: size 3, 16″ addis; size 4, 16″ ebony bamboo latern moons; size 4, and 7″ clover DPNS.
Lesson: How to knit with beads. Not anywhere near as hard as I thought, but somewhat tricky. The only tricky part was getting it through the knit stitch. I had a lot of fun doing them. Next I think I’d like to use tiny beads on lace weight. I’m sure it’d be stunning. 🙂
Recipient: Me. It’s actually quite a “short” hat. Next one will have to be a bit “taller” to cover the wearer’s ears completely.
Knitting Time: 7 hours
Pattern Changes: None. I knitted it exactly as it was designed. It was written and executed beautifully.
Fun, huh? You want your own don’t you?
October 22, 2006
Finished Object Grey Cardigan
It is done. I will get a better picture and add it to this post this week sometime. Until then… here is the same picture from right below. 
Here are the stats. What: Grey Raglan Cardigan from Ann Bud’s Book of Sweater Patterns. I thoroughly enjoy this book. And am certain I’ll use it again. It has EVERY size you can imagine in it. I do wish it had shaping included in the patterns, but I’ll just have to get brave and try my own shaping on the next one. Started: Wednesday, February 22, 2006 Finished: Saturday, October 21, 2006 Yarn: Cascade 220- a little more than 5 skeins. I really like this yarn and can’t wait to use it again. It is VERY VERY warm. Slightly scratchy next to the skin, but not intolerable. Needles: size 7 addis- 24″ & size 7 bamboo DPNs for sleeves. Lesson: It is my first completed garmet. I see that my finishing skills need practice, but am quite satisfied being as it’s my first one. I even wore the sweater all day yesterday and I’m certain that I will wear it often. That, to me, is considered a success. The amount of satisfaction I had when I held it up after it’s full completion was absolutely overwhelming. I think I have turned into a garmet knitter. Recipient: Me. Knitting Time: 23 hours 5 minutes Pattern Changes: I changed the sleeves. There is no increasing, as I like my sleeves to either be belled or straight. My shoulders are not very big so I didn’t want it pooching. Well, what do you think?
October 18, 2006
Home Sweet Home Shawl
The shawl has been blocked and the ends have been woven in.
Here is the completed shawl before blocking:
And after blocking:
It still amazes me what blocking does for knitting. Especially lace. This home sweet home shawl is especially meaningful to me. It’s sitting in my new home. The home I had waited a long time for. The home that is truly mine.
Anyway, here are the stats:
What: Home Sweet Home Shawl
Started: Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Finished: Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Yarn: Sock Memories in fly fishing. 5.5 skeins; I really like this yarn and can’t wait to use it again.
Needles: size 5 clover bamboo
Lesson: First sucessful lace project. YAY!!! I’m ready to try lace weight yarn again. I really got a lot of fundementals down with knitting this lace project.
Recipient: Mine. All Mine.
Knitting Time: 35 Hours and 54 minutes. So roughly 36 hours.
Pattern Changes. I did 28 repeates instead of 35 as written. I’m tiny. It didn’t need to be as long as it was written for.
September 16, 2006
Thomas & Cammy Socks
Today Zander and I went to see Thomas the Train and take a ride in it. Here’s us in the train:
Look how big he’s getting. 🙂
I also finished my socks on the way up there.
It was my first time doing the short row heels, and I really like them except I ended up with small holes on both feet by the gussets. Anybody know how to fix that?
I also learned that I need to keep better notes of my knitting. The right foot (which I completed first) I decreased on every row at the toe, instead of every other row. The left foot I decreased every other row. It had been so long since I had finished the first sock (end of may) that I didn’t remember or notice that I had done that. So now the right foot fits better than the left.
Lesson learned.
Stats:
What: Cammy Striped Socks
Started: Early May 2006
Completed: Saturday, September 16, 2006
Yarn: Bernat sock yarn.
Needles: US2 addis, 40″
Lesson: See Above
Recipient: Me me me me.
Knitting time: I have no idea… I didn’t time this project.
Now what? My home sweet home shawl.
My sis informed me the other night that she would like a pair of socks. No problem, I say. Bright colors she requests. No problem again I say. “I want to wear them when I’m riding.” By riding, she means while riding her horse. Do you know those boots are below the knee boots!? They’re tall!!!
So I got the Socks on Two Circs book and 600 yards of Paton’s kroy in Color 54701, Krazy Stripes.
So, I was really hoping this socks on two circs book would also tell you how to do two socks at one time. I guess it would be similar to knitting two sleeves at one time? Just cast on for one sock, then get another ball of yarn to cast on for another sock? Someone help. I got the last 3 balls of their yarn in this color so I’d really like to be able to knit them both at the same time so that they are the exact same size and so that if I run out of yarn I’ll run out at the same place and be able to substitute another yarn at the bottom of both toes. Make sense?
Man. Knee high socks… That’s ambitious. I’m crazy!
I will still find time to finish at least one of my cardigans that I have on the needles at some point this year. I’m determined!!!
Melanie Knits 