Hemlock Ring Blanket

My camera has been sitting upstairs, but all the knitting is going on downstairs. I have a few finished objects I need to photograph- including the one from last night!

I finished my Hemlock Ring Blanket. Took just about a month (if I am figuring correctly). The bind-off took three entire evenings of Tour de France coverage- in fact, I was a bit perturbed to realize if I had just crocheted it instead of knitting it, I could have saved half the time. Oh well. I think it turned out beautifully. It's incredibly soft and warm, and I love the Cascade Eco Wool. It's amazingly cuddly, and when I draped it over G once I finished the bind off, I had trouble getting it back to weave in the ends.

It still needs a serious blocking, but I pronounce the blanket functionally complete. It matches our sofas quite well, and it was a perfect gift for my fiance. He is not much for wearing knitwear, doesn't do hats or mittens or scarves, and doesn't want hand-knit socks. So finally I found a project that he would enjoy snuggling with, and I get to feel like a real knitter. The best moment was his look of surprise that it really is soft and warm, and in his words "smells like sheep." I told him that he better not break up with me now, though.

Do you think the sweater curse is in effect when you're getting married in four months? Holy crap. We really are coming up on just four months. Maybe I should have started the blanket a bit later- but it's so nice to have that yarn out of my stash, and in cozy blanket-form in our living room.

Of course as soon as I finished it, I popped upstairs to get a few things. Size 6 Addi Turbo lace needles (yes, they're tarnished, from that old batch of needles that apparently all turned gold... but I've decided I don't know that I care). Two skeins of an alpaca-wool blend laceweight. And the Estonian Lace book by Nancy Bush. Any guesses what I'm working on? I finished the first row of the first lace pattern before bed.

G asked why I had to continue to knit so obsessively right after finishing a project. For one... well... because that's what I do. But it's also because of another superstition. You have to cast on for a new project as soon as you finish one, to avoid bad luck! I'm not sure the superstition really applies to me- I always have a half dozen things on the needles. But no matter. The WIP pile has shrunk recently- I frogged a whole bunch of projects a few weeks ago to reclaim the yarn for new and more suitable purposes. There are still plenty of things sitting in my craft room upstairs, waiting to be knitted- it's just not their time.

Weekend update: Project Nest

Firstly, I got a package in the mail. My giveaway win from Pink Sky Studio came in! It's so cute- I am now ready to make a little teapot tea towel with her sweet little embroidery pattern. Oh interwebs, how kind you can be!

I also have been getting busy on the sewing front. My machines are HOME though I still haven't plugged them in. Baby steps. I did wash all of my gorgeous Heather Ross fabrics, and they're in the dryer now. I started ironing everything for my next big project, the super secret gifts I am making for my bridesmaids. No photos on the blog, methinks, but I am very excited to get going on them! And I went to JoAnn's today to pick up a few patterns. And fabric. G came with me, and we selected two really lovely home dec fabrics to use in Project Nest! Now I've cleaned up most of the windows, it's time to hang some curtains. Although there are curtains in the guest room, courtesy of one of George's former renters, and some in the master bedroom... the rest of the house has bare windows. I picked up a nice burgundy silk (ok, a polyester silk look-alike, but it's washable). That will look really swank in our dining room, when we take down the paper over the chair rail and paint the top part of the wall silver. The bottom is currently a nice colonial blue, but instead of keeping the blue we might change up the look and go with a steel blue or even a real gray- I think with the deep curtains it will look very modern in there, and I am sure will give us great pleasure on the rare nights we don't just eat in the living room!

I also picked out a cutesy big plaid in cream, two shades of sage green, and shades of deep pink for my craft room. I could repaint the room cream again, or I could go with the very pale sage. Either way, all the colors look very nice with my deep gray sofa (and I can make rose-colored pillows to match!).

We had a pretty big yard sale today. Massive amounts of our duplicate belongings, extraneous kitchenware, and lots of other things are all gone- some sold, the rest donated to Goodwill. We feel so much lighter, and the basement and garage are suddenly much more navigable.

As if all that were not enough excitement for the day, I made a delicious chicken, cauliflower, and potato curry... and finished Clapotis. My third, but who's counting? It's delightful, and I think I will not block it, to keep it's subtle drape. My resident photographer has promised me some photos tomorrow, once he returns from a birthday party and I come back from the Quilters Unlimited quilt show at the Dulles Expo Center. So exciting!

On one final note, I wanted to recommend a little local establishment. Instead of cooking the curry last night, G picked me up from the metro and we went to Yorktown Bistro, here in Arlington and not far from the house. It's very open inside, with nice enough decor, and the cuisine is fairly traditional Italian. Oh oh so delicious! My chicken parm was one of the best I've had, and G enjoyed his three cheese ravioli. The homemade tiramisu was stellar, and we were particularly entranced by their specials on wine bottles. All in all? The perfect date night. They do takeout and rent out space, as well... we might have more decisions to make than we originally thought, when it comes time to plan our rehearsal dinner!

Endpaper Mitts, v2

I finally finished my second pair of Endpaper Mitts on Sunday. They were nearly finished for at least a month- sometimes my finishing skills are lacking in timeliness. At least the quality is good when I get around to it! My live-in-photographer took the photos, and can I just say it's fantastic to have someone around to take daylight shots? What a sweetheart.

It would figure I would finally finish these, a holiday and birthday gift, only once the weather has turned and it's 70 degrees out. Details. What you can barely see in these photos? Tee shirt and shorts!! Hurray for spring.

FO! Jaywalkers

There's a lot of knitting content heading your way. Be advised. But first off, I actually finished something. That's worth rejoicing! Also, apparently, worth trying to remember some ballet.

Like this!


Or this!


My Jaywalkers are truly socks of all seasons. I already posted when I took them to see the Capitals. And not to be outdone, they wanted to see the Nationals, too.

So off they went.


Hurray, FO!

Hurray for the Interwebs

It has been far, far too long since I was able to blog. For two weeks, I've had no internet at home. Not that it would have mattered- my laptop died (hard), followed a few days later by my desktop. The laptop is still a hunk of useless plastic right now, but the desktop has miraculously come back from the dead. When I pay off my couch... I'll think about that MacBook Pro I want so badly. In the meantime, I'm back online, I have a working CPU, and I have a few things to show! I did not do much knitting in the past two weeks... I packed, I moved, I unpacked, and I went to bed REAL early. But I did manage to block Hanami before I left the old place, and I got a few action shots at the Tidal Basin during the Cherry Blossom Festival. If only it had been 10 (or 30) degrees warmer. I made it to the Yarn Party in Takoma Park today, which was delightful- but I'll blog that a bit later. And I didn't stop knitting entirely these past weeks- I started what is looking to be one brilliantly pretty shawl. In the meantime, I present Hanami!

The requisite blocking photos




I wanted to model it over a pretty little black dress. My big black jacket will have to do for this year.


One last photo for the road. He didn't want his picture taken, but I think he looks adorable in front of the blossoms. Don't you?

Photography!

I complained, and after about a minute's search the camera was found. Apparently I put it in the pink purse... why there? Who knows. I'm brilliant.

At any rate, I have proof! Beautiful proof that I knit!

Autumn Rose, the beginnings:


A close-up with truer colors:


Jeanie, for perspective


A close-up of Jeanie- I'm just past the first dropped stitches


And of course, I did finish the Snowflake Socks from Interweave for my roommate's (belated) Christmas gift. They are super cute on her! Voila, an FO for 2008.


Even more photos to come tomorrow...

Shawl fantastico

I have a Seraphim. I am in love with her. In fact, I am wearing her to work, and enjoying every moment of her blissful warmth. She is made of Schaefer Anne, and the yarn is just perfect. It's variegated, but subtly enough for even the lacy bits of the pattern. And the colors are just perfect- I feel like I'm swimming in a cool pond!



Lace details:


All bundled up:


And here is the Woven Gems Prime Alpaca I purchased at the Shenandoah Valley Fiber Fest- I keep petting it, because it feels like heaven.


I also promised photos of the Chullo hat I'm knitting to give away shortly. This photo is from early in the evening yesterday, before I finished knitting the earflaps. All that's left is to do the last round around with green, and weave in the excessive amount of ends. It's a little deceptive in the photo- most of the top actually sits above the head, and flops back. It's a really cute pattern. I may not have enough teal for the braid up top and the ties, but I did at least have enough for the hat itself.


I ordered some magnificent yarn off Ravelry- not only was in insanely cheap (less than half price?), it is quite possibly my favorite yarn ever. Besides Schaefer Anne. It's the perfect dusty rose, and I think Cashsoft DK may be the nicest fiber I've touched. I'm using it for that baby sampler afghan- I stopped working on it only because I'm lazy, though the yarn is perfect!


Speaking of babies, my cousin is going to be induced tomorrow. How wonderful! If it's a girl, I know what I'm sending to her... if it's a boy, I'll have to be more creative. Either way, there's also another project in my queue, though it's not a knitting project.


I am going to be one half of a very creative team- making one spiffy neo-Victorian steampunk suit. I think I'm going to start out by sewing up the shirt, since that should be relatively straight-forward while I learn how to use my new (to me) sewing machine. Once I have my stitching back in order, I will take on the tailoring required for the vest, and finally the frock coat.

I have a significant number of knitting UFOs, and two fair isle sweaters I want to start. Somehow, I'm not ready to knit on any of them. I think I need to dig into my knitting bag tonight after SSK, to determine what I should be working on. Or I could give in and swatch Autumn Rose. I think I say that twice a day, every day... In the meantime, I have the Super Secret Holiday gift in my bag, half completed, and I think that should take me through the next few days.

Block Party

This was a very good crafting weekend. Saturday was a work training session and a lot of Wii playing, so that doesn't count. I made up for the day off on Sunday!

First, I knitted in the car and played lots of fun tunes on the way to the Shenandoah Vally Fiber Fest. It was a very cute little festival- three buildings, a few barns, and lots of friendly and helpful people. I was able to purchase what I really went for- 16 ounces of gorgeous charcoal alpaca from Woven Gems. The yarn is destined to become an incredibly warm and comfy work sweater- I just need to find an appropriately simple pattern.

This is the same company that hand-dyed my crazy fire-inspired Bombyx Silk. Remember?


Knitted more on the way home, and I finished Seraphim before dinner. She's blocking in the living room as I type! Hurrah!

In the spirit of finished things, I cast on for a new project. Conveniently, this one is a hat- I already have it more than half-done. This is good, because it's for a dear friend who has moved to a very chilly clime- I think she could do with her gift sooner than later. I may not have enough yarn for the main color, but only one way to find out!

Photos of both projects to come shortly. I'm hoping to finish the hat tonight (if I do in fact have enough yarn), and then figure out what's next in the priorities list. Swatching for Autumn Rose, mayhaps?

FO!

Guess what I finished last night? Took me another 3 hours of finishing... that's about 6 hours total, just sewing/weaving/collar. Whew.



Now on to other things. Mostly Seraphim. When I was looking for a bag to put the sweater in for transportation, I located two Addi Naturas I didn't even remember buying. How sad is that? They are the needles I've been wanting to knit the baby fair isle sweater- it figures I already bought them. I'll probably work on that a bit this weekend, to ramp up for Autumn Rose.

Babies, Babies

There's been a lot of pregnancy going on. Not close to home, but in the family and friends arena. Let's recap my failure to actually complete a baby project... but first a review of the more successful baby gift ventures.

First up, the ginormous lavendar baby blanket. I prefer not to think how much time I spent on this. It was definitely over a year- maybe 18 months? Cry. It hasn't found a home yet. I should get a better detail picture- but imagine, if you will, lots of cables and lace in that purple blob.


Next, a blanket for my boss from last year. Cute! Aran! I love this pattern wholeheartedly.


And then a crocheted blanket for a coworker and his lovely wife- that was recent, it's in the archives.

Another blanket made a brief appearance. I love the yarn and like the patterns, but I think I'm afraid of the edging. It has been sitting lonely for quite some time now- I'm somewhere between 1/3 and 1/2 done with the squares now, and just need to get my butt in gear to finish it.


Meanwhile, I decided to make a bunch of other baby things. First up is another version of the Aran blanket. Well, after repeat 3 of this one I discovered I had been completely destroying one of the cable patterns. Let me say this again. I knit an entire afghan in this pattern. And 3 more repeats of another one. And only THEN do I realize that I was reading it incorrectly! Lucky for me, this yarn is so sparkly and funky that nobody except a fellow knitter would ever be able to tell. Mwahaha. Here's the latest project pic, more than 4 repeats in (thanks to my progress at SSK yesterday):


I also started a bunch of baby sweaters. First up (and finally photographed!) is the coral cabled sweater:

I finished the majority of the body, up to where one joins the sleeves. And somehow I cannot knit the sleeves. Here's an example of wacky laddering and icky shaping:

So I frogged the sleeve, and am back to just the body of the sweater. Two years later. But look, pretty cables!


Then there's the blue sweater. I started this for Scott's baby, and sadly I realized after knitting the two fronts that I had made them for a girl. This yarn screams baby boy. Oops! Here it lies yesterday evening, photographed for the first time- back done, two fronts done, one sleeve done, and one sleeve on the needles:

And after the frog pond, here's the current state of affairs:

But look! Cables!


There's also the Baby Owl sweater- I have completed the back (and only the back):

Goals

I've been reading a number of posts about knitting goals lately. I have a few of my own- now that we're entering the second half of the year I should check up on my goals from before and see how I'm doing. And of course, set some new ones!

Here was my post from February (alright a bit belated for resolutions, but it'll do):

FORMER MIKAIYA SELF: I have a few knitting goals for 2007. They're pretty simple, actually. I want to knit myself two sweaters, and at least one pair of socks. Actually, I'd love to knit myself three sweaters and enough socks that I don't need to wear store-bought ones, but I'm sticking to realistic here. In this aim, I have the yarn and patterns for THREE sweaters already... and have cast on for one. Ooh la la. I also have a nearly finished pair of socks which has been languishing for a year or so.

CURRENT MIKAIYA SELF: Wonder of wonders, I finished that almost-finished sock. Finally. It's green! Now I just need to take a picture of it. I also knit two pairs of socks, but gave them away to my mother and my sister. I made one sock for my dad as well, though it's currently suffering from second sock syndrome. I'll get on that, though- as well as the two other socks I have on the needles!

I also finished one of the sweaters already, my Bobble Blue. It was a blast to knit, but it's a bit bulkier than I had hoped for. Maybe I need to re-block it. Either way, I get compliments on it at work and it's perfect for the spring and fall- warm wool counteracts the fact that it is short-sleeved and it's incredibly comfortable on the metro and in the office.


That's two successful bits- looks like I need to hurry up and make myself another sweater and get on those socks. Here's a review of the finished objects from the year so far!


My additional knitting goals? How about a list:
- Mystery Stole 3 (Clue 1 complete!)
- 2 pairs of socks (they're already begun...)
- one more shawl
- something Fair Isle
- another sweater (maybe 2!)
- finish the two baby sweaters that have been languishing in time out.

Bobble Blue

OK! It may be 2:30 in the morning on a Thursday... and I do have to go to work tomorrow, though not until after a doctor's appointment. So to brace my spirits a bit, since I'm going to get more testing regarding the arthritis issue (evidently one is never too young for Rheumatoid Arthritis)...

Anyways, bracing my spirits this week has involved a great deal of finishing work. This is the knitting content you've been waiting for. Instead of finishing the baby sweater as I ought to have done, I decided no time like the present to finish my very own Bobble Blue! Remember that swanky Interweave Knits from a year ago... the one with at least 4 or 5 great patterns in it, which I already bought the yarn for... well, project number one is DONE. Done done, from the last bit of purling to the woven-in ends and cute little wood buttons. I should note that it does not fit as I expected. I thought it would be too small in the arms, and possibly too small. This is because I have a bad habit of completely ignoring my actual size and instead knitting for what I figure I really ought to be. In this case, I could have gone down another size STILL and been fine- instead of coming out sleek and body skimming, it's actually a bit boxy. Although this keeps it from looking "like the picture," I don't mind terribly much- the sleeves are the perfect fit and I generally opt for boxy. It's easier to pull off at the office.

Nuff talk. I finished it far too late to get roommate-snapped photos, so I had to make do with the timer on my camera. This meant I had no way to get a good detail shot without it being also rather a bust shot- and to keep this blog g-rated, we'll just stick with the bad photography.

One tired little model. But does it not just ooze cable-y spring-y goodness? Try another:


Just to recap, the yarn was Ella Rae Classic. Which I didn't like terribly much. I think it is going to be itchy, and there were way too many knots in each ball. Live and learn! In future I'm going back to my superwash wool and acrylic or cotton blends. Allergic girls (even sheep-loving ones) have to bow down to reality to some extent. I think with a camisole or a little tee this will be just right.

Now... to get to bed. And wear it to work tomorrow. Swanky!

Currently on the needles, because it can't hurt to remind myself:
- February sock club socks (nearly to the heel on the first sock)
- baby sweater (all knitted up and ready for seaming)
- green socks (about 2 inches left to knit on the second sock... so lazy)
- Molly Ringwald sweater (nearly finished the front, but I've lost my place in the decreases)
- coral baby sweater (just need to knit the sleeves and collar)
Also, I should be knitting a ginormous amount of kitty hats for the summer conventions coming up. I feel no kitty motivation yet, but maybe it will hit me in a week or two?

And a new year begins

I have a few knitting goals for 2007. They're pretty simple, actually. I want to knit myself two sweaters, and at least one pair of socks. Actually, I'd love to knit myself three sweaters and enough socks that I don't need to wear store-bought ones, but I'm sticking to realistic here. In this aim, I have the yarn and patterns for THREE sweaters already... and have cast on for one. Ooh la la. I also have a nearly finished pair of socks which has been languishing for a year or so.

But before embarking on the year of knitting for me, I had a few other things to do.

The second Adamas Shawl! I didn't finish it in time to wear on the cruise, but it still is done done done. The yarn is a hand-painted lace-weight silk that I bought at the Virginia Fiber festival thingy. A truly unique colorway!


And as worn, heading to the symphony:


I also made a scarf for Food and Friends. Not really knitting for me, but knitting for charity is good, too. The pattern is Wavy from Knitty, and the yarn is washable-if-scratchy Red Heart.


I also started another baby afghan from my Mom's favorite pattern (I'm now about one pattern repeat in):


And as soon as I get my handles in the mail, I will have finished the Brea Bag from Berrocco. Rocking!

Holiday gifts

I think now that it is officially January, I am safe posting some holiday gifts. I knitted pretty hard this year, but since almost all of it was for gifts... well. I would like to note that my only resolution (besides drink more water, which I try and fail at every year) is to knit for myself. I have only one sweater that I knitted myself, although I do have lots of scarves and hats. I just give everything away. So this year? The year of Me. At least until August, when the holiday gifts start up again.

Either way, here's the pictures you've been waiting for with bated breath.. hah.

First up is the Menorah pillow I knitted for my Dad for Chanuka. The pattern is from Handknit Holidays, and the yarn is the KnitPicks Wool of the Andes. I needed *way* more yarn than called for... because it was an enormous pillow. Who cares about gauge? The Ikea pillow form was perfect.



Next is the Christmas Stocking for my sister. Heather converted... well that's a long story. So anyways, I tried to be a supportive big sister. Besides, she was using a DOG's stocking- it may have been pink, but it was possibly the ugliest little stocking ever. Now she is rocking the high-class fair isle! Yarn is also Wool of the Andes, and the pattern is a little leaflet on Make-Your-Own stockings. If I'm good later I'll look up the title- I purchased it in a yarn store in Bloomington, Indiana and haven't seen it since. Too bad, cutest pattern ever!


Also, check out the stocking before doing the afterthought heel. That is a really entertaining concept, I have to tell you.


Dad's pillow was actually the most time-consuming project, mainly because I can be a real idiot and managed to sew the back on backwards the first time. It's all i-cord edging, so that was exciting. On the plus side, I did a better job sewing it together the second time. But in terms of the most enjoyable project, I'd go with Mom's shawl. Everything I knitted this fall was fun, but I couldn't get enough of her shawl! I would try and go back to knitting something else and fail, simply unable to stop knitting the easy lace pattern. It's the Adamas pattern from KnitPicks, in KnitPicks Shadow. The color looks true in the photos, and it only required two skeins. I am economical! I know I posted the picture already, but until I can get one of my Mom wearing it...


I also completed the Clapotis shawl (from Knitty) for my dearest friend Sharyn. There's definitely a purple theme this holiday season! The yarn is a really neat one from Dark Horse- acrylic for my vegan friend, but soft and cozy. I already posted this picture as well. So much for new and exciting!

Sadly, that's all there is for now. I am working on a second Adamas shawl- this time I think I'll keep it for me. It's the flame-kissed oranges and reds handpainted silk from the show in Virginia, and I'm trying to decide if I can get away with wearing orange. Hoping to finish that by Saturday, so I can wear it over a little black cocktail dress to the work holiday party. I also began a sweater for myself, with the yarn set aside for another one to follow. Both are work appropriate, so here's to finishing them in time to wear them this spring to the office.

Hurray for knitting! And the year of knitting for me!

As a sidenote, my little Handknit by Mikaiya business is picking up. I did my first craft fair and sold a kitty hat and a scarf on the spot, as well as orders for two more scarves and another hat. I also sold six kitty hats at the last few anime conventions through my costuming friends. Fantastico! Now I need to knit up some more inventory...