Sweaters!!  Can you believe it?  I’m actually posting again and I have pictures!

First the knitting:

For my son I’m knitting the Accordion pattern from Knitty.com.  He wanted stripes on the sleeves so striped they are.  We’ll also be adding a hood instead of a collar.  I’m using a combination of yarns, the dark brown is Patons Classic Merino and all the other fall colors are Vanna’s Choice by Lionbrand.  As a confirmed yarn snob I surprised myself by not minding this yarn.  It’s not bad as far as acrylics go.  Anyway the body will get cast on this weekend.

For myself we have two sweater projects.  The Aran Accent Vest hasn’t seen much action lately but I’m still hoping to get it done in time for the holidays.  I’m really enjoying the process.

What has been getting the most of my attention lately is Mr. Greenjeans from the fall Knitty.   I went with some Patons Classic Merino on sale at $4 a ball in the Palais colorway.  It was zipping along till I got the cabled portion and now it’s lagging a bit.  But it will be completed very soon!

I’ve also made myself a Calorimetry from some of my handspun.  I’m in love with this pattern and plan on making almost a dozen as gifts in the next few weeks.

I’ve worked on my lace scarf as well, it’s growing slowly but surely.  Wish I knew how long it’s going to be when blocked so I know when to stop!  I’m planning on making a pair of Wine & Roses Mitts (Interweave Knits) from the rest of the yarn.

I found some yummy Patons Rumor to coordinate with the scarf and a short hour later, I had a new hat.  I’m still looking for a pretty vintage pin and some velvet ribbon to trim it up.

I joined a KAL for wristwarmers and these are my first contribution.  I designed them but don’t really plan on writing out a pattern.  The hands are crocheted with a double strand of KnitPicks Gloss and the cuff with Patons SWS in Natural Plum.  Now I get to rip back the ribbed cuff on the second one to make it match the first one.

Soooooo, as you can see I’ve been very busy.  Next time I’ll share a sock story and share some of my new goodies with ya.  And vacation pics too!  Then…. Then comes the spinning.

I promise I haven’t forgotten the blog but I guess it just hasn’t been very high on the priority list lately. Here is some proof that I’m still here. I hadn’t posted any new pics of myself since I got new glasses and chopped my hair so here you go. The picture above is with my hubby and below is with my sister. Two of my most favorite people in the world. My best friends. I don’t get to see my sister as much as I would like since she is an hour and a half away in her sophomore year at OSU. I miss you sissy. She must be psyhic since she just called me after I typed that.

I need to take some pics of recent stash enhancements, fall projects and such but until I get that done here are a few to tide you over.

These are Lacy Scallop socks. Pattern is by Sockbug and the yarn is Jojoland Melody Superwash purchased at LittleKnits.com

Here is what’s happening with the leftover yarn….little lacy socks for my joygirl.

This was the July SpunkyClub fiber, a yummy shetland wool in the colorway Celebration. It was my first time spinning Shetland but it won’t be my last. This is one third of the fiber chain-plied, when it’s all done it will become the yoke on a top-down raglan hoodie for the joygirl.

And there’s plenty more where that came from! Stay tuned!

P.S. For some odd reason I, (the small project knitter) have found myself in the midst of knitting not one but 3 sweaters!!!  Is the sky still blue?

Here they are washed and blocking while they dry. They will be going out later today along with some other goodies, winging their way to the northeast portion of the United States.

Pattern: Marina Piccola by Kate Gilbert

Mods: plain foot & 2.5 repeats on leg instead of 3, changed all the increases to kf&b.

Yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy in the Blue Lagoon colorway

I adore this yarn, it has become my all-time favorite for the squishy factor, the softness, the generous yardage, the price and the unbelievably rich colors. The pattern was interesting to knit once I figured out that the increases were wonky. When I knit it as written I had holes although the pattern pic showed no holes. Once I changed the increases to kf&b, the pattern became intuitive and I no longer needed the chart. This was my first time to work this “star toe” and I know now not to use it on my own socks. It looked great but did not create the snug toe I enjoy so much.

Yeah!! These count as one complete pair for Summer of Socks as well.

Now to patiently await my own socks. I haven’t heard from my own pal in over 6 weeks I think, so I’m just praying that I do have socks coming.

What’s next? … The excitement mounts as I swatch for my first “for me” sweater and I reveal the revised fall & winter queue! Stay tuned for all that and more!!

NOTE: This is a post full of largish pics so it may load slowly for those with dial-up.

She’s finally done!! And only a few days later than the goal I had set. She went with me to WalMart and to the fireworks show yesterday and served me well.

The handles are braided drapery tie-backs like several other people have used. The drawstring is lengths of the contrast colors used in the squares twisted into a tight cord and knotted on the ends. The border the cord is threaded through is simply one round of sc, then 1 round of 2dc cluster, ch 1, 2 dc cluster, ch 1. I finished it with one more round of sc and then my favorite edging stitch, which is ch 1, sl st, ch 1, sl st, repeating to the end of the round. This gives it a little bit of a zigzag effect similar to rickrack. I also used this stitch for all the seaming I did on the bag except for the seams joining the base to the side gussets.

I made several mods to the pattern when it comes to lining. I added a zipper and zipper placket with end opening for long needles, needle pocket with elastic, a large side pocket for magazines, patterns, & books, another large side pocket divided up with slots for double points, crochet hooks and other knitting accessories. I used 2 different fabrics for the inner and outer linings with a layer of heavy interfacing between them.

The modification to the side gussets went something like this: starting at the top of the side panel I crocheted *20 sc, 15 hdc, & 15 dc. Turn & ch 3. Work dc’s into dc’s, hdc’s into hdc’s and sc’s into sc’s. Turn & ch 1. Sc in every stitch, turn & ch 1. Sc in every stitch, turn & ch 1. Then repeat this sequence till the gusset is the width you want. ALSO: on the sc sections of the row, I alternated crocheting into the front loop only with crocheting into the back loop only to get the texture I wanted.

The modification for the base of the bag is simple; just rows of sc alternating between the main bag color and the contrast colors. I did find though that if you were using the contrast colors when the wrong side was facing you, then they would show up more prominently than the main color when it’s all seamed up.

Well that’s the end of my Larger Than Life Bag. Next up in my crochet queue is the Sunny Set from Crochet Today’s july/august issue and finishing a star ripple toddler afghan. I’ll post pictures of those soon!

My silence has not been for lack of inspiration but rather an overflow of it! So much as been going on both fiber-wise and family-wise.

Let’s start with family stuff: I have a new cousin! Her name is Sasha Elaine and she is beautiful. But why would the birth of a cousin cause disruption of the blog? Well, I have no nieces or nephews yet even though between hubby and myself we have a total of 5 siblings. I am soooooooooo ready and anxious to be an Auntie and have permission to spoil! So little Sasha shall be the sole recipient of all my auntly attentions for the foreseeable future. (That was really wordy.)

The Sasha Cardi was knit from Bernat Baby Softee (what was on hand & washable) and size 3 & 4 needles. As it just fits perfectly and babies grow quickly, I will write up the pattern as I cast on for a second cardi in a larger size. I’m thinking I want to use KnitPicks Mainline or Cotlin for the larger size since Oklahoma summers are so hot and sticky. Probably size 5 & 7 needles I’m thinking. Hey, I just realized this works for Project Spectrum too! Too cool dudes!

Note: I really came down to the wire on this project, sewing on buttons in the car after my family had already gone in at the baby shower. (note to self: don’t cut it that close again!)

It was hard to leave not knowing when I’ll get to see Sasha again, in fact I think my whole family would have loved to leave with her in our arms.

Next post, more catching up…..

First, thanks for all the comments on my latest pair of completed socks!  I forgot to mention the particulars.  I used crystal palace bamboo dpn’s size 2 and the yarn was the sport weight superwash merino sold by Helloyarn as Fat Sock.  I wholeheartedly recommend her yarns!  (no profit made by this statement).  The pattern was based on one in Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch.

Second, I’ve been commissioned to create an afghan for a friend of mine. She gave me a bag of yarn and told me she doesn’t want a ripple. Other than that I am free to choose! It will be a knit not crochet throw since my carpel tunnel is freakin out whenever I even come within 10 feet of my hooks. So I cast on yesterday and after spending 2 hours choosing stitch patterns and swatching I chose to go with my KnitPicks Options size 9 needles. I’m going to work it in several panels, creating a multicolor sampler style throw.

Yes, I’ve taken a pic but no you don’t get to see it yet! I want to get some of the 2nd panel worked up first then I’ll share.

However I won’t leave you pictureless. Here is the yummy Vineyard Merino I’m spinning up. It was a prize won at our local Handspinners Guild Rock Day festivities. The plan is to ply it up into a luscious fingering weight. My goal is to produce a strong yet soft 2 ply fingering weight to sport weight sock yarn. This is my first attempt. I will try to have this done and plied by the weekend.

Thanks for all the get well wishes!  My hip is feeling a little less stiff today and I took full advantage of it!  I joined the 100 miles in 100 days challenge!  I got up off my fanny and grabbed my kiddos and we headed out.  Slowly and carefully I logged .8 miles for my first foray.  It’s not much but as the inflammation around my hip goes down I’ll be able to pick up the pace a bit.

Change of Subject!…………………………..

I have put in my resignation at Michael’s.  My last class will be the 31st of this month.   Teaching there was taking too much time away from my family and the cost of gas was nullifying any profit I was making.   I will still teach but privately, not thru their stores. Anyone interested in classes please contact me thru my email or as a comment to the blog.

I really want to focus more on my volunteer work.  Speaking of, anyone who would like to contribute to teaching senior citizens and the elderly to knit and or crochet PLEASE CONTACT ME!  While we have enough yarn for the moment we are in desperate need of crochet hooks and knitting needles.  Any donations would be greatly appreciated!

I just finished my February socks for Socktopia.  These are knit from yarn I purchased from Adrian over at Helloyarn. She dyes such beautiful, vibrant colors!  Resistance was futile.

The deadline was March 10th. Oh well.

I may not be in the drawing but I’ve got some awesome socks to wear so all is good with Rebecca. Well,… maybe not all.

I’ve been dealing with what the doctors are calling tendonitis in my right hip. It had not bothered me for about 8 yrs and then all of the sudden, BAM! I’m in pain. So….for the last 48 or so hours I’ve been limping when I walk and sitting alot which is why the socks are done. Unfortunately I can’t take the meds. the doctor recommended at the moment due to the fact they also thin my blood. And right now, that’s NOT GOOD. In a few days I’ll be poppin those babies with nary a worry and then it’s back to spring cleaning for me.

In the meantime, I’ll be casting on the next pair of socks. I’m trying the 2 circs method for the first time, so I’ll let you know how that goes.

Spinning pictures next!