March Update

Current WIPs (new ones are bolded):

Sweaters/Cardigans:

Wispy Cardi, Malabrigo Lace
Baby Sachiko Kimono Sweater, Lanartus Rioja
Praline Pullover, Knit Picks Palette
Abalone, Noro Kureyon
Purple Sweater (of my own design), Patons Classic Wool Merino

Shawls:

Orchid Thief, Classic Elite Yarns Alpaca Sox (hibernating - ran out of yarn four rows from the end)
Triangle Shawl, Bernat Mosaic (This one's not new; I think I started it back in 2011.)

Hands and Feet:

Vanilla Socks, Schoppel-Wolle Fliegende Untertasse
Toe-up Socks, Diamond Yarn Luxury Collection Foot Loose

Blankets:

Reversible Celtic Patterns Baby Blanket

Scarves:

Tentaculum, Marks and Kattens Fame Trend
Daily Highs Temperature Scarf, leftovers
Mixed Wave Cowl, Debbie Bliss Merino DK (Not completed - will frog)
Linen Stitch Cowl, Andre's Alpacas Sock & Wollmeise  (Not completed - will frog)

"My goal for March is to finish:  Praline Pullover, Abalone, and Triangle Shawl."

March isn't quite over, but I've finished two out of three of my goals, plus one that I'd had on the needles since December 2012.

New goals for April are to finish:  Praline Pullover, Tentaculum, and frog the cowls.

Cold Sheeping - Two Months

Current WIPs (new ones are bolded):

Sweaters/Cardigans:

Wispy Cardi, Malabrigo Lace
Lizette, Mary Maxim's Mellowspun
Twilight, Paton's Decor
Milk Maiden, KnitPicks Shine Sport
Cascade, Berocco Ultra Alpaca
Baby Sachiko Kimono Sweater, Lanartus Rioja
Praline Pullover, Knit Picks Palette
Abalone, Noro Kureyon
Purple Sweater (of my own design), Patons Classic Wool Merino

Shawls:


Aeolian Shawl, Filatura  Di Crosa Centolavaggi
Haruni, Berroco Ultra Alpaca
Orchid Thief, Classic Elite Yarns Alpaca Sox
Cozy Striped Kerchief, Loops and Threads Luxury Wool
Triangle Shawl, Bernat Mosaic (This one's not new; I think I started it back in 2011.)

Hands and Feet:

Vanilla Socks, Schoppel-Wolle Fliegende Untertasse
Toe-up Socks, Diamond Yarn Luxury Collection Foot Loose

Blankets:

Reversible Celtic Patterns Baby Blanket

Scarves:


Drop Stitch Scarf, Noro Kirameki Singles
Tentaculum, Marks and Kattens Fame Trend
Daily Highs Temperature Scarf, leftovers
Mixed Wave Cowl, Debbie Bliss Merino DK
Linen Stitch Cowl, Andre's Alpacas Sock & Wollmeise

I've decided that it's time to cold-sheep.  I haven't bought (or obtained in any other way) yarn since December 29 (and even that yarn is for a gift.  In June).

Thus, every month I'm trying to finish up some WIPS and small one- or two-ball projects (because sometimes it's more encouraging to start and finish something quick, just to keep the motivation going).

My goal for March is to finish:  Praline Pullover, Abalone, and Triangle Shawl.
 

Six Months?!

Wow.  I just failed at blogging.  (Although, I think it's been about two years since I updated the other one ....)

So, current WIPs (new ones are bolded):

Sweaters/Cardigans:

Wispy Cardi, Malabrigo Lace
Classic Short-sleeve Top, Mary Maxim's Mellowspun
February Lady Sweater, Paton's Shetland Chunky
Lizette, Mary Maxim's Mellowspun
Twilight, Paton's Decor
Milk Maiden, KnitPicks Shine Sport
Cascade, Berocco Ultra Alpaca, Lanartus Rioja
Baby Sachiko Kimono Sweater,

Shawls:

Monica's Shawl, Diamond Yarn Pima Lino Lace
Aeolian Shawl, Filatura  Di Crosa Centolavaggi
Haruni, Berroco Ultra Alpaca
Orchid Thief, Classic Elite Yarns Alpaca Sox
Cozy Striped Kerchief, Loops and Threads Luxury Wool

Hands and Feet:

Dalkey Mitts, Cascade Heritage
Vanilla Socks, Schoppel-Wolle Fliegende Untertasse
Toe-up Socks, Diamond Yarn Luxury Collection Foot Loose

Blankets:

Hemlock Ring Blanket, RHSS
Reversible Celtic Patterns Baby Blanket

Scarves:

Handsome Scarf, Bernat Alpaca
Drop Stitch Scarf, Noro Kirameki Singles
Tentaculum, Marks and Kattens Fame Trend

So I have no problems starting projects, but finishing ....

Actually, the Haruni and the Orchid Thief are in hibernation because I ran out of yarn and can't seem to find the colourways of either.  They're not discontinued, just not being sold.

Not much else to report.  Oh, I got married.  That's about it.

Oh Hi There

Current WIPs:

Sweaters/Cardigans:

Wispy Cardi, Malabrigo Lace
Classic Short-sleeve Top, Mary Maxim's Mellowspun
February Lady Sweater, Paton's Shetland Chunky
Lizette, Mary Maxim's Mellowspun
Twilight, Paton's Decor
Milk Maiden, KnitPicks Shine Sport

Shawls:

Monica's Shawl, Diamond Yarn Pima Lino Lace
Aeolian Shawl, Filatura  Di Crosa Centolavaggi
Haruni, Berroco Ultra Alpaca
Orchid Thief, Classic Elite Yarns Alpaca Sox

Hands and Feet:

Dalkey Mitts, Cascade Heritage
Vanilla Socks, Schoppel-Wolle Fliegende Untertasse

Blankets:

Hemlock Ring Blanket, RHSS
Reversible Celtic Patterns Baby Blanket

Scarves:

Handsome Scarf, Bernat Alpaca

I think these are all of them.  I think.

Comfy Sweater Pattern ... Maybe Someone Can Make This Look Good?

I knit this sweater.  It looks weird, but it's very comfy.  Here's the 'pattern' I wrote up:

Comfy Sweater

Yarn:  Super Bulky (I used Bernat Roving)

Gauge:  3 st/inch; 4 rows/inch

Needle:  Circular 6mm

Size:  Huh.  This one's pretty large ( I wanted extra room) and about 40 inches around the body. The length is about 28 inches.

Pattern:

Cast on 120 sts.  Work k3, p2 ribbing for 3 inches.  Place markers at beginning and middle; also pm after 21st st and 38th st.  There should be 18 sts between those two markers.

Knit in stockinette st. until piece measures 18 inches.  Leave body sts on needles.  Also place the  four sts around each marker onto waste yarn (these will be grafted to the sleeve sts eventually).

Sleeve:  Cast on 36 sts.  Work k2, p1 ribbing for 3 inches.  Knit stockinette st for 2 inches.

Increases:  K1, m1, knit to one st before end of round, m1, k1.  Repeat increase row every fourth row until there are 60 sts.

Knit until sleeve measures 18 inches (should just be another inch).

Joining sleeve to body:

Place the first two and last two sts of sleeve onto waste yarn.  Knit first st of sleeve and first st of body together, then knit around sleeve to one st before the held sts and knit it together with the last body st.  (Here's a link to sort of visualize:  http://www.vogueknitting.com/magazine/article_archive/jared_flood_going_seamless.aspx )

The sleeve is now knit back and forth, knitting together the first and last sts of the sleeve with the next corresponding body st.  Continue in this fashion until the centre st markers are reached.

Neck:  This is the point where the front and back are decided.  Knit 30 sleeve sts and turn work. P2tog, purl back to body and knit the sleeve and body sts together.  Knit 28 sts, k2tog.  P2tog, purl back.  Continue decreasing one stitch every row for nine rows.  Then begin increasing back to 30 sts.

Go back and knit the back part in the same way but without the decreases or increases.  When the back matches the front, they can be joined and knit as before the neckline.  Continue knitting until there are only the four sts on waste yarn from the body.

Cast on 4 sts and knit around the (now second) sleeve.  Knit 1 inch (or however many were needed to reach 18 inches on the other sleeve) and start decreasing as before (two sts every fourth row, one st in from beg of round and one st before end of round).  Knit in stockinette st for 2 inches, then k2, p1 ribbing for 3 inches.  Bind off.

Finishing:

Graft eight sts together at armpit of first sleeve.  Pick up four sts from armpit of second sleeve and graft them to the four sts from the body.  Weave in ends, block.

Full of mistakes, I'm sure.  This hasn't actually been test knitted, just the one I did for myself (and believe me, I changed a lot based on the original!).  Advice welcomed :)

Can I Pretend ...

That this almost two-month lapse in blogging never occurred?  Cause ... I'm kind of ashamed ...

Okay, so I got the full-time position in the shoe department.  I work days (yay) so I don't have to put up with this open-until-11pm stuff.

I bought a car (I've never had a car before!) and her name is Molly:

2007 Pontiac G5.

Now that I'm not working late all the time, I find I'm going to my favourite yarn store more often.  But it's all good;  I'm making more money now!

Neglect!

Wow.  Sorry.

We moved on August 31st to the new place.  It's awesome.  :)

I'm waiting to see if I got the full-time position I applied for.  It'd still be the same place, different department.

Trying my hand at making my own spindle.

Ok, then.  See ya in a month.