WiP Wednesday

I think this post should really be titled WiP Wednesday - The Blue Edition or maybe WiP Wednesday - One of these Things is not Like the Others.  I knew I was leaning toward a lot of blue lately, but WOW!  When you put it all beside each other, there's really no escaping it :-)

I had a little more startitis over the weekend and cast on another sock project.  This is Firestarter by Yarnissima.  I'm using it for the SKA cable challenge.  The cables aren't a big challenge for me, but toe up is.  Getting a good fit is always a challenge for me.  I'm hoping this one works out.

I've gotten a couple pattern repeats completed on my Clandestine socks.  I keep waffling between finishing or frogging with this one.  I've loved the look of the finished sock since it was first released, but I'm not really enjoying the knitting this one.  I'm not really sure why.  Maybe it's the twisted stitches?  I don't know, but I'll probably stick with it though because I do love the look of the sock when it's finished.

I've gotten a start on clue #2 of the mystery sock.  Clue #3 came out today so I have some catching up to do with this one.

Now for the sweaters.... This is the first sleeve of Que Sera.  I have about 10 inches done so far.  I'm really enjoying the pattern and I have to say that projects at this gauge move along nicely!

Finally, something that's not blue!  Vodka Gimlet sweater, which is my car knitting.  I'm almost ready to separate the sleeves from the body.  I feel like that's a milestone in a top down sweater and that the rest of the body goes so much quicker.  There are so many stitches though right now that it takes me about an hour to complete 4 rows.  And I'm still adding stitches...

The biggest challenge for me right now is deciding which project to work on when I get a chance to sit and knit for a bit!  Tell me what you think.  Which of these is your favorite?

Mystery Monday

I joined a new Mystery Sock KAL in the Dragonfly Fibers group this weekend.  The design is a collaboration between Turtlegirl76 and Rosi G.  I wasn't going to join because it was suggested that lighter colors would be better to show the pattern and all I had in my stash was a skein of Djinni in Arctic Pearl and I thought it may be too dark. When I made that comment on Cristi's blog Friday, I got an email back from her that she thought this color would look awesome and that I should DOOOO IT!!!! LOL That's about all the encouragement it took.  I've been anxious to try this yarn since I bought it at Sock Summit 11, so I would it up yesterday and cast on in the afternoon.  It didn't take long at all to get through clue #1!  This first picture is a better representation of the color, and I think Cristi was right.  It does look great!

This picture shows the design a little better.

Clue #2 has been released so I'll be moving on to that today or tomorrow.

I'm also using the new Knitter's Pride needle for this sock.  They've gotten great reviews in many places, but I'm not sold on them.  The cable is really nice for magic loop.  It has plenty of flex but it's not too floppy.  The needle itself has a soft feel and it's quite rigid. The tips are a little too blunt though for my taste and the join is not quite as smooth as other brands I've used.  For $8 though, it's a decent buy.  I'd like to try the metal version too.  If I see them at my LYS I'm sure I'll pick them up and give them a try.

Catching Up

I've had the best of intentions to do a quick blog post each day for a bit to catch up on all the projects I've been working on, but that clearly hasn't worked out very well for me.  Each day seems to slip by me and I haven't quite finished everything I've wanted to.  So I'm just going to do one catch up post and feel better about it.  How silly of me to put that pressure on myself!

Anyway, I finished the Washington Square sweater a couple weeks ago and I have to say that I love it!  I've worn it several times and washed it a couple times also.  This first picture is after it's first trip through the washer and dryer.  I used Miss Babs Yowsa for this sweater, which is super wash wool, and it is fantastic!  It's smooth to knit with and it has a gorgeous bloom once it's washed.  (The picture is kind of dark, sorry, but if you click on it it seems to be a little better)

 

Here's the detail of the yoke.  Easy peasy pattern and I like the effect.

I found these cool buttons at JoAnn's Fabrics.  They're a little darker and richer in real life and match beautifully.

I would definitely make this sweater again because it is so comfortable to wear.  The only thing I would do differently is knit it at least one size smaller than I did, maybe two.  The ribbing on the body is very forgiving, and the yoke design seemed to grow a bit.  I would also pick up fewer button band stitches, especially in the yoke area.


I also finished my Rambutan socks from the December shipment of the Cookie A Sock Club.  I used the club yarn, which was Bugga for December.

This pattern is mirrored for a left and right sock.  I don't knit patterns like that often but they are fun to do once in a while.

Here's a close up of the leg pattern.

I didn't make any modifications.  As is true for me with most patterns by Cookie A, it just wasn't necessary!

So with a couple projects finished, I got sidetracked by the many, many patterns in my queue and decided that I really wanted a new sweater for spring.  I picked out a few that interested right now and went to Spinning Yarns to see what yarns they had in stock that would work with the patterns I picked out.  I decided on Que Sera and am using the suggested yarn, Blue Sky Alpaca's Organic Cotton.  My swatch was perfect with the suggested needle size, so I cast on the first sleeve Wednesday.

I also was itching to start a new sock and decided on Clandestine, which is the pattern for March in the Knit Sock Love KAL group on Ravelry.  It just so happened that I had bought Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Cookie's Deep Dark Secret at Stitches East in October 2009 intending to knit this pattern with it.  I knew I had it, but I had to dig down a bit in my sock yarn bin to find it :-)

So how does all of this affect my personal Stash Down goal for this year?  Honestly, I'm doing ok.  I've destashed a few skeins from my stash so that helps too, but overall, even with club yarns coming in and the new yarn I bought last week, I'm still down 506 yards!

Little Flower

Finally a finished project!  I joined the Sock Knitters Anonymous Mystery KAL in January.  The designer was Carrie Sullivan aka Irishgirlieknits, who I love so much!  The theme for the month was Fauna and Flora.  I was not excited about the theme, but once it started, oh my!  There are so many great choices inspired by nature!  Who knew?  I could have knit socks for 6 months from this theme alone!  The pattern name is Blathnat, which means Little Flower in Gaelic.

The cuff started with a leaf motif that naturally worked a zigzag  edging.  Then there was a lacy flower,

that was supported by a stem on the heel flap.

The front of the sock has the same lacy flower and stem on the foot.

This was a fun pattern to do.  I used the Plucky Knitter Primo fingering in the Classics color way Hope is a Good Thing.  I chose this yarn because I know that Primo is one of Carrie's favorite sock yarns and blue is her favorite color.  It seemed like a perfect match!

I decided to give these socks to my mother for her birthday this week.  Believe me when I say it was HARD to part with them.  My mom loves them though and I'm sure she showed them off to her friends at swim therapy today :-)

WiP Wednesday

I told you yesterday that I've finished a couple projects, but since it's Wednesday I thought I would show you my WiP's instead.

Two projects have been getting the bulk of my attention lately.  First up is Rambuten socks from the December installment of the Cookie A sock club.  I turned the heel of the second sock Monday night and am heading down the foot now.

The other project I've been working on is my Vodka Gimlet sweater.  Super easy stockinette right now with some top down raglan shaping.  This is currently my car knitting. It soothes my nerves while I ride in the passenger seat and Chandler practices driving.  I can knit or purl with the best of them while constantly asking "What's the speed limit here?"

I also may have stopped by my LYS today and bought some new yarn for a spring/summer sweater.  This beautiful early spring weather has had me dreaming of a lacy cardigan or a short sleeve pullover.  Let the swatching begin!

Ten on Tuesday

First let me apologize for the radio silence going on here.  I got sidetracked by School Vacation week and then Life, and haven't gotten back on track yet.  Soon though, very soon, because I have some great FO's to show you.  But for today..... it's time for 10 on Tuesday!  This week's prompt is so fantastic that I couldn't let another week sneak by without participating.  So let me share with you.....

10 Songs that Make Me Happy!

1. Rainbow Connection.  The Muppets performed it on Good Morning America this morning and I have been smiling all day thinking about it.  It seemed only fitting that I include it!


2. Here Comes the Sun by The Beatles.


3.  Shake Your Groove Thing by Peaches and Cream


4. We Are Family by Sister Sledge.  This was the first song played at my Wedding Reception, after our first dance of course.  It was a great way to kick off what was a great party!

Plus I always think of the movie The Birdcage when I hear this song too!

5. It's Raining Men by Weather Girls.  It's just a fun song!


6. Home Sweet Home by Motley Crue


7. Used to Lover Her by Guns N Roses.  This song just makes me laugh.  Such a twisted topic but set to such a happy little ditty.  It cracks me up every time I hear it.


8. Dancing in the Street by Van Halen.


9. Walking on Sunshine by Katrina and the Waves.  It make me think of summer.


10. Jailbreak by AC/DC.  It's my favorite AC/DC song and I just have to crank the radio every time it comes on.  It makes me feel like a rebel :-)


These are some of the songs that make me happy, whether it's because of a memory linked to them, or they make me laugh or smile.  What are some of yours?