In the Zone and Even Seasoned Knitters Make Mistakes

I am officially in baby knitting zone. Here is a new project I started. The pattern is Pembroke and it is a vest I am knitting in Knit Picks Comfy. I love the deep blue color and Comfy is so soft!

I think little boys in vests have an irresistible preppy adorable look and therefore it is only fitting that I should make a vest for my son.

I cast on this project after I realized I couldn't begin a Fruit Cap I was planning to match one I already knit for baby girl. I ordered the color yarn I wanted from Webs, but when it arrived I realized instead of Tahki Cotton Classic, I ordered Tahki Cotton Classic Lite which is actually a sport weight and not the DK weight of the contrasting yarn I already had in my stash. Doh! Rookie mistake, but new yarn is now ordered and while I await its arrival I needed a new project, and cast on the vest.

Here is the infamous yarn.  It will go in my stash for another project down the road.

Getting closer.....

I am dangerously close to having no projects on my needles, except for the long-term Never-ending Sock Garden Blanket, that I expect will be a project for years to come.

Today I show you my completed Electric Fruit Loop Socks, which are now dry after blocking.

Pattern: Fruit Loop by Kristi Geraci from Knitty, Spring 2008
Needles: US 1 Circular
Yarn: Knit Picks Bare Superwash Merino/Nylon Fingering Weight - hand-dyed with Kool-Aid (for details on how to dye your own see my tutorial)
Started: October 24, 2009
Completed: December 3, 2010

 

The yarn is delightfully squishy and soft knitted up and I think the hand-dyed yarn worked well for this pattern.  And just in time for some very cold weather, I will definitely be getting some use out of these socks sooner rather than later. 

Bell Sleeves Waiting for a Zipper

Par for the course, Bell Sleeved Jacket has been finished for awhile now and waiting for a zipper. I have even worn it a few times. But alas no pictures were taken until the zipper was in it's place (and that place is not on my bookshelf collecting dust where the zipper has sat for months)!

Well, the final task is done and here are the photos to prove it.

The yarn was something I picked up on sale at knit picks and I love the color and stitch definition, but it is a little itchy. Not such a problem as this is a jacket, and will almost always be worn with a long-sleeved shirt underneath. It should see a lot of use this fall and winter.






This was my first attempt at a Vogue Knitting Pattern, and I do have to express my dissatisfaction with the many pattern errors that were not even listed in the Errata. I also was shocked that the pattern's largest size was only a medium!?!? I added stitches on each side to make what I call a medium plus size. I kept all other sizing the same (I am petite, but a needed a bit more room through the bust).








Pattern: Bell Sleeved Jacket, Vogue Knitting Holiday 2006
Size: Medium Plus (modified medium)
Needles: US Size 7
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes - Color Hush 15 skeins
Started: January 2008
Completed: November 6, 2010

On making progress

Remember this? 

I am on the collar of Bell Sleeve Jacket, and have been making steady progress while enjoying the HBO series Rome over the last few weeks.  I love Netflix.

I am hopeful that this sweater will be done in time to get some use out of it while it is still cold.   Almost there!

Cables, Cables

Here is a peak at one of the front panels of Bell Sleeve Jacket. I am done with the back and about half done with the left front panel.

I am in Love!

With my new camera lens. Here are some test shots. Bell Sleeve Jacket. A frog holder for my tape measure and other accessories. And last, but definitely not least, a little cheer me up I picked up from the yarn store yesterday.....Selbuvotter!

Love the lens, and I have only had it 4 hours!

Bell Sleeved Jacket Progress

DSC_1340, originally uploaded by suntheim.

I haven't posted in awhile. As many of you may have guessed or known, I am back in the swing of school, and the blog has taken a backseat. However, I am still knitting a little bit.

Here is the progress I've made on Bell Sleeve Jacket. I have about 7 inches left on the back. I have made some modifications to the pattern which I will outline once I am done with the sweater. The biggest of these was to make a bigger size than the pattern instructions go up to. Even with that, I still wasn't convinced it would fit me. Once I pinned the edges out to take the photo though, my gauge is dead on, and I am pretty sure it will fit.

So much fun to knit!

Warm weather means....

DSC_1281, originally uploaded by suntheim.

Sweater time?

Two nights ago I cast on for Bell Sleeve Jacket from Vogue Knittings Holiday 2006 Issue.

This is the beginning of the back. I am using Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in a color called Hush. The yarn is a little rough to work with, but actually softened up to my hands as i knit with it a bit. I really love this color.

Not feeling well is good for my knitting

Haven't posted in awhile. School is kind of kicking my butt, so I haven't had much knitting time. However, yesterday I was feeling very dizzy and out of it, so I went home sick, and although I did not do much knitting yesterday (I mostly slept), I did pick up my needles today, as I am feeling somewhat better, but not well enough to focus on schoolwork. I doubled the length of Branching Out. Tonight I am hoping to finally finish Bunny Beanie for a baby that was born about a month ago.

I am also a new Auntie (again) to a beautiful baby girl, and have a project on my needles that won't be revealed until later for the new baby. But if you are on Ravelry, you can check my WIPs and see pics of the secret work there.

I also never posted pictures of the finished Not Your Standard Issue Sweatshirt which has been complete for awhile. I am wearing it often, now that the weather finally got cold. So here you go! Knit in Knit Picks Main Line on Size 10.5 Needles. The perfect lounge-around sweater for fall!


Also recently finished is a pair of Fetching Fingerless Mittens made with left over Main Line on Size 6 Double Points. I loved the pair I made for my sister for Christmas last year, that I wanted a pair for myself.

We're Blocking

Okay, so I am blocking Not Your Standard Issue Sweatshirt (NYSIS). I am not really an experienced blocker, I have done it twice before (one time steam, one time wet). Actually, NYSIS looked pretty good without blocking, but I wanted to add some length to the body. It was just ever so slightly too short for my taste. I know blocking purists would gasp to see that I am blocking after I sewed all the piece together, and a only used a few pins. But I am not a purist, and so here it is in all its glory. If I decide I really love blocking, perhaps someday I will invest in blocking board. But for now, my living room floor with towels and garbage bags to protect the carpet will have to do.

I still can't believe NYSIS is done! I am itching too start my next sweater, but I have some gifts I need to work on first.