First Cardigan

As many of you know, I'm on Ravelry a lot. A group of us in the main thread I'm in, decided to do a sort of knit-a-long. Not for any specific pattern, mind you, but to help spur us toward making a sweater or cardigan within a certain amount of time. Since I hadn't made any such garments for myself (or anyone, for that matter) in years, I joined, with the help of one of my dear friends.

Anyway, I actually managed to finish it within the allotted time, and I have to say I'm quite pleased with it. Maybe even a little proud. I've never in my life made anything like this before, and definitely not with this nice a yarn. I'm hoping it won't be the last time, either.

I chose to make the February Lady sweater, thinking I'd get the most use out of it, since I tend to run a little on the warm side these days.

Some Selfish Knitting

Project:	Sewanee
Pattern:	Sewanee
Size:	N/A
Yarn:	Roman Hills Gissing
Colors:	Dance Dance #1 Jungle Boogie
Needles:	US3
Gauge:	GAUGE USED
Ravelry link:	Hop on over!

I've done a lot of gift knitting this year, but some selfish projects as well. I'm showing these in no particular order.

I was gifted this yarn in the last swap I did on ravelry. I love the color, and the yarn's a dream to knit with. I had a few fits with the pattern, but I love the end result.

Old Song

This is getting to be an old song, huh? In all honesty, the fact that I let the blog go for so long and having so much to catch up on was a little daunting. It still is, as a matter of fact, and it didn't help matters that it made me procrastinate even more, making the gap that much bigger. I am here to try and rectify that, however, but we'll see how that fares.

I think, in order to make things a little easier for myself, I'll do groupings of things I've done. Like socks or shawls, for example.

Hats'll be up first, since I've made a few of them. There's one I'd love to share with you, but since it's a test knit, I'm not yet at liberty to do so.

Dusting Off And Starting Anew

*Dusts off and glances around* Well, I must say, things aren't looking too shabby for my having neglected this blog again. I do apologize, though. I keep meaning to post, and I keep forgetting! This makes for quite a bit of catching up to do, on my part, so I will stagger the posts a little, or they'd be way too long.


So let's start with the Dr Who swap I was in last year, since I can finally share all the goodies I made for my swapee.

Been A While Again

Yeah, yeah, I know, I've been MIA again a while. Partially because I've had another extended period of not being able to do anything, thanks for my fibro acting up, and partially due to the fact that what crafting I've done has mostly been for a swap. One that isn't done yet, so I can't share anything at this point. I will, though, once it's over and my recipient's gotten her package. ;-)

Finally!

I've had this blanket finished for close to a year now, and was finally able to ship it out to my friend's little boy. Only a year late, but hey. She received it today, so I get to share it with you!

Deirdre Et Al

Deirdre is now officially blocked. I've decided to keep her as a birthday present to myself. Hopefully she'll be all dried up and ready to wear by Sunday (not that I'm planning anything, but it's the idea of it).

Deirdre!

I just finished binding off on my Deirdre shawl! The colors worked out so nicely, I'm quite pleased. The shawl turned out very differently to what I was expecting, given the image provided with the pattern. It's definitely a bit smaller than I was wanting, so I'm hoping it'll block out well.

Hesitant

I just cast off on the Tongues of Fire stole, and I'm having doubts on the length of it. I'm hoping that it'll gain some length once I block it. I did try to see how much there'd be gained by blocking a small part of it, and I think it'll be okay... but to see it off the needles as it is right now, I'm worried... very worried.

More Show And Tell

Yay, I learned something new today! What did I learn, I hear you ask? I learned how to make a thumb in a glove ;-). I'd always been a bit scared about trying, because the idea of having to drop stitches (tiny ones, at that!) in the middle of something I've worked hard at... well, it scared the shit out of me. Even now, after I've done it.

It was tricky, and I messed up and had to re-do the thumb twice, but in the end, I think it worked out okay. I'm pretty pleased with them, anyway. Too bad they're a gift, and not for keeps.

 

Slowly But Surely...

I'm making strides on the crafting front, albeit very slow ones. I knit this Liesel scarf back in 2007, and I've only just blocked it. Yeah, kinda fail there, but oh well. Better late, than never, right?

the whole thing all blocked:

Almost Forgot!

I can finally show the second Elise shawl I crocheted, since I gave it to my Mother-in-Law last week for Mother's Day (okay, okay, a few days, late, but it still counts).

Here's a picture pre-blocking:

Blocking Away!

I just finished wet-blocking my At The Deep End shawl (aka the Elise Shawl I crocheted a while back). It was a little intimidating, because while soaking, a lot of dye seemed to leach out of it. Never had that happen to me before, but then again, I've never worked with that yarn before, either. Hopefully it won't do so again if it ever gets wet.

Anyway!

Here's a before picture:

I Did It... I Think

I took my first stab at blocking today. Not entirely sure if I did it right, but it seems to have worked.

Hey, MsKathy, I remembered to take before and after pictures, just so you could see. Hope it helps.

Before blocking:

Caved... A Little...

I've been teasing poor Jen about her gifts, and figured I'd show her one of the things I've been working on. Since I'd just cast off on these, they seemed the perfect choice.

Project:	Falcons Fingerless Gloves
Pattern:	none used
Size:	medium
Yarn:	Red Heart
Colors:	Black & Red
Needles:	US5
Gauge:	none
Ravelry link:	Hop on over!

I've got one other thing completely finished, and I need a little help from hubs to finish the other, but it's basically done, too. What else do I have up my sleeve? No idea. I have the rest of this month to figure it out, though ;-)

Slugging Along

Well, sort of. I finished of gift # 2 for Jen the other day, and cast on for #3. This should be the last of the knitted items (at least, that I had planned). Then I just have to figure out what else to do. I have ideas, it's just a question of means.

I haven't had the heart to look at my shawls yet. Kinda got burnt on that after the yardage fiasco. Do want to pick them both up again though.

Also, need to figure out a way to get the lace I've done already, blocked. Twice now, I've taken it to MIL's and not done it. Why? Because I'm worried they won't dry in time for me to take home again, and I do not trust them not to mess with it if I leave it (kids + dog = trouble). So home it is, just need to figure out a way.

An Impromptu FO

I needed some utterly mindless knitting, since I couldn't get my brain to function properly enough to focus on a actual pattern (that's what I get for thinking I can start on that shawl this time of the month). Since I still haven't been able to get yarn for the other project I've got going, and I wasn't in the mood to deal with a huge blanket, I resorted to this:

Project:	Kitty hat
Pattern:	no pattern used
Size:	22"
Yarn:	Simply Soft
Colors:	Raspberry
Needles:	size 8
Gauge:	none
Ravelry link:	Hop on over!

I look utterly ridiculous, but there you have it. No, I didn't knit it for me. I just knit it because I had scrap yarn, and I could. No idea what I'm going to do with it.

Now I have another problem. What to work on next, because I'm still not in a mindset for anything complicated.

Another FO

Just cast off on my scarf. I'm very pleased with how it turned out. What do you think?

Project:	Pink Dr Who scarf
Pattern:	The Corrugator
Size:	one size
Yarn:	Patons Classic Wool
Colors:	Rosewood
Needles:	US 8
Gauge:	none
Ravelry link:	Hop on over!

Now... do I keep this for myself, or gift it? *ponders*

Oh, and of course now I have to find another project to work on that doesn't require too much concentration. Time to scour patterns and yarn, I suppose. ;-)

Yippie!

I just cast off on my scarf! I love it! Now I just need to find a way to block it, so you can really see it pop. I'm so pleased with it, though. I'm almost sad to see it done, actually. Once I got the hang of it, it was a pleasure to knit, especially with this yarn! So soft!

Project:	At The Deep End scarf
Pattern:	Feather and Fan scarf
Size:	one size
Yarn:	At The Deep End       50% Superwash Merino 50% Tencel
Colors:	blue/green/yellow
Needles:	US 5
Gauge:	none
Ravelry link:	Hop on over!

Now to figure out whether I'm casting on something else, or working on one of my WIPs ;-)

Another FO

Behold, another set of fingerless gloves. I kinda like making these, they're quick, simple. And look pretty good. Hopefully Em will like them.

Project:	Easy Fingerless Gloves
Pattern:	Easy Fingerless Gloves
Size:	one size
Yarn:	Caron Simply Soft
Colors:	green
Needles:	US 5
Gauge:	none
Ravelry link:	Hop on over!

Not planning on casting on any more for a while, though. Mind, "planning" being the operative word. There are, after all, several other projects already on the needles. Not to mention, have some gift knitting to do shortly.