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.

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. ;-)

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).

Catching Up

Wow, I didn't realize how long it's been since I posted last. Life went just a little crazy (okay, a lot crazy) and I lost track of time. So sorry about that.

Anyway. Hubby took me to Black Sheep Gathering last month, and we had fun. There were a few things I missed from other years (no Angora bunnies on display, nor were there Alpacas, bar two out front). I noticed there was a huge increase in fiber for sale, compared to actual yarn for sale, which struck me as interesting. I guess spinning's becoming more and more the thing to do. Too bad I can't do it (no, really, I tried. My hands hurt like crazy when I use a spindle, and since I have neither room or money for an actual spinning wheel, I'm not likely to find out whether I can do it that way instead).

Socks!

Well, I finally took the plunge after much searching for a pattern that might work for me. Since I'm fairly inept as of yet, at understanding and tweaking patterns, it needed to be very cut and dry for me. I couldn't really find one, but the girl on Ravelry came to my aid, and pointed me to a wonderful tutorial and a recipe rather than a pattern. Isn't that the same thing, you ask? Yes, but not quite.

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 ;-)

Random Act Of Kindness

A friend from Ravelry sent me a care-package! I couldn't believe it when I opened the box and found all these goodies! Check it out :-)

A lot of yarn, chocolate, a card, DPNs, and a UU-stitchmarker (UU is the acronym of the group we're in on Ravelry). So cool!

 These two are designated to (hopefully) become Endpaper Mits, by Eunny Jang.

 

 I have no idea what I'm making with this yet.

This, however, I already know what I'm making with. Next on my to-do list. We'll do a crochet-a-long in the thread for the Eva's Shawl.

Thanks you again, Amber, for the lovely gifts. It made a crappy week a lot brighter. I look forward to show off the projects as they come along.

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 ;-)

Progress!

I've finally gotten the hang of this pattern without constantly having to count my stitches, which makes me happy. What makes me even happier?

This:

I'd guestimate I'm about halfway through my skein right now, so it's looking to be a decent length scarf. And pretty! I'm loving how the colors are working up, and the pattern, too. So simple, and yet...

Showing Off WIP

Well, I frogged the first attempt at the Feather and Fan scarf (yes, scarf. I read the name wrong, earlier. It is, in fact, a scarf), but have made some good headway with it now.

The pattern itself is fairly easy to memorize. Less easy is not accidentally adding stitches. Oh well.

See? I know it's not easy to see, given the lighting and the backdrop of my laptop screen, but you should get a fair idea. I like how it's turning out. At first, I was iffy on the combination of yarn/pattern, but it seems to be working out well enough. The yarn itself is yummy to work with. So soft. *sigh* Love it. Almost don't want the scarf to come to an end. Lucky for me, I still have a ways to go before it's done.

Oh, I found a picture of the yarn pre-wind (though no longer all nicely rolled up. It gives a better idea on the colors, though).

Isn't it lovely?

Selfish Knitting

Going to cast on for something for me. Maylin gifted me with two specially dyed yarns, inspired by At The Deep End. The first, as you have seen, I made into a crocheted shawl. The second (which was actually the first version of the yarn) took a while longer to talk to me.

I think I have finally figured out what it wants to be. At least, I hope so. I'm going to try to make this simple Feather and Fan Shawl. Since it's a rectangular shawl, I should be able to knit until I run out of yarn. It looks simple enough, but I'm a lace-novice, so we'll see.

Wish me luck!