Baby Cashmerino Cable Rib Socks

 

I am having a great time using the "2 socks on 2 circs" method. Such a time-saver & will take away my ability to procrastinate on sock #2! I really don't think it's taking that much longer to do 2, than it does to do 1. I've also learned a new cast-on, the cable cast on, but done as a combination of knit & purl. I wasn't paying enough attention & cast on as k1p1, when I really should have done k2p1, as that is the pattern of the sock itself. Oh well, it's still wonderfully stretchy & I think it'll pass inspection by all but the most discriminating. Hey, I'm a beginner, what do you expect?

My order from Threadbear arrived today (speedy speedy!) and I am in loooove with the Koigu. Unfortunately, I found out that there was a correction to the necktie pattern (printed in the issue with my sock pattern, ironically) & it actually takes 2 skeins of Koigu. So, I shall beg & plead on the Knitter's Review forum for another skein, in hopes that someone is willing to let one go. In the off chance someone reads this, it's P422, I am willing to swap and/or pay! And then my Cascade Eco Wool is the wrong color! Yeesh. They charged me for the right color, but the wrong one ended up in the bag. Ah well, I wasn't going to work on the sweater for awhile anyway...too hot! Socks & neckties are perfect summer knitting.

Ommmmm

I am at peace. I have found a pool of tranquility within myself. I am transcending. I am so full of it!

What I AM is knitting a bag for my yoga mat & I think it's pretty darn nifty. Especially since I'm using the rest of the Cotton Ease to do it, the pink adds a crazy preppy/citrus look to the mat.
See:

om bag & mat 

Not a look I would have planned, but that makes it even better that I like it so much. Plus, this is my first lace project, so I'm feeling pretty special right now. I even like the way it looks just laying around on its own:

om in progress 

The pattern is the Om Yoga Mat Bag from Stitch n Bitch Nation, a book that has very few patterns that appeal to me, this is one of them. I felt like they went a little overboard on the edgy/funky patterns, leaving us with fewer real-life options. Unless you're 17 & don't care what anybody thinks, you'll wear what you like. Man, 30 is old.

Anyway, back to the re-knit. Might just turn into an un-knit, no re. Unravelling gave me string. Not yarn, string.

sweater string 

I'm not sure I want to continue unravelling, or if I might want to pick up stitches & do something interesting for the neckline instead.

I feel like I had a rite of passage today. I placed my first order with Threadbear! Not a big one, a skein of Cascade Eco Wool to finish a sweater, a skein of Cascade 220 in a black & brown tweed to finish an Irish Hiking scarf & a skein of Koigu KPPM to knit a necktie for one of my favorite co-workers. Man, the Koigu was quite the slippery eel! I asked for a single skein of a particular color, when it turns out they had none I listed 4 alternates, all of which they were out of. Luckily, I knew from other blogs that Rob & Matt are excellent at making recommendations, so I gave Rob some basic info on the intended recipient & he suggested the last skein they had of P422. I jumped on it based on his description, and I'm really taking a leap of faith, as I can't find a picture of that particular colorway anywhere!

Should have my loot on Thursday, I can hardly wait!!! My first Koigu!

Which brings me to a slight dilemma. I can't for the life of me decide what to use (yarn & pattern-wise) for my Sockapal2za pal. I have some beautiful variegated turquoise/garnet/cerulean sock yarn from Plain & Fancy Sheep & Wool Co (originally meant for myself, but I would love to make a special gift of it). I have some light blue Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. I have a hankering to get some Blue Moon "Socks That Rock" from Threadbear. I really want to learn to handspin with a spindle @ a local fiber shop to make my own sock yarn with some superwash merino roving they offer. I can't decide on the yarn, don't get me started on the patterns! So, I'm thinking that rather than choose 1, I'll choose all. I'll make each one that I can & then I'll put it to the vote. Hopefully, I'll have some traffic at that point, but if not, I'll ask Alison to link to my poll on her site.

Take Back the Knit!

$3 =
1 & 1/2 boxes of Red Vines (mmmmm, Red Vines);
greeting card to cheer up my mom;
15 minutes of my time (yes, apparently I do come that cheap)
OR

 

Re-Knit Project - J. Crew Linen/Cotton Sweater 
A loverly cotton/linen blend J. Crew sweater in excellent nick @ Diversity Thrift! (Dog free w/purchase)

I originally figured this would work for a Rowan sweater that Phil has his eye on. But I can just tell the gauge is all wrong, too big. So maybe an hourglass sweater? I'm thinking it would be too heavy, so for now I shall ri-i-i-i-i-p it out & see what I think of it when it's just a couple hunky hanks.

One Skein Wonder - Addendum

Well, here she is, home from work. She had many compliments & I am already certain I have at least 3 other outfits waiting to meet her! I love that the pattern fits so well with no adjustment for the "ample figured." Easy peasy!


OSK - front 


OSK - Side 


OSK - Back 

And this one was prompted by the Mr.

OSK - Silliness 

One Skein Wonder

One Skein Wonder 

Specs -
Pattern: Glampyre's One Skein Wonder
Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Ease in Bubblegum
Needles & Such: Denise size 9's & 6's (I can't knit loosely no matter how I try)

Doesn't get much easier than this! So cute & summery, and I thought I hated shrugs. Ah well, I'm not one to let everybody else have all the fun. I also have never been a fan of the pink & me combination, but I think it actually looks good with my skintone, who knew?

The pattern was simple, but I think a bit of explanation would be necessary for an absolute beginner. I think this would be a really satisfying project for someone new to knitting, esp. circular knitting. It's not as much of an investment of time & money as a sweater, and is an equally nice wardrobe addition.

Maybe I'll get some photos up of it on tomorrow night if I can wrangle the Mr. into taking some. I might even wear it to work tomorrow!

Shedir - First of Many!

This was such a great project, I am already planning one in black & another in brown. I'm sure the Mr. would like it in a more manly color scheme.


Shedir - top view 


Shedir - flat 

Specs -
Pattern: Shedir from Knitty Fall 2004 Surprise
Yarn: Rowan Calmer in color Lucky #484
Needles: Addi Turbo #3 32" (used 2 circulars instead of 1 circular & dpns), no cable needle used as per Wendy's method

Adjustment -
The only change I made to the pattern was to make one less cable repeat. My mom has a bit of a small head & I don't know that she would like her head to be as covered as the original, so I think the slightly shorter version will suit her better. We shall see!

Oops -
1. The usual M1 mistake I always make - knit through the front instead of the back loop! Actually, I like the mini-eyelet effect, so I'm not complaining & I doubt my mom will either.

2. For some inexplicable reason I shifted 1 st after the first twist & this caused the first cable not to line up. I wish I had noticed what this was at the time, but again, I'm not losing sleep over it. I am glad I won't have to look at it on a daily basis, it would make my hands itch to fix it!

P2tog tbl...woah

I had to post this ASAP, in hope of helping others who might be tearing their hair out trying to decipher this clever (read:diabolical!) trick.

This website is fantastic! Video clips of all sorts of knitting techniques, beginner & advanced. The thing that impressed me the most is the fact that she has separate clips for English & Continental knitters.

So if you know Shedir, then you know that I am zipping along & almost done with this little beauty. I am quite impressed with myself actually! The only other real cabling project I've done has been the Cafe Bastille Sweater from Interweave Knits & I never quite "got it" with that project. This time I really understand how the cabling works & how the sequence should follow. It's a really good feeling, this burgeoning confidence & hey, I'm extraspicy, baby!

Taking A Time-Out

That would be the Hourglass. I am not yet feeling up to ripping it out/down, so I have started another project in the meantime...started & almost finished! See:


Shedir day 2 

Next item in the queue is in the top corner of the photo, the One Skein Wonder. This pattern has been getting some major blogspace lately & it's easy to see why! I stopped into the local Tuesday Morning (I think this place is East Coast/Mid-Atlantic only. Kind of a cross between Marshall's & Big Lots.) as I saw on a S&B list that they had Lion Brand Cotton-Ease there. Sure enough they had 3-packs for $5.99, so I picked up 1 of the pink. There was one more pink pack & I think I might go back to make a sweater for Phil's niece. There is another store relatively close by & I'm thinking of calling them tomorrow to see if they have any other colors I want (red, orange or black) as this location only had the candy blue, turquoise & pink colors.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that I am a proud Sock-a-pal-2-zer!! I'm so excited about this & am dreaming up all sorts of combinations for my pal. Not shy about colors & only states a reservation about lace (ditto!), the possibilities are endless!

Enough fo rnow, back to Shedir!

Hourglass Sweater for Pro Basketball Players

Unfortunately, my enthusiasm for this sweater overshadowed my common sense. Every time I thought to myself, "looks a little bit big," I hushed the voice & continued on. Now, I'm still a beginner at this sweater game, so I don't yet trust the gut instinct that tells me the sleeve looks suspicious...or that the Russian Joins really do stand out against all the rest of that clean stockinette. Sadly, sometimes the voices are right. This is one of those times. The sleeves, well, see for yourself.

full frontal 

They are miles too long. The body, which seemed just right before I joined the sleeves, is far too long as well.

Time to retreat, I think. That would be the reason for the curling bound off edge at the neck. I just figured I should take a "before" pic to compare with what I plan on being a fabulous "after" a few weeks from now. Oh, I do not look forward to ripping this out. I have yet to master the winding around a chair thing to form hanks.

Stats:
Hourglass Sweater from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts
Largest Size (49")
Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran on Denise Interchangeables size 7