Finished Projects!!!

It's official. I'm a slacker. It's been a very long time since I've had a completely completed project (i.e., ends woven in and everything). Let's face it, it's been a long time since I've had anything to show on the blog. And not only do I have one, I have two.


Moss Stitch Scarf














Yarn: Reynolds Blizzard (2 balls)
Needles: Clover Bamboo, size 15
Pattern: My own design
Start: September 2007
Finished: October 1, 2007


I've had the yarn for a while and knew what I wanted to do with it, just lacked the motivation or focus to get it started. It's just a basic scarf in a moss stitch. I have one more ball that will probably get used for a matching moss stitch hat. Its very fuzzy and warm. It would make a very good go play in the snow hat. I realized after the fact it would have been far easier if I had added or subtracted one stitch instead of having to figure out whether I needed to knit or pul when turning.



Here and There Cables














Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, 8 balls
Needles: Clover Bamboo, size 8
Pattern: Scarf Style - Here and There Cables
Started: April 17, 2007
Finished: October 1, 2007

This was scarf was started when I needed a project that could travel home with me last spring. I never thought this project could possibly take this long. Its one of those projects you need to pay attention to to make sure you're cabling the right rows...which there are many errors in the project. I did add two rows between cables. It started out as a mistake, and I realized I liked them better when they were spread out more. But 8 balls of cashmerino seems to go on and on. And I finally finished it all last night and wove in all the ends. I think it may become a christmas present for a friend that isn't aware of the blog. But I am very happy to have it finished, finally. I had to include the picture of weighing the scarf as it was a bit cumbersome and heavy towards the end, but very warm and fuzzy.

More finished projects to come soon.

-S

Ravelry t-shirts!

If you haven't already spotted them once you sign in, Ravelry is now offering t-shirts. I purchased the black one that says "I swatched Ravelry". The picture below is a closeup of the detail.



They clearly mention that the size runs small as it is an American Apparel t-shirt. I have a 42 bust and ordered the XXL just in case. I have an XL shirt of this from American Apparel and it's really only appropriate in size for staying in my house. I also swung by my LYS and picked up enough Mission Falls 1824 Wool in Pistachio to start the Minimalist Cardigan from Interweave.



Just gotta get one of those scarves done and I will be ready to cast on.

-B

FOs and a Drop Spindle Kit

Well, I have officially blocked the Derby Poncho. Below are some pictures that DH took for me of the work in full and in detail.



I feel really accomplished with this knit because I feel like it sets me up to try my hand at a sweater. I think it will be one from Rowan. I have the yarn since I ordered it from Webs last spring when it was on closeout. So, it's just a matter of finishing some FOs from the list on the right before I cast on. Speaking of UFOs, I am about half way through the Chevron Scarf, just cast on My So-Called Scarf in the Manos #113 colorway, and am working on the second square of the Heirloom Afghan. I feel like I need to get at least one of those off the needles before taking on the sweater project. I've been working most on the Chevron. I've gotten hooked on the "Watch Now" feature of Netflix, so I've been watching the first season of Law & Order: SVU while the Chevron and I bond.

I also finished the Everlasting Bagstopper, but will hold off on posting pictures of it until the intended user has received it. Once she has, I will have a flurry of this project that I am destined to knit again.

I have been itching to try my hand at spinning, but don't want to rush into it. So, I picked up a Drop Spindle Kit over the weekend. I am excited to try it out and see how I do. The kit is a great one put together by Aboundingful Farm . I will keep you updated on the progress as it develops. Maybe I'll see how it takes by the time Rhinebeck rolls around, and perhaps I will come home with some fleeces to spin on my own. Only 34 days until Rhinebeck is here, so I keep knitting to feel like I have gotten through a good amount of stash to justify the cash that will be dropped that weekend. Can't wait!

-B

Two Book Reviews

I'm surprised that at least ten days have gone by since I last posted. I've made good progress with my knitting this past few weeks, especially in light of how busy work has become again. I realized last night, however, that I had finished two more knitting mysteries and never posted about them. Both books were enjoyable, although I am enjoying one series more than the other.



I have continued to read the Knitting Mysteries by Maggie Sefton. I finished book two, Needled to Death, a few weeks ago, and once again enjoyed the adventures of Kelly and her friends as they piece together another murder mystery in their knitting community. The characters were better developed in this second book, but the author continues to try and have too many friends at the knitting shop, and therefore, since not many of them have developed solid plot lines, they are often confused for each other by this reader. I wish she would pare down the amount of characters and focus on the story, but perhaps she has something planned for all of them in future books. I already have reserved the next book in the series, A Deadly Yarn, at the library in hopes that the series improves.



The other knitting mystery that I read last month was Knit Fast, Die Young by Mary Kruger. I totally love this series. What Sefton is still working through, Kruger does wonderfully. The mystery is interesting, Kruger does an amazing job of developing characters that matter, and I would love to visit the imaginary shop in the book. As someone who has spent time in the Buzzards Bay area of Massachusetts, I also enjoy the regional references that Ms. Kruger provides since she lives there. Ariadne, LYS owner and designer, and Diane, her best friend and spinner, team up again in this book with Ariadne's possible boyfriend, Detective Josh Pierce, to solve mysteries and keep their daily lives as sane as possible. I can't wait for the next one in this series, but don't know when it's coming. Here's to soon!

-B

Knitting in the Mountains

While there were grand plans to get some pics of me knitting the Everlasting Bagstopper from Knitty while we were out camping this weekend, I sadly left it in the car. I picked this pattern as gift to make for a friend of ours. I have picked up, no pun intended, a new skill in this project...picking up stitches. I found some good help over on knittinghelp.com, and got past turning the the straight knitting into circular knitting and even switched needle sizes. I have a feeling that that bag is going to move quickly, and it may become the Christmas gift that everyone will be receiving this year. I like the ease of the pattern, making homemade gifts for presents, and the message behind the reusable bag. DH and I have been very conscious about being green for the majority of our adult lives, but always like passing some knowledge and awareness on to others.

As far as other knitting news, I have started to read the second novel in the series that started with Died in the Wool. Knit Fast, Die Hard continues the mysterious adventures of Freeport, Massachusetts residents Ari and Diane. Ari owns Ariadne's Web, the LYS, and always seems to be stumbling across a murder mystery. I really enjoy this series because the characters are well developed and Mary Kruger keeps the main characters to a minimum in order for the reader to know them well. Also, the poncho is done!!! I will be posting pictures of the final piece later this week.

-B

First Secret Pal Package

I participated in the Monthly Dishcloth Group Dishcloth Exchange this month. While my cloth to my pal is about to come off the needles, I received the package from the person who knit for me. I received the most adorable items pictured below.



The dishcloth is the Bumble pattern from knitsbyrachel.com,


the bumble bee tape measure is a Lantern Moon item,



the stitch markers are from Mousie Masala,



and the soap is handmade in North Carolina by Sadie's. I also received a lovely note about how my pal started knitting, how she knits each day, and details about the products that she sent me. I'm excited to go to my LYS today and find some goodies to put into the package that I am sending. I will post pics of that once I know that my pal has received her package. I also completed the Dudley the Dolphin pattern from Monthly Dishcloth Group.



Dudley was knit on size 7 needles using Reynolds Saucy cotton. Another stash busting item is complete. Now, I just have to get that pesky poncho completed!

Oh, Blocking Board, My Blocking Board

A while back, DH and I decided that we could get ourselves a wedding treat. He chose a shiny new bass guitar, and I chose to spend some dough at Rhinebeck, on classes at the LYS, and on a blocking board, pins, and sock blockers from Webs. So, after having the new board in the living room for a couple of weeks, I decided to take it for a test drive.



Pictured is the first afghan square of the month that I am working on in a class at the LYS. We will do a square a month for the next 20 months and then I will have an heirloom afghan. The yarn that I am using is Babe in Lemon. It's a yarn from The Fibre Company, and it is delicious. Very soft! Oh, the alpaca! The pattern comes from the Leisure Arts book entitled 60 Easy-to-Knit Pattern Stitches Combine to Create Sampler Afghans.



Pictured above on the blocking board is my first ballband dishcloth. It's knit up in Mulberry from Reynolds Saucy and Hot Orange from Sugar n Cream. A quick an easy pattern from Mason-Dixon Knitting.



This picture gives you a peak at the size of the board that I ordered. I am thrilled that I made this investment because of the afghan project. I think it will prove to be a great asset.

-B