Heirloom Afghan Update and My So Called Scarf

I have been slowly piecing together an heirloom afghan over the past few months. I've only got two squares done, but my KAL within and KAL project over on Stashalong is to get a third one done in February. Here are the two squares so far. Both patterns can be found in the 60 Easy to Knit Pattern Stitches book from Leisure Arts. Both squares have been made using the Babe yarn from The Fibre Company and on size 7 straight bamboo needles. The first one is the Hourglass Eyelets pattern in the Lemon colorway.

The next square is the Double Parallelogram pattern and is in the Babe Green colorway.



I enjoyed making both, and picked up some single crochet skills for the borders.

I also finished My So Called Scarf over the Christmas vacation. I looooooove this colorway, #113 in Manos del Uruguay, and have already worn it out and received compliments. I was unsure of the Manos when it was in the skein and it felt a little itchy, but it was a dream to knit with and I look forward to working with it again. Here is a detail picture and two pictures of it folded in half. I used both skeins in full and love the length.













I'll be back tomorrow with another update and much SQUEEEEing over my Rockin' Sock Club first shipment.

-B

Baby Bibs and Burp Cloths

My hands have been knitting furiously, but work has been so crazy this month that I have not had time to blog. I have so much to share that I am going to piece it out into three entries over the next few days. Today, I am proud to share the stashbusting projects that I created for my friend who is expecting in March. We went to her shower yesterday and the gifts were met with the squeals of excitement that handmade gifts bring. I was very proud to answer, "Yes, I made those," when people asked at the shower. I love giving away my handmade efforts because it spreads smiles and happiness when I do. Here is a picture of the two baby bibs and burp cloths, and then each on its own with the pattern and yarn details.



Next, is the Baby Genius Burp Cloth from Mason Dixon Knitting. I use Lily Sugar n Cream for all of these items, as well as a size 6 bamboo straight needle set. This colorway is Summer Splash. An easy two or three night knit that will be made over and over again.




Next up is the Baby Bib o' Love. This pattern is also found in the Mason Dixon book.

Finally, we have the same patterns, but the colorway this time is Denim.

I loved making these items! I learned how to make a buttonhole, and learned how to sew on a button. I can know mend DH's shirts at home instead of sending them to the cleaners every time a button falls off. Tomorrow, I'll be back with updates on the Heirloom Afghan and the My So Called Scarf. Both were finished awhile back, but my camera went wonky and is now up and running.

-B

Some photos of finished projects

This was sweater I made for my cousin's daughter a while back, it's the spring peeper that I made several of. It was over a year ago, so I don't remember the yarn I used. I finally got a chance to meet her when visited family this December.


Here's the same mittens that S made, they nice quick projects, just needed to look up a couple of things to get done.
Pattern: Kate Gilbert Gifted
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Superchunky (1 Skein for Child L)
Needle: size 10 straight needles


This is the shawl collar sweater that I've been working on since thanksgiving or so. the pattern is not particularly hard, but if you look closly you'll see that the pattern kinda breaks around the sleeves, I'm not sure if that was intentional by the author or a mistake, either way when I make this again, I'll continue the pattern, it's not that noticable in the front but it is in the back. attaching the collar was also tricky, not sure I did it right, but it's the best I could do.
Pattern: Vestee from knitty Sping 2007
Yarn: some kind of cheap yarn by the pound that I had lying around.
needles: size 6 circular. (my gauge was a bit off, so I made it with the size 12 months stitch count, but size 18th month length)



I made 2 of these, one in this pretty dark rose color and another in a light pink.
Pattern: baby Hat from One Skein
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino
needle: Size 6.5 double point
- E

Book Review: A Deadly Yarn

A few weeks ago, I finished another of Maggie Sefton's knitting mysteries. This time, I read the third installment, A Deadly Yarn, and I feel like it's the one in which Sefton finds her stride. After having read two of the books, I was starting to sort through the characters, and in this book, Sefton doesn't try to have all of the minor characters play major roles, which makes for a more cohesive story. Kelly Flynn once again is playing detective in Fort Connor. This time a friend named Allison has been murdered, and she and Megan, another friend, are out to solve the mystery. Also, Kelly's relationship with Steve, a local developer, is moving forward, and she continues to explore the world of knitting. Sefton includes several of the minor characters from the other books, but does so more seamlessly. I'm enjoying this series since it gets better on each outing. The fourth book is entitled, A Killer Stitch, and the fifth book, Dyer Consequences, is being released in June 2008. I'll be getting both from the library in due time.

On the knitting front, I have two FOs to block and take pictures of when they are ready. I completed My So-Called Scarf and the second square for my Heirloom Afghan. I've got to put away some holiday items in order to make room for my blocking board, but pictures should be ready in a couple of days. Progress continues on the Minimalist Cardigan as I make my way through the back piece. I agree with S when she states that she will be doing something other than moss stitch after this project. It's a beautiful design, but one that I definitely need a smaller project to balance myself when I hit a plateau with it. I'm off to work on it now though. Good luck to those of you finishing up UFOs before 2008, and Happy New Year to everyone!

-B

Been out of the loop for awhile

it's been a while since I've had any finished objects to post. I did manage to make 2 baby hats from my One Skein book and as soon as I get the picture downloaded off my camera, I'll post it. Otherwise I've been stuck on finishing projects. I have a sweater where the sleeves are a bit too long, and I'm debating whether or not to take it apart and fix it, a baby shawl collar sweater that needs to be pieced together (which really just reinforces the fact that I hate the final step and stitching the pieces together). And after looking up a few directions and help on crocheting from S, I should be able to finish those cozy mittens she made. Considering I had the last 2 weeks off and a combined total of over 40 hours spent on a plane in the last month, you would think I could have gotten more done. Did splurge a bit and picked up a couple of skeins of really soft yarn in Tokyo. sadly, they only had 2 skeins left in the color I liked, so I'll just have to make a hat without a scarf, unless I can manage the hat on 1 and the scarf on the other.

Promise to have some finished projects pictures posted soon.
- E

FO to report

And another finished object to report. I feel like I've been slogging along on this thing forever, but I'm also feeling that it's soft I may never take it off. And while it was an easy, easy knit, it seemed to go on forever. Included is the obligatory bathroom mirror shot as thee is no one to take it for me...and the real camera seems to provide far more flatter pictures than my built in camera on the laptop. Still not the best picture, but I'll take what I can get without a makeup artist and hairstylist after the week its been.

Silk Shrug from Blue Sky Alpaca

7.5 skeins of Blue Sky Alpaca - Alpaca Silk in Plum

Addi Turbos US 4 and 9

It was a really easy knit requiring only knit, purl, increase and decrease. No adaptations to the patten. Loving the softness though. Only complaint with the yarn ws that I kept having to cut little balls of fuzz that formed on around the yarn I was working with. As well as some knots as E will attest to, there was always a knot when I talked to her.

Next project is the minialist with B.

S.

Mittens for Winter

Just to prove that someone other than B has been knitting. As the weather has started to turn a little cold out here, I decided it might be a good time to try and actually finish (and we all know I mean start) some cold weather gear.

Gifted Mittens by Kate Gilbert

1 skein Debbie Bliss Superchunky Cashmerino
8 dpn and 10.5 circular and dpn clovers
Started 11/29 - Finished 11/30

Loved the pattern. Very quick knit. Love the yarn as anyone that knows my knitting, I will use any excuse I can to knit with it. Although they don't quite look like a matched pair, doesn't really matter as they are the softest mittens I've ever owned. Now if I could just figure out exactly how to modify the pattern to make them fliptops. I am working on that. I have one finished. We'll see if I do the second one.

I am working on some other projects...I just need to do some finishing. Maybe over Christmas.

S