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Category Archives: FO

Mad About Mittens

07 Oct

I’m getting into my Christmas knitting full swing!  And like anything I knit, I tend to go in phases.  This time, its  mittens.

I love mittens.  There is something nostalgic about them; timeless yet small, they make me smile when I knit them, and especially when I wear them.  They make me long for winter, heavy jackets, and hot cocoa.

I want to make these again, in a non-superwash wool.  The pattern was very easy; despite the cables, it was a great project to sit and knit while watching tele.  They blocked up nice, but like I said.  Next time, no superwash.  Maybe I’ll modify the pattern for fingerless gloves.

 

The photo doesn’t do the pattern justice.  To get a better idea of the cables, check out the pattern page link.  If I make these again, I would make a longer cuff, that is for sure.  But they were fun, and they are very warm!

 
2 Comments

Posted by on October 7, 2011 in FO, Knitting

 

FO : Queen Of Night

22 Sep

If you don’t know by now, my friend Tina is amazing.  She spins, knits, crochets, and also has her own yarn business.  The fiber that she dyes is beautiful and amazing, so when she asked me if I would be willing to sample knit for her, I was all too happy to help!

Tina has been doing quite a few Fiber Festivals this year, and she wanted to have knitted and crocheted items to show off in the booth.  I don’t know about you, but I’m more apt to buy a yarn when I can see it worked up as a project, to see how the colors are going to flow.

Wool that sparkles

 

I love these mitts.  I love this yarn.  And I love the fact that there is enough left over to make a small project for myself.  I wish that you could see these in person, to catch the hints of silver and sparkle that natural light hits upon.  I adore these, which means I know that Tina will love them as well!

Both sides of the Night

 

 
4 Comments

Posted by on September 22, 2011 in FO, Knitting

 

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Ready, Set … Autumn!

12 Sep

I’ve been ready for Autumn to get here for at least a month.  Soon, I’ll get to pull out the cardigans and sweaters, and put away the summer dresses and sandals.  Not that I don’t love my summer wardrobe.  I’m just ready for the relief of cooler weather!

And my yearning has been showing in my knitting!  All of my projects are helping me gear up for the season change.

  • Project : Grandma’s Kitchen Socks
  • Yarn : Austermann Step, in ‘Moss’
  • Pattern : Plain Jane, toe-up

The color of these socks reminds me so much of my Grandma’s kitchen.  When I was a kid, she hadn’t re-decorated since the 1970′s.  There color scheme included olive green, squash yellow, pumpkin orange, and chocolate brown.  The appliances were also from the 1970′s, which just added to the retro vibe.  The moment I saw this yarn at the LYS, I just had to have it!

  • Project : Columbia Beret
  • Pattern : Columbia Beret by Sarah Pope
  • Yarn : Plymouth Yarn, Merino Superwash Solids

I’m a total whore for a good, slouchy beret.  I can’t have enough, hence my need to knit at least two or three every year.  I can promise that this won’t be the last one on my needles before the first snow hits!  I love this shade of blue; bold, vibrant, and super-wash!  Always good, as I have a bad habit of always getting something on my hat.

  • Project : Swamp Cowl
  • Pattern : Swampfield Cowl by Sara Amoroso
  • Yarn : Tahki Yarns ‘Presto’

Brace yourself.  There is more than 25% acrylic in this yarn.

Those of you who know me, know what a yarn purest I can be.  I never look twice at any yarn that has more than 25% acrylic in it.  But this was so soft when I held it in my hands at the LYS.  The colors were brilliant and I’ve been craving something bulky.  So,yes. I bought it.  And to my surprise, it wasn’t a pain to knit with.  Quite the opposite. The only thing that I don’t like about this project is that I look like I’m wearing a neck brace when I wear it.  Next time, I’ll add more stitches around, and add to the length.

So, what Autumn projects are you working on?  Anything on the needles or ironing board for the cool weather season?

 

 
4 Comments

Posted by on September 12, 2011 in FO, Knitting, Uncategorized

 

Lost In Time

31 Aug

I feel like the last couple of weeks have ran away from me!  I was thinking to myself this afternoon, where did the time go?  I know that working extra shifts has something to do with it; just picking up an extra eight hours or four hours really does pack my schedule a little more than I am used to. But it has given the ability to spend money on fabric, which is wonderful.  In the next couple of weeks, I hope to show off some finished sewing projects!

But I’m still knitting, and mostly I am working on projects that may take me awhile to complete.  I have been plugging away on Tory’s wedding shawl, which isn’t due until July, but I really wanted to get it started and at least half way completed before October.  I also need to think about Christmas knitting, which luckily, isn’t too much to tackle this year.  A couple of pairs of socks, a few hats, and maybe a shawl.  I have a few things finished already, so I don’t feel like I’m too far behind.  I’m also doing some sample knitting for Tina, so she can show off what her yarn looks like knit up.

But I do have one project to share, since it is a safe bet that it has already arrived at its destination.

  • Project : Little Brother Cardi
  • Pattern : Little Coffee Bean Cardigan by Elizabeth Smith
  • Made for : Marcus and Sharon’s soon to be baby (due in September)
  • Yarn : Knit Picks WOTA (charcoal) and Cascade 220 Wool (blue)

I really love this little sweater, and it was a pure joy to knit!  I’m becoming more confident with sweaters are well as colors, and I’m very happy with how the stripes turned out.  I don’t normally knit baby items in 100% wool for non-knitters, but they are like family and I know that they will love it!

 
3 Comments

Posted by on August 31, 2011 in FO

 

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Yes, I Still Knit

17 Aug

The finished knitting projects have been few and far between these days.  I just didn’t have any desire to knit last month, but now I have my groove back, and a few projects to share!

  • Project : Simple Stripe Socks
  • Yarn : Berroco Sox

I have to confess; I don’t like these socks.  While I love simple, self-striping socks, I just couldn’t get a handle on these.  I think it was the pink thrown in with the orange and black.  I just didn’t settle with me.  So, when my mother tried them on so that I could shoot this photo, they fit her perfectly.  These socks found a happy home with her, and she always ready to accept hand-knit socks!

 

  • Project : Odessa Hat
  • Pattern : Odessa by Grumperina
  • Yarn : Rabbit Ridge Designs Superwash DK in ‘Sitka Rose’ / Rowan Felted Tweed DK in ‘Scree’

I am slowly starting to go back through my yarn stash and see what I have had in there for the longest time.  Then, I’m looking at patterns that I’ve wanted to knit for almost as long.  The brim was knit from a left-over ball of yarn that I used two years ago to make a scarf and the main color was gifted to me in a swap, but I just never found the right pattern.  That is, until now.  This hat is super soft and very pretty, and I think that the pattern and yarn compliment each other well.

So, what have you been up to?  Anything knew to share on the knitting or crafting front?

 
7 Comments

Posted by on August 17, 2011 in FO, Knitting

 

FO : Healing

16 Jul

Life moves on, and I’m doing my best to move right along with it, I still hurt.  My heart, that is.  A piece of me was lost and it will take a while before I can get it back.  I can’t thank you all enough, so I will do so again.  Thank you for all of the love, the support, and the understanding.

But as I said, life goes on.  And while there is pain and tragedy, there is also happiness.  One of my wonderful local knitting friends, Erin, is getting married in August.  Last weekend, she started the celebrations with a camping trip.  Dubbed ‘The Wet and Wild Weekend’ because of the forecast calling for rain, and the tubing on the river, we gathered on Friday night to set up camp.  Sadly, I had to leave the night, because John and I were heading to Ithaca the next day.

But I digress.  For her bridal shower gift, I knitted Erin a shawl.  But this was no normal shawl.  This shawl helped me heal.  I started it the day I had my miscarriage, and finished it near the end of the week.  Not only was it a gift for a wonderful friend, it was a project that helped me let go of some of my grief.

  • Project : “Life Goes On”
  • Pattern : ‘Mizzle’ by Patricia Martin
  • Yarn : Blue Ridge Yarn – Kaleidoscope Semi-Sold

I am so pleased that Erin liked the shawl.  I had special ordered the yarn with her in mind, knowing how much she adores the color green.  The tone of this is teal/emerald and it really turned out well.

I’m so thankful, and so lucky, to have the local knitting friends that I do.  Ya’ll are like family and I don’t know what I would do without you.

 
3 Comments

Posted by on July 16, 2011 in FO, Friends and Family, Knitting

 

FO: Staying Busy

06 Jul

Now that I’m physically starting to feel a little better, and can stay awake for more than a couple of hours at a time, I’m trying to stay busy.  I’ve been knitting to keep my mind occupied and so far, it has been working.  I’ve managed to finish two small projects, and block one shawl and almost finish another.

  • Project : “Early Winter Mitts”
  • Pattern : “Sue’s Reading Mitts” by Janelle Masters
  • Yarn : Cascade Eco Duo in ‘Vanilla’
  • Made for : ME!

That’s right, I am keeping these pretties for myself!  I’ve had this yarn in my stash, just waiting for the perfect project.  The yarn itself is incredibly soft; it feels a lot like Cascade Cloud 9, but this blend gets the buttery softness from alpaca, not Angora.   I’m not usually one for such a light-colored yarn, or anything in the natural/white color group, but the feel of the yarn helped me overcome any objections that I might have had.

The next project was made more out of necessity than anything.  The reticule bag that I use for re-enactments has gone missing, to where, I have no idea.  So, I’ll be in great need of a new one for the 150th of Manassas at the end of the month.  I wanted to make a miser purse, but I really don’t have the time or patience right now.  I found this one on Knit Picks, and I was sold.

  • Project : “Reticule Bag”
  • Pattern : “Cathedral Purse” by Karen Dimeler-Laurence
  • Yarn : Knit Picks Stroll Sport in ‘Fedora’
  • Made for : ME!

I really like this little purse!  I put a giant wooden bead to the string, to secure the contents of the bag when I’m carrying it around.  This was a very easy, very simple pattern and I hope to make a couple more, maybe in larger sizes.

 
4 Comments

Posted by on July 6, 2011 in FO, Knitting

 

FO (Spinning) : Slightly Obsessed

25 Jun

Okay, I’ll admit.  I love the color purple.  All shades, all hues; I wear it, knit it, and spin it.  But I think I’ve had a bit of purple overload, so this may be the last of the purple projects for some time.

First, we have a cute little skein in various shades of purple.  I received the roving in a swap.  While it was a bit of a pain to draft (it was semi-felted.  I’ve found that this may have something to do with storage of the fiber or the dye,) but I whipped it into submission.  But, in all my frustration, I forgot to write down how much yardage I had.  I know I can get at least a pair of fingerless mitts with it, and my Mom has already admired it!

  • Project : “Purple People Eater”
  • Fiber : Frabjous Fibers (2 of 4 oz spun)
  • Ply : standard two ply

Next, we have some yarn that I must say, I am uber proud of.  I received a full pound of roving from Tina, for my birthday, back in February.  I have to say that this is the most amazing roving that I have ever spun.  It practically drafted itself; I felt like it was smooth sailing from start to finish.  I also plan on entering a skein of this yarn into the Fall Fiber Festival at Montpelier this autumn (the skein on the left, to be exact.)  After that, I think this will become a shawl for myself.

  • Project : ‘Violet’
  • Fiber : Buckwheat Bridge Angoras : 50 merino/50 mohair (8 oz)
  • Ply : standard 2-ply
  • Yardage/Weight : 543 yd/ sport

I may accomplish some more spinning this weekend, depending on if I want to put down my knitting.  I’m so close to finishing a pair of soft alpaca/merino fingerless mitts for myself, that I want to do that before spinning.  But that empty bobbin is whispering my name, calling to me to fill her so I can ply my roving from the ‘Shawn Of The Dead SAL’.

What are you up to this weekend?

 
3 Comments

Posted by on June 25, 2011 in FO, Spinning

 

FO : How ‘Cowl’ Is That?

12 Jun

After working on so many projects that take a lot of time to knit, such as shawls and socks, I’ve been craving some quick and painless knitting.  I love small projects for many reasons.  They don’t take long to finish, they are easy to take anywhere, and they are a great way to use up one’s yarn stash.

I made some mods to the pattern.  First, I cut the number of stitches in half for the total project.  I wanted a cowl that was closer to my neck, not one that I had to pin or twist to stay close to me.  Then, I modified the number of repeats to make it a little longer than was originally called for.

I love cowls, and I think that I’m going to make a few more before winter gets here.  While I love a good scarf, cowls don’t get in the way of everything, while still keeping your neck warm and toasty!  And seeing as this cowl didn’t take a whole skien of yarn, I’m thinking perhaps another cowl, or a matching pair of mitts.

 
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Posted by on June 12, 2011 in FO, Knitting

 

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FO : Going Green

06 Jun

One of my favorite things about this time of year is watching my garden grow.  The squash, green beans, and cucumbers are a good size now, and they are starting to send off ‘shooters’.  I’m hoping that by July, we’ll have some yummy vegetables to share!

So, it is no surprise that my latest pair of socks should reflect the growth and life that is coming to be in my garden.  I really love the color of the yarn; more teal in some lights, and more green in others.  They feel so soft and fit like a dream!

  • Project : Traveling Vines Socks
  • Pattern : “Traveling Vine” by Charlene Schurch (More Sensational Knitted Socks)
  • Yarn : Plymouth Happy Feet

 

I also finished the cutest little baby bonnet. I have a few friends and co-workers who are expecting.  Not only is this bonnet super soft, but I think it is going to look super adorable on the baby who wears it.  The only thing I need to get is a ribbon to make the tie on the bottom.

 

 

So, what you knitting and/or spinning?  Are you working on summer projects, or gearing up for winter?

 
2 Comments

Posted by on June 6, 2011 in FO, Knitting

 

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