Recruiting Techniques

Fantastic news - my friend has started learning to knit! I suspect her main motivation is to make a copy of the entrelec scarf I finished last Fall Mine was inspired by fellow knitter, Sandy, who was inspired by someone else's scarf (I forget who)...For some reason, the combination of colors & patterns makes knitters & non-knitters alike covet one for themselves. I suppose its all good if it inspires new recruits.

The second half of the Clementine shawlette is on the needles, this is an enjoyable project for someone that isn't a huge fan of lace - namely, me!

The original plan was to post a picture, but none of them are coming out so I'll have to keep you in suspense for another couple of weeks while I finish it.

WIP update

Finished the toe-up green Koigu socks I've been working on. They fit really well and have pretty much converted me to a toe-up sock preference. Let's me avoid picking up stitches where I tend to get gaps.

I also re-felted the Celtic Cables bag, which has drastically changed the bag in a very good way:

The handles are shorter, the bag has more structure, and is more like the finished size in the Interweave pattern.

School started today and was a little re-runnish - same prof, a second half of a course. However, he does make us all laugh and learn, so that's pretty awesome.

And finally, Superbowl Sunday inspired me to start the Clementine shawlette from Interweave Spring 2007 - check it out, knitted lace!

Ugh, Intarnsia

Finished the colorwork portion (i.e. the face) on The Monkey, but it pulls! I don't mind this technique, but it never ends up looking that great - always pulling or gapping. I hope it the roundness might be forgiving than pulling it flat. Maybe color work should be my next class. =)

Does it look like a monkey yet?

This weekend I had a genius stupid idea to rip out a cabled sweater I knitted about 2 years ago, that's really huge on me to make something from a book I received for Christmas from my lovely sister. I think I need professional help with this one...shouldn't I be able to find the end and just RIP? I found myself picking out knots and bind off stitches for hours on Saturday - I don't remember this being such a strangley constructed sweater... I just don't want to end up with a pile of useless, tangled Alpaca - wish me luck!

And....by popular demand from Knit Night @ AFY I will be re-felting by hand portions of the Celtic Cable Tote bag and will post the new improved bag hopefully this weekend.

Year in Review

I got to looking @ Beatrice's blog and was extremely impressed with her knitting accomplishments for the year. There's no way I could keep up with this knitter! But I did look back over my blog this year (handy little thing it is) and in 2007 I managed to eek out:

3 sweaters/cardigans

2 hats

5 pairs of socks

2 baby blankets

1 scarf

1 purse/bag (2 half finished projects counts, right?)

5 tank tops/cropped boleros

Right now, one of those 1/2 finished project is the Celtic Tote - here its waits patiently to be (hand) felted this weekend!

Great size & enjoyable cable pattern, its from the latest issue of Interweave Knits. Can't wait to fill it full of the [back-breaking amount of] essentials!

How Could Anyone Resist?

Such an adorable pattern ....

Project details: Saartje's bootees....try Googling or search in Ravelry's patterns. ]

Actually, make that two adorable patterns:

[Project details: Pinwheel Jacket - from elann.com a free pattern... I used Encore for the black and white and Cascade superwash for the pink. Sorry about all of the unwoven ends, I was in a hurry to get this in the mail for a Christmas present!]

Merry Christmas!

Rapid Fire!

Two posts in 2 days - nobody saw it coming! Today is most definitley worth posting about because:




1) All Christmas shopping /packaging is COMPLETED!



2) All Christmas cards are in the mail!



3) 4 more days to vacation!



And last, but most certainly not least:

4) I got my acceptance letter today!





P.S. The Pinwheel jacket nears completion - joy, oh joy!
P.P.S. Merry Christmas from me & the hub

I am here.

Our new place is starting to feel a like more like home, as things get unpacked, organized & decorated. I'm convinced, based on past experience, that hiring movers was what made the move entirely tolerable and even bordering on pleasant. The dogs did not agree- all of this change was awfully traumatic for them, but I think they are warming up to the new digs as well.

Now that Finals are over, I can redirect my energy to some knitting projects again. I spent some time this morning finishing the body of the Pinwheel Jacket:

It doesn't really look like much while its still on the circular needle, but the border and binding off are done at the same time. I plan on using pink for the sleeves and border, but my pink is dwindling and I can use black or white for the border if I need to - would rather just utilize what I have on hand and be more flexible about colors.

Found those ultra-warm toe ups from the sock class and got in a picture during the unpacking - love these!

Have a wonderful week!