ksue

a blog about knitting and stuff

Sunday, November 27, 2005

New FOs!

I've had a nice long weekend staying busy with my knitting. I sort of finished .....
NIMBUS



but I still have a few things I want to work out. For starters, I bought an all-purpose zipper assuming it would work. Unfortunately, I didn't realize until after I sewed it to the sweater that it didn't zip all the way down. Who knows what you could use a 22" zipper for that doesn't zip all the way down? In any case, I've been wearing it all weekend, but taking it on and off over my head like a jackass. Aside from the zipper, I'm still not that in love with the sweater. It's super warm and takes the bite out of the New England temps, but I already see the stictches loosing structure. I knit the sweater with the specified needles, but wish I opted for a smaller size. Oh well, I haven't taken it off all weekend, so I guess I can't complain.

Nimbus by Jennifer Thurston
featured in Magknits
Yarn - Rowan Polar in Silver Lining and Rowan Big Wool Tuft in Silver.
I followed the pattern to a t. The sweater knit up fast and the instructions were clear and easy to follow. The sweater was really fun to knit and gave me a chance to try some new techniques, making a hood, pockets, etc.
Knitting Dates - November 4 - November 23

Next FO - SPARKLE HAT

Sparkle Hat, SnB Handbook

Yarn - Lamb's Pride Bulky in Onyx

Knitting Date - 11/18/05

When my mom and sister flipped through SnB (separately), they both fell in love with this hat. So, I made two. It was a pretty fun hat to make and gave me a chance to work with beads and dpns. Surprisingly, I had a good experience with both. The most annoying thing about this hat was finding the pailettes with the large hole. I ended up just hole punching ones with the standard size hole. Not difficult, just plain boring. I have some extra yarn, maybe I'll make one for me, too.... Three girls, same hat?

ORANGE HAT

Pattern - I made it up as I went along.

Yarn - Plymouth Yukon

This hat is on its way to being frogged. It's really soft and sort of cute, but just isn't manly enough. I'm going to add a grey stripe to the bottom and make the ribs 3x1, not 2x2. Hopefully, that will help.

In Progress - Spencer Gloves, Rowan 38

I fell in love with these gloves after my first flip-through of Rowan 38. Of course to make them, I had to combine several skills (cables, gloves or even mittens, tiny needles) not yet conquered (or attempted) by me. No problem! As soon as I picked up the toothpicks required to knit these beauties, I wondered if I was in some trouble. But after a few rows, I started to dig the little needles. I'm still scared I won't be able to find a stitch if it slips off the needles, but everything is looking okay so far. It's gratifying to see the cables form and just plain nice to carry around such a dainty project.

Other news

I also ordered the yarn for Electra, in Rowan 38. I looked in three different LYS and couldn't find all the different yarns all at one place, so I sucked it up and ordered it online. I just hope it arrives before my flight to Aruba on Friday!

Thursday, November 10, 2005

Long weekend

I love the first day of a long weekend, especially a weekend without plans. I'm going to knit and do New Englandy fall things this weekend. I like to keep the expectations low, that way I can't disappoint.

So, I've been working on Nimbus, a design featured in Magknits. I'm using Rowan Polar, which is the softest and most pleasant yarn to work with. It's a bummer it's discontinued. I bought a 10-pack on Ebay for really cheap, though, so I can't complain about the discounted prices. Here's an up close and snuggly picture... Don't you just want to lay in it?


Also in the picture you'll see Rowan Big Wool Tuft. I've never even seen needles as large as the ones you need to knit this stuff. Knitting four rows of garter stitch is a challenge, I can't imagine knitting an entire sweater.

Here's a picture of the back (with Zoe getting ready for attack - no rhyme intended), all finished....


I think this is my first piece that I'm not sure if I'll like it when it's done. I think it will be a cozy winter sweater, but not sure if I can pull it off. It's a fun knit so far, so I'll keep going anyway.

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

First Post!

Woo hoo. It's about time I start using this blog. It's supposed to be just about knitting, but we'll see what I actually write about. I'll start with my first big finished piece, a sweater for my lovely husband, Josh. He hasn't worn it, yet, but I'm certain that once he does he'll never want to take it off. Well, that's what I'm telling myself after three weeks of labor:) The sweater is based off a design in SnB Nation, the one with the flames.

Alas, here it is as modeled by Josh, prior to blocking.



And here it is blocking. Fascinating, I know. That's Zoe in the picture. She has a weird fetish with anything knit.


Thanks for looking:)