On fire.

Flame done in Colorlash and Gem. In the middle of January, a girl needs something that looks hot.

Not "Complicated" at all.

Avril Glovelets. Done on #6 circulars.

Avril was done in a lumpy Tibetan wool/recycled silk blend. These pics are the glovelets in the unwashed state. I think when they've been washed, they'll soften and smooth out a bit. I know I usually do.

And speaking of Avril, does anyone else think she looks like Meg Ryan's little sister? Ok, just me then.

Today is not my day

And tomorrow isn't looking good either.

The Olivia redo is not going well. I'm frustrated by how the stitch pattern is coming out - somehow I'm not accounting for an additional YO stitch, so this nice angle is emerging on one side of the panel. Since I really like the diagonal eyelet effect, I'm going to take some time this weekend to swatch a square to figure out what the heck I'm doing wrong.

On the upside, I started the Avril glovelets last night during "24". They are zipping along nicely in the Tibetan wool/silk. When they are finished, I'm going to to tighten up the 2x2 ribbing pattern and create a semi-boiled wool feel by throwing them in the washing machine.

And after that? I'm indulging Jack by making a Baby Monkey toy.

If you don't have mice...

Jack deciding Collection's "Baby Monkey" needs to be mauled.

Feel that ocean breeze?

Skinny McGinny - Caribbean meets neckwear.

Sitcom!

Sitcom Chic, pret a porter.


Closeup of Sitcom neck detailing

Soft as a baby's...

Plush Blankie ready for the baby shower. 


Closeup of colors 

Home again

Christmas has come and gone. I ended up frogging Olivia because it looked awful (I ended up setting a column of stitches off and ...well it's frogged.) But I did 1) start and finish Plush Blankie, 2) start and finish a special request scarf - Skinny McGinny (in a turq/lime/blue Splash colorway), and 3) start Skinny McGinny II for my mom who fell in love with McGinny I.

I also picked up a skein of Tibetan Himalayan Yarn Co. in 60% wool, 40% recycled silk; it's sapphire with multi flecks. I'm thinking of using it for some glovelets. And when scouting out an AC Moore store, I grabbed a skein of a mohair blend in "Orangina" to make the LouLou socks from Knitty.com.

Stay tuned for pics.

Yarn Over ...and over..and over

So I spent this weekend YOing. Between Mata 2 (which is now a Finished Object) and Olivia, I can do the YO stitch repeat in my sleep. Will Olivia be done in time for me to wear for Christmas? I'm thinking no, but I do have an 8-hour car ride ahead of me.

Doubting Thomasinas

So people have been asking - what's that you're knitting? "A poncho." ...pause...skeptical looks from the questioner...pause.

"No! Really, a poncho."

More skeptical looks, usually involving a raised eyebrow.

Trust me people, it's a poncho. Hmpf.

The poncho formerly known as Rebekah

I started Rebekah last night. Got a few rows into it and was at 1/2(!) the stitches I cast on with! What? There is no way I'm going to work this poncho as the pattern stands now. So? I've decided to keep the general form (2 19" x 24" panels), but I'm working the YOs my way. And since I've already decided I'm going to do a mandarin collar, it really isn't "Rebekah" anymore. Her name has been changed to "Olivia" in honor of Olivia Harrison (I was watching Great Performances' "Concert for George (Harrison)" during this decision making process.) I was going to call the poncho "Dhani", but thought that was a little too weird. But I will go on record as saying Dhani Harrison is all kinds of hot. (And yes, George was my favorite Beatle).


Stretched a bit for the picture, but here are the first 3 inches of Panel 1


A bit blurry, but the colors in this photo are truer than the other photo.

The Mata Matter

Using #13s makes the scarf much more "lacy". Doesn't it look like "Christmas in a Scarf"?

Mata 2 in Mohair/Eros. Once again, I'm over halfway done and have run out of yarn! When will I learn "leftover skeins are not as big as they appear?" Oh well, another excuse to go to KYarns.

I finished Sitcom last night. Ends woven in, neckband on, button on. I just have to wash and block this weekend. (And yes, I did try it on! And it fits!)

And I started Mata 2. She's for a friend who admired Mata Mohari and thought it would be pretty in brighter colors. So I'm using the black mohair from Mata 1, and the leftover skein of Eros in jewel colors. I'm doing it on #13s so the YO pattern will be a little more pronounced (plus it's a quicker knit).

Rebekah is still on for tomorrow's project.

They'll look better with shoes. Really.

MomSocks. No, my feet are not deformed, it's just the way I'm holding them. And Jack's decided if Cinco gets Mata, he's going for the socks.


Kitchener stitch on the toe. Look Ma! No seams!

The name's Cat. Mr. Cat.

This is a very handsome Cinco deciding that Mata may need to be his. The look on his face seems to say "Go ahead. Just TRY to take this off me."

Mata up close - the brown/red dots in the middle of the scarf are the glimpses of my desk through the YOs.

Done, but nothing to show for it

MomSocks - done. Mata - done. Tea - started. And I haven't been home long enough to get pics. If I play my cards right, I'll finish Sitcom's odds and ends tomorrow, get pics of FOs, and start Rebekah for the weekend.

Oh, and did you see the Knitty.com button changed? Bet I'm gonna have new stuff to add to the "Next" list. So many projects...

Mata Mohari

I decided the SkinnyMinny scarf wasn't quite as dark as I was hoping for, so I picked up a skein of Classic Elite La Gran Mohair to knit with the remaining Electra. "Mata" is 9 stitches on #7 Inoxs. To keep it airy, I'm doing a simple YO, knit 2tog pattern. So far so good.

While I was at my LYS, I picked up the additional skein to finish MomSocks, and the yarn/pattern for the Rebekah poncho. I was a little disappointed that the picture online seems to show a mandarin collar, but the pattern does not call out for it. So I guess I'll be figuring out how to add the collar.

Charmed, I'm sure

In a fit of creativity (not inspired by anything else I know of, so if you had the idea first, I apologize!) I decided to create some stitch markers from a mate-less earring, some tiny pendants from necklaces I don't wear anymore, and a charm or two. Now if I can just remember to use them!

Happy happy joy joy!

Well almost! Sitcom is off the needles! Just needs a neckband, button sewn on, ends woven in, and blocked. My wrist is complaining, but I'm just so happy it's almost a FO!

Something to show for it.

MomSocks. Would have finished these yesterday if it hadn't been for the fact I ..um..well..ran out of yarn. I really thought I could get a pair out of the skein. Dagnabbit.

SkinnyMinny up close and personal.

SkinnyMinny full view.

It's almost Thanksgiving?!?

And I haven't touched Sitcom. The redeeming fact is I'm going to be 5 hours plunked in the passenger seat of the Cattymobile tomorrow, hostage to the sweater that will not finish.

MomSock2 has had some progress and I have started SkinnyMinny, the narrow Electra scarf. Pictures to come of all those FO on Friday.

Hope springs eternal, eh?

Comin' down the pike

With the thought that Sitcom Chic will be done by Thanksgiving (that's my story and I'm sticking to it!), I've been looking forward to some new projects:
1. Baby Blankie in sweet pea green/lavender Plush (using my LYS's pattern)
2. LouLou socks in a TBA yarn (pattern from the Knitty Breast Cancer edition)
3. A felted kitty bed from skein remnants (making it up as I go)
4. Felted Teapot Cozy in Sapphire Lamb's Pride with Manos in a scarlet/purple colorway (making it up as I go)
5. Sasparilla Turtleneck in a TBA yarn (based on a pattern from a Woman's Day article circa 1996)
6. A narrow scarf in cream/grey/black Plymouth Electra
7. Rebekah Poncho in Koigu KPPPM (using my LYS's pattern)

Finally progress!

I'm at the point of casting off and adding the sleeves for Sitcom. I'll only have a few more rows of the taupe, then the yoke to do in all black. I actually might have this done by Thanksgiving (insert happy dance here). So I'm setting the goal. Thanksgiving. Of 2004. In less than 10 days. If I say it enough, will I believe it?

In the meantime, MomSock 2 may be relegated to the wayside. Maybe. We'll see.

Oh happy day!

Here is the Happy Bag, all finished (and the MomSock stuff is already packed inside).

This was the Lambs Pride and Mountain Arts yarn from my LYS sale stash, I made the pattern up as I went along. It took about 4 felting cycles. The tabs for the handles are crocheted -they felted perfectly (in 2 cycles).

One down, one to go

Here's MomSock #1, finished last night during a business meeting. I tried kitchenering the toe - it worked for a few stitches, then I did something wrong and set the rest of the stitches off. So I'll be frogging and redoing this weekend.

Awww, isn't she cute?

FuzzyBaby 'delivered' while I waited for the snow tires to be mounted and balanced.

A little secret

FuzzyBaby Hat

Jennifer Brown's Hat for Newborn Baby is by far one of the easiest, quickest, most gratifying knitting projects I've come across in the land of baby patterns. I've done 4 of these hats so far using a variety of needles and yarns. You can't screw it up. Sure, some have come out a little large for a newborn, but hey - they grow into it. This one is being created from Artful Yarn's Galaxy in muted pastels for a little girl born to a co-worker. She was a whopping 8# 14oz. I'd rather knit for a baby than actual HAVE one any day!

Swirly Girl

Mom Sock #1

This is Janis's Koigu Sock Pattern. I'm tweaking it a bit - offsetting the ribbing - to create a nice little swirl around the ankle. The yarn is Lang Jawoll Superwash Cotton in a butter yellow (the top edge and toe of the socks) and a green multi-fleck on Brittany #2s. Here I'm just about to start the heel flap.