Sunday, January 28, 2007

Take that, Rebecca!!

I FINALLY found some clearer instructions on the Craftster Knitalong for the R. Apricot Jacket, and yesterday almost finished the entire back! Yay! LOVE the BSCF, and the color is great! The instructions in the mag are almost useless, but it's finally coming along. :-D

Progress

Since I cannot for the life of me figure out how to get my dadgum progress bars back onto my sidebar, I thought I'd write and bookmark an entry for now to tell my progress. I will continue to update this entry whenever I have more stuff completed, and instead of percentages, I am just going to write how much I have done, which I think will be a little more accurate - I am poor at judging percent. Scroll to the bottom to see my latest progress.

As of beginning this post today, my projects are:

Gatsby Girl - front and back complete. Sleeves remain, not started yet.
Sideways Spencer - Left sleeve complete, getting to the neck shaping.
Lana Grossa Wrap Sweater - Need to frog and start over on size 10 needles.
Danica - Have a couple of the triangles done.
Apricot Jacket - back is almost complete.
Butterfly Jacket - about 1/3 the back is done, but may need to rip, since I think I need a little waist shaping.
Ella Scarf - all the flowers are done and just need to be joined, but I think this project is at home.
Delphine Sweater - bottoms of sleeves are done, back is about 1/2 done, but needs to be ripped and reknit - looks too small.
Butterfly Dress - cast on and knit 1 or 2 repeats for the hem.
Dream Swatch hat - the dream swatch band is almost complete.
Dusty's socks - I finished them, but they still need to be washed and dried, and I need to reknit the toe - the foot is much too long.
Entrelac hat - need to rip entirely, and start trying a different pattern.
Sunrise Circle Jacket - about 1/3 of the back, almost the whole left front, and the left sleeve complete.
Deep V Argyle Vest - started a swatch, but can't get comfortable with holding the yarn in my left hand (ironic, since I am left handed!).

Now, I know most people are doing a "knit only from your stash" thing. I'm not confining myself to stash, BUT I am making a goal to finish at least every thing on this list this year (except maybe Delphine, and I really think I have a better idea now of how to do it, so hopefully it as well). I can purchase more yarn if I want, but I haven't been in the habit of getting yarn with no purpose for it, and don't plan to change that now.

Mon, 01/29: Rebecca Apricot Jacket back is finished!! Yay!

Sun, 02/04: Cactus Mittenettes and Dream Swatch hat are finished! No progress on other projects.

Wed, 02/07: The right front of the Lana Grossa Lacey Wrap Sweater is done!

Sun, 02/11: Only a couple of inches left on the back of the Lana Grossa sweater!

Thurs, 02/15: The back and left front of LG sweater are done!

Thurs, 03/08: One sleeve of the LG sweater is done, and about 3/4 of a sleeve for the GG sweater is done.

Tues, 03/13: The other sleeve of LG is done, and she is now blocking! Once I get it seamed up, I'll post and see what people think I need to do to finish it.

Tues, 03/27: The LG sweater is finished, save finding some way to close it. The end is in sight for the GG, too... I am on the last sleeve, and over half done with it! YAY!

Sun, 04/01: Gatsby Girl is done!

Tuesday, January 23, 2007

Spring IK preview!

Thanks for the suggestions on the fabric. I love the idea of a halter dress! There were some other really good ones, too. I hope to find a halter dress pattern that uses the right amount of yardage. Suggestions will always be welcome!!

I am a little disappointed that no one really noticed the paintings (not fishing for compliments!). I guess it's not really a style everyone can appreciate, though, and this IS a knitting blog, so it's not too shocking. And I'm such a poor photographer, I had no hope of doing them justice!

Anyway, no fo yet! Dusty's socks are getting there. I am over 50% done, probably almost 70%. I need to figure out how to do the progress bars on the new format.

Question!!: Would one skein of Lorna's Laces Shepard Sock be enough for a pair of ankle socks for size 5, 5.5 US feet? Or for gloves for small hands?

The new IK preview is up, and I think it's gonna be a great one! I'll go over the things I like.

Entrelac socks! Love 'em!I don't know how many times I have said Eunny Jang is a genius, but she really is!

Ribs and Lace Tank looks like a pretty design, but probably not one I'll knit. The photo doesn't really show enough, but generally tanks do not look good on me. Plus, it's really long.

The Green Tea Raglan looks simple, classic, and very wearable! I really like it. Down side is all boring st. st., but will be good for reading and knitting.

I like the shape of the Dollar and a Half cardi, wish I could see the detail. The jury's still out on this one.

The Bonsai Tunic looks like another very pretty design that is not wearable for me.

The Swan Lake cardigan is another of those that I need to see in better detail to decide, but looks promising.

I like the Slanted Neck Pullover, but someone posted on the knitting comm. that people would go around telling you that you'd messed up on it. What do you think?

I love the Clementine Shawlette, and that is also my grandmother's middle name. I've been thinking to knit her a shawl, perhaps this is The One?

Love the Cable Down Raglan!! Stefani Japel is an amazing designer!

The Ruffled Surplice is nice. I like the airy feel of it, and of course, the wrap styling.

I love the Keyhole Top! Love, love, love it! Unfortunately, I don't think it would be flattering on me. But I love it!

I can't tell the stitch pattern on Grumperina's socks, but I adore the color enough to say that it's a great pattern, hehe. I must find a skein or two of LL in that color, just for me!

Saturday, January 20, 2007

What would you do with this fabric?

I received this gorgeous fabric from overseas. I am at a loss as to what to use it for! It is almost 40" across, and I have ~2.5 yds of it. It feels similar to a quilting cotton, but I think a little heavier. I don't quilt, and I don't want to use it for a purse, either. What can I do with it?





EDIT: Oh no! I just realized my knitting progress bars have gone away! How can I fix this? Yikes!! Someone please help!

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Surprise!

My first ever paintings!

All of these, except the fish, were done on watercolor paper with house paints. The fish is on canvas, and uses house and oil paints. They are posted in the order in which I painted them. I did this in a weekend Watermedia Encounter class offered by M. Douglas Walton.






This was such a great experience, and I can't wait to do it again! Not sure how long it will be, though. I loved every minute, and I am very happy with my first efforts. Hope y'all like, too! :-)

Tuesday, January 16, 2007

New Blogger Templates?

I just switched my template to the new Blogger stuff. I'm not sure that I should have. I can't figure it out now, and I barely understood the old version!

PS. Stay tuned for something I've been working on that I think you'll really enjoy seeing. Coming very soon. :-D

Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Gatsby Girl Sleeve Length - Your Opinion Wanted!

I've finished both the front and the back of my Gatsby Girl pullover from IK Fall 2006. Now it's time to start the sleeves. I cannot decide whether I should knit them as is (right below the elbow), or lengthen them to the wrists. I am using Rowan Felted Tweed (50% wool/25% alpaca/25% rayon). I live in Louisiana, but contrary to popular belief, it does get rather cold here! I also get cold easily, and generally have the view that if it's cold enough for a sweater, it's probably cold enough for long sleeves. On the other hand, could this possibly make the sweater TOO warm, due to the alpaca content? And would I be messing up the look/style of the sweater by doing this? What would be the best way to lengthen the sleeves, anyway? I could just make them longer, but cast on the same amount of stitches (so that the sleeves are not fitted at the wrist), or I could figure out how many to cast on, and increase up to the amount of stitches the pattern directs (to make the sleeves more fitted)... what would look better?

Also, I had another question. I generally keep the leftover yarn after a project, in case I ever need to mend it. But I don't want to keep too much... I don't want yarn to take up a ton of space and never be used, because I'm saving it "just in case," for something I hope never happens! Does anyone else do this? How much do you normally hold on to for mending purposes? A few yards? More than that? I want to just measure out (or estimate) some yardage from the leftover skein, put it in a baggie and mark it as being for mending purposes, and be able to use the rest of leftovers for any other little project I might choose.

Ok, finally... if you have what seems to be a great idea, and a wonderful (but possibly delicate) new yarn coming, would you use the yarn for that idea? Or not risk it, and use a different yarn for your design? I've thought of something I just HAVE to try, and I am thinking of using the Kimono Angora Pure for it, but then again, I could just go the Knitpicks route, since my designs never seem to work out anyway.

Sunday, January 07, 2007

Update on Gatsby Girl Progress

I've finally completed the front of the GG. That means only the sleeves are left... but I am going to try to get Dusty's socks done before I start on the sleeves. I pinned the front and back together, and tried it on... so far, I am really loving it! I can't wait to have this sweater complete.

Also, which one do you think would be more flattering? Tiffany's or Ginger? Or neither? I think both are gorgeous, but can't decide which, if either, would flatter me.

Edit: Thanks for the comments. stitchywotch says:

It's hard to pull off sweaters with little ties at the waist.

I rather think this is not true for me. I have two sweaters with little ties at the waist (Rambling Rose is one), and I think both are flattering, since they really define my waist. I'm more concerned with the very high neckline of this sweater, since I am rather busty. Tiffany's is a lovely, graceful, and delicate looking sweater, imo, but it might look better on a willowy girl than on a curvy one.

Both comments so far are in favor of Ginger. It's beautiful, isn't it? But I just realized it's for a aran or worsted weight, and I think the Kimono Angora Pure I got for a ridiculously low price is a dk or thinner. I could probably use it, anyway.

I am still interested in hearing opinions, so please keep posting! :-)

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

More Fabric Questions (Burda 7993)

I thought the Burda 7993 top was definitely one of the cutest I've seen, so I just had to get the pattern. My roommate gave me a Hobby Lobby gift certificate for Christmas (she is so sweet!), and it dawned on me that I will have occasion to wear the blouse in the near future if I make it. So, I was thinking of looking around this weekend for fabric, but I'm not sure what to look for. I have a weakness for fabrics with the sheen pictured in this top, and since I can already see it looks great in such a fabric, that's what I'd really like to find. I'm guess it's probably not something I'm going to find at Hobby Lobby, but it can't hurt to look. What is this fabric? The recommended fabrics are: Cotton fabrics, viscose, poplin. I don't think it's cotton (unless it's some weird satin cotton I've never heard of but sounds nice, hehe), or poplin. Is that viscose? I thought viscose was rayon, and it doesn't really look like rayon to me (speaking, of course, with little-to-no knowledge on the subject of viscose/rayon. I'm talking, of course, about the view with the blue top. Thanks!

Tuesday, January 02, 2007

FO: Pomatomus SOCKS

Yes, that's right. I knit socks. Pomatomus socks, to be exact. I'd planned on knitting these for a long darned time, but kept putting it off for bigger projects, and the whole idea of "what's the point in spending all that time knitting socks when you can buy a pack for $5?" Learning we were going to Kansas (a very, very cold area, if you ask me), made me think that nice, warm, thick socks might be nice... and I did already have the yarn. Since we drove there, I had plenty of time to work on them, but I didn't manage to finish when I wanted, although I did finish them on the trip. They are the last FO of 2006.

I was originally going to knit them in some Knitpicks' Palette in a lavender color I got on a whim, for socks, but with no pattern in mind. I started on them in that yarn, decided I'd rather have oceany Pomatomus (-i?), so got some Cervinia Calzetteria in the color Capri. Very pretty, and very oceany. I love how this yarn knit up in this pattern.

I LOVED this pattern! I'm not sure whether I've ever actually said I'd knit a pattern again, but this one I WILL. It was fun, I love, love, love the "scales" and have thought to use them in other projects. The only downside is that, as written, the socks are too big around for my size 5 US feet. I should have foreseen this, but didn't think about it until I was pretty far into the first sock, hoped it would come out ok, and kept going. And it did come out ok. They make good, comfy lounging socks, but I doubt I could wear them under shoes, except maybe my cowboy boots. They will be good for very cold weather, in which I need to layer socks, if ever that occurs. Next time, I think I'll try size 1 needles.

So here are some pictures (probably more than post about a finished pair of socks really needs):






Dusty liked these and wanted a pair of socks (plain ones, not Pomatomus - too girly for him). This is a big thing, since he's never really wanted me to knit anything for him before. He asked for black or grey, so I got this:

It's a charcoal grey color, with some specks of white in it. And it feels very nice! I hope the two balls will be enough. Now I need to find a sock pattern for men, in fingering weight. Any recommendations?

I also found this vintage pattern:

Isn't it great? I see it in some kind of stretchy, satiny fabric... what do you suggest?

I've got to start making up some of these wonderful patterns I have. If only I had more time and space!

I also got the pattern for Eunny Jang's Anemoi mittens. I can't decide on a yarn or a color, though I am dying to make these. After Dusty's socks, I may start on these.

I know I'm not supposed to be starting on new projects, but I HAVE been putting a lot of time toward Gatsby Girl, and I think that counts for something. I'm getting close to finishing the front... but then there will be two sleeves to go. After that, it's back to the Sideways Spencer, and I'm going to dig out the Rebecca Apricot Jacket, since it will be warmer then, and a cotton jacket will be more suitable. But I've been dying to try fair isle... so the mittens will come soon!

One of my Christmas gifts was C. S. Lewis' Space Trilogy. I'm currently reading the second, and I love it thus far. Yay! :-)

I also added Nicky Epstein's Knitting on the Edge to my knitting library. Yay! I have very few knitting books, but I really want to get all of hers. I've thought all the ones I've seen were really interesting.