Mitts for Chuck

My latest knitting project was making 2 mismatched sets of fingerless gloves for my friend for her birthday next month. I posted the first 2 mitts my previous post. I was originally planning for those to be a pair, but the pinks did not match as I would have liked them to so I decided I would just knit 2 more to match the first (in yarn, not pattern). So here they are:

Stripey mitt

Mad Color Weave

I used Boyfriend Mitts (Ravelry link) as the basic structure for both mitts (I used it for all 4 really).  The striped mitt is just random stripe pattern (I didn’t want it to be balanced) and the other I used the Mad Color Weave (Ravelry link) pattern, which I liked but think looks better with a yarn of more colors.  I hope she really likes them.

I have recently been knitting Incognito (Ravelry link) for another friend’s birthday (she loves ‘staches), though I haven’t been working on it enough since I really wanted to knit two and haven’t even finished the first.  Stockinette can just be so boing.  Oh well…I really need to get going and finish at least the first one…that birthday is fast approaching.  =o)

I am quite excited about the new yarn I ordered today.  I am planning to knit a lace shawl for a friend who is getting married in October 2012.  Currently leaning towards Dew Drops Shawl (Rav link) as the pattern.  My friends colors are going to be champagne and raspberry, so I thought a nice champagne colored lace shawl would be perfect for a October wedding (in California).  I found the perfect champagne colored yarn from 1 Akasha Zeropoint Colorworks (can’t wait for it to arrive).  I plan on adding beads (for a little bling) so the next step is finding the perfect beads.

I’m back!! =o)

WOW!! I can’t believe how long it has been since I last posted on my knitting blog. I don’t know how much I’ve knitted since my last post (I suppose I could check Ravelry to figure it out, but I think I will just post about my recent knitting).

Let me start by saying that I unfortunately was let go from my job in February. I hadn’t knitted in quite some time at that point, but after a couple of months, I picked up my needles and have finished quite a few projects in the last couple of months.

One of my 2 favorite completed projects is Gemina (Ravelry link).

Pattern: Sock Giraffe pattern by Bobbi Padgett
Yarn: Lotus Yarns Nirvana (Superwash Wool) in Rumplestiltskin AND Falling Away
Needles: US 1/2.25 mm

Started: June 19, 2011
Finished: June 26, 2011

Sitting in a bush

With Bobby Wilson of Angels

While, like others noted, it was not the easiest pattern to follow and used some knitting techniques I was unfamiliar with…I stuck with it and am in love with the completed project. As you can see from the photo above, I took Gemina to Photo Day at Angel Stadium, where she was able to take pictures with many of the Angels players…all of which had an interesting reaction to my request for a picture with her (the crowd around me also got a laugh of it).

My other prized completed project is the Beach Glass Helena baby sweater (Ravelry link) that I knit for my friend MJ, whose baby is due next month.

Pattern: Helena by Alison Green Will
Yarn: Knit Picks Swish DK in Beach Glass
Needles: US 6/4.00 mm
US 2/2.75 mm

Started: June 27, 2011
Finished: July 5, 2011

This is the first sweater I’ve knit. I loved this pattern and think the sweater turned out beautifully.

Most recently, I have been working on some fingerless gloves for my friend Michelle, aka Chuck, (who I promised I would knit for AGES ago). Since she likes to wear her fingerless gloves mismatched, I am knitting a few different patterns with different yarns (2 pairs), which I have finished 1 from each pair so far, Chuck’s Punk Rock Mitts and Chuck’s Spider Mitts (Ravelry links).

Pattern: Boyfriend Mitts by by Alexandra Brinck
Yarn: Lotus Yarns Nirvana (Superwash Wool) in Punk Rock Girl (Redux)
Needles: US 1 1/2/2.75 mm
US 2/2.75 mm

Started: July 11, 2011
Finished: July 13, 2011

Love this yarn!

Pattern: Spider Socks by Terri Knight
Yarn: Dale of Norway Baby Ull in Pink and Knit Picks Stroll Solids in Black
Needles: US 1 1/2/2.50 mm

Started: July 7, 2011
Finished: Still need to weave in ends

The unwoven ends are hidden

I have also knit a lot more squares for my Red “Quilt” (Ravelry link)…I’m up to 36 squares.

First Assignment

For all the Ravelry users (and those who aren’t), I have joined the Harry Potter Knitting and Crochet House Cup. For those who are unfamiliar, this community is run a little like a semester at Hogwarts. The teachers give an assignment, in some way related to their class (i.e. posions, herbology, muggle studies, etc.). Then students choose which classes to take and complete the assignment. Points are awarded for starting, completing and sometimes other reasons the teacher denotes. Anyway, I finished my first assignment…on to the information and pictures.

Pattern: Go Gryffindor socks
Yarn: Lotus Yarns Nirvana (Superwash Wool) in Rumplestiltskin AND Yarn Chef Minestrone in holly berries
Needles: US 2.5/3.00 mm

Started: May 1, 2009
Finished: May 13, 2009

Socks before duplicate stitch

Gryffindor G's

Gryffindor Lions...roar

Front and Side

Knitting Goals for 2009

My goal this year is to continue knitting all year. I know to most that sounds like a ridiculous statement. For me it’s just the cycle of the year, I ususally start and end strong, but at some point in the middle, knitting output hits the skids. This year, I am hoping that my choice of projects will help me keep things moving along.

I started my red version of the Barn Raising Quilt [Ravelry link]. I am hoping the fact that I want to knit 99 squares (9 squares x 11 squares), will always give me a TV / baseball watching project to work on. Here are my first 2 squares.

Red, brown and gray = Knitterly Things Vesper Sock – Hot Metal
Red and white = Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock – Team Spirit

Last year, once the baseball season started, the only project I started and finished was Sawyer’s Pinwheel [Ravelry link]. I always seem to have good intentions and am constantly inspired by the projects others are making (Ravelry is full of new ideas on an almost daily basis).

In addition to the Red Barn Raising Quilt [Ravelry link], I have several other projects in mind for the year. I hope to knit my first lace project, I have the Woodland Shawl in mind. I also want to knit my first plush, a giraffe for my mom. There are a few other projects on my 2009 “To Do” list, so I will try to keep knitting at least a little everyday.

Porom Por Moi

Let me start by saying that I visited my grandma over New Years weekend and she was thrilled with her Hemlock. She was impressed with my ability and said that my aunts (fellow knitters/crocheters) would be jealous.

After completing Hemlock and the Chevron scarf that I knit for my best friend (that still requires blocking), I decided that I would knit a little something for myself. After a little prodding by Yarn Snob, I decided to knit another brooklyntweed creation.

Pattern: Porom
Yarn: Frog Tree Meriboo
Needles: Knit Picks Harmony in US 6 and 8

After knitting Porom and fixing the beanie I knit for my dad (last year…shhh), that I think I need to reknit, I couldn’t decide on a new project. BUT…just today, I decided that I am going to knit myself another hat (I’m in the mood). So, I started Mary Jane’s Pithy Hat [Ravelry link], the Elizabethtown cable version.

Ready for it’s close-up

Hemlock Ring Blanket is blocked and ready to be admired in all “her” glory.

I’m so pleased with how this project turned out. I really hope my grandma loves it as much as everyone else has. I love this pattern (thanks to brooklyntweed for bringing it to the masses). The Cascade Ecological Wool certainly softened up after a washing, but I would really like to knit this again (or something similar) with a softer yarn. If only I could knit as fast as I get inspired.

Must be a Christmas Miracle

Two posts in one week?!?! Wow…it must be a miracle!

After posting about my Hemlock Ring Blanket earlier this week and the fact that it’s supposed to rain for about 5 days next week, I got the kick in the butt that I needed, to finally wash and block the blanket. As a knitter whose never really knit anything large that needed to be blocked, I have to comments on blocking:

1. WOW, what a difference blocking can make!!

2. WOW, what a pain in the butt blocking can be!

I love what blocking does, but getting down on the floor for about an hour, pinning and re-pinning, is not my idea of a party. I must admit though, that the Hemlock would never look like anything, but a blog with out it. I can’t wait for it to dry so that I can take a good look at the finished product.

Here are a couple of pictures of the blanket mid-block:

Now, I really have to hope there are at least a couple of people out there reading, cause I have a question. Which of the 3 button choices should I use for my “so called neck warmer”?

Button A

Button B

Button C

Please leave button choice comments…I’m torn. Thanks!