Author: yarn & yarns

WIP Wednesday: Just Ducky Chadwick

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In a strange turn of events, I think it’s because I love this one so much that it keeps getting pushed to the side. I used the promise of it back in October to tackle a pile of finishing. Then it was set to the side for the rest of my holiday knitting, with full knowledge that it would travel to MN with me and be my reward vacation knitting.

All well and good, or at least I thought so. Then I passed the halfway mark only to discover that I had unintentionally made a “design modification.” See that band of three Chestnut stripes in the sea of Mallard? Those are supposed to be purl ridges.

I don’t know if I had the pattern wrong in my head from the start, or if the stopping and starting caused me to forget that detail. Crazy thing is I even wondered while knitting them, “Hmmm. Why did he start these rows on the opposite side?” Doh.

To frog or not to frog? It was good timing that I had a TFA Knitalong to cast on for in January and reason to set this aside for a good think. At the moment I’m leaning towards embracing my unintentional individuality and carrying on — although I do have moments of wanting to just rip back and do it “right.” But then I wonder how much that’s prompted by my desire to hang onto this WIP just a little bit longer.

So I’m throwing the question out to you. To frog or not to frog? That is today’s question.

Dr. Watson’s Scarf

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Over the holiday break, I had a chance to see Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows and one of the surprise highlights for me was Dr. Watson’s scarf. Turns out I wasn’t alone. There’s a thread devoted to making the scarf on Ravelry and one ambitious knitter is auctioning off her own version of the scarf on eBay.

And while it’s certainly a fine scarf (don’t get me wrong), my reaction to the movie wasn’t that I wanted to knit one.  Small Spoiler Alert: In one scene Watson stands by calmly as his personal items are lifted by a tribe of gypsies… until they take the scarf made by his fiancee.

Yes, I’m such a dweeb that my first thought was, “He’s ready to fight for the knitwear!” And while I’m still a Sherlock/Robert Downey Jr girl, for one moment there you could classify me as Team Watson.

Goodbye 2011; Final FO: Steel Scarflette

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Yes, I am just now — on January 5th — getting around to wrapping up 2011. But since I’ve been in catch-up mode for the past few months, it feels apropos.

I finished the knitting for this in early November, but didn’t get around to blocking and photographing it until the end of December. The biggest hindrance was the gallbladder surgery I had in late November. (I also blame that for the decision to undertake the frenzy of Christmas knitting. That form they give you that says not to make any legal decisions after anesthesia should include a “no new knitting projects” clause.)

Pattern: Wheat Field Scarflette by Cecily Glowik MacDonald
Yarn: Manos del Uruguay Silk Blend (3029, Steel)

 

Now that all the 2011 FOs are blogged, how did I do on my knitting goals? Well, I did some colorwork  but I never cast on those Fiddlehead Mittens. With that in mind, I’m going to keep my 2012 knitting goals more general and say that I want to try three new techniques/items.

FO: Fear of Commitment Cowl

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And now we come to the end of the holiday knitting madness.

Given what I’d started, I had to add a knit gift for my sister — especially since she’s the only one of the crew who’s done any knitting. I’m nothing if not a planner (and deadline driven, in case you haven’t yet figured that out), so I’d wisely purchased enough Malabrigo to make this wrap for her.

Pattern: Fear of Commitment Cowl by Julie Weisenberger
Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted (Red Mahogany)

In case anyone needs to know this for future reference — not that I’m advocating for that madness — this wrap can be completed in a couple of days. It also makes good airplane knitting.

FOs: Malabrigo Loafers

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Somewhere between finishing the Transverse cardigan and knitting a pile of monster parts, I sort of lost my mind. That’s really the only explanation I can come up with for why it seemed wise to plan more holiday knitting at the end of November.

Um, yeah…

So I grabbed the Malabrigo and cast on slippers for my father and brother-in-law. Since it was only after I’d purchased the yarn that I got the pattern, I didn’t realize that short rows were involved. So, yes, I unwittingly queued up a new skill test for myself just to add to the Christmas frenzy. As I said, sort of lost my mind.

Pattern: Malabrigo Loafers by Julie Weisenberger

Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted (Marine & Red Mahogany)
Once I’d committed to the project, though, I went all in and decided to knit sole inserts for both pairs. If you’re going to wear Malabrigo on your feet, why not make it extra cushy? Both pairs were finished before we left New Mexico, but I didn’t get a chance to photograph the second one until we were in MN (hence the crappy shot on flannel sheets).

FO: Monster Mania

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I had so much fun making the Penelope Sisters that I decided to create another grouping, this time for my nieces and nephews. Since all four are under the age of 5, I went the practical route on the yarn. There’s just something so cute (at least to me) about super-sized monsters for little kids, so I chose super bulky.

Pattern: Penelope the Empathetic Monster by Rebecca Danger
Yarn: Wool-Ease Thick & Quick (Sky Blue, Lemongrass, Fig)

They we a big hit — not that you’d exactly know that from this I Love Lucy attempt at a group photo.

FO: Taos Transverse

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The only thing I’ve been working on longer than this now finally finished cardigan is the Moderne Log Cabin… and that’s a blanket, so much more deserving of the extended timeframe.

I’m very happy to announce that it was finished in time to make it under the tree for my mother.

Pattern: Transverse Cardigan by Ann Weaver
Yarn: Hand-dyed yarn from 2010 Taos Wool Festival

Good thing she liked it enough to be willing to pose for the FO photos. Izzy helped with the photoshoot so she gets the credit/blame for the final goofy pose. And, yep, that’s Northern Minnesota in late December — just barely enough snow to call it a White Christmas.

FO: Tweedy Cowl

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Waste not, want not? Well, maybe want less. Loved the yarn used for the Penelope “sisters,” so I  was happy to discover I had enough green left over for this small infinity scarf/cowl.

Pattern: Nederland Circle Scarf by Cecily Glowik
Yarn: Queensland Collection Rustic Tweed in Forest Green

This is the time of year when I really start appreciating Albuquerque — chilly days with fading leaves instead of falling snow. Perfect Thanksgiving weather.