An FO and a YO

April 28, 2013March 22, 2014 | yarn & yarns

I got a bit more adventurous with my second pair of socks, but not so adventurous that I couldn’t get through them pretty fast. See, I had a goal with a nice, crunchy carrot dangling in front of me.

Pattern:Simple Skyp Socksby Adrienne Ku

Yarn: Knit Picks Stroll Tonal (Blue Violet)

Turned out it was a perfectly timed carrot, as well: My first pair of socks was too small (and went to Izzy) and this second pair was too big (but not so big, thankfully, that they don’t make good bed socks). In the quest for a “just right” pair, what better help could there be than the Yarn Harlot, herself?

Yesterday, I attended my first Yarnover, kicking off the morning with a Grok the Sock class taught by Ms. Stephanie Pearl-McPhee. It’s why I wanted at least two pairs of socks under my belt… Nothing motivates like potential humiliation.

My self-imposed deadlines and stress were definitely worth it. What a great class, and what a great teacher! Here’s my in-progress baby sock in the foreground, with classmates’ photo opp. in the background.

And here’s the finished baby sock, which I Kitchenered last night. And what’s that in the picture? Yep, it’s the start of pair #3, fully informed and on its way to that “just right” fit.

I had more time than planned over lunch since my friend Susan got a nasty bug and couldn’t attend at the last minute (no swapping of notes). So for better or worse, I then took full advantage of the market. (A thank-you shoutout to my sister and brother-in-law for the birthday bucks that bought both sets of fabulous vintage buttons.)

I finished up the day with a Celtic Cables class by Melissa Leapman, where I managed to execute the following two swatches to my disbelief and pure joy. As you might guess from the book, I’m jazzed to bring on the cables in another project or two.

Except for the missing Susan part, a fantastic day. Already planning for next year.

FO: Fiddlehead Mittens

April 7, 2013March 22, 2014 | yarn & yarns

The good news? I can check off Fair Isle and mittens from my 2013 Knitting goals. (And when you add in those first socks, I’ve hit everything on my list by early April.)

Pattern: Fiddlehead Mittens by Adrian Bizilia

Yarn: Mirasol Yarn Tupa (Tiger’s Eye) and Plymouth Yarn Kudo (49: Green, Teal, Brown), lined with After the Sheep Panda (Butterscotch)

The bad news: They’re too small — I clearly overcompensated when I frogged the too-big third of the first mitt. So guess who got lucky?

Yes, Izzy really was that excited to claim them as her own. There’s that. And there’s the fact that they coordinate with the too-small hat she also claimed.

So after a brief mourning period, I did what any good knitter would do: I ordered more yarn. And since I enjoyed this further foray into colorwork, I’m excited to cast on another pair.

FO: Easter Bonnet (MN-Style)

March 30, 2013March 22, 2014 | yarn & yarns

I was thrilled to have my four seasons back this year, waxing poetic about crisp fall days and snowy holidays. But now that it’s nearly April, I’m more than ready for winter to be over.

This morning began with a gentle spring rain. You could see the anticipation and relief on the faces of people out walking their dogs and in the aisles at Target. But not so fast, apparently. They’re calling for a return to 38&deg F (3&deg C) for Easter Sunday. So while this wasn’t intended as a holiday gift, it seems the FO timing is just perfect. At least the color makes it feel like spring.

Pattern: Pressed Leavesby Alana Dakos

Yarn: TFA Yellow Label (Iris)

FO: First Socks

March 25, 2013March 22, 2014 | yarn & yarns

After the knitting-tweaking-reknitting cycle that was the first (keeper) sock, the second one seemed to fly off my needles. Throughout all that knitting, though, I was skeptical about the yarn. It had a slightly twine-like roughness, but thankfully became all fuzzy soft after a good soak.

Yarn: Opal Regenwald / Rainforest (Buffalo Bill)

Pattern: Knitmore Girls Vanilla Sock

I’ve been admiring the pair on the sock blockers for at least a week now — a bit scared to actually step on all that hard work. Maybe another week and I’ll give them a test run. Ever had a knit that you were afraid to wear? I’d love to hear about it!

FO: Lucky Penny Cowl

March 19, 2013March 22, 2014 | yarn & yarns

Like so many others, I was led down the Honey Cowl path by those Mason-Dixon pushers knitters. Not that I’m complaining. In fact, it was a great mindless/mindful knit and I suspect another one will grace my needles soon.

Pattern: Honey Cowl

Yarn: TFA Yellow Label (Lucky Penny)

And can I just say I’m completely in love with this new TFA color? Fighting the urge to order it in every base — but stash diving tonight so I can clear out some room…

FO: Dowager Escargot

March 8, 2013March 22, 2014 | yarn & yarns

Me: I do enjoy the look of a good hat — just not on my head.

The Other Violet: Don’t be defeatist, dear. It’s terribly middle class.

Me: Well, it is knit… What’s the harm in trying it on?

The Other Violet: Oh, my dear, in my time I wore the crinoline, the bustle, and the leg-of-mutton sleeve. I’m not in a strong position to criticize.

Me: Um, yeah. Next time I’ll skip the ill-conceived mods.

Pattern: Escargot by Veronica Parsons

Yarn: Knit Picks Chroma Worsted (Bittersweet Heather) and
TFA Green Label (Turquoise Water)

"S" Is for…Sock!

February 28, 2013March 21, 2014 | yarn & yarns

As you’ll see, I was so happy to have this finished that I stuffed it onto the sock blocker before properly dealing with all the goo from the peeled off price label.

“S” Is Also for Sisyphus

What you don’t see is that this is the hundredth go at knitting my first sock. (OK, it’s actually the ninth. Just felt like the hundredth.) I scrapped the first try about half way down the cuff — couldn’t bear the ladders I was seeing. It was also a little tight. I cast on again with my trusty DPNs… And then ripped back.

I started reading anything and everything I could about how to avoid those tell-tale culprits. Yet, no matter how many times I went back to the ribbing and restarted, I couldn’t get it right. In fact, it got more wrong. Minor ladders became swinging bridges. I feared monkeys on the lookout for jungle vines were soon to be headed my way.

Knitting this sock became personal. In the worst sort of way.

Enter the sanity-saving 9″ HiyaHiya circulars. My fingers were cramped but those ladders were gone. Make that banished! Funny thing is, when I got to the instep shaping I used my DPNs and all was just fine. I couldn’t begin to explain why. Nor did I tempt fate with the foot, returning to the circulars.

With my first sock finished, I slipped it on my foot only to discover a flopping, too-long toe. Sigh. (OK, actually it was much cursing.) So I started and finished the second sock with the correct modification (shown above) and it fits. I feel like Cinderella!

Is “S” for Irony, Too?

The too-big first sock has been frogged and the yarn is now on its way to becoming my second sock. As I was working on it last night, a thought occurred to me: “S” is also for slipper.

My tenacious Grandma would be so proud. (And this time, yes, I will make the pair.)

FO: Minnesota Hood

February 10, 2013March 22, 2014 | yarn & yarns

When I’d made the decision to move back, I went hunting in Ravelry for the appropriate winter headwear. Preferably not a hat. (I’ll save my hat issues for another post.) I wanted something warm that I could wrap around my whole head, but with enough style that I wouldn’t mind being seen in public.

This hooded scarf from Whimsical Little Knits 2 completely charmed me. What’s not to love about those shell details over the ears and on the scarf ends? Then, soon after, I scored this OOAK in a TFA Etsy sale. The perfect pairing of yarn and pattern.

Pattern: Peaks Island Hood by Ysolda Teague

Yarn: TFA Green Label (Turquoise Water)

I won’t lie. The miles of seed stitch got a bit taxing. But I knew they would make the fabric warm — worth it, and so I kept knitting… Then I went button shopping to spur me through the final section. Hooray for 50% off sales! Not sure I otherwise could have justified the button upgrade. Best part, though? I finished it just in time for the latest snowstorm.

A New Favorite Color?

January 13, 2013March 22, 2014 | yarn & yarns

Back around second or third grade — after the standard adoration of pink — I picked blue as my favorite color. And loyal I was to all things blue for nearly 15 years. By the time I’d entered my 30s, though, green had overtaken it.

The other day I looked down at my WIPs and realized another change might be underway.

Hello, blue, my dear old friend!

Since this is a knitting blog and patterns matter, the projects are (clockwise from the top): Peaks Island hood, a Knitmore Girls Vanilla Sock (my first sock!), and a Fiddlehead Mitten (first mitten!).

I also have two other blue projects waiting in the wings — yes, there’s another turquoise one, but the other is a lovely color named Robins Egg Grey.

I try to hold myself to no more than three active projects at any one time. It’s an arbitrary number for sure, but one that keeps me from feeling like nothing will ever get done. Anyone else have a WIP limit for themselves? If so, what is your magic number?