My Sweater is growing!

DCP01884
Originally uploaded by BoxerPixie.

Here's the progress after one week. I'm at the "quick" part now -- round and round and round on the body. This morning I started at where the arms were divided so I got a TON done today while I was at the shop. It's easier for me to mindlessly knit while chatting -- and I had a wonderful afternoon of idle gossip and chatter to keep my needles flying.

I don't really want to do the hem with standard ribbing, so I think I'm going to give whirl at a turned under hem.

DCP01885
Originally uploaded by BoxerPixie.

Last night I stopped working my sweater at the armpits so that I could stop in at the shop to get confirmation that I was stopping at the right spot.

And because I can't bear to watch a movie and just sit on the couch, I started new felted slippers! I walked big holes in my first pair and really needed to get moving on these. This is possibly one of the *easiest* and fastest projects around. I started and completed this last night, I do need to make the outer sole and the second slipper, so by Wednesday I imagine you'll see them on my feet.

Yarn: Cascade 200 with 'Vermicelli' novelty yarn in the cuff.

A New Sweater on the Needles

Neck Down Sweater
Originally uploaded by BoxerPixie.

I started a neck down 'V' neck sweater over the weekend. It's a "non-pattern" pattern - which means I'm making it up as I go.

The yarn is JJ's Handpainted and it's being knit on US 9 needles.

Column of Leaves Scarf - DONE!

It's done and being modeled by one gorgeous boxer boy!

(yes, I'm a photo moron and that's the edge of my sweater sleeve in the upper left corner).

Call me mean, but I'm excited it's going to be cold and snowy this weekend so that I can wear my new scarf. :)







Here's a better shot where you can see the detail of the pattern:

Toe Up Sock Class

Yesterday I taught my first toe-up sock class and had a really good time, I hope the students taking the class enjoyed it as much as I did! I was excited that everyone got to take home one whole completed sock after the two hour class -- ok, so it was a tiny sock, but it was a sock!

Friday night's Sit 'N Knit had a handful of new people which was really nice. I love to see what everyone else is working on and what they've finished up. I started a pair of socks, but ripped them out yesterday morning when I realized that they were going to be too big for me, but that I didn't have enough yarn to make them into socks for my wonderful husband. Cast on same yarn yesterday afternoon using a provisional cast-on for a short row toe, which I had never done. Unfortunately, again, the socks were going to be too big (I was following a lace pattern that I wasn't sure how to adjust smaller) -- so rip, rip, rip again.... This morning I picked up the SAME yarn again, started the socks and they are going swimmingly. The yarn is Brown Sheep Wildfoote in a navy/hunter green/magenta-ish purple colorway and the pattern is the beaded rib from Sensational Knitted Socks, my favorite sock book!

Photos to come at a later date.

Valentine's Day

DCP01870
Originally uploaded by BoxerPixie.

I told my husband not to waste $50+ on roses for me....instead this morning I got a little bag with these inside!

Yippeee!

Oops!

While surfing around on Ebay last week, I "accidently on purpose" picked up two skeins of Lorna's Laces hand dyed Shepard Sock in the 'Hawaii' colorway.

It arrived today. It's gorgeous and it's begging me to get out the ball winder.

However, I will resist as...sigh...I'd like to finish the Column of Leaves scarf before spring. I am about 75% of the way through it and it's going quicker than when I first started. Tonight is a 'sit on the couch, knit and watch Heroes' night, so I hope to make good progress.

I just need to keep my eyes on the goal....finish the scarf, start the socks!

Column of Leaves Scarf

Column of Leaves Scarf
Originally uploaded by BoxerPixie.

The scarf is still in progress. I'm starting to wonder if it will still be cold when it's done.

Otherwise, I'm wearing this freaking scarf in the middle of June.

The spinning is coming along...

Not bad for a beginner!
Originally uploaded by BoxerPixie.

Since getting the wheel for my birthday last November, I've been very remiss in spending time with "Anansi" (that's the wheel's name).

Most of what I learned about spinning with a wheel has been through reading books and trial and error, resulting in very mixed (aka pretty crappy) results on the bobbin. Anyway, yesterday I met with a spinner at my local yarn store where she sat with me, watching and giving me some pointers -- the biggest was "stop treadling with the music, you're going too fast!!"

Remember this Project?

DCP01865
Originally uploaded by BoxerPixie.

To refresh your memory, last year I signed up for a "Mystery Stole" KAL online.

I had always admired lace knitting, stoles and wanted to give them both a go. Being me, I jumped with both feet into a project that really tested my inabilities. Never knitted with laceweight yarn? [Nope.] Never used a chart? [Huh? What's a chart?]

In the past two days, 2 different people asked me whatever happened with this project. To both I admitted that it was "resting" in it's project bag, patiently awaiting me to pull it back it out one day.

Today was that day. I pulled out the tote, gently unrolled the work, straightened out the needles and took a good look at it. Are there mistakes? You betcha. Can I live with them? Hell, yes.

All in all, taking a good look what I've already completed, I did really well for not having a good idea what I was doing and just knitting along without a clue. (laugh).

Dirk is working late tonight, so I'm going to sit down with with this project and try to knock out the last 2/3's of side 1 of Chart 3. The black lines are placeholders across the work to section off each of the charts, which start in the middle. On the far left side you can see that I've got quite a few rows of side 1/chart 3 already started.

Secret Pal 10: The Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I'm a huge fan of sock yarns! I like most types of yarn -- wool, cotton, merino, angora! I get a lot of my yarns through KnitPicks and have not be disappointed with any of them. I'm not a fan of cheap acrylic, I do however like a higher quality acrylic blend like Encore Worsted.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

My favorite circular sock needles are stored in the little Addi Turbo baggies that they came in. Exciting, eh?

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I started knitting just over a year ago. A friend showed me the basics and then I got every book that our local library had on the shelves. I'd rate myself a very adventurous intermediate knitter.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

I think so.

5. What's your favorite scent?

I love earthy scents like patchouli, sage, ylang ylang. Scents that are too flowery make me sneeze.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

I *love* Green and Blacks chocolate! And the Cadbury Fruit and Nut bars.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I am very much a do-it-yourselfer! Yes, I spin and am a beginner on both the wheel and drop spindle. I would love to have a better drop spindle than the one I am currently using.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

I've got eclectic musical tastes that range from The Grateful Dead to Joy Division! I have an MP3 player that I love to listen to audio books on!

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

I like purples, silver, greens, browns, rusty reds -- really, I'm not picky about color.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

Married to the love of my life. Have boxer dogs who lay around on the couch all day and cats who own the place.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

Yes

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

SOCKS! I'm a sock nut because they are quick, easy and portable!

13. What are you knitting right now?

A lace sampler scarf with laceweight yarn, another lace work patterned scarf but in worsted weight, a pair of socks and would like to start a pinwheel sweater!

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Very much so, they are the best kind.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Depends on the project, but I mostly use circular needles in either aluminum or bamboo.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

Yes, both.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

Less than a year

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Halloween

19. Is there anything that you collect?

Apparently, yarn and roving...(laugh)

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I subscribe to Interview Knits. I have a few books on my wish list: Favorite Socks:
Twenty-five of the best sock patterns by Interweave Knits; Knitting Without Tears and Knitting Around by Elizabeth Zimmerman

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

I'd like to get better at Fair-Isle and try steeking.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Yes, on sock knitting. I wear a size US 5.5 women's regular width.

23. When is your birthday?

November 18

What I've been doing...

*Still working on the Column of Leaves scarf. It's coming along just fine, it's eating yarn up like you would not believe though! I'm definitely going to use every inch of the 440 yards that I have.

* Little pink socks on the needles as well. I'm rarely without a pair of socks in progress. :) The yarn is a cotton/elastic blend that I picked up over the summer. I can't find the ball band ANYWHERE and I'm in desperate need of a second ball. We no longer have it at the shop, so I'm hoping that I can show it to the owner or someone else at the shop and they'll recognize it. Otherwise, these socks are just going to be anklets.

Next projects I'm thinking about:

* Elann's Pinwheel Cardi: I love the look and am dreaming about the colors I'll choose.

* I'm so intrigued by steeking a fair isle sweater, so I've got a pattern for a small teddy bear sweater that will be knit fair isle in the round before I....gulp...cut out the arm holes. I figure I'll start with a small sweater. It can't be THAT hard to knit up a sweater that you've put a lot of time and effort into can it? (LOL)

It's snowing here again. I'm all wrapped up in my zip front fleece onesie. Dirk calls it "the potato sack". It's basically a big square of fleece that zips up the front, has long sleeves and two little ribbed holes all the way down at the bottom where my feet poke out. It's amazingly comfortable and perfect for lounging around in.

Football Alternative for this weekend

DYI TV is running a Knitty Gritty Marathon, Sunday Feb 4, 5-11 pm ET, to give an alternative to the SuperBowl. They are encouraging viewers to knit or crochet 7x9 squares for Warm up America. I hope it's a success; and it is telling that the network decided to do this instead of, say, a plumbing marathon!

http://diytv.com/diy/shows_dkng/

Work in Progress: Brooke's Column of Leaves Scarf

Been working on a new scarf for myself since Dirk got the last one that I made. There area few (glaring to me) mistakes that suddenly have suddenly appeared too many rows back for me to think about ripping it all out without bursting into tears. The pattern isn't really hard but there was a weird stitch that I'd never done before that was throwing me a curve ball until I got some help in an online knitting community.

I'm eternally grateful (snort) to my husband for pointing one the mistakes out. Here's a peek at how the conversation went:

Me: "Look how far I've gotten on this scarf. I finally got that stitch worked out, but I'm leaving in the first bit where it went a little wrong. Can you tell?"

Him: "Not really, but what's up with that other spot that looks weird?"

Me: "What spot!?" (as I twist the scarf around to face me in a panic)

Him: "There...right below your thumb."

Me: "Shit"

Him: "erhm, uh, yeah, I can barely tell....(from all the way across a not very well lit room)."

Me: (holding up project with tiny tears ready to spill..) "Crap, there's another mistake'

Him: "I still love you even if you can't knit for crap"

Striped Socks!

Striped Socks
Originally uploaded by BoxerPixie.

I finished these socks last night - and they are the tallest ones I've made for myself so far. I originally intended to make them knee socks, and would have had plenty of yarn, but ...sigh... I get so excited once I get the foot and heel done to bind off and put my finished socks on!

I usually make my cuffs as long as the foot from heel to toe for a nice balanced sock. But these are 2 inches longer than the foot. Maybe I'll be patient enough for knee socks some day!

The only thing that bothers me about this pair is that the color is off between the two of them. The yarn was the same color and dye lot, but one is significantly lighter than the other. I pulled from the center of the skein so I am pretty certain it isn't fading from sunlight or anything.

Notes:
CTH method
Cascade Sassy Stripes Superwash
US 1 needle
Magic Loop

What I've been knitting lately!

First, my lovely husband requested a "long black scarf". He stopped in at the yarn shop while I was working to pick his yarn out, of course the first skein he picked up was a small $20.00 skein of super soft alpaca. (snort). I politely pointed out that I was *not* knitting a $60.00 handwash only scarf for him and shoved two balls of Cascade Superwash into his hands.

I used the popular "Irish Hiking Scarf" pattern, which was super easy to memorize and worked up fairly quickly. I used almost all of both balls of yarn (440 yards!), but he loves it because it's long enough for him to wrap around his neck and still have a nice amount hanging down in front. He's literally worn it daily since I made it, so I'm guessing he's really pleased with it.

The only thing that I don't like is the way the one end flares out -- I think this is the cast on edge. However, I think if I blocked the whole scarf this would be solved. I'm already thinking about what color I want my Irish Hiking Scarf, I know there are two balls of Cascade Superwash in a heather green at the store that would be gorgeous. (Putting on psychic hat....I predict a trip to YarnArts this afternoon to get some heathered green superwash wool.....)

<-- Here's a nice closeup view of the cables --dog hair, flared end and all.

For about the last six months I have been totally entranced by a felted fair isle bag at the shop that was knitted by one of the women who also works there. So, I finally sat down with some wool, some graph paper, a calculator, a pencil and a really big eraser to try to design my own fair isle pattern for a bag. I'm pretty happy with the way it turned out. There are some things I would have done differently for the shaping, but overall it I think it turned out great. I bought grommets yesterday for the handle to slip through, but apparently I can't count and need to got get another set so that I have enough. The bottom is round so it's a barrel shaped bag, which you're not really seeing in the photo and the top is bunched up where I folded it to dry into the folds that I need to grommet. I'll have to get some sturdy plastic canvas to cut down to size for the bottom to hold the bag up properly.

Well, it's almost lunch time and I have some things I need to finish around the house before I head over to the shop to get me some heathered green Cascade Superwash!

Woven Two Handed Fair Isle

whoo-hooooo!!

For weeks, I've been dreaming of a felted fair isle tote bag. On Friday morning I sat down with needles and wool and knit, unknit, reknit, unknit and reknit until I finally got the math right for a flat bottom that is circular.

On Saturday, I sat down with graph paper and drew out a fair isle type pattern and with lots of determination *finally* got how to complete fair isle with no floats.

This afternoon, I bound the bag off. Now I need to decide what color and style I want an i-cord handle so that I can felt both the bag and handle at the same time.

I'll post photos tomorrow!

I've got yet another pair of socks!

I've had this yarn hanging around in my knitting bag forever! I but when I saw a friend knitting a pair of socks with her yarn just like it, I dug mine out because I loved how her socks were turning out. It's Crystal Palace Bunny Hop, which is a microfiber, nylon, angora blend. It's super thick and very soft.

I used my standard two at a time on Magic Loop (US 3) with the Crazy Toes and Heel method. The ribbing is the garter rib from Charlene Schurch's Sensational Socks book.

The fit is awesome and I love the colors. I will definitely get some more of this yarn for additional socks!

Magic Loop Crazy Toes and Heels KAL

On the Crazy Toes and Heels yahoo group, I was asked to help with a KAL using the CTH method with Magic Loop to knit two socks at once. This is my preferred sock method since I get great fitting socks and no second sock syndrome!

I'm a little nervous about running my first KAL, but I figured I'd give it a whirl! If it goes to crap, we're all in this together, right? (wink)

Here's the materials that you'll need to get started:

Sock Yarn: either two balls of 50 grams each, or one 100 gram ball *which will require you to work from both ends of the yarn* Be aware that using a self striping yarn and knitting from both ends will make the socks "fraternal" and the striping will be upside down on one sock.

Needle: Your favorite size needle in a 47" to 60" cable length. Some people use a shorter cable, if that works for you then go for it, but for two socks at the same time, it's helpful to have lots of cable to move everything around on. I prefer my Addi Turbo, but I also use the KnitPicks or Denise needles with the long cable when I am using a larger needle size, like a 4 or 5.

Other materials: Standard stitch markers and double loop markers for CTH method.

Pattern: We're going to make this up as we go! wooo-hoooo! You can use your favorite leg/cuff pattern once we get cast on. I'm planning on a simple garter rib from Charlene Schurch's Sensational Sock book.

Get your materials together and we can cast on on Friday, January 19th -- this should give everyone enough time to get their materials together, ok?

'Elifine Socks'

'Elifine Socks'
Originally uploaded by BoxerPixie.

I finished them last night -- and I love them!
The pattern is 'Elifine's Socks'. The pattern is well written and easy to read.

The yarn is Knit Picks 'Palatte' in cream, which was leftover from Dirk's black socks with white toes and cuff stripe. The yarn is a bit splity to work with, but very soft.

The only thing I would change is that I used the stretchy bind from the Magic Loop booklet. It's almost too stretchy and flares a bit on my leg as you can see in the photo. I suppose if the socks had been longer the flared part would be on a wider part of my leg.

As usual, I knit these both at the same time on Magic Loop -- which is my favorite way to do socks. Honestly, I don't think I would have made it through a second one if I did them one at a time. Lace socks are hard work and it's easiest to just get them done at the same time.

Knitty Heart Scarf

This weekend's knitting project was super quick and easy! I started this scarf on Saturday afternoon and finished it yesterday. The pattern is from Knitty's Breast Cancer Awareness PDF.

It was knit with Brown Sheep's Lamb's Pride Bulky. I did have to lightly block it to flatten the edges that wanted to roll due to the amount of stockinette stitch used. It could probably use another blocking -- I'm not really good at blocking due to impatience. LOL

I really like the pattern and it's a great introduction to lace patterns for someone who hasn't done much lace knitting. The bigger needles (US 15) and bulky yarn make it easy to see where you are in the pattern and learn to read your lace knitting. The finished scarf will go to YarnArts tomorrow as a store sample for Valentine's Day gift ideas. Doesn't Maxwell look charming in a pink scarf? He's obviously very sure of his manliness. My husband asked if the scarf was for him since it matched his pink MP3 player...laugh...

As a side note, this is the first time I'd worked with Lamb's Pride. I've been spinning for just a short time and have been frustrated with how my yarn looks - but while making this sweater, I realize that this is almost exactly how my spun yarn looks! At least it's not the overspun twisty stuff of my first tries at spinning!