What's in Progress

Although I haven't had much knitting time lately, I have been better about sneaking in a row or two of knitting here and there.

I did manage to finish the first Girl on Fire sock

The yarn is a very intense, bright fuschia Plucky Knitter Plucky Feet that was a CookieA Sock Club selection a while back. I wasn't as fond of the patterns that were recommended for this particular yarn so am using a different Sock Club pattern instead. I suppose that balances things out somehow.

My currently active sock project is Drogon, another CookieA Sock Club pattern. The yarn is Cephalopod Yarns Skinny Bugga. The color is a difficult to describe dark brown with reddish/purple undertones, named Tyrian purple. I hadn't used this yarn before and really like the definition it gives the twisted stitch pattern. I've started the heel flap of the first sock. This project should be my first Finished Object of 2015. I'm hoping that I'll get it knocked out in the next two weeks or so to stay on track for the 15 in 2015 goal with Haldeblog.

Stash Enlargement Moratorium

I made a frightening discovery today.  I exported my Ravelry stash database to a spreadsheet and added things up. If the database is accurate (and I suspect it is missing some of the purchases as well as doesn't have all the FOs substracted out), I currently have 103,566.5 yards of yarn in 379.75 skeins living in my stash room.  That doesn't include the over 100 pounds of spinning fiber. 

Holy Cow!!! This explains why it seems like my yarn is bursting out at the seams.  That's waaaaaaaay too big. I could see having maybe 10-15,000 yards at the most. So, with the exception of the two yarn/project clubs I'm currently in (Cookie A Sock Club and Paradise Fibers Yarn Club), I am going to cease purchasing yarn and fiber for the forseeable future. The only possible exception to this will be if I need to make a gift for someone and don't have suitable yarn in the stash.

So, let's see how quickly I can knit things down!  At ~400 yards per pair of socks this may take a while.... (there are 40+ pair of unknit socks in the stash so even knitting them all up won't make a huge dent. It's the unknit shawls that really add to the yardage.)

2014 Year in Review and 2015 New Starts

Another year has drawn to a close and I decided to share what I've knit in the past year.

Ravelry says I've finished nine projects:

• Wendy Johnson's Shetland Pi Shawl. Knit in Misti Alpaca Lace Handpaint.
  
  
  
   
• Ganseys for my niece and nephew. These were original designs using the templates and design guidance in Knitting Ganseys. Sadly, my nephew's sweater only fit him for about 15 minutes. Oh well. Maybe they'll get donated to someone else.

•  Plain stockinette socks in a lovely striped cotton blend yarn. I wasn't sure there would be enough in the skein for a full sock so I made contrasting toes.  While knitting these, I realized that I hadn't previously made a plain stockinette sock.

• Pomatomus sock in a buttery yellow Shibui Knits Staccato.

• Spock Socks in SweetGeorgia Yarns CashLuxe Fine, color blood orange. These are part of the 2013 Cookie A Sock Club.

• Rosebud Socks by Wendy Johnson. The yarn is an indie dyed handpaint yarn called Riot of Colors. I haven't a clue what the color name may have been. I bought it at the Fine Line Creative Art Center.

• Newton Socks by Cookie A in Indigodragonfly MerGoat Sock. Color E Plurbus Nom Nom Nom. These were part of the 2013 Cookie A Sock Club.

• Beaded Rib Socks (my own pattern) in Mountain Colors Weaver's Wool Quarters, color Huckleberry. It's my go-to generic pattern that works well when coupled with Mountain Colors yarns.
  

No significant spinning projects completed, other than finishing up the red/yellow/blue roving I blogged about previously. I still haven't decided what the yarn might become.

Looking Forward to 2015

I'll start 2015 with my customary frogging of the projects that didn't work out in 2014 or were otherwise abandoned. This includes the Morehouse Merino Laceweight Cardigan that turned out large enough for me and a friend (if the friend had very long arms), a Baby Sophisticate cardigan with not enough yarn, 

There is a 15 in 2015 knitalong being organized by HaldeCraft and String Theory Colorworks.

The idea is to start and finish 15 projects weighing at least 50 grams during the year.  Any yarn (or spinning fiber).  Any pattern. This won't help me finish any of the currently underway projects but it might light a fire under any new things. I have already started Drogon by Cookie A in Skinny Bugga, color Tyrian Mollusk.  I could use another dozen socks in my drawer but I'd like to also successfully complete a sweater for myself--either re-doing the Morehouse Merino Laceweight Cardigan or having another try at the Elizabeth Zimmermann Green Sweater or February Fitted Sweater.

Sock Knitting and Spinning Thus Far in 2014

I've been making steady progress in building up the sock drawer this year. Some of my earliest socks are finally wearing to the point that continuing to darn them is likely a lost cause.  Time, instead, for these to be retired.  As a result, I've been trying to build up the current supply. Here's what I've finished so far in 2014:

Spock Socks from the Cookie A Sock Club

 Newton Socks from the Cookie A Sock Club

Rosebud Socks, by WendyKnits

The socks currently in progress include Randiriel and Cookie A's Girl on Fire.  I'm not sure about the Girl on Fire socks. I subbed a different club yarn and I'm not entirely sure this color wants to be those socks. I'll have to think about it while I work on Randiriel.

On the Spinning Front.....I saved up and bought myself a Hansen E-spinner earlier this year.  I spun up some bright yellow/orange, red and blue roving that I've been saving for some time. I have no idea what I'll do with it.  It's a nice sportweight but not exactly super soft against the skin.  The final effect is more like autumn leaves than a rainbow.  I like how it turned out.

Not an Exciting Year

I had a look at my project list in Ravelry today. It seems that I finished seven things this year: 3 pair socks, 2 baby sweaters, 1 scarf and 1 miniature angel. And I blogged twice.

Methinks tis time to get the old bahookie back in gear, particularly since I have 2.5 sweater sleeves to go before I finish my Christmas knitting!

Spring Sock

Several weeks ago, Boy and I ventured west to check out the Tulip Festival in Mt. Vernon, WA. We saw huge fields of blooming tulips. Great colorful blocks of blossoms.

During a stop to get dinner, we came across a yarn shop and Boy helped me pick out a souvenirs skein of sock yarn. The color reminded us both of the tulip fields. I happen to also really like a bright sunny yellow but have no yellow socks.  

This is my current international travel project. I've chosen Cookie A's Monkey for the pattern. With any luck, I'll be we'll into the second sock by the end of my trip.

Taking Stock

At the weekly Sunday knitting meet up, I was asked how many unfinished projects I have going.  With the assistance of Ravelry, I have discovered that the total is actually lower than I thought it might be.  Between my hibernating and in progress lists and a few projects hiding in the back of the closet, the total is only 14.

Just prior to the Sunday knitting meet up this past week, I'd actually been considering starting a new project since the current batch of projects haven't been terribly satisfying and I have had to retire two pair of fairly recently knit socks due to large holes.  I had managed to not start a new project by striking a deal wtih myself.  I have to finish at least one existing project before I can start something new.  This should go very well with my plan to knit from my stash (with the exception of my Cookie A Sock Club membership).

So far, I'm working on finishing up the Mexicali Baby Ole sweater that I started for my not-yet born niece.  In 2003.  Needless to say, she's outgrown it by a wee bit by now.  But I'm sure I can find a baby of suitable size, either of my own acquaintance or through the GoodWill store or other charity.  After that, I have two sweaters that only need seaming to be complete.  Time to get over my seaming fears and get them done!

I'm on a roll

Only I think it's a nasty moldy roll and I don't like the direction it's heading....

I started the EZ green sweater a couple months back. Just yesterday I got the body finished so that I could cut the steeks. being rather nervous about the steek business, I made a point of carefully and repeatedly checking the bust measurement before I cut anything. And that's when I discovered that my gauge got tighter as I knit the body of the sweater. It is now over two inches smaller around than intended and now exactly matches my measurements--definitely too small. So I'll be tearing it out and starting over with a larger needle. I was thinking the body could have been longer anyway, so I'm not terribly upset. I figure if I am going to spend all this time knitting a sweater, it's going to be as close to perfect as I can get it. Now I just need to track down a size 7 needle....

Then after that discovery, I found that the Kiri Shawl pattern website has disappeared and i can't find my printed copy. Thank goodness for the Internet Wayback Machine.

On a happier note, I did weave in the ends on my Paraphernalia socks. The socks I knit for my sister were well-received. I also took advantage of the Morehouse Merino kit sale to have a bit of birthday retail therapy--a lace weight cardigan kit is now headed my way. This will be the eventual replacement for a cardi I bought years ago at a secondhand shop and wear very frequently. if the pattern suits me, I envision making several of them in different colors.

Spinning progress....
I finished the yellow/red roving. It may make a nice scarf though it may be a bit scratchy as the mohair is a bit coarse. I am now working on some dark brown Shetland that I am spinning into a sport weight 2-ply. I have some red, orange and yellow oddballs of Shetland that will make nice stripes or pattern in a brown cardi. It is going pretty quickly. Much more quickly than the merino lace weight I had been spinning previously.

Thankfully Spinning

I spent a couple hours at the wheel today.  This is some Border Leicester/Mohair roving from Maple Row Stock Farm.The color is called Autumn Leaves.  I like the orangey red and the golden yellow.  It is quite a warm colorway. (I really need to post a pic too.)

I had started spinning this fiber several years ago and have a small skein of worsted two-ply.  Today's efforts have yielded a fingering weight two-ply.  It might all work well together in a woven scarf.

Other projects underway:
I have started the EZ Green Sweater by Sunday Holm.  My version will be red.  I'm adding waist shaping.  I expect this to become a staple of my work wardrobe.

Still have a Paraphernalia sock on the needles.

Have churned out two bulky ribbed hats for the charity coat box at work. There is also a scarf that served very well as my movie knitting.  I need to cast on a new one since we're headed to see Skyfall this weekend.

Haven't started any socks for my sister for Christmas.  I do have a two week international trip coming up though, so perhaps there will be knitting time then.  The last time I was in Tbilisi, the TV channels were switching over to be mostly overdubbed in Georgian, even when the shows were American.  This makes it a lot less fun to watch movies on the MGM channel.  Unfortunately Netflix and Hulu don't work overseas. Time for loading up the MP3 player with books and to take along a couple DVDs.

22 and 33

I finished putting my stash into Ravelry today.  The last two categories of yarn were lace weight and sock yarn.  I have 22 unknit shawls and 33 pair of unknit socks in my stash.  Now, all of the unknit socks aren't for me.  All of the shawls are, plus I just joined the Goddess Knits Decadently Divine Shawl Club so will have 25 unknit shawls by the end of the year, not counting the three shawls currently on the needles.

At the rate at which my current supply of knitted socks is wearing thing, I need to get cracking on getting some every day socks knit up.  First, I think I'll finish up the socks I've already got started.  Tonight I worked on my Paraphernalia socks. There are two other sock projects needing 1/2 to 1 sock to finish. Should be easy enough to finish up if I stay focused and stop getting side tracked by other abandoned WsIP.

Speaking of WsIP, I did have a go at finishing up a long ago knitted up sweater.  I started the thing in the late 1990s but didn't like seaming and wasn't very good at it, so the sweater has languished.  Now I need to put the sleeves in it, the collar on it and figure out how to sew a zipper into a sweater.  Hopefully that won't take me 12 years.

I decided to knit the WendyKnits Summer Solstice shawl in my handspun. I picked a needle size that is two or three sizes larger than the pattern called for.  I also modified the pattern into more of a scarf, skipping the last clue and casting off early.  The end result is a nice crescent shaped scarf that I will wear this winter.  I got a new coat last winter but hadn't gotten around to getting or making a new scarf.  It turned out quite well.

Summer Startitis

I tried to resist. I really did.

I have fallen for the WendyKnits Summer Solstice KAL.  I am now trying to decide whether to knit it in Araucania sock yarn or in some sport weight handspun merino.  The handspun is a bit heavy for this pattern.  I'd have to go up two needle sizes to get a nice fabric, which would make a much larger shawl that would possibly require downsizing.  I'm just not sure if I want to use the Araucania for this particular project.  The green color does, however, match my winter coat quite nicely and I could use a nice winter scarf....

While I sort out which yarn to use, I am instead chugging away at the EZ 100th Anniversary Pi Shawl, also from WendyKnits.  I'm about to finish Clue 3.  At the start of Clue 4, I will have 576 stitches.

Q2 Knitting Update

I still haven't finished the baby sweater for the co-worker. At this point I think I'll knit the sweater and either donate it or leave it in standby mode for the next time I need a baby gift. 

I didn't bother taking the Paraphernalia socks with me to Georgia on my last trip. Instead, I finished the Spring Forward socks that I worked on while I was there in December. 

I also knit the first sock of my first pair of Monkeys.  I now know that the round trip drive between Tbilisi and Batumi is almost exactly one sock long!

Most of my knitting efforts at home have been directed at my EZ 100 Anniversary Pi shawl.  I'm 2/3 of the way through the third clue.


I had good intentions regarding Knit Night at the local yarn store on Friday. Unfortunately I was still dealing with jetlag a bit.  I fell asleep at 4:30pm and woke up at 8pm. Knit Night was 6-8pm.  Ugh.  Maybe next month....

Quarterly Knitting Update

My sister's birthday socks were, as usual, a bit late, but they're done.  I finished them about three days after her birthday and mailed them about a week late. I hadn't told her to expect anything so she was quite surprised.

I next moved on to my Tri-Cities Socks.  I purchased the yarn three or four years ago when visiting the area.  The pattern is SpillyJane's Pittsworth.  I liked the cables as they remind me of the three rivers in the area.  The yarn colors remind me of the landscape in the area--blue sky and various colors of brown for the vegetation and dirt, with a hint of green.  I was worried that they'd be too snug to wear, but they're not.  They're quite comfortable. I hope they wear well.  This is the first time I've used an alpaca-wool blend yarn for socks.

During an early April trip to Tbilisi, Georgia, I worked on a new pair of socks. The pattern is Paraphernalia. I think the yarn is Mountain Colors Weavers Wool Quarters. Size two needles.  I have the first sock done.  The cable repeat is a bit uneven, but it's not uneven enough for me to rip back.

After that, I studiously avoided the orange cardi with the badly sewn on lace edging.  I toyed with going back to my Spring Forward socks but instead decided to start an EZ Anniversary Pi shawl (Wendy Johnson's KAL from a couple years back).  I think I'm on the third clue now.  I'm using Cascade Alpaca Lace and size 4 needles.  

A colleague at work is having her first baby in July and her baby shower is in a week, so I started another Baby Sophisticate.  I started using Paton's Shetland Chunky, just like the last time I made one, but then thought that a thicker yarn would make a larger sweater which might be better.  So I picked up several skeins of Lion Brand Hometown USA.  I am nearly to the point of dividing for the arms.  I think it's going to be huge and may just revert back to finishing the Shetland Chunky version instead.  The shower is on the 2nd or 3rd of May so I have a little time yet.

Yarn Bombing for London Olympics

 This is one of the coolest yarn bombings EVER!  It must have been an absolute hoot to do too. I wonder if it will become a tradition in Olympic cities now. :-)

 

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/picturegalleries/howaboutthat/9128385/London-2012-mystery-knitter-leaves-Olympics-themed-knitted-figures-on-pier.html#?frame=2161009

January Knitting Progress

The orange cardi is all knit up and I attached the lace border to the body of the sweater, only to find that the cast off edge of the border was a bit too firm.  I'll need to remove the border, then re-do the cast on edge to be more stretchy before sewing it back on.

I spent the past week in Washington DC at a conference. My current sock project was too close to being finished to take with me and the other Socks In Progress too complicated, so I started a new pair of socks.  These are another pair of socks for Sis.  Pattern: Serpentine by Wendy Johnson.  Yarn: Koigu Premium Merino.  I'm halfway up the foot of the first sock.

Happy New Year!! 2011 Accomplishments and 2012 Plans

I've discovered that one of the benefits of Ravelry is that it tracks what I've accomplished in a year, if I actually remember to enter all the projects into it.  I don't know that I've really ever tracked what I've done before.  Perhaps next year I'll keep even better track.  So here's the rundown on 2011's knitting: I completed at least four pair of socks, a baby sweater and two shawls, plus a half dozen dish cloths.  There might have been a scarf in there somewhere too.

I spun and plied a couple hundred yards of a sport weight three-ply merino yarn too. There's another pound or two of that fiber left.  Currently on the wheel is some tencel-superwash wool fiber that I'd like to turn into socks or perhaps a shawlette.

For 2012, I'm still poking away at the orange mohair-linen cardi and the green cotton cardi, plus half a dozen half-knit socks.  I'd like to finish all of those projects.  I'm also going to keep +Tricia Smith company knitting MMario's Queen Anne's Lace shawl.  On New Year's Eve, I purchased eight skeins of Shibui Knits Merino Kid in a dark emerald green and have tagged it to become the Blackberry Cabled Cardigan.  I don't think I'll get it finished in 2012, but I'll give it a decent shot.  I'd also like to finally finish my Freedom Sweater (started in 1995) and the February Lady Sweater (started only in 2010). This may be the Year of the Sweater instead of knitting mostly socks.

Regarding yarn and fiber purchases this year, the yarn or fiber will have to be something absolutely to die for or I think I'll give it a pass.  I've got more than enough yarn and prepped spinning fiber to keep me busy for a good long time.

Oh, and I'm hoping I'll be more consistent about blogging fibery progress and photos along the way!

Socktoberfest 2011 Final Report

I managed to not actually finish a single sock during the entire month.  I did, however, start three new pair of socks including the socks reported in my last post.

There are the black socks for Sis.  Too dark to knit in lower light conditions.  Too complicated to knit wtihout the chart. Yarn is some sock yarn by Plymouth. Pattern: Devon by Cookie A.

There are the teal/peacock colored socks. Also too complicated to knit without the chart or while trying to multitask. Yarn from an indie dyer (Purchased at Fine Line Creative Arts Center).  Pattern is Rosebud by Wendy Johnson.

There are the new cotton blend socks. Simple enough for pre-occupied knitting.Yarn is Sockotta. Pattern is Spring Forward from Knitty, Summer 2008.

Other non-sock ongoing projects:
 Blocks for a log cabin-style blanket that I'm knitting for Project Linus.  I don't knit on it very often, which I suspect is because I'm not quite comfortable just making up the pattern as I go. I want the blocks to all be different but then I also worry that it won't look good.  Today I had a possible idea--adapt the Tokyo Subway Quilt by Oh, Fransson! to my knitted blanket.  My version will just be two colors (red and blue), but it should still turn out pretty cool.
 
Current knitting focus
I've been working on the orange mohair/linen cardi.  I've only got the lace edging to finish for the fronts and the sleeves.  It's not particularly complicated and just needs to be done.  Once the edging is finished, all that will need to be done is the sewing up.  I need to quit procrastinating and just do it.  I really want to wear this sweater this fall and winter.

Next focus
Finishing some of those socks during some upcoming travel events, especially Sis' socks.  I'd like to get the green cotton cardi off the WIP list too.  I'll have to rip out the sleeves and pay a heck of a lot more attention to the gauge and fit so I end up with sleeves that aren't so darned tight.  This may involve modifying the pattern to get the fit I want.

There are a few pattern ideas percolating in the back of my head too.  I have a lace stole sketched out.  It may be that I actually knit a swatch or three and finally develop the full pattern.

Socktoberfest 2011

I discovered a nasty hole along the side of one of the socks I wore yesterday.  I suspect I snagged one on the buckle of my clogs yesterday.  I have a vague recollection of that but hadn't thought it pulled hard enough to break the yarn.  While examining the hole, I also discovered the heels are getting dangerously thin. :-(

On close examination, the socks probably should have been knit at a tighter gauge. I may rip both socks back to the ankles, then knit back down in a tighter gauge.  I suspect that darning the heels of these socks will be futile at the current gauge.

So now I'm celebrating Socktoberfest.  I'm using the same brand of yarn in a deep turquoise/jewel tone colorway.  I initially intended to knit the very same pattern that sprung the hole (The Through the Loops 2009 Mystery Sock), but have achieved 8 sts per inch on size zero needles and will instead knit a pair of toe up socks from Wendy Johnson's Toe-Up Socks for Everybody.  I haven't yet decided between Rosebud and Victory.  At the moment, I'm leaning toward Rosebud.  I'll make the final decision in another six rounds or so, when the toe is done and I'm ready to start the foot.

Through the Loops Shawl KAL finished

The KAL ended at midnight last Friday.  I finished my shawl around noon on Saturday, so I wasn't eligible for any of the lovely prizes.  But I'm happy with  my shawl and that's really what counts.

I estimate I've got about 300 yards left in the second skein of yarn.

Next Knitting Project
I am sorely tempted to join the Aidez KAL on Google+ that is starting up on October 15th or 17th.  However, I do have a few projects that I'd like to finish first.

First and foremost is the orange mohair/linen cardigan I started last fall.  It just needs the lace borders knit for the fronts and cuffs and to have the sleeves set into the body.  After that, I'd like to finish the green cotton cardi also from last year.  It will need the sleeves re-knit since they are far too tight.   I'd also like to get two pair of socks knit up for my sister for Christmas gifts, but I might be able to sneak Aidez in there as well.

More important than whether the queue has room is to decide if I want to spend my entertainment money for the month on yarn for Aidez or on a road trip to Portland on the 28th to see the Yarn Harlot at a reading. I'm leaning toward the road trip. :-)

Through the Loops Summer Shawl KAL

Ok, I've done it.  I've let insanity get the best of me. (That seems to be happening quite a bit these days.  I blame the recent full moon.)  In any event, I cast on Jeanne this evening.  Rather than using the blue Schaefer Anne that I was considering last night, I'd elected to use the two skeins of Madelinetosh Tosh Sock (color Sequoia) that I picked up at Serial Knitters last month.

Not sure I can get this project finished by the 23rd to meet the KAL deadline, but I'll give it a shot.  We'll see what happens.