Quick Project Update

The Faery Ring sleeves are well on their way to being done and off the needles. I just wish the pattern was complete because I could certainly get further along if I had proper instructions. I suppose this means that I'll be doing some knitting math this weekend along with the help from the Ann Budd book "The Knitters Handy Book of Sweater Patterns.



This Am Kamin hat is turning out to be fabulous. I love the yarn, Classic Elite Renaissance and the cables are filling the space beautifully and making me do a happy dance. I can't wait to put this on my head... weather is hitting hard with major wind chills over the next couple of days.

Moving on to the Sleeves

The Faery Ring back is done and so it was time to move on to the sleeves.



The sleeves are constructed the same way as the bottom hem of the jacket. You pick up stitches along the sides and build in a turned hem. Then on the other side you pick up for the main portion of the sleeves.

I've made mine slightly bigger then the pattern calls for. It was requested that the cable strips be 9 inches and I made mine 10 inches. I don't care for tight cuffs.

Having made this adjustment means I'll need to also adjust the pattern to make sure this added room doesn't interfere with the increases on the main body of the sleeves. Not a problem, I've been in that predicament before;)

Faery Ring Update

All last week I blogged about the newly finished objects that happened over the Holidays and I'm sure you might be wondering what I've got on the needles now.

Just ONE thing. There I said it. This is unlike me. I'm currently working only on the Faery Ring... well, sure I could pick up the sock blanket, but I don't count that. Fingering weight yarn on very small needles, yeah... that is sooooo a life long project if I ever saw it.

Since there was a list of gifts that I needed to get done I hadn't thought about upcoming things I'd like to cast on. I just knew I had the Faery Ring to get back to and then all of a sudden I realized I didn't have anything else but that.



It's definitely further along since I've been working on it all week. The fronts are done and on holders and now I'm concentrating on the back.

The downside to knitting it all in one piece is the sheer weight of the project. It can be a little stressful on the wrists but the nice thing about it is having that extra bit of warmth on the lap. I love winters, but this harsh and extreme cold is no fun. I hope you all are staying warm this winter.

Quiet Blog = Surprise Knitting

There was a certain someone who is due for a bundle of joy come next year. We were graced with her presence this past weekend to laugh among friends and family and have our fills of good eats and cheesecake.



I completely wanted to steal this quilt right out of her hands... but I think I would have been tackled half way down the block.



This makes me want to SOOOOOOO learn how to quilt.



When you've got knitting friends, you end up with knitted presents. The knitted mobile is sweet and precious.



The Big Head stories started coming out about this point and as we watched her try to put all the ribbons over her head.... Sweetheart, I pray that your baby is health, but with a small head.



Dreamsweaver did a fabulous job on this basket weave blanket. The yarn is soft and completely washer and dryer friendly, how awesome is that!



I apologize now for the awkward photo... I do hope you like the Baby Surprise Jacket and Sweet Baby Cap. It was fast and fun... They turned out so damn cute that it was quite hard for me to part with them. Granted I'm not going down that road again, but sheesh what fun they are to knit.



Pattern: Baby Surprise Jacket (rav link)

Yarn: 2.25 skeins Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino

Needles: US 3 circular

Started: September 27, 2009

Finished: September 30, 2009

Note: I had to dip into another skein in order to finish the sweater.



The Peter Rabbit buttons were a great idea, big thanks to A:) for that suggestion.



Pattern: Norwegian Sweet Baby Cap (rav link)

Yarn: .5 skeins Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino

Needles: US 3 circular

Started: September 27, 2009

Finished: September 30, 2009

The cap was reworked to be a small newborn size cap and I modified the pattern to be in garter stitch to match the sweater.

I'm putting in a request to the Soon-To-Be-Mommy... I know you'll be sleep deprived and most likely wont even remember this, but if you do by chance happen to remember, I would love to know if these items fit. It's not often you have a newborn peanut just laying around handy to check for measurements.

Mazel Tov to you and E on your growing family!

Busy Days

I sometimes wish that I could win the lotto. sigh, it would be nice to have all that free time to do What. Ever. You. Wanted... instead of working EVERY day until you shrivel up and croak. Not like I'm bitter:P

So, while I'm stealing a quick moment from my ever lovin paid job, I wanted to post about my current projects.

Pea Coat from Hell! is in the middle of being seemed.



As of this very moment. I don't like it. Perhaps I'll feel different once I get the collar on and finish the lining.

Lets move on... Cable Lagoon socks are to the point of creating the heel. I love this part as it means it half way done.



Postwar Mittens are to the thumbs and I'm super excited to get these going. We have one more class to finish the thumbs and then I'll have my first FO of the New Year.



In other news, my dear friend and shop owner Trish cast-on my St. Brigid for me, so now I'm all ready to jump start that project come February.



Tata for now... I hope my work schedule will lighten up soon, but just know I'm still Knitting!

Guess What Stinks In The House?

Wool Blocking, of course!



I can't tell you how happy I am right now. Just Elated. I even went to Joann Fabrics for some felted-back satin. This was highly recommended by Georgian during my Saturday outing at Nana's Knitting Shop.



I was looking for more of a POP for the inside... you know a little something funky but I think this will really set it up for a comfortable fit and give it an elegant look too.

There is only one remaining piece that is still on the needles, the collar. Once the main parts are dry I'll be well on my to having the collar done too.

Now for any sewers out there... Do I need to pre-wash the felted-back satin? I'm thinking not, but hoping for a little guidance;)

Hey! You've Got a Spot On Your Sleeve!

The one interesting thing about this tweedy yarn is the slubs of color that pop around the fabric. Mostly it's been teal and yellow lime bits, then out of no where came along this red. I love how this little spot just jumps out at you... it will be interesting to see if there are anymore surprises.



This post was really just going to focus how interesting the sleeves have been to knit because of the lovely color pops that come along. Yet when I walked into the Panera for SnB last night, I was a little concerned about the length.

I had over met my length by 3.5 inches. Oh Boy...talk about not paying attention. So not only did I have to rip back the over knit amount I had to go back further to allow for my increases to happen before I made the notches on the armholes. sigh. At least I discovered the mistake now instead of after finishing the sleeves.

My hands are really starting to strain under the pressure of getting this done. Normally I would have another project to work on in between to break up these moments of stress, but I haven't touched any other project. I have plan looming in February that entail concentration, ie: St. Brigid.

It's Not Easy Being Green

Just look. Take a long gander my knitting peeps for what you see in front of you is a very good portion of the Pea Coat on it's way off the needles. Right Front might look a bit narrow in comparison to the Left (which is now on it's way to being started) but that will change as the main panel is added.

The only thing I'm dreading is running out of yarn. I did my calculations and I should have plenty, but that still does not help with this overwhelming fear that is creeping in the back of my mind.

I'll just keep knitting and if it gets to that point, perhaps a short sleeve version might be in my future. Oh Gawd How Pathetic! Seriously? Not going to happen. I Do Have Enough Yarn!

Happy Silence

Frosty made it to our neighborhood this week, but unfortunately was gone the next day. There were some tears over this fact and we had to convince the little one that "He'll be back again some day!"

In the knitting department I've made some progress on the Pea Coat. Once I get to 14 inches then I'll separate for the fronts and back. I'm hoping it will start to move along quicker then.



The socks are coming along. I might be living in knitters denial. These socks are knit up on size US2 needles and are producing a very stretchy sock. I'm not to fond of loose socks, but I don't have the heart to reknit them. I've started the heels so if they start to be seriously to big then I'll rip them.



As for gifts this year, I received a lap full of Riverstone in Harvest Gold... Yum! and yes I'm wearing some fabulous Chillin' Froggy PJ's ~ Thanks Mom!



This pile of yummy stuff will be turned into this awesome project... Raise your hands for St. Brigid.



I'm just happy to have a moment to myself to relax and enjoy a little knitting solitude. I hope everyone is having a happy and safe holiday.

Guess What Fits In Her Nose

Go ahead... guess. Miss Mac got caught with an object up her nose and she causally played it off like it was no big deal. Yep, these are the things I have to deal with. I'll give you a minute to guess.

In other news I've been working a few things this weekend.



Does anyone remember this one? Oh yeah, I pulled out the Damn Tam. It was half way done anyway, so hell lets get this sucker off the needles. I'm perhaps a row or two from starting the decreases. Don't you love picking up old knits and BAM it's all done in no time!!

I gained a few inches on the Pea Coat as well. This project unfortunately hurts my hands when I work with it for to long.



What you see is approximately 6 inches of the full body. The construction is fairly easy and the pattern has you knit up to the armholes and separate for the sides and back.

Okay, did you happen to guess a baby doll pacifier?



She comes running to find me "mommy! mommy! look!" then pops the thing out her nose (with a definite pop sound) and then sticks it in her mouth. Ewwwwwwwww!

I then said I'm taking a picture and she's all "cuz you love me!" ...ha! Yes baby blackmail pictures are taken because I love you.

The Land of Pea Coats

I've been putting this off for so long. Why? Not sure really. Perhaps I'm a little worried about my calculations being off and I'll run out of yarn. Maybe I feel like this has become a chore more so then a desire.

The yarn isn't the softest on the market...and I'm okay with that. I guess I figured it would go a lot quicker. I mean come on... chunky yarn and big needles is suppose to equal fast knit. I cast-on over the weekend and 230 stitches in this woven stitch is nothing to sneeze at. Keeping the tension is also killing my hands, so I can't work on it for any long periods of time.

Here is what I have so far:



Nice right? Yeah, we'll see. I can only hope that I'll have this done at least by Spring.

Pea Coat Update

This project has been on my mind for awhile now. Mostly having the wind blown out of my sales because of how horrible the Ogee was taking my knitting mojo out. I haven't really wanted to jump into that project with full force until that catastrophe was completely behind me. I mean seriously? can you blame me?

My issue with the Pea Coat is I think I'd rather have this piece knit up on size US 10.5 instead of US 11's. For the full test I've knit up different sections of the coat to see how they'll be effected. Yeah, the swatch was cool, but after having been bitten in the ass by Ogee, I'm not so confident on the 4 inch swatch theory.

The coat needs 2 cuffs and 2 belt sections to complete the project and since these are small and quick I figured I'd get the most out of testing with these.



Before washing, the pieces measure as follows: cuff is 3.75 inches wide by 14.5 inch long, belt is 3.5 inches wide by 20 inch long. The difference between the two is that the belts were knit on size 10.5 and the cuffs are size 11. I like the look of the belts verse the cuffs on these unblocked pieces.

The effects of blocking are not significant in the changes of scale. They didn't grow or stretch, but yet bloomed and became softer.



After seeing the effects on blocking (and consulting with some of the ladies at Nana's on Saturday), I've decided that I'll go with the 10.5 US needle. I'll be happier in the end, even if this means adjusting my pattern again.

I'm even considering lining the jacket. Would that just be to-die-for??