Off and On the Needles

I'll start with finished projects:

 

Thistles by Kimberly Gintar is another winner and another test knit. This shawl is number 17 in 12 Shawls in 2012. The yarn is KnitPicks Shadow, something I found in my stash; knit with US size 5 needles.

Shawn the Shelf Elf is based on the book, Elf on a Shelf and is another test knit for Kimberly. (Kimberly is living in Germany and is my unnofficial adopted daughter- found each other on Ravelry.) I used left over sock yarn from my stash and knit it on US size 1 1/2 needles. He is so cute!If you are not acquainted with the story, the child is given the book and the elf and when the child names the elf it comes to life. Each day it sits in the home and observes the child's behavior (hopefully it is good before Christmas) and at night goes to the North Pole and reports to Santa. When he returns in the morning, he will sit in a different place, so the child has to fine him.

On the needles:

This is Firebird by Rosemary (Romi) Hill. The yarn is the yarn I got from Ann Swanson's stash sale at Vesterheim last month. For some reason this shawl has given me lots of trouble. I can't seem to count! But it is progressing.

 During the busy Holiday season  this is a fun knit which takes me away from the hectic times (Actually, I haven't even started preparations) to relax and think about the meaning of the season and hopefully to enjoy the days more. It is Lila and Claudine's Advent Scarf for 2012. Each day they send a new stitch and very short meditation. I'm already behind- only 3 days done.

This project is the one that is taking me forever, mainly because I've ripped most of it out twice. The first time was because of a noticeable stripe where I changed balls of yarn. We are told when using hand painted yarn to knit from 2 balls, alternating every 2 rows. But, who am I to follow directions? I had used Malabrigo yarn before and never had any trouble, but this one was very different. I know where I started the new balls, but it is much less noticeable than it was before. The second time I had done something wrong in the pattern because I had 2 extra stitches in one of the fronts. I tried just decreasing them out, but then my stitch count was wrong and one front was smaller than the other. I tried to live with it, but the sweater won out and it was frogged again. This sweater is a good "public" knitting project at this point.

I Have Been Knitting

Maybe I haven't been keeping up with my blog, but I have been knitting. Granted, it has been all for the shop for upcoming classes, but it's knitting.

 

This is the Ferrous Wrap made from Angora, Merino blend of yarn. Yummy. It is a huge wrap-I made the L-Shaped version (I would call it V-shaped) in the smallest size without the extensions. There is also a rectangular version so there are several version/size options. The lacy stitch is simple YO, P2tog which was a pain to do. I experimented with YO, K2tog, and K2tog, YO, but it just wasn't the same.

 

This is the Seamless Katarina by Julie Weisenberger. The construction of this sweater is exquisite! The yarn is Madeline Tosh DK and is wonderful to work with. I love this sweater and can't wait to get it back from the shop after I teach the class.

It is seamless, except for the two shoulder seams and the underarm seams.

The sleeves were provisionally cast on and when the sweater was finished, the stitches picked up and completed to be sure the length was correct. They were supposed to be bell shaped, but I didn't want that, so I just did the ribbing and garter stitch which matched the front bands.

Checking my past posts, I have missed posting many of my shawls for the year, I think. (Or else I just didn't label the posts, so forgive me if I'm repeating some I've already included.)

 

This is Sharktooth by Stephen West. I did not have enough yarn, so I modified the edging.

This is the second Haruni that I've made. I love this pattern and it is a fast knit. The color is questionable-quite striking.

This is another test knit from Aino in Finland. I love her patterns as she works the increases into the pattern so well you can hardly see them. I'm sorry that she is pretty much not designing right now as she is a new mother and is busy with 2 small children.The yarn in this one is Three Irish Girls McClellen Fingering, merino, bamboo and nylon. It turned into a beautiful shawl.

Another test knit for Aino. The is Golden Orchid. The yarn is Decandently Divine, 100% merino.

 

 

Perpetua Shawl

I think this is shawl number 15 for the year. The pattern is called Perpetua, another one by Rosemary Hill. It is from Knitscene, Fall 2012, along with 2 other patterns by Romi. I had difficulty photographing the correct color of the shawl as it is more green than the pictures show. The first picture here is probably the closest I could get.

Yarn is Dream in Color Smooshy with Cashmere. I love!
Needles: US #5

This was not a hard knit-a good one to learn or use your "read your knitting" skills. 

My "Have to Do" List

Do you ever feel pressured by the knitting you want/have to do? This happened to me during the Olympics when I set a goal for my Knitting Olympic project. Once the Olympics started my priorities changed. (See my last post.) So, I sat down and made a list of MUST do projects-it totaled 12. That doesn't count a shawl already started and a KAL starting soon. So, here is my progress:

 

Finished. Mimi's Rosa Rugosa is a test knit for Kimberly Gintar (Kimberlolly on Ravelry). I took this on even though I knew I had too much to do. My husband tells me I do it to myself when I voice how overwhelmed I feel.

These are socks for my daughter in law's birthday. She bought the yarn when we were at Arnhild's Knitting Camp in February so I decided I'd knit them for her birthday. They are done except for the toe decreases I think. I want her to try them on before I finish. We'll see her Saturday so hopefully they'll be finished then. This is the first time I tried Cat Bordhi's Sweet Tomato Heel but haven't decided how I like it.

The rest of the projects are for classes I'll be teaching at Amazing Threads.

 

Finished. Opal Sock Bunny. This was fun as the instructions were good and it is completely seamless, but it took forever with sock yarn on size 1 needles.

In progress. #5 Lace Poncho on the cover of Fall 2012 Vogue Knitting. I should have looked at this pattern before I said I would do it. It is knit in the round with patterning on all rows which actually isn't bad because all rows are knit, but it increases to about 1000 sts. I'm a little over 500 stitches here.

This is for a class I'm teaching at North Country Fiber Fair in Watertown, SD in September. The pattern is Haruni. I've asked myself many times why I'm knitting with this iridescent color yarn, but just keep going and haven't ripped and started over. (It is newly acquired stash yarn as I don't like the pattern that came with it in the club I got it from.)Probably because I don't have time to spare. Two more repeats of 16 rows before I do the beautiful border.

Katarina is knit to the armholes, but haven't started the sleeves yet.

The rest don't even have yarn for yet.Progress?

I'm Still Buying Yarn and Knitting

There is not much to show for finished projects, but these booties are done.

The pattern is Churchmouse Stay On Booties and I hated it. Who would knit booties back and forth and put seams across the bottom and up the back. Plus, the bottom is so narrow, when a baby puts them on, the pretty garter ridge will now show as the foot will fill it in.

The yarn is Claudia Hand Painted fingering and is wonderful to knit with.

Needles: Size 1 1/2 or 2.5 mm

It looks like I didn't post finished pictures of Through The Loops Mystery Shawl. I was not real excited about the pattern, but loved the yarn.

The pattern was a mystery shawl so a clue was given each week for 5 weeks and is still unnamed. The reason I wasn't happy with the pattern as it was a pretty plain pattern and the increases along the center of each wedge is not real neat.

The yarn is All for Love of Yarn, another local yarn dyer. I can now say that as she moved closer to us and has attended the NW Burbs Knitting Group. The yarn content is baby camel and silk. I'm still thinking of frogging the shawl and using the yarn for something else.

Another shawl is now blocking and is just beautiful, but pictures have to wait for the 2nd test knit I've done this summer for  Aino Haikala from Finland. The patterns will probably be published this fall so you have to wait.

A yarn shopping trip turned out to be a rude awakening for my husband. Usually when I go to a yarn shop he'll just stay outside and walk around, but yesterday was just too hot, so he was present when the yarn was rung up and I paid. Since I used a Groupon, when we got outside he asked if what I paid was before the Groupon was applied. When I replied, "No" he said he hadn't realized how expensive yarn was. I could just see the dollar signs adding up as he thought about my yarn cave which is overflowing into the library. But here is the results of the visit to Stephen Be's.

This is the reason my spree cost so much, but it is so wonderful. It is All For Love of Yarn, Sumptuously Lace, 70 Baby Alpaca, 20 Silk, 10 Cashmere. Wish you could fondle it.

One of the podcasts I listen to mentioned this yarn, but I don't remember which one. Knit Circus? The label doesn't give any information as to where it comes from except it does mention La Jolla. This      is 100% superwash merino in a beautiful Kelly green.

  And of course I had to get some MadelineTosh sock.

My grand daughter saw my yarn cave yesterday and gave me quite a scolding. "Grandma, you have enough yarn. You don't need to buy any more." "Yes, but I have been using some of it." "Not as fast as you are buying it." She learned to knit yesterday and did go home with some yarn from the stash. She also brought up the end of life decision I should make about where the yarn goes when I die. I don't think I told her that I'm going to Stitches Market in August and I'm sure I won't come home empty handed.

Why Do I Knit What I Do

Knitters say they are either a process knitter or a product knitter. Process knitter knit for the joy of making what they are making. Product knitters knit for the finished product. I don't think a person is one or the other, but a combination of the two. I am much more of a process knitter, because once I see how the knitting looks, I'm ready to move on to something else.

As you've seen on this blog, I love to knit lace shawls. My theory behind this is that I am my great grandmother reincarnated. In my cedar chest I have a set of sheets and towels with knit lace which I discovered Great Grandma Kate made. Now this was in the late 1800's, early 1900's, she lived on a farm and had 11 living children. But she still made a set of these sheets for each one of her children.

As a process knitter, I love to see how the next row will change the appearance of my project. Lace knitting often is the most exiting because it changes so often. I often say that if I wouldn't stop to admire what I'm doing so often I would get so much more done, but that is not the object of my knitting. Plain garter stitch or stockinette stitch bore me, although they both have a time and place. Knitting in public requires a project that doesn't take a lot of concentration. So, why do I have a sweater in the closet that is waiting for me to cast on the sleeves?

Mystery knits are perfect for a process knitter. Each clue as it arrives changes the appearance of the project. Here is a good example: Clue 1.

Clue 2. Unfortunately, this has to be put aside because other things have now come up which have deadlines.

I teach at a knitting shop and the employees knit samples for the shop and I knit samples for my classes. Yesterday I got a call wondering if I would make the lace poncho on the front of Vogue Knitting as a shop sample and also do a class on it. Sure, why not? After deciding to do it, I see that I'll be increasing to nearly 1000 sts!

I love to test knit patterns, especially lace patterns. Through the Free Pattern Tester Group on ravelry I have met 2 talented shawl designers and now they request me to test their patterns. This year, I have test knit 3 shawls for Kimberly Gintar in Germany and today got the pattern for the 3rd one for Aino Haikala in Finland. The last 2 I can't publish pictures yet as the patterns have not been released.

Evening in the Garden by Aino. I love the uniqueness of her designs and shaping.

Blue Ivy by Kimberly. Her shawls are wonderful to cuddle up with.

Judy B by Kimberly.

Ribbons and Lace for the Cure by Kimberly. This pattern is still being tested and has not been released yet. Proceeds from the sale of the pattern will go for breast cancer research. My shawl is orange for leukemia.

This is a sneak preview of Aino's pattern.

I try real hard to do charity knitting, but it is so easy to let that slide. Maybe related to that is that I like to knit things that proceeds of the pattern or kit go for a cause.

Mathilda Monster went to Beyond the Yellow Ribbon for families of military personnel.

A portion of the price of the yarn and pattern for Cardioid went to Susan Koman Foundation.

My least favorite knitting is the request from family category. I really like to knit for them especially when they specifically ask for something, but it might not always be what I want to knit. On the list right now is a pair of socks for my daughter in law. She bought the yarn for me and I'd like to get them done for her birthday in August. My schedule is that this will be a good project when we drive to Illinois for Stitches in August.

This and That

Yes, I have been and I am knitting. 

This creature is Mathilda Monster, knit for my Culver's Knit Wits group and was donated to Beyond the Yellow Ribbon. She is a good 10 inches tall and is made with Bernat Jacquard Floral. The pattern is free on the Bernat web site. 

This is called Roberta's Wrap and is a free pattern on Ravelry. It is knit with Shibui Knits Linen. The pattern has no gauge so if I were going to make it again I would go with a bigger needle or cast on more stitches and increase the size of the back. I only had a few yards of yarn left, so if I modified it at all I would have needed 3 skeins of the yarn. Knitting with this yarn was like knitting with steel wool and I thought it would soften up after washing, but it didn't get as soft as I would have liked. It still is fun to wear.

I love mystery shawls and this is the new one from Through The Loops. This is the end of Clue 2. Wendy Knits has one starting June 20 which I would like to do, but I have a couple of other obligations which will take more time. This yarn is a luscious teal color 50% baby camel and 50% silk from a now local indy dyer All For the Love of Yarn. Check her out on Etsy.

This year I have already test knit 2 shawls for Kimberly Gintar from Germany. She has just designed this shawl, as yet not named. On her Ravelry page she calls it Awareness is Good. Obviously I'm test knitting this one for her. Seeing what she called hers, I decided mine needed to be orange for leukemia as my husband has recently been diagnosed with leukemia. This one will be a little bit of a challenge as there are twisted stitches on the wrong side. In fact, looking at the picture I think I see two stitches crossed in the wrong direction. Can you find it? It will stay.

Earlier this year and once last year I test knit patterns for Ainn's Designs from Finland. She has asked me to knit another one, which I have only 2 rows left to do, but she does't want pictures posted yet. This is the yarn I'm using. She's asked me to do another one, too, but I haven't received the pattern yet. Yes, I love to test knit!

Spectra is drying right now. She was fun to do and I loved the mini skeins from Space Cadet Creations. The black is from another local indy dyer and friend, Propaganda Yarn. She dyed it specially for me for this project. She was designed by Stephen West.

One of my students has been bringing projects in these wonderful bags, but when I first saw them was unable to find them. Last week she told me they are at the Dollar Tree Stores. The first one I went to didn't have this size, but today I found them. Now I can keep everything for one project in a bag and be able to see what is in the bag. (Not that I needed more project bags.)