FO: Vanilla Orchid

The Vanilla Orchid was a knit-a-long in the Agnes Kutas Knitwear Group.  I honestly hadn't heard of the designer before, but I followed a link and was really impressed by her designs.  Unlike some of my other recent KALs, this was not a mystery pattern- The entire pattern and pictures of finished objects were available to see throughout the entire KAL.

I wanted a fairly neutral-colored shawl that would go with a lot of my wardrobe, so I decided to use a medium brown for the body and a cream color for the edging.  I chose Knitpicks Palette because it’s relatively cheap and comes in a ton of colors.  I also really appreciate the fact that Knitpicks writes detailed descriptions of each color, which makes online ordering so much easier.  The yarn that I ordered was exactly as I had envisioned it.

This was a really enjoyable knit.  I learned how to make small cables without a cable needle.  I love the leaves throughout the shawl and especially in the border.  I’m also very impressed by the stitch definition of the yarn.

I love this shawl.  I don’t know that I’d knit this particular shawl again (I’ve already done it once!), but I’d definitely knit more of this designer’s patterns.


Pattern: Vanilla Orchid
Yarn: Knitpicks Palette
Colorways: Bark, Oyster Heather
Needles: US6, US8

Want to see what everyone else has accomplished this week? Head on over to Tami's Amis FO Fridays!

WIP Wednesday 1/23/13

I’ve spend the majority of my knitting time lately working on the Hue Shifts Afghan.  I fell in love with this pattern when Knitpicks first released the kit, and I was able to purchase most of the yarn on sale during their Cyber Monday sale.  I chose to do the jewel tones version of the afghan, which involves shades of green, blue, purple, red, and pink.

I’ve really enjoyed working on this.  It is a very simple pattern (all garter stitch!), but the shifting, changing colors keep my interest.  Almost every square requires that you pick up and knit at least 25 stitches (most of them require you do 49), so I’m becoming a pro at the technique.  The only thing that I really don’t like about the project is that there are approximately one trillion ends that will need to be woven in when I am finished.

The afghan is knit in four sections, then these four sections are seamed together, and a border is knit.  So far, I have finished two whole sections and am working on the third, so I feel like I am making fairly good progress.

(Yes, those blocks are the same size. It's a weird angle. I was busy trying to keep the cat from tugging on the loose ends).

What are you working on this week?  Head on over to Tami’s Amis’ Work In Progress Wednesday to check out what everyone else is doing!

WIP Wednesday 8/15/12

Well, not much progress to report on the Ubiquitous Kate front.  I’ve picked up the stitches along the top of the shawl and done the necessary increases for the ruffle. I had just barely started knitting the ruffle ribbing when this happened:

Let me give you a closer look.  See that?  

That is a broken needle, and it’s totally not my fault.  I’ve broken needles before, of course- stepped on them, sat on them, etc.  This is the first time, however, that I have had a needle snap in half while I am in the middle of knitting.  It’s a Knitpicks Zephyr Acrylic Interchangeable Needle.  I haven’t heard of this happening before, so I don’t know whether these types of needles are just weak, whether I got a bad one, or whether I am just an extremely strong knitter.

I think I managed to pick up all of the stitches that dropped when it happened, thank goodness.  I called Knitpicks, and thanks to their excellent customer support, I have already received a replacement (I didn’t have to send the broken one back, or even show them pictures!  And they sent me a whole new pair, rather than just a replacement for the one needle!).  I am super impressed with their customer service, but I think that I will stick to ordering their nice, strong nickel-plated needles in the future, rather than the Zephyrs.

On the bright side, this means that I had lots of time to focus on my Honey Bunches shawl. It just needs end-weaving and blocking.

I’ve signed up for two beaded lace mystery knit-a-longs on Ravelry.  Laura Nelkin is hosting the Trapeze Mystery KAL, which is scheduled to start on August 17.  Boo Knits is doing  the Out of the Darkness KAL, which will start on August 25.   (I ordered the beads for both today and am so excited!)

Since I have both of these projects coming up really soon, I’ve been reluctant to start anything too complicated in the meantime.  I’m about two-thirds of the way through the hat from the Knitpicks Luxe Accessories Kit, and I’m really enjoying the feel of the Knitpicks City Tweed Heavyweight.  There are some major errors in the pattern though, which has been a little bit frustrating.

I also cast on for a pair of toe-up socks in Berroco Sox Metallic.  I’m kind of making them up as a I go along, with a little bit of this pattern here, and a little bit of that pattern there.  I’m thinking that I may do an afterthought heel (I’ve never done one before!), but I still have a bit to go before I have to make that decision.  I’m just doing a basic stockinette foot for these socks, and will probably just do a ribbed leg- this will be my nice, simple, uncomplicated project for when my brain needs a break from all of the beaded lace in the KALs.

What have you been working on this week?  Head on over to Tami’s Ami’s WIP Wednesdays to see what everyone else has been working on!

FO: Radiance Shawl

I cast on for this shawl before my trip to Orlando, as I thought that it would be excellent travel knitting.  It really was, and  I got compliments on it from the airline stewardess!  The pattern is really easy to understand, but it does get a little bit boring at times.  It’s a great pattern to occupy your hands when your mind is doing something else (reading, etc), but not so much if you’re looking for something complicated to concentrate on.

One of my favorite things about this pattern was that it had three versions that you could choose from.  The first was a regular, written-out version.  Most patterns would stop there, but this one also included a printer-friendly version, as well as a detailed version.  I chose the detailed version, and it was so easy to follow!  Each row was written out, and the pattern also indicated what percentage of the way done with the shawl you were.  That was a really nice touch that I especially appreciated.  I wish every pattern were written like that!  The pattern does not include a chart, but while I normally prefer charted lace, this lace was simple enough to really make any sort of chart unnecessary.

I love the feel of working with Malabrigo lace.  It is incredibly soft, and the end result feels like wearing a warm cloud.  However, it is a huge pain to have to frog- it does not unravel well at all.  I’m also a little bit concerned about how the shawl will wear, because this doesn’t strike me as a particularly durable yarn.

I love the way that this shawl turned out, especially the ruffles!  It’s a very snuggly shawl, and very warm despite being so light-weight.  I love curling up with it around my shoulders!

Pattern: Radiance Shawl
Yarn: Malabrigo Lace
Colorway: Stone Blue
Needles: US 6
Modifications: None
Ravelry Project Page

FO: Wendy Knits Summer Solstice Mystery Shawl

This is the second year that WendyKnits has done a shawl knit-along in her group on Ravelry, and I’ve enjoyed both of them immensely.  This year, the shawl was called the Summer Solstice Mystery Shawl, and worked out to be a beautiful lacey crescent.

I purchased the Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light on major sale quite some time ago, and have been waiting for the perfect project to use it on.  This is the first time that I’ve used this yarn, and I’ve definitely enjoyed it.  It feels nice as I knit it, and looks very pretty.  It almost seems like it has a little bit of silk in it, but it is actually 100% merino.  The color variations between a dark teal and a forest green really added some interest to the shawl without taking away from the lace pattern.  I would definitely use this yarn again, although I think Madelinetosh as a whole seems to be a little overpriced at full price, so I’d wait for a sale.

I had a lot of fun working on the pattern.  The crescent shaped shawls that I have worked with in the past have had a lacy border, then used short-row shaping to make the crescent shape.  This pattern had a completely different construction.  It was knit in lace wedges, with decreases at the ends of each wedge.  This created the crescent shape while allowing a lace pattern to run up the entire shawl.  It was a lot of fun to knit.

I have a fair amount of yarn (.27 grams/ 119yds) left, and I’m not entirely sure why.  WendyKnits had indicated in her pattern that she used almost all of her 420 yard skein when she made her sample shawl, and my Tosh Merino Light has the same yardage.  I got gauge.  I repeated the last 2 rows of the lace a couple of times, but still have some left over.

The pattern was really good about explaining in each section exactly where to add extra repeats to make the shawl longer.  I didn’t use these modifications, since I didn’t think I would have any yarn left over, but I might if I knit a future version of this shawl.

The pattern also gave the option of using nupps, beads, or neither.  I opted for beads, because I really was not enjoying the nupps.

I do like the way that this turned out, but I do wish it were a tad bit bigger.  I blocked it pretty aggressively, but it’s still smaller than I would prefer.I think that in the future, I might either use larger needles or do all of the optional extra repeats to make it bigger.  I think it will look lovely with my winter coat, though!

Pattern: WendyKnits Summer Solstice Mystery Shawl
Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light
Colorway: Forestry
Needles: US5
Modifications: I added 2 extra repeats of the last two lace rows.
Beads: Silver lined clear beads
Yardage: 321 yards
Dimensions:
Ravelry Project Page Link

Want to see what everyone else has finished up this week?  Head over over to Tami’s Amis FO Fridays.

WIP Wednesday 8/1/12

Happy August!  I have no new projects to share with you, and I’m still knitting the same WIPs as last Wednesday.  And the week before that.  And the week before...well, you get the idea.

Anyway, I’ve finally finished the body of my Ubiquitious Kate!  It seems to be a really nice size, and I can’t wait to get the ruffles on this thing so that I can actually wear it.  I don’t kid myself about the fact that it’s going to take forever to do that, though- each round on the ruffle will be about a trillion* stitches.

My Honey Bunches is still moving slowly along.  I am halfway through the third garter stitch section.  

I seem to have a lot of yarn left so far, especially for being fairly close to the end of this shawl.  I know the rows get bigger as I go, so maybe I’m underestimating exactly how much bigger they may get, but it still feels like a lot of yarn!   The smaller version of the pattern (which I am using, as it calls for the amount of yarn that I have) tells you to only knit half of the lace repeat (12 rows) in the third and final lace section, but I think I may have a lot of yarn left over if I do that.  I’m thinking I might knit the whole 24 row repeat, but place a lifeline at row 12 just in case I run out of yarn, so I can easily frog back and finish the last garter stitch section.  What do you think?

My WendyKnits Summer Solstice Mystery Shawl and Radiance Shawl  are finished, blocked, and photographed, so look for those in the next couple od FO Fridays!

Want to see what everyone else is working on?  Head on over to Tami’s Amis’ Work in Progress Wednesdays.

*Okay, “trillion” may be a slight exaggeration, but not by much!

WIP Wednesday 7/25/12

I’ve bound off two shawls since last week!  These are the Wendy Knits Summer Solstice Mystery Shawl and Radiance.  As you can see, I still need to weave in ends and block, but then they’ll be done.   I’m hoping to persuade the boyfriend to do an FO photoshoot this weekend, so look out for these on future FO Fridays (it’s about time I had something to share for one of those!)

I’m still knitting along on Honey Bunches (which, for some reason, I keep wanting to call Honeycomb- not sure why).  This is my travelling knitting.  It’s so very simple, even on the lace sections, that I can easily put it down and figure out where I left off.  I’m on the third garter stitch section, so I’m getting closer to the end.

I’ve also brought the Ubiquitous Kate back out of its short hibernation, and am really enjoying working on it again.  I love knitting lace, but the purl design is a fun change.  With three other shawls also on the needles, I really didn’t have time to work on this one, but now that I’ve bound off two, this one is back in the mix.  I’m in the middle of the final chart repeat, then I will need to pick up about a gazillion stitches for the ruffle.

What is everyone else working on this week?  Head over to Tami’s Amis WIP Wednesday to find out.

WIP Wednesday 7/18/12

I’m still working on the same three projects as I was the last two weeks, but I am almost done with two of them!  I am currently in the process of binding off the Radiance Shawl.  This should take quite awhile, because there are a lot of stitches at this point (over 700!).  The pattern gave the option of either doing a plain bind-off or a picot bind-off- I wasn’t too impressed with the way the picots were looking, so I’m working a nice, plain, stretchy bind-off instead.

The last clue for the Wendy Knits Summer Solstice Mystery Shawl was released yesterday.  Here is what my shawl looked like after last week’s clue (chart D):

I expect to be done with this shawl at some point this week, as this chart isn’t much bigger than the last one and I finished that pretty quickly.  At the very latest, it will be done next week (provided that I don’t make some huge mistake and have to frog most of it!)  I’ve really enjoyed working on it, as well as the sense of community in the Wendy Knits group on Ravelry during the knit-a-long, and I am sad that I am almost done.

Last but not least, work is still progressing slowly but surely on the Honey Bunches shawl.  I have finished the second garter stitch section, and am working on the second lace section.  I imagine that my speed on this shawl will pick up immensely once I’ve finished the other two. As you can see, Maddie is immensely proud of my work. And trying to get my attention so that I will give her more treats.

What are you  working on this week?  Head on over to Tami’s Amis’ Work in Progress Wednesdays to see what everyone else is working on.

WIP Wednesday 7/11/12

This week, my knitting has been mainly focused on Radiance, Honey Bunches, and The Summer Solstice Mystery Shawl KAL 2012.  (The same three projects as last week!)

I was so very close to being done with Radiance- I was on the very last knit row before the bindoff, and then disaster struck.  Well, actually, disaster had struck several rows before, but I didn’t notice it until that point.  It appeared that I had dropped a stitch at the end of the last lacey section and it had unravelled several more rows.  I wish I had taken a picture for you, but I was too horrified to think about that, so a verbal description will have to suffice.  There was a huge hole.  In the middle of my shawl.

It seemed too far back to just drop that section’s stitches down, so I made the very painful decision to frog back to the problem.  It really wasn’t that may rows, but they are so long that it was still a ton of stitches.  To make matters worse, Malabrigo Lace does not like to unravel.  It clings to itself and generally makes everything a mess.

I finally got all of my 506 stitches picked back up last night, and am finishing up the last lace section now (for the second time).  Then I just have the increases, garter stitch section and the picot (I think?) bind-off.

 Normally, this doesn’t happen because I am really good about counting stitches while I knit.  If the stitch count is off, then I know there is something wrong almost immediately after I create the problem.  However, with this many stitches, I get distracted and lose count.  I think that once I get done with the lace section and the increases, I’m going to place markers every 50 stitches so that I can count more easily.  I think I can manage to count to 50 without a problem, and if I get interrupted, I only have to start counting at the beginning of that section, not hundreds of stitches back.

My other WIPs are coming along much better, especially in comparison.  The next chart for the Summer Solstice Mystery Shawl  came out yesterday, but I haven’t had time to do much with it yet.  I’ve been flying through the past several clues, finishing them up within a couple of days of when they are published (every Tuesday); however, I really want to get my Radiance off the needles so I’m working a bit less on the Summer Solstice.  I still intend to get this chart finished before the next one comes out, however!

I’m really enjoying working on my Honey Bunches shawlette.  I love the colors of the yarn, and the pattern seems to be working well with it.  Would the pattern stand out better in a solid color?  Of course.  However, it’s a simple enough pattern that it works just fine with the variegated yarn, and I like it.

I am in the middle of the second garter-stitch section.  While not on the lace sections, this makes fantastic travel knitting- it’s just knit knit knit for most of the row, with easy-peasy increases on the end.

What are you working on this week?  Want to see everyone else’s WIPs?  Head on over to Tami’s Amis’ WIP Wednesdays.

WIP Wednesday 7/4/12

First of all, happy Fourth of July!  Now onto the knitting:

I'm still working on my Radiance shawl. I'm about 70% of the way through, but my progress feels like it is slowing down a bit.  The rows have 608 stitches, so it feels like each one takes forever to finish!

I've started another KAL- the Honey Bunches with the Irish Girle Knits Designs Group.  I'm knitting it in Cherry Tree Hill Sockittome in Peacock.

I love this colorway, and I've been waiting for the perfect project for it.  It's a little bit too variegated for a super-complicated lace shawl, so this simpler project seemed like a perfect way to showcase the colors.  So far, I've finished the first garter stitch section.

Last but certainly not least, I'm still enjoying knitting the Summer Solstice Mystery Shawl with the Wendy Knits Group.  This is what it looks like halfway through Chart C:

Maddie wanted to help show off my work:

 What to see what everyone else has been working on this past week?  Head on over to Tami's Ami's WIP Wednesdays.

WIP Wednesday

 I’ve been working on the Radiance shawl, and I am loving it!  I’m knitting with Malabrigo lace, and it feels so wonderful on my hands as I work.  I used it as my travel knitting because it is such a simple pattern that I can pick it up and put it away without too much worry about losing my place.  I also got a compliment on it from the airline stewardess, who thinks that the color is “very jean-friendly.”  I’m a little over 30% of the way down (The pattern will tell you in 10% increments how far along you are!  How cool is that?)

My other project is also a shawl, the Ubiquitous Kate.  It’s modeled after the shawl that Kate Middleton wore.  I love the look of ruffles, and really wanted to make something similar.  There are a couple of patterns imitating that shawl, but I really liked this one and it is free!  I had some Knitpicks Stroll Sock yarn in a beautiful dark purple color in my stash (I think I bought it for a sweater at one point), and decided to use that.  I am enjoying working on it, but it does require a little more concentration than the Radiance shawl.  Even though it’s not lace, there is a subtle zig-zag pattern made up of purls, and it’s charted.  The wrong side is really easy, however- except for a increase at each end of the row, it’s all purl stitches!  I’ve completed three repeats of the zig-zag pattern so far.

What are you working on this week?  If you’d like to see everyone else’s works-in-progress, head on over to Tami’s Amis’ Work in Progress Wednesday!

P.S.: In case anyone was wondering, it is much easier to photograph a WIP when your cat isn't trying to steal your stitch markers. Thanks, Maddie!

WIP Wednesday

I've been making slightly more knitting progress lately, but not by much.

First up, we have the Chroma Striped Scarf.  I'm using the Noro Striped Scarf pattern, but since I am really not a fan of Noro, I'm knitting it up in Knitpicks Chroma Worsted.  I picked the colorways Midwinter and U-Pick because they complement each other well, but have enough of a contrast to really make the stripes pop (also, the U-Pick was on sale).  The pattern calls for two balls of each color, but I'm still on the first of each and I'm pretty sure I don't want it to be over twice as long as it is right now (almost 5 feet!).  How long do you guys think a scarf should be?

This scarf is taking me a really long time to knit because I'm using it as my travel knitting.  It's a little bulky at this point, but it's nice to have something that I don't have to think about at all when I can get interrupted at any moment, and 1x1 ribbing fits the bill.

When I'm at home, I've been working on the cowl from the Knitpicks Luxe Accessory Set in Knitpicks Aloft in Blush and Knitpicks Capra in Velveteen.  It's knit flat sideways, then the ends are grafted together to make the cowl.  It's been a little frustrating, because I somehow seem to keep dropping stitches, noticing several rows later, and then having to frog back.  It is not easy to frog 75% mohair yarn!  It is nice and soft, though, and I can't wait until it's done.

Last but not least is my Girl Friday sweater.  The pieces are done and have been for awhile, but I didn't get around to blocking them until last night.  As you can see, I chose not to bind off the top of the pieces.  It seems silly to bind off when I'm just going to have to pick the stitches back up again!  I unpinned just before taking the photo.  After this, I will need to seam, then knit the button band and collar.

Maddie, of course, was extremely helpful through the photographing process:

"I can help, Mom!  Just let me tug on these strings for you..."

WIP Wednesday

I've been knitting less since I adopted Madelyn (playing and cuddling with my new baby have taken precedence!), but I've been going a little nuts without my knitting time, so I'm trying to make time for it again.

First up is my Girl Friday sweater.  I have been working on this for quite some time.  I've finished the fronts, the back, and one sleeve- once I finish this second sleeve, I can seam and do the collar.  I'll also get to pick out some pretty buttons to go with it.

When my mother helped me move into my new apartment, she forgot to bring a scarf, so she borrowed my Summer Mystery Shawlette.  She loved it so much that she asked for one of her own, in red.   Her birthday is coming up at the end of the month, so I want to make sure to get it done before then.  It's almost done now; I just need to weave in the ends and block it:

Apparently, I am not allowed to take photographs that don't feature Maddie....

 This post is a part of Tami's Ami's Work in Progress Wednesdays.  Head on over to see what everyone else is working on!

FO: Socrates Gloves

I made these gloves for my aunt's birthday, which is today.  However, since I'm also in the midst of packing for a move (moving date is December 17th!), I cut this really really close.  I finished the thumbs and wove in the ends last night!  I had to settle for a steam block, instead of my normal nice blocking bath, because I was concerned that they wouldn't dry in time.

I chose the Socrates Gloves pattern because it looked nice and simple with a bit of interesting lace.  For a first pair of gloves, I didn't want to do anything too complicated!  The Knitpicks Palette came from my stash.

The pattern was easy enough to understand, and I did enjoy working on them for awhile- however, by the time I was done I was cursing the fact that humans have 10 fingers!  Glove fingers are kind of fiddley to work (although they went much faster when I switched to 4 inch DPNS instead of the longer ones I had been using.)  Additionally, you have to join and break the yarn after each finger.  Including the original cast-on tails, that means that there were 22 ends to weave in.  On the bright side, I did get a lot of calls to get utilities set up for my move while I was weaving in those ends....

Nevertheless, they're done and they look and feel very nice.  I think they should keep my aunt's hands nice and warm this winter, and be a nice birthday surprise!

Pattern: Socrates Gloves
Source: Sock Yarn One Skein Wonders
Yarn: Knitpicks Palette
The Verdict:  I love these gloves, and I hope that my aunt will, too!

This post is part of Tami's Amis' Finished Object Friday. Head on ever to see what everyone else has accomplished this week!