The more things change… January 20, 2016

…the more they stay the same.  I have signed onto yet another Mystery Knit-a-long, this one by a designer new to me called Casapinka.  The shawl is called Welcome Back Garter and looks like it will be interesting based on her other designs.  I won’t be able to start this one for almost a month when funds become available, but I’m sure it’ll be fun.  I’m going to branch out again and use something other than my shawl go-to, Tosh Merino Light.  The colorways just aren’t doing it for me any more so any suggestions for fingering weight yarns would be greatly appreciated.

In other news, I’ve decided to jump on the bandwagon my Facebook knitting group is on and make myself a pair of Rose City Rollers – only using ribbing instead of the rolled cuff which I know would drive me crazy.  I have 60+ grams of Tough Love Sock in Honey Fig leftover from The Doodler and I was going to do a pair of No Purl Monkey socks with the Pistachio for the cuffs, heels, and toes, but I can easily get a pair of anklets out of what’s left of the Honey Fig, and I like wearing ankle socks anyway.  One of my knitting New Year’s resolutions is to knit a pair of socks a month so even though I finished a pair already this month, I’m not really counting them because I started them back in November.

In the land of UFO’s (another resolution) – the Grass and Bubblegum shawl is two inches away from being finished.  Just in time to since I’m going to need it in the cold weather since my scarf has gone missing.  I still have The Desolation of Smaug (yeah, that’s how old it is) Mystery Knit-a-long to finish, two other shawls that need to be blocked, and to finish weaving in the ends (oh so many ends) on my Doodler so I need to get on the ball.  Lots to do until the funds are available for Welcome Back Garter.

I’m also treating myself to a set of Barbara Walker’s stitch dictionaries.  I just got the one with charted designs and it’s very nice.  Some beautiful cable designs – not as pretty as some in the Vogue Knitting Stitchionary but much more practical in my opinion.  I’m hoping for another when my birthday comes along next month, but I’ll have the set before the year is out.

I’ve been staying on top of it, so check the Knitty Keen Facebook page for Work in Progress Wednesday pics and the occasional Finished Object Friday.  Here’s the most recent finished object – my Crazy Zauberball garter rib socks.

 

TTFN!

Dipping into the deep end of the pool November 11, 2015

Beyond all expectations, the yarn I ordered on Friday around 5pm arrived Monday morning!  Their easy to use site, the color picker which lets you see various yarns next to each other, and their delivery speed (always with a loto card and a roll of Smarties), are all reasons why I love shopping at Eat.Sleep.Knit, and now they carry Freia, which is drool worthy.  Using the guide in the description page for The Doodler MKAL, color A is supposed to be the main color, “the leading role,” something that ,”has space to shine.”  Color B is an accent color, “think about a pop of color.”  Color C, well he says it best himself, “Color C joins the party fashionably late. It’s a color that demands to be featured. This could be a bold sassy color or something dark and dramatic.”  These are the colors I’ve chosen side by side (as opposed to the thumbnails I showed you last week).

It’s Sweet Georgia Yarns Tough Love Sock and I really like working with it.  Tough Love is right.  When I went to break a strand by hand, it put up quite a fight and it’s only until I get a sturdier bag that I get a pair of scissors to put in with it to save my fingers.  Here’s my progress so far:

I’m about half way through clue one.  I was afraid when I saw the yellow in Honey Fig next to the Saffron and they weren’t the same shade, but the difference is working out really well and keeps the yellow in the Honey Fig separate from the Saffron.

In order to start something new, I had to get something off the needles first.  Yes, my Follow Your Arrow 2 shawl is finally off the needles!

To be honest, I needed the cable before I started The Doodler, but all the knitting is finally finished and I got to try out Jeny’s Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off (I used the video here to learn how to do it).  It looks very messy to my eyes, so I’m not entirely sold on it yet over the Russian Bind Off that I usually used for shawls and such.  We’ll see how it blocks out this weekend.

I didn’t get any knitting done today, but I’m trying to get this clue for The Doodler done for Friday so I can start Clue 2 right away.  Happy Knitting!

As if there wasn’t enough going on… November 6, 2015

I’ve decided to jump in on yet another Mystery Knit Along.  This time it’s Westknits Mystery Shawl KAL, The Doodler.

These are the colors I’ve chosen in Sweet Georgia Yarns Tough Love Sock in the following colors:

Honey Fig, Color A

Saffron, Color B

Pistachio, Color C

Based on the advice in the pattern about color choices, I think I’m pretty good to go.  After looking at it for a bit, I’m not one hundred percent sure about the Saffron, but I think it’ll work out.  I should have it on Monday or Tuesday and since I’m almost done my Follow Your Arrow 2 shawl, I’ll be ready for this one.  This is my, “I’ve quit smoking,” present to myself so hopefully this will keep me on the wagon.  I hope it’s portable, because the Grass and Bubblegum shawl is strictly an at home project and I need something I can work on when I go out on Tuesday nights and riding the bus for long trips.  I’ll let you know once I’ve gotten the first clue which is supposed to be out today.