My Stash

My SP10 hostess is having a contet, and all I have to do is "flash my stash"! So, here is my yarn collection in all its glory:

I keep my yarn in 4 rubbermaid bins - two large and two small. One of the smaller ones is designated as a "sock" bin, although I really don't have a lot of sock yarn.














Here's a couple of example of what the bins look like on the inside - not very exciting, I know. I have a lot of one/two skeins that I bought "just to try the yarn", then of course I didn't have a decent pattern for them. So they languish.

The only part of my stash that I didn't photograph is the "leftover basket", that has all of my leftover skeins from projects. I'm trying to decide what to do with that yarn...since I have a lot of Cascade 220 I'm thinking I'm going to try some sort of patchwork felting project...I just have to get over my dislike of felting first!

Cotton-Ease redux

I've temporarily given up on my Barbara Walker tank in favor of using an actual pattern. What can I say - I can't resist all of the gorgeous patters out there! I've cast on and started knitting the drop-stitch tank from Fitted Knits by Stefanie Japel (aka Glampyre). So far, I'm not entirely happy with the way the drop-stitch sections are shaping up. I'm hoping it improves with blocking... The pattern itself is very simple - just two rectanges stitched together - and so far it's going pretty fast.

I bought the book this weekend when Scott offered to watch Lincoln for a couple of hours while I did some shopping. I spent two glorious hours shopping at the Plaza on my own - which means I didn't feel at all guilty that I spent the whole two hours in *two* stores - Bath and Body Works and Barnes and Noble. I spent a long time in the knitting section of B&N, luckily finding an open chair nearby so I could sit and read. Not only did I find "fitted knits", but I also found a nice reference on how to do mattress stitch in garter stitch (yes I know it's amazingly simple, but I'd never done it before).

Thanks to the mattress stitch help, I also managed to do the finishing work on the "super secret" project I've been working on - and I will post photos this weekend after it is delivered to the lucky recipient!!

Knitting while sick

I really haven't been able to get much knitting done lately - on Sunday night I woke up with a 102 degree fever. I just didn't have the energy to knit. I did do a little knitting on Saturday, but I can't talk about it now because it's a gift.

Barbara Walker, here I come!

I've had Barbara Walker's Knitting from the Top for quite a while, but I've never actually tried knitting my own design based on it. I managed to snag some Lion Brand Cotton-Ease from Michaels a couple of weeks ago, and decided it was time for me to finally "Walker-fy" meself and try out the Cotton-Ease. Here's what I've done so far:



It doesn't look like much yet, but I've acutally done quite a bit of work measuring, gauging, and swatching. I'm doing a sleeveless sweater, which calls for an invisible cast-on. Barbara provides one cast-on in her book, but I decided to use the fabulous cast-on I learned in my toe-up sock class. You can see in the photo that there is one set of Knitpicks circulars that I am currently using to knit the back, and the other circular needle cable is holding the stitches that will eventually be the front.

I believe that any knitting design should focus on the unique properties of knitted fabric - ie the ability to do lace, cabling, etc. With that in mind, I've been scouring my "Knitting onf the Edge" book to find a nice little pattern insert to do on the front of the vest. I had one all picked out, but when I swatched it I realized that I wouldn't be able to convert the pattern to "in the round" when I finally connect the front and back. So the search continues...

Surprises!

My secret pal spoiled me this week! Take a look at how nicely she packaged everything (also note the really cute bunny dishcloth she knitted for me!):
















I was like a kid at Christmas and made quick work of opening everything:












Inside were lots of knitting goodies - a Knitpicks Chartkeeper (which I have been drooling over forever), some Soak woolwash in yummy scents, and two hanks of Knitpicks Gloss - it's part silk (yummmmmmmmmmmmmm):










Plus there were lots of other treats: There were some kitty treats for Dr. Zaius and Cheetara - you'd think it was kitty crack the way that Zaius gobbles them up.

There were also cute little sheep cards and some Margarita-flavored Jell-o.





Thank you thank you thank you!!!!

Monkey Torso

The Sock Monkey adventure has begun!

This is the torso and legs of the monkey - aka "the easy part". I've cut out and stuffed the arms and ears, and now need to stitch them on by hand (aka "the hard part"). Unfortunately, I realized after I turned the tail right-side-out that I actually sewed it backwards...so I have to redo that. At the rate I'm going, I just hope I finish Mr. Monkey is done by the time Mr. Lincoln reaches adulthood.