Friday, April 27, 2007

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!

Tuesday, April 24, 2007

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!!

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

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.

Thursday, April 12, 2007

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...

Friday, April 06, 2007

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!!!!

Monday, April 02, 2007

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.