Monday, December 13, 2010

mail! the best kind:


Fresco yarn from Classic Elite. I am starting a Beaumont Tam from Jared Flood for daughter Julia, to go with her new red pea coat.  The yarn is from FiberWild and I highly recommend them.  I ordered this Thurday night and got it today (Monday).  Think I can finish for Christmas????
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Thursday, December 9, 2010

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Welted fingerless mitts






Have been making Churchmouse welted fingerless mitts since before Thanksgiving. Three pairs in the sumptuous Man's del Uruguay silk blend. Loving them.
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Saturday, November 20, 2010

Travels, mapped


visited 14 states (6.22%)
Create your own visited map of The World

I must widen my world scope...I've been to several of these countries more than once and only hit Belgium in the airport, so that might not really count!


visited 35 states (70%)
Create your own visited map of The United States
I really want to go to those northwest states.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Hallett's Ledge sleeve progress and a little side track


The sleeves are progressing, bit by bit.  I am trying to really pay attention to the increases and follow the directions correctly (unlike my usual sleeve attempts).  Maybe that is why they are going so slow.  I am a little bit nervous that they will be too tight and/or too long before I get to the last increase because I believe my row gauge is off by a row or two.
 
But, I have a slight detour at the moment:



Some mitts made out of Malabrigo silky merino in the color lettuce.  I can't tell you how soft this yarn is.  And I love the pattern.  It is from Churchmouse Yarns.  A pattern my friend, Penny found for me at her local yarn shop.  I like the pattern so much that I could not resist buying some more yarn for it while visiting my friend Judy's local yarn shop....

That is a skein of Manos del Uruguay silk blend in color 3120 (the multi) and also a skein of super-soft Cascade Eco Duo (baby alpaca and merino). Mmmmmm can't wait to knit with these.

They are tucked inside my favorite small project bag from Lantern Moon. Totally worth the price because I just love it, it's the perfect size.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Sleeves

Still working on the sleeves of Hallett.  I ripped back several inches of the cable pattern after discovering that the ribbed portion was probably too short for my forearms.  This seems to be the frog pond sweater.  At least I am still at it.

 Halloween was relatively quiet...for Salem.  I guess because it was Sunday and cold and windy.  But Kate and I walked over to River St. and saw the pumpkins.

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

Halletts Ledge





I am knitting Halletts Ledge right now.  I finished the body of the sweater and am working on the sleeves.  Unfortunately...or maybe fortunately, I found a mistake in the cable on the right front section. It was early on so I was not able to rip back.  I dropped the whole cable section down to the mistake and re-knit just that section.  But while I was doing that I re-worked the shoulder and discovered I had read the pattern wrong.  So both shoulders got reworked.  Needless to say, although I was humming along, this major snag has slowed me down a bit.  I want it to be done because I want to wear it, but also because I haven't finished a big project in a long time....have to get it on the to-done list!

Pattern details:
  • yarn:  Rowan Lima
  • skeins: 12
  • color: blue/gray
  • Halletts Ledge by Elinor Brown from Twist Collective
Oh...and see the pattern lying on the dock next to the body of the sweater in the picture...a few minutes later the pattern flew off the dock and disappeared in the water before I even realized it!  Thank goodness for having it saved on my computer.

Friday, February 12, 2010

Yarn, needles, plan...

The Knitting Olympics Athletes Pledge

I, a knitter of able hands and quick wits, to hereby swear that over the course of these Olympics I will uphold the highest standard of knitterly excellence.

I will be deft of hand and sure of pattern, I will overcome troubles of yarn overs and misplaced decreases. I will use the gifts of intelligence and persistence (as well as caffeine and chocolate) and I will execute my art to the highest form, carrying with me the hope for excellence known to every knitter.

I strive to win. To do my best, and to approach the needles with my own best effort in mind, without comparing myself to my fellow knitters, for they have challenges unique to them.

While I engage in this pursuit of excellence and my own personal, individual best, I also swear that I will continue to engage with my family in conversation, care for my pets, speak kindly with those who would ask me to do something other than knit, and above all, above every stitch thrown or picked, above every cable, every heel stitch, every change of colour, I swear this:

That I will remember that this is not the real Olympics, that I'm supposed to be having fun and that my happiness and self-worth ride not on my success....
but on my trying.                                                                      (authored by Yarn Harlot)

All set to begin cast on tonight....except for one thing.... haven't figured out what design to do on the yoke.  Think I will be winging it as I go along.  Also, have switched to a new yarn for me... Leche.  It has milk protein in it.  I know, weird, but it is machine washable and came in the right color.  My usual go-to yarn (Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran) was not available in the cream today at Seed Stitch. I do have one skein of the Debbie Bliss Rialto to use in the colorwork however.  The best part was that I got 15% off today because it is the month of my birthday!   I'll be swatching and browsing through my copy of Traditional Fair Isle Knitting for a yoke pattern during the opening ceremonies.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Knitting Olympics

Signed up for the Knitting Olympics on Yarn Harlot's blog. Need a quick baby gift for my friend Steve's new baby.  I plan on doing my version of the Debbie Bliss Raglan Baby Sweater with a few extra details thrown in.  I'm planning on some yoke colorwork detail and I think the picot edge hem on the cuffs and bottom edge like I did for Diane's twins.  Of course to make it a real challenge....hat and booties will have to be included.  "Training" begins today...need to get the yarn and the design in place.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

blue_sock


blue_sock
Originally uploaded by My Knitting Life.

Another blue mystery knit? Think not... maybe a cable pattern or something from my new Christmas present: Socks From the Toe Up.

wisteria_socks_closeup


wisteria_socks_closeup
Originally uploaded by My Knitting Life.

These were such a fun pattern (Mystery sock 09 knit along) that I made them twice in row. This sock yarn color is called wisteria... and that is just what it reminds me of.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

Mystery Sock KAL 09



I actually participated in the Mystery Sock 09 knit along while it was going on, but didn't get the pictures uploaded until now. I've done two pairs. Great pattern that kept my interest, was easy to learn and pretty to look at.