Pattens Merino felt clogs

The yarn I ordered arrived from Yarn Forward last week and I finally had time on Sunday to pick up the pattern.... unfortunately Fabric Place only had the children's version. But they were having a great 25% off sale on everything. So I picked up the children's version and the felted mittens pattern and some Cascade 220 to go with it. Meanwhile, on Monday I was driving by another yarn shop near me and found the adult version! I started with the children's version in size XL and have completed one and am 2/3 of the way from finishing the second. They are so easy and quick, I can't believe I haven't come across them before.

Cascade 220

So the color I am using above was really supposed to be for me, but I have plenty left to make another in the adult size. I will probably do the child's version again in the purple for my daughter and I have a feeling my son will want a pair too when I'm done.

Meanwhile I have pictures of the Wine and Roses Mitts from the winter Interweave Knits issue. I made them in Rowan 4 ply in blue and I added beads to the cuff where the yarnovers are. They came out beautiful I think. It was an easy pattern that held my attention well.

The knitting is done on the blue stripey socks and all that is left is sewing down the picot edge.... I hate sewing. So, naturally I've started something else. And it's the wine and roses mitts (see below). I have completed the edging and part of the cuff, adding some clear beads to the yarn overs on the cuff. I think it looks pretty great. It's the first time I've knit with beads and I think I have tapped into a whole other world of creativity. At this point I think I will definitely be making these mitts again in another colorway with maybe the blue beads.

Next up....

It's raining today, so I can't get any good photos. But I did get pretty far along on the blue stripey socks. I think they might be completed tonight. Next up are the Wine and Roses Mitts from Interweave Knits Winter 2006. I love the pattern and I have some beautiful blue merino wool for them. I also bought some beads to use in the cuff. It doesn't call for them, but I think it will be pretty to add some. I have never knitted with beads before, but I will use one of my Christmas gifts as a reference to help me out.

blog life

I am trying to figure out this blog life and to that end have added some more links to pictures on flickr. And well changed the background again. Maybe I will really be able to keep track of all my knitting projects, which are by no means well represented here just yet... heh, heh

I did something today that I don't usually do, but I just thought these on Yarn Harlot's blog were so great that I ordered the exact same yarn in the wedgewood and rosewood colorways along with the chestnut brown. Since I wear slippers every day in my house (except in the rare instance when it is too warm inside and I'm wearing flip flips or something), I think I could use a new pair of slippers. We'll see if they are as good as my usual slippers. I just need to find the pattern. The place that sells the yarn does not also sell the pattern, but I know I have seen that pattern at a shop near me, so I am going to try to save myself the shipping cost.

I made some more progress on the blue stripey socks while at Julia's gymnastic meet today and am now working on the heel. I'll post some pictures hopefully tomorrow.

Fingerless mitts and socks too.

The fingerless mittens are done.... I just didnt' get a picute of the completed thing. But here is a picture of them3/4 of the way there. The picture is terrible since I didn't get out in the sunlight but I'll describe them. They have 3 cables running up the front and 4x1 ribbing elsewhere. I made them out of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino in Navy and just adapted a mitten pattern to be without thumb or fingertips. They were made for my son who is the type to cut holes in his sweatshirt sleeves to put his thumb through, but is way too cool for regular mittens. I would get a picture of the completed thing, but they are on their way to Maine for a ski trip with the recipient.

I also made some progress on the blue stripey socks. One is cast off. I still have a bit of sewing to do because I made a picot edge at the top that needs the hem sewn down. This was the second pair of socks I made using the toe up pattern and I have to say I liked it. The toe is ingenious and they are truly seamless if one chooses to cast off at the top instead of using a hem. I added a small cable down the leg for some variety.

Back burner projects:

Sorry no pictures of the current projects.... the camera is out of batteries. But here is an old picture of projects on the back burner:

This is the progress on the leaf socks from Interweave Knits. I love this pattern except for one thing: the ribbing technique at the top is too tight. I am afraid that it will not go over my heel. But look at the progress.....

I hate to rip it back and start all over. Must figure out another solution. Am I master of my own knitting? Should I cut off the cast on edge and restitch? Shall have to simmer that idea... other pressing projects are in the works.

Next up is the progress on Innishmore.... (in the background) which has stalled because I found a mistake and rather than rip back the 18 rows to properly fix it, I decided to be a master knitter (following EZ's advice) and just rip the section with the problem. But the problem has been ripped and reknitted unsuccessfully at least 3 times. New projects beckoned and enough said. Here it sits. I promise I will get back to it in February.

January projects...

I intend to keep better track of my knitting. So this will be an on-line journal of my current projects.

Right now I am working on fingerless mitts for my son. I made the pattern up on the fly, loosely basing it on a mitten pattern from Melanie Falick's book of patterns. One is done, second one is 2/3 of the way there.

Also, I am working on socks:

1. blue stripe socks
2. bamboo socks
3. grey cable socks
4. blue leaf socks

I'll post pictures tomorrow.