Year of Projects: Week 22

Week 22 is already here.

I went on a walk around the bay in Hamilton and took this shot. I think I want to print it out and put it on my wall.

I've been a somewhat bad knitter this week. My youngest brother Thaniel's birthday is in a few days and I'm still not finished his scarf.  Unfortunately, it's not one of those "I've been working on it furiously" situations. It's a "I'll work on it soon but my Circe socks are looking so nice!"  Due to my falling behind, there will be no hat to go along with it.

I did finish a sock for the Circes and it looks beautiful!  It only convinces me that if I can, I need to do another year of the Cookie Sock Club. I can't recommend the club enough. If you're looking for a sock club, try Cookie's.

Day 16 of 30 Days of Knitting Challenge

Day 16: Have you ever had a knitting related injury?

I guess I can say I've been blessed to have never had a knitting related injury and I hope I never get one. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't want to imped my creative flow.

Day 15 of 30 Day Knitting Challenge

Day 15: What was your least favorite pattern and why?*

Hmmm...there's a good chance that it's the Wanida socks by Cookie but I think it has more to do with the process than anything else. I was trying to knit 2 socks at a time on a circular and it was taking awhile. My aunt (the recipient) was constantly nagging that her socks weren't done and why are they taking so long. Suffice it to say, the only reason I finished those socks was because I told myself that I wasn't allowed to start the Lissajous socks until the Wanida's were done. I'm pretty sure that I do not want to knit that pattern again.

Day 14 of 30 Day Knitting Challenge

Day 14: What’s the worst yarn/fiber that you’ve worked with and why?*

It seems kind of unfair but I very much dislike Wool of the Andes yarn from Knitpicks. Keep in mind that I've never washed it so I don't know what the final product would really be like but I do not enjoy knitting with it.  I currently have 8 or 9 balls worth in an unfinished sweater that I definitely do not want to have anything to do with.

Day 13 of 30 Day Knitting Challengr

Day 13: Do you have yarn that you love but can’t find a project for?

I don't seem to have this problem and I'm not complaining about it. Most of my stash is sock yarn so I make socks out of them. I more recently discovered the idea of making shawls with the same sock yarn.

The other yarns I don't have potential projects for is because I don't like the yarn (aka: WotA - don't like it at all)

I can only think of a couple of 50g skeins that I dyed but I'm saving it for some colourwork project that I haven't decided on yet.

Year of Projects: Week 21

I can't believe it's been 21 weeks already! Still no finished projects but that's okay. I finished half project and that is progress.

I kept station at it with amazement; not because of the pattern (since I can barely notice it). I am loving the colours in the yarn. I had dyed this one myself for a Tosh-along back in March. I called it Grapefruit Sunrise.

I don't know if this is a sunrise though. I even looked up pictures online and the colours were not quite right. It looks closer to a sunset than a sunrise. I'm just happy that I have the colour recipe written out so I can make it again; for myself next time.

I re-casted on for the Circe socks. I'm going full length this time and I am loving them.

I'm finally understanding how the foot pattern works and I think I'm making goof progress on them.

Day 12 of 30 Day Knitting Challenge

Day 12: Where do you keep your stash? Post pictures!

I know where I want to keep them and it's still a work in progress. My dream for a yarn room is this:

And maybe this:

I don't have nearly have enough yarn to make it fully functional or my own space to do it.  I currently have an Expedit book case from IKEA that I love to pieces.

Unfortunately, it doesn't still look like this due to life and a dwindling stash which I want to rebuild.  My dream is to have it completely filled with yarn.

Day 11 of 30 Day Knitting Challenge

Day 11: Do you have a “Knitter Hero” or someone that is just way too awesome for their own good? Do share!

I do have a couple of people; one of which I talk about on the blog frequently. 

T is short for Tanya. She's the one who really got me back into knitting. Because of her, I joined a knitting circle, met a lot of other knitters and discovered my love of sock knitting. She got me into Cookie A. patterns and the sock club. And let's not forget Ravelry. I can never thank her enough for introducing me into this knitting world.

The other person who's my knitting hero also goes to the knitting circle. Her name is Claudine. She knits everything for everyone and she's one of the most helpful people I've ever known. She actually helped me with my first pair of socks.

I was knitting with DPNs for the first time. They were metal ones and slipping off the socks all the time. Claudine took her time and to show me how to get everything working. I still hadn't gotten it by the end of knitting circle. She took it home and brought it back the next week with the first pattern repeat done. By the time I was ready to do the second sock, I was able to do it by myself.

Day 10 of 30 Days of Knitting

Day 10: Do you have a favorite pattern or designer?

This is an easy question.  I've got 2 favourite designers: Cookie A. and Stephen West.

Cookie was my first introduction to sock knitting.  Everyone starts out with stockinette socks.  My sock teacher printed out a copy of the Monkey socks from Knitty.com and I got to work.  If I'm ever wanting to do any pair of socks, I always pull out on of Cookie's books and start knitting a pair.  As it is known from previous entries, I joined the Cookie A. Sock Club 2013 and I have loved every minute of it.  Unfortunately, as far as I know, I cannot join for 2014.  If I do happen to be able to afford it, I'm going to join for 2014.

List of patterns I've knit by Cookie:
Monkey from Knitty.com
BFF from Knit. Sock. Love.
Lissajous from Knit. Sock. Love.
Wanida from Sock Innovation
Newton from 2013 Sock Club
Ernie from 2013 Sock Club
Tulip from 2913 Sock Club
Pirouette from 2013 Sock Club
Bex from Sock Innovation
Tiberius from 2013 Sock Club
Spock from 2013 Sock Club
Mona from Knit. Sock. Love.
Istanbul from 2013 Sock Club
Circe from 2013 Sock Club

I think that definitely shows my love of Cookie A. patterns.

Stephen West is a much newer designer to me.  I've only knit 3 of his patterns but I've got a lot more that I'd like to do.  

List of patters I've knit by Stephen:
Earth & Sky
Daybreak
Meadowbrook Scarf from Westknits Book One

Day 9 of 30 Day Knitting Challenge

Day 9: What fiber or yarn do you love working with?

I must say that the most common yarn I work with is Merino wool. I've tried other wools like BFL and Peruvian but Merino just feels so much softer. Throw in some cashmere and make it a Superwash and I will cuddle that yarn like there is no tomorrow.

There is still many other fibres that I would like to try like Angora, Bamboo and Qivit (expensive :O). I will get to try them someday.

Day 8 or 30 Daily Knitting Challenge

Day 8: What’s your most challenging project?
I found the Ernie Socks by Cookie A. to be somewhat challenging but after the 2nd repeat, I was yawning and didn't have much issues with it.  The socks I found to be most challenging was the Lissajous socks.  I love them dearly but it wasn't just the pattern that made them challenging.

I don't know if you can see it clearly, but I made the kneehighs stripped with 2 different shades of blue.  I alternated every 4 rows, plus I had to do a very complicatedcable dewign (my opinion)  On top of that, I'm assuming that I got the measurements wrong since after I take a couple steps, everything falls down to my ankles.  I do wnt to give them a try again, most likely in a solid colour, preferably with 2 skeins of Wollmeise Twin.

Day 7 of 30 Day Knitting Challenge

Day 7: Your least favorite?

I generally like what I make so there isn't much that would be considered my least favourite.  However, after looking through my Ravelry finished projects, I determined my Ball Sack to be my least favourite project.

 I will admit the idea of this ball sack is a wonderful idea but my execution of it was not.  I used the thing one time and them "misplaced" it.  I find it again every once in a while but it just sits there, lifeless.  I'm not even sure if I would want to knit it again.

But if anyone else thinks that this is an ingenious idea and needs a Ball Sack, you can find the pattern <here>.

Day 6 of 30 Day Knitting Challenge

Day 6: What is your favorite piece that you’ve knit?

I've got 2 projects that are at the top of my list: the Tiberius socks and the Earth and Sky Shawl.

I don't know that I'd want to redo my Tiberius socks.  I like them exactly how they are and I have no wish to redo them in a different colour or anything.  I just have to get them back from a cousin who currently has them in her custody.

The Earth and Sky Shawl is an entirely different matter.  I think I could do many versions of this shawl and a variety of sizes.  The one that I have knit, was for my mother and I want to make another one in the medium size for myself...and perhaps a large size for myself as well.

Year of Projects: Week 20

Not much has been done this week knitting wise.

I randomly decided to start the second sock for the Dark Isle socks I started way back when. I'm a little bit further on than shown in the above picture.  I can't wait to have them on feet!

I frogged the Circe socks I was working on last week. I was completely off for the foot chart and I couldn't figure out how to fix it. I had to battle with the library's ball winder and that caused even more of a headache but the yarn is somewhat saved and will be used again for the Circe socks.

After the dismay of the Circe socks, I actually picked up the Istanbul socks and made some progress on it. I'm on the toe for the first sock. I don't have a picture of it this week since that would require unpacking some stuff I don't want to deal with until tomorrow.

I also caked the yarn for the Vamp socks. It's the lovely Blood Orange colourway from Sweet Georgia Yarns.  

Makes sense for vampire inspired socks right?

On a more personal point, I finally got a job! It's seasonal and it's part time but it's at least a start :)

Day 5 of 30 Day Knitting Challenge

Day 5: How long did it take from the time your learned how to knit, to finish your first project?

Many, many years, for what I can actually remember. I believe the first finished project was the green Swiss cheese scarf from day 1.  Let's be generous and say I learned to knit when I was 10 and I'm coming up to my 4th year of active knitting...that's over 15 years.

Day 4 of 30 Days of Knitting Challenge

Day 4: How did you learn how to knit?
I learned to knit on some holiday from school around the time I was 8 or so. Those were the time that I went to work with my dad. His job was apparently so undemanding that he would read the news paper from beginning to end, do crosswords and apparently, knit. On one of these such days, he started to teach me. I really don't remember much of what happened. I just know that for sure, I learned to knit, purl and cast on. I did decently well enough but I don't remember what I knit.

Most people are very surprised when they find out that it's my dad who taught me to knit, and not my mother or grandmothers. My mother can barely sew on a button and she can bake and cook with the best of them. One of my grandmothers could crochet but she lived in New York and I was still residing in Toronto. My other grandmother cooked and did some baking as well. No crafting skills from her.

Day 3 of 30 Day Knitting Challenge

<<DAY 2
Day 3: Do you have any other WIPs (works in progress)?

I have way more WIPs than I really need to have.  Some of them I don't feel any kind of compulsion to finish either.  I actually went and pulled out everything from their hiding places just to see what I had going on.  Let's start with the oldest projects.

The Annisette Cardi

I was so excited to be start on my first project beyond accessories.  We were doing a Knit-a-Long at the Knitting Circle and we all made our order through Knit Picks.  I immediately went on vacation to New York.  I couldn't even wait until I got back to cast on.  I made excellent progress on it despite the fact that the interchangeable needles were bending in my hands.  I made a note to not use nickel plated needles again.  I finished the back and I must say, it is utter perfection.  I started on the front left panel and things started to fall apart.  I got so frustrated with the needles that I couldn't even make it pass the ribbing.  I decided to wait until the ChiaoGoo interchangeable needles arrived before I continued on the cardigan.  I don't know how I got distracted but I knitted when I should have purled and ended up with a ridge somewhere in the bust area.  Where things really went to hell in a hand basket was in the decreases.  I had never done them before and I don't know where I went wrong but it really became evident when I reached the same area for the right panel.  I then lost the pattern with all of my notes. I guestimated for the sleeves and I'm pretty sure I did them wrong.  Everytime I look at this thing, I just want to throw it out.  I have been thinking to just unravel it instead and try this again with a different yarn and with more attention paid.

The Shapely Boyfriend

 

I was listening to the Stash and Burn Podcast.  One of the hosts was talking about her Shapely Boyfriend Cardigan and I of course, went looking on Ravelry for the pattern.  I carefully planned the yarn I wanted and got it sent to my house.  I had chosen Cascade 220 in grey and black plus 2 skeins of Lorna's Laces worsted weight in Black Purl at later date.  I put aside the needles, a printed copy of the pattern and the yarn in a bag and waited until April when I casted on.  I was able to knit directly from the balls for the Cascade 220.  I had to cake the Lorna's Laces yarn in order to use it..  And then I noticed a problem. The Cascade 220 was a lot thinner than the Lorna's Laces Worsted.  I double checked the label to make sure I didn't order the wrong thing.  They both said worsted weight.  I looked on Ravelry and the listing said worsted weight as well.  Being thoroughly confused, I went looking through the commentary and found out that it seems to be common knowledge that Cascade 220 is much closer to a DK weight than a worsted weight.  I have no idea if this thing will fit like I thought it would but I don't care, I like it and I will finish it.

I still have to finish the ribbing and then do the sleeves.  I was thinking about doing the neckline and the button panel in black.  I'm pretty sure I'll have enough yarn if I keep the sleeves in just grey.

The Stitch Surfer

I don't know what I'm gong to do with these socks.  I love the pattern.  I enjoyed knitting socks.  However since I didn't do toe up socks before, I had issues. You can clearly tell that I could not cast on correcting.  I also didn't know the proper bind off either so I can't even try the sock on.  I don't feel inspired to do anything to finish this pair so I'm probably not going back to it and will do a Stitch Surfer pair in a completely different  yarn.

The Dark Isle

These should have been posted yesterday with the first WIP post however, I just started working on it again late last night.  The yarn I'm using is from Springtree Road in Muscadine, colourway Dusk and the other colour is dyed by me.  I'll be happy to have this one done.  I don't know if I'll redo this pattern again.

Slide

I was attempting to do the Slide socks 2aat.  It didn't turn out well.  I don't know why I still have needles and stitch markers attached to the yarn.

Basically Perfect Baby Socks

 

I had knit these socks for my friend's son.  Didn't finish them.  Okay, I can give them to another friend's daughter.  Didn't happen.  So...yeah...at least I found the 2US DPNs I was looking for.

Anklet #1

 

The intention was to have a bunch of anklet socks knitted for myself.  I love the yellow yarn that I'm using however, I got it from the leftovers of someone else's stash.  There wasn't enough to do one sock.  So I paired it with another machine washable yarn.  The blue yarn is horrendous and doesn't feel nice at all.  I'd rather rip everything out and use the yellow yarn in my sock yarn blankie and throw out the blue stuff.

ZigZag Scarf

I forgot I even had this one.  I was trying something out and it wasn't working.  I really should just put everything away.

Hitchhiker

I am no where close to giving up on this one.  This is a birthday gift for a cousin who has already seen it but doesn't know it's for her.  I have about a month to finish it up but I haven't touched it in like a month.  Got to get going on that.  I do love the colour combinations and I'm wanting to make another one, with a gradient yarn again.

Irish Hitchhiker Hat (again)

 

I have already made on Irish Hitchhiker Hat which I gifted to my brother.  This one is supposed to be for charity knitting.  I have not made it past this part at all for the past month or so.  I only have until the first week of December and I have to get going on that.

And now for the labour of love...Sock Blankie!

 

This Blankie has been a labour of love.  I don't work on it all the time but I do love to see it grow.  Finishing a pair of socks means that I have more yarn to put towards the Blankie.  I want it to be big enough to fit a Queen sized bed, which I have.  It's currently wide enough to do so but it's got a long way to go on the length.  I'm currently evening out everything and adding the necessary black triangles (which are very hard to do for the bottom.  I am trying to get to 250 squares by July 1, 2014.  I have about 130 squares right now.

DAY 4>>

Day 2 of 30 Day Knitting Challenge

<<DAY 1
Day 2: What is currently on your needles?

There is way too much on my needles but my most active projects at least for the past week have been:

• Meadowbrook Scarf for Thaniel
• Daybreak Shawl for a friend
• Istanbul Socks for my Aunt
• Circe Socks for me

Three of these patterns are coming along nicely.  I'm about half way through the scarf for Thaniel.  I'm practically finished the knitting portion of the Daybreak Shawl and I'm on the toes for the first sock of the Istanbul Socks for my aunt.

The Circe Socks were going well up until last night at the Knitting Circle.  The foot portion of the pattern was very, VERY off and I could not figure out how to fix it correctly.  So I ripped the entire thing out.  Didn't have any qualms about it.  I love the yarn and I love the pattern and I want the socks to be done correctly.  The problem was that I wasn't at home using my own ball winder.  I was using the one from the library that someone had "lovingly" donated it (after working with the thing, I believe the person wanted to get rid of it and not just throw it in the garbage).  I decided that I wanted to re-cake the yarn.  The ball winder decided it wanted to eat it instead.  With the help of the Library Co-ordinator and a screwdriver, I won the battle and freed my lovely Anzula Squishy yarn from the clutches of the evil ball winder.

Last night, I could not bother myself to cast on again so I picked up the Istanbul socks and make quite a bit of progress on that instead.

I cast on the Circe socks at a later date in the same yarn and hopefully, in full length.

DAY 3>>

Day 1 of 30 Day Knitting Challenge

Day 1: What was your first finished project?

I can't even remember.  I learned to knit when I was a kid.  I remember the process of learning to knit but I don't remember any finished projects.  Much later on in life, when I picked up knitting again,  I decided I wanted to make a scarf.  It was white and pink (which is a colour I rarely deal with).  Never finished it.  I don't even know where that thing is.

I found an acrylic green yarn from Red Heart that I really liked the colour of and casted on a new project. I reached to the end of my first row, and realized I had no idea how to do the next row so that everything still stayed flat (later to discover that what I wanted to do was a stockinette stitch).  I didn't worry myself to much and continued knitting on the other side of the row.  I had no idea what this phenomenon was and I declared it to be The Popcorn Stitch.  I later realized this is called a Garter Stitch.

Months later, I still had no idea how to finish this green scarf that had grown to look like green swiss cheese but I was proud of it.  I was at the library, not far from my house and I checked out a knitting book that would show me how to end this thing. Learned a new technique that day called Binding off.  I also got an invitation to the Knitting Circle that was held at that library once a week

I still have that scarf.  I don't really wear it and I don't know what to do with it really but here's a picture of the scarf that brought me back to knitting.

Yup, I went and pulled it out of the bottom of the scarf bag just to take a picture of it.

The plan for November

November is usually a challenge month for something.  If you want to write, there NaNoWriMo.  If you want to knit, there's NaNoSweMo (I think that's the write acronym).  If you want to help raise funds for fighting prostate cancer, there Mo-vember.

I am participating in none of them, although I wish I could do the knitting one.  However, lack of yarn required for what I want to knit is a big problem.  What I do have the option of doing is a blog/knitting challenge for 30 days (which November has, even though I am late to start).  It's called The 30-day Knitting Challenge and I found it on One Stitch More.

I'll make it easy for myself, and post the questions here.

Day 1: What was your first finished project?
Day 2: What is currently on your needles?
Day 3: Do you have any other WIPs (works in progress)?
Day 4: How did you learn how to knit?
Day 5: How long did it take from the time your learned how to knit, to finish your first project?
Day 6: What is your favorite piece that you’ve knit?
Day 7: Your least favorite?
Day 8: What’s your most challenging project?
Day 9: What fiber or yarn do you love working with?
Day 10: Do you have a favorite pattern or designer?
Day 11: Do you have a “Knitter Hero” or someone that is just way too awesome for their own good? Do share!
Day 12: Where do you keep your stash? Post pictures!
Day 13: Do you have yarn that you love but can’t find a project for?
Day 14: What’s the worst yarn/fiber that you’ve worked with and why?*
Day 15: What was your least favorite pattern and why?*
Day 16: Have you ever had a knitting related injury?
Day 17: Have you ever had a project that you loved become ruined? What’s the story behind it?
Day 18: Do you knit English or Continental?
Day 19: Do you watch movies and/or listen to podcasts while knitting? What are your favorite things to knit to?
Day 20: Do you knit in public? Was anyone offended/incredibly happy/curious that you were doing so?
Day 21: Do you knit gifts for friends and family for the holidays or birthdays?
Day 22: Have you ever stricken someone off your to-knit-for list because they didn’t appreciate/take care of your last knitted gift to them?
Day 23: If you had the supplies (and patience) for it, what project would you start today?
Day 24: Have you ever made your own pattern or dyed your own yarn? How did it turn out?
Day 25: Do you have a knitting book or a place where you keep patterns, ideas, size measurements? Post a picture of it!
Day 26: Have you ever been a part, or wanted to be a part of a knit-a-long? What was it? If not, why?
Day 27: How do you acquire most of yarn? Online retailers, local yarn shops, swaps, or large chain craft stores? What’s your favorite?
Day 28: Do you do any other crafts besides knitting? What are they, and did learning to knit come before or after learning these other crafts?
Day 29: Do you have any tips, or things that you’ve learned from knitting?
Day 30: What’s your name on Ravelry? If you don’t have a Ravelry account, why?

Hopefully within the next 30 days, I'll answer them all.  Off to answer Day 1's question.

Year of Projects: Week 19

Another week of knitting done and no finished projects but that's okay with me.

I cast on 2 new projects and they were the only things I worked on this week: the Meadowbrook scarf for my youngest brother Thaniel and the Circe socks for myself with the Anzula Squishy I got last week.

The Meadowbrook scarf is coming along well. And as per usual with a Stephen West pattern, I want to knit another one. I should launch a complaint. His patterns are addictive.  

No more casting on until this scarf is finished and then, depending on the remaining time, I'll cast on for a matching hat.  

I'm leaning towards the Piece Out hat by Stephen West (big surprise), in the same colours I'm using for the Meadowbrook.

Last week I mentioned how the sock knitting bug was starting to itch. So I went to Handknitting Yarn Shop, purchased a set of 1US DPNs and scratched that itch. I'm still working my way through the heel flap. I'm making these socks shorter than recommended due to my "need" of socks.

I got lucky this week. I am loving a skein of MissBabs Cosmic yarn in the Inkwell colourway. It's not a colour that is easily obtained since it's a custom colour for the sock club. No one from the club was destashing it either. So I sent an email to Cookie. Lucky for me, there were some leftover skeins and I'll be getting one of them with my December shipment. I am definitely making socks out of that skein...I just have to figure out which pattern.

I've said it before and I'll say it again: I really need to stop casting on new projects...but it's so hard!