Year of Projects: Week 29

This has been an eventful week!  I worked my last week at my seasonal retail job.  I'm sad to have to leave but the store isn't keeping any of the seasonal workers and from what I've seen, there isn't enough business to support the workers as it is.  I got another job, for the same company in a different location.  Colour me happy and I hope I enjoy it just as much as I did at the first location (and for still being employed).  I start at the end of the month so that's like have just over 2 weeks vacation :)

I am suitably happy with the work that I've done in regards to knitting this week.  I've finished a project, cast on another and I'm about to cast on for another.

It's now 4 out of 26! Woefully behind but who cares?  I've finished the Circe Socks.  The ends have to be woven in and socks have to be washed but I am classifying them as being done!

 

 Yarn: Anzula Squishy in the colourway Ducky

I need a proper picture needs to be shown to show the details of the socks.  They are beautiful and a fun and easy knit.  I'd definitely do it again.  Also, if you can get to an LYS and squish this yarn, DO IT!  It feels so nice!

I started the mittens for the SpillyJane KAL from my LYS, Handknit Yarn Studios, late Friday night.  I'm knitting the Warm Woolen Mittens.  I haven't even finished the cuff yet so I don't quite think there's a point to taking a picture as of yet but there will definitely be one next week. I got to be ready for the cast on party at the shop.  We were actually given permission to start early if we wanted to.

The other project that I'm about to start is another test pattern for Econnerd on Ravelry.  It's a fingering weight cowl.  Only problem is that I don't think I have a circular needle in a size 2.5 US and neither do I have it in interchangeable tips.  I may just go up a needle size and be done with it.

On another note, if you want to try a Stephen West pattern, they are 25% off until the end of today (meaning Sunday January 12, 2014).  I purchased 3 of them; Clockwork, Barndom and Rockerfella.  I got the yarn picked out for one of them (if it gets found) and I'll probably keep the other 2 in mind when I go out and buy more yarn for the stash.

YEAR OF PROJECTS / 26 PAIR PLUNGE

Year of Projects: Week 27 & 28

I really have not been knitting as much as I should be and the lack of a post last week reflects that. It's not due to not having time, or being tired. It's because I didn't knit a single stitch. Or buy any yarn. Or even look at any knitting related websites.

This week however, while I didn't knit a lot, I actually did stuff knitting related. I got the "I want a fresh pair of socks on my feet" bug and picked up the Circe socks. I'm working my way down the gusset. I still think the yarn is so deliciously soft! When I get the chance, I'm definitely adding more to my stash.

I've got a KAL that's going to start in a couple of weeks. The requirements? It has to be colour work mittens, by SpillyJane, and the yarn must be purchased from my LYS (yes, I have claimed it for my own). 

The pattern I selected is called Warm Woolen Mittens.

The yarn chosen is from The Fibre Co., colourway Tanzanite (Acadia) and Topaz (Road to China)

I question the colour reference for the yellow-ish colour called Topaz, since I have always believed the colour to fall in the blue-green section of the colour wheel.

Back to my LYS visit...

I went for opening on Friday when there was a snowstorm threatening which shows how determined I can be when it comes to yarn. I met the other owner for the first time. I bought the yarn and another set of 1US DPNs (I think I have an addiction), got the yarn wound, talked with other customers...you know, the social part of knitting. The owner asked for my name for the KAL, and told me she remembers me. I had never met this woman before that day, but she heard about me from the other owner. It's nice when the people who's shop you visit frequently remember you :)

Year of Projects: Week 24 & 25

Still no finished objects but that's okay. I do have an outstanding project that was supposed to be done for last week (which I thought was this week) for a birthday gift for one of my cousins.  The last time I picked it up? Before I started the Earth & Night Sky Shawl which I believe was back in September-ish. So the next furiously worked project is the Hitchhiker by Martina Behm. Wasn't done in time but I hope it's done by Christmas.

Just look at how much it's grown. It's past the half way mark but I don't think I have enough yarn to do the full 44 prongs(?) as recommended in the pattern. Every time I look at it, I want to hoard Knitpicks Chroma yarn just to watch the colours change. I'm still on the look out for yarn that does the subtle and long colour shifting. Any suggestions would be welcome.

I got an email about the next skein of yarn from Cookie's Sock Club. It's by Tanis Fiber Arts and I very much look forward to working with it. Only 1 problem it's at my house and I am not. So I cannot cake the skein either and I don't trust the people at my house to do it properly at all. I have sent the message home to send it when they come.

I made a trip to Handknit Yarn Studios in Hamilton (which as far as I am concerned is my LYS) to get a another skein and get it wound. Unfortunately, they don't sell Tanis so I had to get something else. I was thinking Sweet Georgia but as soon as I mentioned "I'm looking for an icy colour", I was handed a skein of Manos del Uraguay Alegria.

No cashmere in this one but I can't afford cashmere content every time. The pattern should be arriving soon and as soon as I finish the Hitchhiker and the Circe socks, I'll contemplate if I'll cast on one of the new ones. I still have the Vamps to try out as well. And as an added bonus, they said that I can wind my skeins there if it's not busy.  I'm thinking it's an incentive to but more yarn.

Despite the fact I haven't finished any projects, I got a look at the Decemer/January patterns for the sock club. I casted on for the Arrow socks and I am loving them, including my replacement skein. I'm still debating if I'm going to do the other pair. It seems like it can be good for some mindless knitting.  But seriously check it out: 

Gorgeous so far and it's only the cuff! I'm about to start the leg.

Now back to the October/November socks; Circe. I've finally made it to the heel flap of the second sock. Shouldn't take much longer once that's done but I am looking forward to wearing them.

Unfortunately, somewhere along the way, I lost a dpn. I know I can finish the oaks with 4 needles but it's not my preference. I think sometime this week or next week, I'm making another trip to my LYS an buying another set of 1US DPNS, the most common size I seem to use for socks.

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.

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.

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!