VariegatedKnits

Something Orange

2012-01-25T20:10:00.000-08:00

Today at knitting I decided to spend some time knitting something in a bright color. It just so happened that the only project I had on my needles was my Jewels cardigan, and there isn't anything much brighter than tomato orange. It's one of my favorite colors, and it seems to have spread beyond yarn.

Jewels has been a fun, relaxing knit, and the braided cable accent keeps me on my toes but still lets me enjoy the company of other knitters.

Simple Crochet

2012-01-23T16:08:00.000-08:00

Missing the familiar motion of crochet, I decided to start another afghan for my family room this past weekend. Perhaps I've waited too long to start it as I struggled to count my chains - the first attempt had too few and this attempt has an extra 10. My mistake has the good fortune of being exactly what DH envisioned, which is a thick afghan that we could both cuddle under. It turns out my first one isn't quite wide enough for both us as DH likes to tuck one corner under to trap the warmth.

How big am I making this afghan? Well, as I am making the double-stranded version and don't feel the need to split a worsted 812 yard skein into two, I suppose I will continue until I run out of yarn or get bored. Currently, it appears that this may be the size of a queen comforter which would make it my largest project to date. My sister, Fcbseal, gifted me this extra-large tote for Christmas for carrying my afghans around from room to room and to Wednesday knitting if I felt like it. It's big enough for all of these skeins and the afghan itself. Wonder if it will continue to be big enough as the afghan grows.

A Weekend in Cape Cod

2012-01-15T11:29:00.000-08:00

DH and I are enjoying a relaxing weekend in Cape Cod. Even at this time of the year, the views are rather striking - it seems that the more bare the trees are, the more blue the ocean and sky appear. It also makes us want to go out for walks, albeit short ones as the harsh winds are a force to contend with.

Although I miss snow, I think I can make due with these beautiful sunny days we've had in the past month.

Birthday Jewels

2012-01-09T16:07:00.000-08:00

Since I haven't knit anything for myself since October, I spent some time today on my birthday knitting Jewels in this tomato orange that I'm so fond of. I had started it during Christmas but put it down for a few days which turned out to be a good thing - I noticed that I had misread the pattern and was going to start crossing cables on the wrong side. I have now fixed it and have completed 2 cable repeats.

I like how well Willa shows off cabling!

The Sister Blankets - Part II

2012-01-08T10:30:00.000-08:00

Back in early November, I started these 2 crocheted blankets with the hope they would both be done by Christmas. With 16 hours of driving and a relaxed Thanksgiving schedule due to a wee one, both blankets were done by the end of the weekend. Well, not exactly - the pink blanket's border wasn't quite right in its symmetry nor in it's ability to lay flat. As frustrated as I was, I knew it had to be undone and fixed. Although I managed to do that in December, I was too occupied and distracted to complete the weave ins until today.

The pink blanket, which is meant for the newest addition to the family, is currently the most complex crochet item I've finished. I'm very happy with the way it turned, and am ready to send them both to their new homes. As frustrated I was with the border at times, it was due to a new skill I had to learn and my rush to get it done. Despite the rush, I did enjoy making these blankets.

The specs (blanket pictured right): Pattern - Cozy Cuddle by Carole Prior from More Double Quick for Baby
Yarn - Caron's Simply Soft in Limelight and Watermelon, 3 skeins each
Hook - US M (9 mm) Susan Bates Crystalites
Mods - skipped the tassels as there is dog that would love to pull on them

(blanket pictured left)
Pattern - Cloud-Soft Shells by Carole Prior from Our Best Baby Afghans
Yarn - Cascade Cherub Aran in pink, 5 skeins
Hooks - US H (5 mm) Susan Bates Silvalume and Luxite

Only 700 Yards

2012-01-06T18:02:00.000-08:00

I have exactly 700 yards of this sport-weight merino, which didn't give too many project options. As much as I thought crocheting would be pleasant with this yarn, I had to choose a knit pattern instead as I have to echo the many who say crochet does take up a lot more yarn than knitting. I settled on this simple feather and fan pattern, which was one of the reasons I took up lace knitting but have never actually done one for me.

When this one is done, I can cross it off my list.

Crochet Challenged

2012-01-04T18:27:00.000-08:00

After 5 attempts to start a crochet pattern with Caron's Simply Soft, I finally had to give up and switch to a knit baby blanket pattern. I don't like to give up, but with the impending February birth followed by another in March the time I have to finish the blanket is limited. I'm somewhat upset that I now have given up on 2 patterns since I picked up crochet, but the speed in which the Pine Forest Baby Blanket is knitting up is rather consoling.

Perhaps I need to start another crocheted afghan for the house for more practice.

Christmas in Camden

2011-12-30T15:28:00.000-08:00

There isn't anything better than spending Christmas with loved ones, and this year we spent it with my parents in Maine. The town was beautifully decorated, and even this boat docked in the harbor was decked out for the holiday. It's a wonderful place to stroll through and walk with family, with a downtime that although busy was not overcrowded.

One of our stops was The Cashmere Goat, a yarn store that has been opened less than a year and months after my parents' moved to Camden. The store is neatly laid out, with ample walking space and yarn arranged by weight category. On this trip, I walked off with 4 skeins of Juniper Moon's Willa in the perfect shade of tomato red destined to become a Jewels cardigan. The other knitters of the family did not walk away empty handed, but I leave it up to them to document their finds should they wish to do so.

The Aran Before Christmas

2011-12-24T14:47:00.000-08:00

It's the Aran before Christmas, and as the title implies, it was done before Christmas. 2:30 AM on Christmas Eve to be exact, after a long 4 hour drive from our home to my parents on the same day. This sweater also spent Tuesday in my office, hanging on my coat rack drying after it's morning blocking session.

Overall, I am happy with both my choice in pattern and yarn. After working with softer acrylics and some luxury yarns this was challenging at first, but after an hour I was accustomed to the yarn and moved along at my usual steady pace. And with this crisp stitch definition, I didn't want to put it down.

The Specs:
Pattern - Jack's Aran Pullover by Tara Jon Manning, book Men in Knits
Yarn - Fruitcake Farm Aran Wool, 6 hanks
Needles - US 5 (3.75 mm) for the body and US 3 (3.25 mm)for the ribbing. Knitpicks Options Nickle-Plated Classic and Interchangeable
Mods - skipped the rolled edging on the sleeves and the collar, and knit the medium to compensate for the worsted gauge of this yarn.

The Second Crochet Project Completed

2011-12-17T20:24:00.000-08:00

It's been rather quiet on this blog in terms of crafting, but there's been plenty of if even if I haven't been documenting it. In between all of the baby afghans I've worked on in the past month, I've managed to squeeze in enough time to finish the Easy Ripple Afghan I started for the family room. And I even managed to finish it just before the arrival of our new chairs.

I really like the contrast between the couch and the greens of this afghan. And I chose Red Heart for 2 reasons - the right foresty shades of green were in stock and it should not pill and adhere to my carpet like another afghan I used to keep in this room. Funny how the carpet in our previous home was similar to this one but that afghan didn't stick to it.

I've never worked with Red Heart Super Saver before, and after finding the luxite hooks it wasn't difficult to work with. As a beginner to crochet, I appreciated that the plies were tightly spun which made the yarn easier to grab. The yarn and pattern are a great combination for a first or second crochet project, and I'm glad I chose them for my second project.

The specs:
Pattern - Easy Ripple Afghan by Susan B
Yarn - Red Heart Super Saver Economy Yarn, 2 skeins each Hunter Green, Honeydew Green, & Aran
Hook - Susan Bates Luxite I hook (5.5 mm)

Resting

2011-12-13T16:15:00.000-08:00

After taking care of DH the week after Thanksgiving because of his lingering cold, it was my turn to be taken care of last week when I felt under the weather. I was rather fatigued and had symptoms of the flu. Fortunately, after much resting last week and this weekend I think I have overcome it.

The flu shot last month may have had something to do with it too.

Thanksgiving and a Blanket

2011-12-01T15:58:00.001-08:00

We spent Thanksgiving last week with DH's family, where we had the opportunity to gift my nephew's new blanket in person. I was happy to gift it, as this was the pattern I originally wanted to make but settled on the receiving blanket due to his early arrival in May. This is a good size blanket, and I hope that it's used as the weather turns colder and he continues to grow.

As for the Christmas hoodie I had planned for him, it's not going to happen as the parents have mentioned that they are inundated with clothes. DH's brother jokingly requested an adult afghan instead, but since they already got one they will have to wait several years for the next one.

The specs:
Pattern - Cuddle Up by Evelyn Clark from Leisure Arts Quick Knit Baby Afghans
Yarn - Plymouth Dreambaby DK 50% Acrylic Microfiber 50% Nylon, 4 skeins each green (105) and yellow (101)
Needles - Knitpicks Options Interchangeable Zephyr Acrylic US 15 (10 mm)
Mod - removed one set of square repeats because the blanket would have been too large.

Road Knitting on a Deadline

2011-11-25T07:21:00.001-08:00

I returned home from my business trip with the realization that I did not have a gift for my father-in-law, and after getting DH's approval, a hat and scarf set were soon in the works. It has been years since I gifted a knit item to my FIL, and since I just recently gifted a shawl to my MIL I am keeping with the hand-knit birthday present theme.

With DH on board, we visited the Woolpack and spent an hour picking out the right yarn and colors. We were looking for a warm yarn that could be machine washed, and when we came across Berroco's Vintage we knew we had found the right one. As we walked to the register with a beautiful dark teal, this lovely red heather caught my eye. DH agreed that this was the better color, and home we went.

I started and finished the hat on Saturday, and started the scarf on Sunday. After 2 false starts, I settled on a 50 stitch Knit 2 Purl 2 pattern which kept me company on an 8 hour drive to Maryland as I sat behind the recipient. I finished it yesterday, far ahead of the November 28th birthday.

The Specs:
Pattern - Bernat Denimstyle Hat
Pattern - Not published, but fairly standard pattern
Yarn - 3 hanks of Berroco Vintage, color Black Cherry
Needle - Scarf - 24 inch Bryspun Bry-Flex circulars, US 5 ( 3.75 mm), Hat - 16 inch Bryspun Bry-Flex circulars US 5 and Bryspun dpns for crown decreases
Mods - hat modified for knitting in the round, minus 2 stitches

For The Romantic

2011-11-16T18:10:00.001-08:00

Imagine my delight this morning when I stepped out on the deck of my hotel room and caught sight of this message. I am several miles away from DH for a week, and am missing him. Knowing that he felt the same way, I sent him the picture in the hopes of brightening his day.

To the romantic who made this, I hope you made your loved one's day. You certainly made our day.

The Sister Blankets

2011-11-15T19:14:00.001-08:00

Remember this little one? In a few days, she will be joined by her little sister who will arrive just before Thanksgiving. This is a cuddle blanket in shell stitch that I'm making just for her, as winter is approaching and the cotton/acrylic blanket I made two years ago isn't suited for this time of year.

And in the spirit of sisterhood, I am making a coordinating shell stitch blanket for her little sister. She deserves a blanket of her own, and I am more than happy to oblige. It has been a long time that I've made a pink blanket, and with these colors it will be easy for the sisters to know which one is theirs.

Baby Ripple Blanket Done & Gifted

2011-11-09T20:16:00.000-08:00

In what is a first for me, I've finished a baby blanket in dk weight yarn in about 2 weeks, including the weave ins. With it done this quickly, I can only hope that the next two I'm working on go as fast. And yes, I am crocheting those as well.

The Specs:
Pattern - Easy Ripple Afghan by SusanB
Yarn - Bernat Softee Baby, 2 skeins of colors Aqua and Funny Print
Hook - Susan Bates Silvalume G (4mm)
Mod - Chained 130 for a 38 by 40 inches blanket

The Fiber Festival of New England 2011

2011-11-07T18:13:00.000-08:00

This past Saturday, I boarded a bus offered by The Woolpack Yarn and headed toward the 2nd Annual Fiber Festival of New England in West Springfield, MA. I knew I was in for a pleasant experience when I noticed that the bus was there early and was told that there was plenty of time to grab breakfast from the local coffee shop.

I enjoyed my coffee while working on 2 projects, and before I knew it we had arrived. We went indoors into the Mallary Building, were it took me a few moments to find my bearings. Why did it take me a few minutes? Well, here's what the entryway looked like:

And here is the beginning of the other side of the building, front to back:

And the view from one end of one aisle to the other:

Our furry friends also made an appearance:

Thinking that it would be similar to Rhinebeck, I spent most of first part of my day shopping only to discover that I did have time for the unofficial Ravelry meetup and the demonstrations that I chose to skip. That's something I won't do next time. I did have a wonderful time meeting the vendors and checking out their wares, and I found that this festival was very relaxed and not at all frenzied. There was even time to actually chat with the vendors for a change.

And now, for the acquisitions:

1) 5 KA Bamboo Hooks from Nightingale Fibers
2) Purdy Thangz Yarn Caddy
3) 1 Purdy Thangz polymer clay covered handle Boye Hook
4) 1 Brittany Hook purchased from SnowShoe Farms (also, 2 crocheted shawl patterns and 1 knit baby booties pattern not pictured)

And pictured to the left:

1) 3 braids of Spunky Eclectic dyed fibers, in Gone Fishing (Falkland), Capricorn (Dark Merino), & Sneaking Kisses (Corrie-Paca)
2) 2 4 oz packages of Fibers 4 Ewe spinning fiber, color Melonberry (Romney on top) and Rock Star (80% Wool, 20% Sparkle)
3) 1 hank of Kraemer Yarns Fountain Hill Brushed Mohair
4) 1 hank of Snowshoe Farms Alpaca 3 ply dk yarn in dark brown, 260 yds

The Accidental Skirt

2011-11-05T17:13:00.000-07:00

I might have over-estimated my crocheting skills - this is the second time that my first crocheted blanket resembles a skirt, and since the intended recipient has already been born I knew it was time for a new plan. I intend to finish this at some point as the fabric is warm and fluffy, and I do enjoy working with boucle.

So this is Plan B - doesn't it look familiar? This is a pattern that I now know very well, the Easy Ripple Afghan but in dk weight yarn which makes it a good baby size. I lucked out in that I found enough of it in coordinating colors, and have moved along quickly. And with more blankets in the very near future, it's good to see this one almost done.

Trick or Treat

2011-11-02T20:10:00.000-07:00

Mother Nature gave us a trick this past Halloween - no electricity. Since we lost it on Sunday evening, the house was relatively warm and we knew that we would not suffer during the night. After all, Nstar's prediction was that power would be restored by 2AM the next day. We woke up around 8AM to discover that this did not happen.

DH was fortunate that his work location did not lose power. I was not as fortunate, and was somewhat concerned of staying home without heat. Remembering that holding a warm cup of coffee usually lifts my spirits, I made my way to the local coffee house and bought a cup of black coffee. While waiting for the coffee to cool, I ventured into The Woolpack where I was immediately welcomed and traded power outage stories with the employees.

And as it was Halloween, I treated myself to some lovely yarn and was also gifted a box of Crackerjacks and this fantastic tattoo:

I would later find out that Janet had opened the Woolpack that day to all who needed refuge. For a day that started on a bad note, my visit to the Woolpack was the perfect pick-me-up that day.

The Keene Pumpkin Festival

2011-10-24T16:49:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday afternoon, DH and I made our way to the Keene Pumpkin Festival. It has been a few years since our last visit, and we were curious as to what the new organizers would do for their first year. We weren't sure what to expect, but we hoped that there would still be towers of lit pumpkins everywhere.

And there were plenty of pumpkins - but not as many as our last visit there. Still, it was a striking sight as dusk neared and the pumpkins were lit, one by one. The full effect could not be appreciated until it was dark, and soon the smell of warm pumpkin filled the air. It was fun walking by them all, and admiring the artwork of some creative sculptors.

We almost had to cut our visit short thanks to a headache I developed after we arrived. Although we were dressed properly, I always forget how the crisp fall air chills my head until I get accustomed to it. I knew a hat would fix this, and knowing of my sensitivity DH kept a lookout for storefronts. He led me to a thrift store, where I found this fall-colored hat for two dollars. I knew I had to rescue it, and I even received a few compliments on it when we stopped in at The Knitting Knook. This is by far my favorite memento from all of the pumpkin festivals we've ever been to.

Rhinebeck - FO & WIP

2011-10-21T15:46:00.000-07:00

If you saw someone wearing this Tappan Zee on Sunday, it was me. After a month's break and realizing that Sunday would be a warm day, I wove the ends in on Friday and sewed the buttons on Saturday. Fortunately, I had already picked the sea shell buttons a while back so I was able to avoid a last minute rush to the store.

The specs:
Pattern - Tappan Zee by Amy King
Yarn - 2.25 hanks of Noro Silk Garden sock yarn
Needle - US 5 (3.75mm) Knitpicks Options Interchangeable Nickel-Plated needles
Mod - I did the diamond pattern all around the bottoms' edge because I thought it worked better with the self-striping yarn. This meant that for the size small, I had to add 3 stitches before starting the lace.

And here's the project that kept me company on the bus ride. It's the blanket I originally planned for my nephew and started a week and a half ago. I knew I would make a good amount of progress on the six or so hours of driving and that it would compact into a small bag, so I grabbed it.

This is the progress I made on that trip, in between leaf peeping breaks, planning my shopping strategy, and watching the movie Secretariat on the way home. The large growth is due to the use of US 15 (10 mm) needles with double-stranded yarn. The positioning of the markers that I used helped in making this a pattern that would keep my interest but not be too complex. This is something I learned last year, after starting the SwallowTail Shawl as my first triangular shawl and only completing the first 10 rows.

Rhinebeck - Take II

2011-10-19T19:48:00.000-07:00

I had been debating for the past month whether I should go to Rhinebeck or the Fiber Festival of New England, when I finally realized I could go to both if each was a one-day trip. Having had a wonderful time on the Mt. Laurel Yarn Boutique bus last year, I contacted them first and found out that due to their store move they were not hosting one this year. I then found Tactile Travel through Ravelry, signed up with them, and kept my fingers crossed that at this late date they might have a seat left.

Fortunately for me, they still had seats but it was a Sunday trip. Remembering the crowds last year on Saturday, I thought it was worth trying what has been referred to as the quieter day of the festival. Was I concerned that the vendors might be picked clean - not really, as there are many vendors and the chances that everything I liked would be gone was not likely (I have found my tastes are very different from other people overtime).

At 7AM this past Sunday, I started my trip to the Festival. The ride to Park and Ride in Millbury was a short, uneventful ride, and I was put at ease when I saw other fiber enthusiasts arrive. The bus came shortly thereafter, and we boarded quickly and soon we were on our way. I enjoyed the drive, knitting a baby blanket to keep busy and looking up at the scenery every once in a while. Unfortunately, it served as a reminder of Hurricane Irene and the devastation brought upon that area. Even the foliage agreed - the leaves once green and vibrant were subdued hues of brown, pretty in their own right but not as brilliant as the year before.

We arrived shortly after 11AM, and with the festival ending at 5PM I made the best of the time I had. This year I had a clear goal of buying as many diverse fiber samples as possible, and for the rest to buy only what truly caught my eye.

Here are the natural colored samples I bought from A Little Barns Inc. They range from black ecospun, variegated mutant, acala cotton, camel, & cashmere. From Fiber Kingdom, there are 2 Shetland samples. And from Moments in Time Creations Farm, a black icelandic sample.

And for multi-colored fibers, 3 packages of Romney from Fantom Farm, 1 Holiday Yarns Silver Roving, and one Blue Moon Bombyx Silk braid from The Fold:

And yes, there is some yarn. 1 hank from Mohair in Motion Loopy 2, 1 hank of Skaska Design's silk/camel laceweight yarn, 2 hanks of a Touch of Twist's Little Breeze silk/merino lace, and 2 hanks of Bitsy Knits Kid Lame, which you guessed it, it's Mohair with Gold Lame. To DH's surprise, this was it:

At last, a picture of the one that got away - a Merlin Tree Canadian Production Wheel reproduction, #14. A beautiful work of art begging to be used:

Once again, my stomach felt full from the scents of the fair food all around me. This year, I managed to get hungry enough for half my sandwich. Even with this small issue, I enjoyed myself with my more leisurely gait this year.

And one day, I may make it to one of the Ravelry meetups.

Babies in the Air

2011-10-14T17:54:00.000-07:00

It seems rather coincidental that my renewed interest in crochet has occurred right before the arrival of several babies. Between DH and I, there are five little ones expected from friends and family. That being said, I have now pitted my knitting versus my crochet speed and have declared crochet the winner. I'm definitely not a fast crocheter, but here is a work-in-progress blanket on a size M ( 9mm) hook in less than 5 hours.

I'm not entirely giving up on knit blankets - I have found that when my hands tire of crochet, I can pick up knitting and give my hand a needed break.

And More Apples...

2011-10-11T16:33:00.000-07:00

This past Sunday, DH and I returned to Autumn Hills to pick our second batch of apples. Although we usually visit a different orchard each time, Autumn Hills won out thanks to the variety of apples available as well as being a lovely fall drive through New England towns.The weather was beautiful, and we were happy to see many people there.

And we were also happy to see that Autumn Hills was not overrun with large crowds, which made it easier for us to enjoy the outing.

Marathon Knitting - The Shawl Completed

2011-10-08T10:08:00.000-07:00

It seems like yesterday that I started this shawl, and now it's completed and en-route to my MIL in time for her birthday. Although I enjoyed the pattern, there were times where I felt I was just plowing through to finish it on time. I do think that the countless days of stormy weather while I made this shawl affected my mood.

I will try to give myself more time when I knit a shawl I intend on gifting, though. And now that it's done and blocked, I don't regret hurrying through the project.

The Specs:
Pattern - Leaf Lace Shawl by Evelyn Clark, 10 repeats
Yarn - Knitpicks Gloss Fingering, in the discontinued color Pumpkin
Needle - Bryspun Bry-Flex circulars US 5 (3.75 mm), 40 inches