WIP | The Finish Line

Designer Knows Best

December 10, 2011

Well, I found a cowl that I really liked and wanted to make. As usual, I made a few “tweaks” to the pattern, and by “tweaks” I mean I COMPLETELY CHANGED IT. It’s the Amanda Cowl and it’s knit in the round with a lovely stitch pattern.

I decided I wanted it knit flat, with buttons, instead of being over-the-head. Which means I needed to convert every other row. Usually very easy, in this case, I made a couple of mis-steps, and had to restart it twice. Normal for me. OK, so here I am:

and it is biasing like crazy. Guess I should have kept this particular stitch pattern in the round. Guess the designer knew what she was doing when she wrote the pattern, eh?

Will it block into a rectangle? We’ll see…

It’s intended for a gift. If it doesn’t block well, I can always sacrifice (cough-cough) and keep it for myself.

Leave a Comment » | Cowls, My Projects, WIP | Permalink
Posted by Ordinary Dolls

My 15 Minutes of “Fame”

December 3, 2010

I just happened to be at knitting circle at Metaphor Yarns yesterday, when a photographer from The Recorder came in. He had noticed that there were a lot of cars in the parking lot, and he asked permission to take photos of us knitting.

And, I made it into the paper!

That is my sweetie’s lovely Malabrigo sock I’m working on. The pattern is Jules (Ravelry link). Of course, you can’t really see how pretty the yarn or the pattern is in this picture. You can see the waste yarn from my sloppy provisional cast-on (the provisional cast-on is not in the pattern – I did it that way so I can make the cuff longer if I have enough yarn).

I think it is ironic that the knitter who is newest to the area is the one who made the paper. I think some of the other members of the group should have also been photographed, but since they weren’t working on socks, I guess they would not have fit the “punny” headline.

Leave a Comment » | My Projects, Socks, WIP | Permalink
Posted by Ordinary Dolls

Must Have Cardigan, continuing

March 24, 2010

Here’s an update of the aran cardigan I started last June. It’s slow going because it’s not “mindless” knitting. But I’m making progress!
Back (almost done):

Sleeves (done):

Fronts (just starting):

1 Comment | Sweaters, WIP | Permalink
Posted by jill

Let the Games Begin

February 13, 2010

I signed up for the Yarn Harlot‘s Knitting Olympics, and took the Athletes Pledge.

I cast on this morning. (We watched half of the opening ceremony last night, but I went to bed before the torch was lit. My dear son woke me at midnight to tell me the torch was now lit and I could cast on, but I deferred until after I’d had my coffee this morning.)

Here are the socks with 3 rounds knit.

Citius, Altius, Fortius

Leave a Comment » | Socks, WIP | Permalink
Posted by jill

Pre-Olympic Training

February 10, 2010

The Olympics start on Friday, so the Ravelympics start then, too. Knitters, weavers, and crocheters all over the world are ready to start their projects as the Olympic torch is lit, and be finished before it is extinguished.

The basic idea is to pick something that is challenging to complete in the 2-week timeframe. I am doing socks which in itself are not a challenge, but I am going to do two-at-a-time magic loop AND I am going to try to knit them continental. (I am an old-habits-die-hard thrower, even though I know how to pick.)

My friend and co-Knitting Nomad JW is going to help me with the Magic Loop if I get stuck.

Here is the yarn:

Cherry Tree Hill Superwash DK, in colorway “Gypsy Rose.”

I have the yarn wound, and last night got the idea to rewind it into the 2 balls that will be needed and find the same starting point on each one, so that my toes, at least, match.

I am entering in several competitions: Sock Hockey (since it is socks), Speed Skate (since it is one skein of yarn) and Stash Dance (since I didn’t buy new yarn for the event).

By the way, I am the captain of the Knitting Nomads team – Go Knitting Nomads!

Leave a Comment » | My Projects, WIP | Permalink
Posted by jill

2 Projects

March 31, 2009

I’m currently working on two (relatively) big projects:
1) a baby blanket – my dear friend C.Z. is going to be a grandmother, and this is for her grandchild-to-be:

It is made from Nashua Handknits Creative Focus Cotton in “Buttercup” on US 6 needles. The pattern is Horizontal Parallelogram Check from Barbara Walker’s First Treasury of Knitting Patterns.

2) Next is the lacy top Delphine from French Girl Knits:

It is knit in the round from the bottom up until the armholes. The yarn is “Angora Soft” from Knit One, Crochet Too on US size 7 needles. The pattern suggests a US 3, but I had to go up to a 7 to get gauge. Since I’m typically a loose knitter, this rayon/nylon/angora blend must be very different from the alpaca/silk the pattern calls for, but I like the way it’s coming out, and I’ll be able to wear it more easily in warmer weather.