Monday, January 14, 2008

Quick Update


Here it is--the first 30 rows of the peplum of Silver Belle. There would be more progress if I hadn't misread the charts and reversed the button bands. Be warned, the way they are presented on the pdf is confusing, at least to me. Anyway, I spent 4 evenings tinking two 12-stitch, 22 row sections. I've done two 32-stitch decreases so everyting fits on the needle better and it is going faster. It would be nice to finish this before the weather is too warm to wear it.

Thursday, January 03, 2008

Old Projects, Knitter Gifts, New Plans




My goal had been to finish the Hanne Falkenberg-esque tank top before the new year, and I missed by only a few hours. It had its beginning last spring; I was wearing the cardigan in a cold meeting room, and it occurred to me that I had enough leftover wool to make a matching sleeveless pullover. It would be a Falkenberg twinset! It was pretty easy until I got to the shoulder pieces, which were a conceptual challenge, and then the weather got too hot to think about wool sweaters. In early December I pulled it out, and had two unsucessful attempts. The third time was the charm, but it was harrowing becasue the blue yarn was disappearing fast! I finished with about 6 inches to spare.

My children, who all excel at taking hints, gave me knitting presents. DD1 gave me
The Knitter's Book of Yarn and A History of Hand Knitting. DD2 gave me a precision scale for weighing yarn, and DS came through with a pair of Signature Needles (size 4, 7", stiletto points.)

2007 ended with with 3 WIPs: a seed stitch necktie in Silky Wool, ad scarf from a kit that DD1 bought in Paris, and the Elven Cloak. Since New Years I've worked 5 rows of Silver Belle , which is an accomplishment at 400+ stitches per row! Other projects in the queue are a scarf out of some Malabrigo Lace Baby Merino worked on the Signature needles, using a pattern from the Knitters' Book of Yarn, and diagonal washcloths in Patons Grace in Tangelo, to match the saffron kitchen color.

As for resolutions, there are only three. First I resolve to improve the quality of my purling. Second I resolve to knit at least every other project from my stash. The last resolution is the hardest; I resolve to knit less. Knitting is so much fun and is so reinforcing that it seems to have crowded out other important things from my life. I resolve to get myself back to the garden (just like Joni Mitchell said) and the gym.

Wednesday, January 02, 2008

Christ-knits

Well, here they are, the long-promised Christmas knits! The sweaters are both the Cuthbert pattern from Noro Unlimited, the first one knit in Noro blossom, the second knit in Mission Falls 1824 cotton. For me the yarns have the same stitch guage, but the cotton takes fewer rows. This pattern is quick and fun to knit, and both recipients seemed happy to get them. The mittens were a late inspiration and worked up so fast with Brown Sheep Lambs Pride.















I made caps for the boyfriends



and scarves for Marina, who has been cutting my hair for 15 years, and DD 1.


















The shawl is my own design and it took a while to figure out how to wear it once it was made. The addition of a button and loop, plus a snap inside, seems to have solved the problem.






There were a few other knitted gifts--socks, catnip toys, and washcloths--but for now I'm happy to be knitting for myself. Last night I cast on for this pattern.




Happy knitting in 2008!

Ellen