A frenzy of knitting for the forseeable future. . .

I've never been one for doing a single thing at any time (for the most part, anyway - e.g. one can't sleep and type meaningfully - as far as I understand it , anyway). So I have multiple books I read, and multiple cross-stich projects in various stages of completion, among other things.

It works exactly the same for my knitting. I really don't know how many projects I have going, and to be honest, I don't want to know (I have a ravelry account and the vast majority of my projects are on there, but there are a few that slip through the cracks). But I also have projects I WANT to do, so I get the yarn and/or the pattern, and put it to one side to do later.
Sometimes, I really want to do a particular project *now*, so I start it as soon as possible. I also have a list of future knitting projects, where I want to do it a certain way, but don't have it together yet.
*deep breath*

. . . is there a point to writing all this? . . .

Anyway, I think what I'm trying to say is that at this point in time, is that I don't think I'm going to stop knitting for any considerable length of time (one or two days, maybe, but no longer than that). Right now I can't see me being at a point where I get "knitters block" (so to speak).

I have enough projects on the go that I WANT to finish and enough projects I could start tomorrow (that I really DO want to start tomorrow, but won't) that I'm full up with things to do. *grin*

You know what . . .It feels great!

Later.

Frogging and swatching

Well, I bit the bullet last night. I frogged two projects that had been in hibernation.

My Debbie Bliss Sophia Sweater (I'd only done 1/2 of the back) in the Rialto pattern book - knitted in Sirdar Snuggly baby bamboo yarn. The pattern was fine, but the yarn wasn't worjking with the pattern. I was getting more and more irritated at the yarn as time went on.

So the sweater is gone (not the yarn).
I immediatly started swatching with the Sirdar yarn for two projects - the Capelet out of the spring(?)2010 Vogue Knitting Magazine and the Torreyana shawl out of Knitty.com online magazine. I'm not sure, though. I actually like both of them, but there's something similar in the lace pattern (there isn't, really) about both of them. I'm being picky. I'm going to knit one or both of them. At this point, I'm betting both.

The other project frogged is a baby hat. Last year, I tweaked a nice, very simple pattern to match a baby sweater and I screwed up the hat. I'd left it alone out of shame, but that's gone. I'll re-cast it on in the same yarn. Someday.

I've also finished a couple projects -
a "Reading Shawl" in two types of sock yarn (it's cute, but, it's not - It will work once the weather gets colder) it's been washed and blocked.
and that Baktus I wrote about in the last post. It needs washing.
Both of them need photos taking.

Later.

Busy Me

Been knitting like a fiend (well, it's a lot for me . . .) I've finished 2 more shawls (one's drying right now) and I'm rather happy.
The 2 I've completely finished (ends woven in, washed and blocked) are The Snow Rose Shawl and The Crow Prints shawl (a quick knit in DROPS alpaca -Dark Indigo).

I've recently started a Saroyan in British Breeds Guernsey 5-ply (Conifer)
I've got plans to start a Lacy Baktus once the Baktus (2 posts down -or so) is finished, as I want to use that same needle/cable.

What I'm Not Happy with is Flickr. Even though I understood at the beginning of my free membership I had a limit uploading every month, apparently there's now a limit to the number of photos on my site. Grrr.
I can't buy a Pro Account - I don't have a way to pay them in USD for it (I don't do paypal). I don't know a solution to this as yet, though I'm sure I'll find one eventually.
*sigh*

Later.

Sorry little socks

I'm coming (albeit reluctantly) to the conclusion that I've not got the brain for knitting socks.
I want to. I really want to, but aside from my intial knitting foray, I've not completed a pair of socks in 5 years.

I knit a sock - or part of a sock - and my brain gets disgusted. I have parts of 2 pairs (1 single socks and the first third of one) hibernating in this house and I cannot make myself knit any further on either of the pairs.

Again, I'd really like to knit socks. I LOVE woolen/natural fibre socks. I've seen hundreds of glorious sock patterns (lots of free ones) and my hands itch to knit them - but I just don't.

It's not the complexity - I'm well versed in knitting lace, cables, entrelac, intarsia, plain stocking stitch. I can knit yards of scarves and shawls (as can be seen in earlier entries, I've got 6 on the go, all active.). Some of those shawls are on lace yarn (mohair, even)
I can happily knit in the round - I love knitting sleeveless mittens and I like knitting hats.
Double pointed needles are fine as well . . .

So what is it with the combination of fine yarn, double pointed needles and sock pattern?

I don't know - but I'm completely stumped. A bit frustrated, too.

Later this year, I'll try to finish another sock. . . but I'm not that confident I'll do it.

*cross fingers* I do, though.

Later.

Finished knitting

I've finished 3 items this month - a Shawl (Gypsy shawl), a wrap (the black silk scroll wrap) and a shawlette (Multnomah). They've all been washed and blocked. Photos are up as well.

The knitting is done on the Grey "Snow Rose" shawl, but I've ends to weave in. That is NOT being fun at all with crochet cotton. Once it's done (and I'm over halfway finished), the washing, starching and blocking will be a breeze.

I've replaced two of the "missing" projects with a sweater (Patchwork Jacket from Knitting Magazine 072) in blue DROPS alpaca yarn and a "scarf" (baktus) in green-blue-purple Meilenweit Cotton Fun sock yarn.

Later

Better weather on the way. . .

I've not been journaling, that much is obvious.
The thing is, it's been cold.
Very cold.
Cold enough to freeze finger and toe tips.

But, spring is here, and the weather is getting warmer. So I'll be journaling a bit more frequently than lately.
Not much more, but at least once a month as "usual".

In a bit of last-minute, before-I-go news,
I've finally finished the black silk scroll shawl. I've ends to sew in (feels like a hundred), then it's to be dry-cleaned, then blocked, but I'm HOPING to get it all finished and photos up by May.
I've also started on a new shawl - a swedish - I think - one, called in English "snow rose" (I've only 21 rows to go) . A couple of photos have already been posted (grey lace "blob" thing).

*grin*


Later.

Year end roundup - delayed by cold

It's freezing in Manchester. I access the internet from my bedroom, which is unheated. Right now, it's 40F (5C) in here. To me, brought up in centrally heated houses and in the Western United States, I'm COLD!

So this is going to be as short as possible.

I made real baby clothing. Sweaters/Cardigans, really, but it's a start. It was fun.

I continued work on old patterns and started a few more.
I made a few quick patterns, like cat toys and a hat.

That's it.

Later.

Time flies when . . .

you forget.
I've not been that busy with the knitting or any other craft really.
I've just been getting a little engrossed with entering books from my library into the Goodreads site. Not that that's going to quit anytime soon, but it's a bit easier to do now that I've taken care of all the books in bags and not on the shelves. Now I can concentrate on the shelved books (only 3 rooms of them to do) and that's going to take more time than I thought it would originally, as I only remembered last week that I've got a large stash of crafting books over at my Dad's house.

I'll eventually get back to knitting (and the other crafts), but on that front, I only have one skein left to do on the Black silk wrap. It's only taken 2 years to finish it. Silly me.

More as soon as I can.

Later

photography

Well, I've found and started the two baby cardigans (in pink - *ick*)I wanted to. I'm planning on knitting a simple cap to go with one of them and it looks like I'll be finished with that set well before the first cardigan will be. It's not surprising really, considering that the first cardi is in 4-ply yarn, while the second is in DK weight. *wry grin*

I've started the latest shawl as well (Rainbow Half-Circle). So that makes 7 shawls I've got on the go:

SoTS II
Clapotis
Beech Leaf
Spring Blossom
Rainbow Half-Circle
Spiderweb half (+1) hexagon
and
The everlasting "Black Silk Scroll")

I'd better go knit - I got some new yarn on sale (buy one bag, get one free) from Abakhan fabrics and I've started a "quick" scarf with one batch (Sirdar Illusion)and am planning to start a second (and maybe a hat) with the other batch (Sirdar Fizz).

Wish me luck - the Fizz is a pink yarn. *happy grin*

Later.

Click, click. Click, click

Yep, it didn't take long. I'm back knitting. I stayed away about a week, I think, then I worked on a couple pieces and started two shawls. I thought I had two baby sweaters to work on, but I changed my mind about them, so I'm still looking for at least one suitible baby sweater to start on, and I think I might have found a couple. Just have to correlate them with the yarn in my stash to see if I can start them. If it's all good, then I'll be working on a small garment in about two weeks.

Later. Got to go knit.
*grin*

Taking a small break

Well, I'm a bit burned out with knitting. I like all my knitting projects, I don't want to throw any projects away.
I'm just tired of the physical act of knitting right now.
I'd really, really just like to watch someone doing it. (I don't mean I'd like someone working on my projects, I'd just like to watch someone knit for a while.)

I'll be back when I'm clicking the sticks once more.

Later.

Is there a chapter/group of Lace Knitter's Anonymous?

Because I'm addicted to knitting lace. I've just started two new projects - both lace - I'm planning three future projects (a shawl and 2 baby cardigans) and all three have lace in them.

I don't know.

*snicker*

I'm not worried. I'm actually quite happy that I'm knitting and pleased with what I'm doing. I'm proud of it. I find lace a joy to do. Right now, I'm never happier than when I'm knitting. Even doing other craftwork means that when I finish one of those projects (two fillgap braids, a sewing project, a little bit of woodworking and my crocheted necklaces) means that when I get finished with them, that means more time to work on lace.

All is good.

Later.

Well, I'm working staedily on two shawls - the "ink nib" (forgot the name of the one from Interweave knits) one and the Gypsy shawl. There - that's the craft content.

God I wish I had a Dreamwidth studio invite code so I could set up a journal there.

There. Said that as well.

I'm off to go eat dinner.

Later.

Photos

I've uploaded some photos of the projects - you can see some of them in the little flickr square to the right. If you don't see knitting pictures, or you want to see more photos, double click on the photo in the "knitting pictures" square to your right (not the picture of a ball of brown wool) and wait - then click on "photostream" and you can look at all the photos I've loaded in so far.









This photo is of a fillgap braid I'm working on for a future knitting project - a handbag.




Later.

Projects update. . .

Well, It's been about 12-18 months since the last one. I've written about various things I've been working on (or started) and I thought it was about time that I said what's happening to them.
Here's the list of stuff (not in any particular order) :

Fountain Pen Shawl - in limbo but not hibernating. I'm planning on working on it very soon.

Gypsy shawl - slow progress - I'm on the edging, which has 30 stitches per row, so I can spend 15 minutes on it and achieve progress.

SotS II shawl. Hibernating. Bah.

Brown Mohair scarf. - slow progress. It sits next to me along with a few other projects that are listed, so I work on it, albeit a couple rows at a time. Nice yarn. I'm glad I'm not sensitive to mohair.

Cotton phone socks (one for me, one for My Dad)- They're done and in the process of being sewn up. Since I'm not in a hurry, I expect they'll be in use in a couple weeks. ok, a few days. *he he*

Kimono cardigan - Hibernating. I ran out of the mulberry silk yarn (discontinued) at the very end, so I'm having to order some bleached mulberry silk top in order to spin about 10grams of heavy 4-ply yarn to fill in the last 10" of collar/edging. Then I can sew it all up and wear it. *sigh*

SotS I shawl - finished, finished, finished. I gave it to my best friend as a LATE christmas present. she loves it.

"Tickled pink" not pink scarf - Hibernating. I'm thinking that this might be frogged. I'm just not loving this or even liking this anymore. The way I'm knitting it is making it look blah. I'll see in a couple weeks.

Knitted shopping bags - Still in hibernation. Why I can't finish sewing up the first one is beyond me. Maybe I'm not convinced it'll be strong enough to use. The second one just isn't calling to me. I think it's getting time to call it quits and frog it. Shame on me.

Brown prayer shawl - I finished that long ago. I'm using it now. Lovely and warm.

Flickering Flames Skirt - in hibernation. It's obviously not important enough to work on. *sigh*.

Debbie Bliss Sweater. - Hibernating. It's in a box in the living room, and I see it every day. I've not forgotten about it. Bad sweater - ok, bad yarn choice. Shame on me.

Knitted kitties and various cat toys - in hibernation. I just don't want to do anything with them. Someday I'll want to, but I don't want to now. It's a shame as the only thing I have to do with the cat toys is sew them and fill them with catnip. What-ever.

Pink Fur hat - to be frogged. I don't remember where I was in the pattern when I last put it down and I just can't see the stitches through the "fur". It's time is done. Oh well.

Mitred vest - hibernating. I need to get some colour matching and blending for future squares happening, but I've started too many new projects. Bah.

Cotton Squares Blanket - Hibernating. Definitely hibernating. I'm overwhelmed by the amount of crocheting I'm going to have to do. Brain hurts. . .*grin*

Black silk wrap/stole - hibernating. Darn. I should have this finshed by now, darn it. *grr*

Cotton chenelle prayer shawl - definitely hibernating through no fault of my own. I need some dye stuffs from a company in the states (Dharma), and resources are SLOW. Bah.

Wall hanging - well, this hasn't even gotten started, so it's a fermenting kit right now.

Diagonal feather and fan blanket - new project, in limbo for a bit. It's just something to use up a giant ball of acrylic yarn (400g), so I'm in no hurry. I'm almost halfway, though, and it's pretty. Strange, but pretty.

Kitchen Curtain - It's slow but steady. Like the Gypsy shawl, it's only got short rows to work on, so I nibble on it every week. I suppose it's glamour will fade soon. Bah.

New scarf - It's a self designed project using up three balls of a luxury yarn (forgotten the name). I'm nibbling on it enough that I'm on the last quarter. Yahoo. I will definitely have to block out this piece before I complete the sewing. . . I'm not looking forwards to that.

All projects being worked on have to fight with the miniature "tapestry" rug I'm enamoured with working on. Not a problem, really. Ha.

I hope this was enough information.
Later

New Tapestry Project

A long time ago, I had a subscription to a needlework series - over 100 magazines that included projects, templates and kits of different types. One of the magazines had a minature rug/carpet in tent stitch. It was designed for a doll's house, but not having one, I ended up framing it - it now sits on a book shelf in my living room.

That sort of ignited a bug - I bought a few books on making miniature carpets and doll's house tapestries. This month, I finally got a project together using #18 "canvas" and DMC tapestry wool (plyed down from 4-ply to 2-ply to fit the canvas - it also makes the skeins go much further *G*). The book I'm working from actually calls for Paternayan wool, but I don't have access to that (I wish I did). So, I'm working with what is available. So therefore, I've started making (stitching) a miniature carpet called a memling bergama.

This is an up-to date photo of the progress:

Now, while the photo is a bit rough, it comes from my mobile phone. The colour balance is a smidge off.

I've also started work on a lace curtain (one of the free patterns off Ravelry.com from Elann.com) for the kitchen window. I'm using DMC Cebelia cotton 20 in 6 shades of cream/ecru (including white). While the original pattern calls for a solid 48" wide curtain, I'm going to knit 7" wide strips in each colour and to add a bit more interest, I'll randomly add somewhere along the length a stripe of pale yellow and a stripe of soft apple green. I'm only 2 1/2" on the first strip, so I've quite a ways to go - it doesn't help that I don't know quite how long I want each strip to be. But it's looking pretty so far. *yay!*

Oh my, oh my, oh my. . .

Oops. I have an excuse for not updating. I've been busy knitting.
I've been working on 3 shawls (fountain pen from Interweave Knits magazine, Gypsy shawl from another magazine and intermittently on the SotSII knitalong -which finished long ago.) I've also been working on a brown mohair scarf (own pattern), a cotton phone sock (own pattern) and a couple other things I can't think of off the top of my head.

I'm going to start on another phone sock (for my Dad) next week, and hopefully, (I'm crossing fingers) I'll be taking and uploading lots of photos to update projects.

I'm off to knit. I want to finish my phone sock.

Bye!

First post of '09. . .

Well, the first post of the new year. whee.

I'm not in a particularly good mood right now, but not anyone's fault, really. A great Aunt (my Father's) died recently. I'll miss her bigger than life presence. I didn't see her very often, but she was a wonderful lady. Every time I visited them (her and My great Uncle), it seemed to me that she ran her house and family like a military unit, with everything "in perfect working order". Maybe that wasn't the truth, but it was fun to think so.
Again, I'll miss her. *raises glass* Here's to you, Aunt Elena. You were wonderful.

Ok, onto crafting. well, since the news knocked out the end of 2008 note I had planned, I'll just post the news at hand.
I've almost finished the first cardigan I started - it's only taken 2-3 years. I'm on the neckband, and I'm about 1/3 the way through. *whee!*
Next to be finished? Well, since I'm on a roll, I'll go for the second knitted shopping bag. I'm on the second handle, and I know that if I get into gear, the whole thing should be completed in a week (including the sewing up).

I'm crossing fingers I do it.

Later.

Knitting is slow, but steady.

I'm at present, working only on the prayer shawl. This is becasue it's getting bloody old here in Manchester, and I want something I can wrap up in and throw off.
I'd really prefer a nice shetland or faroese shawl for this winter, but I've not got one near completion (or even started, for that matter. . .).
But, in order to facilitate my wish, I'll be ordering a book of shetland shawl patterns off the net (ok, I forget where from, but I've got the picture in my head), then I'll be ordering Alison Hyde's "Wrapped in Comfort" book from Amazon. After that, I'm getting the wool for both and starting one or the other in the summer. I will have one of each eventually.

So, for the time being, it's a slightly-skinnier-than-I-wanted-but-I'm-not-frogging-it prayer shawl for this winter. It's warm, as it's been tested by sitting on my knees while I was knitting, and they were nicely toasty. *mmm*.

I'm hoping, that with less than a standard ball left to go, I'll finish it by the end of November, but It'll probably be in December that I'll be casting off. That's fine. There's only two ends to weave in - about 15 minutes work.

I'll be looking forwards to washing it, as I expect (ok, hoping) that the wool will bloom and get fluffier once clean and dried.

Ok, got to go knit . . .

Later.

Sweater in the headlights. . .

The skirt is still chugging along.
I've finished the knitting on a scarf (just got to do the boring sewing and washing), and I've done a little bit of knitting on my stalled sweater.
That's the thorn in my paw - the (Debbie Bliss) sweater. I don't know whether to continue and finish the back and see how it turns out or frog it and. . . - what to do, what to do. . .
Arrgghhhh!!!!! *snarl*
I think that really, I'm resigned to finishing the back following the pattern. The worst that will happen is that it'll be longer than I wanted, and the best . . . you get the idea.

No pictures this time.

Later.