stitchingmystressaway.com

I finished Kelmscott. And What a great pattern that is!!

Pattern: Kelmscott by Carol Sunday from Twist Collective, Winter 2009
My Ravelry Project Page
Yarn(s): Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd’s Wool (5 skeins)
Colorway(s): Great Lakes
Needle(s): US 7 – 4.5 mm
Casted On: April 28, 2010
Casted Off: May 30, 2010
Modifications: I’ve come to the realization that I have gumby arms so, of course, I added about three inches more to the arms than what the pattern instructed. Other than that, none, really.

How much did I love this pattern? Let me count the ways….

• There was a nice mixture of repetitive stockinette but a very interesting lace motif at the same time
• The collar, which is often a drag to make, was a fun accessory that complimented the rest of the cardigan quite well.
• At first, I thought knitting lace on both the wrong and right sides of the fabric was going to be confusing. I won’t lie- there were times when that was in fact, true but I got used to it

The yarn I used as well–Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd’s Wool–is an absolute dream to knit with. Soft without pilling. Warm but not overbearing. Nice quality yarn without breaking the bank. Love the yarn. Will definitely go back to Fibre Space in VA to get some more.

The Buttons

I didn’t have much difficulty making this puppies. Sure they were a little annoying but I got the hang of it and popped out four. I might change them though, looking at this picture. The cardigan doesn’t look bad or sloppy but I would like the cardi to close complete. So I might get some nicer buttons or I might just move the current ones over a little. I do like the idea of having buttons that are covered in the same yarn I used. This feature couldn’t be used with every cardigan but I think it compliments this pattern very well.

This was a very fun knit. I certainly look forward to more Carol Sunday Patterns in future Twist Collective Magazines and I am eying up some more Shepherds Worsted for maybe the Blackberry Cabled Cardigan Who knows?

Have a great weekend, everyone. Be Safe.

On April 10th, last night, I completed Granny’s Birthday Shawl, 18 days before her birthday. This shawl is for my dear granny. Her birthday is April 28 and of all the people I know in my life I know she will appreciate this. I wish I could see her face when she opens this up. She’ll love it I just know she will. I was glad and honored to make this for her.

Pattern: Bitterrot by Rosemary Hill from Knitty, Winter 2009
My Ravelry Project Page
Yarn(s): Handmaiden Fine Yarn Sea Silk
Colorway(s): Marine
Needle(s): US 4 – 3.5 mm
Casted On: March 18, 2010
Casted Off: April 10, 2010
Modifications: None, really.

I might be committing a mortal sin here but I can’t say I looooooooooooooooooove me some sea silk. I have a friend who calls it sea crack and I can’t say I’ll go out and get some more. Why? Well it’s a little splitty, doesn’t give a whole lot and it kept sliding off my needles. Sure those gripes could be fixed–I could use wood needles–but even with some modifications, the yarn didn’t do a whole lot to me. Sure it’s gorgeous and yes I’ll check this off my knitting accomplishments but I also can’t say I’m a convert.

Now, that I’ve said that, do I regret using this yarn? absolutely not. Because this pattern isn’t the most intricate pattern, using a fun color with an interesting fiber makes up for it.

I like adding beads to shawls. It adds some weight to the end of the shawl and almost helps make it retain its shape. The silver beads in a fiber that is ever so slightly shiny makes a wonderful effect.

It was a fun knit…not the most exciting but also didn’t bore me. It’s always fun to see a shawl grow from a little triangle to a huge one ’specially when it’s for someone who will love and appreciate every stitch. Happy 91st Birthday, Dear Granny!

I finished another gorgeous shawl last night. For someone who feels as though she’s in a sweater stint, I’m doing a ton of lace. Hmmmm. I choke it up to the fact that we’re all complex people

Pattern: Haruni by Emily Ross from her Ravelry Store
My Ravelry Project Page
Yarn(s): Wollmeise 100% Merino Superwash
Colorway(s): Blue Bells
Needle(s): US 4 / 3.5 mm
Casted On: January 13, 2010
Casted Off: March 18, 2010
Modifications: Only one, really. When I was doing the cast off, it instructed to knit 3 together in between the crocheted chain 6’s. I purled three together instead. How much difference that made, I do not know but that is a change I made.

I actually contacted Emily and told her “I know I might be shooting myself in the foot when I say this but why is this pattern free on Ravelry? It is such a wonderful pattern!” She stated that she published this pattern for free in order to get publishing experience. There are more patterns to come from her and that just made my day. I loved this pattern. The edge chart (B) was so much fun to make and the construction was so creatively designed. I am very much looking forward to Ms. Ross’ next designs.

There has been a lot of discussion on Ravelry about the amount of yarn each chart takes. Here is my breakdown:

14 repeats of chart A – 73 grams
chart B – 59 grams
cast off – 7 grams
TOTAL – 139 grams

Last night, I started another shawl for my grandmother’s birthday. Out of sea silk. I think I can say I’ve been officially spoiled now for sea silk is amazing to knit with and to feel.

Well I started this shawl on the first day of Blizzard I and I completed it the first day I went back to work. Pretty fitting I’d say

Pattern: Conifer Shawl by Kate Gagnon Osborn from Knitscene, Winter/Spring 2010
My Ravelry Project Page
Yarn(s): Sundara Yarn Aran Silky Merino
Colorway(s): Black Cherry
Needle(s): US 8 / 5.0 mm
Casted On: February 5, 2010
Casted Off: February 16, 2010
Modifications: none

Knitting the cables on the wrong side, at first, was tricky but I managed to follow the pattern fairly well. At first, when I completed this shawl, I thought the cables made the shawl bunch up, but blocking comes to the rescue once again!

I loved the edge lace motif on this pattern, it was a great ending to a lovely shawl. I might even want to make another shawl only a little bigger. For now, I will enjoy this one, made out of a lovely Sundara wool/silk blend.You can always count on knitters to be productive, even during a horrible snow storm.

Up next, the Starlight Starbright cardigan. I need to sew one more sleeve in and do a border then I have one more WIP complete for the Ravelympics.

So I mentioned that I joined the International Knit a Sweater a Month Group on Ravelry and I’ve been thinking about what sweaters/cardis I should make for a long time.  Evidently I have a thing for lace sweaters

The First is Lattice Lace Pullover by Laura Grutzeck from Knit So Fine: Designs with Skinny Yarn. I swatched for this sweater last summer but didn’t go beyond that. I have a wonderful collection of KnitPicks Gloss for this. This color looks great on me if I do say so myself The second is a pattern I’ve wanted to knit for a long time–Apres Surf Hoodie by Connie Chang Chinchio from Interweave Knits, Summer 2008. I was originally going to use some KnitPicks Gloss but I am not a big fan of the color I dyed it with. Instead, for my birthday, I got a gift card from mom and Lindsey to the Loopy Ewe. With it, I got some Dream in Color Smooshy in the Plum Paisley colorway for this wonderful hoodie. The third sweater is Lace V-Neck Top by Pam Grushkin from Vogue Knitting, Holiday 2009. I have no idea what yarn I will knit this sweater with but I have to say–it would be nice if people on Ravelry would state the size they knit and how much yarn they used. grumble. lt; Finally the fourth cardigan is Sabbatical by Connie Chang Chinchio. For a birthday present Jermaine got me a KnitPicks gift card and I got some Telemark with it. I got some of this yarn in the Aubergine color. How pretty!

Why am I thinking about these particular sweaters so early in 2010? Well lace sweaters have a tendency to take forever. I mean shooooooot—I got gauge on the Lattice Lace Pullover with US size 1.5s! That’s going to take some time!

These next two patterns will take some time as well–Autumn Rose by Eunny Jang (kit bought from Knitpicks) and Blackberry Cabled Cardigan by Alexandra Charlotte Dafoe. I got this wonderful yarn, Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd’s Wool, from Fibre Space in Alexandria, VA.

I don’t think the cabled cardi is going to take a looooooooong time perse but I’m still very excited to make it. The yarn is DELICIOUS!! I’ve already started swatching:

For the past few months, I’ve been considering countless sweaters.  These twelve, however, stick out the most:

TOP ROW: Blackberry Cabled Cardigan, Apres Surf Hoodie, Lattice Lace Pullover, Autumn Rose SECOND ROW: Sabbatical, Lace V-Neck Top , Kelmscott, Henley Perfected THIRD ROW : Notre Dame De Grace, Seneca, Fair Isle Cardigan (With different colors, of course!), February Fitted Pullover

Of course these can change. I won’t start any of these until I get this wonderful cardigan done for lil Abby. I’m test knitting the Starlight, Starbright pattern by Kirsten Jensen. Christmas knitting and some other personal events got in the way of my completing this so I’m bound and determined to get this done….as well as some Christmas socks…still!

I hope to have this completed really really soon.

Have a great night, everyone.

Happy New Year!!

I hope you had a great New Year celebration. J and I welcomed two friends to our apartment we haven’t seen in a while. It was a great new years.

In the idea of nostalgia, here is what I completed knitting-wise in 2009

So, in review:

1 Cowl
2 Baby Sweaters
3 Pairs of Gloves
9 Pairs of Socks
2 Shawls
1 Hat
2 Cardigans

There is a part of me that is a little disappointed. Last year, I made 29 items and this year, it was 22. That said, I made more sweaters and cardigans and I’ve learned a ton. See…lookie. This year I also:

Steeked:

Learned how to knit fair isle on two hands

Learned Double knitting for a future finished object for Jermaine

So yes, I wasn’t popping out finished objects as I used to in previous years but I’m still proud of myself and what I did in 2009.

As far as goals for 2010, I want to concentrate on sweaters, pullovers, cardigans. I seem to be in a huge sweater kick. I joined the IntSweMoDo2010 group on Ravelry. Sure, working on a wool sweater in July in DC won’t feel that fantastic but that’s where lace sweaters might come in

I have some sweaters in mind for this KAL but I’m still getting my thoughts together for it. But I’m really looking forward to it. It’s a KAL with very little rules as that is up to the individual knitter, which is nice, seeing as how I have work deadlines, not knitting ones

Happy new year, everyone! Stay warm and happy knitting.

Where have I been?
Knitting a ton for Christmas and I’m not even halfway there!

I’ve stuck to the list of projects previously listed…and I feel I’ve done a really good job of knitting these projects, but let’s just say I’m thankful I have patient friends who understand that I only have two hands

But I did finish some projects and will continue to pop out FOs till they’re all complete. I finished mom’s Girl Friday on Christmas Eve Eve, just in time for when Jermaine and I went to go have dinner with her and Ray.

Pattern: Girl Friday by Mercedes Tarasovich-Clark from Knitty- Fall, 2009.
My Ravelry Project Page
Yarn(s): Berroco Ultra Alpaca, 5.5 skeins = 1182.5 yards (1081.3m)
Colorway(s): Marsh Mix
Needle(s): US 7 / 4.5 mm
Casted On: October 29, 2009
Casted Off: December 23, 2009
Modifications: I made it longer. I was very inspired by Ravelry user, Sweatshopoflove’s Girl Friday (her blog) to make it longer. It was the look mom and I wanted. I have to say, there are areas of the sweater that are a little tight for her but, because it’s a lacey sweater, I’m confident that it will stretch out a little. Until then, mom said she wouldn’t be wearing something too too heavy underneath.

Want to hear something funny? Dad and I went out on the 23rd to get buttons. We were walking to the car and I had a bizarre case of buyers remorse on the buttons. For whatever reason, I didn’t like them. Once we were in the car, Dad even asked, before he started the car up, if I wanted to return them. I said no and I went home and sewed them on. Care to know what mom’s first words after she opened the present? “What lovely buttons!” Laura=

Doesn’t it look great on her? I tell you–I was so so so nervous about giving this to mom. See, last time I gave a sweater to someone, Dad, and it was about two sizes too small for him. Of course this happens with a parent. Needless to say I didn’t want a repeat. But it looks great on her.

And isn’t that a cute couple picture??

Mom, this sweater was knit with a lot of love. I hope you love this sweater. God knows it will keep you warm! Love you!

Now I’m starting things left and right as opposed to finishing them and you know what? I’m enjoying the whole thing. I understand…trust me I’ve been there…how starting projects can seem like that’s all you’re doing. But it ain’t like that.

This will grow up and be a Cherished Pullover. So far I’m am LOVING watching this evolve. I feel that, at all times, I need to have something lacey, stranded and something for mah feet on the needles at all times.

Which brings me to my boss’ present

I have no idea under what occasion I’d give this to her–she’s not a fan of Christmas nor her birthday, which is fine. So I think I’ll give it to her cuz it’s the third Wednesday in August or something The pattern is called the Strangling Vine Lace Scarf. It’s very simple but still quite pretty. Patti loves scarves in the winter as she uses them to accessorize every outfit so I know this will be appreciated.

This? A pair of stockinette socks. I LOVE LOVE LOVE the combination of black white and red and I also wanted to go stash diving to use the Loopy Ewe 2008 Anniversary kit yarn, Handmaiden Casbah in the Loopified colorway. It’s such a lucious yarn. Feels fantastic! At first I was going to make Fawkes with it. Great pattern but it just didn’t go well with the yarn. Then I thought “maybe a ribbed pattern?” That didn’t work. So I stuck to stockinette. I’m enjoying watching the stripes form too.

And yes, I mentioned before how much I want to start making more garments. Trust me the temptation is SO THERE to start one but I just bought some Goshen in Navy for my THIRD attempt at a cardigan for my dad. I’ll be using The Knitter’s Handy Book of Sweater Patterns: Basic Designs in Multiple Sizes & Gauges as my guidance for this cardigan and with some luck, Dad will have a cardigan by Christmas.

Happy Wednesday everyone

Well now that Denise has the package I sent her for the Loopy Ewe Swap Four package, I can share with you what I made fore her.

La Cumparisita

Pattern: La Cumparsita by Marnie MacLean  from her blog (this is my Ravelry project page )
Yarn(s): Schaefer Yarn Company Anne
Colorway(s): Misty Green
Needle(s): US 6 / 4.0 mm
Casted On: I guess sometime in late May. I didn’t post this project on Ravelry until I knew the package was sent to her
Casted Off: June 13, 2009
Modifications: I followed the directions pretty much through the entire project except when it came to purling on the outer edge chart. I tend to like a nice stockinette stitch over, what looks like, the wrong side showing on the front side of the shawl.

See, I’d rather take this

a lovely border pattern

to this below.

…what looks like the background to any knitted item.

But I thoroughly enjoyed this knit. It was nice and fast and very well written. I really hope Denise likes it in Southern California. I doubt she’ll be wearing it a lot now, but I know it will get some use

I really like how you can see in the first few shots how linear this pattern was. Quite simple yes but still a very captivating pattern.

On a different note, I did something rather odd to start the beginning of summer. I casted on my Climbing Vines Pullover from the Winter 2008 Interweave. Cuz, really, who doesn’t need a 100% wool sweater in June? Really? hehehe

I’m plowing through it too. Halfway done with the back and I started it about 30 hours ago. Dream in Color Classy is lovely to work with.

To finish this entry, I’d like to leave you with the funniest Jermaine, Laura, Luna sandwich picture EVAR. It was a rough rough day being a commuter in DC today. So I cheered myself up by hanging out with the girls and we got this shot during an “Oreo hug” Jermaine and Luna are the chocolate, Laura is the vanilla in the middle? get it?

I hear crickets.

Anyway, it’s a darling shot

What is she thinking? Tell me. Enlighten me.

I finally finished something and I couldn’t be prouder of it

Pattern: Aeolian Shawl by Elizabeth Freeman from Knitty, Spring 2009
Yarn(s): The Sanuine Gryphon, Sapho
Colorway(s): Deep green, laceweight
Needle(s): US 6 / 4.0 mm
Casted On: April 17, 2009
Casted Off: May 10, 2009

I went through a period where I didn’t understand the point of laceweight yarns because it’s just so thin. Then I changed office spaces to a very cold office and wanted something a little bit nicer to wear than some cotton cardi I got from Kohls. So I rethought my views. Would I wear a laceweight shawl in the dead of winter? Probably not but it makes for a great accessory to a work outfit.

I loved that this pattern had beads in it. It ads a certain amount of weight to the shawl giving it a nice drape

I really enjoyed knitting this shawl. It’s the process knitter in me that absolutely loved knitting it. The last few rows that added up to about 600+ stitches made for some frustration..knit knit add a bead…knit knit. grrr.

Overall, though, I am quite pleased with the shawl. The yarn was quite cooperative with the nupps and beads and it felt lucious to knit with.