stitchingmystressaway.com

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.

…I can’t post pics of these gloves that I’ve finished for her. I have an ego. I like showing off stuff…and while this blog hardly has as high a readership as other knitting blogs, I certainly don’t want to ruin anything for my Loopy Ewe Swap spoilee Anita, who I know reads this,now do i?

So here’s a WIP entry. (I’m debating whether I mean that sarcastically or not. I probably do)

Here is the start of my Dad’s Central Park Hoodie. I’m modifying this pattern…a LOT. Dad wants a cardigan and wants the fronts to decrease as they approach the shoulders. What inspired this, however was my Ravelry buddy Jessica’s CPH. Like hers mine won’t have a hood but it will also slant. I’m knitting this at a tighter gauge too. I’m making the 40′ one for Dad but since my gauge is tighter, I’m casting on for the 44′ size. Size 8s gave me the gauge specified in the pattern but just didn’t look good in Debbie Bliss Pure Cotton so I went down to 6s.

And here my embossed leaves sock. Talk about a project that has spent more time in hibernation than me actually working on it. Wollmeise feels like heaven on your feet, fyi

And finally,

some gloves I’ve started for me on Sunday. For my birthday, Jermaine got me Selbuvotter :: Biography of a Knitting Tradition. It is a WONDERFUL book for stranded mittens. I strongly recomend it.

Wasn’t this the most exciting entry evar

Pattern: Uptown Boot Socks by Jennifer Appleby from 25 Favorite Socks
Yarn(s): Tess’ Designer Yarns Super Socks & Baby
Colorway(s): Purple/Blue
Needle(s): Size 2.5. For this yarn, I don’t think I would typically use needles this big because the yarn is fairly thin. But since this pattern is ALL cables, I figured it would be a good idea to use a bigger needle size so the end result isn’t so condensed.
Casted On: June 28, 2008
Casted Off: August 24, 2008
Modifications: I composed this pair of socks from the toe up and did a sherman heel.

I know that this pair of socks took about two months to make but I feel that was because yours truly was truly distracted by the strings, as I like to call it. I absolutely love how these socks feel because my feet feel very snug and comfortable.

During the first annual Ravelympics, I’ve received two medals in WIP Wrestling and one in Colorwork Cross Country. I’m quite proud of myself! I am now working on this a second Marilinda for this poor sock.

I seem to be making a lot of them!

My swap pal loves fingerless gloves. Her exact words were “They’re the best thing evar.” I love color work and have always had my eyes on the Endpaper mittens so it’s a perfect match

Pattern: Endpaper Mittens by Eunny Jang from See Eunny Knit
Yarn(s): Happy Feet from Plymouth
Wool Bam Boo from Classic Elite
Colorway(s): Deep Red & Cream, respectively
Needle(s): No simple answer here. For glove #1, I didn’t think size 0s were necessary for the cuff and I used 2s. Well I didn’t like how they ended up. I used 0s for the second glove. (There is something to be said for following directions )
First Glove
Size 2’s – Cuff and colorwork to the thumb gusset
Size 3’s – Thumb guesset to end of colorwork
Size 0’s – Cuff area near the fingers
(needless to say, the first glove was very experimental)
Second Glove
Size 0’s – Cuffs on wrist and finger areas
Size 3’s – All the colorwork
Casted On: August 15, 2008
Casted Off: August 29, 2008
Modifications: I did a sew cast off instead of a kitchener one

These puppies flew OFF the needles and I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed knitting them. Happy Feet was a very soft yarn. Pardon my cynicism but when I bought the skien for all of $6.50, I couldn’t help but wonder if something was wrong with the yarn or if I was buying crap. I haven’t found a thing wrong so I’m very pleasantly surprised. The softness of Happy Feet plus the bamboo content in the Classic Elite, made a very nice and smooth pair of gloves.

I asked some of the women in my SnB on Wednesday to try them on as I am very nervous that they won’t fit my pal but, luckily, the pair fit about three or four of the women’s hands so I’m more confident. I hope my buddy likes them.

I seem to be in a colorwork craze of late. Perhaps I’m ready for a steek? a sweater? hmmmmmmm

Why thank you all for the kind words about Dusty. I still get quite sad from time to time and I don’t think that will go away. When this does happen, I go to Layla and Luna and hug them. There is some good news for dad, though….a family friend of ours, Rose, has a kitteh that she has been searching for a home for. Dad has already met this kitty a few months ago when he visited Rose and her family in Georgia and they got along fantastically well. So when Rose and her baby and hubby come up to Maryland in a few weeks, she’ll be bringing up this kitteh for dad. Hearing this certainly made Dad feel better.

I have two finished objects to share. I finished them last week but I wasn’t really up to much chatting.

FO #1

I made this for the Knitters for Barack Obama (K)(C)AL for Homeless Veterans run by the fabulous Amanda. We are working on hats, dishcloths, wheelchair blankets, and fingerless gloves for homeless vets in MI, VA, MN, IL and FL. More info can be found here.  It sickens me that there is such a prevalance of homelessness amongst our vets. What a way to treat a group of mostly men who have served for our country. I’m honored to knit for them. Join our group and help out such a worthy cause.

FO #2
My second pair of socks for the Summer of Socks!

As I’ve stated, I’ve already made a pair of these so I was familar with the pattern. For someone like me who’s not a big fan of knitting ribbing, I’m surprised that I found the urge to make another pair of these socks. That’s said, I know I’ll be getting a lot of use out of these when it gets cold.

And here are some works in progress. Yes, they’re socks. hehehe The first is Twinkleberry by Bethe LaPensee and the second is the Uptown Boot Socks by Jennifer Appleby. They’re made out of Mama Llama Bamboo socks and Tess Supersock, respectively.

I’m making the first pair for my Secret Pal 12 buddy and the second pair is for moi. It’s a pattern I’ve been eying for a long time.

And here is an update on my spinning. This is some BFL from Chameleon Colorworks.

So far spinning with BFL has been a dreeeeeeeeeeam. It’s so smooth and soft. I really can’t wait to get more BFL and play with it.

And finally, in this post o’ updates, I came home to a GREAT package from my secret pal in Brooklyn.

I got some soak samples, a yarn cake holder, some sunflower seeds (I love sunflowers and daisies. and you should see my front stoop. The landlord has given me permission to plant a garden and God, does it scream it!! and some skiens of Artyarns Supermerino sock yarn that have Laura written all over them. After the week I had, it was fabulous receiving this. Thank you so very much.

Hey there!

I’ve been awfully chatty of late. I guess there’s just a lot of fibery goodness happening in the Johnson/Walker household that I want to share. Some things have had to remain under wraps because they’re presents for friends or for their babies but this is a pair of socks for yours truly.

May I introduce, my “Purple Haze” Socks:

Jermaine commented on these socks. He said, “they almost seem like they’re influenced by the song Purple Haze….with the purple being surrounded by the colors of fire.” After I thought about it, he was right. (and, ironically, the song came on my windows media as I typed it….wow!!!)

Pattern: Spring Forward by Linda Welch from Knitty, Summer 2008
Yarn(s): Socks that Rock Mediumweight
Colorway(s): Count Cluckula
Needle(s): Size 2 KnitPick Options
Casted On: June 21st at 12:10am, my official Summer of Socks cast on socks.
Casted Off: June 25, 2008
Modifications: I did a Sherman Heel and a Round Toe. I guess I was too excited with the first sock…I did the decreases way too fast. Its a little smaller but still wearable. teehee So one toe is a little more round than the other. do’oh

I fully intend on wearing these socks when I’m wearing a boring suit. Inside I can be like “yes I conformed to the dress code but I’m wearing some bad. ass. socks!!

I finally finished Jermaine’s Socks! I got the yarn in November but then got distracted by other Christmas knitting.

Jermaine asked for a pair of socks to wear around the house during cold winter months. He particularly wanted the thicker yarns too.

So I had him look at the Socks That Rock Heavyweight and he picked Lagoon.

Pattern: Cable Rib Socks by Erica Alexander from 25 Favorite Socks.

Yarn(s): Blue Moon Fiber Arts, Socks that Rock, Heavyweight

Colorway: Lagoon

Started: November 2007

Ended: February 5, 2008

Needle(s): Size 6 KnitPick Options, Magic looped

And naturally, I finish a pair of heavy wool socks and this is DC’s latest weather report:

Everyone in my lil family here has happy feet. Jermaine and I have a great addition of socks and Luna still has mischeivious feet:

And dear Layla has jumbo feet

yay!

Today is my burfday, Laura says in her baby voice.

For the past few days, Jermaine has been asking me what I wanted. I said I wanted chicken and noobles. (Noodles are what you get in the store and Noobles are what mom makes )

One word: yuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuummmm! And yes, I know there is a lack of vegetables, but I’m so gonna milk my “It’s my burfday card.”

Something I’ve realized today–Great things can come in the form of emails!!!

I got an email from mom with a gift card from the BEST place in the entire world, The Loopy Ewe. HOORAY I called my mother to thank her and I realized I was yelling and squealing and mom calmly said “Now, Laura…you’re at work” And this is KEY information to anyone reading this–go to Coldstone Creamery and sign up for the Birthday club. You’ll do it and forget about it because I did it last March or so and was pleasantly surprised when I saw an email from them for a FREE Love It Size Signature Creation. I don’t care that it’s January–free ice cream is FREE ice cream. The next one is a coupon from Borders too. ALWAYS an oldie but goodie.

As far as knitting is concerned, I started the Embossed Leaves socks. I started this pattern this weekend and here is what I have so far. Quite proud of myself as I consider myself a “rather slow knitter”

Jermaine and I got a new computer over the weekend. To post a blog, it used to take, no joke, a tad more than an hour to load wordpress and flickr and to write the blog and blah blah blah. Now, we have a dual core processor, 3GB of ram (with the possibility of adding 5 more gb) and 400GB of hard drive space. It’s just soooooooooooooooo fast. One of the first things I’ve wanted to do on this computer is post a blog. Now I finally have something to write about.

Here are two projects I have going so far:

Here is Chris’ socks. They’re supposed to be for Christmas but she understands that these things take time. The pattern is Diamonds from Charlene Schurchs’ More Sensational Knitted Socks. I truly love the variagated yarn with the white. It adds even more fun as I’m knitting them. I’m using KnitPicks Pallete (the white) and Blue Moon Fiber Arts, Socks that Rock Mediumweight in “Love in Idleness,” size 2 KnitPicks Options needles…magic looped of course.

And here is grandma’s shawl. It’s definitely not much now but I hope to have it done for her birthday.

If you can identify this pattern I commend you as there is little of it knit and you can hardly tell. It is Large Rectangle in Leaf and Trellis pattern from Victorian Lace Today. I’m knitting it with size 6 Addis using Brooks Farm Acero yarn.

I’m still working on Jermaine’s socks. I want them very very custom fit just for him so I’m trying to space out my asking him to try the sock on for the upteenth time. (He’s a great sport but I’m sure he has his limits )

Well it doesn’t do much for one’s nerves when you finish with just 29 inches of yarn leftover. To many that might sound grand but to knitters, ya’ll understand just how stressful that can be!!!

Here are the final results:

Pattern: Child’s First Sock in Shell Pattern

Yarn(s): Louet Gems Sport Weight

Needle(s): Size 2 KnitPick Options, Magic looped

Modifications: I knew it would be a close call with this yarn. I didn’t do as many repeats as the pattern called for.  I also made a Sherman Heel (my now favorite) and did a round toe, because, well…why not?

I really enjoyed making these socks and I even liked the yarn. But be forewarned–either do your socks 2 at a time, toe up or make anklets with this yarn. I wish there was more yardage in Louet Gems Sport.

Here is a collage I made: