stitchingmystressaway.com

Ever have a pattern/project you’re working on that just takes a long time and have no idea why?

Sure. EVERY Knitter has at least one!

I finished a project that was about a little bit over a year in the making. No idea why–the pattern is wonderful and the yarn is luscious. But hey…it happens, right?

Pattern: Botanical Lace Cardigan by Margaret Atkinson from the Twist Collective, Spring 2009
My Ravelry Project Page
Yarn(s): Brooks Solo Silk
Colorway(s): Burgundy
Needle(s): US 4 – 3.5 mm, US 5 – 3.75 mm & US 6 – 4.0 mm
Casted On: July 6, 2009
Casted Off: July 26, 2010
Modifications: This pattern didn’t have a great deal of shaping so I improvised a little with changing needle sizes. The lower third of the sleeves, I used 6s, second third I used 5s and you guessed it, last third I used 4s. This made for a nice flare at the end of the sleeve. I also lengthened the sleeves and the cardigan, something I often do because I’m tall

I think if I were to knit it again, I’d probably use 6s in the chest area. It’s a little tight there but it’s not something I’m stressing over. Shoot, it might stretch out a little more with time. Who knows?

I certainly love the yarn. Brooks Solo Silk is a little rich for my blood but it was a “Why Not?” purchase at Rhinebeck a few years ago. I was a little concerned about what I’d do with 1200 yards of it–the yarn is sport/DK weight so it’s not enough for a full fledged sweater. And it might be a just a little too thick for a shawl. So when this pattern came out, I thought it was a great combination. Turned out I was very right.

This is the start to a great many lace cardigans and sweaters. I love ‘em. Can’t get enough of ‘em!

And YAY for getting a year-long project done!!

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.

I finally finished Abby’s Starlight Starbright Cardigan and it’s gorgeous

Pattern: Starlight, Starbright by Kirsten Jensen from her Ravelry Store
My Ravelry Project Page
Yarn(s): Brown Sheep Lamb’s Pride Superwash Sport & Brown Sheep Nature Spun Sport
Colorway(s): Romantic Rube & Grey
Needle(s): US 2 / 2.75 mm
Casted On: November 29, 2009
Casted Off: February 22, 2010
Modifications: none

I test knit this for Kirsten on Ravelry when I saw her finished sweater. I asked her if she needed test knitters and she took me up on it. I don’t think I’ll volunteer again to test knit a pattern. I had a wonderful time knitting this, don’t get me wrong, but I guess I don’t knit fast enough. The last few weeks, I held up Kirsten and I still feel terrible about it. I do not like holding things up and I did this during the test knit process. It didn’t help that I had a ton of Christmas knitting too during this time.

I knit this cardi using a 9 stitches/inch gauge as opposed to the 8 stitches/inch gauge the pattern states. That’s ok though, Abby’s a little on the small side. I really hope Rose and Abby like this.

I thoroughly enjoyed knitting this cardi, as I often love me some fair isle. The yarn I used, Brown Sheep Sport, was a pleasure to knit with as it is tightly spun.I found it easy to knit two colors with this yarn and I hope to use it again in future projects.

This pattern was very well written and it’s a great first steaking project for anyone wanting to do it for the first time.

Up next some more works in progress. I like this starting thinngs thing

Knitters would think of any reason to start a project and/or have a knitalong. So….there are two blizzards headed your way?? Yes, I think it’s a great reason to cast on something.

I present…….my Snowcopolypse/Snowmageddon 2010 Shawl:

This is the Conifer Shawl from the Winter/Spring 2010 issue of Knitscene. It would have probably been done if I didn’t leave it at mom’s house when I was at her place on Sunday the 7th. opps. But I got it back and hope to finish it soon.

I also finished the first sleeve on Abby’s Starlight Starbright Cardigan

and I finally finished Courtney’s socks.

Pattern: Serpentine Socks by Wendy D. Johnson from Socks from the Toe Up
My Ravelry Project Page
Yarn(s): Fiesta Yarns Boomerang
Colorway(s): Sapphire
Needle(s): US 2 / 2.75 mm
Casted On: December 23, 2010
Casted Off: February 11, 2010
Modifications: I did a short row heel instead of a heel flap. no biggie

This was my first time knitting with Boomerang. It’s a warm thick yarn for socks and I’m sure Courtney will love them. I have another skein in my stash and I’m sure they’ll making warm socks. But it wasn’t the most flexible or giving yarn. The resulting socks will be warm and very appreciated so that’s all that matters, right?

Ravelympics

The opening ceremonies for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver will be starting at 9pm EST and that is the precise time the Ravelympics will commence I have decided to knit Seneca out of Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd’s Woo. Progress pics to come!

Happy Ravelympics everyone! Be safe!

Seriously, as someone who has had her share of tendonitis issues due to flute playing, if your hands hurt, STOP!

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!

On October 29, I started a Christmas present–Girl Friday made out of Berroco Ultra Alpaca. This picture pretty much sums up how I feel about this wonderful yarn:

OK I used some alpaca yarn once about a year and a half ago and it shredded all over me. Unfortunately that turned me off of alpaca yarn for a while. Then I saw some folks on Ravelry who started the project with this yarn and started thinking about it. Mom wants a warm cardigan but it can’t be too bulky. This yarn’s alpaca content can provide some extra warmth without it being too heavy. I started this project and fell in love with this yarn. It’s so squishable and yummy! Here’s the progress so far

I’m knitting this at a 4.75 stitches per inch gauge as opposed to the 4.5 stitches per inch as instructed in the pattern. I am knitting the pattern for the 37in chest size and. with these modifications, the size will be 35 inches. My friend Steph helped me with recalculating gauge:

(pattern bust size in inches) x (pattern gauge stitches per inch) / (YOUR gauge stitches per inch)= bust size in inches of YOUR sweater. For example: 37” x 4.5 spi/” / 4.75 spi = 35”

I’m really enjoying knitting this. It’s going by pretty quickly too so who knows when I’ll be posting a finished cardigan.

Project #2

Jermaine did something dumb. He put a vest on his Amazon.com wishlist. Just for kicks, I was looking at it and saw this said vest and that’s when the monster came out &gt.  hehehe I sketched some versions of cabled vests for him to pick from.

I do, in fact, doodle on something called a Doodle Pad. HaHa Those squigglies represent where the cables would go. 1-many in parallel rows with equal spaces between them, two bigger cables on each side, one up the middle to follow the v-neck, or that last one with cables on each side. Jermaine picked out the fourth option. I will be spending some time with my favorite knitting book and an Aran Cable book to develop a vest for him for Christmas out of this lovely yarn:

Does anyone know any suggestions about knitting a garment for a significant other with whom you live and still trying to maintain the surprise aspect?

Have a great weekend everyone!

On September 26, I completed Dad’s Cardigan. He put his right arm in and it didn’t fit.

KNITTING FAIL….again

I felt terrible. The cardigan was short on him and the sleeves were downright tight.

But then Dad got in touch with his inner clothing designer MacGyver.

Long Story Short–he stretched the hell out of it. AND IT FITS!

Pattern: Set-In Sleeve Sweater – Adult Cardigan by Ann Budd from a Knitters Book of Sweaters
My Ravelry Page
Yarn(s): Valley Yarns, Goshen, 13 skeins
Colorway(s): Dark Blue
Needle(s): US 5 / 3.75 mm
US 7 / 4.5 mm
Casted On: July 23, 2009
Casted Off: September 26, 2009
Modifications: I followed the pattern and, of course, if I were to make it again, I’d probably modify it so that it wouldn’t be snug on dad. I mean it fits well but I know he would want it a little looser. Anyway, I did a button band that is described in Mary Townsend’s Rogersque Cardigan

Just want to thank dad for not giving up on this sweater. To be honest, I was looking yarn for attempt number four as soon as dad left my apt.  So thanks Dad. I wish it fit better but hey…if you’re happy with it, then so am I!

And might I brag for two seconds–

THIS stresses me out to no end–sewing the sleeves into the shoulders. Puckering can happen so easily and nothing screams “this is a homemade hot mess” more than puckering sleeves. I’ve improved this rather  hard process and it looks great. yay! and yes, the collar is a little twisted. Opps Merry early Christmas Daddy! I hope you like this!

I’m starting to really get into the challenge of sweater making. I’m learning a great deal about shaping. Even learning from mistakes (There’s hope for me, people ) I joined a group on Ravelry and I hope there will be a similar cardigan/pullover knit along for next year– NaKniSweMoDo. I will be very much up to it! Here’s my Cassidy that I am knitting out of Tess’ Merino Wool. It feels so damn squishy and comfy!!

With all this sweater talk, I still have a great deal of love for the socks Next, I’ll show you my current sock progress

I can’t stop starting things and ya know what? don’t feel the slightest bit bad about it. I’m making wonderful progress still on many of these projects and that’s really all I can ask for.

Dad's cardigan back

One might look at this and call it a boring stockinette cardigan. I can get that however I’m making it out of Valley Yarns Goshen and it feels absolutely wonderful. It’s a cotton, modal, silk blend. If you’re looking for a worsted weight cotton yarn, it’s definitely something you should consider.

Like I said here, I started a Botanical Lace Cardigan with some lovely Brooks Farm Solo Silk. It looks like a great cardigan to throw on in my cold office.

one word - yum

Here is my mom’s Christmas or Birthday present…she has turned into a sock feign and I can actually accommodate. Mom, as much as I love her, is the hardest person to shop for so I couldn’t be happier about this.

This sock is a little twisted but it’s because I have already turned the heel.

I am making pretty good progress on projects already mentioned too. Abby’s Cardigan isn’t the most portable project in the world with eight skiens attached to it but even with that it’s turning out well. I turned the heel on my stockinette sock from the Loopy Ewe Second Anniversary kit. Again, the yarn feels heavenly.

There are two socks I’ve had on the needles for a very long time. My stockinette stocks made from Mini Mochi feels like there’s some mohair in it. It doesn’t really have it but it feels like it, it’s not all that pleasant in DC during the month of August to knit with it. My Bauldiere socks are coming along very slowly and I have no idea why. Love the yarn. Love the pattern. Love the combination of the two and yes I know it’s hard to match the two. No excuse really.

And ya know with all these projects on the needles, I don’t have any quams starting these two socks–Merino Lace Socks or these Toasty Twist Socks. Why not? I’m making progress and am happy about it

Merino Lace Socks Toasty Twist Socks

I have some lovely Dream in Color Smooshy for the Merino Lace Socks and maybe some Noro sock yarn for the latter? Don’t quite know yet but that’s the most exciting part right?