Hey, Remember this?

Yeah, no wonder. It's been languishing for nearly two years now. Sadly waiting for me to be bothered blocking it. Well, no more:

To jog memories, this is the wing portion of Mystery Stole 3, also known as Swan Lake. I had a wedding to attend on Friday last week, and it occurred to me that the beads in the stole (which you admittedly can't see in the pictures would match perfectly with my dress. So here's the result:

These aren't the most flattering pictures of me, but the stole looked amazing. For the record, it is the Swan Lake Stole designed by Melanie at Pink Lemon Twist. It's knit out of an unnamed raw silk dk weight. The beads are I think size 6 and they're a soft coral colour. If I remember correctly, I knit it on size 4.5 mm needles. I've loved this stole from the start, it's merely a result of my hatred for finishing that it has languished for so long.

Moving on. I was on a roll last week. The wedding I attended on Friday was for one of my cousins, and two of her sisters had received handmade afghans as wedding gifts from me. It's become a tradition (To date I've crocheted 4 bridal afghans, and knit two) so I couldn't not make one for her. I've blogged previously the Hex Afghan by Nora Gaughan from Knitting Nature. Here it is blocking:

And posed in my parents' backyard:

This knit up fairly quickly and is the main culprit for the delay in blogging this time. All I had to show was a big brown blob. I think the blob turned out pretty well. I just hope the bride likes it as much as I do. It's knit from Patons Shetland Chunky in Taupe with 5.5 mm needles.

So what else? Elated from having completed so many large objects, I may have had a moment of weakness in a LYS. I've been avoiding buying yarn in preparation to attend Sock Summit. But try as I might I was one of the 30,000 knitters who bombarded the server and consequently was unable to get a spot. I'm disappointed, but that's the way these things go. Maybe they'll put it on again next year. In the meantime, I console myself with yarn:

Arequipa wool/alpaca blend sock yarn. It's a kind of dark picture, but it was the only one that came close to showing off the actual colour of this yarn. The colour is very eloquently called 221. I couldn't resist the washy watercolour feel of it.

Koigu KPPPM in the equally eloquent P40395. I can't seem to even find it on their site. Ah well. I shall fondle it fondly anyway. In the meantime, I have a couple socks on the go which I'll get to in a couple of days, but this post is getting far too long, so you'll just have to wait :)

Sidetracked

So, I've had one full week to myself with no school, and I've been trying to rediscover my life.  I think I had one, and it's nice to see that it hasn't abandoned me entirely.  I've been knitting and I'll get to that, but first I need to own up to a serious distraction:

I found this book in the new materials for the library, and while I don't tend to do a lot of cross stitch, I fell in love with this book.  I promptly ordered it online, and as soon as it was in my hot little hands, bought the materials for the main attraction:

I know, eh?  Looks fantastic!  Okay, so here's what it will look like:

Eventually.  The whole book is stuff related to magic and witchcraft.  Some of it is kitschy like cutesy little fairies and wizards, and the dragon on the cover (which I think is very pretty, just not for me), but then there are images of Father Sun and Mother moon, and this cushion.  The Celtic wheel of the year.  I hope mine comes out looking at least something like the picture from the book.

So enough of that.  This here's supposed to be about knitting, so here's some knitting:

This is going to be one of those projects that looks the same every time.  The Hex Afghan from Nora Gaughan's Knitting Nature.  Maybe I'll mix up the pictures a bit by incorporating things in the background to make it a little more interesting than a neutral taupe afghan.  Case in point: the lovely Rock Band drum kit it's photographed with here :)

I've also been working a little bit on my Double Eyelet Rib Socks:

Not too much to see there, either.  I've finished the heel and am about to work up the leg.  This is a great, simple, easy to memorize pattern that is perfect for mindless television knitting.  If only the afghan above wasn't so time sensitive, I'd be much further along on this.  Ah well, what can you do?

But wait, there's more.  I went to Michael's to get the materials for the embroidery above, and encountered something else.  Who knew there'd be yarn at a crafts store?

   

Well, okay, I knew but in my defense, the Kroy was on sale.  So, as the labels state, this is Patons Kroy Socks and Stretch Socks.  Muslin and Licorice colourways.  The stretch is something I've never tried.  Not sure how that's going to work, but I think it's worth a try.  So anyway, I'm going to cut it off there, and hopefully get some more knitting done.

Return to the land of the living

Well, almost anyway.

I have been plugging away on the final bits of my courses this term, and am so close I can almost taste it.  I wrote my history final on Thursday, and have my astronomy final on Saturday, and then I'm free until September.  I have been knitting off and on in an attempt to remain sane, so here's an update.

Carolina Sock number one is complete.  Mostly.  I have ends to sew in, but that part is not conducive to sanity, so it will wait.

In the meantime, I like to work one sock pattern and then another sock pattern before returning to the second sock from the first, so here's the new sock:

This is Wendy D. Johnson's Double Eyelet Rib sock.  It's knit from Knitpicks Essential yarn in the Russet Tweed colourway.  I was nervous about the little flecks of colour that are mixed in this yarn, but the pattern is coming through alright, I think.  It's a great pattern, incidentally and is one of her free ones.  I might also have preordered her book last week too, so there should be more to blog soon :)

Stash enhancement.  Hmmmm, there shouldn't be much to say about that.  I say "shouldn't," which somehow doesn't mean "isn't."  Ooops.  Some was necessary, and I'll get to that, but this is really pretty:

This is a hand dyed sock yarn from a Canadian dyer from Quebec called Biscotte & Cie.  Her colours are really gorgeous.  This one is Lupin in the Witch's Cat colourway.  It seems to meet the fine standards of the actual witch's cat in the picture.  Check!

Regia Galaxy Jupiter Granite.  This was an accident too.  I went to the LYS to get the yarn which is coming next, and found this in the sale bin.  How could I resist?  Seriously :)

This is what I went for, though:

Nothing spectacular, just a simple yarn.  Patons Shetland Chunky.  I got 15 balls of the Taupe colourway.  This is meant for a wedding present for my cousin.  The wedding is in June, I think I can manage.  Here's what I've got so far:

It's difficult to tell, but this is about half of the first repeat on Nora Gaughan's Hex Afghan from Knitting Nature.  I've wanted to knit something from this book for some time, and I've finally gotten the chance.  So far, it's coming together really well.  I just hope it doesn't get tedious.  I know it's going to get heavy.  Thank goodness this wedding is in June and not August :)

The last one is one I bought ages ago, but realized I had neglected to blog it. 

I'm not sure how I managed to miss it in my blogging, except that it's really pretty and it's possible I was hoarding it.  This is Americo Original 100% dehaired baby llama.  The colour is a steely grey, and I have one skein of it.  It's luxurious, and I'm awaiting the perfect pattern for it.  In the meantime, it sits on my desk and gets petted.

That's about it for now.  I just thought I should check in with the blog every month or so.  Bad blogger, I know.  Summer is almost here, and that should offer lots more to say.  I should return soon.  I hope.  No promises :)

More socks

Wow.  Once I get back to it, I finish fast.  Or so it would seem.  I have a research paper due on Friday, so that might be it :)

Anyway, onwards.  Hedera is finished:

I love this pattern.  I love this yarn colour, though I did have a little trouble with splitting.  Not so much as to be concerned.  I think next time I use Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock, I'll try knitting from the outside of the ball.  I suspect that might have been the source of the trouble.  How 'bout a close-up?

There is one teeny thing I would do differently.  Next time I knit this pattern (and I suspect there will be a next time), I'll make a point of counting pattern repeats.  I seem to have made one sock about half an inch shorter in the leg than the other.  I will not embarrass myself further by showing a picture of this atrocity, but I also refuse to rip it and knit it over again.  I don't wear socks with anything but long pants or inside of a boot anyway.  So there :P

I will not let it get me down, however.  I've already moved on:

This is Carolina by Momma Monkey.  This is another amazing sock designer.  I understand she passed away recently, clearly she was taken too soon.  This is the first of her designs I've knit, but I've got plenty more lurking in my sock file.  It's very similar in concept to Grumperina's Jaywalkers, a sock I've already knit twice, and so far I'm finding it quite agreeable.  The yarn is Trekking XXL in colour 182.  It's all khaki greens and rich golds with a steely blue-grey and touch of cream thrown in.  I suspect this is going to stall in favour of a certain Japanese samurai who is going to have to become my priority, but based on the speed with which it's come together so far (I started yesterday morning), I expect you'll be seeing it again very soon.

In non-sock news:

I've actually got this mitten on the go lately too, I've merely neglected to blog it before now.  Not really sure how that happened, but here it is now.  How about a shot of the palm?

This is NHM #7 from the book Selbuvotter : biography of a knitting tradition / by Terri Shea.  The yarn is KnitPicks Palette in Sweet Potato and (I think) Tidepool Heather.  This is an enjoyable knit and I hope to be able to get back to it soon.  Meh, samurais await.

I've also picked up the stitches for the button band on my Greenjeans cardigan.  Which hasn't been seen here for a while.  But I've messed up the count, and now have to rip it out and start again.  At least it's only 2 rows, and while it's a couple hundred stitches, it could be worse.  In the meantime.  I've got some new skis to pick up today, then it's work work work.  I wonder if Tom Cruise movies might qualify as research...

Socks!

Yes, folks.  I'm back to knitting socks.  I last posted this sock in August of last year.  Pretty appalling, really.  Well, it's been sitting idle since then (due to no fault of its own, it's gorgeous) and I picked it back up the other day.  When last we saw it, sock number one was just at the end of its heel flap.  Behold:

Owing to the long gap in posting about this sock, I'll remind you what's going on here.  This is the fabulous Cookie A's design Hedera.  It's being knit on 2.5 mm KnitPicks circular needles (which I love, if only the joins would last better) out of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Blackberry.  I'm a fan of all socks Cookie A.  I have knit several pairs of her socks in the past, and will knit many more in the future.  Case in point:

Pomatomus, Baudelaire, and Monkey.

This all brings me to this: Sock Summit.  I am so dying to go.  Maybe I'll see some of you there.

The Power of 6

First things first.  I've been tagged by my good friend Jennith at The Blog Bog of the Tundra.

This is the 6th photo from the 6th folder in My Pictures:

 

A couple of friends and I were lurking inside the Chateau Laurier Hotel being silly.  This bunny ears thing has become a bit of a trend of late.  Juvenile, but oh so fun :)  I don't think Mr. Lennon minds too much.  Mr. Trudeau is equally unlikely to be offended.  Yoko, on the other hand, if you happen to see this blog, all apologies.  No offense intended :)

The rules:

1. Go to your documents. (Or if you are a Mac user, go to your pictures folder)

2. Go to your 6th folder.

3. Go to your 6th picture.

4. Blog about it.

5. Tag six others to do the same.

I don't have many bloggy friends to tag, so if anyone reads this and want to play along please feel free.  Just let me know.  Incidentally, if you have a chance check out Jennith's photography.  It's phenomenal.  Just sayin.

Onward.  Knitting stuff.  This is still a knitting blog.  Behold:

Oh, wait.  Zara, get out of the gorram shot!

Thank you.  Now.  Finished Mosey legwarmers from Knitty.  These were designed by Susan Power and are one of the first projects I have actually used to suggested yarn.  They are knit from Patons Classic Wool Merino on 4.5 mm needles.  I love these, but suspect I won't be getting much wear out of them for a while.  It is currently -15 outside with a windchill making it feel life -23.  Note those temperatures are in Centigrade, for those unfamiliar with that scale, -23 is -9 F.  Legwarmers ain't gonna cut it around here :P  In the meantime, a couple more shots of them before they get put away:

     

Again, I can't stress how much I love these, but continuing on:

Reglisse is finished.  I'm going to have to mail it, but the Ottawa bus drivers are on strike (STILL) and I can't get to the post office.  Thank goodness 2 year olds don't have a huge concept of stuff like late birthday presents.  I hope...

Here it is.  I'm pretty pleased with it.  I just hope it fits.  If I understand it correctly, this kid is enormous.  I knit the 3 year old size, but to my untrained eye, it looks really small.  Here's hoping right.  Here's a shot of the zigzag motif down the sleeve:

So, to recap, this is Reglisse.  It's from an old vintage Phildar book that was my mother's.  It's knit from Lang Jawoll Silk which was chosen in part for it's colour (Reglisse is licorice in French), as well as for the fact that it is supposedly superwash.  And it is knit on 2.5 mm needles.  Yikes!  This yarn is gorgeous.  I have enough left over to make socks for me, yay!

So on the whole, ufos are becoming fos, and with any luck, I'll continue to have stuff to share.  I did a big chunk of the Serendipity Stole (remember that?) today, and will hopefully be able to share the second last clue with you shortly.  In the meantime, try and stay warm.  Knitting helps :)

Happy New Year!

Belatedly :)

So it's another year.  Hopefully it will be full of lots of knitty goodness, and I'll have lots to show for it.  First, though I'll cap off the projects from 2008.  This is my final Finished Object (or Objects to be more precise) of 2008:

Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman.  I followed her instructions, with no changes, and came out with a perfect little jacket, who knew?

This shot is a better representation of the colour.  The yarn is Sublime  Superwash Merino, in a really pretty green shade that I used previously for a coworker's blanket.  This time it's for a very good friend of mine who is expecting her second in May (I think it's May, I'm not good at the baby stuff).  

The booties are Saartje's Bootees in the same yarn.  Here's a better shot:

Again, the colour is best in the previous picture.  I'm in love with these booties.  I've seen them all over the blogosphere, and always thought they were pretty cute, but seriously, until I actually had one finished in my hand, I had no idea.  Hopefully this little ensemble will fit, I'll have to wait and see.  Might also have to force myself into disgusting newborn presence in order to acquire photographic proof.  Blah, what can you do?

In other projects, I've almost finished the Reglisse pullover it's knit, just unassembled.  Soon, I promise.  Also, I have finished my Mosey legwarmers.  They are fabulous, but have yet to be photographed due to a combination of laziness on my part, frigid temperatures that are far beyond the possibility of legwarmers being enough to keep limbs from falling off, and a bus strike here in Ottawa that has reduced me (as an individual who chooses the more environmental public transportation system over owning a vehicle) to becoming a creature that lives in the dark.  Hopefully, I'll get some pictures soon.