My Garter Cowl

Quick Update

Currently working on:

Garter Cowl by Rachel Smith

This is her picture so mine will be different.  Could possibly finish it this weekend.  This is a mixed bag of a project for me-- knitting with fingering weight makes me slightly crazy because of how long it takes but I tend to prefer the finished product much more so I'm more likely to use it.  It is really beautiful so far.  Looking forward to that ever-gratifying cast-off.  Using Noro Silk Garden Sock in 307 and Classic Elite Silky Alpaca Lace (held double) in Black for the contrasting color.

Next in line is a small, fast project: Long Striped Hand Warmers by Purl Soho.

The yarn I got for this is Knit Picks in Edamame and Cyan (so, light green and bright blue).  I do love hand warmers.  It's the gussets I love.  Funny enough, that used to be the most intimidating part of knitting hand pieces when I first started.  I think these will be cute though and I've never tried Knit Picks before.  Stripes may or may not get to me.  We'll see.

I'm saving the sweater for last in this little queue.  I have a ton of Berroco Ultra Alpaca (aka Blueberry Sweater of Wretchedness which I will be burning... uhh, frogging).  Decided to make it into a Camden sweater.  This pattern includes detachable sleeves.  I loathe sleeves so, this puppy will definitely be the sleeveless version.  I have minimal experience with bobbles but I think it will be fun.  I'd better be spectacularly good at them after this!

Obviously, this one will be more time consuming and, seeing as it is JUNE, it will be a while before I need any of these anyway.   The good thing about this project is, it will be free.  I already have the yarn and needles and the pattern was free.  I really wish it would turn out well to redeem Berroco from the never-use-again status I have been on the verge of giving it.  Last chance, Berroco!

One day I will make the Buttony sweater and it shall be glorious.  Really.

It's That Time of Year Again

I always get the hunger for knitting & crocheting projects around May or June every year.  Thinking I'll start with a scarf first.

The Jolly Rancher sweater is FINALLY done.

The knitting part, I mean.  I just need to sew in approximately 77 ends from all the color changes and it will be ready to wear.  And just in the nick of time.  I'm freezing my keester off!

Photo to follow.

Happy New Year / My Knitting Resolution

My singular goal for my knitting is simply to finish this dang Jolly Rancher sweater-- and sooner rather than later!  I finished one sleeve over the weekend and did about 30% of the second one so I suppose I'm on track.  In the meantime, I have come to the conclusion that I loath knitting long sleeves and will avoid doing so in the future.  Knitting all these short rows on long circular needles is strangely tedious in ways that knitting the torso is not.  Not to mention, I get overheated sometimes and short-sleeves jobbies are just more comfortable for me.  So, short sleeves it is... as soon as I finish this stupid thing.  Hopefully that will be within the week and I can get on with my life.

For future projects I am considering another "Global Warming" sweater or maybe I'll actually get around to the Buttony.  If I do it, it would be heavily modified with short sleeves and all.

Two more down. One to go.

It's Santa's sweatshop up in here.

Female gifts are done.  Contemplating male gifts.  Males tend to appreciate handmade craftiness, uh... less.  How much ass-busting do I want to put into that?

I would also like to mention that I've been stupid-busy and have had little time for knitting and yet being forced to finish up some projects for Christmas has been really really really therapeutic.  It is my therapy.  Maybe doing male gifts would be more for me than for them.  And isn't that the true meaning of the holiday season?  HA!

In for Fall: bland sweaters & psychedelic hobo gloves. (um, yeah!)

I have emerged from my webmd-diagnosed TB/pneumonia long enough to take pictures of recent projects... well, SOME of them.  Others must remain unrevealed for a few more weeks.  Anyway, here's the Owl sweater (sans button eyes) and and pair or Maine Morning Mitts... which turned out slightly odd.  Because it takes one skein to make these and Noro Kureyon only rotates each color through one time in that skein, you basically end up with different colored gloves.  Unless you want to buy two and have four mitts.  Yeah... no.  A certain someone will just have to appear schizophrenic.  I maintain that this will only benefit all other hobo-related activities.

**Also in for Fall: lung related diseases.  Tres derelict, my friends.  So hot right now.

Yup.

I totally whipped out an Owl sweater over the weekend but do not have the wherewithal to take a photo and then, like, put it {here.}  Sorry.  Apparently Owl sweaters are my kryptonite.