Tank and more tanks

Like I need any more tanks to knit.

But I am lovin' these tops from

Love the back and cowl neck.

Another great cowl neckline.

Check out the close-ups.

And there's more inside. These were just a few of my favs. Haven't seen patterns like these in Leisure Arts before.

Almost Done

Finished binding off the front and back.
Just have to work the neck and Kate will be ready-to-wear.

click here for close-up

Now I just need to pick up and knit 80 stitches around the neck...finish seaming....weave in ends....block...maybe I'm not almost done.

Booga Bag

Need project. Will travel.

Started this in the car last week.

click photo for close-up
Very nice to just knit and not have to think about incs/decs or any type of shaping at this point.

click photo for close-up

I am really crazy about this color. Only have one ball and it did not have the ball band on it. Guess in got lost in the sale bin. Oh well.

Seems too beautiful to just serve as base of a bag, but I thought it was a good way to use one random skein.

Thanks Kerrie!

THANKS, THANKS, and more THANKS!
Now where do I start?!?
First, I received the best package ever thanks to Kerrie.
My first ever Phildar has arrived!
Oooooh!!

Copa
Ahhhhh!!

Exotic

It was even wrapped in one of my favorite shopping bags!

I don't even consider it a stash addition. It won't be stashed away. It will be on display until used. I love the texture and the colors. I am so excited! For the first time ever, I want to knit slowly and enjoy every minute of it!

Next, on top of that, she helped me with my Kate tremendously and also gave me a very useful tip on my AT THE SAME TIME dilemma (that would be second and third thanks). And with those tools I felt encouraged to pick up a few projects that AT THE SAME TIME previously moved into my UFO basket. Those words do not seem so scary anymore. I will making this tank with the Copa and the fabulous exotic tank with its namesake.

Pin Me Up

I just love Daily Candy! Today they are Faux Real. More product details here. I'm just lovin those color combos!

Do I Need These?

Do I need these?

Can I even read the patterns?

Hello, can I read the title?

Do I need any more pattern books?

Can I follow the charts at this point?

Would I even know how to get started?

But do I love this fab photo of the new diva mama smurf of our time.

And this cute dress, hat, and vest (what a vest I like?)!

So I guess I didn't need these either.

But how could I resist books with great inspiring patterns that I have already flipped through a million times, with what I consider to be fashion layouts, color combinations that I love and would have never thought to put together, outfits with chuck's (my favorite kicks!), pics that already have me swatching and attempting to create a pattern, and these cute ensemble photos that have me rummaging through my closet pulling out items that I love but forgot I had, funky hair styles that have inspired me to update my own look, and just a groovy all around mag that I will enjoy right along with my favorite international fashion mags that I consider fashion reference books!

Do I need these?

YES! I do.

Miss Bea's Tinkerbell Sweater Update

First attempt at intarsia.

I finished both sleeves and the back. I can no longer avoid the flower.

I should have swatched a study sample exercising the fundamentals of intarsia. Though I will have to rip and start again, I am now motivated enough to work on that swatch. It will much better to work out the kinks without 30+ stitches on either side of the flower.

I did the things that you always hear about. Unfortunately, reading about them did not keep me from executing them. I knitted too tightly at the first and last stitch creating a pucker. And I need to work at duplicating the same tension throughout the garment. I tend to knit tighter when I am really concentrating on a new technique.

Warning: SCARY first attempt photos ahead!

Here's a close-up of the front. And here's the back. Somehow I missed whatever is supposed to keep the yarn from being carried along the back.

Can anyone offer any advice or recommend resources that they have found particularly useful?

R2 from Rowan

Have you seen R2? It's a new magazine from Rowan coming out in May. It includes knitting, sewing & crochet. You can even write on some of the yarn used in this magazine.

The Knitting Garden has some preview pics here. Be sure to check out the close-ups.

Very cutting edge for Rowan. Hope I can get my hands on a copy soon. The designs are very unique and inspiring.

What do you think?

AT THE SAME TIME

Why is it that these FOUR words most often stand between me and finishing a sweater? I am several rows from Kate's completion. You'll have to excuse Kate's morning look as she needs to be blocked.

Here's the back, sleeves and the front that needs to have the last several rows ripped AGAIN!

The yarn is truly worn at this point from ripping so many times. I may have to rejoin 'cause it's lookin' a bit straggly.

Its three lines of Phildar Famille Spring 2004 sweater No. 406-T3-396A. The shape neck (all sizes of front) that is giving me trouble if any one has a copy and could lend a hand. I'm not sure if it is legal to even post a few lines or I would post it here to save you the inconvenience of getting your pattern out.

Any help would be GREATLY appreciated!

AT THE SAME TIME, shiver.

Is it just me?

Alison's spring fling tank-Take 1

GGH Esprit is a great yarn to work with and coupled with a great pattern you betta just watch out.

I am working on Alison's spring fling tank and it is so well written that you just breeze right through it.

The first ball was gone before I could get up for a break.

Doesn't it look yummy soft.

And here is the Fluffy Tank -Take 1.

And why am I not sporting it? Well due to my own error, I e-cast on for the straps waaay to tight which I have done on previous projects in the past (ughh!). Alison actually suggested two ways to cast on and I should have opted for the knit on which I will have to do after I rip back a bit. I will just cast on with a size larger than I knit the body of the tank.

It fits, but is tight at the armhole and I never imagined it would feel sooo soft against your skin. I can't wait to wear it!

Posted by froggy at 05:37 AM | Comments (8)

Kate!

One Skein Progress Report

I absolutely love this pattern. This is my first time working with a Phildar pattern and the raglan increases and decrease are really fun to do. I cast on two extra stitches at the beginning and end and slipped the first stitch of every row and knit the last stitch of every row. I usually end up with the worst selvage, so I hope this will ease some of my finishing woes. And I also knitted into the back of the knit stitch proceding my psso. I slipped knitwise. This is a visual improvement to my previous sl1 k1 psso, but I may try another variation next time. I usually slip knitwise, knit1 (front of stitch) and then psso. I usually end up with a very stretched sloppy passed over stitch.

Does anyone have any other suggestions/variations?

I am using Lion Brand Cotton Ease instead of the suggested Phildar Aviso. I am getting the same gauge and I think it is pretty close as the Aviso is 60% cotton/40%acrylic and the Cotton Ease is 50%cotton/50%acrylic.

Has anyone worked with both and could share the similarities and differences?

Aviso isn't readily available in my area and I am rather enjoying the cotton-ease. Look how far one skein traveled. I am a couple of inches shy of completing the back. That’s some yardage for ya. I may be able to complete this using under 4 skeins. Wow.

Audrey!

I finally cast on with my first small success with Audrey. I must say I do feel a little over my head with this one. My first several swatches were not pleasing to the eyes. The stitches were more inconsistent than I have every experienced in my knitting. After fighting with addis and bamboo, I finally settled with the plastics thanks to the great tips given by Theresa over at the Audrey-along blog. I have never had more trouble getting gauge before (and I typically have problems with it on a regular basis). The ribby increases are what I have to tackle next.

That ribby start pictured is getting ripped now that I have swatched again with my Denise interchangeable with much success. The v's were on the wavy side.

All and all I am very excited about this sweater. The knit-along blog has been a great resource! I only hope that I will feel like I have something to contribute soon. The level of experience and expertise over there is immense. And though I check there regularly for updates, I don't feel that I have a post of interest. I have trouble following some of the tips which is only due to my lack of knowledge in regards to shaping techniques at this point. I must say the contributors are extremely helpful and I plan on kicking up my knowledge a bit as this progresses. I have learned quite a lot from it already.

But I feel Audrey will be worth the effort it takes to complete!

Family Heirloom

While trying to organize my daughter's box of dress-up clothes for her dolls, I stumbled across a few things that my mom had sent me from my old dress up box. Among some items hand sewn by my grandmother I found this dress. I believe it is crocheted. I don't recall her knitting, but I have many memories of all of her wonderful crocheted blankets that I still hold close to my heart.

Here's a close-up.

This pic is even closer.
I am very excited that I can now add to this collection of handmade items. I only wish that I will able to make something this beautiful one day. A big part of me wants to frame this in a picture box to preserve it. But an even bigger part of me loves to see my mini playing with it. It brings back fond and wonderful memories of my grandmother whenever she plays with it. Awwww!

One Skein Progress-Miss Bea Tinkerbell Sweater

I was amazed at how far one ball of yarn could go. Finished the back and I am about halfway through one sleeve.

I really like the detail of the seed stitch and a couple of garter stitch rows in a different color that are at the bottom of the sleeve and body of the sweater.

Rebecca is finally here!

I must be the last person to receive the latest Rebecca.

I have currently got my eye on these two.

I am not usually into matching sets, so I may just work these in two different color combinations and wear them as separates.

Lots of great knits as usual!

Famous Last Words

Sirdar Sweater Update
Swatch was 9 sts/4in.(right on with suggested gauge)
Front & Back (basted seam to try on)

Quick knit, right?
Well its even quicker at 8 sts/4in.
Good for speed.

Bad for fit!

Way to wide!
Drats!

Lesson learned. Don't rush. And start with sleeves from now on and double check gauge as you knit. I never seem to swatch and knit at the same gauge.

Any swatchy advice out there?

I'll being moving on calmer things now. Hint, hint!

What do you want to be when you grow up?

I just love Georgia's . It's got me swatching for a few new contenders. I have a feeling that I will have the Spring Knit Up button well into Summer and seasons to come.

Got some Lion Brand Cotton Ease and it just so happens to meet the gauge requirements for this cute little Miss Bea's Dressing Up sweater. I just need to rustle up something for the flower center. I am using US 7 bamboo straights and getting 17sts/4in. I really want to try intarsia, so I am hoping to cast on just to commit to the idea. I have begun to tire of my solid ways.

This Rowan Linen Drape really wants to be this one shoulder number. It meets the guage as is, but is a littly holey for my liking (as I can see the table through my swatch). May have to go down a needle size. I am currently using 3.25mm circular addis and getting 23 loose sts/4in. Will have to revisit this yarn later.

And this GGH Esprit works out perfectly for Alison's spring fling tank. At 10sts/4cm on size US 9 bamboo straights. This should fly.

I was hoping that this Rowan Handknit DK Cotton would become Knitty's Kyoto, but this cotton is hard on my hands and this was just a swatch using US 4 bamboo straights and getting 20sts/4in. Go figure. So we'll have to see about this one. Shelving this one for now.

And then there is this Sirdar sweater a quick knit at 9sts/4in I already finished the front and back last night. So this will be one to check off the list soon (hope those are not famous last words). Once I started I was at armhole raglan decrease before I knew it, so I just went for it.

I guess 3 outta 5 isn't bad.

What Sex and the City Vixen Are You Most Like?

Sarah Jessica Parker knits. So that makes this knitting content, right?

You Are Most Like Carrie! You're quirky, flirty, and every guy's perfect first date. But can the guy in question live up to your romantic ideal? It's tough for you to find the right match - you're more than a little picky. Never fear... You've got a great group of friends and a great closet of clothes, no matter what! Romantic prediction: You'll fall for someone this year... Totally different from any guy you've dated. Which Sex and the City Vixen Are You Most Like? Take This Quiz Right Now!

Saw this over at Marta's knitblog and couldn't resist.

Pretty & Pretty Scary

Meet what I like to call Pretty.

It would like to one day look remotely close to this
(or at least a distant cousin).

And it just dreams of being a . Here is a close-up. I started this last year sometime. My first attempt at changing colors I believe (I know it's just horizontal changes, not big a deal, huh) Big deal for me. Well, I thought the gauge on all three yarns was the same and it wasn't. So, the even continuity I was going for on the striping didn't quite work out as I would have liked among other madness as you will soon see. Those were the days that I was controlled by the pattern and pic. I shelved it.

Now meet Pretty Scary.

If you want to scream, click here for scary close-up.

Almost a year later I have decided to exercise my strength. As I am

Dum ta da da

Stronger Than Yarn!

And I now know that a pattern can sometimes be a guide. Here are my possible plans. I may do the front in a solid color and add a single row of striping at the armhole and then put a little heart or something in the coordinating colors used for the back near the top in the center to tie the front and back together somehow(WOW, was that a long run-on sentence or WHAT?). Pretty gutsy for someone who has never tried intarsia. Oh yeah, plus a keyhole closure to the back. But I don't think I could stand the front with all of those ends right now, too. My knitting heart just couldn't take it.

Any suggestions?

New Hot Buy

Just received my latest knit related buy in the mail. It's the portable case from The Organized Knitter.

I just love it! It is lightweight and has just what I need for a few projects. And you gotta love that fabric selection. Just can't be beat.

And here is just another one of my favorite images from the inside. Here is a pic of the case open. The perfect lit' birthday gift to myself! Every now and then a girl deserves a treat, right.