It suddenly occurs to me that knitting isn't that much different from assembling a piece of Ikea furniture: both activities require that pieces be joined together according to a specific set of instructions in hopes of producing the desired finished object.  Just how easy or torturous this process ends up being largely depends on your level of competency.  Of course, a general lack of confidence has never really stopped any of us from getting in over our heads.  At least it's easier to throw a knitting project in the back of a closet than it is to try to hide the parts of a disassembled piece of furniture.

So the knitting is done on Boo the Bat.  I'm pleased with how the body turned out, although the feet were pretty tricky -- picking up stitches is not easy when working on such a small scale.  Overall this pattern is well written and easy to follow.  The only modification I made was to the wings: I decided to slip a stitch at the beginning of each row as per the suggestion of KnittersInaTwist.  This modification seemed to give the wings some nice definition around the edges.  So, Boo's just sitting here waiting patiently for me to assemble the rest of his body parts.  I still need to block the wings and the ears, though, so it will be a couple of days before Boo can be officially finished.  Hopefully he can withstand the snide comments from my husband about his resemblance to a certain South Park character.

The second Little Pumpkins sock is now on the needles.  I worked my way through the cuff this weekend and I'm getting ready to start the first repeat of the leg.  I'm thinking that it should (hopefully) go pretty quickly now that I know what I'm doing.  I'm keeping my fingers crossed that I don't get side-tracked.

The Pink Peapod has crawled its way out of the UFO pile.  The original intended recipient has long since grown out of both the sweater and the hat so I'm re-designating the set as a gift for my friend Becca's six-month old daughter, Nora.  The last sleeve has been seamed and set into the body of the sweater.  All that's really left to do with this project is to sew on the buttons and give it press before putting it in the mail.  I'm kind of bummed that I won't get to see her reaction to the set -- I hear she's a big fan of pink -- so I'm counting on her parents to take some great pictures (I'm keeping my fingers crossed that she'll get some use out of it over the next few months).  Scratch one project off the list =)

Stay tuned for news on my projects for Ravelympics 2010.

Sad, but true. I just realized that everything I'm working on this week has an autumnal/ Halloween theme. It kind of threw me a bit given that it's January and there's snow on the ground. Sigh.
My main project, the Little Pumpkins socks, is finally moving along after spending a good portion of the Fall in the knitting bag. I'm a good way through the foot of the first sock so I should be able to get through the toe decreases and the finishing within the next few days (please disregard the recent post on my Ravelry project page where I boldly state that the first sock will be done by the end of the weekend -- by this time I should know better!).

I was initially worried about the fit of this sock, but so far so good. I did eliminate one of the pattern repeats in the leg because 1) I don't generally like wearing socks that are too long, and 2) I was seriously worried about cutting off the circulation in my legs. The springy nature of the yarn is helping with the overall elasticity of the sock, but it doesn't really show off the seed stitch portions of the pattern to advantage. Ultimately, though, this project is really more about the color than anything else. It was a no brainer that these socks had to be knit in orange -- hey, we're dealing with pumpkins here -- but it really did take a while to find the 'right' orange. I still absolutely love the color of this Creatively Dyed yarn. I tend to prefer colors that are subtle and slightly muted, so this is a significant departure from my comfort zone. There's just something about the vibrancy of this color and the slightly heathered undertones that draws me in. Now, I probably wouldn't ever knit a large project in a color this vibrant, but it's kind of fun to experiment with color in smaller projects. I'll have to do more of that in 2010.
The next project in the works is Boo the Bat by Anna Hrachovec (aka mochimochiland on Ravelry). I guess I should come clean and say that I've been stalking this pattern for weeks. I wish I could say that I have a fascination with rodents, and flying ones at that, or that I was desperately trying to use up some of the yarn remnants from past projects that are scattered all over my desk. In truth, Boo is just too darn cute not to be knitted up several times over. I see him and his friends adorning my cube at work -- that should be interesting. If you're not familiar with Anna's knitted toy designs I recommend checking her out because her work is amazing. Don't be surprised if you find yourself sucked into the world that is Mochimochi Land.

The number of projects I actually completed in 2009 is reflective of the way I knit: slowly and methodically. Overall, I'm proud of what I accomplished. From developing an appreciation for knitted socks, to finishing projects languishing in the UFO pile, to challenging myself with different types of patterns and deadlines, I've definitely covered a lot of ground and become a more competent knitter in the process. Let's take a look back at the projects of 2009:

Wicked Eyelet Rib Vest

When I saw the Wicked Eyelet Rib Vest pattern it was love at first sight. Everything about it is perfect from its femininity right down to its faux cables. I chose Lily Chin's Gramercy yarn for this project partly for the gorgeous raspberry color and partly for the price point. In retrospect I wish I'd chosen a yarn that was a little thinner and not quite so splitty, but I'm fairly pleased with how the vest turned out. This project was relegated to the UFO pile for a few months because of my abhorrence of seaming and a very tiny mistake on the back piece of the vest that made me not want to look at it. Ultimately, though, I just sucked it up and pushed through. The result is a beautiful FO...which I really haven't worn. Actually, I'm still trying to find the perfect top that will do it justice and that's definitely not easy given all the junk in the stores these days.


Eyelet Yoke Baby Cardigan

In keeping the the eyelet theme, when I stumbled across the Eyelet Yoke Baby Cardigan I knew it would be the perfect project for my co-worker's baby. The cardigan knit up very quickly in Cherub 4-Ply. I made a matching hat (courtesy of the Baby's Beanie Hat pattern) and a pair of booties (courtesy of the Classic Cashemere Bootees pattern) to complete the set. I've only seen photos Miguel in the cardigan -- I'm sure he has long outgrown the hat and booties -- but he looked looked absolutely adorable in it!


Nutkin Socks

I came across the Nutkin sock pattern when looking for a pattern that would work well with a skein of Lisa Souza Sock! Merino in the Berry Poppins colorway. My frustrations with the yarn aside, it works very well with this pattern. This was also my attempt at a no-wrap short row heel thanks to a great blog I found. Sadly, though, the blogger's Photo Bucket account is not active so the photos no longer appear with the text. I'll be sure to update the link once I find well-documented instructions for this method.


Jaywalker Socks

Next up is the Jaywalker sock. I chose this pattern because I needed something that would work well the Sunshine Yarns Classic Sock Yarn in the Alice colorway. This was my first time working with a heavily variegated yarn and I ended up learning a lot about pooling and flashing through trial and error. Although the socks do not match exactly I really love them. The yarn was particularly nice to work with. I guess that's why several of Dani's Twilight-inspired colorways have found their way into my stash. Yes, I'm a big Twilight fan. There. I said it.

Amazingly enough most of my knitting took place towards the end of 2009. The Wedding Clapotis, the French Press Felted Slippers, the Super Cupcake Hat, and the Almeara Gloves were all finished within a few weeks of each other. Since I've already blogged about the majority of these projects I think it will be easier if I just include the links. The Almeara Gloves, however, will be featured in a separate post as I have a lot to say about this particular pattern. Believe me when I say a lot.

Well, that's my year in review. What's in store for 2010, you ask? I've set the following knitting goals for myself:

• Knit more socks: Let's face it, you can never have too many of them and there are so many great patterns out there.
• Knit a lace shawl: See my previous post
• Learn entrelac: It doesn't look too hard, maybe a little fiddly.
• Keep working on things from the UFO pile: Some projects in there are screaming to be worked on.
• Colorwork: Enough said.
• Design an original project: I've got something already in the works.
• Be better organized when it comes to projects: Plan ahead, review what's in the stash before buying yarn, etc. Sigh. I know, but I've got to try
• Join a sock club: Kind of defeats the purpose of the previous goal, but I guess that's part of the fun =)

What are your knitting goals for 2010?

Yes, it's true. Both slippers are now sporting straps and buttons. I do still have to add the non-slip 'sole', but for all intents and purposes they are officially done:





This is definitely a 5-star pattern in my book and well worth the $7. The pattern was easy to follow and the finished product is both useful, stylish, and oh so comfy. My only gripe is that the designer didn't provide instructions as to how to go about sewing on the straps and the buttons. I did post a comment on Melynda's blog asking her for tips on sewing on the straps and here's what she posted in return:

"I just use the same yarn that I made the slippers with to sew on the strap. This is where the darning needle comes into play. I place the strap where I want it and, starting at one end I start making vertical stitches. I continue to the other corner of the strap, placing about 5-7 vertical stitches total."

This information, coupled with a picture of one of her finished slippers, helped me realize that the straps are sewn down with the vertical stitches on the wider side and tacked down with the button on the shorter side. Once I understood this it was just a question of assembling the pieces, but this is definitely not as easy as it seems. Here are some things that may help you through the finishing process:

• Do not try to sew on the straps/buttons if you are tired, frustrated, or inebriated: I found the finishing to require an awful lot of focus -- the same kind of focus needed for kitchener stitch. Now that I know what to do I doubt I'll have these problems in the future, but for the first pair it helps to be focused entirely on the task at hand.
• Identify the left and right slippers PRIOR to sewing: This will help to ensure that the button and strap is correctly oriented. I confused the left and right slippers and had to unpick all my stitches. Blah!
• Use the references provided above and in the pattern: This should help you see how everything comes together.
• Good light: A must, especially when working with darker colors.

Well, that's my two cents. Good luck finishing your own slippers =)

...Merry Christmas to you. I couldn't resist sneaking in some lyrics from one of my favorite Christmas songs. Actually, I've been saying "Merry Christmas" as often as I possibly can over the past few weeks. Yes, the PC police probably have me on their naughty list, but I don't really care. We spend so much time and energy trying to make sure that we don't say something that will offend that more often than not we are not adequately able to express our feelings, especially during a wonderful season like this one. I'm sorry, but it gets to the point where 'Happy Holidays' just doesn't cut it anymore. Happily I think a lot of you out there are feeling the same way because I've heard many more public utterances of 'Merry Christmas' this season than I have in a long time. To quote Martha Stewart: "It's a good thing."

I suppose I should climb down from the soap box and get on with this week's post. This is really the first time I've had a chance to blog since I've been back from New York. This can largely be attributed to the following:

• Christmas Preparations
  
• Work
  
• Carmen kitty
  
• Two feet of snow
  
• Timesucks (more on that in a future post)

At this time of year I essentially have two full-time jobs. It can be a little stressful going from a job that keeps me busy throughout the day to tackling Christmas shopping, baking, decorating, etc., but I've gotten used to it. What caught me off guard this year was an emergency with Carmen, our female cat, and some weather issues (check out the picture of the snow that piled up on our deck!) that forced me to make some adjustments to my preparations.


Ultimately, though, I was able to do what I needed to make the holiday special for me and the people I care about. The rest...well, there's always next year.

So, I've become somewhat of a monogamous knitter of late. A good portion of the last week and half was spent working on the Super Cupcake Hat for my boss for Christmas. Most people would probably able to knit this up fairly quickly -- Ravelry posting lists the length of time from start to finish as 2 days?! -- but this just doesn't happen in the world of the SH. The fact that I was using this weird abbreviated Magic Loop method probably didn't help. I also struggled with some aspects of the Shaker Rib pattern that made it necessary to resort to frogging more often than usual. To top it all off, the hat 'grew' during the blocking process. I figured that it would from what I'd observed with the swatches but I didn't think it would grow quite so much -- happily a ten minute trip through the dryer (low setting) helped solve this problem.



In spite of all this the hat turned out pretty well. Leslie was so happy with it that she put it on at once and wore it home. The funny thing is that we were having a conversation about knitted hats the day before, so I really think this turned out to be the perfect gift for her. Hopefully she'll get a lot of use out of it.

Now that I'm relatively free of knitting obligations -- I say 'relatively' because my father has put in a request for a pair of socks, but there's no real timeline on those -- I plan on getting back to some of the projects that had to be set aside while I was working on other things. The buttons came in for the French Press Felted Slippers, so I'm going to make a valiant attempt to finish those off this weekend. I may also see if I can finish off the Almeara Gloves and the Peapod Baby Set #2 over the next week or two. Of course, sleep is also very appealing right now... On that note, "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!"

(Note: Carmen is fine. What we initially thought to be a break/dislocation was probably more along the lines of a blood clot. She has a pre-existing heart condition and was recently diagnosed with hyperthyroidism so we've been trying to find a balance with her medications. She's prancing around here like nothing ever happened!)

Just because I'm away from SH headquarters doesn't mean I'm going to neglect my weekly post. After all, I've been on a roll with my posts since early November and it seems silly to stop now. Anyone taking bets on how long it will take me to get distracted and forget to post to the blog for say...oh...another two years? Well, you're stuck with me until the next all-consuming project comes along, so read on.

So, I'm here in NYC for the weekend and loving every minute of it. NYC is my hometown and I will always consider myself a New Yorker no matter where I go. I love the pulse and energy of the city. I love that I can walk out of the door and be in the center of everything. I love having a good mass transit system at my disposal -- seriously, it's non-existant in Central Maryland. Most of all, though, I love New York during the Christmas season because the city always looks at its best with all the Christmas lights and decorations. Here are some pictures I snapped today:











In knitting news, I'm a good way through the portion of the leg on the first Little Pumpkins sock. The pattern calls for four repeats of the pumpkin chart, but I may only end up doing three -- the leg already measures six inches. I may also do a SRH (short-row heel) instead of the heel flap for no good reason other than I'm too lazy to pick up the stitches on the gusset. The SRH worked out well on the Nutkin socks (first SRH I ever worked) so I'm anticipating good results here. It all comes down to whether or not the yarn will cooperate. Ahem.

Yet none of that matters right now because the Little Pumpkins socks are about to be abandonned yet again in favor of a shiny new project: the newly released Super Cupcake Hat pattern by Bonne Marie Burns (aka chicknits on Ravelry) of Chic Knits fame. I saw this pattern and knew instantly that I should knit this for my boss for Christmas. I'm so committed to this project that I even went as far as to delve into the depths of my stash for some suitable yarn. Okay, so I ran out of time to go to the LYS before I left, but at least I was able to re-purpose a good skein of Cascade 220 since the Michael Kors Boxy Cardigan it was originally intended for is unlikely to materialize any time soon. Now all I have to deal with is a little issue known as gauge. I've had to drop two needle sizes so far. It's likely I'll have to drop down another size, but I won't know for sure until the swatch dries. Great.

ETA: Guess who'll be knitting this hat on US #4s and 5s =( That's three sizes less than what is called for in the pattern!

So I did end up felting the French Press Felted Slippers this past Monday. Maybe waiting until 10:30pm to start the process wasn't necessarily the best idea but that's how we roll in the world of the Serial Hobbyist.
As per the instructions, I zipped the pieces into a pillowcase and threw it in my washing machine (top loader) along with a pair of jeans and some flip flops, a tip courtesy of an old LimenViolet podcast. I set the machine to the hottest temperature setting and added a little bit of detergent to the water and settled in with a pile of catalogs to watch and wait. Some additional thoughts on felting in general can be found here.
Overall the process went fairly smoothly. During the initial stages I checked the progress of the slippers every five minutes. As predicted there were some holey areas along the seams of the slippers which I was able to sew up with a darning needle and some scraps of the Patons yarn. Here's a tip: be sure to have plenty of extra yarn on hand during the felting process as you don't want to leave the slippers unattended for any length of time. Also, take the time to sew up the holes. You'll end up getting a little wet and soapy but it's worth it to get a better finished product.
So the straps felted in about ten minutes. The left slipper felted down to the correct size after approximately twenty minutes, but it seemed like it took forever to get the right slipper (marked with a stitch marker) to the point where I was happy with it. I even took the left slipper out at one point and let the right slipper go it alone. Throughout the process I was molding the slippers to my feet. Initially I was sliding my feet into plastic bags before trying on the slippers, but after you're wet enough this doesn't seem to matter any more. I did have a couple of towels down on the floor of the basement to sop up any excess water. I called it quits around midnight as I'd felted the slippers to the point where I was satisfied with them. The slippers were stuffed with plastic bags and left to dry. The drying process itself took about 3+ days. The end result? Well, see for yourself:



I love how these slippers turned out. They're nice and cushy and fit my feet perfectly. I think I will redo the straps, though. I had modified this portion of the pattern in hopes of achieving a narrower strap, but I don't think it really works with the slipper. I'll knit up and felt another pair of straps as written and see how those work out. Of course, the project can't be considered complete without the buttons. I love the vintage leather buttons that Melynda uses on the majority of her slippers. I was able to find similar buttons on the M & J Trimming site for a pretty reasonable price. I should get the buttons within the next few days and will sew them on as soon as I can. Although specific instructions on how to sew on the straps are not included in the pattern I did post a comment on her blog and she shared some insights with me. I'll be sure to link to that once the slippers are officially done.

Progress on the Little Pumpkins Socks has been slow this week and not for lack of trying on my part. Let me start off by saying that I know how to do cables. I just haven't done them in a while. I really don't know what I was thinking when I looked at the 14 stitch pattern repeat and did not notice that each cable was worked over 4 stitches -- I ended up counting the cable symbol as one stitch and then...I don't know. It just defies all logic, although it made sense to me at the time. After kicking myself in the head I was able to get back on track...sort of:



I love this pattern. I love the color of the yarn. I just don't love the yarn itself -- Beaches from Creatively Dyed. The yarn is just too springy and I think this has a lot to do with the twist. It just makes it very awkward to knit with as it keeps kinking up. I'd scrap it altogether, but the color is fabulous and it has great yardage -- 500 yards per skein! I guess I'll keep going, if only for the sake of getting the stuff out of my stash.

I had an interesting idea yesterday for something that could very well become the first ever Serial Hobbyist design! It was actually inspired by something my mother in law brought back from China (thankfully not the Mao Zedong t-shirt -- still have no words to describe that one). I'm still chewing over the details so be sure to check back periodically regarding updates on the mystery design project.

Where nothing is working out the way it should. First part of the pie crust for my quiche falls apart during baking (fortunately it was on a baking sheet or I'd have custard all over the bottom of my oven). Then I managed to lose the new bulb I was trying to replace in a string of Christmas tree lights...in the tree. I shook/ removed every single branch on the side where it fell. Nothing. I did eventually find some spares and restored power to the circuit that was affected by the missing bulb, but the whole experience definitely falls under the heading of one of the Twelve Pains of Christmas (check out the very funny animated video here). Dinner really didn't get that much better as I made two disturbing discoveries: 1) the bag of potatoes I'd bought a week and a half ago had turned into a rotting mess and 2) we left the corkscrew at my husband's aunt's house when we went over there for Thanksgiving dinner. The potato situation, though annoying was relatively minor, but I don't like things standing between me and my wine. A new corkscrew will need to be obtained tomorrow or things are going to get ugly. I had planned on felting my slippers this evening but changed my mind after this string of mishaps -- I figured it was probably best not to tempt fate on this one. At any rate the slippers are all seamed and ready to go. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

In my last post I was frantically trying to finish the Wedding Clapotis. Did I make my deadline? Well, if you would look to the sidebar on your right you will see that it's officially off the needles and in the FO pile! I got the piece blocked Sunday/ Monday and handed it off to my co-worker on Tuesday. Overall I'm satisfied with the way it turned out, although blocking the finished Clapotis was more work than I had antipated.
I've never actually blocked lace and had a hard time with pinning out the edges. Also, the room where I blocked my other Clapotis no longer has carpet -- it was so easy to jam pins into the carpet but you can't exactly do that with a hardwood floor. Boo! Anyway it's done and I am very glad to see the back of this project. It had just gotten to the point where it had become more of a chore than something I was actually interested in doing. Granted, I would have been knitting anyway, but I didn't feel the same connection to the project that I get when I'm working on something for myself or when I'm knitting for someone that I care about. I don't know if my co-worker's daughter will wear it during her wedding reception today and frankly I really don't care. However, I will be sure to post a picture if she does end up wearing it.

Fast-forward to the present. I'm in the process of finishing up the knitting for the French Press Felted Slippers in Patons Classic Wool Merino yarn (Mercury). This has definitely proven to be a relatively easy project, and although you do have to make two of everything the pieces knit up quickly on large needles. For whatever reason my m1 increases on the knit sides have produced gaping holes. I'm a little nervous as to how this will affect the actual felting process, so I may may some adjustments prior to sticking the slippers in the washing machine. I hope to get these done either today or tomorrow.

For the time being, though, I'm going to keep the Thanksgiving momentum going and make Pumpkin Creme Brulee and Sage and Onion Stuffing for dinner tonight.

Congrats to all my fellow Twihards! We've made it through a year of waiting for New Moon to come out. Everything I've read so far has been fairly positive. Good thing too because I don't think the director and the studio fully realize that even the slightest inconsistency could trigger riots of massive proportions. At this point the only thing that's standing between me and the next showing of New Moon is the damn Wedding Clapotis. The bottom line is I have to finish the knitting and start the blocking process within the next 24 hours. It's definitely doable (yeah, I've said that before) given that I'm well into the Section 4 decreases. Of course, I just dropped ten stitches typing this post so I'm going to have to do some back tracking. Blah! At this point my only incentive to get this done is the reward of a Sunday showing of New Moon. That being said let me get out of here and get my knit on. Team Edward all the way ;)

As I continue to slog through the last few repeats of Section 3 of the Wedding Clapotis I find I'm thinking about potential projects for the coming months. I've gotten it into my head that I want to tackle knitting a lace shawl for my grandmother. No doubt I'm setting myself up for all kinds of torture in the long run, but as I turn the idea over and over in my mind it occurs to me that this is probably one of the few things I can knit for her. Sizing is definitely a concern as my grandmother and I have very different builds, and since I don't get to see her as often as I would like -- she lives in Southwest England -- I'm not really in a position to get her measurements. I do have one particular shawl pattern in mind: the Mystic Light Shawl by Anna Dalvi (aka knitandknag on Ravelry). Carin of Lime and Violet and Round the Twist fame (aka alcariel on Ravelry) worked on this shawl a few years ago in the Jaggerspun Zephyr and seemed to like how it turned out. The added bonus is that the Jaggerspun Zephyr comes in tons of colors and it's super cheap. So...it looks like there is more lace knitting in my future. Oh joy.

Another pattern I stumbled across while skulking around Ravelry is the French Press Felted Slippers by Melynda Bernardi (aka frenchpressknits on Ravelry). I absolutely love the photos I've seen of the finished slippers. I'm all about form and function and this pattern is put together in such a way that it satisfies both criteria. Yay! These are probably going to get bumped up to the top of the queue because it's getting cold and I need something to keep my feet warm as I roam around the house. Besides, it looks like a quick project. I'm contemplating stash diving on this one, but I may also end up buying some more yarn for this project as I'm already going to be placing an order for the Jaggerspun Zephyr. Yes, thinking is definitely dangerous.

Back to reality and the last repeat of the Wedding Clapotis!

Amazing! The first post in almost two years. Let me preface this by saying that I'm not sure how long this renewed fascination will last. Lately I've felt that I have more to express than I'm actually saying, so this is my way of just getting it out there. Chances are I'll be the only one reading my ramblings, but others may be interested to get a glimpse into my bizarre little world.

Now I have nothing against this pattern. I made myself a Clapotis a year or two ago out of Brooks Farm Four Play and absolutely love it. It's just hard going through that third section and when you're a slow knitter like I am and knitting with the equivalent of dental floss. It seems like the straight rows will never end. I even have to work an extra four repeats on the length to compensate for the extra four repeats I added to the width. Even then I'm not sure it will be a long enough stole (yes, stole not scarf) for the bride. I'm really counting on the blocking to work miracles here because I'm only a one person sweat shop and the wedding is on November 27. At last check the width of the unblocked piece is roughly 20 inches and the length is about 40 inches. I'm so close but it's going to take an incredible amount of effort to make it through the rest of this section.

Wow...the first blog post of 2008. Okay, so it deals with 2007 projects, but I think it's important to take some time and reflect on my knitting accomplishments over the past year. The list of completed projects, though small to some, is tremendous by Serial Hobbyist standards. I even managed to learn a couple of things along the way so it doesn't get much better than that. Here goes:

• Fetching: Like many, I fell in love with Cheryl Niamath's pattern that appeared on knitty.com in late 2006. I ended up making five pairs of these gloves (most of them were knit in Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran), four of which were given as gifts. If you're looking for a quick and easy project, this is it


• Snowman at Midnight Stocking: I became obsessed with knitted stockings in the post-Christmas slump of 2006 thanks to the beautiful creations featured in Christmas Stockings and Knit Christmas Stockings!. Somehow I got this wild idea that I was going to spend the year knitting stockings and have them ready for use by the time December 2007 rolled around. In true Serial Hobbyist fashion, I was only able to complete one stocking: the Snowman at Midnight from Christmas Stockings.

  The Rowan yarn used for the body of the stocking is no longer available, so I used some dark blue Araucania Nature Wool from the stash -- the shades in the yarn are reminiscent of the sky on a cold, clear night. The snowman and snow bobbles were worked from scraps in the stash. The patterns called for sewing the i-cord on to the stocking, but given my aversion to sewing I found it much easier (and cleaner) to knit it on. This technique is explained here.




• Squares for the Hokie Healing Project:
  

  Thanks to Gina of the Mosaic Yarn Shop, knitters and crocheters alike were able to cope with their emotions in the aftermath of the Virginia Tech shootings by lending a helping hand. These 8"x8" squares will be used to create blankets for shooting victims and their families. At last check 8000+ squares had been received from all over the world! Read more about this project here. I was so proud to be part of such a worthwhile endeavor.



• Cable and Rib Turtleneck:
  This sweater was my first foray into cables and garment shaping. I chose to knit the Small size in Cascade 220 (Natural). Information about the pattern can be found here. I actually finished knitting this sweater in April of 2006, but the sewing aversion left it sitting on my blocking board for a year and a half. I was forced to spring into action in June of 2007 when I saw that the cat had thrown up on it! Fortunately, the stain came out (I love Shout!), but I still couldn't wrap my head around the sewing process. Enter Renee from Knits Finished. She was able to sew my pieces together to create a work of art. I love this sweater so much! Not only is it super warm, but I get this tremendous sense of satisfaction knowing that I saw this project through to completion every time I wear it.


• Pea Pod Baby Set:
  What started out as a "Welcome to the World" gift turned into a Christmas present for my friend Jackie's baby girl. Fortunately I knit the cardigan in the 12-month size and the hat in the Large size so Riley should get some use out of both pieces. The set was knit in Elann's Super Cable Aran, a 100% mercerized cotton, in Elm Green. The yarn worked well for the pattern, but it did get slippery at times. The plies split easily, so you really need to watch where you put your needles. The cardigan was finished with six 4-hole 15mm wood buttons (Natural) courtesy of M & J Trimming. I love the way this set turned out. It's simple, yet sophisticated. It's also a great introduction to lacework. I'm really glad that I have another Pea Pod Baby Set left to knit.

Those of you paying attention to this blog will notice the distinct absence of the Ariann cardigan in the list of finished projects. In spite of my best efforts it's still not done. I actually was very close to finishing, but had to rip out close to thirty rows because I hadn't worked the decreases correctly. Interestingly enough it seems that this is the section that people struggle with the most. I'm really surprised that Bonne Marie Burns hasn't posted some sort of FAQ for this project. It certainly would help to clarify things. Sooo... I'm taking Ariann into 2008 with me. This doesn't necessarily make me thrill me to the core, but I do feel that this is a worthwhile project. Let's hope it doesn't drive me crazy.

I like my new approach to blogging: post when I have something to say, if I don't...who cares! I deal with enough pressure in my day-to-day life, so it's nice to keep some things low-key. On the other hand (and here's where I start to contradict myself -- it's the Gemini in me), I do like to keep the blogging momentum going, so here's a quick update on where things currently stand with the WIPs:

• Ariann Cardigan: Still knitting away and keeping my fingers crossed that it won't be too small. I was hoping to finish it in September, but now I'll be lucky to finish it before the end of the year


• Pea Pod Cardigan: Haven't touched it since my last post (Boo)


• Petal (Test Pattern): This is the project that has been taking up most of my time. I've been working away at it steadily, but it's pretty slow going. What I have noticed is that this project eats yarn, and I don't think I'm going to have enough of the current color to work the trim around the sleeves, neck, and front bands. I'm going to have to delve into the stash and find a contrasting color. I'm about 70% of the way through the sweater. I'm really hoping to finish it within the next few weeks

In other news, I finally received my invite to join Ravelry after a three-month wait. I've spent the last two weeks exploring the beta version of the site and it is truly an amazing tool! I can't say enough good things about it, especially since it has motivated me to get organized and do an inventory of my stash. No surprise: I have a lot of yarn, about 7500+ yards of it to be exact. Fortunately Ravelry can link to other users who either have the yarns currently in their stashes, or have worked them into fabulous creations -- this should give me some good ideas for future projects. Any-hoo...check out the site and add yourself to the waiting list if you like what you see.

Given that I have been babbling extensively about the Ariann cardigan and the Pea Pod Baby Set, I figured that I should probably post a few pictures to convince all of you out there that I have been working away diligently these last few weeks. The pictures didn't come out as well as I'd hoped, especially in the case of the close-up shot of the Leaf Lace detail, but it's hard to photograph a piece of knitting that seems to go on forever. Okay. I've stalled long enough. Here they are:

For those of you unfamiliar with this pattern, the Ariann cardigan is made up of a 12-st repeat of 2 - mirrored 6-st sections. The eyelet pattern is easy to memorize, and is a nice introduction to lace work. It certainly gives the cardigan a level of sophistication without being too complicated. I am knitting this sweater using Selkirk wool (Light Gray). I've been pretty pleased with this wool overall as it has some nice undertones.
It will definitely make a lovely sweater, although getting it finished is a serious challenge for the Serial Hobbyist! I do feel, though, that things will go a little faster now that the sleeves are joined to the body. The downside is that I'm now stuck with a pile of heavy knitting in my lap. Oh well. There are trade offs with everything.

I'm really enjoying the Pea Pod Baby Set pattern. Generally I find knitting large areas in stockinette stitch rather boring, but the moss stitch and the lace work definitely adds interest to the piece.


I am knitting the cardigan using Elann Super Cable Aran (Elm Green). I had originally intended to use the yarn for a baby blanket, but quickly realized that the 100% mercerized cotton would work better for a garment than it would for a blanket. It is actually nice to work with, although it can get a little slippery at times. I also am forced to experiment with new types of joins as a way to avoid weaving in ends -- I typically use wool, so I always use a felted join when I switch to a new ball. I tried the Russian Join and that seemed to work, but I'll see what else is out there. I'm about halfway through the body of the cardigan at this point. I might need to put this project on hold while I work on other things. Fortunately I have time on my side: it will take the recipient about 6 months to grow into this sweater.

Hmmm... I've had my Fall 2007 issue of Vogue Knitting for two weeks and I'm still a little nonplussed by their selection of patterns for the season. I realize that this is the 25th anniversary issue and the main focus is depicting the evolution of style and design, not just of knitting but of the magazine itself, but, with the exception of two or three patterns, I'm not really inspired by anything featured in this issue. The patterns that did catch my eye are the Michael Kors cape featured on Page 161, the James Coviello cardi featured on Page 159, and the Mari Lynn Patrick hoodie featured on Page 155. Each of these patterns is unique in its own way and would make a great addition to my wardrobe, but they're not high on my list of projects at the moment. I guess I'm just surprised by the overall blahness of the Fall patterns after such a great Summer 2007 issue -- I'm still copying patterns out of that issue! Still, I guess it's good that I'm not really motivated to make anything from the latest issue, at least not right away. I already have too much going on as it is.

Speaking of which, I volunteered, and was subsequently chosen, to test Stefanie Japel's latest pattern "Petal". This sweater is worked from the top down and has a two-button closure at the neckline. I'm actually pretty excited about this opportunity because I've never tested a pattern before and it's kind of cool to be able to give the designer feedback about a pattern before it gets released to the masses. Plus, it forces me to use some of the yarn in my stash! I wanted to knit the sweater in this inky-blue Elann Peruvian Highland Wool (I think the color is actually called Admiral Blue), but didn't have enough yardage; I ended up using an Antique Blue in the same line. It's not ideal, but at least I'll use up a couple of balls of yarn that have been sitting around for two years.

In other knitting news, Sleeve #2 is almost complete. The increases are done, but I still have a few more rows to work before it's long enough. My goal is to attach the sleeves to the body before the end of the weekend, but we'll see if that actually happens.

The first Pea Pod is moving along nicely. I've worked two 10-row sections of the Leaf Lace pattern and things are really starting to take shape. I've been throwing around some ideas for buttons and am currently leaning towards making bobbles. It seems a practical way to eliminate a choking hazard.

I ran into some problems with the Pea Pod cardigan this week. The source of the distress is clearly outlined in my latest post on the Knitty Forums. Once again the knitting community came to my rescue and I've been able to get back on track. As Angela pointed out, the designer's phrasing is a little tricky. I found I had to read through the entire pattern a couple of times before I fully understood how to work the increases. I did find it helpful to look at photos of finished Pea Pods. There are plenty out there, but I found Angela's to be the best because the color of her set is so vibrant and the stitches so well-defined. Check out some of her earlier Pea Pod posts as well.

With all of this fuss over the Pea Pod, Sleeve #2 of the Ariann cardigan has seen no action. I'm thinking I might make this a weekend project because it's too finicky to work on during the week. Hmmm... I just realized that last comment made no sense whatsoever given that the Pea Pod cardigan has some intricate lace detail. Whatever. The point is that my timeline for completing the Ariann cardigan will need to be revised given my obsession with the new project. I was originally aiming to have Ariann done by the end of August, but I figure I'm now looking at a completion date of mid- to late September. That's what I get for starting another project with one still on the needles. So much knitting, so little time.

I've been more than a little distracted this week thanks to all the stuff that has been going on in my personal life so it hasn't been a great week for knitting.

The Good News
Sleeve #2 of the Ariann cardigan is back on the needles! Yes, after last weekend's frogging/ yarn unkinking episode everything is progressing very nicely. I'm not anticipating any more problems for the next 75 rows. I'm sure things will get interesting when it comes time to attach the sleeves to the body, though.

The Bad News
Silly me. In the midst of all of my turmoil I decided to start work on the Pea Pod Baby Set. For those not familiar with this pattern, it incorporates a little bit of lacework, so it's kind of important to pay attention to those charts. Amazing how you can miss a detail like that when you're lost in thought. To make a long story short, I had to frog through about eight 127-stitch rows once I realized my mistake. That was truly more painful than frogging Sleeve #2.

I'm taking a well-deserved break from the Ariann cardigan this weekend. For those unfamiliar with my trials and tribulations associated with certain portions of this pattern, my angst is partially documented here.

Well, after about a month of never-ending frustration, Sleeve #1 is finally done and ready to be attached to the body. The piece that is now being considered Sleeve #2 was actually worked before Sleeve #1. In other words, it was done before I fully understood the pattern and now a prime candidate for frogging. Of course, given that the wool had already been worked and reworked a couple of times (thanks to the initial issue with the provisional cast-on) it was in serious need of some TLC. Surprisingly, Debbie Stoller's Stitch n' Bitch was very informative on the subject of unkinking yarn. I followed these steps:

1) Take the unraveled yarn and wind it into a hank. Use scrap yarn to secure the hank in at least three places
2) Fill the sink with warm water and a little bit of soap (I used Woolite). Immerse the hank(s) and swish them them around a little (I also let mine sit in the water for about five minutes)
3) Rinse the hank(s) and hang to dry (Debbie recommends attaching some kind of weight to the bottom the the hank to stretch out any additional kinks -- I used a Rubix cube)
4) Wind the hank into a ball when dry

Done. The entire process took about 24 hours and couldn't have been easier. I now have a usable ball of wool for Sleeve #2, which will be picked up again once the swatch for the Pea Pod Baby Set is finished.

Today's lesson in a nutshell: Yarn is like a computer -- sometimes the memory needs to be purged to ensure optimal performance.

It's hard to believe it's the end of August. Summer 2005 has just flown by in a hot and humid haze -- you got to love the alliteration there! I hate to say it, but it's time to start planning for the holidays, especially if I'm going to be knitting gifts for friends and family. Things got a little out of control towards the end of the holiday season last year, so I didn't really get to enjoy the lead up to Christmas as much as I should have. I'm one of those people who always likes to learn from their mistakes, and if planning ahead requires ordering my Christmas cards in August and writing them in September, so be it. My goal is just to enjoy the season a little more, and not get so stressed out about everything that (I feel) needs to be done.

As far as the knitted gifts go, I think bags and scarves are my best bet as they knit up relatively quickly. The Booga Bag is always a good choice and I can see one or two people getting a kick out of that. I'm considering the Marakesh Shoulder Bag as a gift for my step-mother-in-law but I'll have to wait and see if I like the look of the finished project. As annoying as it is to knit, I do like the look of the Eros Eyelet Scarf. It's just a really trendy piece, something that I can see my female friends incorporating into their wardrobes. We'll see.