Stuck in the middle

The carnage is over.  It took four days to completely rip out the entire Bed Jacket.  And apparently, I’m really awesome at hiding my ends because it took about twenty minutes just to find the first one.  After all of that, though, I don’t even feel like winding it into a ball (still need ball winder). 

So, with a revived seven skeins of Farmhouse Yarns’ Silk Spun Cotton, I set to work finding a more suitiable pattern.  After much deliberation, I settled on Rowan 42’s Artic.  Of course, the gauge is off so I knocked down the needles to a size US 8 and it seems to be working out. 

The new addition makes three, half completed WIPs in my possession, the others being the Slouchy Cardigan and the Bazaar Socks.  I wish I had a picture of the first finished sock, but it’s been loaned out to Wild Fibre for a display.  This weekend I plan to retrieve it as I’ve lost my color notes and need to refer to the sock. 

I also fell in love with a book that I just can’t seem to get my grubby little hands on.  I found it on Amazon’s Japanese site priced at ¥ 1,050, but the shipping is ¥ 3,000.  Gas prices have really cut into my yarn/book funds, darn it.

August 14th brings my one year bloggiversary.  I don’t know how to celebrate.  I was thinking about upgrading to custom CSS.  New pretty blog, maybe, we’ll see.  August is always a busy month, but even more so this year.  Wee One starts school (OMFG) on August 6th, my birthday is the 17th, and SIL and her boyfriend are visiting on the 21st through the 25th.  I’m dizzy just thinking about it. 

I need to finish all of these projects…

I haz deranged

You might find this post to be shocking and perverse.

Okay, just breath.

I’m ripping out my finished Bed Jacket from Romantic Handknits.  Excuse me whilst I go vomit.

I had been thinking about for a while, several months at least.  It’s been just over a year since I finished it, yet it had only been worn once.  After that, it was quickly taken off because it was just too warm. 

You see, I started this project before I knew where our new USCG billet would be located.  At the time, we were stationed in Keokuk, Iowa (Worse.  Town.  EVER.), which was quite cold.  Out of Mr. Yarn Bearer’s ten picks, nine of them were located in the northeast (scattered throughout Maine, Vermont, and Connecticut), the very last pick was in the south (Savannah, Georgia).  I was sure I would be needing that bed jacket.

Well, you know how that story ended.  There’s nine hanks of discontinued Farmhouse Yarns’ Silk Spun Cotton in there.  I covet the Silk Spun Cotton and I can’t believe it’s gone, it would be a travesty to let all that precious yarny goodness just waste away in my closet.

I don’t know what I’m going to make with it now, certainly something that can be used often.  I’ll post when the massacre had ended.  I figured I’d at least take pictures with the new camera, just for proof that it once was.  My heart, she is sad.

Quickie

Let me share with you something that I find rather humorous.  When I checked my blog stats today (I admit that I check my stats), I found the top search word people used to find The Yarn Bearer, for today, was the word ”Whore.”

I’m flattered.

By the Power of Greyskull!

SHHHH!  Quiet…

Do you here that?

Me neither.  It’s silence.  That can only mean one thing…  Wee One went to Grandma’s house yesterday and will be gone for nearly a fortnight  I have no idea what to do with myself.  Should be able to get a lot of knitting done.  This the first time she has been away from us for more than one night (and that was over a year ago when we had to do house hunting, not exactly a vacation).

Mr. Yarn Bearer had only been home from work for maybe fifteen minutes when he said, “Not going to lie, I miss her already.”  Meanwhile, I was dancing around the living room.

Ahem.  I’m working on a pair of Priscilla Gibson-Roberts’ Bazaar Socks and plan to whip them out before Wee One returns.  With the price of gas these days, I’m trying to knit from my stash as much as possible.  Considering that I own Knit Picks’ Palette Sampler, I’ll be able to work up quite a few Bazaar Socks.

Ambition

I’m feeling ballsy these days, tempted by patterns that scream, “You must commit a full year of your life to me or suffer from everlasting shame!”  Okay, that’s dramatic, BUT I really want to jump into an Alice Starmore sweater, be it for Wee One, Mr. Yarn Bearer or myself.  Perhaps knitting for the Wee One will be less strenuous and cost effective. 

I almost feel like I’ve been spending too much time knitting, almost some.  Our fluffy cat, Tippy, must agree as he is slapping me in the face as I type this (for a cat, he has his high maintenance moments).  I had been so focused on Little Nelson for those eight days, and here I am, about to commit to something even more grand. 

Before I get into a Starmore pattern, Mr. Yarn Bearer actually requested a knitted item from me.  SQUEE!  You must understand, Mr. Yarn Bearer is very much a jeans and tee shirt kind of guy (when not in uniform).  I have always pushed patterns, all different kinds of patterns, onto him, hoping that maybe one would stand out and he might bow down and say, “KAYLA!  Oh, ingenious lady of amazing dexterity, grace me with this (insert pattern category here) so that I might strut my stuff in its fibery goodness!”  That’s how it comes out in my head anyway.

In actuality, it came out more like this:

“You did a good job on Wee One’s vest.”

“Oh!  You like it.  Sweet.”

“I’d like a vest to go with my fedora.”

“REALLY?!  Wait, to go with your fedora?”

The conversation went through so many twists and turns about his fiber preference (he had one?!  ah, apparently cotton being the primary, should have seen that coming) and what cables should go where (he wants them to look like suspenders, but we calls those princess seams, I’ll leave that out of future conversations).  He’s decided on Brown Sheep’s Cotton Fleece in Charcoal and I’m sketching things up right now to go over the constructs with him tomorrow.  I’ll have to document my journey of collaborative knitting with Mr. Yarn Bearer, should be very irritating satisfying.

And the winner is…

Wendymc (comment #70) from Victoria, British Columbia, Canada!  I’ll be emailing you for your address momentarily.  Underground Clothing, Co. and I thank everyone who commented, I loved reading about all of your projects.  I’m also glad that I’m not the only thinking about fall knits already (and it’s June, jeepers).

These contests are awesome because I usually go from the comments straight to Ravelry’s pattern pages, you ladies and gents (squee, guys fought for the bag, too!) have greatly increased my Ravelry Queue.  For those who really want the bag, but lucked out this round, you can buy one directly from Underground Clothing, Co. here (just scroll down about mid page), who put them on sale just for this occasion.  Thanks Underground (you should probably start a line of knitting bags, could be the new, hip thang)!

As for the new Little Nelson pattern, I’m still waiting to be activated as a Ravelry shopkeeper, hopefully it will be available soon!

Little Nelson

Guernsey sweaters had been designed and produced for the Guernsey fishermen, but their warmth and quality was soon realized by the British Royal Navy.  It is said that Admiral Lord Nelson ordered the guernsey to be a part of the Royal Navy uniform, knit in a deep, dark blue.  That shade soon became known as navy blue.

Little Nelson boasts traditional guernsey patterns and cables and is worked in the round for speed.  Perfect for casual wear and school uniforms alike.  Advanced beginners can learn from the techinques used and experienced knitters, too, will not tire of the handsome details.  You’ll be surprised at just how quick and gratifying this project can be!

I’m so please with the results, I hope you like it, too!  The pattern will be available for purchase soon, on Ravelry (Editing to say the pattern is now available HERE!!!).  The price is $3.50*.

Sized for children’s 4/5 (15″ in length, and a 27″ chest, after washing), directions are given for altering the pattern to fit larger and smaller children.

Yarn:  Rowan Denim (100% cotton, 101 yds per 50 g ball, color shown Nashville), 5 balls

Needles:  US 5 24″ circular needle and 16″ circular or dpns.

Notions:  2 stitch markers, yarn needle, cable needle, stitch holders

*If you’re wondering about the price, well, yes it is lower than most individual patterns.  I like things to be affordable and I can’t always buy single patterns, especially when they’re above $5.00 each.  I hope to keep my patterns priced reasonably.  Any questions or comments, just ask!

Rock this Bag

It’s time for another give away, but not yarn this time.  We can never have too many knitting/crochet bags, right?  I can’t, I have four (or maybe there’s five…) and I do like to switch them out on occasion. 

We actually have a “sponsor” of sorts, this time around.  Underground Clothing, Co. has generously donated one of their awesome desert rose messenger bags (that happen to make really awesome knitting bags).  I like them because they don’t snag your knitting and are rather roomy, comfortably accommodating 14″ straight needles (that’s always a bonus).  They remind me of the mobile knit pouches, only larger, as you can pull out your knitting anywhere with the yarn ball safely tucked inside.

What do you need to do?  Tell me what kind of knitting you’ll be taking on your summer travels.  Not traveling?  Tell us what you’ve got planned for your summer knitting, just reply to this post and a winner will be selected on June 10th, 2008.  Good luck!

*I’m glad so many people like the bag and of course crocheters, spinners, and any other crafters out there are welcome to participate.

Jackie had asked what I’m knitting this summer and I’ve got a few things that, hopefully, will benefit my summer wardrobe.  At the moment, I’m designing a beach cover up and a child’s vest in Rowan Denim.  I also started the Featherweight Lingerie Dress and Never Wimpy Wimple from Lace Style and my fingers are itching to knit a pair of socks (maybe something from Folk Socks).  My Ravelry queue has been lurking in the back of my mind, including the Ballerina Tank and Rita Mae.  Savannah is so warm for most of the year, it would really be to my advantage to knit some lighter garments.

Gypsy Swallowtail Shawl

After a long weekend of beach bumming and pool side diversion, I’m surprised that I actually finished a project.  Honestly, making the Swallowtail Shawl was not nearly as fun as I had hoped it would have been.  The results are fantastic, however, the process was just a little monotonous for my tastes.  But here she is…

 

Start:  March 25, 2008

Finished:  May 27, 2008 (This was another pre-op knitting nervosa episode)

Pattern:  Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn A. Clark (Interweave Knits Fall 2006 and available on Interweave Knits’ and the designer’s websites)

Yarns:  Schaefer Yarns Laurel in colorway Catherine the Great (which is also my hero, wee) and Tahki Yarns Cotton Classic II in Black

Needles:  US 7 36″ circular

Mods:  Nadda

Mr. Yarn Bearer calls this one my “gypsy” shawl because of the colors, which he likes.  I like them, too, but the Laurel only comes in 400 yard hanks and I knew I’d run out toward the end.  Thankfully, there was a single skein of the Cotton Classic II in my stash and I really think that this project looks better with the black edging.  I almost skipped the Lily of the Valley chart 2 to conserve yarn, but I’m glad I just went with it.

Speaking of the Lily of the Valley charts, those were vexing.  Not in a difficult sort of way, but in the heavily mercerized cotton not being at all springy sort of way.  I had to replace the p5tog with a sl 4, k1, psso, which holds a close resemblance.  I’ll live.

I do love this pattern with the worsted weight yarns instead of lace.  And the cotton will more use, here in Savannah, than wool or alpaca ever would.  This would actually be a very lovely beach cover-up, wrapped around the waist, I’ll let you know how that works out.

Blue

This is long overdue.  I started the Girl’s Games Sweater back in March before I knew I’d be getting my breast augmentation.  When the operation was scheduled, I experienced some sort of anticipation-knitting episode and starting casting on project after project.  I wish I had stuck to the sweater, it would have been finished ages ago.  Well, enough woe, here the finished Girl’s Games Sweater from Erika Knight’s Simple Knits for Little Cherubs.

Yarn:  Baruffa Cashwool in Pale Blue, two skeins held together (with plenty left over)

Needles:  US 1 & 2

Size:  Largest (about 4T)

Mods:  Faux pockets, knitted in the round until the armhole shaping, used US 2s instead of US 3s for body.

The sweater is so soft and luxurous.  I love the Cashwool doubled, very squishy in a good way.  There’s enough yarn left over that I’ll be making the Featherlight Lingerie Dress by Mari Lynn Patrick (found in Lace Style) for myself.  Mmmm, sumptuous.