Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Frogged and Reclaimed**

Almost completed front...
Over the weekend I finally made the decision to frog my Cable and Rib Top.   Before I could reclaim the yarn it needed a bath in wool wash.  Unfortunately that is where I ran into a snag...no wool wash.  My last bottle of Soak was all used up a few weeks ago.  I started looking for more which you think would be a simple process.  Nope.

I love Soak, but it is hard to come by unless you order online or happen to wander by a yarn shop. Over the last year or so I have been trying to use yarn from the stash (unless there is a Plucky Yarn Update) so a chance visit to one of the yarn shops wasn't too likely.  Desperate times call for desperate measures so I made a call to the Yarn Lounge to see if they had anything on hand.  Far less temptation to adding yarn on a whim...no reason to go if there wasn't any wool wash.  My lucky day both Soak and Eucalan in stock and all I needed to do was drive down to Carytown on a Saturday...find parking in the rain.  Yeah.

All done...kinks to be soaked away
It has been at least a year(?) since I walked in the door at the Yarn Lounge.  Melanie remembered me...amazingly enough.  She noticed my new Stephen West Wrap immediately.  It is hard to miss...the think is huge.  She pointed out the wool wash and I actually walked out with only 2 bottles of wool wash and NO yarn.  Although the Shepherd's Wool in Pumpkin came the closest to crawling into my bag.  If only there had been 7 skeins...

Once home the frog party started.  The yarn was re-skeined and had a nice long bath in Eucalan.  All in all I'm pretty pleased...'new' yarn without forking over more $$.  A good thing since I have a couple of Plucky packages arriving next week.  Shh....

A nice bath in Eucalan

**still no photos until a card reader can be found

Thursday, October 17, 2013

UhOh...Officially Out of Works in Progresses


It is official...everything that I had on my needles has been completed.  Yeah, I do (or did depending on when this is read) have one other thing, but sadly it will be frogged and the yarn will be reclaimed.  The top in question had lost its appeal and after the husband dissed it I caved and plan to rip it out. He was right...it was not going to be worn and the yarn is too nice to waste.

I blocked my last item last night...without a soak in actual Soak since I seemed to have used the last of it.  Really should get an order in so I can wash my socks properly and give my other hand-knits a good bath.  For this one I spritzed a bit of water, used blocking wires and gave it a good tug to really open up the lace.  It turned out beautifully.  I was doing this as a gift, but if it hangs around too long it may find its way into my closet instead...oops, maybe I was too quick with a bit of Christmas knitting.

Details:
Pattern:  A Mystery Kerchief by Three Bags Fulled; 

Yarn: Starry by Dream in Color;  Fingering / 4 ply; 98% Merino, 2% Metallic in Vino Veritas (burgundy with silver threads); 450 yards / 113 grams.  I have 24 grams of yarn left over from this project.

Needles:  US 7, 32" circulars

Gauge:  None given in pattern

Modifications:  None.  I followed the pattern as written.  Since this one started out as a Mystery knit it was broken up into nice chunks of knitting.  It was possible for me to knit one clue an evening...well except for clue #5  'make a star' section.  My thumbs did not enjoy making stars after a day spent painting a bedroom. 

Star...lots of stars
The pattern's notes were excellent for those individuals who love a row by row stitch count.  She also added extra "warnings" along the way to point out possible pitfalls...forgetting an increase, etc.  Enjoyed this one immensely and cannot wait until it is properly gifted. 

Pictures once we have some decent sunshine...tomorrow maybe?  Done in bright sunshine, but the camera doesn't pick up the shimmer of the silver threads...a shame too.

Friday, October 11, 2013

Yep The Grandkitties get an Octopus

It appears that once again I'm knitting for some kind of critter.  Remember the chicken sweater?  How about the guinea pig cardigan that the cat ended up wearing?  Well now the youngest son's kittens have a new toy octopus. 

He mentioned that Hex and Alpha love playing with tassels.  So far he has lost his tassel from his college graduation...shredded into oblivion.  Then they turned their attention to the cords for the blinds until he tied them up out of the way.  I decided that maybe a knitted and felted toy would be a fun addition to the toy pile and could save further destruction.  Maybe. 

I have a rather large amount (no laughing) of bits and pieces of scrap wool.  Perfect for knitting and felting.  I picked out a few colors and started knitting an octopus...8 legs seemed like enough 'tassels' to keep them out of trouble for a day or two.  Fun and quick to knit.  As an added bonus I added a small amount of catnip once it was dry.  Wonder if it will drive them crazy before it drives my youngest over the edge?


Details:
Pattern:  Socktopus by Laura Edwards

Yarns:  Pattons Classic Wool;  Worsted / 10 ply;  100% Wool,  I used small bits and pieces of browns, cream, gold and orange.

Gauge:  not important

Needle:  US 6, 3-4 DPN

Modifications:  The legs were knitted longer so there would still be a good length after felting.  I used cotton yarn rather than polyfill to stuff the body.  That should provide HOURS of fun if the kitties tear into the body.  If they like to spread toilet paper around the apartment yarn will be a big hit.  A bit of catnip was also added after it dried to really drive them nuts.


Thursday, October 10, 2013

Hello...Finally A Finished Item

It has been quite some time since I actually completed a knitted item.  No idea why, but I've been knitting just nothing seems to get finished.  I started a tank top while we travelled over the summer.  It is sooooo close to getting done...need to add a bit of length to the straps and bind off.  My dear husband mentioned that he's not a fan and now I'm leaning towards repurposing the yarn for something else.  I even have one sock done waiting on the second one...still waiting because I hated the pattern so much I needed a break before starting the second sock.  Really should get that one underway too.

Anyway a few weeks back I noticed that a Mystery Shawl KAL was starting up for one of Stephen Wests new designs.  I signed up and dove into the stash to pull out some yarn.  Three skeins by three different manufactures...stash busting at its finest.  I ended up using 2 solid color yarns and one variegated for the project although after I got into the project I considered switching out the variegated for a solid.  I resisted and the colors grew on me as I knit this rather large wrap. 

Clue 1 done...as long as the table

Lots of garter stitch later and less than a month I have a finished shawl.  Perfect.  As most people know Stephen's designs are a tad bit different...some are just plain strange and others are deceptively simple.  Color craving is a 'plain garter' stitch wrap that let's just say turned out HUGE.  This is my first Westknit's design and I really did enjoy the process.  He has outstanding directions and adds video to show new techniques.  Although nothing was truly new for me I did learn a new way of knitting the wraps in short rows in order to close up the hole created.  Super simple.

Clue 2


Clue 3

I actually find garter stitch relaxing and this pattern had enough going on that it kept my attention.  For the bind off I decided to skip my favorite I-cord for the fancy picot edging which was a first for me.  Surprisingly relaxing rather than monotonous as I expected.  After a hit of steam the wrap grew a bit more, the garter ridges smoothed out and the picot edges laid out flat.  I am very pleased with how the wrap turned out.

Details: 
Pattern:  Mystery Shawl KAL Color Crave by Stephen West 


Yarn:  Color Atosh sock by Madelinetosh  in Thunderstorm; superwash merino wool, fingering weight, 395 yards, used all but 20 grams.  Color B- Merino 2/6 by Fleece Artist in Gray; 100% merino, fingering weight, 355 yards/115 grams, used all but 30 grams.  Color CAdorn Sock
by Three Irish Girls in Fathertime;  80% merino, 20% nylon, fingering weight, 430 yards/100 grams, used all by 45 grams.
 
Needle:  US 6, 60" circulars.  As the number of stitches increased I would add another circular just to be able to spread out the stitches.   

Gauge:  20 sts x 48 rows...although it really doesn't matter

Modifications:  None

Loved knitting this one.  It seems I have my mojo back and once again have cast on another project while I waited for the release of the last clue for this one.  This will certainly not be my last Westknit project.