Fall Projects (and missed Summer FOs too)

I'm back! I didn't fall off the face of the knitting world. I lost my blogging mojo over the summer but I've finished a couple of knitting projects since my Pucker top. Pucker served me well over the warm months. It's a wonderful linen silk blend that kept me cool and comfy. Definitely one of my favorite knits.

Some stash I've acquired over the past year or two were used up. First was the Dream in Color Baby for the Whisper Cardigan. I like it but the fit of it is a little odd for me. I always feel like I have to keep pulling on the sides to cover my exposed underarms. Other than that it's a light cardi that keeps the chill off my back and shoulders.

Next is the Wabisabi shawl made from Noro Kochoran. I haven't used it yet, but will be during the winter. I'll be using it at work in my lap to keep my lower half warm while I sit at my desk. Only problem I'll have is the angora sticking to my clothing. Will need to have a lint roller on hand so I don't look like a fuzzy rabbit roaming the office.

My next project was made for Bubba's aunt...a Shetland Shawl made from Fiberphile Sock Yarn. The vibrant blue/brown yarn was much too nice to be made into a sock. It was also my first full fledged lace project. I'm not a fan of lace for myself, but I'll do it for others. In this case it was for her birthday. Bub's aunt always asks me to make something for her, I don't think she was expecting anything lacy though. I was trying to tell her that it's not something you don't have to wear just on your shoulders like a little old lady (which is exactly what she said she felt like)...but to wear it around her neck like a light scarf. Oh well, I tried (reminds me why I don't make stuff for people anymore). I didn't get a chance to take a picture of the finished product. Next time I'm at her house I'll make her dig it out of the bottom of her drawer and take a picture of her wearing it. Old lady or not.

On the search for that perfect fall project, I listened to one of the Stash and Burn podcasts and re-discovered Ysolda Teague's Vine Yoke Cardigan. I originally saw it in Twist's (twist.com) fall pattern catalog but it didn't catch my eye until I went through a list of sweater suggestions in the Stash and Burn site. I totally fell for the pattern because the yoke is beautiful! I started to knit it up with a stash of Cascade 220 I received 2 Christmases ago...a deep burgandy shade. Then I screwed up by missing some row repeats in the right arm and side. It was just as well since the yarn was awful! It kept breaking. I could only spit splice yarn so many times!!! As soon as I decided to start over I immediately went to the yarn store and purchased Cascade's Eco+. It's a really good reasonably priced yarn. The gauge is much thicker, about aran weight.

I'm now 3/4 of the way done and have 1 skein (of 3) left to use.

I really hope I don't need more than 3 skeins. I'm cursing myself for running out of the 2nd skein of yarn at work without bringing the 3rd skien with me! It's been slow at work and the co-worker that I usually stare at all day isn't here today. I thought I'd be able to secretly knit in private. What a waste of prime knitting time! I'd like to finish this to wear for Thanksgiving. I think it's a decent goal. I've got just over a week. Wish me luck.

Pucker of Sunshine

Ta daa! It's finally done!!!!!!!!!!
I may add a few more rows of reverse stockinette to the bottom to give it a little bit of length. I prefer tops to be a bit longer than hit right at my hip. I haven't had a chance to wear it and can't wait to!

Never say never

I love the colors and textures of Noro yarn. When I first learned to knit the Silk Garden sucked me in and it resulted in knitting up a shawl sized clapotis. It was beautiful. However, I hated the way how itchy and rough it felt against my skin. I only worn it a couple times and it's been sitting in my closet. In yarn project purgatory. I vowed to never use Noro again. Then I came across the Wabi-sabi shawl made out of Noro Kochoran. =/

After working on 2 clothing projects I needed a simple project to work on and had the urge to make the Wabi-sabi pattern. I know it's practically summer but it's still chilly enough to need a shawl. I figure I could keep this at my desk so when the AC gets jacked up I'll have this to put around my shoulders. I'll look like a granny but who'll be laughing when the other employees are complaining they're freezing.

I tried to find a substitute non-Noro yarn that would give the same effect but I was unsuccessful. I gave in and headed to my LYS to find some Kochoran. There weren't too many color choices that they carried but I ended up with colorway #16. I decided to make the shawl size. After going through a few runs I kinda love it. I love how the angora has a halo effect. It's looks comforting.

When I'm done I'm going to use a tip about soaking it in water with some hair conditioner to help soften up the yarn. If that works I will love this shawl even more.

Pucker: Home Stretch? Think again.

Yikes this photo hurts my eyes! I was experimenting with a new app on my iPhone that is supposed to fix low light photos I've taken with it. The yarn does have a lot of sheen but not that much.

I'm on my last skein of yarn and of course on the last bit of the instructions to finish off the neck and sleeve shaping I have to join in a new ball of yarn. I thought of just creating 2 balls out of the one last one I have but realized that I will need another new skein so I'll have enough for seaming the edges of the front and back together. Bah! Now I need to call up a few not so close LYS' to find one of the most unpopular colors of Berroco Seduce or suck it up and order it online. I would've had enough if I did as Andra from the WEBS booth at Stitches West instructed me to but I like my garments a little longer than she had imagined for me. She was also taking into account my vertically challenged body. This is why I went home with 2 less skeins of Seduce than I should have.

Oh well. I suppose I don't have any excuse now to not get off my ass and get some cleaning done. Although, I do have that vest I've been needing to get seamed up and finished. I can get that done and off my list of WIPs instead.

The other side of me is wondering why the hell I'm indoors when I should be outdoors enjoying the sunny weather. I could do the finishing outside in the backyard. That's a fantastic idea!

I *heart* this =)

At the weaving pattern class I took at A Verb for Keeping Warm earlier this month, one of the students was Michael of Yknit podcasting fame in the knitting world (WonderMike in Ravelry). He took pics of everyone's progress and my little weaving sample made it into his blog. =)

I'm sad to hear (from the last Yknit podcast) that Michael is moving on from podcasting. He is teaching beginning drop spindling at Verb and Article Pract though. If he's still teaching it by the time I get bitten by the spinning bug, I'll sign up for his class. For now I've still got weaving in my system . I'm taking things one fiber addiction at a time.

Pucker Up!

I'm 95% done with the Simply Squared vest. All that's left is joining the shoulder and adding the buttons. I wet blocked it last Thursday night and left for the weekend. By Sunday night it was still damp. I should have it completely done by this weekend. I'll get a chance to wear it before it warms up, granted it fits well. I have 2 concerns though. The first are the arm holes. They seem big. I even measured it up to a favorite vest I've been wearing all winter and the arms holes seem the right size but I won't know until I try it on completed. Second concern is that angora might make me look like a muppet. It's a brown vest so maybe Snuffalapagus from Sesame Street even. *sigh*

Vests aren't too taxing on me so I wasted no time getting Norah Gaughan's Pucker on the needles with Berocco's Seduce. I started it on the long ass drive to Tahoe last Friday. I've never knitted with a yarn like this before....it's slippery and linen-ish. It's a little like knitting with rope. Regardless, this is going to be a great warm weather top. It's very cool to the touch and the drape is very slinky. I'm still not sold on the color though. Maybe once I get a nice tan the yellow won't look too bad against my skin.

The Start of Simply Squared

Simply Squared start, originally uploaded by Filipina Sakura.

Last year I found a pretty nice stash of discontinued Elsebeth Lavold Angora at my local Tuesday Morning. I could only find about 10 skeins of this brown color called "Earthy". For my body type, this is not a lot of yardage in each compared to a Cascade 220 or a Malabrigo Worsted to make a sweater. BUT it can make a vest! An issue or two ago of Interweave Knits came across an ad for a vest called Simply Squared and thought it was perfect for the yarn. It's more of a cardigan, but it is vest-ish since it's sleeveless and great for layering. I started it over a week ago hoping that I can get some use out of it before it gets warmer.

I'm close to halfway finished but worried that I won't have enough yarn. Like I mentioned, it is a discontinued yarn. If I run out then I will have to rip it out and jab the needles in my heart. I'll cross my fingers that it won't come to that.