How about some quick Malabrigo lovin'?

At the Verb for Keeping Warm re-opening at their new Oakland location I came across this lovely skein of Malabrigo goodness...



Kristine created it into an earflap hat to show off at her new space and I immediately had to make one of my own. Because of how chunky the yarn is I knew it would be a quick knit so I could use it on the Thanksgiving Tahoe trip.



I knew the work load at the office would be super slow during Thanksgiving week so I knit it up in a few hours. Knitting helped me keep me awake! I ripped it out when I got home because I felt it was coming out too snug and the length was a bit short for my taste.



I knitted 2 extra rows before the 1st decrease row. Then before the next decrese row I added an extra row. I used 3 strands for each cord and braided it. I may (or may not) re-do the cords and make them into i-cords instead.



It was perfect for the Tahoe trip! It kept my noggin nice and toasty. =)

So many knits to finish, so little time!

I finished all the pieces for my Napoleon 2 days ago and I can't start seaming them together until I steam block. Everything I've read about seaming says I must steam block or else. I won't take the chance on what that "or else" could turn out like. I've been there. I don't want to go there again. Needless to say I've been putting it off so I've been going through my queue of unfinished projects. Oh boy, do I have a lot of those.

I dug through the stash jumble that I keep in some bins in the closet. I was specifically looking for my Olympic socks. They were nowhere to be found. Where could they be? Then I went to my other closet where I keep all my bags/purses/clothes/shoes. Of course, it was in one of my many bags that I haven't used in awhile...along with that damn ball of green yarn I needed to finish up the Backyard Leaves scarf. I wasted my time going through the trouble of hunting down a ball and buying it. DAMMIT! Now I don't know what to do with that ball. I put it up for sale in Ravelry. Hopefully someone needs it. Or maybe I'll come up with some fabulous project that uses up all my yarn odds and ends. Everytime I look through alllllll my knitting stuff I can't believe how much it accumulates. Then I remind myself for the 20398204892039 time that I can't buy anymore yarn until I use what I have. How many knitters out there say that to themselves?

But back to my Olympic socks. Good news is I finished one. Bad news is that I need to cast on for the second one and I'm hoping that I have good notes from the first sock so that the second one doesn't come out completely different. That Hazel Knits sock yarn is impressively sturdy! I still love the color too. I actually can't wait to get started...but first I need to figure out this steam blocking business.

Cape of Drab

My 3G iPhone camera doesn't do the colors justice. The florescent lighting at my desk makes it so drab. I started the decrease repeats a few days ago which means I'm halfway through finishing this cape.

I've got to be honest, I'm not really loving this garment. Not sure why. Maybe because this isn't a color I usually work with? Maybe working with sock yarn that makes this project so painstakingly long to knit is boring me? Once I'm done knitting, blocking, and sewing on the perfect button I'm sure I'll be more excited about wearing it through the fall weather.

Here's my problem...I can't think of an outfit to wear this with. From what I recall at Stitches West the Malabrigo rep wore their sample garment with a black A-line type skirt, probably a fitted black shirt underneath, and knee high black leather boots. It was a cute ensemble on her. Put that outfit on me and it's not something I can pull off with my body type. I might not even be able to pull off this cape.

We'll see what happens. I'll look through some Bergdorf Goodman outfits online to get some ideas. They're proclaiming knits are all the rage this season.

I was looking at my projects on Ravelry and I'm so sad that I haven't finished any projects this year. It's not that I haven't tried. In January I had every intention of finishing my green Backyard Leaves scarf. The pattern is beautiful and I wanted to wear it the remainder of the winter season...then I ran out yarn. I thought I had one other ball somewhere in my stash or I stupidly didn't calculate the right yardage for the scarf. The unfortunate problem is this yarn was bought as a closeout yarn from Tuesday Morning which means I CAN'T FIND THIS YARN ANYWHERE!!! I could find a substitute but finding the right shade to match is going to be a bitch. I tried looking on Ravelry hoping to find someone that has extra or willing to sell but this color doesn't seem to exist for anyone but me.

I started an improvised shawl sweater but that went down the tubes. I realized halfway through that it was going to be too small and the ribbing pattern wouldn't suit me. I need to find a ribbing pattern that comes out flat and not bumpy. After I finish the cape I'm going to frog it and start over. I'll finish a pair of socks that's been on the backburner as well.

I'm crossing my fingers I'll have at least 3 projects in the bag by the end of the year. Maybe even 4.

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.