2012 Knitting

Ravelry says my 2012 knitting production was much higher than my finished pile of socks would show.  I know some socks were given away without having glamour shots taken and I knit several shawls and a bunch of pairs of tiny socks. 

There are 11 pairs of socks for me in that pile of socks.  They all have some significance for me - favorite yarn, favorite designer or in one case the pair of socks I was knitting while at the Emergency Vet with Lucy - that particular pair will always make me think of Lucy. 

I also knit 3 pairs of bulky boot socks which were given away, test knit a very pretty pair of cuffed socks that didn't fit me - so I gave them away, and all 3 of the girls (The Princess, The Musical One, and The Dog Walker) got socks for Christmas and none of them got photos taken.  There was also 24 pairs of baby socks which were knit with left over sock yarn and all gifted to a friend who then re-gifted them to multiple friends who were having babies in 2012. 

According to Ravelry there were 22 pairs of socks, the pile o'baby socks, a bag, 9 shawls, and a baby sweater started and finished in 2012.  I guess I did more knitting than I thought. 

a 2012 Finish

I've been reading all the 2012 wrap ups - how much I sewed, how much I knit, how much I read, in some cases - how much I lost. 

I want to do a wrap up post - but I didn't knit nearly as much in 2012 as I have in years past although my focus changed from socks to other knits. 

For example, when I heard my brother and his girlfriend were coming for Christmas I had to come up with a quick gift.  I don't know T very well, but I do know where they live and it's cold in the winter and I know she likes to walk outside.  Hmmm - that gives me enough to work on.  I bought some fluffy grey wool and signed up for a test knit.  You can't see the pattern in the cowl very well, but it's knit broomstick lace.  Very fun and easy way to create a great stitch that will still be warm. 



I also know that T has very long hair.  So when I saw the tea cozy hat that ChanKnits had knit - I knew it was perfect!  So - a hat that would allow T to keep her ears warm, but let her hair hang free was knit. 

I did tell her she had to model the gifts and have her photo taken or give them back!  She wasn't very happy about it - but she did cooperate. 

These two pieces were a super quick knit.  Seriously - I think it took me 3 days total to knit the whole thing. 

I do need to go back and do a review.  I know I didn't do a lot of sewing early in the year.  I need pull out the 2012 knits and get them photographed.  And maybe even inventory the books I read - thanks to the Nook I read a bunch more last year.  I also need to update the blog this year - change the header (I'm working on it), update the links (or remove them) how do you feel about links on the sidebar?  Do you follow them to a find a new blogger?  And also figure out how to add reply to comments.  I try to reply via email to all comments, but that isn't always possible. 

For now however - it's time to head back to the office after a lovely week of vacation.  Happy New Year everyone!  I'm looking forward to spending time in 2013 with you here.

I'm still alive

 

Back in August, before we took a road trip to Yellowstone

(which I haven't told you about - but was lovely)

I won a contest giving out a copy of Cast On Bind Off.

 

This is an amazing little book and if you are a knitter - well you NEED it.

Since I'm always knitting - I decided to try out some different ways to cast on

and bind off.

I've knit 3 pairs of socks since vacation.

The first pair of socks were Carrie's Blackberry Brambles.

I won this pattern 3 years ago for naming the pattern and the yarn has been around that long too.

I tried the Channel Island Cast On on page 56.

It took me a minute to figure it out.

It's stretchy and pretty when the sock isn't on.

Looks perfectly normal when wearing the socks.

 



 

Next was another pair of top down socks - this time a test knit.

I decided to use the Slip Knot Cast On from page 59.

Again - took me a minute to figure it out.

This one was lovely transitioning to the k2p2 rib.

Super stretchy and looks fabulous on.

 

Finally - I had a pair of toe up socks that I was ready to finish.

This time the pattern was the Simple Skyp socks - heavily modified.

I tried the Elastic Bind Off on page 170.

I think it took more yarn than my usual toe up bind off,

however, there is absolutely no binding at the top of the socks.

 

So - if you are a knitter - go get this book.  It's worth every penny!

A Sweet Baby Gift

Once again Carrie asked me to test knit one of her lovely designs and I was thrilled to be able to help.

This sweet little baby sweater is called Lilianna and the pattern can be found on Carrie's blog (link above) or at Ravelry.

I knit the 12 month size and used Berocco Ultra Alpaca.  It might be a bit itchy for a baby - but it's a 12 month size and hopefully will fit Zoe in the colder months. 

This little sweater is knit from the top down in one piece.  You only pick up for the arms and knit a little bit. 

The yarn is lovely - soft and sproingy with lots of color variations.  While it's technically green, there is a bit of yellow and darker green in it. 

The sweater looks tiny to me, but I was very careful to get gauge - both row and stitch since I was using a different yarn.  I ended up knitting it with US3s which seem small, but the resulting fabric has drape and isn't stiff.

I still need to find the perfect little button, knit a pair of socks or a hat or something and drop this in the mail.

Block Party

I recently knit a few shawls.

They were both quick and easy.

The first was Lazy Katy. 

And both The Princess and KnitTea knit along with me.

We started on May 27th.

the yarn was Misti Alpaca Handpainted Sock - that I bought in Mystic, CT.

The shape is lovely and the shawl will soon get a post of it's own.  

The second was Holbrook by Irish Girlie Knits.

This is a sample for TNNA and I need to get it mailed.
The yarn was Anzula's Dreamy and it's properly named.

Yesterday, they both got a bath and then a little layout in the sun.

Blocking sis something I need lots more work doing.  But they are good.

This is how Knitters do it

The Musical One bought a condo. This is her first house. The knitting ladies all got together to make a throw for her living room.  It still needs a good steam - but I ran out of time.  Each stripe in the throw was knit by someone different.  Just about everyone was from Washington but there were a few participants from the East Coast - you know because her sister lives over there and another friend who loves her and wanted to help.

It looks good with her furniture and paint and should keep her warm this winter when she turns the heat down. 

Circle of Socks

I've been making a pair of baby socks from my sock yarn leftovers before starting to make hexis with the leftovers. 

Most other knitting has taken a backseat.  I currently have 3 pairs of socks in various stages for me.  I also have 2 cardigans that are so close to being done, a pretty wrap and a pattern to finalize.  Can I retire yet? 

How Far Will One Hank Go?

I have been knitting - not doing much sewing, but lots of knitting.   I pulled this hank of daffodil Pagewood Farms Yukon from the stash to knit a second pair of blathnat's.  These socks were designed by IGK and I was lucky enough to test knit them in December.  They were the mystery socks for the Sock Knitters Anonymous group on Ravelry in January.

I made lots of changes to this pair.  I could - because I'd knit them before.  ;o) 

The first change I made was to carry the pretty stitches on the heel flap all the way to the bottom.  I knit 2 rows "even" before turning the heel and I love them.  The second was a trick I saw on Turtlegirl's blog.  She moves the gusset decreases to the bottom of the foot.  In her words, this causes the sock to 'cup' the foot and they fit better - and you know what - she's right!  I first tried that on a pair of socks for hubby - toe up and he says they are the best fitting socks I've ever made him.  So, I had to try it for me and they are right - this feels lovely on your foot and the socks are really snugly. 

After that - I knit my first hexi, there was still a ton of yarn left (relatively) so I knit a wee tiny pair of baby socks.  No - no babies due in my life, but I have friends having babies and friends of friends and what am I going to do with all this over yarn?

Next, I'll knit up the rest of the yellow into hexis and let you know how many I end up with.  Crazy!  Who knew you could get so much from one hank of socks yarn?  Guess I'll start carrying some stuffing in my purse.......