Yarn Musings...

I'm steadily working on my first project from this book - Tomato - in Cotton Ease. Pictures to come soon. It's nearing completion and I'm thinking about what I want to do next. I found some interesting new yarn at Elann that I think might work for Cables and O's...it's called Calista and it's a rayon/cotton/linen blend. So I ordered a ball for a geeky thing and I'll let you know how it works out

I'm also coveting the new Handmaiden Flaxen (silk/linen) and the Handmaiden Tussah Silk. I think that the Flaxen would make an interesting River Rock scarf and the Tussah Silk would make a gorgeous Tuscany.

New Tomato Started

I am sooo excited about this pattern!
I am using GGH Samoa, on size 7 KnitPicks Options needles.

I've had the Samoa in my stash for a couple years now, and I was starting to hate it. But I think it's going to work great here.

Yet another finished Tuscany...

Tuscany is finished.

Like a lot of people, my first thought was Handmaiden Sea Silk for this project. The color here is "Peridot". I wouldn't be surprised if I make another in different color--I really love its elegance and simplicity. It just seems perfect for the fluid quality of Sea Silk.

Stephy

ps

My blog, if you're interested.

I've been knitting on my Tuscany--no, really!

Okay, so it's only a couple of repeats further along than last time. There's a whole story about it on my blog, but I wanted to show that, at least, I have really and truly been knitting (a bit).

Carry on. :-)

Your biggest fan!

I just wanted everyone to know that I'm following your WIPs and FOs with great glee and pride. You're all doing wonderful knitting and your projects are fabulous! I'm plugging away at the summer issue of Knitty and so my commenting time is limited, but I am so excited to see what everyone's knitting from the book, the yarn choices you're making and your FOs! So cool.

On my needles right now is a new Tuscany in moss [yellowy green] Seasilk. I'm finding that using the same needle size as in the pattern is working well for this finer yarn [which surprises me!] and I'm really enjoying knitting it...it's my 3rd, by the way.

My Cables and Os cardigan is creeping up to the divide for the armholes and that's exciting too! So all is well.

Hope everyone's having a great spring [though we seem to have skipped right over spring into summer in Toronto!] and enjoying your knitting!

Another Tuscany Shawl

Here's my Tuscany Shawl!

I used one skein of Hand Maiden's Sea Silk that I picked up at The Naked Sheep.

I really had fun knitting this one, and can't wait to start another project from the book. I think I have been won over by all the wonderful Tomatos. I have some GGH Samoa that just might work!

First 'Cheeky Ribbed Sock' finished

Finished my first 'Cheeky Ribbed Sock' yesterday. I'm pleased with the result and the fit on my foot (the photo shows the sock on my daughter's foot which is slightly smaller than mine, so the heel doesn't fit as well on her). The colour has come out well on the photo and shows the deep rose pink colour. I'm on my second sock now and hope to have it finished over the next few days. I like the ribbed feel of these socks so will probably knit another pair of these later in a different colour, but I will use a different pattern for turning the heel as I prefer the fit of my usual method.

I'd really like to have a go at knitting the 'River Rock Scarf' next, but I haven't knitted with beads before, so I'm a little apprehensive. I like a challenges but ... Any tips anyone?

Intoxicating is Done

I loved working on this sweater. I had the hardest time picking out the third color for the back (orange), but I now actually prefer the back to the front. I like the swirliness of the mosaic pattern.

The Cascade Pima Tencel was great to work with and will be very soft and comfortable to wear.

One thing I don't like is the width of the shoulders. I'd prefer a fitted sleeve that starts at the top of my arm, and this didn't happen, since the y're so wide. I'd probably make it slightly smaller, if I were to do it again.

Finished!

I finished my first of many NSFY projects - Tomato! I adore this pattern.

I substituted Cascade Luna & Manos Cotton - both of which I hadn't used before and now love to bits. I went down a needle size because I liked the fabric better. And it only took me about 3 weeks to do - amazing since I have about 10 things on the needles!

You can read more about it here.

Next up from NSFY - Cables & Os!

Another Berthe collar

Hi! This is my first post here. Hopefully I won't babble on too much. Apologies in advance if I do.

I used a blue variegated cotton yarn that I bought years ago at Paradise Fibers in Oregon. It didn’t come with a label. It was in a 100% cotton basket.

I used size 6 circulars (I don’t like straights.). I cast on 101 sts. When I reached the end of the row and ran out of stitches, I decided to do the increase in the 2nd to last stitch no matter what the stitch count was. As a result, that end has a nice diagonal slant to it.

I used the suspended bind off. It really helps me achieve a loose bind off. I usually bind off too tight.

I didn’t like the look of the garter stitch edge. So, I used the remaining yarn & picked up stitches along the edge using a slip stitch crochet stitch. I then went back & tried several variations doing multiple stitches in one stitch. I wanted to have a wavy edge. I wound up doing 2 double crochets in one stitch and then a single crochet in the next stitch and repeating that until the end of the row.

feelin' foolish

Hi all,
who can help?
I am participating in the No Sheep Secret Pal Skein Swap, but the email addy I used for it died a horrible death last week and I lost all the info. I am unable to retrieve my swap partner's info, and she is unable to reach me.
If anyone can get me out of this please email me at:
karinmaagtanchakATnycapDOTrrDOTcom
Thanks a million!!

Berthe Collar

I know I said I was starting with the No Wool Socks last time I blogged here, but I found a lovely ball of Elle 'Monet' yarn on Wednesday and just couldn't resist buying it & knitting up the Berthe Collar first! It's lovely and soft, and the colours are beautiful, although unfortunately the photograph here doesn't do it justice. I knitted it on smaller needles than recommended (as suggested in the book), and as a result it sits comfortably snug around the neck and shoulders. I'm going to be looking out for other yarn to knit more of these.

Oh, and I will be getting on with my socks this weekend!

Bacardi in progress...!

My beauyouteeful Bacardi in progress (I can't help but think of it as a "Cuba Libre"...!). This is the product of about 2 hours' knitting. I am using the slip stitch technique for the two-colour rows.

The pattern is even more fun to knit than I thought it would be - it has the twin bonus of being rather simple to work and looking impressive. And - my task was made immeasurably easier by Barbara Gregory, the designer, who very kindly contacted me and offered to do up a colour chart with *my* colours...she is the person who picked the order for the colours I chose. Thanks, Barbara!

The fuzzier picture below shows something more closely approximating what the colours look like in "real life". (Unfortunately I can hardly get my camera to behave properly).



Cheers... Kristina

PS. A tip for those who have never worked with Super 10 before... it is rather slippery. I am knitting this on Addis as I am very familiar with the yarn and its slickness - but I might suggest bamboo or wooden needles for those who wish to avoid losing stitches off the end of the needle while knitting ;-).

A little on-sale enabling?

Just saw this and couldn't resist.

Did you want to knit the No Sweat socks from the book? Webs has the actual yarn on sale - for 4.20/ball! :-)

Pursuing Perfection

I have to admit it. I am so sick of geeky things, I've started multitasking. This is one mega-geek. I've knit a couple others, along with numerous regular geeks, scattered over the past couple weeks.


This one is a 4-fer. The main color is Cascade Pima Tencel in #7478. The borders are in Filatura Di Crosa Portofino in Sunset (top), Pima Tencel double stranded (middle right) and triple stranded (middle left), Filatura Di Crosa Portofino in Foliage (bottom).

All this, just to get to one college-proof Sweet Indulgence robe. And we're not there, yet.

Another Tomato

Here's my Tomato. I'll be posting the specs on my own blog later today.

Bacardi geek (but only 50%...)

Well, here is my "geek sample" for Bacardi, worked over 40 sts and 25 or so rows on my trusted Addi Turbo 4mm needles:



...and for a more impressionistic view on a backdrop of Super 3 knitted fabric (Monet had nothing on me and my sadly lacking camera ;-)...):



To complicate matters, this sample is not done in the colours I picked for the sweater but in remnants I had in the stash (did I mention I'm a Super 10 addict?). This was my rationale for not doing a full 6x6 sample... ! I also did not wash it as I am so familiar with the yarn that I know how it behaves with stripes and chequerboard (excuses, excuses... bad, bad, BAD knitter!)

I cut the colours by and large as I was working - this wasn't necessary but it was late at night. Otherwise, I can tell already that the pattern will be very fun to knit - relatively minimal effort for fabulous results! There is one wonky grey row (which is my fault as I used the slip stitch the wrong way.

I'll be starting the cardi this weekend. I'll keep you "posted" (hardy har har).

Finally!

I have finally finished the front of "Intoxicating"



I only had the shoulder to do for ages, but I got caught up in a lot of community work...blah blah blah!

I have cast on for the sleeves several times but can't seem to get it right, will have another go today.

Everyone seems to be doing so well.

Bacardi colour choices...

Hi all: I'm posting partly to motivate myself to stop knitting millions of tank tops (have been off work this week) and to make a start on the fabulous projects in this book! Here are the colour choices I've finally settled on for the Bacardi - having been living with various combos from my 20 colour Super 10 stash marinating for the past week:



Not as clever or as subtle as those picked by the designer, but I like them, and I guess that's what counts! ;-) At the very least, gotta love a pattern that calls for one skein only of several colours - it's great for us Super 10 hoarders out there!

I must confess that I have made a start on the He Gansey...



...but abandoned it in favour of two or three tank tops in more cheerful colours. No fault of the design (and I will get back to it after the Bacardi). I blame instead my poor long-suffering DH who insisted on grey. It's a nice shade of grey, but it is still... grey. SIGH. I will have to remember never to consult him again on colour choices (though it will go nicely with his eyes...)!

Please send me good sheepless (er... sheepish? Never!) vibes.

Cheers,

kristina
http://knitwitsvengeance.blogspot.com

Hi All.

Hi, I've just joined this KAL. After trying to decide which project to start with I've decided on the No Wool Socks, as I was able to buy some deep pink 4 ply cotton yarn at a local knitting shop this week. Hope to knit the Berthe Collar and The Bag next (after a trip to my favourite yarn store), and will be looking out for some peace silk with which to knit the gorgeous Sweet Indulgence robe too.

OT But a Knitter in Need

Please send your thoughts and prayers to a fellow No Sheep Knitalong member, Mommy Susie Knits. She just lost her beloved pup, Wolfgang (aka Wolfie), very unexpectedly. Thank you.

Tomato WIP

About halfway done with Tomato!

I love this pattern & yarn! I'm using Cascade Luna for the main colour & Manos del Urguay Peruvian Cotton for the contrast colour. It's my first time using either of these yarn & I'm addicted to them! This is also my first time doing any kind of colourwork & I seem to be doing okay with it.

My blog if anyone is interested. :)

Tuscany Done!

Last night I blocked my Sea Silk Tuscany Shawl! I love how it knitted up and blocked, and I will definitely knit this pattern again. The Sea Silk is so light & airy and smells lovely. This is going to be a great shawl to wear this summer.

Here are some details for you...
Pattern: Tuscany
Yarn: Handmaiden Sea Silk (1 full skein and 1/4 of second skein) in the Paris color
Needles: new Addi Lace Needles size 6US
Size: 31 inches long at deepest point and approx. 80 inches across the top

I have more pictures on my blog.

Tomato FO

I finished Tomato yesterday! Read more at my blog, veganpurls.blogspot.com. I am in love with this pattern and have already cast on another for myself... ahem...

I've enjoyed seeing everyone else's FO's, especially the other Tomatos (Tomatoes?) and they were really motivational.

This River Rocks !!

The River Rock Scarf is finished. Yarn: Handmaiden Silken in Colorway Paris, just over 1 1/2 skeins.

Beads: more than 1550 6/0 beads in Matte Gold from http://www.earthfaire.com/

Needles: 4.5 mm, US 7.

I really liked knitting with this yarn, I know completely understand why Amy is in love with it !
This was the first time I knitted with beads, at the beginning it fussed a bit with them but after a while it went smoothly. It also isn't the las pattern I'm going to make from the book !
If you want to see more pictures you can visit my blog at http://blackbunnyisknitting.blogspot.com/

Advice needed!

Quick hijack: I want to post pictures here, but I don't yet own a digital camera. I want to get one by the end of the month, but don't know what to look for.
If anyone on here has any advice for choosing a digital camera that takes high-quality pictures, particularly indoors and of knitted fabric, please email me at stitchaywoman@gmail.com (I don't want to take up any further space on here with something off-topic). Thanks--

Intoxicating Progress

I went on a bus trip this weekend, from Naperville IL to ThreadBear Fiberarts in Lansing Michigan. This gave me plenty of knitting time. As you can see I'm making good progress on the back. I'm very happy with how the front and back look together. This will definitely be a distinctive, one of a kind piece.

I met someone from Chicago who bought yarn for Tomato and told her about this KAL. Hopefully we'll be seeing her posts here as well.

How big should I make it?

So far I've used up exactly one skein of Handmaiden Sea Silk in knitting Tuscany. I'm trying to decide how big I should make the shawl. The pattern calls for knitting the 16-row pattern repeat 11 times and I've done it 17 1/2 times. As for measurements I haven't measured it across the top yet because it is all bunched up on my needles. But at the deepest point when I stretch it out is almost 26 inches. I've never blocked Sea Silk before so I don't know how much it might grow or not. At this point I'm sort of thinking I will keep on knitting this shawl and make it bigger with my second skein of Sea Silk that I have. What do you think?

Abby

Tuscany Started, a little

Hi all! Here is the pathetic start to my Tuscany Shawl.

I am using Seasilk. I wish that I had a solid to show off the pattern better, but I was tricked into buying the yarn because of how bright and lovely it was.

I have been working mostly with hemp lately and the seasilk seemed so crazy slippery. I finally tamed my savage beast yarn by switching from my Knitpicks Options needles to addis.

To further tame my Seasilk, I decided I needed a yarntainer. I'll spend whatever on seasilk, but I just couldn't slap down the $10 for a yarntainer. So my beautiful spun from silk and sea yarn is living in a kool-aid pitcher I picked up for $1.99.

The poor yarn is probably embarrassed to death, but I had to keep it from rolling away and ending up in the paws of my evil cat, or near any of my dirty kids. I love them, but silk yarn and snotty kids do not mix, or at least shouldn't.

It's not much, but I did start.

This is all I've gotten done so far with the cold I managed to get from somewhere. I have to say that I haven't had to rip as much as I usually do with a cold, so that's something. I think it says that the pattern is particularly well-written. :-)

Oh, and yeah, I had to go for the cutesy pic. I like my colors better than the ones she's holding. *giggle*

Finished Object: Tomato

I love this shirt.



Two weeks, that's all it took. I did work on it a lot, but I also have a full-time job and spend 9 hours a day, 5 days a week at work, so I didn't have that much time.

I did the second-smallest size on size 7 circs, the Denise Interchangeables were great for it. Those colours are Periwinkle and Stone, in Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton, and while I bought 5 hanks of the blue and 1 of the brown, I have one whole hank of blue left (I made the shirt 2.25" shorter, since I'm only 4'10") plus a partial ball of blue, and brown.

Edit: I traded the remaining yarn.

Hi, I'm new here.

:-)

My best friend Holly and I are doing the Tuscany shawl for the KAL. I fell in love with it when I saw Amy wearing it at a book signing at Threadbear, and I have a skein of Briar Rose Fibers Sea Pearl that I've been saving for it.

Will anyone get upset that my yarn is 50% merino, though? For me, that's pretty good, considering I knit almost entirely with wool all of the time. I've never knit with tencel before, and this yarn feels good in my hands.

I'd post a pic, but the camera's down for the moment. Maybe an update picture tomorrow.

too much yarn, too little time...

I'm faced with a real dilemma: which project to start first?

Having decided that because I have a ton of Super10 (probably my favourite yarn) I would knit up the Bacardi...my only problem being which colours to pick...



... I then went into my first foray of on-line yarn shopping and acquired the following - Rowan all seasons cotton:


(intended for DH who kindly let me use his credit card to order...) and Rowan Calmer in blush



So - where to begin?

And, before I begin, I must finish the Samus-style cardigan I'm knitting... see my blog for that photo. I have loved working on it but just want to start one (or all) of the other fabulous projects...

And - let's not get started on the sea silk I have in the stash from Fleece Artist... intended for a pair of entrelac socks before I bought the No Sheep book!

SIGH.

Cheers - and happy knitting (am loving what I am seeing here, which does not help with the quest to acquire less yarn...)
Kristina
http://knitwitsvengeance.blogspot.com

PS: for those who are interested in the He and She Gansey and either have unlimited funds or can find a cheap on-line source (I ordered from cucumberpatch.co.uk) - the Rowan all seasons cotton for me knitted to precise gauge using 5mm needles instead of the 6mm suggested in the pattern for the He Gansey. And it feels GREAT!

Tuscany Shawl - Completed

The Tuscany Shawl has been completed!

Tuscany Shawl 1
Originally uploaded by RandomRanter.

It was a joy to knit.

Tuscany Shawl 2
Originally uploaded by RandomRanter.

I ended up binding of halfway through the final pattern repeat because I was paranoid the last ball was dwindling too quickly. It's still plenty long, and I'm sure when I block it it'll bloom a smidge more.
The Details:
Needles: Denise Interchangeables #6 - With the pink cording!
Yarn: 5 balls of Elann Sonata in Gray Slate (mercerized cotton) - 115 yards per ball
More info on my blog.

Hello!

I'm very excited to join this KAL - I got the book a couple weeks back & love it - I don't have a wool allergy, but I do love to knit with interesting fibers. Right now I'm working on 2 projects from NSFY - the Cables & Os Cardigan and the Tomato. I'm using KnitPicks Cotlin for the Cables & Os - it seems to work really well & I got perfect gauge with it (never happens!) For Tomato, I got a great deal on a bunch of skeins of Cascade Luna so I'm trying that out now.

There is so many projects I want to try in this book - one of the best books I've bought in a long time.

I also have a blog, where I write about my yarn obsession. :)

Glad to be here!

Tuscany Started

This is my first time (officially) on a knitalong. I'm excited to share my project with others and to see the progress of all the other members knitting the wonderful projects from this book. As the title suggests, I'm working on Tuscany. Originally, I wanted to make this shawl using a bamboo yarn. I looked at those offered by my LYS, which were wonderful choices, but, after attempting to calculate the appropriate yardage, it was just too expensive. I'm not adverse to paying good money for good yarn, but the problem is that I'm not really sure that I'm even a shawl person. This is my second shawl and I like knitting them, but I'm not quite sure I will use them. So, I didn't want to spend that much money...yet. So, I chose an egyptian cotton. I know, not too exciting, but I love the color. It's Mandarin Petit (from Norway) in a bright spring green (using sz 6 needles). I love the other examples earlier on the blog using the seasilk and bamboo in verigated colorways (beautiful color choices!), but after seeing my start, I also like the way the mono-color emphasizes the pattern. I've decided this is my "leaving the northwest" shawl, since it reminds me of where I live right now...the color of the spring leaves. I'm moving to a much warmer and drier climate in the next 2 months, so this will be a nice reminder of my favorite time of year in the NW.

No Sheep Times Two

Hello Everyone-
It's been inspiring to read about all of the projects everyone has been doing from the NSFY book. There are so many in the book that I want to make--I have a bunch of post-it flags sticking out of my copy. Currently I am tackling two, Tuscany and Cables and O's.

I'm making Tuscany out of Handmaiden SeaSilk in Glacial. I'm just finishing up the 6th pattern repeat now. Part of me was excited, thinking I was more than half way until I realized that I just keep adding more stitches with each row! But still, it has been so satisfying to see this beautiful pattern come to life beneath my hands. Someday I'll post a picture of it.

The Cables and O's is being knit up in the Queensland Cotolino called for in the pattern. When Amy mentioned the sale of it at Elann.com on her blog, with the sneak peak of the pattern, I ordered the yarn in black. I have just finished the twisted rib at the bottom of the sweater and plan to start the chart today. Is anyone else working on this pattern?

Thanks for reading!

Morrigan progress and error in Chart B

I'm on row 30 of Morrigan! (Don't ask me how many rows there are total, I don't know. I could figure it out, but I don't want to make myself cry.) So here's where it is now:


Incidentally, I found a very minor error in Chart B. In the first row, the right-most stitch should be a purl, not a ktbl. Of course, you would hardly notice if you worked the chart as written, but hey, I thought I'd let you know.

At first I thought the error was with the left-most box, but after working the rows--with the wrong correction--I realized what the correct correction should be. But I didn't bother to correct my incorrect correction and no one will be the wiser.

First timer needs some help

Hello all,
I am a new knitter (just started in Jan) and have decided to knit NETWORK. Thought it would teach me some new skills plus work with silk!! My question has to do with the lace pattern. If you look at the chart--line 7 the third from last stich says to pass st pver first st of rnd after working double yo) so my questions are:
--am I doing a real double yarn over or just the 2 yo that are already on the chart
---since this is the third to last on the chart am I slipping this stich off, then doing yo then passing it over the first st of round/or am I am passing it over the 2 yo and the first stich of rnd.
--what I think I should do is just do 2 yo after the k2tog then slip st over 1st st of round (liek binding off)and pm. Hope this makes sense and I appreciate any feed back. The funny thing is the hardest thing I am finding about being a new knitter is reading the patterns!!!!