Buttons!

A couple of Fridays ago, I got to meet up with a bloggy friend and shop for buttons. You've got to look at her first photo on Button Hunting. I wish I'd thought to bring my camera to the shop. Actually I was running out of the house after dropping the kids off with M, and I didn't even grab my WIPs to match the buttons to the yarn. Even without the projects in mind with me...I was able to find buttons for my Heathered Hoodie. This green is the closest I could photograph...the yarn & buttons are really a true kelly green.

I could only find 4, but I doubt that I would ever have 5 buttoned, so I just won't knit the 5th button hole. Look how great the color matches. And I also saw these navy buttons that I had to buy. They match this Cascade 22o that my dad bought me on our last trip to the yarn store. I have 5 skeins. I'm not sure what this will be yet, but maybe a Shalom. I like NeenerKnits's with 4 buttons.

And these silvery/gray buttons were too cheap to pass up. I think I like the back side better than the front. This makes me want to knit a Sprossling. Can you just imagine that? A Sterling Sprossling. I do have quite a bit in front of me right now...but that will live in the back of my mind.

It's a good thing buttons are cheap. That's the first non-necessity that I've bought since October. My total was $10.

WIP Wednesday

I'm feeling lazy about photos. Also, M is on the PC that has our card reader. I'm not sure where the cable for my camera is...if I even have one. So, here's the update...and use your imagination.

I've finished Chart B on Ishbel. I'm knitting the smaller size, so I have to knit A then C before the BO. I'm so excited to block my first lace project. I really see myself knitting another one of these and I'm not even finished with this one. The stockinette section of the scarf was so simple and that's about all I can focus on now. I think I'd like to knit a larger version...that's something I don't have yarn for yet though.

I CO for a simple feather and fan scarf in a beaded wool. I'm about 18" into this project. I spent a great deal of time handwinding the skein into a ball. Yes, I have a swift and winder, but something about the slow winding was soothing. I'm really liking the simple 4-row repeat of this project. It was the perfect thing for the sore throat day. That, and a lot of lemon tea with honey.

My Knitterly Hoodie has slowed down. I'm almost done with the back. But I'm trying to decide if lengthing the sweater is what I want to do. I did lengthen the front. According to the pattern it should be 22". That's about 5 1/2 repeats of the cable pattern. I think I'd like 6 full repeats, and I have a long torso, but I'm just not sure. I've knit one front with 6 repeats, and the back it 4 1/2 repeats. I should finish it up quick...the weather is perfect for a hoodie. Only one small front and then the hood to finish. I hear the hood takes forever though.

That's it for what I'm working on. I do have 2 pair of socks OTN, and a few dishcloths...and I'm dreaming about a new shawl. This one, but I need the yarn for that project too. I'll have to knit from the stash until we're employed here again. Thank God, I should be able to knit for at least a year. ;0)

Knitterly Hoodie 1

I bought the yarn for this Hoodie at Knitterly in Petaluma. It's GGH Aspen. That's a wonderful Merino/Acrylic. It's bulky...super soft...and I loved this discontinued color. Here we have the left front and the start of the back. I started the front in lieu of swatching. I figured if I was going to knit a full repeat of the cable to measure, then I'd might as well knit a piece of the sweater. I did end up frogging my first attempt and going down 2 needle sizes.

I LOVE the XO motif. I'm excited to be able to wear this. I think a short sleeve sweater is perfect for So. Cal. I was getting sad that I wasn't further along on this yet...but then a 105degree day reminds me that I've got at least a month before it will be cool enough for any handknits.

WIP and a contest.

Where have I been? Mostly just home or at work, but SO BUSY that my computer time has been zilch. I'm checking emails and keeping up with my google calendar, but I wasn't even downloading my photos. I just had to get this up. There's a contest over at Scout's Swag. And she wants to know what your WIP is. I'm working with some of her yarn...and LOVING IT...so I had to post this.

I was taking photos of my kids in the yard when my yarn arrived. I took photos of the skein, and then when I saw them in the viewer...right next to the Bird of Paradise...I gasped. The yarn was a perfect match. These are now my BoP socks. I can't wait to wear them. Now, this wasn't what Scout had in mind when she dyed the yarn, but I'm sure she'll love the collage.

 

And I have 6 posts in draft. They just need photos or text. I never seem to get both going on the same day. I'm going to get back to regular posting real soon. I miss this outlet...and I might go crazy during the holiday season if I can't let some of it out.

Today's the day...

I expect it to be nothing less than great. I think I've called in enough prayer support for me to know that when I'm powerless to pray...then intercession is being made for me. M will be home with 2 this afternoon, and the boys are with my mom. If I make it through with minimal pain, then I should have 4 or 5 hours of good knitting time. Otherwise the painkillers take away my ability to count. Maybe I should CO real quick this morning for a felted purse. That's what I knit after all the other dental appointments. All mistakes are hidden in the wash. =0)

Since it is Wednesday, here's my WIP list:

• Clapotis: I've dropped 9 times. I had joined the KAL, but didn't realize there was a deadline. I won't finish by then. I'm still OK with that. I'm enjoying this as a movie knit. Last weekend we watched August Rush. I LOVED that movie. Have you seen it?
  
• Pillowcase lace: Awhile back, some anxiety drove me to read knitting books. I had picked up 3 balls of Paton's Grace (one in each kid's color). I thought we could use it in a spool knitter. But, it didn't have enough give. I love the color variations...and realized that the weight of mercerized cotton met the yarn requirements for the Pillowcase Lace in Weekend Knitting. Somehow this makes me feel all homey...especially when I think of the heirloom pieces that were my great-grandmother's linens. I've knit almost 2 repeats...but I hope that wasn't enough to satisfy my appetite. I don't want this to linger as a WIP.
  
• Lily Cardigan: The one knitting notion I don't have is this. I know it works to make a quick one with some yarn. I really just need to order one. I can't keep track of the 4th row increases without this so it's resting for a bit.
• SquareCake: I'm waiting on a replacement part for my Little Sister set. My #5 dpn's are too short for this project. This is resting too, but it's in a glass jar on a shelf so no one bumps stitches off the needles.
• Jaywalkers: I'm ready for the heel on the 2nd sock. This is usually where I get hung up. I can't just pick it up and knit to Idol. I have to actually count the first row of the heel. So it' sits until a day when I can count.
  

My Cloud Bolero is a FO. And I took photos yesterday on a guest model. I also finished a bucket hat that I just need to felt. This was a from pattern that I received from Ursula in my FFBE box. I made the hat for 2...and I hope to make one for myself. I'm not attaching the flower to the hat before felting. I like the idea of being able to change it out. Hmmm...now that I think about it, I'll CO for a hat for me. There's no real counting there. I'll go rummage my stash of wool scraps. Happy Wednesday to you.

WIP -- Wednesday

I've wanted to do one of these posts for awhile...I'm just not always up to speed. So, don't expect this to be a regular report. And I know it's still Tuesday...for once, I know what day it is. But, tomorrow is 4's Birthday. And our homeschool co-op. I doubt I'll have time to post.

I CO for the Square Cake last week. It's going to be so fun working with the sequins. But, these are my only #5 DPN's. And my #5 circ. is too long to fit the stitches, yet not long enough to magic-loop. I have the Sister's Bamboo Interchangeable Set. But, the #5 tip is the only one that's broken. I emailed Woodland Woolworks, and they responded. Even though I couldn't find anywhere on-line that I could order a replacement tip, they are able to do so. I don't care if it costs a few $$$. It will be worth it to have a complete set. These DPN's are too short for this number of stitches. I think I'll like the silk on bamboo better too...here it seems to slip a bit. I'll pursue the replacement before I work on this more.

I realize that it might be bad to post just one sock...but I'm so excited to have this as a FO. I'm even wearing the one sock right now. I'm not sure I'll be able to start the second sock in the same place in the striping sequence. I do have the pink next...but I don't know if I'll make it so the gray is right at the tips of the picot. That might be tough. I should have planned ahead. I will work on getting the 2nd sock OTN. They are a pretty easy knit for me when I'm not at the heel.

And my Clapotis. I thought that I had a brilliant way to get the most out of the yarn. I'd knit the increases with one cake, then knit the middle section alternating between the 2 cakes, then when the first yarn ran out, I would know it was time to decrease. But, you can see where it gets darker when I start alternating. I decided that I don't care. Once the stitches are all dropped, it won't really matter. And, besides...there are color variations in hand-dyed fabrics. So why not expect the same from a hand-dyed, hand knit. One end will be lighter, one end will be darker...with a blend in the middle. Just don't tell me if you think it looks horrible. When I work on this I get so excited to drop another section that I'll stay up another hour just to be able to finish a repeat. I can see why this is such a popular knit.

I still have a few other projects OTN, but these are the ones that I'm actively working on now. I read through the pattern instruction for the Lily and the V-neck T. I'm trying to decide what size I'll make. And I wanted to see if I had the needles so I could have both those projects OTN at the same time. I'd really like the Lily for Easter, and that's only a month away. The V-neck is so similar to the staples in my wardrobe...I really could use it now.