Tea For Two...

What is nicer than sipping a cup of tea while working on your latest project. I found this pattern at the Sean Sheep website, while checking out their yarns. They have quite a selection and it is reasonably priced at $2.99 a ball. Actually when I went back to buy some more to make this tea cozy it was on for $2.75 a ball. So a very economical project. I think it turned out quite nicely.

It is 100% wool. I think it would be too scratchy for a wearable item, but I don't suppose my tea pot will notice. All it cares about is keeping warm.

The colours are really quite lovely, but they worked up rather strange. A very random stripping effect. I think it would be hard to get both sides of the pot to have the same coloured stripes matching up. I don't mind though as it is quite fun the way it is.

As I was working it up I thought it would be nice to try it in Patons SWS. It would only take two balls and would make a nice gift, not to mention being much softer. I think I'll keep that in mind for future projects. In the meantime, I've put the kettle on and I'll be trying it out as I sit and sip my tea while working on my next project.

Wheat Cable Vest

I saw this vest in the March issue of the Creative Knitting magazine. Quite frankly on first sight I did not like it. But later as I was browsing the pattern index in the back I decided it was worth another look. I realized the reason I didn’t like it was that the sample project was done up in pink. Not a nice kind of pink either, a purple-pink. Then I remembered that I had purchased some Lion Brand CottonEase (50% Cotton/50% Acrylic) to make another sweater from the previous issue. I had abandoned it because I didn't like how loose it was working up. I wondered if the tight cable pattern in this vest would help with the sproinginess that I didn't like. So I hauled out my little stash of rewound balls and started on a test swatch. It seemed to be okay and I began working on the pattern. Everything was going well, until I got finished with the ribbing and started in on the cable part. I realized that even with checking my pattern gauge and going down a size in needles it was going to be too stretchy. So of course, I ripped it out. But I had really liked how the yarn was looking in that pattern, so I reworked the pattern to have one fewer cables across and started over. It worked and I completed the front and back pieces.

I was really pleased with how it turned out and even managed to figure out how to make the decreases for the neckline without mucking up the cable pattern along the neck edge. But I hit a snag when I was sewing up the side seams. The armbands wouldn't lay flat. I tried it on thinking that maybe as it stretched over me it would pull out and down like it was supposed to but no such luck. It looked like I had wings. I knew that if I didn't fix it, I'd never wear it, so I undid the seams and ripped out the armbands. Finally after much trial and error (and a little help from a kind poster at Knitty), I ended up picking up quite a few less stitches than the pattern called for and re-sewed the side seams. It still doesn't lay as flat as I'd like it, but once the vest is on it lays quite nicely. I don't know why I thought I could do a project without some sort of reworking, as I usually rip out part of most of my projects or re-figure a pattern to the way I like it. Anyway...it has turned out nicely and I will wear this vest for years to come.

Strange looking socks

I have been working on a vest for the last few days, but got stuck with making the armbands. I asked for some help on Knitty forums and while I was waiting, I took a look through my sock yarn and discovered this ball of Berroco Comfort Sock. I had forgotten I'd bought it, but I must have picked it up on one of my touchy feely browsing days. It is very soft. I decided to try another pair of the socks I made up from a few different patterns and this is the result...

Rather a funny looking sock if I do say so myself, but as my mom said, once it is blocked it will look fine. Although in my case blocking means putting in on my foot. It's working up really nicely and the colours are very pretty. It will be a nice every day sock. I think I'm just going to keep knitting to see how long I can make it. There are about 450 yds in the 100 g ball. Besides I never know what to do with all my bits and pieces left over from socks. They just seem to end up in little balls in a bag. Waiting for who know what.

The vest is almost done. I got the help I was looking for and it's ready for the seams to be sewn up. Hopefully I'll get it done tonight and get some pictures taken in the next few days.

The Year of the Sock

It occurred to me as I was going through the pictures of the projects I've completed over the past several months, that although I have purchased yarns to make afghans, sweaters, scarves and hats, I also have accumulated a lot of sock yarn. And the only completed projects, other than a sleeveless top for this coming summer are socks. I only discovered socks last fall. Not that I never knew there were patterns for them, because my mom made many pairs of socks for 'the menfolk' in her day. Yet I always considered them as fussy and time consuming and never thought I'd ever make any.

I began browsing the internet for sock patterns and the more I looked the more socks I found. There are some absolutely beautiful patterns and those who have designed the socks are very talented indeed. It takes more than just technical know how, it takes a great eye for pattern. Not all patterns can translate to a nice looking sock. My sock making is rather basic right now, as I purchased sock yarn that wasn't overly expensive. In my quest for patterns I came across several websites devoted to beautiful sock yarns of all types and most importantly all colours. The hand painted ones are my favourite. Alas, they are also the most expensive. But I have promised myself that once I have mastered the sock (which means making a sock without little holes in places they shouldn't be), then I will splurge and order myself a few skeins of absolutely scrumptous hand painted, hand spun sock yarn.

In the meantime here are a few of the socks I've completed:

This is my first real pair of socks made from DGB Confetti - 75% wool 25% nylon. I got the pattern from the internet, but I see it has disappeared.

This pair is made from Paton's Kroy - 75% wool 25% cotton. The colour is called Krazy Stripes and the pattern is a free Paton's sheet at most local yarn shops or downloadable from the net.

This also is Paton's Kroy - Tutti Frutti. It is the free Paton's sock pattern made into an ankle sock.

The last sock and my favourite pair so far is made from DGB Confetti and a pattern I made up myself. I wanted to try a pair of toe up socks so I combined a figure 8 toe with a wrap and turn heel. For plain socks I will be using this pattern over and over and as soon as I write up my chicken scratch notes I'll post the pattern here.

So as you can see this is indeed the year of the sock. I have started another pair with SWTC Tofutsies in a beautiful pattern created by Chrissy Gardiner named Kaibashira. This sock yarn is a delight to work with and I have another ball which I am going to use to make a the Monkey sock by Cookie A.

Spring Has Sprung

As I sit here typing this the sun has finally decided to push through the clouds and the rain will hopefully hold off until tomorrow. It even feels warmer outside, although that might just be wishful thinking on my part. The windows are wide open and my apartment is airing out with the crisp early spring breeze. Outside, the wee crocuses and some daffodils have pushed up through the ground and some are bravely blooming. I have noticed the last few weeks that the grocery stores are carrying primroses and pansies and potted bulbs, and so I was tempted to go out to my local nursery and see what types of plants they had on offer. I found beautiful 'Danova' primroses and pansies and violas. Plus they had a table full of ranunculas. I caved in and bought enough to fill about five pots. They look so perky and happy out there I had to take their pictures. *smile*

I even spent a little time cleaning up the mess that winter and my resident squirrel left behind. And wouldn't you know, I had no sooner turned my back and the little rodent was perched out on the cement wall peering up at my pots. I had better not find any uprooted plants out there in the near future or he will be scampering about without a tail. That is if I can catch him.

Now that I have a little bit of spring happening out on my patio I have got the bug and I have begun making a list of those things I would like to plant for the rest of the season and on through the summer to add to my two hostas and peony which have started to sprout. Yes...spring has definitely sprung.

New Years Resolutions?

Another year has come and gone and now at the beginning of this new year I sit here contemplating new years resolutions. As a rule, I never make them. Not because I don't believe in them, but because I never keep them. I think that maybe new years goals might be a better way of doing things. So, having said that, I will see if I can at least set some goals for the coming year.
Of course, first on the list will be to keep up with this blog. I was very good at taking pictures of my projects last year, but not so good at posting them here. This year I have several major projects lined up, from a crocheted afghan (which I started last year and is approximately half done) to a beautiful knit sweater from the most luxurious silk, rayon, linen blend yarn.
Second, I will take more pictures. Not just of my projects, but of my family, my friends and the places that I go. What better way to remember those special events that happen throughout the year.
I think I'll leave it at two goals for now. Maybe throughout the year I'll add some more and who knows, by the end of this year I might just be able to say I stuck to my new years resolutions.