We were at camp so this was just a fitting for later this fall when the cooler weather comes in. Very nice pattern, yarn and experience overall!
Monday, June 8, 2009
Success!
It fit and was determined to hot to wear right now but was a success!
We were at camp so this was just a fitting for later this fall when the cooler weather comes in. Very nice pattern, yarn and experience overall!
We were at camp so this was just a fitting for later this fall when the cooler weather comes in. Very nice pattern, yarn and experience overall!
Friday, June 5, 2009
Finished Object - Dad's Vest
It couldn't have been finished with any later and still be a present for my father. His birthday was this past Tuesday but I got a few extra days since I won't see him until tomorrow. It's currently blocking/drying in our spare bedroom.
I would say that while the pattern is beautiful and very well made, it's short. I tried to add length to it here and there hoping to make up for it since I read others knitters opinions on the Ravelry project page claiming it ended up way short for them. My Dad wanted it longer than what the pattern stated so I definitely kept that in mind the whole time. I'm hoping that by blocking the wool strongly it will give me another couple inches in length. We shall see when he tries it on tomorrow . . .
Details
Pattern: Zipped Vest by Veronik Avery
Yarn: Patons Classic Merino Wool in charcoal
Needles: US 4 (Knit Picks Options were awesome)
Time frame: 3/23/09 - 6/5/09
I would say that while the pattern is beautiful and very well made, it's short. I tried to add length to it here and there hoping to make up for it since I read others knitters opinions on the Ravelry project page claiming it ended up way short for them. My Dad wanted it longer than what the pattern stated so I definitely kept that in mind the whole time. I'm hoping that by blocking the wool strongly it will give me another couple inches in length. We shall see when he tries it on tomorrow . . .
Details
Pattern: Zipped Vest by Veronik Avery
Yarn: Patons Classic Merino Wool in charcoal
Needles: US 4 (Knit Picks Options were awesome)
Time frame: 3/23/09 - 6/5/09
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Mid Year Update
It's June 4th and time to gauge what I can do this year and what is probably impossible to accomplish. First step is to make a list of project with deadlines:
1. Dad's Vest - Knitting is done and the zipper will be sewn in tonight! Deadline is this Saturday when I see him at camp.
2. Kansas Purse - Haven't cast this on but it should be quick and I bought the clear purse handles yesterday while I was at AC Moore looking for a zipper for Dad's Vest. Deadline is July 11th, her birthday.
3. Football Socks - Team colored yarn was purchased and patterns have been queued up in Ravelry. I'm really liking the looks of Gridiron and School Sock. Very manly. Deadline is August 9th, beginning of NFL pre-season.
4. Cable Blanket for Baby Craig - One ball knit and 4 to go. Very enjoyable project to work on so it shouldn't take long to finish if I work here and there on it in between other projects when I need a break. Deadline is pre-October 17th, her due date but most likely given as a shower gift.
5. Duke Dog Sweater - Measurements have been taken for the pattern calculator, colors have been selected but design elements are still being debated between a dog bone motif or skull and cross bones. Deadline is this fall, before it gets too cold.
6. Manly Socks for Christmas - Requests came in from my husband, father and father-in-law for more wool socks in specific colors. I purchased several balls of yarn already from AC Moore when they had a ridiculous sale on Paton's Classic Wool (and later retracted the flyer costs). I'll probably use my patterns from Knitting Pure and Simple. Deadline is this Christmas.
Ah, that doesn't seem so bad. The problem is that it doesn't include my current WIPs:
1. Mystery Stole 4 (aka Serendipity Stole) - I've got the first half done and about half way through the second half. Since I started this project as a learning experience for larger lace projects there's no intended recipient at this time and no deadline. It will sadly have to wait for the deadline projects to get finished up first.
2. Dainty Bess lace scarf - This is my travel project and perfect for airport/airplane/hotel knitting. Absolutely no rush on this one either.
That's not too bad either. It's nice to have true pleasure projects to work on with no pressure for finishing. But then there's the Shakespeare in Lace club that I joined. Now that's true pleasure knitting. I had initially hoped that I could finish all 4 shipments this year but realistically I'd like to just be able to cast on for one before the end of the year. The first two shipments are beautiful and will make great presents some day:
1. Desdemona Shawl - The yarn is a pinkish peach and super soft.
2. A Midsummer's Night Dream Lace Shawl - The yarn is again very soft and the blue has great depth to it from being kettle dyed. Plus, it came with BEADS! Good thing I know how to knit with beads after working on the MS4 stole!
So, while I feel good about organizing my To Do list and that I only have to buy yarn for one project (Duke's Dog Sweater - Caron's Simply Soft won't be expensive at all) I do have some anxiety about finding enough time to get everything done. I only knit a couple hours each night. Plus there's that nagging feeling about not knitting on my GAAA at all this year and all of the other gorgeous yarn in my stash that I'm excited to work with.
Maybe I just need to schedule a few "mental health" days and just knit all day. Yeah - that would be nice . . .
1. Dad's Vest - Knitting is done and the zipper will be sewn in tonight! Deadline is this Saturday when I see him at camp.
2. Kansas Purse - Haven't cast this on but it should be quick and I bought the clear purse handles yesterday while I was at AC Moore looking for a zipper for Dad's Vest. Deadline is July 11th, her birthday.
3. Football Socks - Team colored yarn was purchased and patterns have been queued up in Ravelry. I'm really liking the looks of Gridiron and School Sock. Very manly. Deadline is August 9th, beginning of NFL pre-season.
4. Cable Blanket for Baby Craig - One ball knit and 4 to go. Very enjoyable project to work on so it shouldn't take long to finish if I work here and there on it in between other projects when I need a break. Deadline is pre-October 17th, her due date but most likely given as a shower gift.
5. Duke Dog Sweater - Measurements have been taken for the pattern calculator, colors have been selected but design elements are still being debated between a dog bone motif or skull and cross bones. Deadline is this fall, before it gets too cold.
6. Manly Socks for Christmas - Requests came in from my husband, father and father-in-law for more wool socks in specific colors. I purchased several balls of yarn already from AC Moore when they had a ridiculous sale on Paton's Classic Wool (and later retracted the flyer costs). I'll probably use my patterns from Knitting Pure and Simple. Deadline is this Christmas.
Ah, that doesn't seem so bad. The problem is that it doesn't include my current WIPs:
1. Mystery Stole 4 (aka Serendipity Stole) - I've got the first half done and about half way through the second half. Since I started this project as a learning experience for larger lace projects there's no intended recipient at this time and no deadline. It will sadly have to wait for the deadline projects to get finished up first.
2. Dainty Bess lace scarf - This is my travel project and perfect for airport/airplane/hotel knitting. Absolutely no rush on this one either.
That's not too bad either. It's nice to have true pleasure projects to work on with no pressure for finishing. But then there's the Shakespeare in Lace club that I joined. Now that's true pleasure knitting. I had initially hoped that I could finish all 4 shipments this year but realistically I'd like to just be able to cast on for one before the end of the year. The first two shipments are beautiful and will make great presents some day:
1. Desdemona Shawl - The yarn is a pinkish peach and super soft.
2. A Midsummer's Night Dream Lace Shawl - The yarn is again very soft and the blue has great depth to it from being kettle dyed. Plus, it came with BEADS! Good thing I know how to knit with beads after working on the MS4 stole!
So, while I feel good about organizing my To Do list and that I only have to buy yarn for one project (Duke's Dog Sweater - Caron's Simply Soft won't be expensive at all) I do have some anxiety about finding enough time to get everything done. I only knit a couple hours each night. Plus there's that nagging feeling about not knitting on my GAAA at all this year and all of the other gorgeous yarn in my stash that I'm excited to work with.
Maybe I just need to schedule a few "mental health" days and just knit all day. Yeah - that would be nice . . .
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Knitting Karma
This past weekend my parents had a massive garage sale and thankfully they let us put a ton of stuff in with theirs. I took this opportunity to sort through my stash and found two boxes of yarn that I would never use.
They were my husband's grandmother's stash and kept very nicely over the years. It was chunky acrylic yarn in colors that didn't fit my taste. Back in the 1970s this must have been her best stash. There were balls from Sweden - very cool but still too rough for my taste and I love acrylics. After 3 years of keeping it in this house I decided to part with it - which was hard but it felt good too.
My father set out the yarn for me and told me how it sold:
An elderly lady and a couple of her friends got out of the car early Friday morning and started looking around at the offerings. She came to the first box of yarn, "Excuse me, how much for this box of yarn?"
My father replied, "One dollar for the box."
"One dollar?" she asked.
"Yes, a dollar for the box."
"The entire box?" she asked again.
My father assured her that it was marked to sell at exactly that price. She quickly snatched up the box and dug through her purse for the dollar. Then she spotted the second box . . .
"Sir? How much for this box?"
He said one dollar again and she was just tickled pink with her find. She quickly paid him, beamed to her friends and just gushed about what a great deal it was. My Dad explained that his daughter was a knitter and that I was just clearing out my yarn. It was perfectly good yarn but just didn't fit with what I liked to make, I didn't have room for it anymore, etc. My Dad had a conversation on yarn with her. Love it!
When Dad told me this story it made my day and I completely felt the great karma from not just tossing the yarn into the trash. I hope she enjoys the yarn just as much as I enjoyed passing it along!
They were my husband's grandmother's stash and kept very nicely over the years. It was chunky acrylic yarn in colors that didn't fit my taste. Back in the 1970s this must have been her best stash. There were balls from Sweden - very cool but still too rough for my taste and I love acrylics. After 3 years of keeping it in this house I decided to part with it - which was hard but it felt good too.
My father set out the yarn for me and told me how it sold:
An elderly lady and a couple of her friends got out of the car early Friday morning and started looking around at the offerings. She came to the first box of yarn, "Excuse me, how much for this box of yarn?"
My father replied, "One dollar for the box."
"One dollar?" she asked.
"Yes, a dollar for the box."
"The entire box?" she asked again.
My father assured her that it was marked to sell at exactly that price. She quickly snatched up the box and dug through her purse for the dollar. Then she spotted the second box . . .
"Sir? How much for this box?"
He said one dollar again and she was just tickled pink with her find. She quickly paid him, beamed to her friends and just gushed about what a great deal it was. My Dad explained that his daughter was a knitter and that I was just clearing out my yarn. It was perfectly good yarn but just didn't fit with what I liked to make, I didn't have room for it anymore, etc. My Dad had a conversation on yarn with her. Love it!
When Dad told me this story it made my day and I completely felt the great karma from not just tossing the yarn into the trash. I hope she enjoys the yarn just as much as I enjoyed passing it along!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Weekend Knitting
This weekend I finished my first ball of yarn for the Cabled Baby Blanket that I'm making for friends that are expecting their first baby. I'm amazed at how quickly it's going but then again I'm comparing it to Dad's vest that has double the number of stitches in one row.
The color is a rich almond and should fit in nicely with their home decor. The pattern is one that they picked out from my Debbie Bliss Simply Baby book. At this rate I should finish it well before the baby shower. It's perfect knitting for when family is visiting or when we have a short road trip.
The color is a rich almond and should fit in nicely with their home decor. The pattern is one that they picked out from my Debbie Bliss Simply Baby book. At this rate I should finish it well before the baby shower. It's perfect knitting for when family is visiting or when we have a short road trip.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Stash Organization
The other night I had a dream about my acrylic yarn that I use for charity and I was trying to get Clara Parks to write reviews of the yarn available in big box stores, their pros can cons and the best uses for each.
Yes, I need to do something about the growing size of my acrylic yarn stash.
I ended up pulling all of my stored yarn out of bags and either putting it in my yarn cabinet or my drawers. I had yarn from my husbands grandmother that will be perfect for the HAP rectangles and I had yarn purchased a while back for a couple Project Linus blankets. I also had knitting bags all over my closet and office with no real organization.
I ended up cleaning out my entire office and it felt really good. I rearranged my furniture and completely cleaned out the closet with an emphasis on accessing the things I need easily. I've got a laundry basket of clothes to garage sale now and a good sense of the yarn I own. Needless to say I don't plan on making any purchases anytime soon :)
The first shelf is my nicest yarn including lace weights and festival purchases, second shelf is sock yarn and Project Linus blanket yarn, third shelf is charity yarn for Oddball blankets and the bottom shelf is my GAAA yarn and the yarn I have in my Ravelry trade/sell category for easy access.
My stash drawers include finished objects, tools and notions. I also have leftover balls of yarn for charity knitting, dishcloths and for teaching people how to knit when they ask. I feel much better about having everything organized and knowing exactly what I have. By no means is it excessive but by organizing a couple times a year I can keep it from getting out of control. I have some really nice stuff and can't wait to use it all. Now it's just a question of finding the time to knit . . .
Yes, I need to do something about the growing size of my acrylic yarn stash.
I ended up pulling all of my stored yarn out of bags and either putting it in my yarn cabinet or my drawers. I had yarn from my husbands grandmother that will be perfect for the HAP rectangles and I had yarn purchased a while back for a couple Project Linus blankets. I also had knitting bags all over my closet and office with no real organization.
I ended up cleaning out my entire office and it felt really good. I rearranged my furniture and completely cleaned out the closet with an emphasis on accessing the things I need easily. I've got a laundry basket of clothes to garage sale now and a good sense of the yarn I own. Needless to say I don't plan on making any purchases anytime soon :)
The first shelf is my nicest yarn including lace weights and festival purchases, second shelf is sock yarn and Project Linus blanket yarn, third shelf is charity yarn for Oddball blankets and the bottom shelf is my GAAA yarn and the yarn I have in my Ravelry trade/sell category for easy access.
My stash drawers include finished objects, tools and notions. I also have leftover balls of yarn for charity knitting, dishcloths and for teaching people how to knit when they ask. I feel much better about having everything organized and knowing exactly what I have. By no means is it excessive but by organizing a couple times a year I can keep it from getting out of control. I have some really nice stuff and can't wait to use it all. Now it's just a question of finding the time to knit . . .
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Addiction
I have recently admitted to myself and to my family that I have an addiction. It's powerful and intoxicating. I'm addicted to knitting bags. Now that it's out in the open I'm hoping to shop more :)
Below is the Namaste Clutch that I won from Planet Purl.
I was so excited to get the charcoal version since out of all the colors that would have been the one I would pick for myself. Love. This. Bag.
Perfect Size for my lace scarf projects with spots for multiple needles.
Perfect sections for practical items needed that are non-knitting related.
Perfect price for my budget (ahem - FREE)
On Monday we took a lunch break with my parents and went to Cracker Barrel. Most of their items are over priced but I love to look. I found the cutest black bag with pick flower that was perfect for knitting (see - the addiction is always there) and at $15 I thought it was worth considering. By the end of the meal, I decided to save my money since we're in a recession and my husband just recently had to trade in for a new truck for safety issues. Next day it was waiting for me on my desk, thanks to my father who thought if I liked it that much I should have it.
So yes, not only is my husband the ever vigilant enabler - he's converted my father too. Do you think they have rehab for this?
Below is the Namaste Clutch that I won from Planet Purl.
I was so excited to get the charcoal version since out of all the colors that would have been the one I would pick for myself. Love. This. Bag.
Perfect Size for my lace scarf projects with spots for multiple needles.
Perfect sections for practical items needed that are non-knitting related.
Perfect price for my budget (ahem - FREE)
On Monday we took a lunch break with my parents and went to Cracker Barrel. Most of their items are over priced but I love to look. I found the cutest black bag with pick flower that was perfect for knitting (see - the addiction is always there) and at $15 I thought it was worth considering. By the end of the meal, I decided to save my money since we're in a recession and my husband just recently had to trade in for a new truck for safety issues. Next day it was waiting for me on my desk, thanks to my father who thought if I liked it that much I should have it.
So yes, not only is my husband the ever vigilant enabler - he's converted my father too. Do you think they have rehab for this?
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