Ruby Asterope

I finally managed to finish and block the shawl that's been on my needles since...April. Wow, this should not have taken so long. It was a really fun shawl to knit, but I'm not 100% sold on the finished project. The pattern is great, but the yarn may be slightly too variegated for my taste. I may end up gifting it.



Pattern: Asterope by Romi
Yarn: Sundara Fingering Silky Merino

Sweater Progress

I'm still plugging away on my WM DK sweater. I followed the instructions and blocked it before joining the fronts and backs, which made for a nice photo op.



Since this pic I've started the left sleeve. Hopefully I'll be able to wear the completed sweater in the new year.

Kissing Koi Cast-On

I've been in love with the Kissing Koi Mittens pattern for years. And I finally realized I had the perfect reason to knit them! In my quest to finish off some of my winter accessory sets, I found the blue malabrigo sock yarn that I'd put aside for gloves/mittens to go with my Gretel hat and Honey Cowl. After some Rav searches I had the brilliant idea of using the blue as background to some bright orange koi! I cast-on last night - it's looking pretty spiffy so far.



Pattern: Kissing Koi Mittens by Lisa Perruse
Yarn: Malabrigo Sock in Impressionist Sky and Wollmeise Pure Sock in Campari Orange

As Fast As A Speeding Bullet

I made a very late in the day decision to make my mom's birthday present this year. Well, actually, after the day, since I started knitting on the day of her birthday.

I wanted to use the yarn I had recovered from the sweater I made for her a couple of years ago (it didn't fit). It's a LE blue in Sundara's Aran Silky Merino.

I started with a shawl, which went from cast-on to blocking in two days, due to non-stop election coverage viewing.



And since I had a bunch of yarn left over, and my mom keeps complementing my berets, I made her a matching hat. In 24 hours - cast-on Friday night, wove in the ends on Saturday night. It was a miracle of efficiency.



Together they make a lovely set.



I had a chance to give them to her when she came into the city - turned out to be the perfect gift as she had not dressed for the cold, raw weather. All in all, a success!

Yarn: Sundara Aran Silky Merino
Shawl Pattern: Autumn Blush  by Joji Locatelli
Hat Pattern: Gretel by Ysolde

WM DK

As I have fallen for the siren call of Wollmeise DK, I felt the need to actually knit with it. So I've cast-on an Anna Maria Cardigan from Connie Chang Chinchio's book Textured Stitches. I've been getting in some good knitting time watching the playoffs (which came to an abrupt end due to the Yankees inability to hit) and the presidential debates (or actually, avoiding the presidential debates, as I ended up watching the last one on mute).

Woven Shawl

I finished my Wollmeise LaceGarn shawl. It's truly spectacular - pretty much all owing to the beautiful color. Although I'll take some credit for the awesome fringe. :)

I did ultimately manage to finish my olympics sweater, if rather later than I had hoped.



It fits nicely, although the collar is too tight for me to be able to fasten it all the way to the top. For now I'm wearing it open, I may decide to add fastenings at a later date.

Pattern: Cameo by Wendy Bernard
Yarn: Sundara Yarn Sport Merino

Knitter's Elbow

In my zeal to finish my Ravelympics sweater, I may have done myself some damage. Apparently I am currently suffering from knitter's elbow. Ooops. So what is a girl to do, when she can't knit? Weave, apparently. :) I've finally broken out some of my Wollmeise Lacegarn for a project!



It's a plan weave, warped at 24" wide.

In my quest for Ravelympics fame I have once again...failed. But I got way farther than last time, which is something, right?

I decided to try to complete a sweater, using my steadily growing Sundara stash. I got through the torso, but was unable to even start the sleeves before the closing ceremonies. Ah well, someday I will finish it.



Yarn: Sundara Sport in LE Blue
Pattern: Cameo by Wendy Bernard

I finally finished my first pair of Wollmeise socks! They're a bit snug, but absolutely lovely.



Yarn: Wollmeise Twin in Tiefer See
Pattern: Firestarter by Yarnissima

And I have cast on yet another pair of stripey socks - this time with spiraling eyelets for a bit of interest.



Yarn: Gothsocks Laudenum in Fairy Folk
Pattern: Whirly Socks by Loise Robert

Bookworm Socks!

And here are my completed Bookworm Socks! They are so cozy, between the MCN content of the yarn and the snuggly 2x2 ribbing.

Central Park

The weather has been very variable of late, although I've had a few lovely walks to and from work. I love Central Park.

Stripey Socks

I've joined in a Stripey Socks KAL, and have been making great progress. :) I decided to knit up some of my most precious skeins. I finished a pair coming back from my Georgia knitting retreat. I knit them with afterthought heels, so as not to interrupt the striping. I adore this colorway - it's Salsa on Tasty, dyed by Twisted Fiber Arts.


I finished a second pair last week, most of which I knit on the bus due to all the bad weather. They're knit from Gothsocks MCN base in Bruised Ego, and they are gorgeous.


And now I have a third pair, Bookworm on TFA Tasty, on the needles. :) It's amazing how quickly they've been knitting up.
 

Honey Cowl

So I actually finished something! My Honey Cowl (knit to go with my Gretel hat in the same Malabrigo yarn) is finally done. Just in time for spring. ;)



I have also started a new project with some of my most beloved yarn - Sundara Ruby Port FSM.



I'm making an Asterope shawl, because I really do need to play with some lace right about now.

The Quilt Progresses (slowly)

I have been less than diligent in putting together my patchwork quilt. So I just lined up some of my rows, in the hopes that it would inspire me to work faster (and procrastinate less, even if procrastination leads to finished socks), and I think it just might work.



I like the colors and the way it all balances. Fingers crossed that I can finish this top soon!

Socks!

I have actually finished something! A pair of somethings actually. I finished some stripey socks (with heel/toe in order to disturb the striping as little as possible).

Yay socks!



Pattern: Hug Me Socks by Terry Morris
Yarn: Canon Hand Dyes Jane MCN Self-Striping (purchased at sock summit)

Monkey Elephant!

I made an elephant made of monkeys!



A friend of mine is having a baby boy - and I felt that the mere fact that I owned this monkey fabric required me to make an elephant out of it.



I ended up ripping out the right ear twice before I got the stitches sufficiently neat and the positioning even with the other ear. I'm happy I did - a bit of lopsided is cute and quirky - but too much just looks careless.



Pattern from Last Minute Patchwork + Quilted Gifts.

NOTE TO MYSELF - When the pattern says "sew belly pieces together" this does not mean sew all the way around those two pieces, it just means from the hash marks for the opening to the corners that are marked "front" and "back" - please remember this next time.

Shawls new and old

So, I've picked out the yarn for my Color Affection shawl. I'm going with Sundara Fingering Merino in Breaking Dawn, French Lavender, and Winter Solstice. (The Breaking Dawn and Winter Solstice didn't make it into the group photo, they were sitting neglected on my armchair during the photo shoot.) It'll be somewhat sweet, but I'm hoping the sophistication of Sundara's work will prevent it from lurching into twee-ville.



And in other, Sundara shawl news, I finally blocked the Haruni I made in Sundara Silk Lace that I cast off January 1, 2011. Yes, over a year ago.



It really is gorgeous. And the blocked fabric is so lovely and delicate.



I can't say that I can't believe it took me so long to block the shawl - procrastination may as well be my middle name. Hopefully next time I'll be a bit more on top of the whole blocking thing. Now if only I had somewhere to wear it.

Oh dear

So, remember that quilt I was going to make back in the summer of 2010? Well, I'm working on it. After I finished my last woven scarf I folded up my loom and set up my kitchen table as a quilting center.



I'd gotten through sewing many pairs of squares when I realized that I had ten too few squares in a few of the fabrics. So I'll cut those and be back on my way to an actual quilt!

Progress pic

I realize that I rarely post progress pics. I will try to remedy that.

In my attempt to complete another outerwear set, I have cast on a Honey Cowl in Malabrigo Worsted in Impressionist Sky. This will match my Mal Gretel Beret.

Color Affection

I adore the new Color Affection pattern from Veera Välimäki. I'm trying to cut down on my stashing (I didn't post a New Year's Resolution, but that's definitely one of them) so I chose not to buy a kit from Plucky Knitter. Instead, I'd like to use three skeins of my Sundara Fingering Merino, since I've accumulated so much during last year's club. The question is, which three?

Mushroom Scarf

As a thank you to my friend Gretchen, who lent me her loom to learn on, I wove her a scarf from two skeins of Sundara Fingering Merino in Portabello and Porcini.



I think it came out rather well.



Now if only we could schedule a time so I could give it to her!

I did it!

Guys, I did it. I actually did it. I finished my Flaming Flamingo Empire. I have yet to take any glamorous pictures of it, but it's done. From the top of the ruffle to the bottom of the hem, it is complete. This has been on the needles since...August of 2009 (Rav is so useful that way). It is now January of 2012.





Pardon the bathroom pics.