Tuesday, July 30, 2013

July is on it's way out!

Time sure does fly! I can't believe July ends tomorrow. Before long, it'll be sweater weather again... No, I don't need to think about that! Otherwise, I'll want to cast on a sweater!

I've got one FO this week, and one sort-of FO. I finished my Dirty NOLA socks tonight.  That makes 4 pairs done for the 26 Pair Plunge that I'm participating in. Just 22 pairs to go!
They're knit from Premier Yarn Deborah Norville Serenity Sock in the Harlequin colorway, on US 1/2.25 mm needles. It took just shy of a month to finish them, but I definitely wasn't monogamous...

I also finished a dishcloth, then started on another, because I've decided what my Christmas presents for lots of people will be this year ;)
I've got three or four of these big balls of Bernat Handicrafter Cotton, as well as some Sugar & Cream, and some Peaches & Cream. 

Of course, I've worked on things that didn't get finished:
- Tiffany and Philip's baby blanket
- Mum's Moonlight Shawl
- My grey stripey socks
- Lorna's birthday socks
- and the big project of the week, the picnic blanket. 

I started working on this blanket about four years ago. A group of us had gotten into the habit of meeting for lunch in the park across from my office, and I thought it would be great to make a picnic blanket for us to use. Before I could get it finished, though, a bunch of stuff happened, and two of the three people are no longer in my life. The picnic blanket went into hibernation and has been there ever since. 

With all of the podcasts I've been listening to, I've heard lots about the Beekeeper's Quilt, and I've decided that would be a great way to use up my leftover sock yarn from the 26 Pair Plunge. I knew I'd need a place to store the hexipuffs, but I didn't really want to buy something new. This picnic blanket, though, was living in a sort of pretty basket, which would be a great place to store hexipuffs!

So the picnic blanket is now out of hibernation, because I want that basket. I promised myself that I wouldn't buy the Beekeeper's Quilt pattern until I had that basket free, so I'm working on that a lot. It's crochet, and has 172 squares. Individual squares. Which all needed to be crocheted together. 

I've finished all the squares, and a big chunk of the seams, and I realized: SEAMS SUCK. I don't like them at all. But I've got five left to finish, then a couple rows of pattern around the edges to make it all pretty. With any luck, I'll have it finished for next week's update! Cross your fingers! 

And finally, I've been considering doing a vlog instead of a blog entry, probably because I've watched so many video podcasts lately. Does anyone have an opinion on this? Would you rather have a video or photos? 

Tuesday, July 23, 2013

More socks? Why not?

I've been pretty monogamous in my knitting this week. A friend came for a visit, and I spent a lot of time hanging out with her and chatting. While we chatted, I knit her a pair of socks and she worked on a project I'm not allowed to talk about yet ;)

I finished her socks:
They're knit from Knit One Crochet Too Ty-Dy Socks in color 1767, using US 3/3.25 mm needles. 

I also turned the heels on my Dirty NOLA socks! Whee!

The only other project I worked on this week was Tiffany & Phillip's baby blanket. I'm on the fifth of six balls of yarn, so I should be wrapping that one up soon. 

I did spend some time browsing JoAnn and Michaels with my friend, and I picked up some more Smashbook supplies, and we also pulled out my Big Shot for part of her secret project, which made me want to make some cards, so I may have a few to show you next week. 

Of course, I might just spend the weekend cleaning up the yarn-splosion in my office... I was trying to tidy up before my friend arrived, but that sort of turned into sorting, which turned into organizing, which got cut short and is now yarn everywhere... I'm not sure you'll get photos, but rest assured, I'm thoroughly exploring my stash as I try to figure out where to put it all!

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

So many socks!

I didn't finish much this week, but I have worked on stuff!

I've finally finished Jonathan's socks. 
They look a bit weird in the photo, but his feet are huge, and the only sock blockers I have are for my own tiny fairy feet. They are done, though, ends woven in and everything! They're knit from Patons Stretch Socks in Pumpkin Spice Jacquard on US 3/3.25 mm needles. 

I'm still working on my Dirty NOLA socks, but not enough progress for a photo. I also cast on a new pair for myself. These ones are knit two-at-a-time on circulars, top down. I'm using Patons Stretch Sock again, this time in Spumoni Stripes, again on US 3/3.25 mm needles. 

In other sock news, I decided I need to pick up a second ball of Malabrigo for my beau's socks, so I can't quite start that pair yet. I did get the measurements for socks for Lorna and Nate, so I'll be starting on those shortly. Yay socks!

I worked on mum's shawl a bit, but there's not much difference in how it looks, so again, no photo. 

Finally, I cast on a new baby blanket, this one for friends of my beau, who are expecting in a few months' time. I actually knit it during a movie! I went to see 'Man of Steel' on Sunday evening, and managed to knit a full ball before the credits rolled. 

And that's been my week in knitting!

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

So many finished things!

I finished so many things this weekend!!

First, I finished the swingy tank top. It's knit from Patons Grace in Azure. (And yes, that's me in the photo.)

I also finished a pair of handwarmers. You may recognize the yarn - it's Premier Yarns Wool-Free Sock in Vegas Lights, the same yarn I used for socks for my sister and nieces. 

I finished Wendy's baby blanket, made from Bernat Mirage in Regal Blue. I know I said I wasn't going to post it until after the shower, but it's this Friday, and I don't think she reads this, and I'm impatient! So here it is!


Finally, I finished the baby blanket for Andrew and Hayley. It's knit from Bernat Pipsqueak in Baby Baby print. 

In other knitting, I'm still working on Jonathan's socks:

I cast on a pair of socks for me, my Dirty NOLA socks:

Finally, I cast on a birthday present for my mum. It's a pattern called "Sunlight for Sad People" that I found on Ravelry:
I'm knitting this one on the new needles that my beau bought for me. Wasn't that sweet of him?

I've been listening to a ton of podcasts lately, especially knitting ones! If you haven't watched her yet, Steph of the Knitting Samurai Plus 1 podcast is awesome! I also adore listening to Karen and Maggie (and sometimes Lauren) of Knit 1, Geek 2. I've been catching up on old episodes of both of these, and I should be current by the end of the month... Which means I'll have to find more to listen to! Suggestions are welcome :)

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

It's July!

Happy belated Canada Day! I hope all of my Canadian friends had a great day yesterday. 


And happy early Fourth of July to my American friends!

I've been busy this past week, and I've made progress on lots of stuff, but I only have one finished object...

Look! It's my first pair of socks for the 26 Pair Plunge! It's yet another pair made of the Premier Yarns Wool-Free Sock in Vegas Lights. 

I've started another pair of handwarmers, using that same yarn - this should use up the end of my two skeins, I hope! No photos yet, but expect some next week.

I've made some very nice progress on my Skirted tank: 
The back is finished and blocking. I've just got the straps left on the front, then it's time to assemble! I think I'm going to modify the instructions a bit, just to have a flatter edge around the neck and under the arms. I hope to finish knitting the front tonight, then I'll block it, and probably get it all seamed up this weekend. With a little luck, it'll be a finished object by next week!

I'm still working on Wendy's blanket, now on row 167/260, so just over 2/3 done. If I can manage 25 rows/day over the long weekend, I'll be able to block it and then do the last bit of decorative embroidery before the baby shower on July 12. And then I'll be able to show you photos the next week!

Jonathan's socks are still in progress, though they don't look much different from last week because I haven't hit the heel yet. 

Finally, I cast on another baby blanket. This one is for my cousin Andrew and his fiancĂ©e Hayley, who is due in a few months. 
It's knit from Bernat Pipsqueak in Baby Baby Print on US size 9/13 mm needles. It's a nice, easy garter stitch, which is good for movies or watching my guy playing video games. He's currently playing through 'The Last of Us' on PS3, and it is an awesome game! There is so much story, and it's woven into the gameplay so beautifully! It's almost as much fun for me to watch as it is for him to play, I think. 

Speaking of my guy, I picked up some new yarn to make socks for him - Malabrigo Sock in 806 Impressionist Sky. I knit my swatch on US size 1/2.25 mm needles. Once I get another pair off the needles, he's getting some TARDIS socks! Woohoo!

So. That's where I am with stuff. Cross your fingers that I'll get piles done for next week!