Knitty Progress

Well I haven't gotten much better about posting regularly. I'm still trying to find that balance between work, family, hobbies, friends, etc. I have been doing a bit of knitting and taking a sock class.

My February Lady Sweater has made some good progress. I've completed the body and am 3/4 of the way through the first sleeve. I love working with the Blue Moon Fiber Arts Twisted yarn - the color is fabulous (Korppi) and it works up wonderfully.



I've also been working on a number of socks - though progress has been minimal since I haven't had much time to work on them during lunch at work.

Sock #1 - plain jane sock - It's a basic broken rib pattern with Wendy Knits' Temptation Top-Down sock pattern. It's a neat heel pattern to eliminate the need to pick-up stitches for the gusset.


Sock #2 - Sky Sock - Cat Bordhi New Pathways for Sock Knitters. I enrolled in two New Pathways sock classes at one of my LYS - one top-down and one toe-up. It's really helped me to get a better understanding of the book and the concepts. I'm in the process of finishing up the heel.


Sock #3 - Riverbed - Rushing Rivulet Socks - Cat Bordhi New Pathways for Sock Knitters. Toe-up -- only the toe is done - I need to make some headway on the rest before next week's class.

Caffeinated Swap - Come Join

The Starbucks and Yarn Swap sign-ups started today. Come and join us on Ravelry... I subsist on caffeine these days - so it's my kind of swap....

Details
Sign Up Begins: May 27th
Sign Up Ends: June 3rd
Matches Sent Out: June 5th

What Will Go In The Kit

• $10 Sbux Gift Card One hank/skein of yarn
• One small projects pattern (i.e. wash cloth, fingerless mitts, coasters, etc.)
• One set of Stitch markers

Dollar Amount: Minimum of $20 - Maximum of $30
Duration of Swap: Two (2) Months
Swap Ends: August 7th
Participation: All participants will need to check in weekly on the Ravelry Group. There will be a weekly check-in thread posted. Passes will be given to those on vacation and if family emergencies come up, but any absences must be communicated as soon as possible. After being absent for two weeks with no communication swappers will be dropped from the swap.

Looks like it will be fun!

I also have some knitting and general content update - that I'll try and post tonight. I'm almost done with my February Lady Sweater and I have a million socks in process.

Knitty Progress

I've been showing a bunch of my quilt projects lately - so you might think that I've not been doing much knitting. You would be mostly right. It's hard to find time these days after I get home from work - but I've been trying to make some headway on a few socks and a sweater.

February Lady Sweater
I may be one of the last people in the knitting community to make this sweater - but I'm really loving it. I can see why it's so popular. I've also been reading the Elizabeth Zimmerman book that contains the original children's version. Highly entertaining. I may make a matching one for my little one if I have enough yarn left. Yes, I'm that much of a dork. I'm making mine out of Blue Moon Twisted in Korppi.



I've also been working on learning some of Cat Bordhi's sock architectures. I'm currently working on a Sky Sock in The Plucky Knitter's merino/cashmere fingering. The colorway is Colonel Brandon - it feels absolutely lovely. Yippee for Cashmere! I've got to find time to apply myself to this one sometime soon. It's just been hanging for awhile.



The last sock is my on the go sock - since I can't mentally tackle the sky sock out and about. It is a simple rib pattern applied to Wendy Knits' Temptation Top Down sock pattern. It is has a very cool heel.


Have a great Easter weekend. I'm hopeful for some more knitting.

Bags, Bags, Bags

I've been on a bag kick for the last few weeks. To thank a few women at work for all their assistance/coverage while I was out on maternity leave, I made each of them a bag. It's kind of a catch all bag to throw your lunch or a book, some papers, knitting, etc. My mom made me one last year and I really loved it. It's easy and inexpensive as it's only made from 4 fat quarters and some fusible fleece. It's sewed in easy squares then cut in 1/2 into triangles that your re-sew into squares to create a "crazy" mix-up of fabrics. The pattern is called the perfect bag from Fiber Options.



All the gift giving must have given me some good karma -- I won a bag on a blog giveaway!! I never win anything. The bag was made as a sample for her shop D Whynn Designs. The owner designs quilt bag patterns and sells finished handmade bags. It arrived in the mail today. It is absolutely fabulous - I love it!! I think I may pick out one her her patterns to try. She has a cool Etsy shop - go check it out. Here's a pic that I stole from her blog of my new bag:

Quilt Pattern

A few people asked for the title of the third quilt pattern (one that you cut apart and sew together to create the on-point setting). It is "Jelly Patch" by Ann Anderson and Susan Mayer. You can purchase it at:

Quilt Woman (publisher)
Mt. Pleasant Quilting Company (A local shop where I purchased mine, but they also have an online shop)
or they may carry it at your local quilt shop

It is a well written and easy pattern to follow (in my opinion). A time saver for this project is to use a Jelly Roll - since the strips are already cut and you'll have a large variety of coordinating fabrics - though you could easily use scraps. I'm particularly fond of the selection from The Fat Quarter Shop (partially because I'm a Moda junky. I've ordered from them multiple times and have always been impressed. They often have sales too.

As far as the stack-n-wack quilt goes - I think it is the 8 point 30 or 60 degree triangle pattern from the first book (linked in yesterday's post). I don't know the exact name as my Mom has my book.

More Quilt Progress

One of my goals on maternity leave was to finish up some of my outstanding quilt projects. I have a few that are pretty close to completion and just needed a bit of focused time. I finished three tops so far this week.

Quilt #1:
This was a kit that I purchased a few years ago because I really loved the colors and pattern. I cut out the pieces when I was pregnant, but didn't have a chance to assemble it. I'm fond of baby quilts that are made with brighter non-traditional colors. I plan on putting it away for when Anna's a bit older. We have another that I made in her crib now - so I'll save this one for later.


Quilt #2:
A stack-n-wack quilt that my mom and I took a class for at a local quilt shop a year or so ago. The blocks were all done they just needed to be set. It's really neat to see how different all the blocks can look when they come from the same fabric. I also have 4 blocks that were a bit smaller left that I can use for a small lap quilt. I'll need to purchase some additional complimentary material for those at some point.



Quilt #3:
This was a top that I completed in a class last year, but never had a chance to add the borders. It is a fascinating pattern because it uses a very interesting technique. It is a pattern that would be great for a beginner because it is simple strips sewn together - there are no setting triangles that you would usually need to do a quilt set on point. Instead you sew it together (then hold your breath) and cut it apart and resew in a very specific fashion to create an on-point quilt.


I've also continued to work on completing some of last year's Socks that Rock club kits. I started the July kit. I've completed the first sock and am almost done with the top of the mate. I really love this pattern - it's been awhile since I've had a pattern go this fast. It has a wonderful rhythm. I wasn't so sure about the garter stitch short row heel and toe - but it actually fits really really well and is extremely comfortable. I hope to finish the mate this week and start another kit.

Sock it to me

I've been on a bit of a sock kick since it's hard to squeeze in much knitting time with a newborn. Plus, I need to catch up on my Socks that Rock club kits from last year that I couldn't work on in my prego fog.

I started with the November kit because it seemed the easiest on my brain. I really liked how the pattern flowed. It took a bit since I was extremely sleep deprived for the first few weeks. :O)

Holidazed in muddy autumn rainbow by Anne Hanson (details on ravelry)


Then, I decided to start Gumdrops with the Goody Goody colorway by JC Briar. I'm about 3/4 of the way down the leg. I love it! The pattern is fun and addicting, plus the color fits the bout of mini-spring weather we are having.



A few just to make you smile photos....