Waves Cupholder

An impromptu Valentine's gift for my husband. It will usually reside on a venti size--this grande is clearly an aberration.

It's my own pattern, inspired by Slingshot from Knitty.com. I used Lambspride wool and #10 dpns.

Luna Moth Shawl

I started this project a couple of days ago, and it went well until the last few rows of the second body chart (so I know the pattern's right). I ended up with an extra stitch on the left side. I counted and counted and compared and couldn't figure it out. Did I put it down to be frogged on the morrow? No, that would have been sensible. I knit four more rows. I don't know why. Well, I started the frogging yesterday, and I still haven't found the problem. I will today, and I'm liking the pattern. The yarn isn't as grass green as I was hoping, but neither is it as grey green as it is showing in this picture.

I just wanted to add that for anyone wanting to do the Hemlock Ring Blanket, there is a pattern complete with errata here: http://www.theraineysisters.com/. I am planning on making more, and I'm looking forward to not wrestling with a mistake in the pattern.

The Jellyfish Has Landed

Well, it's off the needles and blocking. I still can't believe I made it. It really came out nice. I skipped the last few rows, as I couldn't take my husband asking how the "car cover" was going. Sigh. I also cheated and did the crochet cast off, rather than the complicated knitted one. I so hate knitting several stitches in one stitch--that's why no matter how much I like nupps, I don't do projects with them.

It came out to be just over 4' wide--plenty big for a lap blanket.


Also, here's a pic of the Shetland triangle kerchief in action:

Okay, here's my first finished project of 2008. It's the Shetland Triangle for Wrap Style mentioned in my last WIP post. I finished it in just four days, and as far as I can tell only made one mistake. I did rip it out and try to fix it, but no doing. I don't think it's noticeable. I did run out of yarn and missed the last two rows of the edging chart and the final row before binding of, so it's not as nicely pointy as it should be. I will definitely be doing this for real with yarn I like!

The first pic is unblocked and looks like a manta ray. The second is while blocking.







No, I didn't knit this for the cat.

WIPs for December

Okay, I've been knitting, but not writing about it. I have a number of projects on the needles and some in the queue.

On the needles and 16 rows from being done is the Hemlock Ring Lap Blanket by Jared Flood. It's in a knitpicks worsted weight wool in a beautiful wine color. It's been a fun project, but it's not perfect, as there was a mistake in line 35 of the original doily, and I winged it--rarely a good idea. I still think it will be lovely, and I doubt that anyone else will notice the very slight irregularities in the pattern, and have found a corrected pattern for my next one, which is good, as I think I'll make three or four of these for Christmas next year. They are pretty, look really complicated, should be warm, and they don't take too much yarn or time. Though, I have to admit that I've slowed down considerably now that there are 300+ stitches in each row!

Here is after only two balls of yarn, it is much further along now, but this pic shows the color better than my latest--only one more then the bind off!



Another project I put on the needles yesterday is the Shetland Triangle by Evelyn A. Clark from Wrap Style. I used left over sock yarn in a weird blue-grey combo, and it won't be a full sized shawl, but more of a kerchief. I mostly wanted to try out the pattern and not buy any more yarn (I am sincerely trying to knit from my stash unless it's for gifts), and of course my LYS was closed on Sunday. I didn't do much work on my WIPs because I had gotten little sleep the night before, and didn't want to make mistakes on stuff that I'm making for other people. I needed a mental challenge that didn't really count. I like this pattern a lot, and I will be buying yarn to make a full sized one soon. This is an ideal first lace project; it is not my first lace project, but I wish it had been!

Also on the needles is a pair of mittens for my mother in law--they are stalled:



I am also making myself a pair of mittens to go with my hat and to use instead of the wonderful Composed Mitts by Michele Rose Orne from Interweave Knits fall 2007, I made, but really shouldn't wear in the snow or under my coat--they don't have fingers and are getting extra fuzzy. I do love the alpaca though. I am playing with these mittens, and making mistakes, but that's okay--they'll be funky, I'll learn some stuff, and I'll have a warm pair of mittens when I'm done. I hate swatching for practice--I'll do it for gauge (grudgingly) but only rarely for practice.

I also finally got the last skein of yarn for my husband's Christmas present, yes, I know, and I don't want to talk about it. It will be a small bag for his wallet and phone and will be in Fair Isle with Latvian accents (braid and fringe) in grey, blue, green, tan, and black, and maybe white, still planning.

I think that sums up current projects that aren't UFOs anyway.

I'm starting this blog, because what I really need is another reason to sit at the computer and NOT do my work.

Anyway, blogging about knitting to come.

Of course, instead of blogging about it, I should be doing it. Three days until Christmas--and I'm nowhere near done.