Fuzzy Wuzzy Wuz a Blanky

I came across this post on the Purl Bee and I fell in love with the Chevron Baby Blanket. So I hopped on over to Purlsoho.com and ordered my own color combination for my friends' son, Ben.



Pattern: Chevron Baby Blanket from The Purl Bee
Yarn: Purl Soho Super Soft Merino- 4 skeins Heirloom White, 1 skein each- Timeless Navy, Extra Green, Clementine Orange, and Dragonfly Blue.
Needles: KP Options- US 11
Date Started: August 11, 2013
Date Finished: August 30, 2013
Mods: None to the pattern
Comments: I had to order 1 extra skein of Heirloom White. That slowed progress a bit. This yarn is super, super soft and fluffy. It made a warm blanket that will be perfect for a Boston baby.



Although the sell kits with different color combos, I really love the colors I picked. It's preppy and nautical without being too serious.



I'm especially loving the bright blue/orange combo. Now I just have to get it in the mail to the baby boy.

Octopus!

For his first birthday, I decided to knit my nephew Silas an octopus. Did you know you have to knit 8 legs?!?!??! That's a lot of legs. But it did turn out really cute.



Project: Ollie Octopus for Silas
Pattern: Knit Octopus
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts, Socks That Rock Medium Weight in Algae, 2 skeins
Needles: Knit Picks Options, US Size 6
Date Started: 5/30/13
Date Finished: 8/11/13
Mods: None



Loving his sleepy eyes.



But damn that's a lot of boring legs to knit. I hope baby Silas loves him a lot- even though he is a month and a half late.

Only 9 Months Late

Last July 1, my nephew Silas was born. And I finally finished his baby blanket.



Isn't he cute?!?!?!

I love this pattern. It's quick, beautiful, and easy to memorize.



Name: Silas's Baby Blanket (Rav Link)
Pattern: Heirloom Baby Blanket
Yarn: Madelinetosh Tosh DK in Fjord
Needles: KP Options Lucite US Size 10
Date Started: 2/24/13
Date Finished: 3/17/13
Mods: None. Although, I ran short of yarn for the bottom border. So that end has a little shorter edge. I'm pretty sure he won't notice.



Here's a close up of the stitch pattern. Love it.

Now I just hope it doesn't take me another month to mail it to them.

I'm a Cheater

I have to confess... I've been cheating on my knitting. But when I saw this post on Alicia's site, I couldn't resist. Of course, I bought the kit and furiously dove in.

Then, in typical Nell fashion, I got distracted by knitting and it took forever for me to just finish the damn thing.



Here's how mine turned out. Now it just needs to be ironed and framed. But that'll take me another 6 months. I really do hate finishing!

Now back to our regularly scheduled knitting.

Victory is Mine!

I thought this post needed some Olympic attitude! For the fifth knit from Wendy Johnson's Toe Up Socks for Everyone, I finished the Victory Socks.

 

Pattern: Victory Socks from Toe Up Socks for Everyone
Yarn: Scout's Swag Merino Sock in Orchid Satisfaction
Needles: KP Options US Size 1.5 (2.5mm)
Date Started: 10/23/11
Date Finished: 7/15/12
Mods: None. But this is the first pair I knitted 2 socks at a time on 1 magic loop needle. It went pretty smooth although I had a yarn tangle at the end!

 

 This pattern was really fun to knit I just got derailed by all the baby knitting I've had in the past few weeks. They really should not have taken so long.

 

Love them! And I really love the Scout's Swag yarn. Her color sense is amazing. The purples flow so beautifully.

Another Baby Boom

It seems like every year, I'm smack dab in the middle of a baby boom. And this year is no different. There are at least 7 babies I need to knit for this year.

 

Pattern: Autumn Leaves
Yarn: Sublime Organic Cotton DK in Clay, 2 skeins
Needles: KP Options Size 6
Date Started: 3/11/12
Date Finished: 5/6/12- The knitting was done about a month ago. In typical fashion, it took me forever to sew the buttons on.
Mods: None. I really knit this as a trial run but I think it's good enough to give as a gift.

 

 I love the pink buttons. It makes it sweet but not too girly. I'm thinking this one is a hit.

Close Enough

The fourth socks from Toe Up Socks for Every Body are done. I think these might be my favorite so far.



Pattern: Crocus Socks from Toe Up Socks for Every Body
Needles: KP US size 1.5
Yarn: Malabrigo Sock in Lettuce
Date Started: March 26, 2011
Date Finished: September 26, 2011
Mods: None- But I did knit these two at a time on a magic loop. That's not why it took me 6 months between sock pairs. (You might remember a certain wedding shawl that took up a lot of time.) I might knit everything 2 at a time from now on. No more remembering how many repeats or how many cuff rows. And definitely no second sock syndrome!



The color in this photo is more true to life. Unfortunately, I didn't have anything closer in color to the Louet Goldenrod shown in the book. (Look here.) But it's OK, I really wanted to use up stash yarn.



Plus, this Malabrigo yarn practically glows. The color is incredible.




Makes me think I need a new camera. Hmmmmm....

Lily of the Valley and a Wedding

About 6 months ago, my sister asked me to knit her a shawl for her wedding. Even though I quickly agreed, fear gripped me. I'd never knit something so intricate, so fine. And it had to be perfect. I mean, it would be on her arm for her wedding. That's a lot of pressure. And I really only knit socks. A flurry of emails went between us. I would ask, "what style do you like?" "Surprise me!" she replied. "Would you like ivory or a color?" "Whatever you think." "Thanks for the input," I would think to myself. I settled on the Lily of the Valley Shawl from Lace Style. It's really beautiful and the pattern looked straightforward. On June 16, I finally got underway. As of August 23, it was blocked and drying on my guest bed. On August 27, my little sister was married while carrying it on her arm.



Isn't she gorgeous? That's our father, not her husband. (for the record!)



That's her new husband. But you came for the knitting, didn't you?



Pattern: Lily of the Valley Shawl (Ravelry Link)
Yarn: Alpaca with a Twist Fino in Champagne- 1 skein
Needles: KP Options size US 6
Date Started: June 16, 2011
Date Finished: August 23, 2011
Mods: Are you kidding? I was just trying not to screw it up!



Edging details. That's the only time I felt like it would go haywire. I had to pick up eleventy million stitches!!!



Nupps! Don't be afraid! You only need loose knitting and sharp needles.



The alpaca has amazing drape. I couldn't be happier with how this came out. I may even knit more lace... someday. But for now, I'm back to my socks.

Dries Turns 2

Today is my nephew Dries's (rhymes with Peace) birthday party. He turns 2 tomorrow but Memorial Day is a better day to have the party than the day after Memorial Day.

Anyway...

A few weeks ago, Dries saw my phone that had a picture of a robot on it and started wanting the robot. He said, "Aunt Nell robot!" over and over. We taught him to dance the robot but I was thinking how he really should have his own robot.



Wouldn't you knit almost anything for this kid?



Pattern: Robbie the Radiant Robot (my Rav Page)
Yarn: KP Wool of the Andes in Calypso Heather, Caution, and White
Needles: KP Zephyr Needles in US size 6
Date Started: May 8, 2011
Date Finished: May 27, 2011
Mods: I sewed the antennae onto his head. The pattern says you only need to attach it with a pipe cleaner but it didn't feel 2-year-old-proof to me.
Comments: I really love the way his eyes slant toward each other. It was unintentional but makes him look mad.



Toy knitting is notoriously fiddly. There are too many parts and too much sewing. This project has the same issues but I really love the results. I might knit one for myself. Mostly, I hope Dries likes him as much as I do.

Happy Birthday, Dries!

A Sweater So Cute

Today I finished the Tiny Tea Leaves Cardigan. This sweater is so cute I almost want to have a baby girl so she could wear it someday. Brian even mentioned (jokingly) that we should have a baby just to wear the sweater.



Pattern: Tiny Tea Leaves Cardigan (my ravelry page)
Yarn: Madeline Tosh Vintage in Grapefruit
Needles: KP Harmony Needles US size 8 and 9
Date Started: March 21, 2011
Date Finished: May 29, 2011
Mods: None
Comments: Oops #1- I thought this was a baby sweater. But I cast on and quickly realized it is made for Child's size 2. I was planning this as a baby shower gift. I need a new plan for that one. Oops #2- I was happily knitting along and when all I had left was the button band, I ran out of yarn. This cardi would have taken a lot less time if I had ordered 1 more skein from the get go. I ordered new yarn on 4/1/11 but I think I was a little mad and didn't take the hour I needed to do the button bands until a couple of days ago. Oops #3- I blocked it today. And it appears to have grown some in the bath. I didn't bother with a gauge swatch because it was supposed to be a baby present. Maybe I need to find a 4 year old girl instead of a 2 year old girl to wear it.

All the oopses aside, it really is an adorable knit.



There are two things I love the most on this knit. The color and the buttons. We all know Madelinetosh yarn is gorgeous and wonderful to knit with but this color just blows me away. Sometimes it's orange. Sometimes it's pink. It's the perfect fun, playful color for a kid's sweater. And look at the stitch definition. Just love this yarn.



The buttons are from Hancock fabric in Napa. They don't have a huge selection but the whole time I was knitting this, I was thinking of some kind of flower buttons. It's the color, again. The color feels happy, bright, and springy. Daisy buttons really work perfectly.

Truth be told, I was knitting this as a precursor to knitting the adult version for myself. I have the yarn picked and the gauge swatch knit. Just need to cast on. But WAIT! There are a couple more things in the queue that have serious deadlines. First, a super secret baby shower gift for a friend. Second, my sister asked me to knit her a wedding shawl. I'm thinking this one. Even though it really scares me, I'm going to give it a try. If you have any advice on the lace knitting, let me know. I really am a little scared. In any case, no time for socks or sweaters for me for the next couple of months.

Finished Just in Time

I go back to work today. My knee is feeling great and I'm hoping that I'll be just fine. Now I just need to remember how to do my job! (just kidding, mostly)

Anyway... With the back to work deadline looming, I knit my fingers off the last 2 days to finish the third project in my "knit the book" project. I finished weaving in the ends this morning.



Pattern: Bouquet Socks from Toe Up Socks for Every Body by Wendy Johnson
Yarn: Scout's Swag Superwash Merino in Maravilla
Purchased: July 1, 2010
Date Started: February 28, 2011
Date Finished: March 20, 2011
Mods: None.



Here's a close up of the pattern. Truth be told, I didn't love knitting these socks. I couldn't figure out why I wasn't digging the process as much as I did with the two previous socks in this series. Then it dawned on me, there are eleventy million purls in this pattern. Too.Many.Purls. They turned out beautifully but not a pattern I'm likely to repeat.



Close up of heel. I love, love, love this toe up heel flap. I've always preferred a heel flap but, since my feet are a dainty size 12, I like to knit socks toe up to be sure I don't run out of yarn. Until this book, I thought I was relegated to short row heels forever. But Wendy saved the day. Now I can have heel flaps and toe up socks. Swoon!



Check out that gorgeous toe. Thanks again to the Stash and Burn girls for pointing out the Cat Bordhi video on You Tube. I finally figured out Judy's Magic Cast On. In fact, I didn't know I was doing it wrong but I always had a seem on the toes of my socks. Not terrible but not really what was intentioned. Now my socks have smooth even toes. Double swoon!

At the rate I'm going, I have knit 3 pairs of socks in 2011. Part of me thinks, "I'm already even to my sock knitting total for 2010. I'll knit 12 pair this year! YEAH! GO socks! I'll get through my stash!" But then, the realist in me remembers that I'm going back to work and my knitting progress will probably slow way down. Plus, I'd probably like to knit a few things besides socks on 2011. We'll see. No promises. But I'm excited to have my knitting mojo back.

Keep On Knitting

I'm not back to work for 2 more weeks. So I just keep on knitting. Trying to save a little money means serious stash diving. I checked out my stash and found a pattern on Ravelry that would work with this poor yarn that has been lingering in stash limbo for almost 4 years. (What did we do before Ravelry???)



Pattern: Chromosome Scarf
Yarn: Tahki Yarns New Tweed in Sage
Purchased On: From The Masked Chicken in a secret pal swap on April 24, 2007.
Needles: KP Harmony size 10 US
Date Started: 3/1/11
Date Finished: 3/6/11
Mods: None. The scarf is a little shorter than I usually like. But the cables look really good in this yarn. And of course, the color is perfect for me. Nice quick TV knitting.

I also cast on for the third sock in Wendy Johnson's book, Toe Up Socks for Every Body- the Bouquet Socks. I'm using Scout's Swag superwash merino sock in Maravilla. This yarn isn't too old. Just purchased last July. But the model sock is knit in a beautiful bright orange. Maravilla was just the ticket.



The orange is even brighter in person. These are going to be really cheerful socks.

Thanks to Stash and Burn, I found and watched this video by Cat Bordhi on how to do Judy's Magic Cast On. I was doing the cast on completely wrong. The toes on these socks don't have that seam line that I always get. Woo Hoo!

WIP-Less

Can you believe the title? It's true! I finished all of my outstanding WIP's. Including this little beauty that was cast on in July 2007.



Pattern: Kusha Kusha Scarf Kit from Habu
Yarn: Habu Textiles A-20/21 1/20 silk stainless steel- I bought the kit from Churchmouse Yarn and Tea
Needles: KP Options- size 8, 6, 4, and 3
Started: July 2007
Finished: February 26, 2011
Mods: None

This project felt never-ending. Slogging through miles of stockinette using yarn as thin as thread was difficult. Maybe that's why I was constantly setting it aside for other things. Finally, Kusha Kusha's time as come.

I'm also working on "knitting the book", Toe Up Socks for Every Body by Wendy D. Johnson. I loved knitting the first pattern in the book so much (Rosebud Socks) that I'm planning on knitting each pattern in book order and in the original color. Although, I'm not going to use the original yarns. I have plenty of stash to use up and matching up the color gives be a good reason to go to dig deep and pull out some almost forgotten yarn. This is the second pattern featured in Wendy's fabulous book.



Pattern: Laurel Socks
Yarn: Vermont Organic Fiber Company O-Wool Classic 2-Ply in Sage
Purchased: May 7, 2008
Needles: KP Options size 1 1/2
Date Started: September 2, 2010
Date Finished: February 25, 2011
Mods: None. But I must say, I LOVE her toe up heel flap construction.



Close up of the lace design.

My gauge changed from knitting the first sock to knitting the second. In fact, I nearly ran out of yarn during the bind off. Hopefully, no one will ever notice even though the look of it bothers me a little.

So that's it. I officially have nothing on the needles*. That won't last long, of course. I probably won't even make it through the day.


*Technically, I'm still working on the Sheldon Plays Dress Up Kit from Knit Picks. But I prefer to think of this as hibernating since I've finished 2 of the 4 outfits. You see, it's really 4 projects and I've done 2. You see the logic here, right?

More Baby Gifts

I seem to be at the age where everyone I know is procreating. Since Brian and I can't quite decide if we are into the baby thing, I knit for others. My college roommate just had a baby boy. I think the owl hat and sleep sack set are just the thing- especially since he lives in Boston!







Pattern: Owl Hat and Sleep Sack (raveled separately)
Yarn: Berroco Vintage in Sandy
Needles: US size 8
Date Started: 1/29/11
Date Finished: 2/7/11
Mods: I changed the bottom of the sleep sack for easier diaper access. After consulting the mommies in the Stitch and Bitch I go to, this seemed to be the way to go. I really love the little owls. I seem to be on an owl kick.

Clearing out the UFO's

It's well into the New Year and I'm stuck on the couch. I had a meniscectomy on my right knee on the 20th. So for the last 6 days. I've been almost completely stuck on my couch. Streaming movies from Netflix and my UFO pile have been keeping me company. I'll spare you the pictures of my Franken-leg but here are some of my UFO's that managed to become FO's.



Pattern: Cotton Anklets that I made up
Yarn: Patons Stretch Sock that I bought at Joanne's one day when I was desperate for knitting and no where near a LYS
Needles: KP US 3
Date Started: 10/12/10
Date Finished: 1/21/11
Mods: None. But I wish I'd made the cuffs longer. These slip a lot.





Pattern: Little Bubbles Baby Set from Knit Picks
Yarn: Knit Picks Comfy Sport
Needles: KP US 2
Date Started: 5/26/09
Date Finished: 1/24/11
Mods: None. This is for a co-worker who who is expecting next month. The colorwork isn't perfect. But I don't think the baby or momma will mind.



Pattern: Bramble Owl Kit
Yarn: I think Louet but it's from a kit
Needles: DPN's US 8
Date Started: 9/27/09
Date Finished: 1/26/11
Mods: None. Not sure he really looks like an owl. Maybe more like if an owl and an alien had a baby. Oh well. He's not THAT ugly.

I only have 2 UFO's to go. Can you believe that?!?!?! I plan on being UFO free by the time I go back to work in a month. Here's to starting a new year with new projects.

Mishmash

This post is a mash up of what I've been up to since I last posted. Let's start with the knitting.



Pattern: Pembroke Vest- Raveled here
Yarn: Dream in Color Classy- Dusky Aurora
Needles: KnitPicks Options in US 5
Date Started: 8/24/10
Date Finished: 9/1/10
Mods: None. But I do need to learn to read and follow a pattern. I had to restart 2-3 times.



I especially love the buttons I picked.



I'm working on the Laurel Socks from Toe Up Socks for Everybody. So far, so good.

I made salsa from tomatoes I grew.



And I canned it- But forgot to take pictures.



A little watery but tasty.

That's about it. I cleared the garden yesterday. And cleaned the gutters. Suddenly it really is feeling like fall.