Projects

This years scarf is a cozy, stripey one. It is made of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Astrakhan. The random stripes are keeping me interested because it is just garter stitch. Can't wait to wear it! The Fairly Easy Fair Isle from SnB Nation. All that is left is the yoke. I haven't touched it in 3 weeks and am having trouble getting motivated to do any rows- they are way too long (130+ stitches!)!
And finally, THE DRESS! It still needs a clasp at the top of the zipper but other than that, it is completely done! Yay! I'm wearing it Monday (with a new white cardigan- how cute!). It is linen so it is pretty comfortable as well. I am sort of amazed that it fits so well and I had so few problems. It is very encouraging, although all the other patterns I have are more difficult. Now that the dress is done, I guess I have to work on those manuscripts tomorrow... Please excuse the mess. The dog collected all 4 of his toys right there before taking a snooze and we are currently giving away/selling on eBay a ton of stuff to make room for the piles of clothes that we actually wear.

Finally!

First and foremost- thank you to my mom and friend S who visited us last week! It was great to see them and also to get our wedding shower gifts which have been sitting in my moms house since March. Plus they went to do some field collecting with me so it was a good work week as well!
My mom is also super crafty. She is even going to be opening her own Etsy store soon! Well, she is my saving grace during this 'year of the sweater'. I haven't started one yet but here is her progress.... It has major potential to be cute despite the awesome 80s picture from the pattern book. I have been making progress on the silk armwarmer as well (at least until I slammed my finger in a window). During her visit, she also helped me make a new skirt. I had a very simple a-line from the Gap that I love and so we used it to make a pattern. A lot of explanation and a few hours later gave us this: We tried a heather grey, wool version as well but something went awry so it travelled home with my mom to be fixed. I am going to try one on my own this weekend. The material is in the washer and my mom is on speed dial so I am ready!
Our Weekend of Making Stuff was not limited to the craft realm. We finally figured out where to get non-thin crust pizza. Make it yourself! We are Chicago-style pizza people and while it isn't deep dish, but better than anything order-able around here. Yum!

Now it is back to the Midwest for our visitors and back to work for us. But work will be just that much better with cute skirts and pizza on the menu at home!

Yarn substitution help??

So if there are any knitters left out there, I need help. Or opinions at least.
Do you think I can substitute this Crystal Palace Kid Merino yarn for Rowan Kidsilk Haze?
In a cardigan?

Please help, oh great knitters of the internets!

First and next knits

Lotus Knits is having a contest. Show off your first and next up knits!
My first finished project was the first thing I ever even tried to knit. I finished it out of spite and horror. It is a stockinette stitch scarf. In Red Heart acrylic. It remains hanging in my closet- in all its roll-y glory to this day.

Up Next for my casting-on pleasure: A scarf in a feather and fan stitch pattern . Made with this colorway in Seduction. I am completely in love with it. I actually have knit things other than scarves but didn't really get to wear any scarves this year due to the whole being-in-the-desert thing. I feel I might go a bit overboard for the coming winter. I want to do DNA scarves for V and I as well. I just haven't found the right yarn yet.....

Boring knitting = no posts about it

I have been knitting away on the ol' Pinwheel Baby Blanket v.2 for a baby due in just under a month. I will finish it with no problems (I hope) as I am pretty far along. It is just stockinette stitch in the round. Switch color. Repeat. BORING. I accidentally left it at the house I was pet-sitting at all week too. I guess that means I must work on a different project tonight! Despite more babies on the way, I am not knitting for them yet. Or if I am- not blankets. I just can't do it. It gets so boring and I want to do something that challenges me and I want to work with fun yarn. In my poor-grad-student-knitting world, baby blanket = acrylic, easy (stockinette) project.
So, new knitting --What, Oh, What will it be?
The second silk armwarmer?
The thumbs of Fetching?
Cast on for the Sweater finally?
Will I get the courage to frog the Jaywalker?
Cast on for something new and lace-y?

Oh the possibilities! The suspense!!! The lab work I must go do so I can knit without guilt!

hmmmmm, I think I had too much coffee today.

Year of the sweater

So this year my big knitting goal was to conquer socks. I have one in progress (check back tomorrow for an update on how that is going....riiiiiight) even if I didn't really conquer them so much.

I've decided that next year will be the year of the sweater! My current cardigan does not match any of my clothes and gets more raggedy by the day. I feel ready to start bigger projects. Plus they will keep me occupied for a long time out in the desert and will travel great in my new bag (see yesterdays post). Specifically, I think I am ready to start these two projects. Fair Isle and Lace too!

If you can't tell from the small pictures, these are the Fairly Easy Fair Isle sweater and the Lucky Clover Lace Wrap both from Stitch N Bitch Nation! I will do the Fair Isle in the dark grey with different accent colors (I don't do pink) and the lace wrap in something less bright than the blue here. Maybe a cream or some other neutral so I could wear it with a lot of t-shirts. Good thing that scarf was colorful! Sounds like I am back to neutrals...

Day's almost over!

No, I didn't forget my pledge to blog knitting related all week long- just have been busy tonight for a special surprise (more on that tomorrow).

I had a birthday last month that was filled with friends, food, drinks and great presents from V, ArtGirl and my mom! Some were aimed at taking care of myself; V got me slippers and a hat. While others, like ArtGirls' CamelPak, were for my soon-to-be desert lifestyle. My mom got me the BEST. KNITTING. BAG. EVER. I even had the barista at this weeks SnB stop to inquire about it! It is awesome orange and heavy duty nylon so it is super durable...

There are 6 compartments for projects. It will be fantastic for travel because everything I could ever want to knit will fit in there. See how big the compartments are! (ok they don't look so big in this picture but really, they could fit at least 3 skeins of Mauch Chunky)

Inside there are needle holders, a scissor holder, a pocket sized perfectly for my "Knit Chek" and even see through pockets for stitch markers. I absolutely love it.

Thanks Mom!