New Knits

After finishing three projects, two of which had been in progress for a few months, I cast on for two new projects.

 This is the bottom ribbing of the back of the Central Park Hoodie.  I finished the sleeves over the weekend, and they’re blocking now.  This project is going very quickly!

I, like every other sock knitter out there, love Nancy Bush’s patterns.  I’ve made two patterns from Knitting Vintage Socks, the Lichen Ribbed Socks and the Madder Ribbed Socks.  Yesterday, I cast on for my next pair, the Yarrow Ribbed Socks.  I’m making them in Plymouth Yarns Sockotta.

 The colors of this skein are making me think about Valentine’s Day.  So, in an effort to keep this pair from staying on the needles for as long as the Madder Ribbed Socks did, I’ve decided to try to finish these by February 14th.  I hope I can take time from the other projects I’ve got going to finish by then! 

You may have noticed that the Leftovers Vest disappeared from my Current Projects list in the sidebar.  After looking at the leftover yarns I had that coordinated well with each other a second time, I decided I probably didn’t have enough for the vest. Shortly afterward, Knitting Daily released the Babette Blanket available for purchase at their Pattern Store. I learned to crochet before I learned to knit, and I’m enjoying crocheting again. Not as much as I enjoy knitting, but enough to keep on making squares. Using up that leftover yarn feels good, too. I hope to have some photos of the squares this week.

And here’s part of the baking I did over the weekend:

Apple Pie with Oatmeal Crumb Topping. Yum! The Apple Pie recipe is one that was given to us by a friend. The topping recipe comes from the book Pie, by Ken Headrich. The recipe is for a Golden Delicious Apple Pie with Oatmeal Crumb Topping. We didn’t like the actual pie very much, but the topping was delicious! There’s lots of other great recipies in this book. The All-Peach Pie with Coconut Almond Crumb Topping, Thick Coconut Custard Pie, Cherry Cheesecake Pie, and many others. This book is definitely worth buying if you like making pie!

The link for the Spring 2008 Issue of Interweave Knits is working again! You can see it here. Interweave has once again put out a fabulous Spring Issue. Here’s a few of my favorites:

Printed Silk Cardigan by Connie Chang Chinchio

Aleita Shell by Bonnie Marie Burns

Auburn Camp Shirt by Chrissy Gardiner

Mirabella Cardigan by Jennifer Tallapaneni

I think I need to start knitting much faster;) I just ordered eleven skeins of Reynolds Soft Linen for the Dollar-and-a-Half Cardigan from last year’s Spring issue!

And, I was going to take modelled photos of the Phyllo Yoked Pullover today. The temperature this morning was 45^oF, but by around 2:30 this afternoon it was 12^oF and windy. So, until the weather is a little more friendly to outdoor photo sessions, here is a little peek at the sweater with the waist shaping I added.

FO: Elegant Ribbed Stockings

The Elegant Ribbed Stockings are finished!

Pattern: Elegant Ribbed Stockings by Ann Budd from Favorite Socks, published by Interweave Press.
Yarn: Dale of Norway Heilo, 4 skeins purchased from my LYS, Crazy Girl Yarn Shop
Needles: US 5, 6, & 7
Mods: I cast on for the women’s size, but when I got to the heel flap, it was way to big. So I did the child’s size heel flap, and picked up stitches on the flap for the child’s size. However, I only did the gusset decreases down to the women’s size. The socks fit perfectly!

I think I started these sometime in October. I finished the first sock pretty quickly, but I waited about two months to cast on for the second sock. It’s great to have this project done!

I can’t wait to make my next knee high socks, most likely the Spiral Boot Socks from Interweave Knits Summer 2007.

See you next week with photos of the finished Phyllo Yoked Pullover!

P.S. The Interweave Knits Spring 2008 Preview is up! Looks like it’s got lots of great new patterns.

FO: Madder Ribbed Socks

The Madder Ribbed Socks are finished! I’m still surprised at how quickly I was able to finish them.
Pattern: Madder Ribbed Socks by Nancy Bush from Knitting Vintage Socks
Yarn: Southwest Trading Company Tofutsies, color 723, 1 skein
Needles: US 1 (2.25 mm)

These socks have a Pointed Toe (shown in the above photo) and a Dutch or Horseshoe Heel (shown below). I like the Pointed Toe because it fits me well, and you start the decreases 3-1/2″ less than the desired length. This shortens knitting time quite a bit.

The Tofutsies was nice to work with, very soft and silky. And look at how much yarn was left over!

Halfway There

Halfway to finishing the two half-pairs of socks by the end of the month. I got lots of knitting done this weekend, and finished the second Madder Ribbed Sock and Phyllo Yoked Pullover. I hope to have photos of the Madder Ribbed Socks tonight or tomorrow. The Phyllo Yoked Pullover is blocking right now, and I hope to have pictures by the end of the week.

I also started the second Elegant Ribbed Stocking and am almost done with the leg. The second sock is going much faster the second time around!

The Tweedy Aran Cardigan pattern is now for sale here at the Knitting Daily store! I’m planning on making this one with some Rowanspun Aran that’s been in my stash for over a year waiting for the perfect project. There are many beautiful ones out there like this, this and this. I may wait for this coming fall to make this one, though.

See you tomorrow with some FO and future projects pics!

Knitting Progress, Future Knits

I hope everyone had a nice weekend. I was going to work on a quilt I had started last summer, and maybe make some carrot cake and cinnamon rolls, but thinking about it was as far as I got. Maybe next weekend:)

There was lots of knitting progress, though. I turned the heel on the second Madder Ribbed Sock and completed the instep decreases.

I got lots of knitting done on the front and back of the Phyllo Yoked Pullover. Last night I joined them and the sleeves together and am only one row away from starting the lace chart!

I also started another project.

This is the bottom ribbing of Leftovers from Knitty Winter 2004. It’s a vest pattern for using up yarn leftover from other projects. The yarn in the ribbing is Auracania Nature Wool Chunky, leftover from my Citrus Yoke Pullover.

I’ve also added a couple more items to my Fall/Winter ‘08 Knitting List after seeing this and this. That list just didn’t have enough items in it already;)!

I hope I’ll be able to post a finished pair of Madder Ribbed Socks soon, maybe this week!

Current Projects

My first two posts were for FO’s.  So what’s currently on the needles?

My oldest WIP, the Madder Ribbed Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush in SWTC’s Tofutsies.

In the background is the first sock which was completed about a month ago. Maybe I’ll try to finish the second one by the end of the month. Maybe.

My next oldest WIP is the Elegant Ribbed Stockings from Favorite Socks in Dale of Norway Heilo.

This sock was finished about a month ago, also. I have yet to cast on for the second one.

Next is the Stained Glass Scarf from Handknit Holidays by Melanie Falik in Karabella Aurora 8 and Artyarns Ultramerino 4.

I’m using the Slip’n'Slide Method for this scarf, which means it takes two passes to complete one row. I’m almost halfway through – hopefully I’ll be able to wear the scarf this winter!

This is probably the project that’s the most fun. It’s Plymouth Yarn Co.’s Pattern No. 1063, a Mitered Square Blanket. I’m using mainly Noro Kureyon, and some kettle dyed wool left over from other projects.

I really enjoy knitting sweaters. My current sweater is the Phyllo Yoked Pullover from Knitting Nature by Norah Gaughan in Rowan Calmer.

The sleeves are now finished and I’ve started on the body. Can’t wait to get to the lace on the yoke!

And lastly, the very popular Chevron Scarf from Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson in Socks That Rock Mediumweight. The colors are Farmhouse and Watermelon Tourmaline.

So, that’s what’s currently on the needles. Hopefully I’ll be able to post another FO soon!

Holiday Knitting

My holiday knitting this year (actually, last year ) was two pairs of socks, both for my mom. 

 The first was a pattern I’ve been wanting to make ever since everyone in blogland started making them.

Pattern: Uptown Boot Socks by Jennifer Appleby from Favorite Socks.
Yarn: Fleece Artist Merino 2/6, 100% Merino Wool, 325 m, 1 skein in Mahogany
Needles: US 1 (2.25 mm)

These socks took a little more time because of the cabling, but otherwise were very easy. The yarn is beautiful, and I’m looking forward to making these socks again for myself using a different colorway.

The second pair of socks were the Cable Rib Socks by Erica Alexander, originally in Interweave Knits Spring 2005, and republished in Favorite Socks.

Yarn: Louet Gems Fingering Weight, 100% Merino Wool, 185 yds., 2 skeins, in Navy
Needles: US 1 (2.25 mm)

Easy pattern, great yarn! This was the first time I used Louet Gems, and I’m looking forward to using it again. In fact, I had quite a bit of the second skein left over, and am planning on using it for the stripes on the Ribby Retro Socks from the Fall 2007 Issue of Knitscene.