I got yarn in the mail!

I got 6 skeins of GEMS Pearl Merino to knit the Artic Diamonds Stole from IK Winter 2006.

I also got 2 skeins of Koigu to finish up my pinwheel baby blanket.

My Knitting is Going so SLOWLY

I'm still working on the pinwheel baby blanket. I have a little more than one skein to incorporate in the blanket. It's currently a bit bigger than 60 inches in diameter. Not sure how big I am supposed to make it. I have this solid color skein of Koigu (the one that I didn't use for my Charlotte's Web) that I could use at the end to do some sort of fancy edging... *sigh*, but I do not know any fancy edging techniques. Perhaps I should invest in one of those popular edging books that I seem to run across now and then. I think a nice edging could really add to the appearance of the blanket if anyone has any suggestions.

I'm also not done with my Charlotte's Web. I'm on my last skein and just have to do the last section, but since each row is bigger than the previous, each row takes a really long time.

I recently bought the Lace Leaf Shawl by Evelyn Clark since I had seen it on a few other people's blogs and thought it was great. I also purchased two skeins of Jade 2-ply cashmere in Sterling to make it. It will be my first project using Cashmere but at this rate I will never get to it.

I am also going to start knitting the DNA scarf pattern. I think I know of someone who would be one of the few to appreciate such a thing. Eventually I would like to knit one for myself. And my mom would probably love it too! Eeek! So many people to knit for. But first priorities are finishing the baby blanket since the baby will likely be born in the next 1 -3 weeks.

WIP - Pinwheel Baby Blanket

I started this because the kit I got from patternworks was a dud. I saw this pattern online and feel in love with it... I saw this pattern on 'Cori Knits' and she knit it in Koigu and I love any excuse to knit in Koigu. Also, what's nice about this is I dipped into my stash of sock yarn (since I have way to much already) and used some of the leftovers from my Charlotte (the light colors). I mixed in a couple colors, hopefully the effect will be cool... This pattern is a lot of fun to knit.

WIP - Charlotte's Web

Here is the progress on my Charlotte so far. I used Minh's suggestion and used the four variegated colors. I admit the colors didn't go together as well as I thought. I thought it would look cool being knit into a light to dark fashion, but I think I was wrong. Oh well, perhaps it will look less strange after blocking. And it will be useful to have around the house on cold days. Especially since we are cheap grad students and don't believe in turning on the heat! :)

I got my new issue of IK in the mail...

And I'm pretty excited about the Arctic Diamonds Stole and the Wine and Roses Mitts (I've never knit in cashmere before!). I was also excited to see that Interweave Knits is releasing some new books in the mail, namely Lace Style and Favorite Socks. They seem like they are going to be great and I love lace and socks and lacey socks!

Socks that Rock has new colorways!

Aren't the new colorways gorgeous? I think my favorites are Fairgrounds, X-Mas Rock, Chapman Springs, Rocktober, Rooster Rock, Love in Idleness and Nodding Violet. I just thought I would mention that in case I have a secret admirer out there somewhere. :) Too bad they got rid of the County Clare colorway, I was a big fan of that one...

Charlotte's Web kit came in the mail

My Charlotte's web pattern and 5 skeins of Koigu came in the mail today, but I'm a bit disappointed with the solid color. I expected it to be darker and I think that it doesn't really go with other skeins. I debating whether to get another skein of variegated Koigu instead. The thing is, I don't know whether to go for a darker purple or a lighter (more pastel) pink/pastel. I was thinking that I would arrange the colors from light to dark and so the shawl would go from light to dark from top to bottom. What do you think?



On a side note, I don't know what to do with one skein of Koigu. Any ideas?

Started Jaywalker Number 2!

I started Jaywalker No. 2 as I was looking for a break in between my researching. This one will also be in Lorna's Laces, in the Tuscany colorway (red, blue, and brown). Not sure why it's called that... I finished a cuff and just started the zig-zag pattern. I will have to do this pattern again in STR at some point since I have not tried that before.

I ordered the Charlotte's Web pattern with 5 purple skeins of Koigu and plan to knit the shawl from dark to light (hopefully it will look good). It will be my first shawl. (I once tried to do Ene's Scarf from Scarf Style and after casting on 375 stitches, I goofed and had to rip it out. I decided I didn't want to re-cast-on 375 stitches.)

I'm also awaiting a baby blanket pattern and yarn (in pink) for my friend's baby who due at the beginning of December. I'm not sure that I can manage in this short of a time, but I'm not in the mood to knit socks these days... I'm in the mood to knit bigger things. I probably just started the Jaywalkers since I needed something to knit.

I want to knit an afghan soon!

I think it would be really cool to knit an afghan and I've never done it before. Not to mention I would use it all the time in the Winter (though I will probably finish it around the time it warms up again). I like this pattern in Fall 2006 Knitty, called lizard ridge, and made with Noro Kureyon (a yarn I haven't worked with yet). I think its mosaic knitting though and I'm not sure if I'm into that. Too messy, how to deal with two strands at once? So complicated! Here is another one that I found off the Knitter's Review Forum, called Noro Squared. Also uses Noro Kureyon and does not involve more than one strand per square. I am also open to more pattern suggestions for afghans if others have some...

FO - Midwest Moonlight

I finished the Midwest Moonlight scarf (from Scarf Style) using Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk DK. It certainly took a long long time. I used 5 skeins of the Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk DK. Knitting this scarf was pretty monotonous and I don't know that I love this stitch pattern. The Alpaca Silk is really soft and really warm but I don't know that it is the best yarn for a scarf since it is drapey and not very stiff. But I guess this isn't any scarf, since it is thicker than a scarf but not quite as wide as a stole... This scarf still needs blocking. I think it will make the pattern show up better and the ends straight.

Jaywalker socks

I absolutely love them!!! Washed them twice, wear them around the house... in Lorna's Laces Gold Hill. Needless to say I will be knitting this pattern many times over.

FO - My So Called Scarf

I started knitting "My So Called Scarf" not too long ago using Manos del Uruguay Wildflowers colorway (the one that the original pattern from sheep in the city called for). Here is the finished object. Knitting this scarf was a little monotonous, but I like how it looks, I like how it doesn't require blocking and it knit up really fast...

Scottish Highland and Watermelon Tourmaline

Since I've made a habit of flashing my stash as I add to it. Here are my newest skeins of Socks that Rock in Scottish Highlands and Watermelon Tourmaline. I really love these colorways... Perhaps I should get sick more often so I can buy more yarn (kidding, really)!

National Knitting Week!

I didn't know there was such a thing, but apparently there is and it's coming up soon. October 14th to 21st... Hmmm, how should I celebrate it?

I bought more socks that rock!

I deserved it I tell you after being sick for so long... So I ordered two skeins of Socks that Rock in Watermelon Tourmaline and Scottish Highlands... Can't wait for them to come!! Nothing to make me happy like more yarn! :)

Favorite Yarns

I saw a post like this on someone else's blog, so I thought I would do a post like it. The favorite yarns that I've worked with so far are:

1. Socks that Rock
2. Koigu
3. Lorna's Laces Shephard Sock
4. Fiesta La Luz (100% Silk)
5. Karabella Aurora 8 (100% Merino)
6. Manos del Uruguay
7. Rowan Cashsoft Aran

FYI, they aren't ranked since the yarns are used in different projects and I could never do that to my favorite yarns! :)

RPM socks finished!

The RPM socks are finished and on the feet of their proud owner, Lolo. My knitting is so productive when I'm sick... my research on the other hand... hmm

RPM Socks

I had a terrible cold this past week, so what better time to catch up on my knitting... I decided to start RPM socks with my new Socks that Rock yarn (in the Farmhouse colorway). Here is my progress so far. I'm really happy the way these socks are turning out.

My Socks that Rock Stash

A picture of my "socks that rock" is long overdue, so they are! From left to right, they are Highway 30, Dutch Canyon, Sandstone, and Seal Rock. I'm planning to make at least one more RPM sock from them (I'm thinking Sandstone) and a pair of Jaywalkers (I'm thinking Seal Rock). I hear that Blue Moon Fiber Arts are supposed to update their new colorways very soon, I'm waiting!

Socks that Rock really do Rock!

I love Socks that Rock! I just started knitting RPM socks from the summer knitty in the Farmhouse colorway (medium weight). I like the way they knit up and I like the way the yarn feels in my fingers. The colorway is really pretty too (pictures to follow). I finally finished my LL Jaywalkers and finished one of my Garland Lace Socks (also in LL). I have about a million pairs of socks going right now...