Say It Ain't So!

Seriously, summer is not over until September 23rd...

I managed to squeak in one last summer knitting project just in time to wear for some HOT September days, it's 90 out right now as I type this.

Clever construction starts with the little lace at the front and then you cast on stitches after it's done for the body.

I pick this lovely pattern because I was bound and determined to show that you do not need to drop your sticks when the weather gets above 70. Also, it's really pretty, knit from the top down and it is not just miles and miles of stockinette stitch.

There is a little bit of lace.

Some cool and again clever "shaping" that comes from the angled stripes.

                                      
The Low Down:
Pattern: Erquy by Heather Dixon (whom I think is so creative)
Yarn: Koigu kkpm and Cascade Ultra Pima
Modifications: I added 3 rows of angled stripes and due to running out of yarn used the Koigu for the last rows of the lace bottom. I also did a crochet edging on the top because I had to do the last part of the strap with Koigu (ran out of cascade) and wanted it to blend a bit better. Raveled here

Oh, I almost forgot I did not do a backward loop cast on. I really hate them and with so many stitches it was just going to be a mess so I actually cast on with a long tail cast on instead. This meant I had 3 separate pieces of knitting when I joined in the round.

Crochet edge done with Koigu

Back view to show the straps, it looks fine..right?                           

 I am actually not so happy with how I look in it, but I am happy with how it turned out as a whole. If I were to knit this again I'd go up a size so it wouldn't show the ladders where it was increases/decreased and I would most definitely make it even longer.

I am holding on to summer for as long as I can even though I have somehow managed to have almost already completed my first fall project. I am in no way looking forward to wearing it anytime soon. Well... maybe just a teeny, tiny bit.

Slacker Sweater

Belted with an amazing belt from my fav, Anthropologie.

This was literally a year in the making from start to finish. The yarn was a pain to work with and I swore that I would never ever use cotton yarn again (more on that aonther time). I also used a different yarn for the trim which just made for almost unbearably slooooow going and I don't recommend it. At least the end result is a good one, no?

The Low Down

Pattern: Lilas by Hilary Smith Callis

Yarn: Louisa Harding nautical cotton, Louisa Harding Glisten for the trim.

Modifications: I just made it a tad longer and the sleeves a tad shorter.

I must mention the lack of real good photos. Boy, it is so hard to take pictures of yourself. Seriously, even with a tripod, if the lights not right or your pose is off or a kid runs into the picture the picture is blown. It's really easy to talk myself out of a photo shoot. If it weren't for that I'd probably blog more often. I hate taking the photos, there I said it. I like creating the "things" and talking about them but I really dislike the taking of the photo, uploading and placing the picture on the blog. UGH! So I'm sorry for the lame photos but it was this or wait another month for the stars to align.

It's a Cool Koolhaas

What's that you say? It's 90 degrees and I'm wearing a hat?

Well, it is made out of wool and SILK, silk, which is cool right?

As you can see I'm knitting out of season but, man I have been wanting to knit this hat for ages and I had all this yarn leftover from my buttercup shirt and I've been wanting get over the hump over doing a cabled pattern. Perfect! Let's knit a hat in the heat (and I mean HEAT) of the summer.

Can you tell that this is not me?

The Low Down

Pattern: Koolhaas by Jared Flood

Yarn: Silky Wool by Elsebeth Lavold

I love this yarn! It is soft and light and pretty. It's also a joy for me to knit with. I highly recommend trying it if you haven't already.

The way this hat decreases and keeps the pattern is so wonderful. I really liked making this hat, but I'm not sure I like all the fiddlyness of handling a cable needle. I think I'm going to have to learn to do it without a needle. I like to keep things as simple (and lazy) as possible. Although I did like working with the wooden brittany cable needle. It had a nice feel to it and it didn't slip out too easy, plus it looks nice.

High Hopes and a Birthday

Just over a week ago I went on a 20 hour drive to Florida and back. Of course the first thing I thought of was "ooh, so much time for knitting". I packed two knitting projects, one that I had just started and another to cast on while on the road.

I had visions of returning with at least one project complete. Visions they were, high hopes that went unfulfilled. I got next to no knitting done. Oh well..

At least we had fun doing other things.

Also, somehow, last Saturday my baby turned 2! How in the world did that happen?

Just waking up on the morning of his 2nd birthday! I got this idea from watching The View (don't ask me why I was watching it) Take a picture as they wake up every birthday, then when they are 18 you have all these 1st morning pictures.

1st birthday

I even tried my hand at decorating the outside a bit. I came up with ballon tree at the last minute.

Balloons in the wind.

Strawberries from the farmers market.

Loving Purple Right Now

Hum, is it creepy to have a headless picture? This was the best close up.

The Low Down

Pattern: Buttercup by Heidi Kirrmaier

Yarn: Silky Wool by Elsebeth Lavold in Lt. Purple and Dk purple

Modifications: Clearly I used a different color to edge the bottom and the sleeves. I also only did 4 A-line increases instead of 6 because it was already looking rather wide.

Strike a pose! It really feels weird to take pictures of yourself

First off, I love, love the yarn. It is a joy to knit with and I'm already plotting what I can make next with it. Second, I love this pattern but am not super happy with how it looks on me.

The top is a bit big . I knit the size XS and it's still big. Also I must have done something wrong with the sleeves because instead of being a cute princess style they just look too big and long. I also think I could have gone a tad longer to have a more tunic look. Maybe, just maybe, I should have gone ahead and done all the increases to have a true A-line shape and then it might be more flattering on me.

I already cast on with a different yarn to make a second one with all kinds of modifications. Will see how it goes.

Something Old, Something New.

This sweater is not actually that old. I started knitting it in January and finished weaving in ends about two weeks ago. I wouldn't call it finished because man, I can not figure out how to close this sucker. This was also the hardest thing to photograph, granted I am almost always shooting the pictures myself and that makes it even harder, but for some reason this was really hard. I just finally gave up.

Me looking dreamy. Close up of the collar

The low down

Pattern: I made this up. After searching Ravelry for patterns that matched my yarn/gauge I used several as guides but ultimately knit til it fit, divided for sleeves and body and then as I went shaped it just so in the middle so the fronts would meet. When all was said and done I didn't like it so I added a ruffle. For some reason this sweater reminds me of a Frilled Neck Lizard, so I'm calling this the Frilled Neck Cadi.

Yarn: Noro Taiyo

Gauge: 4 stitches = 1 inch

I did not put any buttonholes and now I have no idea what to do about how to have the cardigan close. Any Ideas?

Out of desperation I enlisted the help of my 4 year old. Can you tell?

I have no idea whats going on with my hands here but this one one of the "best" shots of the sweater.

On to the something new!! As I mentioned in my previous post I finished everything I had on needles and was waiting for yarn for my next project.

Light purple silky wool

It came last week and I jumped for joy when I opened the package.This yarn was better than expected! I love the pale lavender color and it's going to make one great summer top. Stay tuned.

Spinning in the Sun!

Not perfect yarn. I need to spin more often

I ran out of things to knit (i.e. my yarn has yet to come for my next project) I didn't know what to do with myself. I couldn't sew outside, well I guess I could have hand sewn something but no.

Insead I hauled out my spinning wheel, an Ashford Joy that I got in 2003 or something like that. It took me awhile to remember what I was doing but it came back to me, sort of.

I was in my driveway/patio spinning while the kids played.

Slap Dash Toolbelt

Last week I found Loki trying to tie up his tools around his waist with my jump rope, but he kept yelling out "Oh NO! They just keep falling". To calm him down I told him I'd make him a tool belt. Um, ok so I made a promise of sorts and had to set about making a Loki sized tool belt. Oh boy, what did I get myself into?

Notice the "digger" in the background?

He was inspired to bring his tool belt outside for it's first test run.

I call this belt "slap dash" because I just made it up as I went and tried to get it done as quickly as possible. I measured his waist and added a couple inches for the fold over velcro fastener, but did not account for the space the tools would take up so it's a bit snug.

I used a canvas fabric for the belt part and a quilt weight fabric for the pockets and loops. I hot glued a velcro button closer so that it would be something he can put on and take off all by himself.

I think I'm going to have to make a second one for his lil' brother. So I will take another run at making a toddler tool belt and may try my had at a blog tutorial about it (if it turns out).

What? I'm just working on this car here.

Shazam Shalom, you can do it too!

Pretty button that cost almost as much as the yarn

Really on a roll now. I knit this in...wait for it...a week from start to finish not including the dang blocking which this sweater does need.

Unblocked

I actually started this sweater on Thursday the 21st but had to frog and start over and I finished it on Thursday the 28th but didn't have a button and had to go get one on Friday.

Blocked, this sweater has an odd shaped when flat but looks really nice on.

The Low Down

Pattern: Shalom

Yarn: Cascade Eco Wool

Gauge: 13 Stitches = 4 Inches

I was hot to knit this because I'm teaching a class about top down sweaters at my LYS Knit Around in Ann Arbor in fact this very pattern. I have already made a Shalom once before but it was modified in all kinds of ways (sleeves, no waist shaping, short rows in the back). The challenge here was to knit it as written.

When I say challenge I mean it. It took everything I had not to modify this pattern, not because it's a poor pattern but as it turns out I don't think I've made anything lately that was as written. It's a bad habit I have of just changing stuff. Liking the basics but doing things to make it exactly what I want or how I like to knit.

So hard to take a picture to capture how nice it looks.

Probably didn't help that I was the model and Photographer.

This sweater is a great first sweater for any knitter who knows how to knit and purl. You learn a lot, you can finish it pretty quickly, and there are only two ends to weave in! If your interested and live near the Ann Arbor area sign up! Class is in the evening 6-7:30 May 25th and June 8th.

Toe up class!

Recognize the yarn from these? Leftover from Birthday Bear!

Better late than never is really a saying I use too much but it's so applies to many things I (eventually) do. I made these socks for Loki as a result of teaching a two at a time, toe up, magic loop sock class (say that three times fast) this past January at Knit Around Yarn Shop here in Ann Arbor.

The low down:

Pattern: Custom as you go

Yarn: Koigu Kpppm

Gauge: not important, tried on as I went.

Techniques: Figure 8 cast on, short row heal , magic loop

I'll be teaching the class again in May over 2 Saturdays on the 14th and the 28th 10-12 class fee is only $35!