Making progress!

Just so you know I am indeed making progress I thought I'd post some pictures even if it is a wee bit. My Icelandic shawl. So far so good it's going to be nice. The Karabella Traveling Cables cardigan, the left front. Remember the back is finished. "Someone's" merino-silk scarf, in a deep purple one skein knitted another to go. Not pictured are jaywalker socks, a Christmas stocking, Starmore sweater, a second pair of fetchings for a gift and a Mission Falls fair isle bag (2nd one). And finally being knit in my mind is the Pearl Buck Swing jacket mentioned in the last post, a shawl knitted with some Peace Fleece I have, several socks patterns that I have yarn for, a ribbed cardigan, another cardigan in some grey and red Debbie Bliss merino that I haven't the pattern for yet. AND I long to get to some crocheting too. It seems I get 'on a roll' with one thing for a few days then I pick up something else. I really want to finish something!

Next!

I didn't feel so bad after I read Sandi Wiseheart's of Interweave's Knitting Daily emails confess that she has 19 projects on needles! I counted the other day and I had 8. I was shocked. Just a short time ago I was a knitter that started and finished one knit at a time. Now look what's happened to me! So since Sandi has made me feel so much better I did this:

Yep, that's the extent of my swatching despite what I've been taught. Got the gauge now it's time to press on. I even bought the yarn the pattern calls for, Jaeger Extra Fine Merino DK and from one of my favorite places that I linked in my previous post, Jimmy Beans Wool. I love this color! The pattern is Pearl Buck Swing Jacket by Kate Gilbert from Interweave Knits, Winter 2005.

Finished Fetchings!

I'm sure your tired of my fetchings posts!!! But if you knit a pair you'll see the fun. I've already ordered yarn from JimmyBeansWool. I plan on making a few pair for Christmas gifts. I love that yarn site and have found great deals there especially on Rowan yarns. The yarn I used for the fetchings is Rowan Cashsoft Aran. In a previous post I had said I used Debbie Bliss Cashmerino but I was mistaken. Not sure how I made that mistake because I don't have any at all. The Rowan Cashsoft is fabulous and a great price at Jimmy Beans.

Paperclip Cables

You do what you have to do you know!! Today I had an hour wait so I knit. I came prepared or so I thought. Forgot my cable needle. I went on a paperclip hunt. About to give up and there it was, a big one, sitting in an odd place. So, that just makes me think that my God cares about the little things!!!! Probably the only paperclip in the vicinity waiting just or me! I was in a church empty preschool classroom and this paperclip is sitting on the shelf of the chalk board!! Anyway it worked great and I am almost finished with my Fetchings. This is a really nice simple pattern and a fast one too. I'm sure that without distractions one could actually knit these in a day. Oh, I think I will get the pair out of one skein!!! That leaves me with another skein for a gift pair.

A little something....

I've been knitting. It's really a chevron pattern but you sort of lack the 'chevron' with a solid yarn. I'm using Knitpicks 'Gloss' a merino/silk yarn. Very nice! I think I'm getting weak. There's a mistake but I am NOT going to take it out. I hope no one I've taught to knit is reading this because it is unlike me to leave a mistake. I didn't notice it until there was more than half yet done. I've assured myself that the receiver of this will never know!!

It will be nice and wide I think after blocking. Perhaps a Stolette! I don't want it really long because I thought of adding a nice pin to wear with it.

Still Knitting of course!

I just can't decide on what to stick with! I've casted on for way too many projects. But this one will go quickly and I love it! Knitty.com's popular 'Fetchings'. I won't link it because I'm just too lazy at the moment and most of you know the pattern anyway. For a change I used the yarn called for, Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran. I managed to secure a few skeins at a LYS going out of business recently! I had no idea what I could do with it so I am thrilled now. Although I would have been happy just touching it occasionally! This stuff is softer than soft!!

I leave today for a 2 day trip and will have close to 12 hours driving time to knit! Can you imagine? I get to be a passenger so maybe my next post will have something finished! What? I can't be sure as I am taking several 'in the works' with me.

Made to Ravelry!

Yesterday! It's quite an operation offering a lot to us crazy obsessed knitters. If you want to find me I am 'Knitegtrity'. Let me explain! It's misspelled! I hate that. How did that second 't' get in there? It's supposed to be 'Knitegrity'. I know it's my fault that I didn't see the typo. I have emailed Casey and begged for help so we'll see. I liked the name before this happened. Leave a comment with how I can find you on Ravelry if I haven't already!

Spinning to Knit..........

How about this for the yarn I'm spinning? Sivia Harding pattern called, Victorian Shoulderette. She has wonderful patterns. Check them out! I've ordered from her before and she is so very friendly. I don't think gauge will matter. (Is that what we all say?) If anything my yarn might be a tad heavier than the fingering or sport weight it calls for. I think it'd be fine even in a worsted.

Back to Spinning............

Not that I've stopped spinning but last night I purposed to finish up something. Here is 'Meridian's Rainbow" wool that I started a few months ago. I've till got 2 bags of about 4 oz. each to go but at least one's finished. I don't have a plan as yet for the finished yarn. Perhaps a smaller shawl or caplet. It's not a laceweight. It might turn out to be a sport weight. I don't usually gravitate to blues but I a trying to expand my color horizons!

Still frogging...........

Well, not my bag but other important pieces of knitting. I wanted to knit a Sivia Harding scarf for a certain person. I'd already knit the pattern so this would be the second. (first scarf I used a fingering weight) So I tried some Kid Merino/Mohair by Crystal Palace. The pattern called for Rowan Kidsilk Haze so it's definitely comparable. It also has beads. All good except I hate mohair!!! Gosh, this stuff was the thread from H E L L. Sorry but it wasn't for me. I love the color, love the feel of the skein but knitting with it was not so good. What you see here no longer exists. I had to literally cut it off the needles! The yarn wouldn't go over the join area well at all. I also learned I would need pointier needles! I was told by Knitnana that I needed Addi Lace Needles. She ought to know!

So, I find something else that I have on hand. Yes, I am trying so hard to use up stash. I get out this Berroco called Sprite, it's ancient! It's cotton, rayon and nylon, colorful and kinda hairy in it's own way. In fact the 'threads' sticking out all over it was a nuisance. I knit about 25 rows, my beads won't work either and I might not have enough yarn since I'm using a size 8! Stop laughing!!!! Back to square one. I do have some fingering weight Peruvian alpaca/silk in a camel from Elann. That will work because the first scarf I knit was in a camel too but different yarn, Lorna's Laces! Twice is a charm, right? I start knitting that one earlier today and BANG, it occurs to me that the person this is for is not gonna like 'camel' at all. She's too flashy for that color. So after this post publishes I am off to Knitpicks for SOMETHING THAT WILL WORK and hopefully works with beads I already have too!

The Kid Mohair is soon to make it's way across these United States to Ericah's Apparently she has more patience than I do and I am more than happy to pass it on to a good home! 2 skeins flying to San Francisco!!! Wasn't that fun? And it didn't even involve a contest!!!

On a frogging note.....

.......you'd think a second time knitting the same thing that you'd breeze through it! Well, not so with my Mission Falls bag #2. Just silly mistakes but it's kill'n me!! 2 more rows last night of colorwork was ripped and remember started over twice while on vacation. I am vowing, No More! This will be smooth going from now on like the first bag was! The colors are a sage green and black. It will be nice when finished, if ever!

A Desktop American Flag!

Check this out! I think you'll want one too. I've got mine.
DeskFlag. A daily reminder of who I am!
*Remember before going to bed tonight to pray for the families touched by 09/11/01 and continue to pray for our great nation.

Nellie's glad we're back!

Are all vacations wonderful?

I'm sure there are vacation horror stories but my guess is that most are indeed wonderful. We go to Sunset Beach a nice quiet non-commercial beach north of the very commercial Myrtle Beach. Sunset is actually in North Carolina. It was our 7th year and we stay in the same house too.

As for knitting. I did a lot of frogging!!! Mainly because I just didn't read directions but I won't go into all that. I did progress on the left front of my Karabella cardigan and the top of another Mission Falls bag. Most of my knitting was done on the screened in front porch.

Reading: I finished a great book! "Follow the River" by James Alexander Thom. It's an historical fiction about the true ordeal of Mary Draper Ingles of the New River Valley a place about an hour from me. This woman was kidnapped by Shawnee Indians in 1755. She escaped and found her way home. Amazing story. Every page was exciting, really!! Adventure stories are probably my favorite. I did most of my reading on the beach.

How about some pictures!


Sunrise at Sunset Beach!

This is the path we take to the beach each day. I'm walking back to the house so the ocean is behind me. All we have to do is cross the street to this path and the oceanfront is right at the end. I love the rustic feel of this place. We see frogs and lizards among the tall grasses.

One of the most exciting things I saw was a single sea turtle make it's way from the nest to the ocean! It was about the size of a newborn's foot! So cute. Several people were standing around watching and giving cheers to 'Tina' the baby sea turtle. The next night, last night, and I was home by then but they were going to excavate and help the others along too. I bet that's a site to see hundreds at once!

Thank you, thank you, I'm off.....

to the beach with ALL my knitting that is currently on needles. I was going to take the Icelandic Shawl with me but the cast on is 339 stitches so that will wait. I'm not up for counting!
Thanks to all with the great advice, you showed no restraint and neither will I!
Have a great week!

What to take along knitwise.............

I have a dilemma. I could take it all but that would seem foolish, or maybe not. I leave for vacation tomorrow, a week at the beach. How many knit projects do I pack to take along? I have a few OTN so maybe all of them? Since I have one of these large project NanaSadieRose bags I can indeed take it ALL. I'm in the middle of 2 sweaters, mittens, socks, another Mission Falls bag and I need to knit another Euroflax face cloth. I also have a stack of books to take! Yikes! I'll get the 'eye' from my husband but I can't seem to think that I need to leave any of it behind. You?

Traveling Cables Cardigan

Here's the progress on my Karabella Traveling Cables Cardigan. The Karabella Aurora 8 yarn is really a very deep Burgundy which is not reflected well here.The first picture I posted, on the right is more true to the color. I love this pattern and hope it fits me! It sure looks small right now even though I wear a small to medium!

I'll be away this week, back on Thursday but away again by Saturday for our family beach week. I am looking forward to lots of knitting and reading. I hope I have knitting progress to report! Maybe even something finished!

Have a great week!

A Knitting break for just a wee bit of time!!

Today I needed to sew on the binding for my sister's 25th anniversary quilt. That date was in May! So now I'm down to whip stitching the binding on the back which may take a while. She's in Colorado and may be moving back to Virginia in the next couple months so I'd rather not ship it if I can give to her in person! I had Gayle quilt the top in a meandering leaf stitch. She does a fabulous job. The quilt is so busy that hand quilting wouldn't have been that noticeable and lots of work too!

Satchel Update!

RoseRed said I needed to post a pic of the 'wrong side' of the bag. (I think I may have shown a little too much pride in how good the wrong side looked!) As you can see I still have some ends to weave in!

Also here is the crocheted bottom. I thought it was a really clever way to finish a seam! It was in the instructions not my idea! Wishing I was that clever!

You Gotta Knit One....

I love this bag! I think it turned out great. I am also making another I-cord in the mustard color as well and a little longer. I-cord handle wasn't in the directions. It was a crocheted one starting with a chain of 400!! I wasn't going to do that! I didn't block it. Maybe I should to stretch the insides some since it's fair isle. I must say though that the inside looks pretty darn good too! The bottom closure was neat too. You crochet it closed. I hope I don't tire of knitting another! It's a Mission Falls pattern in their Harvest 2001 book.
I've got the yarn ready for another but I need to get back to my Karabella and Starmore sweaters. I've just proved to myself though that with determination I can finish a project from the get go without picking up and or starting another one!!! It was a rare occasion!