After finishing my 4 shawls for the wedding I thought it would be a long time before I knit another one. I mean, where would I wear a shawl anyways? I can't wear them at one of my jobs at all and I would just feel weird wearing them at my other. I could wear one for non-work related things but honestly, my time not at work (what little there is. I generally work 50-60+ hours a week) is usually spent sitting at home. I don't need pretty shawls to sit at home!

Then I came across the 10 Shawls in 2010 group on Ravelry. The goal was simple. Knit 10 shawls in 2010, meeting a few simple yardage requirements. But that would leave me with 6 shawls I have no use for. Why would I want to do that?

What can I say, I'm weak! This was the beginning of Echo Flower, which taught me 2into9 and 3into9 increases, nupps, beading and the importance of a nice pointy needle. Surprisingly enough it wasn't the *into9 increases that needed the pointy needle, but the damn sssk decreases. This was before I got the pointy needle, which I splurged on and got a 32" Signature circ with stiletto points. It was a very costly needle, but I had been wanting to try them out for a while. My verdict: nice, but not nice enough to make me take out a loan to replace all my other needles. But hey, had to give it a shot!

I just finished knitting Echo last night and will be blocking it later today. I had a vision in my head of how I wanted it to look, which I wouldn't have been able to do without the very gracious help of someone on Ravelry. See, the yarn I used is Wollmeise, which is pretty difficult to get. How difficult? I've seen an update of over 10 colors (not sure how many skeins of each color, but its usually a decent amount) sell out in less than 10 mins. When I realized that I wasn't going to have enough to complete it how I had pictured, I mentioned it on Ravelry and was rescued! I was sent 2 skeins of the yarn in the same color (though not from the same batch, so they weren't a perfect match) to use as much as I needed and was told just to send it back when I was done. Thats it. I was sent 2 skein of hard to get yarn to use however I needed and they didn't want anything in return.

Ravelry is full of awesome people you guys.

(Of course I had to send something extra in return. I'm planning on mailing it back today)

My cell phone doesn't take great pictures (though I was having better luck getting the yarn color closer to accurate on my cell than my SLR for some reason) so here is the last picture I've taken of Echo, when I was about 6 and a half rows away from finishing the first border repeat. I played around with the colors a bit in and out of my camera for this one so its pretty close, though the fuchsia isn't quite so noticeable in person.

I switched to the gifted yarn for the second border repeat since it seemed like the best place given the difference in colors. If I had just used my skein I wouldn't have been able to do the nupps+beads on the second repeat as I had wanted. After the first border, I had 36g left and it was going to take just about that much to knit the border again without nupps or binding off. I weighed the gift yarn after I finished the shawl and I used 46g. I was so glad I got that yarn!

So, whats the future for Echo? Other than blocking the only plans I have for it are entering it into the county fair next week. I registered it yesterday and decided to register Brandywine as well. After that, no clue. I'm sure I'll find someone to gift it to.

As for the future of my 10 shawls in 2010 challenge?

Shawl #6 has been otn for a month, but I've been focusing on Echo and Puck's wig so it isn't very far. This one is going to be Magic Star, my first semi-circle shawl. Its knit with lace weight yarn on size 7 needles. This is a case where I would like pointy needles again. Sadly, I have no pointy needles in 7s and I don't know how badly I want to order some. The body is all stockinette. and it has some interesting points on the end that I'm looking forward to figuring out.

Once Magic Star is finished I'll have completed my two large shawls needed for 10 Shawls in 2010 and the last 4 can be smaller. So whats in store for the last 4? I currently have 9 shawls in my queue on Ravelry, plus many more favorited. We'll see which ones I end up with in the end!

Well there definitely has been quite a bit of knitting going on lately! All 4 wedding shawls were finished in time, so my massive project is finished. I started and finished the small non-sock pattern from The Loopy Ewe Sock Club, which will probably be given to my neighbor. The first of the Car Crash Socks has been finished (and the settlement check is in the bank. I offically call that chapter closed) and the toe of the second is started. I absolutely love the heel. (pdf pattern link)

Lets see.... I have been knitting a bit on the arm warmers and I've gotten a few of the decreases done, but theres quite a bit to go yet. Nothing has been done with the Sipalu bag or the Uncle Argyle Scarf. I do need to work on that scarf though. Its been claimed upon completion so I should try to complete it before winter.

I have started a new simple sweater (I needed something not fingering weight OTN) which is a nice change from all the lace and smallness. And considering I should have yarn arriving tomorrow for a laceweight sweater, this worsted weight one will probably end up being a godsend.

And finally, my Phoebus Apollo socks (July 2009 Sock Club pattern) are no more. I finished the first one during one of the car rides to.from Canada and I discovered it would not come over my heel. So, no more Phoebus Apollo. Oh well. Not like I don't have enough going right now!

Well, guess its high time for an update!

First off, the Signe mittens and Kinvara socks were finished and given to my mom for Christmas. You can see the finished projects on the Yarn section of the portfolio side. The Uncle Argyle Scarf has not been touched since I took that photo. It is still sitting in its project bag with 1 repeat finished. Vivian has been sent to the frog pond. I discovered half way through the body I had been twisting the two front cables wrong on one side. It sat for a while while I tried to decide if I could live with it, and then I decided I could. Picked it back up and started knitting, only to discover I forgot to do some twists on the back cables then. Plus she was screaming to be made in a fun color. So, Vivian will be frogged. I'll think of another sweater to make with that yarn. And finally, the Plain Sock. I'm still working on it, albeit slowly. I'm still on the first sock but I've gotten passed the heel and onto the leg. I think I'm about 2" away from finishing. I think.

Now. Onto the new stuff. (Not pictured is the Sipalu Bag I've started but not gotten far on.)

I've started and finished Brandywine. Twice. I knit it for my friend's wedding since I'm a bridesmaid and my dress doesn't cover my tattoo. Its not a huge thing, but I would like to cover it if possible. Plus, the wedding is in Canada in May. Might be hot, might be cold. I had it finished, but once blocked it just barely covered my tattoo. So I ended up undoing the cast off and last chart and added 4 more repeats to it. I still have to reblock it, but I'm waiting for some blocking wires I ordered to come in.

I'll be knitting a Secret Shawl for my friend who is getting married. She doesn't want to know anything about it though, so it will be offline knitting. The yarn hasn't shown up for it yet though. So I started a new small project last knit. (What? Work on something on the needles already? Bah) Its the non-sock pattern from the first package of The Loopy Ewe sock club this year. I'm not really in love with all the colors in the yarn, but I like it better in the scarf pattern.

13 November 2009

What better way to start than with everything I have?

First up, we have Signe MIttens. I will be giving these to my mom for Christmas. I was going to make her the matching Signe Hat as well, but she just told me she doesn't really want the hat anymore. After I bought $37.50 worth of needles to make it. *headpalm* Oh well. I'm sure I'll find some use for 16" Addi Turbo circs in US 0-2. So she's getting the mittens.

Needle: US 1 dpns
Yarn: Louet Gems Fingering Weight in Black and Cherry Red

Next is an Uncle Argyle Scarf planned for former classmate Mark. This is kind of a random project, as I'm making it solely for the double knitting experimentation. I liked this pattern when I first saw it, but its not a pattern I would wear. Mark is a great recipient as he really likes argyle.

Needle: US 7
Yarn: Cascade 220 in Blue and Walnut

I've had my Kinvara socks going for a while. About 7 months actually. They are from the second kit of The Loopy Ewe Sock Club this year, recieved and cast on in May. I have one sock finished and the other is close to the heel, but these socks are taking a while. I really like the yarn and finished product, but I don't really like knitting them. I will finish them eventually though, and then I will be able to move onto the sock kit I got in July.

Needle: US 1 dpns
Yarn: Dye Dreams Luster Sox in Shades of Ireland

The only other non-fingering weight project I have going on right now is my Vivian. The pattern calls for chunky yarn, but I didn't have any of that. I did have some Cascade 220 Walnut Heathers (same color as the Uncle Argyle Scarf) so I'm making a size or two larger. I hope it turns out okay!

Needle: US 7 circs
Yarn: Cascade 220 Walnut Heathers

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And finally, we have my Plain Sock. I started this one as I was hanging out in bed after a car accident. They're nothing special or anything, but I'm really liking how the yarn is knitting up.

Needle: US 1 wooden dpns
Yarn: Dream in Color Smooshy Strange Harvest