Cuties Booties!

Why are baby things so damn cute?! I dare you to not go "awwwww" when you see these:

I'm right aren't I? It's not just because I made them either. They are adorable because they are wee, and the little toes that go in them are wee. It's a conspiracy.

Pattern: Baby's First Socks, by Ann Budd

Yarn: Left over Trekking and Regia

Needles: Knit Picks Classic Circs, size 1 and 0

Notes: Aside from the fact that these socks are too cute to resist knitting, I do know a few ladies that are cooking up some babies right now. Totally awesome for me, mind you, as I have little baby knits to work on - great summer knitting - small, light, and quick! I'm not sure who they will be for, but I'm sure the mommy and baby will love them as much as I do.

I knit one sock with a contrast toe. I can pretend that it was on purpose, but I'd be lying. I ran out of yarn. That's what you get for using left over yarn. Anyway, I pulled some regia out of my left over bin, and finished sock #2 with that. I like the look, frankly. I liked it even more after I embroidered the wee little heart on the toe. Both yarns are superwash, and dryer friendly - go knitter!

When I cast on for the booties I started on 1's, like the pattern called for. They seemed a little too big, so I went down to 0's after the first pattern repeat. Now they flair at the top. I'm calling it a design feature. Besides, babies have chubby legs, and little extra flair can't hurt.

What you have to know if you are going to knit these:

They have a shit ton of purling. I don't mind it, but if you do, these might not be the socks for you. Also, the heel and gusset construction are different from normal, and the instructions for the heel/gusset and toe are written out - line by line- since you are decreasing in pattern. You have a lot of pattern following to do. It's not hard knitting, just "pay attention" knitting. Oh, and Ann Budd - Three needle bind off for the WIN!

Lacey Goodness

I realized this morning that I took pictures of, updated my Ravelry project page on, and *thought* I had blogged about my Aeolian Shawl. I did the first two, never did the third.
Shame! Shame on me! Bad Knit blogger!
So, today I am posting a much belated post about my Aeolian shawl!

Name: Aeolian Shawl
Pattern: "Aeolian Shawl" from Knitty.com
Yarn: Schaefer Yarn Company Andrea in colorway "Ash"
Needles: Knitpicks classic circulars, size 3
Notes: I knit 6 of pattern 1 (yucca), 1 of pattern 2 (agave), and the edging. (Of course, all the appropriate transition charts included.) I was going for something in between the small size and the large size. I think I did pretty well!

In my last post about this shawl I said the yarn was like knitting with Angel farts. I firmly stand by this statement. I really is. It is so light and fluffy and smooth and shiny and down right awesome! I switched back to wool for my next project and it is like knitting with barbed wire in comparison. The color is great too. Just a little variegation, and a nice warm purply grey. Beautiful!

The beads were really loaded on this pattern. I cut out the beads on the first 5 yucca's, and still went through a billion! (Maybe not a billion, I might be exaggerating.) Still, It was two packs worth! Most of the beads are in the edging, which took a hell of a long time. Row 42 of the edging is BITCH! A beautiful, ass slapping, mean bitch - but totally worth it.

Normally, I like to say things like "it wasn't as hard as it looks" or "This is a great pattern for a first or second shawl" at this point. I am not going to say that about this one. Don't get me wrong, the knitting itself is pretty easy - all standard stitches, well explained in the key, but the executing was at least intermediate. Lots of slipping stitches, placing a bead, slipping it all back, twisting K3togs. It is a knit that requires some patience, and a lot of chart reading.

The over all shape of the shawl is wonderful. The curve of the top edge is great to wear. It doesn't bunch at the neck, and the curve keeps the sides firmly down in front of you. I wore it to two formal events in two weeks, and had nary a slip off the shoulder - with no pins or clips. (the second one even involved a bit of drinking) I am sold on this shawl shape!

Currently, I am plodding through the Fountain Pen Shawl for Interweave Knits. It is down right dull after this one!

There and back again

It's not really a Hobbit's story, but I was gone! Then I came back! I went to Kentucky to my cousin's wedding last week, and just didn't have time to update my blog before I left. I have two FO's to show you, that I finished before I left, and three more I started since then. At least 12 hour trips are good for something!
I suppose I will start with the oldest FO today. Not this past Friday, but the Friday before that, I finished my Wiccan sweater!

Name: Wiccan Sweater
Pattern: Niobe: Lacy bell-sleeve pullover from French Girl Knits
Yarn: Gedifra Fashion Trend Color, 6 balls
Needles: Knitpicks Options Interchangables, size 11
Notes: This was a really quick knit. Wow. 7 days quick. Big yarn and big needles are fun sometimes! Of course, I have to wait until October to wear it, since it is crazy warm, but that's seems to be the way the yarn barfs. Sigh.

I knit the largest size in the book, and did not add any length or short rows to the bust because I was really worried about having enough yarn. I'm glad I didn't because I *just* squeaked in under the line. I have about 6 yards left, and tails. I really did knit this sweater on the edge. (Ok. The proverbial knitting edge, but it's still an edge) I had six balls of yarn, no clue as to the dye lots, and no clue of the yardage. I wasn't even totally sure they were complete balls. I bought the yarn on clearance at A.C. Moore about 4 or 5 years ago - pre understanding dyelots. I liked it, but had no idea what to use it for. Along came the book "French Girl Knits", and I knew I had a match for my yarn!
I maybe should have mixed the yarn together as I knit, just to make sure it all looked ok together, and wasn't a dyelot travesty, but I didn't. (Edge - remember?) All in all, I think it turned out pretty nice! There is a dark spot in the yarn at my smallest place on my torso, making it look even smaller (bonus!) The stripes aren't as stripy as they appear in the photos, which is awesome, and the sleeves blocked longer to accomodate my monkey arms. Sweet!

The lacy bits are fun, and not too involved, making this a good "second sweater". Unless you know how to read a chart or have knit other lace in the round, I wouldn't choose this as a "first sweater". The pattern does assume that you know some things about lace and sweater construction. It's not hard, but it doesn't hold your hand either.

Did I mention that it is seamless? Oh yeah.... no seams, baby! If you did this in 100% animal fiber you could spit splice all of your joins, and only have 4 ends to put in! This is my kind of sweater construction.

I didn't get any action shots for you, but I can tell you that it fits great! Knitting by the seat of your pants worked for once! If I could always be so lucky.