IK Heart Sachet

I haven’t posted in a while (not that anyone’s noticed), but it’s not because I haven’t been knitting. I’m still chugging away at Avast. I’ve joined the arms to the body, which feels like a big achievement because I get to decrease for the raglan every right side row. The downside of having the entire sweater on the needles is that it feels like a huge, unwieldy beast, and takes me ages to get through a row.

To break up the monotony, I’ve been working on the heart sachet pattern from Interweave knits in some leftover sock yarn. The mitered squares are fun, and it’s a great way to use up some of the small balls of leftovers that I never know what to do with. I’ve completed one heart, but haven’t stuffed it, and am beginning another.

p.s. Is it lame that I like the little rhyme in this post's title?

Stockinette crawling along

I've made good progress on the body of Avast, over 13 inches now, thanks to a long weekend with plenty of knitting time. I'm nearing the sleeve joins, but it still feels like I have a long way to go. Once the sleeves are joined I'll have a MILLION stitches on the needles, but I'll get to start the raglan decreases, which always feels like progress.

Socktopia: January

I've completed this month's Socktopia socks. These are my Tropicana socks, knit to go with Socktopia's 'Celebration' theme. I'm going on a vacation to Jamaica in less than a month, and I will definitely be celebrating in my tropical paradise!

Socktopia

This week I signed up to participate in Socktopia. This is a knitalong where we knit a pair of socks a month for a year. Each month has a few themes, and this month I'm going to be using my Tropicana socks to match the "Celebration" theme. Right now I'm trying to plan a warm weather vacation, and I'll definitely celebrate once I've made it to a more tropical climate!

Calorimetry

This was a quick project I whipped up a week or two ago using some leftover Patons Classic from my stash. I think I finished it in a single afternoon. It’s been really warm here in New York, so it’s gotten no use until today. The temperature has finally dropped and it’s really windy out, so I was pleased I had my Calorimetry to warm my ears!

It's the Pirate's Life for Me!

About three weeks ago I started working on Knitty’s Avast for my boyfriend. Up until now I’ve only knit socks for him, so this is a big step up, and I’m flattered that he wanted something as large (and visible) as a sweater.



I’m working in Wool-Ease so it’s not scratchy and using the color ‘Denim.’ My boyfriend’s chest measure is 43 inches, and I’m working the XL size because the large measured 44 inches and I know he won’t wear anything that’s too tight. Now I’m just praying that the XL isn’t too huge when it’s finished. Oh well, I’ve found that it’s always better to err on the side of too big rather than too small.



So far I’ve completed both sleeves and about 4 inches of the cardigan body. The cable band was simple to memorize, and a nice addition that keeps the sweater from being to plain-looking. I’m now facing miles of stockinette over 238 stitches until I can join the arms and begin the raglan decreases, so I don’t think this will be a quick knit. Still, it’s perfect for mindless TV knitting, and will be a good break from any other projects I’m working on.

Tropicana Socks

I bought some Patons Kroy Stripes sock yarn at a big closeout sale, and I decided to give Magknit’s Tropicana pattern a try. One sock completed, and I can say with confidence that I will never knit this pattern again. I need to just admit to myself that when it comes to stripey yarn, Jaywalker is the best pattern out there. I’ve already knit three pairs, so I thought I should expand my horizons a little, but I’ve come to regret it.


The pattern itself is well written, but I just don’t like the mechanics of the stitch repeat – it hurts my hands. Plus, the pattern calls for a short row heel, which I know some people love, but I really prefer a heel flap. I don’t know why I continue to follow a pattern even if I know I don’t like the process used – I know I like heel flaps, I should have used that instead of a short row. I did replace the toe with the toe from Nancy Bush’s Rib and Cable socks from the Fall '05 edition of Interview Knits. It’s one of the best fitting toes I’ve ever used, and I want to use it more often.

Geez, I sound really hard on these socks. I’m pleased with the result, despite all that I just wrote above. I’m knitting these socks as a future Christmas gift, and I think the end result will look good.

Sunrise Circle jacket

I just finished my version of the Sunrise Circle jacket a few weeks ago, and am pleased with how it came out. (Note: this picture was taken with the sweater on my dress form; I don't have deflated arms in real life.)

After a summer of knitting mainly socks, this project felt long to me, but I really like the results. I love projects that have a self-facing hem. I think the results are so professional and clean looking.

Backyard leaves and Clapotis

This is the Backyard Leaves scarf I mentioned a few days ago. I made it out of Knitpicks Wool of the Andes, and used the color Pumpkin to make it more autumnal. As you can see, I did very little blocking on this scarf so the leaves are very three dimensional. I like the look, but it probably makes it difficult for others to tell that they are leaves at all.

I love the way this scarf came out, but Wool of the Andes is itchy, so unfortunately I don’t wear it that often.


The one scarf that I wear all the time is my sockweight version of Clapotis. I made this over a year ago with Knitpicks Memories in Pansy, and I think it has held up extremely well. The scarf is just the right weight and length for me, and I loved dropping the stitches while making it.

Sorry for the total lack of modelled photos, I live alone and have yet to figure out how to take an attractive self portrait.