TWO DAYS MY FRIENDS!

Socktoberfest kicks off bright and early Sunday morning!

Start your hooks and needles!

And wouldn't you know? I am planning ahead too! (I seem to have way too many plans of late…) So, I made some attainable goals for Socktoberfest:

Finish the Lace (Not So) Knee Highs, which really don't photograph well, but are amazingly beautiful – trust me!

…finish sock one and move onto sock two…

Since these knee socks did not really work the way I was hoping (but I still love them!), I am planning to try another pair, following Cara and Yahaira's lead on customized knee socks.

As I was winding my skein of this lovely Yarn Pirate sock yarn, my eyes wandered over to one of my art books on Hokusai's Japanese woodblocks. It amazed me to see that the colorway "Cannon Beach" is so similar to the color palette in the 18th-century prints. The woodblock prints have been an artistic inspiration for me, and now I am feeling super great and inspired to work on these new socks!

Hokusai is probably best known for his woodblock print, In the Hollow of a Wave off the Coast at Kanagawa, which also has the same colors as my new yarn!

What plans do you have for Socktoberfest?

Looking for some inspiration of the sock kind? Check out some of the blogs on the Socktoberfest Participant List, and there is always the Socktoberfest Flickr group (which also has some great discussions topics started up!)

Can you feel the excitement?

It seems that there are new knitalongs cropping up all over the blogosphere, and like many of you, I went on a joining spree! 

So timely!  Cables are so hot right now.  Do you have any cable projects on the needles now, or some planned in the near future?  The group blog has started off with a bang – there are some lovely sweaters, cardigans, mittens, and scarves showing up!  While I am currently knitting up a cabled/rib pullover for Kris, I am also planning some other cabled cardigans this season… I don't know if I can fit them all in this fall, but I like to aim high!

1. Patons' Classic Hoodie, 2. Cabled Cardigan, 3. Green Cable Cardigan

Wool wool and more wool.  I recently added the middle cardigan (from the Fall 2006 Knit Simple magazine) to my list – especially when I ran into a good sale of Patons Classic Merino at a local craft store.  The first hoodie has been on my list for ages, and as soon as I finish one of my WIPs, this baby is going on the needles.  The third cardi is another great design from Stefanie at Glampyre.  I am planning to use a great eggplant-colored wool from my stash for this one.

When I saw Claudia mention this one on her blog, I immediately signed up.  Rich tweedy yarns conjure up images of winter wonderlands, fireplaces, and magnificent knit creations – it is the quintessential winter wool for me! (Yes, I like to wax poetic about yarn…) I have a lot of tweed in the stash, and I have one finished tweedy cardigan to my name. 

The Durrow pullover is a "two-fer": it is knit in the amazing tweedy Dale of Norway Sisik yarn, and it has cables galore up the sleeves. I am currently working the armholes on the back of this one.

This knitalong goes all winter, so I hoping to fit in some other tweedy accessories, specifically hats and mittens, and if I can really get going?  Maybe the V-neck pullover in the red Sisik…

I recently posted about my desire to jump right into color work and Fair Isle.  I received some wonderful tips from you all, and I think I am going to use Sandy's knitalong to experiment! Mittens seem like a great place to start.  Over the past few months, I have picked up two books that have great technical advice, as well as beautiful patterns:

Folk Mittens features traditional designs from many cold-weather countries. I love the folk aspect of this book, and as I improve as a knitter, I hope to have many of these mittens in my collection. The Knit Mittens! book contains some helpful diagrams and pictures, as well as several cute patterns. Techniques inside include colorwork, needle felting, and cables. There are also patterns specifically for children. Now the problem is choosing where to start…

Finally, the last knitalong that I joined is a great way to combine all of the knitalongs into one… all you have to do is watch movies and knit (or crochet, or spin!) while watching a movie!

Fiberflix is another brilliant idea from Craftylily Jennifer! The concept is simple: each month, the group chooses a theme and a corresponding movie.  Next month's theme will be film noir, and the voting is going on right now – go join and put in your vote! (I say Strangers on a Train…)  We will have an ongoing discussion about the movie throughout the month, as well as share the projects we work on while watching the movie. 

And have you heard about this other project?  a month-long sock celebration?  Sounds pretty fun!

Pomegranate Pullover is done!

…and since the weather was pristine yesterday afternoon, I decided outdoor photographs were in order! 

Of course, I needed one of the pomegranates from my collection to remind you just why I call this sweater "Pomegranate" – the color is a dead ringer for the fruit! It captures the three-way color blend of pink, orange, and red so well.   No wonder I was drawn to the yarn at the craft fair, nearly a year ago…

Pomegranate Pullover
Pattern: "Mohair Hoodie" from Knitting to Go Deck by Kris Percival
Yarn: Woolarina Handpaints Merino Laceweight
Needles: Size US 9 bamboo needles
Started: March 2006 / Finished: September 2006
See the Pomegranate Pullover Photo Mosaic!

This sweater started back in the Project Spectrum Red/Pink month of March, and it has been on the back burner ever since, coming to the forefront once again for Project Spectrum Clean Sweep.  I did a few rows here and there, but there was no real progress until the last few weeks.  I am so happy to have it finished! Maryland's weather is mild right now – chilly mornings and warm days – so this pullover is the perfect garment.  And I even have a pomegranate-colored cami to wear underneath! 

I used the pattern more as a guideline, primarily for the set-in sleeves.  I used a lot of creative license in this one:  I omitted the hood, which is an option that the pattern gives, but I also omitted the mock turtleneck that it calls for if you don't do the hood.  I picked up the stitches to do so, but the laceweight was floppy, and not suited for that kind of neckline. I did a pretty little single crochet chain – the extent of my crochet skills – and the crew neck is a much better fit for the yarn and for my style.  I also cropped the sleeves to my preferred three-quarters length, and made the torso longer than the pattern – seeing it now, I could have gone even more. 

The Knitting to Go Deck was a great find. It contains 25 patterns for women, men, and children – all of the patterns are printed out on folded cards that fit into a knitting bag so well! The patterns are basic in nature, and provide a great jumping off point if you want to experiment with lace, and/or textures in your knitting.  I split the deck with my mom and sister who wanted to try some of the beginner patterns.

I picked it up at a bookstore in Grand Central Terminal where I was waiting to meet Carrie back in March. I had a gauzy light pattern in mind for this yarn from the moment I bought it, and as I flipped through this deck, I found this pattern. It was perfect! When I got home, I swatched and had to play with the gauge a little to ensure a proper fit. As many of you have noted, my shape has changed since March – specifically up top (I am wondering just where my b**bs went…) I am glad that I decided on a smaller fit and size – I think it will fit me as I continue to lose weight.

Speaking of great books… I recently borrowed Amy Butler's In Stitches from my friend Avice (check out her lovely Rowan Seabreeze pullover and her Log Cabin blanket!) and after just flipping through, I added it to my wishlist.  This book is spectacular!  I really want to catch the sewing bug ~ this book has so many patterns, and best of all: detailed technical diagrams!

 Here's a little sneak peek…

(Click on the photo for links to larger photographs)

This weekend will finally be a restful one – it may even give me a chance to answer my huge backlog of emails (I am sorry if you have been waiting to hear from me!) 

♥

Yeah, I have been waiting to use that post title since I decided to make this Sesame cardigan…

I am working both front panels simultaneously.  I have sleeve one finished as well – I used it as a gauge swatch.  So, sleeve two, the back, and the pick-up stitches for the button band and collar still to go.  I think I can, I think I can.

What drew me to this sweater in the first place?  well, I wanted to stashbust some of the Lion Brand Cotton Ease that I hoarded last year when I heard about its discontinuation, but I was also drawn to the amazing buttons.  I just adore buttons!  These particular wooden buttons are from the local craft store, and are totally worth their slightly higher price tag ($1.25 a button!) to me – they are what drew me to the sweater in the first place!  I am thinking about dyeing them (or staining them?) a slightly darker wood color, as I could not find any others that were darker.  The light wood against the black knit fabric may be too jarring, or maybe not…  Thoughts?

I started the Sesame cardigan in the Project Spectrum neutral month of August, and I couldn't resist the basic pattern.  Melissa did a great job designing this cardigan, it is truly a fashion staple that I can dress up or leave casual all year long.  As soon as I finish this one, it is hitting the streets – I already have outfits planned in my mind to match it.  You do that too, right?  Like a mental Fashion Plate series – top – pants/skirt – shoes.  I have thought about it all…

…like how it will match the new velvet sequined ballerina flats I got over the weekend in Tennessee!

PS–I flipped a coin like Maryse suggested – and I came up with "No Hood".  Those of you who lobbied for the hood made a good case, but I am happy with the hoodless decision – so the Pomegranate PULLOVER will make its debut tomorrow – stay tuned!

I know I am not the only one.  I hated the time of year when report cards were issued in grade school.  My teachers always liked me and gave me good marks – but the thing I feared the most?  The comment section on the back of the card.  They always said the same thing:

"Lauren is a very bright student, and a joy to have in class.  However, she talks to her peers and is easily distracted." 

Ahem. The worst part was that I had to get my parents to sign the report card, just to prove that they had actually seen it. (Forgery did cross my mind…)  Of course they knew I was loquacious Lolly.  Of course they knew that I was easily distracted.  They lived with me.  I prefer to think that I was developing good communication skills, and that I was a good multi-tasker…

I am still a talkative girl – but I think it has tempered a bit.  I still am easily distracted… but sometimes I know that "staying the course" is really best because the end result will be so sweet.

Take the Pomegranate Hoodie:  I really want to cast on for some other things… but I really want a finished sweater too.  So, I worked on her non-stop during my weekend road trip to Tennessee.  Sleeve 2 banged out in a few hours, and then the seaming.

I kept trying her on at various stages of seaming… first time doing set-in sleeves, so I wanted to ensure a proper fit. I am happy with it! 

I have been working on this hoodie since March.  I started it as part of the red month for Project Spectrum, and it is still on the needles.  Just as a reminder, I am using Woolarina Handpaints laceweight yarn (it is so great!)  I thought the color resembled a pomegranate, hence the name of the hoodie (sometimes shortened to Pom Hoodie).  I am using the Hoodie pattern from the Knitting to Go Deck by Kris Percival.

September is officially the Project Spectrum Clean Sweep month, and I want to finish this sweater, as well as my Sesame cardigan.  I hope I can make it before the end of the month! 

Sleeve 2 was set in and sewn up while watching last week's Project Runway episode. (wasn't crazy about that twist…) Since this picture I have finished both side seams, and have picked up the neck stitches for the hood attachment.

The hood is completely vestigial.  Purely for aesthetics.  In a rain storm, I would still be soaking wet.  In a gust of wind, my ears would still freeze.  There is no point to it whatsoever.  It crossed my mind to just leave it off.  What do you think? (See what the original pattern looks like here) Let me know, because I can't decide.  (You can add indecisiveness to the list of my "endearing" character traits, right beside short attention span and procrastination…)

Just because I needed a little change of pace while sitting in the car for approximately 16 hours round trip, I also started working on "My So-Called Scarf" pattern in the delicious new Malabrigo for my Scarf Exchange pal. 

My pal actually reads my blog (it may be you and you don't even know it!) and she lives in a colder climate, so I though the wool would be a great way to go.  She listed green among her favorite colors, and I think this fits the bill very well.  There are slight blueish green variegations in the yarn.  I had heard reviews about Malabrigo but had never seen it.  I ordered it online to give it a try, and I can't say enough good things about it.  It is so soft – that is definitely its edge over the other kettle-dyed Uruguayan wools on the market (and I have used several: Manos, Rio de la Plata, and Handpaintedyarn)  I hope it continues to hold up well, I don't want any pilling or fuzzing on my pal's scarf! 

Can I get these things done before the end of the month?  It appears that some six seven eight hundred people are devoting themselves to SOCKS next month, so I better 'get a move on'!