Hello there blog, I've missed you!

So what has been happening on this end? Nothing much I can tell you that. I've been working on the LT and Sahara simultaneously and let me tell you, it makes for sloooow knitting. The right front (is it?) of the LT is done and I'm still on the left front. The hemp is stil fairly rough to work with and I'm really hoping that it turns out as soft as it looks in the book.


Sahara is coming along nicely. I'm using my new Knitpicks options to knit this with and it's lovely. It's going slowly though.




On my to finish list is this bag - Knitpicks Rick Rack purse. I felted this ages ago but still haven't found a piece of lining that I like and I'm not sure about that hot pink ribbon I have running through it. Definitely have to change this one up and it'll be a gift for my daughter.


Here are some books that I recently purchased... And So To bed, Pursenalities and One Skein Wonders. I'm very impressed with all three and hope to start working from at least one of them soon... but it's nice to know that I have them here!



From the And So To Bed, the Lula doll is next on my list to make. I'll be making it for my daughter but I have to dye the yarn first. It'll be my first dye experience! Which reminds me, I have to buy some black tea today to get it done.




Finally, here are some stitch markers that I bought from Charles Lee. He's done a wonderful job on them and I love them!

I hope to have some FO's on here soon! It seems like a long time since I've had any!

Ok, so it's not so bad

In my last post I was freaking about the mess progress on my Laura Tee (LT). I got some great assistance from someone at the biggirlknits group at yahoo but I'm stuck again. I'm waiting for the errata to be reposted as promised but meanwhile, I keep posting at the group and asking questions. Hopefully they don't get tired of my questions (I doubt it as they seem to be a very nice group)... so for now I wait.....

I confess.. I haven't a clue...

So like I said, I'm knitting the Laura Tee from Big Girl Knits. It was going fine until I realised there are some errors in the pattern. Seems there was an errata link on the biggirlknits site that somehow disappeared. Anyways, I trudged on through and figured it out and now I come to the realisation, once again, that I haven't a clue on how this top is structured! I've turned it this way and that and can't for the life of me figure out which part is the neck, the bust... the sleeve stitches are currently being held hostage on a holder until the time comes for me to start on it and join it to the rest of the body. I just can't see how it will fit!! AUGH! I can't find anyone else online who has completed this tee or has any progress shots or anything. I'm sorely, VERY sorely tempted to start ripping it out. I'm the kind of person that likes to be able to see my projects taking shape... I feel good when I know the neckline is here and the sleeves are here etc. Maybe it's the missing errata and the lack of a proper schematic in the book that has me itching to set this thing on fire. GAH!!!!!

I might carry on with it. For now I will set it aside and go visit some blogs to see what other knitty folk are up to. I'll also be looking for a fairly easy fair isle pattern to try. I'm also thinking of redoing this blog. If only I had the time set out in my mind to force myself to sit and plan it out. One of these days...

Here's my progress. Bah.

Slowly, ever so slowly coming out of my rut...

I've started back knitting. Yes, you can now breathe a sigh of relief. I've picked back up the Laura Tee... still ignoring the Sonata Crest of the Wave tank for now. I've also ordered this, the book that the pattern is found in - and so to bed, pursenality plus, one skein wonders and the famed knitpicks options needle set.

I would love to get my hands on some Rowan calmer, some tahki bali bamboo yarn and some more lace weight yarn. There's at least one baby that I want to knit a blanket for too. I see Morehouse has a baby blanket kit that I'm interested in as well. That baby is due in August so I have some time to get my act together for that.

Meanwhile, I've recently purchased some stitch markers from here. Aren't they lovely? (now if I figure out how to get these pics to place correctly in this blog - argh!)

Oh yes, I did forget to post the socks I received from my sock pal on the knittinghelp Sockintine swap. Here they are:

The socks are made from cotton lycra, colour field of violets and the pattern is corded rib from SKS.

The new knitty is out. I like Isabella and hope to make it sometime this year. Another "this year" project will be something in fair isle... some sort of intricate colour work. I can't wait to try something new! Now if I can just sort out a way to get my yarn in good time and through a reliable system. Argh - living in the tropics!

Mini knitting hiatus...

So I haven't picked up my needles in a little bit now, since completing the knittinghelp sockintine sock swap. I tried going back to the Sonata Crest of the Wave Tank but knit less than a row and put it down. There's the stitchdiva Sahara (short sleeved version) that I am thinking of tackling next (even though I have already started the Laura Tee). I feel really uninspired and am thinking of doing a purse or something like that. There's the Ruffled Surplice from the new Interweave Knits that I have my eye on (it will cost me BDS$255.00 approximately to make - ack!) so there are projects to do... it's just to work up the get go to do them.

I hope this dry spell doesn't last too long!

Pomatomus socks done...

Wow, what a feeeling! I can honestly say I feel like I've been knitting those socks nonstop for a year! But they are finally done! I feel like I can now return to my life as I knew it LOL! I did run into a snag on the socks. I ran out of yarn. The pattern called for 175 yards (was it?) and the Claudia Handpainted yarn was only 172 yards. Ugh. Why didn't I notice this before? I think I was so eager and happy to have finally found a pattern to compliment the yarn that I didn't realise I wouldn't have enough to finish the socks. So I what I had to wind up doing was using extra yarn similar in colour but not as dark so you can see the big difference. But I really wanted to get my swap pal something extra. If I had bought extra yarn I wouldn't have been able to get her something extra as I would have been way over my budget (and not to mention I need $2 of my dollars to make $1 of US dollars). Anyways, you can see the finished product that I hope to send out today.

What's next on my list? Well there's the Laura Tee, I have to finish my Sonata Crest of the Wave Tank and maybe a pair of my own socks. Who am I kidding? I'm not touching another pair of socks for awhile!

One poma poma down, another to go...

man! That sock was a little time consuming to make! I have a couple mistakes in there and worst of all, I've dipped into my second skein of yarn to finish the toe on this. I feel better now that I can start the other sock and get these off to my pal. I'm also looking around for some nice things to include in her package (hmmmm... I wonder if my pal is sending me something special in addition to my socks - is it juevenile to wonder? I just like getting nice packages!) Anyways, I've seen some local jewelery but that may seem too personal as we haven't even conversed on kh or outside of kh so I'm not sure how that would go over. I'm thinking of sending a cake as well... as small rum cake. It's not the traditional cake we make at Christmas and for weddings but it's nice enough to eat a whole one if you're not careful. I'm also thinking about sending some local sweets... not the sugarcake tho. I don't think it will survive the trip over there and stale coconut can give a sock pal a bad case of the runs. Soooo, what else what else? She likes a certain something but to order it will be very expensive. So I'll stick to the cake and a little carved turtle or something with the words Barbados splashed across it? She'll know for sure who the socks are coming from. Should I even keep my identity secret after I've sent them? I'm thinking of sending the package from another country I'll be visiting in February to throw her off (going all out eh? LOL) but I may be going too close to valentines day so that may not work.

Anyways, here's a pic of the lonely sockie that needs its ends woven in. I'll start its twin later after I've played around with my new phone. Technology at my fingertips! I'm excited!

Getting ready for chilly weather...

overseas of course! You didn't think we got snow here right? LOL! Where I'm going is expected to be VERY cold and I need to be prepared. Out comes my secret weapon! Malabrigo! I sure hope it does the trick! I want to knit a scarf and some mittens before then. Wish me luck!

Also, here's an update on my Pomatomus socks (I seem to be having trouble spelling that word!)

I've got alot of knitting to do!

Pomatomus it is...

I've restarted the sock since deciding on doing the Pomatomus pattern from knitty. I've just finished the initial part of the cuff and now going into the pattern. I really hope I'm doing this right cause I feel like time's running out! Aaaaackkkkk!!!! I really REALLY don't want to have to start over with a new pattern or restart this one so I hope I'm doing good.

Here's a pic.

Yummy yarn... not so yummy knit up

Ok, I frogged the sock. This yarn is absolutely gorgeous. No if ands or buts about it. I simply cannot find a pattern that will complement it well. I can knit a plain sock but I feel like I'll be cheating my swap pal kinda by doing that... I wonder if the person that's knitting for me is having this same kind of trouble.

Anyways, I'm now going with Lorna Laces Shepherd sock in Carrot. I'm now doubting myself again. At this rate these socks are not going to get knit!!! I want to travel at the end of the month so I need to get these done and posted by then. Oh the self imposed agony! Nothing seems to be good enough for my partner... my partner that doesn't even really post to the Sockintine thread.

So, shall it be Baudelaire, Hedera, Kew, or Pomatomus?

Sigh.

Sockintine well on it's way

Tonight I'm busily, quietly, happily knitting socks. I'm one repeat in on the socks that I plan to give to my sock pal for the Sockintine swap over at knittinghelp.com. I'm using Claudia's Handpainted yarn in John B. It's a variegated yarn and I wasn't so sure that it was turning out ok, but I was reassured that it was so I'm pressing on. I am hoping that my sock pal enjoys them when she gets them along with a few other goodies I plan to send her. I don't really know that much about her... I've read most of her posts as a background study (LOL) and I know there is one thing she's crazy about but I'm not sure I can get it here... would have to order it online and hope it gets here before I send off her package. I want to send it at the end of January so that I would give the postal system enough time to get it to her (although I think it should only take a week, but better safe than sorry I say!) I've included a pic of my earlier progress on the sock.

I'll get back to it. 'night!

New knits, new rules...

New knitting rules that is... this coming year I will try new things knit-wise. I will learn fair isle knitting and I will knit something gorgeous and complicated. I will knit more and I will improve my knitting skills. I will fatten up my stash and get more accesories and maybe even a bigger place to store it all! New books and more lace knitting. More charity work and items for my kids and maybe... just maybe, an afghan. I know I'll be knitting a baby blanket for some friends who are freshly pregnant so that's on my list to do. Ah, the fun and joy and great expectations of knitting!

Here's what I'm working on now. The Laura Tee from the book Big Girl Knits. It looks complicated and that's precisely why I'm doing it. It's cute too and I am surprised that I haven't seen more people knit it... maybe it's because of its strange constuction. Either way, I am knitting the large size as I'll be back in the gym come January 3rd and it makes no sense knitting for me at this size when I plan to lose the weight. It prolly doesn't make sense to knit the large either but my goal isn't to be skinny, but rather to be healthy and to be able to fit into clothes that would flatter me not make me look larger than I already look. I'm knitting this blouse with allhemp for knitting in the colour dusty rose, and it is very rough on the hands. Others say that it softens up especially after it is washed. I certainly hope so. The one the model is wearing looks very soft and drapey. I hope mine won't disappoint...

Next is the toe up sock in Regia Crazy colour. This is the first time I'm trying a toe up sock and the first time doing the magic loop pattern! So many new things I'm learning! I am part of a swap on the knittinghelp.com forum and these socks are for practice. I'll make them to the ankles for myself and wear them to the gym. They are coming out a bit big and I'm glad I'm finding this out now as I think my swap pal has the same size foot as I do, so if it's too big for me, when I knit hers it will be too big for her.

Blocked pics of Mountain Peaks Shawl

Finally, I have blocked pics to share. Here they are:

Mountain Peaks Shawl - done!

My Mountain Peaks Shawl is done! Thanks to Miriam Felton for all the wonderful help that she gave me! What a patient person she is! I have sent her countless emails which she all answered with patience and kindness. Without her help I would not have been able to finish this shawl. I have made a few mistakes along the way... the last one being when I was binding off I was one stitch short but I did a little tinkering and got it all sorted.

Stats:

Yarn: JaggerSpun Zephyr in Curry
Quantity: Just over 630 yards
Needle size: 5
Time to knit: Roughly a month... started around November 15 and ended today.

This pic is of the shawl unblocked. I am very happy with it... I just hope I get the blocking done sucessfully.

TGIF

What a week! I've been under the weather the entire week - started on Sunday and has lasted till now. I was off work on Wednesday and wondered why I bothered to come in on Thursday and then again today. The a/c does not help so I'm happy it's Friday.

On the knitting front, I've been soldering on bravely on the MLS. It's such that I look forward to knitting this shawl on a daily basis and am trying not to lose interest in the Sonata Crest of the Wave Tank. As you can see on my side bar (I learned to edit my blog template today and did some fun stuff with it... I'll get better and better as I get more ideas from other blogs I visit - shameless I know! LOL!) the wave tank is about 50% done. It's repetitive now and I hope to finish soon. It's almost like I am knitting this tank forever and it's just eating yarn and not getting any longer! I have pics to post of that... I really have to figure out the right settings for the camera. I want a new camera with a new printer etc but dh is not so keen on the new camera thing. We'll see how it goes.

Tomorrow is a busy day. Dh has to work and I have classes (cake icing and line dancing) and I really wanted to do the gym, and I have to buy some sweet potatoes to make sweet potato pie and some other ingredients for cakes and such... and a tin of pineapple for the sweet potato pie. I know there are some other things I need to get done but I can't think of them now... one of them is probally cleaning the apartment. Ugh. Oh yes, we have a meeting tomorrow with someone who might be doing some work for us. Before I know it the weekend will be done and I'll be tired again and looking forward to the next weekend and my vacation I want to take in January. I just don't want to be too tired to knit like I am tonight. I did a few rows of the MLS but since I'm getting further and further in (half way through repeat three of chart one) the amount of stitches are increasing rapidly (or so it seems anyways). I also did a few rows of the SCOTWT but I'm not sure if I'll finish it for the Lacevember KAL. That saddens me a bit even though I don't have a hope of winning anyways.

Sahara still hasn't been released by stitchdiva as yet and I'm getting impatient! I sent an email asking the amount of yarn I may need (since I have 4 skeins of Tilli Tomas and can't really afford more just yet - exchange rate is 2 bds to 1 usd so it makes it expensive for me especially at usd$28 a skein) but they haven't replied! Boo.

Anyways... I'm off until I have a knitting story/ progress report/ new yarn or something to show. Besides, I'm sleepy!

Ta for now.

Mountain Lace Progress

Here's a progress report on the Mountain Lace Shawl. It was some tough going there for a bit... got some help from Miriam herself... so it helped a bit. This picture shows I'm halfway through the second repeat of Chart one.

I'm chugging along and trying to finish it for my MIL before Christmas.

I'm eagerly awaiting the release of Sahara from stitchdiva.com - I think I want to knit it with the Tilli Tomas that I have... but I am trying to lose weight... does it make sense tho? Either way I'm getting the pattern when its finally released! YAY!

Anyways, its off to bed for me... its 1:06 a.m. here and I really should be asleep all now or I'll be too tired for work tomorrow!

Thanks for looking!

Yarn, yarn and more yarn...

well that title makes it sound like a ton of yarn that I have to show... rather its three different yarns that I absolutely love!

The pink one is allhemp3 in dusty rose and I hope to make the Laura Tee from Big Girl Knits with it. The brownish one (actually called curry) is Jaggerspun Zephyr with which I am making the Mountain Lace Shawl by Miriam Felton. The last set is the much talked about Tilli Tomas... this colour is called Limeade and its absolutely divine! I want to make the not yet released tank top (the sleeveless version) of Sahara by Stitchdiva.com. I hope I have enough of the Tilli Tomas (I have 4 skeins) and would like to know if I should get more now at the wonderful price I got it at ($18.50 US) or if that's enough. I emailed stitchdiva asking them the requirements for the 3x size... that was a few days ago and to date, no response. I'll try one more time.

Mountain Lace progress

So here it is ... I'm on chart 1 about to start row 9. I never imagined knitting lace would be like this! I don't even remember what my expectations were. However, it is going ok... slowly but ok. I hope to be done before Christmas.

Third Lacevember contest

Ideal lace knitting conditions:

Hmmm... I guess this answer would be the same for all my knitting projects. The ideal conditions would include me sitting on my sofa with a footrest nearby. The kids (4 and 2 years old respectively) would be in bed as they love to come "help" me knit. I can't let them "help" especially with this fine JaggerSpun (I let them "knit" when I'm doing stockinette using different yarn). The television remotes and the phone will be nearby as well just in case I decide to use either of them. I would be in a very comfortable position and the apartment would be nice and quiet with hubby on his computer working away. My hand lotion and a cool drink would also within reach and of course I would have had a nice relaxing shower before settling down. All in all, everything I need will be within reach and I would be totally relaxed in my cozy chair.

Contest Fun!

Here are my answers:

How long have you been knitting? Many years off and on
How did you learn to knit? I think it was my mother who taught me how
Favorite thing about knitting? Ah, the sheer joy of creating!
How long have you been knitting lace? Not very long... this would be my 2nd project
Favorite thing about knitting lace. The intricate steps needed to complete the project

Favorite lace yarn? Not sure - just ordered some JaggerSpun Zephyr so we'll see!
variegated or solids for shawls? Haven't decided yet
Favorite lace color? Haven't decided yet

Circs or straights? Oh, circs for sure!
Favorite lace knitting trick? Trick? um NOT dropping the stitches? LOL
Lifelines? I'm thinking of using them for this coming project
If so with what? Maybe a cable from my needle?
Fancy blocking wires, or just sewing pins stuck in your carpet? Used to be sewing pins now I have fancy blocking pins! :p

shawls or lacey items? Shawls I think
triangle, rectangle, or circular shawls? Triangle
Charts or printed instructions? Printed for sure!
Favorite lace you've knit? None yet!
Favorite lace you want to knit? Mountain Peaks from Miramknits

Favorite jelly belly flavor? None... we don't get them here!
Tell me everything you know about Eric the Red..... Um... he's a guy and um, he's red... oh! and his name is Eric...
Coke, classic or with lime? Water
Holiday carols, sing along, or wish they would be banned from all public airwaves? BANNED!!!
What is the definition of irony? When you jump over a crack in the sidewalk because it's bad luck to step on one and fall in the open manhole next to it.
How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop? Zero - they are yucky!
Why is my cat always puking in front of my son's bedroom door? Maybe he's marking his territory!
What is your superhero power? It used to be that I could produce milk with my own body but now it's that when I speak I speak in threes. Example... Dylan, come here! Come here! I said to come here!!!!!! It's amazing!
If the laundry is 9 foot by 11 foot (just dreaming, that's a big laundry room), and the walls are 8 feet tall, and you are going to tile the entire room in tiles that are 3 inches by 5 inches, what color should those tiles be? Any colour that would encourage me to do the laundry...
What's for dinner tonight? Good ol' Bajan soup my MIL is making us. YUM!
What is clogging my children's bathtub drain? Not a thing. Clogged drains are gross!

Fun!