Friday, February 27, 2009

Other people's knitting - modeled


DSCF0107
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk
My friend, Ali, made this darling sweater and hat for TLD. It was her first top-down raglan sweater! It came out so beautifully - I just love the accent green trim. It's been cool enough lately that we brought the sweater out.

TLD doesn't seem to like close-fitting hats, so we snapped this one pretty quickly. But he likes the sweater just fine! The neck is super-stretchy and plenty big, so it goes on really easily - just what moms and dads love!

Monday, February 23, 2009

2008 FO wrap-up


2008 FO mosaic
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk
Well, it's almost the end of February, and so I thought it was high time I reviewed my knitting of 2008. It was (not surprisingly) dominated by baby items, mostly for my own, but also for some others. The main theme is that they were almost all small items.

The year started strong with a garterlac dishcloth, which has now been used and is full of holes and badly needs replacement. We love the garterlac for its scrubbing power!

Then, I finally finished the Cal striped scarf.

The Wee Tiny Sock Swap sock took a day to make.

Moc-a-soc booties were a little disappointing - they came out gigantic and have a seam in the sole. They are too big for TLD now, and he needs non-skid bottoms for walking, so I don't think these booties are going to be used.

The birth hat for TLD, with non-jog spirals a la Grumperina.

The Tulips sweater (renamed Paintbox), which is still too big but not for long! I loved knitting that sweater, and I love how it came out. I heart Dream In Colour. I guess I never blogged its "finished" photo, which is it on the blocking board.

Spiral socks - which fit for a few hours, it seemed, but gave me a bit of brainwork to be sure that the spiraling works for socks too.

Ridiculously Tiny Sock, and its mate, which I gave to a friend's preemie. (TLD wore the first one his first week, but it was a tight fit then too!)

Ribbed hat for TLD's first cousin (double meaning!) - I decided after TLD outgrew so many hats that ribbed was the only way to go if you want it to fit for more than a week!

And finally, the crowning achievement, finishing TLD's colorwork Christmas stocking on Christmas Eve. I'll be making 2 more in 2009 - for TLD's first first cousin, and his second first cousin, expected fall of 2009! But at 54 stitches per round, and no second sock syndrome (okay, I'm making two, but they'll be different designs), these socks practically knit themselves. That is, if TLD lets me get any sleep.

So 10 items in 2008. Here's to at least as many (even small ones) in 2009. I joined the Knit 3, wear 3 group on Ravelry - the goal is to finish 3 sweaters in 2009. But baby sweaters are permitted, and I've got lots of optimism!

Friday, February 13, 2009

ECF: Sailboat at the harbor entrance

Today it's pouring rain (and occasionally hail) but I took this picture on a beautiful day last fall. Enjoy, especially you people that have winter!

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Stash Enhancement: Araucania Loa


Araucania Loa
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk
When my mom was visiting, we went looking for buttons for TLD's christening gown. I brought her to an eclectic shop with lots of antique trims, laces, buttons, and yarn. The proprietor there is a somewhat wacky lady who really loves all of the things she sells. The yarn selection is overwhelming; however, she charges about 30% above MSRP. My mom (not a knitter) saw this beautiful yarn that she just loved. Said shop just put all yarn on sale for 50% off (she says she hasn't had a sale in over 10 years, and it's time to clean out) and so I got the yarn.

This yarn is Araucania Loa, a somewhat thin and thick, crimped wool yarn. My mom loved the colors - rust and aqua. The question is, what to do with it? It's pretty pricey stuff, and it's super bulky - 47 yds per skein! I got 4, and so I have under 200 yds of the stuff.

My mom is not into hats. She lives in a warm climate and does not really need winter-type scarves. I've been thinking and thinking what to make for her. She is petite and into very tailored styling - think Coco Chanel. So bulky sweater, winter scarf - these are not really for her.

While I've considered a shawlette like Just enough Ruffles or a shawlette version of Maja (big and holey), right now I'm thinking of a rectangular stole of Scribble lace, maybe mingled with some laceweight baby alpaca. This would be elegant, and would show off the colors she enjoys most, and she can wear it out to concerts and things.

Any other suggestions?

Here's a closeup:

DSCF0010

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Daisy Sweater, modeled


turquoise-sweater
Originally uploaded by knitswithasilentk
Way back when I first discovered knitblogs, one of the first blogs I found (I believe linked from the Bloggie award nominations) was Stephanie Pearl McPhee's famous blog, Yarn Harlot. And I started to read (oh, I was a neophyte - I typed the URL in every day to see if there was a new entry).

Soon after I discovered the world of blogs, the Yarn Harlot proposed the Knitting Olympics. I knew how to knit, but had put it down some time ago. This seemed the perfect way to restart my knitting hobby.

A sweater. I had to do a sweater. But since time was tight and I'd never made a sweater, I made it a baby sweater.

Way back when I started this blog, I mentioned it. Apparently I did finally get around to showing a photo of it.

Here it is, at long last, being worn.