Hello again...

Been quite a while since I've posted here! And a while since I've knit very much, too! Hope to start posting again as my knitting picks up - so many great patterns out there, and so much yarn in my stash, LOL!! Here's what I am currently working on:It's the Gigantic Cable Scarf by Jill Draper (Ravelry Link)

I'm using 3 strands of Patons Classic Wool held together throughout and size 15 needles.

A Satisfying Sunday

Made it through my first week full time on the new job! Yay! There hasn't been much time for knitting during the week - too busy and tired! Yesterday & today are catch-up days - email, knitting, laundry!

It's cold today - time for the warm knits to come out in earnest!

I have been stash diving and making last-minute Christmas gifts, and a couple of small projects for myself, too.

More Anthropologie-Inspired Braided Head Wraps in Lamb's Pride (held double), a bulky scarf and seed stitch cowls in Lion Brand Big yarn:


Holiday cup cozy (my own pattern):


Chrysanthemum Dishcloths (pattern from Lily Sugar'n Cream:


I added the "Ravelry Member" button to my sidebar:


I even managed to find time today to visit my favorite LYS: Flying Fingers in Tarrytown, NY. I picked up some Burly Spun and Nature Spun for some future projects I have in mind.





Not a bad day!! :) Hope you had a relaxing, enjoyable Sunday.

Lots Going On...

I have been a bit overwhelmed lately... I am in the process of transitioning from a part time job to a full time job (same company, same location, different position) and it's been hectic as I get used to the new hours and new responsibilities while wrapping up my old ones (including training my replacement). It's exciting, but stressful at the same time. I have slowed down a bit with my knitting, naturally, but have some small projects to share...

From the Purl Bee: I have been making these little urchin crocheted stones, useful as paperweights, also pretty to look at.



Purl Bee is a wonderful crafting site with so many creative ideas... I wish I had time to try them all!



I have also knit two Anthropologie Inspired Braided Headwraps for friends of mine (they are Starbucks Baristas)

(Note: I changed out the buttons after this photo was taken)


This is such a quick, easy knit, and I love the look. I used a double strand of Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted, which I happened to have on hand in the color requested (black). The headwraps are thick and warm, with nice stitch definition.

A couple of weeks ago I found a skein of Lorna's Laces Sheperd Worsted Multi in my stash (Child's Play colorway), and just knew it was perfect for another Very Braidy Cowl. One more item in my Christmas Gift basket!



Finally, I finished my second Windschief in Brooklyn Tweed Shelter:



My hubby loves his (the top one, in Wool Socks colorway) and he and my son took their hats with them today (my son's is the bottom one, in Embers) as they travel up north to visit Cornell. (Yes, we are preparing for one in college next fall... One important reason I am transitioning to full time work!!)

Today I am desperately trying to catch up on return phone calls, emails, blogging, etc. I can't access personal email at work at all (not that I'd have the time these days, anyway!!!) If I get a chance, I'm hoping to get busy on the Skulls and Flowers Mittens I've been wanting to make. I've barely had time to look at the yarn since it arrived! (Knitpicks Palette - it's so soft!!)



Have a great weekend!!

Let's Start Over...

Well, after practicing my I-cord Cast-On for the Skulls and Flower Mittens, it was clear my yarn choice was not going to work. After visiting two additional stores in hopes of finding something locally, I finally decided to do the logical thing - I ordered the Palette yarn in the original pattern colors from KnitPicks. I have also been wanting a set of interchangeable circulars, since it seems lately that every project I want to do requires another needle size that I don't already have... I decided to order the KnitPicks Zephyr acrylic set, together with the yarn. Hopefully that will keep me going for quite a while, and I can always add another cable or needle size as needed.

In the meantime, I finally started working on my first Windschief hat. I'm using the Wool Socks colorway of Shelter yarn I picked up at Purl SoHo last week. I really like this yarn - the colors and texture are great. I just wish that there weren't so many bits of hay/twigs to pick out... it reminds me a lot of Noro Kureyon that way!



I finished the hat last night, and my hubby loves it! I made the large, and it is a touch looser than I would have liked, but he likes the extra room. I will probably make the medium size for my boys, which will give a snug fit.

Learning: I-Cord Cast-on

I-Cord Cast-on

I started the Skulls and Flowers Mittens today, which meant learning a new cast-on method: the I-Cord Cast-On. It's pretty simple, but it took a few tries to get the right tension and rhythm going. It produces a nice finished, non-curling edge - I think it would be great for any item using stockinette stitch in the body, which tends to curl on the edges. Here's the method I used (from the pattern above):

1. Cast on 3 stitches.
2. 1 KFB (knit into the front & back of the first stitch), k2 (4 stitches on right
needle).
3. Slip 3 stitches onto left needle. (Leaving one on the right needle.)
4. 1 KFB (knit into the front & back of the first stitch), k2 (5 stitches on right
needle).
5. Keep repeating steps 2 & 3 until you have the required number of stitches on
the right needle for your project.

Another method (slightly different Step 3) is illustrated in this video tutorial here.

One suggestion I would make is to use straight needles for the cast-on (if you have the same size), and transfer the stitches to the DPNs for joining/knitting in the round when you are done. This will allow the knob at the end of the straight needle to hold your stitches on the needle, instead of periodically having to transfer them to another DPN for space as you go on.



As you can see, I got the hang of it pretty well. However, there was good news and bad news... Good news: I got the hang of the cast-on and was able to work it smoothly. Bad news: It quickly became clear that my yarn choice will not work for the mittens. The yarn is labeled "worsted", but to my eye looked thinner than typical worsted I have worked with ... NOT! I was way off gauge, and need to find another yarn to work with for the mittens. The store I originally went to (Hartsdale Fabrics) has a relatively small yarn section (it's not their main business), featuring mostly worsted weight and thicker yarns. The thinner yarns they do have are almost entirely in baby/pastel colors... Not what I want for this project. So I will probably head off to another LYS (Flying Fingers)later today for a fingering weight yarn.

I really do like the Elsebeth Lavold Cool Wool, though, and I think it would be great for another color stranding project.

Meanwhile, I continued practicing while I had my skinny caramel latte and pumpkin bread at Starbucks this morning. (Yum!)



I also made a crochet flower for the headband I am working on. The cute knitting bag pictured is from Knitty Gritty Thoughts Etsy shop.