Mostly One Project Week

I’m determined to finish this beautiful lace shawl. I’ve worked on it now for a couple of weeks. I struggled through learning ssk, psso and not letting my stitch marker go through a YO. I got into a groove and I’m doing really well. However, I’m afraid to could the number of stitches on my needles. I must have a hundred stitch markers. I’m at the point that it takes me 45 minutes to an hour per row. I’m one of those knitters that hates to stop in the middle of a row. Because I always confuse myself when I go back to it, no matter how carefully I log my last stitch I still screw up! Knitting this shawl I really feel like a beginner knitter, even though I have been knitting for 2 years. This lace pattern is really kicking my butt. It’s a simple pattern repeat but for some reason I get the vision in my mind like I do when I’m knitting cables. When I’m knitting cables I understand the stitches and how they make the pattern. Lace is just messy. It looks like a tangled mess. I can’t wait to block it. I’ve heard that is when the magic happens. When you get the full effect of the pattern, and everything makes since. I sure hope I haven’t waited all this time to find out I have a huge gap someplace.

Knitting Pretty

I figured out the Lace Pattern of the shawl and I’ve been knitting pretty all week. I’m past the first repeat of the 42 row pattern and feel very confident that I have the process under control. Yeah Me!
I started another pair of socks that I took to girl’s night out this month. The ladies at the office are very interested in my knitting and have asked me to have a knitting class at work. I put up a sign up sheet in the break room and I have to say I was very surprised with the response. Now I just have to figure out a date and time and get permission from the Boss lady to see if we can use the waiting room of the office to have the class. I don’t think it will be a problem.

I got the new Knit Picks Catalog this week so I figured I would have them all order needles and yarn through me from the catalog and make one big order. Once the shipment arrives we will have our first class. I’m excited to bring more people into the knitting world.
I’m down to three things on my needles, Socks, Shawl and Afghan. I’m very proud of myself.

Finishing Up UFO’s

Last time I Blogged about my UFO’s. This week I sat down and worked and worked till finished most, tossed some and frogged others. After all that I took a deep breath and casted on a few new projects. LOL the classic signs of an ADD knitter. I finished the baby hat (it turned out to fit an adult) Leaf Shawl (after blocking I still didn't like it) The Heart and Sole socks

I tossed the blue socks, and frogged Becca’s sweater. (She tried it on and the size and style didn’t fit.) I bought the needed yarn to finish the scarf for Thom’s co-worker, now I just have to sit down and finish the last few inches. I knitted a few more repeats on the afghan, but I have given myself three years to finish that enormous project.

I cast on a new scarf. I don’t know what makes me think I can knit lace. I keep trying and trying and end up frogging and tinking after a few rows. I just don’t get how I can count and be right then be off again. I know it has something to do with the yarn overs and ssk’s but for the life of me I can’t figure out where or how I’m going wrong. But I’m not giving up!!

I want to make Thom a cabled vest. I found a cut little pattern for a 2 year old and made it. It turned out okay. I don’t like the neck area, but that can change. Now that I’ve made a vest I think I can try and make a grown up size.

I’ve got the supplies ready to cast on another pair of socks, but I haven’t been able to put down the very frustrating scarf.

Growing my Stash

I thought by organizing my yarn closet I would be able to find stash busting projects to use up my yarn. Well... I made a trip to Hobby Lobby and found sock yarn, I Love This Wool and I Love This Cotton. OMG!!

Also, after listening to the Pod cast from Knit Picks I decided to order socks for soldier’s sock yarn needles and books. Needless to say I purchased more yarn and stuff then I use.

I did have a funny sock yarn story... I was knitting toe up two at a time with Heart and Sole yarn. This is my first time using this yarn actually my first time using self patterning yarn. I was about 2 inches in when I noticed the patterns weren’t the same for both socks. I wonder about my gauge... nope can’t be that... then I convinced myself that it was the manufacture... they messed up on the pattern in one of the balls. After 4 inches I noticed that if I flipped one of the socks upside down the patterns matched... Duh!!! Then I remembered reading in one of the Yarn Harlot books that one time she wound a ball backwards and it messed up the pattern. So I frogged and wound one ball the other way and now I’m on my way...

Another fine mess... Last year I made a few scarves for the men at Thom’s office. I was amazed that they loved them let alone wore them. This winter they all broke out there scarves and wore them proudly. One of the new guys made a comment about the scarves that resulted in a request. So I made up another scarf over the weekend. It was also pointed out that the one guy in the office that loves to bake, (and makes the best brownies, he also makes sure Thom gets an extra for me) didn’t get a scarf last year. I had Thom find out what color and I started making the scarf. The man is a bigger guy and so his scarf needs to be a lot longer. I was almost finished when I ran out of yarn. It is still on the needles until I can make it to the store to get more yarn.

Right now I have the following UFOs:
1. Scarf for Matt – need to get more yarn

2. Socks for Me – by the way my very first pair of socks got a hole I darned them in the Yarn Harlot way

3. Leaf Shawl – I’m thinking I may frog it and use the yarn for something else

4. Becca’s Sweater – This Sweater is all done, it just doesn't work. I was sewing up the seams when I noticed that the sleeves don't fit into the body of the sweater. UGH

5. Baby Hat – The baby is now 3 – that should be all I need to say about that.
6. Baby Blue socks – started them a over a year ago when I used DPNs. Enough said
7. Burridge Lake Aran Afghan – I actually worked on this for about a week and I’m now just past the 10th repeat of the center cable in the second panel. I have given myself 3 years to finish this afghan. I’m at about a year and half now. I need to work a little harder.

Wow I didn’t realize I had so many... Guess I got to get knitting....

Sorry for the bad pic’s – I used my iphone because I computer doesn’t like reading the chip from the good camera.