Nearly there

TGIF for sure. So close to vacation time! I'm close to completing my previous list of things to make for Christmas.

I've finished knitting the pieces, I just have to finish up; weaving ends in/blocking/sewing buttons on. Close, but not enough to put that check mark on the list. I started knitting the Equestrian Blazer out of Interweave Knits yesterday. I finally got the yarn I ordered online although it didn't turn out as orange as I thought it would be. I still like it though and am happy with the progress I have on it so far. I've been looking to make this blazer for a long time now.


Went to another LYS last weekend, and although I really shouldn't have, I bought four skeins of Classy by Dream in Color. I couldn't resist! The owner was wearing the Imogen jacket and I wanted to make one of my very own. It'll be the next sweater I cast on after I complete this Equestrian blazer.


Mmmmmmmmmmmmm....

The little things

It's Christmas time so I've got little projects on the go. I'd love to start a sweater project but I need to finish off these three things first:

1) the Danica scarf in a not surprising choice of Paton's SWS. It's a gift that's nearly completed. The only thing left to do is to get it blocked and wrapped up.

2) I haven't casted on as of yet but I'm planning on making two sets of Saartje's booties. Not sure why I've been procrastinating with these but I think I'll get them started this weekend. Well.. I *have* to get them started this weekend.

3) The Butterfly Mobius from the Knitter's Book of Yarn (recommended). This one's for me, something that'll give me instant gratification although I'm itching to start a sweater project. Which project? Haven't decided but a couple options were the Patti cardi from Rowan Studio 1 or the Equestrian Blazer from IK. It'll happen... only a matter of time. I've never worked with this weight of yarn before but I'm quite pleased so far.

My Christmas Treat

I was on a mission last week: work on Shopping Tunic, and boy did I work on it. I had this yarn in my stash for a long time, had purchased Twinkle's Big City Knits a long while ago so I've always been set to make this... I unfortunately just kept putting it off. So, I casted on on the Tuesday night (Nov 20th) and finished weaving in ends on the Sunday afternoon (Nov25th). I'm planning on making another one.. but not anytime soon... a) because there are so many other projects I want to start and complete and b) it just isn't the time of year to wear it out. It's currently one degree celsius outside. I did however create this to wear for Christmas day, whatever indoor event will be happening.. still unsure.

Pattern: Shopping Tunic by Wenlan Chia
Materials: Rowan's Big Wool Fusion in Soot (4 skeins)
Needles: Denise US 19
Source: Twinkle's Big City Knits
Started and Completed: Nov 20th to Nov 25th 2007

Next project to cast on: Danica using Paton's SWS (a not surprising yarn choice). First venture into entrelac. I'm excited!

My New Favourite

This is one of the reason's why I love knitting so much, being able to produce your own clothes.

Pattern: Dollar and a Half Cardigan by Veronique Avery
Materials: Brown Sheep's Cotton Fleece in Teddybear (5 skeins)
Needles: Denise using US 7 for the rev st and US 8 for the lace pattern
Source: Interweave Knits Sprint 2007
Started: August 2007
Finished: November 2007

The choice in yarn made the sweater drape-y which I like a lot. It's a very casual, mellow-type sweater that works really well with jeans (because of the colour mostly). I got the buttons from raiding my closet, trying to clean out clothes. I found a pair of khakis I bought from Urban Outfitters maybe four years ago. It had five perfect sized, perfect coloured buttons. I felt like I hit the jackpot. I'm so glad I never threw those pants out despite the oil stain I had on it.

I took these pictures a while ago but wasn't happy with them to begin with. As much as I love this sweater, it's not photogenic :(

My goals for 2008: take up gardening and learning how to sew. If I can do one of these things, I'd be a very happy woman.

Pre-blog FOs

Here are some finished objects that I've finished in the past year.

Pattern: Twinkle's Tea Rose Halter
Materials: Brown Sheep's Cotton Fleece in New Age Teal
Source: Interweave Knits Spring 2007
Started and Completed: July 2007

I love wearing this halter. It was an easy knit; the body took an afternoon of knitting and I procrastinated with the straps. Will definitely make another one in a different colour. I think Cotton Fleece was a good choice for this top.

Pattern: Michael Kors' Boxy Cardigan
Materials: Lionbrands's Cotton Ease in Stone
Source: Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer 2007
Started and Completed: June to July 2007

This was the my first real sweater project (first venture into seaming). I wear this *a lot* when the weather's warmer. This is a great sweater although the pattern was a bit troublesome on the sleeve part. After a week or so of trying to figure it out, calculations did the trick. Thank you mathematics for not failing me! I ended up decreasing every other row on the front shaping. I want to make this in a light drapey material if I get the chance to. Sooooo many projects I want to get done and dusted.

Pattern: Ballet T-shirt
Materials: Brown Sheep's Cotton Ease in Candy Apple (2 skeins)
Source: Loop d Loop
Started and Completed: July 2007

This pattern was completely straight forward and I completed this in an evening. I was determined! I made the shirt a little longer since the style these days seems to be more towards the tunics rather than those shirts that showed of the midriffs (those baby tees... that's what they're called) back about 10 years ago. I love the different colours that Cotton Ease has to offer. It was my yarn of choice this past summer.

More to come, stay tuned.

Why buy when you can knit it yourself

What a great week. =) I got a new camera yesterday so I can finally take pictures of my new and old FOs. It was waiting for me when I came home from work. Felt like that feeling you get when you go to the restroom in a restaurant and come back to your table with the food waiting for you.. don't you just love that? (Name that movie) I finished another sweater this week (yay!) and received my invite for Ravelry (it is, indeed, the Facebook for knitters). I will take pics of said FOs when I can get them modeled for me but I did take a picture of the my most recent FO; my wee little camera case. I started it this evening and am very happy with the turnout.

Pattern: improvised - made to fit my camera
Materials: leftover Lionbrand Cotton Ease in Stone
Needles: Denise needles size 7
Dimensions: 6 inches around, 4 inches long