On Wednesday while watching episodes the first episodes of Castle (I just adore Nathan Fillion) on dvd, I finished up the Top-Down Baby Raglan. It is my third completed project for the 12 in 2011 challenge. I used Carole Barenys’ Top Down Seamless Raglan Baby Sweater (Garter Ridge Version) pattern but skipped the garter ridges. I love using Knit Picks Felici Sport for baby sweaters, basic patterns work up so cute. This sweater is for the newest addition to the family, my second cousin Connor, who was born at the end of March.
Top-Down Baby Raglan
The first baby sweater that I made out of Felici is the Moss Stitch Baby Jacket. I used Anna Andréason’s Fina bebisens dubbelknäppta kofta pattern with the help of Google to translate it to English from Swedish. The translation was not perfect for all the knitting terms, but it was easy enough to figure out the meaning of the pattern. This sweater was gifted to Lukas, my second cousin who was born in January.
Moss Stitch Baby Jacket
Now I need to make another boy’s baby sweater to prepare for future babies (although I don’t know of any who are on the way). I’ve had a Helena waiting for a girl baby for a year now.
After I finished the first front of Hey Teach, I decided that I needed to get in gear on Mathew’s Socks if I wanted to get to a place I could continue to work on them when he’s on ship. I was a little off on my calculation of when he goes back to work, it’s next week and not the first week of May.
I took advantage of having his feet around and worked on the foot of the sock, just before he left my place yesterday he tried on the sock and decided that I needed another half an inch of foot before starting the heel. Last night I worked the remainder of the foot and the heel. This weekend, I’ll be able to get Mathew to make sure they are comfy before I go ahead with the leg. I also need to figure out how long he needs the leg to be.
Mathew's First Sock to the Heel
For my future reference here is the recipe for Mathew’s socks (thus far):
Provisional cast on of 34 sts.
Short row toe – wrapping 7 sts on each side.
Knit foot (68 sts) to 9.5″ (including toe).
Short roe heel – wrapping 9 sts on each side.
That should give me enough to go on for the second sock, provided nothing changes after this weekend.
My Hey Teach sweater is progressing really well. Friday I finished the back and started the first of the two front pieces. I decided to knit this in pieces to add stability to the cotton/acrylic Lion Brand Cottonease. On Saturday I had the front piece completed to the start of the bodice. Sunday I got to the section where you decrease for the armhole and I had to scratch my head, because what I thought was happening wasn’t. Last night I finished the first front.
Before I continue, let me confess that I’m horrible at reading ahead in a pattern. I generally skim through before I start a project, but I don’t thoroughly read the details. I should also mention that I’m never sure which side of the front the left and right applies to. Is it my left or left looking at the sweater laying flat? It seems too open to interpretation.
For the XS, L, and 3X sizes of the pattern calls for 5 or 6 stitches to be knit plain at one edge of the bodice. I’m familiar with reading relatively easy lace patterns, so I worked the lace pattern to as close to the edge as I could; however, this edge does not look as clean as the other side where the lace pattern begins. I was expecting the clean edge would be the opening of the cardigan, but that is not how the pattern is written. So I’ve switched the edges. The side I just finished is the right front instead of the left with the clean edge in the center and the other edge hidden in my armpit. For the left front I have figured out where to start the lace pattern so that the far edge of the sweater is the clean side, by making up a chart of the lace the width of the beginning of the bodice lace section.
First Front of Hey Teach
I think it would be nicer if the pattern photos included one of the sizes that has the stockinette border stitches. The current photos almost seems like false advertising.
The other change that I’m planning on is to use Stash n’ Stitches revised sleeve pattern for 3/4 length sleeves. I think that length will get more wear than a sweater with short sleeves.
Now that I’m back on my own server, I have added a link to the Ravelry progress bars for my WIPs. My first post of 2011 was a list of my resolutions for knitting for this year. One of the things I wanted to do was keep my WIPs to about 3, so that I could focus on completing things. Obviously this hasn’t happened very well. Here’s an overview of what I have on the needles right now.
Drops 113-34 Sweater
This sweater has been almost complete for quite a while. I just need to block it and put on some buttons.
Celtic Tote This bag is one of the two UFOs my list for my 12 in 2011 challenge. I have done some knitting on the side/bottom it since the beginning of the year, but I need to buy a piece of plastic canvas big enough for the bottom before I can continue. I have also started the embroidery on the side that I have completed.
Side One of Celtic Tote
Hey Teach
I started the Hey Teach sweater from Knitty at the beginning of the month. I’m a few inches away from finishing off the back. It’s going quickly and I can’t wait to wear it. I really need a few more work sweaters in my wardrobe. This is another of my 12 in 2011 projects. I’m using Lion Brand Cottonease in the Stone colourway. This is the the first time I’ve used this yarn and I’m enjoying the feel of it, but then I’ve liked all of the cotton/acrylic that I’ve used in the past.
Boot Covers The boot covers are the second UFO project for 12 in 2011. I haven’t worked on them yet this year. Hopefully I can get this project finished by next winter.
Top-Down Baby Raglan
Another 12 in 2011 project. This sweater is almost finished. It just needs the ends woven in, buttons, and a trip through the washing machine. I need to finish this one soon as it’s for my newest second cousin who was born at the end of March. I’ll give all the details and take some pictures when I finish it up.
Wavy Lace Scarf This is a longer term project. I’d like to get it finished by next Fall. I’m over half way done and it goes quickly when I am working on it. It’s another of the 12 in 2011 projects.
Green Sock Blank Socks I’ve been looking forward to knitting these socks since I bought the sock blank at the Victoria Knit Out a few years ago. I’m almost finished the first sock. They are for 12 in 2011 and my March socks (I’m unofficially trying to knit a pair of socks a month) although they didn’t get finished in March.
Green Sock Blank Sock
Mathew’s Socks
For Mathew’s birthday in March I gave him the gift on hand knit socks, or rather the gift of the promise of hand knit socks. Included in the gift was his choice of yarn, from a yarn store. I just couldn’t bring myself to let him loose in my sock yarn stash, I like all my yarn too much, plus there likely wasn’t anything he’d have liked in there anyways. Mathew chose Regia Extra Twist Merino in the Jungle colourway during our trip to Mad About Ewe.
I’m working on the foot of the first sock, now too much longer and I should be ready to start the heel. I’m hoping I can get the first sock finished before Mathew is back on ship in May, so that I can get the second sock finished while he’s gone. These are another pair towards my 12 socks in 2011 unofficial goal.
Mathew's First Sock in Progress
So I currently have 8 projects in progress. More than double my goal of 3 or less. I really need to get the Drops and baby sweaters finished, so that number can decrease a bit.
6 of the projects on the needs are for 12 in 2011. With the 2 that I’ve already completed, that means I’m on my way to having 8 projects completed for the challenge. With more than 8 months to go I think I should be able to finish at least 12 projects from stash yarn.
NOTE: The sock in progress photos above were taken with my iPod Touch, so they aren’t as nice as those taken with my camera. However it’s much more convenient to upload them from the iTouch, so photos taken this way are more timely than with my camera and they still get the idea of what I’m knitting across.
Let me start by saying that I’ve never been the kind of knitter who looks down on crochet. I tried to teach myself how when I was a kid, but I had already learned to knit and I just couldn’t figure out how to make fabric with one hook instead of two sticks. Since I starting knitting in full force around 2003, I have often been intrigued by crocheted items, but not enough to pick up a hook and try to figure it out how it works.
That has all changed, thanks to one not-so-little afghan that was posted in the 12 in 2011 group on Ravelry. Suzaplooza’s Life I Love You Groovyghan has inspired me to figure out this crochet stuff. I love the alterations she made to the existing Groovyghan pattern, especially the daisy squares. It’s such a bright, vibrant and fun afghan; I can just picture myself sitting down to a picnic on it, enjoying a nice summer day.
Another crochet project that I’d really like to try is a cardi like the one Lori from yes, i MADE that altered last year. I think that it would look so cute using a darker shirt and white yarn. The perfect light-weight summer cardi to wear at work when the AC is blowing just a little too much.
I’ve borrowed some crochet hooks and I’m going to give it a whirl. Wish me luck!
