Made it to Monday

So we made it to Monday, again. I’ve started a new job at a law office as a docket clerk. My days are filled with giant files and computer screens so the last thing I want to do is really come home and soak up more of the computer screen.

Instead I have been knitting. A. Lot. I’ve been giving a good effort at Stash Dash…I keep hearing the Knitmore Girls & the Prairie Girls talk about it. I love to listen to audio podcasts while I drive to and from work. It’s better than the radio with the same old songs and there is only so many times I can listen to the same depressing news on NPR.

So how about a look at my knits…

I’ve officially frogged the “Colour Change Scarf.”  The more I looked at it and the more I worked on it, the less I liked it. It was supposed to be a birthday gift for a friend…now it’s at least 2 years over due and it was looking less like what I initially had in mind. Now I’ve got 4 full balls of Silky Alpaca Lace…what to do with this goodness?

There is also all these bags that have been sitting by me on the couch for at least 48 hours. I keep bopping between bags, moving needles, notions, patterns around…it’s really a form of procrastination. But at least I am putting my hands on the projects.

I pick one up. Knit a few stitches. Get distracted by another pattern. Mostly I want to finish things, but I can’t decide which one I want to finish first so I keep picking up different things. It’s hard to see the progress, but my attention span is short. I don’t have too much left on this one…

Maybe I’ll focus and free up some needles. And the Curls book. So I can start another one. Since I fell off that KAL after my Caesious…but Cerise is lovely, especially in the Zen Yarn Garden Serenity Glitter Sock 🙂

How is your summer knitting coming? Are you procrastinating? Or do you genuinely have project ADD?

❤
Jenna

 

 

 

Open Your Ears!

Each time I’ve climbed into my car alone to go all around town, I’ve turned on some of my backlogged episodes of The Knitmore Girls. They’ve kept me quite entertained lately. I’m inspired to knit (sweaters thanks to Jasmin and socks thanks to GiGi), participate in Stash Dash (with the Knit Girllls, I have declared for a 5K), start a small collection of kids’ knits, undertake my own CustomFit Featherweight (I’ve got the yarn), and just be knitting more all the time!!!

See! I told you I had the yarn for the Featherweight 🙂

Let me say that I was on episode 328…about 9 episodes behind, not counting the interviews. It has been so so so wonderful just to hear the chatter and feel inspired. I love listening to Jasmin & GiGi talk. They are a mother-daughter pair and they talk about all the knitting all the time 🙂 Plus, talking about Jasmin’s daughter Genevieve. It reminds me so much of how my mom and I talk about knitting. We don’t have nearly the pedigree of knitting years that these two have, but we are a little obsessed (slightly) with knitting and yarn. We don’t spin (yet), but we are definitely excited about knitting.

The other part of this that I really enjoy about listening to this podcast is that I listen when I can’t knit. Mostly this happens when I’m driving since that would not be irresponsible (knitting & driving at the same time) or when I’m doing chores or cooking. It’s like knitting with my brain.

I’m particularly inspired by (and slightly envious of) all of Jasmin’s sweater knitting. I keep finding myself browsing Ravelry for sweater patterns, especially baby/little kid sweaters I want to knit for my cute niece Payton. Not that Payton would really even wear them right now because a) she’s growing like a weed and b) it’s averaging like 95 degrees Fahrenheit in Louisiana right now. No one is wearing wool down there right now unless they have their A/C cranked all the way up. But still, I am inspired.

I want to knit a Gramps cardigan by TinCanKnits for Payton. It would be a wonderful little sweater to knit and a great way to sample the pattern in a small way before knitting myself one because I want one…

But alas, I’ve got other things to finish or possibly frog. First up, I’m trying to knock out these two:

The first is the lovely Catkin Shawl and the second is the Skinty Stripe Scarf.

I’m participating in a UFO Wars competition with a local knitting group (Gateway Knitters) where you declare war on projects that were started before January 1, 2015 and are still unfinished. I had 4 in my projects as of the start May 2 and to be finished by September 5. The other 2 projects are:

The Colour Change Scarf and the FINISHED Technicolor Socks (victory #1). So a win is finishing those socks. And the Colour Change Scarf. Meh. Each time I pull it out and look at it, I’m less and less pleased with it.

• Pros:
  • I love the colors
  • I love the lace
• Cons:
  • I don’t like the colors together
  • I don’t like knitting it

So I think I’ll frog and find another use for the yarn. What do you think?

Linking up with these lovelies:
Keep Calm & Craft On
Yarn Along
Whatcha’ Workin’ On
Stitch Along Wednesday

❤
Jenna

Getting There

So we knit and knit and knit, but sometimes the things stay on the needles! I can’t understand why even after all the stitches (I think) I put onto these lovely Technicolor Socks, I still feel like I’m a few rows from actually starting the toe decreases on the right sock!! I think the left sock is ready.

 

Maybe I’ll blame it on my long toes. Or on the US 0 needles.

Maybe I shouldn’t blame them at all. It’s so nice to have a mindless knitting project to cart around in my purse that’s not huge (here’s looking at you Turia)

or doesn’t need a book to travel with it (Bootstrap Socks that are ready for the heel)

or doesn’t need to be really looked at every stitch (Curl #2 Cerise)

or isn’t turning out like I think I want (Colour Change Scarf)

or isn’t a general pain in the bum (Skinty Stripe Scarf) with a kitty supervisor

or doesn’t need a chart, pencil, row counter and complete silence (Catkin Shawl)…

That’s all the current WIPs and most of them are not travel worthy…maybe I should just finish these socks and turn the heel on the Bootstrap Socks so I can have more things to travel with and some empty needles?

Or the alternative…

I could start something new! Maybe keep it in line with my Love Your Library Challenge and work on a Curl or another pair of socks from Sock Architecture? I could go and check out all the lovelies at Keep Calm & Craft On for inspiration…

What would you do in this situation, keep your nose down and finish or venture into the stash for something fresh and new?

❤
Jenna

The WIPs that Won’t Quit

I know I’ve posted some about trying to clear up the needles so I can start new things for the new year and NEWS FLASH!
I’m still working on some of those things.

Like this Flurfy Scarf.

I feel like if I can keep giving it a few rows here and there I can save myself some insanity and get it finished. I love the fabric this is creating and I know that blocking it when it’s done will be simply fantastic. But I’m not so sure of the project fitting the original recipient.

Then there are these Squishy Socks I’ve been working on since right before Christmas.

I’m loving them and I carry them around to stitch a row or two. Oh Regia! 🙂

Last but not least, I did start the Very PDX Hat by Liz Abinante for my husband.

I’m calling it his Extra Warm Ears Hat. It’s like 8 degrees Fahrenheit here today and I was blocking his other warm hat so I felt like I should work on giving him something just a cozy. I like this pattern because it’s worked with a double thick brim. I’m using some of the Empty Pockets Alpaca yarn from my stash that I picked up with him at the Kentucky Sheep & Fiber Festival last May and some leftover Alpaca yarn from my Equilibrium cowl out of Juniper Moon Farms Herriot.

That’s all I’m really giving my knitting attention to for now. Linking with Tammy for her Stitch Along Wednesday & Ginny for Yarn Along & Nicole for Keep Calm Craft On & (**edit to add an additional link-up) iknead2knit’s Whatcha Workin’ On Wednesday.

See you guys Friday for a Freshly Finished link up party!!

v’s & bumps,

Jenna

Wrapping It Up

Or at least I’ve really been trying to!! Jeez! I’ve been on a crazy bender trying to wrap up as many projects on my needles as possible and I finally caught up reading my backlogged blogroll. I didn’t realize how much I missed while entertaining family. No worries, I’m all caught up and so excited to read all the wonderful posts people have been writing.

I’ve read lots of posts where people are like me, feeling the urge to finish up their projects in preparation of the new year and new projects. I’ve made a good effort, and I’ve waited a few days since the first to really sink my teeth into those new projects.

I thought as a good way to stay accountable and fight the urge to cast everything on I could share a few more of the things I’m trying to finish or frog…

I’ve got 2 pairs of socks going. One I’ve been knitting on for a few days (Squishy Socks) and one I’ve put into hibernation until I can weigh the yarns (Technicolor Socks).

I’ve also got 3 scarves/wraps going. The first is a lace pattern (Jabes’ Flurfy Scarf) in some Silky Alpaca Lace. The second is a diagonal sparsely striped one (Skinty Stripe Scarf) also in Silky Alpaca Lace. Last is the Never Ending First Project with some Artful Yarns Vineyard.

There is also the Catkin Shawl I started in some tasty MadTosh Light during a KAL at Knitorious. I love this thing and I am excited to have it finished (eventually) but the rows are getting longer and it takes a good deal of attention. Translation: Not suitable for TV watching or conversation knitting and is thus limited in the time I choose to work on it.

Last project on the needles is that crazy Copper Twist Vest I started so I would have another garment to wear to Vogue Knitting Live back in October. I’m using Inca Gold by Berroco. I started this in a frenzy and it went pretty quickly. I was having some reservations when I picked up the fronts/neck and it looked small. On a great suggestion by a reader, I put the thing on waste yarn and tried it on. Just as I suspected, it’s smaller than I would have liked. I think it could grow a little with blocking but I did not knit a swatch and wash it to find out. Bad knitter. So I’m considering frogging it.

Or I could finish it and gift it. This is something I think is right up my mother-in-law’s alley style-wise and I think she would like it. I don’t know.

Hopefully I can wrap up some of these by this next week and then I’ll share all the things I want to start 🙂

v’s & bumps,

Jenna

WIPs & Plans

Yay! A real WIP Wednesday post! I’m pretty proud of myself as I’ve whittled down my WIPs to just 10. I’ve been working pretty hard on my Whispers sweater (which I will wear to Vogue Knitting Live!) until I finished it. I will be sure to take pictures of me wearing this! I love it!!!

My needles have been going so fast, they are smokin’!

I’ve been making some good progress on my Twist Vest. I’m hoping to knock it out so I can block it and weave in the ends before we leave on Friday morning.

I need to do about 6 more inches on the collar portion. I’m hoping it will fit and be long enough when I finally cast off…my needles have been keeping it too tight for me to try on. Cross your fingers!! If not, I’ll just have to rip it out and try again 😦 That is one nice thing about knitting vs. other crafts where you don’t really need to cut anything and it’s all able to be undone.

My Technicolor Take 2 Socks haven’t seen much love since they were cursed for the Cardinals games. I guess now that they’ve lost and the Royals/Giants are facing off in the World Series, I can pull them back out. I am still really liking the yarn and pattern and my Karbonz!!

I am questioning if they will be too big…I have skinny ankles but long feet so I traditionally make the bigger size. However, my 2 pairs of socks I have made for myself are both pretty slouchy. After reading so many blogs and posts about socks and Socktober, I am inspired to knit myself socks I will love. Ripping may commence if I can try these on 🙂

Not to worry. I have been doing a little unselfish knitting as well. In the name of a few gifts.

First up is my Flurfy Scarf for Jabes. It’s coming along. It takes a little brain power. I’m into the solid section of the 3rd of 4 colors.

And the Array Cowl for Lyndsay. Taking a while since it has a bunch of slipped stitches. I know initially I was a little hesitant about the color combination, but I’m really liking it in the daylight. I’m not sure that the picture here does it justice.

And the Skinty Stripe Scarf for Deana. Also taking a while since it is on US size 3 needles.

On to the planning stage for my super fun trip!!!

Last year, when I went to Vogue Knitting Live in Chicago, I rode the Megabus early in the morning, spent about 3 hours in the giant marketplace, spent way too much money buying impulse yarn, took a class on cables from Amy Detjen, had delicious deep-dish pizza with my husband (who was an insane trooper through the whole experience), and took the Megabus back to Louisville that night. I spent roughly 24 hours on this trip and around 12 hours were spent on the Megabus.

I think this is the haul from last year. I tried to pull it all out of my yarn cabinet from memory. I’ve got a couple skeins of sock yarn, a few skeins of some bulky Malabrigo Rasta, some Shibui Cima for a scarf, and some Neighborhood Fiber Company to knit the Monomania sweater. I’m pretty sure I haven’t made anything from my haul last year. What a shame!! Pulling it all out makes me want to cast on something right away, but I’m trying to stay disciplined and finish up what I already have on the needles.

When I received the email this year about year’s event, I knew I wanted to go back. I also knew that St. Louis had a train that went to Chicago which would be more enjoyable than a bus (public transit is a way better option for me than driving because I can knit on the way there and not worry about driving or paying an outrageous amount to park in Chicago). I also knew that I wanted my mom to go with me. Plus, I knew I wanted to stay overnight and not be rushed. And staying overnight gave us the opportunity to take more classes!!!

This year, I’m looking up patterns I want to buy yarn for and trying to make a list of some unique dyers and companies that I want to look for. Also going to keep on the look out for a few books. I just don’t want to come home with a bunch of random single skeins that I bought in the throws of “ooooooooh that’s so pretty and soft and squishy.” So I’ve made a few lists. I need to finalize these in the next day so I can go in with a solid plan.

So the lists are coming together…

v’s & bumps,

Jenna

Linking up with Nicole.

 

Cool WIPs :)

Exciting things are happening in my little knitting world. Last night, I ventured out to a knitting Meetup group here in St. Louis. I had a nice time and was able to try out one of the local breweries here called Urban Chesnut. Tasty beer, good food, and great company to knit with. You’ll never believe that I’ve finished 2 projects this week and I’ll post about them on Friday. You can probably guess which ones since they will not be talked about on this WIP post.

Being super pumped about finishing a few things, I did go through my WIP chest and pull out a couple of things to get going on. First up, I picked up my friend’s very late birthday present the Flurfy Scarf.

I tried to do a few more rows while at the knit night, but I have to constantly look down to make sure I’m knitting into the right loop with all the k2tog, yarn over 2 times, and ssks. It’s a little more than half way done.

I also busted the Mother Daughter KAL back out. I was craving a little stockinette 🙂 Just did a few more rows.

I really, really need to pull out my Whispers top. It’s part of the Nice & Knit Summer Sweater KAL…I don’t know if I qualify since I’ve only knit the gauge swatch…But with one of my recent FOs, I now have an open cable big enough to use to cast on this sweater. I need to reevaluate my swatch and make sure it will be ok to cast on…even though we all know that gauge swatches lie!!

Linking up with Tami & Nicole.

v’s & bumps,
Jenna

WIP Wednesday #3

Last week’s WIP Wednesday post was a public shaming, pulling out all the things I have cast on at the moment. Many of those items are in hibernation and don’t have a deadline so they’ve been tough to be motivated to knit on. I will say that pulling them all out and seeing some of the gorgeous yarns and patterns did inspire me to start on them again. Plus my mom & Grandmother were here for a visit. They are two crafty and creative ladies. They certainly inspired me to start a project or two

.

On the good news side of things, I did finish 2 projects: Leigh’s GREEN scarf & Michelle’s Summer Cowl. That’s all fine and dandy, but then I may have cast on another 2 projects.

So my actual current WIPs I’m stitching on is the Colour Change Scarf. Here is my progress 🙂 I’ve only got about an inch more of the green multi in Classic Elite Yarns Silky Alpaca Lace before I drop a strand of it and pick up the green solid…the color changes keep me going!

The bag of beauty was cast on and I’m a few inches into the Midsummer Baby Blanket. It’s a baby blanket for my darling neice-to-be. My brother and his girlfriend are pregnant and the little on is due in August. I’ve got a little time to knock this one out. The pattern is easy to memorize and see. I like working on this. Since it’s a little big and there is a lot of yarn to cart around with this one, its not ideal to travel with.

 

While my mom was in town, I gifted her one of the Unplanned Peacock Shimmer skeins and we decided to cast on a shawl together. We chose the Putney Shawl and we want to knit it together. It’s hard to reign this one in and only work in bits since the yarn is sooooo gorgeous! Here’s my rav link.

 

I know the pictures are dark. That’s what I get for letting the daylight get away from me today. I am trying to bring you guys the most up-to-date progress on my WIPs.

 

**Update: I’m on the road to a friend’s wedding in Denver and I couldn’t resist taking this bad boy along:

It’s a project I have been unhappy with for a while. Sadly I don’t have a finished picture, but it was a big cowl that was supposed to be long enough to double. Well, that didn’t happen so on my flight this morning to Chicago, where I have 20 minutes of free internet to update you guys, I frogged it and cast on to do a little triangular shawl. I’ve got two balls of the Pagewood Farms Handspun Bouquet. Here’s my progress (this may be in the airport chair I’m typing from)

I’m hoping to finish it so I can wear it if it’s a little chilly to the wedding Saturday. I should have a little time between bachelorette party activities, yarn store visits, and a stop or two at a brewery.

Sorry this post is late 😦

What are you working on? Do you tend to justify starting a new project just because you finished another?

v’s & bumps,

Jenna

PS. Linking with Tami’s Ami’s & Keep Calm & Craft On