Holiday Weekend Knitting

My secret project. I knit Auburn Wave in tosh ASAP on 15mm needles. Yes, there were a few changes to the pattern - minor ones. I eliminated a few rows. My shawl took 2.5 balls. Talk about a quick project. If I had really tried I could have finished it on Sunday. One day for a shawl. Awesome!! I think there could be another one in my future once Camp is finished.

Dream in Color Classy with Cashmere knit into a great cowl. This took two balls on 5.5mm needles. Some of you might think that the pattern looks familiar :) It's the Technicolor Cowl.

Beth knit Jet-Setter in double strand Misti Chunky on 12mm needles. She thinks she would use 10mm if she was to make another. Any why wouldn't she? It looks great and knit up in an evening.

Beth is chomping at the bit for me to hurry up. America's Got Talent is on. I've been doing the last minute printing for the weekend and getting ready for Camp.

Boxes are being filled in the store. We have to be careful though. Some boxes are for the Fair and some are being shipped to Camp on Monday. I'm not sure if packing for two events at once makes life easier or harder.

Baby Alpaca and Bamboo - YUMMY

I started Flor de Maio - a cowl from Classic Elite's latest Web-Letter.

Chateau is great to work with. Baby Alpaca mixed with Bamboo. It feels yummy on your hands.

The first 7 rows are simple. Knit or purl with one row of *K2tog, yo* across the row.

I'm on the 5th row of the main pattern. You need to know knit, purl, yarn over, knit 2 together and an ssk (a decrease that isn't hard). The pattern is a multiple of 10 stitches. If you haven't knit a lot of lace then you can put stitch markers between each pattern repeat. If you get to the marker and you aren't doing the stitch that you are supposed to then you know that there is a mistake in the last 10 stitches. You won't get to the end of the row and then need to start ripping out 100 stitches.

My latest Checkerboard Cowl goes perfectly with Lynn's new winter coat. This is Rasta in Porrinho. Currently my 15mm needles are empty and my knitting bag is Rasta free. That might change tomorrow - there are still a few colours that I haven't worked with.

Here is Beth's cowl on a mannequin, not thrown on the floor like the other day. She kept complaining about the colours while making the cowl. She said that there wasn't enough contrast but once finished I think it looks great. I might keep it :)

We found out today that our house is going to be delayed by a month. We aren't upset about this. We'd rather they take their time and do the job properly rather than rush and do a shoddy job. The basement is being poured this week and there is an inspection. If the electrical is good then they can start on the walls.

The Taste is almost over and then it's time for Top Chef. I think that it's time to stop for the day and wind down before bed.

I can't stop

I knit another cowl in Rasta on Saturday. It's an addiction. I'm not sure I will be able to stop until I have knit every colour. This one is my own design. I can't keep doing the same pattern :) Which colour this time? Arco Iris.

Checkerboard Cowl

15mm, 60cm needles

1 ball Rasta

Cast on 42 stitches and join in the round. Put a marker on your needle. Make sure now and after the first row that your stitches aren't twisted. 

Rows 1-6: Knit 7, Purl 7, Knit 7, Purl 7

Rows 7-12: Purl 7, Knit 7, Purl 7, Knit 7

Rows 13-18: Knit 7, Purl 7, Knit 7, Purl 7

Rows 19-24: Purl 7, Knit 7, Purl 7, Knit 7

Cast off in Purl.

Beth finished another cowl too.

Autumn Basket (pattern purchased on Ravelry) knit in Misti Chunky. One skein of hand dyed with one skein of solid. She likes the brighter one better but I think you know which one I picked the colours for :)

I had two different customers in today who ran out of yarn while casting off a cowl. Here is a little tip. 

-lay your work out

-the yarn needs to go back and forth across the work at least 4 times

-this should give you enough to cast off

This can present a problem when you're working in the round. The stitches can be squished. You need to gently stretch the first stitches, measure out some yarn, stretch out the next bunch of stitches and stretch out the yarn. Repeat across the row. Take this length of yarn and measure out 3 more lengths the same. This should be enough. If you're a little nervous then add another 1/2 round.

If this is confusing, please ask me to show you the next time you're in the store.

If you buy a lot of skeins of yarn then you might want a ball winder and swift for Christmas. These really cut down on the time it takes to make a ball. I think it was the happiest day of Beth's life when we got our first ball winder and swift. She didn't have to hold her arms out any longer.

It's time to cast on another cowl. Yes, I brought home another skein of Rasta. I told you, I can't stop!

Knitting and Football

Today was a day for resting. Many, many football games and a bit of knitting.

My scarf is growing. I really like the cables. Different than the regular 'slip 2 on a cable needle, hold at back, knit 2 and then knit the 2 from the cable needle'. You have to pay attention on the cable row.

Beth finished her latest cowl.

I had it on when she wasn't looking. Misti Chunky is 100% Alpaca. Very soft and very warm!

She likes the pattern (Autumn Basket, purchased on Ravelry) so much that she has started another one. The colours for the new one aren't quite as bold.

I'm counting down the time until Homeland. This season has been great so far. Talk about sitting on the edge of your seat.

I didn't want to

Beth is really enjoying mosaic knitting. Want to know more about the technique? Take a look at the latest Twist Collective - Barbara Gregory wrote an interesting article.

Pattern: Autumn Basket purchased on Ravelry...
Yarn: Misti Chunky - one solid and one handpaint.

I couldn't help myself. I cast on The Tangle Scarf. I didn't want to. I was going to finish Exploration Station but the bulky yarn on 10mm needles called my name. The picture doesn't show the colour very well. It is a light green - not as yellow as the picture.

I didn't get very far - maybe tonight while I'm watching Survivor. Two episodes. It's time to hit Publish and start paying attention. I think we could have some fireworks tonight!!

Who holds your pattern?

Beth invented a new pattern holder today. Now she's trying to figure out how to market it.

Melo laid there for at least an hour. Beth would pick up the paper, set the paper down and cross off rows on his back but he never moved.

While it was snowing yesterday she started on a few Christmas presents. The pattern is her creation... One skein of Misti Handpaint Chunky on 8mm, 60cm needles.

She is in love with Josh Bennett's tip. I talked about this before (not sure if it was a blog post or newsletter) but in case you missed it - when working in the round, with interchangeable needles, use one size smaller tip for your left hand needle. The stitches slide off that needle easier and it helps you to knit a bit faster. She has an 8mm tip on the right needle and 6.5mm tip on the left needle.

I finally got a picture of my shawl in natural light. I'm into the D&E section. There's still some football and then the finale of Survivor. I might make my goal. It will depend on how compelling Survivor is.

Moebius

The weather today is weird. When I came to work we were having snow squalls and freezing rain. Then it was sunny and calm. Now the snow is coming again.

I told you that I was on a mission. Here is Rochdale sewn together. It didn't fit properly on the mannequin and I was rushing to get the picture taken. Really this was just to show that I finished something.

There were a few bad words being thrown around at my house yesterday afternoon. It took 3 tries to get the first sleeve in. You'd think it was my first day putting together a garment.

It is in need of blocking but I want to get all the ends sewn in first. I'm not sure what I did while I was knitting but there are a million ends.

Remember I said that I could start something if it was a small store sample. Last night I retaught myself Cat Bordhi's Moebius Cast On and am making a cowl. The yarn is Chunky from Misti Alpaca. 100% Alpaca. What a dream to knit with. We have 6 colours in the store and more will be coming.

I have one ball knit with one more to go. I'm in a rush to get it finished - I'm going to teach this in February. The class schedule needs to get finished and I need a picture of the Moebius.

I'm home now. I stayed at work until I got the Moebius cast off. All 340 stitches.

I used 7mm, 120cm addi needles and cast on 170 stitches. With Cat's method you end up with double the number cast on.

I have the label in front of me now. The yarn is 100% Baby Alpaca. Very, very soft and a dream to knit with. I know I said this already but I really liked the yarn.

The yarn was also very easy to roll into a ball. Sometimes skeins get tangled but I just hung this over a chair and away I went.

There should be a shipment of madelinetosh arriving later this week including some yarn for me. I have to get something else finished before I can start so I'm signing off to get knitting.