Finally Faith and More

I have not been idle, sitting around eating bonbons, and watching TV. I have plenty of project photos to share what I have been knitting.

Faith is finished and I have worn it many times. Love it!



And then, there are the sweaters for the grandchildren ...

Turtle Crossing Sweater for oldest grandson, Joshua (age 6) -- I made up the pattern and used elements from the afghan square designed by Celeste Pinearo published in The Great American Afghan and the turtle from Barbara Walker's third Treasury.



Fast and Faster Pullover for second grandson, Szachary (age 4) -- I designed the sweater.



Owlet Sweater for youngest grandson, Benjamin (age 2) -- I designed the sweater except for the owl cable.



Baby Katrina Ballerina Lace Layering Cardigan (downsized version of Carrol Feller's design) for granddaughter, Karalyn (age 9 mos.)



And finally, a little cardigan I made for the expected granddaughter of a coworker. The design is original but the stitch patterns are from stitch dictionaries. I call it the "Sweatpea Cardigan."

Pictures, pictures, pictures

I have lots of knitting project pictures to share.

The Katrina Ballerina cardigan that I made for my daughter's birthday present is pictured below although it is not modeled by its recipient. Currently, the recipient is pregnant, a fact that my husband and I did not know until Christmas. After presenting us with three little grandsons (who are indeed wonderful), she is due to give birth to a girl-child in April. Now I have the perfect project in mind for some of those luscious leftovers of sock yarn -- little baby girl socks.



Next project is the Triangle Scarf from Norah Gaughan's book Knitting Nature. It is made from yarn given to me as a prize by Chris Hanner (http://www.myfavoritethimble.com). The scarf was a gift for my sister.




I made the fingerless gloves "Musica" for my niece who is 15 years old and plays flute, violin and piano.




That's enough for today. I'll post other pictures another day.

Well, I did it!

This is my first post-Christmas article since I have spent much time with needles in hand since the last entry. I completed all of my Christmas knitting projects except one sock (note I said one sock, not one pair of socks) before Christmas. All of the gifts have been given, but few photographs to show for it. Comments on the gifts have been positive so far. The last package -- three sweaters, one pair of hand-knit socks, one pair of store-bought socks, and three personalized pillow cases -- was mailed out on Saturday after Christmas. This year I have competed 16 pairs of hand-knit socks, one lace scarf, three little boy sweaters, two sweaters for myself (blue-ribbon winners mind you), and just this morning a reversible hat for my husband. I started two other sweaters for myself which are my first projects for the new year -- I resolve.

Lovely friends who appreciate my knitting obsession, gifted me with cash for Christmas, which I promptly spent for some knitting items that have been on my wish list for awhile.

Now, as for 2009, I must find some way to get some exercise. I would like to do some gardening, but my space for growing things is limited. My tentative (very tentative -- as in, I have not shared them with anyone, yet) plans are to plant a few squash and cucumbers outside our fence in the alley, plow a plot in the back yard for beans and peas, and plant a few tomato plants, peppers, and eggplant in the front "flower bed." I am also looking at continuing education opportunities both for work and for personal growth. The Dallas/Fort Worth Fiber Fest in April looks enticing, especially Suzanne Thompson's "SEVENESS" class and her polymer clay buttons classes. I've also been toying with the idea of entering the Master Knitters program. It would be a challenge, but I just don't know if I want to get that academic with my knitting.

Enough for now!

Ouch! Sore muscles

Who knew knitting could be such strenuous exercise. I am sore all over from sitting and knitting. I finished the first sleeve this morning, washed it and blocked it. It is drying at this time. I don't see any possibility of completing the cardigan before the end of the closing ceremony. Oh, well! I will probably get it finished on Sunday afternoon. This is a record for me. My previous record for knitting a sweater was three weeks, and that was for short-sleeve, mostly stockinette sweaters, albeit made with skinny yarn. I am quite pleased with my work on this, both the design and the knitting. The yarn has been great to work with and I like my hybridized design. I'll put some progress photos up tonight or tomorrow and a finished photo on Sunday.

Ravelympics Knitting

I have been neglectful about posting knitting in my blog; however, that does not mean I have not been knitting. This year, I decided it was about time I learned to knit socks. After knitting three pairs of socks for myself, I concluded that if I started right away, I will be able to knit a pair of socks for each female member of my family for Christmas. At this time I am well on my way to my goal having knit either nine or ten pairs. I will post photos of the socks soon.

This morning at 7:00 a.m. CDT, I cast on for my Ravelympics knitting. I have entered in two events: the Sweater Sprint and the Sock Put. My team is the Lone Star State Knitters. The sweater I have planned to knit and which I began this morning is a cardigan styled like the Minimalist Cardigan designed by Ruthie Nussbaum for the Fall 2007 issue of Interweave Knits; however, I am using the stitch pattern combination from Hanover in Jean Frost Jackets. I have combined the two designs with a few changes of my own, run the whole thing through SweaterWizard so that the instructions conform to my yarn and stitch gauge, and modified the file to produce instructions for the knitting. The yarn is Lily Chin Park Avenue merino and alpaca, and I get 22 sts and 30 rows in Shadow Rib pattern on US size 7 needles.

My other Ravelympics project is the Spring Thaw socks designed by Cat Bordhi and published in the Summer 2008 issue of Knitter's Magazine. I will use apple green Essential sock yarn from Knit Picks, if my shipment arrives in time (ordered on July 16).