Knitting: It's an itis

Why oh why can't I finish anything?

I've been on this organization kick recently and it occurs to me that I should reclaim lots of yarn from old projects never finished. I'm still on the fence here on this and not sure. In the meantime, I want to finish a darn sweater/tee/shirt type of object that I can wear NOW before it gets too incredibly hot (cool office - fyi). But I don't know what exactly.

Keep in mind I have several ideas and thoughts here. But then I think about the current stuff I am working on and am kicking myself because they aren't done.

Progress Report:
1. Tappen Zee - Huge booboo made by me not paying attention, need to tink 3 rows.... time out.

2. Secret Garden Socks - going well actually, but requires concentration, patience and some twisty hand movements.

3. Every Way Wrap - Got a little boring and is just hanging out. Too warm to wear now anyway, so on hold for a bit.

4. BOM #3 - The bobble catastrophe, man I hate this block, but I'm half done and it will be easy peasy to finish just not in the mood.

5. Cascadia Sock - RSC #1 for the year, have done quite a bit on this, but fear it is too huge. Contemplating if I really want to finish the pattern or reclaim the gorgeous yarn for something else. I LOVE the colorway.

So there ya go... as usual I have plenty to work on but yet want to start more, more, more.... Good grief, someone reel me in!

Ok, I think I'll go tink those rows or maybe take a walk in the secret garden, hmm....

Knitting: Best laid plans?

Well, I don't know who out there is reading, but I promised a picture of the wrap. So here she is, the lovely Every Way Wrap in Progress.



I really do love the look of this. It's just very tedious knitting, which I need to learn to deal with. As I said before this project is definitely a trial in patience.

So all week, I've been looking forward to knit knite! I've missed a few weeks because of various issues, but I was finally able to go. So I start working on the wrap and it took me a bit to find where I was. I thought I had stopped on a particular row, but the knitting was arguing with me. I finally agreed with the knitting and started along. Well, with that very first row I started, I realized I was not paying as much attention as I should because lets face it, I like to talk and listen to all the stories going on at the table. So I pulled the row out and set the knitting off to the side and conversed for the rest of the evening. Yes I should have taken something extra to work on, but I'm trying to be good and not cast anything on.

Which leads me into a nice segue way. These gals I knit with are terffic. They are kind, funny, talented, witty, amazing... etc. They are also a bunch of freakin' enablers!!! I am too, but just when I think I've gotten on a good track things go astray. I really feel that I'm going to be good and I'm not going to cast on anything else or buy yarn. I mean I REALLY thought I had gotten rid of castonitis... but lo and behold these wonderful people just bring it right back out of the wood work! :) They could sell yarn to a sheep, I'm not kidding!

It's all good, but after chatting about projects and ravelympics, I have some seriously itchy fingers! So much so, that I spent the first HOUR of the day today looking for the Vivian pattern. I printed it awhile back but can't find it anywhere. As well as my size 8 interchangeables. Now, I have the wrap which I need to be working.... but that Vivian, she is an evil siren and is calling to me. She is my Ravelympics challenge and I cannot start her yet.

So I swatched! I pulled out my yarn, a previous purchase for another sweater. I calculated the yardage I currently have and realized I don't have enough because the previous project was a short sleeve - 3/4 sleeve cabled/lacey sweater and vivian is a cable/seed stitch long sleeve cardigan hoodie. So I need about another 5 skeins of yarn. Good thing I realized this now, so that I can order and get before ravelympics start.



I feel pretty proud of myself for showing some restraint and actually swatching. I'm horrible about it normally, but I said, "Self, do this right and you might actually make something that will fit properly!"

What I learned with this swatch is that I'm still a knitter that can get guage with said needles for said type of yarn. I swatched with a size 9 because I couldn't find the 8 and my guage is off. It's off just enough though that I know I can get guage with the 8's once I find them. So another guage swatch isn't necessary. The pattern gives guage in stockinette and seed stitch, so I incorporated both into my swatch, rather than doing 2 separate swatches.

Oh and while I was thinking about projects and itchy fingers... I happen to see something in my stash and got a fantastic idea! Last fall, a few of the ladies and I talked about doing a KAL for the Winter Twilight Mitts. I know Karen and Jackie recently picked out their yarn and ordered from Knit Picks. I hadn't ordered because I thought I would use some stash yarn. I have massive amounts of sock yarn I want to use up. So I was good. Well, about a month ago, I was trying to pair up yarns and wondering what would look nice together, etc. I have a lot of knit picks Palette yarns, differing colors... but nothing was jumping out at me. For awhile, I actually thought about dropping the idea of joining the KAL.

But today... I spied with my green eye what I think will make some very nice mitts. I have the Knitpicks Imagination in Mermaid Lagoon and the Essential Kettle Dyed in Eggplant. They look REALLY nice together. See!



So I'm considering that pairing to make those mitts. And of course I want to start RIGHT NOW!

But... I'm going to be good, at least for the next few hours and work on the wrap.

Knitting: The very long wrap

So lately, I'm wondering what I have gotten myself into. I've wanted to make the every way wrap for quite sometime. Well, I started it as my 2nd project of 2010. I'm trying to be as monogamous as I can, so that I may actually get some finished goods out of this year. Anyway, as most know, I hate ribbing. So this project starts with 5 inches of 2x2 Rib. BUT... somewhere in 2009, I realized RIBBING although tedious and annoying does have a purpose and to skip it, means you are lessening your garment. So, I have RIBBED. And, what I did decide is that I really love 1x1 Twisted Rib, ala Cookie A. I've come to love that for sock ribbing. And what is funny about that, is most typical patterns require about an inch of it, I've been going PAST an inch... so I've come to enjoy it more.

However, still not a fan of 2x2 Rib. But I did it for the wrap, however I went to just shy of 4 inches instead of the full 5. I can't recall the size I chose to knit, but it's the next to last one. It's a c/o of 126 stitches. Around half of those stitches become odd, but lovely cables. I'm saying odd because they combine K2 and P2 within a cable, something I'm not sure if I've really done before. All the cables are 4 stitch which makes cabling without a needle a bit faster. However some of them, I still have to pop off the stitches and rearrange a bit. Anyway, they are like slip 2 to front P2, K2 from cable needle. Anyway, the end result looks nice and I like it, it's just different/odd.

Now the other half is MOSS stitch... another "stitch" I dislike. It's not hard, but I find it a nuisance, it's all K1P1 and P1K1, over and over and over again, row after row. But... I like the wrap, so I'm doing it. It's a bit tedious and monotonous and it's almost mindless... so it is definitely a relaxing knit. One where I can watch TV while knitting and still pay attention to both the TV and the knitting without mistakes.

So I've made it to row 18 and it is at this point that I need to repeat rows 3-18 another 16 times to get the full length of the wrap. I'm thinking... OMG!! Can I actually do this?! I'm still trying. I still want this wrap and I can only think it really will get faster, won't it? If I keep working on it, little by little it will be done, no?! I'm hoping so. My goal was to have done by knit camp which I leave for on 2/18. However, Ravelympics are starting on 2/12 and since I have a project potentially picked out for it, then I need to be done with the wrap by 2/12. So at this point, I have 29 days.

I'm using Cascade Eco+ Wool in a nice navy blue. I really like cascade yarns and can't wait to give this a nice wash in Kookaburra. It will smell and feel great. I just need to keep plugging away and it will be done.

I promise to post a photo soon. I've been slacking in that department, but it does look nice so far. I just wish it was moving faster. This project is definitely something that is helping me build patience.

Knitting: Finally a list

So I've been meaning to post for a couple of days, but time just escapes me. New projects at work are definitely a time suck, but also, it was REALLY hard to get back into the work groove after so many days of off/on style work with the holidays.

I have been successful at work. With these new projects, I have a plan. Hopefully one that I will get written out and it will be well execute, but the wheels are already turning and things are going well so far.

Which leads me into the year laid out before me. I've been trying to turn a corner with my knitting. Not starting so many projects, but actually finishing a few. Now, yes I have many items in hibernation on ravelry and will those get touched/finished... I really can't say. Some of them have definitely lost there lustre and may just end up going to the froggy pile, while others may still have a spot of hope.

So, for 2010, I've decided to make a special binder for all my projects. Yes I realize that we have a great tool in Ravelry, but one thing I know about myself is I like tangible things. Yes I can look online at all things, but to shop, I like to touch and feel what I am buying. SO anyway, I've created a binder for my projects. I've put copies of the patterns I want to make this year. Now, here's where best laid plans fall apart... new magazines and patterns and books will come out this year and probably tempt me. So I have to leave some room for the new stuff.

Anyway, so far this year, I've only knit on 2 items. I started a KAL with Cath of the Welig gloves. I love this pattern. I've never made gloves before and this pattern is definitely a fun one. Lots of twisted stitches and cables. And the yarn... I'm using the Handmaiden Casbah yarn. It's a dream and so soft! I can't wait to wear these gloves. I worked up through the pinkie on the first glove and then decided to make the 2nd glove before finishing all the fingers. I am hoping to be done with both or one by later today.

The 2nd project I cast on for is the Every Way Wrap. I'm going to knit camp in a month and I really want to be able to show off this project. So I have just around 4 weeks to complete it and I think this is do-able. Just concentrate and don't cast on anything else.

So this will be the year of the sweater for me. I have several sweaters/cardigans/jacket patterns in my queue. Of course if you think about it... I don't have much time because soon, summer will be upon us, so I really have to whip my knitting into shape! After the wrap, I think I will start Vivian. And I really want to knit Heroine and the Bountiful Bohus cardigan. Can I do all these before winter's end? And, will I get burnt out doing so many big projects. Yes, possibly.

So, with this predicament, I think I will try and finish a sock (from all the unfinished pairs I've started), as my in-betweens. Or just work smaller projects, like hats or mittens (gifts) for next Christmas. Hopefully this will get me on my way for gift knitting and not running crunch time like this past year. I also have squares for an afghan to make as well. So the year ahead will hopefully be a prosperous knitting year. I have a plan!

And the best part of this PLAN, I am going to destash while making these items. I bought bulky yarn awhile back for a sweater, that I wasn't crazy about after I started. So, I can use that yarn for Vivian. For Heroine, I will most likely have to invest in yarn because it's a felted piece that requires a LOT of yarn. And the Bountiful Bohus will require a new yarn purchase as well... however, for all my small projects, I have plenty of yarn. I also want to do an inventory and find projects for all my single skeins or smaller amounts of yarn.

So that is how I am starting the year.