Projects in September/October 2011

Completed 3 projects during these two months, all for holiday gifts.

Another hat from the Knit Noro book. Actually, completed 2 of the Fair Isle hats. Each one uses 2 colorways of Noro Kureyon (1 skein each) to give the fair isle affect (very effectively, I might add!).


Noro Fair Isle Hat



Noro Fair Isle Hat

 The Marching Columns scarf uses Brooks Farm Four Play yarn (wool/silk), and a pattern that utilizes the Knit One Below technique. The yarn was purchased at Rhinebeck, directly from Brooks Farm, and the pattern was free with the yarn purchase.



Marching Columns Scarf



Well, this is my last posting for "My Year of Knitting 2011". November 2011 thru October 2012 will be devoted to using up my very extensive stash (or at least making a dent in it). Look for my next posting in December......

Projects in August 2011

My  friend, Myra, who took my Triple "S" Shawl workshop at the Bernards Township Library in the spring, entered her shawl into the Hunterdon County 4H Fair craft contest. She received third place! Way to go Myra!   The Pattern is from The Knitting Fairy, and the yarn is Solo (wool/silk blend) from Brooks Farms.

Myra's version of Triple "S" Shawl

 

Two projects from the new "Knit Noro" book - a felted hat, and a modular vest. I used the exact color/type yarn as in the book for the felted hat - Noro Kureyon. However, even though the modular vest called for Noro Taiyo, I used Noro Aya just because I liked the color. Aya is slightly lighter weight than Taiyo and I thought I matched the gauge. Well, the garment came out much smaller than intended, so my gauge must have changed. Also, the garment is knitted on the bias, so that may have had something to do with it. Oh well, it was a fun project, and I may just try it again with thicker yarn. Bought these yarns at The Woolly Lamb in Pennington NJ, using my "birthday discount". Each year (if you are on their mailing list) they send you a postcard in the month of your birthday for 20% off your one purchase during your birthday month!   

 

Noro Modular Vest








Noro Felted Hat - top

Stephen West Knit-a-long Earth and Sky scarf pattern. Some friends told me about this project, and I decided to use up some stash yarn to do it. Used some Jojoland Melody, and some Possum Merino blend yarn from New Zealand that was a gift from my mother-in-law from her trip to Australia. Although I didn't find the project particularly interesting, I was satisfied with the end result. Not sure what I'll do wit h it - maybe a gift, or maybe just for me! 

Berroco Gamut Hat - found this hat at The Knitter's Edge in Bethlehem PA. My first trip there! Quite a store. It's made with Berroco Jasper (2 skeins). Very easy and quick. The pattern is free on the Berroco website. 

Earth & Sky Scarf



Gamut Hat



Projects in July 2011

I actually bought all this yarn this year. Despite my rather large stash, I have very little suitable for babies; so, when I found out there was going to be a new baby in the family, off I went on another shopping trip! Of course, the other 2 projects were impulse buys....

Multicolored Stripes Blanket

Multicolored Stripes Blanket - from "60 Quick Baby Knits: Blankets, Booties, Sweaters and More in Cascade 220 Superwash". Was able to get Cascade 220 superwash from Webs on sale!  Book was purchased at The Woolly Lamb in Pennington NJ. We took this picture at our friends' home in Saranac Lake NY. They have this beautiful room they call the Adirondack room - paneled in pine, with a large stone fireplace. The blanket is hanging on a ski pole that's balanced on a dress form. We got creative! 

Baby Surprise Jacket & Elf Hat

Baby Surprise Jacket - using Sirdar Snuggly Smiley Stripes (bamboo & wool). Purchased the yarn at Pins & Needles in Princeton, NJ.
Elf Hat - used leftover Smiley Stripes, and some Sublime DK (solid) for this pattern found in "babyknits Hats & Booties". The Sublime was purchased at Down Cellar in Basking Ridge, NJ, and the buttons were purchased at the Woolly Lamb in Pennington, NJ (I'm definitely an equal opportunity yarn shopper). I used a size 5 needle instead of size 6, to create a smaller hat size. The pattern is written for a 12 month size, but I wanted it a little smaller for a 6-9 month size. Circumference is about the same, but it's not as deep.

Drop Stitch Shawl/Scarf

Dropped Stitch Shawl/Scarf - using Blue Heron. Purchased yarn at The Blue Purl, in Madison NJ. The store provided the pattern with the yarn purchase. This was another impulse purchase, when I swore I would just "look" (yeah, right). It's really hard to walk out without a purchase from this store!

Astrolabe Vest

Astrolabe Vest - from Knitscene Summer 2011, using Gedifra Rosas. The yarn was an impulse purchase when I was in Down Cellar (Basking Ridge) looking for something else (of course). Another picture taken in the Adirondack room in Saranac Lake NY. The vest is hanging on the dress form (sans ski pole)!

Projects in May 2011

Featherweight Cardigan - another project for TNNA Columbus. Used Claudia Hand Paint Cotton Ball. Pattern by Hannah Fettig, available on KnitBot and Ravelry. Saw this sweater on a friend at the local yarn shop during the Super Bowl Sale, and really liked it.

Flirty Skirt - from Claudia Hand Paint, using Claudia's Linen Sport. Started in February. Completed before June 1st. Wore at TNNA Columbus.

The Eternalism Vest is from KnitScene Winter/Spring 2011. It's made with Schoppel-Wolle Pur, which I purchased from Gazebo in New Hope, PA. Fun  project, and I love wearing it!

Featherweight Cardigan

Flirty Skirt

Eternalism Vest

Projects in April 2011

Projects Completed in April

Blanket Buddy

A Blanket Buddy (from "101 Designer One Skein Wonders"), using yarn I purchased in Corning NY a few years ago (can't believe I remember that!). The intention was to make it for one of the new additions to our family then, but I never got around to it. Well, lucky enough another baby is on the way, so I finally made one!

 

Noro Chevron Cardigan



Chevron Cardigan from "Knitting Noro", using Rowan Colourscape. The yarn was purchased a couple of years ago from Knit-a-Bit in Westfield, when they were having one of their fabulous sales!

Active Projects in April
Still working on projects for TNNA in June. The Featherweight Cardigan is almost 2/3's done. It's a top down cardigan, and I'm almost finished with the sweater body. The linen skirt is almost 1/2 done.

Lion Scarf from the new Cascade book, "60 Quick Knits".

New Purchases (Yikes!)
Despite my committment to restraint when it comes to buying additional yarn and projects, there are a couple of new ones in the queue:

My friend and I went to the Bryn Mawr and Wellseley Alumni Book Sale down in Princeton at the end of March, and decided to go to Pins & Needles in Princeton "to see what they have" (you know how that goes). They have a really nice selection of yarn for kids, so I bought a bamboo blend yarn (Smiley Stripes in a "gender neutral" color of course) for a Baby Surprise Jacket. The baby is due in September, so this will be one of my summer projects. At the same time, I also bought some Ella Rae chunky to make more of those Neverending Cowls for the next holiday season. Just loved making them!

A couple of weeks ago I was in Down Cellar, looking for some buttons, and found a new yarn by Gedifra - Rosas. Just loved the texture, and thought it would be great for a warm weather vest. Will start this project after the TNNA projects are completed.

Also, purchased some Cascade 220 superwash in multiple colors for a striped baby blanket from Cascade's new book, "60 Quick Baby Knits".

Completed Projects - October 2010 thru March 2011

The last weekend in October was Stitches East. That vast knitter's haven where you can take knitting classes, buy anything knitting related, talk about knitting, knit at breakfast, knit at lunch, knit at dinner... just knit, knit, knit! My husband claims that a Stitches event is the only place where it's not rude to knit while you eat (at a banquet)!
I usually promise myself I will not buy too much at Stitches, and almost always break my own promise. This past year was no exception. However, this time, unlike previous years, I actually completed several of the projects I purchased there before the next Stitches event! This is in addition to the inevitable holiday projects!. I'm quite fortunate in that my family and close friends really like hand made knitted gifts, and each year I take it upon myself to make a little something for each one. This past year was no exception, and I have to say it is getting increasingly difficult as the family expands with the next generation.

Here's the Holiday Projects list:

Pointed Elf Hats

9 Pointed Elf Hats in all (made out of Malabrigo Gruessa - pattern from "More Last-Minute Knitted Gifts") - 4 adults and 5 kids!





Armwarmers

5 pairs of fingerless armwarmers (from Sally Melville's "Warm Knits Cool Gifts), using Madeline Tosh DK, JKnits DK, and Elsabeth Lavolds Cool Wool). Just love Tosh DK. This became a totally addictive project! One of those pairs was for me, and I still have some yarn left over for next year!

 2 Scarf in a Scarf kits (from Hand Painted Knitting Yarns)

1 Short Row Scarf (using Poems worsted and Beth Whiteside's pattern in Created Knitting Accessorize with Style Magazine Fall 2010)

3 pairs of fingerless (men's) gloves - used Berroco yarn left over from last year's gifts, since, as usual, I purchased too much! A;lso from "Warm Knits Cool Gifts

Here's the list of projects purchased at Stitches that have already been completed:

Curlique Coverlet Shawl



Curlique Coverlet Shawl - used Mini Mochi. Purchased the pattern and yarn from The Mannings booth.



Trellis Scarf

Maggie Jackson's Trellis Scarf kit - just loved making this, and am a big fan of Maggie's designs. Have since purchased 2 more kits.... read on!




Now, everything else completed thru March....


VKL Scarf

 VKL Scarf - from Maggie Jackson. This is a limited edition kit she made especially for Vogue Knitting Live in NYC. Purchased January 22, 2011. Finished it in less than a week. So much fun!!









Triple 'S' Shawl

Triple "S" Shawl - pattern from Knitting Fairy and yarn from Brooks Farms. I purchased this at NYS Sheep & Wool in Rhinebeck last October (before Stitches). One of my knitting friends suggested that it would be a good project for a workshop at our local library... so..I agreed. I completed the shawl the weekend before President's Weekend, and the workshop is still in progress.

Hex Afghan

Hex Afghan from "Knitting Nature" by Norah Gaughan, aka "Jeff's Afghan". Started this project when my nephew became engaged. Well, he's been married almost 4 years now, and I finally finished it! Maybe the 4th anniversary is "afghan"!







Bermuda Scarf

 Bermuda Scarf - by Ilga Leja. Found it on Ravelry by searching for a project that uses Kauni yarn. I bought this yarn at Adirondack Yarns, Lake Placid, New Year's weekend 2011. Finished it end of February/beginning of March.




Neverending Cowl


Neverending Cowl from "Cowl Girls" - bought the yarn at a Super Bowl Sunday sale, and finished it about a week ago.



Stainglass-Afghan

Stained Glass Afghan (crocheted) - this came from a Leisure Arts book by Vannah White. I started it around 1998, when I was commuting on the train to Newark. Lots and lots and lots of crocheted granny sqaures, made out of cotton chenille, and connected with a black cotton chenille. Started to put it together, but then put it aside when I couldn't stand to work in black anymore. Gave it to my friend Lynette, who crochets a lot and contributes many of her afghans to charity. Thought she would either keep it, or pass it along to a worthy cause. Well, she finished it in just a couple of weeks, and then gave it back to me! It now graces my living room sofa. 

Introduction

So, after 45+ years of knitting and crocheting, I've decided to spend some time recording my productivity for 2011. Ever since I quit the corporate world in 2005, I've spent a great deal of my newly freed time teaching knitting, reading about knitting, working in yarn shops, editing patterns, sample knitting, buying yarn, and just plain knitting, knitting, knitting. It's been great, but I really don't have a handle on how many projects I actually complete in a year. So... here goes!

Actually, I'm starting with October, 2010 and recording activities through October 2011.  Stitches East was held in October for 2010, and will be held next October, so I'm treating this period like the "school year"!

Since my first post is in March, I have quite a bit of catching up to do, including all those projects I completed for the past holiday season.

My Stash of Projects in Waiting