October/November 2012 Project Update

October was a busy month for knitters. I went to Stitches East in Hartford, Connecticut, and Dutchess County Sheep & Wool in Rhinebeck N.Y. Of course, I purchased a few projects at each event (see below), but the projects I completed this month were on my list since the summer time.

November started off with the arrival of Hurricane Sandy, which caused quite a bit of chaos in N.J. It gave me a good excuse to stay home, and knit (what a shame)!! Finished off a couple of projects earlier than expected.

Puppy Hat

Birdcage Beanie

Lace and Loop Scarf

CocoKnits Louisa

      

The Puppy Hat and Bird Cage Beanie from "60 More Quick Knits" are going to be holiday gifts for two of my "little" nieces The yarn in Cascade 220 Sport, and was purchased at the Blue Purl in Madison NJ.

 

The Lace & Loop scarf is from one of my classes at Stitches East. It is also in a new book "Knitting from the Center Out" by Danial Yohas (who also taught the class). I used a handspun yarn (silk, angora, wool blend) that I won in a silent auction in Saranac Lake N.Y. I'm planning on making another one using Bijou Spun (yak/bamboo blend) that I bought at Rhinebeck this year. Fun project! It incorporates icords into the scarf.

CocoKnits Louisa pullover was started last year, but I had to put it aside for other projects. It's made from Claudia Hand Dyed Fingering 55 (merino/silk blend) and Silk Lace. I've had the Fingering 55 for quite a while, and bought the Silk Lace at Stitches East in 2011.The original plan was to have it finished by Stitches 2012, but I didn't get it done in time. However, I'll be wearing it at VKL New York 2013!

 

New projects purchased at Stitches East & Rhinebeck Sheep & Wool:

Maggiknits Gallagher Wrap (kit)

Maggiknits Knotty Knitters scarf (kit)

Flyaway Cardigan (String Theory DK yarn)

Smitten shawl kit (by More than Knotz - yarn from Gale's Art)

Elsabeth Lavold Baghdad striped pullover (from book twentyone)

Bashful Bags and Fibers gradient dyed yarn (Reventuli shawl & Brooke's Column of Leaves Scarf) 



September 2012 Project Update

 

Well, it's been a busy summer. We experienced some water damage due to a plumbing problem, and the entire basement (where I keep my knitting stash) had to be redone. Consequently, I now have a new "Knitter's Grotto". All my yarn is stashed on shelves and in cabinets, and most of all, OFF THE FLOOR! It looks great!



Benson

Rockefeller Shawl

Inside Outside Scarf

 







Lamp Shawl

 

Benson is a child's hoodie that I made for my great-nephew Henry, for his 1st birthday! The pattern is from Berroco's Big Kids/ Little Kids book. I made it using Vintage Chunky and Vintage (for the inside placket, which of course you can't see). I originally purchased the yarn last year for a different child's sweater, but then changed my mind, and had to buy some more for this one. It's from Knit-a-Bit in Westfield, NJ.. Of course, I have some more Vintage Chunky in other colors, and will just have to come up with another sweater for one of the kids.So.. some half of this yarn was purchased last year, and the other this year (oh well).

 

The Rockefeller Shawl is a Stephen West creation for his 2012 KAL. The yarn is Indigo Moon Blue Faced Leceister wool, and was purchased at Mont Tricot in Sutton QC, while I was on vacation this past summer. I just can't pass up yarn while on a bike ride! Ok, so I bought this yarn this year.. But I managed to knit it up this year, so I haven't added it to my stash.

 

The Inside Outside Scarf is from "Knit one Below", and uses Just our Yarn cashmere, which I purchased at NYS Sheep & Wool in Rhinebeck NY last year.

 

The Lamp Shawl is from "White Whale Vol. 1", and is made with Neighborhood Yarn Co.'s Maisonette DK (merino and silk). I purchased it at Fibre Space in Alexandria VA, my reward for going down to pick up my husband after his 3 day bike ride on the EMS Memorial Bike Tour. Yes, some more yarn purchased this year, and knitted up this year, so at least my stash isn't getting larger (yet).



April 2012 projects

Molly Scarf

Beagle Sweater

Starving Artist Slouchy Beret

Starving Artist Slouchy Beret (back)

Molly Scarf - Purchased the Classic Elite pattern booklet from the Woolly Lamb in Pennington NJ, when I was down there teaching a class. I purchased the yarn (Classic Elite Liberty Wool) from Conversational Threads in Emmaus PA. A friend had told me about this shop, so another friend and I took a road trip. Nice shop! Okay, so this was not stash yarn. I did purchase it in 2012!

Beagle Sweater  - The Beagle pattern is from Berroco's "Norah Gaughan Men" booklet from Fall/Winter 2009-2010. Used Trendsetters Merino VIII purchased at the Gazebo in New Hope., PA.

Starving Artist Slouchy Beret - Free pattern found on Ravelry. Used one skein of Madeline Tosh chunky, purchased from Jimmy Beans Wool (to round up my order to get free shipping!).

Projects in January/February/March 2012

Sideways Hat

Slipped Rib Scarf

Noro Chevron Cardigan

Double Rolled Brim Hat





Felted Bowls



Magician's Scarf



Small Seaman's Sample Stitch Scarf



Sideways Hat - The yarn was purchased at Webs last October (JoJoland Fantasia), and the pattern is from ebook "Short Row Hats" from Midnightsky Fibers.

Slipped Rib Scarf - Created this scarf for a contest at the Saranac Lake Community Store in honor of Valentine's Day. The pattern is from Westknits, and the yarn was purchased from two local Adirondack fiber artists - Liberty Fibers Hand-Dyed Yarn and Four Directions Weaving.

Noro Chevron Cardigan - The Noro Kureyon yarn I used for this project was originally slated for another project. Then I found the Noro book, with this pattern and decided to make it. Finally, after a couple of years, I finished it.

Double Rolled Brim hat (Good Karma Yarn) -purchased the yarn at NYS Sheep & Wool last October from Good Karma Farm (couldn't resist the name). The pattern was a free one provided by the farm. However, it didn't come out quite like the picture after I washed it. Nonetheless, not a bad slouchy hat.

Small Seaman's Sample Stitch Scarf - purchased the yarn and pattern from Hunt Valley Cashmere at Vogue Knitting Live NY in 2011. It used their 3 ply cashmere. Fun project!

Felted Bowls - Created these felted bowls for a private craft show in April. Used stash yarn only, and created my own designs. Hope they sell!

Magician's Scarf - purchased the yarn & pattern from Vogue Knitting Live NY this past January. Yarn and pattern are from Alchemy. Actually, it was part of my payment for working at the Fine Points booth. I forgot to take a picture of the finished product before I gave it away as a birthday gift. Oh well...

Projects in November/December 2011

Wyeth's Dead Fish Hat

Kaelin's Live Fish Hat

Eamon's Dead Fish Hat

Noro Earflap Hat

Hats on a line!

Modular Scarf with Ruffled Edges

Entrelac Scarf

Modulation Scarf

Antler Hat

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