FO: Wicked

Pattern: Wicked from Zephyr Style
Yarn: Dream in Color Classy, Visual Purple
Mods: I skipped the seed stitch and repeated the cable pattern for the hem. I also left off the pocket.





Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas! I finished this sweater about 2 weeks ago, but with the holiday and traveling, I'm just getting around to blogging about it. This was a pretty quick and enjoyable knit for me. Easy to follow pattern and easy to modify. I'm pretty happy with it and will probably knit another one at some point, maybe in cotton for warmer months.

Cowl is the new scarf

Yeah, I know I'm late to the party, but I'm having a cowl obsession. I've knit 3 in the past few weeks:


Alpaca cowl in Blue Sky Alpaca Bulky



Gloria Cowl in Noro Silk Garden



Birthday Cowl in Malabrigo

I knit each of these in less that a day! Cowls are great for leftover single skeins and fill that need for a quick finished project. I knit these with the intention of giving them away as Christmas gifts, but now I want to keep them for myself. Luckily I have more waiting in my Ravelry queue!

FO: Hourglass Sweater

Pattern: Hourglass sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson
Yarn: Malabrigo merino worsted in Pagoda
Needles: Knitpicks Options size 7
Started: November 2007 Completed: April 2008

This is my first sweater and a really enjoyable knit for me. I loved the zen of knitting stockinette in the round. I only made a few modifications to this sweater. I added a little extra length to the torso and in hindsight probably could have added a little bit more. I added a few extra increases at the bust and some extra rows of decreases at the yoke to not have the flashdance effect everyone complained about. I absolutely love this yarn! It's so soft and cozy. I'm sure I'll get lots of wear out of this when the temperature drops.

Krewe de Vieux

One of the first parades of the Carnival season, Krewe de Vieux, rolled this weekend. This is one my favorite parades and a definite must see. The only parade to roll through the streets of the French Quarter, Krewe de Vieux is one of the wildest and features lots of political satire and adult themes. There are small floats and lots of costumed marchers who throw beads, paint you with glitter and dance in the streets. It also features some of the best brass bands in the city. My family was in town for the weekend and had the chance to see the parade. We initially were at the beginning of the parade route and watched the entire parade. After catching tons of beads and throws my family insisted we walk near the end of the parade route and see the whole thing again! They had a blast! Here are a few pics I was able to capture in between dancing, catching beads, and throwing back drinks!


These are the mild pictures; I just can't bring myself to post the pictures of floats with genitalia and such.

Being that Krewe De Vieux is one of the earliest parades, it's also often a cold and sometimes rainy parade. This year since Mardi Gras is so early and that weird arctic freeze thing is passing through the South, Saturday was miserably cold and wet. I decided to knit up a scarf to keep me cozy and warm while parade watching and playing tour guide for my family.


Pattern: Uptown Scarf from Weekend Knitting
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Bulky
Needles: size 35!
Started/Finished: January 2008

Given that this pattern calls for bulky yarn and huge size 35 needles, I was able to complete this project in less than an hour. It's a great quick project and a wonderfully warm and soft yarn. The scarf is also super long and able to be wrapped around my neck several times making it extra cozy. The perfect weekend project!

2007 A Knitting Retrospective

This year hasn't been the most productive for me as far as knitting goes. I put my needles down for a while this spring and didn't pick them up again for several months. Although I only have a few small finished objects for the year, KnitLit's Best of 2007 meme still seems like a good idea to review my year in knitting and think about what next year will bring.

1. Your best FO of the year

My Garter rib socks are probably my personal best of the year.

My first pair of socks ever and I love them. I'm pretty proud of myself for finishing them even though it took me about a year. They turned out really well and I've already cast on my second pair of socks.

2. best FO of the year made by a blog you link to
This is pretty tough since there are so many great bloggers out there with fabulous projects. Lolly's Aftur pullover is beautiful and I'm so amazed that she knit the entire thing in a month! Jenna's Front and Back cable sweater is another one that blew me away. Gorgeous!

3. best yarn you tried

I tried Malabrigo for the first time this year and love it. Warm and incredibly soft with gorgeous hand dyed colors, it's easy to understand why most knitters are crazy for malabrigo. While pure wool isn't necessarily the best fiber for the deep South, this stuff is so hard to resist.

4. best new book/mag/pattern of 2007

Another tough one. I think Interweave Knits is hands down the best knitting magazine out there. I have several patterns in queue that I may never get to and I'm usually pretty inspired by the magazine in general. As for books, my 2 favorites this year are Sensual Knits (see my review in my last entry) and The Knitter's Book of Yarn, a fabulous resource that I'm currently reading.

5. best new knitting technique or gadget you tried in 2007

I'd have to say magic loop. DPNs in my hands seem like a disaster waiting to happen. Magic loop was how I knit my first pair of socks and now I'm using the technique for knitting the sleeves of my first sweater.

6. top 5 inspirations--what five things inspired you the most over the past year?
Do I have to even say it? Ravelry, ravelry, ravelry oh and ravelry. This site was my inspiration for picking up my needles again. I've also been greatly inspired by some of my favorite bloggers out there.

7. designer who most amazed & inspired you throughout the year
I really love Kim Hargreaves. Her patterns are classic and elegant with a touch of style. I have a few of her pattern in my queue and can't wait to get started on them.

8. knitting resolutions for 2008--what's next for you and your blog?
In 2008 I want to knit more. I want to become a more productive knitter, while really enjoying the projects I'm working on. I want to try more colorwork techniques like fairisle and knit more garments to wear. I think I also want to share my knitting more with others. I'v never really knit for others, afraid they won't appreciate the time and care I put into it. This year I'd like to knit more gifts and am already thinking about Christmas 2008. As for my blog, I plan to update more and include more of my general life. I have some exciting things coming up in 2008 and definitely plan to include them on my blog! Happy New Year!

A year in the making

Finally! My first pair of socks are done!



Pattern: Garter Rib Socks from Sensational Knitted Socks
Yarn: Koigu PPM
Needles: size 2 circulars
Date started: November 2006
Date completed November 2007

I started these socks during Socktoberfest 2006, frogged them and restarted them in November 2006. They have a few errors, mainly in the heel and gusset, but still came together nicely. I ended up working on these socks for one whole year and you know what? I enjoyed it. I initially didn't get the fascination that knitters had with socks. All that time to knit something you put on your feet? But I think I've fallen in love with sock knitting. They're small and portable, perfect for airplanes, long lines, or quiet call nights. And there are so many interesting patterns available, they're not boring. And the yarn! So many amazing sock yarns that I'm dying to try.

I have several sock patterns in my queue on Ravelry. In fact, I've already planned my next pair; the requisite Jaywalkers in some awesome Socks that Rock mediumweight. One of the reasons these socks took me so long to knit is because after I finished the first one, I just didn't want to knit the exact same thing all over again. So to prevent another case of second sock syndrome, I'm planning to do my next pair of socks 2 at a time on 1 circular. I'll be casting on soon; can't wait to get more socks on my needles!

Holy Knit One, Purl Two, Batman!

I know it's cheesy, but I love this old Batman clip. Razor sharp knitting needles as a weapon? Seriously, don't mess with knitters!

I'm back to work on the medicine wards after 2 weeks of glorious vacation. I had a chance to catch up on some much needed sleep, visit friends, hang out on the beach in South Carolina, and of course knit. I made a lot of progress on Flair and am hoping to have it done in the next few weeks. I also cast on and finished a scarf, which really satisfied my urge for a quick project.




Pattern: One Row Scaf by The Yarn Harlot
Yarn: Manos Del Uruguay Wildflowers
Needles: Denise Interchangeable 8
Start: September 2007
Finished: September 2007

I knit this scarf in less than a week from 1 skein of Manos that I had in my stash. I was worried that I wouldn't have enough yarn, but its a decent length scarf that's just long enough to wrap around my neck. Now I'm all I need is some chilly weather!

Long time, no blog!

I can't believe it's been about 2 months since my last post. I've been so busy I just haven't had time to blog. I spent March suffering through the medicine ICU and call every third night. Bleh! I basically worked, slept, then worked some more. This month I've been busy with more interviews for fellowship and taking call on the pediatrics wards (I'm actually on call right now). Thankfully, I have time for some knitting. I've had a chance to finish some projects I started way back in February and cast-on some new projects I've been really wanting to knit. Ready for some finished objects?



Anthropologie Inspired Capelet
Pattern: Peony Knits
Yarn: Rowan Polar #646 Silver Lining
Needles: Boye Needlemaster Interchangeables size 11
Date Started: March 12, 2007
Date Completed April 22, 2007

This was super easy and the first garment I've knitted that I actually like. This was also my first time using the Boye needles and honestly, I can't stand them. I think that's one of the reasons it took me so long to finish this project. These needles were so uncomfortable and hard for me to work with; they actually hurt my wrist. Good thing I didn't pay a lot for them or I'd be so disappointed. I'm sticking with my Denise's and I just got the Options from Knitpicks which I love! I'll see if someone at my knitting group wants to give these a try.




Clutched
Pattern: Yarnplay by Lisa Shobhana Mason
Yarn: Peace Fleece Siberian Midnight colorway
Needles: Bamboo straights
Date Started: Feb 7, 2007
Date Completed: Feb 19, 2007

This color wasn't what I expected at first, but I liked it for once I started working with it. This was another pretty quick project to knit. It's knit with 2 strands of yarn held together, but I still felt that the fabric wasn't that stiff and it was a little floppier than what I wanted. I added lining and a stabilizer I found for fabric bags at my local fabric store and now it's perfect. I love the buttons! Cute, right?


I'll probably make another one (or two) of these in a brighter color. I can think of a couple of friends who'd love one.

Ugh, my pager's going off now so it's back to stomping out disease!

Finished Object

Pattern: Irish Hiking Scarf from www.helloyarn.com/irishhikingcarf.htm
Yarn: Brown Sheep Lambs Pride Worsted M190 Jaded dreams, 2 skeins
Needles: Size 8 bamboo
Started: 11/05
Completed: 11/06

This is my first cabled project and yeah, it took me a whole year to finish it. Cables seemed scary to me at first, but they're really easy. I looked in a couple of books and watched a video on cables on Knitting Help, before jumping into this scarf and the cables. I had no problems at all with this pattern and the yarn is nice, just a little scratchy.