Sweater Progress

It is amazing to me that I have managed to turn this

into this

I only have about 5 more inches to knit on the body. At the recommendation of Allyson I cast on the back and the two sides together. It eliminates the need to seem the body together (I hate seeming) and also ensures that my patterns are continuous (as I am also very bad at counting rows). I love the ease of just knitting one big piece and think I will use this method quite a bit in the future.

The sleeves I am knitting simultaneously again at Allyson's recommendation, shes full of such useful tips and tricks!

I have about 5 more inches to knit on these and then the shaping for the tops takes place.

After the few inches I have left for the body and the selves I just have to go through and knit the front panel with button holes and attach my fabric covered buttons. I've already found the cutest material for my buttons.

It has little squirrels and foxes on it. Adorable detail and I love the way it looks with my creme brulee color. It's going to be hard not to make more projects out of this color I just love it!

I had my last day of summer school classes yesterday and I only have two more weeks of online classes so I should be able to find lots of time to finish this baby up quickly. I can't wait to wear it around! I have a feeling it is going to be a staple in my wardrobe this fall.

Ikea

Taking advantage of a borrowed car the husband and I decided to take a little trek out to Ikea this evening.

Our trip allowed me to turn my yarn/craft corner from this:

Into this:

It was great, I got to pull out and look at all the yarn I've been stashing recently. I was surprised at how little I had once I put it all away and it wasn't overflowing all over the place. Now the hard part will be resiting more yarn shopping now that I know I have the room. Luckily I have an order coming in from Knit Picks any day now.

Another really great feature of my new shelves is that I can sort not only my yarns out but I have space for finishing projects and in progress projects. I have a set of granny squares that I'm making up for a blanket for the husband and they haven't been so cute stuffed into my shopping totes.

Much cuter option.

I'm so excited to be organizing and sorting, its going to make starting and finishing projects so much easier!

baby patch

Throughout this last week the weather in Chicago has been steamy and beautiful. I have to admit that I have been spending most of the time stuck inside in air conditioning but I did manage to pull together a little picnic with my friend Madelyn on Friday morning.

It was great to get together and chat and knit. I'm still slogging away on my sweater, updates to follow soon.  I did manage to take a little break to make this adorable baby hat for one on my co-workers.

She saw an eggplant hat on a baby last winter and couldn't get it out of her head. She found this pattern and asked if I could knit it up for her. It was a quick project and so cute when it was finished. I just hope that it fits the cute little baby head it was meant for. I don't see a lot of infant heads in my daily life so I kind of had to guesstimate the size a little bit. I hope it all works out, I can just imagine how cute its going to be on a bald little baby head.

The last month and half of summer will hopefully be a little less crazy then the beginning and I'm hoping that there will be more time for backyard picnics, relaxing and of course knitting. Every day would be a great day if I could just sit down and relax with one of these:

Granny Squares- Nola style

Well my obsession with granny squares has continued. This week I made an extra large granny square to double as a baby blanket. It was for one of my co-workers soon to be niece. Their family is originally from New Oreleans and even though they are having a girl they are very anti-pink so I settled on some classic colors: MARDI GRAS.

festive and fun. I almost feel like I should throw in a pair of beads to the gift package.

This is the first blanket I've ever crocheted and I'm pretty pleased with the results. Not too shabby for learning two weeks ago.
It looks so cute all folded up ready to go out the door tomorrow.

Now I just need to get started back up on my sweater, and finish my husbands socks oh and keep working on a crochted blanket for the house. It seems like the lists never end.

old lady tendancies

As an avid knitter I have always been beffudled and scared of crocheting. just one needle?!! What do I do with my hands? 

well a few hours of homework induced boredom and this tutorial later last night I taught myself how to make granny squares.

These adorable little squares of color can be made into anything from afghans to slippers. 

Already today I've knit five of these suckers up, they are like little yarn crack. supper easy, quick and addictive to make.

The yarn I'm using is the Stitch Nation yarn by Debbie Stoller, It is manufactured by Red Heart and available at Michael's and Joann's.  At $4.99 a skein its a great buy for the quality. I picked up two skeins of the Bamboo Ewe, a blend of bamboo and wool fibers. It is super soft and silky feeling. The color selection is fabulous, I picked out a wonderful turquoise blue and a soft robins egg blue. I have a sneaking suspicion that these might just end up as a blanket for someone special.

Sweaters in Summer

This year I'm forcing myself to try knitting new things I've never made before. I've just embarked upon my most ambitious project so far... a sweater.

I do have to admit that I'm not doing it all by my lonesome. I've signed up for the sweater club though The Sweatshop of Love. Allyson runs classes out of New wave Cafe in Logan Square, a short hop and skip away from my house. Her classes are so fun, approachable and reasonably priced. She has been really helpful and accommodating!

This is the pattern I've chosen




It is The Dollar and a Half Cardigan, designed by Véronik Avery, published in the spring 2007 issue of Interweave.

I really love the contrast of the reverse stockinette stitch and lace pattern. I also love the bold statement of the cable on just one side. It gives it an appealing asymmetry.

I've chosen a nice cotton linen blend from Knit picks. In creme brulee. Its a beautiful soft buttery yellow. Definitely something that will see a lot of wear.

Its coming along well so far. Just lots of repeating patterns. Five more inches and I'll be starting my arm hole decreases.

Here's a picture from a few days ago.






I'm sure I'll be getting a lot of work done during the Blackhawks game this evening.

Socks!

LOOK!!!

We have socks! An adorable sassy orange. Just in time for summer time in Chicago..... I figure that I'll just knit everything off season, sweaters and socks in the summer. Light clothing in the winter. Or maybe I should just knit year round regardless of the season- I think that might be a plan easier to stick to.

These socks were fairly easy to knit up. I also switched between socks as I was learning different sections so I knit them almost at the same time, which kept me from the dreaded second slump. It always seems easier to make the first of something than the second. I've definitely got the sock bug, I've got a skein of self striping yarn waiting for me in my yarn basket already and I'm about half way through into a pair for my husband.

I'm so excited to start experimenting with different types of sock yarn. I also have a sneaking suspicion that some of these soon to come socks will end up on the Christmas list this year.

its never too early to start planning ahead!