Sunday Snapshot: Tuesday Edition

Although I'm not posting this until today this picture was snapped on Sunday, I promise. It's been a crazy start to the week over here so a few things have shifted back a day or two. I'm just finishing up the second sock in my pair of ruffle socks for my good friend Emily. She made that fancy logo you see up top (owl, with the bee buzzing around it?) and she's my guru of anything design related. These are just a little thank you to her for all of her knowledge and putting up with answering all of my questions.

Still plugging away on my summer knit along sweaters and packing. I'm going to be on vacation next week (an island, woods, northern Minnesota....no internet access...) So I'm going to be busy getting all my ducks in a row. The great part is though, I'll have so much progress and work to show for myself when I'm back. Now I'm just trying to figure out if 8 projects (4 of them sweaters) is too many to take for a 9 day trip?

Summer Knit Along: Week 3

Well, Week Three is here. I haven't gotten as much done as I would like over all. But lets start with the positive!

On Make Up Your Mind I am right on track in our second panel. The checkerboard stitch was easy breezy and I can't wait to get started on next weeks goal. My gauge is a little looser than I would really like but I'm not willing to start over so it's just going to have to be the looser side. If I was going to knit this again I would definitely size down to a size 5 needle for a tighter fabric.

The Loop Tank Top has been much more slow going. This week I was slated to start picking up stitch's for my boob flaps. (the front of the bust of the tank top) But I haven't finished my first strap yet, much less the second. So I'm about a solid two weeks behind on this one. I'm almost ready to bind off my first strap so once I get started on my second I'm hoping to fly through it.

Lots of knitting in my future!

Sunday Snapshot

Just working on a little crocheted zig zag baby blanket. One of my friends has some nephews on the way so I'm getting started on some baby gifts. I started this blanket last month but its a nice thing to pick up when my hands/wrists get tired from knitting. Crochet uses slightly diffrent muscles so it's kind of like crafting cross training. I usually pick it up, work a few rows and get distracted working on something else. Its always nice to have a project you can fall back on working a little bit at a time. I'm going to have lots of knitting going on for the next couple days here as I try to catch up on my Summer Knit Along so this puppy is probably going back on the shelf soon.

Summer Knit Along: Week 1 AND 2

Well, things have been busy busy busy around here recently. I'm participating in the Sweatshop of Love Summer Knit Along. There are two options to choose from. A more simple pattern and a more complex and advanced pattern. Like a crazy person I am knitting BOTH.

My justification to myself it they are both tank tops so that's less time right? Well, that's what I'm telling myself at least.

Unfourtunatly I am already behind. Classic. I know. BUT considering that last time I started three weeks late, and only ended two weeks after everyone else. I think I'll be just fine.

The first summer sweater aka tank top that I am knitting is Make Up Your Mind.

From Knitty.com this racerback tank is made up of five different stitch patterns. Its sure to keep me on my toes. I'm using Knit Picks Fingering Comfy in Blackberry. It doesn't have stretch like the yarn called for but at a much more reasonable price I decided to use it anyway.

Our second sweater is the Loop Enterlac Tank Top

A Sweatshop original design this involves enterlac, the complex looking, but fairly simple technique that gives the straps their woven effect. I'm using they yarn called for, Knit Picks Comfy Sport which I've worked with before and absolutely love.

So far my progress is only a little past to week one on Makeup Your Mind.

And my enterlac is withering away, I'm only still on my first strap.

Luckily I've still got two more days to bang out some inches to get ready for week three. Can't wait to get knitting!

easy living, summer time edition

switching jobs for me means that I no longer have to work weekends. This is very exitting especially as we move into summer, it not only leaves more time for crafting but more time for RELAXING as well.

it goes with out saying that I am very excited!!

To celebrate I went out to visit my friend Maggie (check her out here at Chrohn's Chronicles) who was house sitting for her aunt and uncle in Naperville. I took this opportunity to do something I can't at my apartment.

take a bath!

As an unfortunate shower only apartment dweller I don't get many chances to take baths.

With a spread laid out like this waiting for me

it almost felt like I was at a spa.

There was some knitting that went on, I swear! But I'm going to update all about my first week of our Summer Sweat Shop of Love Knit Along later.

because really, when you start your day like this:

nothing else matters.

Fits for Mitts

Way back in March my mom had mentioned that she was having trouble writing while it was so cold because her hands would start to get cold and hurt. Minnesota winters and a drafty house are never a happy pair. Luckily I found this easy pattern for a pair of fingerless mitts and decided to knit her some up. I was hoping to give these to her for mothers day but I took too long blocking them and couldn't give them to her when she was here in Chicago.

I used Knit Picks (surprise) Gloss DK yarn in Gulf Stream, a beautiful rich blue. A blend of wool and silk these are on the softer side and still have enough heft to keep them warm. I picked up the Gloss back when they were having a sale on luxury fiber, I wanted to try it out but didn't want the expense of knitting a sweater up in it. Because these are only a two skein pattern even at its normal price these would be a very affordable project.

The edging that you see is actually a sewn down edge, I probably would opt to do a ribbed edge next time for a snugger fit but this was a quick little project and definitely a great gift to make up. I keep telling myself that I will make a set of mittens one of these days and this was a way to get me more excited about trying a pair.

Unfortunately their usefulness has passed (mostly, it was 45 degrees here in Chicago yesterday. 45 people! It is MAY!) But my complaining about the bitter cold aside I will package these puppies up soon and send them out.

Big thanks to Janella for being my model. As I discovered it's really difficult to take pictures of your own hands while trying to hold a camera.

Sunday Snapshot

Just working on a small toe up sock. If these look familiar its because I've already knit them before! This is my second pair of Twin Cities Anklet Socks I'm making. With an adorable ruffle around the edge and interesting (but not hard) double moss stitch these baby's are a breeze. It doesn't hurt that they are also knit from the toe up which always makes me feel like they are going so much faster!

It feels great to get my hands on some cotton again, for this project I'm using one of my favorite's Knit Picks Comfy Sport. I'll also be using its cousin, Comfy Fingering for a SOL Knit Along soon (more on that next week!). It feels great to start working on lighter, summer projects out of cotton, although have no fear - I still have lots of wool floating around the house and I'm getting started on some winter knitting already.