Knitting for Dragon

Around the turn of the year Dragon said he had a project for me. Always eager to help those I love I asked for details. He needed gloves.

I couldn't resist pointing out that I'd asked if he'd want such a thing over a year ago and he'd then laughed a bit and pointed out that we're in Texas, such things weren't necessary. He hails from the much colder north you see and mostly laughs at us silly southerners and our "cold" weather.

But, joking aside, I went hunting for the perfect pattern for him. The only things he asked for was fingerless and a manly shade of black or grey. Are there unmanly shades of black or grey? Anyhow, with him being a photographer I knew he'd need something to make it easy to use his camera. I found a really awesome pattern.



Pattern: Cigar by Kerri Cadd
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Worsted in Black and Grey
Modifications: None that I know of
Ravelry

But that wasn't enough for me. See, he might not always need the exclusive use of just those fingers. Plus, I now had a whole skein of black that I'd only used about a yard of. So I whipped up a pair of the fingerless gloves that I keep going back to.



Pattern: Snuggles Fingerless Gloves by Anna Peck
Yarn: Lion Bran Wool-Ease Worsted in Grey and Black
Modifications: Just my usual of switching the cables.
Ravelry

I decided to do these in both colors because the grey makes the cables show up a bit better plus they'll match his scarf a bit closer and look more like an intentional thing rather than the mismatch that knitters occasionally end up with. He can tell at a glance which pair of gloves makes a set and can choose based on what he needs. And I get to wrap my Dragon in a little bit more love.

(Those are Lynn hands in the shots, he's kind enough to model for me when I need manly hands.)

WIP Wednesday: Clara's Cowl & Finding Magic

Writing:

Magic Balance (Working Title) - Rewrites

Previous Word Count: 606
Current Word Count: 606 (Up 0)

Yeah ... with everything going on and then Lynn now being home I'm working on finding that time again. 

Knitting:
If the yarn looks familiar that's because it was originally shown as my capelet. I'll still go back and make that because I do love it but I wasn't loving it in this yarn, plus I'd need more yarn and not knowing when I'd be able to buy more, I'd rather it not sit for an unknown time. But this looks gorgeous and I think it's going to be wonderful to wrap around my neck when it's cold out.

The Morphing Shawl

I started this shawl with the full intent of following the pattern and having a gorgeous piece of lace knitting done in plenty of time for gift giving. It's funny how our brains work.

The pattern? Lovely! The yarn? So scrumptious! The following of the pattern? Not a chance.



Perhaps I would have had fewer problems had I used the suggested weight for this but you know how it goes. Instead I used a lace yarn, something much thinner than suggested. I quickly realized that I'd have to change the needle size too because that solid portion was looking mighty lacy already and I was only about 5 rows in. Then I realized that I'd be better off if I could make the solid portion much larger but I still needed to hit the required number of stitches before getting to the lace sections. So I changed my increases.

After getting through the charted out lace, all 3 charts of it I realized it still was going to be way too small. Time to poke at the charts again. I figured I'd be okay if I kept doing the lace (and extrapolating what the edges should be like since it didn't quite line up as before) until I'd doubled the lace section before doing the edging.

Still not large enough but by then time was growing short and I was sick of the lace portion. I poked at the charts a bit more. There was a solid portion between the last lace section and the edging. I could simply make that quite a bit larger to match the stitches needed for the edging and it'd look intentional. So back to the calculator (I normally call him Husband) and I had my next goal. I flew through that and began the edging. Once more I had to somewhat make up what happened at the edges as it didn't line up exactly perfectly but I kept the pattern extending outward.

Then it was time to take a really deep breath and block it. If it all fell apart now I had only 2 days to find a replacement gift. I strongly considered pictures of the attempted shawl and a promise to remake it if it did disintegrate in the blocking process. It wouldn't have been a great solution but I had nothing left in the brain reserves at this point.

Luckily it blocked out beautifully and the recipient loved it. Good thing Miss Kid is always glad to help out on showing off the pretties that her step mother makes  so it can be photographed, I couldn't ask for a better model. And look! The little points stayed pointy and OMG it's awesome! *squee*



Pattern: Lingonberry Shawlette by Andrea Arbour
Yarn: Knit Picks Shimmer in Bayou
Project Page: Ravelry

WIP Wednesday: Dragon Gloves & Magic Balance

Writing:
Magic Balance (Working Title) - Rewrites
Current Word Count: 606

I'm picking up a story I've worked on for 2 separate NaNo wins, one was titled Finding Magic, the other Correcting the Balance. Some of the first portion was rewritten for the second attempt but either way it's a lot of story that needs work. So far I have only the writings of historical madmen on the new document, I know where a large portion of this story is going though so I'm not too worried.

Knitting:
It looks a little sad in pictures here but lest you think I've only done 4 rows all year these were not my first project of the year. Dragon asked for gloves and I've already finished the first set and I'll share those later. This is the second set that I'm making for him and I figure at least this way he'll have choices based on what he'll be doing while out and about, be it photography or errands.

WIP Wednesday: Secret Shawl & Fey Led 3

Writing:
Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 46,533
Current Word Count: 48,731 (Up 2,198)

And done, done, done!! Who wants to beta it? I know it has issues but I'm to close to see them at this point.

Knitting:
Speaking of done ... only 2 more rows and the bind off!! I'll totally have this done and blocked by Sunday with no problem!

Chinook Shawl Complete!

I ordered the kit for this shawl sometime back in March. I wasn't able to get around to opening it until September. I had a brief moment of "omg Gods what am I thinking I can't do this" before I shushed myself. One Stitch at a Time, that's the rule.

Winding the yarn up into a ball each time was a delight, knitting with it was fantastic, seeing the pattern emerge was enthralling. I was in love with this shawl. Little things kept coming up and I'd set it aside to finish something else along the way (money has this particular draw) but I always kept coming back to it as quickly as possible.

And then? Sitting on the couch at Dragon's house after my November novel was done, while watching my yearly viewing of Star Wars, the final stitch was bound off. It was done. I scrunched it up in my hands and buried my face in it. Blocking it was going to be a problem but I left that for when I returned home. I was even more glad that I'd woven ends in as I went along so all I had left to weave in was the final end.



I'm not sure I'm fully done with it. I may perhaps block it again, but it's already huge. I don't know if it really needs to be larger or if the thought has appeal just because "I can". However it is warm, gorgeous, and cuddly soft. I am beyond delighted at the results of months of knitting. I'm now dreaming of more shawls in various gradients of blue, purple, and green.



Pattern: Chinook Shawl by Nina Isaacson
Yarn: Various Knit Picks
Project Page: Ravelry
Mods: None

WIP Wednesday: Secret Shawl & Fey Led 2

Writing:
Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 45,725
Current Word Count: 46,533 (Up 808)

I think I can see the end of this one! So, so close!

Knitting:
Still working on the Secret Shawl. I believe I'd have been done by now had I not gone off pattern with it. But it seriously wasn't going to be large enough. So I begged my wonderful husband to help with the math and I added a couple repeats of the pattern plus another section. So many mods to this pattern .... I typically just follow the pattern. I've got a few ideas for. I think I might start getting the design bug here too. After the gift's been given I'll share the pattern info and all the changes I made since it's with a much thinner yarn.

WIP Wednesday: Secret Shawl & Fey Led

Writing:
Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 45,475
Current Word Count: 45,725 (Up 250)

Tiny progress but progress! At least I'm getting back into the world of this novel.

Knitting:
The secret knitting is going well. I'm onto the second chart of the lace sections. Win!

Opposites Attract

I finally have a finished object to share!



Stephanie asked me to make her a pair of wrist warmers. She found a pattern that she liked and I found several yarn options. To make it easier for her to pick the colors she wanted I suggested that we could alternate the colors. She loved the idea though questioned how hard it would be. I'd never done it before but it couldn't be that difficult, right? Right! *laugh* I'm not scared by new things. So Lynn helped me figure out what exactly the pattern meant since numbers aren't my friends. (I keep trying, they keep rejecting me.)

The color changing was so easy! Also it was a huge help since the cables were every 8 rows and the color change was every 4 rows. No more keeping track of what row I was on! The alternating colors made it so easy to see my stitches too and set it in my mind how my stitches look so that on other projects I can more easily count rows should I lose track.



No, your eyes aren't playing tricks on you. Along with making the cables cross toward the thumb on each glove I make the colors opposite on each wrist warmer, as requested. It made the progress on each a lot of fun to watch as they grew and the colors stacked up.

I had so much fun working on these. I can't wait to see pictures of Stephanie wearing them. *grin*

Belated Birthday Present

Proving that my friends love me and know me so well, I have presents to show off.

Dragon surprised me with yarn for socks in lovely bright and wonderful colors. Now to figure out a pattern that will really showcase the gorgeous colors. There were also some framed prints of his photography but I'm not sharing those. *wink*


Phoenixsansfyr also took note of my knitting obsession and gifted me with this fantastic book. I'm already drooling over several of the patterns inside and looking forward to playing with the motifs and colors and seeing what I come up with.

WIP Wednesday: Gift Shawl, Gift Socks & Fey Led

Writing:
Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 45,475
Current Word Count: 45,475 (Up 0)

Yeah, yeah, I know, I'm a slacker. I took the last week off from most writing to simply give my brain a chance to reset back into Fey Led. I'll be getting back to work on Fey Led in the next day or two.

Knitting:
I have secret knitting ... kinda. I don't think either of the recipients read the blog but just in case I won't mention names. First up is a pair (well, ok, just one of the pair) of socks. I'm in love with the pattern and the yarn and I simply adore how the two are playing together. I started these socks for a friend and haven't gotten very far on them but they're already on hold a bit.



They're on hold for this shawl that actually has a due date and I really need it to be done first. I started the socks because I didn't have the yarn for the shawl. It came in while I was in Austin. I had to play with the numbers a bit (i.e. stared at it confused until Husband Man stepped in and handled the scary math for me) since I'm using smaller needles and thinner yarn than recommended. I still wanted it to be decent size though so I think this will work out.



Both projects are in Knit Picks yarn which I'm seriously beginning to love for every project. The socks are Stroll Tonal in Deep Waters and the shawl is Shimmer in Bayou. Sorry for the iffy pictures but it's cold outside and my heat isn't working (guy should be by today to look at it). Rather than brave the cold for the sunshine in the pictures I'm staying inside and trying to conserve the warmth I've got.

WIP Wednesday: Chinook Shawl and Fey Led & NaNo 2011

Writing: Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites Previous Word Count: 45,475 Current Word Count: 45,475 (Up 0) NaNo 2011 Previous Word Count: 41,676 Current Word Count: 50,085 (Up 8,409) I wrapped NaNo up Monday afternoon. I'm really happy with the story and thrilled that it went so smoothly this year. I'm giving myself a couple of days before getting back into Fey Led just to clear my mind and relax for a bit.  Knitting: No picture of wrist warmers today ... because they're done. Dragon watched, both amused and surprised, as I got nearly all of one done in an afternoon. I wasn't kidding when I said I hadn't had any knitting time while working on NaNo. I'll do up a finished object post for them as soon as I'm home and can block them before getting pictures. Meanwhile I'm back to the Chinook Shawl and almost done!! I'm doing the bind off on it and should be done fairly soon! I'm so excited to get it done. It's a bit fiddly but simply once I fall into the rhythm.

WIP Wednesday: NaNo is Eating my Brain

Writing:
Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 45,475
Current Word Count: 45,475 (Up 0)

NaNo 2011
Previous Word Count: 25,069
Current Word Count: 41,676 (Up 16,607)

Well, we know where all my time's been going, no? I feel the story is starting to wrap up and I'm trying to slow it down a bit to reach 50k And if I keep up the current pace I should be finishing early, though with Thanksgiving being tomorrow and me also having a 3 hour drive my writing time will be less. We'll see.

Knitting:
Um ... I doubled my previous progress? Yeah, we'll go with that.



As soon as NaNo is over I'm diving back into my yarn and I may never come up for air. I miss it!

WIP Wednesday: Wrist Warmers, Fey Led & NaNo 2011 2.0

Writing: Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 44,475
Current Word Count: 45,475 (Up 1,000)

NaNo 2011
Previous Word Count: 13,741
Current Word Count: 25,069 (Up 11,328)

 Not a lot of progress on Fey Led but I've looked at it a little, tons of progress on NaNo though. I'm pretty happy with how the story is coming along and the characters are certainly speaking up and taking on a life of their own. They've already thrown out one plan I had for the story. So now I guess it's in their hands. 

Knitting: I haven't done as much knitting as I'd like due to Idol and NaNo taking a bit of priority. But I have managed to finish one wrist warmer, despite the thumb trying to thwart me. Ha! Take that you silly thumb! ... ..... Yeah, just a wee bit crazy around her. Anyhow I cast on for the second wrist warmer this morning and got a few rounds done to get the pattern set, it can be seen a bit in the picture.

WIP Wednesday: Wrist Warmers, Fey Led & NaNo 2011

Writing:
Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 43,003
Current Word Count: 44,475 (Up 1,472)

NaNo 2011
Previous Word Count: 1686
Current Word Count: 13,741 (Up 12,055)

Yeah, not a ton done on Fey Led so far but I'm having nearly no problems at all keeping the story going for the WriMo Novel so that's a bonus. I'm averaging a little more than the minimum goal each day too though I'm hoping to start knocking down the goal for the next day so I'll have a little cushion. Hopefully, since I know what I will write about today and have some of it mapped out in my mind I can get that done fairly quickly and get more done on Fey Led.

Knitting:
I finished the body of my Chinook Shawl and started the edging! But I'm not going to show you that today. *laugh* I started something new. It's a pair of fingerless mitts for a friend and while they're pretty simple I'm learning how to alternate colors up the side of the project. Though the alternating colors are actually helping me keep track of the cables. They're also making it a lot easier to count my rows so I'm really learning a lot more about construction here than I thought I was going to.

WIP Wednesday: Chinook Shawl, Fey Led & NaNo 2011

Writing:
Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 41,027
Current Word Count: 43,003 (Up 1,976)

NaNo 2011
Current Word Count: 1686

Progress on both worlds. Obviously I didn't manage to get Fey Led done by Nov 1st but oh well. Bits and pieces keep bubbling up so that's at least something to be glad of.

Knitting
I only have 3 rows left before the body is done!! Then I have 4 rows of a new color and then I begin creating the points for the edging. On the one hand I'm excited to be so close to the end. On the other I'm frustrated at feeling like I have no knitting time lately. On yet a third hand, (What? I'm married, I have two sets.) it doesn't seem like I'm even going to get to wear this anytime soon as apparently Mother Nature has missed the memo that it's Autumn, even if it is in Texas and the temps are still pretty high. Don't get me wrong, it's comfortable and nice out there but it's certainly no need for layers just yet.



Or course I haven't even considered where I'll block this huge beast out. I've no room here in the apartment so I need to find a mobile solution or something.

WIP Wednesday: Chinook Shawl and Fey Led Part 3

Writing:
Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 38,493
Current Word Count: 41,027 (Up 2,534)

So, between LJ Idol, working on wrist warmers, and losing my voice, I've been a wee bit busy. Also? Apparently losing my voice wasn't just physical. *sigh* I also found that I had nearly everything written, including the end, except for a substantial plot issue right before the end. So at this point it's not so much re-writing as it is writing and trying to get back into the character's minds again.

Knitting:
I am so incredibly in love with this shawl. I've started the eighth color change, I have one more for the body and then two more for the edging. *glee* I love watching the colors shift as I knit.

Fire and Ice and Everything Nice

Part of what I simply adore about making things for my friends is having them pick out designs that I haven't thought about making because it's either not my style or I simply haven't had time. There's been a couple of times I've finished something and while it turns out as it's supposed to it still wasn't inspiring any sort of envy or need to have one of my own. Typically though? My friends have awesome taste!

I didn't think I'd be all that interested in such things like fingerless mitts since I have my fingerless gloves.  picked a pattern though that I think I'll have to end up making for myself at some point fairly soon ... I just have to pick a color.



I hesitate to share the pictures since they're unblocked. But blocking will occur at her hands, not mine. Even unblocked though I think these are gorgeous and were simply so much fun to watch slowly fall into place. I learned a new trick or two as well which is always awesome and makes me think more and more of my own designs that keep coming to mind.




I love that the cables complement each other and twist in opposite ways, both on top and bottom of the warmers. There's a symmetry there that's lovely. I think it's a touch that makes them even more attractive. I really need to pick out a color and make myself a pair. 

Pattern: Fire & Ice Mitts by Roz Marcotte
Yarn: Cascade 220 Superwash Color 889/Spruce
Project Page: Ravelry

WIP Wednesday: Capelet and Fey Led

Writing:
Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 32,922
Current Word Count: 38,493 (Up 5,571)

OMG I'm getting so close. Things are beginning to come together and I can see the end! I really want this done by Nov. Push, push, push!

Knitting:
I've been working a bit on my capelet here and there as time allows. It's great for working on in the car at night since I don't have to really see to do basic knit and purl.



Hopefully Friday I'll have a couple of semi finished pictures of some wrist warmers! Yay!

WIP Wednesday: Fire & Ice and Fey Led

Writing:
Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 28.391
Current Word Count: 32,922 (Up 4,531)

Lots of progress! Yay!! And the dragons are speaking to the humans again ... or at least one dragon is speaking to one human. That's progress, right?

Knitting:
The Chinook Shawl is by no means done but it's on hold for a bit while I work on some gorgeous gloves for a friend. I've gotten to learn a couple new things and that's always part of what I love about new projects. They always seem to teach me something interesting. This pattern is Fire and Ice Mitts and they're s much fun to knit. I keep wanting to do just one more row to see how the pattern comes out which turns into just one more row after just one more row. *laugh*



I didn't get any pictures of the back of the wrist warmers, despite my thought that it would be interesting. You can still see a couple of the small twist cable on either side though. Though if anybody ever doubted that cables pull your work tighter this picture leaves no doubt with its hourglass shape .... and now I'm thinking that this would be an awesome dress! *facepalm*

WIP Wednesday: Chinook Shawl and Fey Led Part 2

Writing:
Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 25,636
Current Word Count: 28,391 (Up 2,755)

More progress! Trying to ignore the black hole feeling ...

Knitting:
I'm thrilled with how fast this is going along. I'm already on color 6 of 9 color changes. It has finally reached the point where the individual rows are starting to feel like they take forever but I just have to keep going because I 'really' want to see how the next row is going to look with the colors.




Also:
I have a commission for a dreamcatcher! So I've got all my things together and now I need to send the customer a picture before starting. Yay!

WIP Wednesday: Chinook Shawl and Fey Led

Writing:
Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 24,034
Current Word Count: 25,636 (Up 1,602)

Progress! And I should have more soon.

Knitting:
The Chinook Shawl is flying along quite a bit faster than I'd thought it would. I've finished the first color and I'm nearly done with the second color. One more row and I'll move on to the third color!




In other news - Follow up Eye Dr appointent says that I'm normal for me and that I have beautiful ocular nerves. (laugh) As Lynn said, not the most common of pick up lines that we've heard. I go back in 3 months for another follow up.

Covering Hands and Feet

  I generally don't think about gauge on my knitting projects because I'm usually so close it's not a concern. Despite almost never using the suggested yarn for a project I usually am pretty good at matching the weight of the yarn so it's still not a problem. I got a bit overconfident. See, when it's for a friend I check the weight of yarn versus what is called for about a million times. I have to be sure before I start because I want it to be the best. But this was a glove that I'd done four times before, it was going to be a breeze. It didn't even occur to me that the yarn was a thicker weight than asked for, this was what I had and what I wanted to use. It's no wonder at all that the fingers came out a titch too long.



  Luckily Lynn wanted them that way anyhow. He says they'll be perfect for the maybe 4 really cold days we have here in Texas and for the rest of the semi chilly weather he has the black ones I made that are a little lighter. What tickles me is that I used the left over yarn from Dragon's scarf,

  And speaking of experiments that work out wonderfully, (at least this time I knew it was an experiment) I finally finished my socks!



  I think it's the first pair of socks that I did correctly, as per the pattern. I love the striping and how they fit and the heel and everything! The pattern did call for a solid or slightly variegated yarn. I figured the stripes with the pattern would actually look really awesome. It's fantastic when I'm right!



  I think these are my favorite socks yet! I did get a lot of funny looks before I got the heel turned on them as at that point, since I'm doing toe up, they're just narrow tubes that are possibly have another purpose if you have a dirty mind. Though it was fun to see just how many people tend to jump to the sexy fun time conclusions. (laugh)

WIP Wednesday: Alpaca and Fey Led

Writing:
Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 24,034
Current Word Count: 24,034 (Up 0)

Yeah, I know. Fiona will probably want to kick my butt for the lack of work done. She can do that on Sunday ... Hell, Dragon will probably even offer to hold me down to make it easier on her; he's mean like that sometimes. *grin* But I was hoping to hear back from a couple more people who'd read the first half of the novel and see how things were going. I mean, to me it makes sense to make sure the foundation of the story is solid before I jump thousands of years in the future. She's just a slave driver though. *wink*

Knitting:
I finished the cute beret for a friend, it's finishing up it's blocking at the moment and when Miss Kid gets here tomorrow I'll see if she'll be willing to do model duty. She normally is. So I finally got to cast on for this gorgeous shawl that I've been drooling over since I saw it on the site and ordered the kit to make it. It starts out with this alpaca yarn right around your neck. Oh ... My ... Gods, it's so incredibly soft. The pattern is a bit intimidating as it's charted only, and only one repeat is charted. It looks like a lot so I had a mild freak out about that. But then I pulled myself together and told myself to shut the hell up so I could start with row 1.



The thing with being self taught is I don't have a teacher standing off to the side telling me that I'm not ready for that just yet. I just have to remember to just take it one stitch at a time. However I am having a couple of problems with it. 1. Alpaca is super soft ... and super slippery. 2. My metal needles are super slippery for speedy knitting 3. The yarn is incredibly thin!



See the yarn off to the side, yeah, that thin. Luckily I'm knitting with it held double so that helps a bit. See the split ring stitch markers on the other side? The yarn keeps getting caught in those. On the one hand I 'really' want stitch markers that don't have a split on them, on the other I'd need about 18 of them. Hopefully it'll get easier as I go along. Of course with all those in mind I decided that I needed another project that would require a little less concentration. So I present to you, the start of a capelet.



Again in alpaca .... Because when you're concerned about difficulty you should totally have two projects with slippery yarn! Nobody claimed I was sane after all.

WIP Wednesday: Graced Lace & Fey Led

Writing:
Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 19,146
Current Word Count: 24,034 (Up 4,888)

And now the first half of the book is done, so to speak. I've destroyed their world and it's time to start putting it back together. The pieces won't match up but it's up to them to figure out how to bridge the gaps.

Knitting:
I managed a great feat yesterday. I finished both the diagonal lace socks 'and' Lynn's gloves! So naturally I immediately cast on for another project. *laugh*

I give you the humble beginnings of a beret.


Now I just need to finish up the ribbing before Miss Kid gets here this weekend and needs those needles back for her wrist warmers!

WIP Wednesday: Lynn's Gloves & Fey Led

Writing:
Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 18,386
Current Word Count: 19,146 (Up 760)

Not a lot of progress but I'm experimenting with how I edit to see if I can find a way that is a bit more sense making for me.

Knitting:
I'm still not done with the socks. But I'm bored of posting pictures of them unfinished. So instead I'll give you something that's been sitting around and waiting for a while now.



It's a pair of gloves that I stalled on almost a month ago because I ran out of yarn. I finally picked up more yarn but I've been busy with the socks and haven't gotten the fingers of the glove finished. On the one hand he doesn't need them any time soon so there's no rush. On the other hand, I hate having unfinished projects sitting around. *laugh* I'll grab them after these socks are done.

Sparkly Yarn

Every yarn worker has that yarn in their stash. There's always the one that is super soft or completely enchanting in some other way. Mine was Southwestern Trading Company Sparkle in Twilight. I've spoken of my love on this yarn before so I won't repeat myself, other than to say it's all I'd hoped for and then some.

I wanted something small that would quickly dress up an outfit or be perfect for adding a bit of sparkle to an outfit on special nights. I finally found the perfect pattern.

It fairly flew off my needles. I was thrilled with how it worked up. It's a bit smaller than I'd expected despite following the pattern exactly. Either way I think it'll be perfect for what I wanted.

Pattern: Chastain Park Shawl
Project Page: Ravelry

I'd also wanted to make a shrug so I'd have options on dressing an outfit up a little bit and I'd get a chance to make something closer to clothing for an adult. So I went pattern searching again and found another great one. Once more it was a quick project, despite my dislike for the larger needles. There's just something about those that make me fumble fingered. Perhaps if I use a thicker yarn it'll be a bit easier next time. Anyhow, this came out very nice as well.

I suspect the models on Ravelry are a bit smaller than I am and thus I should have added to the length a bit, but I still like it for me. I'll probably make another one in simple black at some point and make that one longer.

Pattern: Shrug This
Project Page: Ravelry

Even though I followed both patterns exactly I still ended up with quite a bit of left over yarn. Now to figure out what else I can make out of this gorgeous stuff.

WIP Wednesday: Diagonal Lace Socks & Fey Led Yet Again

Writing:
Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 16,662
Current Word Count: 18,386 (Up 1,659)


That's just today! Whoo! Now that the sinus issue and clouded thinking is fixed (crosses fingers) I can get work done. 


Knitting:
There are moments that I love these socks, such as every time I look at them and see the pretty colors and the way the strips work with the diagonal lace. There are moments I hate them, like when I was turning the heels. It was, I suspect, unnecessarily complicated and fussy. Also? Purling in the round? Still sucks. I finally took the socks off the circular needles and pulled out my DPN's just to do the heels. I finished up the second heel last night at gaming since was stuck with no other distractions for my hands for a couple hours. Now they're back on their circular needles, both heels turned and I'm ready to whip through the leg.









Also? Something I love about toe up socks? Once the sock is big enough and the yarn ball is small enough I can tuck the ball into the sock. No more wandering balls of yarn, no more tangled yarn when I'm switching between socks, and so much more portable! Complete win!

WIP Wednesday: Diagonal Lace Socks & Fey Led III

Writing:
Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 16,662
Current Word Count: 16,662 (Up 0)

Knitting:



While technically a day or two late on this, I did manage to make it on the correct day over on LJ. I blame the sinus infection and the subsequent guzzling of Nyquil that took place. There's only so much I can manage when the world's a haze around me.

WIP Wednesday: Diagonal Lace Socks & Fey Led: Electric Boogaloo

Writing:
Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 14,461
Current Word Count: 16,662 (Up 2,201)

Fantastic progress! I think I'm finally getting back into the groove of things with the story.

Knitting:
I don't know that it's noticeable progress, but I assure you there's been progress. Both feet are about halfway done, then I'll turn the heels and have the leg and cuff to finish.

Woven Diamonds and Learning

I find that with most of my yarn work I'm learning something. I've also learned to mostly just follow the pattern and all will turn out as expected.

On this last set of socks I followed the pattern, even when it made my brain hurt a bit. See, the poster assumes you have some experience with socks and sock construction. I've done 2 pair of socks before these but they were both toe up and these were top down which does cause a bit of differences at times.

The instructions at the heel read to knit across the heel stitches once in a knit 1 slip 1 pattern and then turn and purl back. I did that. The next line was to begin the decreasing for turning the heel. Okay, a bit odd but maybe I just have enough experience so I'll follow it. When I finished that it told me that I had to pick up 12 stitches on either side of the heel. Um ... where? I managed to do it but it was very tight in there and didn't look right at all. I stuck to it though and finished the sock, including learning the kitchner stitch to finish the toes. It was then that I figured out what had gone wrong.

Had their been one little line in the heel instructions I would have been fine. That line? Repeat these two rows for $length. It should have been in there before I began the decreasing for the heel.

So now I sit with a completed sock and a sock that I'm almost to the heel on. Do I do the second one correctly? Do I rip out the bind off and pick back over half the sock to fix it?

Well, if you're me you say to heck with it and do the second sock incorrectly so they match. After all, the other sock still fits, if a little weird, and they're being made for wearing with boots so nobody will see them anyhow. Plus a bit of it should be fixed after blocking.



I loved the pattern though and have a second color of yarn to use it again. However this time I'll be doing the heels correctly. They'll be perfect for wearing of the boots this autumn and winter, and still attractive should I have to remove my footwear at a friend's house.

Pattern: Woven Diamond Socks by Alexis Winslow
Yarn: Lily Sugar'n Cream Twists in Country Twists
Project Page: Ravelry

WIP Wednesday: Diagonal Lace Socks & Fey Led

Writing:
Fey Led (Working Title) - Rewrites
Previous Word Count: 13,468
Current Word Count:  14,461 (Up 993)

That seems like a really small number. But! I'm going to call it a victory. That's only two hours or so of work after having to try 'really' hard to get back into the feel of this world. It's also the only progress I've had in terms of writing in almost 2 months. Every step forward is progress and I'll take all I can get.

Knitting:
After finishing up my shrug on my super large needles I was ready for something smaller, delicate ... on sharp and pointy needles. So I grabbed this vibrant and gorgeous yarn that I'd set aside for socks and cast on for the diagonal lace socks I'd been thinking about. I cast on for it about 4 times. First it was just the one by it's lonesome and then I decided that I should do both at the same time, since I had such a long circular. At first I was okay with them being completely different on the strips and how the colors lined up but the longer I looked at it the more I wasn't happy with it. So Lynn helped me find where the colors matched closer and we rewound the yarn into balls. And then, after all that I realized that I'd been casting on the for the smaller of the two sizes and wanted the larger size. *sigh* On the plus side I never got more than 5 or 6 rows in before changing my mind. *laugh*



Even with all the fussing with the starts and stops of it all I think it's very, very pretty. They'll make lovely socks.



The colors are still a bit off, at least two rows worth. At this point though they're close enough to be obvious and off enough to be interesting. And I think the pattern itself with be perfect with this yarn.

Finished Baby Things

 I finally got pictures of my recently finished things.

First up was another of those awesome hooded blankets. Man those just fly off the needles now.



I love how they're constructed from the center out and the alternating knit and purl stitches not only give visual interest but mental interest as I'm working on it.



Mr. Bunny just had to get in on the picture taking. I love how it folds all around the wearer and I've heard that the hood is awesome since it stays on the baby's head rather than slipping off like a normal square blanket does when it's folded over.

Pattern: Sweet Lullaby Seamless Hooded Blanket
Project Page: Edisyn's Blanket

As a companion piece I also whipped up a small sweater to go along with the blanket. This was my first clothing piece and it was more simple than I'd thought it would be. I'm not positive I did the i-cord edging correctly but I think it's close enough and cute enough that it works.



I even managed to get the buttons to line up with their respective button holes! And I did a lot of tugging on the buttons to make sure they were on there securely too. Can't have them coming off.

Pattern: Hello Baby Cardigan
Project Page: Baby Cardigan"

Now to figure out what else I'm going to do with all this yarn I still have left over.