Wednesday 30 Jan 2008

The State Of The Knits Address

I had a very productive January, knitwise.

It all began when I joined the Stash Knit Down 2008 group on Ravelry and got jazzed up about the January challenge which was to knit up a mile of stashed yarn. Hmmm . . . that sounded like a completely doable goal.

So, I created a spreadsheet in Google Docs and kept track of the yardage from my January knitting projects. You can see my spreadsheet if you click here.

2050 yards as of yesterday. . . not bad. It was permissible to count spinning projects, too, but I didn’t enter the 730 yards of lace-weight singles I spun up over the last week.

IMG_4101Despite the annoying lack of sunlight the last few weeks, I managed to take a photo of nearly every project. I think they’re all on Ravelry now, but you can also see them by clicking on the tab at the top of this page (in the header) that says “2008 Projects.”

There is one completed scarf project that’s not entered yet, both because I haven’t had time to take a photo and because I’d like to work up some more detailed notes before I show it. So stay tuned.

l17MountainStreamHannah

Pattern: Mountain Stream Scarf

Yarn: Buckingham (80% baby alpaca, 20% silk)

Notes: I loved working with this yarn. It’s soft and nicely spun with really good yardage. I completed the scarf with just one skein (218 yards). It’s approximately 7 inches wide and 52 inches long. I altered the Mountain Stream Scarf pattern by working a narrower center panel. This scarf is destined for my son’s teacher.

l17 Urchin

Project: Urchin by Ysolda Teague

Yarn: Colourmate by Naturally (2 skeins)

Notes: I like the idea of this beret and the clever construction, but the fit is a little unusual. Because the band is knit sideways in garter stitch, it’s rather large compared to the rest of the hat and it stretches out of shape too easily. I have come up with a way that might solve that problem. I’m thinking of knitting the 3-4 band stitches with a needle at least 2 sizes smaller than the one used for the rest of the hat. If you’ve knit this project, that will make sense to you. If someone tries it, let me know if it works. This hat was given to Margene‘s friend who has had some health problems lately.

l17 IMG_4054

Project: Felted Fortune Cookies by Tanya Brooks

Yarn: Brown Sheep Nature Spun Worsted (one of my all-time favorite yarns for felting)

Notes: These were fast and fun to make. The pattern contains instructions for two sizes; one with a 15-stitch cast-on and one with a 10-stitch cast-on. For the two I made, I cast on 15 stitches for the larger and 12 stitches for the smaller one. I worked them up in the colors of my son’s high school. They’re a gift for his friend who plays two varsity sports sport at the school.

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21 comments | hats, knitalongs, knitting, scarves

21 Responses to “The State Of The Knits Address”

  1. # Jenn C. on 30 Jan 2008 at 7:00 pm

    I love the fortune cookies!

  2. # Lauren on 30 Jan 2008 at 7:48 pm

    Those fortune cookies are great! Great job on your mileage too.

  3. # Jennifer on 30 Jan 2008 at 8:04 pm

    Those felted fortune cookies would be genius for Chinese New Year! I may have to make up a few in the next week.

  4. # Kathy on 30 Jan 2008 at 8:09 pm

    Very productive indeed. Love the fortune cookies.

  5. # Bobbi on 30 Jan 2008 at 8:23 pm

    L O V E the fortune cookies!

  6. # Stitch-n-Snitch on 30 Jan 2008 at 9:02 pm

    Okay, those cookies rock!!! :)

  7. # Joan on 30 Jan 2008 at 9:44 pm

    Great projects! How did you calculate how many yds you used each day? I’d like to do the same.

  8. # lisa on 31 Jan 2008 at 5:06 am

    Wow, I guess you’ve been knitting! Bloglines ended with ‘So I created a spreadsheet…’ which made me laugh.

  9. # Carol on 31 Jan 2008 at 5:35 am

    All nicely done! The school color fortune cookies are a great idea and it’s always nice to give someone a knitted hug when they don’t feel good.

  10. # Carole on 31 Jan 2008 at 5:40 am

    Of course you created a spreadsheet.

  11. # margene on 31 Jan 2008 at 5:50 am

    You have been productive! Everything you’ve knit this month was fabulous, too.
    Love the singles and since I’m knitting with some of your singles I can tell you how nice they are.

  12. # Cheryl on 31 Jan 2008 at 7:55 am

    Wow, that is productive. I like those little fortune cookies, I bet those were popular gifts.

  13. # Heather Joins The Round on 31 Jan 2008 at 8:25 am

    Felted fortune cookies, who knew such wonders existed? Fantastic!

  14. # Beth S. on 31 Jan 2008 at 8:45 am

    Mmmm, red-hot lace singles! I know those will become something wonderful. :-)

    I didn’t even recognize Mountain Stream! It looks so different in a heavier gauge and less-fuzzy yarn…

  15. # Cheryl S. on 31 Jan 2008 at 8:51 am

    I was thinking more about Urchin. I wondered about knitting 2 less stitches and on the brim side, instead of knitting to the last 4 sts to do the W&T, knit to the last 2 sts. Then, after finishing, pick up along the brim side and work a bit of ribbing. Or this just popped into my head – maybe threading some ribbon through the brim stitches to snug it up, then tie it in a bow? Hmmmmm… there’s gotta be something.

  16. # Beth on 31 Jan 2008 at 11:21 am

    Cool fortune cookies! That might be just the thing…

  17. # Rachel on 31 Jan 2008 at 7:11 pm

    Oh my goodness you’ve been busy! Your Google Spreadsheet = way intense/awesome! What fantastic way to keep track of all of your stash yarn! I also love your fortune cookies, what a fun little pick me up :)

  18. # Kim on 31 Jan 2008 at 8:20 pm

    Good grief Susan…when you do have time to sleep?? I love the singles, the scarf, the hat, the cookies!!! OMG!!

  19. # Wanda on 31 Jan 2008 at 11:25 pm

    You definitely were very productive this month! Good on you.

  20. # julia fc on 02 Feb 2008 at 6:53 am

    Cute cookies, but I am drawn to the hat. I keep meaning to make that one, and I will take your experience into consideration. Maybe a turned edge that could be a casing? Or a rib made sideways? It looks great on Margene’s friend, nonetheless.

  21. # Batty on 02 Feb 2008 at 8:12 am

    Love the scarf, the hat, the fortune cookie… January has been a fabulous knitting month for you!