I’m Knitting As Fast As I Can

Several months ago I answered a call for submissions from Interweave Press. A few weeks later, I got an email from Lisa telling me my submission had been chosen for the Holiday Gifts issue. Fun!

The submission was for a small project, but the instructions were fairly complicated and I obsessed with getting them both clear and correct. I knitted and felted the samples and then, because the design incorporated a large bead, began the search for the perfect bead. Before I knew it, the mailing deadline was upon me and I still had no beads. A canvassing of the local beads shops turned up nothing.

Enter my lampworking friend.

I brought the finished pouches to her house one evening and by the next day she had made all the beads I needed. And, talk about a custom job, each was designed specifically to match each pouch.

Just perfect.

The magazine came out a few weeks ago and Interweave made them look lovely and whimsical.

Unfortunately, I don’t get to keep the samples. But my friend made me a few extra beads. I just need to find some time to knit up some more of the pouches.  Got any to spare?

The return of Daylight Savings Time can mean only one thing. There’s enough light when I get home to take blog photos!

Progress toward completing my NaKniSweMoDo goal has been sporadic. When I finished the body of my Honeycomb Vest, I set the project aside. I guess I was getting a little sick of the unending cables.

I fully intend to finish it because I love the way it’s working up, but a new sweater project is getting all the love lately . . . Slinky Ribs from the book, Custom Knits.

Yeah, it’s top-down, but it has set-in sleeves that are picked up around the armholes. I’m using Rowan Felted Tweed and I only have 5 balls. So hopefully I won’t have to rip back the sleeve because I run out of yarn. We’ll see.

As for the Felted Tweed, I’m kinda on the fence about it.  I love the colors and it’s nice to knit with but the sweater seems really scratchy. The alpaca fibers look like nasty guard hairs instead of the softer, downier fibers. Am I the only one who thinks this???

Both sweaters temporarily took a back seat to two felted projects. I don’t know why, but I seem to worked felted projects in fits and starts. Both of these are shop samples for my LYS.

Nantasket Basket in Cascade 220

And a Basic Felted Bag with Homestead Heirloom leather handles in Debbie Bliss Donegal Chunky Tweed.

In addition to the knitting, there have been gifts and acquisitions.

Handmade, glass buttons from a friend:

A wonderful fabric project bag given to me by Margene (don’t forget that Margene’s birthday is Saturday!):

And Cheryl’s gift of a seed stitcher has already been put to good use, picking up dropped stitches from the Slinky Ribs project:

I’ve showered myself with gifts, too.

A lovely batt from Yarn Pirate:

Some perfectly dyed roving from Lauren’s Etsy shop:

And a kick-ass fountain pen . . .

. . . that matches my infamous boots . . .

I know you want those boots, Shelley.

I’ve been trying to clean out some old WIPs but, for some reason, I can’t stop myself from casting on for new projects, too.  Granted, they’re small projects.  But for every skein of stashed yarn I use up, it seems like I buy 2 more.  *sigh*

It was particularly satisfying to finish this first project, which was an actual WIP.  I found it in a bag when I was cleaning out my stash room.  It was completely knit and the ends were even woven in!  I guess I just forgot to felt it.  Well, into the washer it went on Saturday morning (sans lighter):

And out it came a few minutes later:

Pattern: Felted Oven Mitt by Bev Galeskas from the book, Felted Knits

Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes

Ravelry: Project page link

Mods: None.  I love this pattern and have made quite a few of these mitts over the years.

Unfortunately, my next project is a chemo cap.  But it, too, was satisfying to knit.

Pattern: Felicity by Wanett Clyde

Yarn: Manos Cotton Stria

Ravelry: Project page link

Mods:  I cast on 81 stitches and worked the first inch in seed stitch using my new-found Continental knitting powers.  I followed the pattern after that, although because I cast on more stitches I didn’t work as many increase rounds so my hat is just a bit smaller.  Love, love, love this pattern!   And the yarn is perfect for chemo caps.  Soft and cozy.

Since I’ve been a bit obsessed with cowls lately, I dug through the stash for single, lonesome skeins of yarn and found this lovely ball of Knit Picks Ambrosia.   How can you go wrong with an alpaca/cashmere cowl?

Pattern: Pull-Off Cowl by Alissa Baptista from the book Weekend Knitting

Yarn: Knit Picks Ambrosia (this might be discontinued)

Ravelry: Project page link

Mods:  I cast on 97 stitches instead of the 133 called for in the pattern because I used a much heavier yarn.  I worked two rounds of garter stitch before casting off in purl.  Perfect, one-day project!  I might make another of these on the plane to New York on Wednesday with a skein of Manos Silk Blend.

And, now, I’ve saved the worst for last.

Although I’m still on the fence about whether I’m going to Rhinebeck (I’ll be in NYC on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday), I went ahead and knit an obligatory Rhinebeck sweater.  Inspired by a Garnstudio sweater Cheryl knit, I bought the pattern booklet and merrily knit along until I got to the sleeves.  Yikes!  They were huge.  So I made quite a few alterations, including working one less repeat of the lace pattern, lengthening them, and completely re-working the sleeve cap.

The result?  Crap.

The sleeves/armholes are still ginormous!  You can read all my bitching and see more photos on my Ravelry project page.

If I go to Rhinebeck, will I wear this sweater??

You shouldn’t bet your life on it.