I’m Knitting As Fast As I Can

The holiday knitting is done.  *phew*

I took a different approach this year and focused on just a couple of patterns which I knit over and over (and over) again.

Pattern: Baroness Beret by Susan Power (awesome pattern!)
Yarn: Patons Classic (Not-)Merino

Pattern: Forest Canopy Cowl by me
Yarns: Manos Silk Blend (the blue and rust) and Royal Fiber Spinnery Hand Dyed Alpaca (the pink)

Pattern: Bijouterie by Rosemary Hill
“Yarn“: 32-gauge wire held double
Mods:  I made some mods to Romi’s inspirational pattern.  Ravelry links are here, here, and here

Pattern: Sweet Honey Beret from Winter ’08 Interweave Knits
Yarns: Noro Silk Garden Lite, Glorianna, and Cashsoft DK
Notes:  I added some notes to my project page on Ravelry.

Pattern:  Nottingham by Melissa Hall (one adult and one child size)
Yarn: Shepherd’s Wool by Stonehedge Fiber Mill

Wait, what’s this.

One more hat to finish.  *sigh*

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.

I swore I would only make one of those School Spirit hats . . .

really . . . .

But the constant whining pleas and the lure of some Cascade 220 in the stash finally wore me down:

The hats make their debut at the game on Friday night.  And while I still have enough Cascade 220 and Shepherd’s Wool left over to make a couple more . . .

I’m not doing it . . .

I swear.