Jaywalkers on Two Circulars-disaster.

I started the second Jaywalker using the two circular needles described in Cat Bordhi's book, Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles. I'm not sure if doing one sock with dpns and one with circulars is a good idea, but we'll see. She recommends the Addi Turbo needles, at around $12-$13 each, however, after doing a bit of research and reading about peoples' experiences with socks on two circulars (such as this review at She Knits Shizknits), I decided to try the Knitpicks Options Harmony needles- much less expensive at only around $4 per needle!

After a couple of mis-starts, so far I really like them, and this technique. The joins aren't as quite as smooth as I'd like, but the cables are nice and flexible. After a few times casting on and having some trouble remembering where the starting point was, I added a stitch marker to mark the start of the round. Now the sock does seem to be going quite quickly with this method. I'm a bit nervous about what will happen when I get to the heel, but hopefully things will just make sense as I go along.

I will admit, I tried out the magic loop technique before the two circulars. Argh! It truly was like wrangling an octopus!

Update: I started this post and then thought, hey, maybe I should check to make sure these socks are the same size/gauge. Um, they're not, which you can clearly see in the above photo. Ugh.

Update number two: Ok, I thought maybe I should check needle size. Let's see, sock number one is knit on size 1s, sock number two on size 2s. Geez, what a surprise that the gauge is off. At least I can most likely switch to the two circular methods for the second sock. I just need to make sure they're the right size. Duh.

Urban Aran Cardigan- done!

Yes, it's done! I finally installed the zipper in the Urban Aran Cardigan. I think it turned out well. I looked at a couple of zipper-installation tutorials, such as the one on Kristin Nicholas's blog and the one at And She Knits Too!

Both were really helpful. In the end I just lined up the zipper and took my time, no fancy tricks or techniques. Jason wore the sweater yesterday. Its warm. You'd think that he might not need it now that its just about May, but I actually saw snow this morning! Blech.

Sock Yarn Blankie

A few nights ago at our book club meeting, one of our members pulled out a baggie full of small sock yarn remnants. She has started knitting a blanket inspired by The Heathen Housewife's sock yarn blankie. This is an amazing project, an entire, full size blanket made up of squares knit from sock yarn remnants. Check out the photos and description on her blog- amazing. Imagine all the seaming and ends to weave in! She's a more patient person than I am...

Speaking of book club, we discussed What is the What by Dave Eggers. A fictionalized version of the true story of Valentino Achak Deng, one of the Lost Boys of Sudan. The book is amazingly sad and powerful. A very worthwhile read.

For the Love of Knitting

My mother in law recently sent me as a gift the book For the Love of Knitting, a beautiful book filled with wonderful essays about the history and culture of knitting. Not a pattern book, but rather an illustrated cultural history (some might say coffee-table book) with wonderful photographs, vintage illustrations and advertisements, and essays by some of the biggest names in knitting, including Elizabeth Zimmermann, Kaffe Fassett, Meg Swansen, Teva Durham, Melanie Falick, and many others, it is truly an ode to the craft of knitting. Thank you Vivien!

Cast on for Something Red (Orange)

A few days ago I cast on for my next project- Something Red by Wendy Bernard. I am using the yarn recommended, Blue Sky Alpcas Organic Cotton, but in orange (actually "pumpkin") rather than red. I really enjoyed the process of making Baby M's striped sweater with a fun top-down raglan pattern, and this short sleeve women's cardigan with the same kind of construction really appealed to me. The raglan increases are done using yarn overs which creates a really cool sort of lacy effect. Although I haven't knit much with cotton, so far its going well and I love the color. I hope this project will go quickly so I can wear it this spring!

Filled With Accomplishment

This past weekend I had a great feeling of accomplishment, as I finished not only the first of the Jaywalkers, but also the Urban Aran Cardigan, excepting the zipper. It still needs to be blocked, but I'm pleased with it. I especially like how the collar turned out. I wanted a stiffer, more turtleneck-y collar and so, using suggestions from Streets and YOs, Aesthetic Entanglementz, and Brooklyn Tweed, I came up with some modifications that worked well.

Here's basically what I did:

1. Using smaller (size 9) needles, picked up the "correct" amount of stitches, as specified in the pattern, however, I did a basic ribbed pattern, rather than following pattern panel A up the collar.

2. Knit for about 1 ".

3. Did strategic P2togs and K2togs so that the collar was K2 P2 ribbing all around

4. Knit this ribbing for about another 1"

5. Switched to smaller needles (size 8s), and did all of the P2s as P2togs around

6. Knit the rest of the collar as K2 P1 ribbing to the top

7. Cast off

Next challenge: installing the zipper!

Socks!

Here is one Jaywalker sock, almost done. This is a really fun pattern, I love seeing the zig-zag appear. However, it has taken quite a while (started on February 20). Part of this is due to the fact that these have been my "commuter" project- pretty much only worked on during the car ride to and from work (which is not long) and occasionally over lunch. I think they look really good however, and now that I have knit a few socks I'm feeling much more comfortable with the whole process. In fact, last year when my mother in law gave me Cat Bordhi's book Socks Soar on Two Circular Needles, I opened it and was totally overwhelmed, and immediately put it aside. Now I think I could handle it. I'm thinking about trying Jaywalker number 2 with this method.


I'm also feeling sock-inspired by a book I checked out from the library recently, Favorite Socks: 25 Timeless Designs from Interweave. I've been wanting to find a pattern to make socks for J and I think the Retro Ribs are a great option for a men's sock. Check out these beauties on Stick Legged Girl. Also, I noticed that Alison just posted about the next Sockapalooza, yea more socks (perfect for summer knitting- if summer ever arrives in Minnesota-I mean look at this picture, its mid-April)!

Mom's Felted Bag

Since I have no finished objects to show at the moment (although the sleeves on J's cardigan are just about done- really!) I thought I'd share this photo of a cute felted purse made by my Mom. She used the basic pattern in One Skein by Leigh Radford for a small clutch and made it larger with longer handles. The only thing she'd do differently: make it deeper.

In Like a Lion- Sigh

On Monday I took a much needed mental health break (aka vacation day) from work to stay home with the kiddies. I was really hoping for a nice, early spring day, maybe a run or walk outside...alas, this is what it looked like. Needless to say, we stayed in all day, I did get some knitting done though, so that was a bonus. Here's my progress on round two of the Urban Aran sleeves, going much better this time. Can't wait until these puppies are done! Can anyone say "sick of gray!"?

To feed my need for spring (sunshine, flowers, bright colors, etc.), I purchased the yarn (from Webs) for my next project- Knit and Tonic's Something Red (a nice sassy spring/summer sweater), a welcome change from the gray, wintry, wool cardigan. Mine will be something orange though, with this nice, upbeat Blue Sky Alpacas dyed cotton in pumpkin- it looks like sunshine!

Yes...It Fits!

After some serious blocking, it looks like the Urban Aran Cardigan will fit- yea! I was seriously concerned that the many hours of knitting would be all for naught. After a bit of figuring out how to make them fit within the revised, larger armholes, I started the sleeves. I decided to do both at once so as to avoid the dreaded 2nd sock/sleeve syndrome. Although I haven't had much time to work on them, I think once I get going it should go pretty quickly, especially since I'm already really familiar with the cable pattern from working on the body.

Ok, update. I started this post a while ago, made some good progress on the sleeves (knitting both at once) and then realized I had made a major error way back at about row 6. As I made the increases on the sleeves I failed to keep them in pattern, so there was a big area of stockinette stitch at the back, rather than ribbing. Ugh. I frogged them back to row 6 and started in again. Here are two photos, one before the frogging, one after. When doing both sleeves at once, if its going well its great, if you make an error (in both of course), it pretty much sucks.

Knitted Adornment

One of my work colleagues oversees the Split Rock Arts Program, a nationally known program of summer workshops in art, design, and writing at the University of Minnesota. One of the offerings this summer is Creative Adornment in Knit and Crochet, taught by fiber artist Karen Searle. I've never really done any knitted jewelry, but it got me a little curious about what's out there in this area.

On etsy, there are quite a few offerings found by entering "knitted jewelry". Although not strictly jewelry, there is also a Flickr group dedicated to beaded knitting and crochet- nice!

Knitting Pattern Central has lots of patterns for knitted jewelry and accessories, including bracelets, clutches, earrings, necklaces, etc. And of course lots of jewelry patterns on Ravelry.

There are quite a few books on knitted and (more often) crocheted jewelry on Amazon, including this one:

Baby's Top Down Striped Sweater

Finished object alert! This is the top-down striped sweater, knit for 7 month old baby M. I really loved this pattern by Villapeikkoa. This was the first top-down, seamless sweater I've made and it was so fun. No seaming, just a bunch of ends to weave in, but that was due to the striping. This looks like it should fit him for at least the next year or so. It should be great for spring and then next fall/winter as well.


For this project I tried the "jogless stripes" method outlined by Tech Knitter. Its not perfect, but I definitely think the color changes look better here than they have in any of my previous projects.

Baby Stuff

The Urban Aran Cardigan is blocking, and while it dries, I've been working on some fun baby projects. First is a second version of Saartje's Bootees, this time with the same Sublime Cashmere Silk Merino that I used for version one, but with a Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in light pink for the contrasting top. I've finished the first one of the pair.



Second is a baby sweater that I am absolutely loving! It is a top-down striped raglan, designed by Villapeikkoa. I'm using some yarn from the stash, specifically some Lion Brand Vanna's Choice yarn in color: linen (can't remember why I even bought this, but I love the color), some Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran in teal (leftover from Fetching), and some green yarn from my sister. I'm not sure what it is, perhaps Cascade 220 Superwash. Its a nice apple-y green color. She had used it for a baby hat with earflaps that has been passed down and is now being worn by baby M.

The color combo is great, and the top down pattern is really fun.

I Guess its an ornament

Alas, once again the socks I've made for baby M are too small! Too bad, I really liked this cute cable pattern. Oh well, this will make a nice ornament for the Christmas tree- picture it with a candy cane sticking out the top. Next time I will make these with size 5 needles. I added a small I-cord loop for hanging.

Sweater Troubles

Even as I come close to finishing the back and fronts of J's cardiganized Urban Aran, I am increasingly worried that it will be too small. This is one of the downfalls I suppose of knitting it as all one piece, as I wasn't really able to hold it up to him as I made progress. In perusing Ravelry, I came across Zhenya's beautiful version. I emailed her some questions (admitting that I was considering frogging the entire thing and starting from scratch). She kindly responded with lots of details, as well as letting me know that she also was concerned about fit (she made the medium size for her husband), but once she blocked it out it was fine. She suggested that I finish, block it, have him try it on and then decide what to do. Considering how far along I am, this makes alot of sense and actually gave me some motivation to keep going, hopeful that it may in fact, work out. She (and also Streets and YOs had some great advice regarding the collar as well).


I've been working on some smaller projects as a diversion (the gnome hat, some cabled sockies for the little guy, and another version of Saartje's bootees). I'll take a break from those this weekend and get back to the sweater at hand. Here's a photo of the first cabled sock in progress. So fun!

Gnome Hat!

This weekend I whipped up this cute gnome-inspired hat for the 7 month old. This was an improvised pattern using some Lion Brand Wool Ease Chunky that I had in my stashed and had used recently for the 5-year old's striped winter hat. Doesn't he make a cute gnome?

Helping the Sun Bears

My mother in law sent me a link to this blog post on the plight of the Malaysian Sun Bears and their need for paw coverings while undergoing medical procedures. This is a good opportunity to help creatures that cannot help themselves. The blog has a link to the bear bootie pattern and more info on the effort, organized by the Animals Asia Foundation.

Thanks for sending, Vivien!

Works in Progress

The last thing I finished were the baby bootees, so I thought I'd post about a few projects in progress.

Urban Aran Cardigan
This is moving along relatively well. I've just about finished the fronts and the back (knitted as one piece). I like the way it looks but am a little concerned that the finished project might not be quite big enough. I'm hoping if that's the case I can add a ribbed border later in order add a bit of width.

Jaywalker Socks
As so many others before me have noted, this is a really fun pattern. Easy to memorize and the resulting fabric looks wonderful. I'm really enjoying the vibrant blues and purples of the Knitpicks Essential sock yarn.

Baby Bootees, round 2
Ok, these little babies are addictive to knit! I finished my first pair and decided to cast on for a second. They're so cute! This is a fun project to work a few rows on over lunch at work. These are being knitted with some leftover Sublime Cashmere Merino Silk DK in "garbo" (dark pink) and some Knitpicks Swish DK in Hollyberry. Not sure who they're for yet...

I also plan to do a basic baby hat this weekend for my little one. He's mostly outgrown the ones he has.

Hopefully I'll have a FO to share soon!

Cutie Patootie Booties!

I just finished these super cute booties. They are Saartje's Bootees, a very popular pattern on Ravelry. These will be a gift for my niece Iris. This was a really fun pattern and super quick. It would be fun to try these out with different color combos.

Finished Ski Beanie!

Here is the finished ski beanie for J. A little tall, next one I'd start decreasing at about 5", instead of 5 3/4. I really like this pattern though. I'll make one for myself in some bright yarn from the stash. Good for bad hair days!