10 posts tagged “knitting”

I finally got my invite to Ravelry!  I haven't had the time to put all of my projects into my notebook, but I already love it and can't wait to start using it more!!!  If anyone wants in, put your name on the list!!!

Here is the felted pump pack I made for Samantha's new insulin pump. This was super easy to make -- just a simple bag knit in the round on 16" circulars.  It only took about 3 1/2 hours to knit up everything.  I used an i-cord bind off for the edge.  The belt was knit lengthwise to prevent stretching.  I am contemplating adding a knitted flower to the front to make it more girly.  Hopefully she will use it when she is wearing clothes that don't have a good pocket for her pump.  If so I'll probably make her another one, in pink, with lots of fuzzy novelty yarn tossed in.  I think I will shorten the length by about 4 stitches and increase the height by about 4 rows for a more compact and accommodating fit. 

KnitslippersProduct2

Even though I already have many projects on the needles (including two I am actively working on at the moment), I've decided to start working on the Curiously Clever Clogs from Stitch Diva Studios.  I have completely fallen for this pattern and I've only spent a couple of hours with it thus far.

I loathe boring patterns.  There is nothing I hate more than working in stockinette stitch for 80 rows.  This pattern changes every single row and is so much fun because of the beading.  And there are no pre-strung beads, you bead on the fly with a crochet hook (I've done this before on one previous project). Anyway, I love, love, love this pattern and recommend it to anyone who loves those cozy fiber trends slippers but are tired of the same boring pattern.

Yarns:  Lambs Pride Bulky - in Roasted Coffee for the outer sole and in Kiwi for the inner sole.  Noro Kureyon - in color #154 with two strands held together for the upper.

Progress pics can be found over at my other site.

Thanks to Mrs. G I was alerted to the new winter issue on knitty.com.  I typically will find one pattern per issue that I kinda sorta like.  But this time I found several.  The Center Square hat totally rocks; I will probably try that one on for size at some point.  Calorimetry would get a ton of use in the winter, but I'd have to use some brighter colors than the yarn they used for the picture.  Sheldon and Norberta (a very cute girl dragon) are musts!!! And Piggle could be fun to make for the little girl next door.  Venezia is gorgeous, but I've done the whole wire knitting napkin ring thing already so, chances are I'll take a pass.  Overall I am quite please with this issue.  Hopefully I can use some of my stash to work on a few of these projects.

Clapotis 1

Now that the wedding is over, I actually have the time and energy to take on a new knitting project.  The first night of my honeymoon I dreamed about making a clapotis out of some koigu that I had previously purchased for a beaded shawlette.  My subconscious was obviously not happy with my decision to not take any knitting up to Aspen with me, so all night long I obsessed about frogging my beaded shawlette (which was only just started and I hated it anyway) and starting my clapotis.  Rarely do I let my dreams dictate my decisions in reality (which may be my problem) but this time I listened to my inner self and as soon as I got home I yanked out the annoying shawlette and started ripping. I am now on the seventh repeat of the increase rows. 

In all honesty I find this pattern so completely boring.  If I had my way, every project I worked on would change virtually every row.  However, I have also been sick and it has actually been a very good thing to have a project that I can work on while zoning out on the couch and watching all of the TIVOed shows we missed last week.  Another good thing this pattern has going for it is that it is a good project for goal setters (kinda like the Market Squares bag).  I always set goals for myself when knitting, expecially if the pattern is boring.  With this one, each row gets me that much closer to being finished with the repeat.  Each repeat gets me that much closer to being finished with the section.  I look forward to finishing the section so I can actually do something different (and start the fun part -- dropping stitches!).  So while I have run across more interesting projects in my days, it has been relatively painless to work on. 

Incidentally, the knitted bolero turned out to be amazing!  I am wearing it in the wedding pics.

What are your plans for the holiday weekend?

1. Wedding planning
2. Trying to sleep at night without waking up at 4 a.m.
3. Knitting
4. More wedding planning
5. More knitting
6. Still more wedding planning
   

What is your favorite way to relieve stress?

Probably knitting, except when I am knitting on a deadline, and then it is stress inducing.  Right now I am totally stressed out about the rest of the wedding planning (along with all of the other stressors of life).  But since I am knitting a sweater type thingy for my wedding, I am under deadline, which only adds to the stress.  I used to do pilates.  That was a great stress reliever.  I plan on getting back to it soon

I am getting married in exactly 18 days.  I am not wearing a traditional wedding dress, but am instead wearing a gold bridesmaids dress (can't beat 240 bucks!).  Since our reception is outside and will run into the chillier evening hours, I figured I needed something in the form of a sweater/wrap that I could throw on once the sun dropped behind the mountains.  I searched high and low for something that would work with my dress and found nothing.  So, I decided to make this cute little bolero from Tahki Stacy Charles...

Boloero pattern pic

If I were knitting this any other time I would have finished weeks ago, but because I am actually knitting it "for" something, of course it is taking me twice the time.  Why does it always work that way?  So basically I have the back and one side finished, plus I have about 1/2 to 2/3 of the other side done.  This means I have 2 weeks to  finish the other side, knit two sleeves, crochet the edges (which means actually mastering crocheting, which I totally suck at), putting the damn thing together and sewing on the organdy ribbon that I have yet to locate.  In addition to that, I have all of the additional planning that goes along with a wedding.  Am I freaking out yet?  Clearly not.  If I was freaking out I would be madly knitting away right now instead of taking the time to compose this post.  I figure I'll give myself through the end of the weekend to make some serious progress, then I will flip out if I deem necessary.  So here are my progress pics.  I should mention that I am using Berroco Glacé, not the S. Charles Victoria that is called for in the pattern.

Bolero sides

Bolero back

I can't find the pleated organdy ribbon that I need to trim the bolero I am making for my wedding.  Grrrr.  Time to get creative.