Boot Warmers Done!

So, I finished my modified boot warmers. I like them this way better. I took out the button tab on the original pattern and added a cable set to make one more cable repeat. I might even make a pair longer for leg warmers. I love these though. The knitting was easy to memorize but not boring so I knit them fairly quick. They came out great. I do have to say that you don't know what you've got till its gone. Meaning that I haven't knitted with cheap acrylic yarn in so long that I forgot how much I hated it. My needles and my hands hate me for it and I promised them I would never put them through that again. I can't speak for all acrylic yarn. Maybe there are higher end acrylic yarns that feel better and knit better but as for the craft store chain acrylic yarn...no thank you. I'm making another pair of these as we speak and I'm using Berroco Vintage in color 5101 which is an off white. This yarn is actually 50% acrylic 40% wool and 10% nylon. The LYS I went to doesn't carry Cascade 220 Superwash and this was the only washable wool they had so I thought I'd give it a try. It's not bad. It's soft but feels more like knitting with wool that acrylic so I'm happy again. Here's some pics of the boot toppers in Caron. They are available to purchase in my etsy shop found here.

 

 

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Works in Progress

So what am I working on right now? Well I recently updated my ravelry stash. I still have a box not cataloged, but I have uploaded right now 130 different types of yarn. Yeah...it's a little out of control. But I had a project in mind for most everything, I swear! So I added a bunch of projects to my queue. Now I just have to knit through all of them! I am actively working on 2 projects right now. One is the new york man scarf. its a free pattern and can be accessed at http://scrumptiousliving.wordpress.com/2007/01/25/free-knitted-scarf-pattern/ So because I have so much yarn, I wanted to use stash yarn. Problem is, I have a "bad" habit of just buying one skein at a time. So I wanted this to be a manly shade of grey or black, but I didn't have enough of one color. I had two similar shades of cascade. One is a heathered grey super wash and one is just a regular grey wool. I used one skein of both and have been alternating every two rows carrying the yarn up the side. I also cast on 38 sts to make the ribbing even on both sides. Here's where I'm at so far.

You can't even tell that they are two different shades of grey. They work together quite well. I'm over half way done so I just need to get moving.

The second thing I'm working on is a variation of the one skein boot warmers I knitted before. I added and changed some things based on what I like. Because I ran out of cream colored yarn and all 3 yarn stores are 45 mins away, I decided to pass the time by using...wait for it...gasp! Acrylic yarn. Yup, I know. I'm using Caron simply soft in a cream color. I figured I could sell them for less on my etsy shop and maybe someone with a wool allergy or tight budget can appreciate them. Pics coming soon! That's all for now. I have some projects planned but we'll have to see how much I can accomplish.

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Projects new and old

So here's some stuff I actually did manage to get done. I finished the "just enough ruffles" scarf for my mom. Here it is.

This scarf has a history. Well, the pattern does. I first came across this scarf when I was in my LYS Stitches with Style. The owners daughter, Ali, was wearing one. It was knitted using the Great Adirondak Yarn Co bamboo cotton yarn. It's a hand painted multicolor yarn and the scarf she was wearing was amazing. So I get the pattern, which is fairly easy to knit, and 2 scarves later, they look nothing like hers. So even though I have multiple skeins of this yarn, I haven't actually made one for myself because my "test" scarves haven't knitted up the way I want. Here are some of the skeins of yarn I have waiting to turn into this scarf. They are roughly 400yrds each and retail for around 40$.

                                       

The first time I knitted this pattern, I used a size 9 needle. I'm a tight knitter. The second I used a size 8. Since I still thought it came out weird I thought I'd try a size 7 next. I was at the store to buy yarn for another project and didn't really have this in mind. Strangely coincidentally and lucky for me, their knit along pattern of the month was this scarf! On display was yet again another gorgeous version of this scarf. I grabbed Ali and said HELP! Why isn't mine turning out this way. So, 2 things. 1: she's a loose knitter and used size 9. She suggested I use size 10. 2: she didn't block it. That must be it. Can't think of any other reason. So next time, I will do as she suggested. Stay tuned for that!

So next, here's a super cute hat I knit for my nephew when he was born. It's just a basic hat pattern. I used size 7 needles and magic loop. My gauge was 6 sts/inch to make 13" around. I cast on 78, knit until 4" from brim and decreased every 6. Then I used a pompon maker for the top. I love the effect this yarn has when it's knitted up. The only thing I will modify is the decrease. Next time I'm going to decrease by 8 so it won't be so pointy. That will change my cast on number by a couple stitches.

                                         

So on to my current projects. I was approached by a friend of mine who during an etsy session decided she wanted boot toppers. Never heard of them! She sent me some pics and after scaling ravelry, I found a pattern that I though would work. The pattern is called "One Skein Boot Toppers" and can be purchased for $4.50 here:


One Skein Boot Toppers

Here are the designers pictures

I I decided to use a cream or off white shade of cascade 220 superwash. The pattern was fairly easy and came out well. I disagree with the way part of the pattern was worded. It was unnecessarily confusing and I had to use my "phone a friend" to help me out and make sure I understood it right. The pattern consists of a 5 line repeat. Row 2 tells you to knit each stitch as it appears and then tells you which other rows to do this on. Thing is, she should just have repeated the sequence because it's all the same. If you get the pattern you'll see what I mean. This aside it's still a great pattern. I wasn't too fond of the button tab. It stuck out and I felt the need to sew it down. Still love it though and so did my friend. I did block them to give them a professional look even though they stretch and it wasn't really necessary once they're on. I'll be making more of these for sure.

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I'm Baaaaack!

Well, it's been a while. What can I say? Life is never what we expect. My beautiful daughter who is now 1.5, has inherited her father's adrenaline junky genes. This means she has no fear whatsoever. That whole "I shouldn't do that. It might hurt" doesn't exist. I have grabbed her more than once trying to throw herself head first off the back of the couch. Needless to say, my knitting came to a crawl. I also did buy a house and moved but my craft room is a victim of my unfinished basement, it's mainly in boxes. No scrapping or stamping. Just my yarn! Not the worst deal although I do miss my close to my heart stamps. Divorce has also gripped my life. So in the midst of that, I'm working out the kinks of raising a daughter with my soon to be X in 2 different homes. I've managed to work in some knit time when he has her so I am very happy to have time to indulge myself in my knit-happy place. So there's my update!

Crazy holidays

Well, I've been on vacation and it's been nice. I got most of my Xmas knitting done. My mothers gift is still in the works but almost done. I modified the "just enough ruffles" pattern by doing 12 short rows instead of 14. I'm thinking it might still be too wide for what I want so next time I might use a size 7 needle instead of 9. I'm also working on my first set of socks using a pattern and video tutorial by Stacy of verypinkknits. Is coming well. Whole I've been here in Iowa I visited a LYS and picked up some really neat yarn. It's called Kiddo by Crystal Palace Yarns. It's a microfiber nylon blend and is sooooo soft. Only problem is that it's a nightmare to knit with lol. I also picked up this awesome scarf kit. Funny...I still don't have a scarf for myself! For Xmas I managed to snag some awesome sock yarn by knitpicks from their Handpainted line and a gift certificate for knitpicks. They're my favorite online yarn store! The sock yarn is Imagination in wicked witch color way. Its gorgeous! All in all I'm having a great time!

Projects

Phew! I got a minute to breath. Not really. I'm still knitting furiously to get all my Xmas projects done. I've been doing nothing in what little spare time I have but knitting. So, so far I was able to complete two scarves I made for my mother to gift to her in-laws. One is made using chunky mochi in intense rainbow and following the free ravelry pattern "chunky ribs and ruffles". I cast on extra stitches to widen it an extra pattern repeat. I like it better this way I think. It's basically an eve's rib or mistake rib pattern with ruffles. It's one of my favorite patterns because it's do quick and easy. It makes a great gift. I used 4 balls of yarn and size 13 needles. I wet blocked it after to stretch it out and make it longer as it was pretty short. I was able to stretch it pretty far and now it's long enough to get a couple wraps in. The second scarf was knit using Llama luxury, a 100% baby llama yarn. The reason for this yarn is cute. My moms mother-in-law has a llama farm! They love llamas. You'd actually be surprised how much llama decor is actually available out there. I used 300 yards/3 skeins and did a simple knit 1 purl 1 slipping the first stitch of each row. I used size 8 needles across 36 sts which is a bit loose for sport weight but it worked out pretty good. I'm happy with both of them. On to the next project!

I win!

I recently won a blog giveaway from knittingknoobie. She sent me an amazing sock package! I'm so excited and I love it! She threw in some awesome extras. Handpainted sock yarns, super soft lace and other beautiful yarns. I can't wait to knit them up :) thanks!