Pink scarf

I just finished the pink scarf. The pattern stitch, Ridged Ribbons, is from page 49 of The Ultimate Sourcebook of Knitting and Crochet Stitches. (14 sts + 9)

1st row and every alt row (RS): P2, *K5, P2*
2nd row: K9, *P5, K9*
4th row: K2, *P5, K2*
6th row: K2, P5, *K9, P5*, K2
8th row: As 4th row
Rep these 8 rows

The drape is pretty nice. I'm going to see if a little blocking will make it lay flatter, but I'll like it even if it stays just the way it is, soft and warm. I still have some yarn left over and I'm considering trying to add on to the hat a little bit to make it cover my ears more.

A couple of pictures

I still don't have my digital camera so I'm resorting to my camera phone. Not the best pictures, but here you go.

I have about 8" of feather and fan baby blanket. I went away for a few days and attempted to work on it in the car but I ended up spending more time tinking than knitting so I moved on to my Ballet Camisole. The blanket is more fun to work on even though I'm being more of a perfectionist than usual. I always get nervous when I'm working on gifts, and this one has more detail than any of the other presents I've made.

The camisole is kind of boring to work on, just stockinette with some waist shaping. I dropped a stitch on the corner and couldn't fix it so I had to rip down about 5 rows and start over. Good news: I put all of the sts back on the needle without incident and I didn't even complain!

Mostly I knit it while I watch movies or baseball games. The only problem with this project is that I'm a loose knitter and the size 1 needles make my hands tired after a while. Btw, the color is much nicer than it looks in the picture.

Happily knitting away

I've been happily working on my multiple projects.

The scarf is still almost done, but its designaton as my at-work-project has hampered its completion...we've been having *gorgeous* weather here and I'm opting to go outside on my breaks instead of setttling in a comfy chair. (This decision has also been influenced by the fact that the AC at work has been broken for weeks and it doesn't look like the library board will be fixing it before October. Yup, that's right, October.) Anyway, I only have about 4 more inches to knit and the scarf will be done. It's been easy sailing and I really like the pattern.

The green baby blanket is coming along beautifully! None of the cable patterns I saw grabbed my attention so I'm using a variation of the feather and fan pattern that I found online. I CO 136 stitches (about 24" across) and I'm about 6" into the project. I'm very pleased with how it's coming out...but I'm halfway through the second ball of yarn and am worried my 9 balls will run out before I want them to. That'll teach me to just look at a few baby blanket patterns to guesstimate how much yarn to buy. This, people, is why I rarely go nuts in a yarn store. I always go in with definite project in mind or else bad things happen. Wish me luck.

The camisole is moving along a little slower than I'd hoped. I had to go through the entire (circular) pattern and convert it into flat knitting, which took a little time and concentration. I wrote to KnitList to ask a few questions and last night I started on it again. Apparently one round equals one row and dec/inc the same way should keep the waist in the right spot. Thanks, guys! Before my inquiry I had done the ribbing (about 1") for the front of the tank, and last night I knitted about 2 ½" more. The yarn is SO nice to work with. It's soft and smooth and the swatch that went through the wash is even more so. I'm looking forward to wearing it.

The orange hat hasn't seen much progress. I CO 104 sts and have about 1 ½" done. The Sesame cardigan has continued to linger in a pile on my floor without being touched. (By the way, one of the definitions of "linger" is: To remain feebly alive for some time before dying. Perfect description of this project!)

Our digital camera was left with a friend so pictures will be posted later on...

Current projects

I've been avoiding my striped cardigan-turned-into-vest and working on a scarf. It's made from a pattern stitch I found in The Ultimate Sourcebook of Knitting and Crochet Stitches and it's turning out to be nice and soft. It matches the hat I posted about a few days ago and I think there'll be some mittens, too.

I ordered some yarn last Wednesday and have been eagerly awaiting its arrival. It came today and since I took a half day for our anniversary, I was the one who found it on the doorstep. Getting yarn is always like getting a present! (And you kind of forget you paid for it when it arrives all wrapped up for you.) It's Knit Picks Shine Sport in Crocus and I plan on using it to make the Ballet Camisole that was in July 2006's issue of MagKnits.

This green Swish Superwash in Dublin is going to be a baby blanket. I wrote a while ago about wanting to make a green Celtic-patterned blanket for a friend who is trying to get pregnant. I bought some Endless Summer Collection Connemara in Aspen Frost and was disappointed that they ran out of the color before I could buy it. Well, I think I prefer this yarn. It's soft, washable, and seems less difficult to work with! We shall see.

Baby Nalgene Sling done!

One of my co-workers is always interested in what I’m knitting so I decided to make her something for her birthday. I used Peruvian Collection Uros Aran (50% Highland Wool, 50% Llama) and made up my own pattern based on a picture I saw in Knit Wit by Amy Singer. My friend and I both have what we call “Baby Nalgenes” and she takes morning walks...so I decided to make her a sling.

I measured my Baby Nalgene, learned that it was about 8 ½ inches around, 5 ½ inches tall, and 2 ½ inches wide. My gauge was about 5 sts/1”

Bottom:
Cast on 9 sts
Inc 1 st each side every other row until you have 17 sts
Work even two rows
Dec 1 st each side every other row back to 9 sts
BO 9

Body:
Pick up 42 sts
Work in K4P2 ribbing for 4 inches
P1 one round
K1 one round
P1 one round
Knit even (St st) for about 1 inch
K2tog all the way around
Knit even, then BO all stitches

Strap:
Pick up 9 sts, trying to keep in pattern with body as much as possible
P3, K3, P3 (RS)
K3, P3, K3 (WS)
Knit these two rows until desired legth
BO 9
Attach free side of strap to the body of the sling

I started it on July 31 and finished it this morning. Let me just say that I loved the yarn! It was one of the random balls I bought on Elann and I was impressed with how soft it is. My only complaint: if I made a sweater out of it, I couldn’t wear it with black pants because it sheds a bit. (I guess that means I’d have to make something I could wear with jeans! :)

cardigan/vest & Easy Projects

The cardigan didn't quite turn out as I had expected. I guess I'm not familiar enough with the anatomy of a sweater to know what part of the body will match up with what part of the sleeve cap/sleeve. After knitting my fingers off for days, I attempted to put the pieces together. It wasn't pretty. I connected the shoulder seams and held the sleeve up to where it was meant to fit. The stripes were nowhere close. I think it'll become a practice vest because I can still pick up the button band, make a collar, and finish off around the sleeves.

To avoid doing any of this for a while, I started a new project. A hat! I'm also planning on making a scarf and mittens to go with it. Depending on how they turn out, I'll give them as Christmas gifts or keep them for myself.

I used two strands of Wool-Ease and cast on 70 sts. I worked in rib for about 1.5 inches and then knitted straight until the hat was about 5.5-6 inches tall. To decrease, I knitted 6, then K2tog. Next round, I knitted 5, then K2tog. Et cetera until I was K2tog all the way around.

I used these two patterns as inspiration, but mostly figured it out on my own. :) Next time I think I'd make it a little longer so it'd cover more of my ears. Next up: a scarf from Vogue Knitting Scarves (one of the "On the Go" books).