PrimeTimeKAL

Ok so here is my project for November: another test knit for SweetGeorgiaYarns of a sock pattern with a lovely lace pattern that looks like trees. The pattern is still a WIP (the second test knit is ongoing) but I'm sure it will be available for purchase soon. The yarn I used is the SGY Silk Crush Sock in colourway English Ivy. Unfortunately the pattern is a little difficult to see without being blocked, but alas no sock blockers yet for me. I've included a picture of it being modeled. I have very little yarn left, and there was 375yds on the ball, so I'd say they took around 350yds. 2 weeks start to finish.

















I also have my October projects. Somehow the fates conspired against me and I lost the pictures I took of my projects. However, I just found them buried in a folder so am uploading them now - better late than never!

The first is a pair of short socks using the pattern "Breeze", a freebie from Knitty.com, and I used 200yds of SGY Superwash Sock in Picnic Pop. These turned out very cute.























Second October project was a simple scarf using 1 skein of AslanTrends Royal Alpaca - 220yds. The pattern doesn't have a name, it's just something thrown together by the Yarn Harlot on one of her blogs. This will make a nice christmas present.

September Prime Time KAL

Good grief where has the time gone? So, kids have finally given me some free time to let me upload pics of my September projects. First is a test pattern knit of a hat for a local designer. It was my first time doing a test knit, and it was a lot of fun. I hope to do more. I think the pattern should be released within the next few weeks. The suggested yarn is a 100% merino superwash wool at 256yds/skein and I used about 65% of the skein, so approximately 175yds (I really need to get a scale). It's a worsted weight yarn, and I used 5mm needles. It's a quick knit, although I did have to concentrate to keep track of the lace and cables.















Second project is made out of Cascade Eco Duo yarn - SO SOFT, wow, this yarn is beautiful. I made the Burberry Inspired Cowl (free pattern on Ravelry) and this was a super quick knit.
This was my first time doing a provisional cast on for a cowl, and when I joined the two ends together I made the first section a little too tight (since I'm used to doing this for socks). So, the first bit of the seam has a ridge, but the remainder was done a little looser and is much nicer. I highly recommend this pattern, I completed this in two days. This is an aran weight yarn, but I wanted it looser and a bit bigger so I used the pattern's recommended needle size of 6mm. I used the full skein of Duo, so 197 yds.



On to October!!

PrimeTime KAL - August

Just in time..
So I have completed TWO projects for August, and I'm very pleased with myself. Both are socks, yardage for each is approximately 350-375yds as I have a little bit left over from each (hexipuffs!). The first is "Waterfall", and I used Zauberball in a lovely rainbow shade (a friend asked me if I was making pride socks lol). The pattern was great, it was my first toe-up, and I really enjoyed it. I like using 3-4 needles so didn't get fancy with a 2-circular cast-on or anything like that. A plus is that I think I finally figured out my short-rows - yaaayy! Here is the in progress pic

and the finished pic


Second project is just a basic pair of socks, using Regia self-striping yarn. I must say I'm not too impressed with the "self-striping" of this yarn, it was very muddy, and the colours didn't follow a regular pattern. Ah well, they'll make a nice pair of winter warm socks, and I did these top-down which I think I like better than toe-up. It's good to know both techniques though, I think.
Here is the in progress pic


and the finished pic


I actually finished these about a week ago but have limited computer time due to having both of my kids on my internet connection.

July PrimeTime KAL

So here is my project for July - a cardigan in Madelintosh Tosh Merino Light in colour Logwood (a really nice purple). I used roughly 1300 yards. The endless stockinette was a little hard to handle but I think it's going to be a nice sweater to throw on for those cool nights. Pattern is "Abigail" by Cecily Glowik MacDonald. I've purchased a few of her patterns but this is the first that I've finished one. I think I'd like to make this again, but with a few changes - the increases on the front should have been done inside the first stitch. Makes it easier to pick up I think when doing the collar. My pickups look a little rough as I tend to be a little looser on the edge when I purl back. I think I did the collar about 4 times in total before I was happy with the number of stitches and how it looked.

Prime Time KAL-June

Well I finally got a project finished for June, but it's a little short on yardage. June was a really rough month knitting-wise for me, I'm hoping that once you read my tail of woe you might cut me a little slack! I've definitely been working hard - I knit constantly - but nothing seemed to be working out all that well.

I started three sweaters this month, and all of them got frogged, in varying stages. The first attempt was "Madrigal" from Twist Collective. I will definitely revisit this again, but my short rows were less than stellar (must practice more) and this one hit the frog pond.

Can't remember attempt #2, but #3 was a striped sweater using cotton yarn that had been hiding in my stash. It was bottom up in the round, and I got all the way to attaching the sleeves and doing about 2" of the body before I realized that it was way too big (darn cotton yarn and gauge) and this one also hit the frog pond. It would have been beautiful though *sniff*

Oh and now I remember project #2, it was actually part of my now finished project. #2 was a mystery sock pattern that I decided to use this really cool skein of handdyed SweetGeorgia fingering merino. Unfortunately there were 2 sizes in the pattern (who does this? seriously!) and of course I picked the larger size and it was too big. That and the pattern was super complicated and a little beyond me for a sock at this point. So, that one hit the frog pond as well.

The final (and actually finished) project is the Chevron Lace Fingerless Mitts from Sock Yarn One-Skein Wonders. Great pattern, I highly recommend it. I really like the picot edging on both the bottom and top edges. I love learning new stitches, it's fun.

Here's the mitts in progress:


And here's finished:















As I said, sort of short on yardage, I think I'm at about 250yds :( but it's the 30th, and nothing else is getting done tonight! LOL

Ah well, on to July. Onward and upwards!

PrimeTime KAL - May

So this one I really wasn't sure if it was going to get done, but it actually progressed fairly quickly, despite some issues with the lace pattern (again with the lace). This was an interesting project. The designer's gauge didn't match mine AT ALL so I had abandoned my hopes of doing this, cast on something else. That didn't work - frogged - so went back to my original plan, which was Every Last Yard by Amy Swenson.

It's blocking right now, I can't wait to wear it. I'm always amazed at how nicely lace blocks out. And I never used to do it! (mind you, I never used to swatch either - but don't tell anyone).

I used approximately 1,050 yards of Madelinetosh Tosh DK (I LOVE this yarn, so nice to work with).

Here's my in progress pic















And here it is blocking

Ok so here are my projects for April - socks aplenty! First pair is using Cascade Heritage Handpaints in colorway 9883 Wild Roses (pinks) and the pattern is the Basic Sock by Churchmouse Teas. I was really happy how quick this went - took me about 2 weeks start to finish.

Then since there was still 2 weeks of month left, and I wanted to try the same pattern in larger needles (and slightly variated) using some stash yarn which had been (ahem) aging, I made my guy a pair of socks. Somehow the 3 balls of yarn I had in my stash had turned to 2, so I found a matching superwash wool (Louet Gems 100% merino wool) for the cuff, heels and toe. He was very excited to watch the progress of "his" socks. I must say, it's really nice to knit for people that appreciate the effort involved. The multi-colored wool is Stahl Big Print.


I'm fairly certain I'm way over for yardage. The first pair called for 1 skein of yarn (437 yards) although I have a small ball left over, and the second pair used the two balls of Big Print (90yds_ and half the Louet. Now back to my May project, which is a little more time consuming since it's a sweater.

I love the little projects, they're great for my commute and so gratifying once they're done.

March project

So here is my project for March - my first complete pair of adult socks, yaaay I've broken the curse! I've done two socks in the past, but both are singles. I recall giving away the yarn for sock #2 of one pair, so it will never be complete, but the other still has hope (although I have long since forgotten what pattern I used..).

This is Laura's pattern (a free one from the CPY website) called "Silk Road Journeys". Took two balls of Mini Mochi with a bit from both balls left over. I don't have a scale, but I would think that I've made the 300yd quota given how little remains.

All in all this pattern was a lot of fun to do. My ruffle is larger than the original as I didn't have the right size needles - but I like it. Some of the stitch counts were a bit off, and I also did a grafted toe and made the cuff a bit longer, but otherwise it's as the pattern was written.

One disappointing thing to note: both balls were knit from centre out, but they are reversed in colour order which of course I didn't realize until the end, and there's no way I'm frogging and reknitting! so, they're a unique pair of socks - so be it.

On to the next pair!

So, my February primetime got off to a rough start. I picked a project, cast on, knitted away happily... and then I tried it on. Ugh. Too small - got frogged. I think it'll become a sweater for the other half (it's the Cascade Eco wool - really nice, I think he'll like it).

So, project #2 for February needed to be something quick, easy and useful. I had been dying to make the Lanesplitter skirt ever since I saw it up on Knitty, but I just couldn't justify the cost of the yarn. Lucky for me, it came on sale (half price) at elann.com so I snatched up what I needed and cast on for the skirt.

I have to say - this skirt was a lot of fun. And it was fast. Alternating the skeins every two rows and getting the colors to not match was a bit of a challenge as some of the colour changes lasted longer than others. I think it turned out rather well though, and I'm looking forward to wearing it. I have a pair of black suede boots that will look awesome, just need black tights, and of course for the snow to melt! Oh and for the yarn details - it used 6 balls of Noro Kureyon, at 100m/ball, so I got the required monthly yardage - yaay!

January KAL - Completed!

January 27/11 - ALL DONE!! blocked and looks awesome (or so says I). My first mini-shawl, and I'm pretty stoked. I'd like to do this again. Made a couple of boo-boos but I'll never tell, and I'm ok with them. Never did a lace border before either, it worked out well and I really like the pattern. Props to the designer! Oh and I definitely used more than 300yds as I've only got a scant amount left from the second ball. I love it when that happens.

January 2011 PrimeTime

So here it is Jan 20 and I've just started my January KAL project - actually I cast on last night. Should be able to get this done in time, good thing I can knit on my commute to work! I love the mini mochi and have never done a shawl, so I picked the "Shawlette" pattern which uses two balls of the mini mochi (so technically 390 yds) and my colourway is Tropical Ginger. Size 5US needles, started off on straights and now I've changed to circulars. I like this pattern, it's a simple lace that's suitable for beginner lace-ers like me. I tend to pick up and put down projects a lot so I need something where I don't forget where I left - tinking back lace is a PITA. I have 8 days, can I do it? LOL