Friday Fail

I'm going to take an idea from my friend Nikki's blog and post a "Friday Fail" this week. (I'm not going to make this a weekly occurrence because my fragile ego wouldn't be able to handle seeing so much failure being publicized across the blogosphere.)

I've always wanted to knit the Burridge Lake Afghan (free pattern on Ravelry), so I decided to get it started, and hopefully I'll finish it in ten years or so. Knitting an afghan isn't as quick as crocheting one.
(What can I say, I'm stubborn.)

Isn't it beautiful? I just love cables, and the intricate weave of the lines in and out are mesmerizing to me.

This is my first attempt at the afghan, which I have since frogged.
It's not that I made a mistake in knitting it, but rather that the yarn I had chosen just wasn't quite right. It had a rather squeaky acrylic feel to it and either due to the color or my gauge, just looked cheap. I'm not going to put in all those hours and hours of work to have a finished blanket that looks cheap.

I've since re-started the afghan using I Love This Yarn in a warm dark chocolate color (called "coffee"; ironic I know), and it's coming out lots better. It's soft, has a lovely drape, and is a slightly thicker yarn so the gauge is tighter.
The afghan is knit in three sections; the middle is one section and then the two side panels. Once the sections are completed the three sections are sewn together. I'm almost two-thirds of the way finished with the center section, and once I'm finished with it I'll post a picture. The cables are complicated enough that I have to watch what I'm knitting, so this project isn't something I can do while watching television. I'll just keep chugging away at it until I get something done!

Sick, but Still Knitting!

The kids quickly recovered from their bout of illness (they get over being sick so fast!), but now I've come down with a bad cold and sore throat. Saturday was the worst day for me, so the menfolk were very nice and helped out a bit around the house.

I always say, "There's nothin' so handsome as a man cleanin' house"!

Although I wasn't feeling well, I did manage to get some knitting done. However, I think I over-did it, because today my wrists are a bit sore. I think I'll put the knitting on hold for a day or two (no, really, I really will . . . . I can stop anytime I want to . . . . I'm not an addict . . .).

I finished knitting three lace angels from Angels, A Knitter's Dozen, which will be Christmas presents for - - - -. They were surprisingly quick to knit (well, not exactly "speedy", but still not nearly as difficult as I had envisioned). I still have to sew a little bell to their undersides, and sew their arms together so they look more like they're praying, instead of reaching for you in a menacing manner . . . .

I was even able to use some stash yarn, since I have about four balls of size 10 wt. cotton yarn. (I don't think all three angels even took up a quarter of one ball, but at least my stash is coming in handy!)

I can't believe how small these little things are! From the cover of the book, I figured they'd be larger, but wow, are they tiny! The hardest part was knitting the head and the skirt on four dpns. The tiny thread kept slipping off if I wasn't careful - ugh. It was like knitting with cobwebs (speaking of cobwebs, I must remember to dust today . . . enough of that, on to more knitting content!)

The second panel of Peter's birthday blanket is done and sewn onto the first one. I have to knit several more panels, but he's already using it as it is. It's nice to know that something I'm knitting for him will be used and loved!

Finally, I am SOOOOO pleased to show the simple cabled vest that's a Christmas present for - - - - -. I got the pattern from the book, Men in Knits, and the yarn was Plymouth Encore (I think). It wasn't actually the yarn called for in the pattern, but I was able to get gauge eventually by going down three needle sizes. Worsted weight yarn knitted on size 5 needles makes for a fairly dense fabric, so this will be nice and warm once the weather gets a bit more chilly.

I've taken a hefty chunk of out my Christmas knitting list, but I still have lots more to do. However, I think I'll give my wrist a rest (hmmm, that's actually rather hard to say - "wrist a rest" hee hee!) and catch up on other things around the house. I hope everyone had a nice Labor Day holiday!

Yarn Over Goes Green

Hmmm, as I was loading the pictures for this post, it suddenly occurred to me that I've been feeling very green lately. Lots of green. Well, I do like green (lol, who doesn't like "greenbacks" - okay, terrible pun . . . anyway . . .).

This is what I've gotten done on Peter's birthday blanket. It's taking me longer to knit than I thought it would, but then, there are a lot of cables involved with the "honeycomb" section in the middle. Once I get that done, there are only six more panels to knit, woo hoo! I'm just truckin' along there! I think I might finish it by his sixteenth birthday! I figure that I have about 2 - 3 more feet to complete before this panel is long enough. Thankfully, it's rather mindless knitting, so I can accomplish a lot while watching mindless TV. Perfect combination.

Then, I got Mum's Maunawili Falls Vest knitted, and here it is blocked. I just love, love, love, this color. Yummy, soft, and sooooo peaceful. I had a difficult time staying awake while knitting it, it was so tranquil. Once it's dry, I'll sew the edges together and start knitting the ribbing on the armholes and neckline. Then it'll be the last non-Christmas item completed!

I finally got my Bee Fields Shawl kit from Wooly Wonka Fibers. Although I had a difficult time being patient and waiting for it (due to the overwhelming demand, the vendor didn't have enough yarn dyed up), it was well worth the wait. This yarn is deliciously soft, and the color reminds me of fresh green apples and summer fields. *Sigh*. I wonder how long my don't-knit-anything-other-than-Christmas-gifts resolution is going to last? Between this stuff and the new Blue Moon sock yarn, I think I'm doomed.

Here's to holding on to fatal resolutions!

Monday Magic

Thanks, thanks, thanks for all the wonderful people who commented such nice things about my last post. I was really feeling down, but trying not to be down, you know what I mean? Sometimes I wake up with a clear picture of how I wish my day to go, and then life happens, and the books are all piled under the couch, and the kids are fighting, and the house is a disaster . . .

Anyway, it was a wonderful lesson in patience for me (hooray, I didn't blow my stack, as I was sorely tempted to do!) and a great reminder that God's plans are not always my plans, and His are always perfect. After a quick (okay, well, a bit longer than "quick") attitude adjustment, the rest of the day was off to a much better start.

I still haven't found "Houdini" Hunny Bunny (as Diane jokingly commented), and I'm so praying she'll show up. I saw two large dogs roaming the alley out back, but I didn't see anything soggy and white hanging from their slavering jaws, so I'm hopeful she's alright. I was pretty ticked off at Andy, because when I tearfully called him to tell him about my beloved bunny, his reply was; "Well, I told you I figured it'd only last six months . . .". As he's usually MUCH more sympathetic and kind, I'll do my best to forgive him for such poor timing (plus, Renee's post about being over-sensitive immediately came to mind; thanks, Renee!)

On a happier note, I got lots done around the house. The laundry is on the line, the house is (relatively) picked up, dinner is in the oven, I've finished teaching lessons, and best of all, I officially BLOCKED MY FIRST KNITTED ITEM!!! Woo hoo for me!! This a detailed picture of the falling water pattern, and the colors are nearly right, but not as vivid as the real thing.

At first, as I was sticking what seemed like a million pins in the front, I felt like muttering that blocking was a complete waste of time. However, as the detailed photo shows, I guess blocking truly does bring out the beautiful stitch details. Let's hope I did it correctly, and that I can keep my long-haired cat off it!

Also, I decided to scrap the idea of Peter's blanket being knitted of squares. After consideration, I figured that having to make sure every square was exactly the same size (but the pattern different) was way too much work. I surfed the wonderful web for a free pattern, and came across exactly the right one. Plus, I really enjoy doing cables, so this blanket is right up my alley.

Here's what I've done so far. I can't seem to get the colors right in the photo, but it's actually a lovely forest green. I let Peter pick out two colors for his birthday blankie, and to my consternation, I discovered that my son is a Slytherin. Ah well, as long as he doesn't start making Horcruxes, he'll be okay!

Knitting Updates

I haven't really felt inspired to do my usual frantic knitting lately, but I've been steadily plugging away on a few things. The Maunawili Falls Vest is coming along nicely, and I've finished the back and am starting the neckline of the front. I like how quickly this knits up. I use size 10 needles, and since there's no sleeves, it's a fast project that can still fit in the "sweater" category.

My mom wanted a vest as well, but she picked out a lovely green shade of Malabrigo called Verde. It just arrived in the mail yesterday, so as soon as I finish my own vest, I'll cast on another one for my mum. I love the color, but if one is consistent with the "water" theme of the vest, I'd have to say that the idea of "pond scum" is rather accurate. However, I still like the color, so I'll have no problems finishing the "pond scum" version of Maunawili Falls!

The sock is coming along slowly, but steadily. I haven't really been working on it much, but I'm so glad I frogged the first try and re-knit it on size #2 needles. The colors were pooling with the #1 needles, and I think this pattern looks best with stripes, instead of blobs of color.

Finally, I made one more yarn purchase of my favorite "cheap" yarn, Caron Simply Soft. I've raved about it before, but let me remind you that it's inexpensive, indestructible, soft, and long-lasting. I've told Peter I'd knit him a blankie for his birthday, and although it's not his birthday until November, I figured I might as well get started. I'm not exactly sure how it will look yet, but I thought I'd do sampler squares and then crochet them all together.

I got the idea from Anne's blog, and I like the look of knitted squares much better than crochet (sorry, all you crocheters out there!) Plus, it will be an excellent way for me to practice some favorite stitch patterns from my Vogue Stichionary books!