Cast-on-itis

I don't know where I caught it but I sure have a SERIOUS case of cast-on-itis.

Don't believe me?




Pattern: Featherweight Cardigan by Hannah Fettig
Yarn: Malabrigo Lace
Colorway: Azul Bolita
Needles: US size 6
Started: January 14, 2011

This is part of a small KAL I'm doing with some folks at SLYCO.



Pattern: Nanners by Wendy Johnson
Yarn: Malabrigo Sock
Colorway: Terra Cotta
Needles: US size 1
Started: January 15, 2011

These puppies were started as part of another KAL at SLYCO.




Pattern: Toe up Socks with Gusset Heel by Wendy Johnson
Yarn: The Alpaca Yarn Co. Paca Peds H-T
Colorway: Tye Dye
Needles: US size 0
Started: January 20, 2011

I started these while teaching a two at a time toe up sock class. I am loving the striping!



Pattern: Sportweight Toe up Sock with Gusset Heel by Wendy Johnson
Yarn: Scarlet Fleece It's Tubular x2
Colorway: Popsicle
Needles: US size 3
Started: January 19, 2011

These bright colors always make my day, especially when it is cold and bleak outside.



Pattern: Sportweight Toe Up Socks with Gusset Heel by Wendy Johnson
Yarn: Scarlet Fleece It's Tubular x2
Colorway: Lapis Woodland
Needles: US size 2
Started: January 28, 2011

Someone sent me a text last week begging for a pair of socks because it is COLD in DC.



Pattern: Toe up Socks with Gusset Heel by Wendy Johnson
Yarn: The Alpaca Co. Paca Peds H-T
Colorway: Frog and Piggy
Needles: size 0
Started: January 28, 2011

I just cannot pass up cute and bright stripey yarn!



Pattern: Dead Simple Lace Socks by Wendy Johnson
Yarn: Schaefer Yarn Company Anne
Colorway: Elisabeth Kubler -Ross
Needles: US size 1
Started: January 31, 2011

This will be a shop model for SLYCO. It is just a 2 row repeat and easy to memorize. I suspect these will be done first out of ALL my socks on the needles.



Pattern: Riding on the Metro Socks by Wendy Johnson
Yarn: Scarlet Fleece Grassy
Colorway: Raspberry Pie
Needles: US size 0
Toe: Judy's Magic Cast On
Heel (to be used): slip stitch
Cast off: sewn bind off
Started: February 2, 2011


This is part of the Socks From the Toe Up KAL on ravelry. So far, I like knitting with this Scarlet Fleece Grassy. It really is not splitty!



Pattern: Volna by Grumperina
Yarn: Noro Kirameki
Colorway: 159
Needles: US size 6
Started: January 28, 2011

Can you believe this isn't a pair of socks? Me neither!

And last but not least:



Pattern: Chris Relaxed Hat by Rebecca Hatcher
Yarn: Schaefer Chris
Colorway: Indira Gandhi
Needles: US size 6
Started: January 29, 2011

I saw my friend France knitting on this last month and just had to get this on the needles too. I HEART slip stitch patterns!


I only have a couple of FOs right now.



Someone's head (not mine) was cold when he went to the farm. So, I knit this up for him before he left and from what I hear it was appreciated in 10-15 degree F weather.

Pattern: Turn a Square Hat by Jared Flood
Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted in Olive
Yarn: Noro Kureyon in 149
Needles: size 5 and 7
Started: January 21, 2011
Finished: January 22, 2011



Pattern: Sheri's Posies by Wendy Johnson
Yarn: The Alpaca Yarn Co. Alpaca Peds
Colorway: Green Apple
Needle: US size 1
cast on : Judy's Magic Cast On
heel: slip stitch
cast off: sewn bind off
Started: January 14, 2011
Completed: January 23, 2011

I loved knitting these up. Lace always holds my interest and motivates me to actually FINISH.

Since I haven't really been able to keep up with the once a week blogging, I plan to at least log in once a month. That, I think (fingers crossed) is doable!

Happy New Year!

Wow, it has been a while since I have posted anything here..So, let me get started with a few FOs.








First FO of the year is my Vent d'est vent d'ouest cowl. This was part of the December 2010 Cowl KAL.

Pattern: Vent d'est vent d'ouest cowl by Marie Adeline Boyer
Yarn: Malabrigo Lace in Fuschia
Needle: size 6
started: December 31, 2010
finished: January 6, 2011

I knit this cowl a bit looser (on a US 6) so that I could pull it over my head. Larissa's border was also used because I loved the lacy look at each end.

The only reason I made this in pink was to have a cute accessory that matched my pink Pumas. Yes, I have a strong aversion to the color pink.

Moving on..




Pattern: Turn a Square by Jared Flood
Yarn: Queensland Collection Super Aussie in Colorway 104
Noro Silk Garden in Colorway 304
Needles: Size 6 for the cast on and rib
Size 7 for the remainder of the body of hat
Started: January 6, 2011
Finished: January 7, 2011




Pattern: Turn a Square by Jared Flood
Yarn: Queensland Collection Super Aussie in Colorway 116
Noro Kureyon in Colorway 149
Needles: Size 6 for the cast on and rib
Size 7 for the remainder of the body of hat
Started: January 7, 2011
Finished: January 8, 2011


Both of these were knit up as shop models for my LYS, Sugarland Yarn Co. As you can see, Turn a Square is awesome for both men and women. I love knitting these hats. They are like potato chips. You can never just have one!


What I have on the needles right now:



Pattern: Summer 2008 Socks by Wendy Johnson
Yarn: Shaefer Yarn Company Anne
Colorway:Elisabeth Kubler-Ross
Needle: US 1 (2AAT)
Toe: Judy's Magic Cast On
Heel (to be used): slip stitch
Cast off (to be used): Sewn Bind Off
Started: January 1, 2011


This is also a shop model for SLYCO and part of the Socks From the Toe Up KAL. This is comprised of a 3 row repeat which is super easy to memorize. I'm interested to see how they will turn out after they are blocked. I chose the smaller size because these are fairly stretchy. So far, they fit rather nicely.


Next week, I'll show off a few of my latest stash acquisitions. Yes, I will make every attempt to get back to blogging weekly.

Knitting Project ADD

Yes, I have self diagnosed myself with Knitting Project ADD. Lately, I knit through projects like I flip through TV channels, not really focusing on one for too long.

Before I share my many WIPS, I must proudly share the two projects that I actually finished!


Pattern: I Heart Toe-Up Socks by Wendy Johnson
Yarn: Malabrigo Sock in Tiziano Red
Needles: size 1
Started: January 20,2010
Finished: January 30, 2010
Cast on: Judy's Magic Cast On
Heel : slip stitch
Cast off : Sewn bind off




Pattern: Susie's Reading Mitts by Janelle Masters
Yarn: Alpaca Silk by Blue Sky Alpcacas in Colorway 141 (or Pea Pod)
Needles: size 5
Started: February 10, 2010
Finished: February 11, 2010

This was such a quick and fun knit. I plan on making a few more! Not only is Blue Sky Alpaca Silk soft to knit with, it creates a silky and sturdy accessory.

Now on to the projects I have been juggling:



Pattern: Hearts and Flowers by Wendy Johnson
Yarn: A Swell Yarn Shop De Kay Duet Sock Yarn
Colorway: Daffodil
Needle: size 1
Toe: Judy's Magic Cast On
Heel (to be used): Slip Stitch
Cast off (to be used): Sewn bind off
Started: February 1, 2010

I am praying that I have enough to complete the second sock. I am already knitting on the leg and it looks a bit iffy.



Pattern: Citron by Hilary Smith Callis
Yarn: Malabrigo Lace in Cosecha
Needles: size 6
Started: January 30, 2010

Citron is like eating potato chips: it is impossible to have just one!

I signed up for Ravelympics 2010 for teams UFOInvaders and Headhuggers. Sigh. I think I bit off a bit more than I can CHEW this month. We will see how much I can actually knit up.

I'm off to attempt to finish my Hearts and Flowers socks tonight.

Happy Valentine's Day to those who celebrate!

Finished Rivulets

And they are done!






A closeup because I had to share the beautiful lace detail:



Pattern: Rivulets by Wendy Johnson
Yarn: Stalwart Sock by Slackford Studio LLC
Colorway: Limon
Needles: Size 1
Started: January 1, 2010
Finished: January 20, 2010
Cast on: Judy's Magic Cast On
Heel : Slip Stitch
Cast off : Sewn bind off

This was so much fun to knit up and I was very pleased with the end result. The stripes (foot and leg) and the pooling (at the toes,gusset, and heel) were perfect! I will definitely have to purchase a few more skeins.

The latest WIP:



Pattern: I Heart Toe-Up Socks by Wendy Johnson
Yarn: Malabrigo Sock in Tiziano Red
Needles: size 1
Started: January 20,2010
Cast on: Judy's Magic Cast On
Heel (to be used): slip stitch
Cast off (to be used): Sewn bind off


I adore knitting ANYTHING in Malabrigo. Not only is the end product beautiful but the actual process of knitting with this soft yarn is fabulous!

I have two finished shawlettes waiting to be blocked. I probably could block it without blocking wires but I'm convinced that it would be so much more beautiful with them. And, I am sort of lazy. So, I'm off to check the mail for the third time today...

First FO of the year!

I present my first FO of the year:



Pattern Citron by Hilary Smith Callis
Yarn: Malabrigo Lace in Lettuce
Needles: size 6
Started: December 16,2009
Finished: January 12, 2010

It is currently unblocked. I am waiting on some lace blocking wires to properly block it. This was a quick knit. If I had not been so distracted with socks, I could have had this knit up in a few days!

On the sock front: I'm still plugging away on my Rivulets. I'm hoping to have these finished by next week. (fingers crossed)

Happy New Year!

I have come to the realization that making unsound resolutions is frankly, just plain ridiculous. Why make a resolution that you KNOW will never happen? Why not call them wishes?

Anyway, I've decided this year to make reasonable resolutions. Reasonable resolutions that I KNOW I can accomplish easily. So, here goes..



This is half of my stash. As you can see, I have a bit of a problem. No,I do not plan on buying less yarn (that is just blasphemy). The plan is to get a bit more organized and photograph one to four skeins a day until my entire stash is up on ravelry.

My second resolution...



..is to knit a decent looking sweater for Cuqui. I am so over my precious rockstar looking like a preppy schoolboy. No, I did not pick out or BUY this hideous sweater. Unfortunately, she has had to use it for the past four days because it has been COLD (like 20 degrees cold) in Houston and her natural fur coat just isn't enough!

And lastly...



..I am going to knit as many socks as I want!

Pattern: Rivulets by Wendy Johnson
Yarn: Stalwart Sock by Slackford Studio LLC
Colorway: Limon
Needles: Size 1
Started: January 1, 2009
Cast on: Judy's Magic Cast On
Heel (to be used): Slip Stitch
Cast off(to be used) : Sewn bind off
Bag: Small wedge bag by Piddleloop

Yes, I know I already knit socks like mad but I'm trying to keep my momentum going!

Last FO of 2009

Pattern: Toe-Up Socks with Gusset Heel by Wendy Johnson
Yarn: Seacoast Handpainted Superwash Sock
Colorway: Royal
Needles: Size 1
Started: December 24, 2009
Finished: December 30, 2009
Cast on: Judy's Magic Cast On
Heel : Gusset
Cast off : Sewn bind off

I end this year with a pair of socks and will begin 2010 with another. Happy New Year!