Bristow Completed

Here's a quick picture of Bristow, my entry in the Knitting Olympics. 

Knitting Olympics--Goal Completed

I've finished Bristow. The ends are all woven in and the buttons are in place. I can hardly believe I got it done in less than the time allotted. I'll get the camera out and get some pictures posted, soon.

Thank You, Nona!

Bristow has been coming along so well. I completed the left sleeve, and then I began some assembly work. My side seams are nice; shoulders, not so much. I want this sweater to be nice, so I tried again, and again. It wasn't looking better. I couldn't make it work. So, I set it aside and bought buttons. That didn't fix the shoulders, either. I searched my books, but alas, they failed me. How about that ol' internet? Yah, buddy! Giant thanks to you, Nona. Your helpful information on how to change my pattern to short-row shoulders did the trick. It also allowed me to do my first three-needle-bind-offs. So, I ripped back, and it worked. Those shoulders are so much nicer. This helps me feel better about the fact that I really didn't make any new progress on the sweater. Okay, so buying the buttons and fixing the shoulders is very good. I learned new things, and elevated my knitting level--excellent. I just mean that I didn't get started on that right sleeve, or on the button/buttonhole/neck/bands. Possible bad weather and a long car ride to take someone to the airport mean that I should get some knitting time in on Saturday.

Olympic Update, Day 7

Whoa! Just a week in, and I've already completed the back and both front pieces. I have begun the left sleeve, and it's coming along nicely. Of couse my cardigan doesn't look quite as nice as these little pitcures because I have not yet blocked.

Wannabe

I wannabe a Knitting Olympian. I think I signed up too late to be counted. Even if I don't show up as an official participant, I'm doing it anyway. I've been knitting my first cardigan, Bristow. As I don't have the lovely KnitPicks Andean Silk, and I'm trying to be a good girl and use up the stash, I'm knitting this in Blush Heather Woolease that I picked up on clearance so long ago. I feel like I'm making good progress. So far, I have knit the back and the left front. I have no idea if I can do this in the allotted time. I just decided to set myself a challenge, and go for it. I guess that's part of the reason I was a bit tardy in attempting to sign up for this event. I've also set another Olympic challenge, and that is to exercise each day throughout the Olympics. That means no rest days, but I won't workout as hard everyday like I would normally. Besides, with all this knitting, I figure it's important to move about and make my muscles work in different ways. I'll also have to burn off the extra Valentine's calories. In fact, it's time to get moving now. We may try and avoid the crowds by doing our Valentine's Day celebrating tonight. Of course, if we hold off until tomorrow, I can go to knitting tonight. There is a request for my help on some socks. I'm flattered that she thinks I can help, but I think the other gals are better knitters than I am. Still, I'll do my best to be of assistance if I can.

A Month Later...

...and nothing to show for it. Well, that's both true, and not true. I've been knitting away. I just don't have any pictures right now. Here's what I've done:

1. Completed Kangaroo
2. Knit two 12" squares for a charity afghan
3. Knit all but the border on The Sheep Shawl
4. Won another round of "Fastest Knitter" at the local Michael's 5-Hour Yarn Event
5. Knit Odessa (more about that, later)
   
6. Made progress on the socks for my sweetie.
   
7. Finally revealed myself to my SP6, Rhonda.

Check out Rhonda's blog. She's pretty nifty. I enjoyed spoiling her. It was my first go at the whole Secret Pal adventure. I wish I would have done better that round, but I really was trying. I hope to do it again one day. It is my desire that I will improve in my endeavor each time. I guess that goes for everything (except the bad stuff--I don't need to do those things well).

Can't See the Orchard for the Trees

Okay, that's not really the cause. I'm knitting The Sheep Shawl from Fiber Trends. This has been an enjoyable knit so far. I'm about to begin the last "Orchard" chart. From time to time, I've spread out a small section to see what I've been knitting, but I know I'll have to wait for the blocking to see the real beauty of the shawl. There's no need to post a picture, because right now it just looks like a crumpled mess. I'm knitting this with the Misti Alpaca that I received last month. I feel like quite the knitting geek when I smile inwardly at the idea of knitting The Sheep Shawl with Alpaca. Yes, I'm crazy, and I know it.

One Knitter's Nightmare...

...is a dream for another. I was fortunate to be the recipient of some laceweight Misti Alpaca that one of my fellow knitters just did not like. I love that yarn. It is so soft and lovely. Oh, how I long for the return of lace to my needles. I think that some of this gifted yarn will be a Sheep Shawl for me.

The Christmas knitting is really coming along. I just started a purse for one of my baby chickens. I'm knitting it in Cascade 220 and using Glitterlash for the accent. I need to have it ready by Friday night. In the meantime, I've been doing some holiday baking in between cleaning and organizing projects. Fingers, don't fail me now.

Hat's What I'm Talkin' About

I first fell for Hats On! because of the Triple-Patterned Watch Cap. I thought it would be a great hat for me, and it looked to be a challenge to knit. One day I should knit this for myself, but this one is for my nephew. Working the Twined Herringbone edge was new for me. The yarn became terribly twisted as I worked the one round (just like the directions said), but untwisted beautifully on the next. This is a fabulous hat, and it has nifty patterning on the body beneath the cuff, but it will always remain hidden. That's why I feel the need to show all of these pictures. I'm even brave enough today to show my floats.

Thank You, Secret Pal

The cold rain fell on a dreary afternoon, and there was a knock at the door. The UPS man was hurrying back to his truck and I quickly pulled the bagged box into the house. What was inside? This lovely cashmere yarn from my Secret Pal. Now to determine what it is destined to become.

Two for Tuesday

I just need to wash these, write a Christmas note, and send them on to Alaska. The color on Cassie's hat just isn't showing up right. I think the hats turned out nicely; I just hope they fit well. Onto the next hat!

Productive Needles

Oh, how I am knitting along so well these days. My mind is beginning to wrap itself around more holiday knitting, and not even getting stressed about the idea. I'm about to begin the luskofte portion of the second Norwegian Stars hat. I've looked at the new Knitty, and I think I want to knit Bristow & Festive. Whoa! I just noticed that they are both knit in red. I don't know that I'd do them in red, I'm just seeing the pattern, so to speak.

I'm probably going to miss my Monday night knitting group because it is Mom's birthday today and we are partying with her tonight. I've knit her a cabled headband as a little giftie. I hope I chose the correct size. If not, I'll knit it again for her. It was a joy to knit (mostly because I knew it was for Mom), and done completely without the cable needle. Mom has not much asked for knitted items, but I think this one should be a hit. She doesn't like hats (mess up hair), but her ears are sensitive to the cold and wind. This seems like it should be a match.

One Down...

...and one to go. Jim's Norwegian Star Hat is finished. I need to try again on the photo. Cassie's hat is next.

Oh, Baby!

It was down to the wire. The hour of the baby shower loomed ever closer. My fingers moved as fast as they could. The gift: Two blankets, a hat, a pair of socks, and a pair of thumbless mittens. They went into the dryer while I finished getting ready to go. I knitted the second mitten this morning, and then added the little puff ball to the top of the hat. This evening I'm working on the Norwegian Star and relaxing.

Ta-da! Tuesday

No, I haven't finished the first of the Norwegian Star hats, but I am clicking along pretty well. My nephew was gracious enough to help me show you how it's coming along. Were it not for a baby shower on Sunday for which I must knit furiously, I think I could finish the hat this week.

Socks & Star Wars

Here are the socks I knit for my nephew using Lion Brand Magic Stripes. He also wanted Obi Wan Kenobi, Storm Trooper, and Turtle to be in the picture with him. Yes, we've been to Burger King more than what I'm used to, lately. At this point he also has a little yellow spaceship thing and R2D2. What he doesn't know is that I've gotten him a Queen Amidala and Chewbacca, but I'm keeping those hidden back for a bad day, or a good day, I suppose. He's been spending a lot of time with us lately. I'd like to knit some more for him. Sometimes he is interested in looking at yarn with me. I've taught him to pet yarn, and he's not shy when it comes to letting me know what he likes and what he does not like.

ALF FO

Bottom Right: ALF Unblocked & Charts
Bottom Left: ALF Side Panel
Top Left: ALF Center Panel
Top Right: Ta-da! ALF!

My, But She's a Fast Girl

Here's a bit of shameless bragging.  At Michael's Five-Hour Yarn Event on Sunday, I won the Fastest Knitter Competition.  I received a very nice basket with some Bling-Bling, Fun Fur, Fancy Fur, Lion Bouclé, US 13 Bamboo Knitting Needles, and a couple of booklets for knitting with these yarns.  I'll post a pic later.  I have a few others that I need to post, but the weather has been bad, so my computer time is limited.  The same goes for today.  Today is Tuesday, so you know what that means.  After having to restart my Norwegian Star hat, it's clicking along.  Then again, this is just the plain ol' stockinette-stitch lining portion, so not much to report.  Be safe, and weather aware, kids!  Don't forget your knitting and a flashlight.          

Norwegian KAL

It's time for Norwegian Knitting!  I've joined the Norwegian Knits- Along, and I'll be knitting Norwegian Star hats from Hats On! by Charlene Schurch.  I'm so excited to cast on and get going.  I plan to knit these hats as Christmas gifts.    

A Time for Every Season...

...you just can't tell what season it is around here. Oh, there are lovely fall colors on the trees, and the leaves are falling, but we're setting record highs in the temperatures. While the global warming debate rages on, I think I have another explanation. You see, I started working on my Kangaroo again. Every time I work on it, the weather warms up again. I've cast-on for my sleeves (the last bits to be knit), and now people are wearing shorts.

I've sent for a way cool giftie for my Secret Pal. It is to be sent directly to her, and I really think that this is going to fit with some things she has been wanting to knit and design. Even better, they will be things she would knit for herself, and it's good to knit for yourself. Anyway, I'd like to get another little package in the mail for her soon because it might take a couple of weeks for her prize to arrive.

I finished knitting my ALF; I just need to block it. I've also finished a pair of socks for my nephew using Lion Brand Magic Stripes in the Brown and Blue Pattern colorway. I'm going to try and get him to put them on and let me take a picture.

I think I've got my comments fixed, now. I had the settings messed up, but I think I've got it the way they should be.

Yes, I too have received my free Bernat Disco in Mr. Brown. I'm willing to take in orphaned Disco Balls from those of you who did not like what arrived in your mailbox.

I got a nifty e-card from my Secret Pal today. Thank you, Secret Pal!

I've had a great time at my knitting meetings the past two days. Now we're just daring each other to show up at Michael's Five-Hour Yarn Event on Sunday and enter the fastest knitter contest.