Wednesday, February 27, 2008

This and That

I did finish the Ivy League. I really did. It's washed, blocked and folded upstairs on the buffet. Last Friday, I had a few free minutes with no one else in the house and decided to take photos of all he things I have been working on. (Unlike Carly, who was participating in February is for Finishing, I have zero discipline when it comes to not starting anything new. I continually tell myself that I only want to have a maximum of 2 WIP's at a any given moment but that always goes right out the door the second I come across something new that I would like to knit. Then I start it immediately. Yes, I have chronic startitis.)

Anyhoo.

My camera died after about 6 photos were taken. Stopped working mid-shoot, lens extended and everything. Went black, and I couldn't turn it on or off. Even though I had just put fresh batteries in that morning, I changed them again. Nothing. I jiggled it, I shook it, I took the memory card in and out, rearranged the batteries and still nothing. It just stopped working.

I managed to get a few photos of the vest, but no modeled shots. For your viewing pleasure:




















Pattern: Ivy League Vest by Eunny Jang
Size: the largest size, 41.75 bust
Yarn: Knit picks Palette in Cream, Mist, Fog, Twig, Salsa Heather, and Garnet Heather, 1 ball of each
Needles: Knitpicks Harmony Option Circs Size 5 and 3
Notes and Ravelry link here.

I finished a bag that I knit a couple of weeks ago for my sister-in-law, which I knit for her because she constantly uses a bag I sort of freehand crocheted together and lined badly. I wanted her to have something a bit nicer and more well put together. So here it is, at long last:








































Pattern: Brea Bag by Norah Goughan
Yarn: Peace Fleece Worsted in Lena's Meadow, 2 Hanks
Needles: Clover 29" bamboo circs size 9
Notes and Ravelry link here.

I've also decided that for every two or three projects I knit that I'm going to insert a project to donate somewhere. Right now I'm on a cute chemo cap kick. I want people who are undergoing this treatment to have something cute and/or stylish to wear. I already have lots of soft cotton blends in my stash. Anybody want to join me on this quest?

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

The Ivy Leagues

I mentioned briefly in a previous post that I had ordered the yarn from Knitpicks to make an Ivy League vest and then never talked about it again. When I saw this pattern I thought "Aha!" this is perfect to try a more challenging fair isle/colorwork project with out doing and entire sweater which I just don't think I'd have the patience for. I also decided to try a different color scheme than the one in the pattern because I'm partial to reds and I like to be a little adventurous. So here is the ribbing:














Looks great, takes forever. Corrogated ribbing really slows things down but I think it was worth it.















The rest of the way it's gone pretty quickly and it's super fun to watch the pattern work up right before your eyes.




















As you can see, I'm nearing the shoulder and should be done with the main body of knitting pretty soon. I won't venture a guess as to how soon because then inevitably I will obsess about some other project.

I've got another project that's finished and photographed so if I can manage to get the pics onto the computer without incident than that will be next.

On a side note, I went out on a super fun shopping trip with Carly on Saturday and scored enough Elsebeth Lavold Silky wool in a pumpkin color for a sweater for 50% off!!!! She also showed me the Fabric Hut in Norfolk which is Massive, with a capital M. I picked up some cotton lining for the Celtic Tote I'm working on. After talking with her and seeing this place I'm totally inspired to try more sewing projects for the house now. Yay!