Gearing up for 2011

My New Years Resolution is to write on this blog. Man it's been neglected! I've still been knitting, just somehow not blogging about everything. 2011 is the year of the knitting blog come back.

Christmas 2010 has come and gone. I surprisingly ended up making most gifts even though I didn't really try that hard. I cut back drastically and didn't stress about making too many things. What I did make, however, I wanted to be just right and exactly what people had asked for.

The real star of the show, however, is my little niece Miriam. She is almost 10 months old and 2010 was her first Christmas. I think she was really the only gift anyone in my family needed this year. It was good to see her. She lives in Philadelphia and rarely gets up to Maine and or Boston for that matter.

I have a few pictures of the knitted gifts I gifted this year. I wasn't as good about getting pictures of items with their owners as I usually am. I blame Miriam for stealing all the picture taking thunder...even my knitting can't compete with her cuteness.

I made my Dad a pair of "Waffle Stitch Mittens"

  

This shawl I gave to my Sister in Law - pattern is called "Adamas"

These "Slip Jig" socks I gave to my mom. One of only a few pairs I made this year.

Now that Christmas is over with I am starting a large project for myself. This is a yearly tradition with me...finish all my gifts then knit a gift for me. This year I immediately cast on for a large and complicated cabled sweater pattern that I've been wanting to make for over a year. I already had all the yarn for it and it's been waiting.  I have been intimidated by the sweater for quite some time. It's a Vogue Knitting pattern (that in itself is intimidating enough) but it's also a coat sized sweater designed my Norah Gaughan. While her patterns are usually well written, they also have "interesting" construction and complicated patterning. Put all that together and I feel like I can't do it.

Pictured at the left is the start of the back. I have the two bottom pieces done (back left and right) and I have joined them and about half way through the top decreases. It looks odd already and can't imagine that all the pieces are going to go together well. This back piece looks tiny but matches the specs from the magazine. I guess we'll see!

I plan on blogging about this entire sweater making ordeal. I'm planning on a challenge so it should be interesting :) Stay tuned for updates. My Ravelry project page is here: http://ravel.me/sawyerlm/3cc (and it should be accessible to all). The pattern is available on the Vogue site.

Latest Socks

Just finished the latest sock club package from Blue Moon Fiber Arts. I haven't been keeping up with the sock club packages this year due to the 10 Shawls in 2010 challenge. I've made 9 shawls this year and only 2 pairs of socks!

Project info:
Yarn: Socks that Rock, Lightweight
Colorway: Firecracker
Pattern: My Heart Beets for You by Ann Hansen
Needles: Size 1 circular
Modifications: Knit one extra repeat on the leg (7 total chart repeats) and decreased to 32 stitches on the toe and then decreased every round to 16 stitches before binding off.

10 for 2010 Challenge

I've joined a year long challenge on Ravelry where the challenge is to make 10 shawls in 2010. It's a very active group and the shawls being made are so pretty to look through. I love making lace and have a HUGE stash to knit through. Perfect combo.

My first shawl for this challenge is:
Pattern: Multnomah (PDF link to Designer's site)
Designer: Kate Flagg of Hello Knitty
Yarn: Premier Yarns Serenity Sock Weight in Lavendar Topaz colorway
Yards: 460 yrds (2 skeins)  
Needles: Size 5 Addi Turbo circs

Knitting for my new niece

My first niece is due to be born in March. And while I already have a baby blanket all made, there are plenty of other things I want to make her. My brother and sister-in-law have requested a few things...but a baby girl is so fun to knit for I'm planning on making lots and lots more.

The first thing I cast on for was a sweater. I found the cutest baby girl cardigan on Ravelry. It's free and couldn't resist the cuteness...The pattern is Modified Drops Eyelet Baby Cardigan (ravelry link).

I have plenty of fingering weight in my stash. This is Knit Picks Gloss in Cosmos colorway. It's been lingering in my stash for quite a while and even was trying to be several other things before this sweater. I think it's perfect for this :)

The sweater is about 75% done. I only have the two sleeves left. As I said...super cute:

Spool Knitting with Wire

This morning in my inbox was an email newsletter from Beading Daily all about spool knitting jewelry with wire. Makes me want to give it a shot since I've been into wire knitting jewelry lately. I don't have a suitable spool knitter though...hmm.

Here's a link to the article: How to Wire Spool Knit in 7 Easy Steps

First FO of 2010

My mom gifted me this yarn last year in a Valentine's Day package. It works surprising well with this pattern "Uptown Boot Socks" that I got out of my Interweave Knits Favorite Socks book. These were my over the Christmas holiday knitting project while at home. They took exactly a week to make. Very easy pattern - after getting the gist of the cabling, I only looked at it for the heel and toe directions. Well written and very straight forward.

Stats on these:
Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Sockin' Sox
Colorway: #006 - a pretty teal/blue/green variegated
Needles: Size 2 Harmony Circulars
Size Made: Medium

Here's some more pics...