Fall is here

Fall is here, and I'm finally zooming through Lavaliere.. I've done the body, and sleeves to the elbow matching the smocking pattern that I had on the back. Just need to do the front band. It required blocking, so I've blocked it and need to do the pick up of the front and knit the smocking pattern on the front band.. So, that's at 90%  (Yay I passed the 70% mark)..and the yarn is so soft. so, i'm happy there.

While that was blocking, I re-picked up Audrey in Unst.. Do you remember ? The lovely blue that taunted me earlier in the year ? The body is done, and the sleeves top down were pretty frustrating, as my armhole was 6" in height, instead of the minimum 7" called for in the pattern.  I tried a bunch of iterations but none of them worked. Happy to have internet, as I found short row sleeve instructions here which appear to be working.

UA = Underarm
T = Total stitches to pick up
C = Cap

C = T-UA = 72-13 = 59

Split 59 stithces in 6 sections - 10 9 10 10 10 10 
(Folded fabric of armhole in 1/2 and then, folded that in 3 and added stitch markers and did the pick up.

Short rows from beginning to end of 4th section, wrap.
Return row to end of 2nd section, wrap.
Continue until I'm at the end of the 5th section, and 1st section.
Then, continue in the round.

So far, it looks really good.
I also did not hide the wraps on this method and it seems to be fine.

It's been foggy and overcast the last couple of days..fall has set in.
I'm still hopeful on a few good sunny days..but it's been sunny without warmth for a few weeks now.

Should we update with a few shameless yarn pics ? Ok!

Cephalopodyarns had a flash sale a few weeks ago 10% off..so I bucked and bought this gradient set i'd been eyeing:



Really, the only colors I'm interested in are the 2 at the outer edges, so I'll likely use the middle ones either for shawls or minis. Also, they have changed their yarn base on the bugga so that it's way softer and it's 400 yds now per skein, instead of the 380 yds that was originally introduced. They're also dye-to-order, so you can get whatever you need, whenever you need it. They've also introduced a frequent buyer program so you collect 10 stamps (1 per skein purchased) on the bottom of your invoice, and trade that in for credit for 1 skein. Nice. They are also offering double stamps on particular colorways updated on Rav each Monday.

Mondegreen is back at Verdant Gryphon. Here is Sturgeon Mary, it's a dark blurple (yep, purple-based blue):



 and from EverythingOld - I bought this skein of Kashmir Sock at Fiber Fest in August:

September

The last few weeks have been busy. Fall stuff, and I've been trying to switch my time back to go to bed earlier, and get up earlier. First week, I ended up being short on sleep and getting a cold. coughing, sneezing, runny nose, then, congestion. A colleague thought I might be having allergies..then, the following week, I was breathing regularly again.

I'm also busy at work..and trying to keep up with knitting projects.
I did a blanket square for a lady in one of my online rav groups who passed recently. We weren't close, but her absence shook up the group quite a bit, and she seemed to be a really nice lady, generous with her time and love.

Also, I'm continuing on with Lavaliere, in a lovely pink. I was doing some swatching with a merino-silk mixture but put on hold to do a recalc of numbers, since i'm not keen on the bottom up approach for the pullover and using a different yarn and gauge from the pattern (heh, as usual, for those who know me). Trying the yarn diet thing again..we'll see how that goes. I could put some money away.

Also, stretching myself by taking a class, and we had a special educational day at work where the whole company was involved. It was nice to participate and not worry about "leaving" my work for a day. We had a reorg in summer and we're feeling the effects of it now. Though everyone seemed happy to put that aside for a day.

I'm also doing some organizing at home, letting go of some things, and I re-organized a section..I'm also wanting to revisit the sewing thing. I have fabric washed, ready to iron, and projects earmarked.

I've been twice now to Avenue Fabric Studio on Oak Bay Avenue. They are importing some heavier linen fabrics in some lovely patterns. The shop owner is quite nice, knowledgeable and helpful.  I might take some courses here.

Drama. reading about the goth socks fiasco. Lovely striped yarns started 5 years ago..and the owner had some private troubles which spilled over to her company life. now, they're way behind in club orders and are slowly trying to fulfill. seems weird that the dyakcraft fans were able to hold out patience and not file any complaints even though their order were more than 3x overdue than the gs. made to order and dye to order, there's a big hole there where people can advance money 4-6-8 weeks in advance and not seeing anything for months. pretty amazing.

and lots of endings..the end of Burn Notice, last season of Dexter, a few shows not returning.
still hoping for a few sunny days between now and October.

For sales - the Malabrigo group is running a KAL and there's discounts there, and The Plucky Knitter group has some pattern sales with their KAL Plucktember.

Photos - Canyonland Shawl

 TA DA!:







 



 

End of August

Whoa..haven't been blogging in awhile. After knitting, unknitting the Canyonlands Shawl, it's done.
Yarn - Skein Merino Silk Sport in Tundra

This was after the garter -



It's blocking now, and I'll post a photo again soon.

August

phew July just blew by..been busy getting out in the sun which is so atypical for me. Normally, I knit year round. This is the first year, I'm still knitting, but less..as I get out in the sun more. I've been visiting Butchart Gardens and taking in the sweet smell of the roses. It's August now, so hopefully, the dahlias won't be too far behind.

There's a lady who has a lovely bountiful garden of dahlias on my route to work..they started this last week to put flowers out on their stand, and I stopped by on Wednesday after my class to pick some up from me and for my mom.  $4 for 7 or 8 big Dahlias in a bunch..and they're a beautiful mix of colors.

For knitting, I knit the yoke..followed the instructions and then, tried on..and realized I'd knit too far compared to where I want the next to be..so I ripped back 3 repeats..and did another decrease, and bound off. Today's the first day it's been overcast, so I might actually be able to visualize what length I want the sleeves. It was too distracting to figure this out when it's sunny..as I want to just wear it now with the cap sleeve when it's sunny like this..even though it's 100% wool..and might be a bit heavy in summer weather (i.e. too toasty to actually wear in sun).

Other things that happened. The Verdant Gryphon offered another 5th monday contest for the end of July. I suggested a photo that was a lovely red-pink, blue, and purpley-pink colorway, and Gryphon was inspired..she created this:

My prize skein arrived and it's just as beautiful..

I had frogged back the couple of inches on the Lavaliere and that is re-started now, and the shoulders are beginning to shape. The color is pleasing, and the yarn is soft, even if the pattern is a bit boring at the moment...

Sotherton continued and Lavaliere restarted

I've been ruminating on my Sotherton arms issue (designer had you knit the body and 2 sleeves, and then, yoke). I couldn't decide on sleeve length..and originally had to re-jig numbers to make the sleeves be snug against my wrist (5.5") and increase towards the elbow 9", forearm 10" circumference, and arm at bust (top of body tube) is 11".

I had originally reduced the pattern repeat to 4 repeats from 6 repeats for my size to make it be snug on my wrist. Problem is that snug at my wrist means there isn't enough stretch and I end up strangling my arm if I push up my sleeves (or try to push them up past my elbow).

I contacted the designer, and also talked to someone in my group who handily could visualize and drew me a quick sketch. I'm going to try to cast-on provisionally, the sleeve stitches at the top of the body tube, and then, knit the yoke as per the pattern, and then, pick up and knit down the sleeves to the length I want.

I like the idea of having long-sleeves but right now, summer's here and it's too hot to think about what I'd like to wear in the winter time or if I think I'd wear the sweater some other time of the year.

I've also started a new projectwhile I was ruminating - Lavaliere..a pattern I received last year for my birthday..and here's the pics of the yarn with the pattern pic.



These were 2 skeins of white-faced meadowhawk from the valentines bonbons which arrived as non-variegated well-blended skeins..and happened to match well enough to cast-on. Turns out I took a wayward turn on my lifted increases, and decided last night after knitting a couple of inches that I wasn't happy with it, so I ripped it back completely and started over.

One of the projects will end up working out..

As my mom said... I would have less problems with my projects if I just followed the directions. However, I wouldn't necessarily be happy with the finished project..and I think that tailoring it to me so it actually fits me makes it so I'm more likely to wear it.

Sotherton pics

Just took a peek in here, and realized I hadn't posted any pics of Sotherton - so here you go...







I'm debating about the sleeve length now since it's cuff up. I've actually knit past the elbow, but i'm thinking of either (a) frogging back and making the sleeve a 3/4 length sleeve, or (b) trying to knit the yoke and do top-down sleeves, which would require me to veer from the pattern, since the designer has designed it to have body and 2 sleeves, and then, knit the yoke and pick up the 2 sleeves.

I hate it when I stall..but i'm too busy right now to think about doing anything else.

May starts

I'm having a bit of startitis these days..actually more like dreaming about starting. I've been reading and dreaming and imagining a few patterns, and squishing yarn. I started a new project yesterday..Sotherton with a dk weight yarn - traveller. the little swatch I made is very springy and softened up a lot. Not sure about how the variegation on the yarn will fall..so the skeins might end up going back if there's too much black popping up in unwanted places....I'm now thinking of a light lacey summer top as well...and debating about a heavier coat thing for the fall with my madtosh birthday yarn.

Also, I finally ripped back the back and two fronts on the Austin Hoodie, as it was really bugging me about the 6 stitches that had gravitated from one front to the other. so, that's sitting in little balls right now taunting me to finish.

The audrey cardigan is sitting as my armhole is shorter..and i'm not happy at all with the short-row sleeve. the body was a super quick knit. Someone asked me if I could make it a vest, but I think the armholes might be too close for this. It's a possible..the lace on the front is lovely. I just don't wear many vests.

I whipped up a quick scarf...in codex again.. I think that's the trick to keep the momentum is to mixup the gauge if one doesn't work..go bigger and whip out something quick. It took just a few evenings and I was wearing it by yesterday. 

pics to follow.

Codex Calling..

I took a short break from Audrey to knit up another codex shawl. The colors just called..and so I zoomed through in 4 days:



Colors are Through the Looking Glass (Blue), Devil's Dictionary (Black with bits of pink and blue), and a Mystery Pink.

Close-up:



Audrey's on hold. I can't get the sleeves right.
and Codex is calling again..so I've cast-on a scarf to show off the lovely sheen:

Meet Mary Reed

Audrey Cardi continuing

The Audrey Cardi is continuing. I've knit the body including the lace panels, and starting the top-down sleeves.

Here's the pre-lace progress pic:



Since the first pic I posted, I discovered I was on the wrong needle, I'd misread my project pages.
So, I had to frog back the 3" of twisted ribbing and re-cast on, on a US6. A bit of finagling later, I was on my way. I like doing the twisted rib, but it gets old after awhile..and I need to remember not to double-twist the stitches otherwise they end up being big and puffy, just like a stitch that isn't twisted properly.

Also, the bugga yarn on these skeins is stiffer..and I'm hoping it'll block out when I'm done.

My birthday came and went with lots of celebratory dinners out - Lao Ventiane for Laotian food, Lamb dinner and tiramisu at San Remo's, and a Large bowl of mussels at The Brentwood Pub. Also, since then, dinner at The Roost, recommended by Mandy, a gal in my knitting group. The roast beef was delicious and I kind of tripped down memory lane.

Some new yarn for my stash - (Happy Birthday to me! ... The lovely Coquette  in MCN Worsted-



and some new old yarn dyed over by my friend Emma as lovely teals:



The before pic below -  olive green (shown far right) and a mint green (2nd from right), both not my colors from a Pigeonroof Studios Grab Bag.  Both apparently were quite yellow - too much so for my complexion. The mint is some kind of fingering MCN very soft and I couldn't part with it. The Bacchus is a merino-silk blend with a lovely hand and bit of a sheen.

.
Not sure what the dark teal will be, but I think the blue-green will be some kind of shawl.

Pas de Valse cardi in Blue Lobster Done

Project: Pas de Valse Cardi by Marnie Maclean
Yarn: 3 skeins The Sanguine Gryphon Bugga in Blue Lobster (~1236 yds);
Needle: US 6 Signature Needle
Gauge swatch was 22st per 4" on US 6, so I picked the 33.5" size for 35", and negative ease as the pattern has 2" of positive ease built-in. Post blocking, I measured several different points on the cardi, and ended up between 22st and 24st per 4" on US 6.
 
Notes: Adjusted for gauge, as I didn't want the collar to be wrapping me in 3. I decided for now, not to do the lettuce edge as I like the way the collar curls. Due to the difference in gauge, I ended up only doing the first 2 decreases on the back piece, and then, knitting up so the back and fronts were matched. Then, I did the short rows at the shoulder as called for, and joined the extension to the back at the back neck so they matched. Like others, I had holes in the back of the neck, but I ran a yarn through to close it up.  In the original pattern, the collar is so big and floppy it covers up the back neck and the front where the extension is joined. Since I didn't want such a big extension, the reverse stockinette on the front shows more, and blocking straightened out the wows from the increases along the left side of the cardi. I also had about 70 stitches picked up for the top of the sleeve, so I followed that set of numbers on the top-down short rows, until I had 4 stitches on each side, as per the size I was making. Seemed to work out. The back is a bit tight still after blocking, but the cardi is very flattering, and the yarn softened and bloomed after soaking, blocking, and air drying.

Pre-knitted pic of the yarn - a lovely blue-green teal:



Pas de Valse pre-block:



Post - block:



Better pics when I can find someone to take a better pic.
Seems like my self-pics are too blurry to post..without give you a headache to look at them.

and my new love - The Blue Caterpillar colorway (from the Verdant Gryphon), also bugga. It is the most brilliant of blues - close to tardis blue, I think they've referring to it as - see for yourself...kind of burns your eyeballs off it's so bright.



I've started the twisted rib of another sportweight cardi.