Merry Christmas

It's been awhile, but I seem to be spending more time at school and the clinic now-a-days. We were in the student clinic from July -December and started in the outpatient clinic during the last week of November. To get a weekly knitting fix, I started going to the Quad City Stitch & Bitch every Wednesday. Unfortunately, I will be missing a 3 week block from being on vacation and an intense week at school.

For the last few months, I haven't knit a whole lot, but I did manage to start & finish a SMALL project.

Yarn: 1.25 skeins Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool (color 59)
Pattern: Caroline by Hannah Ingalls
Needles: US 4 DPN

I started with the size large for the hat, but it was way too big. From reading other ravelry posts, this hat tends to run a little large. The size small stretches to fit my head, but it doesn't look like it's being stretched.





I have been knitting my Fiddlehead Mittens here and there, although I'm no far from being done. I'm about 20 rows from completing one of the stranded mittens though. I know that I'll finish these mittens some time, but I'm really not sure when.

There was a time, when I packed to go home for a period of time, I would just bring my UFO bin, but it became a lot to pack and carry around. Now, I just usually bring a project or two home to attempt to do. I've been in the mood to knit a sweater lately, so I ended up bringing the yarn to knit my Fair Isle Yoke Sweater by Elizabeth Zimmermann. I've been following Elizabeth's "Opionated Knitter," "Knitting Workshop," and "Knitting Around." The purple is my main color & I have decided to use the Sage, Black, Bleached White, Rose, and Blue BW as following stranded design:



I've chosen to knit a 36" round sweater, even though I have a 34" bust size. Unfortunately, my hips are not a 34," thus the 36."

Gauge: 4.5 sts to 1" with US 7 circs

CO 164
K2, P2 for 1"

Well, I haven't bought any yarn since my trip to Boston, but I did get yarn from Santa Claus for Christmas. The sad part was I was the one to pick it up from the lady's house off craigslist. I ended up getting 10 balls of Rowan Kid Classic (840 Crystal). This summer, I had a hard time deciding on what to make with it. I guess I've been in a mood to make a guernsey/fisherman type sweater, so the search became a lot easier. I've decided to make "An Aran Sweater (January)" by Elizabeth Zimmermann. I've decided on making it with a zipper, like what Blue Garter did, although for a female instead. I'm not sure when I'll get around to making it, but I know it'll be an adventuresome knit.

8 Month Update

This is what I've been up to in the last 8 months!

Finished in May:

Yarn: 7.25 skeins Valley Yarns Goshen (17 Purple Haze)
Pattern: St. James by Tonya Wagner
Needles: US 7 & 8 Circs


If you make this, go with the stated bust size. Picking a size that correlates with a "Gap" size T doesn't work out very well. I’ve decided to omit the bow portion, as I may feel that it may get more annoying in the end. Instead I finished the T with a 1" seed stitch. It is a form fitting top & I have gotten a lot of complements. I would make this again (w/o the bow).





Finished in June:

Yarn: 2.5 skeins Cascade 220 (7811 Purple Jewel Heather)
Pattern: Two-Tone Ribbed Shrug by Stefanie Japel from Fitted Knits
Needles: US 4 & 7 Circs

Pattern says to use size 8 needles, and I did, but it was way too big. My problem is that I never knit a swatch first. I checked gauge and it looked okay. I think next time I need to make sure it’s more than just okay - otherwise I’ll always end up nearly finishing it and having it turn out way too big.

US 7 needles allowed me to obtain 5 sts/1”

This was a finals project that I ended up finishing during the second day of my Activator Elective. It may be me, or the directions, but there was an error when I did the collar. Instead of getting a nice 2 by 2 rib, I got 4 knit stitches in a row at the end. It was rather interesting finishing it up. Luckily the 4 knit stitches is near the axilla.












Started this in June:

Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Happy Feet (24 Red)
Pattern: Firestarter by Yarnissima
Needles: US 1 DPN

For the first week of my three week summer vacation, I was stuck in Davenport, IA to sit in on an elective. I did clep out two days into it, but I stuck around since most people don't really get much out of it, so I helped my friends. After finishing the Ribbed Shrug, I started the Firestarter socks & knitted during the entire elective (while I was front & center of the technique room - hey, I did clep out :-) ). I managed to get this far & unfortunately haven't touched it since.



During the 2nd week of my summer break, I went to Boston for 5-6 days. My trip to Boston was part business trip, part vacation/find out if I want to move out East. I shadowed 3 DOCs. I enjoyed 1 out of the 3, so at least it wasn't a total waste. One of them didn't follow protocol at all & the other forgot my name. Like my last trip, I absolutely loved Boston & in less than a year's time, I will be out there. I cannot wait!!! In June, I'm hoping to intern until I graduate in October of 2012 & then finally start my life as a Doctor. Of course, I got some yarn :-) I wanted to get yarn that was local. I went to four yarn shops: one in Salem (Seed Stitch Fine Yarn), one in Boston (Windsor Button), another in Cambridge (Mind's Eye Yarns), & finally in Acton (The Woolpack). I really enjoyed Seed Stitch Fine Yarn, The Woolpack, & Windsor Button, but the one in Cambridge was not that appealing. I found some local yarn at Seed Stitch Fine Yarn: Swans Island Certified Organic Merino Fingering (Beet Root). Swans Island is an island in Maine & during the summer, the Merino sheep are shipped off to the island & stay there. Once it's time to sheer their wool, they are shipped back to Maine & that's when the process begins. This is what I decided to make:

Yarn: Swans Island Certified Organic Merino Fingering (Beet Root)
Pattern: High Tides by Jocelyn P Prasad
Needles: US 6 Circs





Unfortunately, since school & clinic started, I have not had a chance to knit.

I ended up finding this in my stash. I got them a long time ago & finally decided what to make out of it:

Yarn: Mirasol Yarn Ushya (1705 Purple)
Pattern: Tank Top by Erika Knight from Fitted Knits



Yarn: Koigu Painter's Palette Premium Merino (KPPPM) (P132)
Pattern: Pomatomus by Cookie A.



Well, that's all I have for now.

It is Time

I've been meaning to update for quite some time and finally, here it is. During Christmas break, I ended up knitting about 5 projects and here they are:

Yarn: 1 skein Manos del Uruguay Wool Clasica (Color 38)
Pattern: Star Crossed Slouchy Beret by Natalie Larson
Needles: US 10 & 10.5 circs

This was given to me from 2 gals at school. It was a pleasant surprise and I certainly was really excited about yarn :-)

I started this project as the instructions stated, using size 10 & 11 needles. I noticed that there were some people who were able to complete this project using 1 skein and the 10 & 11 needle size, but unfortunately, I am not one of those people. I made it to the 1st decrease round and only had 12 inches of yarn left. I tried using 9 and 10, but felt that that the hat would have been too small, so finally I ended up using 10 & 10.5 needles and completed the hat with a success with 6 inches to spare. Without blocking, the hat just fits, snugly, so hopefully blocking it will loosen it up.

Merry Christmas, the project has finally been blocked.









Yarn: 0.75 skeins Brown Sheep Burly Spun (BS-04 Charcoal Heather)
Pattern: Shroom by Lee Juvan
Needles: US 11 & 13 circs



Yarn: 0.5-0.75 balls Berroco Sox (1425 John Moores)
Pattern: Slip Stitch Heel Basic Socks from "Socks From the Toe" by Wendy Johnson AND Universal Toe-Up Sock Formula by Amy Swenson
Needles: US 2 DPN

These socks are FINALLY finished. I was able to successfully finish them and they do fit!! Bonus! See Ravelry Notes.





Yarn: 1 skein Brown Sheep Burly Spun (BS-04 Charcoal Heather)
Pattern: Horizontal Cowl by Jennifer Fay
Needles: US 15

I’ve knit and bound this off two times already. The first time I took it to JoAnns to find 2” buttons, but couldn’t find any that I liked (Davenport, IA has a horrible selection). I tried taking a few rows out, but it just wasn’t working, so I decided to start over. I started fresh again, bound off and had button holes that would fit my buttons, but when I went to block, the darn project measured well over 47” - WOWZERS, we have a problem. NOW I’m finishing some other projects and am going to start the darn thing again for the 3rd time, but when I measure it, I’m going to stretch the fabric out. This project is really easy, but it’s pretty frustrating if anything else.

Knit to a “stretched” 28” to compensate the stretching when I’m going to actually wash it. For the button holes, I knit 6 sts before making the hole and only did 1 slip over. Maybe I should have followed the knit 3 then work button? Who knows. Well it’s done. I’m still mulling it over as to whether I like the project or not. Initially I was really excited, but then I washed it and the stretching occurred, thus the reknit.



I also "finished" a project that I'm going to redo. After wearing them, they are too big.

Yarn: Brown Sheep Burly Spun (BS-04 Charcoal Heather)
Pattern: Super Bulky Mittens for Women by Diane Soucy

I’ve made this pattern before and I never can seem to get the gauge right for super bulky yarn. It seems like I have to modify the pattern because the number of cast on sts is a bit childishly small. After futzing, this is what I came with on US 13 needles. I also don’t have US 15 or 17 dpn, so I really couldn’t futz with the needle size to make gauge, so I increased the cast on sts.

CO 18
Rib for 3 rounds.
K for 5 rounds.
Gusset - 8 sts on holder.

Thumb
Picked up 3 Sts - 11 total on needles.

Followed rest of directions.

All done. I think that next time instead of increasing the 3rd time for the thumb that I would just knit another 3 rows before dividing for the body. The thumb is a little big, not huge, but big enough. The thumb does feel like my Bella’s mitten’s thumb, so I guess it’s not too bad.

After wearing them, I’ve decided that they are too big, so I’m going to take them apart and redo them.



I also got some yarn for a hat:

Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool (color 59)
Pattern: Caroline by Hannah Ingalls



Within the last month, I've had to replace my old iPod because it wasn't holding a charge anymore. I ended up getting an iPod touch. The cases don't really protect the screen, so I knitted a "cozy" in hopes to protect the screen. Here it is:

Yarn: Sandy's Palette Pair of Sox
Pattern: Cabled iPod Sock by Maggie Menzel
Needles: US 2 DPN





In hopes to finish this project by spring, I've started:

Yarn: Valley Yarns Goshen (17 Purple Haze)
Pattern: St. James by Tonya Wagner



Sadly, I haven't gotten much knitting done since December, that also includes the baby blanket, unfortunately. I better get going on that one.