So far the B.A.D.D doesn’t seem so bad….hardy-har-har. However this is going to be very short, as I hate discussing things I haven’t finished yet. It seems a little redundant, but I am trying to recover my blogging ability – I miss you guys when I’m not on the site.
1. Fiori Autunalli – It has been successfully frogged and is not sitting in time out until I can look at it without breaking a sweat.
Bad Lace… or Bad Knitter…
2. Jayashiri Pullover – I have actually pulled this out of hibernation! I am slowly putting the mileage on it and all I need is another two inches to do the bust increases. Who knows? This very large (oh goodness it is soooo large) pullover may actually happen.
So those are the big to-do’s on my knitting list. Of course there are also leg warmers, but for the life of me I cannot post another picture of leg warmers. So until next time, which I hope is soon, have a great hump day!
I was able to pick up my needles this week but quickly realized that I was going to have to find a sweet spot to appease both of my hands. This gave me the best excuse to cast on several projects, I mean, I have to keep my hands happy!
I have found that different types of needles, different needle sizes and different types of yarn are the best way to keep my hands from feeling any fatigue – also, I never get bored working on one project. Pretty awesome in my book, maybe this whole arthritis thing isn’t so bad after all! 😉 So here is my WIP run down:
What a finished pair looks like. It smells like victory though!
I casted on another pair of these immediately after I finished the first, I am only on the ribbing so no picture yet, but they are fantastic to knit and easy on both hands.
What it looks like finished – photo courtesy of teresat2 on Flickr
This pattern is from the Craftsy Class New Directions in Lace. It is an incredible early Christmas present from my Mom – and there are beads! I am still a bit daunted by how much work it is going to take to finish this beast, but it’s just so pretty I don’t care. Romi Hill creates the most beautiful work and her class is so full of information I’m surprised it didn’t cost more. If you like lace, like learning, want to try something new and work with a stellar pattern – go sign up for this class.
This is where I am in the pattern:
Yes. I am scared to take off the belly button cast on.
This is the kalallnight that Stacy over at Musings and Motion and I are making. The pattern is available from Knit Picks and if you still feel the urge to join feel free! I have a feeling that Stacy will finish way before I do and I wouldn’t mind the company! Here is where I am so far:
Size 7US Circular and DPN – Worsted Weight – “Hat on the Brain”
My design – another cabled beanie.
I have gone on a mini design kick trying to make a bunch of different beanies. I am trying to have a very styled brim (usually combinations of stitch dictionaries) and working my way through a list of hat decreases. I just finished the one last night, the rusty orange beanie above ↑ so I will need to cast on another one today.
Here is a super fun cowl by Kirsten Johnstone that I just had to cast on – despite the fact that straight needles make both my hands hurt and the pinkie on my right hand usually gets rubbed raw ( you know, since it just lays there and doesn’t move…man…that sounds super dirty ;)). Anyway, I had to give it a go and here is the progress:
Total length needs to be 44″ – still a bit to go.
Oh! For fun, here is Lucy Neatby showing the coolest provisional cast on I have ever done.
This was another attempt to create something out of my own noggin….and some stitch dictionaries. I am trying to combine different variations on eyelet patterns so it looks swirled. I started it before I hurt my left hand so I can only work on it maybe 20 minutes a day. The color is beautiful though so I don’t mind looking at it everyday.
So Far…
So that’s the low down on my WIPs for Wednesday. I hope you’ve enjoyed my ranting and hopefully I have given you an excellent excuse to cast on more projects – you must think of the health of your hands!
So friends and neighbors I am interested to hear, if you would like to share, how you combat both boredom and hand fatigue. I was once a fairly monogamous knitter (no more that three projects going at a time) so this is all new to me. Feel free to share – I love to listen!
So despite the rather poor photo quality (I like browns in my house, obviously) the Jayashri Pullover is coming along quite nicely! I finished the decreases and now it is on to either six or seven inches of straight body work.
This should be the easiest part of the sweater, just mindless knitting in the round allowing some length to accumulate. I am a little worried about the bust increases, it is something I have never done and I have a rather ample bust. For now though I am just going to enjoy some straight up mindless knitting.
I am worried about the time factor this week, because this week looks insane! I have loads of ruffles that need done and two adult female from my Etsy store to do. I also have to go to work, feed myself and my husband (and the cat if he is good) and sleep. I’ve been keeping a pretty good pace and I suppose that one good day would keep me going, I just haven’t figured out where to put that yet.
Hopefully there will be nothing but good news next week and lots of extra stitches to take pictures of. Maybe, if I’m good, I will even remember to take the picture against a lighter background. Who knows? 😉
Not much to look at yet friends and neighbors, but it’s getting there. What I am wondering is how do you not get in a garment making rut? Is the seemingly endless amount of stitches like second sock syndrome? And most importantly, does working on a long-term goal make you have a serious case of startitis (thank you Knitmore Girls), because I have a million things I am dying to cast on in my Ravelry queue right now!
Hope you all have lovely days filled with good food, good friends and error free projects!
I wish that I had more to show you, almost as much as I wished I had more time to make a sweater for myself! It has been pretty busy in my knitting world, what with the (super awesome) custom order that I am working on. That and a husband, work, friends and a life without my needles – who knew! 😉
So far on my sweater all I have done is the gartered ribbing, oh the shame! It seems a little amazing to me that just the edging has a whopping 5,024 stitches to it. I knew I was making a very baggy sweater but still, that seems insane to me. So now it is going to be my goal to keep an accurate count of exactly how many stitches are going into this sweater. I think it would be really clever to look back on – which is why I used the Polaroid picture setup for all the pictures.
So now I am back at Craftsy, trying to figure out shaping, decreasing, short rows and sizing. Feeling a little adventurous looking at all this information – although I doubt that I will vary from the original pattern. However it turns out I am still having a blast.
Remember friends and neighbors that there is still time to join us in this KAL. There is no end date and no pressure!
First, here is are the pictures of that adorable baby hat I whipped up for my Dad’s friend.
Secondly, here is a the finished product of my Baby Sophisticate Sweater. I am super proud of this little guy – I cannot wait to gift it!
Progress…
Finished!
** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
You’ve heard it here first friends and neighbors, I have received my first custom order! Best part, it is not a “custom order” for ruffles! I have been presented with the opportunity to make five hats and two scarves in whatever fashion I want! It has been so exciting so far, I’ve been in every stitch dictionary and design book that I own – or my local library can provide.
There is never a downside to an order, but there is a way to self-sabatage your business. I quoted the lowest price that I could think of (thinking that they would say no! you are far to talented!). Seriously, what goes through my head, I’ll never know! Either way, this is the first opportunity to really knit my heart out and show off what I can do.
The hats are for three children: ages six, three and 5 months. The hat and scarves combinations are for two adult females. This is what I’ve done so far. I created a hat for a three year old from a circular needle stitch pattern book complete with the easiest hat closure possible.
By the way…it’s actually purple.
By the way…it’s actually purple.
I am thinking of putting the pattern on my Ravelry page, but it just seems like that pattern would be a little to obvious. So I will see what you think! Here is the pattern:
** FREE PATTERN **
→ For worsted-weight yarn – going down to baby weight you will need to find the correct gauge (for me it was increasing by 32 stitches and going down a needle size).
→ CO 88 stitches (any multiple of 8 will work) on size 6US (4mm) needles – 16″ Circular
→ K1, P1 across for 8 rounds.
→ Switch to size 7US (4.5mm) 16″ circular needles.
Repeat the following 12 rounds three (3) times. (this was how long it took me to get my height)
Knit
Knit
Knit
Knit
*4st. Left Cable, 4st. Right Cable* rep. till end of round. (front to back cable pattern)
Knit
Knit
Knit
Knit
Knit
*4st Right Cable, 4st. Left Cable* rep. till end of round. (back to front cable pattern)
Knit
4st. Left Cable – 2sts on cable needle, hold front, knit two stitches from left needle, knit 2sts off cable needle.
4st. Right Cable – 2sts on cable needle, hold back, knit two stitches from left needle, knit 2sts off cable needle.
→ Switch to DPNs when needed.
*K2, K2tog* rep. till end of round.
Knit
*K1, K2tog* rep. till end of round.
Knit
*K2tog* rep. till end of round.
Cut 12″ tail and sew up remaining stitches tightly to avoid a hole.
Simple! Too simple to put on my page though? I dunno – child sizes with worsted weight yarn is almost always between 82-92 stitches and the cable is just following a book. Well, I am very pleased with how it turned out.
So along with the KAL, I have a custom order and tons of ruffles. I’ve gotta say, I am really in my happy place right now! What about you friends and neighbors? What gets you into your happy place?
That’s right friends and neighbors, it’s time! I am so excited to be hosting my first KAL with the wonderful Stacy over at Musings and Motion. If you are still interested, it is always open to anyone with the wild urge to make a sweater! 🙂
There is NO TIME LIMIT to this KAL – this is meant to be fun, not stressful!
We would love to see pictures of how things are going – just link back to All Night Knits – even use the spiffy banner I’ve attempted to make above if you please.
I myself am going to do a post every MONDAY on my KAL progress. You can do the same or whatever day you please – Again. This is supposed to the a fun, communal thing.
Don’t feel like posting a blog? Why not POST ON TWITTER! We are using the hashtag #kalAllNight – post pictures or questions any time or any day, I’ll be there!
** THE AWESOME MUSING AND MOTIONS GIVEAWAY! **
If you are all set and ready to go between September 16th and September 27th check out → THIS LINK ← from Stacy over at Musings and Motion for her FREE Ravelry Pattern Participant Giveaway! Details also listed below ↓
This Monday, September 16, 2013, Rachel from All Night Knits and I will begin the Jayashri Knit-Along! To get you even more excited about knitting this gorgeous pullover sweater by Meghan Jones, we are going to buy some lucky participant a knitting pattern from their Raverly queue. All you have to do to enter is comment below with a link to your blog post or twitter feed that features a photo of your cast-on row (or more). I will randomly choose a winner from all entrants. This giveaway will begin on Monday when the KAL officially starts and will end on Friday, September 27. This gives you two weeks to get cast-on. I will announce the winner here on Saturday, September 28. Happy knitting!
** THE PATTERN **
Need another look at the gloriously awesome pattern Stacy found? Here it is!
I AM REALLY
Jayashri Pullover from Knit Picks
MAKE THIS!!
Hope to hear from all of you soon – I feel like a little kid on Christmas Eve! Keep a look out for more giveaway fun, goodies, participation banners and links.
So I have finally decided to go ahead and start with posting this Knit Along! I am so excited and cannot wait to see how many people we can get on board!
So here’s the details! Stacy from Musing and Motion, who has been kind enough to help co-host (really I am following her awesomeness here) this with me have decided to go with the Jayashri Pullover from Knit Picks by Meghan Jones.
I AM REALLY
Jayashri Pullover from Knit Picks
MAKE THIS!!
** The Pattern Details **
For the man body of the sweater is a DK weight yarn (Knit Picks suggests Gloss DK Yarn – between 8 and 16 balls based on measurements)
For the collar is a fingering weight yarn ( Knit Picks suggests Palette Yarn – 1 ball)
The finished bust measurements can be sized from 34″ to 62″ so it can be accessible to any size and is meant to be worn with a 2″ positive ease.
The needles are size 5 US 32″ Circulars – size 6 US 32″ – size 6 US DPNS
** The Knit Along Details **
Stacy and I are hoping to get this thing started on SEPTEMBER 16th – which gives us all three whole weeks to get our yarn and get ready! If you are interested please leave a comment and if you can think to on how to improve this whole process please let me know. I cannot wait to knit along with you – it’ll be my first!
All Night Knits 