This IS a Knitting Blog?

If you're on Ravelry you might know I still knit. A lot. If you're not (if you're a fiber artist, and you're not, you should be) here is proof that I do, in fact knit:

A shoulder shawl, knit with Schaefer Anne yarn.

A market bag, in Peaches and Creme yarn.

One of two knit and beaded necklaces, a quick and fun project from 101 Designer One Skein wonders:

Two of a few hats I've knit for charity during August.

There are a few other projects but not ready to be talked about. I will say, though, one is being knit with the dreaded Noro Kureyon. I love the way it's striping. I will reserve final judgement on Kureyon until I'm through. So see? I still do knit. :-)

Stash Enhancement and FOs

These goodies were the spoils of my one-stop LYS yarn crawl yesterday.

There's some Noro Silk Garden Sock (I hope I will like working on it since it's not the dreaded Kureyon) The yarn in the back is for my partner in a Ravelry exchange, she likes natural colors, and Araucania yarn. It's Ranco multi, and more mixed than in the photo. The Rowan cottons are destined to become super cute beach hats, and hopefully won't suck the life out of my finger tips. Now I just have to figure out the pattern to work it in the round. I'm not a fan of seaming.

*Speaking of seaming...Dianne and I were discussing on the drive up how some yarn shops offer finishing services, to seam up a sweater or what have you. One of Wooly's sales people was finishing someone's sweater as she manned the sidewalk sale table as a matter of fact. I hate to seam, but I am not sure I'd go as far as to have someone else finish it for me. I've never even done a pattern that requires a lot of seaming, so I have no reference. Thoughts, anyone?

The Noro Silk Garden Sock does look like 2 diffent yarns the way they're skeined, don't they? But they are the same. I love those "me" colors, and until I find a perfect pattern for them they will rest in the stash bin.

And now for some things I've finished recently, to prove I really do knit, and not just buy yarn. The first is a "so you think you can hat" (Ravelry link) based on a hat worn by Mia Michaels during one of the audition segments on SYTYCD. I loved that hat and really appreciated the girl who worked it up into a pattern for us. This one went to Sublynnminal Healing as my contribution for July, but I want to make another for me sometime. I used Filatura Di Crosa "Zara" 100% merino, and I love that yarn. It's so sproingy? The hat is meant to be slouchy, and it really is cute.

When we were in Tucson, Tamar and I visted a LYS there, and she asked me to knit her this shoulder scarf. She bought the yarn, and after we got home, I had some issues with the yarn suggested by the sales girl and the pattern. (which you can read about on my Ravelry project page if you're interested) but let's just say it worked out fine in the end, even though it cost me some $$$ and angst to complete the scarf. I used Schaefer Heather, and loved the feel of the finished scarf after blocking, it's so soft. I'd use Heather again if no one offers to buy it from my destash.

There are more projects on the needles, so I better publish this and get to at least one of them.

Am I Blue?

Nah...I'm not blue. But it seems we've got a blue theme going on in the knitting. Montego Bay is periwinkle...Koolhaas Hat for Sublynnminal Healing is blue...and KM put an S.O.S. out for blue squares to help put together a baby blanket for a new baby who made his way into the world under duress. The square is done, and on the way to CA. I used KnitPicks Crayon yarn, and although it's so soft...it came out too big. I knitted it on the diagonal knowing that would be the fastest route, and increased every row, and when it got to 10 inches on the side, decreased every row. It is, as I said to KM, a wonky square. Hopefully seaming will compensate for it's lack of uniformity. After a false start and sore hands, I'm making good progress on Koolhass. I am using alpaca, and I am not sure this is the right yarn for the pattern, but it is very soft, and looks pretty good. 3 repeats done, 1 0r 2 to go and then the decrease...and it's done.

Another reason I'm not blue (or did something to prevent the blues?)...I had a weak moment. Or maybe it was an out of body purchase, but this lovliness arrived at my house this week. Handmaiden SeaSilk in 3 gorgeous colors---1 seafoam, 2 seashore and 1 moss. So far the moss is the only one with a project that will be started soon, a Montego Bay scarf for my assistant at work who admired mine. That will be a quick mindless knit. The single skein on the far right is Fleece Artist Sea Wool, in the colorway "angelfish" how could I resist that?

I also received a gift from Ponyknit! When I saw the mailer I didn't recognize the return name and address, (some folks I only know by their blogger name!) and opened it to find these gorgeous stitch markers, in my favorite colors. It was my PIF exchange gift. Such a nice surprise, it was unexpected. Thank you, Ponyknit! (which reminds me I still have to finish up a gift for one of my recipients!)
And then...for more smiles, I took some things to the post office this afternoon, and this might be why some of our letters andpackages get waylaid. I guess the USPS is an equal opportunity employer!

There has been knitting...

Some, anyway. I knitted 3 hats for the Warm Woolies project as part of the "good karma" for the Guilty Pleasures/Good Karma Swap Group on Ravelry. The hats took no time at all to knit, and they are on their way to warm some kids' heads. I've already received my "guilty pleasures" package from my pal, Allison (Lucy325) and it was fantastic.I'm waiting for one more item to come in for my pal, then her guilty pleasures will be on their way.

I've been working on the Lace Ribbon Scarf from the current knitty. I love the pattern! It's interesting enough that concentration is needed, but not so much that it's still possible to look at TV, etc., while knitting it. But, I think I love the yarn more. It is so soft! I am using the yarn Amanda custom dyed for me earlier this year, "Bunch of Celery" which was supposed to be for a different project, a lace shawl KAL, but as I read the clues and saw the project emerge, I knew I was not going to be knitting that one anytime soon. I really like how the different celery colors show up as I'm knitting.

The other project I am knitting is a secret one...but I will show this much, and that's it :-)

Finally..Knitting Progress.

Since things with Reggae are "status quo" for now, I can get on to what this blog was really about, my knitting! I've owed some FO's and WIPs for a couple weeks I think. So, here they are.
First, is the scarf I made out of the left over Dream in Color "smooshy" 'lipstick lava'. I used the horseshoe print lace pattern. It came out nice after it was blocked. This will more than likely be a PIF gift. :-)

Next, is the hat I knit for Anniebananie's project to knit hats for her cousin Lynn who is undergoing treatment for breast cancer, or for the Winchester Medical Center where she's having treatment. I decided on the Chapeau Mariner, and used koigu kpppm for mine, rather than a solid color. btw, I am a fan of koigu now, too. I don't have the ribbon for the hat yet, and will probably block it to open up the lace pattern on the brim. I liked the way the koigu blended as I knit in the round. I'd like to pull a pink color out of the yarn to match to a ribbon to symbolize the fight against breast cancer. I think it turned out cute, and hope it's something that brings some cheer and comfort! Oh, and this was the hat I needed my Boye #6 tips that I'd misplaced to helpt with the cast on and thenswitch to #2s. Of course, I found the #6 tips and the attached cord after I'd finished the hat. I was packing my go-knit bag Friday night to take to the vet on Saturday because I knew I'd be waiting, and there they were, in that bag. At least they are no longer MIA. I discovered that it wouldn't be a bad idea to get an extra pair of #2 and #3 circular needles soon too.

My next object is a WIP, another gift for PIF. It's Morning Surf. Better images on Ravelry if you're in. I am using Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in the Lakeview colorway. This is a fun pattern, with the drop stitches and all. I like the way this colorway is blending. I can see how it will be very pretty after some blocking. The pattern calls for casting on 76 stitches, which I did, and knit a few rows of the pattern. I decided that was too wide, and frogged that and cast of 46. I'm happy with that. It is recommended that straight needles are used for this pattern to support the wraps for the dropped stitches. Shoot...I didn't have #3 straights. But wait! I just might have...I won a 'lot' of vintage needles last year on ebay. Some metal, some wood, I just stuck them in a vase in my spare room. Yep, a pair of 3's! Metal and a little slippery, (i prefer bamboo or wood straights) but they'll do fine.

So that's the knitting progess for the past couple of weeks. Not nearly as much as I'd hoped to accomplish, but I'm pleased with the projects. Next on the agenda is awating the arrival of the yarn from dear Amanda that she's custom dyeing for my Mystic Light Lace KAL. I can't wait to see how the colors we've been discussing play out!

Knitters Can You Spare a Hat?

Annie wants to do something to help her cousin and others deal with the effects of chemotherapy and is looking for us knitters (or crocheters!) to knit up some chemo caps. For an incentive, she's having a contest. Go here and find out how you can win, but more importantly, how you can help.

Knitter, Can You Spare A Hat?

Suzie needs your help. Actually, she needs you to knit (or crochet if that's your thing) a hat for her cause. And she needs them by the 1st week in December. I just saw the link over at Anne's, so I'm jumping on board. Now.

Compassion Knitting

Amy over at WUC would like us to name our favorite charities to knit for. I like to use the term "compassion knitting" rather than charity, which I wrote about here. So, in answer to Amy's question, I will say that my favorite causes to knit with compassion for are those created by individuals on a small scale on these here blogs, usually causes near to their hearts. Yes, WUC would be one. Laura's Greensburg Project grew HUGE in a few short months, which was awesome. I also like the Red Scarf Project because the caring thoughts behind that spoke to me. They were pretty overwhelmed in 2007 with 15,000 Red Scarfs (!!??), so I may just donate to the fund. I wish I had more time to knit projects with compassion, but I try to do what I can.

Knitting for a Cause

Amy is starting a project to help keep the less unfortunate in her area warm this winter: Warm up Winchester. Sure, it's summer now, but the way time flies, the cooler weather will be here before we know it. (I know, shut my mouth!) Check it out if you're so inclined. I'm sending in some hats I've knitted.

This Week's Knitting

I made a lot of progress on the bag for the Spring Felted Bag Exchange. I'm almost done with the straps, and then I have to decide...do I want it to have a zipper? Do I want it to have a flap? Or do I want it to have a zipper and a flap? I must make those decisions soon, I need to felt it to make sure it does. This way I have plenty (?) of time to knit an alternative bag in case I have a felting disaster. If it's not obvious, I'm not following a pattern for the bag I'm making for the exchange, I'm making it up as I go along, letting it speak to me. So far I'm wild about it, and wouldn't mind keeping it for me. I love the colors and the shaping and the idea...but alas, it's spoken for. No photos allowed yet, it's a surprise for my secret pal!

Got gauge? I took a break from knitting the bag-to-be over the weekend and decided to swatch for the tank I bought the pattern and yarn for last month. I've never swatched before, I've never really "had" to. (hey now I can bold that on my list!) I'm not a tight knitter at all, I actually thought I had more of a loose tension. The gauge is 4.5 spi on #7. So, I was sure I'd be spot on gauge with #6, so I started with that. Nope...came out to 5.5 spi. So...I used #7...looks like nearly 5 spi there. I'm sure not going to use #8, should I?? I want that tank to be on the smaller size of small. (the pattern doesn't offer XS---it's a gift for a rather petite friend) Pout. I'm going to take the swatch to the next knitting meeting and get some help there. Now I do understand the importance of making a swatch, but realize that even then it might not turn out correctly. We'll see. Oh, see the little holes in the swatch? I saw a cool hint on a Knitty Gritty episode when Lily Chin was the guest... YOK2TOG. It will help to remember which needle size was used for the swatch if it has to be put it away for a while. For instance, I used the size #6 first, so I did the YOK2TOG 6 times and then continued in stockinette for a few rows, then switched to #7 and knitted for a few inches, and did the YOK2TOG seven times. I'd then just have to count the holes to know which needle size I used. Good idea.

This weekend I also knitted 2 squares and am working on a 3rd for Greensburg. Those folks lost their entire town from the tornado on May 4. I hope the afghans made from the squares knitters and crocheters are sending in bring them some comfort. 8" Garter stitch squares are knitted on the diagonal, a fast and east knit and used up a few odds and ends of wool from my stash. Laura said to use any color, even those you'd never think of putting together. From my choices for the square on the left, that I did just that. It actually doesn't look that odd. Click on that link and if you have time, knit or crochet a square or 2. You'll feel good for doing it, I promise.

Heart Walk 2007

Last year, I donated a couple dollars to Gretchen for the American Heart Assocition Heart Walk. She generously offered a raffle prize for all donations. I gladly did, not ever thinking I'd win, I'm always glad to help raise funds for charity if I can. To my surprise, I won! This year, Gretchen is again raising funds for the heart walk. You can read all about it here, and here. The story about baby Donovan (Nova) touched my heart. I'm not a parent, but I know that losing a child is just so devastating. I can not imagine the grief and heartache. The law of nature says our children should outlive us.
Please give to this worthy cause, if you can. I did! Not only will you be contributing to help raise funds to help combat Heart Defects, you might even be the winner of a fabulous knitting prize.

Update: since I was a winner last year, I've decided to give back and offer Gretchen a prize from my own stash to award. Pay it forward, ya know? This is the description, where/how I bought it. It's so soft and delicious to work with!

"Hoppy" Easter Knitting Finished

I finished the March KALs from the Monthly Dishcloth Group this week. I think they're cute :-)

OTN: 2nd square to send to a knitter collecting them for a remembrance afghan for a fallen Marine's family; Brooklynn's baby blanket which I need to get finished real soon.

This Week's Knitting and thoughts on a Label

This week, I continued to work on my new great-niece Brooklynn's non-traditional baby blanket. It's coming along so nicely. I'm 1/2 way through the 5th section.

It's growing, and I think I'll be done by the end of the week.

I also made a square to send to a fellow knitter who requested some red,

white and/or blue squares so she can put

together a remembrance afghan for a family who's son, a Marine, was killed in Iraq. Which brings me to my thoughts on an often used label: "charity knitting". Sure, some knitting projects are for charity. Perhaps not all of them: even though the act is 'charitable' the thoughts behind this one, and some others I've participated in, are more "compassionate". Going forward, my projects of this nature will be labeled "compassion knitting" because that's what they based on and knit with: compassion for the recipient.