Celtic Cast On

So now that my comments are fixed “That was awesome” I have a quick little knit I’d like to show you.

Pattern: Stacked Eyelet Cowl

Yarn: Koigu KPPPM

Needles: U.S. 3

Start Date: Sept 9th 2008

Finish Date: Sept 10th 2008

I started this cowl as something simple to knit that I could take with me and not have to worry about patterns and messing up or so I thought. I ended up knitting the dang thing in one night because I just couldn’t put it down. The minute I wound up the Koigu I was in love. The colours were soooo yummy and the changes so frequent, I was mesmorized.

I have had this yarn in my stash for quite a few years now not knowing what to do with it. I bought two skeins intended for socks but I just couldn’t hide a beautiful thing like this from the world. It needed to be seen, admired and loved. Stacked eyelet was the perfect pattern to show off the beautiful array of colours and let it be seen. 

It was very hard to get a picture that captured the true colours. The picture above is the best representation and let me tell you the colours are more amazing in person.

I have a few other knits nearing the finish line so hang in there while I have a little FO partaay before we get to the new knits on the needles.

*Hoping comments are fixed now* 

Sometimes a knit comes along that turns out exactly the way you hoped it would, perfection in your minds eye.

This is one of those knits!

Pattern: Alpine Shrug from Rowan 42

Yarn: Patons Shetland Chunky Mustard

Needles: U.S. 11

Started: Sept 7th 2008

Finished: Sept 11th 2008

 This yarn had been in my mind now for several days wanting to be knit. It is an acrylic so I kept trying to push it back out of my mind and think about something else but that yummy mustard kept wandering back in telling me it was time.

I was very hesitant to knit a Rowan pattern with an acrylic, Patons Shetland Chunky to be exact. I knew it could only turn out one of two ways, fantastic or a complete dud. I was aiming for the fantastic side but one never knows how a knit decides it wants to be until it is indeed knit.

This pattern is supposed to be knit with a super bulky yarn and ends up very drapey and cosy. I knew that if I knit it as it was supposed to be, with my small frame I’d end up looking like I was drowning in it. I knew the Patons yarn was chunky but would it work. I hoped it wouldn’t be too chunky and at the same time chunky enough so that the finished knit would still fit me.

Let me not forget to mention I bought this yarn on clearance for 50 cents a ball. How could I leave it there when it was only 50 cents and in that yummy mustard colour.

The process of knitting it took only 2 days. You knit it in 4 pieces and then seam the 4 together to make a rectangle. The rectangle in then folded in half and sewn up either side to make the armholes. I knit two quadrants the first day and two the second, it was wee buns.

Of course then is when the procrastination begins because seaming is the worst possible part of the process for me. Although it has to be done, it takes time and patience and at this stage of the game I just want a finished knit.

I found a post on Ravelry where people who had previously knit it taked about crocheting the quadrants together, now that sounds more like it.

I still wasn’t sure how it was going to fit, even after crocheting it together. It all comes together once you seam the sides. I seamed one side, ran to the mirror to try it on and see if this was really going to work, there was a squeal of delight and off I went to finish it off. A cute brown button in the center and VOILA!!

I couldn’t be happier with the outcome of this knit its exactly the way I wanted it to look and for a meer $1.25 how could I go wrong!!

Pattern: Cashmere Neckwarmer by Kim K.

Start Date: September 1st 2008

Finish Date: September 1st 2008

Yarn: Queensland Kathmandu Aran in Brown

Needles: US 11

This was a quick little knit I polished off while watching my newest obsession 24. I’m nearing the end of the first season and can’t wait to get stuck into the next 6.

Queensland Kathmandu is such a yummy yarn, I had two balls left over from Moose’s Cobblestone so I thought i’d whip up a nice little neckwarmer just in time for fall. The weather here as been rather fall ish with the odd hot day here and there so i’m thinking i’ll be using this soon rather than later.

It’s long enough that I can tuck it into my jacket for a little bit of extra warmth when it gets really cold…… I’m trying not to think about that yet but it will be fastly approaching!

I finished it off with a nice chunky wooden button, delic!!

I have been getting geared up for the cold season, but this week, and for the last few months now I have been sweating my hole off piling wood. We ran out of wood last year so this year we ended up getting 6 cord and it was lucky me who gets to pile it.

Last years process took a LONG time because I was using a small 4 wheeler trailer to cart the wood from the pile, to the basement door and then wheel it inside with the wheelbarrow. Not this year, this year I have the tractor and a large trailer that I am piling as high as I can get it before taking it around back.

I was doing pretty good, the pile was slowly but surely getting smaller with each load but I was really getting sick of seeing that pile of wood everytime I walked out the door so I grabbed Moose on Sunday and we assessed the damage. He figured I had a good 6 trailer loads full left before the pile was finito so a challenge was born.

My challenge was to get it done by the weeks end. If I did two loads a day for 3 days it would be done. Of course things and appointments happen that cause 2 loads not to get done in a day but I still figured I could get it done by the weeks end. Today is Friday and baby I just finished the last load of wood!!!!

I had one load left to do and was determined to get it done today and then I wouldn’t have to look at another wood pile until next year.

Of course it had to be boiling hot out!! The heat factor paired with coveralls, gloves and wellies makes it sweaty work. I did however have my trusty helper.

And….. my not so trusty helper……

Sweet victory was mine when I picked up the last log from the trailer!!!

Those coveralls look hot huh *wink wink*

Challenge complete!!! Done for another year!!!

*you can’t see them but there are two more rows behind that one*

Neopolitan Socks

Pattern: My own picot edge, 60 sts socks with Eye of Partridge Heel

Yarn: Trekking 126

Needles: U.S. size 2 DPNS

Start Date: June 26th 2008

Finish Date: July 6th 2008

These were soooo close to being twins it wasn’t funny but as you can see from the two they ended up being a few rows short of that. I’m not crazy about so munch white being at the toes either but thats just me being picky.

My first attempt at the eye of partridge heel. I turned out ok but next time I will use a solid yarn to show it off a bit more.

More pics can be seen here

2830

Start Date: July 6th 2008

Finish Date: July 23rd 2008

Pattern: 2830 by The Zephyr Girls

Yarn: Cascade 220 Heathers Col. 9452 Lot 8553

Needles: U.S. circs size 8

As you can see this knit has been done for a while but I couldn’t find a nice enough day to take the pictures until now. I ended up knitting this as a medium and had no problems whatsoever with the pattern. A couple of things I would change if knitting it again though would be to move the button holes in one stitch closer to the body. I found that the placement of the buttonholes make the sweater look pulled at the button bands. Also the first and last button holes I would move closer to the top and bottom to make the bands sit nicer. 

Other than those small changes I loved knitting this pattern. The colour of cascade heathers I chose had me intrigued from the get go, i’m not usually a blue person but this colourway was screaming knit me so whats a girl to do!  I’ve had comments on it already and i’ve only worn it twice, everyone seems to love the sleeves, I agree, they are my favourite part! 

The versatility of wearing the neck up or down and the layering I’m going to be able to do with it also makes it fun.

Another great piece for fall and winter.

More pics can be seen here

Pattern: Liesl by Ysolda Teague

Yarn: Dream in Colour Classy In Vino Vertias

Needles: 7mm

Who doesn’t need a cute little cardi for over summer dresses??? I was in desperate need of SOMETHING to wear that wasn’t a turtleneck seeing as its summer and all. Liesl caught my eye right away, as it did for so many others. Even before the pattern was available I think people were at the ready with needles and yarn ready to cast on. This pattern has soo many options, short sleeve, long sleeve, short body, long body, wide neck, high neck the possibilities are endless. When I cast on I still wasn’t sure how I wanted to knit my Liesl but I knew I wanted a short body and something easy I can tote about with me during summer.

 After a few false starts, talking to much while knitting and not paying enough attention to the pattern, Liesl was born. She didn’t take long to complete once I knuckled down and got stuck right in. As each row progressed Liesl took shape as if I knew how I wanted it to be all along.  

 The thing I love about this pattern is the many different ways there are to wear it. I wore it to church this morning with a green ribbon holding the top together. After church I found some great buttons and added one to the top and bottom.  Wear it with one button, or two, ribbon or none how versatile can ya get.

This is going to be a great addition to my summer wardrobe and who knows maybe there will be a long sleeve long body Liesl in the future.

More pictures can be found here