Friday, December 31, 2010
Ring Out the Old; Ring In the New
Each December, I post a list of my Finished Objects (FOs) for the year, and this year, though the total is pitifully small compared to years past, I am doing it again. I blame Facebook (or rather Farm Town and Farmville) for the diminished numbers. I spend way too much time playing and I really need to stop. And I will. Just not today.
To the left, you see what is probably the last FO of the year, a cotton dishcloth in Sugar 'n Cream Rainbow Bright. A bunch of us on one of my lists are making this cloth in a variety of yarns and colors.
The pattern can be found here. It's impressive looking, but really quite easy. Mine took about 35 grams of worsted weight cotton or about 65 yards.
The only project currently on the needles is a scrapghan of RH ack. Sort of a 9-patch looking thing. even if I jumped on it right now, and knit straight through until midnight without stopping, I could not possibly finish it. So it will be amonth the first of 2011. I plan to match it with a baby-size Rambling Rows Jacket and some sort of hat as a fair entry. (Yes, I started earlier this year!)
And now for the list. Regular readers may remember that last January, I committed to 10 sweaters from stash. I am pleased to say that I actually finished fifteen sweaters (granted, some of them were for babies and others were vests, but still. . .)
Okay. Here's the list:
Adult sweaters-2
afghans-1
baby dress-1
booties-3 pairs
children's sweaters-13
Christmas stocking-1
dishcloths-5
dishtowels (woven)-7
doilies-2
hats-10
lap robes/baby blankets-6
mittens-6 pairs
placemats (woven)-7
potholders-1
baby hats-4
purse-1
scarves-8 (2 knit, 6 woven)
socks-1 pair
toys-1
Christmas ornaments-6
The dent in my stash? 18 miles of yarn knitted up; 30.52 pounds.
I am in no danger of running out--I still have more than 75 miles in balls and many many miles of coned stuff. And the kits. And the partial balls. And the stuff I never logged (like the Sugar 'n Cream that went into the dishcloth in the photo).
I am committing to another 10 sweaters from stash in 2011 I have already selected patterns and yarn for the first two. A couple more will be easy--they'll be for TPO and TPT. The rest will be for my serious commitments (the reservation, A4A, etc.), you know, "charity."
I wish you all a safe, healthy, and happy new year.
Labels: promises, stash busting, Ten sweaters
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Ready To Mail
This little vest (about a size 8) was a great stash-buster. I used up 5 balls of yarn (about 800 yards total), 4 of them chunky/bulky weight, the 5th, sock yarn.
I used the pattern found here and made the vest version (scroll to the bottom).
It was fast, easy, and warm.
Mailing off to Afghans For Afghans for the current campaign.
This is sweater #14 that I have knit this year, all from yarn I had stashed. I made my goal (10 in 2010) and might actually try for 11 next year!
Labels: afghans for afghans, Ten sweaters
Friday, April 30, 2010
Around and Around
I had a bunch of odd balls of mercerized cotton in DK weight.
Pattern is loosely modified from Bad Penny. I cast on for the largest size and just did my own thing with the color sequence. Since I had the most of the blue, I saved a full ball to use for the neckline and cuffs.
Total yarn used: about 400 grams (8- 50 gram balls), about 920 yards.
It's comfortable and nicely casual. A jeans sweater for summer.
This makes seven.
Labels: big people clothes, FOs, stash busting, Ten sweaters
Saturday, April 17, 2010
What You Were Waiting For
This adorable dress was the pattern of the day earlier this week.
I just had to cast on! I could not resist.
Of course I subbed the yarn for something from stash (Plymouth Encore DK in Daffodil). I also made a minor modification--not especially visible or obvious in this photo, though it will be in the final photo.
I am not convinced that satin ribbon works with knitwear. Especially not in knitwear for babies. After all, the fiber is (usually) different, so it needs to be washed separately, and frankly, starts to look quite ratty quite quickly.
So, I eliminated the eyelet round at the waist (what baby this age has a "waist" anyway?) and knitted 4 rounds of k1, p1 ribbing on the smaller needles the pattern suggests to draw it in just a hair before the skirt increases.
It was a "finish as you go" project for me, so the sleeves are hemmed, the button band is tacked in place. All that remains is 4" more of plain knitting and a shallow pique hem.
So, is this a sweater, in which case it counts toward my 10 in 10, or not?
Labels: baby things, Ten sweaters
Friday, April 16, 2010
Some Progress
I added another scarf to the "fair" box, but this one will also be a donation to the Red Scarf Project that is conducted each year to support kids who have aged out of the foster care system.
Perhaps you've been listening to the stories on NPR. Kids who are fostered often roll into "adulthood" with no support of any kind, though some few (the very lucky ones, it seems) may find a caring adult or family or caseworker who will guide them into maturity.
Imagine if you can (and I can, but that's another story for another day and blog) being 18 (barely) and alone in the world!
Enter the Red Scarf Project and OFA. Offering moral support and financial assistance to former foster kids who are continuing their education. They make a difference. And you can too! Follow the links and do what you can.
And here, in the Blarney Woolen Mills tote that I had to practiaclly beg for (despite having spent way more than the required minimum for "free with purchase--yet another story for another day) is the cotton tee.It is progressing nicely, and a sudden turn in the weather makes me not really care if I finish it this week or not! Where did the warm weatther go?
Oh, I'll keep plugging away, but not right now. Right now, I am contemplating another potential fair entry.
Picture tomorrow.
Labels: charity, Red Scarf Project, Ten sweaters
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Six Down; Four To Go
Sweater Number 6 is finished!
Why yes, it is a Wonderful Wallaby (pattern available at yarn shops and also direct from Cottage Creations: at the farm on Deer Creek, Carpenter, Iowa, 50426-0070). Yarn is Moda Dea Washable Wool. [yarn review: Who decided to drop this yarn from the line? It's lovely to knit with and makes a wonderful fabric].
Size is a 6 and used about 350 g of yarn. Just under 600 yards of worsted weight.
I'll be mailing it this week, I think, so that it can be worn before it's outgrown.
Labels: children's things, FOs, Ten sweaters
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Number 5
In January, I set myself the personal challenge of completing 10 sweaters in 2010, all from stash. I am making some serious progress as documented on this blog.
Number 5 is pictured at the left.
This one is for Afghans For Afghans and will be mailed as soon as I am sure it's dry post-blocking.
I used 3 strands of Patons Impressions in a lovely hand-dyed (nearly solid) green which is a bit more yellow than it photographed. This vest took a little more than 6 balls. I have 4+ left but didn't want to chance running out before I arrived at the second cuff, so I "vested" it.
Labels: Ten sweaters
Saturday, February 06, 2010
Number 3
I finished the third From Stash Sweater (of my personal 10 Sweaters in 2010 Challenge.
This almost (just barely) feels like a cheat. It's the 5-hour baby sweater and I can actually knit one in just about 5 hours.
The yarn is some stuff I got at Goodwill back last spring. I think it's Bernat Coordinates.
The buttons are also from stash, click to embiggen and see tiny pink balloons and dragons.
It's for an actual hypothetical baby (due in April) and will be given away tomorrow.
Pattern: Cottage Creations Infant's Hooded Cardigan (sans hood) from More Projects for the Community and Family.
Labels: Ten sweaters
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Two Down
When I put my mind to it, I can get things done!
Witness Sweater #2 of the Ten Sweater Challenge.
It's hard to tell from the photo, but it's a very plain (okay, you could tell that part) top-down raglan sweater.
This one is for the March Challenge for Afghans for Afghans (as is the vest I blogged earlier in the month). I'll be mailing them off this week after this one gets its wash and block.
I used about 800 yards of worsted weight singles (Patons Impressions Hand-Dyed Wool) which is no longer available, but any light worsted weight would produce similar results. It's about 33" around.
This beanie (for Ship Support) was my car driving last weekend. I wove in the ends last night and will mail it this week as well. The yarn is Red Heart Strata (100% ack) that feels rough and stringy in the skein but washes up to a nice soft fabric that is needed for med-evac troops. I believe this stuff may be discontinued, but Smiley's still has a few colors available.
Current Ship Support needs include dark solid 100% wool beanies, seaman's scarves, and gaiters, plus brightly colored wool , blend, or ack beanies and slippers for troops being moved out of the Sandbox for medical care.
January has been a rough month around Casa Sheepie. I haven't been able to blog it, but hope to soon. Stay tuned!
Witness Sweater #2 of the Ten Sweater Challenge.
It's hard to tell from the photo, but it's a very plain (okay, you could tell that part) top-down raglan sweater.
This one is for the March Challenge for Afghans for Afghans (as is the vest I blogged earlier in the month). I'll be mailing them off this week after this one gets its wash and block.
I used about 800 yards of worsted weight singles (Patons Impressions Hand-Dyed Wool) which is no longer available, but any light worsted weight would produce similar results. It's about 33" around.
This beanie (for Ship Support) was my car driving last weekend. I wove in the ends last night and will mail it this week as well. The yarn is Red Heart Strata (100% ack) that feels rough and stringy in the skein but washes up to a nice soft fabric that is needed for med-evac troops. I believe this stuff may be discontinued, but Smiley's still has a few colors available.
Current Ship Support needs include dark solid 100% wool beanies, seaman's scarves, and gaiters, plus brightly colored wool , blend, or ack beanies and slippers for troops being moved out of the Sandbox for medical care.
January has been a rough month around Casa Sheepie. I haven't been able to blog it, but hope to soon. Stay tuned!
Labels: ship support, Ten sweaters
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Progress of Sorts
Once the Very Quick Vest was finished, I poured heart and soul into the Very Plain, Miles of Stockinette Stitch Turtleneck Sweater which actually was my first start (unless you count Hey, Teach) for this Personal Challenge.
It is Very Plain, with only the variation in dye that sparks it up, and frankly, that doesn't Make the Plain Knitting More Interesting (no matter what "they" say)!
But concentrated monogamy has allowed me to make progress. 1.5 sleeves from now, I'll give this a wash and block and send it (and the vest) on their merry way.
Labels: afghans for afghans, charity, Ten sweaters
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
One of Ten
The first sweater of my (personal) 10 in 2010 challenge is finished:
Cute sweater vest from Fons & Porter Love of Knitting Summer 2009, modified (of course) to suit my needs (and yarn availability).
I eliminated the overall "quilt" pattern and left just the border band, thinking that it's more uni-sex that way.
This one's for A4A's current campaign (7-14 year olds and is a 32" chest (size 8?).
I am progressing on the turtle neck, slowly but surely. . .
Cute sweater vest from Fons & Porter Love of Knitting Summer 2009, modified (of course) to suit my needs (and yarn availability).
I eliminated the overall "quilt" pattern and left just the border band, thinking that it's more uni-sex that way.
This one's for A4A's current campaign (7-14 year olds and is a 32" chest (size 8?).
I am progressing on the turtle neck, slowly but surely. . .
Labels: afghans for afghans, charity, Ten sweaters
Saturday, January 09, 2010
End of the Week
It's been brutally cold here in the Northeast, so it's been a pleasure to knit bigger things:
This week, I worked diligently on the second scrap lap robe for our local rehab, and then found out that the prizes won't be needed until late April, so I am "good to go" as they say (whoever "they" are).
The big mitered square is #2. Same yarns and colors as the first, approximately the same size.
Best laid plans aside, there was a pattern in my head. Unfortunately, I ran out of one color mid-way, and beingcheap frugal in stash-busting mode for these, I refused to buy more yarn. I punted.
A motivated inspector will see what I did.
Then I found a tiny bit more of the color that I ran out of. Rats!
I've made a bit of progress on the sweater for Afghans for Afghans, and started another.
Again, stash-busters. The green yarn is some Lily Sugar and Cream 100% wool (I don't even want to guess how old it is) . The yellow is Elann Peruvian Highland wool, left over from another project. When this one is a little further along, I'll post a photo of the pattern picture.
It's a vest.
To my mind, it can be spring any time now. I am tired of Arctic temperatures and wind chills. I need it to be warm.
No chance at all that there will be a beach vacation any time soon, either.
This week, I worked diligently on the second scrap lap robe for our local rehab, and then found out that the prizes won't be needed until late April, so I am "good to go" as they say (whoever "they" are).
The big mitered square is #2. Same yarns and colors as the first, approximately the same size.
Best laid plans aside, there was a pattern in my head. Unfortunately, I ran out of one color mid-way, and being
A motivated inspector will see what I did.
Then I found a tiny bit more of the color that I ran out of. Rats!
I've made a bit of progress on the sweater for Afghans for Afghans, and started another.
Again, stash-busters. The green yarn is some Lily Sugar and Cream 100% wool (I don't even want to guess how old it is) . The yellow is Elann Peruvian Highland wool, left over from another project. When this one is a little further along, I'll post a photo of the pattern picture.
It's a vest.
To my mind, it can be spring any time now. I am tired of Arctic temperatures and wind chills. I need it to be warm.
No chance at all that there will be a beach vacation any time soon, either.
Labels: charity, FOs, Ten sweaters
Sunday, January 03, 2010
What's In Your Stash?
I said I would, and so I am! I've gone through the top layer of stash and identified some sweater size lots of wool for my Ten Sweaters campaign. This is just the tip of the iceberg!
What you see (eyes left) is some lovely natural wool (purchased coned from Webs, scoured, and still in the skein--leftovers from a Daughter In Law sweater), some Sugar and Cream wool in a nice deep green that I bought locally, Outback Wool (the stuff that's left after I made the toddler sweater in the fall), and the Patons Impressions
that I started knitting up.
But wait, there's more!
I have an entire squashed bin of Lopi-like singles in various shades that will make at least a couple of Icelandic-type sweaters.
There are 2700 grams of untouched yarn in that bin, plus a couple of oddballs of similar yarn. Over 3000 yards of yarn!
Just waiting to become sweaters.
And yet, there's still more:
More yarn that I bought on the cone from Webs, several years ago.
I don't remember exactly how much I bought, but at $3 a cone (2+ pound cones), how could I not?
I dyed most of it with varying flavors of Kool-Aid and then stashed it away in this bin. That "amber" cone on the bottom left toward the back is all that remains of the original color.
I'm thinking stripes and fair isle for this batch.
Again, enough for a couple (or more) sweaters.
And here's a progress shot on the current sweater on my needles. The pattern is a basic top-down (translate: seamless) turtleneck pullover, loosely based on one of the Rich Designs sweaters that I turn to frequently.
I bought my copy from Elann, which doesn't seem to carry it at the moment, but a Google search turned up other opportunities.
What you see (eyes left) is some lovely natural wool (purchased coned from Webs, scoured, and still in the skein--leftovers from a Daughter In Law sweater), some Sugar and Cream wool in a nice deep green that I bought locally, Outback Wool (the stuff that's left after I made the toddler sweater in the fall), and the Patons Impressions
that I started knitting up.
But wait, there's more!
I have an entire squashed bin of Lopi-like singles in various shades that will make at least a couple of Icelandic-type sweaters.
There are 2700 grams of untouched yarn in that bin, plus a couple of oddballs of similar yarn. Over 3000 yards of yarn!
Just waiting to become sweaters.
And yet, there's still more:
More yarn that I bought on the cone from Webs, several years ago.
I don't remember exactly how much I bought, but at $3 a cone (2+ pound cones), how could I not?
I dyed most of it with varying flavors of Kool-Aid and then stashed it away in this bin. That "amber" cone on the bottom left toward the back is all that remains of the original color.
I'm thinking stripes and fair isle for this batch.
Again, enough for a couple (or more) sweaters.
And here's a progress shot on the current sweater on my needles. The pattern is a basic top-down (translate: seamless) turtleneck pullover, loosely based on one of the Rich Designs sweaters that I turn to frequently.
I bought my copy from Elann, which doesn't seem to carry it at the moment, but a Google search turned up other opportunities.
Labels: charity, Ten sweaters
Saturday, January 02, 2010
Ten in 2010
A bunch of peope I know are working on a 10 Shawls in 2010 sort of Challenge/Loosely-Knit Along thingie. While I am interested, I know that I will never in a bazillion years wear that many shawls, and other than for charity, I don't know where I'd gift that many shawls (and truth is, most of the shawls I am dying to make wouldn't be practical for the charities I knit for--they need solid, utilitarian sorts of garments). So, instead of 10 shawls, I am planning 10 sweaters. It's not like I don't have the yarn . . .
I have been telling myself for years that I *must* use up some of the older stashed stuff. I have beautiful yarns that are just "not my color" (to wear) though seeing and fondling them gives me great pleasure.
So last night, I cast on a sweater with some very old Patons Impressions Hand-dyed wool in a beautiful shade of green (just not *my* wearing shade) that I will send to Afghans for Afghans. Some child will be warm. I will have the pleasure of knitting this yummy stuff, and I will no longer feel guilty about not using it.
I bought it shortly after I discovered Smiley's as a source for lots of interesting yarns. I swatched it. I even started a sweater for me (witness the 2-3" sleeve cuffs in the Ziploc with the swatch and the rewound yarn). It's lovely stuff!
Follow me on this journey. Heck, join me on this journey. Surely you have yarn that is begging to be made. Surely there is a charity (local or international) that needs your help.
I'll be eyeing the stash over the next few days, identifying wool that needs to be made up. Might even post a list (with photos) to keep me honest.
I have been telling myself for years that I *must* use up some of the older stashed stuff. I have beautiful yarns that are just "not my color" (to wear) though seeing and fondling them gives me great pleasure.So last night, I cast on a sweater with some very old Patons Impressions Hand-dyed wool in a beautiful shade of green (just not *my* wearing shade) that I will send to Afghans for Afghans. Some child will be warm. I will have the pleasure of knitting this yummy stuff, and I will no longer feel guilty about not using it.
I bought it shortly after I discovered Smiley's as a source for lots of interesting yarns. I swatched it. I even started a sweater for me (witness the 2-3" sleeve cuffs in the Ziploc with the swatch and the rewound yarn). It's lovely stuff!
Follow me on this journey. Heck, join me on this journey. Surely you have yarn that is begging to be made. Surely there is a charity (local or international) that needs your help.
I'll be eyeing the stash over the next few days, identifying wool that needs to be made up. Might even post a list (with photos) to keep me honest.
Labels: charity, Ten sweaters
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