Saturday, November 22, 2014

Dreaming of Project Future (again)

I WANT TO KNIT SOMETHING OTHER THAN THIS BLOODY BLANKET.

Except I can't because CHRISTMAS KNITTING OMG.  And I'm stuck in camp with only this project (and another, but I refuse to start anything until this blanket is done or else it'll never get done).
 
What's keeping me going is, well, rushed Christmas knitting, but also that I've promised myself that I can start up two new sweater projects (at once!) after I'm done gift knitting, and I've been stoked to start both of them for a while.

Henri
This one is Henri by Holla Knits, and I already have the yarn to knit it!  I've been itching to knit this one ever since I saw Michelle's version, ages ago.  I'll be using Knit Picks City Tweed, same as hers, and nearly ordered the same colour as hers (because omg it's called Kitten and doesn't it look adorable?!).  But then the purple called to me and I'm glad I chose it, it's such a vibrant and scrumptious colour.  The yarn is scrumptious, and I've been chomping at the bit to start this for months now.  I do plan to figure out how the lengthen the sleeves though, because 3/4 or 7/8 sleeves (whatever that is) is way too short for Yukon weather.

OMG I want this sweater, it looks so cozy and so me! 

Featherweight
On the opposite side of the spectrum is this super light-weight cardigan, Featherweight.  It's a stockinette open sweater knit out of lace-weight yarn, and oh cripes I'm going to be crawling the walls with how find and how long this will take.  I normally don't knit anything finer than worsted weight, so yeah, BATTY.  But it's a great layer and perfect for wearing over the 1000 tank tops I own but never wear (other than as a bottom layer) because I live in the Yukon.

The yarn is an impulse buy from our LYS, Malabrigio Silkpaca in olive.  I don't know why the green, it just called to me and wouldn't let me leave unless it was in my purse, so there you have it.  I love Michelle's version with her lovely stripes*, but I think I'd wear this more as a solid.

I think these will be good to knit together.  One is more complicated and involved, with all of those textures and cables, while the other will be pretty mindless knitting.  I'm want Christmas to be here now so I can get started on these already, geez.  Christmas gift for me!

How about you all?  Have you chained yourselves to gift making and getting sick of it, like me?  Have you ever set a reward for yourself for completing a tediously long project?



*If you haven't noticed yet, Michelle is sort of my knitting idol.  She makes some gorgeous knits and I sort of want to copy nearly everything she makes.  :)

Monday, November 17, 2014

The Never Ending Blanket

Umaro Blanket
I realize this picture doesn't have a scale.  It looks so tiny though DEAR TOAD WILL THIS EVER END?!
Knitting a blanket for my Mom for Christmas, and it's never going to end.  This is it as of this afternoon.

Umaro Blanket
This is it 20 days ago.

I am never knitting another blanket again.  If this was crochet, I'd've been done weeks ago.  *grump*

Umaro Blanket
It is awfully pretty though...

Monday, November 10, 2014

fo: Really Quick Mitts

It's officially winter here in the Yukon, and my hands are cold.  So despite the crazy list I've given myself to knit for Christmas gifts, I said screw it and made myself a pair of mitts!

Our new LYS had this great super bulky skein of Malabrigio Rasta, and I fell in love with the colours.  I wanted a simple pattern to show off the yarn, and Ravelry lead me to Really Quick Mitts, which is designed specifically for this yarn.  This pattern was easy to knit, and yes, really quick.  I wish the LYS had more of this yarn because I'd just make these mitts for everyone.

This yarn is so thick, I needed to use thicker needles as well, and I don't have 9 mm needles in double points.  That meant either ordering online, or finally learning magic loop.  Hmm yeah, time to learn a new skill.  And you know, it wasn't nearly as hard as I made it out to be in my head.  Funny how we psych ourselves out about these things, eh?

Because I can't just follow a pattern, I decided to knit this between their small and large (the only two sizes).  I basically just cast on 14 stitches (S: 12, L: 16), and then followed the directions for L.  Surprisingly, I only used half of the ball of yarn, so either I have ridiculously short hands or...I don't even know.  Anyways, I explained my mods on my Rav project page

These mitts are really warm.  I didn't realize how warm until I was playing outside to take these pictures.  Took all these pictures playing with the snow, then took them off to take a few other pictures, and then froze my fingers off.  My boyfriend didn't appreciate me warming them up down his back.

This picture is dedicated to Michelle, who lives in Texas and makes mittens anyways.  If I could send you some snow, I would.  Come to the Yukon and play!

While taking these pictures, I looked up at the setting sun, and noticed that the sky matched my new pretty mitts!  Aw so pretty.

And for a bit of fun, here's some of my outtakes from trying to be fancy with my camera's zoom.  Heh, oops.

Friday, November 07, 2014

Follow Me on Bloglovin!

...if you're into that sort of thing.  I'm just trying things out and claiming my blog over yonder. 

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

In more crafty news, I'm working on a few things that I can't wait to share with you!  I just need to get off my butt (and the computer) and photograph/work on/finish them, but oh how comfy is my couch?

Very comfy. 

This is why I knit.  Mmm comfy couches and crafting, combined!

Monday, November 03, 2014

fo: Linden Sweatshirt of LOVE

I have to say this before anything else: I LOVE THIS SWEATSHIRT, above and beyond anything I have ever made (and that says a lot, because I've been sewing/knitting/crafting for a very very long time)!
Linden Sweatshirt
Pattern: Linden Sweatshirt, by Grainline Studios

Fabric: Two medium-weight mystery knits I've had for ages - the grey patterned one I bought years ago at Value Village (thrift shop) for a few bucks and suspect is pure polyester; the black is a cotton-poly fine-rib knit (I think) that I got in a large fabric package from a friend a couple of years ago. Despite the difference in stretch (the first has about 20%, the second closer to 50%), they paired well in this garment.

Size: I cut a size 14 through the sleeves and upper body, gradually grading to size 16 at the hips.  And then I chopped a bunch off.

Modifications: There were a couple - mostly due to me wanting something less loose with this stiffer body fabric, but also because I suspect I have very short arms.

Linden Sweatshirt
Of course, I took exactly 0 pictures of this entire process, but I found the body was just too wide once sewn up.  Cozy and comfy, and I might've kept it as is, but it pushed just past the sloppy line and I knew it'd bother me.  So I took my trusty chalk and marked, on both sides, 1/2" from the hem and wrist stitch line, and 1" from the underarm stitch line, connected them all with a smooth line, and restitched.  This means I took 4" total off the width at the bust and upper arm, and 2" total off the wrist and hemline.  And now it's a perfect fit!  Still loose and comfy, but I'm not drowning in oversized sweatshirt.  (Although if I used a thinner or more fluid knit, I might not make these same mods.)

 
Linden Sweatshirt 
The only other mod I did was to hack 2 1/4" off the sleeves, because raw they were longer than I wanted them finished, and I still had a 2" cuff to add!  Easy peasy alteration though.  I nearly added thumbholes to the cuffs, but then changed my mind.  Mostly because sleeves long enough for thumbholes to be used drive me batty.

ETA: OH!  I also cut off 1/2 inche from the bottom hem, because I don't know it made sense at the time.  Forgot about that, until I looked over my notes from last night.  Oops.  This is why I learned to take notes, becaue my brain is rubbish at remembering things sometimes.  Slacker brain.

Linden Sweatshirt
The only critique I have for this sweater and pattern, and this is purely personal preference, is that the neckline is a little too wide.  My bra-straps, sadly, get shown off nicely in this sweatshirt.  I'm not choked up by this though, because this sweatshirt is cozy and perfect for layering, which I do like sediment deposits in the warmest months, nevermind in winter.  BRING ON THE BRIGHT TANKTOPS!

I think, to solve this next time, I may either project the raglan seams, shoulders, and back neckline up a bit to get more coverage.  I could probably try a smaller size considering how much I chopped off the sides as well, but I think I have the fit I want worked out there, and this might be a fun drafting exercise.  Alternatively, I could try pinching out some of the width on the front and back piece to reduce overall width.  Hmm.  Any other suggestions?  Have any of you tried something like this?

Linden Sweatshirt
None of that above distracts from the pure love I have for this garment, and I don't even want to make anything else until I've made at least 3 more.  Already I'm plotting how to incorporate all of my knits into this pattern, and different ways I could alter the pattern (lace? zippers? pockets? embroidery?)!  And it's so quick and easy; I think it took me about 2 hours total (ignoring interruptions like dinner and a gym visit) to make up last night, and that includes putting it on constantly and running out to show off to Darryl (the boyfriend - I guess I should finally give him a name on this blog).

Linden Sweatshirt
That expression screams 'damn proud'.
And because I don't have anything else to say but OMG LOVE THIS PATTERN SO MUCH SQUEEEE, here's a few more detailed pics.

Linden Sweatshirt
So glad I "saved" this patterned knit for just this project - nothing else would've worked nearly as well!  This is why extensive stashes are a must for any crafter.  *nods*
Linden Sweatshirt
Neckline ribbing and topstitching.  Plus the purple ribbon I'm using to designate 2014 makes (and which side is the back).
Linden Sweatshirt
Don't know why, but those sleeve cuffs ans topstitching brings me joy.
Linden Sweatshirt
Don't be fooled by the even-ness of the bottom topstitching - the damn seam meanders like a slow-moving river.  WHATEVER DON'T CARE.
Have you sewn this super easy pattern up yet?  If not, do you think might in the future?