Becky's Knitting

Here's some of the pictures Vickie took at the LSSK meet up on Tuesday night.

JoAn, Nancy, me, Laura, Maggie, MEM, and Linda Q.

JoAn Sr., JoAn Jr., Nancy

Me, Laura, and Maggie

The girls at the LSSK meet up really liked the Irish Hiking Scarf I'm making for my friend Meredith.  They loved how soft the Knit Pick's Panache was.  Here's pics of it.  I'm almost done - I would have been done a long time ago, but it was too short with only 4 balls of yarn so I had to order two more.  Took awhile for those to come in, but they arrived last week and now I am well on my way to finishing it up.  I like the Panache a lot for it's softness, but my one complaint is that since it is only 20% wool, it doesn't have much stretchiness to it.  I don't know how I would like it for things other than scarves - I did use it for a hat, and it definitely wasn't as stretchy as I would like.  Meredith picked out the colors and pattern so I'm sure she'll love it. 

I did some blocking this weekend.  The last of the Christmas hats for my cousin who goes to Penn State and FINALLY the My So Called Scarf out of Fiesta Watermark.  The stitches evened out and it did soften up a bit.  Because it's wool it's still a tad scratchy, but I loved making it and I love the colors and the pattern so I've been wearing it a lot this week since it's been in the 40's in the mornings. 

Here's Major snuggling in the laundry again - pardon the scary eyes. 

Posted by Becky at 09:39 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Tonight I met up with some of the Austin Ladies from the Lone Star State Knitters.  They're going to start having monthly meetings in Austin which I'm excited about - probably 2nd Thursdays at the Borders near Central Market south if any of you are interested.  I'll keep you posted when the times become official.  While there I finished up the peach yarn on the pinwheel blanket and started on the purple so the picture below is a little bit behind.  This project is coming along quite quickly and I am officially over the halfway point since I've completed 3 of 6 balls.  I think it will be big enough, but need to put it on a few circulars to make sure.

We also went to see The Chronicles of Narnia this past weekend.  First of all, great movie and I highly recommend it.  I loved how realistic the animals were without being over the top.  It really was like the book come to life - not too fake and yet not overdone.  I started a ribbon scarf during the movie since I knew the basic stitch pattern would be easy to do in the dark.  I am using Katia Tango which is an interesting yarn as it isn't just ribbon but also has these softer parts.  But nothing sticking out which is my limit on novelty yarn - I don't mind ribbon, but I don't like tufts.  My mom bought some of this in a gold color which turned out really nice, so when Herschner's had it on sale recently, she bought a bunch for our stash as it is great for turning out quick presents.  I don't have anyone in mind for this yet, and it probably won't get much of my attention, but it's good when I need a really SIMPLE project for movie theaters and the such.

Posted by Becky at 10:34 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Went to Stitch 'n Bitch Tuesday night with my mom (oops - SNB - don't want to break any copyright laws).  It was a pretty small group - only 6 total - I think the smallest group I've ever seen.  I guess people are still recovering from the holidays.  A writer for The Economist stopped by to interview us about the recent increase in interest in knitting.  I asked her to let me know when the article goes to print - it will be interesting to see what she ends up writing about.  I don't think she had any idea how big the knitting world is - blogs, TV shows, knitalongs, etc.  I'll let you know if I hear from her.

I traveled to and from Amarillo on Wednesday and Thursday which gave me lots of knitting time.  I worked on Olivia's baby blanket - finished the green section and started on the yellow.  I also worked on my first pair of socks - a project that got put on hold during the holidays.  I've bought a lot of sock yarn over the last few months, so I am eager to get through this first pair and start making more.  I had to order some additional Knit Picks yarn in December as I ran out for an Irish Hiking Scarf I'm making.  I wanted to get free shipping, so I added in a book I really wanted - Senational Knitted Socks.  I took the book with me to read on the plane, and I highly recommend it.  Since I don't own very many knitting books (and no sock books), I wanted a book that gave me LOTS of options to make different patterns and showed different ways to construct them (toe-up, top down, different types of heels, etc.).  I think this is a book that would appeal to knitters of a variety of skill levels.

Finally, I finished my gauge swatch for Mermaid yesterday and decided to use Addi Turbo Size 3's (one size up from the recommended needle).  So I cast-on for the initial I-cord and am finishing that up tonight.

And here's Major who was sound asleep while I was working the I-cord.

Posted by Becky at 11:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

So, the $250 million project closed and I finished the contract I was working on, my law school essays are all written and I just need to submit the final application, and I sent off the last of my Christmas knitting today.  What does that mean?  It means a return to blogging AND I get to start lots of new projects that were waiting on all of the above. 

First up, remember this yarn? 

It's GGH Goa for Olivia's Pinwheel Baby Blanket.  I started it yesterday.  It's 50% cottom, 50% acrylic which means it is great for babies (machine washable).  However, it does hurt my hands if I knit with it for a long time, so I'll have to space this out over the next two months.  I'm using size 8 addi's and am looking forward to when it's big enough for only one circular instead of the two I am using now. 

The Hanne Falkenberg knitalong is also now officially up and running with lots of participants signing up over the last few days.  My announcement on the Knit List got some interest, but I am thrilled that Wendy was willing to post about it on her blog.  Already, with the post up for only a few hours, I've received at least 6 or 7 emails and I expect lots more after tomorrow morning as everyone does their morning blogroll.  How exciting to be mentioned on one of the two most read knitting blogs. 

It seems that lots of people are getting ready to start a HF project to kick off the new year and I certainly don't want to be behind, so I started my swatch. 

Not very exciting, I know, but it was so fun to get started.  Wow, this is thin yarn and little needles!  It is definitely going to be a long term project, but one I know I am going to enjoy.  My gauge was just slightly the tiniest bit off so I decided to do a few rows on Size 3's as well as the 2's (thus the YO's) and then I'll wash and block.  Normally I don't ever go through this much trouble, but if I am going to invest this much time into it, I want to make sure it will fit when I'm done.  I also did some rows knitting continental, but I'm not sure I can be consistent enough with it yet, so I will probably knit my normal way for this as I don't want a varying gauge.   

  My mom came over yesterday and we decided to try out the blocking board she got me for Christmas.  The pink scarf on the left is a scarf she made out of Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk.  This was her first project using both knits and purls and she did a GREAT job!  I wish I had as much time to knit as she does because she has become quite prolific and she's improving rapidly.  The middle scarf is the Bella Scarf from Knit Picks designed by Susan using Suri Dream.  More details on that soon.  And the scarf on the right is the pink lace scarf I gave my mom for Christmas.  I told her she had to give it back to me for blocking, but I was waiting for the blocking board first. 

Finally, a plea to any of you with Moveable Type experience.  It was easy enough to use an existing template to set up my blog, but I'm having trouble figuring out how to edit it.  I REALLY want to get my sidebar totally changed up with all my links and everything.  There are other tweaks I'd like to make as well, but that is my first priority.  So if there are any good tutorials or advice you can recommend, I'm all ears.  I also seem to be having trouble with the layout of the pictures and text in my posts - again, any advice would be much appreciated.

As always, I leave you with pictures of Major who decided the clean laundry was a great place to burrow and take a nap. 

Posted by Becky at 11:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

And we were there...

In Pasadena, in the Rose Bowl, at the Granddaddy of them all, to see it.   

Posted by Becky at 01:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Welcome to my new Moveable Type blog!!

 Please pardon my mess while it is under construction. 

 For now, please click on this link to go to my old blog with my current posts. 

 Happy New Year!!! 

Posted by Becky at 08:19 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)