Becky's Knitting

Yesterday, I posted some questions in a comment on Wendy's blog.  Today, I got some answers with a link to my blog.  I figured I'd better post the sock I mentioned since I'm bound to get some extra traffic today. 

For those of you coming from Wendy's, welcome.  I highly recommend you check out this post with my Lacy Lattice Stole pics b/c that is the recent FO I am most proud of.

Here is the first Longhorn sock completed.  I LOVE this Lorna's Laces yarn.  This is only my third pair of socks so I can't compare it to all the others out there (notably, haven't tried Koigu or Cherry Tree Hill yet, although I have some in my stash, and I really want to get some Socks that Rock to try).  But, my novice thoughts on the Lorna's Laces is that it is soft and squishy knitted up, and I love the custom dyed Longhorn colors.  I purchased this yarn from Twisted Yarns (near Houston) last August when I went to the Houston Knit at Night Guild's Conference.  I don't work on it very often, just a few rows here and there since I keep it in my purse, but I love how a few rows here and there add up to something complete!  We'll see how long it takes to do the second one.  Hopefully I can get it done for football season.

 

Stitch count notes (so that I can make a matching sock)

• worked on sz 1 Pony Pearl DPNs
• short row heel and toes (14 stitches in middle for toe, 12 for heel)
• 6.5" from toe to heel
• 4.25" from heel to start ribbing
• 26 rows of ribbing using sz 0's

I did the Russian bind-off which is P2TOG, slide resulting stitch back to the left needle and repeat.  This page is a great resource for toes, heels, and bind-off's and I found the link to the Russian bindoff from there.  Wendy also mentions doing the Russian bind-off only using k2tog instead of p2tog here.

Next up, I'm almost to the heel of my first FIL sock. 

And finally, Major says hi.  Or, at least he would if he could stay awake long enough.

Posted by Becky at 10:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Here's a few FO's from Christmas that I didn't get a chance to post previously.

 

Poinsettia Dishcloth
Pattern: Poinsettia from Monthly Dishcloth Group
Yarn: Sugar 'n Cream
Needles: Addi 6's
For: Sherry

This is a super cute dishcloth that makes a great gift!  The pattern comes out really well - sorry it's hard to see in the picture. 

Harry Potter Bookscarf
Pattern: Laura's Pattern
Yarn: DMC Pearl Cotton Size 5
Needles: Addi Turbo 1's, 2 circs
For: Daniel
Started: July '05
Finished: December 24, 2006
Another Weasley Knitalong

I carried this around in my purse for awhile to work on, but once I got into socks I stopped working on this.  I finished it up last minute to put in Daniel's stocking for Christmas and he actually does use it as a bookmark.  I have the yarn to make a Griffindor one for his mom - should probably get on that sometime.

Posted by Becky at 01:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

It is so easy in times of tragedy to feel helpless because there is really nothing you can do to help.  Here's a great idea:

Click on the picture for more info.  I think projects such as this are as much about comforting ourselves by giving ourselves a chance to help in some way as they are about comforting those who have lost as someone.  What a great opportunity. 

I've already found some maroon yarn and am casting on for a heart square.  I think I am going to use this pattern, modified to 8x8.  Please contribute if you can.

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

When school is in session, I really can't work on lace or cable patterns because most of my knitting time comes while I am reading so I can only do simple knitting.  I worked hard on my lace stole over winter break because I really wanted to wear it for a wedding in March, but once school started back up and I was only just over half way, I didn't think I'd be able to get it done in time.  During February, I thought about it often, and once we decided to drive out to California for the week before the wedding, I decided I'd work on it as much as I could during that week and see what happened.  I brought my mom's cashmere wrap with me as a backup, and that helped take the pressure off.

Daniel ended up doing more than half of the driving on the way out so that I could knit, knit, knit during the daylight hours.  I finished the 18 center repeats and by mid-week had finished the criss-cross part of the second half.  On Thursday and Friday, I finished up one side of the edging, but I knew there was no way I had time to do the second side.  Then, I had the sudden realization that no one would know if I didn't add the edging to both sides.  Now, if I had been thinking clearly earlier in the week, I would have just left off the final edging on both sides and it would have been fine.  But since I had already done one side, there was no way I was ripping it out.  I realized, though, that no one would notice if one side had a pointy edging and the other didn't.  And if they did, they probably would figure it was part of the design.

So, Friday night after the rehearsal dinner, I eagerly knit away finishing up the edging and then bound off the provisional cast-on on the other side.  We brought in the blocking board and wires I had stored in my trunk just in case, rinsed the shawl in the sink, and pinned it out.  Luckily, the wedding was late enough in the day and lace dries quickly enough that by the next afternoon it was ready to go.

And so, without further ado, here is the (temporarily finished) Lacy Lattice Stole

And here are a few pics of it in action.

I do plan to add the edging to the other side.  One of my other friends (the one in the black dress) is getting married in June so perhaps once school is done I can do that side and have it ready for her wedding. 

I have to say, although I know I won't be able to work on much lace knitting in the next few years until law school is over, I loved the Fiddlesticks pattern and definitely plan to do some more in the future.  Everything was explained so thoroughly and step-by-step.  There were several pictures so you knew exactly what it would look like, and the charts were a good size so that you didn't have to squint.  I would highly recommend them to anyone.

I also really like the Alpaca with a Twist Fino yarn.  The silk content gives the wrap a really nice sheen and the alpaca is nice and soft. 

I started this project on our South America trip last August, so there are lots of memories in this stole.  And since I'm sure I'll bring it along to lots of weddings, it is only going to continue to grow in memories.  I am so proud of myself for being able to complete such a beautiful and complicated project, and I look forward to getting to use it for many years to come.

Posted by Becky at 11:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

The second Alison posted about it, I joined the Charmed Knits Knitalong.  Two of my favorite things - Harry Potter and knitting - combined, how could I not? 

The book doesn't come out until May, so in the meantime we are doing a hat knitalong for charity.  Here's my contribution so far.

 

Project Stats
Pattern: here, all size small except the Ravenclaw narrow stripes which is a medium.

Yarn:    Blue, Silver, Black, and Yellow - Lion Wool 

            Red – Paton’s Classic Merino

            Green – Lion Brand Wool-ease

Needles: Denise 7’s for body, 6’s for ribbing

For: Warm Woolies

Started: this batch began on 4/6/07

Finished: 4/18/07

Knit as part of the Charmed Knits Knitalong

I started with the two Ravenclaw hats since that's the house I would be in.  But then I decided I wanted a little more variety, so bought some more yarn and made one for each house.  Now I am going to do thick stripe versions of at least the Griffindor and Hufflepuff and then see how my yarn levels look.  The green is some leftover yarn, and I don't like the Wool-ease very much, plus it really has too much acrylic for the warmth of hats they are looking for, so I probably won't be making anymore Slytherin hats unless I can track down a good shade of green in 100% wool. 

I've knits a few Harry Potter items over the years (Hatmione, bookscarf), but unfortunately most of the projects don't make sense for Texas weather.  So it's really fun to be able to do this knitting and send it to someone who needs it.  I'd still really like to at least make something for the movie and book events in July, but a House Scarf (which I really want) just doesn't seem practical.  So once I see the patterns in the book, I'll decide what I want to do. 

And lest you think I have been knititng instead of studying, I'll let you in on the position I spend most of my time in lately.

Law book on lap, knitting in front, laptop in back, and Major sound asleep by my side.  He doesn't seem to mind the studying too much since it means his mommy is home a lot. 

Posted by Becky at 09:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Well, I'm still alive at least right now - I might be crushed under a pile of law books in the coming weeks, though.  This semester has been what I thought law school would be - insane craziness with no break.  My friends and I were stressed out before the push to finals ever started, and things are only worse now that finals are less than 3 weeks away!!   

I couldn't stand seeing my last blog post from January, so I felt liked I needed to say something.  And you can't have a blog post without pics, so here's a few of the Dragon Hoodie I completed last year in use.

No promises when you'll hear from me again - one the one hand, blogging is great procrastination from studying so it might be soon.  On the other hand, I really don't have time so we'll see how it turns out.  And lest you fear, despite the lack of blogging, there has been plenty of knitting these last few months so whenever I get around to it, I do have tons of stuff to show you!

The list includes:

• a finished (sort of) Lacy Lattice Stole
• finished Purple Trekking Socks
• Harry Potter hats for Charity (as part of the Charmed Knits Knitalong)
• completed Grandmom wrap
• a few dishcloths (heart, poinsettia, TX squares)
• 2/3 of the 1st Lorna's Laces Longhorn sock (picture of yarn here)
• over halfway done Clapotis using yarn shown at the bottom of this post
• ribbing and first repeat of Daniel's sweater
• Plush scarf for Daniel's mom using my pattern

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