Laundry day at Lolly's

Hello Feisty Knitters!

You wanna know what I've been doing today? While the cold March winds have been geting a day's headstart, I've been watching my Hemlock Ring Blanket drying!

And not outside whipping away in these ferocious winds; but inside on my pool table. I laid down some foam interlocking blocks between two sheets and started pinning....

.....and pinning....

That's right. This blob.....

...has been soaked in cool water with a little bit of fabric softener, pressed between several towels, and pulled and patted into this lovely ring of wool and mohair fibers, measuring 46 inches at its widest.

I'm sure it will probably shrink up a few inches after unpinning; but I'm going to force myself to leave it pinned until I'm sure it is completely dry. Then I'll take a bunch more pictures without the pins.

It would have been about an inch wider all the way around, but I left out 3 rounds - three long rounds, way out on the outside edge. That's what happens when you put your project down for a month without making any notes and are not experienced enough to be able to tell exactly where in the pattern you are when you finally pick it back up. I'm very lucky that it turned out as well as it did with such a mistake.

This ball of Peace Fleece is what I had left over - about 150 yds! Maybe you can see the flecks of color that are in the yarn - it's not just plain gray.

This project was easy knitting and I wouldn't be surprised if I make another one someday!

Is that Spring in the air?

Well, at least in South Texas it is!

It is February and the knitting has been moving right along. I finally finished the B-side cardigan and I could not be more pleased! I wore it to work yesterday and no one could believe I made it.





Now the age old question: What next?

Well, I am still working on my one-pair-of-socks-a-month. The husband's pheasant socks are coming right along. I did this version toe-up and am at the point where I will wrap and turn (w&t) the heels.



I am still not sold on the whole w&t deal, but I thought I would give it another try.

There are about three sweaters that Mom has asked me to make for her, but as she is a moving target and changes her mind frequently, it is hard to tell. At the moment, we have decided on a new Chic Knits pattern called Sandrine. I bought the yarn last week. It is Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool in light purple.



Not one to be left behind, the wee child has expressed an interest in a lacy-type cardi called Ce Ce. She said she wanted a light little something to wear over her camis when it gets warmer. I think this will be perfect!

Fortunately, I have some linen in my stash that seems to be perfect. It is Elann Linus in Tea Green, although Acid Green might be a more appropriate name.



The only issue is the slickness of the addi turbos with the linen. Now I really like addi turbos. They are my favorite kind of needles; however, I cannot keep the stitches on because the linen refuses to be knit tightly. Thus, this project is on hold until I can get a pair of addi natura needles.

No worries, I also have a bit of stealth knitting to occupy me, as well.



In other news, I blocked the partially complete Colortopia shawl. I love how it is coming along!



Definitely colorful. Mom does not much like it, but it is not for her. I love the feel of it, soft and light. It will be perfect with jeans!

Lastly, the lovely Adamboysmom and I are planning to work on our Hap Shawl knit-a-long in April. If anyone is interested in joining us, please give us a shout (or leave a comment).

Happy Knitting all!

The mental side of knitting

Over the past few months I have thought often of exactly what attracts me to knitting. While I have heard myself say I am not a "process" knitter because it is not the process that excites me, but the finished object.

Closer inspection actually reveals that it is not the finished object, but the fact of the finished object that I enjoy most, i.e., the accomplishment.

Looking at my project page in Ravelry, I am not too surprised that most everything I have made has been for others. I have two wraps, three pairs of socks, and a sweater to call my own. And while they are all nice and I am proud of them, I rarely wear any of them.

Odd, I know.

The present project is the B-side cardigan in Malabrigo. As of last night I am nearly finished with the sleeves (I knit them two-at-a-time). From there it will be soaking and blocking the body of the sweater and the sleeves before the collar and button bands go on.

I know it will fit because I have tried it on. It will be plenty roomy as a sweater/coat, but I am still unsure how often I will actually wear it.

Last week I worked on a test knit that was very trying for me. The pattern was straight-forward and relatively simple, but it was not something I would have chosen to make. Further, the yarn was wonderfully soft and springy, but, again, the colorway was not something I would have paired with the pattern.

Because it was a) not my style and b) a rather interesting pairing of yarn and pattern, I was not wildly excited about the project at all.

However, once I actually started it, I was pleased to learn a couple of things: 1) how to wrap and turn in a pattern (rather than just in stockinette) and 2) how to do a three-needle bind-off.

As a result, the promise of learning new things made the whole project bearable while I was working on it and rewarding now that it is complete.

I am beginning to think I may be a process knitter, after all.

Any thoughts?