P.S. I hate having my picture taken!

I spent the last week knitting a 45″ long tube. This is the Felted Yoga Mat bag from “Great Knitted Gifts.” I used Malabrigo (blue) and Plymouth Boku (stripes). The sample I knit seemed to felt nicely so I took the 45″ plunge. And threw it in the washer once I was finally done. And again. And again. And again.

Turns out the Boku really doesn’t felt too well! I now have a very big bag, or maybe a very small mat. :-/

The Malabrigo on the left, very dense, very felted. The Boku on the right, not so much. Bummer. Now what do I do with this thing! Ah well. I guess that’s the gamble you take with felting.

Moving on, I started the July sock for the Socks From the Toe Up KAL on Ravelry, WendyKnits’ On Hold sock. The yarn is Claudia Handpainted, the color is Denim. This is the first time I have used Claudia’s and it is awesome. I love how it knits up. The pattern is ok, I have not memorized it yet after 2 repeats but I am hoping it comes soon. I can’t wait until I start the leg when there is a double lace insert up the sides.
One thing I have improved with all these toe-up socks is my Judy’s Magic cast-on. I still refer to Cat Bordhi’s video once in a while, but now I do the very first loops with a slightly larger needle, switching to required size on the first round. Also I like the way M1′s look over Knit TBL increases.

I have just one problem. The new Loopy Ewe Sock club kit arrived. BuggaBugga and yet another WendyKnits pattern which looks like a lot of fun. The package also contained a cute sheep stitchmarker as well as a Namaste buddy case. I am not sure about the case. Although I have always been tempted by them when they are in stock, in person they are not what I thought they would be. There is not a lot of room inside. Does anyone use these? What do you use them for?

(OR Warm Ewe Up Winter Swap Package #2)
Isn’t this the funniest thing? It’s a bank!

I will definitely be putting my change here! How clever!

My swap partner was so thoughtful. She included something chicken-related, knitting-related, chocolate, yarn, some post-its with lovely flower sketches and the bank.

The plate is beautiful!

And so is the yarn! It’s Art Yarns Super Merino in color 115 (aka RED).

Thank you partner! I can’t wait to find out who you are!

Here is their Skull Beanie pattern knit for one of my step-daughters.

Pattern link

I also knit a neck cowl for my other step-daughter.

Pattern link

I made some other things but I can’t show them yet because (*sigh) I haven’t mailed them out yet.

Thoughts on PolarKnit? Those Polar Fleece stickers are a little hard to remove. It leaves little balls of fleece everywhere – especially if you like to knit with a fleece blanket on your lap. I thought I knit with even tension but some of the ribbing is crooked. I wish they offered more colors. It knits up well-defined cables. Everyone LOVES the fabric it creates – it is soft, spongy and warm. It’s a unique choice of yarn when you want to do up some quick projects.

I hope everyone had a great Christmas! Someone in our family received a cute Christmas puppy.

Everyone gave the puppy a warm welcome.

Cutie!

I knit the Wrapper’s Delight from iKnitiative with some CTH Baby Loop (boucle). Never ending lump of goo. I hate boucle. Pattern was ok.

Then I made Abruzo from local Laura Nelkin on knitty.com with some thick yarn I bought at Hemlock. Easy pattern, love the yarn but when it was done I just wasn’t happy with its fit. Bulky yarn makes me look … bulky.

You will note there are no pictures of my own so far

Then I made a hat for my step-daughter.

Pattern: Fusilli Beanie

Yarn: Cascade Pastaza

and the Noro Scarf made famous by Brooklyn Tweed. This was a really fun knit. I did it on a plane flight.

Pattern: Noro Striped Scarf

Yarn: Noro Silk Garden 244 & 268

On another plane flight I designed some socks. Simply because I had yarn, no pattern and needed a manly sock. I wanted the ribbed cuff to grow out into larger ribs, which I ended up making like a beaded rib. Nothing special really.

Pattern: My own, K4,P1 (allter rows knit all)

Yarn: Three Irish Girls “Campbell”

And another sock in progress which I can’t show you right now *wink. Christmas is coming you know.

I swung by a LYS yesterday to pick up some Jamiesons yarn for yet another Brooklyn Tweed pattern, Druid mittens (cover of last issue of Vogue, I am sure you know which ones) as well as enough for a baby surprise jacket. Also got some Plymouth Boku to try that with the striped scarf and also some white Brown Sheep to do a fake fair isle hat with even more Noro.

Like I said, Christmas is coming

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So far, I have finished one of Wendyknits’ Summer Socks, done in DIC Smooshy. I had the same color in my stash as she used in her pattern. The cuff is a little tight but the fit overall is good.

Next up, a single Nanner sock, also by Wendyknits. The yarn is STR Silkie in the Pondscum color. I love these this sock. I will get to #2 soon!

Sock #3 is the second sock from one I did back in May. It is a Loopy Ewe sock club pattern made from some Berocco Comfort sock a recent swap partner sent to me. These socks will be for my MIL. I initially started them for Mother’s Day and will now be ready to gift them for her birthday! I hope!

Start of SOS08 #1

Originally uploaded by MoBarger

Last night I finally started my first sock for Summer of Socks 08. I am not a huge fan of Judy’s magic cast on but gave it a go anyway. And pulled it off my first time around, no small feat for my butter fingers.

I have had the Shibui Knits yarn in my stash for quite some time, and when I saw Wendy’s pattern for Summer of Socks, I finally had the perfect project for it.

Here’s hoping I get these done soon!