It's too hot to knit sweaters

It's been too hot to knit sweater so I've been knitting socks like mad. I forgot how quick they are. Here's the finished Merlot Monkey Sock. It's BMFA's STR lightweight's rare gems color way I picked up from Stitches West. I thought Monkey might be a good idea for it. What do you think?


And what's so neat is the color matches Jasmin's hair color! That's her posing with the sock on the WWKIP day.



The Baudelaire was finished before the Merlot Monkey got started. Here's a finished photo.



I actually started another sock (pomatomus) before the monkey was finished. The color is so just so intense I needed to take a break from it. I think the pattern and the yarn color is good together, no?



On a non knitting related note: We went to the DeYoung Museum up in SF for father's day. It was free and the new Chihuly exhibit was opening that weekend too. Thanks to our friend Renee and Stephen's family we were able to go to the cool things that happen around the bay area. Baby seems to like it too!

What I did in May

It's been too long. I will blog more often I promise. It's just I don't upload photo often because I don't trust my old computer so each time I upload, I need to back it up to an external hard drive. Now the same old computer doesn't have enough memory thus making the whole back up thing kinda manual and hard. I don't want to talk more about this, I am just hoping to get a new computer soon.

Now, some knitting content. I've been working on the Trapeze Jacket from Stitch Diva Studio using the Newton's yarn I got from Stitches West. I am holding two strains together to get the right weight. It's 60% cashmere and 40%wool. So soft. I admit the color seem like a good idea in the beginning but after knitting up some I am feeling that the color is really loud. I just need to wear something back with it or something. [Ravelry Link]



Now the jacket is taking a lot longer to knit (then the last one) because it's slipped stitch and the fabric construction is just dense. The weather getting warmer didn't help either. I did not want to touch it for a while. I did manage to pick some socks up and finish them.

Here's the Earth Day Sock 2008. I am calling it Earth Day Sock because I started the first Earth Day Sock last year with a color way call Earth Day. And I thought this color way is a bit earth like, so why not keep the tradition of casting on another Earth Day Sock on Earth Day (April 22). These are just plain top down sock but it's knitting with one of the most luxurious yarn: Handmaiden's Casbah (I think color way Nova Scotia). Another knitter joked that she doesn't want to go back to her other sock yarn after working with this.



There other second sock I finished was the Gentleman's Fancy Sock from Nancy Bush's Knitting Vintage Socks. Here it is being worn by the baby as a thigh high stocking :-)



After finishing some second socks, I immediate casted on a new sock. This is Cookie's Baudelaire on Knitty using Mama Blue's Sea Merino in "Penny" color way and using my favorite sock needle: Susanne's ebony 2.5mm.


i am craving for some pink color though...might start something else soon.

My first adult size sweater!

I really like the sweater. I love the color, I like the pattern and everything. It would have fit better if I do the next size up. But I was afraid of running out of yarn since the size I did called for 1430 yards and I only had 1400 yards. It turns out I could have done the next size up because I had one whole skein untouched! [ravelry link]




Earth Day Sock
I finished the Earth Day socks! I casted it on Earth Day last year and after finishing the first one, I didn't touch it for almost a year. I think it's having to tackle the Japanese short row that was making me procrastinate. In the end that was a good reason because I did a bad job with the Japanese short row on the second sock. They turn out a little longer for me so I might make them a gift. [ravlery link]


Gentleman's Fancy Sock
First of the Gentleman's Fancy Sock from Knitting Vintage Sock with Schaefer Anne yarn is done. I hope the color is not too complicated for the pattern. [ravelry link]


Retro-Style Shrug
Retro Shrug from Lace Style with Malabrigo in Stonechat color way. Two skeins of Malabrigo worsted was just enough (cutting pretty close) for the medium. I think large would fit me better though. That means we'll need more then two skeins for sure (with lots of left over). [ravelry link]

Small FO's, updates and Stitches West

Citron Jaywalker
Finished the first pair of jaywalker for me. After finishing a pair for the sock pal last year and the failed pink one (just too big and did not decide to rib until about 70% done with the second sock!), finishing one was all I could manage before putting it away for a long time. By the time I picked it up again this year, the month had chew two holes in the heel. You can see the darning on the left one with a different color (red, blue I believe). I probably wouldn't darn socks except I haven't even wore these yet. I know, the striping of the two is very different. Ravelry project info.


Pattern: Jaywalker (the larger size)
Yarn: Sundara socks in "Citron"
Fit: 8 1/2 inch
Needle: US 2 (2.75mm) Circular (when th wooden ones broke) and Susan Bates Silvalumes (realized like the wooden ones better)

Jailhouse Rock Monkey


Pattern: Cookie's Monkey from Knitty (love this pattern! So easy to memorize, it's like doing stockinette like January One said)
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Sock that Rock light weight in Jailhouse Rock color way.
Needle: Blue Skye Alpaca US 2 (good needles, but too expensive and I think I like the longer dpns so I only need to use four instead of all five)
Ravelry info for this monkey

Pumpkin Hat

Used left over Deam in Color Classy for the top. It's cute interesting effect. Didn’t do such a good job hiding the stitches on top but made the green part look more 3D.
pumkin hat info.

FFL update
Finished second repeat of chart 2 and gazillion more stitches to go. Sorry to sound a bit discouraged, it's just according to the percentage chart, this is only 22% done. But the beauty of the pattern and yarn will keep me going.



Ravelry info for FFL

Stitches West Finds
There were so many treats at Stitches West and one of the most impressive items I saw was this vest knitted by a lace knitter and designer Joyce Williams.

This was knitted on a 000 size needle and took longer then most of the intricate shawls she makes. Here's a close up:


And this is the awesome Ravelry wall image that everybody loved:

Daisy, Dragon and the Red Socks

Here are some recent projects. Been working on the Daisy Stitch Hand Warmer from the PurlBee. It's super cute and when I saw it in the store, just couldn't resist. Making a pair for Joanne and one for me. Ravelry info here.



Replacing the "Coral Reef" with "Jungle" here. Will make another pair that has Coral Reef.

It's an arm warmer for the baby!



This is the Dragon Scaled Mitts from the purlbee too. Yes, I browsed through their projects and started doing all the ones that I like. I used a 3.00mm instead of US3 (3.25) and I think it's a bit too tight for my comfort even though everybody says the mitts should be nice and snug. I might do the second one in 3.25 just to see if I like it better. On, the yarn is Blue Sky Alpacas Melange. I just loved the color. It has a bit of red peeking out once in a while too. Ravelry Info.



This is the second of the big red socks (first one given to the recipient already) I made for my cousin who's a big red socks fan. Making big men socks are not the most exciting thing. It just goes on and on...Sent it to Maine yesterday.

It's Been Too Long

It's been too long since I last posted, but rest assure there has been much knitting.

The baby blanket from dream in color. Gosh, Ravelry makes it so easy to update the project info now it makes me lazy to have to look up and link up info here.
Dream In Color Classy Happy Forest (Just more then 3 skeins!)

This Surprise Baby Jacket was made for a friend's new child and Orion's modeling it down there. My friend is a big google fan so google colors were used in this sweater.

Modified "Fetching" out of Manos de Uraguay Silk Blend. I think I will make one for myself out of the green one on top. Oh, the one on the left is a 3x2 rib out of the the multi color, woodland.

First sleeve for the Twist Cardigan by Bonne Marie Burns using Sundara's Worsted yarn. No, it's not what you think. I am starting on the sleeves first.
Crossed Over Jacket in Simply Baby by Debbie Bliss.
I must complain about this sweater. If you noticed the model in the book is lying down. Well, the whole back of the shirt is in 2x2 rib and that includes the neck. There are no special instructions on finishing of the back neck so when I first put the jacket on, the neck area was stretching so much that it would not stay on him! I had to improvise to stop the rib from stretching. It's like this book "When bad things happen to good knitters" says: when the picture doesn't clearly show the finished product, they are hiding the flaws in the design. Now I know that's why the baby was lying down!!

Cabled Hat from Classic Elite's Uptown Knitting. As I use the baby to model the hat, my husband says to me "and you wonder why people think your son is a girl?"
Side view to see the braided icords.
And we saved the best for last: Knitted Thanksgiving meal saw at a LYS in Noe Valley, SF

Frosted Flower and Leave WIP

This was going well but it's been put on hold for the holiday knitting and knitting cloths that's needed for Orion because the weather is getting colder. How I wish I had been able to finish so I can wear it to my brother's wedding next week. Oh well.



The dream in color blanket that's been done for a while. More details another time.

My model learned a new skill!

Very excited about finishing Icarus. Maybe I can wear it to my brother's wedding if I don't (and most likely won't) finish the shawl I want to make for the occasion.

And my model learned a new skill - Sitting up all by himself! How long would he continue to let mommy drape these lacy stuff over him without complaining? We'll see.


Here's a shot of the Swallawtail shawl and the Icarus. They look pretty together. Now if I can only figure a way to rotate this picture....

Finally finished the Pomatomus. I know I like like a few years late on this because everybody's on to Monkey now. I really like the twisted stitches that makes this pattern really show. Thanks Cookie.

Tired of the color

I am amazed that I actually got tired of a color I like. I've been knitting the Icarus shawl in Malabrigo lace color Damask Rose with some serious project monogamy. I don't know why. I guess finishing the Swallowtail shawl felt really good so I just wanted to finish another shawl.

Now I love the color and everyone that's seen it complemented on the color too, but I am just getting tired of it. I find myself craving orange last night as I was knitting the last chart. This orange to be specific. I must have seen it a while back and it's been lurking in my subconscious for a while.

Hopefully I can finish this soon and cast on for another with the color i've been craving. I'll post picture of it soon...

Tetris Baby Blanket!

I am so tempted to do this blanket. It's my favorite game in school and one of Noel's favorite games too. His favorite game is Mrs. Pacman but I think it'll be hard to knit that...

Knitting and Watching Comedy

Knitting and watching comedy don't work well together! We watched Fun with Dick and Jane the other night. I didn't think the movie was going to be that funny because the trailer seem a bit lame. The ending was pretty okay but most of the movie was really funny. Funny to the point that I couldn't keep a steady hand knitting! At some points I even put my knitting down and so I can hold my stomach and laugh.

Anyway, I have half of a FO. First sock of the Orchid Sock done. I cast this on when we were visiting my brother at Budapest (I remember knitting at the airport) and when we came back, I just stopped. I didn't knit much toward later part of the pregnancy. Lately I am just so sick of having so many WIP so I decided to work on it.



Yes, it's a Koigu again. But it's the first Koigu I ever got! I'll probably work on the second sock much much later. I want to finish some other WIP first. Well, mostly not have so many things on the needles.

This sock also uses the Japanese Short Row! Mel first show us the Japanese Short Row at one of the meetups. I really like the way it looks and try to learn it myself. I don't remember how I closed the short row for this sock but I got stuck when I had to do it again for another sock. Mel was nice enough to help me get unstuck.

Plus there's my brother's wedding coming up. I wish I had more time to make the Frost Flower Shawl from A Gathering of Lace for the big occasion. I got this nice silk yarn from Sundara waiting for it. I don't think I can finish before his wedding though.. Not with having to take care of baby O.

Maybe Icurus shawl would be nice enough. I am on the last repeat of the first chart. Can't wait to get on the next chart.

My socks are here!

I am so excited. My socks are here. Thanks to Malle. I love the color and I love the pattern and I love the elephant measuring tape! The candy was so yummy too! I wish I can understand her blog or that google translate has Danish to English already. I was so worry that I wasn't gonna get anything because I wasn't contacted at all so I was super happy when I got my socks.

Now I just have to hope that my pal like the socks I sent.

Swatched

Some updates first. Here's the photo of the Swallowtail show after blocking:

Here is it model by one of my favorite subject (while he was napping):


Got a bit tired of the sock pal sock so did a quick project: Made cuffed booties from Debbie Bliss' Simply Baby. I think it might show off the stitches better with a simpler color.


Sockpal sock: Almost there. At the gusset.


Okay, I actually swatch for once! And not just with one size needle but with two of them! This has never happen before... Plus I didn't just measure it and tear it out and use that yarn in the actually project (like I do with the socks), I actually blocked it!




But I think I blocked it too aggressively. Some people might think there's no such thing as blocking too aggressive when it comes to lace. What do you think?

The one on the left is using size 2 (3.0m m) and the one on the right is size 1 (2.5mm). Which one do you think I should use for the MS3? I still have to get beads...

Now I need to resist starting MS3 before finishing the sockpal sock or else it'll never finish on time...

Love this shawl

Not the best photo. I'll try to get a prettier one















Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl from IK Fall 2006
Yarn: Habu Textiles A-98 Geelong Lamb wool color 111, double strands (Used about 324 yards)
Needle: Addi US4 24" and Addi Lace US4 36"
Start: 6/11/07
Finish: 6/25/07 (Blocked on 6/30/07)

Notes: Reduced the bobble from 5 sts to 3 sts suggested by another blog because wasn't sure if I had enough yarn.

This is one of the favorite Everlyn Clark shawl. I love the two different patterns in the shawl. I am still looking forward to doing other Evelyn Clark Shawls.

More knitting lately

Have you read The Panopticon's pride post yet? Only a yarn lover would laugh out loud at the joke "Your mother sleeps with Lion Brands". I so want to share that with the husband but I don't think he would appreciate it as much as I did.

On a surprising note, I've been doing more knitting then thinking or reading about knitting lately. On to the second lily of the valley edge of the Swallowtail shawl. I am loving the Habu's Geelong wool. It promises to feel as soft as cashmere after wash. We'll see. If it really does, I'll order more of other color for other lace projects. As much as I love Sundara's silk lace, they are just too expensive.