Knitting By Moonlight

Friday, April 18, 2008

Lizz — 2008-04-18T12:42:07+08:00

This is the baby sweater I mentioned finishing back in January. Tyson, the second cousin it was destined for was born in the middle of February at the hospital in town and I got to visit with him, his parents and grandparents when he was just two days old. Ashlee and Dan liked the present so much that they put Tyson in it right away even though the sweater is at least a six month size.

Tyson wearing the sweater as a blanket

Sweater laid flat

Close up of the navy buttons

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

Lizz — 2008-04-15T13:13:46+08:00

I finished my first pair of socks from the yarn that I got for my birthday last year. I decided to start with the gorgeous blue and green Fleece Artist yarn. I ended up using my regular Wendy's toe-up pattern and 60 stitches around in plain stockinette. My first attempt (or first few attempts) were to try the Azure socks but the pattern was lost in the colours so I changed to a plain sock. For the first time I used a picot hem instead of ribbing at the top of the sock and I'm really happy with how it turned out, it's definitely a technique that I will be using again. The Fleece Artist yarn is just as beautiful knit up as it was in the skein and it's sproinginess (what, it's totally a word) made it great to knit.

Wednesday, March 19, 2008

Lizz — 2008-03-19T13:17:16+08:00

Last fall I bought ONline Linie 149 Rush to make a scarf with to match my winter jacket. When the Yarn Harlot published the Unoriginal Hat pattern I decided that a hat and scarf would be better. I started with the hat and finished it within 24 hours of starting on a hockey road trip. Next I worked on the scarf, which took longer because I needed to pause to buy more yarn, using the larger of the hat cables in the middle and the smaller cable on each edge. The hat could be a tiny bit longer, but it keeps my head and the tips of my ears warm. The set got some wear during the few days of snow in February and worked perfectly. Mom liked how my hat turned out so much that she got the same yarn in a different colourway and made one for herself.

Thursday, March 13, 2008

Lizz — 2008-03-13T16:47:16+08:00

I made myself another pair of slippers, using a different pattern to give myself a break from my standard "Grandma's Slipper" pattern. I found the Ridiculously Easy Mary Jane Slippers on Ravelry and I finished them in one day while laying sick on the couch. They're basically a rectangle with shaping at the end. The two strands of Red Heart I used ended up with a bigger gauge so I cast on less stitches than called for and I left off the strap (so I can take them on and off more easily). The slippers are okay but they've stretched out quite a bit and no longer like to stay on my feet.

Friday, January 25, 2008

Lizz — 2008-01-25T14:56:07+08:00

I ended the year with very few projects on the needles, only three and I've finished two of them since then. I started a baby sweater using actual baby yarn, Peter Pan 4 ply in off-white with primary coloured flecks to be precise. Originally I was going to use this Drops side to side garter stitch jacket but it wasn't working as well as I had hoped and I realized that I could use the yarn I bought for it to make two different baby sweaters. So I started again using the same pattern as I did for a previous baby sweater but changed the moss stitch bands to garter stitch and put them in different locations. The knitting went pretty quickly and I finished it up a couple of weeks ago. It's currently being washed, so I'll take some photos when that's finished. I still need to add buttons but I've decided to do that after I decide which baby I'm giving it to so I can use gender specific buttons. There's going to be quite a few baby sweaters on the needles this year since I have a couple cousins and a few friends with babies on the way.

I managed to finish the knitting on the bell ornaments for my friends before the new year but I didn't get them sewed together. I also didn't take photos since I took plenty of the ones that I made for my co-workers and they look the same but the yarn is different. These ornaments were well received so more will probably end up being made next year for different people, and perhaps for myself too. I have this idea of having a lot of knit Christmas ornaments and decorations for a tree (I currently don't have room for a tree so it'll be something I get in the future). Currently I'm thinking a knit garland (sort of like I saw in a display window at the Gap this year) and probably a matching tree skirt as well as knit ornaments.

The final project that was on the needles at the end of last year is likely to be in progress for a long time. I'm calling it the Lobby Blanket as I'm using Kay's Lobby Dishcloth pattern from Mason Dixon Knitting. I'm using Bernat Satin and fairly large needles so that it'll have a nice drape. At this point I have one square completed and one over half way done. I'm not sure how many I'm going to need. This is definitely not a deadline project.

Monday, December 31, 2007

Lizz — 2007-12-31T16:43:34+08:00

Kepler is finished! I'm so happy that I've finally worn this project. I started it way back in September of 2005. Most of the time that it spent sitting around was because I didn't want to figure out how to fix the too big armholes. Once I finally got it out and looked at it the solution was pretty easy to find. I ripped out the body and reknit the neckline and shoulder shaping.

I also started making Bell Ornaments for some friends, like I mentioned in the last post. So far I have four done, using the leftovers from Kepler. Now I'm making at least another four or five out of some purple Briggs & Little that I bought to make catnip mice years ago, I have the knitting for three done so far. I'm hoping to get them all done before the new year.

I actually managed to get photos of all of the surprise projects, except for one. First off Surprise #3 is a pair of lace socks for my Grandma in the Fawn colour of Knit Picks Essentials. I used the Fishtail Lace pattern from 365 Knitting Stitches a Year on January 15th.

Surprise #4 is another pair of socks for my Dad, so far I've made 9 pairs now. I started using leftover Lion Brand Woolease from a previous pair of his socks but I ran out of the blue and had to buy more.

Surprise #5 is a pair of lace socks for Ang. After three failed attempts at finding a pattern that worked with the Knit Picks Essentials Meadow Multi, I ended up using the same lace pattern as for my Grandma's socks.

Surprise #6 is a Miss Dashwood hat for Baby Paige. I used Bernat Satin in a light pink which ended up having confusing gauge. After knitting about half of the hat I realized it was too big and cast on again knitting top down instead so that the gauge problems wouldn't matter. I've heard that Paige loves the hat and everyone had a go at trying it on after she opened it, I can't wait to see the photos!

Surprise #7 is a stocking for Michael, like the ones that I made last year. It's the only project I haven't got a photo of yet. It has the Calgary Flames logo duplicate stitched on it in black and the stocking is red.

Surprise #8 is actually four of the same project. I made slippers for my friends in Calgary. The purple and black ones are for Min, the red and black ones are for Mike, the blue and purples ones are for Kim, and the blue and red ones are for Chris. After eight individual slippers I'm a little slippered out. So it makes perfect sense that my slippers have developed holes and need replacing, I'm thinking that I'll find a different pattern for the replacements.

Surprise #9 is a pair of socks for Reed. I used Knit Picks Essentials in Pumpkin and did 2x2 rib on the top of the foot and all around the leg. To compensate for the ribbing drawing in, I added 4 stitches to what I normally make for socks.

I also had one super secret surprise project that I didn't mention at all, a pair of socks for my Mom. Since we talk about our knitting projects all the time I didn't want to add it to my project list and tip her off that she was getting something knitted. I used Bernat Sox in black, since my Mom until recently thought she couldn't wear wool, and black or white were the colour choices I had in the discontinued acrylic sock yarn.

There's more photos of some of the projects on their individual pages so check those out if you're interested. Sorry about the huge photo intensive post! I just wanted to get the surprise projects posted before the end of the year. Happy New Year everyone!

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Lizz — 2007-12-22T17:39:31+08:00

All the gifts are finished! Surprise #6 and Surprise #8 were finished last weekend when I was at my parent's house for the weekend. Then Surprise #3 was finished on Thursday after completing most of the knitting at the hockey game the night before.

I also managed to make the Bell Ornaments for my co-workers last Saturday. I did four in one day, after finishing the other gifts in the morning, so obviously they are a quick knit. I figured out the pattern for these ornaments from an ornament my Grandma had made years ago. She couldn't find the pattern so I reverse engineered it. I might make a few more up instead of doing another non-knitting project that I was planning for a couple of presents. These will be faster since I'm running out of time.

Bell Ornament Pattern: Cast on 14 stitches and knit 10 in garter and did 4 on one end in stockinette so it would curl under. Work for 46 rows and then cast off. Seam the cast on and cast off together. Next gather the top of the bell by running a thread through the garter bumps at the top. Using the same yarn (which was one of the ends) I left a loop at the top of the bell to hang it with and then attached a jingle bell to the inside.

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Lizz — 2007-12-11T13:41:32+08:00

I think I'm going to finish early this year!

Surprise #3 - As anticipated this will be the last thing that I finish. It'll be coming with me to hockey games and then if it's not completed I'll finish it up in the evenings before Christmas.
Surprise #6 - Close to being completed, just needs the finishing touches and then it can be sent to Calgary.
Surprise #8 - All the knitting has been completed, now I just need to finish seaming and it'll be good to send to Calgary.
Surprise #9 - This is all finished up, as predicted it went really quickly once I started studying for my exam.

After the stuff that's being sent to Calgary is finished up I'm going to work on some bell Christmas ornaments for my co-workers. They'll be quick and easy to do and I'm only making four of them. I've decided to get realistic about the green rayon yarn project, I'm going to be creating my own pattern for this and if I try to rush and have it done to wear for Christmas I'll likely not be as happy with it as I could be. So instead I've decided what I'd really like is to finish Kepler so that I can wear it to church on Christmas Eve. This is much more doable, I've already ripped back the front and back so that the sleeves will fit and reknit the back. So I need to finish reknitting the fronts, sew everything together, figure out button bands and neck finishing (I've already got an idea) and knit them up. Oh and I think I need to find some buttons still. Much more realistic, right?

Sunday, December 2, 2007

Lizz — 2007-12-02T14:01:52+08:00

Another Surprise update, it's still all I've been working on.

Surprise #3 - This is still in progress, it'll probably end up being the first present started and the last one finished. Not too much left to go though, could definitely knit it in a couple of evenings.
Surprise #4 - Another one down, the only one since my last update. This finished up pretty quick when I was studying for my final midterm of the year.
Surprise #6 - Not too much farther to go, another one I could finish up in an evening or two.
Surprise #8 - This multi-part project seems like it will never end, mostly because I feel like I've been avoiding it. There really isn't much more to do. It should take another 5 evenings at the most.
Surprise #9 - This is back to being textbook reading so it'll likely be done before my exam on the 12th. I guess that means Surprise #3 should return to its original portable knitting designation.

So far I've managed to not add any more projects to the list, although I have a couple small ideas that I'd like to do for presents. I think starting a lacy tank top out of the green rayon yarn that I got at the Duncan Fibre Fair might take precedence though; I have the idea in my head that I'd like to wear it on Christmas day.

Just so I don't have three photo-less posts in a row, here's a shot of my new small project bag. I picked it up at Wal-mart in the cosmetics department. It fits my dpns perfectly and has two pockets. The smallest pocket is mesh so I put a sticky with pattern notes in it and can read them without taking them out of the pocket! I liked it so much that I went and bought another so I have two.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Lizz — 2007-11-12T01:52:35+08:00

I've been busy with school work but even though I haven't been posting I have been knitting. It's all Christmas Surprises though so here's an update.

Surprise #3 - I'm still working on this, mostly because I only work on it when I can't work on any of the other projects because there are certain people around. The end is approaching pretty fast though.
Surprise #4 - I've bought and received the yarn I needed as I ran out so this is now back to being my primary textbook reading knitting.
Surprise #5 - I just finished this today! Yahoo one thing off the list, a bunch to go!
Surprise #6 - I figured out my gauge problems on this one by tackling it from the other end of the garment. Not too much farther to go. I usually try to save this to work on when my hands need a break from the tight gauge of Surprise #8.
Surprise #7 - I finished this a couple of weeks ago so it's ready to be gifted, two things off the list.
Surprise #8 - I'm over half way through! This is my main tv knitting, so I'm working on it unless I have tricky bits that need to be done when I'm not out and about on other projects that are more portable or if my hands need a bit of a break.
Surprise #9 - I started this to knit while reading textbooks before the yarn I needed for Surprise #4 got here. Now it will probably take the place of Surprise #5 as my primary portable project!

Just when I think I'm getting everything under control I start coming up with more ideas that I could add to the list. I'm going to attempt to finish up a few things before I start anything new though.