Project 2: Honey Cowl

You should probably know this: I'm not very fashionable, but I do know what I like. Cowls are one of those things. I wear a good amount of black and a cowl is the perfect way to add a splash of color to my otherwise color lacking outfits (and they're pretty awesome when you're always cold), so I decided to make one. As I've said in previous posts, I'm still a beginner so I made a conscious effort to select a relatively easy pattern. "Relatively easy" only because the pattern selected still had a few stitches I've never attempted before. I selected the Honey Cowl by Madelinetosh based on the simplicity of the pattern, but mostly due to all the beautiful photos of the completed pieces found on Ravelry. With the pattern decided on, I still needed a color. On my most recent visit to Michaels, I instantly fell in love (from halfway across the store) with a lovely shade of blue yarn. 

Blue Mint Honey Cowl: Doubled up

I managed to cast on 210 stitches to make the longer version despite using a shorter circular needle than suggested. Other than using a shorter circular needle than suggested, the pattern was knit exactly as written. 

I really love the way it came out, especially since it can be worn long or doubled up around my neck.

While casting off, I accidentally added an extra row and probably should have used a larger needle to prevent my cast off side from looking tighter than my cast on side. This mistake is pretty unnoticeable and I had no interest in pulling out any stitches. Definitely knitting this again.

My Supplies:

• Caron Simply Soft Yarn
• 1 Premium worsted-weight in Blue Mint
• 100% acrylic
• Needle Size 8 (2.25-3.5mm), 18 stitches / 4"
• Circular Needles 
• 1 Boyle Aluminum US 8 (5mm) 29in

Sock Problems: Part 2

Looking back at my original Sock Problems post, I'm a bit embarrassed. I took the literal meaning of ssk: slip slip knit. Instead of slipping two stitches onto my right needle and knitting them together with my left, I was slipping two stitches onto my right needle and knitting an additional stitch onto my right needle. This caused a chain reaction of mistakes including my inability to understand ** continue in this manner until all sts have been knit - there should be 18 heel sts left on the needle at this point.**
 

If you are familiar with ssk and look closely at the picture below, you should notice pretty quickly how my miss translation caused my heel turn to be all kinds of messed up.

My heel did not magically appear - my mistake!

It wasn't until I pulled out the work, repeated my mistake, pulled out my work again and consulted Bernat Yarns on YouTube that I finally got it. I have to keep reminding myself that knitting has adopted a whole language of it's own and I'm not exactly fluent yet.

While on the topic of the language of knitting, translation is clearly not my strong suit. In other words, I could definitely benefit from an English/Knitting dictionary right about now. Do they exist?!? 

Anyway, I managed to get through the heel turn and have already picked up all stitches (i.e. PU all sts) even if they are a little messy. Tonight I start the Gusset...

Sock problems

After completing my first pair of socks last month, I've been on a sock kick. I didn't want to keep knitting the same pattern, so I took to Ravelry for a new one. Over the last month, I've heard whisperings of a free pattern named after my favorite Hogwarts student, Hermione Granger. If you are a knitter and a fan of the Harry Potter series, it's very likely you've already found Hermione's Everyday Socks. The name alone has me convinced, then I saw the pattern and feel in love. 

This pattern is completely different from my first pair of socks. Instead of knitting toe up, these socks are knit cuff down. Instead of utilizing Fish Lips Kiss Heel, these socks use a heel flap. 

Up until this point I haven't had much trouble following the pattern. Though the heel has me completely confused. I managed to finish the heel flap and worked my way through six rows of the heel turn. Unfortunately, I can't make sense of this note: **continue in this manner until all sts have been knit - there should be 18 heel sts left on the needle at this point.**
 

My Supplies:

• Premier Yarns
• 2 Serenity Sock Weight in Lavender Topaz
• 50% Superwash Merino Wool
• 25% Bamboo
• 25% Nylon
• Needle Size 1-3 (2.25-3.5mm), 6.75-9 stitches / 1"
• Circular Needles 
• 2  Harmony FC US 1 (2.5mm) 40in

Mini Road Trip!

Did somebody say Superbowl Dinosaur?!?!

Hold onto your butts

I'm not much for sports, but dinosaurs I love. On Sunday, instead of watching the Superbowl, eating chicken wings (I don't normally eat chicken) and boozing, my husband and I took a little drive to Cabazon to see the "World's Biggest Dinosaurs."

The sun was shining and the weather was close to perfect. My only complaint, the wind made my fringe look like something straight out of an 80s glamor shot.

This was my very first road side attraction (of the year and ever) and it did not disappoint. There was a museum with static and moving dinosaurs, a Dino Dig, sluice, garden path and a 4-story Tyrannosaurus rex.

My favorite part of this particular road side attraction was definitely climbing up inside of Mr. Rex and looking out from between his teeth. That and of course picking up a shiny new pressed penny for my ever growing collection.

Project 1: Toe Up Socks, Two At A Time

Complete!

One down, eleven to go. My first knitting project of 2014 was not without setbacks. Along the way, I managed to break one of the two sets of circular needles I was using and really didn't think I was going to be able to finish them in the first month of the year.

Fortunately, I found a spare and was able to finish up the socks in time. Although I was successful in completing the project on time, I have to admit, they aren't exactly perfect. When I tried on the socks I realized they were a much too big. I was so worried about making sure they were big enough, it seems I over did it. So even though I had attempted to knit to my foot's measurements, they ended up being a perfect fit for my husband.

Starting point: Toes

Half way point: Fish Lips Kiss Heel

Finishing touches: Ribbing on the ankle

He calls them his "Drop Dead Fred Socks" for somewhat obvious reasons and was really happy with the way they fit.

Completed: Socks for me my husband