knitting, January/February 2014

What have I been knitting on lately? I had several deadlines to knit for over the holiday season, and so it was a joy to get back to knitting what I enjoyed. In December, I cast on several things that I didn’t give much focus until after the holidays. And then I had a sample knit in January. This month, I’m participating in some knitalongs. I’m really enjoying my knitting time.

FO: aangel shawl. I was swooning over a holiday colorway of Blue Moon Fiber Arts (pin) and my sweet friend Alicia sent it to me. it was a very angel-like thing to do, and it seemed perfect for the Be My Angel shawl by Martina Behm. I continued to participate in the Knitmore Girls behmalong with this project (following my Magrathea).

FO: Zaria shawl. When winter knitty 2013 came out, I loved the idea of Zaria by Shannon Squire of Portland’s Twisted. I’d been trying to find the perfect pattern for some yarn my friend Erica dyed me, and this was perfect when held double. The yarn has burgundy, and a pinky red, and purple, and some blue in it, and it looks like the colors I put in my hair! I paired it with a coral that was sitting in my stash I was considering for an old project, and it is a little garish but an interesting combo. I realized after finishing the lace that I had changed which side of the shawl was increasing more quickly but I think it still works okay. The i-cord bind off really tied it all together nicely. Finished this for Finishuary with the Brass Needles podcast.

WIP: dubsteps. The Blurred Line socks by Megan Williams of Stockinette Zombies were on my mind since she first showed them off. When I managed to grab a destashing of my first Vesper sock from Meliabella, I knew they had to become this pattern. Since the yarn had no nylon, though, I decided to do them at a tighter gauge than my normal socks (down to size 0) and to reinforce the ball of the foot where I’ve been wearing socks out. These are coming along, I may have made them a touch big around but it think they’ll be okay. I’m just slowly knitting on them between other stuff. These were named dubsteps because of the music name Megan had when naming the pattern and I’ve been enjoying dubstep-type music lately! These will be submitted for the Self-striping KAL for Stockinette Zombies.

WIP: Follow MY arrow. This is the mystery shawl from Ysolda Teague. I had never done a mystery shawl before and I was intrigued by the choose your own adventure style of the pattern. Every clue had two options to pick from. So far, I am in clue 4. I’m seeing the final clue on a few friends shawls, and it has me pausing to decide if I like it enough to finish. I could still unravel it (I didn’t cut any of the yarn between color changes) and use it for a different purpose. Although it’s a cool idea, I’m just unsure if it is one I will use a lot. If I do complete this, I’ll submit it for Finishuary for Brass Needles and KnerdGirl Knits KAL. If I don’t finish it, I may frog for Sassypantsknitter out with the old, in with the new KAL.

WIP: Crawling Roses. For the Rose City Yarn Crawl by Michele pdxknitterati, I wanted to participate in their mystery KAL and participate with my local yarn store’s yarn choice. Pearl Fiber Arts was using a new-to-me yarn company, Thouroughly Thwacked, and I knew that would be fun to get to try something new. I picked two colors of reds and cast on right after the first clue came out. I got a little behind on clue 3, but saw a spoiler for a longer version from the designer, and I jumped on that idea but slightly different. I’m almost back to the end of clue 3. Knitting for the RCYC KAL and finishing for Finishuary with the Brass Needles podcast.

WIP: Halele’a. I’ve been meaning to make one of Mel of Singlehanded knits patterns, and the KAL for this one started the day after Christmas. So that day, I happened into a yarn store on the beach (hours before coming down with the flu) and picked up a new-to-me yarn from Ella Rae. I didn’t have the budget to buy the full amount, but figure I’ll have enough for a vest version, which is great for my style anyhow. I made a cute swatch, not the awesome full one Mel suggested, but so I had as much yarn to make it longer if I wanted. The yarn is divine! I brought the swatch to The Button emporium and found these cute navy buttons that will really shine. I casted this on the first day of the Olympics for the Ravellenics with #teamsasquatch.

WIP: legwarmerkal. A cold snowstormy February, I bemoaned the lack of legwarmers. Several Facebook friends suggested a KAL! I found an unfinished shawl that I could reclaim the yarn from and I was off running. These are going to be so fun, haters can just look away 😀

Upcoming acquisitions: I’ll be attending the Rose City Yarn Crawl in a week. This will be an opportunity to exercise restraint and buy only a few special things. I will also be ordering yarn for some upcoming gift knits. I have my eye on a new set of interchangeable needles.

Next from the Queue:

• Bought buttons for Floating (in Madelinetosh Prairie), Looking Glass (in Cascade 220 and Noro Silver Thaw), and Sugar High cowl (in Space Cadet Creations)
• I want to do the Zombie Knitpocolypse knitalong using patterns from designers in the showcase.
• I am tempted to participate in the informal Goodale knitalong that Sillyfru and Dana are doing. I have a large skein of BFL Sport from Blur Moon Fiber Arts that I got on super clearance at OFFF one of my first years.
• I intend to knit with my handspun and ply the rest of the singles from my last spinning attempt. I may do some of this in conjunction with Tour de Fleece #teamsasquatch and tvknittingpodcast’s Year of Handspun.
• I want to use CustomFit to help me make something perfect for my body!
• Repurpose some of the knitwear items that don’t fit my body.

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