Not Much, You?

As in, not much left around here to get rid of, and not much left to pack for a while.

So, where's the knitting, you ask?

1. The Ghost of Christmas Past
Those of you with looooong memories will recognize this as Skippy's Christmas scarf. The one that I finished half of in time for gift exchanging. I'm finally getting this monkey off my back and cranking out the second half. It was Skippy, after all, who deemed 2007 the Year of the UFO.




2. The BFD (as in "Big F---- Doily" big fancy doily, get your mind out of the gutter, potty mouth! )
Mommes Lysedug. This is another knit for Skippy. Skippy has a lot of lovely older furniture on which a doily would look right at home. This doily, however, may find itself more at home as a cozy for Delaware. It just keeps getting bigger. Funny how that works, eh? You knit more rounds on and the thing gets bigger. Genius.



3. I Swear, it's Not What You Think!
Unless, of course, you were just benignly thinking, "Oh, it's a Baby Surprise Jacket!" Because that, it is. It is not, however, an announcement as to why, other than the move, things have gotten so quiet around here. In other words, it's a gift. For Mrs. Feezy. (Yeah, Feezys!)

















4. Separated At Birth?
You be the judge. Here is Hugh's sock hanging out with my terrible reenactment (not a judgment, that, I just think terrible reenactment sounds more exciting than historical recreation).

I think we may have a pattern by mid-September!

Losing the Battle

Yet, winning the war. I did, indeed, run out of yarn on Icarus. I don't think the solution harms the final product in the least, do you?

Didn't think so.

Pattern: Icarus, by Miriam Felton
Yarn: Knitpicks Bare Merino Laceweight and a touch of Colinette Parisienne in Castagna
Needles: 3mm circular

I knit this as a gift for my mom, who, incidentally, is flying out for a visit tomorrow, so the finishing couldn't have better timing. I'm ashamed to admit how long this thing languished on the needles. I got bogged down in the stockinette columns, and it just sat quietly waiting for me to pick it up again. Looking at it pinned out on my bedroom floor, I'm glad I refocused my energies on this one. It's really a beautiful pattern. (and, not a half bad dye job on my part! All hail the Kool-Aid Man! Ooh, yeah!) My only real problem, other than running out of steam in the beginning, and running out of yarn at the end, was the fact that the name Icarus just makes me think of that episode of the Cosby Show when we find out that Theo's not really an idiot, he's just dyslexic. So, here's to Theo and his magical LD diagnosis, and here's to my mom, who raised me and gave me wings. The least I can do is return the favor.

Fiddle-Fart: Techno Edition

So, after spending some quality time on the phone with Kodak, no dice. They are mailing me a CD to update the software. Meantime, I decided there must be a way to load new photos in absence of the "Easyshare." There is. You probably already knew that, but it was a discovery for me!

Without further ado:

Mrs. Feezy's second sock!
It will eventually get mailed to you, Feez, so Merry Christmas and Happy Birthday and all that jazz!

Pattern: Log Cabin Socks from Handknit Holidays
Yarn: Bernat Denimstyle in Polo, 2 skeins.
Needles: US 5
Comments: Yeouch! Denimstyle has no resilience, so was a total PITA to cable with, especially at this tight of a gauge. Worth it for you, though, F! And, another Holiday Hangover is done and gone! All that's left is the second half of Skippy's scarf!
















Here is a photo of the Monkey sock in Fire (ooh! Flaming Monkeys!)










The heel has since been turned and the gusset is decreased. I can't wait to wear these!

And here is the knitaround ad nauseum. The more I look at it, the more I think maybe I was thinking Seurat instead of Monet. Well, they're both good.









But not as good as this:
It even comes with patterns for a little afghan and throw pillows! I love how the cat on the cover seems to fully realize the humiliation of his situation.

For Once!

For once, I have a gift knit completed well ahead of schedule!

Swallowtail Shawl, by Evelyn Clark
Yarn: Misti Alpaca laceweight
Needles: US 4's

This was the first triangular lace shawl I've knit that uses more than one lace pattern. The nupps were far easier to work in the alpaca than in the mohair I used for the Estonian Garden Lace scarf. This was knit as a gift for my grandmother's upcoming 90th birthday in March. It is small, weighs practically nothing, and is really quite lovely, so I deemed it an appropriate shawl for a little old lady (who would be mortified if she learned that I had referred to her as such!). I'm gifting it with the offer of lifetime laundering and blocking services. I only hope to have the favor called in for many years to come!

The DH is wearing his Cambridge Jacket again! I guess for once I picked a winner with this one! He is also excited at the prospect of adding Avast to his wardrobe, so I'd best get swatching for that soon.

Glancing at the sidebar, we can see that the Year of the UFO is progressing quite well, with far more filled progress bars than not. I think I'll keep them all up there until they are all filled up. Kind of adds some color.

In the biggest knitting news chez Bitter, Ilsa knit five stitches this weekend! All by herself! I'm so proud. That girl is getting her own needles for her fourth birthday, that's all there is to it!

So Long, Crack-Soaked Kitten!

Although I shall always love you, the time has come for you to move on and tempt others!

The Estonian Garden Lace Scarf is now blocked, dry, and ready to take up residence at the shop! I hope many things for this little scarf, not the least of which is that it sells yarn and gets people interested in lace!









I think it turned out quite nicely.





















I also finished the 4 Corners Dishcloth. It was a really quick knit and is quite effective in showing off the variegated colors. Might have to file it away for future use!

In sweaterwatch 2007 news, the DH wore his Cambridge Jacket again today! Any other good patterns for zippered cardigans for men out there? I think I've found his niche!

Short-Rows-A-Go-Go!

So, I finished Dishcloth #1:
I'm pretty sure you all know the pattern by now, I know I do! For the other dishcloth, I decided to shake things up a bit and try out the 4 Corners Dishcloth, which, I must say, is going exponentially faster than the Garterlac. Shortrows are simply faster than picking up stitches, especially since I seem to have developed a fondness for tight-gauge dishcloths (more "squish-factor" I guess!)







The shortrows seem to be contagious, as I started a new sample for the shop, the Curlicue
Coverlet by Oat Couture. More shortrow shaping fun!




The Estonian Lace Garden scarf is currently soaking, awaiting blocking as soon as I finish this post! I'll post post-blocking photos when it's dry!

In other news, the DH has yet to take off the Cambridge Jacket unless he's sleeping, showering or sauteeing onions, so I think that qualifies as a hit.

In other other news, I know that Skippy and Mrs. Feezy are probably reading this, Mrs. Feezy clutching her solitary Log Cabin sock, and thinking, "Great! More projects! When are you gonna finish our stuff?" A valid question which will be addressed just as soon as I conquer the second battle of the nupps (the Swallowtail shawl for my grandma's 90th birthday) She's 90, alright? Cut me some slack, Feezy!

Houston, We Have a Sweater

Another FO!










Pattern: Cambridge Jacket by Ann Budd
Yarn: Cascade 220
Needles: US 7's

The DH will be so happy this thing is finally ready to wear. I put off the crocheting around the edges for a good long while (turns out, it wasn't so bad) and then there was the zipper. Oy. That put a whole new level on my procrastination! Again, it wasn't so bad, and didn't really take all that long to do. Now, we'll see if I can pry it off him to take in to the shop to show off at the next Knit Nite! Merry Christmas, honey!

Now, Where Did I Put That Marching Band?

Because Zoe's Green Sweater is done! Yes, the sweater so nice I knit it thrice!












Pattern: Tater's Cotton Cardi by Marie Grace Smith
Yarn: Sinfonia Cotton
Needles: US 4

She loves it and, commendably, has forgotten all about how achingly long it took me to finish this thing already! (Work kept getting in the way, alas!)












I love a happy ending (and also, apparently, I love psychedelic pumpkins!)



So, there's one more for the FO column. (And yes, Mrs. Feezy, I know your foot is cold! All in good time, my friend!)

The Parade Continues

You didn't really think that was all, did you? In the interest of full disclosure, the cavalcade of UFO's continues! Next up: The DH's felted clogs version 2.0. As you see, clog #1 is nearly done, it's just that it's 2 sts off, which I feel compelled to remedy before moving on (not so compelled that I've actually attempted said remedy, but you know how that goes, paralyzed by perfectionism).












Next, of course, is the Garterlac Dishcloths I intended as gifts for a couple of friends over the holidays. (yeah, lovely state they're in!)












In a similar state is the pair of Cigar Gloves the DH asked me to make for his friend who took care of the house over the holidays.

Not pictured, but equally unfinished are: The DH's Cambridge Jacket (which is really pitifully near completion), Log Cabin Sock #2, and the second half of the Backyard Leaves scarf.




Lest you think that knitting is the only thing I can't seem to finish lately, here is a horse of a different color: Behold, 1/2 painted chair #1, and completely unpainted chair #2. Oy! I need to get my act together!












Oh! And here's the lovely Kid Seta I get to knit the Estonian Lace Garden scarf out of! Mmmm!

And for anyone who was still wondering, the counter wasn't broken, per se. My ability to follow directions seems to have suffered a bit of late, and I inserted the wrong code, thereby allowing Blogger to remove it, and rendering the counter out of order. Yeah, me and my "incredible attention to detail." Not so much with the tech-savvy stuff, I guess!

What Was That About the Hearts, Again?

Well, the scarf is done. I think it turned out kinda cute, after all. Hopefully, it will lure people into taking my class. We'll see.












I think I went a little overboard cutting fringe. This is my "leftover pile."

A bit much, no? I figure I can donate it to a student in need, provided they choose the same colors for their scarf.

And now, for Agent Mulder's dream come true.
I have more UFO's than Roswell hanging out here, so I thought I'd share some photos. I'll post updates as they get finished up. Skippy claims the "Year of the Unfinished Project" has wiggle room, but I know myself enough to know that I mustn't cast on for any more personal projects until these (and others, see sidebar for full disclosure) are out of my hair.

Exhibit A: Zoe's green sweater. This sweater was first mentioned August 24, was cast on for sometime in November, and has been languishing, sleeveless, for quite some time.
Since snapping this photo, I have completed one sleeve and knit about 1 1/2 inches on the second sleeve.







Exhibit B: Icarus. I'm still on the stockinette columns, and so have a tendency to get a bit bored with this one, dreaming of the day I'll have to yet again pick up the chart.

Exhibit C: Socks for Zoe. These are a "guilt knit" borne of my seeming inability to get the green sweater done, already, and Zoe's simple request at one of the LYSes I dragged her to over vacation to, "knit me some socks, Momma." Heel #1 has been turned. I am lucky she is fond of short socks.

Exhibit D: Swallowtail Shawl for my grandmother. I am 3 repeats shy of switching over to the Lily of the Valley charts. And the nupps. Yup. Glad I have those sharp Knitpicks needles!


I might have made more progress on these today except for one very exciting thing: I went to work today! I am helping out on Saturdays at the LYS. I had a blast, and picked up another shop sample project to do. The Estonian Garden Lace Wrap (scarf version). More lace! Woo hoo!

One-Hit Wonder

So, I installed a hit-counter on the blog, more out of curiosity than anything else, and in the last three days, I have had one hit. One. Uno. And I'm pretty sure that one hit was me. I know that Skippy and Mrs. Feezy are busy with tax season and all, but... The whole thing is just kind of depressing. Although it does account for the rather underwhelming response to my last post. It's not that people don't care to comment, it would appear that they just don't care to drop by anymore. In all fairness, I have been a very bad blogger of late, and, even at my best, I'm rarely enthralling, so. I'll just sit here in my little corner of the internet, doin' my thing and try not to get all hung up about it. It just feels a little lonely here.

The heart scarf is done. It needs fringe. I'd ask what a good length for fringe would be, but (see first paragraph)...

Skippy has declared 2007 The Year of the Unfinished Project. I'm inclined to join her. Looking at my WIP's on the sidebar tells me that I have quite a lot of knitting to keep me busy. Once I get all that cleared off the plate, perhaps I will knit something for myself. It's been a while. Perhaps deciding what that something will be will give me a boost of motivation to finish up the UFO's. Currently in the stash I have yarn for:

1. Sunrise Circle Jacket by Kate Gilbert
2. Union Square Market Pullover by Kate Gilbert
3. Weekend Pullover by Veronik Avery
4. Pearl Buck Swing Jacket by Kate Gilbert
5. Essential Indulgence by Leslie Scanlon
   

Any opinions?