What's Next on My Knitting Agenda

I've finished my blanket. It was hard to stick to just one project, but it is done. 

What next?  I have signed up for a mystery knit-a-long (KAL) on Ravelry.  Everyone in the group will make the same pullover sweater.  My usual problem knitting sweaters is that I get half-way along and get dissatisfied in some way and either rip it out or store it away in a closet.  Perhaps working with  a group I will finish.  I am using Avignon, a cotton silk blend by Classic Elite  that has been in my stash for many years.

On a sad note..
My sister's miniature dachshund Maddy died last week after a short illness. I had recently knit this blanket for her. She will be missed.

Did you notice that all these projects are beige?  Just a coincidence.

Here I Go Again...

starting the New Year with determination and resolve to work down my stash. The fastest way I know how is to knit a blanket with big needles and double yarn.  My first project of 2012  is a basketweave pattern on 91 stitches with US 15 (10mm) needles. I'm already halfway done using Caron's One Pound in Lace and Red Heart Fiesta in Buff together. It should make a nice wheelchair size throw to donate to the Veterans Hospital.  The idea is to use up this bit of acrylic yarn before I move on to my next project. That's likely not going to happen.

Knitting an Owl

 A simple cable stitch, buttons for the eyes and a little imagination.  It could even be a cat with the right embroidery. 

Knitting a Cowl

A few days ago, I decided to knit a cowl, a scarf knit in the round.  I chose a soft yarn, Classic Elite Inca Alpaca, 116 yards, in a dark blue.  I picked out a pattern, Feather and Fan, with a multiple of 17.

Round 1 Knit
Round 2 Knit
Round 3 *(Knit 2 together) 3 times, (Yarn Over, Knit 1) 5 times, Yarn Over, (Knit 2 together) 3 times* repeat
Round 4 Purl

I wanted  a little drape so I thought that 119 stitches would be right. I cast on with a #7 circular needle and started knitting. Too tight! Ripped out and cast on with #8, switched to #7 for the pattern, still too tight!  OK, maybe if I start the first row with the lace pattern, it will work. Start again, working alright, but  - Oh No! I twisted it when I joined.  Last chance before I dump the whole idea. Cast on 119 stitches with #8  needle, I used cable cast on and placed  markers every 17 stitches. I changed to #7 needle and knit starting with round 3, then joined.  Finally.  I knit until I ran out of yarn - (9 repeats of the pattern). ending with Round 3 and binding off in purl with the #8 needle.  Simple!

Knitting Interrupted

First it was Jury Duty, where knitting wasn't allowed. By the time I got home, I was too tired to knit.  Then it was a road trip vacation in the Southwest. No, I don't knit in the car.  But I was able to finish a few UFO's.  Hats to donate to the Knots of Love Charity.

And a hat for myself.

The Answer (so far) is Two

...Projects completed.  The scarf was easy (Peasy Scarf).  It took me a while, though.  I only worked a few rows at a time. Knit using one skein of Colinette Prism. Seventeen stitches on a #15 needle came out to 65 inches long.  I'm happy with the way it looks.  
The blanket is knit with one strand of durable Red Heart and one strand of JoAnn Stores Boucle Sensations. This is the fourth time I've used the Boucle yarn for a blanket, and each time I say never again.  But, I like the way the final product ends up to be soft and squishy.  My only regret is that I didn't use up all the yarn.  It will  be donated to the Veteran's Hospital.

Casting On

Instead of finishing the projects that I have already started, like a good knitter should, I have cast on multiple new ones.  In the background is the blanket that I have been working on. It's almost finished, but I have this habit of starting something new just before I finish the old.  This time I got carried away.  A vest, two shawls, a scarf, a cowl, a crown and a market bag.  How many do you think I will  actually finish?

Green Knitting

If I had to choose a favorite color, it would be green.  So when I saw a large skein of green yarn in the sale basket at 50% off, I couldn't resist. It's called Dali, a heavy worsted weight silk and rayon blend.  This was another vacation yarn  bought at Textiles A Mano in Eugene.  It took a while to figure out exactly the right pattern for it, but this bag is the result.

Not So Local LYS Tour

On a recent trip to the Pacific Northwest, I saw wild country, wildflowers, wildlife and yarn!  One of the stores was even called WildFibers.  I managed to add several yarn stores to the vacation itinerary. Nordic Mart in San Luis Obispo was the first stop. Billed as the U.S. based Drops Superstore for mail order. There was every yarn in their line on display.  I was impressed.  Next on my tour was Textiles A Mano  in Eugene, Oregon.  I would have liked to spend more time there.  The store was very friendly and welcoming with knitters and spinners meeting in the back room.  The yarn in the photo above is a lovely skein of handspun wool and silk  from the owner.  Other stores I visited were  Knot Another Hat in Hood River, Oregon  They had a great selection of patterns and yarn.  Stores in Washington were WildFibers, Knot Just Yarn and Cultured Purls.  And yes, I did add a considerable amount of fiber to my stash.  In my defense, I was able to knit up a few projects on this trip using stash yarn.

Off My Diet

Yarn diet,  that is.  I promised myself at the beginning of the year that I wouldn't buy any more yarn.   I would concentrate more on using up my stash.  I had done pretty well, up until a couple of weeks ago.  That's when I took an excursion with my yarn guild to 3 yarn shops. I did show some restraint, though. My most expensive purchase was this lovely green silk, perfect for the scarf pattern called Saroyan.  It is a shallow triangle with a leaf edge. 
I obsessed about the cast on and set up, but I'm happy with the way it's turning out.