Starting over

After a trip down to Juniper Fiberworks, I picked up some Mission Falls Cotton yarn for Phil & Julie's baby blanket. While I'm still not thrilled about the blanket being so little, I figure I'll knit it up and if it's bugging me I'll go buy some more yarn and add more squares. I really like this cotton yarn, though. Lots of colors, knits up nicely, and is quite soft. Plus it's machine washable--always a good thing w/babies.

Here is a swatch pic of all the colors they offer:


I got one skein each of: Lentil, Ivory, Goldenrod, Musk, Moss, and Chili. I'll take pics of the yarn together later and post them. They really are beautiful. Very fall-like and I think it will mesh well w/the neutral palate of the nursery. I've already started the first square using the Lentil yarn. I'm digging the nubs and grooves as I go along.

And yes, I was quite amazed that I made it out of Juniper Fiberworks with only my 6 skeins of yarn. Let me tell you, it was UBER difficult! Seriously, check out their website and you'll see a small picture of what the store looks like. There is a lot more that isn't shown. I'm like a kid in a candy store when I go in there. The incredibly helpful, and funny, gals that were working kept saying, "She's still in pondering!" and we'd crack up. Good times, baby, good times!

My next stop is to take back the Patons Grace yarn. While it's pretty, and I like the way it feels, it's just too soft for my liking. I have come to learn that I'm a "chunky" kind of gal. I like yarn w/some "oomph" to it. At least for things like blankets, scarves, hats, sweaters, etc. Bring on the texture!!

Liars

Last night Megan and I headed to Michael's to pick up some of the Tangelo Patons Grace yarn, as well as any other colors that might match it. I had decided to make a baby blanket instead, one by Debbie Bliss, and was uber excited to be buying more yarn. From the pattern (Debbie Bliss Garter Stitch Blanket) it stated I would need six balls of yarn (turns out there is more yardage in the Patons than the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran), so I was all set.

When we got there I was so disappointed. The way the sample looks on the Patons website shows the Tangelo as an apricot-pink-orange-cream color. In reality it is ORANGE. Really orange. Not a bad color, mind you, just not what I thought it looked like. I scanned the aisle and although I found two colors that would look nice with the Tangelo, I wasn't "feeling" it. Megan offered up the idea of using the Patons Lavender, which I pondered over, but I ultimately chose the Tangelo, with Natural, and Taupe (which again, in person looks much different than the web swatches).

Imagine how lucky I felt when I talked to Phil last night and found out that the nursery had been done in taupe/natural colors! A little bit of orange will add a burst of color while the Natural and Taupe (chocolate) colors blend in with the rest of the set. Sweet!

So I sat down, cast on, cast off, cast on again, ripped it out--I don't know why but I always have the damnedest time casting on. It's like I forget how. I do it, then when I start to knit I realize the tail is in the wrong place and it won't knit up right. I need to practice this more. Anyways, so I'm knitting and I'm thinking, "Boy, these squares are going to be TINY!" The pattern calls for you to make 56 squares, then you piece them all together, and stitch 'em up. I re-read the pattern and the finished size caught my eye..."19 1/2 in. x 22 in." Oh you gotta be kidding me! That's like a napkin, for crying out loud! I don't know why I missed that but in scanning the internet last night to read about this pattern, I found out that I am not alone. The picture in the book even makes the blanket look much bigger, thus many people are fooled by it and skim past the finished dimensions.

Needless to say I'm deciding on if I want to make this blanket or another one. I really like the way the finished blanket looks. You turn the opposite squares 90 degrees and it gives a nice dimensional look to it. Of course I think the Patons Grace might be the wrong choice for this blanket simply because it's not as thick as the Debbie Bliss Cashmerino. I'm going to hit a LYS today and see if they have the Cashmerino in the colors I want and start from scratch. Then I'll take the Grace back to Michael's. :o(

Liars. All of 'em.

I feel so deceived.

Be still my heart

I want to make these sweaters with the yarn shown. They are adorable!! And the yarn (Sirdar Surfer) looks really fun and funky before it's knitted up and gorgeous finished. From what I can gather both LYS sell this yarn by Sirdar so I'm going to try and get by both of them this week and see if there is any in stock. Plus I have to find the patterns. Too cute!

It stares at me

Last night I finished the other sleeve and now it sits...staring at me...willing me to sew it together. I am hesitant because I fear I will screw it up royally now. However I know I'll dig in and put the thing together. In the meantime, here are some (crappy) pics of the almost finished sweater. You'll have to forgive the lighting. I took these last night around 9'ish or so and w/out flash.

Close-up again of the bottom detail

Close-up of the sleeve edging before sewing

Here is the not quite finished project. The neckline isn't my fav thus far, despite it being very easy, yet we'll see what it looks like knitted up.

One sleeve down, one on sticks

Finished the first sleeve yesterday and started the other one today. I should have the second one done tonight if I actually stop interrupting myself. I think I'm a tad hesitant simply because I'm scared to sew the thing together. Totally afraid I'm going to ruin it.

I made the one sleeve too long (about 3/4") but am not worried. I prefer a longer sleeve anyways and she (my friend) can roll them up for the baby. To me it always seemed that the sleeves were the first thing that got too short on my kiddos, so I'm fine that I went too far. Admittedly it was not done on purpose (I just kept knitting not even paying attention to how long the sleeve was getting), however it did work out to what the next size up would be.

With this sleeve I dropped a stitch on the edge so there is a very tiny hole that isn't noticeable except to me. I'm assuming that when I sew up the seam it will disappear as that's where the hole is. Of course DH keeps joking that because of this itty bitty screw up the baby will get pneumonia. He's soooo helpful. ;o)

I'll post pics before I sew it together. I'm just too lazy today or else I'd take some and post them now.

Patons SWS

After reading a blog on Crazy Aunt Purl about Patons SWS yarn found at Michaels, I had to make a pit-stop there after DH and I hit Home Depot tonight. The SWS yarn is a mix of wool and soy and comes in several fun shades. Patons also makes some other cool ones like Grace and Rumor which I am seriously coveting now. The Grace yarn has a ton of sweet colors, while the Rumor is so soft I just want to wrap my whole body with it. Okay, maybe that's pushing it. Nevertheless, had DH not been with me I guarantee I would've walked out with way more than I did.

Megan (my daughter) has been wanting me to knit her a sweater and when I saw the Patons SWS "Natural Blue" yarn I knew I had found a winner for her. Although the picture I am posting shows it as much brighter than it really is, the colors are b-e-a-utiful! Soft, subdued, and blend so perfectly. I can just see her in a cute little sweater with some khaki pants. I may have to make me one too. I will say that I had a hard time choosing between the Natural Blue or the Natural Geranium...or even the Natural Pink as she likes blue and pink equally, yet if I get something in one color she will usually ask me why I didn't get the opposite color instead. Girls. When she comes home from spending the night at my dad's we'll see what she says. My next step is to find a pattern that will work with this yarn. I grabbed three skeins but figure I'll need to pick up another. I really love this color though...check it out...

Patons SWS in Natural Blue








I also have decided to knit up a sweater for Phil & Julie's baby due towards the end of July in the Patons Grace in Tangelo. I dig this color a lot too. I think I can even use the same boatneck pattern as the gauge matches up. Have to double check on that one. I'm almost scared to go back to Michaels though. Will I have enough will power to only buy what I need instead of what I lust after?

Patons Grace in Tangelo

Baby Sweater #1

As promised, pics of the Boatneck Baby Sweater by Debbie Bliss that I am knitting up.

(fixing the pics as they didn't come through for some reason)

Front and Back, finished

Close-up of bottom edging

Sleeve #1 on sticks

Close up of bottom of sleeves

I'm hoping to have this finished within the next week or so.