Starsky is DONE!!!

Can you tell I am excited, I love to finish projects and love it even more when they are wearable but I love this sweater, finished project and all. It was a fun knit and I sort of miss knitting it. Even more now that someone else just started it in a beautiful color, pictures please?

I do wish the collar was a bit longer and folded over easier, but some steam blocking helped out with that some. I even think the Malabrigio gets softer after you block it.

Details: Starsky from Knitty

Needles: Size 7 addi natura's (that are now orange), 5's for the ribbing.

Yarn: Malabrigio in Rhodesian (8 balls)

Start: October 2006, finish January 2007

I have moved, and mostly moved in even. I was pretty excited for this move for one particular reason, I was finally going to have my yarn out, be able to see how much I have, what I have and all that. Not have it in bins, and wonder what I have that would fit this or that pattern. I have to admit once it was all mostly out, I thought I had more, so that is good right? I can buy more yarn guilt free, then I found more yarn hiding. It isn't all out yet, but here is a sneak peak.

To my surprise there really was not much yarn that I had to think "oh yeah I have that" so this all tells me I am ready to buy more yarn. I have been on a lag since getting back from Rhinebeck, and soon may be the time. I do have plenty of projects I want to start now that Starsky is done. I need to pair it down and go.

Should I start:

1. Hour Glass, with Noro Iroha in a navy blue

2. Wicked, out of something I might have or might buy.

3. Sunrise Circle jacket, out of some Katmandu orange.

4. Another longer car coat type thing, with blue donagal tweed.

I just don't know. Some quality time in the yarn shop should hopefully help me decide.

This too will be filled with books and yarn hopefully soon!!!

es, I know this is not 2006 anymore but I had all intentions of posting this before. But sadly I only post when at work, I won't interrupt valuable knitting time while at home to do it. Not even with a new fancy laptop, not even when I am snowed if for what seems like ever. Just how it is. The thought is to just throw a bunch of pictures out there since I have been busy and keep the words to a minimum. Yep Clapotis, and not even a damn Clapotis like some of my other attempts.

Yarn: Lorna's Lace, Lion and Lamb, colorway Black Purl, 3 full skeins and smidge of skein 4.

Needles: Size 4, addi's turbos

Surprisingly fast knit, considering my other Clapotis blunders.

Spiral Rib Hat.

Yarn: From Rhinebeck, I need to check the label on this. Not quite 1 skien, what to do with the rest of it?

Size 6 addi's. Quick one day knit here!!

This is the big accomplishment of the Blizzard Season, or so I think. Not quite done but getting oh so close, and maybe why I am starting all these smallish projects, so I don't have do do the finishing. I personally think my finishing sucks, and hopefully by the time I get a little closer on this one it will improve. That and some of the directions have me a bit baffled, pick up and knit , do I pick up then, knit, as in pick up all the stitches to be picked up then knit them all? Or knit them as I pick them up which I have never done. Maybe I can wear it like this with only the shoulders seemed and the sleeves set in but not seemed. I actually think I am going to lay it out and block it before I do any more seeming. I am working on an endless belt for this thing now though. Then I can worry about picking up for the collar right? After I get some expert advice and all.

One last thing to show you.

Fetching revised. The exact pattern just cabled all the way up. I really like how they turned out, I only only wish they were a bit taller for the fingers, I even extended the pattern a bit there. I also promise to not wear them with the Clapotis.

What else could a knitter ask for than almost 3 days of being snowed in? Technically I could walk to the local bar, and maybe I did but I was without a car for a good 2 and a half days. There was a whole lot of knitting going.

I have almost finished the back of Starsky, so so close, once the back is done the rest is all just the finishing knitting. I am excited to get this one pretty close to wrapped up.

I have also started and completed a CandleFlame scarf for myself, I was packing away some yarn and found this Rio de la Plata that I really liked, decided to start a scarf then and there. I just need to kitchener the 2 sides together and it is done!!!Not the best picture but you get the idea right?

And last on the list I started a Vintage Velvet for me at last!!! I knit on this during the holiday festivities at my parent's house. This picture really sucks, bad lighting, plus shiny yarn and a flash just don't mix well. But at least you can see the color from this picture.

I do have a couple of FO's to report as well. I will save that for another post.

Why I worry that I have not posted in forever is beyond me, since I am not sure all that many read, or even know this little blog exists. Anyway...

Now that I am done traveling, and done with all of the currently planned Christmas knitting I think I have a little time. I did think today, oh wouldn't it be nice to knit up a wine cozy to go with the wine that I need to take to Teds mother's house. Oh and wouldn't it be fun to wrap scarves for my sister, mother and sister-in-law around their stockings. Not sure any of that will happen. But it was a thought.

I do have pictures, if nothing else... I finished 4 ponchos for my niece's, 2 need fringe, unless I decide the curl method looks cute, and i just might. I also knitted up a white elephant gift for the work Holiday luncheon, that my co-worker received, boy what company pride we have here. Twisty Turns , from Wrap Style as well, I need about 5 more inches and it will be ready to be contrapted. This is a close up of the ribs, it is really long at this point.

I have been working on the

I have finished all but the zipper on my hoody from the Vogue, it is quite cute until I put it on, I am not sure the shoulders drape quite right where I attached them to the body. Live and learn I guess.

Look at all these pictures. It is crazy in here. I have a picture of me in my Klara as well, crappy picture and well I am not sure I think this sweater looks great on me but here it is. Don't I look thrilled.

I tend to only blog at work, at home I am taking away from precious knitting time. Or something like that. But since I am gearing up for a week off work, I should probably post before I go, huh? Not a whole lot of knitting has gone on as of late. I wish I could say there was more. I am plugging along on Starsky, it is slow going with the cable pattern on the right and wrong side, I have been completing about one repeat a week. Not a whole lot of progress let me tell ya, motivation to finish things has been somewhat low. Not real sure why, I am not casting on for new things. I blocked the Noro cowl again to see if the cowl would sit better since I have knitted the cowl over twice as long as it says too, I still don't think it sits right, and one sleeve is all wonky!! so more cowl and possibly a re-knit of a sleeve. No picture of that of course.

There is also the annual white elephant gift at work, last year I did a knitted tie, this year I went with a ear warmer thing, with a bad application of our logo. It didn't turn out horrible but well I like the tie better. Next year I should get to this earlier and not have to rush, then again who wants to spend a ton of knitting time away from other knitting on something that will sit in someone's cube. Fun and all but doesn't need to be elaborate or anything!

I have been working on a second Vintage Velvet as well, for Miss Tiffany of Colorful Yarns. It was a great deal we did, well not sure how is making out better I think it is me. But her Vintage Velvet is coming along, I hope to have this done sooner rather than later!!!

I have also been working on my Lion and Lamb Clapotis, in the Black Pearl color, I love it, it is soft, an easy knit and I have started the decreases. Sadly I have no pictures of this beauty. I have been busy with many things Christmas not really one of them though. I am in the process of finding a new home for me and my yarn, this is not the easiest task. It seems like it should be much easier. But my Yarn and myself seem to be quite picky we both want ample room for our things, and room to grow as well. Hopefully soon I will know where I will be moving come January!!!

I have been knitting I promise, just not as much as usual. Somewhat a busy schedule and some just kinda ehhh. A mini knitting funk. Maybe I have so much I want to do and so little time it is a bit overwhelming so I just say fu$%#@ it. We'll see if this coming weekend can prove to be more productive.

No Starsky pictures, it really has not grown much at all. I have finished a little something for Colorful it was a super fun fast knit. And ohhh so pretty!! Of course now that it is on display I worry about it, if it looks as good as it can, did I mess up, could it be softer and so on.

I have started another one for Tiffany, in a toast color, not pictures of that either. The Clapotis using the Black Purl color of Lion and Lamb is coming along, almost done with the straight rows.

Here is my current dilemma, last year for the work white elephant Holiday exchange I made a tacky knitted tie, with our company colors. I want to do something this year as well, it needs to be quick and simple. I am sort of thinking, ear warmer thing, you know the band that goes around your head. I will use chunkier yarn this year too for a quick easy knit, any other ideas? Most of the folks in my group are men so..... It was the ear thing or a hat, not sure which would be preferred.

To post or not to post... I have some progress on Starsky, but well it looks just like the picture I posted last time, it is just the right front instead of the left. Not too exciting. I had to rip most of the Irish Hiking Scarf, and it is much slowly coming back to life. Once I wound up the second ball I bought I realized the dye lots were similar but not quite the same, you would definitely notice once the second ball started up, so I ripped and am now alternating. The local girls know I tend to rip a lot, I never make a project just once, I usually make a project 2-3 times with one complete output. But I would much rather have something usable than try and figure out a way to make something usable, you know? So the progress on that is about the same as it was before.

Now I do have a little something to share, I took a toe up sock class last weekend. Well part one of a 2 part class, I mean did you all see how much sock yarn I have bought recently, I should really be making a ton of socks. I finished my homework for the week, get to the point of turning the heel, the sock went surprisingly fast on my size 0 needles. I don't love the sock, it is a bit too wide but I wanted to be at the heel for class so I didn't rip. Plus I can't find the second skein of this yarn, which I would need for the second sock, so who knows what will become of this sock(s).

I also forgot the best thing about fall on my last post. I love putting on a winter coat to find money in the pocket!!! It has happened twice so far this fall, I should run off and check all the pockets but somehow that might be jinxing myself you know.

I received ISE III scarf right on time, on the 1st. I even worked from home so the nice people of the USPS hand delivered it to me!!! It is beautiful!! I love it and the goodies my pal sent. I wish I would have known my pal Ina was also at Rhinebeck, we could have met up. It looks like she even had my scarf along. Thanks so much Ina I love everything, how did you know I love, love dark chocolate?

It feels like Fall, now I know that is an obvious statement, but it has been cold, you can still smell the leaves, in Boston the leaves were still beautiful the house has been cold because I am too cheap to turn the heat up. Large branches have fallen in my yard due to snow, sweaters are flying on the needles, college football is here (has been here for a while but...) new TV stuff is on, it is FALL. I love it!!

I am dutifully working on Starsky it is turning my hands orange, hopefully it is just that one or so skeins. It is coming along, 2 sleeves and almost a front done. But this is turning into serious knitting, head down, don't bother me knitting. Cable pattern on the RS and WS knitting, serious stuff. I had to change projects during Grey's last night so I could watch my weekly porn. It has slowed down but I feel I am still making decent progress.

I had to start something new, now that my ISE Scarf for Jen who took some amazing pictures of it, I will steal it and put it here. I need to make one of these babies for myself now!!! I was thinking about one in my left over lime blue, but since my ISE Pal made me a My so called Scarf in lime blue I think I will find another yarn to do mine in. So for my lighter knitting I started a Irish Hiking Scarf with some of the Briar Rose yarn I bought at Rhinebeck. It is so pretty I love the colors. It is moving along great too!!

It feels like Fall, now I know that is an obvious statement, but it has been cold, you can still smell the leaves, in Boston the leaves were still beautiful the house has been cold because I am too cheap to turn the heat up. Large branches have fallen in my yard due to snow, sweaters are flying on the needles, college football is here (has been here for a while but...), new TV stuff is on, it is FALL. I love it.

I have also thought about joining the NaKniSweMo I bought yarn for Hour glass in Boston and I could do it, I really could do that and Starsky in November I have faith. I have also determined that knitting is as much about enabling as anything else, I buy yarn because all of you buy yarn, I wouldn't know about the sales and such if you girls didn't tell me! I wouldn't join all these things with deadlines if other girls didn't blab about it!! I blame all of you for my stash that is ever growing, my deadlines that are ever looming and maybe even one day my ulcers from knitting stress. There are others out there that are just as bad too. Just because I didn't name you doesn't mean you are not an enabler too! And until I find some self restraint I will blame all

Rhinebeck

Or as someone accidentally called it, Yarnbeck, how funny is that?

The weekend was great, it was wonderful to see Cyn she was a wonderful hostess, yummy food and all. The weekend was action packed, including a stop at WEBS where some purchases were made. It was a wonderful time of year to go, I was hoping the leaves hadn't completely changed but feared they may have. No, it was beautiful, I should go to Rhinebeck every year to just see the leaves. Of course I took about no pictures of the leaves and about ummm 2 pictures at Rhinebeck. This being one of them. Rhinebeck was overwhelming, so much yarn and I am not even postive we saw it all. It was hard to resist any of it knowing some other knitter may come along and snatch it up. So I didn't resist much. I tried to be good, but hell I was at Rhinebeck I may never go back, you know? So here is the whole lot between the 3 of us. We did pretty good ehh? It is easy to tell what is Stacey's but Cyn and I bought sort of meshes together, except my new love of the orange, red yellow combo.

Here is my Rhinebeck loot, I don't have a pictures of the WEBS stuff just yet, will work on that. I will work on a detailed breakdown soon.

I also finished both sleeves of Starsky while I was away, I am loving this sweater, only the yarn is turning my fingers orange, like I ate a crap load of cheetos or something. Pictures of that to come soon as well.

I actually have made some progress all around lately. I worked on some projects that just need some finishing. I have finished a new project, and I have started a new project. This past Sunday I worked on the Noro Cowl, all it needs is the cowl, it is seemed, ends are weaved in I just need to pick up the stitches and go. The stitches have been picked up, I have about a third of the cowl done. I am liking how it is looking, hopefully this will be complete fairly soon.

The new project is the Starsky from knitty, I love this pattern and I am loving the Malabrigio I am using for it a dark burnt orange. And I am knitting on 7's can you believe that, I can't recall the last time I knit on 7's being the loose knitter I am. This is exciting stuff. I have also realized I have more consistent stitches with bamboo needles, why have I not figured this out before? I love this color so much.

I have also finished my secret pal scarf it is ready to go, I am going to be dorky and mail it from Rhinebeck what a knitterly place to mail it huh?

So Thursday late night Stacey and I get on a red eye to Rhinebeck, hopefully Cyn doesn't mind too much picking us up at like 5 am, before the T in Boston is running. I am so excited to knit, shop, visit, shop, knit.

Everyday Tweed is done!!! I blocked it and finished up all the finishing last night. I am loving this sweater, and am excited that I have used some of my Estes yarn finally!!! I do have a good 300 yards left, hmmm maybe a scarf or something.

Pattern: Everyday Tweed

Needles: 4's (knit picks new interchangeables) and 3's (addi's) on the ribbing

Modifications: I didn't really do the body and sleeves as the pattern called for I took the sleeves off and kept going with the body, apparently you are supposed to pick some stitches up under the arms, oops.

Yarn: Plain and Fancy, bought 6/2006 at Estes Green/Purple/Grey variegated

The edging has a real simple picot edge, that you actually do one row of YO, KTOG then knit about 6 more rows and create a hem, it was much easier to whip stitch and didn't take near as long as I though it would. Here is a close up of the edging.

I have no pictures, it is disappointing I know. but you see, my hard drive crashed last Wednesday night, the night before I left for my Grandfather's funeral. Luckily it was a work computer and all is better now. But you see I can't find the software for my camera, I recall loading the software right before going to NY and having to move everything out of main floor of the house so the floors could get re-done. It could be anywhere, literally. So if anyone has a powershot, or a canon, might I borrow your software?

And if I had taken photos there is nothing new, just more progress on what you all have already seen. Everyday Tweed is near done, maybe a couple inches on one sleeve, make sure the other sleeve is long enough, then pick up stitches for the neck do the hems and finished!! I didn't even run out of yarn, and I am sort of baffled that it will only use up 3 skeins of the Plain and Fancy, maybe a tiny bit of the 4th skein. What to do with 300 plus yards of the leftover skein, hmmmm.

The scarf for my secret pal is done being knitted, I just need to kitchener the 2 sides together and be done. I was really hoping to get it in the mail this week, but no. I haven't really been working on much of anything else, the clapotis has seen a little bit here and there in the car driving 7 hours to Kansas. But while I was gone it was mostly all about the Everyday Tweed.

I do want to enforce my finishing Sundays again this week, send good vibes this way. Cutaway I am having trouble getting into because I am a little worried it won't look so hot when I am done. Maybe more blocking will help, isn't that the cure all? This weekend I think I will focus on finishing the Noro Cowl, it only needs the cowl picked up and put on, the seaming is done for goodness sake. So look for the Noro Cowl FO next week, and wish me luck finding the camera software.

I get obsessed, I knit and knit and knit on one project it is crazy. This is how things get done, this is why when I have 3 or 4 projects on the needles I can go crazy!! I started The Everyday Tweed last week and I can't stop. I love the colors, a purple/green/gray this is for the Grey's Anatomy KAL. I suspect I will need another project before the season is over. This also means Sizzle, hasn't been sizzling at all. But these colors this pattern it is so pretty!!! And a close up of the pretty colors, ball one is knit all up. I hope I have enough of the Plain and Fancy to finish!

My niece has also taken an interest in my knitting, way back when I had some extra yarn and needles with me so she tried to knit, she sort of got, but not really. But she was interested that is the important part. So for her Birthday I got her a knitting machine, now don't think ohhh all fancy. You crank this one, it comes with 400 yards of eyelash yarn. I have yet to see it perform but I hear it is working great!! It sort of scares me.

I finally posted on the ISEIII blog, they made me do it. I don't want to get kicked out and all get blacklisted. I finished up the first half of the scarf and started up the second half. I am excited to finish it up so I can start one for me.

I wanted to also comment that even though I started Sunday Finishing, I skipped a week and then worked a tiny bit this past Sunday on seaming up Cutaway. Soon we will know if it is wearable or not! LimeBlue is wearable though, that is exciting!! Here is hoping that this Sunday with no plans can be Finishing Sunday, Mystery Stole and Cutaway are screaming at me!! Then there is the Noro cowl, and green gables to finish. All these projects are they having babies when I am not looking?

I have finished something, I recently realized as I was cleaning up pictures here at the blog that I haven't finished anything in a while. Wait, wait I finished 2 somethings. One of them I have no finished picture, oops. It is the Purple Gable for mom, she actually wore it yesterday. You know how you analyze your knitting all day the first time you wear something you have knit (I am not the only one right)? I think it might be worse when someone else wears a knitted item of yours, I kept thinking hmm maybe we need more increases for the hips, and is it too tight around the middle. Sorry mom. But she loves it or at least pretends too.

I have also finished the Lime Blue Cardi, I love this sweater but I need some advice here. I don't want to rip things back but do the sleeves look too funny, one has pooled a ton and well the other did not. I like the pooling and am quite sure I can't find a way in hell to replicate it, I might have a better chance to rip the pooling sleeve to look more like the unpooled sleeve. You tell me your opinions. Well see if I am lazy and rip, live with it or what. And now the picture of the two sleeves up close and personal.

So girls does it look super funny? Is the curse of never knitting the garment once still with me. Oh wait I did have to re-knit the top part of this way back when.

Along with some finished projects I also have some new stuff going on, some old stuff found at the bottom of the pile and such.

I started Sizzle while coming home from NY, but didn't get far. Put it aside until other things had finished. Now I am cruising along. The colors are not quite as bright as in the picture. I love the Bamboo yarn, Southwest Trading Company Bamboo to be specific.

I have also pulled an old Clapotis out, since the previous one is forever the "damn" Clapotis this one is more appealing, I like the colors and may even use it one day.

The last knitting item to get attention is International Scarf Exchange knitting. I have chosen Malabrigo yarn in an Apple Cinnamon color, I think that is right. Light pink and light brown, I hope my pal loves it!! I borrowed the free pattern from the FiberBrunette, super easy and love how it looks. I see one for me coming soon!

I am also contemplating starting The Everyday Tweed with some plain and fancy as well. The Purple/Green stuff I bought in Estes, I must use some Estes yarn soon, how horrible would it be to get to Estes time next year and now have used my yarn!!

I have so many projects that are so close to being done, and they are not ones that I have given up on, just ones that have been pushed aside. This bugs me to no end, I am practical, I love to knit but I also love to use my knittables. Wear them, or at least fold them up and put them in the closet like I would wear them one day. I hate the piles project pieces. So I declared Sunday my finishing day, and the first Sunday finishing went rather well.

I completed clue 6 of Mystery Stole on one end of my stole, leaving clue 6 to do on the other end. If I don't run out of yarn. It will be close, this sucker is long..... See the new finished floors too, they look wonderful!

I have also finished up the knitting on the Cutaway, all that is left is seaming. This shouldn't be to bad. I just hope the bind off on this one doesn't make the round parts in front bunch too much.

Also finished is the Purple Gables for Mom, she just needs to try it on ok the sleeve length and then I will sew in the sleeve ends. See this makes me feel better I have made progress on some items that have been neglected. Until next Sunday.

Tennis was great, vacation was mostly great, traveling with my mom and sister, ehhh. We are going to need a 5 year break before I am ready to do this again and forget all the annoying things about family.

So this is most likely just going to be a quick sneak peek into the vacation with some more details later, but well if I never get to the details the overall info is here. Thursday night we saw one of the most amazing match I have ever seen, Agassi vs Bagdahtis, the last winning match of Agassi's career. Friday even James Blake made a tribute to Agassi by wearing this throw back Agassi outfit (I think I had a poster of Agassi in this outfit in my room, in err Middle School I hope.) We saw many other big names and great matches including Martina Navrativola which I had never seen play before. I could have stayed and just watched tennis I love it. If only I could pay attention to knitting while watching. OK this might be a tennis only post with others to come (where else can I post all the pictures)...

I saw the up and coming new Russianish Nicole Vaidisova as well as the old favorites. Lindsay Davenport she hasn't retired yet but I think it may be coming soon. There was also Roddick, Mauresmo, Serina, Hewitt, Janvokic.

So much tennis I loved it. I couldn't come home with out an addition to my collection as well, who knew I collect rubber ducks. Isn't he cute!!! OK now onto, maybe some knitting and other purchases made.