Fini!

I finished Isabella! Finally! I only have bad unflattering pics to post because I'm all alone and had to take them myself.





(Now if this picture doesn't convince me to go to the gym tomorrow, I don't know what will)

Specifics:

Pattern: Isabella from Knitty, size small
Yarn: Katia Mississippi 3 (not sure how much I used)
Needles: 2.25 mm circulars (and 3.0 mm dpns for the armholes)

I'm not 100% happy with it. It's not flattering. The seaming is so-so. But I'm happy it's finished.

I'm not sure what I'm going to start next. I actually want to work a bit on the Kiri shawl and I want to finish the pink scarf before I cast on for the Woven Trellis one so I may not start anything new for a while. We'll see.

I'm still waiting for my books from Knitpicks (they shipped on the 9th so I think I'll get them soon). But I found Maggie Righetti's Knitting in Plain English at Chapters yesterday and couldn't resist buying it (they usually never have it in stock when I go). I love the book so far.

Weekly WIP Report

Hey all! This is going to be a picture-less post because my batteries are dead, so no camera.

I finished all the knitting on Isabella. I seamed. I did the hem. And then I did the armholes. I picked up stitches, knit, did the eyelet row knit. I did the other side. And then I realized that the armholes are now wayyyy to small to fit my big arms. So I'll have to redo them and try to pick up more stitches maybe? Or bind off with bigger needles? The armholes were fine before I did the picot edging thing. Oh well. I'll tackle this tomorrow or later this week. I'm sure I'll find a way to fix this.

I didn't work much on Roza's socks because I really wanted to finish Isabella. I've just turned the heel on sock 2. I'll pick it back up this week and should finish it soon. (BTW, Melanie from Lotus Knits asked me what yarn I was using. It's superwash merino sock yarn by Fearless Fibers. I love the yarn, it's very, very soft and a dream to knit with.

I also cast on for a very simple ribbed scarf using some Bernat Masala acrylic that my mom gave me last Christmas (the scarf will be for her). I am NOT enjoying knitting with this yarn, but I love the colours and the fabric itself is soft enough. Oh and I realize that I DO have a picture, though it's much longer than that now:



See? Nice colours.

I kind of regret starting it though because I've since bought the yarn for the Woven Trellis scarf (yes Robyn, it's the one that I'm making!) and I'd rather be working on that, but I don't want to have too many projects on the needles. But I'll probably cast on for it soon because it will be my "knitting meet-ups" project (when I finally am able to go again).

If any of you don't know, Knitpicks is having a book sale : 40% on all books (as of tonight, Sunday, it was still going on. I don't know when it ends). I couldn't resist (especially with the strong Canadian dollar!) and I bought three books. Knitting Vintage Socks, Folk Socks and Vogue Knitting Stitchionary Volume 1 : Knit & Purl. I eventually want to own all three Stitchionary, but I figured I needed to show at least a little bit of self-control! ;) Now that I've ordered, I see so many more books I would have liked to order, but I know I'll be happy with the ones I've chosen.

I'm ending with a totally off topic post : I can finally watch the first season of Heroes! I've heard good things about the show but I couldn't watch it when it aired because I only had four channels (two in French, two in English) on my old TV. But the season will air soon on a French channel and I was sent the first five episodes on DVD (I should get the rest of the season soon). They're in French, and I hate watching dubbed TV, but it'll have to do. At least I'll be all caught up for season 2 (and I'll watch that one in English). I watched the first episode tonight and it was great!

So close to an FO!

So I've been a little depressed lately because everytime I think things can't get any worst at work, something new happens to prove me wrong. I need a new job. But I digress.

At least knitting makes me happy, right? And I'm very proud to say that I finished the seaming on Isabella. Bo-ring! I'm not 100% happy with the seaming, but it's getting better with each sweater I make. No pic yet though, because I still have that picot edging thing to do. The good news is that the top fits well. The bad news is that I don't like the left side of the lace part. It looks weird, so much so that I first thought I had dropped a stitch and not realized it, but nope. Oh well. I'll post pictures when it's all done.

I'm really itching to move on to another project though. I want to work on the Kiri Shawl, but I also want to start something new. Thanks to Ravelry, I now have 21 projects in my queue, and the list will probably double by the time I start something ;) Wanna see?











That's a lot of knitting...

Weekly WIP Report

After a week off, I'm back with the Weekly WIP Report (after having drank way too much wine. Any spelling mistake must be forgiven. Thanks).

I have made great progress on my two favourite WIPs this week. First, Isabella.



The knitting is done, the shoulder seaming is done and one side seam is done. It looks like it will fit but I'm still unhappy with the seaming. I really need to find a seaming class or teacher because I really suck at it. I still have the picot edging left to do and I'll admit it scares me a little.



Roza's socks are going fantastically well. I finished sock number one and I'm about midleg on sock #2. The yarn is beautiful and soft and I want to buy many more skeins.

I'll also take this opportunity to admit that I'm totally addicted to Ravelry and that it made me add a million projects to my queue. Like the Endpaper mitts. I had seen them before but now I've seen more FOs and I really want to make them, even though my first attempt at fair isle didn't go too well. Also, in an attempt to destash a little, I've added Coachella and the Odessa hat to my queue. Will they ever make it to my needles, only time will tell.

Now, my goal is to finish both Isabella and Roza's socks this week (hey, it could happen!) and then move on to the Kiri shawl, a shrug and a pair of socks.

Now, the not-so-fun part...

I finished all the knitting part of Isabella. Now, my favourite part (or not): finishing! I have a very busy weekend ahead of me so I may not finish it in the next few days, but I'll try not to let it drag for months (like that blue cardigan thing that I may never seam and let it acquire urban legend myth-like fame). Pictures of Isabella will come for the weekly wip report on Sunday, whether it's finished or not (most likely, it won't be).

Also, Do asked me how long it took for me to get my Ravelry invite. I don't remember exactly when I signed up, but it must have taken at least a month (maybe 6 weeks) to get an invite. But it's totally worth it so go and sign up now if you haven't already! Oh and you mentionned inspiration? I suggest Craftster for that (and there are crochet and sewing sections that I'm sure you'll love too).

More inspiration? This cardigan. I'm in love.

Weekly WIP Report

I haven't worked that much on Isabella this past week. But I'm happy to say that I'm almost done with the left front. I probably won't be finished by next week like I hoped I would, but that doesn't mean I won't try.



I neglected Isabella because I felt like working on the sock. I turned the heel! The sock looks pretty narrow on the pic but it stretches well enough to fit my big calves.

I realized that working on only a couple of projects at a time means that I'm always showing you the same WIPs. Sorry about that. But while more projects would mean more diverse WIP pics, it would also mean FO pics would come even less often. And I don't know about you guys, but I prefer to see FOs. So this is my goal : to finish Isabella in the next two weeks (I can do that) so I can show you a FO. And then I'll have new WIPs (or old ones that I'll pick up again) to show.

I must say that I've wound the alpaca my secret pal gave me into a ball. I have a few ideas for it. We'll see.

I also sort of want to make a very simple scarf for my mom. She gave me yarn last Christmas and hinted that she'd love a scarf made with it. Only problem is, it's acrylic and I know I won't LOVE working with it. But I know she'll love the scarf so I'll make her one.

Weekly Week Report

It's now my favourite part of the week, the part when I realize I really am a slow knitter ;)

Seriously, I feel like I've progressed with my two regular WIPs this week. First, let me present you the pink sock:



A.K.A. Roza's sock. I have about 2-3 inches more to knit before I start the heel flap. Somehow, I doubt I'll finish them in time for the end of June, but we'll see.



I've also made some progress on Isabella. I'm now at the neckline, at the part where you work half the stitches. It's going pretty well. I was hoping I could finish it before going to my mom's on Friday, but that just won't happen. I know I won't have time to finish the knitting AND seam it. I could if I spent all my free time doing that, but I won't. I need me some Internet time :)

(I'm interrupting this blogging to mention that I currently have a bad case of the hiccups. It's very annoying.)

I'm sure you've all heard about the big Knitpicks sale. I hesitated a long time, and then I decided I should get me some yarn to make Tubey. I chose Andean Silk, and then I realized that the colours on sale weren't my favourite. I finally settled for Leaf. I put 10 balls in my "stash" (i.e. cart), I added two sock books. And then I decided not to order. I don't know why, I just wasn't sure anymore. And now I'm happy I didn't get the yarn because I find that I would prefer a Chocolate or Pool Tubey. Or something else entirely.

Since I can't make up my mind, I decided to try and find projects for the yarn I already have. I found a lace scarf pattern for the yarn my Secret Pal gave me (it'll be a mini-scarf, I'll just go for as long as I have yarn). And I found a shrug pattern in a past issue of Interweave Knits that would look good with the alpaca I got from a previous Secret Pal thing.

But that Knitpicks Andean Silk is still tempting. I have a colour card and I keep touching it. It's so damn soft. The sale lasts until Friday (if they don't sell everything by then) so who knows. I may change my mind again.

Chez Robyn

Kadi, Angela and I (not on the picture since I was taking it) went knitting at Robyn's house last night. We had a lovely evening and I was able to work quite a bit on my pink sock. Robyn has posted more pictures on her blog, if you want to see. I hate how I look on them though (don't I always?). Robyn, I actually stole the pic above from your blog because I'm too lazy to get my camera and transfer it myself ;)

While knitting, we watched So you think you can dance, which I had never watched before. It was... interesting, to say the least. Some good dancers on there. Some, not so good.

I've made good progress on Isabella. I'm almost done with the front. And I'll really try to seam right away so I can wear the damn top sometime this summer. Actually, I'm hoping to finish it sometime next week. Hey who knows? It could happen!

Funny thing is, I have no idea what I'll do next. I should probably pick the lace shawl back up. It's probably what I'll do. I'd also love to try another sweater, but I should probably try to make a couple of smaller projects first.I'll feel less guilty buying yarn for a sweater if I knit a couple of things from the stash first. Not to mention that I should probably wait and see if I can actually finish a sweater before committing to a new one...

Weekly WIP report

I'm keeping with my new tradition (can you say "new tradition"?) and posting a WIP report.



You can see where I am with Roza's socks (though they are NOT that bright in person) and Isabella.

I've mostly worked on Isabella this past week because I'm really looking forward to finishing it. Of course, after the knitting I'll need to seam it. Hopefully, it won't take me as long as the blue cardigan. God I hate seaming. I really should ask the owner of Effiloché if she gives finishing lessons. I want beautifully seamed sweaters dammit!

I'll leave you with a link to Mona's blog, where you will find the great new sock pattern that she designed. I think it'll be next on my sock list.

Weekly WIP report

I'm totally stealing this idea to do a weekly WIP report from Dim Sum Knitting. It should be a good way to make me update regularly. I tend to think that if I don't have FO pics to show, I don't have anything to blog about. But unfortunately, I don't finish things that often, so...

WIP report time!

I'm working on many projects, but these two are taking most of my free time. First, I don't know if you remember these knee socks:



Well they are no more. I frogged them when I realized my legs would never look good in them. If I ever lose weight, I'll make knee socks to reward myself. In the meantime, regular socks will do. Therefore, my Fearless Fiber sock yarn is being turned into:



Roza's socks, from the Spring 2007 issue of Interweave Knits. I was just flipping through my mags, trying to find the perfect pattern for the yarn and when I saw them, I just had to cast on. I'm only at the cuff, as you can see, but I plan on starting the brioche stitch part tonight.

I'm also working on Isabella. Now this is a boring project to show off because I'm making it in black, so all you see on the picture is a black blob, but you can kind of spot the beginning of the lace part (follow the green arrow!):



This is a very simple project, even though I'm (finally!) at the more "complicated" part. But it's easy lace, really. I'm working with Katia Mississippi 3, which is a cotton/acrylic blend that I had in the stash.

So that's all for the WIP report.

Last Friday, my friend Dominique asked me if I wanted to go to Effiloché with her. I don't think I hesitated even for one second, especially since it's now so close to my appartment. Touching cashmere and silk is always a good way to spend a Friday afternoon, if you ask me. I did not buy these luxurious fibers, though. I have a little bit of self-control. I only got a few skeins of sock yarn.



Two skeins of Regia in green that I plan to use either for the Cablenet or the Bayerische socks. And a skein of Austermann Step, just because I love it.