Summer report

It's already September and although I don't go to school anymore, I feel like evaluating my knitting this summer!  It certainly isn't an A, but the teacher would certainly mention that at least, this summer I knitted and made some good progress.  Yes, and I have to say that I don't understand why I had stopped knitting completely in the past in summer. 

So this summer, I've completed Thermal and I've also knitted a new pair of socks with yarn I had bought last summer.  I also finished the exterior of the Douglas Mittens and started the lining.  Since it starts in the inside, it does not show, but I'm already at the start of the thumb.

 

I've also started the Jaywalkers with the Super Bambou I bought at Biscotte & Cie last summer too.  They are a lot of fun to knit (the colors are nicer than in this photo)!

And I'm also planning for a secret baby knit (I have yet to choose the yarn) and my next sweater/cardigan.  For the latter, I change my mind all the time.  Will it be Featherweight Cardigan, Mountain View Cardigan, Tea Leaves, Castelgar Cardigan or something else?  There are so many beautiful and wearable nice patterns out there!  I'm thinking about some nice yarn like Malabrigo or Madelintosh so that this loooong process is enjoyable!  I'm also thinking light gray.  We'll see!

Happy September!

FO: Spring Forward socks

Aren't vacations great for finishing things?

The Douglas Mittens are in their pre-finishing state, that is, they are drying from the blocking that the patterns recommends before knitting the lining. They are almost dry. I just realize that I should swatch for the lining instead than for a new pair of socks like I was about to do last night.

I'm very satisfied with the colorwork. I am tempted to post a bigger picture, but then, that would steal the "thunder" for the finished mittens with the lining, wouldn't it? Of course, by the time I finish them, maybe the photo would only be a faint memory... Let's take a peek then ;-)

The yarn for the lining is so thin (Estelle Baby Silk Lace). It's hard for me to imagine that this will be resistent enough to be the inside of a mitten. What I am very sure of is that it will be incredibly soft and warm.


Coming back to my new FO. The Spring Forward socks have been very easy and fun to knit. I recommend the pattern (altough I now realize that many knitters have already knitted this pattern). The chart is easy to memorize and still, the result is fun!

Usually, I'm really not into variegated colors, but this one I really like!


I knew that my left foot was bigger than my right foot, but it's very clear on that picture isn't it?

I'm also amazed at how symetrical the pair turned out to be! The beginning (upper part of the leg) is different and I decided that I could live with that! But then, look at the rest of the leg, the heel, under the feet and the toe tips! I almost wonder how that can be because I started the second sock with the rest of the first skein (maybe 8g left) and then joined the second skein!

Pattern: Spring Forward by Linda Welch
Yarn: Classic Elite Yarns Summer Sox Variegated, 85g for the two socks.
Needles: US 1 / 2.25 mm
Color: 5556 Viva violets
Start to finish: June 2011 - August 2011
For: Me
Notes: No modifications

Now let's see when will be my next FO!

Have a nice and restful day everyone!

FO: Thermal II

I'm so happy and relieved... My second Thermal is now complete!



Pattern: Thermal by Laura Chau
Yarn: KnitPicks Gloss
Needles: US 4.0 mm
Color: Teal
Start to finish: May 2009 - August 2011
For: Me
Notes: No modifications

It will be very good to keep me warm at nights this winter!

And I confirm there will be no more Thermal in my life ;-)

Have a wonderful day everyone!

Summer progress

Wow! I haven't posted since mid-June! Here is a little update on my knitting.

The good news is that this is the first time that I continue to knit during summer. Yé!

So what are my current WIPs? Well, the same ones as in the previous post. However, there is a little bit of progress.

First, I still have to buy the buttons for my Thermal and post the final pictures. This could take place this week.

Second, the Douglas Mittens are going well. I've almost finished the exterior of the second mitten. After that, I have to wash them and knit the lining inside. They should be ready for winter, although experience tells me that you just never know... Needless to say, this is knitted inside, with AC, watching tv ;-)

Third, the Spring Forward socks are also going well. See, this is the second sock. The grass is a little drier and my toe nails are now electric blue compared to my previous post ;-)

I hope that you are all having a wonderful summer! Today,
the weather is fantastic! I'm just taking a little break inside to cool down!

Happy knitting to all of you!

It's summer...

... and obviously less time to knit and blog! However, this summer I continue to knit which is already better than the years before!

I have the perfect project... At my pace, it will last all summer ;-)

First, they started as modified Muscari. I stopped because there were too many modifications and I lost one of the needle!

Then, they became for maybe 15 rows Hedera. I did not get the yo before purl and thought it required too much concentration...

Finally, they are Spring Forward and so far, so good! Very easy to memorize and I like the heel!

Enjoy the sun everyone!

Nice day to knit

Just a quick note to let you know that I'm still here although I haven't knitted much since my last post. A few repeats of my Muscari first sock and I've finished the exterior of the first Douglas mitten (there will be a lining inside). I hope I can proceed to the provisional cast-on this morning and complete it since it was the most time-consuming part for the first mitten.


I'm very happy with the way I picked up the stitches for the thumb gusset. I found this video on YouTube and it worked very well. I just picked 3 stitches between the held stitches as indicated in the pattern and it worked perfectly and there is no holes!

Have a great week everyone!

New beginnings

While it's sunny and warming up outside, I'm working on a new project this morning. It will be good for my knitter's spirit... Yesterday, I've had a little "adventure" with my now almost completed Thermal...

While my first Thermal that was a little too small did not enlarge a bit when I blocked it two years ago, my second Thermal who fitted just as I had planned expanded like I had read about but never seen with my own eyes! I initially thought it was pretty funny to see such long sleeves and body, but then, thinking about all the time invested in it, I thought it might not be "that" funny :-(

Could the "expansion" be due to the fact that I went up from 3.0mm to 4.0mm needles and kept the same yarn? Maybe my tension is looser now as well...

Anyways, it went to the dryer (within a pillow case - what a great trick! - as advised by my smart friend Audrey) and now it continues to dry. It's not so big anymore so I have hope. We'll see when it's completely dry how it fits...

So last night, I finally casted on a cute pair of socks. These colors say "Easter", "spring" and "summer"! The pattern is Muscari. Quite interesting to knit!

Now, I'll head outside! It's so nice and sunny. It will be quite warm, finally, this afternoon!