Progress

This weekend is supposed to be productive in the knitting area. Here is a glance at what I'm working on.

The secret gift (priority 1):

And only if there is some time left, the lining of my mittens (priority 2):

I wish, but I don't know if it is possible, that I finish them before the 2012 Year in Color Club starts!

No more blogging for today.  I have to return to my knitting ;-)  Will you be knitting this weekend?

Have a great weekend!

In my future...

I've started working on the Douglas Mittens again this weekend.  Actually, I'm un-knitting a little bit (so that you know that this is really me!).  Two weeks ago, at our knit night, we were discussing how different increasing methods for M1 could create little holes more or less...  When I picked up the mittens again yesterday, I thought that the increases for the thumb lining were maybe a little too "airy" for my liking (if "airy" is an English word!).  So, I thought I could undo 15 rows and try to knit front and back loops instead of doing the usual M1.   I'll let you know how it turns out ;-)

So I guess that the lining of these mittens is not the most exciting thing to knit, but at least the yarn which is really tiny is very pleasant to knit.  It's also my favorite color (blue!) and knitting stockinette while watching Friends DVDs isn't bad at all ;-)

I'm quite motivated because it's my only UFO at the moment.  I'm gonna cast on shortly for a secret gift but it should be fast to knit (or at least I hope so!) 

Then, I'm still thinking about my next sweater.  I recently bought the new Coastal Knits book that you surely heard about lately!  I love it!  The patterns are beautiful and so is the book itself!  I could knit all the sweaters from this book.  Really, I love them all!  So, while I knit the lining of those mittens and my secret gift, I can ponder about it!

And finally, but not least, I suscribe on Friday to the 2012 Year in Color Club at Tanis Fiber Arts. Tanis is from our area (which I only found out recently, duh!) and look at the "brochette" of designers for 2012:  Julie Crawford of KnittedBliss (and TFA!), Hannah Fettig of Knitbot, Alana Dakos of Never Not Knitting, Hilary Smith Callis of the Yarniad, Kirsten Kapur of Through the Loops and and (woah!) Jared Flood of BrooklynTweed!  Really, I've had to pinch myself because it's almost too good to be true!  It's the first time I participate to a club like this. It will be a challenge for sure!

So, yes, this is what will be in my future!  This is a "pictureless" post.  Sorry!  I just had to share my enthousiasm about what's coming!  How about you?  Are you knitting for the Holidays?  What's on your needles or what will be on your needles in 2012 (if, of course, you already know)?

Have a great week everyone!

FO: Jaywalker

Today I finished my Jaywalkers.  Wouh! 

When I set this goal earlier in October (Socktoberfest 2011) to finish this pair of socks I started in the beginning of August, I just thought that it would be a fun way to accelerate my knitting pace and finish it a little faster so I can move on to the next project. 

Well...  it turned out to be a challenge more than I had imagined ;-)  I felt just like during the Ravelympics!  I've had to be disciplined!  And I made it! 

Here they are:

Pattern: Jaywalker by Grumperina.

Yarn: Biscotte & Cie Super Bambou, 107g for the two socks.

Needles: US 1 / 2.25 mm

Color: Empereur

Start to finish: August 2011 - October 2011

For: Me!

Notes: No modifications

Very nice self-striping yarn from Biscotte & Cie.  I really enjoyed knitting with it! 

The second heel was the longest to turn.  I was just making one mistake after the other...  Maybe I was too anxious to finish ;-)

The final touch!

Overall, it has been a very fun project!  No wonder so many people knit that pattern!  I wonder though if one day I will be able to knit one pair of socks in just a week!

Have a great week everyone!

Socktoberfest and new yarn!

Happy automn dear knitting friends!

There will be at least two posts in October on my blog ;-)  This one and the one when I will hopefully show you my finished Jaywalkers!  I've decided to participate to Socktoberfest 2011. My "challenge" is to finish these socks in October.  Nothing extraordinary but it will be motivating for me to have a deadline!

After the socks will be completed - by the way, I love knitting them! - I will start a secret gift!  I will only show you the yarn I bought for it.  Yes, as I'm thinking a lot about the people who are at Rhinebeck this weekend, I decided I would have my own little knitting escapade by going to Espace Tricot.  This store located in Montreal is so nice!  The people are so helpful.  They even let us use their IPad to look up patterns and yarns.  I think it's pretty up to date!  There is also a space if you want to sit down and knit!  They have magazines, buttons, and mostly many very nice yarns!  I really recommand that you go if you live near or visit Montreal!

Here is my new acquisition.  It is Spud & Chloë Sweater.  The colorways are amazing or said differently, difficult to choose from ;-)

I was also very happy to find gift tags from the talented Knitterella.  I've been eyeing them for quite a while!

And finally, look at the little buttons I found!  Aren't they cute?  I think I must have chosen them so that they brighten up these rainy days that we are having!  Note that the trees have amazing colors these days over here!  The other day, I was on the highway and could not stop admiring their beauty!

I'm so excited!  Isn't fun to buy new yarn and related items?   Okay, I have to go now... for some Socktoberfest work!  Enjoy the weekend everyone!

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!