My First Stitch N Bitch

What a wonderful time!

I am a work at home mom. So, in those rare moments when my 3 year old and baby don't need me, I am working (or on Ravelry...shh...). I love that I get to stay home with my girls and feel very lucky that I have found some work from home. However, it does get isolating and lonely and doesn't afford me much knitting time since my work day often starts when the kids go to bed.

So, I went to the newly formed Cheshire Stitch N Bitch. It was wonderful - both to be out of the house and knitting with other knitters! I have so much to learn from the other women and of course, it's fun to admire their yarn and projects. I thought I wouldn't get enough knitting done because I'd be too busy chatting but it was easy to do both and I came home refreshed. I'm looking forward to our next meeting! Not only is it fun but, I think it will make me a better knitter. What more can I ask for?

Mama needs some Mittens

Yes, Yes, I know. Last night I was all about the Tilted Duster and I still am. I am going to work on it this afternoon and it is still next in line to be finished. But, as I was straightening up this morning (I'd say cleaning up but who are we kidding here..) I came across the yarn I bought to make my first pair of mittens. So, I'm thinking ahead (while ignoring my three other unfinished projects...shhh). Does anyone have a favorite mitten pattern? If you do, please share, because if I start searching on Ravelry that will be ALL I do today and I'm still loving that Tilted Duster :)
Thanks for your help!

I started the skirt!

Finally! The knitting fates decided to allow me the time to start the skirt on the Tilted Duster. I picked up the stitches without any problem and I'm knitting away. Only 82 rows to go....and then the collar...and then putting in the sleeves....

Unlikes my lace shawl that was meant for Fall 2007 and will not be done by Fall 2008, this sweater will be finished. My motivating factors: 1) I want to wear it in February, not July and I WILL be wearing it when it's finished and; 2) I will be buying more yarn when this project is completed.

I think my other unfinished projects just chuckled in their bags....sorry guys, I will be getting back to you soon!

What are the Chances?

That this:




Is going to turn into one of those beautiful Tilted Duster Sweaters that are overall the internet? I really really want one so I'm hoping the chances are good!

The pattern is a great deal of fun. I've never constructed a sweater like this before where you knit the two sides of the front and the back and then seam it together and pick up stitches to do the skirt and collar. I haven't gotten to the pick up stitches part yet, so I can still say this is fun.

I'm using the Berroco Peruvia Yarn. It's strange. Usually I love or hate a yarn right away but my opinion on this one changes daily. Here's a close up:




The color is fantastic. It's the Granada colorway and it has shades of orange and yellow and red on the purple yarn. Love it. But it's kind of bulky and it sheds. I don't love that so much.

I'm so excited to see how this one turns out. I'll keep you posted!

My First Lace Project

I've been knitting for about 7 years and I have a goal with every project. I have to learn something new....whether it be working with a different weight yarn, different stitches...whatever...it has to have something new.

Since I just posted about my first sock, I thought I'd post about my other not-so-recent first. That would be my lace shawl. I've been working on it since Thanksgiving 2006 and I'm still enjoying it. But I can only work on it if a)I'm not tired and b)I'm not talking. Those two things rarely happen at this same time so the progress is slow.

I don't know what I'll do when I finish it. It's been sitting next to my bed for so long it has become like a knitting security blanket. But I've only finished 3 1/2 of 11 repeats. So I figure at the rate I'm going this won't be an issue until sometime in 2010 or 2011. That gives me plenty of time to figure it out.

Big Brown Sweater

This sweater started of kind of fun with some ribbing and stripes:



Then it quickly became an endless length of brown stockinette. I mean endless...it needs to cover my husbands back.



And you know what, after all that stockinette I was dreading starting the front but I find that I'm really enjoying it. I think that knitting stockinette on sweaters is, to me, kind of what yoga is to others. I enjoy the mindless repetitive nature of it. It clears my head, it makes me focus and it relaxes me. So, I will continue the big brown sweater until it is complete (or I get really bored and start working on my lace shawl again).

Pattern is House Sweater by Amber Daniels from the Charmed Knits book. Yarn is Knit Picks Merino Style Cinnamon (and two other colors for the stripes that I can't quite remember...)

My Very First Sock

That my friends is my very first knit sock. Looks pretty good in that picture but let's take a closer look, shall we?



Seems I had a little problem keeping my stitches on the needles. They kept slipping off. Maybe wooden needles would help next time? Maybe NOT knittng late at night or in the car? Ok, no need for drastic measures. I'll try wooden needles first before giving up precious knitting time.

And then there is the little matter of the toe decrease:



I had the right number of stitches but not on the correct needles....so I kept moving stitches around to get the correct number on each needle. And this was the result. Looks more like a snake head than a sock to me.

The parts I thought would be hard like turning the heel and sewing up the toe were in fact easy. I'm eager to knit another sock but I haven't yet decided if I should knit the mate to this baby or rip this one out. So, I think I'll start another pair while I think about it but first I will COMPLETE one of my sweater projects. More on that over the weekend!