Blood Oranje

I know the title sounds a bit grusome, but the yarn I am using for the main color on this sweater reminds me of a blood orange. I am having a lot of fun with this sweater. I have already learned how easy the Latvian braid is and am looking forward to learning how to strand three colors. As you can see by the date I wanted to start this one so badly that I started it early. I have reconfigured it a little bit so that it is knitted in the manner I prefer. I am knitting this one upside down. (I know do I have to change everything?) I have finished the collar and am starting on the yoke.

Keep knitting and learning, as I will be this month.

The collar of the Oranje Sweater.

Chocolate, Chocolate, Chocolate

I am taking a Sweet Sabbatical with my sister. At least that is what we call it. It means that we are not eating sweets and trying to cut back on the sugar in other things. This being the case I have not had Chocolate for a month and a half. The Chocolate Jacket is my substitute.

Chocolate Jacket

Knit in a beautiful dark chocolate brown merino, the Chocolate Jacket is a loose interperetation of the Shocking Jacket from Interweave Knits. I finished it last night just in time for me to wear it on a retreat this weekend. I just need to find the perfect buttons.

The beautiful shawl collar

The modifications I made where to knit this in the round and to knit the collar with the body. My shoulder width is less than the width that was called for in the pattern, so I had to heavily modify the pattern in order to get a sweater that would fit in the shoulder and the bust. I used the set in sleeve from Barbara Walker's Knitting from the Top. The collar I knit to the shoulder seams then knit around the back picking up the stitches from the neckline. I then Kitchner stitched it to the other side of the collar. (Can you tell where?)

This sweater taught me a lot of things. It taught me that I can take an idea and transform it to fit my needs and tastes. It taught me that I can use the Kitchner stitch for something other than socks. It taught me that if I ever do Princess seams in something again I need to decrease for the underarm so that I don't have a lot of fabric under the arm. It taught me to be bold and confident in my own design skills. It may not turn out perfect but who wants perfection. I also steam blocked for the very first time. When I have a picture of it on me I will post it. Until then here it is on the blocking boards minus the buttons.

This is the second of my selfish projects. I have one for every month of 2012. The next project I will be working on is the Oranje Cardigan by Ann Weaver and published in Knitty. I will be knitting this cardigan out of a cashmere blend yarn in a tomato red, black and pearl.

In the mean time I will keep knitting and learning and I hope you do the same.

Sweet Treats

 Since my last post I have been very busy. I finished this lovely shawl from a Knit Picks kit called the Chinook Shawl. I bought the neutral colorway and added a Sherry Shimmer yarn for the edging. I finished it in time to wear it to our Gala banquet for the teens. It is very big and is wider than my arm span. I really like the colors though and it is very warm. Just right for cool spring nights to come.

I also cast on for the brown merino sweater I mentioned in my list of selfish knitting projects. I am making a modified version of the Shocking Jacket from Interweave Knits. I dislike sewing up a sweater after having knit it so I modified it to be knit in the round. So far it is turning out. I have knit up to the arm holes and am working on the back up to the neck. The shawl collar I knit into the edging of the sweater. I will post pictures when I can. I am trying to finish it in time to wear it for the retreat we have coming up with the teens. The retreat center is in the mountains so it will be colder than it is here. Just right for knitted sweaters!

I am also in the planning phase for my next selfish project the Oranje sweater from Knitty. I have the yarn bought and the pattern printed. I am planning to make it out of a yarn called Happy Baby. It has 10% cashmere so I am the one who is happy. I don't know why they labled this yarn as a baby yarn, it felts in the wash. Not the ideal yarn for a new mother or baby. However, it is very soft. The colors are a tomato red, black and pearl.  Yum Yum!

I have been learning lately that slow but sure wins the race and that knitting is great when you are sick. It takes you mind off the yukies and lets you relax a bit.

That is all for now. More next time on the Chocolate Jacket and the Oranje sweater (also time for a birthday pair of socks). Until next time keep knitting and learning.

Long Shanks Strides

Finished!

Finally finished my first selfish project. It is very warm and I love it already.

On to my next project, the Shocking Sweater from Interweave Knits. I think I will call this one Shocking Round as I will try to make this sweater in the round. We will see!

In the mean time keep knitting and learning!

Slight Change Of Plans

Well ... After a two hour conversation with my sister over Skype, I have decided to change a few of my selfish projects. Instead of the Freyja Sweater, I am going to knit the Oranje Sweater with a few mods. Also instead of a blue striped sweater I will be making a sweater of my own design with the motifs from the Corrie Fair Isle vest from Knit Picks. The black sweater is also out. But I did decide on a design for the Purple sweater, Amused. I have also added three secret projects for this year.

My sister is an awesome artist. She has a good eye for design and fashion and helped me pick knits that will flatter my figure and coloring. She is like my own personal What Not To Wear crew.

The rest of the projects stay the same. I am nearly finished with the Strider Cowl, which I have named Long Shanks Strider. At first I had planned to do the long version of the cowl, but I think this will be too much fabric around my face. So I am going to stop with the short version. It looks great and I love the knitting. (even the cables which are normally not my cup of tea.)

My sister also put a twist in my knitting plans with some news. I can't share yet but it will rearrange some things.

This change of plans is exactly why I called my blog Knit and Learn. So keep on knitting and keep on learning.

Freedom Socks

Just finished the first project of the year, Freedom Socks! These were made for the middle child of my adopted family. Her birthday is close so I finished them right on time.

I used the Ariana socks pattern and modified it for a child. The heel was a new one for me. I like it so I will probably use it somewhere else.

There is also a hint of what else I am working on. This will be my first selfish project. I am looking forward to getting this one done so I can start on all the other projects in my to do list.

Keep on knitting and learning!

2012 - The Year of Selfish Knitting

So why selfish knitting? Well, the last couple of years I have collected quite a stash of yarn with projects for myself attatched. However, I have not been knitting those projects. Instead I have been doing a lot of gift knitting. Don't get me wrong I love to knit for gift giving. BUT, Those projects really need to be started and finished. I am beginning to feel overwelmed by the stash I have. I have not yet reached the point where my stash is at SABLE (Stash Acquisition Beyond Live Expectancy), but it is mounting and looming over my head.

So hence the concept of the Year of Selfish Knitting. This year I am determined to make some of the projects that have been lurking in my stash. They include but are not limited to:

Freya - Interweave Knits
Isengard -
Strider cowl -
Evenstar shawl -
Mithril vest -  all by Susan Pandorf (love her designs)
Nutkin - Beth LaPensee
A black sweater with colorwork
A blue striped sweater
A brown merino sweater
A Purple sweater


All told about 12 projects. Plus I will still be getting in some gift knitting with socks for my adopted family. WHEW! I have set quite a challange for myself. We will see what gets done and what gets set to the side. If you would like to keep track of my progress, the progress bars from Ravelry at the right should have all the info. I will also try to blog about my progress from time to time. (With pictures even!) 


Have a great 2012 and keep knitting and learning.