What’s Been on My Needles?

The real question is what has been on again, off again on my needles. (Grammar fail)

I’ve been in such a knitting rut I’m starting to twitch. It seems that everything I start to knit lately either gets ripped back significantly or frogged all together.
It all started with this hat. A REALLY nice pattern, not difficult, quick, a good knit me in the car kinda thing. The knitter on the other hand, moi, was the problem. When I finally got to the decreases, I realized that I neither had a second 16” US 10 lace needle, nor did I have a longer US 10 lace needle for magic loop. And of all the double points that are collecting dust (me no like) NONE were 10’s. Let me repeat that:

NONE were US 10s!!

The only ones I had were crappy bamboo…BAMBOO! Ich! Though I tried in earnest, the chunky pointed sticky horribleness that is bamboo (my apologies to all you bamboo lovers out there), resulted in me screwing up the top of the hat royally. It’s been sitting ever since. I just couldn’t look at it.

I finally ordered another 16” US 10 lace needle, which arrived recently.

So I’ve taken a break from my knitting to recover. I started knitting the One Row Handspun Scarf pattern by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee since I figure there isn’t much this boneheaded knitter could screw up. Consider this my therapy scarf. LOL

It’s a little more than halfway done. So far, so good:

But what I REALLY want to knit is Cilantro by Amy Swenson. The two skeins of yarn are from the same dye lot but, well you know as these things go, I can clearly see they don’t really match…woo hoo, gonna knit from both at the same time. I think I need an adult beverage.

Given my track record you can see why this has been tabled.

So anyway, I will fix and finish this damn hat when I’m ready and then I will reward myself with Cilantro…I think.

In the meantime I will continue working on my one liner.

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I’ll Never Learn

You know, I really should learn to listen to my instincts.

I tend to be a tight-ish knitter so whenever I start a new pattern I always always do a swatch, (um that is when I do a swatch, yes I know), starting with one needle size larger than what is called for.

Granted I’m not doing sweaters, which I suppose under the circumstances is a good thing, but still for hats it’s kinda important you know.

And yet I still have not learned. And this time I REALLY should have been paying attention because the designer said “it has quite a bit of stretch”. So I REALLY should have done a swatch. Sigh.

Truth be told, when I do knit up a swatch it’s usually for something knit flat, not for something in the round. I don’t quite get how to do that.

Anyway, I tried on the hat just before I was ready to do the decreases and it seemed to fit. But something was gnawing at me saying you know, it fits but is it snug enough for a hat…with lace?

Sigh. No, not really.

So here’s my hat:

Guess I’ll be going two needle sizes larger.

NOTE: I still don’t have power, thanks Sandy. I set this post up real quick over lunch at work. Hope it looks okay. I’ve yet to reknit cuz without lights it’s kinda hard.

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Knit Me Quick

Okay so I bet ya’ll have been wondering what’s been on my needles since I finished that wonderful Giggles Blanket. Well, here you go:

Sorry the photo isn’t great but that was the best I could do at the time. It was constantly raining and I got tired of waiting for sunshine. Anyway, it’s Age of Brass and Steam by Orange Flower. I used Malabrigo Merino Worsted in colorway Marron Oscuro 181. I know it’s heavier than the yarn called for but that’s what I wanted and I’m happy with it. It was such a quick knit, before I knew it I was done! I will definitely be making another one real soon. I already have color ideas.

Ok and hey, if you are going to be at RHINEBECK next Saturday this is what I plan on wearing…unless of course we have a heat wave at which point I will have to rethink my options.

Oh and by the way, the recipient of the blanket absolutely loved it! Made my day. I announced the winner of the pattern giveaway on Monday on my last Giggles post, in case you missed it. You can still get the patter at a 25% off discount until October 15th, so check it out!

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Giggles Complete and a Giveaway!

UPDATE
And the winner is: Diane P. Congratulations! I hope you enjoy knitting Giggles as much as I did. Happy knitting!

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Woo Hoo! The Giggles Baby Blanket is now finished!

I’m blocking it in all it’s glory and will wrap it up and present it to my coworker at her office baby shower. Which come to think of it I need to verify the date. By the way, her due date: October 20th. That’s right, Rhinebeck! Good thing she’s not a knitter!

I really hope she and her new little one love it as much as I do. I always get a little nervous when I give someone something I’ve knitted, you know the feeling right? You put your heart into it and then you hope they like it. Okay, breath.

I know I’ve said it before, but Giggles is a beautiful pattern, it’s a fun knit, has enough going on to hold my interest but not so much that I get all fizzed.

So anyway, in my last post I mentioned a giveaway when I finished the blanket and it’s an awesome one! Kate the incredibly talented designer has graciously offered you Two Ways to snatch a copy of Giggles. Here are the details:

The giveaway begins today and runs through October 7th. On October 8th I will randomly select a winner who will receive a FREE copy of the pattern via email.

PLUS, anyone who leaves a comment on this post will receive a coupon code, via email, for 25% off the price of the pattern in her Ravelry store. Awesome! The code will be good through October 15th.

To be eligible for either the coupon code or a chance to win a copy of the pattern, you MUST leave a comment on THIS post.

And listen, she just launched a brand new website with her patterns, classes, tips and tricks and more, you should definitely check out this super talented lady: katelemmersdesigns.com

And I’m still thinking about that lap blanket…maybe a burnt orange?

Good luck and happy knitting!

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Home Stretch!

I’m in the home stretch! ALMOST done with the Giggles Baby Blanket I am making for a co-worker.

Only about 4 more pattern repeats to go. That’s 32 rows…like I said, only 4 more repeats to go!

I should be able to get this done over the weekend…Monday the latest. Then it’s off to blocking (yea) and weaving in ends (oy)!

Which reminds me, I need to decide on my next project. Hmmm…

Anyway I thought I might give you a little heads-up on something fun that will be coming your way when I finish the blanket: a GIVEAWAY!

Woo Hoo!

I’ll post the details on my blog when I complete Giggles which should be very soon. You don’t want to miss this, the pattern is wonderful! I like it so much I may make one as a lap blanket for myself. LOL

So stay tuned!

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