24in12 progress update

This week seems like a good time to check in on my 24in12 challenge, given there are only 8 weeks left!  

Where did that time go? I think daily at least one person mentions to me how quickly this year has gone for them, and I have to agree.  It feels like the weeks are just slipping by, and it will be 2014 in the blink of an eye.

My tally count is currently sitting at 20, so I feel I'm well on track for the NYE deadline.  I've completed a couple of small "extra" projects recently too - the Barley beanie and my Zombie Apocalypse socks that I wrote about last week -  but I'm not counting them in that tally just yet.

I'm not counting them because I set this challenge with an idea that I would work towards a targeted outcome, with focus and discipline.  I get distracted easily, so it doesn't surprise me when I create a couple of small diversions from the master plan! 

I'm officially back on the wagon though, and have been working consistently on my Girl Friday cardigan. 

Sleeves and body are done, I need to now sew them together and pick up for the bands and collar. Still love it.   The pieces are currently blocking, to make seaming and picking up band/collar stitches easier.  We've got a few days of nice weather ahead so hopefully it will dry quickly.

Ideally I'd like this completed by the middle of November, so I can start on the Ginkgo Crescent shawl, as I have a feeling that might be my slowest project of those left.

I've also wound the yarn for the Tears of Bronze beanie and the My Cup of Tea socks, as motivation.  The beanie won't take long at all, and I think it will be a nice respite between the shawl and the socks.  

 I've changed the sock yarn to another colourway of Jitterbug too, because I remembered I had other plans for the Oyster I'd originally chosen.

Then once it was wound, I decided that I *totally* needed a small project just to take the edge off  the transition of finishing my cardigan.  See what I do??!

My Cup of Tea, nicknamed the Beautiful Ugly Socks

Not the prettiest yarn I've ever knit, but there is something about that mustard khaki and the flashes of teal, watermelon and gold that draws me in.  
Ugly is the new Beautiful, and even ugly yarn needs love ♥
So anyway, there you go. Some solid knitting ahead to meet the deadline, but certainly not impossible.  I'll update again at the 4 week mark, hopefully still as positive and optimistic about the project!

barley beanie

I have a small confession.  

I was a bit cheeky, calling my Morganite "finished" last blogpost.  I hadn't quite finalised my button choice, but after a hunt through my button stash, I found what I think you'll agree are damn near *perfect* buttons.

Although the weather has been (has been) lovely recently, I took the cardigan to our last knitting group meetup for show and tell, and even got to wear it for a brief moment after air-conditioning got to me in the cafe!  Hard to say where the Melbourne Spring-weather is heading, but as I look out on to rain and grey skies, I have a feeling this won't be the only occasion I get to wear it in the foreseeable future.

Despite my concerns about the amount of wool I had for this project, I ended up having enough left for a couple of small beanies.  

Actually, I probably had enough left over to have been able to knit the sleeves full length which in hindsight I would have preferred but we won't talk about that...

Instead, have a look at my darling little beanie.  I do so wish I had a wee little head to model it on though.  I need to find some willing toddler models!

Keen eyes will pick that the wool looks much browner in the beanie than the cardigan.  This was the lighter skein I've blogged about ad nauseum.

The pattern is "Barley", and you've probably seen it flooding your recent Ravelry feed.

The generous people at tincanknits recently released a set of free, basic patterns, under their Simple Collection.  There are 8 free patterns in total, all sized from baby to adult, and they are designed as "learn-to-knit" patterns.  Each pattern is accompanied with tutorial links, including instruction for things like how to cast on, ssk/k2tog, and knitting on dpn's.  It seems like if you were a new knitter, you would work your way through the collection in order and build on acquired skills with each new project.

There's a full suite of accessories within the collection, and the final pattern to be released shortly is a jumper.  All the patterns have grainy names: Maize (mitts), Wheat (scarf), Oats (cowl), Barley (beanie), Rye (socks), Malt (blanket) and Flax (jumper), and the styling and graphic design of them is equally earthy and natural.

The design and concept is simple - stocking stitch, with a garter stitch panel.  Within the different patterns, this panel gives the knitter experience in knitting garter stitch both flat and in the round, too.  

I managed to misread the pattern and make my panel reverse stocking stitch, though!  The problem with being (you think) too clever for your own good.  Looking at projects on Ravelry, a lot of clever-clogs did the same thing.

Overall, I think this collection would be a great resource for anyone wanting to start out in knitting, especially if they wanted to have a stylish finished product that has taught them a few tricks along the way.

I also really love this idea, that people are willing to share the knowledge and skills they have for free.

Whether you're a new knitter or a seasoned old-hand, it's always nice to share and be taught, don't you agree?

HOL-I-DAY!

oh sweet sweet holidays, how much am I loving you?!  Two whole weeks; no alarms, no deadlines or audits, no students.  

I haven't had a chunk of leave since I started in my new role at the start of the year and boy, was it starting to show.  I've been looking forward to this since July, I swear.

This first week I'm pretty much my own person, as Lily's at her Dad's and my fella's working, so I've been planning how to fit in all the projects I have put on the backburner, like resetting the layout of the kitchen and loungeroom furniture and appliances, giving my old kitchen dresser a fresh lease on life with a lick of paint, setting up new displays and clearing some clutter out and down to the garage.  I've got gardening to do, and some paintings and prints to hang.  I've made pompom garland that needs to be hung.  You know, ALL the things!

My girl gets back Friday and then we are heading off to a beach house down at Phillip Island for the second week so the pressure is on to get the bulk of my projects done before we leave. Phillip Island has a special place in my heart, having spent many summers there as a child at my aunt's beach house, and I can't wait to get on Island time...

I've also got a (lofty) goal to complete my two cardigans that are on the needles by the end of my leave, and a week away might be just the ticket to get that done!  Girl Friday needs some sleeves and a button band/collar, and Morganite is up to the yoke, but that yoke is all lace, and is taking some serious concentration to get it set up properly.  

The pattern is gorgeous, but my one tiny criticism is the instructions around the set up of the lace when you incorporate the body and the sleeves into the yoke are decidedly vague.  I haven't found many posts on Ravelry about similar problems people might have encountered, so I'm working slowly and checking things twice.  I've already ripped out once, after knitting 6 rows and realising despite following the written instructions, I hadn't managed to pair up the lace correctly.

I often over-think instructions, so I'm aware the issue is most likely with me however I do get frustrated when patterns leave things up to interpretation.  Do they count the yo's in the "last three stitches of Chart X" for example?  Or telling me to just work in stocking stitch if I can't manage to pair up all decreases and increases.  It's too much thinking for me! 

I've been alternating rows on my skeins, and I think I've managed to incorporate the different skeins quite well so far.  I used the darker on on the cuffs of the sleeves, then once past the ribbing I started alternating with one of the three matched skeins.  I'm just about to start introducing the much lighter skein around the yoke so hopefully this goes equally well.

I think I'm going to do a bit of project monogamy on this one and fingers crossed it will be finished before the weekend, so I can just take Girl Friday with me to the Island.  

Wish me luck!

you've got the love...

Grace did not survive the time-out, and has been frogged.

But within this sad news, the happiest of happy occurred.  

I found the MadTosh love ♥

My copy of pompom Fall arrived and within the pages there was my answer to the Madtosh dilemma.  Morganite; a gorgeous cardigan with a bold lace yoke, and written for this very yarn.

My size needs 6 skeins, and I only have 5 but I feel that's fine.  I will be shortening the body by 3", and possibly making the sleeves 3/4; something I would have done anyway.

The stocking stitch shows off the colourway (Terrarium) much better than the overall texture - I really love those pops of turquoise.  I've even worked out how to manage the lighter skein!  I'll be alternating it in around the yoke, so the lighter colour will graduate up around my face and be in mottled in amongst the lace.  I think this will blend in rather nicely.

I'm 8&1/2" into the body and I'm so very pleased I quit Grace while I was ahead.  There is a definite point when you know it's "right", and the Morganite pattern/yarn combo is Right in ways Grace never was, never could be.

I'm using my new HiyaHiya sharps in 4.5mm too, which have the perfect scoop for the twisted rib bands.  I do love a good scoop.

All this lovey feeling gave me a burst of energy and enthusiasm, which timed perfectly with our knitting group starting their very first KAL;  Lacetember!  Running for all of September, we will be knitting lace in whatever form we choose.  Some are going traditional, with laceweight yarn and beautiful stoles; I think some might choose socks, and there's bound to be loads of other variations within our diverse little group.

I've cast on Cold Pine, which ticks the KAL box and my 24in12 challenge - huzzah!

Using 5mm needles (sadly not HiyaHiya's, although I feel another order coming on) and squishy Malabrigo Merino Worsted, it's not lace in the traditional sense, but it's exactly what I was looking for as a counterpoint for my two adult-sized cardigans (which are coincidentally both also lace).

This is a gorgeous free pattern from Caitlin ffrench.   It's simple, but it keeps you on your toes too, I discovered.  Unlike a lot of lace I've knit previously, I can't seem to find the intuitive pattern within this one.  It could be me, because looking at the chart it seems to be a standard type of pattern, but either way - I'm enjoying the unpredictable twists and turns.

Actually, all in all, I'm pretty pleased with the knitting life at the moment and one can't complain about that, can they?

wanderlust

This week, I am dreaming of travel.  

Travel to far away lands, full of new inspirations and different views. To hear of different accents and languages, to eat different foods, and observe and soak up alternative customs to everything that seems so familiar.

The Shetland Isles and Iceland are high on my planning list.  All that textiles tradition to soak up.  
Chile and Portugal are the next on the list, some warmth to balance the Artic climate.   Ahh, but for the simple but harsh fact of funds (or lack thereof, more pointedly).

I've tried to satisfy (kind of) my wanderlust with some yarn purchases, although purchasing yarn is probably why I don't have a travel fund!.

Misti Alpaca and Berroco Alpaca, to make a thick, warm shawl.  Both are lovely.  

The Berroco wasn't my first pick, but the colour I had paired with the Misti (Sangria) was out of stock so I had to look for alternatives.  I think the brassy green pairs well with the lavender though, particularly now I see them in the flesh.

Work is travelling along nicely on the Girl Friday cardigan.  Still loving it, but not really photo worthy, I'm afraid.  Body is d.o.n.e.  Need to cast on sleeves tonight, then it's just the collar and the button bands.  I'm not fooling anyone including myself with that "just".  They are both some hefty amounts of ribbing to get through...

Grace is in the naughty corner, where I fear she will stay indefinitely.  I think I've lost the love.

but more about that maybe next week...time out can work miracles, so they tell me.

For now, I'm going back to my travel planning.

project progress

Thank you all for the encouragement on my 24-in-12 challenge quest - I'm so excited and am busily getting prepared, winding skeins, stocking project bags and such.

I do have some projects still on the needles that need attention before starting anything new though.  I think the key to the success of this challenge will be in the discipline (and when I say "the", I mean "my"!)

To this, I have spent time with my Girl Friday this week and she is up to the armholes.  Knitting the majority of the body in the round means no seams but boy - all those stitches do take some time.

This photo makes it look small.  For perspective, the finished cardigan will sit at the top of my thighs, and is a slouchy fit.  

The never-ending saga of Grace continues.  Grave concerns now about yardage.  I feel like this project is slightly doomed...  I'm not even up to the armholes on the back, with less than a ball left of the yarn allocation for that section, so I've decided to stop here; cast on the front and work it to the same length, then work the two pieces together.  If it comes down to not enough yarn, I', thinking I will use a contrast yarn (maybe a turquoise?) for the bodice or the turtleneck.

Once these projects both got too big to cart around, my mobile project this last week has been some long-lingering socks I started ages ago, just to use up the yarn.  

I'd used this yarn originally to make a little toddler cap, but there was what looked like a significant amount left and I didn't want to waste it.  I cast on socks, thinking I could just add contrast toes, but as I approached the toe of the first one it became apparent there wasn't enough yarn so I ripped it back (grumble) and shortened the cuff to anklet length.  I used some Cascade Heritage in "Flamingo" for the toes and it was a really pleasing match.

Of course, I got to the end of Sock #2 and had ample of the variegated to have completed both.  

that's a teaspoon, for reference

Never mind.  I'm well pleased with my new anklets. They are perfect for wearing under ankle boots, or padding around in my pajamas.

And the pink toes are just all kinds of happy :)