For the love of knitting

As the title of this post indicates, I'm still passionate about knitting just as much as when I first learned to knit several years ago.   Even with my busy schedule, I've now finally learned to manage my knitting time, and get completed FO's.  One recent FO in particular I'd like to share, is a test knit I completed for Kirsten Kapur, designer of Through The Loops patterns.  I'm am a huge fan and follower of Kirsten's because she always designs very beautiful patterns and out of all the designers I've knit from, her patterns are always clear, concise, and very well structured.

Here is Montrachet, knit with yarn from my stash, which I'm happy to say is shrinking, as I've been really good about using my stash lately!  I have a number projects in the works this year, so please do stop by and check in to see what those are as I'll be posting them to my blog.  I know the blogging universe isn't as visible present day with all the Facebook and Instagram feeds, but I'll be using my personal site as the primary release of things to come.  Happy New Year everyone!  Thank you to those that visit my blog, and please do drop a comment if you can, I'd love to hear from you!

Pattern: Montrachet
Yarn: Hazel Knits Artisan Sock Yarn in Nickel, Wool Candy Meringue Merino Sock in Lucy.

Started: 11/21/14
Finished: 12/11/14

Dimensions: Approx. 12-13 inches deep x 65' wide

Notes: None

Remember When

Remember when blogs were the "it" thing to do and everyone had a blog? 

Well, I being one of those so called "bloggers", is now what you call a "die hard" in a sense, in that I can't seem to part with my blog.  With all the daily things to get done and life's way of taking over, I've had no time to keep up my blogging, let alone get in good quality time to knit.  Yet, I still love knitting, and if I could I'd always have a block of time each day to solely dedicate to knitting, but yah, it just doesn't work out that way.

To top things off, I bet there is nobody readying this???  Any followers I had may have all given up and I'm blogging to myself. (funny but yet sad)  Regardless, I'm stubborn and will still post with the hopes there is some reader out there who happens upon this. 

With that, I did, however, manage to complete a project, yes!  It is "Nymphalidea", a free pattern published in Knitty.  I was determined to use yarn from my stash, which actually did work out nicely and I used beads from my stash as well.  The pattern was very easy, good beginner pattern, in my opinion, but me being an overachiever, decided to add beads.  Adding beads isn't exactly overachieving, but it is when the beads in question, are cheap to be honest, and a pain in the bootie to pull the yarn through.  I silently suffered through this entire pattern with these beads, and believe me, I was so damn thankful to finish my last beaded row!  I believe, even given the limited knitting time I had, I would've finished this shawl much much faster, but no, the beads from hell held me back.  I finished Tuesday 4/29, blocked 4/30, and did my little photo shoot 5/1.

So, voila, here is Nymphalidea...

Pattern: Nymphalidea Deep Fall 2013 from Knitty.com
Yarn: Schoppell Zauberwolle color #1535ombre (blue) purchased at Green Planet Yarn, Hand Maiden silk purchased at Knitting Arts long time ago - don't have label, sorry.

Started: Unknown
Finished: 4/30/14

Dimensions: Cast off at 138 sts.  Wingspan 62.5 inches, 25 inches left ridge, 32 inches right ridge, from middle peak to base 16 inches.

Notes: I knitted beads on Welt Row 3. 

It's a mystery - 2013!

2012 is done, and it really turned out to be one of the lowest years of craft productin for me.  I started out 2012 with alot of momentum; starting and finishing projects, and then hit a slump.  The sudden halt to my crafting, whether it be knitting, crocheting, sewing, you name it, simply was a result of my personal life getting in the way.  After all the craziness with changes last year, finally things are starting to gain perspective and I'm getting back into my groove with all my interests, which includes blogging.

I don't monitor my blog followers and don't know who, if any, read my posts, but if you do, thank you for your support! 

Now, I know 13 is known to be a superstitious number, but I think, for me, it'll be a good. 

So, I'm starting off 2013 with a fresh project, and it's aptly named, "It's a mystery".  This is the annual sock mystery kal hosted by Kirsten Kapur from Through the Loops.  We received the 1st clue today, and I cast on and finished the 1st clue.  Each clue to be released weekly, so I'll have time to give attention to other projects while waiting for the 2nd clue's release.  I love knitting mystery kals', its always nice to see the pattern progress and not know what the end result is.

This was last year's clue 2012:

 

Here's the 1st clue for 2013:

I went with Marmalade from Scout's Swag, a beautiful speckled yellow I picked up years ago in a dye class Scout held at Knit One Knit Two in Berkeley.  The first clue is only the cuff portion, and started off with a picot edging, which immediately made me happy with my yarn choice.  I think the speckled yellow is very fitting for the fun and flirty picot edging.  Now I'm really excited for the next clue!

Aside from this new project, I'm now actively searching my stash for a lace yarn to start another knit mystery hosted by Susanna IC.  This one is a shawl with beads!  This will be my 2nd time doing a Susanna IC mystery kal.    For now those are what's going to be hitting my needles,  but I have more to start, I'll share as those come to fruition. 

Last year's Susanna IC mystery shawl:

I'll be posting again, to share clue 2 of TTL Sock Mystery and clue 1 of Susanna IC Mystery too!  2013 will be a blogging year!

~Rocky

Fall is back, and so am I, are you?

This time of year is always my favorite time of year.  I absolutely love the landscape, the smells, everything.  I've been off the radar for a few months, I apologize, it's been a rather interesting few months.  My other love, reading, took over and consumed me.  I tend to become overwhelmed with reading at times, the same as with knitting.   I've been reading everything from E.L. James,  Thomas Hardy, Austen, you name it.

I've been itching to start a number of projects and organize restless WIPs.  I decided a number of WIPs just didn't hold my interest anymore, so I frogged them and re-purposed the yarn.  

One of those projects, formerly the Lacy Prairie shawl, knit with A Verb For Keeping Warm's Floating in Hyacinth.  Yarn from Knitting Ranch 8)

I've now started the Geschenk shawl by Romi Hill. 

This is wee beginnings of the shawl, and the yarn is fitting it perfectly.  Some other projects I'll be starting soon, and I promise to share.

For anyone out there? How's everyong been?  I'd love to hear from you. :D

Happy Fall! 

R

Hecate Shawl

I can finally share one of my more recent FOs, the Hecate Shawl by Kirsten Kapur of Through The Loops.  I was extremely eager to knit this as a test knit for Kirsten, and sure wasn't dissappointed when I did my first read through of the pattern.

Kirsten choose a 2 color combination of yarn, Louet Gems 100% Merino Wool fingering weight in brown, and Art Yarns Ultrameino4 100% Luxury Merino Wool in blue.  Both are gorgeous yarns that work great together both in color and in texture.  Louet Gems has a nice twist to the yarn, and holds great stitch definition.  Art Yarns Ultramerino4 is extremely soft and luxurious.

I had a great time knitting this pattern, truly enjoyed watching the shawl develop as I got closer to finishing.

Pattern: Hecate Shawl by Kirsten Kapur
Yarn: Brown, Louet Gems Super Fine Merino and Blue, Art Yarns Ultramerino4
Needles: US 7 (Addi Lace)
Started: August 15, 2011
Finished: August 22, 2011

Photos are courtesy of Kirsten Kapur of Through The Loops.  I sent the finished shawl to her and she took these gorgeous pictures. 

Enjoy your week!

~Rocky