New Stash

Before Dyepot

After dyepot

I recently got some fantastic yarn from a stash on Ravelry - when I got it, I loved the colour, but didn't think it would work well on me.  I was set on a specific project for it, so figured I would take a shot at re-dying it.

I skeined up the yarn (it took forever as I had a 2 year old assistant) and soaked it in warm water with some white vinegar.  Then I fired up the slowcooker on low and added some Wiltons Icing Dye.  I put the wet yarn into the water and let it sit in the dyebath until the water was clear - about 30 minutes.  

Love the end result!

New Project - Caelum

Caelum
Yarn:  Aracania Nature Wool
Needles:  US 8 / 5 mm

Well I have been a busy little bee over the last few days and got the majority of the body done on this Caelum Sweater.  It was originally going to be for my little guy, but think I might sneak it into my nephew's Christmas Gift.  He is 6 weeks younger than my son and totally adorable.

I have also cast on a baby blanket for my sister - she is due in the Spring and I am notoriously slow lately and have been frogging projects left and right - so figured that I better get a start on that :)

My Knitting is Bossing Me Around

Well - me and my Mondo Cable Cardi are taking a break from each other.  After ripping out the sleeves twice and the neckline three times, I tried it on and went - YUCK.

I have fallen out of love with this sweater and need to put it away for awhile.  I find it interesting that I knit cardigans all the time, even though I never wear them.  I have gifted 4 of my sweaters (all cardigans) to family or friends, yet I keep the sweaters - maybe I should catch the hint...

So in effort to not lose my mind and throw my project out the window, I am casting on a new project to keep my hands busy.

Caelum

I have not knit anything for my little guy in ages - so I figured - he was due.  Will start tonight and see how it goes :)

Mondo Cardi - Modifications

Mondo Cardi Sleeve Modification
Fancy iPhone app camera fanciness!

So, I am a Continental Knitter - translation - I hold my yearn in my left hand when I knit.  This is a very fast way to knit, but there are some drawbacks as well.  When knitting a pattern that is both knit in the round and knit back and forth, there are sometimes obvious differences in the look of the stitches.  In a small gauge it is not obvious - but at 18 sts per inch, I am noticing it.

So when I got to the sleeves of the Mondi Cable Cardi, I decided to make a modification.

I took the finishing instructions for the neckline and applied them to the sleeves as well to make a little cap sleeve.

So far so good.  Of course I still have the collar - then I will be done right?  Not so fast - I tried it on and figured out that I had not increased in the body, so it is too small at the bottom.  Once I finish the neckline, I will be taking my perfectly finished sweater and ripping back half the body - booooooooo!

Back to the couch and my sweater - all day Throwdown with Bobby Flay on the Food Network - perfect :)

New Project - Sockettes & Ferry Knitting

One Skein Sockettes

Sharing custody of a child is tough.  Add to the mix that Dad just moved to Vancouver - you end up with lots of ferry miles....  Today was my turn to bring the little guy across, and I made the most of my solo trip back to the island by starting a quick pair of Sockettes.  I used the super simple recipe I wrote up and posted on Ravelry ages ago - One Skein Sockettes.

I have a new place with hardwood everywhere and I figured these might be a nice alternative to slippers.  The colourway doesn't show up well in the photo, but is a beautiful skein of Lorna Laces....

Off to work on my bigger - non-portable sweater projects and bond with the tv...