Milkweed Shawl

June 15: I’ve been looking forward to starting this project so I decided to go ahead and cast on. I got through about row 20 and realized my stitch count was off. I couldn’t figure out where I had gone wrong and since I wasn’t that far into it, I just frogged and started again. Second start and I got to about row 28. Once again, my stitch count got off. My attempts to fix it just made things worse, so once again, I found myself frogging the whole thing. Third time’s the charm, right?

So this third time I’m back up to row 28 and all is good so far. I put a stitch marker before the center stitch so I can check my count through each row. I also am including lifelines after each chart so that if I do find myself having to frog again, I won’t have to start completely over. I probably should have done both of these things from the start!

June 16: I’m almost ready to just give up on this project. I got off again and couldn’t find where I went wrong, so I ripped down to the first lifeline. I must have picked up the stitches incorrectly because it just became even worse of a mess at that point. I was ready to just rip it out and find another project for this yarn (again!), but I did have a second lifeline, so I very carefully ripped back to it and painstakingly picked up each stitch. I did miss one, but I caught it before I had even started that row.
So I ripped back 18 rows and I’ve knitted 4 of those again. Quite a lot of work today got taken out, but I’m determined to finish this shawl. There are no stitch counts at the ends of rows, so I’ve counted them out myself and will be checking myself at each row. It might mean slower knitting, but it’s got to be faster than ripping everything and knitting again!
June 17: Work today has progressed nicely on the shawl, but I think I may have found an error in the pattern. Going to see if anyone else has reported it.
Yes, there are errors in the pattern. Three that I’ve found so far in the written directions: Row 64 is missing a yo in the second repeat between the k3, ssk at the end. Row 66 is missing a yo in the second repeat between k5, ssk at the end. Row 68 is missing a k6 in the second repeat between the yo, k2tog. Very frustrating, especially because I “confirmed” the errors after I had knitted row 62, 63, and most of 64 so I had to rip everything back.
June 29: After finding more errors in the written instructions, I switched to the charts, which I probably should have done in the first place. But all has worked out because I finished the shawl this evening. It is currently blocking so I will get some pictures in the next couple of days.
July 1: It’s overcast today so I didn’t get any good pictures. I’ll take more when the sun comes out, but I’m putting up this as a temporary picture until then.

Pattern: Milkweed Shawl
Yarn: JulieSpins MCN in Talons

Shawl has been sold in my etsy store: karendawn.etsy.com

Serenity

Jan. 6: My friend Kristin has a new baby girl named Kaylee. What better gift than a baby blanket with the name Serenity? I learned a new cast on - Emily Ocker’s Circular Cast On - but I’m not sure it was 100% successful because although it did turn out (on the second try), I wasn’t able to pull the hole closed like the instructions for the cast on said it could be. But the hole is fairly small and if it bothers me too much, I’ll just close it up when I weave in the end there.

Jan. 14: At first this blanket seemed to be knitting up rather quickly, but now I think that was because each round was still pretty small. I’ve just finished round 51 and it’s taking me about 20-25 minutes per round now. Eek! But I’m happy with how it’s turning out so far.

March 18: Back to work a little more on this one (I need to get an updated picture). I’m liking the pattern but hating the yarn, mostly because each skein has 1-3 knots in it. At only 80 yards per skein, that’s rather ridiculous, and it leaves me with a ton of ends to weave in.

April 17: I’ve worked on this a bit more the past couple of days. Another 10 or so rounds finihsed. It’s taking me about an hour and a half to do two rounds now, so I’m trying to work on it a little here and there. Slow and steady progress is better than none at all!

June 10: So I really haven’t worked on this at all since the last update. But I did knit 2 rounds today, which took over an hour. I do like how it looks, but I’m just not enjoying this project, which is why it’s hard to feel motivated to work on it.

June 14: Knit 4 rounds today.

June 19: Knit 4 rounds today.

June 20: I’m really determined to finish this project. Knit 4 more rounds today and 3/4 of a fifth.

June 21: Knit 5-1/4 rounds today.

June 23: Knit 6 rounds today. I’m fast approaching 500 stitches per round!

June 25: I can’t believe it. The knitting is done!! I used a size 10 needle to bind off and that seems to have worked. The edge is just the right tension. Now I just have to weave in a gazillion ends (and I’m not exaggerating that much) and block it.

June 26: Added pictures of blanket blocking.

Pattern: Serenity
Yarn: Cascade Yarns Cotton Rich

Something Brown

March 28: I’ve been wanting to make one of these for quite a while so I’ve decided to jump right in and start working on it.

March 31: I’ve finished up the raglan increases, so I’m ready now to divide for the sleeves.

April 6: I’m down to the ribbing on the bottom of the cardigan with about 6 more inches to go on it. Then I’ll do the sleeves and then the ribbing around the edge. I tried it on and it’s fitting quite nicely so far.

May 3: Finally got back to this project. I have about 1-2 more inches to go on the bottom of the cardigan. Then I’ll be moving onto the sleeves.

May 13: I finished off the body. Sleeves and edging around the front remaining.

May 15: Finished first sleeve.

June 6: Finally picked this back up and finished the second sleeve. Now I just have the collar and button band, but that will have to wait as I had to order some new 60” cables for my Harmony interchangeables (since the other one broke), and I don’t think I can fit 184 stitches comfortably on the 40” ones.

June 13: The 60” cables arrived today, so I spent the evening working on the collar and button band. I think I’m ready to cast off, but I’m going to do that in the morning. I also need to get a button. But this project should be finished soon!

June 14: Finished but for the button. But I’m not sure it’s turned out. I tend to be a tight knitter and I cast off pretty tightly, too. So I used a larger needle (9) to cast off and tried to do it loosely. But it was still too tight and when I tried it on, I realized that the button band pulls the cardigan up on each side, making it really just not look good. It’s currently blocking and I tried to stretch it out as much as possible, so we’ll see if that helps.

June 23: Finally sewed on the button, so this is finished. You can see in the picture how the button band pulls up the sides of the cardigan. Alas, the blocking helped but not enough.

Pattern: Something Red
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpacas Dyed Cotton in Expresso

Gretel

May 31: I’ve been thinking about this project for a while so I decided to go ahead and start on it. It took me a little time to get through the cast on (new technique for me) but I think I got it and have now moved through row 18, so it’s well under way. I did go up a needle size from the suggested size (since I’m a tight knitter). I’ve tried on what I have so far and it fits my head rather nicely. Now it’s just a matter of whether or not it will actually be slouchy!

June 1: Got to work a bit more on it. I think it’s turning into a slouchy hat, which is good! I’m not sure yet if I will go though the slouchy version or if I’ll do the regular (which is the one in the middle). I’ve got 6 more rounds before I have to decide. By the way, the yarn is gorgeous!

June 3: I went with the slouchy version. I got to the decrease rounds, so I hope those go more quickly and I can finish up in the next day or two!

June 4: Oh no! The cable came lose while I was working and about two dozen stitches came loose. I didn’t panic (although I felt like it), but I immediately grabbed a DPN, a crochet hook, and some patience, and I got all the stitches back in their proper places. I’ve now fixed the cable but it did put me behind a little in my schedule to finish it since that took quite some time to fix.

June 4 (later): Good news and bad news. First the good: the hat is finished and it is absolutely beautiful. I love the combination of yarn and pattern. Now the bad news: the hat looks awful on me. I’ve never really been able to wear berets, but I was hoping this one would be different somehow (perhaps magically?). Alas, it is not. I shall have to find the right person for this hat so that it doesn’t just sit on my styrofoam manikin head forever.

Pattern: Gretel by Ysolda Teague
Yarn: JulieSpins Juno (60% merino, 40% silk) in

My So-Called Scarf

May 18: Yesterday, I was winding some of my Malabrigo (while reading; it helps me keep my mind focused on the reading) and so I found myself looking at this yarn and wondering what to do with it. I decided this morning that I was going to use it rather than letting it languish in my stash. So I started searching patterns and decided to give this one a try. I’ve done about 2” and so far I’m really liking how the colors are working together with the pattern, so I’ll keep it. I’m so happy to have the yarn meet its pattern destiny.

May 24: Finished. Given to Susan since she loved this yarn.

MIL Socks

Feb. 7: Trying again to knit a pair of socks for my MIL. Will be much more careful about measuring this time (I made one sock with the foot way too small). And I’m just going with a very basic sock - ribbed leg and stockinette foot.

Feb. 9: About an inch left on the leg before I start the heel. I didn’t realize until looking at this picture exactly how the colors were lining up. I like it.

Feb. 11: Finished with the heel and now working on the foot.

Feb. 21: Had a two-day conference so I worked on this during the speakers’ presentations. Finished the foot and now working on the toe decreases.

Feb. 22: First sock finished!

March 6: Cast on the second sock.

April 25: I’ve now turned the heel on the second sock and just have to do the foot and toes.

May 4: Finished the foot of the second sock. Now just the toes remaining!

May 5: Finished! Just in time for Mother’s Day.

Pattern: Silver's Sock Class
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock Multi in Mt Creek

Spring Forward

March 27: Cast on and finished a few rounds of the cuff.

April 8: Finished the cuff and the first 6 rounds of the pattern repeat.

April 9: Finished the first set of pattern repeat (24 rounds) plus 2 on the next set. (2-1/2 pattern repeats total for leg so I’m almost halfway there)

April 10: Finished another 26 rounds of leg. Only 8 more rounds to go before starting the heel!

April 11: Finished the heel flap, turning the heel, picking up the gusset stitches, and started decreasing the gusset.

April 12: Working on the foot now. If I’ve figured out the measurements correctly, I have about 36 more rounds to to before I start decreasing for the toes.

April 14: Finished the foot. All that is left is decreasing the toes and sock #1 will be finished.

April 15: Finished first sock! It fits perfectly, but since the yarn is not very stretchy, it’s quite a chore to actually get the sock on and off! But since it’s so comfortable, I’m not likely to take it off too quickly. ;)

April 18: Cast on for second sock.

April 19: This second sock is flying by! Finished up through picking up the gusset stitches today!

April 22: Finished the foot so I just have the toe left!

April 23: Second sock done! I’m very happy with how these turned out, although I’ve learned that this yarn is not the best for socks because it’s not very stretchy. Once I get the socks on, they fit beautifully, but getting them on over heel and ankle is quite a struggle!

Pattern: Spring Forward
Yarn: JulieSpins 50/50 Merino/Silk in Gold

Emily's Birthday Purse

February 12: Started.

March 29: Finished!

I used an i-cord handle rather than the cabled handle from the pattern because the cabled handle just seemed too wide for the small purse. I love the material that I used to line the purse, but once again I was reminded about how much I dislike doing all the finishing on projects. Perhaps I should invest in one of those small handheld sewing machines so I don’t have to do so much handsewing for adding linings.

Pattern: Cable Bag
Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted in Azul Bolita

Brigit Socks

February 16: Cast on and finished 5 rounds of the cuff.

February 17: Worked a little more on first sock. Finished the cuff and 9 rounds of the leg. The very small cables are rather annoying with a cable needle, so I think I’ll look into the how to cable without using a needle and see if that helps.

February 22: Finished the leg and the heel flap. I decided that working with the cable needle was actually less annoying that trying to cable without a needle. I did, however, slip the stitch from the cable needle back to the left needle rather than knitting it off the cable needle. That seems to help.

February 26: Working on the foot and have about 5” completed so far.

February 28: Working on the decreases for the toe.

March 1: Sock #1 finished. Another perfect fit and oh so comfortable. I can’t wait to knit its mate so I can wear this pair of socks!

March 3: Cast on for Sock #2 and finished the cuff.

March 22: I’m finally getting back to working on these socks. I hope I can finish by the end of the month so they’ll count for February Sockdown! I’ve finished turning the heel and am now decreasing the gusset stitches.

March 25: If I’m counting correctly, I think I have about 18 more rounds to go before I begin decreasing for the toe. So I should be just fine to finish this by the end of the month!

March 27: Finished! I’m wearing them now and they’re a perfect fit and very comfortable. I love them!

Pattern: Brigit (free Ravelry download)
Yarn: Lotus Yarns Nirvana in Hitchcock Starlet (buy this yarn here or here)

Breathe Deep

March 14: Started first mitten this morning.

March 15: Finished first mitten and cast on for the second. I’m up through the cuff on that one now.

March 16: Finished! A really great fit. I knitted the first one (left) using DPNs and the second (right) using Magic Loop. The ML one seems a little looser but they still fit well. (I was testing to see which way I liked knitting them better - I think ML won for these.)

I picked up 3 stitches for the thumb rather than the 2 it called for since just the 2 would have left me with quite a gap. All in all, I’m very pleased with how they turned out and I absolutely love the fall colors in this yarn.

Pattern: Breathe Deep
Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted in Stonechat