catching up, finishing up

I'm sorry it's been so long. I went to Utah at the end of April, and that threw me off--traveling for work always sets me back weeks! Anyway, then it was my birthday, and my cat got sick, and I started going to the gym, and basically any energy I had for updating was lost by the time I got home (I'm usually at the gym by 6:15 am...)

I've missed updating though, and I have a lot of finished objects to share!

1. Pattern: Mary Maxim horse sweater (I have no idea what the proper name for this sweater is, if there even is one)



I'm sure I mentioned this, but I got the pattern as a kit, because my niece noticed the design in a MM catalog at my mom's and wanted the sweater. I actually don't know how much she really wanted it and how much my mom just wanted me to make it for her, but either way, now it's done. It is basically just two rectangles with the sleeves sewn into them--there was no sleeve cap at all.

The intarsia was really fun, once I got over the terror of not knowing what I was doing. I loved seeing the picture coming out and manipulating all the little bobbins of yarn. I'm certainly going to do more intarsia, but not for a while. It's one of those techniques that you have to completely concentrate on, and I have a lot to finish already. But now I know I really like it. I didn't even mind weaving in all the ends. (I forgot to take another picture of the inside before sending it to my sister...)

Yarn: Starlette acrylic yarn, which I think is a MM brand. This was much softer after blocking, but it was a pretty soft acrylic to begin with. Only after working with it for long stretches did I find it hard on the hands.

Needles: Size 8 circulars I used my Boye interchangeable US 8 on this, and they worked fine. I'm not usually picky with the needles, but I like aluminum for almost anything.

2. Pattern: Rainy Day Socks



I absolutely fell in love with this pattern when it came out on Magknits. When I found yarn in the exact color, I decided I had to make them.



The sock on the right is the first one I did. You can see how I went too far with the pattern. I didn't have enough time to do a good solid toe before I had to bind off. I don't really like the wedge toes too much. I cut them too sharp, I think. The grafting turned out to be fairly straightforward this time though. I guess making that lace leaf sweater came in handy! (I grafted that sucker three times, remember?)

Anyway, these socks turned out to be a lot thicker than I was imagining they'd be (I'm still not that good at picking sock yarn, since I don't make socks that often.) They probably won't fit into any normal shoes comfortably...luckily, they look cute with my clogs!



Yarn: Louet Gems Pearl, 2 hanks

I absolutely love this yarn, just probably not for socks. It would be really good for a lace scarf. It's super soft and squishy, and comes in beautiful colors.

Needles: US 1/ US 2s. I knit the first sock on US1s, but I kept thinking that something wasn't right. It was too tight. So I knit the second one on size 2s. You can see the difference in the first picture. The one on the right in the pic (the left sock) is just a little bit bigger and taller than the other one. It definitely fits better than the first, but I don't care. I'll probably mostly be wearing them on cold days in the house, which, ironically, is basically what the pattern-writer seemed to intend.

3. Pattern: Pretty Lace Handwarmers



I have knit three pairs of these. The first I did in aubergine Reynolds Soft Sea Wool, but they turned out to be a little too 80s punk rock for the woman I was knitting them for, so when I was out in Utah, I found the very color of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino yarn I was looking for, so I bought two balls to try it again. And yes, we have a winner! I ended up giving the purple ones to my friend Ilene for her birthday, and one of these pink pairs is destined for my friend Donna for her birthday, and the third pair is a gift for the woman who put us up in Melbourne. I hope she likes them!



I sure do.

Yarn: Reynolds Soft Sea Wool AND Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino

The Soft Sea Wool is actually not that soft, and it has a really prominent twist. I can't say that I like it all that much, but the color was really pretty in the skein, and it wasn't bad to work with. Kind of puffy until you stretch it out. It's not like anything I've worked with before. But I have to say, it only took about 2/3 of one skein to knit a pair of mitts, so I have a lot left.

The DB baby cashmerino is delectable. OMG, I love this stuff so much. My first yarn was DB cashmerino chunky, so I have a soft spot for it already. When I decided to make these mitts, I immediately thought of the baby cashmerino, because my LYS near work, The Yarn Connection, used to carry it, and I'd seen it there. When I went back for it, they told me they don't carry DB anymore. ARGH. I was so lucky to find it in Utah, and in a good pink too!

I think I'm going to use the leftovers from both the purple and the pink to make some sort of lace scarf for Donna for xmas. At some point...

What's on the needles now? Well, I have to knit a cap for our other friend in Melbourne, and then I can get back to my sweater knitting! GOD. It's taking me so long to get anything done lately.