January 19, 2007
Land of Plenty
Plenty of knitting that is for sure...
I've been knitting and challenging myself in this first month of 2007.
It's cables cables cables, all the time here...
My newest project on the needles...
Calista's Alexander McQueen Knock-off Sweater
It's a very lovely feminine pattern...
I didn't think I would love it and knit it to completion...too much going on to be fun...you know?
But...I love it.
I'm hoping that I can coerce *someone* into finally knitting something with me...
so I bought one for her...Shhh...it's a secret!
We must spread the love of the McQueen!
I generally mod something when I knit a pattern...so this time...
A higher neck (as not to show the old brar straps.)
and I'm not terribly fond of the flowers, so none for me.
Here is my first McQ sleeve.
I'm using a rather controversial yarn... Rowanspun DK.
Oh, it hasn't done anything like go without underpants like Britney Spears...
but I'd venture to say it's not well loved.
I got it for a steal on Ebay. Go figure.
This colorway is Thor...
I was dismayed to find out its rather bad reputation after buying 2 bags of it...
After beating the internet for a few hours in a dead panic,
it finally yielded some beautiful completed projects with some helpful hints...
*swoon*
It's so absolutely fabulous! whew!
I can't help but forgive it for being the most persnickety,
foul-tempered primadonna yarn EVER.
It takes you in with all it's fiddly little tweedy flecks and the softness and the drape!
oh the drape.
but don't yank on it...and don't even breathe on it when you are cabling...
*snap*snap*snap*snappity snap*
I learned this in my test swatch...
so I'm gently cabling *without a needle* and averting my eyes, oh lord
and so far we're getting along famously.
Go me on the w/o a needle part...
I'm still tickled pink about being able to do that!
I thought it was impossible when I was just starting out...
Almost 6 years ago. wow.
I've also extended my reach into Nancy Bush Complicated Sock Territory.
It's no secret... I like my socks pretty vanilla.
Easy on the hands...Quick satisfaction...(ahem...I'm talking about socks here.)
You know...mindless. No charts.
Like these lovely Woolarina socks I finished in 3 days!
Fabulous, very wearable. but not so much in the challenging department, right?
Check these babies out.
These are complicated.
By thisI mean a lot going on...at once.
Denmark Socks by Nancy Bush's Knitting on the Road
Hm...let's see we've got the Nupp Stitch, and then 2 cables every 2 stitches on every 4th row!
Can you guess the yarn?
Socks that Rock...Colorway: In the Navy
But boy what satisfaction and aren't they pretty?
From my lovely friend Donna for Xmas.
G-d I love this yarn. My preciousssss...I'm going to marry it.
I know why many knitters OBSESS over this yarn.
And I'm glad that I gots more in my stashes!
I'm beginning the back of McQ and hope to have my socks done in February for Project Spectrum 2.0.
I'm excited about the range of colors! Expecially metallic.
So that brings me to an end of my plentiful knitting.
I've been hearing about knit from your stash and yarn diets and what not.
Time to thin out the stash...Make room for some new gorgeous yarns...
I generally make that knitting resolution every year I've had a considerable stash and *have* managed to stick to it until MDSheeps.
I'll be doing that again this year...
After all it is good to tell oneself "No" on occasion.
Followed by a "Maybe", and then with a "Just this once"
har har.
WOW! You've been busy!!
Posted by: pam at January 19, 2007 01:20 PMOMG, the Thor! Same yarn I used for my Salina and...well, I don't even want to go there. I still have a skein plus of Rowanspun and every time I see it a cringe a little.
I'm sure you are a lot gentler to your yarn than I am to mine with my continental knitting, though. Plus, it's going to be a beautiful sweater!
I'm sending lots of patience and serenity your way.
Posted by: isel at January 19, 2007 01:37 PMLove that sweater. Seriously - I'm wiping drool off my keyboard right now.
I feel like a total copy-cat since I just finished Central Park Hoodie and now I feel I MUST.KNIT.THIS.SWEATER!!
Poor Jason will never get his sweater if I keep reading your blog.
Going to buy the pattern right now. I've even got the yarn in my stash to knit it.
You are such a trend setter :-)
Posted by: Kate at January 19, 2007 01:39 PMMy head is spinning with all you've done this month! I too like the vanilla socks the best. I have a K3P1 pair on the sticks now. STR yarn is yummy!
Posted by: sUsAn at January 19, 2007 01:41 PMI love the knockoff sweater. It's a great style for you! (I agree about the flowers, though... )
Love the socks... were they for you, or will Pixie be wearing them?
happy to read your post. I miss you!
That McQ sweater is so fabulous. I love it in that neutral color too. What a great cable up the sleeve. This will be a very flattering knit on you, girl!
And the socks? what can I say? I love them I love them. Lolly loving socks? That is no surprise ;)
See you soon, girl~
Posted by: Lolly at January 19, 2007 02:25 PMI know what you can do with some of your stash! :)
And I love that sweater... I might need to check it out.
Posted by: Sarah at January 19, 2007 02:28 PMYou know how I lurv a good cable. McQ is very loverly. You'll look purty in it :)
Have fun stash diving. I know that I have :)
Tanya
Posted by: Tanya at January 19, 2007 02:46 PMWhat great socks, and you knit them so fast. I wish I could knit a pair in 3 days. Love the new knit too, and dont you hate it when yarn snaps. My Rowan Tweed does the same thing, which is rather annoying in the middle of a row. Cant wait to see more progress on the sock and the sweater.
Posted by: Sue at January 19, 2007 05:02 PMlove it!
I'm being challenged by, of all things, a friggin baby blanket. It's two colors and I'm having a horrid time switching colors. I'm about ready to give it up. I can't figure out how I'm supposed to get one color to the other side of the blanket where I have to pick it back up. Very confusing. Frustrating.
Posted by: Katie at January 19, 2007 05:03 PMI love that McQ sweater. My jaw dropped when I saw it. Can't wait to see how you knit it up. Also, loved the advice on the CPH--I'm doing mine right now in the same yarn and color, so it was inspiring to see one finished.
And socks in three days? You Rock!
Posted by: Elizabeth at January 19, 2007 09:48 PMI'm not quite sure how you knit those socks in three days. I'm impressed! The blue Denmarks are sooo pretty. But the kicker is that McQ sweater. So beautiful! Must have one! Yours is going to be so classic and femme in that lovely tweedy yarn.
Posted by: Karma at January 19, 2007 10:53 PMthat is a glorious color of STR! I really guess I need to knit up the hank of STR I have in my stash. Mine is in a blue colorway, too. Maybe the same one as yours. Everyone raves about it so much. It must be fabulous!
Posted by: Moni at January 20, 2007 01:34 PMI love all your projects, but I keep going back to the Central Park Hoodie. I finally caved and got a copy of the pattern. Before I start, do you have any tips...any mistakes in the pattern, or tips to make it easier/faster? Cara is making one knitting in the round on circs...Did you do it that way, or knit flat? I'm a little daunted by the project, but loved yours and really want to make it! Can you help a girl out?! Thanks!
Posted by: Annie at January 21, 2007 06:43 AMNice sweater! I've got a bit of that Rowanspun also, and thanks for that advice!! Glad you are getting it to work out for you though, now I know why it was so cheap! Gorgeous socks, love the colors. I've never seen that STR color, but it is looking really good with the pattern you picked.
Posted by: Zonda at January 21, 2007 12:57 PMApparently I've been out of the loop about that Rowanspun. It looks pretty though...
Posted by: Sarah at January 21, 2007 04:06 PMHey there cutie! Your McQueen looks awesome..can't wait to see it in person! Have fun tonite. I miss you : (
Posted by: Donna at January 24, 2007 11:54 AMjust gorgeous!!!!
Posted by: sherry at January 24, 2007 12:20 PMThe cabled socks are gorgeous! And bully for you that you figured out how to make the Rowan yarn *not* break. McQueen is very pretty.
Posted by: Kathode Ray Tube at January 24, 2007 04:22 PMYour blue socks are so, so, so purty! I love them!
Posted by: Erin at January 25, 2007 11:18 AMHey Heather! I love your socks, both the plain and the fancy schmancy! I'm doing some pretty plain ones right now too. Brown Regia. The only exciting part is the picot edge. Plain old 3-1 rib but then all of a sudden ... hand knit socks! Woot!
Posted by: LeAnne at January 25, 2007 12:45 PMI'm loving the McQueen sweater. I was looking at the same sweater last night. I have a few bags of Rowanspun DK and have wondered what to do with it. Who did you purchase the yarn from on ebay? Keep up the good work!!!
Posted by: Loren at January 31, 2007 07:01 PM