Looks like a good morning to me.

Finally getting to start my lace-back Vogue sweater + sunshine + coffee =

happy.

Possibly the most cheerful socks ever

Aren't they springy?

I definitely knitted these when I was supposed to be knitting other things, but they make me happy, so I don't care. Plus, they were super quick. I think I made each sock in two sittings. That's the great thing about self-striping yarn; it does all the work, and you just zoom around in stockinette. Especially if you have Addi Lace Turbos, like I do. It changed my sock knitting world, people, getting those needles. I loves them.

They are made from about 1.5 skeins of Knit Picks Felici in "Peachy". Just a simple cuff-down sock with short-row heels and a really shallow toe, because I have, as my husband likes to say, troll toes that kind of just go straight across. I had a moderately hard time making sure the stripes matched, because when I was looking for another orange section, the second skein was mostly yarn barf. I hate that. 

I got to wear them once. Now it's too warm for socks, especially wool ones. A little frustrating for now, but I bet when fall comes around, I will be stoked. A drawer full of hand-knit socks? Yes please.

Just the back.

I finished this awhile ago, but we had a cold snap, and I didn't like the way the sweater looked over long sleeves, but it was too cold to wear with short sleeves.... so it didn't get worn. But now, it's warm enough.

It's from the first Vogue Knitting I ever got, the one from Spring 2011. It's simply called #28 Lace Cardi. It's pretty much just a back of a sweater. Doesn't cover my front in any way. I think it would have, had I followed the pattern and kept increasing when it said to, but the sweater looked so big to me that I stopped increasing early, and now I regret. It was remarkably fast to knit- I think I did it in about a week, during which time I even had houseguests.  

I used some yarn I already had in my stash for this sweater, which was very satisfying. It's Bamboo Ewe, which is actually much nicer than I thought it would be, being from Michael's and all. Yes, yes, that's a yarn-snobby thing to say. Don't care.

So overall, we'll call it a moderate success.

The Nautical Knits Collection

I knitted some nautical stuff, because I was apparently supposed to be born in Cape Cod or something, and I wrote up the patterns. There are three: the Yacht Club Scarf, the Captain's Mitts, and the Sailor Slouch. They come as one PDF pattern.

Yarn needed to knit all 3: two skeins of Encore Worsted and one skein of Vanna's Choice.
Needles: size 6, 7, and 9
Notions: 8 buttons, 3/4 diameter; a tapestry needle; stitch markers

The Nautical Knits Collection: $5
(No Ravelry account needed)

A finished sweater, pretty much.

I finished this sweater awhile ago, and finally, we had some sun today, so I took some photos. It unfortunately does not fit. I feel like this is the story of my knitting life lately.

It's too short, doesn't fit in the bust, and the sleeves are a bit tight. However, it was an excellent all-around sweater design lesson, in addition to being several smaller lessons, such as Measure Your Arms Better; Yes, You Really Do Want That V-Neck As Low As You Think; and the always classic If The Wool Looks Felty In The Skein, It Will Probably Look Felty As A Sweater.

However, it was a quick, enjoyable knit, so I think I'll just make another one that actually fits. Perhaps in a non-felty yarn this time, too. Love the color, though! I made this from Malabrigo Worsted in the colorway "hollyhock". It's a lace pattern I got out of a Barbara Walker book, and the rest came out of my head. Next time, some paper and pencil first, eh?

Embroidery can be hard

A bit ago I decided to knock off an Anthropologie cardigan, because I saw someone else doing it, and I like to copy. Not really. I just liked the sweater. So I went to the thrift store, and I didn't find a cardigan that I thought would work. Went to Walmart, and the same. But Walmart had women's 3XL sweatshirts on clearance for $3, and I thought, hmm. So I bought 3, took them home, and cut them up. Here's what I've got so far:

I cut it down the front and back, and took out quite a bit of fabric from each. Sewed the backs together with some shaping, and took in about a foot from each side. Ok, not really, but it was probably close. I took in the sides, and made the sleeves fitted. Cut off the ribbing, too. So now I have a sweatshirt cardigan. Then I knitted some 1x1 ribbing and sewed it to one cuff. I like it. I tried the embroidery, but it's hard. And I broke my yarn needle. I think I need a very large metal needle with a big, big eye. 

I only did 3 "v"s of embroidery before I broke the needle, and I'm pretty sure they took as long as knitting the cuff. I need a different strategy. I figure that I've got time, though, because it won't be cold enough to wear this here until probably November, unless we get a freak cold snap, or if the air conditioner at work goes haywire and I have to wear sweaters in the lab. Could happen. 

Progress, sort of

Still knitting along on my Rusted Root.

I labeled it, because otherwise, it just looks like a pile of knitting. I've got some wicked calluses on my thumbs from this yarn. I'm not sold on cotton yet- I really don't like the way it makes my hands feel. I expect I will appreciate the cotton when I can wear this top in warm weather without roasting to death. But until then, ow.