New year, new sock yarns

Oh, my poor blog! I can't believe it's been close to a year since I updated. I've been busy, what can I say? I've got my knitting groove back and I've been knitting up lots of things, though I've been slacking on the FO picture-taking. I did finish a pair of simple stockinette socks out of Mountain Colors Bearfoot (my birthday gift from Jennifer). I love how they came out!

I've been adding to my stash since, believe it or not, I've been getting a little low on yarn. Well, on sock yarn, anyway. I was really good during 2009 and knitted almost entirely from stash so I've been rewarding myself by trying out some new sock yarns.

A few weekends ago I purchased some Koigu Painter's Palette Premium Merino with which I'm making the Simple Things Shawlette from Mary-Heather Cogar.

I also ordered two skeins of Three Irish Girls Beckon Sock in Father Time from The Backwards Loop (picture credited to The Backwards Loop). This was a colorway dyed specially for Sock Summit 2009, which Jennifer (my big sister) and I attended, and I remember Jennifer coveting the sample of this yarn. They didn't have it for sale at the time so I thought I'd get a skein for each of us and surprise her with it.

Finals

Just a note to let you know I'm still alive, I've just been drowning in research papers and finals.

I've been working on some socks in Dream in Color Classy for Delpha. I'm using the Thuja sock pattern from Knitty and the Black Parade colorways which gooorgeous. Unfortunately, I have no pictures of it yet! However, I will update again once finals are out of the way and I've got some pictures to post.

Hope everyone has a loverly weekend!

Charlie!

He makes me smile. That's all!

FO: Gretel

The urge to knit is finally back after 5 months of it being gone. I just finished the Gretel beret (pattern from the awesome Ysolda) in a color I wouldn't normally choose for something to wear but I love how it came out!

Pattern: Gretel by Ysolda Teague

Yarn: Dream in Color Classy in Gold Experience, 1 skein

Needles: US Size 5s and 7s, DPNs and circulars

I'm currently finishing up a Clementine Shawlette for my mom. It was supposed to finished by Mother's Day but that didn't happen. I'm using Elsebeth Lavold Cotton Patine in Rosehip for it which is a really soft yarn with a lovely drape but damn, it's splitty. I've got the first half done and I'm about 2 inches into the pattern repeats for the second half so I'm like 70% of the way there. The following picture was taken about 3 weeks ago when I had just started it.

Knitting slump.

I'm such a slacker and my knitting is just...crippled. Does that word even work in relation to knitting? I don't care, it does now. Seriously, when will I climb out of my knitting slump? It's really quite pathetic. I've tried to remedy it by starting different projects only to end up frogging them or shoving them away later, never to see the light of day again. Nothing is inspiring me. I even went to the yarn shop last weekend and tried to get some inspiration. I ended up buying a couple of skeins of Berroco Ultra Alpaca to make my dad a scarf for his birthday and so far, it's the only project I've actually been somewhat, kiiinda interested in. It's a scarf, though, and scarves are boring. I did buy a Lantern Moon sheep tape measurer and he makes me so very happy!

I signed myself up for the Malabrigo March 2009 that's going on in the Malabrigo Junkies group on Ravelry with plans to make Imogen (a sideways knit cardigan) out of the five skeins of Malabrigo Worsted in Black Forest that Delpha bought me for my birthday last September. I've had plans to make it for a looong time and I'd like to before the weather gets warm. Besides, since it's knit from side to side, it might actually keep things interesting! And even if it is entirely stockinette stitch, it's Malabrigo so that makes everything okay. I think everyone in the world needs a sweater made out of Malabrigo.

Breiwick & what-nots

I've been meaning to update - honest! Seriously though, I've been in a bit of a knitting slump lately. Maybe it was the ginormous amount of knitted presents I spewed forth at Christmas time but for the last month, I can't seem to get inspired by anything. Even my Dream in Color Classy which came a couple of weeks ago. Actually, I do have plans for that - a beret called Breiwick designed by Gudrun Johnson. So this:

...will become this:

I was actually afraid my red hair would clash with the color of the Dream in Color yarn but this picture of Gudrun reassured me of any potential clashiness. Oh! I've also started work on a 2009 afghan, knitting two squares a month using a different pattern every month. I'm using Vanna's Choice Solids because who the hell can afford an afghan out of anything besides acrylic? Anyhow, here are January's squares:

February's squares are still in the works but not moving along very speedily because of wonderful, glorious midterms! Ooh, and I just got a peek at the Spring Interweave Knits. Their last few issues have been a bit of a let-down but being a complete cardigan junkie, I'm so excited there are some good patterns this time around. I really like the Millefiori cardigan, I might need to use my Rowan Felted Tweed for that.

More Noro to add to the stash..

I should be writing a paper for my film class right now but instead, I've been playing around on Ravelry and buying more yarn. I'm refraining from any more yarn shopping after this but it was only 3 skeins of Noro Silk Garden to add to my other 7 skeins for the Lady Eleanor Entrelac Stole. No more after this - pinky swear!



I haven't attempted doing entrelac yet but from what I've read, it's not supposed to be nearly as scary to do as it looks. I've got two different colors for this - 224 and 226 - which I'm going to alternate. I've decided I have to wait and finish up some of my other UFOs before starting it. Even though I reeeally want to start it right now! I think I need to learn a little more self-control when it comes to my knitting. And yarn collecting.