A knitted vest

I finished this vest  last month. It is now blocked and I wore it today. Yes, it fits! And I love it.

This is made from 100% alpaca yarn that I bought at the Alpaca Market in Estes Park, Colorado last September. The owner of the alpacas, called this Tweed. It is two natural colors of fiber together - no dyes.

It was fun to knit and is super soft! I was told that I needed to do more than just a stockinette stitch with alpaca - it has a tendency to stretch. 

I don't think you can see the detail very well - sorry about that. The top is a double seed stitch then a cable band and the bottom is a sideways stockinette stitch.

The pattern is My Antonia Vest by Rosemary Drysdale. I saw the vest made up in Estes Park at The Stitchin' Den and loved the pattern.

A couple of knitting finishes.

I finished this boy's sweater. This is the first time that I've used a UK pattern. Round or V-necked Sweater by Sirdar Spinning Ltd.

It was easy to follow. The only 'weird' part was the sizing. It is all done by ages.

My yarn choice Hobby Lobby I Love this Yarn! Stripes wasn't the best for showing off the cable pattern in the yoke. The sweater was easy and fairly quick to make.

I also finished this mobius cowl. It was easy and super fast to make. It only has 13 rows!

The pattern, Bulky Mobius Cowl by Haley Waxberg was easy to follow. I was happy that Jeffery at Wall of Yarn told me to use 40" needles.

The yarn is very bulky Kraemer Yarns Bear Creek . The color is much closer to the second photo. The first photo was taken in the hall mirror.

A couple of knitting finishes!

The first is a scarf made from 100% alpaca that I got at the Alpaca Market in Estes Park, CO. The scarf is sooooo soft. The pattern, Lace Panel Scarf by Judy Sumner, is in the book 60 More Quick Knits.

The pattern was fairly easy but I had to look at the pattern for every row so I had to really concentrate. It was worth it though!

The second scarf is made from Mountain Meadow Wool that I bought in Jackson, WY. The name of the yarn is Jackson Now you know why I bought it! and it is hand-dyed in the color Fire. The wool was grown and sheared at the Camino Family’s KID Ranch in Buffalo, WY.

 

This scarf is my own design. There are 8 rows of seed stitch at each end. The rest of the scarf is a 4X4 basketweave with a 2 stitch garter stitch border.

I have enough of both yarns for a hat or mittens or maybe both!

A Bittersweet Day and a Finish

Today we said goodbye to our sister-in-law's mother. Helen was a very sweet lady who used to join in our family celebrations. She was a blessing to many and just turned 92 in July.

Along with a the sadness of the day, we had the joy of meeting Amelia, our great, great niece. She is our first GG. I often tell our great niece and nephews that they have made me one GREAT aunt. That means Amelia makes me a GREAT, GREAT aunt! She is a doll - I took her from her grandmother and she didn't mind at all. She just snuggled right in! When her grandmother took her back, she whimpered! She loves me!!! Can you believe I didn't get any photos?! It was nice to see all of my oldest brother's family today. All of the children, grandchildren, and Amelia were with us. Eight month old Amelia and her dad came from Tennessee and will be here for the week. I think they will help my brother and SIL through some tough days. 

~~~~~

I finished my Marly Silk Scarf yesterday. The pattern is by Jane Stanley of Fibre Space and can be found on ravelry.com. It is made with two strands of Habu Textiles A-1 2/17 Tsumugi Silk thread. I used a green and a blue-green thread and really like the result. The real color is more like the second photo.

The scarf is about 6" wide and 58" long. I varied the pattern a little  - this was supposed to be 8" X 60".

Oops, you can see Jake, the Life Is Good insignia, on my t-shirt.

Coral Cowl done!

I made a beautiful coral cowl using the Garland Cowl pattern by Galzanne Knits and Rowan yarn.

The pattern is free on ravelry.com. I love the pattern - lots of texture.

The pattern called for size 10 1/2  needles. I used size 10 so my cowl is a tiny bit shorter than it would have been. The true color is coral as in the top photos. The next two look orange.

I took this picture using my iPad - I'm really NOT good at taking photos, especially of me!

Knitted Lucy Hat done!

I saw this hat in a knitting magazine and I decided that I had to make it. The Lucy Hat pattern by Carina Spencer is free on ravelry.com. This is the pattern photo. 

The construction was new to me - starting with 4 pearl rows and then a semi circle worked in short rows. Next came the band with a woven appearance and last the crown decreases with a circular appearance. It wasn't difficult to do - just new to me.

When I finished knitting, I had to block the hat. It looks a little strange!

Then it was time to turn up the brim and stitch it in place. I'm sure this photo would look better with a head in the hat!

I used Galway worsted yarn by Plymouth Yarn. It is 100% wool, hand washable, dry flat.

This did not turn out exactly like I expected but it will be fine!

Purple knitted hat and scarf

I just realized that I didn't post pictures of the purple diamond hat and scarf. The color is more purple than the photos appear.

I used 2 skeins of  Plymouth Yarn Encore Chunky yarn  and the Diamonds Hat and Scarf pattern by Susie Bonell - it is free on ravelry.com.  

I had to adjust the hat pattern and make it longer. I tried 9 extra rows and then frogged that and did just 4 extra rows.

These will both be a donation to our church bazaar.

Green Knit Hat

I finished the green hat. I know  it doesn't look straight across the bottom but it is! I just moved it to the corner of the blocking mat and must have skewed it a bit. The pattern is Man Hat by Haven Leavitt. I used Encore Chunky Plymouth Yarn. 

The hat along with the green scarf I made earlier are for the church bazaar. The hat above is much closer to the true color of both.

I am making one more hat and scarf set that I just began. So it will be a while before it is done.

Blue Cable Knit Hat

I spend an afternoon a month with my friend Nancy. First we have lunch at a favorite restaurant and then knit at the yarn shop. Tuesday was our day and I began this hat which I will donate to our church bazaar. This little project was FAST - I finished it yesterday morning!

It is Encore Chunky yarn - 75% acrylic and 35% wool.

Blue Cable Hat

It goes along with this scarf that I made a while ago.

Knitted scarves

I am knitting some items for our church bazaar in the fall. Hopefully I'll have a few things finished since I decided to do this a few months ahead of time.

While in Washington DC/Alexandria, VA, I made this green scarf. The yarn is Plymouth Yarn Encore Chunky, a 12 ply. The pattern is Spring Revive Scarf by Jill Bujold - a free pattern on revelry.com. It it a darker green tweed than it appears and is heavy and soft - perfect for out winters. 

close up of green scarf

green scarf

I began the blue scarf a while back and finished it when we returned from Washington DC. The color is darker like the second photo. Again, the yarn is Plymouth Yarn Encore Chunky, a 12 ply. The pattern is Seeded Reversible Cable Scarf by Teryn Pierce, also a free pattern on ravelry.com.

closeup of blue scarf

blue scarf

I haven't had time or taken the time to block either one yet. 

I was able to get matching yarn and will start hats soon. . . as soon as I finish my sweater!

Knitting in orange!

I finished my orange scarf a week  ago but I couldn't find time to post it!

The scarf is about 5" wide. Next time the edges will be different - I prefer a very neat edge and this just isn't. I still like it though. 

 You can see the pattern here although it is a bit fuzzy - sorry about that!

The yarn is Shepherd Sock Multi by Lorna's Laces fingering / 4 ply 80% Wool, 20% Nylon 435 yards / 100 grams. The patterns is Glittering Party Scarf by Riikka Talonpoika, a free pattern on Ravelry.

Teal scarf finished!

Another knitting finish - my teal scarf!

The yarn is Hemp for Knitting Cashmere Canapa - DK/8 ply yarn that is 60% cotton, 30% cashmere, and 10% hemp.

The scarf is very light weight and has a lacy feel.

This is my second project using lace knitting - where the design is made with open areas or holes.

Not only do I love the scarf, I love the color! Can't wait to wear it.

My first lace knitting

I found this yarn when I was cleaning a closet. I have no idea where or when I bought it! Ray was impressed that I had a stash of yarn - me too!

The yarn is Rowan Tapestry - 70% wool and 30% soy. I found two skeins from the same dye lot.

I used the Painted Lace Scarf pattern which is free on ravelry.com.  

I loved knitting the yarn and the scarf is super soft. Next time I might use lace needles though - it would be a little easier to knit.

A Knitted Scarf

Yesterday I met my friend, Nancy, for lunch and knitting. We try to do this about once a month. I really enjoy sharing this time together; it's fun and relaxing. 

We knit at a yarn shop that is convenient for both of us. The yarn shop KAL in February was Teryn Pierce's Seeded Reversible Cable Scarf. The free pattern is available on Ravelry.com. 

My blue Seeded Reversible Cable Scarf

I wasn't able to get yarn for the scarf until yesterday so I began the month's knit along a bit late. And I finished the scarf today! Here is a close up of the cable.

My first cables!

I love that there is no wrong side to the scarf. It was my first time with cables and all went well. I bought yarn for a second scarf before I left the shop yesterday - I already knew I liked this!

Wool socks done!

The sheep were raised and sheered south of Stockton, Illinois by Suzy the Shepherdess. The yarn was spun at Blackberry Ridge Woolen Mill in Wisconsin. The pattern is called Stockton Socks.

The socks are knitted top down. I made these for Ray. They are soft and warm. I thought it was about time I made something for him!

Knitted Cowl

The pattern for this cowl is called Elis. The pattern is free on Ravelry. It is an Indian cross stitch cowl. Although it looks a little intricate, it is very easy and fast to knit. The yarn, Good for Ewe Claddagh, is 45% merino wool, 40% baby llama, 15% donegal. 

I wanted to show it on a neck so I used the nearest one - a rather cooperative hubby!

Here is a flat picture.

The cowl is about 8 1/2" X 24". I had to change the pattern slightly. I only had one skein of yarn and although I checked my gauge, my knitting seemed to be loose. In the pattern, the middle design is just like the edges, I changed those 6 rows (2 patterns with 2 knit rows in between) to 1 pattern. I also knit 11 rows instead of 12 between the edge patterns and the middle. I had about six feet of yarn left over! Whew! 

The cowl is very soft and I love it!

Knitted Socks - Done!

I have finished my first KAL (knit along). 

My socks are finished! 

Woo Hoo!!!

As I was knitting, I wrote about my 

Crimple socks here and here. 

Michelle Hunter, the Knit Purl Hunter, 

was great and her videos are priceless.

I learned LOTS: 

how to do Judy's Magic Cast On,

how to read a chart,

how to use lifelines,

how to knit short row heels 

including wraps and turns and picking up wraps,

the sewn bind off

 WHEW!  

My socks are a tad too big 

but still wearable 

and wear them I will!

Another try at a sweater

I made a sweater late last year, you can see it here. I liked it but it had issues v-neck I didn't like, body too short, sleeves too long so I decided to try it again while resolving the issues. This sweater which is the same pattern, has a crew neck. This sweater is longer and the sleeves are shorter. 

Not the best picture...

It fits! I like it! 

As far as issues - I wish the sleeves were 1/2 inch longer and the body was about an inch shorter! But it will be great to wear with jeans. 

Our weather is turning much colder as I write this and I think I'll be wearing this sweater to a hockey game tomorrow. 

That first sweater - the one with the v-neck - has been frogged that is knitter talk for torn apart. I like the yarn and will find a use for it, I'm sure!