Did someone say reNEWed interest in knitting...

I'm back on track. I've been knitting more than usual lately, which makes me happy. I finished a baby blanket in a basket weave pattern for some dear friends who just had their first child. I didn't think to take a picture of it before I gave it to them, so you'll just have to trust me - it turned out beautifully. I picked up some lovely cashmere at close-out prices at School Prodcuts some time ago. I only now used it for this particular project. I don't know what I'll do with the leftover yarn. I'm not sure it's enough to do much with, certainly not enough for mittens or the like. Maybe I'll just knit a thin scarf and see how long it lasts...

With the baby blanket completed, and road trips on the way, I needed another project. So, I headed to Gotta Knit!, which is near my office. There I picked up the perfect yarn for this little Anthropologie-esque caplet. Unfortunately, I didn't pay attention to the picture, and now I don't think I like the finished product, too short. I don't really like the cropped effect, so I'm hoping someone else likes it and I can give it away. It has been a really easy knit, though; I would highly recommend it to someone looking for a mindless pattern.

Stocking-Detail

Stocking-Detail, originally uploaded by da_mere.

Just a quick close up so you can see the i-cord detail. The cuff of the stocking called for eyelets to be used for the weaving of the i-cords to create this lovely woven effect. I really do like it. I hope the stocking is touch enough to withstanding hanging on the mantle holding all of my sister's goodies!

My Sister's Stocking

Stocking-FullClose, originally uploaded by da_mere.

Can you believe it?! Only three years in the making, but it's here. Okay, maybe two. Finally. I wish I had printed a picture of the original so that I would know if this is what it's supposed to look like. There were a few more bells and whistles that I didn't do, and I'm fairly certain I didn't tie the i-cord correctly. But, its' done! Woohoo :)

stocking shame

Well, readers, I have been shamed into finishing my sister's Christmas stocking, even if we have missed yet another year's worth of service out of it.

All this time it has been sitting in a basket near the fire waiting to be finished. Just patiently hanging out in the basket wondering if it should throw itself into the fire just to get a little attention. But, the day has arrived. I have revisited the stocking, partially in thanks to this blog. I was guilted into thinking yall were reading that years later the stocking was left still undone.

So, what happens when I finally return to the basket to finish it? I realize that I the knitting was finished; it just needed to be sewn up! Here I thought there was still knitting to do!!!

I've sewn in all the ends and stitch up the back, I don't know why I didn't do this in the round?! Now, all I have to do is finish the i-cord for a bit of decoration and the loop by which it will hang and we're all done. I should be able to complete that today, if all goes well, and I'll be putting up pictures and sending it to my sister this week!

Whodathunkit?! Now...what's the next project?

woohoo!

I am IN! Not Verizon IN, though I am, actually, Verizon IN, but seriously...I'm IN the Knitting ring. Everyone say it with me - WooHoo!

I need to finish up my current project and find another. I also need a new book. Any suggestions?!

Free Scarf Pattern...next page

Ok, I finally wrote up the pattern for the scarf I finished, and I've posted it on another blog page for your enjoyment. The project is fairly simple, and I've titled it Trellis Scarf. You shouldn't have any problems making your own. Let me know if you catch any flaws in my pattern.

I'm going to go apply for admission to the "Free Knitting Pattern" Ring now :)

Looking back...

on my most recent uploads...it appears I'm going through a green phase. That could just be my inner-Gator come out to celebrate and soak up the championship moments!

Scarf Detail

Scarf_detail, originally uploaded by da_mere.

I don't really think this helps, but I hope you can sort of see the trellis work that runs along the scarf. It really is quite lovely and quite easy. Can't beat that combination!

Scarf

Scarf, originally uploaded by da_mere.

This is the scarf I designed myself. I ran out of the green yarn, so I'm just going to finish with white and let the colors be asymmetrically because I'm cool like that. :)

It's a fairly simple pattern; I'm breezing through in the evenings while I watch House/24/Grey's. Now I guess you know what I do with my evenings...

Shawl's details

Shaw_detail_3, originally uploaded by da_mere.

Perhaps a worse photograph. I tried. I promise, the shawl is lovely!

Shawl

Shawl, originally uploaded by da_mere.

Once the variegated yarn wrap was completed, I needed another project. Plus, I was going on some rather long road trips with my family as well as flying to Phoenix. I was going to have nothing but time on my hands...what to do?! Knit, of course!

So, I found this pattern Trellis & Vine by Sauniell N. Connally that I really liked. So, I ran out for some yarn and hopped in the car.

These pictures don't do the final product justice. I'm going to have to work on my ability to photograph my knitting projects. If you visit the project page, though, there are some better photographs.

Variegated Wrap 2

Variagated_Wrap_2, originally uploaded by da_mere.

First things first...

This is the wrap I was talking about way back in December with the variegated yarn. I don't think the picture does it justice, to be honest.

It's a nice, warm wrap that looks great in the fall and spring. At the moment I use it to keep my lap and feet warm on chilly nights here in NC.

It started out as a twist wrap that I saw in BeBe, but in the end I really liked the look of the yarn and the intricacies of the twist wrap would have been lost to the yarn's natural pattern.

a new year...a reNEWed devotion to knitting

I still have the stocking for my sister to finish and while I've finished knitting the afghan, it was a patchwork piece, which means the pieces are still pieces. With all the moves I've been through the past few years, I'm not sure where it all has gone! I have all the pieces in one place, but I'm not sure were the yarn remnants and the patchwork graph/sketch/thing are, which I need to stitch the pieces together. Ugh.

So, I've returned to the one piece, no additional work necessary knitting projects. Hence the shawls you are about to see.

And, I'm working on a scarf of my own creation, which I'll share with you, too. I think that'll get me a space on the "Free Knitting Pattern's" ring, which has been a goal :)