Knitting Update: Works in Progress – Page 17

Still.Knitting.Citron.

Posted on June 14, 2014 by Joyce Makes Art

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I am still knitting Citron. I started this incredibly simple pattern on April 15, but somehow or another, I'm still plugging away at it.

In my defense, I now have 400+ stitches on the needles, and I've managed several other projects while I've had Citron in the works. But it feels like I'm knitting in slow motion. During the final show of VEEP last weekend, I only completed three rows. I may be knitting Citron forever. The picture above, of Citron midway through the fifth section, doesn't really look as though it has progressed since I was in the middle of the third repeat. It must be a trick of the knitting.

It will be worth it in the end, though. It is so lightweight and airy! The color is so, well, lemony. My hope is to have this finished in time for Ellie's and my annual yoga retreat, so I can toss it around my shoulders at night when we go out for our last cup of tea. It feels like it will keep any chill away without adding any oppressive heat in summer. And it is undeniably chic.

So Citron can have her rows of 400+ stitches. I am resolute. I will finish her. I will wear her. I will be happy, chic, and sunshiney. I love you Citron and I'm going to conquer you!

I was unable to resist Sparrow

Posted on May 30, 2014 by Joyce Makes Art

Quince and Co.'s lightweight linen yarn Sparrow has been calling my name all spring. I finally gave in and cast on for this pretty little shawl, Lida by Bristol Ivy. More details later, but this one is so pretty and I can't wait to see the yarn soften into linen's beautiful drape once this is finished and washed.

An Update on Antler

Posted on May 13, 2014 by Joyce Makes Art

I love Antler.

I am easily amused and still new enough to the sweater construction of knitting the sleeves, then knitting the body, and then knitting them together in one massive all-the-way-around row during which, magically, the sleeves align leaving you with just a few stitches in the underarm to graft together at the end of the knitting, that I find the whole process enchanting. And I love cabling, even these simple little cables. They are delightful as they blossom in the yoke with repeats all around.

As for the nitty gritty basics of this sweater, I am surprisingly in love with the baby camel yarn, which has a hairy aura and is very soft. I'm hoping to have enough left over to do a sweet little hat. This is my first knit on my new Darn Pretty knitting needles. I will rave about these needles at length, in the future.

The actual color of othe yarn is darker than in the picture above. This one is more accurate and shows the darker accents (low lights?) in the yarn as they appear in the WIP.

I can't wait to finish it and send it on to the new mom who it is intended for, with lots of no-rinse wool wash included in the package. This sweater is in the 1-2 year size, which is generous, and here in the south, it's heavy enough to be outerwear for at least the fall and perhaps on into winter.

Knitting Update: Citron

Posted on May 4, 2014 by Joyce Makes Art

Ever since the start of the Adventurous April Knitalongs I've been spending every minute I could manage knitting. So I've made good progress on each of my projects although I haven't been blogging.

The first project I want to share is Citron, with more to come later this week.

If you've never done a garter tab start to a shawl before, it can be a bit intimidating. You have to think about it right: to make the start look like a semi-circle, you will cast on a few stitches and knit for a few rows before picking up stitches along the edges to get your shawl off to the right start. Don't be afraid to stick your needle into any available space between the stitches as long as you're consistent. Doing several swatches to see what approach you like best is a life skill! I've made it through two repeats and am pleased with the colors and the drape, so on we go.

The yarn is Elliebelly Moth & Goat, a blend of silk and cashmere that has just the right drape for Citron. Although I didn't think about it in advance, the yellow color makes the shawl in progress look like a big slice of lemon!

The Start of Adventurous April

Posted on April 20, 2014 by Joyce Makes Art

This week saw the start of the Adventurous April Knitalong. In keeping with the mood, I cast on all four of my planned projects the first day.

1-Lente: I'm knitting a Lente cowl in Elliebelly Premium British Merino. This is a paintbrush colorway I kept a couple of skeins of for myself. This is an easy knit and once you settle into the pattern after a few rows, you need neither look at the pattern nor use stitch markers as it's a simple repeat of two different rows. This one is all about the colors. I'm looking forward to wearing it.

2-Citron: I got a small start on this pattern, but won't work on it seriously until I get the others further along. I expect this to be a long term project that I can work on over the summer. I am in love with the yarn, Elliebelly's Moth 'n Goat, which is incredibly soft. The Marmalade colorway is a bit lighter on this yarn than on other fibers and very pretty.

3-Canadian Summer: This pattern was written by local knitter Susan Barstein. It's a sweet piece of shimmering froth. It is literally shimmering, because this yarn has a beautiful, almost metallic, shine to it. I'm going to finish the Lente Cowl before I take this one up in earnest, because the stitch patterns are just similar enough that knitting the two at once leads to confusion and mistakes. Sadly, I know this now and I know that this yarn is very splitty when you are unknitting it. So, Canadian Summer will wait until Lente is done.

4-Antler: I'm knitting the baby sweater version of Antler. The yarn is a baby camel that I dyed up with dark green/black low lights, and I'm pleased with how it is knitting up. So far, I've knit a big piece of stockinette, which will become the body of the sweater. Next up, the sleeves.

I snuck in one extra project, and casted on a square for the Barn Raising Quilt, that you are all probably getting tired of hearing about. This square is in Elliebelly Juliet Sock yarn in the Provence colorway.

Adventurous April has given me a good stock of Works in Progress so that there is always something to pick up and work on during a soccer game or a movie. Combined with my other projects, I feel like I've got plenty of knitting to get me through the summer.

I Have Sleeves

Posted on April 5, 2014 by Joyce Makes Art

I don't knit a lot of sweaters, so everytime I do, I tend to see something new.

Modern Garden is no exception. In this sweater, you knit the sleeves from the bottom row up to about chest high. Then, you knit them into the body of the sweater, keeping up with the patterning on the sleeves and in the yoke (and remembering to place your buttonholes, which has been an issue for me on this one) and complete the sweater.

The sleeves are bulky and I'm knitting them on DPNs, instead of magic loop because I don't have an additional circular needle in this size. They were a little too cumbersome to take along with me on vacation, so I put the sweater aside and worked on hats while I was away.

But I picked the sweater back up last night and am working on sleeves. The first one is ready to incorporate into the yoke and my hope is to have the second one there tonight so I can put everything together and move on to the yoke next week.

And, a reminder. We are starting a Knit Along on the Elliebelly Group on Ravelry on April 15. You're welcome to join us — you can knit with any yarn you choose and there is no official date you have to finish by. We would love to have you, whether you are a new knitter or a more experienced one.

An Update on Malabrigo March: a Month of Knitting with one Company’s Yarn

Posted on March 23, 2014 by Joyce Makes Art

Malabrigo March is almost over and it has been a whirlwind! I've been out of town almost as much as I've been in town, which has been bad for blogging but rather interesting for knitting. Before each trip, I cast on several projects and then negotiate with myself over space in my suitcase. I have been known to turn two changes of clothing into a week's worth of outfits, just so I can take four knitting projects along as well.

I'm getting ready to head out of the country for the rest of the month and, predictably, I'm taking four projects along with me.

The first is so new that I've only just cast on and will be working on the brim during the flight. The pattern is Fuego and I'm knitting it in Malabrigo Worsted in Fuschia.

I'm also taking along my Lutz Jump hat. I'm midway through the first of three pattern repeats and I highly recommend this pattern. It zips right along and has clever little stitches in it, like one reoccurring motif that depends on a slip one, knit one, make a yarn over and pass the slipped stitch over the knit stitch and the yarn over. It's fun and fast, and I love it in this Damask Rose colorway. I've never made a pom pom before, but I think this hat will need one!

I haven't gotten far with my Steam Punk Cowl. The pattern is called Metallurgy and I adored it on sight. But, it hasn't been my favorite knit so far. I'm hoping that under the influence of very cold weather on this trip, I'll get more excited about knitting it. (and yes, for those of you who follow my Maine Moon Cats, that's Hermione guarding my knitting). I'm knitting with Silky Merino in Smoke.

Last, but not least, I'm taking the current quilt square in progress for my Barn Raising Quilt. My goal for this year is to knit one a month while doing other projects and to finish up knitting squares by the middle of next year so I can put it together before my darling daughter goes off to college. It's nice to have a child who knits and appreciates knitting, and I'm hoping the quilt will be a piece of home she can take with her when she leaves the nest. I"m knitting the quilt from Malabrigo Sock in Piedras.

That's it for me for now, although I will try to do a couple of quick posts or at least photo updates while we travel. Please keep my house in your prayers as it is in the hands of our two twenty-something children while we head off. This could be interesting!