Settling In…

I’m moved in and loving it (pics of my dorm at bottom of post)! Knitting has definitely been keeping me sane the last two weeks. First, I made a hat for my little brother’s birthday.

Cast-on: August 30, 2007/ Finished: September 2, 2007

Pattern: Basic Cable from Stitch n Bitch Nation

Yarn: Patons Classic Merino in Dark Grey Mix and Plymouth Galway in Grass

Needles: Knitpicks Options US 7 & 8 24″ circs and US 8 dpns

Mods: I made a foldover brim. I knit 15 row 1×1 rib, knit 1 row, knit 15 more rows 1×1 rib, then knit the hat as written. I also added an extra cable repeat.

For easy projects, I picked up some Sugar n Cream cotton for dishcloths and other miscellany (such as crocheted coasters!).

I love Sugar n Cream’s new Stripes yarn!

And the marled yarn!

Rusted Root has become an obsession. I’m having so much fun, and it’s Project Spectrum compatible.

Up next for PS, if possible, is the Aran Rose(scroll down) from Interweave Knits Spring 2006 in Patons Classic Merino. I’ll be ripping out my Wicked that was too big.

And now, dorm pics…

My knitting corner:

My bed:

My desk:

Moving Along…

My second Jaywalker is getting close. A longer post will come later this week/weekend.

Moving…

That’s right, this week I finally move into my dorm. I’ve been packing frantically this week and have only daily items left to pack. Despite all the packing, I’ve still been knitting… and sewing! Here’s my most recent sewing project:

Pattern: Artist’s Organizer from Simple Sewing with a French Twist

Fabric: Green decor fabric and cotton quilting material, both from JoAnn’s

Started: August 18, 2007/ Finished: August 19, 2007

Thoughts: I love it and can’t wait to hang it from my loft bed! I will take some pics of the dorm once I’m settled and it’s decorated to my liking.

Noro Hats

Two birthday presents are done!

Cast-on: August 11, 2007/ Finished: August 19, 2007, although I do still need to weave in some ends.

Pattern: Noro Hat by Saartje de Brujin

Yarn: Noro Kureyon

Needles: US 7 24″ circ and US 7 dpns

Mods: Mostly I just made the hats a little smaller. The purple one is smaller than the blue-green one as well, since it’s for a girl.

Another FO that was nearly finished, but was abandoned due to lack of interest.

Cast-on: May 1, 2007/ Finished: August 15, 2007

Pattern: Daffodil Dishcloth (May Monthly Dishcloth Group Pattern)

Yarn: Yellow Sugar n Cream

Needles: US 7 Knitpicks Options

That’s all for now, but after moving in Wednesday, I’ll try to post pics of the dorm room and my knitting getting settled in its new home.

Halfway There

My First Jaywalker!

I love it! The fit is perfect and I absolutely love the colors. I’m also including the sock as a Project Spectrum project since purple ties all of the colors together!

Noro Hat

I LOVE Noro!! I love to watch the stripes change. Although, I am a little miffed that there was a knot before I was even half-way done with the 1st skein. I’ve worked it all out, but it’s taken a bit of effort to work it all out.

UFO Resurrection: Om Yoga Mat Bag from SnB Nation

This bag has been hibernating on Ravelry for way too long.

This is Sugar n Cream knit up in a simple lace mesh pattern. I hope to finish this pattern before moving out next week because I need somewhere to put my yoga mat bag!

Moving has been my life right now. I’m packing books and yarn to take with me, and it’s hard to decide what projects will have to be abandoned for the time being.

Simple Knits

First of all, new yarn. Mmm… Noro. I bought two skeins of each color to make this Noro Hat for two friends’ upcoming birthdays.

Jaywalker Update

That’s right, it’s almost done.

Katja Complete

Recipient: 2nd cousin, J

Cast-on: June 26, 2007/ Finished: August 7, 2007

Pattern: Katja from Knitty, Size: 12 months

Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Ease in Purple and White

Needles: US 6 circulars

Mods: Hardly any, I just left out the purled rounds. I like the look of smooth stockinette better. Overall, I’m very happy with this pattern, would totally make it again, and definitely recommend it as a quick, easy, cute pattern for a little girl.

A few more bear-y cute shots.

Lovegood Cardi’s

I love this cardigan the best of all the knits in the movie, even though it appears to be crochet.
I found two patterns that I think I could combine, modify, and convert to crochet in order to make a similar cardi:

Left: Rebecca mag #31, Right: Knitting Loves Crochet

I love the fit of the Rebecca sweater, but love some of the details of the KLC cardi. These seem to be very adaptable to Luna’s cardi.

I probably won’t attempt the sweater for a while, at least until school is underway.

If anyone else attempts this sweater, I would love to see the process!

WIP’s: Project Spectrum Purples

A new month with new colors, so a couple of new projects:

Jaywalkers in Sockotta

This sock has had some gauge/sizing issues. I cast-on 84 sts on 2.5 mm needles and had an enormous sock, so I swatched. Now I have 76 sts on 2.5 mm and it fits perfectly. I took it with me to The Sound of Music and it grew quite a bit. I love the simplicity of this pattern and am thoroughly enjoying Sockotta’s striping qualities.

Rusted Root in Cotton Fleece

Cotton Fleece is one of my favorite yarns, and I’m excited to make a garment with it (I have many more I’d like to make with it in my Ravelry queue)!!

Katja, of course, is purple. I’m finished with her, no crochet edging. Once I weave in ends and block lightly, I’ll have a FO to show.

This bag is the Checkers Tote from Weekend Knitting. I made it with CottonEase last year and have yet to line it… because I’m not exactly sure how to measure and sew lining in a circular bag. If anyone knows of a tutorial, that would be great. I will be googling some info and post any exciting finds.

I hope everyone else is having as much fun with Purple as I am!

A Trip to the Beach

I’ve been reading Harry Potter. Not the new one, however, I’m currently reading the 5th. I began the 1st on my trip to Missouri this month and should be onto the 7th by next week. I can’t wait! Additionally, I went to see the 5th movie yesterday and loved it, despite its differences from the book. I loved Luna’s sweaters: the purple crochet in the forest and the blue knit in the Dept of Mysteries. ( I will look for pics while I write this post)

Anyway, what I’ve been knitting this sunny week:

Clapotis

Cotton makes for an excellent beach knit. I’ve made quite a bit of progress. The plan is to have this done by August 15 for (beach) grandma’s birthday.

Adventure Bag

I know this is a hideous picture, but it’s almost done!! I bound it off last night, but I also put the stitch holders in the wrong place, so I’ll definitely have to fix it. Probably during the 12-hour car trip home tomorrow, while reading HP5! I can’t wait to finish this bag- I’m thinking bottomless pit for all of school’s must-haves.

Swatching for Sideways Socks

This is what I worked on during the HP5 movie, so the sideways socks should be cast on pretty soon. They’re going to replace the Cable Nets as my sock in progress since those were just too fiddly for me.

And now, some Friday eye candy:

1234*

The dishcloths are off!!

Cast-on: July 17, 2007/ Finished: July 20, 2007

Pattern: BallBand Dishcloth from Mason-Dixon Knitting

Yarn: (1) Sugar n Cream in Countryside Ombre and Sage, (2) Sugar n Cream in Westport and Cornflower Blue, (3) Sugar n Cream in Countryside Ombre, Sage, and Grape, Lion Cotton in Black, (4) Sugar n Cream in Cornflower Blue, Westport, and Wine

Needles: US 7 Knitpicks options

Pattern thoughts: This is such a great reading project, one purl row every 6 rows and the slip stitches make it more interesting. I love this pattern, I’m not sure I’ll ever be able to knit another dishcloth pattern (I’m a big fan of mindless knits!)

Now back to other projects.

*Here’s to hoping some of you are Feist lovers.