The Anthrologie Inspired Capelet

As I promised here is a finished picture of the capelet. I am really pleased with the way this turned out. When I was knitting it I thought it was going to be small but it fits perfect.

Pattern: Anthropologie inspired capelet

Yarn: Blue Sky Alpaca, sport weight 100% alpaca (held doubled)
Color: Natural Dark Gray (509), 3 hanks
Size: Pattern is written for one size but it could
be easily modified by casting on more stitches.
Modifications: After I split the sleeves and body
the pattern says to knit 4 rows in reverse stockinette.
I knit for two inches because I was afraid that the top
would be too short. I'm glad I decided to make it longer.

I know that I said I was going to cut myself off from any future yarn purchases. Well, I might have to allow some exceptions at least for this weekend. Saturday Debbie and I are going to the 4th Annual Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet Festival. It should be a good time, Annie Modesitt is going to be there. Well, it has been a long day I'm off to bed.

Boy or Girl

I know that I have said this before but, it seems like everyone is having babies. Another friend of mine is going to be a dad. He and his wife don't yet know the sex of the baby so; I decided to make two blankets. Baby blankets around here never go to waste. I love this pattern because it's so fast and great for mindless TV knitting. I enjoy making them so much I usually have one of these on the needles for that occasion when I loose my knitting mojo and I can't decide what I want to work on.

Pattern: 8 Hour Baby Blanket
Source: Plymouth Yarn Co.
Yarn: Encore Worsted & Encore Colorspun Worsted (1 of each held doubled)
Colors: 208 & 7962 (Top) 0896 &7744 (Bottom)
Needles: US size 13, 24 inch circular needles
Modifications: None this is a great pattern.

The one thing that I have noticed since I started blogging is I have more FO's. I have always been someone who can't work on just one project at a time. The problem is that at times I find myself working on up to five projects. This usually results in several projects that go ignored for months and by the time I pick them up again they are out of season. I have decided to allow myself to work on two projects at a time, one advanced project and one mindless project. So far so good. This seems to be helping my FO quota increase. Below is another FO. It is the first garment that I have designed (Violet). It is a shrug made with Buckingham from Bristol Yarn. I will be working the numbers up so I can make the pattern available in the next couple of week. (That is my knitters block that Violet is drying on.)

The First FO of 2008

I'm not sure why it took me so long to complete this sweater. The body knit up really quick. The sleeves however took forever. It could be that I kept forgetting which row of the lace pattern I was on. Not something I could knit while I was tired but it still worked for TV knitting.

Pattern: Cherie Amour
Source: Knitty
Size: Small
Yarn: Malabrigo worsted
Color: 610 Red Mahogany
Quantity: 3 hanks with a little left over
Modifications: None
What I would do differently: Knit a couple extra
rows for the bust. I feel that the ribbing comes
up a little high.

I am hoping that the sweater will stretch a little so that the bust fits better. Trust me I am not busty by any means. I would like to make this again maybe with another yarn so I could wear it during the summer months.

3 FO's

I finally finished Tree Jacket. It is in bad need of some blocking. I am not sure that I like the length. I think I would like it a little longer. The only problem is I have no more yarn. If I decide to lengthen it I will need to order another ball. I think I will block it first to see if I can lengthen it any, if not I will be making a purchase from Knit Pixie, where I purchased the yarn.

Pattern: Tree Jacket
Source: Zephyr Style
Yarn: Karabella Aurora 8
Color: Warm Brown 06
Size: XS 28-31"
Needles: US Size 7
Modifications: None, sleeves knit flat.

I also finished two more Christmas knits for two little neighbors of mine. They are 8 and 10 years old. Although these colors are not my personal favorites I am sure they will love them.

Pattern: Cabled Purse
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpaca Bulky Hand Dyes
Color: Lilac (1020) & Aquamarine (1021)
Needles: US Size 15
Purse Handles: Purchased at JoAnn's

I will be stopping by Jo-Ann's to get some more ribbons so the girls can have a variety of ribbons to change out as they like.

Juliet est fini

Juliet is finished. It has been done for a while but I couldn't decide if I wanted to leave it cropped or make it a little longer. Not to mention that I knit it twice because the first time I made the small which was too big. As you can see the front of the sweater is rolling in a little bit. I think a little blocking will help it to lay flat. I will definitely make this again in the longer version and will extend the garter stitch below the bust next time.

Pattern: Juliet
Source: Zephyr Style
Yarn: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece
Color: Mariner Blue (4 skeins)
Size: XS 28-31"
Needles: US Size 10
Modifications: None

Since I finished Juliet I moved on to Tree Jacket another Zephyr Style design. I am using Karabella Aurora 8 in brown. I love the yarn and the pattern is a lot of fun to knit. So far I have completed the collar and am almost done with the garter stitch. Sorry for the dark picture. 7 PM

November and Cleveland translates to absolutely no sun light after 6:30. I will try to get a better picture. Maybe next time I will pull out my new Ott-lite.

I bet you didn't know that I have my own personal watch dog for all of my knitting projects. That is Max in both the pictures above. He watches over all of my knitting projects at no extra charge. Well, there is a slight clause. Watching over means he is allowed to use the projects as a pillow anytime that I put them down or anytime he deems necessary. Watching over some times means laying or sitting on. The best part is he doesn't charge for any hair that he leaves behind.

More FO's

I don't have any pictures of Juliet to show. I had to rip back to the garter stitch. When I tried on Juliet it was too big. I started out making the small and once I tried it on I realized that the XS was going to fit better. I think in the end I will wear it much more and it will be more flattering.

On to a couple of FO's that I completed a little while ago. I just have not had an opportunity to post any pics. The first is Something Red or Blue in my case. This was really fun to knit and I love the blue sky cotton.

Something Red or Blue

Materials

Pattern: Something Red by Wendy Bernard

Yarn : Blue Sky Alpaca, Blue Sky Cotton. Color Periwinkle 634. The pattern called for 6 hanks but I only used 5.

Size: 34 bust.

Needles: US size 6 circular and double pointed needles.

Modifications: I made the ribbing at the bottom a little longer.

I may need to get a bigger button because the one I used is a little small for the button hole. All in all I really like this sweater. My FMIL already asked me to make her one. I think I am going to have to learn how to knit in my sleep.

The February Baby Sweater

Materials:

Pattern: The Knitter's Almanac by Elizabeth Zimmerman.

Yarn: Encore worsted. Color 1033. I think I used just over one skein.

Needles: US7 needles.

I first saw this on Jared's blog. The pattern wasn't too difficult. If you have never knit one of Elizabeth Zimmerman's patterns, they are more of a recipe. She allows you to make the pattern your own and that is what I think I like most about her patterns. I was intimidated at first but not once I got started. I will definitely make this sweater again with a nicer yarn, maybe something variegated.

Drive-Thru or The Quicko-Cheapo

I love Wendy's patterns. When I saw Drive-Thru I knew I had to make it. The colors reminded me of grade school and my favorite pink and green Izod shirt. Sorry for the bright pic it was taken in the store window. Right now it is showing off the yarn but I think it may have to come home with me soon.

Yarn : Cascade 220 (Body of sweater color#7814, stripes- lt green 8910, dk pink 7801, lt pink 9477)
Size: I made the size 16 and it fits perfect.
Needles : US size 6
Gauge: 4.5-5 stitches per inch
Modifications: None

I am going to make this pattern again in more neutral colors. I think I will add some waist shaping. Overall I really love this pattern and can't wait to wear it. It is suppose to be cold this weekend maybe it will be cold enough to sport my Quicko-Cheapo. I will try to get a better shot of the sweater.