A Few Sheep Shy of a Farm

No pictures today . . . sorry.

I haven’t worked on Fern for few days now but I did do a couple of rows of the handspun shawl the other night. Its now at about the 1/2 way point in length but since the rows keep getting longer . . .

I have been working on a baby sweater, well, a toddler sweater that will fit DS. I’m doing it in one of the yarns from “Naturally” the Vero Tweed and its one of their patterns. I’ve just got the sleeve caps and the sewing up to go then we can put it to the actual trials of being worn by a toddler and see just how well it holds up. I knit the 4 yo size so that it should be big on him now and fit again next year (at least in theory) Afterall, with 7 handknit sweaters already in his drawer it isn’t likely to be worn so much that we shouldn’ t get a 2nd year out of it.

I’m trying out the yarn since I’m thinking of adding their yarns to what I carry. I’ve got 4 different yarns that I using to test out their range to see if I like them. This particular yarn isn’t a style I normally work with; its a single ply, lightly spun heavy worsted to slightly bulky yarn. I will say that it is very soft and knits a very quick kids sweater. Probably a great combination for a last minute winter birthday or holiday gift. I am curious as to how it will hold up to real life wear, hence the toddler test.

I’ve got another of their yarns, Buttons, for a second kids sweater which is probably next on the agenda to try out. Again, I’m planning to knit the 4 yo size so he gets 2-3 years out of it. We don’t mind oversize sweaters around here. Buttons is more like what I normally use, a multi-ply, dk weight yarn and is machine washable on gentle. I like the feel of the skeins so we’ll see how it knits up.

I’ve got 2 others, a 3 ply baby and the Natural DK but I haven’t really played with them yet so we’ll save them for later . . .

Okay, gotta run, just about time to make dinner.

Not a whole lot of knittng . . .

but I’ve been working on the Website! I finally got a chance to take more photos of all the yarns, including the more recently dyed ones that weren’t even up there yet!

I’ve got most of the available yarn posted to the new yarn page, which I loaded to the site last night. So here is your chance for a sneak peak! I’ll be sending out a newsletter with the updated info in another couple of days when I have a few more things finished off, but in the mean time, blog readers are getting the preview!

Just click here to see the new yarn page, including new yarns and new colorways!

I’d love to hear what you think as this is a work in progress . . .

thanks!

January Wrap up and some photos

Well, the first month of UFO knitting is over and I’ve made some real progress on the pile. The Tally so far is 5 UFOs finished off, 4 other WIPs also finished and I managed to cast on a total of 6 things this month (including 3 that are finished). So all in all not a bad month of knitting. Granted the finished things are all relatively small or didn’t need much finishing but still, it feels like a good start.

Here is a pic of the DH Gloves that are finally done after something like 3 years in the UFO tub:

I came up with my own version of a hat pattern while doing this, knit extra tight to keep the weather out. Not your ususal super quick knitting hat but I really like the results. So much so that I’m writing up the pattern to add to the ones I have for IY. I’m writing up both versions, the red and this:

This is Mimmo’s new hat, made in the same fashion as the red one, but with a simple rib and without the pom pom. I’m going to add a pom pom to it for him (he seems to like them, even if his father isn’t too keen on the idea) but I wanted to take pattern pictures of it without so I’d have one of each . . . but I consider it done even without since he’s been wearing it. It stays on his head without sliding into his eyes much better than the other one he has. And goodness knows, a little boy can’t have too many hats in the winter.

I’ve also cast on for some mittens to match and from the other end of the ball I’m working on a second hat of the same design. It will either go in the at box or be put aside for him as a spare for next winter.

And here is the very beginning of Fern:

I’m really enjoying this yarn. Not the softest stuff in the world but it has a nice solid texture to it and I think it will hold up well without a lot of pilling or anything. And as an added bonus, DH thinks its too scratchy for his liking so he’s unlikely to try to steal my sweater! Something to be said for having a higher itch tollerance level! I’m about 2 rows away from changing needles and beginning the real pattern but as I refuse to work on this when I’m cross-eyed tired or have a toddler around its going to be rather slow going.

I didn’t wind up doing my Granny squares yesterday and it isn’t looking good with today’s schedule either so they might get pushed to this weekend. So long as I get them done it isn’t a big deal . . . just want to be sure I keep making some progress. . . . And I need to pull this months UFOs out of the storage. I’ll be working on the Lush Water Bottle Cozy, which really has very little left to do and on the Baby Blanket I started for Mimmo out of handpainted yarn. I don’t anticipate finishing the blanket this month, its on my exceptions to finishing list, but I’d like to finish the ball of yarn that I’m currently on . . .

I’ve also got 2 baby gifts to start (one that needs to be finished this month and one that doesn’t) and 2 sweaters to start from yarn I’m considering adding to the site that I want to do a test run of to see how I like them before I make a decision.

Okay, we’ve got a big day planned so I’d better run. DH is returning the car he got, too many things not right with it and we have to stop by the Drs for some over due shots (he was sick 2 weeks ago when he had his exam) and we are going to try to make it to the library for story time so he gets some toddler time today . . .

More FO’s to report!

I’ve finished the Red Hat that I started for the Afghans for Afghans campaign and I decided to make one out of some of my handpainted stash for Mimmo. I finished that this morning while we were in the waiting room at the Doctors (routine, he’s fine) except that I promised him I’d put a Pom pom on top. I put one on the red hat and he nearly twitched out of his skin he wanted it so badly so I told him I’d make a great big one for his hat.

I’ve also cast on for another hat which will go in the hat box for later, the first addition to the now empty box to begin filling it for next winter.

I also have a confession. I bought yarn. Not a lot, not for stash but still I bought yarn. Elann recently ran a special with “just the right yarn” for the sweater I’ve been wanting to make for myself for a couple of years now. Its a Starmore; Fern from the Stillwater for those familar. I didn’ t have any Aran weight yarn to use for this and I really wanted to take a try at doing just one Starmore this year so I went ahead and bought the yarn. It didn’t hurt that I loved the color or that it cost about $100 less than Ms. Starmore’s yarn would have cost for the same sweater.

I knit the swatch for it on Saturday night and I’m getting it pretty much on gauge, at least with the swatch very lightly blocked, so I’m going to go for it. I cast on the front and back together yesterday. I’m planning to work both at the same time since they are identical until you get to the neck shaping. That way they might actually turn out identical instead of it just being a theory. I tend to do the same thing with the sleeves. Always a nice thing when those match, know what I mean?

I’ve also been trying to work on the website. I’m about 2/3 done with the redesign and hope to finish it in the next couple of days. May have to grab Nonna for some toddler time and just crank it out. I got the kit in the mail today from Yankee Knitter Designs. I’m going to be carrying her patterns from now on and so I ordered the intro kit with copies of all the patterns. Some fun stuff, esp. for the little ones and I’m already picturing a reindeer sweater for the little guy for next Christmas, and if I feel really into it I might do one for each of my brother’s girls as well. Wouldn’t that be a cute Christmas picture, all three kids in matching sweaters? Perhaps red for the girls and green for him? We’ll see.

Okay, his “puppy movie” just ended (Lady and the Tramp) so I’d better go entertain again. Photos of every thing soon, possibly tomorrow if things go well.

Not a whole lot of knitting lately.

I’ve been working on the red patons classic hat for the Afghans for Afghans drive but that is about it. I’m at the point where that is just knitting around and around so its pretty mindless . . . I really need to work on DH’s scarf some more. I had hoped to finish the scarf before the end of the month but its looking less and less likely.

I have been working on the Inspirations Yarn website. Things got a bit sticky and the whole site was actually down over the weekend but I have it back up and sort of running with a whole new look. I’ve added about 40 more of the Fiber Trends patterns which should arrive any day now. And I’m adding the entire line of patterns from Yankee Knitter Designs! I’m very excited about the new pattern line. They aren’t the most “trendy” patterns but they are great basic patterns to have on hand and work well with a large variety of yarns so I think they will be a good fit with several of the yarns I have at the moment.

I’m working now on building the page that will have the new patterns so look for that to be up in the next couple of days. I’m also looking around for some other pattern lines to add over the next few months so if you have some favorites that would be good to add please do let me know!

I’m also working toward the goal of carrying the entire Fiber Trends library. I’m nearly 1/2 way there but since they have over 200 patterns plus all the new “Naturally” patterns they recently added its a big investment . . . so one chunk at a time on those.

Gotta run, I hear crashing sounds coming from the other room and that is never a good sign around here!