well, not quite as catchy as 1 2 3 4...but I just didnt manage to finish before munch decided it was naptime.

1 and 2: Mr's Vday clogs. While I didnt make it for Valentines Day, I still finished in February, so that counts for something, right?

Pattern: Felted Clogs
Yarn: Brown Sheep Bulky (single stranded), 2 skiens burgundy, 1 skien brown
Needles: size 13 bamboo circulars.
Mods: not a stitch different than the pattern. I joined with a bumper and knitted the higher heel which are both options given with the pattern.

Of course, the ends are still dangling but I'm calling these done. He loves them, despite the little patch job I had to do.... We are going to felt these over the weekend when the Mr. is around to provide a foot for gauge. There is still a part of me that can't believe he picked this color since I offered up yarn in a variety of blues and greens--his traditional colors. In fact, when we started dating, he had his closet arranged in color order (seriously) and there wasnt a single article of clothing in there that wasn't blue, green or a shade of black. His palette has certainly grown since we got together. I'd like to take credit but it probably lies with Tim Gunn. The Mr. never misses an episode of Project Runway...

3 and 3 3/4's is my Mom's Baby Cable Rib socks.

Pattern: Baby Cable Rib in Sensational Knitted Socks
Yarn: Spunky Eclectic Super Sport in "Pie for Everyone"
Mods: None! 56 stitches around, heel flap with slipped stitches and a basic toe

These have really been growing on me. When I first got the yarn, I didnt love the colors in the yarn but they were totally my Mom's colors. Now that its knitted up, I really love it. And the pattern just couldnt be cuter. Super simple--enough to qualify for the "basic sock" category but still interesting enough to keep you from getting bored.

I have just a few more rounds to go before I start the toe! I'll finish today!

I'm doing awesome on my quest to get all my FO's under control. Now I just have Munch's log cabin blankie, the Unst Shawl, a new pair of Monkey's and--most importantly, my new niece's Blankie. I've done a few rounds on it but its slow going at almost 450 stitches a round. I'm hoping to finish by the shower but I'm doubting it since I only have about 10 days to go.

I'm on a quest! I want a clean slate so I can start something new!

Posted by fruitychick at 12:07 PM | Permalink

In all my years of knitting, I've never ever run out of yarn mid (or end) project. Maybe its that I always buy far too much yarn or that I'm terrified of running out so I never pair a yarn with a project that is within 10% or so of the yarn I have.

But it happened today...

I couldnt believe it. There I was, chugging along on Mr's Vday clogs and I just ran out. I knew I was going to cut it close but I've made this pattern before--same size, same yarn, everything. How could I have been so off this time?

Oh well...I searched around in the stash to find some more of the yarn but didnt have any in the color, so there is a slight patch job at the cuff.

I dont think its that noticeable, especially since I'm holding up the cuff in this picture. I'm hoping once its felted, You wont really be able to tell.

I would have just done the extra round with the cuff color but I barely scraped by completing the first clog with the first skein and I didnt want to chance having a patch on a very visible portion of the clog.

oh well...I guess there are worse things than slightly mismatched clogs.

I'm going to try to finish these up tonight or tomorrow before Mr. Fruitychick gets home from a business trip. It won't be a surprise or anything but I just want to get them off my plate. I'm having too many projects going at once loss of enthusiasm for knitting, so I'm trying to plow through them one at a time....

Next is Maren's Blanket. I have two weeks before I leave for my trip. I dont know if it will get finished for the shower, but I'd like to get close.

Posted by fruitychick at 12:02 PM | Permalink

Despite my usual anti-gift knitting stance, I'm swamped with gift knitting at the moment.

Mr. Fruitychick's "not so valentine's day present" valentines clogs:

Sadly not even half finished. I still need to knit the second bottom to this one and do the entirety of the second clog.

Maren's Blankie:

Maren is my new niece--due in early June. The center pattern is from the feather and fan shawl in "A Gathering of Lace." I'm surrounding it with basic stockinette with increases every other round to keep the blanket vaguely circular. I'm going to put a deep lacey edging on it but I haven't decided which one yet. This one is probably the most important to get done because the shower is just a few weeks away--March 15.

Labor Socks for my Sister:

These are a little lower down the priority list since I have a few months before the big event but I was hoping to get them done for the shower.

Honestly though, I'm just not digging these for Maureen (my sister). I think she needs something in a more solid colorway. I guess I'll have to keep these for myself :) Of course, that means I'm back at square 1 with socks for my sister.

Socks for my Mom:

My parents were in town to visit over the weekend and through the beginning of the week. While they were here, my mom fell in love with this sock yarn (Spunky Eclectic--"Pie for everyone"). Its perfect for her--all the right colors. Its sport weight, so its working up super quick in a simple baby cable rib.

Of course, I have all this going...in addition to Munch's Log Cabin Blankie:

and the Unst stole.

and...my Valentines Day present from the Mr. arrived today:

Its taking everything I have not to break that band open and wind it up... Blue Moon Fiber Arts Silk Thread in "mustang sally"

Its time to prioritize though. I can get it all done if I dont get distracted.... Once I get all my gift knitting done, I can start something new (or work on the unst stole, which is calling my name from my knitting bag) without any gift-guilt.

How do all you gift knitters do it? How do you not get overwhelmed with things to knit for others when youd rather work on something else?

Posted by fruitychick at 02:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)

If lace knitting is slow...then lace blogging is even slower.

Unst is coming along though my attention has been diverted by working on two blankets (munchs and munch's soon to be baby girl cousin) as well as a new pair of clogs for the Mr. for Valentine's Day. (he is hard to shop for...)

Here I am at row 24 (row counter for scale)

I love it but this yarn is still terrifying thin in places...

Also eating up a few hours of knitting time was a new book: The Lightning Thief. It was super cute. I'm sure there are a lot of comparisons to be made to a one Harry Potter series and, I admit, there are some there but its a great little book (series, actually, but I've only read the first). The premise is that the Olympian gods are still around, doing all thier usual olympian god things--including having kids with humans. The book follows one of those kids through his first few months of finding out his parentage. I have high hopes for the second book, which I intend to pick up today while I'm out with the Munch!

Read anything good lately? I'm always up for a new book but I've kind of hit a wall where I can't get into anything much--I'd love some suggestions!

Posted by fruitychick at 01:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I love the feeling of a fresh FO. Its such a sense of accomplishment.

Especially if its lace and you get to block it.

Before:

lump o blue yarn

During:

And After:

The Specs:

Pattern: Green Moss Shawl by Sharon Miller of Heirloom Knitting
Yarn: Zephyr Wool Silk in the Royal colorway. I had 4 ounces but I only used about 2/3 of the second ball.
Needles: size 7 Inox (with the most annoyingly stiff cord in the world...I can't believe I made it all the way through the shawl without ripping them apart)
Size: The large Shawl size (pattern also gives instructions for a smaller capelet size)
Modifications: none. (well, none intentional. I did kind of screw up at the beginning but didnt realize it until I was nearly done. You can just guess how likely it was that I was going to rip back and fix it.)
Started: Jan 20th-ish.
Finished: February 6

Wow--less than three weeks. Thats got to be a record for me. This monogomous knitting thing may have something going for it.

All in all, I love the shawl--its a gorgeous color that will go with almost everything in my closet. It is quite a large shawl, which is just what I wanted--a good 12-14 inches longer than my wingspan and it hits me mid thigh at its deepest part. The yarn was nice to work with and blocked beautifully.

The only downside is that I am very, very tired of making little rosette patterns. Its time to move on to something else...

Here are the humble beginnings of the Unst Stole (Ravelry link). I'm working with Lacis Shetland Cobweb and, holy crap, it is thin. I feel like I am really tempting the knitting gods with this one. One yarn snap and the shawl could be dead forever without hope of revival. I keep trying to remember that it has been done before in this yarn by MissAliceFaye so it is possible...

Of course, I"ve only made it to row 4 of the first chart...so I've got a long way to go.

Posted by fruitychick at 01:49 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

I really wanted to have a picture of the Blue Moss shawl all pinned out for blocking but I just didnt get much knitting done this weekend between painting and remodeling in the dining room! (goodbye forever Worlds Ugliest Light Fixture!!) and the awesomeness that was the superbowl. I've been a Peyton fan for a while but Eli is creeping up there after he smacked around the evil Patriots.

Anyway...despite having an additional 40 rows or so done on the shawl, it still looks exactly the same--like a sad pile of blue seaweed. I only have 10 more rows to go before I start the border at the top though--so I'll probably be done in the next day or two, depending on how the munch naps.

but-- I was tapped for a MeMe! I know a lot of people hate them but I love them--I think its fun to find out little things about people you didnt know before...

Thanks to Megan over at Knittens!.

Here is what I have to do....List 7 Random Facts about Me

Here are the rules (and they must be posted to your blog).
Link to the person’s blog who tagged you (see above). List seven random and/or weird facts about yourself. Tag seven random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs. Let each person know that they have been tagged by posting a comment on their blog and also so they can look at your blog and not tag the same people all over again!

1. I love playing boardgames. Geeky boardgames like Carcassonne and Through the Desert. My husband and I always keep track of who wins and loses and total it up each year. So far, I am down 3 years to 1 and I am determined to win this year.

2. I wont eat chicken in a restaurant. I dont know why--maybe they won't cook it all the way? Who knows--I always order steak. I do eat chicken at home all the time though.

3. My favorite candy is Cadbury Mini Eggs. I swear, I could eat a bag in a sitting. Probably two. And two more the next day. I'm not talking about the little bags either--I mean, seriously, why even bother with those--I mean the big bags!

4. I am not very organized. I would like to be but I'm just not. The only thing in the house that is really organized is the yarn stash. That is carefully labeled in tubs in the yarn room (also known as the guest room but its really more of a yarn room than anything else). Anything else in my house thats organized was done by the Mr.

5. When I was younger (and really even when I was in college), I never ever ever thought I would want to be a stay at home mom. I always thought I wanted the big career and all but my whole perspective changed when I got married and had the munchkin. It tore me to pieces to go back to work even after a long maternity leave and I'm so glad we made the decision for me to stay at home.

6. I'm terribly shy. I hate calling customer service, going to the door for pizza or meeting new people. Its not that I dont want to--I do, I'm just terrified to do it. There is a knitting group I really want to go to here in town and I've been putting it off for no good reason other than I am a total and complete chicken.

7. I found it really hard to come up with this list. Maybe I'm just boring though. I was trying not to duplicate things from my 100 things list. Wow--I just realized that was FOUR YEARS ago. 2004. Holy Cow. Despite my life having changed a lot in the past four years, maybe its just that I haven't changed a lot. I'm ok with that.

I'm sure you are more interesting than I am--so tag!

Posted by fruitychick at 11:26 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)