WIP Wednesday: Week 31

My current WIPs are either a) boring b) gifts or c) pretty much untouched since my last WIP post, so I'll just stick to showing off my one finished object this time.

I finished the mermaid's tail last week! I knew I was going to see my niece last weekend, and really wanted to have it ready for her. Fortunately it was a really quick knit (2 strands of yarn on THICK needles) so took no time at all to knit up. I adapted an existing pattern and made a few bad choices along the way, but it turned out alright, and she LOVED it! I mean she
absolutely
loved
it!
Granted, this was all within the first 48 hours of receiving it, so it might lose its shiny newness soon, but even so I was VERY gratified to see how much she enjoyed it. I've already promised her mother that if it keeps being this popular, I'd be happy to add some extra length to it, so she can keep using it as she grows. I love when gift knits work out this well!

WIP Wednesday: Week 29

Long post is LONG! I've just been on vacation which means that I have had a LOT of knitting time these past few weeks and thus have a bunch of finished items to show off, as well as SEVERAL works in progress! Apparently finishing stuff always makes me want to cast on three new projects for every one I cast off ;-)

Finished Objects
Most importantly, I've finished both my test-knits! The deadline isn't until August 1st, so I'm happy to have those done in plenty of time. Actually, I'd been knitting pretty much exclusively on the Tolovana Tee for the first week of my vacation. I love everything about it, and can't wait until it's cooled down enough to wear wool again.
With that out of the way I figured it was about time to pick up Midnight Sun again and finished that the very next day (including adding a bit of extra length to the first sleeve, as I'd measured it wrong). I'm not quite as happy with the fit of this one (particularly the sleeves, as they are a bit tight), but I'm hoping it'll stretch the right places with wear.
And then, just as I was about to try to figure out what on EARTH to cast on next, Nina texted me that she was looking for some knitted/crocheted wash- and dishcloths - if I knew where she could buy some. Sheesh! As IF I'd let her buy something I could make so easily! I hunted through my cotton scraps and 2 days later I'd finished five :-D I've got plenty of scraps left, but figured I'd leave it at this until I see how she likes them :-)

On the Needles
Thanks to the vacation, I currently have 5 new WIPs! (And haven't touched the 5 older ones at all... go figure :-P ) After all, I needed something suitable to bring along with me on my trip, right? Of course right ;-) So it ended up being 2 pairs of socks, 2 shawls and 1 mermaids tail! The latter didn't get cast on until day before yesterday though ;-)

When reading through a recent edition of "The Knitter" magazine I found a pattern for some awesome fair isle cat socks! (As in - socks with cats on them - not socks for cats!). I couldn't resist them, and as I was looking for a gift for Liz' birthday anyway, I decided to cast them on! As always, fair isle is amazingly potato-chippy, and knitting the Favourite Things cowl has definitely helped in making my floats better. It's still uneven as anything, but oh well... I guess that's just the nature of the beast.

I've finished the first one (although I decided to change the pattern on the foot to a simple Fibonacci stripe sequence instead), but though I cast on the second one right away, I'm still just on the ribbing. That's okay - I have until the end of October to finish it.

They were much too complex to bring along with me on vacation though, so I cast on a simple vanilla sock, as I had some left overs for my "Fading Point" shawl that I wanted to play around with. Perfect car knitting... except for the fact that I couldn't try them on, so just guesstimated where the heel should go and made them about 1cm too small! Of course I could just have continued with them like that, and passed them on to a niece or sister... but I kinda really wanted to keep these for myself :-p so I ripped back a few hours of knitting and am now back on track again - but only just past the heel instead of almost done.

One new cast on isn't enough for a vacation though, so I also cast on for the Turtles Trail shawl. I have some gorgeously soft mystery yarn that Liz gave me which I wanted to use. As far as I can make out, I have about 800m of a lace weight, but I couldn't find a suitable lace shawl I felt like knitting, so I decided to hold it double and use it for this instead! It's so soft that I couldn't see myself using it for anything other than a shawl, so it was just a matter of finding the right pattern for it. I'm really picky when it comes to one-skein shawl patterns, but I do love an applied edging, so this seemed like a good fit.
Can't wait to finish this. It's so soft you guys... SO soft! I can't even... just wish I knew what was in it. My guess (knowing that it's a New Zealand yarn) is that it's probably a merino-possum blend of some sort, but it might have some other fibers thrown in there as well.

While away on vacation I (of course) visited a yarn store and got some gorgeous new yarn for myself. However, the VERY first skein I spotted was one that immediately called out to me that it HAD to be bought and knit up for Nina. I did NOT have a say - it had to happen! I actually even considered purchasing a new set of needles and getting it wound up right then and there to cast on the very same day.... but realized that was just a tiiiiny bit silly :-P So I waited the two days until I got back home again... and then immediately sat down to find a suitable pattern. I knew I wanted something asymmetric and quirky like Martina Behm (in fact, I originally thought it should be another Hitchhiker, but then realized that not only had I already knit 3 of those - I'd knit one of those for Nina! Time for something else) and ended up with Margrathea - another Douglas Adams inspired pattern of hers.

And finally my newest cast on. Last Sunday Michala told me that Nora really wanted a mermaid tail and had gone right on to say that "auntie can make one!". Of course I always want to encourage my nieblings in their belief that "auntie can knit/crochet anything", and as this is the first time Nora has ever actually asked me to make her something, obviously I had to comply. As she wants to be able to wear it in her bathtub (as any self-respecting mermaid would, of course! ;-) ) I had no suitable yarn in my stash so went yarn shopping the very next day and cast on the same evening. Not much progress yet, but as it's DK yarn held double on 7mm needles it should take me no time at all to finish :-)

WIP Wednesday - Week 25

A LONG overdue WIP post! I have so much to show off.

Off the Needles
First things first - after having procrastinated on grafting 120 stitches for FAR too long (took forever too!!!) I am now finally, finally, FINALLY absolutely done with My Favourite Things cowl, and I couldn't be happier with how it's turned out. It's obviously much too warm to wear right now, but I can't make myself pack it away, and smile every time I walk past it. It's so colourful and so ME! I love it! I've promised Liz to knit one for her too, but haven't cast that on yet... think I need a bit of a break from fair isle just now. :-P

But here it is, in all its glory.

This next cowl I actually finished ages ago, but had to wait to show off until I could give it to Nina. It was originally written for DK weight yarn, but she'd asked me to rewrite it for fingering. Took some maths, but hopefully it worked :-)

Finally, I have two pairs of socks! The Jaywalkers that I showed off in progress last time, and a pair of plain vanilla that I've been knitting during work meetings.

Works in Progress
I haven't actually touched either of the two sweaters from last time, because I've signed up for two test-knits! I usually try to limit myself to one at a time, but I was literally just missing the sleeves of one when the other turned up, so I couldn't resist :-D

First up is the Midnight Sun top. The boatneck is slightly wider than I usually prefer, but I loved it on the model, so hopefully I can pull it off too :-P Working the stripes is a hassle and a half though!!! Four different balls of yarn at the same time - it tangles ALL the time. I've finished the first sleeve, but am taking a bit of a breather before tackling the next one... Managing 4 skeins was bad enough for the body, but at least I used each for a decent amount of time for each stripe. Now I have to change colours all the time, meaning the yarns tangle even worse! First world problems, I know ;-) Also, I think I knit the first sleeve too short, so I want to try to knit the second a repeat longer to compare... and then either rip back the second one, or undo the cast off of the first one and add an extra repeat. We'll see. I LOVE the colours though! The bathroom shot does not do it justice at ALL - the colours are a lot more vibrant in real life.

The other one is at the "impossible to photograph right now" stage, so it basically just looks like a blob, but it's absolutely gorgeous, and I love working on it. I should only be a few cm from separating for the sleeves, and then it'll be a lot easier to photograph.

WIP Wednesday: Week 19

Only one FO since last time, but a LOT of WIPs currently in progress.

I'm in a sweater-knitting mood and thus have not one, not two, but three different sweaters on the needles at the moment! I've only been working on the two new ones since last time though, so my long-languishing WIP is long-languishing once again. But who cares - it's not like it has a deadline anyway.

First, I cast on the Long Cabled Vest out of some bulky yarn. I adapted it to be knit in the round, as I don't think I'd ever wear it open anyway, and this way I could eliminate a lot of the purling :-P Time will show if my modifications work (as it's knit bottom up, so I can't really try it on as I go), but I'm honestly not too fussed if I end up frogging it. With such thick yarn I might have been better off with a cardi, but at the time I cast it on, I REALLY wanted to be knitting in the round, so that overruled everything else ;-) And who knows - I might also end up loving it!
I'm going to sew on some buttons despite having knit it in the round. I think it'll give it a more structured/finished look, and I don't mind sewing on buttons when they're just for show.

The vest didn't really scratch my cast-on itch though, so shortly after, I swatched for and cast on the Twylem cardigan (I know, I know - lots of purling after all!). You guys, I LOVE this knit!!! The yarn is amazingly soft, I love the colour, and the pattern follows a really interesting construction and is so much fun to knit!! One of my favourite knits in a very long time, and I can't wait to finish it so I can wear it.

As always I also have some socks on the needles - one plain vanilla, for when I need to be able to just knit and not look or think, and one with a minor amount of patterning, for when it's okay that I have to look once in awhile (still doesn't require much thought though, fortunately. I've finished the first sock of both, and am racing along with the second, so will probably finish those soon too.... My handknit socks are outgrowing the drawer I keep them in!! Fortunately I managed to pass on two pairs to a friend last month, but still!!! I forgot to take a progress photo of the plain vanilla, but here is the first Jaywalker sock. Great pattern!


But with all those new things on the needles, I only have one finished object since my last post. Henni is moving later this month, and I wanted to give her something as a housewarming present. When we moved, she gave us a "Nisse" (~ Santa's helper), which has been guarding our living room ever since, so I figured I'd get her one too - but since it's May, I quickly gave up on buying one, and made one instead. Took no time at all, and I'm very happy with how it turned out!

WIP Wednesday - Week 15

Even though I haven't updated in about a month, I still only have one finished item to show off this week! (Well, I've finished two, but the other is a gift and schhh!secret until the recipient makes it back to Denmark :-D )

At least the "one thing" is something I am rather proud of. I finally finished the fantastic "Fading Point"!
Alas, it turns out that while it's absolutely awesome as a wrap, it is WAY too big as a scarf at this time of year. So my plan of bringing it along to work to wrap around me on the colder days doesn't really work after all. Ah well, I can still use it at home.

I'm making my way through my ancient WIPs, and so picked up the Symmetry in Motion top, which I cast on in December 2015 and still haven't finished!!! Fortunately I picked a size with enough ease that I can still fit it, so it's still worth finishing it. It's two strands of lace weight held together which is STILL thinner than fingering weight yarn, so it's taking me forever! Fortunately the yarn is wonderfully soft, so I'm enjoying the knit.

WIP Wednesday: Week 11

Finished Objects
I was about to say I didn't have any finished objects since last time... until I checked Ravelry and discovered I have THREE!!! Just goes to show how rotten my memory apparently is :-P

So! My first finished object is the mittens I was knitting for Miriam. I loved how they turned out colour-wise, although the thumb is a tad tight - I've made a note for that, so I remember to increase further should I ever knit it again. She seems to like them though, and have been wearing them a lot.
Second up is a Star Trek insignia I knit for one of my colleagues. We had a sci-fi themed party back in the beginning of March, and he couldn't figure out what to dress out as - was considering just coming as a "Man in Black" - so I told him that if he had a blue, red or yellow shirt, I'd be happy to make him the insignia he could pin on his shirt, if he didn't mind it being crocheted. He LOVED that idea, and though he gave me back the pins I'd used, he kept the insignia! Whether that's because he accidentally threw it out, or if he actually wanted to keep it, I don't know - nor really care. It was awesome just to see him wearing it all evening!
Finally I finished a super-quick pair of socks for Henni. She wanted some cozy, thick indoor socks and knitting socks out of DK weight just takes no time at all! I sent her a photo of two different colours of yarn, and asked her which she wanted. "Green! No pink! No green! No... gah!" "I could also just make you one of each?" "YES PLEASE!!!" So that's what I did :-D

On the Needles
I am SO close to finishing the favourite things cowl!!! I just need a few more rows and then grafting it together! I really, really love how it turned out, and kinda want to cast on another! I've offered to make one for Liz (who hasn't taken the dive into fair isle yet), so that might have to happen... although I HAVE warned her that mine took more than two years to finish, so she'd have to expect something similar ;-)
From top to bottom: planes, books, jigsaw puzzle, dragons, mountains, witches, squirrels, music, theater masks, owls, kangaroos, Bibles, faith-hope-love, silver fern and kiwi (NZ - "Kia ora" means "Hi"), snow, coffee (or tea), maori pattern, cats, swirls (just a filler... I added some of those before I realized I had PLENTY of designs to add without them!), trains (=Lars), New York skyline, other swirls, piano, rainbow, dogs, hearts.


I've also come a lot further on Fading Point. I've finished section two, and am about half-way on section 3 (out of 4). The rows are now decreasing by 4 stitches every second row, so the last bit should go SWOOSH!! I can't wait to see it all blocked and done!
And finally, as always I have some socks on my needles. For once only one pair though! This is the Jaywalker pattern which is just a small step above plain vanilla, so they're quite easy to knit. I'm keeping these for commute/meeting knitting only though, so they might take awhile to finish.

WIP Wednesday - Week 8

Finished Objects
I have two finished objects to show off this week :-D

Since I have already shown Marie a photo of her socks, and they went out in the mail today, I can now show them off here as well!
Very busy yarn, so I wanted a "calming" pattern for them. I couldn't find one that was just right, so I made up my own! I think it turned out quite nice, if I do get to say so myself!

I also finished my test knit. It was a really fun knit and basically flew off the needles. I'm not too sure about the colour combination though... the colours look great together, but are a bit too "cutsey" for me... so this may end up being a gift to a niece instead ;-)

´On the Needles
I haven't even TOUCHED Fading Point since my last post, instead having focused on the two projects above, as well as a pair of mittens for Miriam. They're coming back to Denmark for a visit next week, and while we're having an unseasonably warm winter, that could change at any moment, so I wanted to have them ready. I've finished the first and am just about done with the cuff on the second.

Besides, this weekend I picked My Favourite Things Cowl back up. I haven't touched it in ages, but suddenly got the urge to do a bit more fair isle. You guys, it is SO potato-chippy!!! I've added another 6 or 7 sections since then and am actually almost done!! I want it to be large enough to wrap around my head twice, and it's almost there! Which is almost a shame - of course I want to finish it, so I can wear it and show it off, but it's such a fun knit that I just want to keep going! Also I have SO many more things I want to add to it! May have to knit a second one after all...


(I've done one more section since this shot, but forgot to take a new photo this morning).