Fun with Knitting (and Quilting)

Just steek it!!!

So I've been thinking about trying steeking for sometime now. I started the bulky neck down cardigan for women (by knitting pure and simple) and decided that I was going to knit it in the round and steek it. I've been working the sweater off and on for a couple weeks. Then I listened to Megan's Pod-cast, and well she's having a contest so I decided now is the time! So I browsed around the Internet and watched a few videos and since I sew a lot too, I had no fear of doing a sewn steek.  So on went my machine. I used my walking foot (and a size 16 needle) that I have for quilting since the yarn was bulky (RYC Soft Tweed). Then I carefully sewed a line of stitches up each side of my center line which I marked with scrap yarn. Just to be really safe I stitched each line twice. Then I took out the scissors and took a deep breath and started cutting. It was liberating really. I cut and my knitting didn't fall apart, and I didn't puke or faint! I was actually pretty excited about it.  The only thing I'm slightly sad about it that I think I'm going to have to frog part of the first sleeve I have done-I think it's too tight!

Hubby was out golfing at the time and as you can see the dogs weren't too impressed by me!

Pretty Knitty

So my buddy Pam has started up an etsy store called PrettyKnittyJewlry. Go check it out you know you want to! She has the coolest row counters ever! I love them! I have 2 for socks (see it over there on the right(Not the best picture of her lovely work, I know!)...Now to get ahold of a couple more. I own, oh say 5 chacha counters..and well sometimes I can find one, other times I have to search for them..or the don't stay with the intended project, that can be a problem! (Especially if you have a zillion WIPS like me!) So the awesome thing about these is that they are on your needle attached to your knitting so you can't lose it or your place, even after you shove your project in a bag! Pam describes how these work far more eloquently than I can so go check them out!!!  Quote on how to use the counters from Pam's site "This counter sits on the knitting needle, between stitches. On each row or round of knitting, the knitter slips the working needle into the next ring on the counter. When you reach the end of the counter, you have completed 20 rows of knitting."

That's my latest sock in progress up there...it's going to be the spring forward sock from Knitty. If you look closely you will see that my needle snapped off! GRR So I'm now waiting on a nickel plated on to arrive from knit picks. I've also been working on my Mockery sock as well.

 The pattern is very cool!

I've also been moving along on my cardi.  I want to steek the front. Megan is having a steeking contest that runs through April first so I want to steek the front before then! But I've got to finish my niece's Wallaby before her b-day party on April 4th..no picts of that yet!

OH what a bad blogger

Wow it has been a long time! I don't have an excuse for not posting...no mojo I guess! There has been lots of knitting, thinking about sewing, and shopping, and thinking about other crafting too! Hubby did have surgery and the flu and we both had a nasty cold in there somewhere!

I finished my Alexandra Ballet top. It's cozy and cute I did make several mods on this pattern. That is the beauty of these great top down's!

I used RYC sowft twwed in Logan Berry and size 10 1/2 needles (Knit Picks of course).

I cast on for the X-small then increased till I had as many needed for my size 38" bust. I also added 4 short rows for my bust. For the front I didn't want all garter so I put the cables in panels of rev stockinette. The cables are so pretty! I debated on doing the cables on the sleeve or leaving it plain, in the end I decided to do the cables and boy am I glad I did.  I also knit them in the round instead of flat-that worked out really well. Towards the end I was really sweating it about whether I'd  have enough yarn or not, but I just made it. Only have about 10-20 yards left. As always more info on my Ravelry page!

I also finished up a pair of plain vanilla socks that had been hanging on the needles way to long! And then also knit up another pair of plain vanilla. these are both toe ups.

Currently I'm working on a Knitting Pure and Simple bulky Cardigan out of some more RYC soft tweed. I'm much farther along now, I'm working on the first sleeve. I'm planning on steeking it and using moss stitch down the front and around the hood. then using large snaps to close it.

I also just started a Wonderful Wallaby for my niece for her birthday-which is in 3 weeks!

I'm also working on a pair of Mockery socks out of Arucania Ranco multi. It's a fun pattern but I seem to  keep messing it up!

So that is what up I've been up to lately!