Baktus Rainbow

I was really pleased how this project turned out.
This was my 4th baktus.
I knit using the Noro Kureyon Sock yarn. I put the skein into two separate balls and switched the yarn every two rows.
I like the colors a lot. The Kureyon Sock yarn is a bit scratchy to knit but soften up nicely using eucalan.

I vlogged about the karius version in August 2009. Those details can be found here.  This post has good links to the yarn and such. :)

Noro Kureyon Zipper Cardigan Spotting

I was out knitting with friends Friday and saw this sweater. It's knit using Noro Kureyon in a color that I used for a vest. It was a lovely zipper cardi that had perfectly matching sleeves.  This was a beautiful sweater with a great collar. I was across the room and used my digital zoom in poor lighting so the quality is poor.

I believe the color is 55.

Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams and Sock Knitting :)

I eat Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams Sweet Corn & Black Raspberries
with the sample spoon to make the fun last a bit longer. 
Yarmando's Evil Sock Genius Socks
Noro Kureyon Sock

Baktus, oops..Karius Scarf

Here's the great pattern on Ravelry.
The lacy version is here.
A nice photo and the pattern can be found here on flickr.

Noro Kureyon Sock Yarn details here and on Ravelry here. I don't like this yarn for socks. I've tried. I think it's spun too tightly. I heard rumors that the second run of the yarn wasn't spun so tightly and would be easier to pull out of the skein. I did get frustrated with the number of times that the yarn twisted. I was able to untangle the "yarn belch" without needing to break the yarn (or anything around me at the time.) The colors are quite enjoyable as Noro usually is. I did knit a baby surprise jacket out of Kureyon Sock. The size of the BSJ is definitely for a small baby.

I like the ideas of a few nice beads on the ends, don't you? I think something natural looking and not too large. The added benefit for me is it would weight the ends a bit.

Cat can be found here. Go say "Hi." Read her blog, you'll understand.

Carry a-long projects: Vest Idea

I've got an idea for a sweater vest that will be knit in strips.



The yarns I'm considering are:
Noro Kureyon in Color 32 (discontinued)
Noro Kureyon in Color 53
Noro Kujaku in Color 2

I have completed a sample in color 32 and like the colors but need to change the needle size. Recommended needle size is 8 and I swatched on a 4. It's too tight. So I'll go up to a 6 or 7. I'm thinking the stitch pattern needs to be relaxed a bit. Test swatching can be fun.

I've been wondering about your carry-a-long projects. I've been knitting a lot of cotton washcloths. What do you like to take with you and knit?

Blueberry Scarf in Noro

I've been swatching for a new project. I'm itching for something on the somewhat challenging but meditative to knit using yarn from my stash.
I've done two swatches for this pattern from the book the Little Box of Scarves I received for Christmas 2005. (fun little book, it actually has about 5 scarves that I would consider knitting). The first swatch didn't work well because I cast on too many sts. I had 43 sts going and the scarf was just too wide. Now I'm using the 27 sts, which is a nice size, but the feel isn't very appealing. I'm using Noro Kuryeon on one size too small of needles. My color is 32, which is discontinued. The feel of the yarn is tight and I'm afraid that the yarn won't soften up and be cuddly when it's on.
See:
I may just need to change yarns (or needle size for that matter). I've been using the yarn for a Elizabeth Zimmermann Ribwarmer pattern but haven't gone back to the design in awhile. And I've gotten the "Ribwarmer" revisted that gives a few more options. I sense frogging in my future, don't you?
What do you suggest I knit?
A few more suggestions for "Name My Blog" have arrived from Abby. Soul Skein and Me & Hue. Both very nice. What did you suggest? Remember, the prize...a hand knit scarf!