umm, UFOs

Hey, this turned out to be straight-forward on my MacBook Pro. I like to talk so I thought I would use a video to start blogging again.

UFOs are "unfinished objects" when related to knitting. I discovered this as my stash was being moved around as we were clearing up areas of the house. I got distracted and started to "shop from stash" and discovered some amazingly wonderful yarns. Before I cast-on another project, I want to complete some projects. The UFOs.

1. d'zined yarn. This sock was cast-on during the fun of the Magician's Nephew that took place in March/April. I just cast-on and started knitting. The feel of the sock is comfortable so it has merit to be finished. I think it's more of a fall and winter sock because of the tight gauge.
2. the "Lopi Sock." I learned to knit socks using this pattern and Lamb's Pride Bulky. These knit up fast on size 10 or 10.5 needles. I've knit 9 pairs of these socks. They are wonderful to wear around cold houses to keep your feet warm. A fast knit and short so they don't go up far on the leg, so it's a slipper sock. This one has a twisted cable pattern. I'm using ends of the Lamb's Pride Bulky so the colors are mis-matched, bright and cheery! I will finish this. Now, who should get this pair?
3. Elbac Scarf. This pattern from knitty. I'm using Nashua Handknits Creative Focus Worsted yarn in a blue color. I'm halfway through the scarf, almost. I found the knitting a bit too detailed to be "mindless" and I've had to keep track of rows and st repeats and such. bleech. Nice sound effect, eh? Who will get this scarf? The ribbing scarf does have some stretch to it so it will get a bit wider. This one might be in the "finish" pile.
   
4. The Placerville vest. It's LOFTY LOU'S YARN SHOP in Placerville, CA. Lou spun the yarn herself and I like that I purchased a handspun yarn that no one else would ever have. I got creative by introducing a purple yarn to make the vest. I'm using the EPS system to create this vest to fit me. I will finish this. What I need to do is determine how I'm going to decrease the v-neck of the vest. I've got three steeks going (two for sleeves, one for neck). The lighting doesn't show the colors well at all. (n2s: better lighting)
   
5. the Prayer Shawl. the M's gave me lots of acryllic yarn which is good for a prayer shawl because it's washable. The colors remind me of peonies that my grandmother gave to my Mom. Those huge pink blooms with a dark green framing and slight bits of dark pink. Wonderful memory for me. This one is knit length-wise with fringe, not tassels. It's knitting up fast and I'm only knitting on it around friends and people who love me. Nothing better to go into a Prayer Shawl than love and support. I'm giving this to my mother who will donate it to her church.
6. Maryland Sheep and Wool Sock out of the claudia (I think). One sock is finished. I got lost in the middle of the second heel using Don's toe-up sock pattern from two years ago. If I ask, I wonder if Don could actually tell me where I am in the pattern. I'd like to finish this second sock. I mean, I'm so close and the sock has great memories of my first trip to MS&W.
7. Scallop Scarf my own variation out of Jitterbug. I like my pattern a bit better because the color shows up a bit better. I've got about 1/2 of this scarf done. The thing that is tough is that I knit three other complete scarves for a class that I taught. That explains the "time-out" for the scarf. It wouldn't take much to finish the scarf and it's reversible and won't curl. Thoughts on this? I mean, the yarn could turn into socks, right?
   
8. Baby Surprise Jacket out of Cascade 220. I used this as a class sample for the BSJ class I tought. I need to seem this BSJ with some interesting i-cord trim. I'm hesitating a bit because I've not done this technique before. Finishing this will be time consuming and buttons. This one is in the finish pile.
   
9. Gale Shawl out of Grandma's Blessing from Briar Rose Fibers. Love the pattern. Love the Yarn. Love the recipient. Absolutely to be finished. Will I take it on the "fishing trip?" I've not decided. "wooster" Guess who walked in on the recording of this? See him in the back? He's like...what are you doing?
   
10. Yoke Sweater using Lopi Yarns. The blog history of this error can be found in the archives by clicking here. The colors are my own combination. I've got to tick back to correct the error. Really, all that is left is the fair isle knitting on the yoke. I'm more than half way done. I wish I had pulled out the error before I put the sweater in hibernation. If I take this on the fishing trip, I need to be ready to knit on it. It's not car knitting for me.
    

What you didn't see are the 6 other projects sitting on the side table. Now, these are UFOs and not the "promised projects." That's a completely different post.

Thanks for watching and reading. Please leave a comment to let me know if you enjoy the new format and why. BTW: I went with youtube because I couldn't stop talking after 90 seconds. Flickr limits to 90 seconds.

MS&W 2007 Yarn purchases!

Dzined hemp and wool sport weight yarn that will be make into socks. That's the top one. knitSB and I each bought a skein to do a sock knit-a-long.

Middle brown and teal yarn is from Autumn House Farm. Stideaway Shetland in the color Moor Stalker is 100% Merino. It is beautiful. Don and I each bought a skein. (the colors on their website don't do it justice) I think they will make lovely socks, don't you?

Bottom yarn is from Just Our Yarn in Travelor and is 75% superwash merino and 25% nylon. Great color and knitSB and I each bought a skein.




I did make it to the "Fold" for the Blue Moon experience. Of course, I had to go back and see what was left after the feeding frenzy. I'm glad I did. Left to right in the Heavyweight Merino Socks that rock are "Jade," "Rose Quartz," and "Hoofle Foofle." I like the feel of this yarn and the weight. I thing they will knit up nicely for my own socks that rock socks.






knitSB and I both got a skein of Smoky Topaz in the medium weight. I think this could be another knit-a-long for us. Isn't this nice? The couple that knits socks together, stays together. *grin*

And I picked up a pattern from the "fold" as well. I'll post some pictures of this Mystic Sea sock when I get it started and finished.


That was all the yarn I purchased. I got KnitBeth a bottom whirl drop spindle. I wanted to find some great lace weight yarn but didn't find any that just made me to want to knit lace immediately. I also didn't find any fiber that was better than what I can find at home from Cider Moon.


Additional updates on the last month next!

MS&W 2007

Time for an update. I'll give an update of what's been going on over the next several posts.
Guess where I went? To the Maryland Sheep & Wool 2007. I'm fortunate to have been able to travel with Matt, Don, and KnitSB (blogless)to arrive in DC to stay with Micah.

Read Matt's entry about the MS&W first.
Now read Don's entry.
And finally, read Micah's.

I had a great time with these guys. The traveling out on Friday was no problem. I worked on Matt's socks, which were finished Friday night and given to Matt. It only took me from November to May to complete them. I did make Matt try them on quite a few times to make sure they fit, not to look at his feet.

Here are a few pictures of the MS&W 2007 from Knitting Brow.


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All the cars parked to get into the place. We didn't arrive too late and we certainly weren't the first ones there! Nor were we the last.




Reality style pictures of us driving for breafast!





Reality style photos at the Lincoln memorial.

and look! It's knitSB being a tourist in DC. It was awfully nice to get the DC tour after having spent all day at the Sheep & Wool. I've never been to DC and was glad to see it.

Next post will be pictures of the yarn!

MS&W

Maryland Sheep and Wool.
I'm going.
Matty's driving.
Knitsb also going. (he needs a knitting blog!)
Yarmando in the car too!
All staying at Micah's. How cool is this?