good-natured ribbing

I like Christina’s and Erin’s Montego Bay scraves so much, I finally decided to make my own. I’m using Wollmeise Sockenwolle in Raku Regenbogen.

I had to start 3 times because I didn’t like the way the colors were pooling. At 63 sts and the recommended 43 sts, the colors were pooling in vertical stripes! I ended up going with 47 sts and it it working out great.

Although I feel like I’m not getting any quality knitting in, I am doing enough to finish a couple projects. I started a vest a couple weeks ago and finished it recently. This is work of my own creation. I spent a evening doing a little sketching and a lot of math to figure out how to get started. From there, I just guess at the shaping as I went along. It turned out pretty well – actually, it turned out just as I imagined it.

Sorry about the lackluster photo – I didn’t take any better ones, though! You get the idea.

I also started and finished a little neckwarmer this weekend. As spring approaches (at least, I hope it is approaching!), I decided I needed a light, non-scarf, neck-warming garment. This one fit the bill. I used some yarn I received in a swap a while back. I’m not sure I’m crazy about the color, but it is darn soft!

Pattern: Razor Shell Neckwarmer
Yarn: Fiesta Yarns Ballet
Needles: Size 5 US
Mods: I liked the idea of making this a little wider around the bottom, as I saw someone else do. After about 5 inches or so, I did one round with increases but no decreases. I did it again at around 8 inches, knit a few more rounds in pattern, then bound off. It turned out really well – I think it has just the right amount of drape because of the flare at the bottom. The alpaca/tencel yarn is soft and silky.

Ahhh… Just what I needed. When ever I find out I’m going on a trip, I use Google Maps to locate all the yarn stores around the hotel I’ll be staying at. Now I can get that, details about the shops, and reviews all in one place. Check it out:

KnitMap – Find Your Local Yarn Shop

I’ve had an overwhelming response to my Noro Kureyon sock. The pattern is now available at Knitzi.com.

I was lucky enough to have a fabulous test knitter, Donyale. She did a terrific job and helped to perfect the pattern. Check out her awesome red socks, too. The socks look great is the red semi-solid, don’t they!

Get Jenny Wren here!

Maybe it is because these turned out so lovely but everything I’m working on right now is orange. And I didn’t even notice until I took all these pictures today.

I started these socks for a recent trip to Washington D.C. I love the yarn (wollemeise sockenwolle) and I think the simple lace pattern works nicely with the colors. The pattern is called Express Lane and is fun and very easy to memorize. Unfortunately, I bound off a little too tightly. I think it will ease out a bit with wear, though.

I’ve had this yarn for a while and have been looking for something good to use it for. I finally decided that it needed to be a vest and that I’m going to wing it. I have picture in my mind and am keeping my fingers crossed!

I was sick for a while but still needed to knit. I grabbed some colorful yarn and started a plain toe-up sock. I’m still trying to figure out why I was drawn to this colorway at the Mich. Fiber Festival last summer. It’s pretty bad. The yarn is lovely, though, and I’ll use it again but in a solid color.

I’m going to try very hard for my next project to be in a completely different color scheme!

It’s March already, and I’ve not really knit anything since January! I was traveling for a while, but worse than that, I lost my knitting motivation. I have started one pair of socks three times now, and am totally bored with each pattern I try. It’s annoying because I OWE SOMEONE A PAIR OF SOCKS! (And you know who you are.)

Anyway, I’ve not been totally unproductive. I continue to teach myself to crochet. I found a pattern in Hip to Crochet for a scarf I liked, and I had some Socks that Rock yarn in the shade of Bella Coola. So I began with one perfect square.

Then many more perfect squares.

Finally, I joined them all together.

Now, I need to find some yarn with which to finish the border.