Finished!

I didn’t realize I was as close to being finished on my Mira’s Cowl as I was yesterday.  I was able to get it finished last night and Logan was happy to wear it (unblocked) this morning.  It will be longer when I block it and it should be less bouncy too.

The pattern is Mira’s Cowl, and this is the longer version, worked until I ran out of yarn.  The yarn is Mrs. Crosby Hat Box which was our camp yarn from Camp Loopy 2014.  I got the Forest Hideaway color.  I might need to overdye it with a pale blue because the greens are very yellow (all three of the camp yarn choices were warm colors this past year) and I’m not sure if I can wear it.  I’ll be playing with it later when the sun comes up.  I can wear wasabi green and lime green, but this is leaning pretty far into the pond scum greens with some other greens mixed in.  I’m planning on keeping it for myself, even if I have to tip it a little towards the blue side of green because I don’t have a green cowl.

One Last New Thing

 

Every year at Camp Loopy if you complete all three challenges, you get a skein of yarn.  It’s a special skein of yarn, just for Camp Loopy people.  This past summer the camp yarn was Mrs. Crosby Hat Box, a sport weight Merino/Silk/Cashmere blend.  I picked the Forest Hideaway color which is various greens.

When the yarn came I wasn’t really sure what I wanted to use it for, but then Loopy Academy started and one of the cowl pattern ideas being tossed around was the Mira’s Cowl.  I thought this would be perfect for my camp yarn.  Now that I’m finished with my Loopy Academy projects for the semester, I cast on for my cowl.  The pattern is a ribbed pattern of various widths so it’s reversible (always nice with something like a cowl that flips around).  I’m working the longer size and I plan to knit until I run out of yarn.  Once I got the stitch pattern established, the knitting has become super easy.  I just knit the knits and purl the purls!

I hope you all have a great weekend!  I’m going to be working on my new projects!

Ta Da!

 

Stick a fork in it, Camp Loopy 2014 is done!  Here is my third project, all the ends are woven in and it’s blocked and finished.  The challenge was to knit 800 yards or more in a project with your favorite color.  My favorite color is blue, so I made a blue striped Ravello.

Here’s a link to my Ravelry project page with all the details if you’re interested, including actual yardage used.  I will definitely be making more Ravellos in the future.  This is a fun, fast pattern, and the stripes make it fun to play with colors.  Fingering weight sweaters are pretty much perfect for cooler weather around here - you don’t die of heatstroke indoors, and if it gets really cold, they’re lightweight enough to wear under a coat or jacket.

I’m thinking of making my next Ravello with an i-cord neck edging (the pattern has directions for a plain neck edge, a ribbed neck -I’ve done this twice now, and an i-cord edge), just to mix things up a bit!

Finished With The Knitting!

 

I finished knitting my Ravello for Camp Loopy 2014, Project 3 this weekend!  I’ve still got all the ends to weave in from the sleeves, and it needs a blocking, but the knitting is finished.  I easily cleared the 800 yard requirement for this project and I’ve put the actual yardage I used for each color on the project page (I weighed my yarn before I started and after I finished).  I also included needle sizes - what I used where.  One thing I’ve figured out is that I tend to knit tighter on the 9 inch circulars I like to use for sleeves.  It’s taken me a while to figure this out but I did finally learn.

I’ve got yarn for two more Ravellos in the stash and I may cast on for one of those later this week.  I love the shape (and the stripes) of Ravello.  We don’t get bitter cold winters here, but when it gets cold, it’s usually still humid, which makes it feel a lot colder than it actually is.  I’ve found that wearing lightweight sweaters like a long sleeved T-shirt and then layering heavier sweaters or scarves over them makes a big difference on the cold days.  Not that it’s cold here yet.  Things won’t start cooling down around here until later in September and I won’t need a sweater until October or November.

Crawling Along

 

My plans to have the first sleeve finished by now have fallen through.  This (the cream color) is all the knitting I’ve gotten done over the last two days.  Things have been crazy around here and there just hasn’t been any knitting.  As you can see, I haven’t woven in any ends on the sleeve, but I’ll probably wait until I’ve finished both of them to deal with the yarn ends.  I’ve also added markers every ten rounds because I’m so distracted right now that I keep forgetting to change the counter and then I have to count rounds.  If I want the second sleeve to match the first, I have to keep track.

There was a question in the comments after my last post, asking about my bind off on the body.  I just did a standard bind off below the ribbing although I did bind off purl wise (I think it looks better than binding off knit wise and I really don’t like binding off in pattern).  I’m always really careful to work my bind off loosely, but I know some people who find they bind off too tightly will go up a couple of needle sizes for the bind off.  You wouldn’t have to change both needles, just the one in your right hand (assuming you knit Western style, from left to right).  Learning how loose to make the bind off takes a little bit of practice, but I’ve learned how it should feel for my own knitting.  Unfortunately, this isn’t something that can be photographed.

The new brick is going up now and we’re loving how it looks.  I’ll get some pictures this weekend.  If the delivery people will cooperate (the load of sand was three days late), things should be finishing up in a couple of weeks.  I know this was something that needed doing, but the actual doing of it has not been fun.  I’ll be glad when everything is all done and there’s not a port-a-loo in my yard!

Have a great weekend!

Stripy Sleeve

 

I’m about halfway done with the first sleeve, and I am done with the stripes on the sleeve!  From this point to the cuff, I’ll knit in the cream color.  That should make the rest of the sleeve go faster, so I hope to finish this first sleeve either today or tomorrow.  I’m still on track to have this finished before the end of the month, so I should have another successful Camp Loopy summer!  (On the other hand, I can’t believe that August is almost over!)

On to the Sleeves!

 

I got the body finished over the weekend, bound off and the ends woven in!  It obviously could stand a good blocking, but I’ll do that at the end.  I’m ready to pick up the stitches for the first sleeve later today.

We had workers here again Saturday (I was hoping for some peace and quiet) and they finished removing the bricks from the front of the house.  Then, early this morning, the first half of our brick arrived!  Whenever the workers show up this morning, they’ll have brick to start working with!  I know this part will take longer than the demolition did, but it should also be quieter.

Camp Loopy 2014, Project 3

 

I’m within a couple of inches of starting the ribbing (or maybe even less, I haven’t measured in a while)!  I should get the ribbing started, and maybe even the body finished over the weekend.  I’ll weave in the ends before I start the sleeves, but I’m still on track to finish my third project by the end of the week.

This is the second time I’ve knit this pattern and I’ve actually got yarn stashed for two more Ravellos!  I like the design, I like the shape, I like the stripes!  At some point, I’d like to make one with just two colors - the background color and the stripe color.  Of course it would also be fun to make one with a different color for each stripe (and probably a single background color).  See why I have more Ravellos in stash?  It’s just too much fun to play with colors in this pattern!

On the home front, they’ve just got part of the front brick to remove, and we’re supposed to get half of our new brick today.  (There’s not much space to store things like brick and mortar what with the port-a-loo and the dumpster and scaffolding and construction stuff, so we’re getting the brick in two separate deliveries, a week apart.)  We’re very excited to see the new brick and can’t wait to get it on the house.

I hope you have a great weekend!  I’m hoping we have a quiet weekend!

Now With More Gray, More Scaffolding, and More Noise Than Ever Before!

 

I’ve gotten a good chunk of the lower body (in gray) knitted on my Camp Loopy Ravello!  I’ve actually finished the first skein of gray and am knitting on the second one now.  I’d like to get the body knitted to the top of the lower ribbing this week.  Of course, it would be great if I can get it finished this week.  The body that is, there’s no way I’ll get the whole sweater finished this week.

Yesterday the workers showed up to begin the demolition of our brick.  Basically, they take hammers and bash at the side of the house, breaking up the brick and getting it off, down to the sheathing.  It’s kind of loud.  Logan settled down pretty quickly, but he wasn’t sure if he should pace or lie down.  I finally got him to lie down but he didn’t relax until they were gone for the day.  Max was taking a nap under the sofa when they showed up and he stayed there until they left for lunch.  Then, he came to me and had some questions.  They worked until about 7:30 last night and they got all the brick off the back of the house and half of one side.  They also cleaned up really well before leaving, which is always appreciated.  If they continue at this pace, the noisy parts should be done pretty quickly.  At least that’s what I’m telling myself!

Onward!

 

I’ve made it past the underarms and the sleeve stitches are on holders!  I’ve also started the gray which is the lower body section, so at this point, I’m through with the body stripes and I can just knit around and around and around!  Zoom!  There are more stripes on the sleeves, but those are for later. I’m on track for finishing the sweater on time at this point - this is my third Camp Loopy 2014 project, so I only have until the end of the month.  I do need to sit down and start weaving in the ends soon, before they get completely out of hand.  Oh, and here’s a link to my Rav project page if you need more details.

Remember how I mentioned that we’re getting the house re-bricked yesterday?  Well yesterday afternoon we had a delivery - a Port-A-Loo.  They hadn’t mentioned that was coming, but now I’ve got one in the side yard.  I cannot even begin to describe my feelings about this, but if that thing gets knocked over, we’re going to have to move.

Camp Loopy 2014, Project 3

 

I cast on for Project 3 Friday evening after we got back from Guardians of the Galaxy (go, it’s great, have I mentioned there’s a talking raccoon?) Over the weekend I got a good start on it.  I’ve just started the third stripe of blue and I’m working my way towards separating the sleeve stitches from the body.  Here’s a link to my project page if you need more info.

I also got all the ends woven in on my Noro wrap and got it washed and blocked.  It did get MUCH softer!  More about that later this week.

Hope you had a great weekend too!

Finishings and Beginnings

 

I’ve got the Noro wrap off the needles!  I’ve got a lot of ends to weave in before I can wash it, but I can work on those over the weekend.  I’ll also get the directions together and finished up soon!

On another subject, today is August 1 which means Guardians of the Galaxy (AKA The Talking Raccoon Movie) comes out, but also Camp Loopy Project 3 begins!  The requirements for project 3 are to knit 800 yards or more using your favorite color.  I will be making another Ravello using blue for the stripes (blue is my favorite color).  I’m using the Loopy Solids Series in White, Cerulean, and Dove.  Don’t you think Cerulean sounds like some sort of alien species from Star Trek?

And on that note, I hope you have a great weekend!

Camp Loopy Project 2 All Finished!

I’ve finished, blocked, and added the clasp to my Camp Loopy 2014 Project 2!  This was the Storyteller Hoodie Pattern that I worked exactly like the pattern called for, except I didn’t work buttonholes on the front band.  I used the Jul Venetian Hinge in black instead.  I’m thrilled with how this came out and I can’t wait for the temperature to drop this fall so I can wear it with jeans!

Here’s a back view so you can see how the hood hangs.  Fun Fact:  a top or jacket with a hood draws the eye upwards to the hood and distracts from your butt.  I know a lot of people don’t want to knit hoods because they never wear them up.  I don’t ever wear them up either but they’re cute and they do that smoke and mirrors distraction thing so I love them.  See?  I bet you didn’t even notice Fifi’s butt!

Since this was the first time I’ve used a clasp like this, I thought I’d show you how it works.  I will definitely be using this (and some of the other styles) again.  It comes in a bag, fully assembled but with no directions.  (It’s pretty self explanatory and I didn’t feel like it needed directions.)  The leather of the clasp is soft, with no rough edges, but it has enough body to hold its shape.  Above, you can see the front view.

Here’s what it looks like from the backside.  The leather washers that are included are a thicker leather than what’s used in the clasp, but they are still finished nicely with no rough edges or corners that might snag yarn.  As you can see, the thing is attached with screws, so you’ll need a standard screwdriver to install it.  You can also see the backside of the screws in the center of this photo.

In looking at the clasp, it seemed like the screw shafts were a bit long for my yarn and there would be a little bit of “play” between the clasp and the washers.  A wiggly clasp seemed like a recipe for pilling and needless wear and tear on my project, so I cut some additional washers from some wool felt I had.  I used off white because that’s what I had.  I just cut around the original leather washer and then cut an X in the center.  I cut two felt washers for each screw since I wanted to eliminate wiggle room.  You can see the felt washers, the leather washers and the screws with one half of the clasp in the picture above.

I had tried on the vest before I started to decide where to place the clasp, and marked the top edge with safety pins.  This made it easy to place each half of the clasp and gently wiggle the screw shafts between the stitches.  You can see the back side of the vest above, with the screw shafts poked through from front to back.  It was very easy to shift the stitches around the shafts so there was no damage to the yarn.  Also the shafts are polished smooth on the outside, so there’s nothing that will catch the yarn.  The shafts will completely contain the screws themselves so the yarn can’t get snagged on the screws.  I think the design is very well thought out and the finishing of each of the pieces is well done.

The next step is to place the two felt washers and the leather washer over the shaft and then close the whole thing with the screw.  The two felt washers took up all the remaining space so once everything was reassembled, there was no play or wiggliness.  (This is the most accurate photo color wise of the yarn, in case you’re curious.)

It was very easy to assemble the clasp and once it was all attached, it hangs nicely without pulling or drooping.  The screws might be a bit long (which is why I added the felt washers), but if they were shorter, I might worry about them unscrewing and coming out.  I’d rather have to add the washers and know that if the screws loosen, I’ll be able catch them and re-tighten them before they come all the way out. I wouldn’t use this type of clasp on any project lighter than DK weight because while the clasp isn’t particularly heavy, it does have some weight to it.  I also wouldn’t use it on anything knit at a really loose gauge for the same reason.  When I wash the vest, I’ll remove the clasp and reattach it when the vest is dried and blocked.  I will also be using more of these and the other designs on future projects.  I love the look of it on the finished project.

All Finished!

 

I’ve finished my Camp Loopy Project 2!  It needs a blocking and I need to add the clasp, but the knitting is finished and the ends are woven in.  I ended up doing the sleeves like the pattern called for after all.  This was a fun and fast project and I enjoyed working with this yarn (Malabrigo Rios).  I’ll give this one more post when it’s all blocked so you can see it looking less rumpled and lumpy.

On a different topic, I never know when Mickael is paying attention or not, but apparently he did notice my tank top muslin.  He seemed a little concerned as to why I made a tank top out of tractor fabric and exactly where I was going to be wearing it.  I’m definitely getting my money’s worth out of that fabric - both for fitting purposes and for freaking out the husband.  Good times!

Edgings

I got the front/hood/hem band on!  Obviously, the whole thing could stand a good blocking, but that will wait until I’m completely finished.  I still haven’t decided on the sleeves.  The pattern has little short row, cap sleeves, and they’re cute, but I could also just work bands in the armholes and call it a day.  I had originally thought about making the sleeves a little longer (I’ve got yarn), but I’m liking that idea less and less.

Obviously, I’m a bit indecisive this morning.  Caffeine will probably help and then maybe I can get this finished (and blocked!)

A Hood!

 

I finished the hood of my Storyteller Hoodie!  I’m also past the required yardage for this second project.    It feels good to be this far along, this early in the month.  The provisional cast on will come out when I do the hem/front/hood band.  (Those white strings you see are from the provisional cast on.)

I got my Project 3 yarn in the mail Saturday, but I’ll wait to show you that until closer to the start date.  This year’s projects have all been pretty wide open as far as theme for each month’s challenge.  It’s made it very nice, both to pick a project and to find yarn for that project.  I can’t even begin to imagine how much work it is to organize this every year at Loopy Central, but they do a great job, and at least from this end, the whole thing comes off looking very organized.

A Hood and A Cat

I’ve gotten a lot more done on the hood of my Storyteller Hoodie for Camp Loopy.  I’ve only got a couple of inches left before I’ve finished the hood, so hopefully I will get it finished tonight.  I’m thinking that I will do the front band (that goes all the way up the front, around the hood, down the other front and around the hem) before I do the sleeves, so I know how much yarn I have left.  I’m thinking of making the sleeves a little bit longer than the pattern calls for, but that’s going to depend on my yarn.  Oh, and just to note, this picture is the most accurate color wise of any I’ve gotten so far.  I don’t usually have this much trouble photographing greens, but this one is giving the camera fits.

If you’re doing Camp Loopy, the Project 3 requirements are up now!

Max was extra cooperative yesterday and I was able to get several pictures of him.  We used a balloon in science and Max found it at lunch.  There was much slapping of the balloon, but Max is really good about not using claws, so the balloon didn’t get popped.

At the end of the day, he was pretty tired.  He was having trouble sitting upright while I was fixing dinner, and he just flopped down on a chair.  Birthdays are exhausting!

I Got Some Knitting Done This Weekend

 

Actually, I got a lot of knitting done.  I ended up being sick this weekend and all I felt like doing was knitting.  So I did!  I got the entire body of my Storyteller Hoodie finished and the shoulders grafted together.  Then I wove in all the ends before I started the hood.  The thing at the top with the needles hanging out is the beginning of the hood.  I’ve alternated skeins all the way through it and I’m halfway through Skein 3 and have just begun Skein 4.  (Yes, I sat down and put them in order before I started knitting to try to avoid color issues.  This is how I deal with hand dyed yarns.)

Once I finish the hood, I’ll have the front bands and sleeves to do.  The sleeves are little, but depending on how much yarn I have, I might make them a little longer.  Or I might not do sleeves at all, but instead just work bands at the armholes and call it a day.  I haven’t decided yet.  Oooooh, this is getting suspenseful!  Here’s the Rav link to my project page.

Camp Loopy 2014, Project 2

 

It’s July, so that means it’s time for Project 2!  I cast on yesterday (that white yarn you see peeking out of the rolled lower edge is a provisional cast on), and I’ve made it past the curved lower edge.  I’m now at the “knit evenly” section.  I’m going to join a second skein on the next row and alternate them.  I’ll alternate skeins through the rest of the project just to make sure there’s no color weirdness.  That’s the best thing to do with hand dyed yarns anyway.

This is the first time I’ve used Malabrigo Rios and I really like it.  I love the colors and (granted I’m only about halfway through my first skein) the way it’s knitting up.  Just in case you were wondering, yes, those are pink needles!  (Dyakcraft Darn Pretty Interchangeables, 5 inch length with lace tips in Positively Pink)  I’ve got all the project details (not the needle details) on my Rav project page if you’re interested.  I think the only change I’m making to the pattern is to skip the buttons (and button holes) and use the leather clasp instead.

Camp Loopy 2014, Project 2

Project Two begins on July 1 (next Tuesday), but I thought I’d go ahead and show you my yarn and what I’m doing today.  The challenge is to use 600 yards or more of any weight yarn in a project that reminds you of your favorite vacation or relaxation spot.  It can also be a place you’d like to visit, but haven’t yet.  I really love the way they’ve done camp challenges this year.  I feel like while there are obviously requirements, they’ve left things open ended enough that there’s plenty of room for interpretation by each individual knitter.  Also, since there haven’t been yarn weight requirements, I feel like the store isn’t getting ransacked by the other campers.  There’s a sense that you can actually think through your project before ordering rather than just grabbing the first thing that you find, and then finding a project.  Maybe it’s just me, but I feel like Sheri is giving us plenty of wiggle room within the requirements of the projects.

I will be knitting the Storyteller Hoodie in Malabrigo Rios in the Aguas colorway.  I decided that I didn’t want to use buttons on this, but instead I got a leather clasp.  I saw one of these a few months ago and I loved the look of it (there are a few different styles and sizes).  My inspiration for this second project is the woods.  I love being in the woods, walking through the trees, and seeing the little squirrels and birds busily doing their woodland chores.  When I picked the Storyteller Hoodie for my pattern, I thought of Little Red Riding Hood, and I felt like this clasp would be the kind of thing Little Red might use to clasp her cloak.  I think it will add a subtle fairy tale style to what should be a useful little vest.  Unfortunately, The Loopy Ewe doesn’t carry these, so I ordered it from Jimmy Beans Wool.  Just in case you’re curious, it screws onto your knitting and snaps closed, and while it has some weight, I don’t think it will be a problem on worsted weight knitting.  The leather is also super soft, not floppy, it holds its shape, but it’s still really soft.  I’ve got all five skeins of yarn wound and numbered - since it’s hand dyed yarn, I’ll be alternating balls every two rows and I wanted to make sure I had them in order before I started knitting.

I can’t wait to start this project Tuesday and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!