skein

October round up and November knitting plans

NaBloPoMo!  I'll be posting every day this month.  One day down and 29 to go!

So, how did I do?

October knitting plans.

1) Mystery blanket - knit the last four squares.  Done! A bit of a delay in starting due to Royal Mail.

2) Mystery blanket - seam the middle strip to the other strips and weave in all ends. Done!

Oh, and this is a sideways shot, we didn't realise until the photos were uploaded.

3) Mystery blanket - knit the border.  Not done!  I wanted to knit the border in one piece, rather than joining each side at the corners, so ordered some long circulars.  They still haven't arrived,  (not the shop's fault, they've been with Royal mail for nearly 3 weeks!).  I ended up buying more from IKL on Thursday. Good news is that this is now finished, and I just need to take photos.

4) NaKniSweMoDo #12, Maggie.  Finish. Done!

5) Knit a hat.  Done!

6) Knit some fingerless gloves. Done!  Two pairs, as gifts for my nieces.

7) Start something new.  Done!  Started another NaKniSweMoDo #13!  It's the grey cables cardigan.

 

and on top of that I've also finished another hat!

 

I have two other things on the needles- some socks, a small shawl and a baby hat, so overall I feel like I've done ok for September.  The border was only half a day late, and might have been finished yesterday if I hadn't had to frog back about 2400 stitches!

For November I'm going to finish things off and try to do smallish things (so I have something to blog about every day!). I'm aiming for 11 goals!

November goals

1) Finish grey cables cardigan- I have the collar to do.

2) Take photos and blog about the Mystery Blanket.

3) Finish some dk socks for Chris.

4) Finish a baby beret (nearly done!)

5) Finish my Multnomah shawl (ravelry link).  My knitting friend Jill has just finished a gorgeous version in Knitwitches Seriously Gorgeous cashmere and silk(or one of the seriously gorgeous blends)

6) Woollywormhead's Mystery Hat KAL, version A

7) Woollywormhead's Mystery Hat KAL, version B (why knit one when you can buy both versions for £1.50?)

8) Knit a square for a secret project

9) Knit some more wristers

10) More wristers!  Possibly try a different pattern though!

11) Something else, not sure what will grab me - socks, shawl, gloves, hats... or another NaKniSweMoDo #14!

Now the cold weather's here I'm raring to knit some winter accessories, can you tell?

September round up and October knitting plans

How did I do?  Very well!

1) Knit the penultimate squares for the Mystery blanket. Done!

2) Seam strips 5-7 together. Done!

3) Finish Nesta.  Done!  But not blogged yet.  I put the buttons on a few days ago, and hope to get some photos soon.  This was the state last weekend:

4) Finish the Lorna's Laces Laendler socks. Done!

5) Start and finish some socks for SKA (ravelry group) September challenge. Done!

6) Start and make progress on NaKniSweMoDo #12.  Done!  It's Maggie, from Precious by Kim Hargreaves.  Last photo is of the back, but I'm now on the second front!

7) Start something small. Done!  In fact, finished.  It's Jerrold's scarf.

I managed all of my goals, amazing!

I thought I'd be knitting lots of small stuff for October, but I've still my 12th NaKniSweMoDo to finish, as well as the Mysstery Blanket, so that plan will be postponed until November.

October knitting plans.

1) Mystery blanket - knit the last four squares.  I've already started these, but I've ran out of green yarn and haven't yet had my yarn package, so it's stalled for the moment.

2) Mystery blanket - seam the middle strip to the other strips and weave in all ends (a job on its own)

3) Mystery blanket - knit the border!  We have two options. The tasselled option looks fab, but I think I'll go for the garter stitch option as I want to keep the remnants for a cushion cover.

4) NaKniSweMoDo #12, Maggie.  Finish.   I've knitted the back and 1.5 fronts. Just have to keep the momentum going. It's quite boring knitting, and although I love the grey green colour, it's not very interesting to knit with!

Now onto the small stuff:

5) Knit a hat.  I don't wear them but enjoy knitting them!

6) Knit some fingerless gloves.

7) Start something new.  Not sure what.  I have this mad desire to knit a 13th garment, and the current obsession is a Debbie Bliss cabled cardigan, in blue cashmerino aran.

That's all!  Mind you, finishing the blanket will leave a hole in my monthly plans.  Just in time for Christmas knitting!

July round up and August knitting plans

It has been another great month for knitting! But how did I do?

July's goals
1) Finish Hey Teach cardigan for NaKniSweMoDo #7. Done!

2) Start NaKniSweMoDo #8.  Louisa Harding's Tide, in Glimmer. (Ravelry link). Done!

3) Debbie Abraham's Mystery Blanket July squares.  And seam strips 1 and 2.Done!

4) SolidSocks knitalong - blue socks.Change of plan!  I used the blue sock yarn to knit a Milkweed shawl.#

5) Socktapus socks - done!

6) Knit some dishcloths. Done!

7) the little extra.  Turned out to be a pair of Lorna's laces socks. Done!

 

A very successful month! 
That's not all.  These were all finished with a week left! So I've started another few pairs of socks and a garment ...

August Goals

1) Knit the Mystery Blanket squares for August.  Just September and October left. It's gone so quickly! No new surprises at this late stage.

2) Finish NaKniSweMoDo #9.  Yes, it's already on the needles!  It's Muse, in Rowan's Pima Cotton DK.  I've already had to start over as I'd forgotton some of the shaping right near the cast on.

3) Rip out Krista (did I blog about this? It's lovely but I decided I'd prefer a more solid fabric, otherwise I'd have to buy some suitable underwear to cover the bra.  Use the yarn, Elann's Coto Canapone to knit another summer top (should we get hot weather).  This should be a quick knit - it'll be NaKniSweMoDo #10!

4) Finish (yes, these are started) some Waterlily socks.

5) Finish some plain self striping socks. I've started these, but the colours just aren't me.  I'll probably save them for gifts.

6) Start NaKniSweMoDo #11! I have no idea what, yet.

7) Another little something, to be decided.

Better get knitting!

June round up and July knitting plans

Where does the time go? Another month already!

I had a very successful June.

1) June Mystery Blanket squares. Done!

and two strips!

2) Finish Dawn, my NaKniSweMoDo #6. Done!

3) Start garment #7 for NaKniSweMoDo.  Done! (Started, not finished).  It's Hey Teach.  This is the only photo I have, of a half knitted back.  Both fronts and back are knitted, and the first sleeve started. These will be 3/4 sleeves, so will take a bit longer than the very short sleeves in the pattern.

4)Finish Ishbel.  Done!

5) Start some plain socks for carrying around.  Done!  But they're probably going to be around for months, I don't like knitting with this alpaca yarn.  I've even tried knitting in bed, doesn't work (I want to lie down, my arms ache, I fall asleep, Chris would kill me if he found needles int he bed!)

6) Knit a Nancy Bush sock for SKA's June socks. SolidSocks is natural or white, and I may or may not combine the two. Done and Done!  I decided to do both! 

SKA's New England socks :

 

SolidSocks' Taking Turns socks:

7) just because I like having seven things - start another project, small, maybe lacy.Done!  A small child's top, with lacy short sleeves.

 

Such a great knitting month! 

July's goals
1) Finish Hey Teach cardigan for NaKniSweMoDo #7.  Just two 3/4 length sleeves to do.

2) Start NaKniSweMoDo #8.  I think it's going to be Louisa Harding's Tide, in Glimmer. (Ravelry link). I'll be knitting the longer version. Yarn in stash!

3) Debbie Abraham's Mystery Blanket July squares.  And seam strips 1 and 2.

4) SolidSocks knitalong - blue socks.

5) (more socks, shhh) Socktapus socks - this month I love the yarn and pattern so will have to knit these, quick.  I won't say anymore for a few weeks in case anyone reading is still waiting for the package. Let's just say that the supplier is a firm favourite, and I lurve this colour.

6) Knit some dishcloths. Not fancy ones, I find that (in the kitchen) I prefer either garter stitch or that ballband pattern, looks like a brick wall.  I think it's the bumpy texture I like.

7) the little extra.  I can't make up my mind - mindless knitting / lace knitting / baby knitting?  Time will tell.

Another busy month!  Notice those alpaca socks started in June are left in the UFO pile ...

May round up and June knitting plans

How did I do?  It seemed a lot of knitting for May but I've done very well!

May knitting goals

Knitting clubs:

1) Knit May's Mystery Blanket squares. Done!

NaKniSweMoDo projects:

2) Blog Twist. Done!

3) Finish Primrose Path. Done!

4) Start garment #6.  Done!  It's Dawn, from Kim Hargreaves Nectar book. This is the one of the fronts, the other one is nearly done too!

ravelry knitalongs

5) SKA - done!

6) SKA - mystery socks with Yarnissima. I had a change of heart. Instead of knitting these socks, I did this

this and the two socks on the right

Other knitting

7) Finish Opal vintage plain socks. Done!

8) Single socks for Natalie at the YarnYard. Done!  See above.

Overall, very pleased with May. It might have something to do with two May holidays!
I've even started a few shawls!

June knitting plans

1) June Mystery Blanket squares. This month sees the completion of two strips, so I can join those together.

2) Finish Dawn, my NaKniSweMoDo #6. I've only the back to do (it's short sleeved, short and open work!)

3) Start garment #7 for NaKniSweMoDo.  It will be another summery short sleeved one.

4)Finish Ishbel. I'm on the lace part at last.

5) Start some plain socks for carrying around.

6) Knit a Nancy Bush sock for SKA's June socks. SolidSocks is natural or white, and I may or may not combine the two.

7) just because I like having seven things - start another project, small, maybe lacy.

Shall I succeed?

April round-up and May knitting plans

How did I do?

April goals

knitting Clubs:

1) Knit my Socktopus socks.  I love the yarn, but didn't like the pattern.  I may try the pattern at a future date, because it's intriguing, but not with this yarn.  Failure!

2) knit April squares for Mystery Blanket.  Success!

   

NaKniSweMoDo projects:

3) finish Twist, garment 3 of 12.  Success!  But no finished blog photos yet.    - buttons are now sewn on.

4) finish Ingenue, garment 4.  Success!

 

5) start garment 5. Success! It's Primrose Path from Twist Collective.

ravelry knitalongs:

6) another combinatin of SKA and SolidSocks April knitalongs. Success!  I didn't do a SKA pattern this month, (but see below, I might do two in May) and went with purple socks for the SolidSocks kal.

other knitting and stuff:

7) Seriousy think about a crochet blanket.  Er, no!  This one was left by the wayside. Completely. 

I did manage to start some plain socks from Opal vintage yarn.  I've a few inches of foot left now, but here's the last photo I took.  These are great for boat knitting, where I might read and knit in the evening.

 

Overall, not bad.

May knitting goals

Knitting clubs:

1) Knit May's Mystery Blanket squares.  I haven't had the kit nor the patterns yet, so this will be a surprise.

NaKniSweMoDo projects:

2) Blog Twist.  It's finished, I just need a bright day and a camera. 

3) Finish Primrose Path.  I've a couple more pattern repeats until I reach the armholes, then I divide for the top bit.  It's still a pleasant knit, nearly plain knitting except for the lace pattern which is very simple.

4) Start garment #6.  I keep changing my mind.  When it's cold and damp I think I might get away with a long sleeved garment (not wool, but a cotton blend) and then when we have sunny days I want to start a short sleeved cardigan!  Oh, decisions!

ravelry knitalongs

5) SKA - Knitspot pattern. 

6) SKA - mystery socks with Yarnissima.

SolidSocks is pastels, and I've set aside some pale blue regia silk, which I'll use for either 5 or 6.

Other knitting

7) Finish Opal vintage plain socks. One to go

8) Get off my backside and knit some single socks for Natalie at the YarnYard.  I've been trying all month, but I think the colour I've been carrying along with me is a bit too  pale and pink for me, so I've gone back and wound up a different colour. I have a few patterns (free ones) in mind.

That's one blog post (2), five mystery squares (1), one fiinished garment (3), one new garment started (4), two pairs of socks (5 and 6) and two odd socks (7 and 8).

 I do love a challenge!  We have two holidays in May which adds on knitting time, and I may take a few days off to catch up with holidays.

March knitting and April goals

A bit early, I know, but I can't see me accomplishing any more knitting this month as I'm out gallivanting tonight.

How did I do?

March goals

knitting Clubs:

1) finish plain Christmas Congo socks for Chris. Done!

2) knit March squares for Mystery Blanket.  Done!

NaKniSweMoDo projects:

3) finish Bog Jacket,  garment 2 (of 12). Done!

4) finish Ingenue, garment 3. finish Twist (change of plan) - not done. Though I'm on the last sleeve and collar (which I would have finished last night if I hadn't misread the instructions and thought I had to do four repeats before changing to a bigger needle).

 5) start garment 4.  Done!  I've not blogged about this yet, but I started (again) Ingenue on Sunday.  I've nearly finished the collar.  Here's a photo from Sunday - the yarn is cotton angora and is not as bright red as this, though it is bright!

 

Clickable, so you can see the very simple stitch pattern. It's going to be turned down, which is why it's so long. I'm aiming to knit one more repeat than called for, so that I have an odd number of repeats and the turning edge will be a bit more defined with purl bumps.

ravelry knitalongs:

6) another combinatin of SKA and SolidSocks March knitalongs.  Solidsocks colour is green this month, and for SKA challenge I'll either do lace or Cat Bordhi - probably the latter, as I want to try a pattern from her sock book.  Done!  Though I scrapped Cat  Bordhi and went with Knitspot's Tesserae socks.

other knitting and stuff:

7) knit Chris a pair of felted moccasins to replace his worn out ones. Done!

8) knit 2 novelty scarves. Done!

9) block, take photos and blog about a shawlette which I finished last week. Done!

10) Start and finish a smaller project.  Done!  I chose to finish some felted clogs which I found in the felting yarn box.

A very good knitting month! Those felted clogs and moccasins are great stashbusters and mean that this month I've knitted 22 balls of yarn (whole balls, not partials). Only Twist not completed, though most is knit.

Now for April I think I'll go back to seven goals, though they are quite big goals.

April goals

knitting Clubs:

1) Knit my Socktopus socks. This is a six pair, annual sock club. The first package should have been sent out in December, and then roughly alternate months, but the December package turned into a January package, and the second sock club offering is now April. I wonder if there'll be a catch up and we'll get two in one go??  That would be fun, but might throw my knitting goals out of the window!

2) knit April squares for Mystery Blanket.  No new squares but some variations.

NaKniSweMoDo projects:

3) finish Twist, garment 3 of 12

4) finish Ingenue, garment 4

5) start garment 5

ravelry knitalongs:

6) another combinatin of SKA and SolidSocks April knitalongs.  Solidsocks colour is  purple and for SKA challenge it's knee socks (probably not!) or under-appreciated socks - any pattern which has 15 projects or less, and has been published before February 09. Mind you, as soon as thousands of SKA knitters discover a pattern it will suddenly become popular!

other knitting and stuff:

7) Seriousy think about a crochet blanket.  I have one  which I started several months ago, but it's just lying there, unloved.  I may do crochet squares! My main problem is the ends and sewing them up, can I bear to do this?  Which is why a giant granny square appeals more. Then again, that will become wieldy after a while, so maybe squares are the way to go?

Looks like another busy month for knitting!

February knitting and March knitting goals

What's this?  It's not even the end of February and I'm blogging my monthly knitting goals?  That's because I'm not going to finish any more stuff in February, so I might as well post my knitting for the month a day early.

February Knitting Goals
Knitting Clubs:
1) knit february's Mystery blanket squares. Done!

2) knit December's Get Knitted Lorna's Laces socks, for Chris. Not done.  These have been stuck at work whilst I've been trying to do other knitting.

Sweater Projects:

3) Finish Chris's Bog Jacket. Not done! That's down to 2 weeks waiting for yarn from J&S and then another week waiting for yarn from Get Knitted. Circumstances beyond my control!

4) Start another garment! Done - but it took me two attempts. My first one, Sigridur from Best of Lopi, was frogged due to tenstion issues.  My second one (not really blogged about yet, is Ingenue from Custom Knits. It's a cherry burgundy colour, not as dark as this. It's also knitting up a bit smaller, so the collar, shown here, is not as wide as in the book. It will be folded in half by the way!

Ravelry knitalongs:

5) I'm combining SolidSocks and SKA this month - Eleanor, in Dream in Color Smooshy Cool Fire. Done!

Not good - only 3 out of 5 completed!  This month I'm going for 10 things, though some are only quick things (like taking photos and blogging!)

March goals

knitting Clubs:

1) finish plain Christmas Congo socks for Chris

2) knit March squares for Mystery Blanket - yarn arrived today, instructions arrived by email tonight!

NaKniSweMoDo projects:

3) finish Bog Jacket,  garment 2 (of 12)

4) finish Ingenue, garment 3

5) start garment 4 (no clue what this will be, yet!)

ravelry knitalongs:

6) another combinatin of SKA and SolidSocks March knitalongs.  Solidsocks colour is green this month, and for SKA challenge I'll either do lace or Cat Bordhi - probably the latter, as I want to try a pattern from her sock book

other knitting and stuff:

7) knit Chris a pair of felted moccasins to replace his worn out ones

8) knit 2 novelty scarves - one is nearly done, but I'll blog about them when they're both done

9) block, take photos and blog about a shawlette which I finished last week

10) Start and finish a smaller project - not sure what just yet.  I may not have time, but am committed to doing 10 things for March!  I would like to try to use up any odd balls left from this month's other projects.

January knitting and February goals

How did I do?

January's goals.

1) finish off SKA's December socks, Empoisonnee.  Done!

Knitting clubs:
2) work my January Mystery Blanket squares.  Done!

 

3) Soctopus club package - I want to get a good start on this.  Unlikely to finish it, but as the club is alternate months, that's ok. Done!  No photos yet, until mid February, when everyone is sure to get their package. 

Sweater project:
4) knit a garment!  Done!  Linden!

Small project:
5) a cowl - the Forest Canopy cowl.  Done!

ravelry knitalong groups:
6) start and finish a pair of burgundy socks for SolidSocks. Failed! I tried 3 patterns, then gave up.

7) start a pair of beaded socks for SKA.  Done!

Six out of seven goals achieved, and, to be fair, the failure was the equivalent of 3 sock legs.  I managed to finish a few pairs of socks which I only intended started, and have made a good start on February's garment.  So overall I'm pleased.

February's knitting goals.

Knitting clubs:

1) knit february's Mystery blanket squares.  I don't have the yarn yet, but I do have the emailed instructions, and all I can say is 'wow!'.  I love the colours and the designs this month.

2) knit December's Get Knitted Lorna's Laces socks, for Chris. The colour is Christmas Conga, and as soon as I opened the package he claimed them as his colours.  He even showed me some other socks in similar colours, which are in his top ten.

The colours are red, green and gold - not as washed out as this!

Sweater Project:

3) Finish Chris's Bog Jacket. I'm nearly up to the cast on for the sleeves (he's having long sleeves, not mid-length, so I need to cast on for the rest of the sleeve)

Again (!) my tension is different - back to 14 sts / 4".  So this is going to be an  *exact* fit!  The length is dubious too, as it'll be stretched, so I'm going to have to add another inch to length to make up for this. 

I have to order some yellow and rust yarn for the stripes.  I'll do it next week, which means I've gone a whole month without buying yarn.  I'm in a few clubs, but these are annual clubs, already paid for and I'm not including them in yarn acquisitions.

4) Start another garment! Not sure what yet, but my plan is loosely that I'll start off the year  doing chunky, then aran, then dk, then 4ply and back up again to chunky as the weather cools down again. So it's either chunky or aran.  Plenty of time to decide, I'll start it after I've finished the BJ.

Ravelry knitalongs:

5) I'm combining SolidSocks and SKA this month - so it's going to be a pink Monkey Toes sock. Probably Eleanor, in Dream in Color Smooshy Cool Fire.

 

That's all!  The Bog Jacket is giving me grief.  I'm going to work on this for the rest of the day, see if I can get to the sleeves. Wish me luck, this isn't my most favourite project (I'm picturing Chris in a short, tight bog jacket, with a yellow stripe up the top...)

November knitting and December goals.

I would normally post this tomorrow, but as I'm unlikely to accomplish any more FOs this month, ,I thought I might as well end up NaBlPoMo with a round up of my November knitting.

And what a month it's been!  I have surpassed my expectations!

So, what were my goals?

1) Finish SKA Komet socks for October - done!

2) Start SKA November socks - done, and finished!

3) Start and finish SolidSocks November socks - done!

4) Picnic - 8 squares this month - done, and the remaining 2.5 squares, plus the side borders! No further photos until it's done, so here's a Chris pose, with seven of the nine strips completed.

5) Finish some plain socks I've started with the August Lorna's Laces yarn - done!

6) Finish the mini shawl - done!

7) Finish Rivolo - done!

 

This is an unblocked photo - but it's blocked and we did take some photos at IKL last week - but they're on my SD card at work!

8) Knit a few baby hats - done!

9) Knit some fingerless gloves - done, not one, but two pairs!

10) Start something new (not socks) - done, and finished!

 

A brilliant month for knitting!

DECEMBER KNITTING
I'm keen to end the year with as few wips as possible.  At the moment the only WIP is Picnic (I can't believe that, but it's true).
I intend finishing this one and keeping my startitis in check! 

Twelve things for December:

1) Post photos of Rivolo (not exactly knitting, I know)

2) Finish the borders on Picnic.  Then take a trip to the laundrette for a hot wash and tumble dry.

3) Start and finish SolidSocks (ravelry) December socks - the colour is red or green, and I'm choosing red.  Pattern not decided yet (but I'll try to find one tonight).

4) Start and finish SKA (ravelry) December socks.  This month's technique is
using leftovers, or we can make almost socks (that is, socks which may be short cuffed, toeless, footless etc), or Yarnissima.  I'm going with Yarnissima's Empoisonnee from Autumn's Twist Collective.

4) Start and finish some plain socks.

5) Knit a hat.

6) Crochet a scarf.  I have my eye on Boteh, especially after seeing all the versions on ravelry.

7) Knit a pair of Dashing.

8) Knit another two pairs of wristers

9) Knit a pair of mittens.

10) At least start a jumper for Chris - we haven't even thought of the design / colour / yarn yet!

11) Start a garment for me.

12) Get over my fixation of knitting accessories by knitting a cowl!

I hope I have lots of knitting time!