FO: Bariloche or Bust - Ears, Project Spectrum: South

Project Spectrum: Bariloche or Bust - Ears, FO, originally uploaded by Soasa Designs.

We now (hopefully) return to our regularly scheduled program. It's been a whirlwind ever since I got home! Sorry for the huge gaps in posting. I hope to be back on track now.

Pattern: My own
Size: CO 15st, knit to fit
Materials: 60-70 yds Yanabey Lana Mecha
Needles: #9, 5.5mm
Start Date: June 29, 2009
Finish Date: July 1, 2009
On Ravelry

This was my project for the July/August period of Project Spectrum. During July and August we focused on the South. I thought it was perfect timing for my trip through Argentina, as we finished our trip in Patagonia. We were also focusing on the color red and the element of fire, which I tried to incorporate in my use of a clay bead, and of course my color choice. My goal was to finish this in time for the south of Argentina where we anticipated it would be very cold. I ended up finishing it on the second night of our trip, up north in the desert. It was freezing cold at night there! Who would have thought?

Tilcara, Northern Argentina*

I couldn’t find a headband pattern that was exactly what I wanted, so I made this one up! It’s a simple 3x3 rib that I reversed every three rows to make it look like a weave. The decorative button is made of clay, while the two functional buttons are bits of branches.

San Martin de los Andes, Southern Argentina*

As you can see I've already gotten a lot of use and enjoyment from it!

Looking for other Fiber Friday posts? Click it!

*Thanks to Ashely, my friend and traveling companion, for the photos.

FO: Quick 'n Dirty Socks

FO: Quick 'n Dirty Socks III, originally uploaded by Soasa Designs.

Pattern: Modified from Fjord Felted Slippers by Cathy Campbell
Size: CO 40st
Materials: 80 yds Yanabey Lana Mecha
Needles: #9, 5.5mm
Start Date: May 16, 2009
Finish Date: May 22, 2009
On Ravelry

I realize that I blogged these slipper socks a week or so ago for WIP Wednesday, but the truth is I finished them about 6 hours after I posted that! I've been wearing them as slippers around the house. The yarn is VERY loosely twisted, so when I wash them I've found that I sort of have to groom them which is a bit of a pain. Never the less these socks are very very warm, and I'll be making more because I love how comfortable they are! I'm surprised by how soft the Yanabey wool turned out to be.

To make these slipper socks (damn, I really don't know what to call them!) I CO 40 stitches, knit a 3x1 rib for about an inch, then did a knit row, a centered decrease at the back, one more knit row, one more decrease, and then saved the 16 heel stitches, knit to desired length, knit the toe, and knit the heel! The first time around I actually knit the heel before finishing the foot so that I could measure how long to make them. I sort of followed the pattern, but not really. Super easy! Next time I'll cast on fewer stitches, though I do enjoy the loose cuff. Maybe just a few less.

Looking for other Fiber Friday Posts? Click it!

Ravelry Meet-up, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Ravelry Meet-up, Buenos Aires, Argentina, originally uploaded by Soasa Designs.

Yesterday I finally made it to the new Buenos Aires monthly Ravelry meetup! This started in March because a few of us out-of-towners wanted to meet the local knitters, but I was never able to make it as it always fell on the weekend of my Birds class. Ravelry has a strong fanbase here in BsAs. There must have been 18 of 20 of us, knitting together in the food court at the big shopping center, Abasto. There was one particular security guard who was very curious about what we were doing, and he kept walking around us, but every time I said hello he scurried away. We had a blast:)

This photo isn't even of all of us! I didn't realize I had my camera with me until a bunch of folks had left. What fun we had! So many people from so many places! Canada, Portugal, Argentina, Uruguay, Spain, USA, and I'm sure I'm missing some! Ravelry is amazing!

FO: Toasty Gold, Project Spectrum: East

Toasty Gold Project Spectrum: East, originally uploaded by Soasa Designs.

Pattern: Toasty by Leslie Friend
Size: CO 26st
Materials: 60-70 yds Yanabey Lana Mecha
Needles: #8, 5.0mm
Start Date: May 9, 2009
Finish Date: May 15, 2009
On Ravelry

This is one of the simplest patterns ever, but it's effective! My hands have been freezing because my desk is right under a really drafty window, and the wind blows right in on me while I'm using my computer. I'm using this same yarn for my Quick 'n Dirty socks, and for those I'm using a size 9 needle. I may even go up to a 10 next time I use it. These mitts are really dense. They keep me warm, that's for sure!

I chose this color because our Project Spectrum color for these two months is yellow, and it reminded me of the deep gold color often worn by Zen Buddhist monks. I figure that reaction made it perfect for our direction!

WIP: Quick 'n Dirty

Quick 'n Dirty, originally uploaded by Soasa Designs.

My feet are cold. I'm knitting these slipper socks from a felted slipper pattern, but I'm not going to felt them because I'm too cold to knit a pair of socks 5 times too big for me then felt them and wait for them to dry. So really, I'm looking at a pattern for felted slippers, and sort of kind of following it. I didn't follow the heel direction correctly (it's a toe decrease heel, I've never done that before but it's definitely quick n' dirty!) but I'm not taking the mistake out because I don't want to reknit it! Usually I'm very prideful of my work, and I want it to look good and I'll frog it if it doesn't. In this situation, so long as it fits on my foot, I'm happy! So far, so good!

Looking for the FO? It's been blogged!

Looking for more WIP Wednesdays? Click it!

FO: Seaweed Shawlette, Project Spectrum: North

Seaweed Shawlette Project Spectrum: North, originally uploaded by Soasa Designs.

Pattern: Storm Cloud Shawlette by Hanna Breetz
Size: 78 rows
Materials: 225 yds of The Alpaca Yarn Co. Paca-Peds HT in Green Gator
Needles: #8, 5.0mm
Start Date: April 29, 2009
Finish Date: May 9, 2009
On Ravelry

I knit this shawl for the North season of Project Spectrum. I had half a skein left after knitting another scarflette that I'll blog about later, and after feeling how soft the first project came out I had to make something for myself from it as well! I finished it just in time, as the temp dropped over the weekend, and I haven't taken it off all week! I think I'm actually going to knit a couple more, as it makes great commuter knitting and it isn't too boring! Plus, no purling. I don't usually like garter stitch, but in this situation I think it really works.

I recommend both the yarn and the pattern! I ended up using the heel/toe coordinating ball for the last 10 rows or so, and I really enjoy how that turned out.

East: Weaving Yellow

East: Weaving Yellow, originally uploaded by Soasa Designs.

Hello y'all!

I'm still alive! Still in South America too:) This post has nothing to do with that though, sorry.

Recently I joined in on a year-long journey called Project Spectrum. You can read a bit about it and see some group photos here! Also more of my photos here! The idea is to incorporate a special focus involving color into your everyday creative practices. This year's theme is Cardinal Directions, and we are just wrapping up North and it's associated color, which was green. We are moving into East, and yellow! For that I am excited to announce that I'm taking a weaving class and it begins on Saturday! I'm really thrilled, as weaving is something I've wanted to learn for a long time and never found the time or money for. What better time than this? Above is a photo of my new loom, and my first skein of yellow yarn!

Hemlocked

Rav It

Since the first day I saw this pattern I KNEW I had to knit it. At least once.

It was originally part of the Christmas plan, but it was set aside for more immediate gifts. Instead it will be a gift for my homestay in Argentina (oh yes, we still need to discuss this, don't we?)

Jared Flood's Hemlock Ring is simply irresistible. Just look at the numbers! 2218?! Baaah. I'm proud to follow the flock on this one. It has been a joy to knit, so much in fact that when I cast on Christmas night (after 3 months of Christmas knitting, I was so excited to do something that wasn't on a list) I knit the first two thirds of it in about a week, which wreaked havoc on my right arm. I'm finally picking it back up again and slowly working my way through the last 9 rounds (440+ stitches a piece) and then I'll have to block it. I've never blocked something like this, so it'll definitely be a learning experience!

A Christmas of Knitting

I am WAY LATE making this post, but it's still January, so here goes!

I wanted to share a little bit of what took over my life for the last three months of 2008. Sometimes I go a little crazy with plans...this year it was Christmas knitting. I convinced myself I was planning so far ahead, starting in September, it would be no trouble getting through my list. Never mind that I was full on into sale season and driving every which way across the state in the middle of a hectic semester while still balancing a part time job. Never mind that I need to sleep at night. Or that I planned to knit my brother an entire sweater in the month of November, or that I decided to do it from calculations rather than a pattern. Never mind that finals were the week before Christmas, and I'm trying to get the paperwork done for a study abroad (more on that later.)

No, I was determined. What happens when I'm determined to get something done? I usually do, for better or worse. This year was no exception (well, except the two projects I didn't get done, but they were sort of "if I have time" projects anyway.)

Here's the damage:



1. Manly Lace for Jamie II, 2. Mom's Porphyria, 3. Justin's Gloves, 4. Jordan's Sweater, 5. Joe's Turn a Square, 6. Amanda's Halley's Comet, 7. Joanne's Fellow Knitter Goodybag, 8. Dan's Turn a Square, 9. Helena's Modified Fetchings, 10. Dad's Thuja

In Which I Attempt to Catch Up - Ep. 1 - Knitting

I thought about doing this chronologically, but I'm afraid that would turn laundry list preeeeety quickly! Instead I'm going to do my best to let y'all know what I'm up to in segments, beginning with knitting.

Considering how busy I've been, a lot has been happening on the knitting front.
I'm still working on my Forecast because upon finishing both sleeves I put off knitting in the button band for a long time knowing that I would run out of yarn. And run out of yarn I did, a mere 4 rows from the finish! A few panicked topics and messages on Ravelry (I'm RobinMarie on there) and a darling named AMP came to my rescue with not 1 but 3 skeins of the discontinued yarn I needed! Enough to make matching mitts or something! Needless to say there will be some jewelry headed out that way!

While Forecast became too large to be a carry-around project I decided it was time to put to use a gorgeous skein of Jitterbug superwash merino that I had bought myself for my birthday. After some disappointment at finding out that the free Berroco sock pattern I wanted to use had only directed me to buy enough yarn for one sock, this yarn sat around in my stash before I pinned it to a pair of Cookie A.'s Monkey socks. They're coming along swimmingly, though they're a bit too large for me, and will probably be gifted.





Because I wanted my Monkey sock carry-around project to last a while, and because the beating I took from Forecast wasn't enough to scare me, I felt no guilt picking up this new sweater project! Valley Yarn's Olive Branch Yoga Hoodie in Berroco Comfort, colorway Filbert. I have to admit that this Superfine Acrylic/Nylon is incredibly soft and delicious. I LOVE IT. I never thought I'd find and Acrylic I liked ever again, but not only is it wonderfully comfortable (I fell asleep on it one night, needles and all) but it's machine washable! Yay! The picture doesn't look like much, but this project is nice and straightforward thus far. I don't think I'm going to use a zipper, I don't like zippers. I'll probably use the toggles I bought for the Forecast.

Finally, I'm currently blocking the poor, neglected project I call Whispy Whimsy. I found the yarn upstairs in the storage room, the pattern is incredibly straightforward, and I'm not crazy about the color. As a result I don't even remember knitting this piece. I just have to let it dry, sew in some ends, and throw some buttons on it and it'll be done. Maybe I'll gift it?

I could say that's all there is, but I would be lying. I've discovered a little group of knitters in my (sort of) area! I went to a meeting on Tuesday, and there was only one other woman there, but she was a blast! I'm very excited to be making new friends. Come knit at the Muddy Cup in Hudson on Tuesday nights! I'm told that after next week we're meeting at the MC in Catskill, which is a bit of a hike for me...but we'll see if I can't car pool. I've also purchased a ton of yarn from DBNY in preparation for Christmas projects, and the Hemlock Ring Blanket I've been lusting after for ages.

And one last thing! At work the other day I felted and beaded myself a cute little case to hold my DPNs while I'm working on socks! With the sock sticking out it looks like a face with a tongue!