Angelarae Knits

Blanket Strip

In the 'you can't get something for nothing' department,' add the $2.44 bamboo circular needles purchased at Wal Mart.  The cord came off when I tried to remove a few stitches.  I guess I could hot glue it.  I'll try that, but I won't buy another pair.  Consider yourselves warned.

Also, the rain has stopped.  I am very glad to see the sunshine today.  It was about 75 degrees, so much cooler than the 85 degree weather we have been experiencing.   

I did knit today.  I worked on the blanket strip from hell (also known as the never ending strip).  It is basically a modified Irish Hiking Scarf...a really long one, 72 inches.  I'm pretty sick of it by now, but the good news is I am almost done.  I am measuring it by holding it up in front of me.  I am 5'3" and this strip is supposed to be 6 feet long.  If it is over my head, I'm close.  It is actually just up to my forehead.   

As you can see, it has a horseshoe cable in the center, 8 stitches instead the usual 6 for the twisted cable usually in it's place.  Pretty, but I am Irish Hiking'd out at this point.  No more Irish Hiking for a while.

Also, Issue #8 of Knit Notes went out today.  Everyone who subscribes should have one.

I am working on adding all of the archived issues to the Knit Notes Page here at Angelarae Knits.  I am hoping to have this done sometime after Halloween. 

Shawl Start

Remember the Jaggerspun Zephyr I bought some months ago in a beautiful aqua color?  Gorgeous stuff.  Well, I started the fir cone shaw with it, but ran into problems with the pattern and decided to rip it. 

Then, I started a shawl from Knit N' Style.  I put it down for a while, stored in plastic mind you.  And when I picked it up again, pulled it from the plastic, it had been stained somehow.  There was a decidedly faded patch right in the middle of the piece.  It was faded from the lovely blue to a pale cream color.  Ruined.  So, I cut that project off the ball and tossed it in the garbage.  I had, maybe, 35 % of the shawl done.   Oh! And, the pattern is missing as well. Doomed, I think.

So, I've been searching here and there for another pattern.  I came across this:

Isn't it gorgeous?

I cast on yesterday and ripped twice before I finished the setup rows for this shawl which is knit from the neck down.   In the interest of blogging as things are rather than how I would like them to be, I'll be posting some updates with this project, even if I decide to rip it and try again later.  I could pretend to be all efficient and well disciplined when choosing my projects, but you know better, don't you!

New Issue, New Scarf

Here is a project I have been working on, little by little, for some time now...perfect T.V. knitting, not that I get to do very much of that.   I was going to be oh-so-clever and take some stunning shots (a la B r o o k l y n t w e e d) of the finished scarf with my son, Ian (the colors really do complement his blue eyes).  He would have none of that, of course, and I have been able to add only about an inch here and there (the darn thing still is not quite as long as my husband likes it) so no grand pics yet, but they are coming. 
I love the simplicity of this pattern and classic look of this scarf.   I'd like to knit one in a solid tweed yarn, one color, on smaller needles.  I think it'd be gorgeous, and just my kind of scarf. 
Anyhoo, the pattern is in the latest issue of Knit Notes.  If you don't receive the newsletter, drop me a line and I'll send it on out.  Feedback has been fantastic!  Thanks, guys.   I am still working on an HTML version and hosting for that.   Happy Monday and Happy October (whoo-hoo)!

Ang

A Little Bit and a little bit more...

Here's a little picture of the first 30 rows...

and a few pattern repeats later...

Lovely.  See? I really am knitting something...

Cleaning House

Well, people, the proverbial pigs have flown.  I've cleaned out my stash, which, of necessity, includes unfinished projects.  (In other words, I cleaned our bedroom).   I don't know what your house is like, but in mine, everything that is important to me ends up in our bedroom.  It's the only place in the house not frequented by my children (and their friends).  So, that's where *most* of my yarn and various other knitting sundries were.  I won't describe the scene to you, pre-organization.  I wouldn't want to take up your entire day.  Let's just say that many hours were spent stacking books, warshing clothes I had forgotten that I owned, and stuffing black garbage bags with what can only be described as trash. 
In all this muss, I did find almost every missing knitting needle I had, including 6 dpns in various sizes, 4 cable needles, 2 balls of sock yarn I'd forgotten about (Meilenweit Boot Stretch, no less), two tape measures, my 'Knitting Without Tears" book that had been missing (I found it under my dresser and for those of you in California, a dresser is the same thing as a chest-of-drawers), a sh*! load of dishcloth cotton, half a bag of Harry and David Truffles (score!), and a long-lost toothbrush. 
Anyhoo, having all my projects in front of me, I decided to hone them down a bit.  Basically, anything that had been started and sitting more than 6 months is now ripped and forgotten.  And I don't feel the least bit guilty.  My only works in progress are now in my sidebar.  I think there are a total of four.  I feel much better.  I can manage four.  Also, if you'll notice, I have included 'Short Attention Span' pattern links in my sidebar.  Let's face it.  I'm ADD. I know it, you know it.  If you have any suggestions to add to these, by all means, email me or leave in comments.  I love a quick knit.  Anything that isn't exactly quick, but seems to go quickly because it keeps my interest, can be included here, as well. 
It's Memorial Day weekend, so I hope you guys have a great one!
I plan on knitting and spending it with my family.

*Note: I changed my Percent Bar graphic at Snipperoo, but it is refusing to publish the updated version.  Working on this.  Sorry for the perceived inaccuracy, but I really *did* make the corrections before this post.  *

Oh Well....

Bad news...cable down raglan is off the needles, as in frogged...for good.  Well, maybe not for good, but for now, anyway.  I had to rip a few times and that was enough for me.  I don't know what's wrong with me.  I just don't seem to have the patience God gave me. (Oh! Hey! Maybe God never gave me any...didn't think of that, now, did 'ya!)   For some reason, everyone else's knitting on all of their blogs looks just gorgeous. I mean, look here (her stuff is always really nice) and here, and, Oh! How about here.   Jen just finished a stunning Dale of Norway Cardi called 'Norma.'   Brooklyn Tweed's Saddle Shoulder Aran Cardigan slayed me....simply fabulous.  And my stuff?  Well, nothing seems all that exciting or encouraging to me.  Blah.  I have been wanting to knit a shawl.  But I have yet to find a pattern that I think I can do.  Managed to finish a ball-band warsh rag in a fabulous orange and yellow,  but I'm not posting pics.  I figure you all have seen enough of those.  I guess, what I need is a fabulous knit that can hold my interest to completion.  Don't want much, do I.

Ang

Hodge Podge

hodge podge - (n) a motley assortment of things

There are a few things I would like to address in this post.  First, congrats to Angela.  She correctly guessed (from that small amount of knitting, no less) that I am knitting the Cable Down Raglan by Stefanie Japel on pg. 42 of the Spring issue of Interweave Knits.  The yarn is Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece, a cotton/wool blend.  It's a nice yarn to knit cables with.  I'll post progress soon. 

Next, I wanted to relieve all of you who thought this might end up in the UFO pile.  As you can see, it's finished.  This will be the second pair of Mother's Day Socks I have knit for my Mom, meaning, I knit her a pair last year.  Shhhh. It's a secret.  Now, I need to madly finish the other sock so that I can give her a pair.  That would be nice wouldn't it? 

I also wanted to show you this.

It is Ann Budd's Chevron Lace baby sock, part of the Better Than Booties free download at Interweave Knits.  Hers were knit using Lorna's Laces Sherpherd Sock yarn.  I used Cascade Fixation (color#5130), so I had to modify the pattern 'a little'.   I'll post it once I get it written out well enough to follow.   I think they look very nice.   Fixation is one of my favorite yarns to knit with. So soft and cushy.  The heel and toe are short row.  This is a closeup of the heel with the holes I don't like.  (kinda the middle of the pic...not the chevron holes)

So, I fixed them.

There.

Much Better

I finally went with the Afterthought Heel from SKS (p. 71) and I am happy with it.  Any suggestions for
the little gaps? (click on pic to enlarge). 

Sally's Gift

I have received a wonderful gift from my friend, Sally.    Here are some pictures...

It's a Hanne Falkenberg...see?

It's called 'Pyramide.'

Here's a link for a better pic of the FO than mine.   Sally is one of those friends who life has made very close and dear.  She was working on this project the last time we got together to knit.  I had told her how impressed I was that she was knitting a Falkenberg and she, in her humorous way, said, 'Well, the yarn is so small and the needles so tiny that it is taking for-ev-er."  She brought it to me in church, this past Sunday and said, "Enjoy this, I'm sick of it and it's keeping me from knitting other things."  She has finished the back and has started on the front.  I will need to finish the front and the sleeves.  I asked her if she would like me to finish it and return it to her to wear...she said, "I would never ask someone to do that, and I don't ever want to see it again."  So, it's mine.  The pattern isn't that difficult so far.  I can pretty much knit this while watching sports or something.  I know I'd never be able to afford one of these on my own, so I am very happy to have it.  The humor of the fact that I may be complaining about it in later posts, is not lost on me.  Maybe I should go ahead and sign-up for the Mason Dixon Knitting Slog-Along.

Note: I forgot to mention.  The name of this pattern is 'Pyramide.'

Ang

Cool Sock, Sucky Heel

I consider this bad luck, by the way, posting an unfinished project dooms it to incompletion.  I love this feather and fan pattern. I adapted it from Wendy Knits and a couple other similar patterns.  They all call for 72 stitches.  The only heel I feel will look delicate enough is the short row heel.  The heel flap seems too bulky.  So, I looked at Sensational Knitted Socks, since she does such a great job of dividing directions for different parts of the sock.  Her short row heel has 'wrap stitch' directions.  They include yf (yarn forward) and yb (yarn back).  These are supposed to create increases.  I did not realize this.  When I read yarn forward, I bring the yarn to the front, then knit(slip, purl) the next stitch.  Same for yarn back.  Her instructions said 'yf, slip next stitch, yb (wrapped stitch) and slip wrapped stitch back to left needle, turn work...'  Well, the yf and yb are supposed to be done over the needle creating a yarnover before and a yarnover after each slipped stitch.   That's why I ended up with less than half the stitches I was supposed to after I worked the reverse part of the short row heel. (Duh, Ang...decreases but no increases?)  Not a problem with her instructions, just with my understanding of yf and yb.   Poor Shannon wracked her brains trying to understand my frustrated, rambling emails.  She sent me this link (now on my sidebar) which solved all misunderstandings.  Thank you Shannon.  See how bad this looks?  Feather and Fan is perfect for this yarn, I think.