UFOs Run Amok!!

I am drowning in UFOs – “unfinished objects”!! I’ve been trying to simplify my life, limit choices, etc., etc., but can’t seem to apply that philosophy to my knitting! It looks like I need an intervention. NOW!

Here’s just about everything out on the table. (The closed The Knitting Nest bag represents gifts I’m making that I’m not going to show on the blog because my kids are going to catch on to what I do on the computer one of these days!)

Yeah. I know. The first step is to admit you have a problem. And I do – I knit for myself and for the shop. And I have knitting ADD. And I like pretty yarn and patterns. That’s three problems. Well, let’s go through these one by one and figure out what I need to do.

Fair Isle sweater from Knit Picks kit. I actually made one of these and accidentally felted it. I still have enough yarn that I’m doing another one. Right now it’s in a box with cedar balls because I have other projects that keep taking up my time. But, this project is teaching me lots about doing Fair Isle work, so it’s definitely something I want to finish. Hmmmm. Keep in box for now. Work on after Christmas.

Hidden Treasure Pocket Sock in Kollage Luscious yarn. I made the model for our sock class out of some Universal yarn, but I hadn’t used any of the Luscious, which is a cotton/elastic blend, so I figured I’d just throw together a pair of these socks. Well, they do go quickly, but I’ve been interrupted a zillion times. I’m up to the pocket which will take very little time and then I can do the second sock. Definitely keep in the rotation.

Drummossie entrelac sock in Cascade Heritage yarn. I love this sock. This is the second of the pair and I’m making it using backward knitting instead of turning to do the purl sides. I’m motivated to finish it to see how the gauge works out. I’ll definitely get this one done soon.

Green lace socks for my daughter. She chose a pair of socks a year or more ago for me to make for her that have 5 (yes, 5) different charts! I finally finished the first sock last spring. I still haven’t cast on the second. It needs  to be done by this spring, though. Stays in the rotation. This . . . this . . . is why I need to knit socks two at the same time!!

Another reason for me to do socks two at a time – this sock from the Knitty website. It’s knit from side to side using Judy’s Magic Cast-On to start and kitchener stitch to end. Totally cool. And I used some of my favorite Regia Yarn. But now I need to make the second sock. Unfortunately, since it’s not remotely shop model-ish, it’s a low priority right now.

Ah, silk! My mom wants the silk model up in the shop, so instead of making another, I decided to make Wingspan in silk. I love it and I’m almost finished. This is one of the few projects that is only unfinished because of space/time constraints.

This little puff of wool is supposed to be a change purse one day. I pull it out and work a few rows every few months. I’m not sure it’s ever quite going to grow out of being a bit of fluff, but I’ll try.

Bamboo sock yarn sock. This is a new sock yarn that we’re carrying in the shop, so I need to whip up a sock and block it to see what I think of the stuff. As you can see, it doesn’t really even qualify as “unfinished” – it’s “unstarted”. But it’s a moderately high priority.

I love Cascade’s Baby Alpaca Lace yarn, so I’m making a shawl from it. But, it’s clearly in the UFO category right now. It’s not remotely “mindless knitting”. I have used my lifelines more than I care to admit. Definitely a piece to keep in the rotation, but only when I’m feeling up to putting some brain power behind the needles.

My “Live, love, knit” sweater. It doesn’t look much like a sweater right now, does it? I’ve only been working on it for six months. Why did I think I should make a sweater out of Ultra Pima Fine? Perhaps because I’m crazy? Perhaps because I love the yarn. Either way, I’m about halfway up the back. It’s more of a spring sweater, so I may not worry too much about it for a few months and spend more energy on something like the Fair Isle – which is much more of a winter item.

Spiraling Organza Scarf. My daughter came up with an idea to use some of the novelty yarns with traditional yarns, so I’m in the process of making a tube scarf with Organza winding up around it. So far, I’m loving the effect. This is a great project for me to work on when my hands are tired of the small needles, and I anticipate I’ll finish it in the next week or so.

I think I have these a little better prioritized in my head. And I won’t be starting anything new (except a Christmas gift or two). I’ll post my progress and see if I can’t get down to something more manageable in a few weeks.

How are you doing with UFOs? Maybe we can encourage each other and have fun at the same time!!

Lagniappe–June 17, 2012

I am originally from the South. My extended family is from Mississippi and Louisiana, but I grew up in Florida, which explains why I don’t have a Southern accent. Nonetheless, I have a few Southernisms – I refuse to give up the word “ya’ll” (it’s incredibly useful) and I love the word “lagniappe” which I picked up during my years in Baton Rouge at LSU and New Orleans at Tulane Med School. Lagniappe means “a little extra” or “a bonus”. That’s what today’s post is – some lagniappe, little extras for you.

• Patrick and I met with the rep from Interlacement Yarns yesterday morning. Oh. My. Goodness. So many beautiful yarns!! Right now, we’re going to start with the Lotus, a 100% silk lace weight yarn that comes in a 500 yard skein, which is perfect for that warm weather shawl project. That yarn should be in the shop in a week or so!

• I have become a hat fiend! I agreed to make a couple of hats for a couple of friends of a friend who are both undergoing chemotherapy and I loved them so much that I’m working on another by the same designer. The first two were Inishmore by Cheryl Andrews (see earlier blog post) and my current work in progress is Picadilly, also by Cheryl Andrews. She has several other hat patterns that I love, so I may end up making even more hats! In any case, you can purchase the patterns at The Knitting Nest through Ravelry In-Store pattern sales and we can help you find the perfect yarn.

• Yarn bowls! Check out our Facebook page for pictures of some of our yarn bowls. We have two potters currently making yarn bowls for our shop. I have one at home that I’m using and I LOVE it!

• Knitting needles and shawl pins! Patrick is getting really good at turning these on the lathe. Again, pictures are on the Facebook page and Patrick updates these pretty regularly. Some needles have glass beads that are made by a local glass artist at Blessings Glassworks!

• On a personal note, I’m getting Botox tomorrow for my migraines. So, for the next three months, I won’t be able to raise my eyebrows or wiggle my ears. Actually, I can’t wiggle my ears right now, so that’s a moot point. But, when I had Botox 6 or 7 years ago, my kids had a blast with the fact that I couldn’t raise my eyebrows. Stop in the shop sometime and say something outrageous and get a laugh out of the fact that I can’t raise my eyebrows at you! Or not. You can just stop by and check out the new merchandise and sit and knit a spell (there’s those Southern roots coming out!)!

 

Recent Projects–December 20, 2011

Obviously, I can’t tell you about a couple of my knitting projects since the recipients might read this blog (although I’ve skimped this year on some family members since I’ve been knitting so much for the shop – I hope they understand).  However, I have made a few items that have turned out very nicely that I’d like to show off!

This is a purse made from Poems yarn using a Ravelry free pattern that I then felted.  I added an extra set of short rows since I knew it would shrink with felting.  When it shrunk, it became rather shallow, so I added a button and made a tab with I-cord so the contents wouldn’t fall out easily.

I recently acquired a Kindle, which I love, especially for keeping my knitting patterns without having to juggle paper all over the place!  To protect the screen, I made a Kindle cover, again using a free Ravelry pattern.

A friend is teaching my son to hunt deer with a bow.  As a thank-you, I made her a sweater for her dog, who apparently does not have as much hair as a dog living in Wisconsin really needs.  I used a free pattern that I found on Ravelry, but did a fair amount of modification based on the measurements of the dog.  I don’t have pictures of the dog in the sweater yet, but I’ll get those as soon as I can!

My other did other current project is a hat and mitten set done in crochet.  Was learning to knit really as tedious as this crochet project is?  Well, I’ll get there eventually, I guess.

What are your current projects?  Anything exciting?  I’ll have some pictures after Christmas – I hope!

Works In Progress–November 7, 2011

Having a yarn shop means that I get to knit lots of really interesting things since we need shop models.  The downside to this is that I can’t put the items directly in my closet!  Nonetheless, I’m having a great time with my current projects.

1. Swirl coat.  I love the new book, Knit, Swirl.  There are some just amazing designs in this book!  I finished knitting my swirl (the first one in the book) a few weeks ago, but finally got to block it on Friday.  I’ll start sewing tonight or tomorrow.  The yarn is Cascade 220.

2. Cardigan sweater.  This is the first item I’ve made from a Cottage Creations pattern.  There is almost no sewing in this sweater, although I did have to graft together 80+ stitches down the center back.  I’m doing this cardigan out of our “Sheep to Shop” yarn, the yarn that we bought locally as raw wool and took to be spun.  I’m really enjoying working with this yarn.

3. Christmas decorations.  I’ve been knitting lots of stars out of blue cotton Ultra Pima for our window display.  But that’s all I’m going to say about that – you’ll have to stop by the shop after Thanksgiving to see the final display.

What are you working on?  How are your Christmas projects coming along?