Confession Time

Yes, its time to list ALL the projects I’ve got on the needles at the moment. Scary, eh?

Update : Its taken me so long to complete this entry that I’ve actually finished some stuff! Its been a great kick in the tukus to get moving on a few of these.

All included project count: 15

of which three are on ‘long-term hiatus’ (aka to be worked on when I run out of other yarn).

Project: Iro Vest

Yarn: Noro Iro, Colorway 63 and Jo Sharp Mohair

Comments: Woohoo! I finished this one last Tueday so it doesn’t count anymore! Sweet :)

Project: The Diamond Fantasy Shawl by Sivia Harding

Yarn: Great Adirondak Yarn Company, Soxie in Nantucket Blue

Comments: One of my all time favorite yarns for lace. No knots, no snags and the colour repeats are short and subtle so the lace is never overwhelmed by the variegation in color. I hear it makes for great socks too but I haven’t tried it yet.

Update: All but the top border and bind off done.

Project: Zig Zag knee-high socks

Yarn: Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock, Pinstripe Colourway

Comments: I’m so bad. I ‘helped’ a friend reorganize his stash- read forced him to so I could stroke his yarn- and confiscated this stuff. What !?! He had like a dozen skeins of sock yarn and he’s never even made a pair. Whatever. Don’t judge me.

Project: Manresa Sweater

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Chunky in Purple and Green

Comments: *sigh* I’m stuck on the last sleeve. Then I just need to do the yoke which will take no time at all. Yes, yes, I’ll get to it.

Project: Noro Shrug

Yarn: Noro Silk Garden, Colourway No.

Comments: A design of my own. Really simple. I started at one wrist with a lace pattern, increased to the upper arm, switched from size 8 needles to size 11 for the back, switched back to size 8 and am heading down to the other wrist. Then I’m going to pick up around the opening and make a big collar that will allow the shrug to function as a jacket. I used a latice lace pattern from Barbara Walker vol. 3 which is very symmetrical and works beautifully going up one sleeve and down the other. Also drapes well across the back.

Update: Finished the body and have begun the collar. See above where I’m sniffing it :)

Project: Peacock Shawl

Yarn: Schaefer Yarns, Anne in Blue Violet

Comments: Here’s the trick. Its EASY. But lace always looks so difficult. Plus the yarn is so sniffable.

Project: Camo Knee Highs

Yarn: Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock, Pinstripe Colourway

Comments: Size one needles. Just not feeling it at the moment. Plus, totally not in a skirt sort of place so what’s the point.

Project: Ene’s Shawl by Evelyn Clark

Yarn: Rowan Lambswool Donegal 4 ply in Pickle

Comments: Vintage. Discontined. Rowan. The trifecta of lust yarn as far as I can see. And the shawl is lovely. So lovely. I love Evelyn Clark. That is all.

Project: Zanziba Skirt

Yarn: Colinette Zanziba

Comments: This I started and wanted to finish in one day. And didn’t. So its sitting on the needles. Its a steel blue short skirt. But I’m so NOT in a skirt mood these days so, again, its languishing. Maybe I’ll rip it out and make a sweater. I’m more in that kind of space anyway.

Project: Nantucket Jacket

Yarn: Jo Sharp Silk Road Aran in Hemlock

Comments: What have I learnt from this project? I hate making things in pieces. Really. I’ve got the back and about half a front. I love the yarn and the pattern- Norah Gaughan is a genius- but its slow going for that reason.

Update: Maybe I’ll rip it out and do a gansey instead. Never done one of those and I have Beth Brown-Reinsel’s book

Project: Pomotomas Socks

Yarn: Koigu KPPPM

Comments: I cast on for these on the way to Rhinebeck. Yes, Rhinebeck. I’ve turned the heel on one and have one more repeat on the leg of the other. Its lovely and I’m using two colorways of Koigu and I really need to get back to this one.

Project: Picovili Tee

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cathay in Eau de Nil

Comments: This one is holding my size 5 Addis hostage. Its just so much freaking stockinette. I think I’ll insert some lace once I get past the bust decreases. Slowly, slowly, it’ll make itself up the queue

Project: RYC Weekend Mitred Square Blanket

Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Superchunky

Comments: Okay, no blame here. Its a BLANKET. Its gonna take a while. I’ve been making the squares out of the RYC Weekend book which has these super cool mitred squares that end up looking like squares within squares. The thing is that, having done a bunch, i think they’re going to look stupid when I sew up the seam. Cashmerino Superchunky is really chunky. It doesn’t sew up well. So maybe I’ll go back and redo the blanket in strips or all in one. Maybe. Or not. I’m considering my options.

Project: Fair Isle Socks

Yarn: Rowan Yorkshire Tweed 4-ply in Feral (brown) and (green)

Comments: I made up a fair isle pattern and put it into a pair of socks. They’re lovely. But that they’re not for me. And I’m awful. Terrible. They were made for a friend originally but I didn’t finish them in time and they’re too big for me so they’ve been sitting there. I should just finish them and give them to my brother.

Project: My Dad’s Sweater

Yarn: Misti Alpaca Worsted in Marigold

Comments: Less said the better. ‘Worsted’ weight yarn that’s barely 5.5 st:in on size FOUR needles. Cast on too many stitches in the ROUND so I need to rip close to 400 yds of freaking yarn. The one and only time I’ve ever been tempted to burn yarn. Blech.

...Still, my dad did buy me this computer so he deserves something. But no one deserves a sweater born from this much suffering

Confession Time

Friday, February 2, 2007