Stonecutter

 

 

After a year and some months, the beast is finished.

I learned more than I care to admit with this sweater, one thing being a bias bind off. Instead of the stair step shape you normally get when binding off (left shoulder below) you get a smooth one (right shoulder) and it makes the seaming process so much easier. Oh how I wish I knew of this sooner!

 

 

I also got over my fear of straying from patterns. I’m really picky when it comes to necklines and knew right off the bat the back had to be dropped. Straight ones from the HPS are just not done. The weight of the sweater would have pulled the neck down a little but not enough for my comfort.

I opted for M1L and M1R instead of YOs for the side cable increases. Personal preference really, the hole-y look just didn’t go with the rest of the sweater. If you decide to do this, make sure you’re working the M1Ls on the right side and M1Rs on the left or you’ll get framing along the cable. Thanks to Radiolazy’s notes on Ravelry, this was caught early-ish and only done on the back. I decided to live with the mistakes (for once!) and corrected myself on the front.

(See how smooth that armhole below is? BIAS BO!)

 

Ugh, I love this sweater so much. It’s helped me through some tough times and is one of those projects that’ll always hold a special place in my heart. I’m sure I’ll cry at least once every time I wear it.

 

Sick AF Socks

These past few weeks were tough and really, really pushed my limits. A car accident left me with a fractured foot and that whole ordeal triggered something because I was nailed with an infection and flu on top of that.  When I thought it couldn’t get any worse, my body decided it wasn’t really cool with the medication after all and rejected it. Oof.

There was an upside though! I was able to knit. All day long. I mean, I could’ve blocked sweaters with all the tears I shed but I was alive and doing something I love.

I decided a plain pair of socks with left over Tosh would be perfect. Simple enough to take to appointments and I wouldn’t have to worry about row count since they were worked two at a time.

I redid the cuffs with smaller needles (000/toothpicks) after the photos above were taken. No pattern for these, just illegible notes. Socks are one of those things where once you have a basic understanding of construction and preferred fit, the possibilities are endless! Though I guess that could be said about anything…

I started another pair and already have plans for the next two. They’re just such good take-along projects that don’t require commitment and allow me to use fun, ridiculous colors I wouldn’t wear otherwise.

Hope everyone’s well and avoiding the sickies!!!

Briochealicious

This is definitely one of my favorite FO’s. Completely unexpected because in true Iz fashion, I hated it at the beginning. The main color was working up so much darker than the cone! Betrayal!

I had such a “meh” feeling as I cast off. I even said out loud, “now what?” as I pulled the yarn through the last stitch.

It wasn’t until I draped it over my shoulders that my heart exploded. I love it, I love it, I love it.

I swore I wasn’t a shawl person. The word alone made me cringe. But hot damn I’ll wear the crap out of this.

The only thing I would change if I were to do it again (and I probably will) is work one more row of garter before the border. I favor the side where the knits are my contrast colors and would have rather the MC purl bumps show on the opposite side.

So so pleased. Happy Monday everyone!

Forever Alone Socks

These are the “Boyfriend Socks” by Alice Bell. I used Madeline Tosh Sock but I’m starting to fall out of love with this yarn–not enough give and way, way too splitty.

I’d never done a short-row heel before this but it’s my new heel of choice. So much easier to work on one circular needle than a gusset and flap! If you have a high-instep it might not be comfortable though. I left more stitches between the wraps (16 instead of the suggested 12) for a wider and shorter heel.

The pattern called for 1×1 rib but I opted for 2X2 (k2tog/ssk the extra purl stitches) and a tubular bind off. It’s more time consuming but I think it’s the prettiest option with the most stretch.

I’m really pleased with how they turned out but I don’t think anything will ever top my happy socks.

Lily Cowl

I can finally show off the cowl I made for Andi! For the first round of this swap, Andi and Katie both sent original designs. I… did not.

I didn’t want that to happen again so I dug up all my mother’s knitting books and flipped through until I found a stitch pattern that felt right. It took a hot second to make sure everything worked together but I’m so, so pleased with how this turned out.

It’s obviously nowhere near as complex as the things they make but it’s still something, right?

The pattern can be viewed and downloaded on Ravelry here . OH YEAH AND IT’S FREE.

Happy knitting!

Happy Socks

These socks are everything and more. I cannot remember the last time I was so stoked on a project and that is sad. They’re just perfect in every way–from the color, to the yarn, the pattern…the fit!

It was my first time making cables without cabling. They’re probably not even considered cables but the look is there and was accomplished with decreases and yarn overs. Did not see that coming.

The socks are mirrors of each other which is totally cool, I just didn’t like what I had to do to accomplish that–work one sock more than the other. Granted, it’s only 16 stitches more, but the perfectionist in me died a little.

I’m so happy with how they turned out it’s stupid.

Pattern: Cadence Socks

Needles: 2.25mm

Yarn: Madelinetosh Sock in Candlewick

Mods: Tubular cast on

Sweater of Ultimate Sadness

I don’t even know where to start with this thing. There are so many issues with the fit that if this were a sewn garment, I would’ve already ripped it apart and started a brand new pattern.

That’s probably what I’ll end up doing. Instead of making the body one piece that folds over at the edges to make the armholes, I’ll create separate front and back pieces. The neck definitely needs to be dipped on the body and the collar shaping, holy crap, the damn collar shaping. I can’t tell if the designer meant for the edge of the body to sit across the shoulders (first photo below) or lower across the back (second photo). The shaping forces it to sit lower but the model photos show it worn higher. Either way, there’s tons of bubbling and excess fabric where there shouldn’t be.

I loved the idea of this garment but the pattern execution was just terrible.

As for Loft, it’s okay. I love the color options but prefer yarn that has more weight to it. The darker color broke more often than the lighter colors and was also less consistent in width. I didn’t have a great time knitting with it but I was expecting far worse after some of the reviews I read.

Mannnnn, I set myself up for disappointment, didn’t I?

Escher

The colors of the original (bottom row) were not working for me. I was pretty sure the light and dark grey needed to be switched but I wasn’t 100% convinced. I used Photoshop to get a better idea and ended up with the most perfect cocoon cozy cardigan thingy ever.

I hope the FO doesn’t disappoint but now that my expectations are so high it probably will. Cannot win with myself.

Have a lovely weekend everyone, I’ll be knitting away. Or coughing. Most likely coughing.

(original images, bottom row, from Brooklyn Tweed)

WIPs and a FO

Oh, Stonecutter. I made a few pattern modifications so the silhouette would be more flattering but the process is K-I-L-L-I-N-G me. I used to be a monogamous knitter but I can’t with this. Cannot.

Ion was my side project. Portable, quick, and easy. I didn’t love knitting it but I didn’t hate it.

A last-minute invitation to participate in a holiday boutique led to a second one being cast on. I would’ve preferred a different project but I was in such a rush to leave for the show I just grabbed what was on my desk: left over Wool of the Andes, size 10.5’s, and a crumpled pattern. Below is what I accomplished in 5/6 hours of on/off knitting.

I also started Escher a while back. I’m at the second color change but it’s been put in the corner of shame until the yarn situation gets figured out (wrong amount ordered).

That second owl sweater of mine was finished a few weeks ago. The fit is much better but I’m still not sure. Can’t help but think it would look better oversized and without shaping, at least for me. When I wear it it just looks like I had too much to eat this Holiday season. I should have used a nicer, thinner yarn but it was my first sweater and the yarn was purchased before I knew any better. I’ll get over it.

Hope everyone has a good weekend, I’ll be home knitting away.

Pretending to be all Nature-y and Stuff

“Pretending” because halfway through our second hike I had to call it quits. Altitude sickness, so real.

Utah definitely surprised me with it’s One Tree Hill-esque vibe. Everything was so suburban, people called me “honey”, and strangers smiled at other strangers. What even?

After that much-needed break from reality I met up with Kathy Cadigan and her daughter, Morgan, in L.A. I may or may not have fangirled a little bit. In case you were wondering, they’re both extra awesome in person.

We grabbed breakfast at Eggslut and walked over to Gather, a small yarn shop inside The Last Bookstore. It’s definitely a quality over quantity type of place.

I’ve got five different projects going but they’re working up slowly. It’s a combination of fatigue and allergies because SURPRISE I’m allergic to one of the yarns I’m using.

One of those projects is a second Owl sweater. I frogged the first one a few years back because I wasn’t happy with the fit. I thought about subbing the yarn for something more Cali-friendly but decided I need one warm sweater for those random days of cold/awfulness. I was feeling pretty good about it until I read about Dianna’s and how much it grew after blocking. I just completely forgot about that part of the process which is really, really  stupid. Oops.

I’m going to finish it and see what happens. I obviously don’t care too much about frogging so if it does’t work out, on to Owl sweater numero tres.

Happy happy Wednesday!