Spring Knitting

The pattern for the socks I'm knitting is 'Embossed Leaves' and it will be my first attempt at lace work.  The yarn, 'Navajo' from Sunshine Yarns, has lovely colors and a substantial feel to it.  The pattern uses size 2 needles, but I'm using size 1 in case my knitting is a little loose.

The second Striped Blanket used up a lot of stash and passed the time.  I like the section with the colors in the photo below.

The Hermione Everyday socks are done, unblocked in the photo.  The two skeins were so different, even though the lot numbers matched.  If I make them again, I'll use a heavier yarn.

Knitting thru March

The Retro Rib socks are done.  I watched a video over and over to learn the Kitchener stitch to close the toes.  Now, it's easy.  I was totally lost at first!
The yarn was wonderful to work with, definitely a new favorite.
And there's been more color added to the blanket, but I still love the blue & yellow the best. 

Retro Rib

Started a pair of Retro Rib socks in Mountain Colors Crazyfoot yarn in Cedar.  It's 90% merino, 10% nylon.  I like the colors.

And I've started another striped blanket, using up my stash of wool, using up little remainders of yarn.  No plan, just knitting.  The light blue and pale yellow is a sweet combo.  The black and yellow-orange is very 'bee'.

Blanket wrap-up

These pictures show the colors accurately.   

Blanket Part 5

Although it seemed like a good idea at the time, I removed the lime stripe (Cascade 220 wool, 'Citron') as soon as it was completed.

 

The "knit 2 together, yarn over" detail on the sides is nice.

There are only a few more rows till it's done.  The grey marle is a perfect neutral to alternate between the nine color stripes.

Blanket Part 4

I've knit up to the royal blue stripe at the top, and am thinking of removing the red and denim stripes at the bottom, and restricting the color palette to blue/green/purple.  It's going to be 37" long when I complete the blue stripe.

Blanket, Part 3

Here's the progress on the striped blanket.  The blue-green stripe will be 6", the same as the dark blue stripe, and then another band of 3 gray stripes with 2 other colors.  The gray bands are 5 stripes, 2" each.

Blanket, Part 2

After detatching the orange and yellow, I put the blue stitches on a circular needle to hold for later.  I knit the entire skein of blue, which is 6" tall and 36" wide, and added the stripes and am continuing on.

Blanket, Part 1

I've started a small woolen blanket and am learning as I go along.  I used a Cable Cast-on, which looks nice, but seems tight.
I practiced a Lace Mesh stitch with the orange wool.
I found out that a good way to estimate how much yarn is used is to lay out the work flat, measure it, then multiply by four.  On this particular piece, there are 160 stitches on size 9 circular needles.  The work measures 36" across, so each row uses approximately 4 yards.
The first stitch of each row is slipped, which gives the work a smooth edge.
I put a break 11 stitches in from each side of the blue section, (knit 2 together, yarn over).

I'd been keeping the yarn skein in a zip lock bag as I knit, just to keep it clean.  To put an end to the noise the plastic bag made everytime I pulled out more yardage, I put the skein in a glass fishbowl instead.
And another thing I learned was that I don't care for the color combo of blue-orange-yellow.  I'm going to continue with the blue while I decide what colors I'd like to use to replace the orange and yellow.  One contrast color + one neutral, like berry and tan, or hot pink and light grey marl.

Half a Hermione

The heel is turned and the Hermione sock is coming along nicely.  The yarn isn't splitty and the color repeats are long.

Texture

The socks I started knitting last night, Hermione's Everyday Socks, with Jojoland Melody yarn.  The texture of the pattern is what caught my attention, and it's an easy stitch.  The color changes are fun!

Subliminal Knitting

Having always admired the movement of the Fan & Feather knitted stitch, one night I taught myself how to do it, making a light blue cotton washcloth in the process.  It was surprisingly simple and quick.
The next day, while paying for a navy blue cotton sweater I bought, I realized it was worked in the Fan & Feather stitch!