F.O. Indigo Dreams Socks

I finished my second pair of socks in Sweet Fiber Yarns Super Sweet Sock.  The colourway is Indigo Dreams and is part of the Sweet Fiber Yarns Sock Club.   As I am a newbie when it comes to sock knitting I stuck to another basic pattern called A Nice Ribbed Sock by Glenna C. that I knew would showcase this colourway.  Aren't they pretty?

Worked in a 3x1 rib these socks seem to fit well.

Once again Melissa Thomson has outdone herself with this colourway.  For those of you wishing to get your own skein of Indigo Dreams Melissa has said that she will be making it available sometime in the future. Keep your eye on her website for the latest information.  I am looking forward to seeing the third installment of the sock club which should arrive any day now.  I really think I am becoming a sock convert!  I am looking forward to cooler weather when I can start wearing them.

Sweet Fiber Yarn: Indigo Dreams

What is it about pretty yarn?  I just love to photograph it.  Sometimes I don't even want to knit with it until I have admired it for a while.  

That's what happened when I received my July's shipment of Sweet Fiber Sock Club yarn called Indigo Dreams.

 Isn't it gorgeous?

A Nice Ribbed Sock by Glenna C.

MadMay 2014: Setting Goals

Do not underestimate the power of setting goals for yourself.  As I get older this belief has proven to be true again and again.  Even when it comes to knitting!  This month I joined the MadMay group on Ravelry.  For those of you unaware of this glorious group let me explain.  Basically it means that for the month of May you commit to knitting a pattern(s) with Madelinetosh Yarn.  Last May I knit two items:  my version of Happy Street in Madelinetosh Sock.

Happy Street

And Arbutus in a pretty colourway called Cove.

Arbutus in Tosh DK

This year I challenged myself to knit a seamed cardigan called the Jackson Creek Cardigan using Tosh DK in Silver Fox.  For some knitters completing a cardigan in a month would be no big deal.  For me it is a different story.  Although I am a highly enthusiastic knitter I am not the quickest knitter and so completing a sweater while working full time is challenging.  However, once I committed to doing this I am proud to say that it looks like I am going to get it done by the deadline of May 30th.

The pattern I chose is written by a Canadian from Hamilton named Glenna C. who has written many beautiful patterns including the Northside Pullover, Dundurn and Queen St. Mitts (which I knit some time ago).  I have almost finished this cardigan because I have been knitting like a mad woman.  This pattern was clearly written and easy to follow.  I am really hoping this cardigan will fit me properly as I have a habit of knitting sweaters that are too big.  Madelinetosh DK has grown considerably in other patterns I have knit so hopefully I picked the right size and needles.  Yes I did do a gauge swatch but I am still nervous.

Here is a picture of where it was a week ago.

Jackson Creek Cardigan

I had the fronts and the back done and was working on the sleeves.  Now I am happy to tell you that everything but the sleeves are finished.  The sleeves need to be seamed and then attached to the sweater and I will be done.  Done!

I really must set some more goals for myself.  It works!

p.s. I have yet to try it on so whether it will fit well or not is another story.
p.p.s.  I will show you the finished sweater next weekend.
Have a great week.

Knitting Disasters

I named this blog "Woolercoaster" because as many knitters know knitting is full of ups and downs. Well, my friends, I am in a bit of a knitting slump.  Two projects I have recently been working on are ready to be frogged although I have not had the heart to do it.  So they are sitting sadly in a bag waiting to be ripped out.

Disaster #1  I bought this yarn (Rowan Creative Focus Worsted) on a March Break trip to London and in my mind I was thinking I would knit some kind of vest with it.  Instead of listening to my gut I picked a lovely knitted sweater pattern by Glenna C. called Dundurn. After knitting a swatch I was all set to go.  I decided to knit both of the sleeves at the same time.  As I was knitting the sleeves a little voice in my head told me that this was going to be a warmer sweater than I first anticipated and/or desired and I should go back to my vest idea.  However, I ignored that voice and kept on knitting until I was about 3/4 done the sleeves.  By this point I finally listened to that voice and put down the needles.

Disaster #2  My next project I decided to do was the Grace Cardigan by Jane Richmond in a lovely fingering yarn called Caper Sock by String Theory.  After reading other knitter's comments on Ravelry I was warned that the lace section at the beginning of the cardigan was challenging for some.  Well it was challenging for me.  Without going into all the details I will just say that after several attempts I could not get the lace to go perfectly.  I usually do not give up on a pattern but I have spent way too many hours accomplishing basically nothing.  It's time to switch to another project.

Here is one project I did finish between Disaster #1 and Disaster #2.  It is the Chevron Hat by Kate Gagnon Osborn found in the knit.wear Spring 2013 magazine.  It was a very quick knit and I was very pleased with how it turned out.  I used a combination of Madelinetosh Chunky in Fathom and Fyberspates Chunky Scrumptious Solid.  You should try it.

Now I have to pick another pattern to work on. What do you do when a pattern is not working out?