Baby Knitting

Sorry for the lapse, but life got in the way, I guess. I am still feverishly knitting whenever I can find the time. My latest work has been on baby stuff, since I have 4 grandbabies due between now and January 2010. I am excited and enjoying knitting these small projects that I can complete quickly. I just finished one of the Knit Picks Baby Bubbles sweaters and ordered yarn to do a couple more. They are adorable and very easy to complete quickly. I am also working on a lime basketweave cotton baby blanket in Knit Picks Comfy, that is turning out beautifully! I am really sold on Knit Picks yarns and can't recommend them strongly enough.

Will include pictures later of these projects, and I intend to keep up on this blog in a more timely manner . . .

Knitted out?

I have been knitting quite a bit this summer. I finished 2 triangular shawls, a couple of dishcloths, 2 afghans and various charity projects. As a matter-of-fact, I am really kind of burnt out. I love to knit and crochet, but I have been trying not to start any new projects until I finish up what I have in the works right now. I have said that before, but I am really going to try to make myself hold to this. I will also try to catch up on my blogging and add some new pictures of the projects that I am working on and have finished. I am afraid that most of my computer time for crafts lately has been centered around Ravelry. Actually my knitting time will be curtailed quite a bit because I am going to be concentrating on some remodeling on the house and taking a class or two. I am just really trying to keep a balance here.

Controlling Chaos...UFO Rotation

I just wanted to do a quick post outlining my current UFO list and my plans for conquering and completing the projects that I have hanging out there. The main reason that I decided to try this is that I have 10 knitting and crocheting projects that I am working on and I need to work out a schedule to get some of them completed and out of the way because I just ordered some new yarn to start 3 new projects form the new TKGA Cast On magazine. I loved quite a few of the sweaters in the magazine and I have been mostly doing afghans or socks lately and I wanted to do some nice cotton sweaters for summer and also a really nice wool cardigan. At any rate I have to get at least 3 things done because I feel like I can only manage 10 Knit/Crochet projects right now and still have a life, hence 3 need to be completed ASAP, and I needed to plan for this.

My list of my current projects: ( many of these projects are listed on Ravelry with pics under user name Malybab)

1. Basket weave charity lapghan
2. Sampler charity lapghan
3. Charity squares (on-going until December)
4. Counterpoint Throw
5. Log Cabin baby blanket
6. Great American Aran Afghan
7. White Cotton Throw ( from Spring 2005 Cast On)
8. Sun Flower Crochet Afghan
9. Old Fashioned Crochet Afghan (have yarn, not started yet)
10.Master's Project

I plan to work on each of these for a given amount of time each day with special emphasis on the items that are almost completed. I also need to add in a sock project because I like to have one going at all times, and I have a bunch of really nice sock yarn that I got from Knit Picks.

Well, I gotta a whole lot of knitting and crocheting to do so off I go to work in my Fiber Garden.

Charity Knitting and Crocheting

I am working on making some lap afghans for a local nursing home, and using the block suggestions from Warm Up America.com. I have been having fun with it and trying lots of new knitting and crocheting patterns. I made a sampler knittted afghan that still needs edging and blocking, but I am pleased with it. It is difficult to see from this picture, but I used 17 different stitch patterns. Trying all of these new patterns gives me lots of ideas for new designs for other knitting and crocheting patterns.

I have been doing a lot of crocheting too. My favorite block pattern so far for crocheting is the basic basket weave stitch. It is fast and easy to whip up and the pattern is easy to memorize and keep at a consistent size for a block. It looks really nice and is warm too, although a little stiffer than the knitted version. I have almost completed enough squares for a lapghan all in autumn colors of yarn left over from my autumn leaves afghan.

Here is the pattern for the Basket Weave Block.

Masters Level 1

I have been working on charity knitting mostly lately, but I have also been working on swatches for the TKGA level 1 Master Knitter certification. I want to complete that program before august, and if I don't make an effort to find the time, I will not get it done.

I bought some yarn from Knit Picks to use for the swatches. It is Bare worsted weight wool, and I love it!! The swatches are knitting up really nicely in spite of my difficulties with maintaining tension on the ends of the rows and on the rib stitches. It gets down right frustrating! The swatch in this photo below is swatch number one before blocking. I still have lots of swatches to go...I will send along some more photos as I progress.

End of January, great knitting weather!

End of January? Whoa!!! It is icy raining this morning, and not very conducive to much but knitting, so why not knit? That is what I always say, haha!

Last evening I finished the first of my Terrain Twist socks, and started on sock number 2. They are really nice, and so far I am happy with this Knit Picks sock yarn, so much so that I bought some more yarn. I got Felici self-striping yarn in some beautiful colorways, and I am excited to start on them. I have found that a good way to nudge myself into finishing a project (especially a sock project) is to have some new yarn waiting to go. Or course, that means exercising the discipline not to go ahead and start the new project. I have kind of a rule that I will only have one sock project at a time...although I have broken that rule before!! At any rate, here is a picture of the finished sock.

I am also going back to work on the Great American Aran Afghan. I started this afghan quite awhile ago, but set it aside after getting frustrated with a couple of the squares. It was a project featured in Knitters Magazine several years ago. (started in Winter of 2000) I am working it in Lion Brand Fisherman's wool. I have never knit a 100% wool afghan before, and I am hoping it won't be too scratchy to use. It will undoubtedly be warm, though. I have forgotten how complex some of these aran patterns can get, and I sat down on the computer with a spreadsheet program to help me to chart out the block that I am currently starting, the Marian Tabler block. I have finished 5 of them already, and I will share them in my next post.

UFOs

I have gotten down to just a few UFOs. At this point, I only have 3 afghans, 1 pair of socks, 2 scarves, 5 quilts, and 2 cross stitch projects that are in my rotation. That is much less than usual. It is a good idea to have lots of UFOs so that you can work on whatever you may be in the mood for at any given time. It is, in my experience, a good idea to have several projects going to avoid boredom with long projects, especially. It is nice to be able to come back to something after a hiatus and have it seem like a brand new project, or to keep up with various new skills. and hang on to the old ones at the same time. With enough projects in rotation, that is always possible without losing ground. It is also important to have a small project to carry in your purse so that you can make good use of waiting time, whenever and where ever you may find it.