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Tuesday, January 24, 2012

On and Off the Needles...








An "On the Needles" post is long overdue, the trouble is I've had a ton of secret knitting on my needles and haven't been able to share.

In my down time, instead of casting on something new, I have chosen to raid my Work-In-Progress stash. See all those bags to the left? Each one contains a project that has yet to be completed. These projects range from elaborate swatches to almost finished garments... The top row is for projects that are in long-term hibernation, the lower level (brown bags) are more recent projects, shelved because they are lower in priority than deadline knitting.  

And for the record, as sad as this may seem, that one shelf + that box of odds and ends = my entire yarn stash.





Here is what I've dug up...


These kids mitts are a brown bag project although they were clearly misfiled because they have been years in the making. I've found very little standard sizing information for hands (especially children's) and so each size is a result of Elsie's need for a new  pair of mittens as she grows. I really like the pattern, it's quick and easy to follow. I really should get around to releasing it, I just need to knock a few other priority knits off the list first :)


Next...


This top shelf project has been in the works since Victoria Fibre Fest 2009. This is when I discovered local indie dyer Indigo Moon. Trish was offering a free skein with every 4 purchased, and since I had my eye on a silk/wool blend the savings were too huge to pass up! To date, this is the most I've ever spent on a sweaters worth of yarn.

The yarn is Silken Pleasures in Teal. It's really luxurious yet hard wearing and the colour has that special quality similar to blue jeans, it's almost like a neutral the way it goes with everything. It was a challenge to design with because the silk made the yarn look a bit krimpy. I decided on the trinity stitch and because this stitch is a little more difficult than some of my other favorites, I decided to use alternative construction methods to make this design more enjoyable to knit. This lead to many, many different prototypes, a ton of knitting and ripping, and massive amounts of pattern writing and rewriting.
 
 The funny thing is, it's taken me so long to wrap up this project that to my knowledge, this particular yarn is no longer available. Which means I will have to find a substitute, ironic seeing as the entire concept was to design around this gorgeous yarn. I don't see this project wrapping up any time soon.


 This is SweetGeorgia Yarns Superwash Worsted in Tumbled Stone. Felicia does carry a silk/wool blend as well, I just don't have any in my stash that I can swatch with.



Of course I had to swatch in Cascade 220... force of habit I guess. 



And lastly, my Saltwater Rae and I have finally made ammends, it's well on it's way to completion. It's actually been a perfect in-between project that I can pick up any old time and bring with me anywhere... it's the most relaxing project I have on my needles, and I'm thankful for that.


What's on your needles?

20 comments:

  1. i have a hat on my needles - the sweetie pie hat from purl. but it's a frogged sweater i'm using that got completely holey (?) from something... so i'm using your joining yarn tutorial (which is completely rad) about every other couple rows. it's getting me down. is it worth it? AND what makes those nasty little holes? (i know, it's probably something eating my wool...)! ugh.

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    1. Oh no! That's happened to me only once but I threw the entire project in the garbage immediately. I was too worried that whatever it was would make it's way into my yarn stash and other projects! Not sure it's worth the risk... or the trouble of joining all those ends :) You are far more patient than I!

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  2. The silk/wool sweater looks really lucious. Great great job!

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  3. you are so organized! i wish i could be half as organized as you!! i'm just about done the class sample of your classic raglan pullover, and i've got some baby gifts in mind... i've also got skew on the needles, a hat to resize. oh and i just remembered i have to re-knit owen a pair of mitts... ;) so excited for your projects! xoxo

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    1. ...do you have to re-knit the Kids Mitts pattern Becca?

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    2. yep. owen is just so active and they just slip off.. so i'll just do them in a smaller needle size. but i love the pattern!

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  4. Love seeing photo's of WIP's and of stashes. You're so organized! I love your brown bag system.

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  5. That's some serious (and very pretty) organization! I've actually got a Rae on my needles too as part of Firefly Fiber's KAL . I'm loving the way it looks! I also have a sweater and a pair of socks going as well.

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  6. I love your simple brown bag organization! I want to organize my craft things in my own craft space one day :)
    On my needles - A Cobblestone-inspired pullover for wee Rowan and (still!) the argyle vest for his daddy. Seriously, I'm not feeling the love for that vest!

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  7. Want to come organize my stash... PLEASE??? It looks so lovely!
    I'm working on two Tanis patterns, I heart Aran and Terracotta.

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  8. Holy smokes are you ever organized!!! I love the way everything is so coordinated, that by looking at the bag you can tell what kind of project it is. I'm thinking I might have to copy this idea, if you don't mind?

    As for what's OTN for me....well...let's just say, what isn't?? I'm not proud to say that I had a bout of Starteritis at the start of the month and now I have a ton of stuff on the needles. I'm really hoping that my weekend away this coming weekend will result in some FOs!

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  9. I'm making more of these right now in a lot of Springy colors: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/sisterlylove/knitted-wrist-cozies-2

    And I'm also making this Summer frock: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/frock-camisole

    That's all at the moment. Thanks for sharing your WIP's! That sweater is really gorgeous. Mmm, I've never tried the trinity stitch.

    Genevieve

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  10. I've got my Rocky Coast Cardigan that you know I have to rip out cause I was having way too good a time at knit night :) I'm also working on some mitts, your Audrey Cardigan and your Classic Raglan Pullover while my Rae is in hibernation and waiting to come out when I'm done working on all the above...oh and I almost forgot..I've got a Rebecca Danger monster half way done for Mack too. Aiayaya..sounds like I better get knitting :)
    Your stash is super organized. Looks great!

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  11. I have Lily Chin's reversible cabled-rib shawl on the needles, and I have a feeling it will be there for awhile! I'm also working on a pair of simple Nine-to-Five socks that are flying along. (I do love self-striping yarn.) The teal is beautiful!

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  12. Wow! You certainly have a lot going on. Can I just say that your WIPs are gorgeously organized! I think I need a self like that for myself rather than shoving them into drawers and ziplocks. Also, I'm actually jealous of how small your stash is. It looks so manageable! Good for you! I think this year I'll be ripping out old WIPs. I think I've been holding on too long and it's time for them to go...

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  13. secret knitting makes me excited. Don't we have a festival coming soon?? time to fill up your stash :) but I bet having a small stash is a lot stressful.

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    1. We sure do have a festival coming up!!! ...and I'm bringing a truck load of ladies with me. We will be attending Saturday, March 17th, please tell me you can you make it that day!

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  14. Hi Jane! I just found your blog. Someone at Urban Yarns (Point Grey location) gave me a copy of your Marian pattern. I can't wait to start it! I'm a new/beginner knitter. Your pattern will be my 2nd project and I am so excited to start it!
    Love your blog! It makes me excited to become a knitter. I feel like going to a yarn store and buy more yarn and start on a lot of projects. :)
    Looking forward to getting to know you on your blog and hopefully, maybe I'll see you around in Vancouver? Hoping to join a knitting event and another knitting group. Would love to meet more knitters. :)

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    1. I am so glad you found my blog! I wish I could help you find a knitting group in Vancouver but it's outside of my radar :) I will be at Fibres West though. Maybe I'll bump into you there.

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  15. had to comment about your mittens. growing up, my mom would grab us and trace our hand, and then make our mittens....never a pattern, and when we needed new ones...repeat the same process. when my kids were young i would send her in the mail their hand tracings...and voila- mittens. your post brought back happy memories- of always having great mittens, thinking "isn't this the way everybody got their mitts!" and my mom!

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