I'm back!

Last week Mr. SpiderKate and I went on vacation to the Bahamas to celebrate our 4 year anniversary!  I wanted to post from the Bahamas, but I refrained as we were on vacation aka no technology allowed.  Okay, maybe I used a little technology for the purposes of email, but that was the extent of it.  This was special trip for us because not only was it our 4 year anniversary but we had also gotten married in the Bahamas.  Oh and did I mention that we got married on leap day? How neat is that!  I can't take any credit for it because it was all Mr. SpiderKate's idea to get married on leap day, but once he planted the idea in my head, I was hooked.  So it as special to be back in the Bahamas to celebrate all of that.  We had a lot of fun while we were there just walking around, reading, eating (A LOT of eating) and just relaxing. 

Just before leaving I was in a rush to try to finish up not one but two shawls.  I only got to finish one of the shawls, which I posted about, the En Fuego shawl for my sister's friend.  I was also working on a sample of my Wild Ivy shawl for Knit Picks.  I really wanted to have the Knit Picks one done before I left as well, however I realized that I couldn't finish it AND block it AND photograph it AND mail it before leaving.  Once I (painfully) accepted these realizations, I shifted my focus to getting done the En Fuego shawl so that I could check at least something off as done before going on vacation.  

Well tonight I finished knitting the Wild Ivy shawl.  All that I have left to do is weave in the ends (which I will do as soon as I finish here) and block it.  The good news is that it will be blocked and ready to photograph this weekend.  The bad news is that it is going to be raining all weekend.  I seem to have the worst luck with weather + knitting photos.  As Mr. SpiderKate often says to me "well it is going to be (insert extreme weather condition not ideal for photographs here) so I know that you must want to take photographs of a finished shawl".  Yup, just check the forecast.  If it calls for high wind + little sun, then you can bet I'm going to have a finished shawl that I want to photograph outside.  Maybe I should buy a lottery ticket!  Okay, well here is an unblocked (and might I add hastily taken) photograph of the Wild Ivy shawl.  I can only hope to get out between the rain drops this weekend and get some blocked & better photographs.

P.S. This photo does not do the color justice.  The green is deeper and more like hunter green as the colorway name suggest (yarn is KP Capretta in colorway Hunter).

Baby Beanie

Prior to finishing En Fuego Shawl, I finished up my baby beanie.  But I hadn't taken pictures of it yet so I put off posting about it.  Well that turned out to be a bad idea because as of this morning it looked like I had lost it.  I wasn't really worried that it was totally lost, but I was concerned when after checking my usual knitting spots that the hat hadn't turned up.  I decided to not worry about it & go about my day.  Fast forward a couple of hours and I'm still wondering if I've really lost the hat.  I've never lost a knitted item!  Actually I hardly ever lose anything (except sunglasses, I perpetually lose sunglasses).   I began rechecking where I already checked only to look in my knitting bag to find it hidden behind another hat.  Phew!!!!!!   I can now present to you the baby beanie hat knit via magic loop on size 7 needles.

Finally something that isn't blue

A couple of weeks ago my sister posted a link to my En Fuego Shawl on her facebook.  This generated a bunch of very kind comments complimenting it.  Of course I loved the compliments or as I like to think of it "positive feedback to keep me going when I get frustrated designing" - yes, it's a long phrase.  One of her friends in particular wanted to know if I knit the shawls for people, which my sister explained to her that generally I don't and that she (my sister) was posting a link to the design where you can buy the pattern and knit one yourself if you do that sort of thing.  Well her friend isn't a knitter and my sister must really like this friend because she asked me if I'd consider knitting her friend an En Fuego Shawl.  My first thought was "NO" and then I thought well maybe so I asked what color she wanted.  Of course my sister said she (the friend) wanted black because everyone always wants things in black.  Then I thought "NOOOOOOOO" but asked my sister if she'd consider any other color because black and the response I got was dark grey which is basically like saying black again.

Now, Knit Picks had recently come out with a new yarn line called Capretta and of course it came in a lovely black shade (though how lovely can black be really, it's just black) and I really wanted to try out this yarn line.  The availability of this new yarn really sealed the deal for me.  So reluctantly (though not really) I agreed to knit the shawl for two reasons: ONE - I love my sister and TWO - to challenge myself to knit lace in the color black.  I have to admit that Knit Picks also prompted me, not by telling me to do it, but by posting a suggestion in one of their weekly emails that the En Fuego Shawl would look good in the Capretta yarn.  It turns out that Knit Picks knows their stuff because the shawl looks really good in the yarn.

I made sure to always knit in VERY good light and NEVER when I was tired.  I think it was sticking to these two rules that made the knitting move along mostly error free.  There were a couple of times on the purl rows that I missed the purl but still managed to move the stitch so I didn't lose the stitch but just had to fix it when I came to it on the knit row, which wasn't a big deal at all.  I blame this on the yarn being black for not realizing it when I did it.  I also didn't think that it would photograph well, but I think the photographs turned out okay.  You can't see the details all that clearly but it's good enough. 

About the yarn, well I really loved working with the yarn and I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Knit Picks Capretta yarn.  It is really soft and just yummy to work with.  The 10% cashmere really adds something nice to the yarn.  The stitch definitely is good and it works up nicely (for me anyway) on size 5 or 6 needles.  I'm really lucky that I get to work with this yarn again for a sample that I'm knitting for Knit Picks and that's how I know it looks good on the smaller needles.

It should be noted that my sister has never asked me to knit something for a friend of hers and I think it's because she knows that I have certain rules about knitting for people, well for adults in particular because unlike babies who like everything, adults only like certain things in certain colors.  This rule applies to everyone I know - even family members.  I almost only knit for them when an item is specifically requested and in the color requested.  I will admit that a few times I've gone "rogue" and knit items form them that they didn't request, but usually it was with left over yarn from a project previously knit for them so at least I knew they would like the color.  I have these rules because it helps keep me from being disappointed when I've spent the time to knit something for someone only have to have it fall short of what they wanted or to hear "well I really wish it was in (blank) color".  With my rules, everyone ends up happy including me!

New needles

I've spent the last couple of days trying to figure out what to cast on for next.  Now I wrote recently that I was going to find  a certain pair of socks that I started *cough* last June, but what I really meant to write was that I was going to spend the next couple of days looking for a new group knitting project.  I thought that maybe if I wrote that I was going to work on the socks that then I would work on the socks.  Who was I kidding??? I love starting projects! Love it!  Now it took me a couple of days to find my next project, so what was I doing in the meantime? Well I was knitting of course!  I worked on my black En Fuego Shawl (which I've yet to blog about) as well as a new design (a hat) that I'm trying to figure out.  

During this time I also made not one, but two trips to the yarn store for yarn that I had to have.  It was on the first yarn store trip that I picked up a pair of needles that of course I don't need but really wanted to try out - Knitter's Pride dreamz in a size 7 40" circular.  Why a 40" circular?  I figured that this would be a good size to try out since I could use it for magic loop as well as other larger projects.  I also picked up some Madelinetosh Tosh Merino Light in the color Silver Fox, but that's not the point.  The point is that with the needles in hand I began to zero in on what I wanted to knit!

Going through my patterns I found a baby hat pattern that would work with the needles.  I decided on the Baby Beanie by Sylvia Hager (a Blue Sky Alpacas pattern leaflet).  I'm not exactly knitting the pattern as is - the pattern calls for using a sport weight yarn held double and I don't really feel like knitting magic loop holding yarn doubled, so instead I'm using some leftover Berroco Comfort (worsted weight).  I'm knitting the 0-3 month size, though I don't know anyone with a 0-3 month old right now, so I'm thinking that this hat will end up for donation.  I'm just about done with the ribbing and so far I am really enjoying the needles.  The points are nice and the needles are smooth & lightweight.  Right now the only criticism I have is that the cord seems a little "stiff" to me.  Overall I really like the needles but might need to reserve final judgement until I knit just a little more with them.  

Done!

This is going in the mail tomorrow to my nephew! I hope that it fits!!  Now I need to find a new group knitting project....maybe that pair of socks I start last summer and then forgot about.  Yes, I definitely need to get those done! Now if only I could locate them....

2012 Knitting Goals

So, I've been putting off writing this post for basically all month.  Each day that I didn't write it, I would say to myself "well as long as you write it by the end of the month".  Well, it's officially the end of the month and here I am finally writing up my knitting goals for 2012.  I'm going to aim big this year because I'm feeling rather confident in my knitting abilities or at least more confident than I've ever felt.  In fact, when I look back on where I was knitting wise this time last year I am totally blown away.  Lately I find myself finishing projects faster whereas last year I felt like projects would take me forever.  Okay, so they didn't take forever but they definitely took me longer than they probably would now.  But enough about that, let's talk about goals.

Goal #1 - Knit a garment.  You might recall that I have the Einstein coat in progress, but that doesn't count.  When I started knitting that coat I didn't know what I was doing and didn't really start it the "right way".  What is the right way? While I'm not exactly what I'm sure what the right way means, but part of the right way should include knitting a swatch.  I never swatched for the Einstein coat, which might explain my reluctance to finish it.   I want to knit a garment that I swatch for and that actually fits me AND that I wear.

Goal #2 - Get published in a magazine and/or knitting website.  Part of this goal is out of my hands since I won't have any say on the magazine's end, but I can control the actual submission.  Essentially what I need to do is to design and item AND submit it to a magazine and/or knitting website.  Now, I do already have a pattern published on Knit Picks website via the Independent Designer Program, which I am very proud of, but here I'm talking about a submission where I have to keep it a secret until it is either accepted or rejected from the magazine.  I'd also like to continue submitting to Knit Picks as I've really enjoyed working with them.

Goal #3 - Branch out in my designs.  Basically this means that I want to start designing items other than shawls.  I'm still going to design shawls, but I'm interesting in trying to design a hat, wristers/gloves/mittens, and/or socks.  I'm already working on a hat design, well sorta working on one, so I have a good start on this goal.  Of those I listed, I think that the socks will be the hardest to design and probably why I listed them last.

Goal #4 - Knit more socks.  I love knitting socks but for some reason I tend to put them aside and then totally forget that I have them in progress.  Which is really bizarre since I really do love knitting them.  I love knitting things with a small circumference.  I think that the small circumference is about the cutest technique in knitting. 

Goal #5 - Swatch. Swatch. Swatch.  I am not a big fan of swatching, but in order to make items that fit (including socks & hats) you really need to swatch.  This year I am going to become a fan of swatching.  Note that this goal will directly relate back to goal #1 & #3 & #6.

Goal #6 - If it doesn't fit, then rip & repeat.  I did this recently with the Seedling hat and I couldn't be happier with the new hat.  I'm no longer going to not rip something because it doesn't fit.  I'm going to rip things and re-knit them so that they fit and I'm happy with them.

Okay, I think that is a pretty good list for this year.  I think that the hardest goal to achieve is going to be goal #2.  This is going to be the hardest for me because in order to submit to magazines and/or knitting websites I'm going to have to keep the design a secret.  Once I've finished designing something there is nothing I want to do more than post about it either on the blog or Ravelry.  I'm just really excited and want to share them.  Of course, if & when I can keep the secret and get the design submitted, then there is the issue of being accepted.  All I can do is try and for that I am excited.

Baby Cardigan

This is absolutely one of the cutest things I have ever knit and I'm not even done yet!  The pattern is Baby Sophisticate by Linden Down, who has some other awesome patterns that I'm going to be checking out as well.  I'm using Spud & Chloe Sweater (which is awesome yarn) and a size 8 32" circular needle & dpns.  I'm knitting this for my new nephew who was born Nov 22nd 2011.  I'm knitting the 12 month old size.  I hope that I finish it shortly as I know that babies like to grow and I want to make sure he gets good wear out of it!  Also can you believe that is my first baby garment ever?!?!?! Why didn't I start knitting these things sooner?

O.M.G.!!!

Why the OMG? Well the other day I get a call from a friend that my En Fuego Shawl pattern had been featured in Knit Picks weekly email! Squeeeeee!!!!  Of course I immediately went to check my email to see it and then called & emailed my family (yes I am that nerdy!).  I didn't even know that was going to be happening, so it was very exciting to see.  I should also note that the shawl would look fabulous in their new yarn line, Capretta.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to be ordering some of the yarn to knit one myself.

One of 3 men's hats that I knit

Okay, what else have I been up to?  Well I've been knitting hats.  Then when I thought I was done knitting hats, I knit another hat.  It started with my Seedling hat (which I'll get to in a moment), but what started to really put me over the edge were the owlie hats I knit for my nephews.  This lead to me knitting the Shroom hat, 3 men's hat (3x3 ribbing with stockinette hat body), and culminating in me re-knitting my Seedling hat.  Yes, I ripped and re-knit my Seedling hat and I couldn't be happier with it.  The original hat was big...really big..and I realized that I was never going to wear it AND I really wanted to wear it.  So rip it went.

It was quite the experience having to first find all the ends that I previously wove in and then unweave (is that a word???) them.  At one point I ran into a knot of sorts and seriously debated just cutting the yarn, but in the end I got the knot loose so I didn't have to cut anything.  I was able to recover pretty close to 100% of my yarn, which probably wasn't necessary as the smaller hat would use less yarn and if needed, I already had left over yarn from the project.  To make the hat smaller I cast on 87 instead of 99 and followed the rest of the pattern essentially how it was written.  The two biggest pieces I had to rework involved the math to change the frequency of the increases in the pattern set up and the decreases at the crown.  All the details can be found on my Ravelry page here.  All in all I really enjoyed modifying the pattern and thought it taught me a lot about hats.  It might even give me the courage to design a hat in the (near?) future.

Hat before ripping and re-knitting

Hat after ripping and re-knitting.

Can you tell that I'm on a blue kick? Lately blue is just talking to me and I can't say no.  I have a shawl on the needles in blue as well as a baby cardigan for my nephew that is blue.  In fact, the only non-blue item I've knitted recently is the black hat that I knit for Mr. SpiderKate.  Now all I need is for it to get cold again so that I can wear my hat out!  Oh, you might be wondering who all the hats went to, well here is the break down:

• Owlie hats - Little Phil and baby Jack (nephews)
• Men's hats - Mr. SpiderKate, Phil (brother), and Pat (sister's boyfriend)
• Shroom hat - Erin (sister-in-law)
• Seedling hat - Me!

Some Christmas Photos

Christmas Stockings hung on the mantle

Boots! My sister and I originally got the same boots but I ended up exchanging mine for a different size/type.

My mom's boots which I LOVE LOVE LOVE!!!

Sister, mom, & me :o)

Sisters!

Even Merlin and Arthur got into the Christmas Spirit by snuggling up

Pirate ship at Galveston Festival of Lights

2011 Knitting Wrap-Up

28 projects! Not too shabby for 2011.  Also, I did a pretty good job recalling the 2011 projects from memory. Here's to hoping for an awesome 2012 filled with lots of knitting adventures!

2011 list of completed projects from memory:

• Chincoteague Shawl
• Wild Ivy Shawl (x2)
• En Fuego Shawl (x2)
• Mitered hanging towels (x2)
• Garter dish/wash cloth
• Seedling hat
• Owlie hats (x2)
• Shroom hat
• Entrelac scarf
• Perfect men's hat 
• Brush Suri Loop Scarf (cowl)
• Mystery Medallion Shawl
• Sweetheart socks
• Gap-tastic cowl
• Louis Bertrand (cowl/hat)
• Ridge Lace Cowl 
• Rose Lace Stole
• Fair Isle coasters
• Helical hat

2011 list of completed projects using Ravelry to check my list from memory:

• Live Oak Shawlette
• Drop stitch scarf
• Mason-Dixon washcloth
• Cable rib hat
• Mr. Pitt's socks (aka Mr. SpiderKate's socks)