An FO - Yay Fo Me!!!

Finally - a Finished Object (FO) to share on the blog. I've had a couple of other items that have been finished, but they were either "secret" projects or just turned out waaay to embarrassing to show. So, here it it: The Soft Drawstring Pouch. This was my first foray into knitting with circs, and I think it came out splendidly (if I do say so myself). It was also my first time doing a 3-needle bind off, which I absolutely love love love!! No seaming - which is totally not my strong suit - plus it makes such a nice clean edge.

So, here are the stats:

Pattern: Soft Drawstring Pouch

Source: Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoversen

Yarn: Cotton Fleece by Brown Sheep Co, Oriental Jade, 1 Skein (80% Cotton, 20% Merino)

Needles: US 6, 16" Circulars

Size: 8" wide x 10" high

Mods: The pattern called for all stockinette stitch so that the top edge rolled down a bit. I decided to do a few rows of garter stitch at the top to avoid the rolled edge. Also, I did not make the fringe tassels for the ends of the I-Cord drawstring. I was concerned that they would become frayed and ratty looking after time.

Although this was a very simple project to do (and really should have taken a weekend, but took about 3 weeks, d'oh), I picked up some new skillz:

1) Knitting with circs - check!

2) Making yarn over eyelets - check!

3) Knitting an I-Cord - check!

(Sorry, no pic of the I-Cord, so here's Boomer!)

4) Doing a 3-needle Bind Off - check!

All in all, very basic skillz, but I definitely feel like I've increased my confidence level. Hmm, maybe it's time to try socks again!!!

Off Topic Tuesday

It's that time of year again. When it's daylight out just a wee bit longer, and the mid-day sun is a tad warmer. The nights are still chilly, but there are actually days when a jacket is not needed. Yes, Spring is in the air. Not quite here yet, but so close you can almost touch it.

Most of the grass around here is still a yellowy-brown color, and none of the leaves have taken up position on any trees, but as Boomie and I were were bee-bopping along the other day, something caught my eye....

The undeniable first signs of Spring!!! These are pics of the daffodils and tulips that live just outside my front door. So, even if the calendar isn't saying it just yet, I, KnittyBoomBoom, am declaring that, indeed, Spring has Sprung!! And none too soon!

Alms for the Poor....

Silly Boomer - trying out his Oliver Twist look. I think he's trying for more doggie treats, and how could I resist such a sweet face??

Out n' About

So, I've recently come to the conclusion that, for whatever reason, I need to make some new friends. And not just any old friends, but friends who knit and share my obsession with all things yarn-y. Currently, I don't have any knitting friends (other than those out in cyber space), so when I start to get a little dreamy eyed and drooley when talking about my newest issue of Interweave Knits, my current peeps assume I must have missed some meds that day.

My favorite Denver LYS (The Knitting Habitat) had their monthly Sit-n-Knit last night, so I decided to give it a whirl. I was a tad nervous, and thought I may be shunned for my lack of skillz, or for not knowing the proper way to knit in a group (as if there were a proper way), but I was determined to see other knitters out in the wild.
It was a small group, about 7 or so people - someone brought wine (always a good indication you're in good company), and others brought snacks. I found a spot, and pulled out my simplest project to work on. Before I knew it, 3 hours had gone by! What a fun (and oh so welcoming) group of ladies.
I didn't really pick up any new skillz, but, yes, it has been confirmed - I am a very slow knitter!! I was, however, complimented on my wicked even tension - slow and steady, that's me!!

I'm an English style knitter, but have been wanting to learn Continental style for some time now (I've heard it's faster, and not quite so fiddly). Most of the ladies at the Sit-n-Knit were Continentals, and man o man were their needles flying. It was like a blur of yarn. So, my next new thing I want to tackle is Continental Knitting. Oh, yeah, and to make it to more gatherings of knitting folks!

WIP Wednesday

So, I'm still trying to finish up all my little projects that I've started so I can move onto some bigger, more difficult stuff, and I only have a few left! I've said it before, and I'll say it again, I think I am a very slow knitter, but progress is progress!

First up, the "Green Circular Dealy". This is both a gift for someone, and a way to learn a new technique (knitting with circs). It's coming along rather well, just a few more inches of stockinette to go, then a three needle bind-off (yet another new skill to be learned), an I-cord drawstring, and done!!

The next item on the list (which I've been working on simultaneously with my other Works In Progress), is my "Purple Cablely Thing-A-Ma-Jig". I've really been enjoying working on this, because I really love cables. This was my first foray into Cable Land, and it's definitely a place I will be visiting again and again. This is also a gift for someone (yes, a very very very late holiday gift), but I think once it's done, it's going to be lovely. It's only about half way done, then it will need some light blocking, then voila!

My last little WIP, is something I kind of just did as something silly. I found a cute little pattern for knitted Easter Eggs, so I decided to give it a whirl (plus, it was a chance to sharpen my DPN skills). This little number is knitting up very quickly - just a couple more rows to go, then I need to bind off the ends, and stuff it. The only thing is, it's much bigger than I thought it would be, and really looks a little wonky. I'm hoping that it will fill out much more egg-like once I get to the stuffing part.

But, I guess if it doesn't, I could just say it was laid by a lopsided chicken!

Extra Day

Happy Leap Year! Every Leap Year, I feel like I should be doing something either extra special, or extra productive. I mean, here is a whole extra day that only comes around every four years, and who couldn't use an extra day now and then?

Since the day was already made extra special by our awesomely warm Denver weather (62 degrees in winter, thank you very much), I decided to be extra productive. I've got almost all of my weekend chores done, and took Boomer out for his extra special/productive long walkie, and still have loads of time left for knitting - yippee!! Can't ask for much more than that!


Boomer decided to spend his Leap Day with his special little froggie friend - turns out, he gets 7 extras days this year - seeing as he's a doggie and all!

My, What Lovely Eye(let)s You Have....

So, as I continue working on my green circular knitting project thing-a-ma-bob, I learned something about myself. I don't believe everything I read. This could be considered a good thing in most areas of life - especially since I love love love reading trashy magazines and juicy tid-bits online, but it would appear my distrust has eked over into other areas of reading. Case in point - knitting patterns. It's kind of amusing, really, since I'm still such a beginner that I really wouldn't know something was wrong with a pattern until I was done knitting it, and even then, who knows. But as I got to the part of my pattern that called for some decreasing and eyelets, I began to get dubious.

I made my first yarn over eyelet, then the next two decreases - as per the pattern. I made one more repeat - yarn over eyelet, two decreases - then held my work up for inspection. Aha!! Just as I suspected - I saw neither eyelets OR decreases in what I had just knit. Sure my stitch count had changed, but that didn't prove anything (I also seem to have an uncanny ability to dismiss proof). I re-read the pattern again, and again....and again. Nope, didn't miss a thing. "Okay Pattern", I thought to myself, "We'll try this your way. Then we'll see who's right!". So I finished the round of repeats, then knit up two more rows after that. Well, what do you know? Eyelets and decreases - exactly where they're supposed to be! How clever!

Okay Pattern, you win this round, but I'll be keeping my eyes on you! And I'll try to keep my Instant Gratification expectations and mistrustful nature in check!