Done, Done, Nearly Done...

Moose has gone home, and we had a wonderful time. We never get to spend enough girl time together.

So I have several very nearly done things. to share with you.

First, I had a quick crochet lesson at a LYS the other day, and here are the crocheted ends of my Lady E. It's not single crochet... I'm not really sure what kind it was, but the result looks ok, I think.





Now I just need to figure out the crazy-ass fringe of a million knots. I don't expect that will go too well, but fingers crossed.


Secondly, I finished another Pinwheel Blanket.




Pattern- Pinwheel Blanket

Yarn- Araucania Patagonia Nature Cotton, Color 201, 3+ skeins

Needles- Denise Interchangeable, Size 9.

This just needs some ends woven in, and blocking.



Then we have Jemima. I bought a couple options for the placket. Here they are, on the grey sweater. As much as I LOVE that green, I'm thinking white will be the way to go. Thoughts?




Then onto Mosaics...

Lucy's mirror is done, just needs grouting.




And while Moose was here, she gave it a go, making Ben's name in red, yellow and blue, while I did this... which also needs grouting.




And, finally,Holly sent me some gorgeous sock yarn!

First, some knitpicks, to get myself going.



And then, some Fearless Fibers, in a really stunning green. I can't wait to try this yarn!










Thank you again, Holly. It's always nice to get something in the mail that doesn't include an invoice!


So that's all for now. Plugging away at Jemima's last sleeve, and, come to think of it, really need to do the sleeves on Ben's sweater!

Short Row a Go- Go.

Weird title, but that's what I keep thinking!

Firstly, the weather here has been crap, and so I am needing to take these photos inside,and it's hard to get the photos looking right in low light with no flash, so I apologize for that.


First, another couple of photos of the multi-directional scarf.





This was a really fast knit.



Secondly, here are some updated photos of my Lady Eleanor. This is the first thing I've knitted for myself in AGES!



Going to be weaving in a lot of ends!












Now, I think I mentioned before that I have bought a lot of yarn for this, but people from the knitty board also sent me their scraps. I decided to do earth tones and wasn't sure what to do with the gorgeous jewel tones I had received. So, I bought a shitload more yarn and am making a second Lady E, this one will be donated to my dad's agency, for the next silent auction. Really need to get some photos of this in the sun, but here are a few photos...






So, that's what I've been up to lately. This is after all, first and foremost, a knitting blog.

Still Knitting...

I'm still knitting!


A while ago, I asked here, and on Knitty, for people to please send me little odds and ends of Silk Garden, if they had some. And they did! Along with the 7 skeins I've bought so far, I'm using them to make a Lady Eleanor. The problem was, I wanted something in earth tones, because I am making this for myself, and it is the first thing I have made for myself in years. Silk Garden is one of my favorite yarns, but man, they sometimes really fuck up a color palette, you know what I'm saying? Brown next to fluorescent pink? Not so much. So, like the crazy person I am, I am picking through and taking only the bursts of color I want for this project, and am tucking the really bright colors aside for a to-be-determined later project.

Enough with the rambling- have a look at some photos. It's in progress!











Can you see my hair trapped in there? Honestly, I feel sometimes, like I am knitting with as much of my own hair as yarn...


Here are some of my little picked through balls, ready for knitting, with my favorite mug- you like?



So that's it for now. Taking a break from baby knitting, and making something I hope to wear a lot this fall.

Baby Blanket Woes...

So I've been knitting baby blankets like a fiend lately. And I'm not very happy with them. I am posting some pics here and I'm hoping you'll be honest with me. Even if you agree they look somewhat crappy, tell me. I don't care if you think they are the worst blankets you've ever seen- just tell me. Really, really- I just want to know.

So, blanket number one is an entrelac blanket I've been working on. The problem isn't the pattern, really... it's more the yarn. I do like this yarn, but it will snag on anything- even just a bit of rough skin, which is tough to manage in the winter. Also, I feel like the edges are not looking as neat as I'd like- the colors are showing through a bit too much- again, probably a symptom of stretchy ribbon like yarn. So. Here is the first photo- you can see what I mean- the edges look a little tired, and the alternate color peeks through more than I'd like it to.



See what I mean? It's bad, right? Be HONEST. Really. Because I'm getting ready to frog, frog, frog.


Here's another pic of the blanket, covering more area...




The second blanket is a Blue Sky Cotton blanket- the pattern is from Blue Sky.
I knit it using the Organic natural, and had planned to use the "sky" colorway for the ruffle. Couple of problems with this one, and I think it is, in part, the pattern. It calls for size 11 needles, which is fine, the loose gauge gives it a nice drape, but I think the eyelets on a size 11 needle are too big, and I'm not wild about just how loose the stitches are.

Here's a photo of the blanket, overall...





And here's the eyelet, with my finger up to it, showing how large the holes are. I'm actually a little worried that the baby might snarl his fingers in these holes- they really are big!




See what I mean? Arrrrugh. Also, I posted on the knitty board that the ruffle for this blanket is a nightmare- yarn overs every where, and they are just TOO big. I don't know what size needle they used in the photo for the pattern, but I'd bet it wasn't an 11! It just looks sloppy to me.

So, honest thoughts, please. I love the Blue Sky yarn, I'm just not so sure about the pattern.
Should I re-knit it with smaller needles?
Should I re-knit it using another pattern? Can you suggest another pattern? I think I have 5 skeins of cream and 3 of blue.

THANK you.