Mohair Dreams

LA girl in Chicago?

Yes, I'm still here but no, I have not been doing much knitting.  Here is what I've been up to.

I am moving from Los Angeles to Chicago for a new job at Northwestern University.  I am a LA girl through and through and this is a big change for me.  I'm starting an exciting new job and Chicago is a great city. That said, I am going to miss my mom, sister and friends.  I have a feeling that I will find an excuse to return to LA soon! 

Other than the 3 months that I spent on exchange in Barcelona during business school, I have never lived outside of California.  What in the world am I going to do during the winter with the wind chill and snow?!  And what in the world does it mean to winterize my car?!  On the plus side, I get to check out new yarn stores and wear all of the wool sweaters that I have made but never get to wear in LA. 

Wish me luck with my move and I'll get back to knitting once I get settled.

I'm too sexy for my knits

Presenting the Deciduous Cami!

Every now and then I make something that just exceeds my expectations.  This is one of those projects.  The yarn, the details, the fit - I love it all!

I used 3 skeins of Rowan Calmer in Pool.  The size is XS and I added length to the body.  I plan to make another in cream but will make it shorter and in size XXS for a more snug fit. 

Round One

I have enjoyed watching my Roundabout Leaft Tank grow!  I blocked it after the first round to make sure that the measurements are correct.  It's a perfect 18 inches so it's on to round two.

Demin Silk knits up very nicely but my skeins become a tangled mess everytime.  Those pesky ribbon yarns!  Rather than winding the next hank into a skein, I'm going to try rolling into a ball.  Maybe that will work. 

Tivoli will just have to wait awhile.  My Roundabout is just too much fun!

I Heart Knitters

I dropped Bobbi off at his new home this weekend (sigh).  The good news is that I had a chance to sit, knit and chat with some of my favorite knitting friends including Mary Heather and Julia.  I also made a new friend, Marnie who I felt that I already knew since I frequently read her blog.  Julia was wearing one of Marnie's beautiful designs, Deciduous Cami which I immediately added to my list of Summer Sweaters.  I already have some Rowan Calmer in my stash so it was obviously meant to be.

So far, my Summer Sweaters knitting is going well.  The Roundabout Leaf Tank is coming along nicely and is fun to knit.  Tivoli is knitting up rather quickly and I am loving Cathay.  I made a silly mistake at the armholes though.  I was supposed to cast on 20 stitches but I only cast on 17 stitches under the arms.  However, I tried it on and it fits so I'm moving on.  Too often I fail to pay close enough attention to the pattern instructions and end up making careless mistakes. 

Now all I need is a cute boy and tropical island to visit to wear all of my summer knits.

Bobbi Loves Knitting

Me:  "Hey Bobbi, whatcha doin'?"

Bobbi:  "I wanted to get started on your Roundabout Leaf Tank before I head over to Knit Cafe."

Me: "Aren't you the best!  It looks great."

Don't you just love Bobbi Bears?!  I need to make one for myself.

Summer sweaters

Green Gable is done and it fits perfectly.

The yarn is Tahki Cotton Classic in tan but it looks more like blush to me.  I went with the size small and it looks great. 

I rarely knit with cotton yarn but working with Cotton Classic has inspired me to do some more summer knitting.  I've picked some great projects for the summer. 

 

(Clockwise from top left)

• Roundabout Leaf Tank in Berocco Demin Silk
• Tube Toporini in Rowan All Seasons Cotton
• Diagonal Triangle Tank in Artyarns Royal Silk and Silk Ribbon
• Picovoli t-shirt in Debbie Bliss Cathay

First up is Roundabout Leaf Tank.  It just looks so interesting to knit.  Fellow KALers Laura, Jillian and Crissy have gotten me excited to start.  First, I have to knit another Baby Bobbi Bear for the Knit Cafe class that I'm teaching later this month.  As soon as he is done, it's on to the Roundabout. 

Finished projects?

You thought I forgot about my Somewhat Cowl, didn't you?   

The design, the yarn and the color are all great.  I'm still not sure about the length.  When I made it longer, I didn't like the way it sat on my hips but now it seems a bit too short.  I'm going to leave it as is for now.  I have plenty of yarn left over so if it really bothers me, I can lengthen it later. 

Big Bad Baby Blanket is also done.  However, in the process of knitting it, I ended up getting a stain on it that I can't get out.  I'm note sure what it is but my best guess is Mike and Ike's.  I have a serious candy habit and I was eating them while knitting this blanket.  Can you believe it?!  I ran it through the washing machine and it's still there.  I looked up candy stains in Stains which recommended soaking it in a solution of water and hydrogen peroxide and letting it dry in the sun.  If that doesn't work I'll try dry cleaning.  The other option is to embroider over the stain.  I was planning to embroider the baby's name on the blanket anyway so that may just solve the whole problem.  Other than that drama, it came out really well.

The stain is on the other side.  Oh, and by the way, I still don't like knitting baby blankets.

After finishing two projects, I was ready to cast on Green Gable.  Let me just say that you have to pay attention to this pattern and READ it carefully.  Otherwise, you'll end up ripping it out way too many time or even end up all together.  I hung in there and made it through the lacing, finished the sleeves and joined the body and then tried it on and...

...it was too freakin' big!  I read the posts on the KAL blog and many people found the sizing to be off.  I did the calculations and agreed that the medium was the best call.  Wrong!!  It gapped at the arms and neckline.  Before I got too discourage, I ripped the whole thing out and started again in size small.  It looks like I got it right this time. 

I'm a Happy Girl

I'll post about my knitting tomorrow but today it's all about my Dye-O-Rama package.  Courtney from Yarn Tootin' sent me some gorgeous yarn and even made up a colorway called Mohair Dreams.  I have my own colorway!!

I love it!!!  She also made another one for me called Baby Boy in blue and purple.  She did such an amazing job!

I can't wait to make some socks in these beautiful yarns.  I'm thinking maybe some ribbed socks with baby cables for the Mohair Dreams.  Hmm, so many options.  And then, if that wasn't enough, she added a few extra goodies as well.

Thank you Courtney!!

How is my dyeing project going you ask?  Unfortunately not so well.  I ordered my Knit Picks Color-Your-Own yarn about a month ago but they are out of stock until June 30!  The Dye-O-Rama dyers really wiped them out.  I have been searching for other yarn and finally bought a cone from Wool2Dye4.  I won't be able to dye until next weekend but will let my pal know that I haven't forgotten about her.

Knitting Nature

I picked up a new book! 

There are several projects that I am considering for the KAL.  I'd like to make the Roundabout Tank and found a couple of stores that still carry Berocco Demin Silk.  The other front runners are the Phyllo Yokes Pullover for my Rowan Calmer and the Basalt Tank.

The designs in this book are so interesting and look like they would be a great challenge to knit.  It's going to be a busy summer.

A Tall Glass of Whine

My lovely projects are not working with me right now.

(1) Somewhat Cowl is back on the needles but I've lost track of the beginning of the round and my increases.  I just need to sit and figure it out but I just haven't felt like it.  The other issue is that I'm not sure where I want to start the ribbing. 

(2) I made a mistake on Big Bad Baby Blanket's seed stitch border and you know how much fun it is to fix mistakes in patterns.  Not!  I fixed a couple of the stitches but then put it down in a huff.  You should be able to see the mistake which I highlighted.  If not, believe me, it's there.  Did I mention that this mistake is 10 inches down from my last row?  I'm telling you, baby blankets are not my thing.

Maybe I'm just being moody.  I need a tall glass of wine to go with my whine.  That will make it all better.  At least Monk and the Sweater is coming along well.  I worked the back to the sleeves and will pick this up in the next design class.  The idea is to make the sweater in two pieces so I need some help from our teacher Denise, Grandma Hollywood.  We don't meet for a couple of weeks but in the meantime I'll work the front piece to the same point.  RY Cashsoft has a very nice hand and the color is great.

I just joined the Knitting Nature KAL.  Seriously, that's it for now.  Now more KALs until I finish some of the outstanding projects, well at least Somewhat Cowl.  Knitting Nature is a great book and Norah Gaughan has created some beautiful and inspiring pieces.  I ordered a copy from Borders (love those 30% off coupons) and will pick it up tomorrow.  A new knitting book is just the thing to get out of my knitting funk.  I need to spend some quality time with the book but the project that has really caught my eye so far is the Roundabout Leaf Tank.

Some great books have come out this spring.  So many great projects to choose from.  What's a girl to do?!  Wrap up some of these UFOs, that's what.