Holly Jolly Legwarmers

I can't believe I finished these before Christmas. I didn't really take them with me on my daily travels, since they weren't the easiest thing to pick up and put down quickly, plus there is a chart (easily memorized, but still) and multiple balls of yarn to juggle. This is only my second successful stranded knitting project. I had tried to make these a couple of years ago but the stitches were so wonky it looked like my cat had gotten a hold of it.





I took a Fair Isle class last January at The Elegant Ewe and it really helped. I didn't really try the technique again until November but now I'm kind of a Fair Isle fool. Next up is Kate Gilbert's Bird in Hand Mittens.


I'm really happy with how these and the previous Fair Isle project (a present, so it's a secret) turned out. I will say that they did need a steam from my mom's awesome Rowenta iron before they looked like this; there was some bunching and a few misshapen stitches, especially at the join. I'm kind of a rebel so I actually just ironed the legwarmers on the wool setting, and pushed the steam button to add more steam. Apparently this is a really horrible thing to do, but nobody died and my legwarmers look much better than they would have if I just hovered over them with the iron. I would not recommend this with anything other than a Rowenta iron and not with just any project. I also test a small spot first before I just go at it.




Holly Legwarmers by Jo Sharp from Handknit Holidays
Yarn: Brown Sheep Nature Spun Sport, 2 skeins N48S Scarlet (A), 1 skein 225 Brick Road (B), 1 skein N91 Aran (C), 1 skein light brown (D; I lost the label), 1 skein N27S Monument Green (E), 1 skein 522 Nervous Green (F)
Source: Patternworks
Needles: Addi Turbo US Size 5 12" circular needles, Brittany Birch US Size 4 dpns
Modifications: Knit in the round instead of flat (note: do not use a jogless join because the design will not line up).




The insides, of which I am very proud:

I hope everyone has a relaxing holiday full of knitting!

What a Feeling

I apologize for the sideways picture. I was uploading these just before I left for work and didn't have time to rotate it (actually, I didn't have time to figure out how to save the rotated picture in stupid Windows Vista). I knit these hats for an auction to raise money for my aunt's church. One skein each of Lion Brand Thick'n'Quick in lime green and light blue. The pattern is Elf Hats from Handknit Holidays, the earflap version (I would like to warn you that the earflap version is not nearly as pointy as the other one. It's not very clear from the pictures in the book; I like how they came out but I was expecting them to be pointier). The green one is size 2-4 years, the blue one is child's large/adult small.
I feel compelled to share with you my interesting improvisation (partly because I giggled at myself while doing it and kind of wished there was another knitter around to laugh at me). I didn't have size 15 DPNs (the closest was 11) so when the stitches were too tight around the circular needle I would knit off a few stitches on a size 15 straight and transfer them back to the circular needle. Kind of tricky and not recommended, but each hat only took me one hour (maybe another half hour for the pom poms and braids) and the yarn was very thick so it worked out.



Also completed:

Super Easy Legwarmers from Last Minute Knitted Gifts (the inspiration behind the Purl Bee)
Yarn: 1.75 balls Cascade 220 in a denim blue (I cut it really close and scrounged the remainder of the yarn from the first legwarmer and what was left from the dog sweater for the second legwarmer), 1 ball Doceur et Soie in light blue and 1 ball Madil Kid Seta in light blue (those last two are the same type of yarn; I used one for each legwarmer. There is a very slight color difference but it's not really noticeable knit up with the Cascade 220. I have the first printing of LMKG and there are some mistakes, such as recommending one ball each of Cascade 220 and Madil Kid Seta)

Source: Patternworks and The Woolery

Needles: Addi Turbo 12" circular US Size 8

Modifications: None
Legwarmers are great. This was reinforced when my mom and I watched Flashdance on Friday.

There has been more knitting going on, lots more. Unfortunately I was also added to Ravelry this week and I have three big assignments coming up (although Ravelry took preference) and this is all I have completed. I am on the second clue for the Secret of the Stole, which is pretty good considering the third one only came out this past week. I spent Friday afternoon with the lovely ladies at the Yarn and Fiber Company, and managed to get through a large chunk. I also realized I made a (large) mistake which I refuse to rip out and I am now claiming is a design alteration. A skein of Dream in Color Smooshy sock yarn in Beach Fog followed me home from the store.

I'm going to try my hand at designing a pair of socks. I have a skein of Spirit Trail sock yarn that looks like fall (November, since the colors are gorgeous but muted) and none of the patterns I've looked at seem to fit.

Lastly, Susan and I are getting together this week to knit and buy yarn! Woot!