Sunday, October 03, 2010

More Knitting


I guess I've been doing more knitting than sewing these days.  It's not that I don't want to sew, but after a long day at work, it's about all I can do to sit upright on the sofa and knit a few rows.  This is what my coffee table looks like these days.  I'm trying to finish the Faire Isle vest for my mom that I started in the Spring.  I have a few technical problems to solve, and then I think I can do the shoulder shaping, cut the steeks, and do the ribbing.  I want to get it to her in the next few weeks to that she can wear it this winter.

You can see my copy of the John Sayles film Lone Star there too.  It's a wonderful complex narrative on life along the Texas-Mexico border, a great film you need to see multiple times in order to see the interconnections between the various story lines.  The film is organized like a patchwork.  There are lots of pieces, but you have to stand in the distance to appreciate some of the ways they're linked together.


I finished a few small projects in recent weeks.  Sometimes I need to make something easy and quick just to deep my momentum going.  I made this Multi-directional Diagonal Scarf from a free pattern.  Judy at Stitch Along with Me had made it I think, and I loved the way it looked.  I made mine wide like a shawl.  The pattern is dead easy, but looks complicated.  I used Lion brand Amazing yarn, which is 50% wool and 50% acrylic and has long beautiful color repeats.  I think I'll use this a lot this winter.


I  finally finished this pair plain ribbed socks in Kroy sock yarn.  The yarn is great: I love these colors, and it doesn't bag after wearing like some other sock yarns.  It probably took me a year to finish these socks, and they feel so good on my feet I wonder why I don't make more.


I also made a baby sweater in acrylic DK weight yarn for Michael's grandchild #2, who is expected in December.  Nothing is as satisfying to knit as a baby sweater, and since this will be a winter baby, I wanted to make the sweater in a small size so that she'll wear it right away.  Paxton Preemie and Newborn Jacket is a free pattern on Ravelry with sizes for preemies and for small and regular newborn sizes.


When you're done with the sweater, you get to pick buttons, which is almost as much fun as the knitting.

7 comments:

Debra Dixon said...

Impressive all the way around! Thanks for your help with my sweater sleeves today. I am over halfway done with one of them. I plan to have this sweater knitted so I can wear it to the quilt show in November.

Like your new shawl too! Fun socks!

Judy S. said...

Love the way your shawl turned out! How wide is it? I'm working on another scarf using Taos, another pretty yarn. Thanks for the link to the cute sweater; I'm going to check it out for my antepartum moms! Great socks, too! You've been knitting up a storm! All that and teaching, too!

DebbyMc said...

I like Kroy Sock yarn, too. I bought a couple of books on knitting two socks at the same time because I can't get them to ever finish the same size. I have a book for the two socks on one circular needle method and one for the two socks on two circular needle method. They both sound easy enough, after the first bit, so I hope I can find one method that I like...I have a LOT of sock yarn...

Susan Elliott said...

That's MY kind of coffee table setting. The fair isle is beautiful Barbara but I know what you mean about needing an easy project in between. I'm trying to finish a crochet ripple blanket for Jack's bed before it gets too cold. Nothing sexy but HE'll be super excited if I could get it done!

dee said...

those duckie buttons are so adorable.
Lone Star is a favorite of mine. I got a DVD a while back and really enjoyed watching it again. The actors are wonderful and seem made for their roles.

Thanks for stopping by and leaving words of encouragement. It's slow going but moving ahead daily.

Kay said...

Beautiful knitting! I used to knit but haven't wanted to start again. Your work is really lovely.

I've never seen Lone Star. Sounds like something I'd like on my list.

Magpie Sue said...

You're absolutely right about picking out the buttons for a baby sweater! And I love that scarf.

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