Mismatch

I was going to write a post about the new sweater I am knitting for NB - MinO- which I have been loving. However, last night as I was working on another project I ran into a problem. So my dear readers you get some of my musings.
First the players:
The Yarn : Louet Gems Sport. 2 skeins of 100g/225 yrds merino, ball band gauge 22-24 sts/4"
The Intended: Christmas present for my SIL
Some background

1. When I first bought the yarn I was thinking socks
2. The yarn has been wound in balls for awhile now, since I was always going to cast on for socks with it
3. My SIL saw the yarn and remarked how lovely the colour is, (I love colour as well)
4. I cruised Ravelry and decided on Embossed Leaves - people have knit these socks with this yarn
   
5. I don't know how the above was accomplished. I need size 2.0 mm(US 0) to get gauge and that hurts my hands. With a 16 st repeat I can't cut out a pattern repeat.

The delimina

1. The yarn now is saying scarf/shawl to me - do I listen?
2. Will the recipient wear the red scarf/shawllette? I know she would have worn the socks
3. Do I knit her socks out of another yarn?
4. Do I want to knit another red scarf after I just finished Sugared Pompa?
   

The ideas - feel free to toss others out there (all are Rav links)

1. Boneyard shawl
2. Red Skies at Night
3. Drop Stitch Scarf
4. Flower Basket Shawl
5. Herbivore

Potential Fall knitting

I have been thinking lately of some upcoming projects to work on this fall. As Jenni mentioned the fall is going to be hectic (and that I should get buttons).
Before I get into what I want to knit and possible patterns, I should come clean on what is on my needles that needs to be finished.

1. Hedera socks - these are about 75% done
2. Koigu socks - I have one done, easy knitting once I cast on and get to it - what were those magic numbers again
3. Sideways cardigan - I need to knit the sleeves for this. I should/need to get this done before the baby comes so I can think on how to do the sleeves
4. Baby blanket - Easy squares that are almost done and which needs to be seamed and a border attached.

The plan is to have yellow triangles (1 left) all around the outside so it ends up being an octagon. Then I will pick up stitches in the turquoise for a border around the outside once it is seamed together. I just now need to sit down and figure out the crochet seam since I think that will be the best one for this blanket.

Now on to my want to cast on this fall list.
Hat - I love my hat, it is warm and soft and comfortable and warm. It is just to warm for those fall/spring days that are just above freezing and you want something on your ears but 4 layers of stranded alpaca knitting just is a little too much. So possible contenders

1. Short Row Hat by Veronica Avery (I could use the left over silk garden from my cardigan)
2. Shining Star hat by Kate Gilbert
3. Foilage by Emilee Mooney

I think all three hats would be simple enough not to require too much thinking, not overly warm but still enough to block out some of that wind.

Christmas Stockings - Ali and I have some great stockings that my step mom made that reside on their house. I realized last year that we should get our own stockings for our house, and will also need to make the little one their own stocking for this year. I bought some Cascade 220 in heathered green and red to make the stockings and just need to figure out what designs. I will put a white/cream top on stockings for the names. Things I am toying with:

1. Stranded patterns, a large snowflake perhaps with some smaller designs
2. Knitting the stocking to be felted then needle felting designs on it

I haven't found any patterns yet (not that I have looked hard) that jump out at me, I did love the yarn and it did say Christmas stockings for me. I need to take out Christmas Stockings: 18 Holiday Treasures to Knit from the local library.

After writing on how I need to knit myself a new hat, I should also point out that the I have not knit the baby a hat- there have been a couple given as gifts that are different sizes. I think the baby will need a greater selection of hats. I do have the Itty Bitty hats book out of the library.

On Friday night knit and chat I got this new pamphlet from Skacel - Sock Puppets they are not puppets made from socks but socks for your baby that are puppets. How can you look at those photos and not say "Ahhhhh"


Why have I been thinking of fall projects - why the KW Knitters Fair is coming up fast - Saturday to be exact. A shopping list needs to be determined. Last year I had some specific things I wanted this year it is much more fluid (which can be dangerous) but I also feel that I have a much larger stash this year that needs to be worked up.

Knitters Fair

Spent a good chunk of time and money at the Knitters Fair on Saturday. I met up with Sarah and Vick saw them go into fibre overload as newbies at these types of events do. I haven't taken pictures of my purchases today (it actually rained !!!!), however I will let you in on one of the major purchases.



I got enough of Noro Silk Garden (col 239) for a cardigan. Different then the tweedy grey that I was thinking for the cardigan, however I had decided to find the yarn then choose the pattern from my narrowed down list.
Since this is very different then what I was envisioning I need to switch gears with the pattern, since I don't want horizontal stripes. I have decided on using mitered corners in the cardigan to get vertical stripes. Similar to the Blueberry/Marmalade cardigan by Maureen Mason Jamieson (without the slip stitches).

My gauge swatch is drying and then I have a bunch of measurements to do before starting a ton of calculations.

Decisions

I have been thinking on what my next major project is going to be. Seeing as my knitting has drastically slowed down lately - I need to get the materials for a major project - makes sense doesn't it. I have been thinking about a cardigan and am torn between three different ones.

Option #1 Jenna's Eris
A mostly stockinette cardigan with some cabling around the top and the bottom moves this from basic to elegant.

Option #2 Bonne Marie's Twist
Two panels of cabling going up the fronts with some side shaping. I am not sure about such a large collar though.

Option #3 Kate's Cinnabar Pullover
Okay not a cardigan but something is drawing me to this sweater. I like the linen stitch touches for the collar and the hems.

So what do you think? I have no yarn for any of these sweaters currently, purchases will have to be made. There are some sales on, and the Knitters Fair is coming up so lots of opportunities to purchase the require yarn.

I have also not been able to get on Raverly yet - still in the queue, which I don't think has moved at all in the past week.

IK is here!

I have seen several posts that have discussed the new IK - and finally the mail brought my issue. I have seen the preview on line but it is not the same as flipping through the pages. There are several sweaters in there that I like and I might put the Nantucket jacket by Norah Gaughan on my list, although I will make it with long sleeves. I find sleeves that end at the elbow annoying, it feels like they have been pushed up too far. There are a couple patterns with boat necks, which I don't care for. I still need to actually go through the issue.

Keeper loves chewing on rawhide bones, but I don't like letting him have them unless someone is around, as they can be a choking hazard. So today I bought him a Nylabone- he took it chewed it for about a minute then went and got his rawhide. I'll keep offering it to him and see if it he likes it. I think if it is the only thing in his crate he may use it.

Stashed with: future-project, Keeper