New Years Knitting Resolutions Update and General Update

I've accomplished a couple things on my list and working towards some more... and I figure if I come back to this every so often and do an update it will increase my motivation to do them.

Item 1 is to knit a hat that fits and doesn't require elastic - update: not done yet. The hat I was hoping would complete that didn't need elastic but it didn't fit either. Still working towards this one.

Item 2 is to knit a pair of socks. Not yet, I'm hoping to get some sock yarn soon. Also I have my eye on the new Cookie A book. I love her socks. And I have book that will teach me to knit 2 socks at once with some very nice patterns in it.

Item 3 was to acquire more bamboo knitting needles. COMPLETED! :) I think I could use another set of the double pointed ones since they're only 5inches long but they do work well for what I've needed them for thus far so I'm happy with them. I also have a set of 15 straight needles that are excellent. Now I only use plastic needles when doing circular knitting with my Denise interchangable needles kit, which I love.

Item 4 was to start attempting to knit a sweater, if not actually finish one. COMPLETED! :) My Vivian took 2 months but was totally worth it. I have a couple other more simple patterns I'd like to do at some point.

Item 5 was to fix a mistake vertically. COMPLETED! :) Vivan sure helped with that. I corrected knits that were supposed to be purls, purls that were supposed to be knits and several cables that were twisted the wrong way. My Knit Fix book helped a lot with that.

And Item 6 was to increase my stash. IN PROGRESS. I have increased my stash by quite a bit but I still would love to get some sock yarn and there are a lot of other fibers I want to try. I have cotton, bamboo mixed with silk, alpaca and peruvian wool covered. Thus far I'm not a huge fan of cotton but I'd like to try it mixed with other fibers or maybe a different type of cotton would help.

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General Knitting Update

I have knit myself a garter for the big day. Its not completely done, I still need some elastic or ribbon to thread through and make it wearable. I started knitting a ring pillow with my cotton but then we ran across the problem of who would carry it because we don't actually have a ring bearer so its stuck as just a cloth for the moment.

And I am getting a head start on Christmas gifts. I have started a scarf that will be for my mom. one of my resolutions should have been to start knitting patterns out of my books. I realized I hadn't really used any of them (though I have some patterns bookmarked that I'd like to do) so I picked a nice herringbone scarf from Odd Ball Knitting. I hope she likes it. I knit her a nice scarf at the beginning of Winter that was quite short because she doesn't like long scarves and apparently it is too short (hmph!). So I don't know how long I will make this one. I'll probably be able to keep going until I run out of the yarn. The yarn (DK Brushed) was giving me problems at first because it likes to tangle and stick to itself but since I took the time to roll it into a ball its been fine.

I'm going to start the Owl Cowl soon as well. I think that it would be perfect for my alpaca yarn. Its a bit late in the year but it will (probably) be fun and quick to make :). My mom has a ton of buttons lying around, I can probably steal some of those for the eyes.

Meet Vivian!

This is Vivian. The product of 2 months worth of work but it was totally worth it! As of Friday morning I was finished the shoulders and then I moved on to the hood, which felt like it took forever. I knit the rest of the day Friday, Saturday and the majority of Sunday until I was done. Today I sewed in the zipper (and badly). I harvested the zipper from a sweater that I don't wear anymore. There weren't any places near me that sold zippers, not within walking distance anyway.

The pattern was great. Only two mistakes but I believe those are fixed in the newer version of the pattern and the Vivian KAL really helped (THANKS GUYS!)! My only complaint would be that once I got to the hood it got kind of confusing because the odd rows became the right side and even rows became the wrong side. I missed a row of cables at one point and had to rip back two rows :(

Next project: something small... no more sweaters for a while

Vivian WIP - Time for sleeves!!!!

Behold I turned this: 
Into all of this: 

So thats one ball down (two more). I'm feeling more confident that I will have quite a bit left over (I did do the calculations before I bought the yarn but my math is not that great so I was still a little nervous). I have now moved onto the sleeves. I'm using a set of  my delightful newly purchased bamboo double pointed-s which are on the short side but they're working. I'm finally found my needle cap things to give me a little more assurance that all the stitches will stay on needle 2. Last week we had our windows replaced and I had to pack up everything on my desk to get it out of the way. Of course I did the "I'll put them here, I'll remember where they are" (someone should smack me whenever I think that). 

Anywhos, so close!!! I've set a deadline of March 31st for myself - should be doable. Not much left to knit :) 

Vivian in progress

Vivan has been going well, a little slow because of other craziness at home but now its picking up again. I'm nearing the 50th row. Still messed up a few parts but nothing my trusty crochet hook can't handle. I wish I could knit faster! 

I love Vivian

My new project is Vivian. I was looking at the pattern for a while and decided I had to make it. It shall be my first sweater :) I checked all the current projects to see what kind of yarn everyone was using, and keeping that in mind I searched the internets for deals on some yarn. I ended up settling on Cascade Eco+ from Kit Knit. I was really lucky I got it. Stupid Canada Post left it in the front door of the apartment building by the buzzer, blarg. 

Rolling the hanks into balls was interesting. At some point I'd really like to get a ball winder and swift. I did 2/3 swatches, which were exactly the gauge I needed so I didn't do the third one (but hey, at least I swatched :P). 

I just finished row 22 and things are going well for the most part. It is certainly giving me lots of practice correcting mistakes vertically with a crochet hook. There's been a couple of times purls have shown up where knits should be, and one instance where I missed crossing a cable and only noticed 3 rows later *sigh*! The Knit Fix book my mom got me for Christmas has really come in handy. I've been focusing all my knitting attention on this sweater, so really it's my fault for not having something easy for tv-watching or Sip n' Stitch nights. Ah well, I am a sucker for punishment.