Twisted Plum

twistedplum — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 21:10:36 +0000

Flower Box Cardigan

twistedplum — Mon, 04 Jun 2007 01:45:51 +0000

Pattern: Seamless Yoke Sweater from Knitting Without Tears

Colorwork: Flower Box stitch pattern from The Vogue Knitting Stitchionary Volume 3

Yarn: Elann Highland Peruvian Wool [Charcoal (12 skeins), Pottery Red, Pumpkin, New Leaf, Dusty Rose (less than 1 skein each)

Needles: US 4 (3.5mm)

Date Started – Completed: April 24 – May 24, 2007

Notes: This was a really quick knit for me. I was torn on whether I wanted to have a zipper or buttons for the closure. My original vision included a zipper, but I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to get it to lay right. Zippers and I don’t really get along. I think it looks ok. It could be better – it’s a little wiggly – but it works for me.

Long Time No Blog

twistedplum — Sat, 02 Jun 2007 05:52:48 +0000

Ok, so it’s been a while since I last posted. Part of the reason is I went on vacation for a week. I went with my sisters and my mom to the Biltmore Estate. It was quite an experience.

One of the highlights for me was getting to visit with the lambs…

And the angora goats…

The other reason there hasn’t been any posting is mostly because all of my free time has been devoted to my lasted project. I started working on the Babette Blanket from the Spring ’06 Interweave Crochet magazine. It has completey taken over, and I haven’t knit a single stitch since last Saturday. So far, I’ve completed five of the sections.

I’m using my left over scraps of Patons Merino and Knit Picks Wool of the Andes. I’m trying to use only what I have in my stash without having to buy any new yarn, so I started with the center block and am working my way out. I’ll keep going until I run out of yarn. I don’t know yet if I’ll have enough to complete the entire thing.

There’s Something About Colorwork

twistedplum — Sun, 20 May 2007 01:14:51 +0000

There’s something about kitting colorwork that makes it impossible or me to put it down. I started knitting the yoke on my cardigan yesterday, and now all of the knitting is done except for the front band.

This was my first experience with steeking, and it sure isn’t as scary as a lot of people think it is. My machine stitching does leave something to be desired though. Them sure are some crooked stitches.

Look! Danger! There are scissors in my knitting.

Now I have one almost completed sweater.

There’s just one small problem. I still have the front bands to knit, and all I have left of the main color is just 5 grams. That causes such major “grrrs!”. I think I have just enough to knit one band. Looks like I might have to order another ball of yarn just to finish the second one.

I estimated the amount of the main color that I’d need so close. What I was way off on was the amount of the contrasting colors that I need. I’ve got much, much more of that left over.

It’s Friday!

twistedplum — Fri, 11 May 2007 17:06:31 +0000

Lots of knitting going on. Lots and lots of knitting minus the purling. I’ve made a lot of progress on my cardigan. The body and one sleeve is completed up to the yoke, and I’ve started the second sleeve.

I added my initials and the year to the hem. I guess that means I better finish this thing before the year is over.

Only problem is, all of this knitting in the round is causing my left hand to cramp up. I was alternating days between knitting this sweater and the Dollar and a Half, but once i really got into this one I couldn’t put it down. I might have to put it down for a few day before my hand hurts too much to do any knitting.

Dandelions

twistedplum — Wed, 09 May 2007 18:09:25 +0000

More spinning has been going on around here. I’ve been working on the March shipment from the Spunky Eclectic fiber club – Superwash Merino in the Dandelion colorway. I wanted to try a three ply yarn for the first time, and I think it turned out quite well.

I started out with three little bobbins…

Which soon became this overstuffed little bobbin…

Which then became this skein of yarn…

The colors seem to be much truer in the pictures of the bobbins. It’s a little more lime green than I would have liked, so I’ve listed it for sale over at my Etsy shop.

Too Long?

twistedplum — Wed, 02 May 2007 19:11:21 +0000

I’ve been working on my Dollar and a Half. I finished the knitting for the back, but I”m worried that it’s an inch or two too long.

I’m pretty sure I’m going to have to rip back the sleeve shaping and remove some length from the body. In the meantime, I’ve started one of the sleeves.

I also started a new sweater. Elizabeth Zimmerman’s seamless yoke sweater from Knitting Without Tears. No pictures of the sweater yet. Just a quick picture of the yarn I am using. This is Elann’s Highland Peruvian wool.

What I’ve Been Up To

twistedplum — Wed, 25 Apr 2007 23:44:23 +0000

I finished spinning up my Roses For You superwash Tencel blend.

I also started a new sweater. It’s the Dollar and a Half cardigan from the Spring ’07 IK.

I’m knitting it using the new Cotton Ease in Taupe.

On The Bobbin

twistedplum — Sat, 14 Apr 2007 02:02:59 +0000

Roses For You Superwash Merino/Tencel from Susan’s Spinning Bunny

I think a Merino/Tencel blend might just be my favorite thing to spin. It basically spins itself.