And I'm Off . . .

Finally!

The pattern arrived for Sophie's birthday project. I'm not certain whether or not I can complete it in time for Sophie's birthday on the 29th, but I'm going to give it my all.

For those who need a refresher, Sophie's birthday project is a hooded sweater designed to match the tattoos on Aang, the main character on one of Sophie's favorite television shows, Avatar: The Last Air Bender. The sweater is in a beautiful silvery-gray color with blue arrows on the sleeves and hood, which match air bender tattoos. The chest of the sweater has three spirals, the symbol of the air nation.

The pattern arrived on Tuesday, just as I was leaving for work, of course. I did some designing and swatching and was ready to cast on by the next day. But wouldn't you know it, my old pal fate had to intervene by giving me a nasty chest cold. I've been sleeping a lot, which severly limits the amount of time that I can spend knitting.

Photos, as Promised

Just like I promised yesterday, here are some new photos of my latest knitting projects.

Here are the legwarmers for Petra. They turned out adorable, and I love the colors. They are actually much more vibrant than they appear to be in this photo:


And here are some updated photos of the scrap sock yarn blanket. The first two rows are really coming along nicely. It has a patchwork quilt look that I really love.


And here is a little closer view of the a few of the squares:


Someday, in the far, far future this will turn into a lovely blanket.

And, in case you're wondering, no, the pattern for Sophie's hoodie has not yet arrived.

We Interrupt My Regularly Scheduled Knitting

When I returned from Seattle I had all my summer knitting planned out. I was going to continue work and finish my Lily cardigan, I was going to complete the Shawl that Jazz wrap, I was going to finish some more socks, and I was going to make an Avatar inspired hoodie for Sophie's birthday in the end of August.

Now the end of July approaches, and I've completed a pair of socks this summer and the Shawl that Jazz wrap. The Lily cardigan is still in progress, but the other day I managed to step on one of my beautiful wooden Harmony size 6 needles and, because it was made of wood, it broke. Now the Lily cardigan is on hold until the replacement needles arrives, and as much as I love Knitpicks, their shipping isn't always super speedy. But that is not what is really bugging me.

Upon arriving home from Seattle in June, I selected a style and design for the hoodie for Sophie. I ordered the yarn (knitpicks, of course) and began searching for a pattern that I wanted. I found the pattern and ordered it. And I'm still waiting for the pattern to arrive. As time ticks away until Sophie's birthday, I know that I need to through myself into the project full force when it arrives, which makes me hesitant to start any other large projects. That is also bugging me, as I have several great projects on deck.

So I'm killing time working on little "filler" projects. I knit up a bat shell for Sophie's turtle. I knit Petra a pair of baby legwarmers (which turned out adorable), and now I'm focusing some energy in my scrap sock yarn blanket. It is coming along pretty well, although very slowly. The width is about halfway to where I want it, and then I can start building up the length. While I'm working on it, however, I fret about not getting Sophie's cardigan done in time for her birthday.

I'll update with pictures of the blanket and legwarmers once I get them off of my camera and onto flickr.

Shawl that Jazz and Photo Updates

My first wrap is completed, and I'm a big fan of it.



I used the pattern Shawl that Jazz, and a silk and pima cotton blend yarn. The photos don't do justice to the colors in the yarn, it is a combination of shades of greens, and browns with some splashes of red thrown it.

The wrap was going to be my backup, in case I didn't get the Lily Cardigan finished in time for my godson's baptism, but it looks really good with the dress. It might become the front runner even if the cardigan is finished (unless the cardigan turns out really, really good).

Here it is with my dress.

It looks pretty great, right? And, as I have arrived on the point of the cardigan where I find the sweater incredibly boring, I may never finish. It is a good thing to have the back up done.

It also occurs to me that I failed to post photos of my rpm socks, which turned out great. I think that is the yarn's doing not the knitting. The colors are just beautiful, but again the photo doesn't really capture it. The yarn is a combination of brown, pink, and purple.


And, finally, I have yet to post the photos of my case for my iPod touch, which is truly the greatest gadget ever.


And, yes, it is the same yarn as the socks.

I need to start on Sophie's birthday knitting, but I'm patiently waiting for the pattern for the hoodie to arrive. It is taking a lot longer than seems reasonable. I don't want to start another project until I can start on Sophie's sweater. The wait will force me to work more on the cardigan, or a shell for Sophie's turtle, or legwarmers for Petra...

Third Time's the Charm

I've been working on a new pair of socks since finishing the black lace socks. I was excited about the yarn, (Three Irish Girls Adorn Sock) and wanted to find a pattern that would work for it. So I casted on, and got to the heel turn, and gave up. The I selected another pattern, casted on, worked a couple of inches, and gave up. Then I selected yet another pattern, RPM from Knitty, and viola, new socks! I finished the pair in less than two days. It is amazing how quickly socks go when I am enjoying the pattern and the yarn (not to mention when I don't have silly things like classes and homework to take up my time).

I'm continuing on the Lily Cardigan, and have just finished the waist decreases. I'll keep plowing away on that, but Sophie wants some new shells for her turtle, Danielle wants some legwarmers for baby Petra, I promised some socks for Sophie, and I have Sophie's birthday knitting to do. I'd also like to cast on for Shawl that Jazz, a really cute wrap pattern that I already have the yarn for and am set to go.

I'm also trying to decide whether or not to make a shower gift for my friend, Kari's, baby shower. But, since the shower is the beginning of August, I'm leaning towards buying a shower gift and possibly making something for when the kidlet is born at the end of October.