New Year . . . . New Challenge

Tomorrow is the official start to my stash down challenge!  I probably wont be able to start them tomorrow :( I really want to finish some mittens for my BIL.  They were for Christmas I just haven't been motivated to start them!

So here it is my finally selection for January with yarn choices!

Emma's mittens with Cascade Eco in a light brown (I love this yarn for mittens) - Mitten pair #1

Inside out Cowl with Paton's Classic Wool in Deep Olive - this one is for Charity

Happy Knitting!

All my Christmas Knitting was a hit!

Everyone loved their Christmas gifts!  I wish I could have gotten pictures of them with the gifts but most were far away and I got to see them open the gifts over Skype.  Future SIL loved the cowl I made her, FIL loved the hat, and MIL loved the hemlock ring blanket I made her!  My sister loved her fingerless mittens.  I still have a few that I need to gift.  I have to find buttons for my mom's cowl and finish up my BIL's mittens.  The other cowl for my other BIL was wet still when he was leaving so I will need to give him that as well.

Right now I am finishing up my UFO's getting ready for the Stashdown!

How was your Christmas?

Mine was really great!  My husband spoiled me!  I got a really awesome Knit Happy project caddy, sheep tape measure (cute!), Vogue Knitting lace stitchionary, Knit Happy post-it kit, Jaquard Dye kit, and a Size 1 nickel plated fixed circular.

He did a great job in picking things that I would really love!  

I also got a really awesome tea set from my sister and brother.  It is a cast iron set lined with ceramic!  It is super elegant and I love it.  I also got a lasagna pan from my mom that has three compartments to make different kinds of lasagna and a knife with cutting board attached.  Super awesome!

I can't wait to use them all!

The Stash Down Rules

So I have finally decided to set my stash down rules.  Better get it done now before the Christmas and New Years rush starts.

1) Must start and finish 1 regular project and 1 charity project a month.

2) Blog the progress of the projects and finished object.

3) Must choose the pattern and yarn one month in advance.

4) No new yarn for at least 3 months . . . . unless gifted ;)

5) Use only yarn from current stash.

6) Incorporate the 11 pairs of mittens in 2011.

So those are the rules!  January 1, 2011 I will be starting this challenge and finishing December 31, 2011 with a lot less stash.

My first projects will be Emma's Mittens (#1 of 11) and Inside Out Cowl for charity!  I will be posting about the start of the projects on January 1st!

Shameful Knitter

For a knitter I don't have very much that I keep!  You wouldn't even know I was a knitter really.  I have one pair of mittens and a neckwarmer . . . . thats it!  My husband has several scarves, hats, neckwarmers, and mittens.  Almost all of my family has more of my knitting than I do.  That is going to have to change.  I am going to start knitting more for myself!

So I am going to have to come up with a list of things I want to knit for myself and complete them this year!  This is going to be part of my stash-down in the new year.  So far my rules are:

2 projects a month  minimum (one for Charity and one regular I am going to start out finishing one project already on the needles)
I have to knit at least 4 things for myself
I must use stash yarn
I have to blog each project

My list of wants are:
Citron
Bergen Street Cardigen (finish)
Meta Mittens (new different colors than the ones I am doing)
Flamingo
Abalone (finish)
Fall away Cardigan
Folha Luz
Ruffle my Feathers

I have so many patterns favorited but these are my current favorites!  I need a hat too.  I don't have one hat knitted for myself, thats pretty sad.  So I am thinking maybe Ashley?  Or maybe the Sutro Heights Hat?  I have almost finished another neckwarmer for myself Desmid and I want to use the rest of my twist to make a hat!

So now to finish Christmas knitting.  Only a few projects left!

Another post about Christmas knitting

I am starting to realize how little time I have for Christmas knitting!  I am in the process of finishing up the Christmas cards now!  Just need a few more addresses but the majority are ready to go out.  I am going to end up sending out about 40 cards this year.  That is a lot of writing.  As I was doing that I realized I have to have the presents for my in-law's done by the 18th!!!  Yikes~ So I cast on for my FIL's hat tonight and finished up an inch of it.  Decided to go with two strands of DK yarn held together and size 10 needles to get this bad boy done fast!

I still have to figure out what I am going to give to my future SIL Caitlin and do something up for my BIL Sean.  I know what I want to do I just have to get it done!

Hmmm I have noticed that my posting has gone up since I started Christmas knitting . . . . couldn't be procrastinating could it . . . . . oh no not me!

Going to bed now!

Charity Knitting

I wish I would have thought of it sooner but i really want to do some charity knitting! River City Yarns is collecting items for the youth emergency center. But all of the knits need to be in December 20th. So I won't have any time to get stuff done this year. But I would like to add a charity knitting goal into my stash down. Every month I want one of my projects to be for charity. That is just a minimum. Then by this time next year I should have a lot to donate!

I will add it into my regular posts!

Christmas Knitting Slump

So I don't really want to do Christmas knitting anymore.  I just want to knit for myself!  I know I could become a selfish knitter, but I love knitting for people.  I am just having a hard time figuring out what to make people.  Or the project doesn't turn out cause I am allergic to gauge swatching.  I really do need to start doing that but I just want to get the project started!

The Knotty but nice hat is going to be too small for Corey!  It barely fits me.  The cabling turns out really tight and I even went up to a size 8 needle for it.  Oh well I guess this might be another one for my nephew . . . or me ;)

But now I must find another pattern to do for Corey.  Maybe I will just make a cowl!

Future Citron

P1010236, originally uploaded by cindyv19.

Right now my plan is to make a Citron Shawl for myself out of this Madelinetosh Prairie in Amber Trinket! So yummy. I really can't wait to knit this up. So much Christmas knitting though!!!!! Soon to come.

Also thought I would break the news of my impending yarn diet . . . so sad I know. But I really need to do some stash control. So I will be doing a stash down. I will be doing a project from start to finish every two weeks! I will post the progress of each project as I knit. Starting January 1, 2011!

Order is in!

IMGP1207, originally uploaded by cindyv19.

Finally got my Knitpicks order in! Got a bunch of laceweight yarn, stroll yarn, and the Tidings of Joy kit. I also got a bunch of knitting needles as well. I absolutely love the Knitpicks knitting needles. I would reccomend them to anyone.

I am just itching to start up the Citron shawl for myself but I have way too much christmas knitting to do. And now that we have cold and snow here I want to knit warm wooly things for my family!

I still have all of my yarn from the Banff trip to play with as well. That will be another post!

Waiting . . .

Waiting for my Knitpick's orders.  No matter how much I love them I hate waiting!  It is pure torture!  Especially when I am waiting on needles and some lace weight yarn I haven't tried yet.  I can't start on it until Christmas knitting is done anyways but I still want it now!!!  I could also use some of those needles for my Christmas knitting ;)

So I am just waiting sigh . . . .

Christmas Knitting

I feel pretty proud of myself that I finished my Hemlock Ring blanket.  It turned out fabulous.  Here are some preliminary pictures!

I am also working on several other presents at the moment!  I wonder if I can get them all done?

Mmmmmalibrigo

Yummiest yarn I have worked with so far.  Wow I don't mind spending more on this yarn because of how delicious it feels.  I have heard about pilling but haven't had enough experience with it yet to comment on that.  I went to my LYS today and got some more Malabrigo Worsted as well as some of the Malabrigo Twist.  The twist feels just as soft as the regular Malabrigo Worsted but is supposed to have less pilling.  I will write another review once I have more experience with it.  But it is like knitting with butter . . . so soft you won't believe its 100% wool.  It is Merino wool and kettle dyed so the colors are gorgeous as well.

If you haven't tried it yet I recommend trying it at least once.

Starting Christmas Knitting

So I have decided to start my Christmas knitting!  I think I will busy for the next few months since I have about 19 people.  Most of them smaller things but a couple of blankets in there!  I can't share the gifts since they might be reading ;) But I will share photo's after Christmas!

Happy Knitting!

Knitpicks sells roving!

Knitpicks now sells roving!  I have been wanting to learn how to spin yarn for awhile and this is the perfect opportunity to get some and learn!  They even sell a drop spindle!  But I am not sure if I want to try the Turkish drop spindle or not.  I might get my husband to make me one.  I am really excited to place an order and try this out.

Christmas Knitting

So after taking a look at what i plan to knit people for Christmas I have decided that I need to get my butt in gear.  So alot of my current projects will be hibernating for awhile.  Only the the pirate sheldon and the hemlock ring blanket are for Christmas.  I have alot of people to knit for this year!

Been a Busy Summer!

Sorry I haven't posted much this summer.  It has been a really busy summer.  We did our landscaping and built our fence.  We also helped two neighbors build their fence. I haven't had a whole lot of knitting time lately.  But I have started on a Hemlock Ring Blanket.  I tried this pattern last year and ripped it out thinking it was too hard.  I still had that urge to knit it though, especially after seeing everyones beautiful finished blankets on Ravelry.  So I cast on again and am half-way through the feather and fan chart.  I can't believe how quickly this one is knitting up this time.  I am absolutely loving knitting this blanket.  If you haven't knit it yet give it a try!

I am using Cascade Eco+ yarn in bottle green.  This one is a secret Christmas present for someone!  I will actually have it done too.  I want to knit another one in grey for myself even!  Pictures will follow in another post!

Starting My First Sweater . . . again

So due to not checking my gauge my first sweater didn't work out.  Now I am starting a different one.  One that I did a gauge swatch on, washed and dried it and I got gauge!  So now I am starting my Bergen Street Cardigan in swish DK.  I am using Storm and Cobblestone heather.  So far I have had to re-do the sleeve.  Got most of the way and realized I didn't do the increases right at the bottom.  Thats ok though I will try it again and do it right this time!

I am also planning on starting Abalone by Beata Jezek.  It is super cute and looks pretty easy.  I am pretty excited to do this one.  I am making it out of some grey Diamond Luxury Collection Superwash Merino in Aran weight.  I have already decided I need to go up a needle to get gauge.  But this pattern is super easy to calculate your size by your gauge if it doesn't match the pattern gauge and to customize it to fit you perfectly.  Really looking forward to knitting this cardigan.

Started a sweater for Ellie!!!

I started the 4 Cable dog sweater for Ellie using Wool of the Andes from Knitpicks.  So far I really like it and its my first time trying the yarn.  I am not too far in it yet.  I figured it can be her christmas present this year.  It will probably take me that long to finish it!  I will post pictures when i am done.

Here is Ellie!!!

Finished another project!

I finished the Braided Candle Wax Mittens!!!!  They turned out really well and I love the pattern.  I made them out of Dream in Color Classy Blue Lagoon.  I love this yarn.  It is my new favorite superwash yarn.  I am going to have to order some online.  It is a bit expensive but I think its worth it!  Here is a pic of my newly finished mittens!

Now I need to find a new project.  I was thinking a present for my cousins kids.  They just had a little boy and I was thinking of a cute little vest for him.  I am waiting on some new Knitpicks yarn to come in.  Decided to try their Wool of the Andes, Comfy fingering weight, and Simply Cotton.  I don't use a whole lot of cotton yarn but I decided to try those ones out!

Inability to read patterns

I have an inability to read instructions . . . had to rip out my Star Crossed Slouchy Beret because i didn't read the decreasing instructions right.  I could have ripped back to start over but I am not very good at that. Oh well I will try it again another time.  Can't wait to start something new now that I am running low on projects.  Only 4 on the needles right now!!!!  Maybe I will try a vest for my cousins new baby boy!

I want a cat

But my husband is allergic . . . . oh well guess I will have to settle for my dog . . . . she is pretty cute though. 

She even likes my knitting!

Anyways this brought me to my main thought.  I want to knit a dog sweater for Ellie!  She gets pretty cold in the winter and it will probably take me that long to finish it so I had better get started.  Haven't found anything I really like though so I might design my own.  I am thinking of adding some cables to one of the plain ones.

Finished Ryker's Car

Finally finished Ryker's car!  Ryker is my nephew and he has been asking for a knitted car for a long time! I made it for his birthday and he really liked it!  Here is a picture!

Addicted to Cascade 220

I love wool yarn.  Have since I discovered a local yarn store (thanks to my MIL).  My first purchase was Cascade 220 and I still use it.  I love the way it feels when I knit it.  It is so sturdy and has such great stitch definition.  I love wearing it too.  I am making my first sweater out of it right now and it is being made out of that first yarn purchase.  I can't wait until its done!