The Red Thang

This post is really about Girasole, but around my house we've taken to calling it "the red thang".

From Knitting 2009

 

It began with hubby asking what I was knitting and I showed him the pattern and picture and he said "But what is it?"  Good question. 

"Well, it could be a blanket but since I'm using fingering weight yarn (blank stare) it'll be a shawl." 

"Oh.  So, where's the hole for your head?"

"Ok, not a poncho....a shawl. Like over my shoulders."

"Oh." (blank stare)

So, a few nights later...."what are you knitting?"

"That red shawl."

"HUH?"

"Remember the red thang that could be a blanket but it's too small so it's a shawl?"

"Where's the hole for your head?"

And so it went.  Also, my friends know that I knit but some of them don't knit. gasp! They always seem interested so the same conversation has been repeated many, many times over the past nearly three months. Ergo....the red thang.

All this to say....the red thang is finished! And it is gorgeous. And blocking. And I am so thrilled and yet sad to see it go. It was the most fun thing (thang) I ever knit. Challenging, gorgeous, and yet somehow easy. Cool!

What will I do with it? Not sure. I might use it as a shawl but where is the hole for my head???

From Knitting 2009

Progress on Girasole

Ok, I have totally given up trying to find cute/cool titles. This is about the progress on the Girasole. First, let me say it is an awesome pattern...so easy to follow and so frickin' gorgeous! Jared is a genius!

Now, I know this doesn't look all that impressive. But it is a closeup of the pattern through Chart D row 4. Tonight I am on row 14 and discovered a yo omitted two rows back. Argh. Whether to tink back or try to fudge it....Decided to wait until tomorrow to decide.

From Knitting 2009

Knitting Resolutions

I started the Girasole and I love it so far. Of course, I've not made a lot of progress yet. This pic is through row 3 on Chart B. I'm using JaggerSpun Main Line 2/8 and I'm not thrilled with this yarn. It splits easily and it is a little rough to the hand. But, it was a bargain. Woo Hoo! And I think it will make a nice centerpiece for next Christmas.

Now for the resolutions. I'm a little late on this but...here goes.

First to review last years resolutions. They were:

1-Finish MS3 (even if it kills me).

Yay!! I did finish MS3. And I did not die. Big yay!!

2-Design (& knit) a sweater. (who am I kidding?)

I sort of did this one. I designed the Ballerina Shrug and knitted it. Close enough? Sure.

3-Finish mom's afghan (which was supposed to be Christmas '07 gift)

Well, not so much on this one. I hated that blasted afghan so much that it became a lap blanket and I gave it to the county hospice program.

4-Knit at least one item from each of my books.

I'm pretty sure that I knitted something from every book I owned at the time I wrote the list. Later on in the year I got Mason Dixon Knitting and haven't made anything from it yet.

Now, without further ado, my 2009 knitting resolutions:

1-string market bag

2-the pi shawl from EZ's Knitting Workshop

3-do another intarsia project (maybe a Christmas stocking?)

4-secret design project

5-make one baby square per month at least

Christmas Knitting

I thought I would share my Christmas knitting FO's with you. For my daughter, I made the Cabled Lace Bookmark from Knitting Pattern A Day Calendar 2007.



I added a few beads along the sides by using the Beaded Picot edge like on the Muir shawl. And I sprinkled a few beads in the pattern too. I used fingering weight yarn and size 6/0 beads so it went pretty fast. It actually is a little large but that's ok.

And, I made mom some slippers using the Irish Ewe's 2 needle slipper pattern. I made a few modifications for a snugger fit. I cast on 76 stitches using a size 6 needle. Then, I knit the cuff down to 36 stitches and then knit 5 rows in plain ss. Finally, I ended the cuff with 10 rows of garter. I really think if I made them again I would do about 10 rows of ss instead of 5. This would make them go up the leg a little higher. But as they turned out they fit really nice. Mom wears a size 6 1/2 shoe and they fit her well. I could even get them on my size 9's but they were a little snug. However, the pattern as written using 86 sts and size 6 needles was way too loose for me.



I also made hats for Dad and Adam and Gary Don. But they were just basic hats. No photos.

I am almost finished with the Rivulet scarf using the Jaggerspun Zephyr DK and I have the One Hour Earwarmer about half finished. Not sure who either of them are for. Maybe I will save them for next Christmas gifting. I would like to finish both of these before the end of the year. Then I will start Jared Flood's Girasole.

Playing Catch up

I haven't posted in several months and so I'll try to catch up. I have been busy. Finished the Moss & Ribs Cardi. Not in time for Kid N Ewe but a few weeks later. I love it even though it is a little tight across the mid section and I really can't button it. The button band gaps and I hate that.



And I finished the Santa intarsia pillow KAL. I really love how it turned out. I gave it to my sister in law yesterday and I think she liked it. Although, she has Alzheimer's and so it was a little confusing for her.




My current projects include the Rivulet scarf, Irish Ewe's 2 needle slippers and several hats for the guys Christmas presents. I want to make some fingerless mitts for my granddaughter and myself but I may not have time. Here is the Rivulet after a few inches. I have about 3' now and so not much more before I finish it.



I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas! I plan to start Jared Flood's Girasole after Christmas. I have the yarn, the pattern and the needles. Can. Not. Wait.