Almost There . . . !!!

Afghan detail

Yup, I've been very good--a good little crafter!  Last weekend I started working on a long-standing WIP from September 2010, Bernat's Mystery Afghan Crochet-along (Ravelry link). It's been sitting in a bag at the bottom of a basket, hidden in the back of the closet.  I'm sure you have similar places in your own home--that place where discontinued or unfinished projects go to hide in shame. 

There were only a few squares left to attach, maybe 4-5.  Much to my chagrin, one sad little square was missing!  Yup, I was one square short of a finished blanket.  One measly mitered square . . . Argh!!

Almost an afghan --minus one square in the upper left hand corner

So I quickly searched for my pattern (it was clue #5), but couldn't find it anywhere.  Seriously?!  I know I packed it when we moved, but heaven knows where it went.  A thorough search led to no pattern.  Was it even still online?

When Bernat became part of the umbrella group at Yarnspiration, the old website went away and the old pattern never made it to the new website.  Thankfully I found the old archived Bernat blog (I think I used the wayback machine).  Follow this link:  old blog.bernat.com entry for Nov 2010 .  It'll take you to the entries for November 2010 (clues 8 and 9 can be found there).  If you click on September through December on the sidebar, you should find the blog posts with links to PDF files for all the other clues, from #1- 10 (last clue is for the border).

Missing mitered square . . . 

With my clue printed off, I proceeded to work the last mitered square.  As I recall, some of the participants complained about how wonky this particular square looked.  Check out the old Ravelry group for that project.  Although not active anymore, there's still lots of useful tidbits and photos shared by fellow Ravelers.  Looking through the comments, I remembered I had used the suggestions to use a larger hook, chain 50 instead of 46 and work the decreases very loosely.

Here's hoping my motivation sees me through to the end of this project!

Keeping My Promises . . .

I had promised myself to finish some long-standing WIPs.  And true to my word, I have begun doing that.

Back in the knitting basket is my 2010 Mystery Afghan Crochet-along.  Back then, I was still blogging for Bernat.  I probably should have stayed away from the project as I had other things on-the-go at the time, but who could say no to free yarn?  Yup, Bernat was kind enough to provide the yarn gratis to their bloggers if they were interested in completing the project.  So I said yes . . . and I am still working on it three years later.

Lucky for me, I have all the squares completed except for two mitered squares.  Thus far my work has focused on sewing: I'm slowly attaching the squares--some of which need a little coaxing into shape.  I'm weaving in some of the ends too, but its such tedious work! So many ends!!

Still, I can see the proverbial "light at the end of the tunnel".  If I stick to my guns--so to speak--I may just have a finished afghan by the end of the summer.

Later . . . 

Organic Design

So in "designing" my own version of Bountiful Bohus, I've had to rip out more than once.  Pictured below is my fourth cast-on (not too frustrating since each time I only got as far as just past the collar). In refining the increases and stitch counts, I'm hoping for a good fit. 

Burgeoning Bohus

As for the colourwork, I'm reworking that too.  After swatching the original pattern, I decided to modify (not too keen on the purls).  Using knitter's graph paper (googling will net quite a few free sites), I pulled out my pencil crayons and coloured.  And if the colours didn't "feel right", I changed things whilst knitting.  Guess the pattern is more organic than planned. But it looks awfully purty. ;) 


So far, so good.

Bohus Lament

Soooo after I attached the second sleeve, I started to have this vague feeling in the pit of my belly: a mixture of doubt and dread.  Something wasn't quite right with the Bohus.  Not sure the thing will fit; it seemed just a wee bit too short and a wee bit too wide.  Bottom-ups are hard to try on (ask me how I know).  I was so tempted to just rip, rip, rip  . . . 


While reading about the adventures of other knitters, how many times has a crafter ignored her gut feelings and tarried on, only to be sorry in the end.  Lesson learned: never be afraid to rip.  Its just yarn.  Yet despite trusting my gut, I still couldn't summon up the courage to rip out all that work.  Instead I put it aside, and then perused Ravelry.  My search for the Holy Grail  turned up nothing.

The Swatch

Discouraged, I looked through my bag of yarn.  The navy looked yummy next to the teal, grass and grape . . . then I heard a whirring and whizzing in my brain.  My heart jumped a little.  What if I designed my own top-down yoked cardi that contained many of the stylish elements of the Bountiful Bohus?  Grabbing some needles and a fresh ball of Softee Chunky, I started swatching.  When I was happy with the fabric, I meandered over to a top-down calculator.  After punching in my gauge, out came a raglan pattern.  Then I found a couple of bottom-up patterns in bulky weight with yoked tops.  Now I had the tools to reverse-engineer a yoked sweater using the stitch counts from the top-down calculator.  Sound complicated? Maybe, but I just know in my gut its gonna work.  

Bohus?

A wee bit of frustration over the lack of progress on my navy Bohus.  I dare say that its "growth" has been at a stand still as I attempt to complete the second sleeve.  And that second sleeve is going ever so slowly . . . argh! 

Bohus in Pieces

Whadya think? Eventually I'll get through it, right?  I'm already working the increases; then after a few more inches, the second sleeve can join the body. Can I finish this in time to wear for October?  Maybe. If only life would stop getting in the way . . . .

My one big incentive: the dense, thick fabric is gonna be warm and cozy--perfect for the upcoming fall/winter weather.  Environment Canada is predicting a cool fall for areas with a wet, cool summer.  Just what we've had this year in the Maritimes. 

Now back to my knitting. ;)

Progress and Maybe Something Else?

Yup, I couldn't resist casting on for the body (I'll get to the second sleeve eventually).  My mods thus far include casting on 206 stitches (I subtracted the 10 stitches for steeking 'cuz I'm working it back and forth).  So far so good.  I should probably use another circular needle to spread out my work and measure the width.

Bottom Ribbing-Cables of Bohus

With vacation coming up, I hope I'll be able to work on the Bohus and thus complete much of the body.  I'll be flying out to visit family (haven't seen them in 'bout 4 years--that's a long time!).  I'm wary of taking metal needles in my carry-on baggage (even though the airline's website says its okay to take knitting needles); instead I'll work on a scarf or shawlette in-flight (What?  Another project?  Aren't there enough WIPs 'round the house?).  My reasoning is that bamboo circulars are less likely to be confiscated (being that since bamboo is not metal so the metal detectors won't go off--right?).

What yarn shall I use?  Last year I acquired some lovely Patons Angora Bamboo (about 5 balls) in brandy wine.  

Some Soft Angora Bamboo in Lovely Colour

So I've been eyeing projects that require less than 400 yards.  I've only a few days to find something suitable. 

Take a Guess

Which project did I choose?  The Bountiful Bohus of course.  'Cuz I really do need a warm-all-purpose-goes-with-everything cardi for the fall and winter.  I've got some ratty looking cardigans that need to go into the trash (don't worry; they're store-bought ones from 10 years ago so they've more than served their purpose).  And anything I made over the past 2 years is probably too big as I've recently lost weight (you'd think 20 lbs wouldn't be a big deal--and normally it would not be a problem--but in fact, those 20 lbs disappeared over the last 6 months.  In total I've lost closer to 35 lbs over the course of 2 years so that now I seriously need to go clothes shopping, especially since attempts at shrinking my clothes in the dryer haven't been too succesful).

Beginning of First Sleeve

I decided to start off with the sleeves 'cuz if the sizing isn't working out, I can easily rip it out without too much guilt.  Already I've made mods: instead of casting on 100 stitches as called for in the pattern, I'm using 80 stitches.  Thus far, the measurements have worked to my favour--at least according to the pattern schematics.

Detail of Cables on Sleeve Edging

Since my swatch told me I've got 5.5 stitches per inch (instead of the required 5 st/in), I'm gonna aim to use the medium size to give myself a sweater that should turn out to be large.  What?  There's no medium?  The smallest size is large?  Yeah, I'm gonna have to extrapolate the numbers on that one.  But that requires--ack!--math!  No worries.  According to the pattern, each subsequent increase in size went by 20 stitch increments.  So I'm hoping that a decrease in 20 stitches will give me the required size.  The key word here is HOPE.

Wish me luck--please wish me luck 'cuz I'm gonna seriously need it.  :S

My Crochet Afghan

So while I tarried on my pinwheel blanket, I also worked on my crochet afghan (have you followed the crochet-along over at Bernat?). I was doing well, completing each clue as it was released.  Then came the mitred squares.  There were supposed to be sixteen of them.  I fell behind--far behind :(

Lots of squares

There's an update over at the Bernat blog by none other than yours truly (I think I'm allowed to toot my own horn, right?). 

Thank goodness for my fellow crocheters over at the official CAL forum on Ravelry .  Their photos and tips have been inspiring and encouraging.  Soon I'll be finishing my squares and sewing them together . . . soon I hope :S 

Knitting Updates

So I finished my red mittens--yay for me! 

More Red Mittens

My only complaint wth the pattern is that the thumb runs a little long, but that's an easy fix--just work one or two less rounds before decreasing.

And I've picked up my sock again--remember that sock that was started way back when?  It's now my take-along project.  I don't have an updated photo, but I'm working the heel flap and hopefully will work through the heel turn and gusset by the end of this week.

And of course, still working on my Bernat projects, but I soooo hate the "finishing" part of any project (the weaving in of ends and the sewing of buttons).  How do I motivate myself?  I start another project of course!  That's some leftover Bernat Softee Chunky Twists (loving the colour).

Another Beret

It's the same pattern as my blue beret minus the modifications.  This beret is gonna be knit as written (I'm actually farther along into the pattern than pictured above). 

Hope you've got a great week ahead!  Happy knitting! ;)

"Ready for my Close-up Mr. DeMille"

Finished Blue Beret

Honestly, what does a girl have to do around here to get a decent picture?  With my blue beret hot off the needles, I was ready for a final picture to post on the blog and on Ravelry.  My eldest tried to take a decent picture, but he's only 9 and did his best. 

Not bad, but blurry

Then my husband tried, but his attempts were followed by mocking laughter (some of it from me and then some of it from him at my frustration--all in good fun).

Extreme Close-Up

Side View

Does this happen to you?  Do you find yourself being a little too critical about how you look in photos?  And when did I get "older"?  Seriously, there are wrinkles I don't remember seeing before?  Maybe my photographic standards have changed.  Or I need a really good filter--Ha!

Through experimentation and lots of trial and error, I've improved loads as a photographer (at least I think I have).  Sadly, the same cannot be said of everyone else in the family (and to be fair, the camera is mine and I'm the only one who's read the manual).  By default, that makes me the official photographer at family events or during the holidays.  The corollary being that I often don't get to be in the pictures.  Even when it is time for someone else to take pictures, they may not be as thoughtful in choosing the best light, the right angle . . . well, you get the picture (sorry for the bad pun).

It's not easy being a self-critical photo-taking, crafty blogger.
Say cheese!

So Bad . . .

Instead of working on something currently on the needles, what do I do?  Cast on for something new, of course!  Generally I'm a fairly monogamous knitter, with perhaps 1-2 projects on the go at most (usually something big and a smaller, more portable project).  Since early fall, I've been itching to make a particular item and I could resist no more.

While looking for scraps for mittens, I found just enough to make my desired item. Guess which yarn I'm using?  More Bernat Softee Chunky (I swear I'm addicted to this stuff.  The nicest locally-available acrylic EVER--although Bernat Chunky is very nice too). 

Softee Chunky in demin ombre

They're leftovers (about a ball and half's worth) from my modified Short-Sleeved Ribbed Cardi.  Using two circulars, I'm got a nice circle growing.

"Mystery" Project in Progress

Have it figured out yet? I'm making a beret--my first ever if you don't count the wee itty bitty one I made for one of my boys teddy bear. 

Not everyone likes to wear hats, but for me it is a necessity.  I'm still walking to work every day, so my poor old head needs protection from bitter winds (although I must confess it has been an unusually mild January as far as east coast winters go).  And at work I'm outside with my toddlers just about every day for at least an hour.  Me head needs warmth!

My current hat is also a beret that came with matching mittens (a present from my mother-in-law a few years ago). 

Pink Beret with Matching Mittens

But I grow weary of the pale pink (and the hat is itchy too). Besides, it never hurts to have an extra hat handy, as I discovered one day when the pink beret went AWOL.  So in the interest of all that is warm, soft and fuzzy, I am making a hat!

Long live hat head! :)