Colour to Cure Winter Blahs?

Well, I can't really complain about the winter blahs--at least not yet.  Get back to me in a month and I may be singing a different tune.  Nevertheless, winter is upon us with all its blustery, snowy goodness.

1x1 Ribbed Cuff

How to escape?  With colour?  Maybe colourful socks (told ya I was itchin' for a sock)?  I had planned to use worsted weight, but this yarn has been patiently waiting to become socks for almost a year (posted about it way back in March 2010).  It's DK weight, but I think it'll work just the same.  I'm a loose knitter, so following along in Paton's Next Steps Series: Socks should still work out fine in terms of size.

The yarn is Bernat Junior Jacquards in Orange Juice.  Sadly this yarn is discontinued.  The Bernat Baby Jacquards and Floral Jacquards are very similar, but the colours are not as bright and cheery (not a big fan of pastels).  Besides the cheery colours, there's the added bonus of 10% nylon in the yarn.  It should prove to be sturdy and durable enough for socks (guess only time will tell).

Colourful Striping

To my surprise, I quickly finished the cuff and worked through the leg (used 4" instead of 6" as prescribed in the pattern).  In about an hour or so, I had quite a bit completed.

Gusset Decreases

Before too long,  I had completed the heel flap, turned the heel and was working the gusset decreases.  Who knew socks could be so quick?! 

Cute Baby Knit

So remember when I posted about finishing my pinwheel blanket?  I mentioned something about promptly starting a new project.

Meet my new project (see sidebar for Ravelry link):

Project Sheet

It's for a co-worker who just had her first baby.  I was gonna buy a little something; however, whilst basking in the glow of my pinwheel FO, my thoughts turned to quick baby knits.  For some reason, I had it in my head that I could finish a baby sweater in a week--or less.  Now don't laugh.  It could be possible, perhaps if I had chosen the 3 month size (but babies grow fast, so 6 months seemed like a better size).  And perhaps if I were a different knitter--say a faster one!  Ha!  And maybe if I didn't have to go to work during the day or sleep at night . . .

No matter.  The sweater is a growing.

Body complete, one sleeve in progress

This is gonna be darn cute when its finished.  And yes, I am using the leftover yarn from my pinwheel blanket.  Aren't these the best colours for a wee baby boy?  Hoping to make a matching toque too. 

Now back to knitting 'cuz my queue grows by the day . . .

One Day Slippers

Had to share 'cuz this project is a quick one.  This morning I finished a pair of slippers that I only started last night!

My littlest one desperately needed new slippers.  The old ones were a little holey in the soles.  And I've been delaying the start of another slipper project 'cuz I'm busily working on a big project for Bernat (which I want to finish ASAP).  Luckily I stumbled upon this pattern through Ravelry;  it's called Aunt Maggie's Slippers.  And I am amazed that I was able to finish the project sooo quickly!

I used Phentex yarn because its so durable.  Have you tried Phentex Craft and Slipper yarn?  That stuff is strong but a pain to knit with; it splits like crazy and even gets caught on rough skin!  So I paired it with a generic worsted acrylic (See the supper big ball of white stuff?  That's just over 2 pounds worth!). 

Don't know if it was the pattern, the pairing of the two yarns or the larger needles, but this project was easy-peasy.  What a great pick-me-up!

Happy knitting!

Faster Knitter, Knit Faster

Dear knitting gods,

Hear my pleas (and speed is of the essence): help me knit faster!

If I were faster, I could make more stuff. And I could wear my finished item in the season it was meant to be worn. No more finished sweaters in summer or completed tanks in winter.

Right now it takes me two weeks to complete one sock; one weekend to make a child-size hat; one month to make a child-size sweater (and that's if I'm giving her all I've got!). Let's not talk about some of my other projects that have languished in the work-in-progress pile (I won't even mention the sweater that took 10 years to see completion--10 years! I kid you not).

Part of my problem is the finishing. I love the actual process of knitting--the simple physical act of pulling loop through loop, hearing the clickety-clack of those metal needless . . . it's pure bliss. The sewing of seams and weaving of ends, on the other hand, zaps all motivation (suffice to say its knitter mojo killer).

My other problem is my need to be perfect. I don't want to make mistakes (like missing increases or decreases, messing up a pattern or dropping stitches). So I carefully write out steps for my addled brain, and count and re-count stitches to make sure I haven't skipped anything.

So please great knitting gods, for the love of all that is soft and colourful and full of fibre goodness, bestow upon me the gift of speed. Make me knit faster--and please hurry! :O