Sunday, February 17, 2013

Crazy about Diamonds

So, I am not too crazy about the precious stone. Yep, diamonds aren't this girl's best friend. That's a long story and not one for this blog post. However, making diamonds in patterns is a whole different story. A few short (or long) years ago, my sister Katy made me a gorgeous short-row hat in Noro. I made Josh one as well and it was so much fun.


Here's the hat in all it's super-rainbow glory. I get so many compliments on this hat, and every time I say that... "No, I didn't make it...". I decided (after being given 4 partial skeins of Noro) that I wanted to make a scarf to match. So, I went to a fun modular knitting book that I got for Christmas called Modular Knits. I didn't have enough Noro for a full scarf, so added a neutral blue for the edging. This is what came out of it:

The blue didn't last long enough for the length to be a great scarf, so I decided to make it into a circular loop, by sewing up the edges. It now goes on as a 2 loop, and is incredibly comfortable. As mitered squares in the middle, the Noro still pops, although not quite as much as the original does.







So, here I am with the hat and scarf together! And, to attempt to finish the very last vestiges of the Noro that I was given, I am planning on doing a mitered squares patch for fingerless gloves. Winter in the northwest is always changing, so you never know when you'll need a hat, gloves, and scarf to keep out the chill.







Time to get going on those gloves! The knitting awaits...

Sunday, February 3, 2013

RED! Sweater

For the longest time, I have wanted a red sweater. I haven't had any rules about what it needs to look like, just a longing for a warm red sweater that I will wear for years. I never really found one in stores that I truly loved. Apparently I am a picky shopper...

So, after years of debate (in my head), and after knitting my first few sweaters (to lots of compliments), I decided to buy some red yarn. Buying yarn for sweaters is a bit of a commitment. Usually it requires many skeins. I often don't buy enough yarn for sweaters because of this fact. It also doesn't help sweater-making when I am a little bit obsessed with making socks. However, I had a bit of holiday cash last Christmas and decided to take the plunge.

Last December, my immediate family went to New York to have the quintessential "Christmas in New York". We saw the Rockettes, the tree in Rockefeller Center, and much more. We of course had to check out Purl SoHo, a wonderful yarn store. It was there that I found the gorgeous red yarn that would be my sweater. The ironic part of the whole thing is that it's from Cascade Yarns, a Seattle company. Yes, I went from Seattle to New York and ended up buying some Seattle yarn! :-) It called to me... make a sweater... you always wanted a red sweater!


So, after a year of knitting other projects, I finally decided to pick up the red yarn and knit my red sweater. I started the project about a month ago, and am having so much fun with it. I found a really simple pattern that will show off the yarn. In my "never fully following directions" way, I did add a gorgeous cable pattern down the arms of the sweater to add interest, but also to add enjoyment in the overall knitting of the project. I am currently in the NEVERENDING knit phase, so can't wait to get back to the arms for some cable fun. The sweater is being knit in the round, top down.

Here's a picture of the sweater in progress!


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