Rippit! Rippit! Rippit!

As things usually go for me, I was chugging away on my gloves and looked back and saw this small hole--teeny, it was really.  After I saw it, all I could do was think about that stinkin' little hole.  I was through all the increases for the thumb and the hole was back in the first row, or so, of the increases.  I just gave up and frogged it back to that point.  There are times when I wish I didn't have this quirk where things have to be just so.  It wasn't the ripping out of the stitches that bothered me so much as the picking up after the ripping was through.  I haven't mastered the technique yet of picking up stitches before I rip out.  That will take watching a few more videos.  Other than that, the gloves are coming along nicely. 

San's scarf is about 75% done.  Needless to say, I didn't get it done by Monday morning.  I'm at the point on it where it will take just a bit of concentration and my brain hasn't been there.  I did discover that Hobby Lobby has their "I Love This Yarn" on sale this week.  It will make a really scrumptious scarf so I'll have to take my old bones over there and get a skein.

The bibs are coming along, too.  I haven't worked on them since Sunday evening.  I'm on the last part of the pattern on one of them.  That makes two done (almost).  I have a third one done but will probably rip it out as I think I made it too wide.  It was the first one I made.  I guess the next one I do will have her son's name knit into it.  I've got it graphed out but haven't actually done it yet.  I'm hoping it turns out okay.  Nothing like doing something new...

Until next time...  Happy Stitching!!

San's New Scarf

I wasn't happy with having just one project going so I started another one this morning.  This one is more immediate,anyway.  My daughter, San, is out in the weather a lot and needs a scarf to help keep her throat warm.  She saw the Lotus Leaf Scarf pattern when we were looking at http://www.e-patternscentral.com/ one day and really liked it.  Since she is allergic to wool, I'm making this one out of Red Heart Sport and the color is called Polo.  It was on clearance one day at Herschnner's and I couldn't resist.  As with most of my yarns, I bought it to make myself something...  Not to worry--I have more! 

Since San hasn't seen this yarn, I'm taking a bit of a gamble in using it because her color tastes and mine don't always agree.  I do know that she likes jewel tones so I'm probably safe.  I figure this will do until I can get some better yarn--this is really my 'run through' scarf.  It's a tad scratchy for me so I'll be on the hunt for something softer. 

I'm following the basic pattern except for one modification that I made.  It didn't look wide enough at 18 stitches for the body to me.  I was afraid it wouldn't give her good enough coverage on her neck so I widened it to 24 stitches.  Like I said, it's a prototype.  Once she has a chance to use it, I'll know better where I need to change it.  I've got it about 50% done and hope to have it totally done before I go back to work on Monday.  San's currently out of town and it would be nice to have it finished for her to use as soon as she returns.

I worked more on my gloves after I posted yesterday.  I also spent some time working on some baby bibs for an upcoming arrival last night.  I've got a little time on the baby project, however, since the mother isn't due til 4/1.  I've been switching between all these projects depending on my mood and which one of my cats is sitting on my chest while I'm trying to work.  Currently, it's Sugie.  She's the cat that I used for my profile picture.  I didn't mention that I like cats but I think you probably figured that out already.

Happy Stitching!!

Out With the Old!

I ended 2009 by starting a new project and creating a new blog.  Both seem to be coming along nicely.

The project is a pair of 2-Needle Fingerless Mittens that I got at http://www.knitpicks.com/.  It's pretty simple and is progressing rapidly.  I have about three inches done on the first glove.  I'm using some Regia sock yarn that I purchased some time back.  It's pretty colorful and should go with just about anything I'll wear to work. 

I downloaded the pattern day before yesterday and couldn't wait on my order to arrive with my circular needles.  I thought I had the correct size in my collection, but didn't.  I didn't want to wait until my order arrived before I started on this so I decided to improvise.  I have a set of DPN's with the correct size so am using them as mini straight needles until my circs arrive.  The only real disadvantage is that I intended to do both at the same time on the circs so everything would be even.  I like the idea of "when you're done, you're done".

I've never worked with sock yarn before and for the first couple of rows I thought I would go blind!  My eyes aren't as young as they used to be.  Once I got going, it got much simpler.   I think the thing that has surprised me the most is how quickly it has been going.  I mean, the stitches are tiny and I seem to be flying on this.  It's truly mind-boggling to me...but, then, it doesn't take much.

I decided on this pattern because it seemed to fit my needs.  In the last 2-3 years, I've started experiencing a fair amount of hand pain once the weather starts getting cold.  It doesn't seem to matter whether I'm inside or out, either.  They hurt all the time--and not my fingers, either.  It's the thumb joints.  I've felt like I've assaulted my coworkers' nostrils enough with my support of the BenGay makers.  That stuff can just about drive me out of my cube when I use it. 

I've got some beautiful yarn coming from Knit Picks to make more of these with.  I'll post more pictures as I make more progress.  I'm also going to try and keep my Ravelry posts up to date with the progress, as well.