Matching Mitts

Matching Mitts, originally uploaded by gradschoolknitter.

Finished up these mitts to match the hat from a few days ago.

I really used up every last scrap of yarn with these (probably about 1/2 the skein of Mirasol Miski and less than a 1/4 skein of the Malabrigo).

If you like them and think they're cute and want a pair for yourself, you're in luck! I wrote up the pattern and added a few sizes (these are probably an XS, and I added S, M, L) and have it ready for download (for FREE!) on ravelry:

Direct PDF download
Ravelry Page for queuing and faving

Things you will need to make these: worsted weight yarn scraps (approx. 100 (125, 150, 200) yards), size US 7 / 4.5mm needles (pick your fancy of 2 circs/5 dpns/magic loop), scrap yarn or a stitch holder and a tapestry needle.
And about 2 nights of tv watching time.

Originals raveled here.

NaKniSweMo Complete & Early!

folded, originally uploaded by gradschoolknitter.

Even with the surgery required to fix the bottom from rolling up, my NaKniSweMo sweater is finished early!

Here's a picture of the whole thing:



Details:

Pattern: Folded by Veera Välimäki, size S
Yarn: Davidson Domy Heather in Sylvan Green, approx. 1.8 skeins (~850 yds)
Needles: US 2 & 3 (instead of 4 & 6)
Mods: Aside from using totally different needles (but on gauge... thus proving once again the necessity of gauge swatching, no matter how much one might hate it), I had to cut off the original waist hem ribbing (only 5 rows) and add some extra length in stockinette and 10 rows total of ribbing. The 10 rows vs 5 makes all the difference in the rolling problems. I wish I had added a little more length, but it'll suffice and not look like a belly top, so all's well that ends well, right?

Raveled here.

a quick pick-me-up

a christmas hat, originally uploaded by gradschoolknitter.

After picking up all 224 stitches (let's hope!) around the bottom of my sweater last night, I couldn't face cutting up my sweater right away. So instead, I cast on for a quick holiday gift. Using some left over malabrigo worsted and a skein of mirasol miski (actually only used about 1/2 a skein) and knit up this hat from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.

Now to cut that ribbing off...

rollin', rollin', rollin'

rollin', originally uploaded by gradschoolknitter.

you think that's finished? Ha! Just you wait and see...

Before anyone goes around patting me on the back, that sweater is not finished. And no, I'm not referring to the ends dangling from the sleeves. Look closely at the waistband. Even thought I just gave it a good pat down (although not nearly so well as the TSA might...) seconds before this picture was taken, the ribbing is flipped up the wrong way. I should have known that 5 rows of ribbing would not cut it... but I went against my best instincts and blindly followed the pattern anyway.

So, what's a girl to do? Well, remember the afterthought heel experiment? I'm going to pick up the stitches in a row or two above the ribbing and *gulp* cut off the ribbing. It needs a couple more inches of length, anyway, so... here's hoping it will all work out! Wish me luck and I'll be sure to be back with the results (or disasters)!

No-Vember

nakniswemo, originally uploaded by gradschoolknitter.

I feel like November has completely slipped away. I've been meaning to take a progress pictures since the 15th so I could give a half-way point update on my NaKniSweMo sweater, but I've also been trying to leave the house by 8am daily to make some of my NaSchoWriMo goals.

In any case, as you can see above, I have one sleeve and the body completed to the yoke. I'm about 2 inches away from having another complete sleeve and then I can join them all together. So I'd say I'm in every danger of actually finishing this on time!

What about you guys? Are you participating? I'd love to see your complete or almost-complete (or not-so-almost complete!) sweaters too! Leave a link in the comments!

we interrupt your regularly scheduled sweater update...

hideous or happy?, originally uploaded by gradschoolknitter.

for this scarf. Not sure if I love it yet... it's a little outside of my comfort zone so far as colour goes, but it's squishy and portable, both of which I find to be important factors in knitting-love. It started as a length-wise garter-stitch scarf but it just looked too crazy, so I went with the tried-and-true Noro Striped Scarf, even though, once again, neither of my yarns are noro. Instead I'm using Malabrigo Worsted Merino in Lettuce (that's the limey-green) and a locally handspun merino from Gnome Garden. (I bought mine through my fave yarn pusher, I don't know if/when she will update her etsy shop again.)

I got to the armholes on my NaKniSweMo sweater on Monday:



and just wasn't in the mood for sleeves. Plus sleeves require instruction-reading/paying attention and that gets in the way of NaSchoWriMo reading/writing.

Don't worry, I'll be back on the sweater-in-a-month track, just as soon as I get this scarf-interruption out of the way...

NaKniSweMo Day 6

NaKniSweMo Day 6, originally uploaded by gradschoolknitter.

Six days into NaKniSweMo and I'm rolling along! 7.5 inches of body and I'm aiming for 1 inch per day.

NaSchoWriMo is going fairly well too. I've revised an article that I hope will get published and sent it to my advisors for them to review. Wish me luck!

betcha you thought you weren't going to ever see this...

abalone on, originally uploaded by gradschoolknitter.

Finally, a picture of the abalone sweater ON ME! I don't really like the picture (of me, the sweater looks fine), but I had such a hard time getting one that I am just going to go with it.

As you might be able to tell, it is still open, much like the original, even though I attempted to do some gauge math and make it big enough to close in front of me... but I like how it looks, so I guess it all worked out! In any case, if I hadn't done the math and added extra stitches it would be waaaay too small.

Details:

Pattern: Abalone
Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted in Olive, 2.5 skeins (now I have to find something to do with the other 2.5 still sitting in the stash...)
Needles: US 8 / 5mm
Mods: Many: Cast-on 62, increased to 112. Hoped this would fit all the way around me, perhaps clasped together with a shawl pin, but alas, it was not meant to be. I'm happy with how it turned out, though. Also, nixed the icord bind off on the band as it turned out way too tight. Used Jenny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-Off (knitting all stitches) instead.

NaKniSweMo day 3

NaKniSweMo day 3, originally uploaded by gradschoolknitter.

I'm actually progressing much quicker than I worried anticipated! I have 4 inches of body so far and am about to start waist decreases.

There's only one problem... it appears to be rolling (as you can see in the above pic) quite a bit. There are only 5 rows of ribbing and I don't know that it's enough. My hope is that a good blocking will smooth it out, but if not I might take more drastic steps... either hem the ribbing under OR pick up stitches, cut off the ribbing and knit downwards, adding some length and some more rows of ribbing...

november

i heart garter, originally uploaded by gradschoolknitter.

It's November 1st, which means that NaKniSweMo, along with NaNoWriMo are on their way. In fact, I found a group on ravelry called NaSchoWriMo for scholarly writing, which is perfect for my purposes.

Of course, instead of preparing for the advent of either of these things, I made a partner to the first garter stitch mitt. Seriously love these SO MUCH. I will be busting more stash later for a couple more pairs.

OK, off to finish casting on my sweater and get ready for a long day at the library!