Jenny Check

UFO's

On the podcast, we are running a contest where people disclose the state of their UFO's.  Here's my whole confession...

UFO's

1. scarf in Kidsilk Haze on size 9's (started last fall)
2. vintage velvet scarf in Knitpicks Panache (started more than a year ago)
3. Artfibers Bistro scarf in moss stitch (started last fall)
4. lace stole in Lisa Souza alpaca silk (started a month and a half ago)
5. Paton's Street Smart Cable Hoodie in Cascade 220 (started a month and a half ago)
6. child's first socks in STR lightweight (started 4-5 months ago)
7. Lotus blossom tank in Plymouth Royal Bamboo (started a week ago)
8. machine knit raglan cardigan in Knitpicks Andean Treasure (started several months ago- I just need to machine knit the sleeves!)
9. DNA cable panel for a machine knit sweater for H. in Queensland Llama Seta (started a long time ago)
10. Crocheted block blanket from Jan Eaton's squares book with Knitpicks Merino Style (started a few months ago)
11. Baby hat in Blue Sky Cotton (started a few days ago)
12. green Regia Silk socks for H (started a week or two ago)
13. Cropped top down raglan cardigan in Misti Alpaca Chunky (started yesterday)

On the RIP list

1. Socks in STR heavyweight knit on size 1 needles (ouch!)
2. Yoga wrap in Knitpicks Decadence
3. The Debbie Bliss Fitted Cabled Cardigan in Jaeger Matchmaker Merino

I feel like my UFO's are getting out of hand. I think it's all the abandoned scarf/shawl projects. And all the sock projects. And abandoned machine knits. yikes. I was making good progress on the Lotus Blossom Tank, but then made the yarn purchasing errors. Nicole suggested that I shelve the Street Smart Hoodie until the fall and start some summer knitting. I just might- I was having some knitting ennui, but then I cast on for a short sleeved cropped cardi (pattern from Blue Sky Alpacas). I know that a short sleeved cropped cardi sounds crazy (I was skeptical too), but it looks super cute in the picture. I'm already done with the raglan yoke, and the prospect of finishing a wearable knit in the next week is making me extremely pleased.

birthday socks!

My Stitches Stash grows smaller and smaller. I finished my STR heavyweight in Midsummer's Night blue for John Polito's birthday. hurrah! Most of the knitting for the socks was done en route to/from Mexico. I thought I cast on with 3's, but I think they were really 2's- smaller Addi's don't read well in my Susan Bates' Knit Check. I cast on 54 stitches and used the twin rib pattern.

Buried in my Mexico photos are my other Mexico knitting project:

For Luz Maria, the knitter in the family. Lorna's Laces on size 1's. I cast on 60 stitches and then knit as fast as I could. I finished them the day before I left town.

Lotus Blossom Tank

Sometimes I have no idea what I'm thinking when I'm buying yarn for a specific project. I bought 5 balls of Plymouth Royal Bamboo last August because I wanted to make the LBT from Interweave last summer (I am a big fan of Nicole's). Somehow, I thought that even though Royal Bamboo gets 92 yards/50 grams and SWTC's Bamboo gets 250 yards/100 grams, I could buy 465 yards and have enough yarn even though the pattern calls for 500 yards for the smallest size. I started knitting and ran out of one ball of yarn in one pattern repeat. I think that Royal Bamboo is a little heavier than SWTC, which I think means that even though I get stockinette gauge, the lace pattern is going to be bigger, wider, and use more yarn. ugh. I'm going to have to rip. I can't find the dyelot anywhere, so I ordered more of the same color (it's a multi- color 01) and when I get it, I'll mix up the balls and hopefully no one will notice the dyelot difference? What a bummer. I started this project in an effort to get over knitting ennui, but now having to rip, I'm back at square one. Good thing I bought 4 skeins of Misti Alpaca Chunky to make a cropped short-sleeved cardigan. I swatched, got gauge, and I'm going to get started! 

another hat...

I've almost knitted through all of my Lisa Souza from Stitches! Shocking. I still have the alpaca/silk yarn in the peanut colorway which I am making into a cable/lace stole. I hope I finish it someday...

Mexico!

I went to Cuernavaca for 2 weeks to study Spanish at the Universidad Internacional. I didn't get much knitting done, but I do think my Spanish has  improved, though I think that learning Spanish is definitely going to be a lifelong endeavor. There are just so many words to learn! I stayed with the Medina Villanueva family in a beautiful house with a very cute dog named Tuno (short for Neptuno). Luz Maria senior was an amazing cook and made it her mission that I eat every well known traditional food of Mexico. I went jogging every morning with Miguel senior, and went out on the town with Luz Maria junior. Miguel junior took me to Mexico City, and Luz Maria junior, Miguel junior and CLaudia took me to Tepotzlan to see the sights. And Tony, the other Irish student, and I broke down and spoke English and drank margaritas. Muchas gracias, familia! Ustedes son super chidissssissssissssimo! If you're reading this in Bloglines, click over to the blog for the slideshow!