Feb. 16- the shell

Ok so I got this pattern at the yarn shop I teach at ( Knit Wits in Boise). Its a very simple lace shell. The big problem I had was I wanted to use some Alchemy Silk Purse that I had in my stash, but I couldn't get the right gauge. So here is what I did so that I was able to make it. A few months back I bought a Instant Stitch computer program at CompUSA for 10 dollars. Well I typed in the size I wanted for a sleeveless sweater with the gauge I was getting for the silk. From there I was able to work on both the original pattern and new one to come up with the finished project. This has been a great thing for me to discover. I am very math challenged and the program really helps with that. Now the big problem is its way to cold here to wear yet! This morning it was 15 when I got up. Yikes!. But never fear it will be a thousand degrees this summer in Boise. Ok maybe not a thousand but 100 for sure. By the way the color is a very cool near solid purple.

Feb 15- the sock

My first sock is coming along quite well, I should be done in the next day or so. Right now I'm on my foot. By the way the pattern comes from Interweave Knits Fall 2005. The designer is Nancy Bush. If you have never giver one of her sock patterns a try , you might think about it. Nancy's latest book is called Knitting Vintage Socks. What she has done is take sock patterns from Weldon's Practical Needlework and re-worked them so that we can follow along.These books were written between 1886 and the 1920's. This one is a retooled gentleman's bicycle sock. So the heel is a bit different then the usual ones. I have had a bit of trouble working on the small needles and using a cable needle especially when my fingers are cold. I do like how its progressing though.

Feb. 10- knitting Olympics

Well, I have had such trouble with my knitting Olympic project. So I have had to rethink the whole thing. So what I did was start a pair of cabled socks on size one needles. I first wanted to make a modular sweater from a past issue of vogue knitting. Well the yarn that I picked, although, had the right gauge it didn't show the pattern well, so I had to abandon that one. From there I picked up a gansey that I had started last summer. Well I started on the texture and I wasn't happy with that result. So I started on a pair of cabled socks on size one needles. I yarn I have chosen is mountain colors bearfoot I believe the color is Juniper. I have never made socks on ones so this will be a challenge for me.

Feb. 2

Well I have my upper back done on my FLAK. I had to take it back a few rows last night as one of the braids was going the wrong direction. I have they pattern down in my head so I don't have to follow a chart which makes knitting much faster. I'm looking forward to part 5, the front, coming in the next few days.