FO Friday #1

I was really excited to finish my Chevron Lace cardigan earlier this week! Still haven't found the perfect closure for the top but I'll know it when I see it!

I also managed to finish off a shawl that I had been "technically" finished for awhile but needed to block it and do a few final touches.

Quite the quick post for me today but I've got to run out and do my weekly grocery shopping! We always go on Fridays and today in particular isn't going to be fun because there's snow (!) in the forecast for our area tomorrow and that turns everyone to mass chaos around here (which is unnecessary of course)

My first WIP Wednesday post

Thought since I read everyone's WIP Wednesday posts on Rav, I'd finally join in!

In all technicality I have 8 WIPs going right now and haven't done so bad working on 50% of them the past week! Might as well go down the line...here goes...

Even though it's not much yet, I'm excited for the outcome of this one so I'll start out with the Peacock Shawlette I cast on tonight. I'm normally not much for knitting for long periods of time but somehow this one has sucked me in today and I'm addicted!

I thought I'd be disappointed making a peacock shawlette out of something not so much peacock colors but I'm quite fond of this color combo so we'll keep the fingers crossed! I'm only about four rows in and like I said, doesn't look like much yet but let's just mention it's an accomplishment for two reasons: a) I've managed to keep the CORRECT number of stitches each row and b) I haven't thrown it across the room yet!

I also have my Tunisian tee still going for the CrochetMe CAL. The goal is to have the second base triangle done by Halloween so that'll be my priority this weekend! Here's the first base triangle complete. Excuse the curling in the top corner, it'll work itself out once blocked, finished, etc. I'm making the tee a little thicker so right now it curls more.

I'm also 50% complete with a set of mitts I started. I love the color and the fit of these and finishing the second one should take no time at all!

Now for the big project: my Dusty Snowflake throw for the Red Heart CAL. The goal was to get another row of snowflakes done which I kind of did but didn't meet. I completely forgot I needed to add filler snowflakes in so I added those and then started doing up the second row of seven snowflakes. Each one is just shy of one complete round and a joining round so really a short bit of time and that second row will be done. If I can somehow manage to do it in the next day or so and be ready to start the third row this weekend, I'll be even happier!

That's what's on my hooks and needles this week. I did manage to finish something so I'll even have a quick post on Friday as well, Yay!

Year of Projects!

Being that I wasn't able to join this back on July 1st, I figured now would be just as good a time as any! I've joined in on the Year of Projects group on Rav to complete my list of projects by June 30th of next year. I had already lined up a list for myself when this had started and then began blogging again so here goes!

I'm more of a crocheter than I am a knitter so I have my main list of crochet items but them sort of a mini list of "I'd love to knit these but may throw the needles across the room in frustration before they're completed". Also known as, I'm a slow and still learning knitter but I'm hopeful. Plus, I've got four in-progress CALs that I'm determined to finish by the end of the current year:

CALs (done by end of 2011):
1. Chevron Lace Cardi (completed 10.23.2011)
2. Betty's Tunisian Tee (in progress)
3. Snowflakes Throw (in progress)
4. Vortex Throw (in progress)

Crochet:
1. Pinecone Top
2. Lacy Cropped Cardi
3. Custom Tank Version #1
4. Cap Sleeve Top
5. Custom Tank Version #2
6. South Bay Shawlette

Knit:
1. Clapotis
2. Ballet Camisole
3. Peacock Shawlette (in progress)
4. Sagrantino Shawl

Lots and lots of garments of course! 16 projects in 8 months? Helllooo at least 2 projects per month, ideally. We'll see! Update coming later tonight or tomorrow on my Chevron Lace Cardi that I went on a random streak with and will most likely be done tonight or tomorrow! Can't wait!

Chevron Lace Cardigan

I started my pink Chevron Lace Cardigan this past week and have made pretty good progress on it so far.

Above is the first five base rows just to show the nice pattern starting to form.

Below is where the project stands now. I'm about one row below the sleeve chains and now that I'm looking at the picture, it looks like I'm making a baby garment but I'm not, I promise! This thing whips up quite quick and it wouldn't surprise me if I finish be before October is through even with all of my other projects going on!

I also managed to finish square 2 of 4 for the little one's Vortex blankie. This one is out of  TLC Cotton Plus which I forgot is so soft and perfect for blankie! I want to make a top out of it so I'll have to see what I can find. Square number 3 will get started around November 1st as I'm aiming to do one per month to finish it by the end of the year.

Last, I'm just as obsessed as the next person with sock yarn. I've got this skein of Serenity Sock Weight that to me is screaming to become some fingerless mitts.

I'm an ok knitter but I absolutely stink at double pointed and circulars for whatever reason so after fighting with dpn for about a half hour, I basically put them away, went back on Ravelry and found myself a crochet pattern instead. I need some good beginner projects to work on my use of dpn and circulars because otherwise my knitting is highly limited.

Anyone do anything for I LOVE YARN Day last Friday, the 14th? One of the groups I'm a part of on Ravelry had a little contest for crocheting up these five little cuties:

They were very fun and quick to whip up, I very much enjoyed using some stash yarn for things.Thinking that tomorrow's blog post will be my (and the rest of the world's) obsession with granny squares as of late. I've found great projects for the queue lately that I'm anxious to complete!

Stash Showdown

Went upstairs and had a quick 15-20 minutes to take a gander at my stash that doesn't have projects yet and came up with a few ideas.

I somehow have four random skeins of Lion Brand Homespun that all coordinate. Pretty sure they coordinate because this is my "home color family" also known as the group of colors I gravitate to all the time for projects it seems. These four colors are screaming to become a striped bag of sorts, just need to sort through patterns and find the perfect one.

Then I ran across my lovely combination of Bernat Satin and what I believe is a big of Red Heart and Vanna's Choice. Once again, the blues, greens and a rose. Haven't decided what this group will become.

Why not just continue with the blue theme why don't we? Years ago when a million different fashion yarns hit the market somehow I seemed to think it was "cool" to purchase some and years later I'm lucking out that they're all the same color family. These random beauties will be parts of various granny squares for a bag I have in mind along with some left over Caron One Pound that I'll have in Navy.

I'm in love with this yarn and have no idea what to do with it. I could buy a few more skeins and make a top which may end up happening but I got these two skeins at the local Michaels for 50 cents a piece so spending $5/skein seems to not make the bargain as exciting. Possibly use a 50% coupon and at least make it worthwhile somewhat.

Then there's the two skeins of this ribbon yarn I have that may very well be discontinued if I remember right. I'm in LOVE with the color but no clue what to do with it. I have a ball of black shimmery ribbon yarn as well that could alternate in stripes for a cute scarf?

I started my Tunisian tee today and I have to say for a first attempt at Tunisian crochet, it looks mighty amazing :) Will post more once my two base triangles are done.

The first motif for my convertible crochet shawl. The glitter doesn't show up very well and the square isn't blocked yet but you get the idea. Hoping to finish this one in time for the hubby's company holiday party this year if we decide to go.

Might as well finish the post with a FO! Whipped the little one up some winter mittens yesterday. All that's left to do is find some cute ribbon to thread through the wristband. Thinking I'll find something with some sparkle to add the girly touch :).