Currently knitting

I'm currently working on the Alphabet Knit-Along that Fibernymph is running in her podcast group on Ravelry. I quote from the Alphabet KAL thread:

"Each month of the K/CAL will be assigned a letter range of the alphabet, which is key to the projects that will qualify for each month’s individual entries:

June: A-F 

July: G-L 

August: M-S 

September: T-Z"

This month I'm knitting the Miss Winkle out of some Three Waters Farm-handspun. I've been waiting to do this project and I'm loving how it's turning out. I can't wait to see how the loop turn out once the shawl is blocked.

Are you participating?

Stash Dash FO #22

The 22nd finished for Stash Dash is a Holly for myself. 

I love Ankestrick's patterns, she writes really well. They're complex patterns, in my opinion not suited for brand new knitters, but perfect if you want a sweater that will fit you so well.

I made some changes, because I know my body. I knit a size small over my chest, large for my arms and just kept increasing for my lower body. I like my summer tops loose and breezy. 

I might just knit this sweater again, it was really fun and I'm going to wear this a lot this summer!

For Stash Dash:

So far I've got 7012,2 meters/5000 meters for Stash Dash.

90% Knitting's Alphabet KAL: July!

I'm getting ready for the next month in 90% Knitting's Alphabet KAL.

July's letters are G, H, I, J, K, L.

I'm a bit out of knitting mojo at the moment. I've made a decision that will greatly affect my finances next year, and that will force me to put my hobbies on a budget. So far I've just kept track of my spendings in yarn and fiber, but I won't be able to afford that in 2016. I'm very excited about my decision - that I won't share here yet in case co-workers should stumble upon this - but it also puts a pressure on me to finish all the things while I can still afford it!

To push me back into the game for this month I'll try to knit Christmas gifts/birthday gifts that fit into the letters! I might not use them this year, but it'd be nice to have a full gift basket for the next couple years to come.

I better narrow this list down though ...

Pattern name: Grove

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Pattern name: Gnome Mittens

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Pattern name: Grantreet

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Pattern name: Hodgepodge Mittens

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Pattern name: Hiro Mittens

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Pattern name: Hearth Slippers

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Pattern name: Hearts on a string mittens

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Pattern name: Ivydene 

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Pattern name: Jedediah Boot Socks

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Pattern name: Kaisa votter

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Pattern name: Little Ivanhoe

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Pattern name: Lovikka Mittens 

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Pattern name: Little Sister's Dress

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Pattern name: Little Heaume 

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Pattern name: Lamb Shoes

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Pattern name: Leydon

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Pattern name: Lambing Mitts

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Stash Dash FO #18

The 18th FO for Stash Dash is a pair of socks for Maria.

These are knit out of white Drops Fabel, and then I dyed them dark blue once I was told what colors she liked. They're rather plain, because she's not a woman to wear attention-seeking socks, but I made a simple braid in the ribbing, by knitting a K2tog Cable.

For Stash Dash:

So far I've got 5643,4 meters/5000 meters for Stash Dash.

Stash Dash FO #16

The 16th finished object for Stash Dash is the Basic Tam. This I knit for the Alphabet KAL.

It's out of Regia Tweed 6-ply, and I did the colorwork as I went along. 

It is sadly enough yet another hat that doesn't fit me at all, but fit my husband perfectly. His hat-basket will be well-filled this winter ... 

For the Alphabet KAL:

June's letters are A-F.

My pattern: Basic Tam

Points earned: 1
Total points in June: 7

For Stash Dash:

So far I've got 5237,7 meters/5000 meters for Stash Dash.

Stash Dash FO #14

My 14th finished object for Stash Dash is another babyhat. I knit this as a baptism gift for a little girl born earlier this year. Her mother likes purple, and I had a skein of Sisu left over from last Christmas' gift knitting.

This is an easy knit. It's knit flat and then seamed for some centimeters in the back. The border is optional; I just wanted to go all out girly, since the happy mother likes that.

For Stash Dash:

So far I've got 4863,5 meters/5000 meters for Stash Dash.

Stash Dash FO #13

The 13th finished object for Stash Dash, is also a hat that I'm knitting for the Alphabet KAL, called the Caramel Slouch.

I really enjoyed knitting this hat. It starts with the brim, that is knit over just 16 stitches back and forth till it reaches around the head. Then new stitches are picked up for the head. I knit it out of Beiroa that I bought at Retrosaria Rosa Pomar in Lisbon. It's Portuguese wool and smells so pleasant of sheep (I've got a stash of it). Next time I knit this hat I will knit it a little more slouchy, but otherwise this is the perfect beanie!

For the Alphabet KAL:

June's letters are A-F.

My pattern: Caramel Slouch

Colorway: Four Zero One

Points earned: 2
Total points in June: 6

For Stash Dash:

So far I've got 4758,7 meters/5000 meters for Stash Dash.

Stash Dash FO #12

The 12th finished object for Stash Dash, is a hat that I'm originally knitting for the Alphabet KAL, called the Barley hat.

This is a really nice, simple pattern by Tin Can Knits, that I will be knitting again. I had meant to knit it for me, but 3 inches in I thought it looked small. I checked my gauge, and true enough; I was way off. So it became a toddler hat instead, meaning this was a really quick knit; less than one nightshift worth of work.

For the Alphabet KAL: 
June's letters are A-F.

My pattern: Barley

Yarn company: Du Store Alpakka

Colorway: Eight Three Four

Points earned: 3 points + 1 bonus point

For Stash Dash:
So far I've got 4656,4 meters/5000 meters for Stash Dash.

Stash Dash FO #11

The 11th finished object for Stash Dash, is the Still Light Tunic that I've been working on for almost exactly one year now.

It's not a hard knit, nor is it unwanted, but it does require some brain power with those increases and pockets. I knit the first part, the raglan, quickly. But when I got to the beginning of those pockets, I wasn't in an emotional state to focus on patterns and numbers. So it got tossed in the basket for a long while. 

After some months I picked it back up again and did the increases. I then knit both sleeves in the matter of 2 quiet night shifts at work, and got real tired of it again. By now it was winter, with only 3 hours of daylight, and all I had left was grey stockinette in the round for an eternity. Back in the basket it went.

I picked it up again for Stash Dash and this week I've been monogamous to it. I've got few WIPs left in the basket and this was by far the biggest one, so I figured I'd finish it before I cast on something new.

Now it's done, and I'm so very pleased with it. I can't wait for autumn to come, because I know I'll get a lot of wear out of this. There is nothing I love more than a grey wool dress to wear with colorful accessories. 

So far I've got 4568,6 meters/5000 meters for Stash Dash.

90% Knitting's Alphabet K/CAL

Do you like video podcasts? About knitting and spinning? Have you tried 90% Knitting?

Lisa is the person behind Fibernymph Dye Works, and that is her podcast. I really enjoy it, I find her to be pleasant to listen to, and I'm interested in what she talks about. From June till September she will have a Knit Along/Crochet Along (KAL/CAL) on her Ravelry group. I'm going to participate in this one, as well as the previously mentioned and StashDash.

This one is a little more challenging in my opinion, because I need to knit a pattern that starts with one of the letters of the month. If the company of the yarn I'm knitting of also starts with that months letter, and the name of the colorway as well, I'll earn additional points. Of course I'll try that! The more challenging the more fun.

June's letters are A-F.

My pattern: Caramel Slouch

Yarn company: Du Store Alpakka

Colorway: Eight Three Four

That should get me 3 points + 1 bonus point

Now to wait for June the 1st.

The Knit Girllls SAL/KAL with Three Waters Farm

My two favorites meet!

From June the 1st till August the 31st, The Knit Girllls and Three Waters Farm will have a spin along/knit along (SAL/KAL) going on together. I've already ordered and received my braid of fiber, some luscious BFL, in the Honky Tonk colorway that is the required braid for this SAL/KAL.

This is my very first spin along knit along, but as far as I've gathered the purpose is to spin the fiber in to yarn, and then knit an item out of the yarn. This KAL doesn't have a knitting pattern that everyone will have to knit, you choose yourself what to knit out of your yarn.

I'm very excited to participate, the community is a great one and I look forward to discussing progress with the others. And of course I hope to win a prize!

This SAL/KAL starts on the 1st of June, and I'm clearing my bobbins, ready to go!

Stash Dash FO #9

My ninth item for Stash Dash is a small hat I just knit.

I'm not sure this will actually fit a child well, so it will go in the "for the future"-basket, instead of being gifted...

I knit the stranded colorwork part first, then I knit the two sides, and then they're seamed together. But they don't fit together like the pattern claims it will, and the seaming also doesn't turn out that nice because of the way the pattern tells you to increase in the sides. I'm not too pleased, but it might look cute on if you're distracted by a super cute baby. 

I do like the crochet scallop edge though. 

So far I've got 2491,4 meters/5000 meters for Stash Dash.

Stash Dash FO #7

The seventh item for Stash Dash is a pair of Blueberry Waffle Socks for my husband.

We bought this skein of Zauberball at Retrosaria Rosa Pomar last year. He picked the color himself, and I've really enjoyed knitting these for him. I don't know why I've been dragging my feet to finish these, because I knit them halway really quickly! But the finishing rib was endless (as if the entire sock isn't knit in knit 2 purl 2).

Now they are finished, and going in the wool-bin for next autumn.

So far I've got 2012,4 meters/5000 meters for Stash Dash.

Stash Dash FO #6

The sixth finished object for Stash Dash is a pair of Serpentine socks.

They're knit out of yarn I've dyed and spun. I'm really pleased with these, and how the pattern came out in these. It could have been more obvious in a yarn that's less variegated in color and thickness, but for me I'm pleased.

The pattern is easy to memorize once you get into it, but I did mess up in one place. Luckily I spotted it before I got to the same place on the second sock, so I made the same mistake there on purpose.

So far I've got 1852,6 meters/5000 meters for Stash Dash.

Stash Dash FO #5

My fifth finished object for Stash Dash is a small sweater out of handspun.

I've used handspun in different greens in this sweater, and some scraps of the same thickness to get enough. A real Stash Dashing sweater in other words!

So far I've got 1464,6 meters/5000 meters for Stash Dash.

Stash Dash FO #4

My fourth finished object for Stash Dash was a quick one; the Grantham hat.

I knit it out of Regia sock yarn, and it was a pleasant knit. Very intuitive and enjoyable, the pattern is simple, but easy to understand. The only modification I did was to knit an icord at the top and loop it, instead of a knotted tube. I will knit this pattern again, possibly with some colorwork next time.

So far I've got 1003,6 meters/5000 meters for Stash Dash.

Stash Dash FO #3

My third finished object for Stash Dash is the College Sweater.

The pattern is out of the book Strikk meir til Nøstebarn by Kathrine Gregersen, and it's in Norwegian. I knit it out of Drops Merino Extra Fine, and it's been dormant for a few months. I knit the sleeves and the body just fine, then I joined the sleeves to the body and promptly ran out of yarn. I had to order another skein, but it was out of stock so I've waited a good two months for it to be delivered. It arrived 3 days ago, just in time for Stash Dash! I'm so pleased to have it done, it's a simple raglan and a nice palate cleanser, but I was feeling so over it by now.

So far I've got 864,3 meters/5000 meters for Stash Dash.

Stash Dash FO #2

My second finished object for Stash Dash are my Diamond Gansey Socks.

They're knit out of The Uncommon Thread Tough Sock in the colorway Golden Praline on needles 2.5mm. The pattern is by Wendy D. Johnson. 

I bought this skein at Loop London back in 2013 during our honeymoon, and I've been hoarding it ever since, waiting for the right pattern to come along. I'm glad it's knit up now, because we are visiting London again this summer and I have a feeling my carry on will be rather full on the way back.

So far I've got 468,9 meters/5000 meters for Stash Dash.