My Monday - Miss Angela Winkle - Week 2

     Here is a reminder of my progress as of last week...

     I had only 7 full repeats done, but was excited and sucked into the project.

     Here is my progress this week...

     I have 38 full repeats done now and over 140 stitches. This project will be bigger than the one the designer did. The pattern calls for roughly 330 yards of fingering weight yarn. The beautiful skein above that I personally dyed has over 400 yards. On top of that, I knit very tightly - a blessing and a curse. I have people complementing me on my stitches and how well I can make a pattern look. Then I have sore hands because of my tension.

    I will live with my knitting because I have learned that I am not fond of loose knits. If I have a pattern for something that is looser, I will see if I can adapt it for a tighter look. We will see if I can have this finished this week. Fingers crossed.

Knitting a Big Winkle,

Victoria 

My Monday - Miss Angela Winkle - Week 1

     After a year of blogging everyday, but 1, I took a well deserved break. I started a great new project with my knitting friend Cathy yesterday. I am calling it Miss Angela Winkle.
 
     Have you heard of these 2 following patterns Hitchhiker and Leftie? Most knitters have knit one of these patterns or know someone who has. Both patterns are designed by the brilliant Martina Behm.
 

Hitchhiker

    

by Maltina Flickr

 

Leftie

© Martina Behm

 

     Martina also has a very interesting pattern called Miss Winkle. Here is my progress so far...

 

     Here are the official pictures from Ravelry. 

© Martina Behm

© Martina Behm

© Martina Behm

© Martina Behm

© Martina Behm

© Martina Behm

© Martina Behm

 

     I am using my skein of fingering yarn that I hand dyed at the October, Flowertown Knitting Guild class. The class was lead by Angela Cline owner of LYDIA Yarn. It was great and I came out with this colorful, fabulous yarn that will make a great shawl.

 

Knitting Winkle,

 

Victoria 

WIP #4 - Rainbow Stripes Shawl - Finished

Blog #7 of 2015 on 1/7/2015

     After over 2 years and 8 months the baby blanket turned toddler blanket turned school blanket turned shawl is DONE. The only thing left to do is weave in the ends. Yipee! 

     The size measures 5' 5" at its widest across the top and 3' 2" at its longest down the middle. As I said last night plenty big, for a 5 year old. That is a 8 1/2" by 11" folder on the shawl for size perspective.

 

     This blanket pattern is based off the baby blanket that I did for Helen. I was tired of doing the typical rectangular baby blanket. So, when I designed Helen's blanket and then this one I turned the blanket on its corner and decided to do a stepped edging. I love the look of it and it throws people off when they look at it because they think it should be the typical rectangle blanket.

Knitting for Joanna,

Victoria
 

WIP #4 - Rainbow Stripes Shawl

Blog #6 of 2015 on 1/6/2015
 
     Here is yet another WIP that has been hiding in my closet since 2012.
 

Rainbow Stripes Shawl

 
     There is a long story about this blanket that dates back to 2009. Let me fill you in...
 
     I was planning to knit 3 baby blankets in 2009 for one of my cousins, one of my husband's cousins and myself. We were each expecting our first child in early 2010. I got the blanket for my cousin done on time. The one for my husband's cousin was done about six months late. 
 
     One thing lead to another and next thing I knew I was pregnant with child #2, Helen. I swore that I would have Helen's baby blanket done so that I could bring her home from the hospital in it and succeeded. As soon as I finished Helen's blanket I also swore I would start the blanket pictured above for Joanna, who at that time was 2. Not quite a baby anymore, huh? Next thing I knew again, Joanna was almost 5, which leads us to today.
 
     After much consideration I have decided to make the blanket into a shawl. It is PLENTY large already. Plus I am afraid that if I continue with my original plans she will be in college before it gets done.
 
     Maybe I will get it done in time for her birthday next month, fingers-crossed.

Prolonged Knitting,

Victoria
 

My Monday - River Bed Socks - Week 2

Blog #5 of 2015 on 1/5/2015

     They are finished! It took 1 year, 4 months and 22 days for my first pair of self designed socks.

     The fit is not perfect, but great for only my second pair of socks. Next I am going to try toe up.

Knitting with time,

Victoria

WIP #3

Blog #4 of 2015 on 1/4/2015
 
     You may remember the hat that I made for my husband at Christmas. Here is one picture of the hat partially done, one with the hubby wearing it and one with the little one wearing it.
 

You'll Shoot Your Eye Out Stocking Cap

 

 

     One would ask, "If this is a finished project, then why is it on my WIP list?" Let me start by saying that I love my husband dearly and this hat is the first thing he EVER asked me to knit. So when he told me that the brim needed to be wider so he could fold it up, I thought no big deal. Then after wearing it a few times he mentioned that it was too long and every time he sat down when wearing it, he sat on the tassel and it got pulled off his head.

 

     So... let me remind you that I love my husband before I go on. I have frogged the whole hat and now have 3 balls of yarn. I will start over with You'll Shoot Your Eye Out Stocking Cap #2 and it will be awesome. There will NOT be a #3.

 

 

Knitting it Over Again,

 

Victoria

WIP #2

Blog #3 on 1/3/2015
 
     My #2 WIP is Angela's Dream Scarf by Jeanette Estee Famulari. I am using LYDIA Yarn's Delight in the colorway Van Gough. I have 5 repeats so far and am loving it.
 

 

     I can't wait to see how it blocks out. From the official pictures on Ravelry, I can tell that it will be beautiful. Look below and see for yourself.

 

Angela's Dream Scarf

by Jeanette Estee Famulari

© Jeanette Estee Famulari

 

© Jeanette Estee Famulari

 

Knitting Delight,

 

Victoria

Fabulous Friday - Miss Winkle

Blog #2 on 1/2/2015

     This pattern makes me feel so light and happy. My friend, Arrylee, just did this shawl with her hand-dyed yarn and it turned out beautiful.

     I love the asymmetrical design and how the loops add dimension to the look of the shawl. When I was looking at Arrylee's finished shawl, I was surprised at how small it looked. Then after thinking about it, I realized it was a perfect size to keep my neck warm when I wear my hair up.

Miss Winkle

by Martina Behm

 

© Martina Behm

 

© Martina Behm

 

© Martina Behm

 

 

© Martina Behm

 

© Martina Behm

 

     My friend Cathy and I are going to knit this pattern together this month. We are both going to use our yarn that we hand-dyed. I will keep you updated on our progress.

 

Knitting Miss Winkle,

 

Victoria

 

Taming of the WIP's

Blog #1 on 1/1/2015

http://www.lewasdesigns.com/knit-happy-sheep-wall-decal.html

     This past Sunday I was at my knitting group, Summerville Knitters. My good friend, Arrylee, got to talking about what her next project will be. She also mentioned that she will not be able to start it until she finishes an existing project. I was confused... when I want to start a new project, I just start. She however has a list and only allows herself to have 6 projects on the needles at any given time. I have tried this in theory, but never actually written mine down. Maybe the key to implementation is having it written down and seeing how many partial projects I have.

     Well, the WIP list is started and so far I have 6 projects that I can readily think of. No telling what I will find when I go digging. I have also started a list of projects that I want to do and so far it has 22 projects. I started a 3rd list of projects (past, present or future) of my own design that need to be written down. The 4th and final list that I started was for my sanity... a shoe size list. I have many family and friends that I want to knit socks for and am tired of asking repeatedly for their shoe sizes.

     The #1 item on my WIP list is my River Bed Socks that I talked about on Monday's blog. Check out My Monday - River Bed Socks - Week 1 to see the info about them.

     I will keep you up to date as I search, rediscover and FINISH all of my long hidden WIP's.

Taming of the WIP's,

Victoria