What I've been Up To

I have another blog, a knitting blog. But I haven't been very diligent in updating it. I have in fact been knitting - I just haven't been very good at updating the blog. But I am trying. And in my effort to be more timely in my posts, I have decided to only have one blog. While I love the idea of having a separate blog dedicated to knitting, it's just not working out. So from now on I will post my knitting progress (or lack thereof) and pictures on this here blog. And without further ado...

I finished Lilli's sweater! It's a Raglan-in-the-round sweater.

I purchased the pattern off Little Turtle Knits I really like the pattern. Very straightforward, very easy to read. And I especially like that it has every size you could possibly need. However, I am not happy with my choice of yarn. I ordered it off the internet (the yarn) and it is the first time I'd ever ordered yarn online. I wasn't really sure what I was getting. I like the colors. But I'm not too thrilled with the texture of the yarn. I guess it's okay knit up, but actually knitting with it was a pain. It is thick in some places and really, really thin in others. Now, if this were some handspun stuff I wouldn't care, but it isn't. It's Knit Picks Get Away (35% Tactel, 35% Nylon, 18% Cotton, 12% Acrylic). I was expecting a little more consistency. I have not yet tried this sweater on Lilli. Truth be told I'm a little afraid to. I will be very sad if it doesn't fit. But I need to just suck it up and try it on her. Because I want to make this sweater again. And again and again. I want to make one for Tipton, and I'd like to make one for myself, too. With different yarn, of course. I should go back and re-read what yarn the pattern calls for. That is where I seem to get into trouble - substituting different yarns. (That is how my other, knitting, blog began...) I also might try playing around with the sleeves. They seem kind of long and skinny. But that could just be a gauge issue. Or I could just blame it on the yarn...

After I finished the sweater I needed a quick project. Something that would give me instant results. Enter the wash cloth(s). First I made one with a simple seed stitch. It has already been used several times, so please forgive the fading.

Next I made up a pattern as I went along. But I don't have a picture of that one. Lilli claimed it as soon as I'd woven in the ends. It's in the bathtub right now.

Then I wanted to make another ball band wash cloth (from Mason Dixon Knitting.) I had a little yarn leftover so I decided to make a second one, with reversed colors. But I didn't quite have enough to complete it, so I finished it with different colors. I am in the process of making yet another ball band wash cloth with the colors I started at the end.

The first two pictures are the same washcloth - I couldn't get decent lighting (it's been raining for the past three days)

And then yesterday morning I was reading some knitting blogs and came across this. So of course I went here and got the pattern. I was going to finish the third ball band wash cloth before I started on Grrr. But I just couldn't wait! It was just too cute a pattern. I knit the whole thing in one day! It knits up fairly quick, I guess. But I'm kind of slow with the loop stitch, and kept loosing count of how many rows I'd done. (The perils of knitting while the children are awake...) I can't wait to make another one!! I also really like that the pattern includes a loop to hang it up.

And it wouldn't be a Ramblings post if there weren't some cute Lilli pictures. This morning she has been rocking her babies. In the second picture she's having her baby say "Cheese!" Too cute.