Birthday Shawl, Socks and Some Progress

I have made some great progress on my Lestrange cloak and I am so happy with how it's turning out. I am in the process of knitting the collar now so it's pretty much impossible to take nice pictures as the cardi is just a big bundle of black yarn! Soon, though, I promise to upload a picture.

I have also finished a pair of socks, the second to last from Coop Knits Socks, Calamint. Now only Saxifrage to go and I'll have knit through the whole book! And I am just about to start that pair, with some yarn I was gifted by the very author of this book, as a prize for her KAL hosted on Ravelry. Here is my Calamint in Austermann Step Classic:

I also have finished the first shawl of 2014. I actually just joined the Ravelry group 12 shawls forever but I do not think I'll be knitting that many shawls this year. However, I did knit one, and I knit it as a birthday present to my mum. The pattern is Triinu from Nancy Bush's Knitted Lace of Estonia. I used my prize yarn from Handmaiden, Lace Silk in Polar Sea, to knit this lovely shawl.

I really liked knitting this shawl and the finished product is pretty close to divine. And the best part? I still have enough yarn to knit myself another shawl from this beautiful yarn!

First finished projects of 2014

Both of my finishes for 2014 were started last year, but I actually think that's a good thing - I, like many knitters I believe, have a bad habit of leaving stuff unfinished when something more juicy comes along!

The first one was huge fun, socks knit completely with leftovers! The pattern I used is Stephanie van der Linden's Colors of the Andes, from her book "Around the World in Knitted Socks: 26 inspired designs". This pattern has so few projects in Ravelry and I think it's maybe the loveliest of all! However, these socks were way too big for me; I thought given the colorwork they might even be too small but apparently 72 stitches on 2.25 needles just is too big for me. But no worries: it just meant my mum got new socks! Here are my Colors of the Andes, although I should probably rename them "colors of the stash". I love how I can see all the other socks I've knit from the colors in these!

Colors of the stash: can You tell which color comes from which socks? Just see the other posts tagged "socks" ;)

I also finished a shawl knit from my naturally dyed handdyes. The darker yarn was dyed with red onion skins, the lighter with red beet juice. The pattern is Georgiana by Susanna IC, found in Jane Austen Knits 2011. I am quite happy with the shawl! It's not originally two colors, it is a mod first done my someone else on Ravelry whom I copied. But I just fell so in love with her version I had to have my own. Copying is the highest form of praise you know ;) Oh, and it has finally snowed here along with getting cold. And cold often equals clear skies and sun, which is something we simply cannot get enough of here in the North...

I'm off to knit!

Happy New Year!

As the year has changed, I thought I'd best quickly post some photos of the things finished in 2013 I have not yet shown you.

Here is Gothic Spire, by Cookie A. They were gifted over Christmas to my boyfriend's older sister.

Then there's Annis, a free pattern by Susanna IC, found here on Knitty. I knit it in sport weight, a Christmas gift for my mother.

Then I also finished two more pairs of socks on the final days of the old year, making my total 28 pairs for the year 2013.

Both are patterns by Rachel Coopey from her book Coopknits socks.

Budleigh

Brighton

For year 2014 I have been thinking of maybe knitting a little less socks and a little more of something else. Not that there's anything wrong with socks but maybe 28 pairs a year is a little much. Although looking at Ravelry there are people who manage to knit almost a hundred pairs in a year!

At the moment I am knitting Lestrange cloak from Interweave Knit's Unofficial Harry Potter Knits. It's a black lace cardigan and I am pretty in love with it already! I'll post pictures as soon as I have something to show. I'm also going to knit Yabane sweater for my boyfriend and Alexandrite tank from Knitscene Spring 2014 as soon as it comes out. I have some other projects in mind as well but it's best not to make my knitting goals too tight as they never seem to work out quite the way I plan anyways...

Two New Things

I've recently finished a pair of socks, Dawlish by Rachel Coopey. I really liked knitting them, the pattern was quite intuitive and the result lovely.

I also finished my first ever mystery pattern, it was a shawl by Susanna IC, the queen of lace shawls (seriously). There were eight clues altogether and it was very interesting to see the shawl develop. I used self-striping yarn and black beads. It was also my first ever beading project! I really should get better pictures, but here's one for starters:

Remember you can enlarge the pictures by clicking on them, the shawl picture is pretty good quality so you can actually see the beads!

November News

Again, it's been a while since I've last written, but you have to excuse me, life has been pretty busy. I am still suffering with my finger (see last post). I try not to knit and usually succeed for a week or so, and then I must knit until the left little finger starts hurting again. It's pretty bad and makes me quite sad... Not being able to knit as much as I want due to limited time is one thing but not being to knit even as much as I'd have time for because a finger hurts...! That's what's really bothering me.

Still, I have finished a few things since I last blogged and started even more.

The first is a free pattern by Jackie Jones, the dragonfly washcloth. This is pretty cute, and I think I'll gift it to my boyfriends mother. There are so many dragonflies where she lives, cute and small, and huge and scary ones, too!

Dragonfly washcloth

I've also finished a pair of socks, but only one, and for my boyfriend's birthday. The pattern is Fred & George Socks by Rachel Coopey from the Unofficial Harry Potter Knits magazine. I actually just read the last Harry Potter book for the first time just now. I had seen the films but only now did I read the book. I don't really know what to think of it, I have several complaints, but I am also glad to have finally read all the books.

Fred & George socks

The final thing I've finished is a fun little scarf designed by Caitlin ffrench. This was a mystery pattern, and there is no project page yet. The pattern can be found in her group on Ravelry. Here is the scarf as photographed today when it was beautifully sunny!

I also want to show you this beautiful yarn I got as a prize from Eden Cottage Yarns, who sponsored Cookie Crumbs KAL on Ravelry. I was lucky enough to win any in stock yarn from them, and I chose a laceweight that is 70% alpaca and 30% lace, Pegasus Lace. The yarn feels so soft, I can't wait to knit with it!

We organised a Halloween party a little over a week ago, below's my costume. I was pretty scary, huh?

I hope I can knit again soon, I have so many things on the needles! I am halfway through Gothic Spire by Cookie A. and almost half done with Dawlish by Rachel Coopey. I love them both, although the Gothic Spires may be gifted as they are a little loose for me. Here's hoping I'll have more to post soon!

Can't Knit!

I have tendinitis or something of the like in my left little finger, I can't knit at all and it hurts even if I don't :/ And just when things are so so stressful, this is really killing me! At least I can share with you two pairs of socks I finished before this horrible misery.

Here is Mona by Cookie A. from Knit.Sock.Love:

They were gifted to a friend for her birthday. Below you can see my version of Paignton by Rachel Coopey. Really nice pattern, one of my favorites from the book but they just don't fit my feet :( The afterthought heel doesn't suit me plus they are too wide on the feet... It doesn't show that much on the photos, though. I hope they fit someone as I intend to give them as a Christmas present!

Busy Times, Small Projects

I'm here to show some recent finishes. It's been a while since I blogged, but life is just a little crazy now with school and all. Well, I am still finding some time for knitting so all is not lost ;)

First, here's Woolgather, a great hat by Caitlin ffrench, and a free pattern, too! I used Novita Isoveli, a bulky weight yarn in a great color. The hat is quick and easy and so comfortable and warm. It's been getting really cold here in Finland last couple of days so I actually wore it today.

I also finished a pair of socks from Rachel Coopey's Coop Knits Socks, Pennycress. They are going to go in the Christmas present pile as they are a little big for me. Still, they were a very enjoyable, easy knit.

And last but not least, something I just finished, Katya choker by Dawn L.E. Riden, also a free pattern available on her blog easily found via Ravelry. This is for a friend for her birthday. I'll also make her earrings if I have time.

I've also been getting some nice things in the mail recently. First I got my Knit.Sock.Love. KAL prize from Handmaiden Fine Yarn, a skein of Lace Silk in the colorway Polar Sea. It is 900 meters of 100% silk! I can't wait to knit with it :)

And just yesterday I got the most squishy fingering weight merino from Rachel Coopey as a prize for her summer KAL. It's Toddy by the the Yarn Yard and I am in love with it!