Mohair Dreams

One Lonely Sock

A few days and I am on my way to enjoying a warm, soft pair of socks.

Of course, there's no mystery as the whereabouts of the other sock.  I've been struck by the dreaded Second Sock Syndrome.  I'll get the other sock soon enough.

Truth be told, I started working on these socks because I hit a wall with my Somewhat Cowl.  Everything was fine until I bound off the body.  Although I bound off loosely, it was too tight.  Take two, I ripped it out and bound off in a larger size needle and still too tight.  I was just frustrated so I put it down and started working on my Comfy Socks.  I was cruising my favorite blogs this afternoon and came across a mention of the invisible bind-off which makes a flexible edge.  I found the method in the Vogue Knitting Ultimate Knitting Book but it was way too complicated for a 2x2 ribbing.  Now that I've finished my sock, I'll pick it back up and try a larger size needle for the bind-off. 

Got a Light?

Knitting needles that light up.  Gotta have it!

   

Black Purls

Black Purls Magazine recognized Mohair Dreams as the Blog of the Week.   That is so cool :-)  It's a magazine that I really enjoy and this is quite an honor for me.  If you don't already know about the magazine, you should check it out.

Comfy Socks

Today was #2 of 6 sessions of my sweater design class.  In our first session, we took our body measurements, determined our swatch gauge and sketched our design.  Today, we talked about ease and worked on charting our designs.  Our homework now is to cast on and get to business.  I still have some design elements to figure out.  Or maybe I'm just stalling and should just jump in. 

And best of all, I picked up my copy of Greetings from Knit Cafe. The book came out ahead of schedule and I'm only slightly biased when I say that it's great.  I have already cast on my first project.

I'm using Blue Sly Alpaca and GGH Soft Kid from my stash.  Comfy socks indeed. 

The book has some great designs and here are a few of my favorites.

And guess what?  The terry bathrobe is my design!  You like it?  It's my first published design.  Oh my! 

Sexy Summer Knits

The 80 degree weather says it's time for some sexy summer sweaters.  I have finally hit a groove with my Somewhat Cowl and it is just flying off my needles.  I finally joined it in the round and tried it on and can I just say that it's fabulous.

I am crazy about this luscious rust color and the way the sweater is fitting.  I used Wendy's adjustments to make it more fitted and I am loving it.  It shouldn't be long now but I am not looking forward to picking up all of those stitches.  Picking up stitches is definitely one of my least favorite things about knitting.

Some serious KADD set in and I haven't picked up my Artyarns tank in over a week.  I'll get back to it but in the meantime have been thinking of new projects to start.  So, of course I join two more KALs!  It's what I do. 

The first is the Green Gable KAL.  I bought the pattern awhile ago and just came across the KAL.  How could I possibly resist?  I bought some Tahki Cotton Classic in a beautiful pearl color.  Looks like another sexy summer sweater to me.  I've done my swatch but have resisted casting on until I finish the Somewhat Cowl. 

I also joined Scout's Dye-O-Rama, a yarn swap of dyed yarn.  How cool is that?!  I joined the beginner group because it will be my first time trying striping and I have only dyed with Kool-Aid.  I was inspired by Alison's Kool-Aid dyed sock yarn and I love a new challenge.  Who knows, maybe I'll get brave and try acid dyeing.  Oh, the possibilities.

To round out my sexy summer knits plans, I've added the Tube Toporini from Zephyr Style to my wish list.  A nice cotton yarn with a little stretch would be perfect.

 

For Phoebe

Intarsia, cable ribbing, duplicate stitching, what more could I ask for in a project?  This vest gave me a chance to practice intarsia and I am very proud of the results.  I need to work on my tension but that will come with more practice.  I have been intimidated by colorwork so this was a great breakthrough project.

I have some left over yarn so I think I'll whip up a matching hat. 

I think I've got it!

I have two knitting goals for this year - design a sweater for myself and knit an intartsia project. 

As far as designing a sweater, my first attempt was Shani which turned out to be a bust.  I have not been able to get the sleeves figured out.  Maybe it wasn't the right decision to knit it in the round.  I'll have to pick it up again one of these days.  For now it's in the growing UFO pile.  I decided to start with the basics and that's where Denise's design class comes in, or as she calls it, a sweater building class.  Our first class was on Sunday at Knit Cafe.  We took our measurements, measured our swatches and sketched our sweater ideas.  I am so bad at drawing so I used the Stitch 'n Bitch Design Journal which has dress-up doll sketches for those of us who artistically challenged.  Denise taught us the basics of sweater building and how to charts our projects on graph paper.  Our homework is to chart out our sweaters and bring them in for review.  I'm well on my way to meeting my first goal.

The second goal is to finally tackle an intarsia project.  After class, Suzan asked me to make something for Phoebe, one of the mannequins at Knit Cafe.  We decided on an argyle vest from Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino 2 in peach, green and yellow. I've taken a couple of intarsia classes but had yet to complete a project.  This is the perfect challenge.  I pulled out my class notes, samples and some reference books and jumped right in.  I started on the front because I was anxious to tackle the colorwork and I think I've got it!

Not bad from the front but the true test is how the wrong side looks.

I am so happy!  I'm one step closer to making the Map of the World Afghan.  Well, maybe I should finish the vest first!

Chocolate Souffle

The Somewhat Cowl has been slow going so I joined the Sexy Knitter's Club for some motivation.  The KALers sweaters are looking great!  I hope to have enough complete to try it on soon.   

Since I was down to only two projects on the needles, I cast on the Artyarns Triangle Tank this weekend.  I made the Mutlidirectional Diagonal Scarf a few years ago and I really enjoy modular knitting.  This sweater is alot of fun to knit and the yarn is a dream.

 

I also cast on and finished a Buttonhole Bag in Chocolate Brown and Pink.  It's a color combination of which I can't seem to get enough. 

I had to search for a LYS that carried Lamb's Pride Bulky in Chocolate Souffle.  It's a deep rich brown and I was determined to find it.  I called around (I keep a LA area LYS directory in my car in case of emergencies) and found my way to Lani's Needlepoint.  It was my first time there and what a cute store!  I met Aimee, one of the clerks and she told me the story behind the new color, Chocolate Souffle.  She mentioned to the Brown Sheep rep that they needed to add a chocolate brown color.  Not long afterwards, she received a note saying that they came up with a new color based on her suggestion.  Thanks to Aimee because it's a great color which I have used in 2 projects and counting. 

Tomorrow, I start my sweater design class.  The first homework assignment was to knit a swatch.  A quick look in my stash led me to RY Cashsoft DK in Opulence, a wine red color.  Next, to decide on a designn.  I took a look at photos that I had clipped from magazines, etc as well as some designs that I have sketched and recalled a sweater that I saw on Monk. 

Luckily, I have Tivo so I was able to rewind the show and take a photo.  I think it will be a great project.

Meet Bobbi

Me: "What's up Bobbi?"
Bobbi: "Nothing, just chillin', watching the game - go UCLA."
Me: "Word."

Bobbi and I hung out on Saturday afternoon watching the UCLA vs. LSU game.  On Monday, he is off to his new home with Baby Thompson who is due next week.  The parents didn't find out whether it's a girl or a boy so I went with Apple Green.  This pattern was alot of fun and only took a couple of days.  I see more Bobbis in my future.

Flash your Stash

I spent some quality time with my stash this morning and picked out some of the good stuff to flash.  It seems appropriate to flash you in my bedroom.  This is pretty hot so you may want to take a seat.

 

This is a good sampling of what's in my stash.  In total, I'm up to three large Rubbermaid bins and 3 baskets. 

There are always some show offs in the crowd and below is some yarn that insisted on some closeups. 

Koigu-licious!  That's good yarnography.

Merino and silk yarn from New Zealand (center) and Rowan Calmer (top right corner).  The yarn in the bottom left corner is Artyarns from my time as a Knitster on Knitty Gritty.

Artyarns Royal Silk for Diagonal Triangle Tank or Clapotis

Rowan Ribbon Twist and Big Wool Tuft

Kool Aid dyed Blue Sky Alpacas Sportweight.  It smells good too!

Rowan Kid Silk Haze, Habu Textiles mohair and Suss Designs angora (clockwise from top)

A mountain of GGH Aspen for a sweater coat, maybe Josephine.  Notice the Lamb's Pride Bulky in the top corner.  No stash is complete without it.

Chasing Rainbows Dyeworks Kid Mohair.  I picked this up at a store in Brooklyn and have no idea what to make with it. 

The Kiwis have some interesting solutions to deal with their possum problem.  Merino and Possum Fur yarn from New Zealand. 

And finally some leftovers from past projects.  (Clockwise from top) Rowanspun Chunky from Big Sack Sweater, Linie Luna from Boatneck sweater, Rowan Calmer from Nothin' but a Tshirt and Twisted Sisters Voodoo from Wrap Cardi.  I have no idea what to do with this yarn!

Was it good for you too?!