Summertime Tunic

Summertime Tunic

Pattern: Summertime Tunic (free online pattern from Interweave Knits)
Size: 37 1/2
Yarn: Hemp for Knitting allhemp6 – Cinnamon
Needles: 3.0mm Addi Turbo
Start Date: May 29, 2007
End Date: July 10, 2007
Comments: This was an easy, yet rather boring knit. Looking at the pattern you can tell this was not going to be a project that you had to pay much attention to, but that is part of why I like it. It’s such a simple, but interesting take on the tank. While I do not have thinner figure that would really work the best for this top, I don’t think it looks as sack-like as I feared it would.

The hemp has softened significantly with a couple washes and I’m very happy with the fabric. Liz gave me the tip to look for the ribbon at an online store called Les Bon Ribbon. Great store! Fantastic selection and good pricing. Thank you, Liz.

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This past Saturday most of my Knitting Group headed out to the Midwest Fiber Fest in Crystal Lake. (Drin and Amy couldn’t be there and they were missed 😦 ).

We all spent a lovely day enjoying the weather, shopping, eating, shopping, talking, and doing a little shopping. My purchases are already packed up (packers are coming in 3 days!), but I’ll take pictures when I get to Oregon. Tamara snapped this picture just as we were leaving the fest. From left to right: Amy (Liz’s sister), Liz, me, Jen, Lynae, and Claire.

Ok, back to sorting through all my stuff for the move. Blech! The only good thing about sorting/cleaning is that for every hour or so of sorting I let myself read two more chapters of the new Harry Potter (which rocks!). 🙂 Anyone else got there nose stuck in the book? 🙂

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I got nothing

Between rereading Harry Potter and attempting to weed out some of my accumulated junk in time for the move I haven’t been knitting much. I did manage to finish the Summertime Tunic and even got it through the wash a couple time so now it feels great! I am, however, waiting on some ribbon I ordered so that I can call it finished. Here’s an absolutely worthless photo of the tunic. I swear my mind has melted with the humidity and stress.

***Knitting Group is Tonight! We meet at the new Starbucks in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Laramie, just to the west of I-94 on Lake Ave.). We start at around 6:30 and go until 8ish. Any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

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Too Humid

First, I must say, it is too humid. It’s sticky and hot and gross. Blech! Everytime I talk to our Realtor or insurance agent or anyone else out in Oregon they tell me how beautiful it is there right now…soon I will leave this crazy muggy summer behind.

My Summertime Tunic is moving along. I finished the back last night. Here are a couple pics showing the back’s detail. In order to create the casing for the ribbon you just whipstitch down about an inch of the back. Pretty neat. I think once it’s washed and relaxed it won’t even look sewn. The hemp is starting to bug me. It’s just not so pleasant to knit. I think I’ll have to cast on for some soft merino socks are something to take the edge off. 🙂

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The other day I got my latest Pick Up Sticks Sock Club package. Now, I had looked around at other’s peoples blogs to catch a glimpse of this prior to receiving it and I was prepared to be disappointed. Lucky for me, this yarn looks absolutely gorgeous in person! The yarn is Spinning Bunny in Bird of Paradise in a merino and tencel blend. The colors are richly saturated and the sheen is beautiful. Another winner!

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***Knitting Group is Tonight! We meet at the new Starbucks in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Laramie, just to the west of I-94 on Lake Ave.). We start at around 6:30 and go until 8ish. Any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

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You Spindle Me Round

Spindle Socks

Pattern: Spindle from More Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch
Yarn: Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock in Desert Flower
Needles: Inox 2.0mm
Start Date: March 27, 2007
End Date: June 20, 2007
Comments: What else can I say about Lorna’s Laces or More Sensational Knitted Socks that I haven’t said before? I love them both. Sock knitting would not be as much fun without either one. If I use the Spindle pattern again I’m going to try it with a nearly solid or solid sock yarn. The design would really pop, but it looks pretty cool with this yarn too. Yea socks!

This pair did drag on for a bit, but I think it’s just I was distracted by baby projects (for the future nephew) and various other socks. Desert Flower was one of the first Lorna’s Laces colors I ever bought and I’m so happy that I’ve finally knit with it. It’s such a fun and vibrant color.

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So you may have noticed the Summertime Tunic has not been getting a lot of face time or blog coverage. Well, this weekend I spent some major knitting time with it and made some good progress. At this point the hemp makes it look a bit sacklike, but I have faith it will be great once it gets a wash and it is all finished. At some point I need to go in search of ribbon…

I also spent this weekend trying to organize a bit for the upcoming move. I think I’ll be spending every weekend that way for a while, but if I tackle one room per weekend I should be able to clear out a lot stuff prior to the move. I also took a little time to take photos of almost all of my sock yarn stash for my Ravelry.com stash page. It was fun visiting with all my sock yarn. 🙂

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One last thing, Friday my June 2007 Rockin’ Sock Club Kit came…scroll down for a picture…

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Gorgeous! I look forward to casting on for this one though I think I’ll be doing a few modifications to the pattern similar to what Adrienne is doing. I think I’ll be adding a little ribbing to the top and I’ll be ditching the short row heel in favor of either my preferred Peasant Heel or a nice heel flap. I don’t think I’ll knit the garter stitch toe either.

Overall, I’m very happy with this kit and I’m already looking forward to August’s. 🙂

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Lots of progress

This weekend I got a little bit more of my Summertime Tunic done. I’m just past the ribbing. Now it’s simply inches and inches of stockinette to go. The hemp is so stiff, but I know once this top is washed the drape should be perfect. It’s just hard to imagine the end result when I’m knitting with what feels like twine. (allhemp6 in cinnamon)

Yesterday I decided to take a little break from the tunic and cast on for a baby cardigan that is going to be a gift for my brother’s future baby boy. Well, by the end of the day I had an almost complete cardigan! I just need to add the sleeves and the ties. Great pattern (and it’s free)! The yarn is Berroco Nostalgia #6672 and it feels very nice while knitting. It’s a little splitty and snags if you aren’t careful while knitting. Blech! Luckily, once knit the fabric seems pretty durable and looks so pretty. Overall, I am enjoying knitting with it and it is machine washable which is always nice for gifts.

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Friday I got my skein of Simply Sock Yarns 2nd Anniversary Limited Edition Cherry Tree Hill Supersock (say that 5 times fast). Yea! It’s gorgeous stuff. I love the intense pink and it feels so soft. I’m not sure how many she has left, but go here if you need your own. 🙂

And if you haven’t checked out my blogiversary contest yet, please go here for details.

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Summertime

We are still a few weeks away for the official start of summer, but I’m getting a head start with the Summertime Tunic from Interweave Knits. I deliberated a bit whether this was a good knit for my body type, but figured, what the heck. I’m just at the beginning, but I can tell already I’m going to like this top.

I’m knitting the top in a spicy color of Hemp For Knitting allhemp6. The color is Cinnamon and this yarn is the slightly heavier weight version of what I used last year to knit the Lacy Little Top. I think I should get a good fabric and drape out of the hemp once it’s all washed and blocked. I’m knitting the top on 3.0 mm needles getting a gauge of 5.25 stitches per inch.

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Meilenweit Cotton Fantasy #803

Pattern: My own. Toe-up using the Knitty Magic Cast-on, 2×2 Rib, and a Peasant Heel
Yarn:Meilenweit Cotton Fantasy #803
Needles: 2.0mm/US 1
Start Date: May 9, 2007
End Date: May 28, 2007
Comments: I really like this pair of socks. Aside from the neat striping, I enjoyed the feel of the yarn. This yarn is a cotton/wool blend and it has a nice give to it. The color has a neat speckled look. Not much else to say about this pair. Just a nice spring/fall weight pair of socks. 🙂

Be sure to check my blog on Friday for details on my first contest!

***Knitting Group is Tonight! We meet at the new Starbucks in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Laramie, just to the west of I-94 on Lake Ave.). We start at around 6:30 and go until 8ish. Any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

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Etsy love

Yeah, I know I said I wouldn’t buy any more yarn until we move and I could almost hear you all say, “yeah, right!” Well, you were right. I bought more yarn.

I was window-shopping on Etsy and picked out a few new yarns from three sellers I had not used before.

First up, Ashabee’s Fiber Oasis Merino/Tencel sock yarn in Kaleidoscope. So soft, so beautiful. She also has some bamboo/merino blend sock yarn that looks interesting…

Next, MamaBlue’s Jolie set – I just have a weakness for coordinating toe/heel sock sets. The yarn is lovely 100% superwash Blue Faced Leicester wool. Nice.

Finally, Yarn Chef. This stuff is amazing. It feels great and the colors are so intense. Both of these will do some striping too. Gotta love it! (The one on the left is In The Pond and on the right is Little Princess).

A few days ago the May Pick Up Sticks Sock kit came and it’s a good one (again). The yarn is Seacoast Panda (bamboo/merino) in the color Seaside and the pattern is just perfect for it. What a great summer sock kit.

Swatching on the Summertime Tunic continues…details Wednesday.

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