Almost there!

I have been frantically trying to knit my grandmother (who is, by the way, 98 years old) a sweater for Christmas. Each year I try to come up with something original to give her, but it's become very difficult to find presents that she will appreciate and find useful. I was flipping through Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitting Around and saw the Bog Jacket. I rather liked the striped shoulders, although I couldn't see myself actually wearing one with striped shoulders. The construction of the garment was also interesting. It is based on the simple folk-garments that are made out of a square piece of fabric. When this square is knit, shaping can be included. I cast on about two weeks ago, and have been trekking away at it as well as other pieces.

Elizabeth Zimmerman's Bog Jacket from Knitting Around. Embellishments include waist shaping, shoulder shaping, phony side seams, short rows across the back, longer sleeves and sleeve shaping.

Yarn: Elann.com's Peruvian Wool, colors 2699 (Lot 129), 4145 (Lot 869),

Needles: #7 Addi Turbos, 80 cm

I've also made quite a bit of progress on my subway project -- the Latvian Socks from Nancy Bush's Folk Socks. I'm halfway done. Just tonight, I grafted the first toe together. These socks are great for the subway. The pattern was easy to memorize and it used a traditional heel-flap, so I didn't need to look them up. The only modification I made was to use my favorite toe, where I decrease on each needle toward the sides. I think this is the prettiest decrease. (I do admit, though, that I have not tried all the different toes yet. Only this one and the short-row toe, and I like this one the best!)

This sock obviously needs blocking, but that will happen as soon as I have a pair. Look at the gusset shaping!

Latvian Socks

Elann.com's Devon, 1 entire ball

Needles: #1 Clover Bamboo dpns

Gauge: ?? I cast-on and hoped that they would fit. They do!

And when I say 1 entire ball, I mean 1 WHOLE ball. I always have leftovers. Even when I knit Fetching with Knitpicks yarn, I had about 7 yards leftover. Look what I had left from the Devon:

The color in this last picture is accurate, too. It is a deep, rich red. The yarn is silky, too -- one I'll definitely be using again.

I also finished the Clapotis! I love the way this fabric drapes -- it has the warmth of wool, especially the halo that Rowan Tapestry gives, but drapes beautifully. I knit from both ends of the ball, which helped moderate the strong variegation. I really, really like the colors on the reverse-stockinette side. I would consider making this pattern again, but I would make sure to choose a yarn without so much of a halo. It was very difficult for me to drop the stitches with this yarn, as it sticks to itself like mohair.

Clapotis from Knitty.com

Yarn: Rowan Tapestry, 4 1/4 balls

Needles: #7 Addi Turbos

Gauge: ??

I'm also on the final stretch of the Print o'the Wave Stole. I've got the border completed on one of the short sides. After I finish, I have to weave my ends in and then block. Hopefully I'll finish this week.

Genius?

Yesterday during Friday Lunch Club (when a group of my 4th grade students gets to eat lunch with me) I was having a conversation with my kids about knitting. I have been teaching a fellow teacher how to knit, and she walked in. I asked her how it was going, and whether she still . One of the boys picked up on this, and said, "You know, Ms. D, Kelley is a genius." I was really taken aback by his pronouncement -- and then he went on to say, "Everybody always has something of hers. She's always sharing." I think he meant to say generous, but I'll take either one of them. It's amazing how much kids recognize from the world around them. And flattering -- I'd never use either of those two adjectives to describe myself....

Sneak Peeks

Things have been moving along the past couple of weeks. I have so many projects going that it's difficult to see the progress I'm making, but it's there.
I think it's time for some pictures of the projects I have going on right now and one I finished recently....


This sweater was a project of mine from last year. It is knit out of Knitpicks Wool of the Andes colorway Fog. The pattern is from Vogue Knitting Winter 2005. I knit this for my mother and got it almost seamed when I realized it did not fit her. Instead of ripping it out and reknitting it, I decided to give it to a friend of mine and knit her a new one in a similar style. The new sweater is complete and was given to my mother on Thanskgiving.


Detail of the yoke:





















Sweater on its new owner:





















This is Clapotis, knit out of Rowan Tapestry. I am knitting out of both ends of the ball, alternating every two rows. This creates interesting varigation and breaks up the colors a bit more.

It's relaxing to knit, and the twisted stitches give me just enough to stay interested in it. I found this yarn just after I went to the Point for the first time. I try to avoid variegated yarn because I prefer to control the color myself, but the murky colors in this just drew me in.



I finished the second Cable Rib Sock and needed a new commuting project. I cast-on for these Latvian Socks (from Nancy Bush's Folk Socks) just last Wednesday. I turned the picot edge and have knit the rest since Sunday. This is a very simple pattern repeat & it's also quick knitting. I'm using Elann Devon.

(That's Astro in the background!)