Valentina Finished!

Valentina is finished! It was a really enjoyable project to crochet, and so far I've liked having it around--it's quite warm, very good for reading on chilly evenings.

New projects--snowflake, Valentina

Posting stopped here because I've been stuck on the Darla sweater for some time now. I've almost finished the back section, but I came out with the wrong number of stitches at the top, and I have no idea how.

I do intend to come back to Darla at some point, but I in the mean time I decided to do something different. So I've been working on Valentina from Cool Crochet, which is a soft alpaca wrap. I'm very close to finished--I crocheted the main section, mostly at parties, in the car when someone else was driving, and while watching presidential debates. I'm about halfway through the edging right now. Pictures soon to come.

Meanwhile, I started a little project on the side, a crocheted snowflake pattern from Martha Stewart's website.

I used a size 10 crochet thread from my local fabric store, white with silver tinsel, and a size 5 crochet hook. Instead of dipping it in fabric stiffener and then blocking it I blocked it first and then used a spray-on fabric stiffener. I'm pretty happy with the results. I gave it two coats--I may try three for the next one.

Current music--Hail! bright Cecilia by Purcell.

Silk Slip--Finished!

Here's the finished Silk Slip.







This pattern has been a real pleasure every step of the way! I suspect that with school starting my knitting will go to the back burner for a bit, but I'll definitely be making more Knitting Lingerie Style patterns sooner or later. Which one to do next, I wonder.
There's a gorgeous trumpet skirt, stockings, a twinset, some very cute fingerless gloves...

Pattern: Silk Slip from Knitting Lingerie Style by Joan McGowan-Michael
Yarn: KnitPicks Andean Silk (Alpaca/Silk/Merino blend) in Bluebell
What I learned: slip-slip knit; shaping and lingerie construction techniques; first lace beyond basic eyelets
My most ambitious knitted project yet!

(A couple more pics are in my Picasa web album)

Silk Slip--almost there

Just a little more assembly and the Silk Slip will be finished.
I'm really happy with the way it's turning out for the most part. The only problem I foresee is that the bust seems to be too ample. I might end up having to fiddle around with it to get the right fit.

My knitting music has been odd lately--some of the usual classical, but I've also been on an odd 90s nostalgia kick (Weezer, the Pixies, the odd Rentals song). Also recently I was reminded of my love for the Hollies by the fact that my brother named his new cat Carrie Anne, so I created a Pandora station modeled after them. It was really good (sometimes these things can be hit or miss; for example, the Mazzie Star and Iron and Wine stations are really good, whereas the Olivia Tremor Control and Sonic Youth stations were awful). Anyway, the Hollies station was playing all kinds of things like the Kinks and even Weezer's Island in the Sun--come to think of it, that's how I got in that 90s mood.

My progress has been dramatically slowed of late. Mostly this has been because of moving, but the other, cuter reason is the new addition to our household.

Introducing Misty and Raincloud:




<3 !

Blocking for Silk Slip

The last knitted component of the Silk Slip is now blocking. Just look at those pins! I felt like I was torturing the poor thing.

I also started on the sewing component. I had planned to use the smallest size, but after measuring myself it seemed *too* small, whereas the next size up was too big. I compensated by using the smallest pattern cut out and cutting extra room all around. When I sewed it up it was way too big. I should have known--I don't understand why, but I'm always smaller than my measurements say I should be. I guess I'm funny-shaped? I didn't have a seam-ripper, either, so I thought I'd have to go out and buy one until, to my great surprise, my boyfriend said he had one! Apparently they come in handy for medics. So I ripped the seams, re-cut the fabric in line with the pattern, and sewed it again, for a much better fit.

Now I just need to crochet the edges and straps for the knit parts, do some finishing on the sewn part, and assemble the whole thing, and I'll be finished!

My music for this project has been mostly Iron and Wine, my default knitting and anything else music for ages.

KLS To-Do List

(So I can take the post it notes out of my book!)

Basic Bra
Retro Ribby Twinset
Fit-n-Flare Trumpet Skirt
One-Piece Wonder
Waist-Cincher Top
Laced-Front Sweater
Shaped Lace Tee
Ruched Camisole
Basic Stockings
Arm Warmers

Metallic Green Scarf + new works in progress

The yarn for both "Darla" and KLS "Silk Slip" has arrived, so I've been busily knitting and crocheting.

I've crocheted the first few rows of the back section of Darla. In a rare splurge, I bought the yarn recommended in the pattern, Classic Elite's Star in Iris. It's a real pleasure to work with--pleasantly soft, nicely textured, and a lovely shade of purple.



Meanwhile, I'm well into the Silk Slip--I've made both cups and cast on for the midriff section. I'm using Knit Picks Andean silk in Bluebell. It's an alpaca/merino/silk blend, so it goes without saying that the texture is gorgeous! What really took my breath away when this yarn came in the mail was the color, a soft yet rich pale blue. The photo really doesn't do it justice--when I finish this, I'm going to have to take an outdoor photo.






I took the opportunity to finish off a project that had been languishing for quite some time--a version of Cool Crochet's "Rebecca" scarf in metallic green Tonga Lame by langyarns. I'd already made a version in a pretty pastel ladder-type yarn I found in the $1 bin at Target. When I saw the green yarn in a little knit store near my parents' house I was just dying to wear it in some way, so I figured I'd make another Rebecca scarf. I'm pretty happy with the results--the colors match me and my wardrobe pretty well (just as the first Rebecca matched the coloration of the friend for whom I made it). Working with color is one of my favorite parts of knitting/crocheting/sewing. The color options at my favorite clothing stores tend to be limited and boring, so it's really a treat to have so many gorgeous options for my crafting.

Finally, some news on Green Stripy Sweater/Jacket. I've decided to finish the edges with a hand-felted border. My parents are sending the sewing machine, so the zipper should no longer be a problem!