My somewhat weekly progress report

Sundays are my time to wind things up and get ready to drive back to Grand Marais. Of late it has also been a terrific time to update all my projects. I am enjoying the process, and it is helping to keep me focused. I like.

This week I have:

 The gauge swatch for my  Big Foot Knits class. I am using Schoeller+Stahl Fortissima Color in a great green-striping colorway.

In the past I have always knit fingering socks on size 0. My gauge has recently changed (after how many years?!), so I thought I’d best swatch in both 0s and 1s. It seems I will be switching up to size 1. I am actually kind of grateful. Size 1’s are easier on my eyes and hands.

Believe it or not I even followed the books instructions and blocked this swatch. The next step is to take this and use it and my measurements to draft my basic pattern, and then apply it to one of the designs from the book. It will be fun to see how it all works out.

The bottom band on my Stoneware Cardigan. I love how these two yarns play together in this pattern. Elann.com was cruel and tempted me with these yarns, Linus and Geologee from Knit One Purl Too. I bought the yarn and pattern a bit ago. I cast on Saturday, and I am loving it. It is an aran weight, and it will knit up fast. It is a very soft yarn, a wool/acrylic blend, so I have some concerns around how it will wear. I am not so concerned as to not knit this sweater though. It will be so pretty.

Here is my entry in Yarn Harbor’s Fall Knit-along. Our practical pattern (yes, we ARE from The North Shore, why did you ask?) is The Railroad Rib socks from Fiber Trends. I am knitting them in Nautica by Regia, a sport-weight (6-ply) sock yarn. I am a bit frustrated by the color I chose, a mottled denim. I am also a little annoyed at knitting them two at a time on a circular needle, it is not my favorite method. I am over half way done with both socks in one week though, soooo, I think I’ll get over my annoyance and just be happy they will be done soon.

The last thing I will be taking north with me this week is my Indecisive Rib Scarf. I had made a scarf in this pattern for a class sample. i just loved the fabric I got from the two yarns I used, Noro’s Silk Garden and Juniper Moon Farm’s Moonshine. I knit it somewhat loosely on a size 9.

What I did not love was the length of the final product. A scarf this delicious should be able to wrap around a few times until you can feel the hug. I have just picked up the necessary yarn to increase this scarf to “What? Who said it is cold out, I don’t feel it.” length.

The pattern is Mandyz Moon’s Indecisive Stripes Rib, found here. The patten describes the technique, and does not spell out how to create this scarf. I cast on 27 stitches on size 9 needles (bigger if you are normal to tight gauge) and slipped the first stitch on each row. The scarf is 8 inches wide and wonderfully drapey.