And We're Back...

Yes, it's been awhile. And I have no real excuse. I've been busy, true, but I've been knitting, and it wouldn't kill me to update.

I'm just going to jump right in with the now, and sort of backpost as I remember things.

Current WIPs: I've stopped counting. What I know of right now. I've frogged the Shrimpy sweater, and I'm making a sweater from the Hip to Knit book instead. I don't remember the name of the sweater, but it's a semi-cowlnecked slightly fitted sweater with bracelet length sleeves. It's made up with some magenta ribbon yarn. I'm making it from Crystal Palace Merino Frappe. It's turning out very nicely. I've got the back done for that.

Holly Daze Sweater. This is the two toned sweater from The Purl Stitch book. Instead of using two shades of grey, I'm using a darker than sage green for the top and a burgundy color for the bottom. The yarn is mostly acrylic, if not 100%. It's by Amore, and it's kind of fuzzy. I'm not sure.. oh, scratch that. It's Amore by TLC. I like it, and it's not at all icky, even if it is acrylic. I've got the back finished, and half of each of the sleeves. I like to do both sleeves at the same time, that way they're exactly the same. I'm kind of neurotic that way.

UIUC hats. Every fall, my husband and his friends go to a U of I football game. This is my first. I'm going bearing gifts. I'm more or less using the Hot Head hat pattern from the Stitch'n'Bitch book... I'm using a different gauge and slightly different decreases. I'm making these out of Lion Brand Wool Ease Thick and Quick and some version of Caron, the no dye lot one. I can't remember and I'm too lazy to go and look. The T&Q is navy, and the Caron is eye-poppin' orange. They're turning out nicely, and I can kick one out in about two hours. I was planning on using some pretty nice Australian wool I found over at Yarnaholics.com but I didn't know if anyone had wool allergies/sensitivities, so I thought it'd be better to go with something synthetic. I'm done with one and four fifths out of nine. (I've got to seam up the second one and it's done. It shouldn't take more than five minutes. Viva la mattress stitch.)

Rowan 'Mambo' Top in Cotton Braid. The Cotton Braid is nice to work with. The front and back are finished, and one shoulder seam is done. I didn't like the way the armband turned out though, so I'm undoing it and just doing a crocheted border... if i have enough yarn for it. This is basically a bathing suit cover up for me, as all of my bathing suits have green as their main color. Also, I'm omitting the fringe on the chest. That's just fugly.

There are a few other things as well, but these are the ones taunting me the loudest.

Recently Finished Objects

Sleeveless Funnel Neck Top from Hip to Knit. I made one out of Bernat Denim Style. It's a cotton acrylic blend, and incidentally the same yarn that I made my dad's hat and scarf out of. I really love that yarn, it's really soft and fairly lightweight. I love this yarn. I reeeealy love this yarn. I can't explain why, I just do.

I also made this top almost a year ago with Cotton Classic, but it was before I knew how to finish semi-competently. I had only seamed the shoulders, but was so disappointed with the shoddy look that it's been living in a basket ever since. I drug it out last week and it's finished with pretty new seams. I've not worn it yet, but it's finished...

...as is the Lilac Patons Katrina top I made. Also sleeveless, and knit up in reverse stockingette and ribbing. It's a bit snug, as I didn't think to block it before I seamed it. The pattern is a Berroco pattern, that I got for free off their website. I think it's "Gina," but don't quote me on that. It's one of the patterns for Echo. I'll look it up and link it later. I need to block that before I wear it out of the house.

Groovy Shawl. This is made out of Patons Cha Cha, and the pattern is from the Cha Cha booklet. It's an eyelash yarn, but the lashes are very... not quite curly, but... how to put it. Lion Brand Fun Fur? The lash parts are very very straight. Cha Cha is not. Anyway, I made this with the Hippi colorway. It's very nice. I love it and I'm making another one sometime soon.

That's it for now!