Nuclear Knits: Where knitting is the bomb!

I've cast on for these mittens. The yarn is from a weaving store up in Taos (I can't remember the name). So far the mittens are coming along well - although I messed up and made the bottom red ... when it should have been the green color. I decided to just run with it and switch up the rest of the mitten. I'm at the thumb pull off section and I think I can get most of the way through mitten #1 tomorrow. Can I finish these before the end of 2009??

Project Details: This was a super bulky fast knit (I got the kit from kpixie.com a while back during a Tuesday special). This is called Asymmetrical Cable Hat , although I'm not sure I'd say it is asymmetrical as much as just a bit funky. I had to use size 15 needles to get gauge and the yarn was Tundra by Loop-d-Loop. The kit came with 3 skeins ... but I only used 2. I started this hat this morning and finished tonight. I didn't work on it all day - probably just a couple of hours ... but really fast.

As 2009 is coming to an end I'm trying to finish up projects that are on the needles. The Habu scarf has been on the needles for a long time and sort of in hibernation. I'm going to push through it though. Piece by piece I'll work it. As for the Sicily, I've finished picking up for the top and now start the sleeves. Once the sleeves are done then I will assemble and finish the top part. Progress always feels good!

Well finally. My goal was to finish these before the end of the holiday break (really because I wanted to get them off the freaking needles before 2010) - and I've made it. Project Details: The pattern and yarn came as a kit from Yarn Durango. The sock pattern is Seedy Rib Sock and the yarn is Trekking Hand Art. I really love the yarn and hatted the pattern. It took me a very long time to finish these up (started June 6th and finished December 28th .... OUCH the longest pair of socks I've ever knit). I have some of the yarn left but not much. I plan to wear this and enjoy all the pain and suffering that went into them.

Remember this is what the package looked like when it showed up. Two bags and only 3.5 oz. For some reason I thought it was 4oz (maybe because of how long it took me to finish). This was the kit from Oceanwind Knits. Here are the singles. They took me a long time to spin up - not because of the wool - but because of the size. I decided to try and do the finest spinning I've ever done. Here are close ups of the finished double plyed yarn. Project Details: Alpaca, merino, silk, corrindale blend. 3.5 oz. Hand-carded batts. Came out with 477 yards of fingering weight. I love the feel and colors. Now I just need to figure out what to do with it!

This is sock number 2 of the Seedy Sock. I'm so tired of these socks and just pray to the gnomes living in my house that they finish up sock number 2 before I have to kill this sock pattern. I'm trying to get through it .... but so slow! Sicily sweater is a whole other story. Knitting up fast (this is a photo of the waist and bottom portion of the sweater). My only concern is that it feels a bit fitted. I'm hoping to block it again once I'm done.

This is Sicily. Coming along nicely. I'm over half way done with the bottom part of the sweater. A few more repeats and then I'll pick up for the top.

Tough to see the real gauge of the spun yarn here - but I'm going for a lace weight. I've finished 2 oz and will spend the weekend working on the next 2 oz. Once it is plyed I'll have to come up with something fantastic to make with it. I do believe this is my favorite fiber so far from the club.

This is a KAl "Mystery Sock Club II - Girls Night Out" done by Knitters Brewing Co. It starts January 15 and I'm pretty excited to get my knit on! I believe Jill, Becca, possibly Anne and Leslie will join in (locally that is). On Ravelry she has a pretty big group of people doing it.

Remember what the yarn looked like when it showed up from Lori (at Oceanwind Knits ). Not my favorite type of wool to spin up - but I made it through. Here is what the finished Heavy DK came out to look like. I had the Spiral hat from Winter 2009 Interweave in mind for this yarn from the second I started spinning it. Project Details: Started on December 7th and finished on December 8th (easy and fast). Cute pattern where the stitch marker moves to make the cables. There needed to be more repeats to make it tall enough - and as is (on size 8 needles) the hat is a bit wide at the bottom. If I were to do this again I would make it even smaller and taller. But, for now - my head is warm and I'm not too upset with the finished object.

I'm not sure if these is November or December's kit. I can't keep track. But, the fiber feels amazing and the colors are so dreamy. Lori of Oceanwind Knits is really incredible!

Project Details: The yarn was left over yarn from Anne (STR Lightweight in a Rare Gem colorway). I had just enough to finish the tie. Of course, I'm not one for wearing a tie, so I'm sure that the knot is all wrong in this photo. I started on December 4th and finished on December 5th. This is a Christmas present for Mike. Super fast knit and fun. I made it narrower than the pattern called for - but skinny ties are coming back in and I like thin ties much more than thick ones.

This is the new cable hat in Winter 2009 Interweave. I decided to use my new hand spun and guess what - it is 26" around (without stretching). My head is 22 on a good day - more like 21 if a hat really fits. It is a cable repeate in the pattern so I'm torn. Do I just go down a few needle sizes or do I ditch the project or try and modify the pattern?? The pattern says the finish hat should be between 24" and stretch 26" - regardless that is too big. I hate frogging ... but did it last night!

Here is the center of the Sicily sweater. I've blocked it and am now waiting for it to dry before I pick up stitches. I guess I'll have to work on something else while it drys. Rats :)

This was the October kit from Oceanwind Knits. This is Coopworth wool from New Zealand and 4 full oz of it. I was going for something bulky and came up with heavy worsted 170 yards of it. I planning on making the Floating Spiral Hat from the latest Interweave with it. Thanks Anne for all the advice on this yarn and the wheel!

I know. Another quicky holiday gift. But, I really want to make it. I'm not sure on the yarn (it is an Anne leftover) - but the pattern is out of Interweave Winter 2004. I'm ~ half way done.

I actually have something to report today. The spinning wheel is working well finally! Although the first roving I picked would not be my choice (and I'll probably never choose to spin this up again). I was going for something bulky (for a hat pattern I want to make). This was an Oceanwind Knits kit of New Zealand Coopworth 4 oz. I'll skein it up tomorrow and wash it.

Sicily. The cable that goes under the breasts is 5 rows from being done. I plan on finishing up the repeats tonight and then connecting the two halves. Once that is done I can pick up the stitches for the rest of the sweater. Well after talking to a very nice gentalmen on the phone yesterday I do believe that I have sorted out my spinning wheel issues. Turns out that the legs which hold the wheel are adjustable. Which means it was just in a misalignment. Once that was fixed - spins wonderfully. Of course I'm now onto 2 months ago roving kit (which isn't easy to spin and I'd like something bulky when I finish plying .... which isn't very easy for me). Fingers crossed