tentenknits

and twice on sunday

I've got not one but two FOs for you today!  What has gotten in to me?  Well it might be the 5 gin and tonics I drank last night ;-)

I finally made myself a slouchy beret that I've been thinking a lot about after seeing a few on Ravelry and the queen of cute berets, Jenna of Knit and Pieces.  This hat is really a mutt from several knit patterns and is something that my friend Patricia of Patricia's Yarns put together.  Her original version has a garter stitch edging while mine is changed to a 1x1 ribbing.  I also extended the body of the hat by about an inch or so to make it a little bit more slouchier. 

Amazingly, this hat only took one ball of Rowan Cocoon on size 10.5 needles.  A few of you asked what I thought of that yarn from my Juliet post.  I really love the softness of this yarn but beware it sheds a ton while knitting.   After a wash it calms a bit and so far this hat hasn't left my head looking fuzzy after wear. It also gives a good drape but can really only see using it for smaller knits and not sweaters - it seems to me that a sweater out of this stuff would be really heavy wearing.

I also finished my 3rd Shifting Sands scarf.  I know I don't need to explain much about this scarf and how i love it.  I did make a small modifification by casting on 37 instead of 42 stitches.  It came out a little skinner and longer... hmmm I just love it.

Thus ends the selfish knitting for a while.  Time to capitalize on the Christmas knits and not to mention I'm still working on the Hoboken Homeless Shelter Blanket!  We're still taking squares if you got a few hanging around :-)  Remember the due date is Friday Nov. 30th!

Two fabulous knits and a lazy Sunday make this girl a happy one.

Overcast Skies with a hint of Sun

The balloon has been popped, the power pulled, the curtain is closing.  Alas, today is the last day of my summer vacation.  I am trying to absolutely take in perspective that it's really Not That Bad and there are Monumentally Other Sad and Horrific things that are happening in the world that deserve more attention.  However can we all agree that setting the alarm clock for 6:30am after not waking up until 9ish each day is a pretty painful and sad event?  Even for a teesy bit? 

I also, mind you it's Big Wool, finished the Tank Top from Erika Knight's Classic Knits in a crazily fast two days.  It was exciting to work on something super bulky and sickeningly fast.  I even blew right by the armhole decreases and had to rip back about two inches because I was on such a roll.  I was so excited to finish this and so fast!! But, I seamed it this morning and well it's just not what I thought it would be. 

Now, I did try to put an outfit together to give you guys some good pics and yes I will be wearing it at work this fall but I wanted to LOVE it and I don't.  It all boils down to the ribbing - I did what the pattern called for my size and did 6.5inches of K2,P1 but it definitely needs more.  I also have yet to block it which I'm hoping will give it a nicer shape and calm down the edges a bit (the shoulder keeps wanting to roll into itself).

With work rearing her head around the corner I just wanted that final satisfying FO and now feel like - well maybe I rushed it a bit. And it's funny, you know when you're obsessed with knitting yourself things when you go shopping for work clothes and only pick out things that will go with what you're knitting and or want to knit.  I was at BR and put things back because I thought would clash with Cherry or Bridges.... and I bought a necklace to match Vesty here.

Hmmm, maybe it is redeeming itself after all. I do love that necklace ;-)

Sand, Sun and an FO

Getting back into a routine after a nice long vacation just stinks. (I tried my best at creating a metaphor - my brain it seems is still at the beach so therefore we go with the elementary word "stinks" - I hope all you great literary blog writers won't mind ;-))

The beach of course was wonderful.  We had 5 out of 7 days of great weather, a big house with three decks, one really rediculously LOUD thunderstorm, a dolphin sighting and a whole lot of sun burns. Oh and one more thing - I finished (and started) a whole knit project!

Project Nickname: Coco
Pattern: Coquette Tube Top from Fitted Knits (ETA: I added an extra R to the top name... thanks to Julia for pointing that out -  must be hungry!)
Yarn: Rowan Calmer, 3 balls
Needles: Size 5s and 7s circs

I know you all love my fabulous tan lines.  I kinda didn't lay on my stomach too much so there is a huge discrepency between my front tan and my back tan.  Hotness.

As you probably can tell I did knit a good deal of this top on the beach, careful to not get to much sand in the yarn but was careless enough that if I found a grain here or there while wearing it would just allow me to remember where this was put together.  Sometimes I'll hold the knit up to my ear and hear... ok well not really.  The pattern is wonderful and v. well done.  There is errata though so please check Japel's website.  Although you will pick it up right away once you get to the patterned body. 

As for the yarn, You all know my serious Jones for Calmer.  I am happy I used it as a subsitution but it seems to be a little bit too stretchy.  (also considering I knitted at tighter gauge too! 5.5 to the inch)  That ribbon is seriously the only thing between making this pretty top x-rated.  I had finished it on the beach and decided to give everyone a quick fashion show.  Well after doing a few small jumps of joyful celebration this top was around my waist.  I guess the only other thing I can do is to sew a little elastic in it but for now I'll just drawstring it with the ribbon.

We all had a lovely time pretending that once again we were of college age.  We played a few beer games which allowed us to jump and yell and disturb the neighbors.  (oops, we forgot we were in LBI and not Belmar).  We also played a hilarious game called Apples to Apples - one I had never played before but when mixed with wine or beer can truly cause one's stomach to hurt.

I am now back home and doing what I hate most. Unpacking.  I have two more beautiful weeks though before I have to go back to work which is a relief.  I dropped by my friend Patricia's shop yesterday (Happy 3rd Anniversary, Trish!!) and saw the new Rowan Mag and Interweave.  I am in trouble.  I have wanted to make Orangina and the Razor Cami but now I think those may have to wait for me to start some great fall knitting. 

Oh I mustn't forget to thank you all for the comments on the Tomten Jacket! Also another downfall from having no internet for a week is the HUGE number of emails and Blogline updates to read and get back to speed on - I will get there, but if I don't email you right away with a thank you please know that I am!!

Lastly, thanks to my photographer aka Boyfriend aka My Better Half, who's Birthday is Today!!  To think I've known you for 10 years now... oooh boy - here's to at least 10x10 more!