AtomicKnits

Wicked is finished!

I definitely left my color comfort zone when I decided to knit an entire sweater in yellow!  I'm glad I did, though, because I really like this color a lot.  I think this sweater turned out great!  The fit is really nice, and I like the style a lot.  It's way too hot to wear it now, but it will be really nice when fall hits.  I'm glad I decided to make the long sleeve version.  If it's going to be super warm, why not go all the way.  The cotton/alpaca blend of the yarn gives the fabric a nice drape.  I'm hoping it won't stretch out too much lengthwise as it gets worn. I didn't make any modifications to this pattern at all except add more length and place the waist shaping increases and decreases where they were appropriate.  Aside from the miles of plain stockinette, this is a fun sweater to knit, and I think it would be hard to really mess it up!

Wicked
Pattern Source: Zephyr Style
Yarn: Catalina Baby Pima
Needles: US 7

More Wicked Progress

I'm to the usual point where I just want this sweater to be DONE.  I am very happy with the way it's coming out, but I am anxiously eyeing this awesome skein of sock yarn I took out to start my next project.  You can see here that I finished knitting and attaching the pocket, knitting the rest of the body, and started on one sleeve.  Once I got to the pocket and I could stop knitting huge rounds of stockinette, my interest in this project came back a bit.  Now that I'm on the sleeves, though, I'm kind of bored again and want to finish.  The good part about that is that I WILL finish soon!  I will work on it more and more just so it will be done, and then it will!

I put it on and took a picture for you. It looks like of weird and bulky under my shirt, but you get the idea.

This sweater is Wicked yellow.

How about a knitting post, huh? I have been knitting. Not as much as I normally do, but I'm trying to get enthusiastic about my projects again.  This happens at the beginning of every summer.  As it gets warmer, I want to be more active, so I stop sitting and knitting as much and do chores or go for walks outside.  It also gets so humid here, and it's hard to want to hold onto the wool when it is so muggy. I've also been reading more.  BUT, I have been plugging away at the body of my Wicked.  My knitting group is doing this sweater as a knitalong, and it's fun to watch everyone's progress and everyone's different perspective on the same sweater pattern. I have been trying on this sweater as I've been knitting, and I'm so happy with the way it's turning out.  I'm ready to knit the pocket and then attach it to the body.

My favorite part of this sweater so far is the kind of boat-ish neckline with the little cables. I also love the yarn I picked!  It is Catalina Yarns Baby Pima in the coolest mustard color.  I have never really knit anything in yellow, and I thought this would fit in nicely in the EAST part of Project Spectrum.

Felted Clutch Me!

A few weeks ago when I was visiting my family in Plattsburgh, NY, I did end up finishing another mini-project!  I've been wanting to knit this particular skein of yarn for a while, and I finally sat down and figured out a project for it.  I knew it was going to be felted.  I ended up making this small felted case (I highly doubt I will use it as a 'clutch').

I had enough yarn left over after making the bigger case to make a smaller matching one.  I didn't have quite enough yarn to finish the decreases on the flap the right way, that's why it looks a little funny.  I felted them while I was at home, so I wouldn't have to use the coin operated machines in my house.  I finished them off with some smiley face buttons, which are a lot greener in person, that I had in one of my jars of buttons.

Felted Clutch Me!
Pattern Source: Annie Amelia
Yarn: Farmhouse Yarns Single Ply Bulky, colorway Rainforest
Needles: US 11

Spring Forward Socks are finally done!

I blocked these and left them to dry during my week home, so that's why I don't have pictures of them until now!  This is another good solid sock pattern.  The only thing I didn't like about it was that the heel flap wasn't done on half of the stitches, it was done on half of the stitches minus 3.  I did it that way, but I didn't feel like it was for any reason.

The lace pattern is fun, because it is so easy, but the results look way more complicated.  I like how the color of the yarn makes the lace pattern look like moss.  I'm looking forward to seeing how this yarn wears.  It's superwash wool and nylon so I'm hoping they will last with easy care.

Spring Forward Socks
Pattern Source: Knitty Summer 2008
Yarn: Plymouth Happy Feet, colorway 1 (light & dark greens)
Needles: US 2

Turtle Dishcloth

A couple of days ago I knit up this dishcloth with a turtle on it!  I thought the turtle was appropriate for the bright green color of the yarn.

Embossed Turtle Cloth
Pattern Source: Smariek Knits
Yarn: Tahki Cotton Classic, colorway 3760 Bright Light Green
Needles: US 7

Nothin' Like A Quickie

This week I am visiting my family in Plattsburgh, NY.  I finished my Spring Forward Socks the night before I left for Plattsburgh, so I had to figure out some knitting to bring with me.  I ended up bringing a lot of one and half skeins of green yarns and all of my needles.  I would figure out all of the small projects when I got here!  The first one is already done.  It's a sweater for my coffee mug!  This is made out of the leftover yarn from Justin's hat. I have used it for the past two mornings, and it does keep my coffee warm for longer.  (FYI, my mom made the mug this sweater is covering!)

Cabled Coffee Cup Sweater
Pattern Source: Creative KJ's Patterns
Yarn: Lana Grossa Due Chine, colorway 406
Needles: US 8

A New Hat for Justin

For our mindful knitting practice during my retreat, we needed to bring a simple project where we didn't have to keep track of a pattern and just devote our focus to making each stitch. After the mysterious disappearance of the Fake Isle Hat, I wanted to make Justin a new hat before the warm weather arrived this year for good.  When I was gathering up all of my green yarns for Project Spectrum, I found a pile of a chunky wool blend in a perfect Justin color.  A simple ribbed watch cap is something that you can't really make the wrong size and it's simple enough for me to using in a mindful practice, and for Justin to want to wear it.  I really like the way it turned out!  I don't have enough extra to knit one for myself, but I'll figure out something to do with it.

Watch Cap for Justin
Pattern Source: KnitWiki
Yarn: Lana Grossa Due Chine, colorway 406
Needles: US 10.5

New Sweater Project - Simple Knitted Bodice

I haven't knit a sweater in a long time!  I cast on for the Simple Knitted Bodice by Stephanie Japel last week, and I'm already this far!  I really wanted to get to the point where you join the body in the round under the neckline so I think I just kept on going!  This is also my first project for Project Spectrum using green for North.  I bought this yarn back around Christmas time, so I'm glad it fits into PS so well.  The yarn is Cascade 220 Heathers.  I don't think I am going to have enough yarn to make the long sleeve version of the sweater, so this might turn out to have short sleeves.  I'm ok with that.  I'm knitting the medium size of this pattern, and I've only had to make one mod so far.  I don't think I'm quite getting gauge because I didn't swatch, but I liked where the join at the bottom of the neckline ended when I tried it on.  However, I didn't like that the lace detail around the waist was going to be right around my boobs, so I continued knitting about 5 inches of stockinette below the neckline, and now I'm just starting the lace waist detail.  I tried the sweater on, and the waist detail is at a good spot now.

Preparing for Project Spectrum 2009

This year I'm going to participate in Project Spectrum.  It's an 8 month long craft-a-long with a new theme every two months.  This year, the theme is cardinal directions, and there is a color, season, material, and element assigned to each quarter.  I wanted to participate last year, but I didn't.  I have been having trouble being inspired when it comes time to start a new knitting project, and I have all these ideas for other crafts floating around in my head too. I'm hoping this project will inspire me in my knitting and allow me to push myself in other areas too.

A few days ago I found a Moleskine book that I haven't been using and dedicated it to Project Spectrum. I divided it into 4 quarters for each direction/color.  I'm going to use this to plan projects and also to art journal during the year.  I think it will be great.

The first direction we'll be exploring in March and April is North.  The color for North is green, so I pulled out all of the green yarn from my stash and put it in a separate pillow zip bag.  I already know of a couple projects I want to do with the yarn and fiber.  When I need a new or different project, I am going to go to this green bag first.  I'm excited!