gankload of socks...

Checka Checkit Out

and some great sock resources in the comments part, too!

posted by illanna at 3:01 AM |

It's all about Nature!

I finished that tank from Knit Simple Magazine that I was working on. I finished it a long time ago, but I'm way too tired to take pictures in time. It has a great fit, and I loved working with the Nature Cotton. I converted the whole pattern, so I could make it in the round. I had to change the stitch pattern around. I also added a few extra row repeats because I like my tanks LOOOOOOONG.

I'm making a new tank top now out of the Manos Cotton that I flashed last time. I'm knitting it at 20 stitches over 4 inches, and it's really nice at that gauge. It's firm but still really drapey, and the colors are subtly changing throughout. I'll post some progress photos some other time.

I started so many projects this week! Here's another one I started:



It's Wendy's Somewhat Cowl for the Sexy Knitters Club Knitalong. The yarn I'm using is Nature's Palette fingering weight, which I bought at Stitches West. The yarn is really cool, and it's dyed with natural dyes. This color is called Hydrangea, and is dyed with Indigo and Cochineal. I found out when I purchased the yarn that Cochineal is a dye made from insects. Kiki told me that it's used in most red and pink dyes. Fascinating!

I would love to post more often, but right now I'm too busy. Hopefully I'll find time to post the finished pictures of my Embossed Leaves socks and my new sparkly hat!

posted by illanna at 6:26 PM |

a message from the (self-proclaimed) tank top queen

Last week I dyed that yarn with Kiki! The yarn is Optimum Wool DK by Southwest Trading Company. I've been designing a tank top to make with it, but I still have to knit up a little swatch. The problem with me and designing is that it keeps me up at night. I get some of my best ideas while I'm lying in bed staring at the ceiling. Then I can't write them down! It's truly haunting.

I started a new tank top project:



That's the closeup. The yarn is Araucania Nature Cotton in color #16. The design comes from Knit Simple Magazine, Spring 06 issue. Here's what it looks like in the magazine:



I completely converted the pattern to the round, which took lots of calculations. I've already picked out my next project:



It's this free pattern from Elann. It's a really cool pattern because it teaches how to work the top-down yoke increases into the lace pattern. I always am worried about that because of the changing number of stitches, so I can't wait to try this out. I'm using this:



It's Manos Cotton Stria in the new color "Leaf." I've had the pleasure of using this yarn before, when I made the Ibiza Stripe Shirt from Loop-d-Loop.

That's all for today. I wish I could post more, but I never have time for lovely outdoor photo shoots. Today you might have noticed (especially if you're Yahaira) that I scanned in all my yarn-y pictures on a flat bed scanner. Next week is Spring Break, so if I make it through my midterms this week, I'll have mucho knitting time with Hila. Wish me luck!

posted by illanna at 10:45 PM |