Why does blogging feel like such a chore for me these days? So I skipped a few regular posts and then I hit a slump. Oh I’ve been updating sporadically on Facebook, Twitter and Ravelry but a full-on blog post seemed like hard work. Not that I don’t enjoy it, I still do! Very much. It could be this darned PC which uses wireless connection to our router so that I end up having to pull my hair when it comes to uploading photos. Darned you IO error!

Anyway, speaking of finished knitted objects, I want to show you this little thing that my daughter Eibee made. It’s a pouch for her Blackberry Torch 9800. She did this so quickly using leftover of the Plucky Sport which I destashed from Irishgirlieknits a while ago. The colourway is called Sensibility and it is beautiful.

Eibee also made a pair of fingerless gloves which she sent to her big sister in Manila. We failed to take a photo before it went in my husband’s luggage. The next project she has her eye on is a pair of Georgia Sleeves for herself. She chose the yarn for it too, a skein of Twisted Fiber Art Duchess Striping from my stash.

Okay then, off to my latest FOs.

First up, a Summer KAL with the Irish Girlie Knits Designs group on Ravelry. The winning pattern was Summer Wind, which I test knitted for Carrie using Plucky Primo. I decided to use a drapey merino blend this time and I could not have chosen better. The yarn is Blue Moon Fiber Arts Seduction (merino and tencel) in the Blue Moonstone colourway.

I love working with this yarn and I think the other skein I have (Brick) will not become socks as originally intended but perhaps a scarf or shawl. Anyway, back to this project. I cast on for the larger size but only did one repeat of the center lace pattern. I wanted to add beads but didn’t have any size 6/0 so perhaps next time.

Project: Summer Moonstone (Raveled!)
Pattern: Summer Wind by Carrie Sullivan
Needle: US 6 – 4.0 mm
Yarn: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Seduction
How much: 1 skeins = 400.0 yards (365.8m)
Colorway: Blue Moonstone
Cast on: June 17 2011
Cast off: August 14 2011

Infinity scarves seem to be my staple project lately. They are so easy to make and uses up one skein of yarn – what a way to stashdown! This other project was born out of love for Karen’s handspun version as well as Krista’s version in her own hand-dyed yarn. I made this first one as a test of my new yarn base, Dubai Knits Cashmerino.

I love the almost mindless rhythm of this pattern. You keep knitting, purling, increasing and decreasing, round and round and before you know it you need to bind off. Perfect pattern for those luxury skeins in our stash. And you end up with an accessory that you will definitely wear, or can give away as a present because you know it is something they will cherish.

Project: Triangles (Raveled!)
Pattern: Variance by Lisa Mutch
Needle: US 8 – 5.0 mm
Yarn: Dubai Knits Cashmerino
How much: 0.75 skeins = 202.5 yards (185.2m)
Colorway: Sea Moss
Cast on: August 8 2011
Cast off: August 10 2011

Socks! Feels like ages since I finished a pair of socks. This one is a little bit special though. It is my first completed, as-per-the-pattern Cristi H. Brockway design. Yay! This is her Breaking Hearts Socks. It was one of the patterns for an STR Group KAL a while ago but I was not able to join in. I did choose this for a wild card for my Super Special Six Pattern Sock Club entry and I am glad I did.

I love working with this pattern. It is quite easy to remember the repetition and once you know how to maneuver the stitches so that you don’t use a cable needle for the crossings then it becomes even faster. See how the pattern travels all the way down the heel flap? I love that!

Oh and it goes right down to the toe too! Cristi gives you an option to do the normal toe without the pattern but seriously it does not make it any more difficult to follow her charted and written patterned toe instructions. And you end up with gorgeous toes on your socks. Win-win!

If you think the heel flap and the toes are great, wait till you see the bottom of the foot. That’s where Cristi hides the gusset shaping. Ta-dah! So the sides of the socks are clean and free for any pattern or just clean and simple. Plus this shaping hugs your feet like whoa. I have been using this method for a few pairs of socks now and I see no reason to go back.

Project: Golden Hearts (Raveled!)
Pattern: Breaking Hearts Socks by Cristi H. Brockway
Needle: US 1 – 2.25 mm
Yarn: Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock Multi
How much: 1.7 skeins = 365.5 yards (334.2m)
Colorway: Gold Hill
Cast on: July 10 2011
Cast off: August 15 2011
Notes: Took longer than was necessary but I put the second sock down for a while. It was still quick once I picked it up. Also this yarn is one of the very first purchases I made from The Loopy Ewe. Glad to have knitted it out of the stash finally!