Ravelympics 2010 – Ms Lindz – My little corner of the internet

It’s been two weeks since I blogged, but it feels like months. Funny how time does that to you – some days or weeks or months feel incredibly long and others fly by faster then you can blink.

I’ve been busily knitting on my February Lady Sweater for the Ravelympics and I’m proud to say that last night I finished it! 🙂

FLS from start to finish!

Matt was kind enough to be my model last night. This one is definitely my favorite!

February Lady Sweater (on my man! haha)

Pattern: February Lady Sweater (My Ravelry project page.)
Started: February 12, 2010
Completed: February 25, 2010
Yarn: Brooks Farm Mas-Acero, 2.75 skeins (approx 1,100 yards)
Needles: US 8’s
Notes: The only thing I changed was the YO’s in the yoke. I left them out because somehow my stitch count got screwed up twice, so instead of the YO increases, I just did knit front and back increases to get to the stitch count I needed. I love how this turned out and have a feeling that I’ll be wearing it a lot!

About halfway through this sweater, I decided to cast on a hat as a portable project (and because I needed a warm hat for the snow and cold weather). Turns out it went a lot faster then I expected and I had it done within a day. I like how it turned out and it keeps my head nice and warm.

Handspun Hat

Pattern: Handspun Hat (My Ravelry project page.)
Started: February 20, 2010
Completed: February 20, 2010
Yarn: Handspun (Twisted Stitches BFL), about 76 yards
Needles: US 10.5
Notes: I made up my own pattern for this after not being able to find a free one I wanted. My head is about 21.5 inches around, so this should fit most adults. Cast on 72 stitches, worked in k2, p2 rib for 6 rounds, then in stockinette until it measured 5 inches from the cast on edge. For the decreases, knit 12, k2tog, repeat around (there will be two “leftover” sts). Every round after knit 1 stitch less, k2tog (ie next round k11, k2tog), until you are down to k2, k2tog for the last round. Break yarn and thread through remaining stitches to close. Pretty simple hat. Next time I’d probably cast on 68 stitches, then increase to 70 the first round of stockinette.

Me and my Handspun Hat

I decided last minute that I’d try to get in an Ravelympic spinning project, but I’m not sure it’s going to get done by Saturday. It’s been slow going because my hip and lower back have been giving me some grief (along with my knees each time I spin! 😦 ), so I haven’t got very far. We’ll see how much I get done this weekend. It’s for the Spin-and-Knit-a-Long over on the Zarzuela’s Fiber Junkies group on Ravelry. The SAL/KAL goes until May 1st and the deadline for spinning is April 1st, so at least I still have time to get it done for that! I’m loving spinning this up – it’s very nice to work with. It’s a merino, silk, mohair blend and I like the colors. Spinning from a batt has taken some getting used to, but I think I’ve got it all figured out now.

First Bobbin of Zarzuela’s Fibers Luxury Sock Batt

Since the Olympics (and thus the Ravelympics) are almost over, it’s time to get back to my “regular” knitting. I’ve now picked up Matt’s socks again and should have them finished this weekend. I’ve already turned the heel on sock number two and the leg should go pretty quickly. Now… what to knit next?

Have a good weekend everyone! 🙂

Wow, I’ve really not kept up on the blogging so far this year! I’ve been knitting a few smaller projects recently, so I have 3 FO’s that need to be shared. I don’t have pictures of two of them to share yet, but I do have pictures of the fingerless mitts I finished about two weeks ago.

Aagean Mitts

Pattern: Aegean Mitts (My Ravelry project page.)
Started: January 28, 2010
Completed: January 31, 2010
Yarn: Malabrigo Worsted in Polygala, 1 skein
Needles: US 4 bamboo DPNs
Notes: I frogged my Hannah hat and reclaimed this lovely Malabrigo for these mitts. Pattern was quick and fairly easy (as long as you can read charts) to work up and I love the result! They’re definitely getting a lot of wear lately. 🙂

Aagean Mitts, with Matt as my model

Yesterday I was thinking about the projects I currently have on the needles and decided that I’m going to frog Haruni. I love the look of the finished shawl, but recently I’ve been thinking about shawls and how I don’t really wear the ones I already have (I do wear Multnomah and Springtime Bandit occasionally as scarfs). Since every time I think about knitting it, I shy away from it, pick something else, or start a new project, I figured it’s time for me to let this one go. Maybe some day I’ll come back to it, but right now I’m not really into it and I’m okay with letting it go for now in favor of knitting other things!

Speaking of knitting other things… I’ve been working diligently on Matt’s socks. I’ve finished the first sock and I’m 2 inches from starting the heel on the second sock. I don’t have a picture of the finished sock, but here’s a picture of it before I started the heel which is about the point I’m at on the second sock.

Matt’s Sock in Wollmeise colorway Lowenzahn

Aside from Matt’s sock, I’m still working on my Vesper plain vanilla socks in Summer Breeze (though they haven’t seen much action recently) and last night I started Rogue in some green Cascade 220. I knit this as my second sweater ever and really liked it. The one issue I had with it, though, was that it was a bit too short for me. It falls right at my belly button (natural waist) which is shorter then I like for any top – sweater or otherwise. I decided to give it another go since I enjoyed knitting it the first time around and since I have learned a lot about sweater knitting since then, I have a feeling this one will get a lot more wear!

So are you busy gearing up for the Ravelympics/Knitting Olympics? I know I am! For those who don’t know or haven’t heard of the Ravelympics/Knitting Olympics, it started back in 2006 when the Yarn Harlot decided to challenge herself to knit something challenging during the 16 days of that year’s Olympics. Many, many people joined in the challenge and knit along. When the summer Olympics came around in 2008, she decided she only wanted to do the Knitting Olympics during the winter games, so people on Ravelry started up a group and it became known as the Ravelympics. There’s a Ravelympics group on Ravelry and the Yarn Harlot has posted about the Knitting Olympics along with a sign up form on her blog.

I picked out my project a few weeks ago and decided on the February Lady Sweater (aka FLS) in Brooks Farm Mas Acero. I think it’ll be a pretty good challenge to get a sweater done in 17 days. Cast-on time will be 9 pm tomorrow (EST) as the opening ceremonies start!

Mas Acero for my FLS

I just realized that I’m using red yarn for a sweater with “February” in the name for the Ravelympics which follow the Olympics which are being held in Canada this year. Could I pick a more fitting color or pattern?! It wasn’t even intentional! haha 😀

What are you knitting for the Ravelympics? Ready for it?

	Peggy (maggyruth on… on NYAN!! and Other Things
	stitchingmystressawa… on Stashing Down and Other G…
	Michelle on Stashing Down and Other G…
	laura on End of 2011, Beginning of…
	laura on All the FO’s

Tag: Ravelympics 2010

Ravelympics Brings Two FO’s and Spinning

FO: Aegean Mitts, Matt’s Socks, and Ravelympics