Trish Knits.com – Project Progress

So Close…

April 6, 2013 by Trish Leave a Comment

This rumpled bit of fabric is about to become something great. I can almost taste it.

This, of course, is my long-suffering Color Affection shawl, which I know we have all been staring at on this blog for months now. Are you sick of it yet? I am. There. I said it.The good news? I’m nearly done with the eighth repeat of the short row section, which is the last one before the bottom border, as the pattern is written. Mine is so narrow from top to bottom, though, that I think I am going to eek out just one more repeat before I call the section done.

As to the bottom border, I am considering doing a narrow band of the grey before doing a wide band of the blue. Anything to add to the overall top-to-bottom length.

I had a lovely potluck lunch and yarn swap with the ladies from knit group today. For me, this is the best part of my knitting hobby. Sure, knitting itself is a mostly solitary activity, but because of it I have met so many wonderful people that I can honestly say are now my good friends.

Soon I will be showing you photos of this shawl as a finished object. I know you’re all just waiting with bated breath, aren’t you? 🙂

Progress!

March 19, 2013 by Trish Leave a Comment

I have been knitting like crazy on my Color Affection shawl. Since I didn’t get it done in time to give it to its intended recipient for Christmas, I’m trying to get it done for her birthday instead, which is, Crikey! In only about 6 weeks. My daughter helped me spread it out so you all could see where I am at this moment:

In case you’re wondering, I’m in the middle of the 6th repeat of the short row section.

I’m still worried a bit about the overall depth of the shawl. It seems a bit skinny, like the lace weight version, but this is fingering weight yarn. I am thinking of adding an extra repeat on the short rows, fudging the bottom border to make it a little deeper, and blocking the hell out of it to recover as much depth as I can. I’m probably going to need a blocking helper when the time comes, because the thing is so big that I’m pretty sure I won’t be able to stretch it out by myself.

Oh yeah, and like it or not, my friend’s going to find that her gift comes with free cat hair included:

That’s all for now! I’ve got knitting to do.

Live and Learn

March 13, 2013 by Trish 1 Comment

Well, ok. Section Three (the short rows) section of my Color Affection shawl is well underway. And I’ve realized, now that I can see the proverbial light at the end of the knitting black hole (how’s THAT for mixing metaphors?) that I’ve made an error in judgement. I am a habitually loose knitter, so I always knit with a needle that is way smaller than the pattern usually calls for. But in this case, with this shawl? I probably shouldn’t have gone as small as I did. The thing is huge from end to end, but skinny, I mean scarf skinny, from top to bottom. I’m going to have to add an extra repeat of short rows to add depth to the thing. And maybe make the bottom border bigger, too.

This is not what I wanted to have to do, add more rows just as I am getting so sick of this project I could die from the boredom. But alas I want it to be a large wrap that my friend can curl up in. So, I’ll have to get creative about it.

I’m more determined than ever to finish, though, and have made a point to knit as much as possible every day. I’ve been re-listening to some steamy audiobooks to pass the time, and I finally caved and started watching Downton Abbey. Ok, so I know I’m late to THAT particular party, but in a way I’m glad that I can plow through the episodes at my own ravenous pace rather than having to wait for the next installment like everyone else. Of course, I will get to the end soon enough, and then I’ll be waiting just like the rest of you for it to start up again.

But hopefully, by the time that happens, I’ll be on to another knitting project. This one is now plaguing me. And I can’t wait to be done with it.

The Knitting Goes On…

February 18, 2013 by Trish Leave a Comment

I’ve been making slow but steady progress on my Color Affection shawl:

I’m concerned that the shawl seems very wide but not too deep so far. I hope that when it’s all done that it’s big and snuggly. I suppose if needed I could make the border section wider. The shawl is intended to be a gift, and I want it to be a big, warm hug to the recipient.

I am very pleased with the yarn. It is Dream in Color Starry, which is the same as Smooshy yarn, I think, except that there is a tiny silver thread running through it. I like that this shawl is going to have a little bling.

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t getting at least a little bit bored. I’m at that stage in the knitting where it feels like I’m doing an awful lot of knitting but not making a lot of progress. And, it doesn’t help that the rows are sooooo wide now. I’m dying to make something else, like a simple hat or a scarf, but I know that if I stop now, this would just land on my huge pile of already abandoned projects. So, I will knit on. I am determined that this project will be finished and delivered. Wish me luck to keep going…

Yes, I’ve Been Knitting, Too.

January 17, 2013 by Trish Leave a Comment

Ok, so this website did start out as a knitting blog, and I’m not intending to lose that concept. It’s been a while, but I have an update.

I’m fascinated by the Color Affection shawl, and have yarn to make four of them. *gasp*

This one is made from Dream In Color Starry yarn in brown, grey and blue. This one’s a gift for someone who could use a little extra sparkle in her life, so you’re just going to get a sneak peek for now. Sorry!

Closeup of brown, gray and blue striped shawl — Color Affection in progress

I’m loving knitting this project, and I’m looking forward to the next one, which will be for ME! That’s all for now… gotta get to work.

The Fun Part

May 30, 2012 by Trish 1 Comment

See what this is?

Closeup of Clapotis, showing beginnings of dropped stitches

This week, I’ve finally begun the “straight rows” section of the Clapotis pattern. This means I get to drop stitches! Yay! On purpose. I’ve actually done this before (follow the link and scroll down for the evidence), and it is terribly fun at the outset. The problem, as I see it, is being able to maintain my mojo all the way to the end. I know this about myself, because this will be the fourth or fifth time I’ve worked on one. How many finished objects do I have to show for my efforts? Embarrassingly, none. That’s just how I roll, I guess. But, I pledge that this time will be different. To wit:

I am using a most favored yarn, Lisa Souza’s Sock! Merino in the colorway, “Wild Things.”
I’m having the good fortune of being able to show some newer knitters how this pattern works, and how it is so elegant in its simplicity. (Just don’t discourage the noobs by telling them how boring it is to knit after a while, ok? We don’t want to discourage their enthusiasm.)
I’m enjoying some really fabulous audiobooks to listen to while knitting. Right now, it’s the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon. I’m only on the second book, and I’m completely addicted!

So maybe this is the time that my long-suffering fantasies of wearing a Clapotis in public will finally come true. It’s about time that I owe this one to myself, right?

Now, if only I didn’t have the distraction of wanting to cast on for Color Affection… It’s a sickness, for sure. Wish me luck.