Appley Dapply

Blog Do-Over

I haven't blogged in ages mostly because I've been over on Ravelry keeping track of all my knitting but I've been knitting a lot more lately and decided to revitalize this blog. However I've renamed and redesigned it and moved it to here:

http://www.kimleyknits.com/

Happy knitting!

No Willpower

Well, I had intended to try to finish at least one more WIP before starting another new project but who am I kidding...

I bought the Victorian Lace Today book and yarn for this project quite a while ago and then got too intimidated to start since I'd never done any lace knitting before so I (wisely, I think) did a few easier lace projects first and now this seems like a piece of cake.

It's the "Scarf with the No. 20 edging" (pg. 84 for those with the book) and I'm knitting it with Alchemy Haiku yarn which is much like Rowan Kidsilk Haze but slightly less expensive (at least at my LYS) and I'm happy to say that it's actually a bit softer - much less itch factor than the KSH.

FO-Misty Garden Scarf

I'm focused on finishing up some WIPs so here's one I started last year.

PATTERN: Misty Garden by Jo Sharp from Scarf Style
YARN: Brooks Farm Primero (bought at Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival)
NEEDLES: Addi Turbo lace needles size US 6

This was a super easy lace pattern and I love this yarn though it's not quite as soft as I'd like and not recommended for those with more sensitive skin. It's slightly scratchy. But the colors came out beautifully. I've not been very happy lately with the way a lot of my variegated yarn knits up but this one worked beautifully.

FO-Fountain Hat for Heidi

Catching up a bit on the blog...

Here's a hat I knit for my friend Heidi. I loved knitting with this Optim yarn! It's so soft and the finished fabric is just wonderful.

PATTERN: Fountain Hat by Katie Himmelberg from Interweave Knits Spring 2008 (freebie on website)
YARN: Chameleon Colorworks Evolution in the October colorway
NEEDLES: Knitpicks Options Nickel Plated US size 4 circular needles

I knit this using the magic loop technique with my new Knit Picks options needles. These needles are pretty nice - similar to Addi Turbos but of course significantly less expensive. The join isn't as smooth though and at one point, my join got loose (probably my own fault for not tightening it enough) and my yarn got stuck and that was not fun! But overall, I'm really happy with this set of needles and they come with cable caps so you can easily remove the needles for another project when you want to put something on hold.

FO-Monkey Socks for Mom

I actually have more than one finished object that I haven't blogged about yet! So, here's the first one. A rather belated Christmas gift for my mom (I gave them to her at the end of February...) Everyone loves Monkey socks! I'm still working on my own Monkey socks but hopefully those will be done sometime soon.

PATTERN: Monkey by Cookie A. from Knitty Winter 2006
YARN: Blue Moon Fiber Arts Socks that Rock - Lightweight in the Puck's Mischief color way
NEEDLES: Addi Turbo Lace US size 2

FO-Fetching Mitts for Janel

Well, I've been woefully neglecting my sad little blog here. Life sometimes gets in the way of the fun stuff but I have been knitting a bit. Although it was gift knitting so I couldn't blog about it right away but now I have some stuff to show.

Here's one new FO - Fetching Mitts for my dear friend Janel. These mitts are such perfect gifts. They are quick and easy and everyone loves them!

Some of you may notice that Janel is wearing a Maryland Sheep & Wool Festival T-shirt - yeah, she's a fellow fiber geek! It's always fun to knit for those who really appreciate it.

PATTERN: Fetching by Cheryl Niamath from Knitty Summer 2006
YARN: Knit Picks Andean Silk in Lettuce
NEEDLES: Takumi Bamboo DPNs, US size 6

Rhinebeck Report

The NY Sheep & Wool Festival - aka Rhinebeck - was a lot of fun. I got up at the crack of dawn which for those of you who know me is not something I do with any zeal. It better be something pretty damn good to get me out of bed before the sun rises! And it was...

I took the bus up with the Big Apple Knitters Guild. We got there around 11am and the festival was in full swing. I suspect quite a lot had already been sold out!

I managed to do a bit of damage although I wasn't quite as crazy as I was at Maryland Sheep & Wool fest. I found myself both overwhelmed and underwhelmed at Rhinebeck. There was so much stuff that I had a hard time deciding what to buy but on the other hand, I didn't really see a whole lot of stuff that I hadn't seen before so there wasn't that "I better buy this or I'll never see it again" feeeling.

Here's what I managed to stuff in my bag...

A much needed large niddy noddy. Now that I'm wheel spinning, my one yard niddy noddy isn't big enough for the large skeins I get from the wheel. This one is a basic Ashford. I'd hoped to find something a bit more interesting but couldn't find anything else that I liked. This one wasn't expensive so it will do until I can find something groovier.