Little Wit Knits - Unplugged

Last night I cast on for a pair of socks for me at knit night. Tonight I turned heel #1. I will hopefully turn heel #2 tom’w at some point. Huzzah! It seems way cooler than it really is, I only knit the leg about 3″ long because I am trying to conserve yarn. Once again the yarn is playing tricks on me regarding it’s weight.

Pic in the am.

So I wanted another quick knit. They make me happy. I grabbed this mystery ball of yarn in my stash thinking it was bulky when clearly it was worsted. (This is because I was dropped on my head as an infant, it’s not my fault) [Ok not really please don't write angry letters to my mother.] At any rate it clearly wasn’t going to knit up anywhere near gauge so I just doubled the number of stitches I cast on and knit on until sunrise.

I like this photo. The boy thinks it’s silly.

Alas, it took a few more days to knit since worsted doesn’t knit as fast as bulky. Since the ball of yarn was a mystery to me (it never had a ball band - such a tragic youth it led) I had no idea how much yardage there was. I resolved to knit until it was gone since it was pretty and I liked it. I went to knit night working on it and the yarn rainman informed that it was malabrigo yarn.

From the left side.

Go figure. I was hoping in swaps and other activites to receive some of this mythical malabrigo I am always hearing about and there it was just sitting in my stash marinating. I really like how it turned out. I got a button from The Merc and fiddled for a bit to figure out proper placement. Enough of the babbling already. On to the details!

From the right side.

Description: A neckwarmer for me.
Pattern: Cashmere Neckwarmer by Kim K.
Yarn used: Mystery Yarn Malabrigo stuff 90 grams worth
Care Instructions: Well hand wash cool since I don’t know what it is.
Needle Size: US 9 (5.5 mm) DPNs because well I wanted to cast on and they were there in front of me.
Modifications: The pattern calls for knitting 25″ and I knit until I ran out of yarn. I also picked up the button loop a couple stitches over so that it wouldn’t be too large for the button. My button is 1″ the pattern calls for a 1.5″ button.
Finished Size: 6.5″ x 41″
Date Started: 10/1/2008
Date Completed: 10/12/2008
Notes: I really do love how the stitch pattern shows all the color in the cowl.

Close up of the front. I love the button.

Close up of the back.

The Merc was having a big sale and I found some very nice and soft Misti International Pima Cotton on sale. I bought up 2 skeins of the black to make a longer Liesl to be worn when it is cooler out. Liesl the long had her debut at the boy’s best friend’s wedding September 6. I finished it just in time to wear to the wedding. Alas it took me almost a month to get around to taking some better shots. So now she is officially done. Well except for the clasp that I bought to sew on the top that I haven’t sewn on yet. I rather like how this turned out.

Liesl the long from the front. Funny thing is it’s really only early dusk.

Description: Liesl the Long
Pattern: Liesl by Ysolda
Yarn used: 2 skeins Misti International Pima Cotton/Silk Colorway Black 50 (83% cotton, 17% silk) 100 g / 191 yds
Care Instructions: Hand wash
Needle Size: 7.0 mm
Modifications: I copied off Cassady on Ravelry and knit it without the purl ridges below the yoke.
Finished Size: 34″ size
Date Started: 8/29/2008
Date Completed: 9/4/2008
Notes: I made the high neck, down to my hips (ish) and sleeves a bit longer than the elbow.

Leaning up against the tree in our backyard

From the side. It’s really not that dark outside.

Closer up detail of the lace pattern.

Close up of the lace pattern from the back.

Well I should have had an FO for you today. A glorious testament to bulky yarn big needles fast knitting. However, even after buying an extra ball to make up for the boy’s lengthy limbs, I still ran out of yarn. I ran out of yarn with 10 measly rows left on the sleeve and that’s including the BO. Sigh. Now I must go rustle up another ball of this wayward and discontinued yarn. Maybe next Friday I will be able to show you the real FO. Until then, on to the neckwarmer, christmas socks, christmas gift, and the other myriad of items on the needles.

I have decided to take part in this year’s Socktoberfest. If you would like a little insight into my sock making history I have the questionnaire I answered over in the Ravelry group.