First 2008 FO and a tag-a-long

I'm really tickled with this one. Easy pattern and the colors - in person - are great. Photo not so great. Specs:
Pattern: Orphans for Orphans Sweater from Knitting for Peace by Betty Christiansen, pp. 106-107
Yarn: Knit Picks' Wool of the Andies Bulky in Wine and Redwood Forest
Needles: US 9 straights, and US 9, 24" circ
Size: 2-ish
Modifications: ribbed neck; I thought the neck opening was too large [and I hate cold air on my neck/upper chest]
Knit for: CIC January-March 08 Challenge = Sweaters & Vests in sizes 2-4

This one was finished last spring. It's been sitting in my closet since, but WILL get posted to CIC by the end of March.

Pattern: What...No Pocket in My Vest (with Optional Sleeves!)
Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky in Emerald and Taupe; with some leftover Austermann Step Melba sock yarn knit into the taupe band across the upper chest.
Needles: sizes 10.5 and 11 [US]
Size: 4-ish
Modifications: Added the sleeves and made the body a little longer than pattern
Knit for: CIC January-March 08 Challenge = Sweaters & Vests in sizes 2-4

Project Updates

There might be a photo or two later today. But, take my word for it, I've finished the back of my Oh-So-Simple cardigan and have started one of the fronts. I thought about doing Two-fronts at a time, but then decided not to since I complained of the weight of the back by the time I was knitting cuff to cuff.

And, I only have to finish the bottom band and the neck of the Knitting for Peace Orphans for Orphans Sweater. I'm doing K1, P1 for the cuffs and bottom band instead of garter stitch. And instead of doing just a crocheted row or two around the neck edge, I'm going to do some sort of K1, P1 finishing. But the neck is not round, but square, so I'm working that out in my head. I know what I want it to look like. Stay tuned.

Oh, yeah. I *WILL* be able to finish it today. We're closed for the day. Woo Hoo! The roads were awful yesterday. In fact Travel Was Not Recommended in the area. We've had another 7" of snow on top of the 5 inches we had a few days ago. Both storms left fluffy snow - easy to shovel, but drifting badly. So - I can knit...and clean. Maybe I'll do 30 mins. of knitting, then 30 mins. of cleaning, etc. I'm so undisciplined. All I accomplished over my three day weekend was watch the grandsons and knit. Sometimes both at the same time :-) now that Buster usually leaves my knitting alone. [Sounds like I had them all weekend. No, just 3 times over the weekend. While the mama went shopping late yesterday afternoon and Buster napped on my bed, Sport and I took the Christmas tree down. He's a such good little helper!]

KoolAid Fun

Learned a lot doing this. #1 lesson - I need a bigger crockpot. I'm not giving directions here. Just google yarn and KoolAid dyeing. I looked at several different directions I found online & then went to work.
I received 3# of undyed yarn several months ago, and I finally worked with some of it after Christmas. First I rolled the skein into approx. 4 oz. balls.




Then I worked with three balls. With one I tried the cold pour method and used 4 pkgs of Lemon KoolAid and 2 pkgs of Orange KoolAid.

Next I zapped the dyed wool in the microwave using 3 two minute sessions on High, with a 5-10 minute rest in between.

Then a rinse.

And an air dry.

Also tried the crock pot method. I liked this best, but a larger crock pot would work better.

I should have left well enough alone with this Berry Blue and Lemon Lime, but I thought it needed a little yellow. So I added some Tones' Yellow [from the box-of-four colors.]

Also used the crock pot method for this one:

2 pkgs. Strawberry and 2 pkgs. Pink Lemonade.



Now to find a pattern for felted kids slippers.

WIPs

In my scant free time, I've been plodding away on the Oh-So-Simple Cardigan since before Christmas. I have about 1.5" to finish on the back (and back of sleeves.) But, it's getting so heavy, and going from cuff to cuff it takes forever to finish a row.

Pattern: Lion Brand free pattern "Oh-So-Simple Cardigan"
Yarn: Red Heart Worsted in Painted Desert 0303
Needles: US 8, 24" circ
Knit for: Me!

I felt I needed a diversion, even though I am so close to finishing the back of my cardigan. So I started a little kid's pullover for the current CIC challenge.

Durn it - need better light, but you get the idea.

Pattern: "Orphans for Orphans Sweater" from Knitting for Peace by Betty Christiansen, pp. 106-107
Yarn: Knit Picks' Wool of the Andies Bulky in Wine, Taupe, Emerald, and Redwood Forest
Needles: US 9 straights, and US 9, 24" circ
Knit for: CIC Challenge
I'm doing the center panels in the variegated Redwood Forest. The body will be in Wine, and the sleeves will probably have some Taupe & Emerald stripes, probably.

Happy New Year!

Hoping and praying that we ALL have a good 2008!

So far it's been a lazy morning for me. Finished my 1/2 pot of coffee (1/2 the caff.) while online reading blogs, news, etc. It's too darned cold outside - wish I could stay inside till April. Oh, well. One can wish!

A New Year and a new look to my blog layout. I need to find out if I can condense the FO - 2007 list into one link. It should be do-able, but maybe not on blogger.

I'll have photos & description of my first attempts at dyeing wool later (maybe today.)