So the count as of this morning is: Capelet 12/Minisweater 11. Thanks for all the votes, but dang did you have to make it so close? I was having a hard enough time deciding as is. Yesterday I was secretly leaning toward the capelet, and had every intention of making it.  But then all the votes came in and I wasn't sure what I wanted to knit.

I went home after work, wound up my yarn and started my swatch. I sat there looking at both patterns, still not sure what I was gonna make. So I asked my husband, "hey which one do you like better?" He answered, "um, that one is cooler." So he made the finally decision ( and gave me the answer I was hoping for.) So I cast on:

For the mini sweater. aka the boobholder!

The reason I was leaning toward the caplet was I was worried I wouldn't have enough yarn for this project. But I decided to go for it. I LOVE the puffy sleeves, so I couldn't get rid of those. Instead I left off all of the garter stitch edging. My plan is to pick up stitches around the entire thing after the body is finished. I am not sure which edging or yarn I am going to use, but I am leaning toward some cotton glace in navy, like Diana's Hourglass vs 2.o. I plan on swatching some options tonight.

Will she have enough yarn? Will her after the fact edging work out? Stay Tuned!

I have 2 skeins of malabridgo, in a dark blue that I have decided I must knit with. Why right now? I am not sure. I had originally bought the yarn to make the backyard leaves scarf from Scarf Style, but I want something pretty now, not a scarf for next winter.

So help me decided what I should cast on for tonight:

Anthropologie Capelet, by the amazing Julsey.

Minisweater, by Stefanie of Glampye

I have sweaters in both styles that I like. So I will wear either pattern. I am leaning towards one, but I wanted to hear what you thought before I decided! So leave me a comment, so I can cast on tonight. I need a simple fast pretty knit!

I finished the shawl over the weekend. It is nice to have a finished project. Here it is blocking on my carpet:

My first major lace piece, now I know why everyone seems to enjoy blocking lace so much. Minus the pins everywhere it was really fun.

Diamond Fantasy Scarf
2 skeins KPPPM
5 and 8 clover bamboo needles (straights)

April 11- April 14, 2006!

The piece turned out smaller than I imagined it. definitely scarf sized, too small for my broad shoulders. But I do like it, plus I know someone who will give it a well loved home if I decide it isn't for me after all. I am going to hold on to it for a while, but overall I think I am not really a shawl kind of girl. I would still like to knit a long rectangular shawl, like river, to see if I may like that better. But it seems these lacey pieces are better suited else where. Now don't get me wrong I LOVE how it turned out, I loved knitting it, and I will still continue to knit lace shawls. I just don't imagine I will be the one wearing them. And that is ok, for me it is more about the process anyway!

My favorite part of the piece? The bottom point and the i-cord edging. I want to edge everything with an i-cord now!

On another note, I haven't been around much lately. Things at home have been a little crazy, our lives have been up in the air for many months, and now they are finally settling into place. We decided not to move across the country, the job wasn't worth leaving behind all we love here. We are very happy. Both of us have big job changes coming up, along with a move (a much much shorter move) to the next city over. A city I might add that has a Target!

Although I didn't grow up here, I think I am a California girl at heart! So yes I made a big ta-da about moving across the country and now here I am saying that we are not. But I couldn't be happier...

More knitting soon!

I have  gotten through quite a few of projects I have had sitting around, ok... all but birch. Why is birch the bane of my existence? Seriously, I have like 20% left... Time to finish it. Well of course instead of finishing I started new stuff:

Diamond Fantasy Scarf, with 2 skeins of Koigu, from the stash (yee ha). The color is a nice peachy beige, not as orange as the picture. I am making this to wear to a wedding next month, with a dress I haven't gotten yet. I picked this color because it goes equally well with black or brown, I don't own much else! At first this pattern was giving me fits, nothing was matching up, I ended up starting over 3 times. But after that it has been moving along so fast. I am working off the chart instead of the written instructions and I like that so much better.

I have 4 of the 6 repeats done, the picture above only shows 3. I am really enjoying this pattern, if it is something you have thought about knitting, do, it really is an enjoyable pattern. I can't wait to get to the i-cord edging (hopefully today)!

And more socks:

Sundara's amazing sock yarn in Cirque. I just adore how these colors are knitting up. Each row is a fun surprise and each sock is almost knitting up the same. My default sock pattern, toe up, k3p1, very exciting.  I am feeling very springy, time to start new things..

I had a chance to spend some time with my parents last weekend in Santa Monica. We had a great time, it is always great to see them. I also got to give them their presents, the secret knitting I have been working on. So on to the socks:

My mom's

Info:

Embossed Leaves Socks, IK winter 05

Started: March 11, 2006- March 23, 2006

Nature Palette- chocolate, 2 Skeins

Inox Cir #2- 24 Inch

Mods:  Went with a normal longtail cast on and didn't do the twisted rib either. Shortened the ribbing, the lace is the focal point of the socks anyway. Went with a short row heel, of course!

I had a tough time given these up. So far these are my favorite pair I have knit. I really enjoyed the pattern, even though this is the second time. This was my first time knitting with Nature Palette, I liked the yarn. But I did think it knit up a little un even. That may have been because I was knitting with a larger needle than normal. Either way the unevenness really worked with this pattern. I think I am in love with solid colored sock yarn!

My Dad's

(so hard to photography these black socks!)

Info:

Lozenge Socks -Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush

Louet Pearl Black- 3 Skeins

Size 0 Addi Turbo- 32 inches

Time: March 23- 30th 2006

Mods: Shortened the leg by 2 inches and added a short row heel.

My first pair of men's socks, knit on zeros no less. The pattern moved along pretty quickly and was easy to memorize. I used just over 2 skeins, if I had shortened the cuff by another inch I could have made these with just 2 skeins, but i didn't want to make them too short. I would have never been able to finish these socks without the help of this. My goodness, did it save my eyes. And it is still mounted next to the couch, as I have found helpful with all my knitting projects.

Well, I know these socks have found a happy home! Now what to cast on for next...

... come on you know I have another pair of socks going! But sweater plans are in the works, just have to write up a pattern first!