Trip Knits

The Washington vacation was a marvelous success!  It was great to see family and explore the Pacific Northwest.  We saw Mount St. Helens, Mount Rainier, Hurricane Ridge, the Pacific Ocean, Vancouver Island in British Columbia, and so much more.  As well as lots of stops at brew pubs.  I even fit in a local yarn store stop while we were in Victoria, BC.  The weather was just chilly enough that I was able to wear knitted socks every day, and could even justify wearing the two sweaters I brought, as well as some brief use of a knitted hat, scarf, and fingerless mitts (it was a chilly ferry ride to Vancouver Island, and there was a cold wind on Mt. Rainier).  It was an excellent getaway.  In addition, I was also relatively productive with knitting projects, and I learned the basics of crocheting as well!

Knitwear in action!  The Pacific Northwest has the perfect "knitted goods all year round" climate!

I'll start with my newly discovered crochet talents.  My aunt has both knitted and crocheted for years, so she busted out her old book of basic stitches and some radically bright Red Heart yarn, and spent an evening going over the basics with me.  My first couple attempts ended badly, since my cast on chains were so tight that they were unusable.  After getting the hang of that though, it went fairly smoothly.  I can now single, half double, and double crochet.  I can count my stitches, spot mistakes, and confidently rip them out and try again.  I've got lots of dishcloth cotton yarn waiting to get used up, so I'll try a few crochet dishcloths soon.  I also have my kool-aid dyed yarn that I haven't found any inspiring knitting patterns to go with it, so maybe I'll browse through the beginner level crochet patterns and find a good match.

I made... a thing!  It doesn't amount to anything, but I did get plenty of practice on all the beginner stitches I need to know.

Next up is the Hitchhiker Shawl.  I finished this up very early in the trip.  I was done with it by the time we landed at Sea-Tac!  Arriving extra early to the airport plus being unable to fall asleep on the plane meant I had a surplus of knitting time.  It's a very small shawl, and wears more like a scarf.  I love it!  The bright colors make me happy, and I got the yarn in my college town (Go Illini!) so it has some sentimental value as well.  The pattern is extremely simple, so it's a great scarf/shawl item for beginners, as well as for mindless knitting for experts. 

Of course the feline sidekick had to supervise photography.  Anytime I'm home, it's like I have a little, hyperactive shadow.

I spent much of the trip working on a pair of socks.  It took half the week just to settle on a pattern.  I chose patterns, started a sock, didn't like it, and ripped it out three times before finally deciding I would try designing my own pattern.  My Mixed Up Socks use Stephanie Pearl-McPhee's Sock Recipe for the basics, and along the front I've added cables from online stitch dictionaries.  I've got the info for the cables on the Rav Project Page for anyone interested.  Now that I've actually got it going, I really like them.  The yarn is Knit Picks Stroll Glimmer, and is ever so soft with a bit of sparkle added in.  I'm making them mixed up but still matching.  This sock's match will be opposite colors for each section.  I just finished up the heel, and am working on the gusset decreases now.  I can't wait to have a new pair of toe warmers in my collection!

I always love a good pair of cabled socks!

My other trip project was the Bright Light Market Bag that I am gifting to my mother-in-law for her upcoming birthday.  I got everything but the last few inches of the strap done while out of town.  Last night I finally powered through the last of the strap and the finishing while re-watching some Torchwood. I am so pleased with how the pooling came out!  Time to sift through and see what other colors of cotton yarn I have, because I have a few more of these to get done by the end of the year for gifts.

Done and ready for the MIL's birthday at the end of the month!

The trip also gave me justification to get a splurge purchase.  I usually aim for more affordable yarns, but since I was on vacation I went for whatever skein I fell in love with, regardless of cost.  Here's the beauty I found at the Beehive Wool Shop in Victoria, BC.  I'm still undecided what it will be.  I just couldn't pass up that color combo. 

Ancient Arts Fibres 100% Bluefaced Leicester Wool.  In gorgeous, fun colors.  Cannot wait to use, but I'm putting off winding it because I LOVE how it looks right now!

I'll have more about this project once I have the materials in hand, but I am starting a new sweater soon!  I have been browsing patterns for the past week, and finally decided that I need Ginny's Sweater from the Harry Potter Knits Magazine.  I'll be using Knit Picks Swish DK in the Marine Heather color.  I should have the materials within a week or so.  I can't wait to have a lovely warm project to work on, just in time for autumn! 

Model pics from the magazine linked above, and the color of Swish DK I'll be using.  Already in love with this project!  Can you tell I have a bit of an owls obsession?  :-)

Thanks for reading!  If there's anything you'd like to hear about, let me know!