Wingspan

I finished my KAL project for my Ravelry group. We knitted a pattern called Wingspan. It was fun and easy, no counting rows. I chose to use Trekking XXL yarn for mine. When I finished it, I thought it needed a little something extra, so I crocheted a border around the bottom. I think it turned out rather nice.

The yarn Trekking XXL

In progress.

Finished! I also decided to add two more triangles to the end.

My swap

I took part in a Lion Brand Swap on Ravelry and this is my swap package.

I needlefelted this little sheep as part of my package.

Now I am taking part in a KAL. We are knitting this from a pattern called Wingspan and I chose to use Trekking XXL for mine. 

I just finished needle felting this little bear for my etsy store.

He is fully five way jointed with thread.

Final Item

I finished knitting the final item for my swap. I knitted a grey cowl using Lion Brand Vanna's Choice yarn in the colorway of #149 Silver Grey. This, along with the fingerless mittens and shawl from the previous  post are for a Lion Brand Yarn Swap.

This pattern is from the book "Knit & Wrap" by Nathalie Mornu. The design is Frivolous by Jolynn Burt. Her's is a bit more drapey because she used Naturally Canon Spa, which has 25% bamboo, 75% microdenier acrylic. The Lion Brand Vanna's Choice is 100% acrylic.

I think it turned out rather nice.

Swap

I belong to several swap groups on Ravelry. Right now I am working on a swap for my Lion Brand Swap group. We have secret swap partners, and these are some of the things I am working on for the swap.

I knitted this shawl from Lion Brand"s Vanna's Choice. The color is Dusty Purple. I knitted it on #7 circular needles. The original pattern called for a sock weight yarn, but I use worsted weight.

I also knitted a pair of fingerless mittens, called Coppice Mitts by Courtney Kelley. They are featured on the 

cover of Interweave Knits Accessories 2011. I used Lion Brand's Vanessa's Choice yarn in the colorway of Purple.  

The last two pictures are closer to the right color. I am also working on a cowl for the same swap, an I will post the photographs as soon as I am finished.

Some New Items

I am so thrilled, I now have a great Swift and a large ball winder. I already had a small ball winder, but needed something for my larger skeins. 

This is my swift, please excuse the background.

And my ball winder.

I just purchased this beautiful yarn, and haven't decided what I am going to make with it yet.

It is so soft and heavenly.

I have been busy knitting items for a knitting swap and I have finished one item and am working on another, but I can't show them until I have mailed them to my swap partner. It is a secret swap and I can't give away the surprise.

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

More sock

I have finished about half of the second sock. I wish I had kept better count of the rows, I am sometimes lax in that area, but that is the beauty of these socks, you have your personal footprint.

 

These socks call for a JSSBO (Jeny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind-off), the same as the first two pair of socks in this book.

I am knitting these socks with two Addi Lace circulars. I do love these needles.

And, as usual I have my personal helper.

Growing sock

I have reached the point where you insert contrasting yarn in two rows of stitches. These stitches represent the front and back of the sock.

 I have already knitted the heel, but haven't yet closed it.

Now you insert cable needles into the stitches that had the contrasting yarn and remove the yarn. I have put a piece of yarn through the middle stitch of the row between the cable needles. This stitch will be cut.

This is what it looks like before you cut the middle stitch.

After you cut the middle stitch you pull out the stitches to withing two stitches on each side.

I have started knitting my leg portion of the sock.

My sock so far.

And this is the leg pattern. It is really easier than it looks, and my sock fits like a glove. It is really easy to try it on as you knit to make sure everything fits.