Friday, September 14, 2012

Finished-Object-Friday #3

Guys, I love Finish-itis!! In the past few days I've finished not one but two long-term WIPs! First, my Fall Shaelyn shawl. I am so pleased with how this shawl came out. The yarn is The Sanguine Gryphon Bugga, colorway Painted Damsel, held double which makes an incredibly lush fabric when knit on size US 10.5 needles.
This has been hibernating forever because I knew I was running short on yarn and would not be able to complete another repeat of the entire chart, but I still had a bunch of yarn to use up, so I wasn't sure how to proceed. I let it sit, and sit, and sit, I wasn't comfortable just winging it. When I picked it up again on Tuesday, I tossed in a lifeline just in case and went at it. This, I think, says a lot about how I've cahnged as a knitter over the past year. Before, the pattern felt like some kind of sacred voodoo magic that I was afraid to mess with. Now I modify at will! I am knitter! Hear me... quietly click my needles?
I ended up working another repeat of the lace section only (not the stockinette), added plain knit stitches as needed to the beginning and middle of the rows so that the lace pattern aligned correctly, and increased 2 sts on the wrong side rows throughout to give it a wider shape. After that I knit two sets of a row of eyelets (*YO, k2tog*) and a garter stitch ridge and bound off using Jenny's Surprisingly Stretchy Bind Off, which is fantastic for shawl edges, btw. In retrospect, I would've liked it just as well if I had left out the eyelet rows and knit a bit more garter stitch but no matter. It's done! And I only had 2 grams of yarn left. Love when it works out like that. :)
 
My second FO is a pair of socks, woooooohoo! Just in time, too, since it's been getting chilly at night. These socks were the May 2011 shipment of the BMFA Rockin' Sock Club. The colorway is Maia, which I adore, and the pattern is Transition Point by Star Athena.
The pattern involves some lovely seed stitch, which I think is underutilized as far as stitches go, and a lot of traveling twisted stitches. It's neat the way everything twists and turns. I modified this one, as well, changing the foot so that the slipped stitches make a 'V' across the top and the rest of the toe is knit in stockinette. It mirrors what happens on the back of the sock and I like the dainty look it gives them.
I can't believe that both of those projects were in progress for over a year. There's no good reason for that kind of dragging out! Except these socks required charts and much fiddling, and fiddly charted socks do not get knit very quickly over here, since socks are my travel project and I hate referring to charts when I'm on the move. (Excuses, excuses...) Now, which long-suffering WIP to conquer next?

Year of Projects progress update (7 down, 43 to go):

1. WIPs: 2/10 finished, 1/8 left in progress
2. SIPs: 1/5  finished
3. New Projects: 1/14 finished, 2/13 left in progress
4. New Socks: 2/6 in progress
5. Of My Own Design: 3/16 finished, 2/13 left in progress

 

18 comments:

  1. You = Rock Star! Holy cow woman, you didn't just finish those, you bent them to your will! Love it.

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  2. OOOO! Both your FOs are gorgeous! I love the yarn choices in both! The shawl is exceptionally beautiful. Great job.

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  3. They both look great! I just love the colors!! That shawl is especially gorgeous.

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  4. I love the shawl, I just clicked on buy now! yours is so beautiful.
    and those socks! I haven't been very adventuresome with sock patterns.
    Those are so neat like a work of art.

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    1. It's fun to branch out sometimes. Enjoy the shawl!

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  5. The shawl looks lovely, I am so glad you picked it up again! And those socks! WOW! I LOVE them! The color lends itself well to the pattern and the pattern is spectacular and well yea... Great job :)

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  6. Ahhh! I love love love the socks! They are so super adorable! Oh course the shawl is gorgeous too, it looks fantastic on you. Wonderful work you talented lady!

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  7. Both of those FOs are awesome, and congratulations, I know exactly what you mean about feeling like you are finally a knitter because you can improvise changes to a pattern. Feels so good, right? And it looks great!

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    1. It does feel good to be like "whatever, I'll make it work!"

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  8. The shawl is gorgeous, I love the effect of holding the yarn double and the3 subtle colour changes which are really striking up close. It's beautiful.

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  9. Oh, I love both projects! The socks are supper fun!

    If you (or anyone else) is interested, I have a giveaway for a custom dyed skein of yarn happening on my blog right now. http://philwife.blogspot.com/2012/08/custom-dyed-yarn-giveaway.html

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  10. Ooooohhhh wow!!!! Simply stunning work...your mods are perfect for making these projects ooze your style...and what a style that is turning out to be! Love! Love! and love some more!

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