One By One

Another Happy Dance!!

I'm on a roll.... Marcella is done!!

Pattern: White Lies Design's Marcella, purchased at Stitches West 2006. Not available online, but the same pattern is in Vogue Spring/Summer 2006 (Lace Edge Jacket).

Yarn: KnitPicks Main Line, Dusty Lavender and Knit One Crochet Too Tartelette, Grape.

Needles: Addi's US7, circular 24"

Alterations: I knit a slightly bigger size due to my gauge being too tight. I did not attach a button as the closure. Otherwise, none.

Impressions: I feel a little whishy-washy about the pattern. I love the design, and I love how mine worked up - I did not love that I paid $9.50 for the single pattern at Stitches from White Lies directly then saw the same exact pattern (by the same designer) in the next $5.99 issue of Vogue Knitting a month later (which contain quite a few patterns, not just one). I used my single pattern most of the time due to my gauge (the Vogue version is a slightly smaller gauge with slightly different sizing), but I found that I had to refer to the Vogue version when the directions in the one I purched got a little muggy... So I guess you could say that the Vogue directions were clearer. So, like I said, a little whishy-washy about it.

I really like the Main Line yarn, I'm so glad I added more to my stash when it was on sale. There were a few rare time times when the yarn plys were a little splitty, but it didn't bother me so much as to prevent me from using this yarn again. The resulting fabric is lovely, I'm sure due to the cotton/merino blend.

All in all, I love the garment. It looks adorable with jeans... and I was even thinking I may have to sew a simple grey scoop-neck dress to wear with it as well (we'll see!). In the picture I have it pinned close with a safety pin.... I'm definitely in the market for a cute pin :)

Up next - Start-itis!

Sneak Peak

The knitting is done

Marcella is on the blocking board! Woohoo!

The knitting went very quickly. Granted, the knitted pieces are a bit on the small size as the crochet edgings really make up the bulk of the garment - but still, this is quite a record for me :)

I hope to start the crochet portion later this week.

Wow, that's a personal record!

I finished up the back piece of Marcella on Sunday evening. Count those days - started on Wednesday, finished on Sunday - FOUR DAYS! That's a personal record, I don't think I've finished any kind of back piece to anything in four days - woohoo! I really knit much faster using combination continental.

Pretty cute!

I started the left front piece immediately, and quickly realized that there was something wrong with the pattern or something. I pulled out the last Vogue, the pattern was also published there, and noticed that the fronts are knit a little differently. I think I will go with the Vogue version for the front pieces.

Speaking of Vogue, they, along with Interweave Knits, have their fall previews up. The only thing catching my eye with Vogue thus far are a couple of the sock patterns. Interweave has grabbed my attention with the Gatsby Girl Pullover, the Wanderlust Hoodie, the Swallowtail Shawl, Coral Crossing (minus the front pockets), and the Sienna Cardigan (plus I just love Blue Sky Alpaca). I can't wait to dive into my issue, just waiting on the postman!

Something New...

After hitting another road-block on the pattern for Mountain Peaks (it's me, not the pattern), and having just one other current project (moc crock sock) that I really wasn't feeling last night, I decided to start something new.

Remember me???

Marcella!! The first inch and a half on the back piece. I'm using the combination knitting method on this one because it's a lot of stockinette, and it's coming along quite quickly. On a side note, I am loving the yarn. It's Knit Pick's Mainline - 75% pima cotton and 25% merino - it's knitting up like a dream, and a perfect summer yarn because it's not heavy in the hands :) I think I might be ordering some more of this...

I got mail!

The stash I ordered from Knitpicks last week made it's arrival on Wednesday!

#1 - Essential in Grass. I'm thinking the Mock Croc socks for these puppies:

#2 - Alpaca Cloud in Stream - This is so going to be Peacock Feathers!

#3 - Couldn't pass up another batch of Alpaca Cloud in Tide Pool for Adamas Shawl!

#4 - Dyeable Wool of the Andes. Miyon and I are going to be playing with Kool-Aid dyeing in the near future.

#5 - Main Line in Dusty Lavender, for, you guess it, MARCELLA!

Here it is paired with the ribbon I bought... what do you think?

#6 - Last, but not least, a magnetic board for keeping track of pattern charts and the pattern for the Hanging Garden Lace Stole (I just couldn't pass it up!)

I made out like a bandit! Seriously, I'm itching to start Marcella, but I really need to work on the things I have going now (maybe finish one of them, at least!).