fo: lemony snicket socks

Pattern: Lemony Snicket Socks by Sabine on Magknits
Yarn: Koigu KPM Premium Merino Wool, 175 yds, 2 skeins (with a little left over)
Needles: 3
Gauge: 28 stitches/4 inches
Began: March 18, 2009
Finished: September 4, 2009
Modifications: Because I didn't get gauge, I made a size medium even though I definitely have large feet. I didn't modify the pattern until the toe decreases. I got tired of working the decrease every 4th row and switched to every row after I had done 4 decrease rounds instead of after 7 (it also was looking like the socks were going to be too long.) I stopped when I had 10 stitches remaining and grafted them together, too.
It's pathetic how long it took me to finish these! The first one was done in April but the second sock dragged on. The pattern was kind of annoying to knit; I detested the rows where I had to cross the purl and knit stitches, but I'm pleased with the final result. This is the first pair of socks I've made for myself (after the cable footies, which I've never worn since I lost the first before I finished the 2nd).

still not finished

I need to crochet edging around the neck, sleeves and bottom, as well as crochet buttonholes on the placket and sew buttons on. Still, I couldn't resist taking a photo when I tried it on...I think I'm going to like the finished product! Here I am sewing up the side seams with mattress stitch.

coin purses

I whipped four of these up yesterday, even though it is really much too hot and muggy for sewing here. I don't have my fabric stash with me, so I had to use leftovers from the monkey. Next time I'm going to line them with some interfacing so they are a little bit sturdier.

fo: molly monkey

I saw this cute monkey on knitterella's blog and followed the link to get the pattern to make my own! I modified it just a little bit: left off the hair, the beret, the decorations on the shoes, and the sleeves. I'm happy with how she came out and may make another one soon...maybe a boy monkey.

tuxedo top in progress

I finished the back to my tuxedo top a couple of weeks ago, and blocked it, too, but it's taken me this long to get a picture up. When I finished knitting it, I found its measurements were that of the small size, which is decidedly not for me! However, it stretched out a couple of inches while blocking. Still, several flaws did not block out--this yarn shows a lot! I dropped a stitch and didn't discover it until several rows later, and the after-effects of picking up that stitch is still visible, unfortunately. Even more unfortunate, the errors show a lot more clearly on the purl side--and the piece is in reverse stockinette! Oh well. I will hope that the front (which I am knitting VERY slowly, I only have about 6 inches after 3 weeks) has fewer mistakes.

Another post will follow very soon, as I am just about finished with a little sewing project...

fo: baby bolero

Began: Sometime in May
Finished: About a week later
Yarn: Misti Alpaca Pima Cotton and Silk
Needles: 8 (I think)
Pattern: Baby bolero from One Skein
My gauge was a little off, not enough to make me want to change anything, but it came out larger than newborn-size (my niece would be swimming in this sweater right now, obviously) so she'll have to wait a couple months to wear it.

Very cute, fun, easy pattern that I recommend...

new project and a coveted object

I cast on for the tuxedo top that I've been thinking about making for over a year. I'm using elann bamboo and it's very soft and pretty but very splitty, annoyingly so. Also, I've restarted several times as my gauge swatch completely lied to me. I think it's going to be a somewhat boring knit; it's almost entirely reverse stockinette on size 3 needles.

And it's not yarn that I'm coveting, it's this: