Finished Socks! And a new project OTN

Well, I got distracted yesterday and didn't end up doing a second post about what's on the needles. But, in my defense it's because I was finishing up a project, and thus, by the end of the day it was no longer OTN, but in fact a new finished project. 

I've finished the FINAL pair of socks from the socktopus book! This pattern is called 2luvcrew, and you can check out the Ravelry Pattern page HERE.

I knit these in Cephalopod yarns Skinny Bugga yarn in "Purple Soldier Fly". I really love this yarn and hope to get some more fun colored skeins this year at Rhinebeck. 

Sometime in the next few days I'm going to try to compile a little collection of my pictures of all the Socktopus socks and will hopefully get that posted here. 

So! Now that I've finished the lovely purple socks picture above, I bet you're wondering "what now?"  Well! I decided to cast on another pair of socks. After going on a break from socks since May, I'm really excited to get back into making them. I've had the yarn and this pattern picked out for a long time and I'm excited to finally get them knit up. I chose this pair to cast on because the pattern is easier and so should be good for bringing along when Lane and I go out and about during the long weekend. The yarn is Nalani yarns sparkle sock in Cheshire Cat, and I picked what I think is an appropriate pattern to go along with this Alice in Wonderland themed yarn: Down the Rabbit Hole. 

Here's my progress so far (not much since I just started) but I'm excited to see how these turn out! I already tried on the tiny piece I knit up and they should fit nicely.

I'm hoping to make quick progress on these socks and get my sweater for Rhinebeck cast on ASAP. I plan to get a swatch knit up for that by this weekend. (so there may be more pictures to post soon!)

Finished Project - Gemini Top

I've finished the purple Gemini top I posted about last Wednesday! I was hoping to get better pictures to post, but the weather hasn't been cooperating... so I'm going to post what I have now, and then maybe later put up some pictures of me wearing it.

This is pre-wash so it's a bit crinkly looking...

 And here's a close up of the neckline lace pattern:

I did give this top a nice soak and once it dried it was quite a bit softer (and I'm under the impression every time I wash it the linen will soften up a bit more). The sleeves are a bit floppy...but once I went back and looked at the pattern page again, it seems that's how they are supposed to fit. I'm not sure I really like how wide the sleeves are, so if I were to make this top again I think i'd work in some decreases to the sleeves, and also perhaps make them a bit shorter. 

Other than the fit of the sleeves I'm quite pleased with this top and how it came out! 

Now just to finish up my purple socks (which I'm aiming to finish by the end of this week) and I can cast on something new! (most likely more socks! And also a sweater I'd like to get finished for the NY Sheep and wool festival which is in October)

I'll probably do a post this evening with a picture of my socks in progress...after all it is what's on the needles Wednesday...

Wednesday - What's on the Needles

Well, in the hopes of trying to keep this regularly updated... I'm going to try to instate "What's on the needles Wednesdays!" I'm pretty sure I've seen other knitting bloggers do updates like this and I think it's a cute idea (sometimes they are also called Work In Progress Wed's), plus then I'll have an excuse to post and update even if I haven't finished anything since my last post!

So! Here goes. This week I've been working on my purple cotton/linen top. The pattern is called "Gemini Top" and can be found at knitty.com. I've made it to the start of the hip section (at least I did an increase row so I'm guessing that's for my hips). I think I have about 3 inches left to knit and then the bottom ribbing section and the sleeves. 

I've really been enjoying the simplicity of this pattern, especially since I was working on the Celtic knots shawl when I started. But, now that I'm getting towards the end the plain stockinette is feeling  a tad bit boring and I've been slowing down with progress...I think the best solution is to try and power through and finish up  by the end of the week. Then, I can work on finishing my one pair of in progress socks (they've been hibernating since May) and start something new! I won't post a picture of the socks just now since I really haven't been working on them, so even though they are "on the needles" they are being ignored until after this top is finished.

Time to bring this blog back to life!

Well... it's been more than a year since my last update, and I think it's because I try to pack too much update into each post. I think from now on I'll stick to little blurb updates and pictures. Easier for me to post, and more eye candy for looking at!

So! Now for a quick summary of the highlights of my knitting for 2013:

In January I finished up 4 pairs of socks for a Harry Potter themed knitting group I participate in on Ravelry:

I made it to round 5 (of 7) of Sock Madness (a speed sock knitting competition that starts at the same time as March Madness)

I also knit this cute little blue bubble baby blanket for my friend Molly's baby, isn't he just the cutest??

I then transitioned into warm weather knitting and finished this cute laceweight top with warm weather left to wear it! (I'm super extra proud of this one!)

And to round off the highlights, I just finished up this shawl for a baptism in Sept! Here's my awesome sister modelling it:

Other than these completed projects I have a pair of socks in progress and a purple cotton t-shirt that I'm hoping to finish soon, but I'll save those pictures so there will be something in the next update!