Vest-uary...and Socks

March is finally here! The weather's getting warmer, and we can tell spring is finally coming!

I joined the Vest-uary group over on Ravelry last month, and was able to complete my vest in just 12 days. Yay for no sleeves! I used the Leftovers vest pattern from Knitty, and several leftover worsted weight yarns. I'm not sure about it though - I feel a little wacky and clownish when I wear it.



Pattern: Leftovers from Knitty, Winter 2004
Yarn: Leftover worsted weight wool, mostly Cascade 220. The ribbing is Reynold's Soft Linen held double.
Needles: US 7 (4.5mm) & US 8 (5.0 mm)
Mods: Lengthened the body to 15", short-rowed the shoulders.



If I were to make it again, I'd probably try to come up with a pattern for the stripes instead of just randomly choosing them, and use fewer colors. But, maybe this is fine. I love Kristen's Staccato Hoodies, after all. Oh, and please ignore the weird face I'm making in the above photo. My sister and I need to work on timing photos better :)

I also made a pair of socks last month out of (what else!) Noro:)



Pattern: Garter Rib Socks from Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch
Yarn: Noro Kureyon Sock, 1 skein, color s185
Needles: US 1 (2.25 mm)

And, I was given my first award! Thanks Beate!



I'm going to pass this on to:

Octopus Knits
Sam at Sticks, Strings & Crafty Things
Amanda at Jolie House
and
Hilary at The Yarniad

FO: Noro Striped Socks

They're finished! Actually, I finished them November 23rd, but have neglected blogging about them.



Here's the specs:

Yarn: Noro Kureyon Sock, color s164, about 3/4 of a skein
Pattern: Wendy's Fingering Weight Toe-Up Socks with Gusset Heel
Needles: US 2 (2.75 mm)
Mods: None!

I really enjoyed knitting these socks and it's going to be hard to give them away (they're a gift). But I have enough yarn left over for a pair for myself. And no, I didn't find a way to stretch the yarn :) I used the yarn leftover from these socks plus a new ball for this pair.



Next up, my NaKniSweMo sweater. I didn't manage to finish it by the end of the month, but it's almost done and I hope to block it later this week.

Norovember

Besides being NaKniSweMo, this month is also Norovember.

Like many others, I enjoy knitting with Noro yarns, especially their sock yarns. So, I've cast on for some socks.



These are Wendy's Fingering Weight, Toe-Up Socks with Gusset Heel. I'm making them striped using a new ball of Kureyon Sock in color s164, and the leftover ball from these socks. I'm enjoying them quite a bit.

A Finished Project and Some New Ones, Too

I finished a pair of socks a few weeks ago that I never blogged about.



This is my second pair of socks with Noro Kureyon Sock and I'm sure it won't be the last. After having to frog my Meida's Socks, I just wasn't into the sock knitting for a while. But the Kureyon Sock took care of that.



I made a ribbed sock this time instead of plain stockinette. I'm a tight knitter, and the last stockinette pair I made is a bit tight on my foot - I have to do some coaxing to get the sock over my heel. To those of you who make plain stockinette socks, is this just how they are, or do I need to go up a needle size?



Pattern: Madder Ribbed Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush
Yarn: Noro Kureyon Sock, 1 skein, color S95
Needles: US 1 (2.25 mm)

I also started some new projects.

First, the Flower Basket Shawl in Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool.



I finished the first Bird-In-Hand Mitten:



I've started the second mitten, but I've only done a few inches of it.

I started the second toe-up sock of the pair that I started in April, which I've just turned the heel on.



I decided to try the Meida's Socks again, this time knitting a little looser and on US 2 needles instead of US 1's.



And, the project that I've put everything aside to work on, the Equinox Yoke Pullover.



Both sleeves and body have been completed and joined, and I'm working on the colorwork part of the yoke now. I'm hoping to finish it this weekend. It's going pretty quickly and it's so much fun to work on a fall sweater again.

I've got a few more thins that didn't make it into this already long post that I'll save for next time. I think I'm finally getting back into a blogging rhythm!