More UFOs

As I sit here and write out my list of things to pack for the big family beach trip coming up at the end of the week, I have to think about what projects to take with me.  And as I do that, I study my Ravelry pages of 13 UFOs (unfinished objects).   Yowser!!!  Not sure at all yet which projects will accompany me yet.  It may end up being an eenie, meanie, minie, moe kind of thing.

Today I wanted to show you pictures on 3 of my favorite (okay, they're ALL my favorites) projects. 

The first is Hillflowers, and stunningly gorgeous Anne Hanson Knitspot pattern. 

I am much farther along than this picture show and the pattern has a really great rhythm as you knit.  The yarn is my favorite yarn - Bugga! by the Sanguine Gryphon - in the Dragonfly Tattoo colorway.

photo courtesy of the SG

As you can see my project photos do not do the yarn justice.  It is a beautiful, subtle colorway with hints of pinks, purples, yellows and greens all very muted.  This yarn is so soft and so drapeable.   And it blocks like a dream.  I'll be sure to post some blocking pictures when I get to that stage.  The Sanguine Gryphon shop has some tempting yarns.  I might have quite a few in my stash.  Like it said, it is my favorite yarn.  And Gryphon is a dear. 

So my Hillflowers stands a really great chance of making into the beach bag.  I can talk and knit while I work on this one. 

Project #2 is Potager another Knitspot design.  This one is is done is Madelinetosh Tosh sock yarn in the Chambray colorway.

This is my first project using nupps.  I've tried several methods of knitting the nupps and I haven't found one that I like better than the other (or easier than the other).  This is a design that I use the chart a lot for instead of the printed directions.  After I knit on it awhile I find I get into a unique rhythm of the pattern and it moves right along.  But I also find that I have to be quiet and think when I'm knitting this or I'll miss a yarn over and be ripping out a row or more.  So as much as I love this project, I don't think it's a good beach project.  Maybe I'll set September aside to finish this one up.

In fact, I love Potager so much, I have two (count 'em two) Potagers on the needles. 

This second one is done in The Woolen Rabbit Pandora, another wonderful yarn that is soft and squishy.  The colorway is Sweetheart, which was featured in the pattern release.  I love the color.   But sadly I am not much further along than this picture shows.

Now I know you're wondering why I have two Potagers in progress. Well, it's like this.  I couldn't find the first one and I was anxious to work the pattern - so I cast on a 2nd one and got this far (those darn nupps again). Put it aside and finally Potager Project 1 (say that five times fast) resurfaced as things tend to do around here.  I felt guilty about neglecting the first one and started in on that one again.  Now I may have "misplaced" the Sweetheart Potager.  It's not lost - just in hiding for a bit.  And I will get it done.  Maybe I'll put both Potagers on my September to remember Potager list.  Get 'er done!

And now we come to the sadly neglected 3rd project - Cluaranach.   Mine is made out of Sweet Georgia yarns tough love sock in the Boysenberry colorway.  This is quite a tight twist yarn and it took a bit for me to get used to knitting with it since I'm used to softer yarns.  Not that Sweet Georgia isn't soft, it is.  But the tight twist makes it seem not as soft as you're kniting with it. 









This project has been OTNs for over a year.  Yes, another casualty of misplacing the yarn and pattern in this baker's dozen of projects.  I found it again briefly in May of this year and saw the purl through the back loops and only worked a few rows before wondering if I was doing the stitch correctly.

Then Anne Hanson popped into Richmond, Virginia, for a class and she showed me how to easily do the stitch.  As usual, I was making it way too hard.  I really want to find this project (and I think I know where it is) and get it completed.  So I'm prioritizing this as the October to finish project.  And since I'm telling the world about it, maybe I'll keep myself to this schedule.  It truly isn't a difficult pattern once you master the one stitch.  The rest is easy. 

photo courtesy of AgnesTville

Now I wish I could take credit for this Cluraranach.  This is AgnesTville's magnificient project (and finished, I might add).  You can really see the pattern in her picture.  Agnes is one of the most prolific and talented knitters that I know.  I am in awe of her knitting.  I'm hoping my finished object will be half as lovely as Agnes' Cluraranach.

Next time, I'll focus on 3 more lonely UFOs.  And hopefully I'll have made some progress on something.

Kat