What's on Harry's Knitting Needles??? Part 1

“What’s on your needles?” he asks…I pause. “What project are you working on these days?” she asks. I’m confused. How do I answer this? And do they really want a thorough, honest answer? If they were smart, no. So I pick one to talk about. But here, in this blog post, I’m going to reveal all….everything that is on my needles. Multiple sets of needles. Yeah….a lot more than I even realized. And I’m not even showing you the ones I’ve decided to rip out since those do not even count.

But to be fair to myself, I have been super concentrated on working on developing my classes for my teaching circuit, including tons of swatches and samples, for the past three years. So some of these projects just had to take a back seat. Uhhh…yeah…some of them were started some time ago.

Needles #1

Spectra by Stephen West.

Yarn: Dark gray yarn is Isager Alpaca Merino (50/50) and variegated yarn is Regia 4 Fach Haltbar striping sock yarn (75 wool/25 polymid) worked on US Size 5 needles.

Goal: I really should finish this by the time I teach at Black Sheep Gathering in early July as an example for my Short Rows class, so be sure to ask me as to its progress. Then again, I can still show it as an example even if it is still on the needles. (Notice how I slipped out of that commitment.)

Spectra by Stephen West.

Spectra up close and personal.

Needles #2

Colonnade by Stephen West

Yarn: Plymouth Yarn Mushishi (95% wool, 5% silk) worked on US Size 9 needles

Hummm…there might be a theme developing here. Nope, that’s all of Stephen that’s presently on needles…though I’ve got gorgeous yarn for an Earth & Sky in the future.

Colonnade by Stephen West

Close up of yarn and the two patterns in Colonnade.

Needles #3

Ocean Kelp by Harry Wells, GoodforaBoy Designs (blush)

Yarn: Tahki Cotton Classic Lite on US Size 8 needles.

Goal: Complete it as a donation to the annual auction fundraiser for the John C Campbell Folk School in November. Which means it needs to be off the needles, blocked, and shipped by Oct 15. No problem….he says.

View fullsize

Unblocked, it’s a bit hard to see the beauty of this shawl.

Close up view of the “ocean kelp” as it grows…note the lifeline!

Okay…you have got to see what a lovely shawl this is when completed and blocked…so here you go.

Needles #4

Turquoise, Brown, etc., basic top down socks

Yarn: 100% merino, made into sock black on my Antique Circular Sock Machine, and dyed by me.

I have to rip out the toe of the one sock and add two rows and finish it…as a gift to someone with smaller feet…BECAUSE it does not fit the intended recipient BECAUSE somehow my gauge was an entire st off and I didn’t even think to check my gauge because I’ve been knitting socks of fingering weight yarns on size 1 needles forever and following my basic instructions forever as well. The very beginning basic lesson learned again…check gauge.

Goal: Get these suckers done as soon as possible and out of my sight. They condemn me every time I look at them.

Needles #5

Fingering Weight Argyle Sock

Yarn: Leading Men Fiber Arts Show Stopper, 75% Superwash Merino, 25% Nylon, 463 yds/100 grams on US Size 1 needles.

Goal: Get at least this one finished before the next time I teach Argyle Socks class…which is open ended right now…sooo, finishing this one will likely be a while. Don’t worry, when you take my Argyle Sock class, you make your first sock with DK weight on US Size 5 needles, so you move along fairly rapidly.

Leading Men Fiber Art Yarns in this sock…don’t you just love the colors! The background was called “Olive Juice”, the maroon was something with the word Kiss in it, and the brown was “Auburn”

Needles #6

Potato Chip Scarf

Yarn: Who knows? Actually, I think it was a Regia Cotton Blend of some sort…fingering weight. Worked on US Size 6 needles.

Goal: I’m not sure about this one. Do people even wear these things any more? I started it as a charity project when these were all the rage. It’s about two thirds done. I may just rip this one out. Help me out here people! Leave some comments…does this one stay or go??

Needles #7

Ribbing

I. Have. No. Idea.

Yarn: Some really nice Alpaca.

Goal: Attempt to remember its purpose. Given it has stitch markers on it, it seems to indicate there was something going on other than gauging. I don’t think this one is going to hang around on the needles.

Okay folks, that’s the end of part I, and I’m not sure if we are midway or not. Return next time to see “the rest of the story.” (Cue Paul Harvey—if you’re too young to recognize that name, Google it.)