UhlissaKnits

I have no illusions about the fact that no one ever sees my posts,  so I'm going to go ahead and share spoilers of an ongoing MKAL.   I have two MKAL projects I'm hopelessly behind on,  and three of four others I joined but never started,  so of course I needed another.  Last year, I participated in my first MKAL, Casapinka's The Sharon Show. My color choices were terrible,  but otherwise I loved every minute of it.  Despite the knowledge that I probably won't keep up this year,  I couldn't resist joining this year's MKAL, the Snark-o-meter . I made it through the first clue on schedule,  and even started the second.  That's about the time I realized how many other projects I have that were also calling to me. I'm behind now,  but plan to catch back up soon,  once I get a few of these other WIPs where they need to be.   xo, Uhlissa

I absolutely love the idea of my Leaves Shell , but it's been in a little time-out for the last month or so.  The yoke went well, but then I struggled so much with picking up the stitches for the body that I pretty much resigned myself to the fact that I might never get it done.  However,  finishing my Dimbala sweater this week,  I had to pick up some stitches and had an epiphany.  In some random forum,  I read a completely unrelated comment and suddenly understood a better approach to picking up all the stitches. It worked so well on my sweater that I promptly pulled this shell out of its hiding place and got to work.  It wasn't easy,  and it's definitely not perfect,  but I have all the stitches I need and am really excited to make some progress. Hopefully I'll finish while it's still warm enough to wear it.   xo Uhlissa

Pardon the terrible photo. Apparently I'm making a sweater that matches my bedspread. If I had taken Dimbala on my work trip last week, it would probably be done. I'm so close, I didn't want to take up my precious suitcase space with something so big that wouldn't keep me busy. I overestimated myself, as usual, and probably should have taken it. I currently have half a sleeve and the collar left to do and keep getting distracted by all these other projects instead of finishing it. I blame the fact that it's 100 degrees and won't be able to enjoy the finished product for several months, even though I made pretty short sleeves. until tomorrow, xo Uhlissa 

After working on my Tree Farm Socks, I was fighting the urge to cast on a new pair of socks for myself. I managed to convince myself to pull out Curling Mist , which I've been neglecting since about February. They're pretty slow going, but I found myself enjoying working on them a little more since they've been in time-out. It might be because the cable pattern is only on the top half of the sock now so it's a little easier and faster. I did have to take a break to hand wind the cakes of yarn that had fallen apart into balls, but even that was kind of enjoyable. I think that process also helped relax the yarn a little, which had been twisting pretty severely. I love the Birch Hollow Sylvia Sock more than I remember liking it when I started the project. If I happen to get these finished, they might also become my mom's. until tomorrow, xo Uhlissa

My Tree Farm Socks are a gift for my mom. I'm going to see her in a few weeks, so after having the first sock finished for eight months, I finally cast on the second with a sense of urgency. The colorwork, while note one of my strengths, is addicting, and having been knitting most of my socks this year two-at-a-time, this feels like it's flying off the needles. Hopefully they'll be done and ready to journey with me to Idaho. More importantly, I hope they fit, since they're too small for me to try on! until tomorrow, xo Uhlissa 

As usual,  I have a lot of projects on the needles.  Feeling very unfocused this weekend,  I tried to ignore the pressure of some upcoming knitting deadlines and spent some time with almost all the WIPs in my house.  I quickly realized that I have enough projects going to share one daily for at least a week. So, welcome to the Week of WIPs! First up is the GAP-tastic Cowl . This has been in my queue for years,  but I honestly probably never would have made it if it didn't come up as part of a Yarnathon flash challenge.  Bulky yarn ( Malabrigo Mecha ) and size 11 needles are a departure from the projects I tend to gravitate towards.  I cast on in anticipation of a work trip, thinking this would be great for airplane knitting.  Turns out it's just rows and rows of seed stitch. It's easy,  it goes quickly, but man, does it get boring. I also managed to twist the whole thing in the beginning and didn't notice until I was ...

 When last we met, I was plotting and planning several light summer tops. I am pleased to report I now have three sweater WIPs, and the only one I've made much progress on is being knit in worsted weight wool (i.e. - the opposite of a light summer top). In my defense, the 3rd quarter of the Yarnathon began on the 1st, and it was hard to resist jumping in. I'm working on Dimbala by Laura Chau, using the insanely wonderful yarn Classy from Dream in Color. When I started looking for a pattern for this quarter, I was surprised how many of Laura's patterns were already in my queue. I wanted to do something that felt very different from all the things I've been working on, so I opted for this worsted weight sweater, which drew me in with it's henley neck and elbow length sleeves. I'm adding a few extra inches to the body and am hoping to split for the neck today. I love how quickly it seems to be going and can't wait to see how it turns out. ...