I've slaughtered the Little Lamb

I'm not going to finish the baby sweater that I blogged about on Monday. I don't like it. At all.

I know part of it is the weight. 16 sts to 4" for a baby sweater just doesn't feel right to me. Yes, it makes a fast knit, but it doesn't seem to be in proportion. I'm also using Bernat Satin and it's not working well at that gauge. Too loose, making the sweater look sloopy (I always prefer a firm gauge).

So I'm pulling out my favorite Sirdar baby sweater booklet... my old stand-by and try to get my two baby gifts done this week (ya, okay, maybe one). Um, they'll be sized for newborns... faster knitting!

Okay, off to stash dig for a nice soft washable DK weight yarn...

Little Lambs and Mermaid

Even with my complete focus on Bioshock (on second playthru to try to get a few more acheivements), I'm still getting some knitting done.

The body of my Mermaid is DONE! Even the icky attached I-cord bind off (not my favorite thing to do). I decided to take a little break from it before I cast on the sleeves, plus I have some small things to make.

Including a couple of baby sweaters. Thanks to Rosie, the first baby sweater will be done today. She had recommended "Precious Layettes to Knit" (a Leisure Arts booklet) and the Little Lamb sweater from it, and it is a fast and easy knit.

Little Lamb in Bernat Satin
click to enlarge

What's funny is that this is exactly the same pattern I used for my vet's quads a couple of years ago. Apart from gauge, and the addition of the stitch pattern around the bottom of the sweater, the directions are the same. Hmmm, sounds a bit like a copyright issue to me...

Baby Sweaters for Quads
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I will say that I sort of prefer the lighter weight version. The Little Lamb pattern does go quickly at 4 sts to 1", but there is something about the dk version that seems more baby friendly.

So I want to get the baby sweater done today while I shoot for the last three acheivements that I can get with Bioshock (there are actually two more after that to get... one is finishing the game on hard and the last one is still a mystery).

Best Game I've Played?

Definitely ranks up there... one of the most engrossing storylines in a game. Don't want to play the game, but want to know what it's about? Check out the plot synopsis.

A month and a half

So we're in mid-November and I have two more projects I want to finish by the end of the year. Must get cracking!

Mermaid is progressing, and I think I can have it done be the end of the year... hopefully sooner:

Mermaid
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I'm also still working on Matt's Ike Cardigan:

Ike
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Even if I can't get a decent photo of the color, I can get a photo that reallyt shows off the Gena hair, eh? That's the first sleeve which is just about done. I cast on the first front last night, as I needed something mindless... and what's more mindless than 2X2 ribbing?

I need to concentrate a bit on my knitting today... as I'm expecting Bioshock in the mail today or tomorrow. Must get as much done as I can, as I know once I start playing it, I'll be sucked in.

So off to try to get a sleeve done and maybe to the last gusset on Mermaid!

Progress, Sans Photos

It's really raining this morning, so I'm not going to bother with photos. Ike doesn't photograph well in good light... forget about dreary and raining.

I have to say that the pattern for Ike is pretty bad. Looks like they may have skipped an editing phase, as some of the errors are basic copy editing mistakes. Most of the mistakes are obvious if you've had any experience knitting, but reading the directions is a bit of a challenge (and you do have to read everything... even if it's listed under a different size, as some of the directions are listed under one size, but not an other). Luckily, I only read directions for the numbers (and oh, some of those are missing too).

One of the problems I've found is that after all the sleeve increases are done, the directions have you immediately start the sleeve cap shaping. Which would've given me about a 15" sleeve. Now Matt's a little on the short side... but even for him 15" sleeves is a bit short. Again, no biggie, it's very obvious, but just a little irritating. So this is definitely not a "blind pattern reading" project.

I'm still loving how it's turning out. The yarn is just scrumptious and I know Matt's really going to love it (He's been wearing my Ribby a lot and it looks great on him... must get him one, one of these days).

As far as other knitting goes... I've worked a bit on Mermaid and I'm officially on the right front, with the first gusset done. So that's only one more gusset to go.

I'm trying to stay focused on these two projects right now. It's hard for me. I'm itching to cast something on (especially on a dark, dreary, raining morning). Maybe after I finish the sleeve for Ike...

Knitting?

I'm now trying to get thru HALO 3 on Heroic. It's slow going. (I miss my pistol with the zoom). I also have 3 more skulls to collect (and for no reason, as I won't be playing with them turned on... except the IWHBYD and the Grunt Birthday Party skulls... the game is hard enough for me).

Anyway, I'm working a bit here and there on Matt's Ike Cardigan. The back is done and the first sleeve is started.

Ike's Sleeve
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Ugh, horrid picture. It's too dark and dreary this morning to get anything even resembling the beauty of this project. Matt's pretty excited about it, and that's always very motivating for me.

However, I think I'll concentrate on Mermaid a bit today. I've really been neglecting it, and I only have the right front and the sleeves to do yet. Two more projects finished by the end of the year means I need to concentrate on the projects at hand.

When Does It Move From Swatch to Project?

Okay, Ike I guess must officially be called a "project" and no longer a "swatch". The back is done and I've cast on the first sleeve (see, the sleeves have cables while the rest of the project is straight up st. st... so the sleeves might actually be FUN for this one!).

I frogged the scarf I started for Matt's new coat. I tried a bunch of different stitch patterns and nothing was clicking. He actually bought a pretty woven scarf to go with it, so he's fine for now anyway.

So I hope to work a bit on Mermaid this weekend and maybe a few rows on the Cindy Must Knit This Cardigan. I'm running out of time to get my goal of finished sweaters done this year... so I need to keep my concentration on a few projects. Which is really hard for me. However, I'm excited to have both of those projects done so I can wear them.

Maybe I'll have some photos for Monday? No pictures makes a boring blog, eh?

Tangled Yoke Cardigan Revisited

First, a quick thanks for all the anniversary wishes. Matt and I enjoyed our day together (we went shopping... a very odd and unusual pasttime for us). We both got new winter coats (as both of the coats we've been wearing are from several years... and several pounds... ago). I've already started a scarf for Matt and his new coat. Mine is going to take a little stash digging to get the right colors.

Anyway, my biggest problem with knitting is that the wheels of my brain are always turning... what's next, what else shall I knit, do I have any empty needles that I can cast that on? My favorite part of knitting is the planning. Finding the right pattern. Finding the right yarn. Casting it on to see if what I envisioned works... then it becomes work to actually finish the sweater. While I enjoy the rush of a finished project, I get a bigger rush from starting.

So that leads me to the title of today's blog.

Remember I did start the Tangled Yoke Cardigan for myself. Right after I got into Ravelry, I looked at the finished versions and noticed that most of the women that it looked nice on were petite and skinny. I might be short, but I'm far from skinny. I am large busted and I had concerns about the sleeves being too tight on me. So I abandoned the project.

Well, I admit that I can't stop thinking about it. I've seen more pop up finished, and this sweater "should" be a good style for me... hell, i even started it in a green yarn (as I have this rule about green and cardigans).

So I've got a plan... thanks to this clever knitter. A perfect solution so I can fit as I go... I can short row bust darts, increase more for the sleeves... it's all so much more simple when it's top down, right?

Okay, so that's the plan. After I finish the three projects that are sitting here in front of me. I admit that I haven't touched Mermaid for several days. Matt's swatch for Ike is progressing nicely (meaning that I'm about 5" short of finishing the back). However, the Cindy Must Knit This Cardigan is progressing well. The right front is about halway to the armhole shaping.

As you can tell, I'm sort of having the Blog Blah's right now. So I'm not going to be keeping to a regular schedule as far as updating goes.

We've Been Legal for 15 Years

Matt and I have now been legally married for 15 years (we'll be celebrating 20 years as a couple early in 2008).

We balance each other in many ways. There is no one that I am more comfortable with or enjoy being around more than him. We can make each other laugh, we can share things and opinions with each other without fear of judgement. We know that if there's a problem, we'll get thru it together.

We are both fortunate to have found each other and I think we both know this (and we don't take our relationship for granted). The unwavering, unjudgemental support that I've received from him over the years, especially thru some very difficult (and unsupportive) times has seen me thru a lot of tough moments. It's good to know that there is always someone there that has your back. Who can make the sacrifices to make us a better life.

So thanks Matt for being my better half.

Who Says Swatching Isn't Fun?

Check out the swatch for Matt's new cardigan:

Ike
click to enlarge
I'm using a Black Purl pattern called Mike & Ike, and I'm sort of combining the two patterns. It's a zippered front cardigan with pockets, but the pattern has you do garter stitch borders. However, I'm doing the 2X2 rib from the pullover version.

The yarn is the Queensland Collection Kathmandu Aran in a beautiful shade of brown (Webs just put it on closeout last week... a wool/silk/cashmere blend for less than $5/ball... woo hoo!).

I think I'll do an other 5-6", then swatch the sleeve shaping... just to make sure it's the right gauge.

The other productive knitting?

Mermaid
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Mermaid is still progressing. Yes, it has slowed down a bit... I blame the end of baseball season. Saying that, I'm just about to get to the last section (the right front) then just the sleeves. There's not a lot of finishing on this one since the body is knit in one piece... so I think I'm looking at this being done before the end of the year no problem.

Our SnB group meets tonight, and I'm hoping to go. I've been so run down for the last couple of months, that it's been hard to make it out (especially at night). However, we think we've found the problem and hopefully, I'll be back on track soon.