Too Busy Knitting

I'm on a roll!

I didn't get a picture of Patrick this morning, but I'm progressing on the front. I really only work on 4 rows or so a day.

However, other things are progressing a little faster:

Ribby II
by Chicknits in SilknWool
click to enlarge
My new Ribby. The color in the photo doesn't do this one justice. I'm using Moda Dea's Silk n Wool and that's the Plum colorway. I'm going to do the sleeves in Pewter. I can't say enough about how lovely this yarn is. It's a wool/silk blend. It's delightful to knit and the resulting fabric is soft with a great drape. I hope they expand the color selection, as I absolutely love it so far.

My eyelet cardi is stalled a bit. I need to find my shorter length circ needles so I don't have to do the entire sleeves on DPN's.

Eyelet Cardi
by Chicknits in Key Largo
click to enlarge
Again, I'm loving how this yarn knits up. There's a reason I snapped up a lot of this yarn when it was discontinued. The cotton/alpaca blend is so soft, the colors are so vibrant. I have to say that I'm really looking forward to wearing this come spring.

So, I'm sure you're wondering what I cast on? 'Cause you know I did.

Dollar and Half Cardigan
by Veronik Avery in Katia Papiro
click to enlarge
I'm "swatching" The Dollar and a Half Cardigan from the spring 2007 issue of Interweave Knits. The Papiro is an other old stash yarn, and is working perfectly with the pattern (it's a cotton/linen blend). The color isn't one I normally wear, but it seems right for the cardigan and the stitch pattern.

Hmmm, so that's two projects from really old stash. (I think I bought both of those yarns 7 or 8 years ago? sheez, has it been that long already?). I've got to start digging thru some of that stuff. There's some great yarns shoved into my storage shelves that need to find some projects.

Today's goal is to find those 16" circ needles for the Eyelet Cardi and try to finish the back of Ribby II. Let's hope while I'm searching for the needles, I don't accidently cast something else on....

Too Busy Casting On To Take Photos

Well, plus it's a dreary day, and that means crappy photos anyway.

However, let's do a run down of my current projects.

First: Beatrice is a warm sweater. Very warm. And comfy. It's a perfect sweatshirt style pullover for cold days. I'm glad I shrunk it a bit in the dryer, as it's much more comfortable (if not any more flattering... as even Matt says "you look nicer in more tailored styles". Ya. My fashion consultant).

The beautiful eyelet cardi is at the dividing for the armholes. I'll do that today. As with Beatrice, I'll finish up the skein of yarn I'm on, slip the body onto waste yarn then tackle the sleeves. I just think it's so much easier to do the sleeves before all the bulk of the body is done.

I finally finished up the back for Patrick and the front is cast on. Still on the ribbing (maybe 1/2" to go).

Oh, and I cast on a new Ribby. Cause I deserve it. Plus I'm making it in a purple/gray combo. Let's see if he steals this one!

I do think that the first Ribby will be fixed. I think I'll rip it back to add length to the sleeves. That will also allow me to try to fix the "back bubble" that has always bothered me about it. Both Matt and I wore that a lot, until I accidently shrunk it. So I think it's worth fixing. One day...

I admit that my concentration level sucks. I just can't stay focused on any project and I'm thinking about all the ones sitting here that I want to finish. Yet I want to cast on something new. Constantly.

Wonder what will be cast on today?

I Love My Dryer

Okay, I did try to get an updated photo of Beatrice, but "taking my own picture in the mirror" doesn't work well at all. So we'll have to wait a bit for a new modeled photo.

Let's say that I'm much happier with Beatrice after she spent about 20 minutes in the dryer. She's not felted, but she did shrink up a bit on me. The sleeves are now the proper length and the body hits me mid-hip rather than mid-thigh. I'm too short for long tunic length sweaters.

So while it's not the most flattering style in the world for me, it's a much better fit than it was before. Oh, and FYI: it's warm! Perfect for this time of year.

Not the way to start the year

So my first project for the year is done... Beatrice is still a little damp, but I wanted to see how it looked on.
Beatrice
click to enlarge... like it needs it
First, I can't imagine what this would look like if I hadn't shortened the raglan shaping. I think the armhole opening would have been somewhere around my waist. Even tho' I blocked it flat, the sweater grew in length quite a bit. Not a good look for me (it makes me a little more pear shaped than I actually am). It will be nice around the house, but I'm a bit disappointed. I'm not sure if it's the right design for my body. I debated on waist shaping, and I may have needed it. Anyway, let's go over the stats.

Beatrice
Pattern: Top Down Pullover #9724 by Knitting Pure and Simple
Yarn: Classic Elite's Beatrice in color "Monet's Pond"
Changes to the pattern: I used a ribbing around the neck and wrist band. I shorted the raglan shaping by about 2".
Problems with the pattern: I didn't find any mistakes in the pattern. I would say that the larger sizes have a design flaw in that the armhole depth is simply too deep to get to the circumfrance.
Overall impressions: Right now I'm disappointed. I don't like how it looks on me. Now, in complete self honesty, it might be a "body" issue. The fabric is beautiful, the yarn looks great in the simple st. st. pattern. I will say the yarn can be a challenge to knit with. It's a three ply yarn that seperates very very easily, so pointy needles might not be the best choice. I'll probably get useage out of the sweater, but it's not what I had in mind.

So I think there may have been some bad decisions on this. I might want to avoid this heavy of a yarn. I might need a more tailored style. I might need to lose a few more pounds...

Not the most satisfying project to start off the year with. I'm thinking there's a reason I've started remaking projects that I'm happy with. Once I've made something that works, it's easier to make it again.

Almost there!

I have a little over 2 skeins of yarn left on Beatrice. I want her done today! So I'm making this quick.

So far I'm very pleased with how the sweater is turning out. The Classic Elite Beatrice is beautiful in a simple stocking stitch sweater. While I had to tweek the Knitting Pure & Simple pattern a bit, it was the right style for the yarn. I'll of course do a complete review of the project at the final reveal. Right now, I can't wait to pull it on (it's chilly!!!!).

Okay, must find something entertaining to watch/listen to while I knit endless st. st. in the round.

The Laundry Mistake

I am a creature of habit, as most of us are. I do my laundry in a specific order, lightest load to darkest load. However, the last time I did laundry, I needed socks and my black sweatpants done first. So I did my white load immediately followed by my darkest load. I do whites in hot water, and the rest of my laundry in cold. Somehow, I forgot to change the water temperture for the dark load.

So I shrunk my sweatpants (that I needed), a brand new hand silk screened tee shirt that I got Matt for Christmas... and my Ribby Cardi. I'm the most upset over the tee shirt. I loved it and it was a "form fitting" tee shirt to begin with.

The Ribby isn't terrible. The sleeves are now way too short for Matt, and it's a little more cropped on me than I had planned. The biggest issue is the zipper. As it didn't shrink. I should be able to fix it. Just need to take it out and reinstall it. Ugh. I wouldn't mind making it again (and I do have some more planned), but I loved the tweed yarn I used and it's discontinued (tho' again, I have more of it in a different color combo).




Okay, while we're still talking about Chicknits patterns, I had a couple of good questions in my comments about it yesterday.

Deb: oh don't you think I won't be making more! The pattern is a simple knit, the styling is classic and different yarns make it look so different.

Fleecyknits asked about how the Eyelet Cardi is different than the Sitcom Chic. Good question! First, the Eyelet Cardi is a dk weight sweater, while the Sitcom Chic is an aran weight. The Eyelet Cardi is top down construction (which I love) while the Sitcom Chic is bottom up. The Sitcom Chic size range goes to a 46", the Eyelet Cardi goes to a 54". The gauge difference was enough for me to buy the pattern. The lighter weight is very appealing, especially for this style of cardigan. Bonne Marie also mentions that the Eyelet Cardi is more refined. She's had some time to improve the directions and the fit.

Carey asked me about my increase preference. Well, for this style of shaping, I use a M1R/M1L. I used the same increase for my Beatrice rather than the k1fb that the pattern calls for. I like the way it lays and gives a nice angle to the raglan shaping.

So I'm planning on working on Beatrice today (4 skeins left and she's done!) and I'll work a bit on the Eyelet Cardi. I'll try not to cast on a replacement Ribby. For Matt.. ya, that's it. For Matt. Doesn't count as a new project. Matt's projects never do. Right?

(edit: added photo)

If Startitis is a Disease

I don't want the cure!

Eyelet Cardi
Eyelet Cardi by Chicknits in Cascade Key Largo
click to enlarge

Yes, I know I have two Sitcom Chics in my wardrobe already. Let me say that my Cara Mia is getting a lot of wear this winter. It's perfect around the house, but a little too big to wear out. So I had made the Adara Chic one in the right size and I wore that a lot thru the summer and fall. The fit and style is very me and I find knitting them was very appealing.

So what could be better than a third Sitcom Chic? Why, a top down/dk weight version, of course!

I love top down construction. I like being able to try it on (like Beatrice). It's much easier to minimize seaming. Plus, increases are less bulky than decreases (and I find my increases neater looking than my decreases).

So while I'm still working on the body of Beatrice (a little more than 5 skeins to go!), I cast this baby on! The Key Largo (long discontinued) is knitting up like a dream. I have a huge stash of this yarn and just haven't found the right project for it. This hits the bill perfectly!

Tho' that Silky Tweed version looks tempting too, doesn't it?

Photos!

Ya, got off my lazy butt and took some photos today.

First up: my current obsession: Beatrice. Fixing the too deep raglan shaping has made this sweater much better fitting:

Beatrice
Knitting Pure & Simple Pullover in Classic Elite's Beatrice
click to enlarge
Worked a lot on this over the weekend. So both sleeves are done and now it's just a matter of slogging thru the body. I'm debating if I want to add (or rather subtract) a little waist shaping. I don't want this fitted, but I also don't want it frumpy (and my 3-hour glass figure can look even more frumpy without a little waist definition). We'll see... I do want this to be "sweatshirt" styling. It might have as much to do with just needing something to do than just knit stocking stitch around and around....

I'm also getting a little progress on Roam. Still not sure about this one. The knitting is very straight forward and I think the shaping is going to be flattering. However, I'm not madly in love with it. I'll keep slogging along, but something is not "clicking" right for me and I'm not sure why.

Roam
Roam by Laura Chau in Filati'sSailor
click to enlarge

I am still trying to work on Patrick, but I have to admit that it's a physically challenging project. As I still have a few more rows to finish on the back, I didn't bother with an update picture. The cable rows (and the wrong side after the cable row) is extremely hard to work. The mulespun yarn doesn't have a lot of flexibility and I'm knitting it at a very tight gauge. I will continue with it, as it's so worth it, but I really can only do a few rows at a time.

Since it's bitter cold, it seems like a good day to snuggle in under the afghans and knit. Maybe cast on a summery project (heehee). Or work on something from the WIP closet?

Sometimes It's Not Me...

So I spent yesterday swatching for Cherie Armour. I think the style is flattering and I could see me wearing it a lot.

However, everything I tried, I didn't like the fabric. Then it dawned on me... it's the gauge not the yarn that I didn't like. It's knit in a bulky weight. I tried several bulky yarns... didn't get the drape I wanted. Tried some yarns doubled, same thing. If I got the drape I wanted, it was too loosey goosey and the lace pattern was lost.

I finally realized that no matter how much I like the pattern (and I've looked at a lot of Ravelry... and in all body types. It's suprising how well this pattern adapts to different figures), I don't like the bulky weight styling of it.

Of course, I've got no business spending an entire day on a new project. I've got loads here to do (Patrick isn't cooperating. I'm now down to only 2" left on the back... but I know I've knit it more than that. I think it's ripping out rows of knitting while I'm sleeping. Beatrice is moving along well. The first sleeve is better than halfway done. Basically I'm back to where I decided to redo the yoke).

I'm just debating if I should rework the pattern to a more friendly gauge for me (I think something that knits at 18 sts to 4" would suit me more than something that knits at 12 sts to 4"). I think it would be pretty simple to do... but I really should be focusing on my current projects.

Right?

Restless

Keeping to a few projects is sooo hard for me. I'm struggling with how slow Patrick is right now. I swear I've been working on it, yet I still have 4" to go on the back. I have Beatrice back to the first sleeve. I shortened the yoke quite a bit and added the difference to the underarm cast on. We'll see how it works. Basically I'll have to have knit almost 3 sleeves for this sweater. Yay, and I soooo love knitting sleeves.

So my eyes have been wandering looking for something else to work on. I like casting on projects. Doesn't matter how many are in my closet waiting for me to finish. Doesn't matter that I have swatches and writing to do for the Master Knitter program. I want to cast on something!!!

Dreary and dark Mondays seem to be made for a new project!!! Or game playing....

Seeking a new hobby...

I tried on Beatrice yesterday. It's going to require some frogging and some math. The pattern doesn't give row gauge... which is actually quite important when doing a raglan sweater. I'm fine on the stitch gauge, but it's certainly not working row gauge wise.

The thing is huge on me... mainly because the armholes end almost at my waist. Yes, I'm short, but geeze who needs armholes to be that large? The sleeves are also huge on me... a true rarity (I'm the one that struggles with these 13" sleeves on patterns right now). By my math these sleeves will be 17.75" around. That's almost 3 inches larger than I need.

I noticed that all the sizes have the same number of stitches cast on for the underarms... rather you are making the 38" or the 54". So I'm thinking that it's a problem for all the larger sizes... as you go up in size, the deeper the sleeves get.

So I'll frog back the partial sleeve that I have done, frog back the body until I have a comfortable sleeve depth, then compensate with additional stitches under the arms.

Good thing I went ahead and did the neckband and started the sleeves before I had much done on the body. I save myself a lot of heartache and ripping.

This is my second Knitting Pure and Simple pattern. My Adara Pullover is one of my favorite sweaters and I didn't have this problem. I did make a smaller size (that's a tee shirt style sweater and this is a sweatshirt style sweater where I plan on wearing something underneath it so I need more ease) plus it's a tighter gauge.

So yesterday was one of those days. I was playing with my new Elann silk and it didn't work for the project I wanted it for, the needles I was using on the Beatrice broke (my last order of Knitpicks needles were VERY disappointing... oh and my email about it went unanswered). Then the bonus of having to rip out several days work of a project that was supposed to be simple and mindless.

I think I'll take up flower arranging.

Patrick meets Beatrice

I'm pretty much cycling thru three projects right now. I'm working on Roam only in the morning while Matt and I have breakfast. So I'm getting a few rows done each day. It's a good way to tackle a project like that. It's all seed stitch with a little shaping in it.

Then I move to my knitting nest and work on Patrick.
Patrick
click to enlarge
As you can see, he's progressing very well. I'm past the armhole shaping and I have about a repeat and a half to go on the back. The problem is that I'm knitting this at a very firm gauge (as I mentioned in my last post) and it's a little hard on the hands... especially the cables. Soooo worth it. It's turning out just the way I had hoped.

I think this is a good lesson... if a project is langishing, evaluate why. I love the pattern, but I couldn't get into it with the previous yarn (nothing wrong with the yarn, just wasn't the right yarn for this project). I've got a few more of those in my closets that I'm going to have to re-evaluate... make sure that I have the right yarn to the project.

Well, since Patrick is a little hard on my hands, I needs something easy to knit on in the evenings when we watch TV. Beatrice is a perfect choice:

Beatrice
click to enlarge
I'm using Knitting Pure and Simple's Neckdown Pullover for Women and the yarn is Classic Elite's Beatrice. Beautiful! The yarn is three plies of multi colored yarns, so it does split very easily, but the pattern works great with it: shows of the colors so beautifully.

As you can see, I went ahead and did the neckband and I'm on the first sleeve. I like to do those before I have the full sweater, as it's less bulky. The other advantage is that I can then make it as long as I have yarn for. No waste, and no running short. I'll just work the body until I'm out of yarn. I'm just about ready to switch to dpn's for the first sleeve, and that's going to be a treasure hunt. I think I have 10.5 dpns... just don't know where!

Well, let's see if I can get an other half repeat done on Patrick before lunch!

Too Lazy For Pictures!

Thanks to those that left me comments about my knitting. My issue is more to do with my own self confidence rather than my actual knitting. The idea behind the "wall crit" was to help you deal with critisism. However, I've had so much growing up that it does the opposite for me. To have something I designed rejected (and in a very backwords kind of way) was a much harder on my self esteem than I want it to be. Wouldn't it be nice if our logical side can over come our emotional side?

Anyway, I'm pleased with what I got done for the Master Knitter's Program yesterday. My report is in first draft. I have one swatch done and a second started. I did the seed stitch first, as for me it's the easiest to get nice even tension.

I also got to work a few rows on Patrick. I'm about an inch shy of armhole shaping. I will say in retrospect, that this yarn is too heavy for the pattern/gauge. It's very tight and a little hard to work. If I were to start over, I would use the Beaverslide worsted weight rather than the fisherman weight.

I do have an other project on the needles. I like to have something mindless to work on, so I started a top down pullover from Knitting Pure & Simple in Classic Elite's Beatrice. uh, YUM! It's great. I'll try to get pictures of it for tomorrow as well as a Patrick update.

Know thy own crap

Part of the joys of going to an art college is the "wall crit". It's when you get to put your work up in front of the class and everyone gets to critique it. It's a fun process. In a typography class, we did this per project, then at the end of the year, we put up out entire class work.

So I put up my work and the professor asked me what I thought of it. I responded. "I think my first half of year's work turned out okay, but the second half stuff is crap". He gave me an A. Bascially he felt that being able to recognize my own crappy work was as important as actually being able to produce quality work.

I have a BFA, yet I've never worked as a designer or illustrator. I've only interviewed for maybe 3 jobs with my portfolio. We have none of my artwork up in our house. 'Cause I know it's crap.

Every once in a while, I forget that and try to do something. That happened over the weekend. I was indirectly told that something I had done was crap. So now I feel like crap. Even tho' I know that I'm not a designer nor an illustrator.

Here's the real problem. I'm working on the Master Knitter Program Level 1. I think I'm a pretty competent knitter. However, I'm not sure I want someone looking at it and telling me it's crap. Knitting is one of the few things that I feel good about myself with. I'm a cocky knitter, sure. I actually have a lot of self confidence with my skills, maybe too much so. So I'm not sure if I'm ready for the wall crit with it in case it is crap.

Lovely Patrick

Patrick progress
click to enlarge
This is turning out beatifully. I will say that this particular Beaverslide yarn (the McTaggart Tweed) is definitely a heavier weight than I expected. I was thinking heavy worsted, but it leans just a bit more towards chunky. (the label does say between 3.5-4 sts to 1" and I'm using it at 4 sts -1"). So my fabric is very dense. I'm shooting for half a repeat a day and I'm about 1.5 repeats before the sleeve shaping.

Oh, and just an Ike update. We're now on Day 3 of him wearing it...

He Likes Ike

So Matt hasn't taken Ike off (except to ride the trainer last night... and yes Larry, I do think he knows how lucky he is as he mentioned how much he loves the sweater at least 8 times yesterday). He then informed me that I should get more of the yarn. No, really, he did. Well, you don't have to tell me twice. I ordered some gray and promised him a sweater in it by the end of the year.

Seems the yarn is perfect. It's not bulky, yet warm. It's soft (which is very importatnt to him) and he absolutely loves it. So, yay! Oh, and I'm not mentioning what the yarn is, as it's getting hard to find. You'll have to go thru my archives... heehee.

Speaking of sweaters for Matt... Patrick is moving along. I do find the mulespun yarn a little harder to cable than a worsterd spun. It has a little less flexibility. However, it's worth it. The sweater is looking good and he's excited about that.

I'm at the point right now that I prefer to knit Matt sweaters. He's smaller than me (I usually shoot for a 40" finished size for his projects) and since he's 5'5", they really don't take me that long to knit. Seems that I'm struggling a bit with fitting things for myself right now, so I feel better about projects for him.

I did start an easy mindless project over the weekend. A top down raglan sweater in Beatrice. Perfect for the end of the day knitting after working on Patrick all day.

I'm also still working on Roam, but I'm getting more color pooling than I'm happy with. There's one band when I decreased and I'm getting it again at the same stitch count on the increasing. I've tried working a second skein in, and it's still pooling. I'm going to either have to frog it back and fix it somehow or live with it as part of the nature of the yarn. Might take a little break from it to think about it.

Okay, I'm off to hunt down my Taste of Aran Afghan pattern. I've got class on Saturday and during the Christmas decorations and the construction, the pattern has been misplaced (ya, it's not with the knitting).

Hello 2008!

Hope everyone had a great start to the new year!

We're finishing up the powder room re-do... and of course with any construction job, it sort of snowballed into more than just the powder room. Some of the family room got mixed in. However, the bathroom is usable again with just a few minor things for Matt to finish up. Sadly, he's back to work today.

I finished up shortening the sleeves on Ike, and Matt loves it. He loves the yarn (I knew he would) and it's a comfy cardigan for him. I did a little "knitting nest clean up" to prepare for the new year. I also cast on my Jan 1 "new project" yesterday.

Patrick
click to enlarge
I restarted Patrick for Matt. I gave him the Beaverslide yarn for Christmas (the color is called autumn licorice, and it's stunning in person). I had originally started the pattern in Shadyside Farm's alpaca and it just wasn't right. The Beaverslide is perfect (and love the yarn). The handspun alpaca is going to be better for a more simple style sweater.

I also frogged the Central Park (no relation) Hoodie. Just too many small irritating issues with it (that reversed ribbing was going to drive me nuts). I'll restart it eventually, as I really like the style of it.

Since it's the start of new year, I'm always thinking about what I want to accomplish in the next 12 months. Top of my list is Level I of the Master Knitting Program. I've had the package for a couple of years and just got the revised packet. I'm setting myself due dates so I can hopefully get it done this time!

I'm also going to go back to my "finish one, start one" mentality. This really works for me. An older project and a newer project at the same time. Maybe I can get more done this year? I've got a lot of projects started that I love, but just haven't put the time into finishing them. I hope my concentration is a little better this year and maybe I can stick to 2 or 3 projects at a time? (ya, I know, good luck with that Cindy).