Bad Mojo?

I'm definitely in a knitting funk right now. Everything I've been working on has had some kind of disaster. The Summer Braids needs a lot of work (after wearing it around the house, I decided that I don't like how wide the sleeves are. I'll be ripping them back and doing my decreases more often). The BPT/CPH is a disappointment due to reversing almost all of the cables. I'm going forward with it, as while it's not as clever as the original design, it's still going to be a nice cardigan. Now here's the latest disaster:


My Gaelic Morning Mist... is going to be a complete frog. The body is complete, and so I blocked it while I worked on the sleeves.

It's too small. I am using a tighter gauge (but by one stitch per inch), so I went up a size to compensate. Still too small. So I'm debating if I want to go up another size or use a larger needles. I've decided that I really like the density and drape of my current gauge, so I'll just go up an other size. So it's going to be a complete frog and restart. Yum!

So I'm now worried about working on Iain for Matt... I want no disasters with that!

Door Into Summer

I'm a wee bit tired of this whole winter thing... and so I've come down with a bit of Startitis.

I'm fighting it off right now (with Iaian being the only new project... for the time being). However, I'm soooooo tempted to just cast on anything and everything.

So today might be a "swatching" day... just a day to play with yarns and patterns and stitches. Or I might play Ratchet & Clank all day. Hmmmm....

Iain Love

I spent a lot of time on Iain yesterday... and quite frankly I am in love.

Every once in a while you find the perfect blend of pattern and yarn. The pattern not only suits your knitting style, but you know the finished project will be loved and well worn.

Iain is such a project. Matt is going to love this when it's done (the yarn is very Matt friendly). The coziness and styling suits him. He wasn't sure about the hood at first... but when I told him how much I love the hood on my Cassidy (keeps me toasty!), he thinks he's going to like it.

So while I want to get back to finishing things... it's hard for me to put this one down. So I don't think I will. For now.

Monday is a new beginning

After a Krap-tastic weekend (ya know the kind that anything that could go wrong does), I'm shaking off the pissy mood and looking forward to a new week.

So I cast on a new project! Introducing Iain for Matt:


Ya, not a lot to see yet, but so far, I'm loving it.

I'm doing it flat rather than in the round (I don't like doing cables in the round). The pattern is very well detailed... meaning that there's a lot of shuffling of pages to get all the info you need. Sort of reminds me of knitting Sam the Ram.

I'm using the Cascade Eco that was used in the pattern. Shocking! I have an almost compulsive need to do a yarn change, but I had this in my stash, and I knew Matt would love it. The yarn is soft and the color is very neutral. I'm really enjoying the yarn... might have to get one of the dyed colors for me!

I also got my BPT/CPH Hybrid past the armholes... so it should move a little fast now that the yoke is done:


Of course I have a major screw up, (as I worked on it over the weekend... see first paragraph). Even tho' I swore I meticulously used the right cables for the shoulders, they are in fact backwords. So the cables on the side and on the underarms will be opposite from the ones on the front and back. Let's call it an artsy non conformist design alteration rather than a screw up. Ya, I did it delibrately... ya that's it!

I'm still not 100% about Roam either:



Not a good photograph of the colors. The colors are pooling, but I love how the fabric feels and I need to sort of go with the flow a bit when working with multicolor yarns. This is not going to be a quick project... a girl can only do some much seed stitch at a time. However, it's nice to just pick it up and work a few rows at a time. Eventually it'll probably get moved to my breakfast knitting... once I get the Sailor's Ribs and Ropes done (that's a big "eventually").

So lots of projects again... I'm mostly concentrating on the BPT/CPH, as I love how it's knitting up. The fabric is just wonderful, and it's going to be a great spring cardigan for me.

Okay... so off to get an other cup of coffee, throw some laundry in and get back to my projects!!!

Seeing Red Again

Two projects to update today... both in red. The very hardest color to photograph. Neither project shown is a good color representation of the actual color. Both are much much more stunning in person.

First up is the stunningly beautiful, but tediously slow knitting Sailor's Ribs & Ropes:

Sailor's Ribs & Ropes Cardigan
Click to see the lovely dog hair
Wow, this is going to be wonderful when it's finished. It's slow. Very slow. I'm only getting two rows done a day (on average). 10" finished with an other 5" before I divide for the armholes. I keep telling myself that if I were knitting it in pieces, the back would almost be done by now.

The slowness doesn't bother me much on this. I know that in the end, this is going to be the classic red cardigan. It will never go out of style, and the tightness of the fabric means it should wear well. Limiting how much I work on it daily cuts back on how tedious it feels. I actually look forward to the set times I work on it.

The other red project is the yarn from the second Cassidy that just wasn't working (remember the tweed didn't work with the cables of Cassidy). However, I really wanted something similar: a hoodie for sure. With cables. So I've cast on a BPT CPH. I'm mostly following the pattern for the BPT, but I'll make some changes (like ribbing and added body length).

BPT/CPH Hybrid
click to enlarge
The heartier cables definitely work better, but I'm not doing the same cable as the BPT pattern (which is an eight row cable. I'm doing a 6 row). Just to show how difficult red is to photograph, here's an other view (with slightly different adjustments):

BPT/CPH Hybrid
click to enlarge

So the finishing trend has sort of stalled. As has the adding stash to Ravelry. Eh. I'll get back to both. Eventually. I still think I can reach my 24 finished projects this year.

Out of Focus

I've hit the wall a bit with the finishing frenzy. Then again, I might have hit the wall in general with my knitting. I can't quite get into a knitting groove right now.

I did cast on Roam with the Brooks Farm Solo Silk, and it's pooling a lot. So I need to decide if that's the look I want or not. The fabric is perfect: great drape, nice sheen with just a little haziness. The colors are fab, so we'll see if I get consisant pooling. This is why I don't knit with multi colors very often... I just seem to prefer the solids.




I also seem to not stash a lot of DK weight yarn! I downloaded Chic Knits new pattern (how could I not????) yet I don't have a lot in my stash that I think will work. I seem to prefer worsted/aran weight yarns.

We did get to see Kraemer's new yarns at Pittsburgh. The Belfast is quite nice (a cotton/linen/acrylic/silk blend that's a marled effect, a little thick and thin). Theresa bought a skein, so I got to swatch it. Marls aren't usually my favorite (Elann's Adara aside) but this was delightful to knit. Looks great in just straight up st. st. (Kathy Zimmerman did design a very pretty lace twin set for it). The new yarns aren't up on the site... yet. However, I think the Belfast might be PERFECT for the Sandrine).

So I'm sort of looking for that "trigger" project. Something that inspires me a bit. I might do a knitting nest clean up today or fix the Summer Braids buttonbands (that might be my mental block... as I don't feel that it is DONE).

I'm Stashin'

(not to be confused with Rage Against the Machine's "I'm Housin'")

Had a super fun weekend at the Pittsburgh Knit and Crochet out. The new facility is great... we didn't get lost (tho' West Virginia is lovely, we didn't really want to visit there last year) and the selection of resturants in the area was fab!

Lot's of vendors (I think there were a little over 50). A lot were hand dyers, which mostly isn't my first choice. However, got me some Brooks Farm yarn:


This is already cast of for Roam. Looking good so far. We'll see if I get any pooling at the waist shaping. It's a sport weight wool/silk blend, single ply. Stunning. There's a bit of a halo with it, as well as a nice sheen.

Part of the thing I love about us going to this show is that we stay in the same hotel as the knit out. Meaning that we can go back to the room for a little mid day break. Theresa can get a nap and I can swatch what I just bought. The solo silk was so incredibly yummy that I had to get more:


So yummy it's not even funny.

So as always, I'm very inspired to cast on 15 projects... but I'll try to stay focused on finishing. Would still like to have two projects done by the end of February... and I'm running out of time!

Pittsburgh

Aaaaaah, Valentine's Day. Romance, love, hearts, flowers.... and yarn.

Yep, I'm off to Pittsburgh today for the Pittsburgh Knitting & Crochet Expo. I think it says a lot about my relationship when I spend my wedding anniversary at Stitches East (with Julie) and Valentine's Day at an other knitting show (with Theresa).

I will say Matt and I did have a lovely dinner out last Friday to celebrate our introduction 21 years ago (thanks to Matt's room mate. Who knew that it was a life altering fraternity party, eh?). Since Matt and I were together over 5 years before we were legal, we have always tried to celebrate on that day.

So off to fondle some yarn. Drink some wine and have breakfast at Eat n Park. Full report (and maybe even some photos) next week!!

Summer Braids Finished... for now

I got buttons on my Summer Braids today, then decided to run it thru the washer and dryer (cold delicate cycle and low heat on the dryer). First... wow, does this yarn pill. Second... I'm not happy with my buttonbands at all.

As I've mentioned before, it's a pet peeve of mine. Wonky, "ruffled" button bands look amatuerish to me (and I'm shocked at how many professionally designed cardigans I've seen with ruffled buttonbands). Buttonbands should lay flat... there should not be puckering or gapping between buttons.


So I'm going to rip out the buttonbands and maybe the neckbands and redo them. However, it's wearable for now... so I'm going to do project stats (and I'll update this page when I have the buttonbands fixed).

Project Stats

Pattern: Summer Braids by Cabin Fever

Yarn: Tatamy Tweed DK by Kraemer Yarns (color is Teal)

Changes to the Pattern: I did the buttonbands and neckbands seperately, as I didn't want the neckband to be as wide as the buttonbands.

Problems with the pattern: Nothing really. Most of my issues with the pattern are more personal taste on how I like to do things.

Overall Impressions: "eh"... I'm not giving this a thumbs up or a thumbs down. The sweater looks frumpy on me. I'm thinking part of this is my dissatisfaction on the buttonbands. Or it could be the square neck. I will say I was shocked with how much the yarn pilled, which is a disappointment. So it's a nice light weight around the house sweater, but it's not going to go into the "best project ever" catagory.

I'll say this is the second time I've made this pattern. I made it ages ago and never loved it. When my MIL visited and borrowed it while she was here, I told her she could take it home with her (looked much nicer on her petite frame). So maybe this pattern just isn't suited for my figure.

I'll also say that nothing throws a monkey wrench into the "Finishing Vibe" than a mildly disappointing project (especially after the exteme satisfaction of Cassidy!). Gotta find my mojo again!

Why is this taking this long????

This is a cotton vest I've been making for Matt for a really long time. It's been in and out of rotation so many times I've lost count.

This should be a fast project, but it's a higher concentration project than it appears at first glance. Since it's a knit/purl combo, I have to pay attention on the right/wrong sides. Plus I have to pay very close attention when doing any shaping. Then I of course had to tweek the pattern for Matt ('cause I can't leave well enough alone). The styling is off the shoulders, which doesn't suit Matt's body type. So I brought the shoulders in a bit (hopefully not too much). I am now concerned that the narrow shoulders styling might be too tailored for the relaxed style of the vest (and the cotton yarn).

It is almost done, and I might go ahead and finish it as is. If it doesn't suit, I only have to fix the upper half and it would take a lot to fix. Or I could take it back out of rotation (again) and work on something else!

Colds Blow

I spent yesterday focusing on the second sleeve for the Summer Braids... and low and behold, I finished it up last night. Even blocked it.


It is still wet this morning, but looks like the ribbing is going to block nicely in the Tatamy Tweed DK. I still need to find buttons for it, so it's not "officially" done, but close enough as I'll be concentrating on the next finished project. I'll do the project stats and my mods (not many) when it's completely done (and I can try it on... who knows, maybe it looks like crap on me).

Not sure what's heading to the top of the finishing queue. Matt implied that a vest would be nice... and I do have one for him that's pretty close to being done. I also have Gaelic Morning Mist, Ariann and my Eyelet Cardigan that I'm considering. Or maybe I'll cast on a quick project today, since I'm so far ahead of schedule.

My goal of 24 finished projects averages to 2 a month, and I'm basically at 4 finished the second week in February. Which is fab...as I know that I won't be able to finish a sweater every two weeks as the year goes on.

According to Matt, the cold he gave me is about the halfway point, so it's a good day to do some project sorting/cleanup. The sun is nice today, meaning I might get some stash into Ravelry this morning as well.

Karma Is a Bitch

First, remind me to not make fun of Matt when he's sick... 'cause of course now I've caught his cold.

I'm obviously not supposed to cast on new projects. The last two that I've cast on have been frogged.

I loooooove my Cassidy cardigan and I want a cotton/acrylic blend one for spring. So I ordered some beautiful Tatamy Tweed Worsted in Cherry (it's a beautiful cool red with blue flecks).


It's not working. I've worked a few rows of the cable patterns and they are completely lost with the flecks. I know how beautiful this can be, as I was already in love with my Cascade 220 version by this point. (FYI: the photo actually pops the cables more than they do in person).

I still want a red one in a cotton blend. I might have to dig into the Cotton Ease stash and actually do a cable swatch (ya, I'm sure the odds aren't good on me actually swatching...). This yarn is stunning, but I think it needs bulkier cables.


The other project I started and just don't love is "The Original Patrick". I originally bought this yarn to make this pattern, but I couldn't get past the ribbing. So I switched to the Beaverslide (which was totally the wrong weight yarn for the project). I love the look of the pattern for Patrick (even if it does need some tweeking for a good fit for Matt... ya, 19" deep sleeves ain't gonna work). The Shadyside alpaca/wool blend is stunning, but it's a handspun. The yarn just isn't giving me the look I want. I feel my stitches look uneven and sloppy. So... a new Patrick will be done (probably in good ol' Cascade 220... when in doubt, use Cascade 220) and the Shadyside will be used for a more simple project (Matt thinks something with moss stitch. Isn't that cute... he knows what moss stitch is).

So... I think there's a message in there somewhere: finish more before I cast on!!! Okay, okay... I'm working on my Summer Braids (have I mentioned that I'm on the second sleeve???) so I can try to have it done by the end of the weekend?

Dante's 10th Circle is nothing but knitting 2nd sleeves

So the Summer Braids isn't as far as I had hoped by this point. I just finished the first sleeve, and I've picked up stitches for the second. I had hoped to be halfway on the second sleeve by now (mid day Thursday).

I really think part of the problem is that I'm not sure about this cardigan. I don't know how I feel about it yet... it might fall into a love it or hate it sweater when finished, and I think that'll come down to how it blocks.

The focusing on finishing is getting harder... as I knew it would eventually. I am antsy to cast on something. While I did actually cast on something, it's already abandoned and frogged.

Right now I think I'm going to have to take a break from the Summer Braids and work on something else for a bit... just to sort of shake things up a bit. Maybe I need a little wooly project? The cotton/acrylic seems odd for freezing winter temps perhaps?

Sleeve Hell

Thanks to this whole "Finish 24 Projects in 2009" goal, I'm working on a lot of almost finished projects. Which means I feel like I'm knitting nothing but sleeves.

The Summer Braids is slooooow going:


I think part of it is simple concern. The ribbing is pulling in quite a bit, and I hope it blocks out. (ya, a swatch would've told me if I had bothered doing one, eh?). This is the second time I've knit this pattern, and my first never blocked open (I used Woolease).

Now, this yarn should work well for this pattern... as Cabin Fever is using it as their "house label" yarn. I even saw this made up as a sample in their booth at Stitches (granted, it was on a dress form without arms...). So I'm plugging along with one and a half sleeves to go.

I still think I can have it done this week... unless I simply can't stand it anymore and work on sleeves for an other project!

Theresa's Central Park Hoodie

There is a reason this has been such a popular pattern. It works up fast and it's easy. Let's do some project stats, eh?

Project Stats

Pattern: Central Park Hoodie

Yarn: Kathmandu Aran

Problems with the pattern: none that I can remember. I used the downloaded pattern from Interweave, and so I think any errors had been corrected.

Changes to the pattern: Added a zipper to the front and continued the cabled pattern up the crown of the hood (like Cassidy).

Overall Impressions: An easy, fast and fun knit. I really enjoy working with the Kathmandu Aran. There are some drawbacks (I used the yarn for seaming, and made extra work for myself because of it. Should've used a stonger, smoother yarn). It does grow. Since Theresa is 7" taller than me, I have no clue on how it's going to fit her. I followed the schematics for sleeve length (and they seem really really long on my short arms!). I do want to make one of these for me, as not only is it a fun knit, I think it's a very wearable project.

I will try to get a modeled photo of this on Theresa... as my dress form is not the most flattering model.

So I'm well on my way to reach my goal, with a good average right now! 21 more projects to finish this year! I'm hoping to get my Summer Braids done this week. Plus I'm trying to get some more stash into Ravelry (which is becoming old. How much more can there possibly be. I'm not so sure I want to know).

Short Reprieve

The sun is out and it's above freezing. The dogs decided to take full advantage before the next snow (forecast for Tuesday).

Theresa's Central Park Hoodie is done with the exception of the zipper. I'm debating between two zippers right now. One is a better color match, but it's a little heavier. Since the Kathmandu is such a soft, light yarn, I'm afraid that the heavier zipper might weigh it down. So I'm staring at it while I knit on other things.

My next finished goal is my Summer Braids Cardigan. I'm on the buttonband right now, with the sleeves still to do. This has been my breakfast knitting, but I've moved it to my "regular" knitting so I can get it done. Now I just need to find an other breakfast project.

The breakfast project must be fairly simple: it is pre coffee afterall! I had planned working on Matt's Jersey Shore Weekender, but discovered a little (or rather big) issue with it today. The pattern lists sizes by chest size NOT finished size. So I had started the 40"... but the final sweater would be 45"... too large for Matt. So it's frogged. Debating if I want to restart it or use the yarn for something else.

Meanwhile... the search is on for a simple breakfast project!