Works in Progress

Remember how I was knitting a sweater?  But then I got distracted?  Well, you see, knitting isn't always a linear progression - sometimes it's a big ball of wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey...socks.  (Ha - you see what I did there?)

It's day 34 now, and I thought I was really rocking it and only had an inch to go before starting the ribbing when I tried them on and realized that, due to my shapely and seriously ripped calves (not that I'm tooting my own horn here, or anything), 13 inches of leg off my leg = 11 inches of leg on my leg.  So, looks like I have a little farther to go than anticipated.

Also, I recently decided to start another sweater (yes, even though the first isn't done yet).  It's coming along quite nicely despite the fact that the collar isn't as wide as it looks like it should be.  Maybe that comes with the blocking.  (The pattern is Bonaparte by fallmasche) 

Oh, yeah - Christmas!

Hey there, blog!  Long time no... blog.

Here's the promised Christmas update - I made my brother the very coziest sweater in the whole wide world.  I LOVE this pattern!  My favorite part is the super wide raglan increases for the sleeves.  As I mentioned before, though, apparently you're supposed to wash your gauge swatches... hmmm... so it grew like a monster.  Also, this holiday season was particularly hectic, so there are only candid shots of him wearing it.  But, here you go!

Pattern: Ranger, by Jared Flood
Yarn: random yarn from the G-ma stash, DK-ish weight
Needles:  US size 7 & 8
Ravelry link

 

The Husband, the Brother and me in our Christmas sweaters

 

Paul looking classy by the fireplace.

My BFF texted me pictures all year of various Muppet and sock-monkey themed hats.  My BFF and I are serious Muppet fans.  Like, seriously.  We make involuntary Muppet noises when discussing the Muppets.  (Don't get me started on the new movie - OH MY GOODNESS.  PERFECTION.)  She did a project on Jim Henson when she was in elementary school, and my brother and I starred in her video.  So, anyway... I decided she needed a Fozzie hat.  (Did I mention she also says "wokka wokka" in casual conversation?  Truth.) 

While  I was crocheting the details for this hat, I kept involuntarily giggling.  Seriously, you can ask my husband.  Especially when I got to the hat.  I amuse myself so much.

Pattern: improvised
Yarn: random from G-ma's stash
Hook: K?  I think? 
No Ravelry link yet... I should get on that.

Pictures!

 

 She's wearing an apron because of reasons.  (Those reasons being that I gave her an apron for Christmas.  It's not a repressed women thing; it's an apron with a BEER POCKET and ATTACHED BOTTLE OPENER thing. You can find them here.)

 This is her Foozie face (seriously, have you SEEN the Muppets yet?  Best movie of the year.)

And one final picture from right after I made it.  LOVE!

My existential crisis

The secret Christmas knitting is finished. 

See?  Many pieces of yarn from the bajillion ends I had to weave in.

Now, the problem is, the beast grew like a mo-fo when I blocked it.  Apparently you're supposed to wash your gauge swatch, too?  I digress.

I've been sitting here wondering if I should throw it in the dryer, for like, a minute. 

I've decided, finally, that that is far too risky, and I will just hope the recipient wants a big, cozy, sweater.  (He'd better.)

Sweaters! Please don't destroy them. (Whoa-whoa-whoa.)

Alright, Interwebs.  I finally took pictures of the FRONT of the Modern Garden Cardigan, and took pics of the Featherweight Cardigan.  Happy now?  No pics of Girl Friday yet because the button issue is just too prevalent still.  But, two out of three isn't bad, eh?  Also, there are all sorts of hilarious face shadows due to the mid-morning photo shoot, so a couple of the shots are headless.  (Seriously, my face just looked too messed up.)

First up, Modern Garden Cardigan.
Pattern: Modern Garden Cardigan, by Veera Välimäki
Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick (Charcoal)
Needles: US 15/10.0mm
Ravelry link

Good times.  Good times.

Next up, the infamous cardigan knit in laceweight, which was a complete bore to actually knit, but a complete joy to actually wear.

Pattern: Featherweight Cardigan, by Hannah Fettig
Yarn: Knit Picks Shadow (Oregon Coast)
Needles: US 6/4.0mm
Ravelry link  

So what now?  Well, I've already made a pair of felted slippers, and I've already cast on yet another cardigan (is it clear that I've decided to make 2011 the year of the sweater?).  Whew.

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!

Finally!  After months of tedious knitting!  The featherweight cardigan is cast off! 

I mean, it still has to be blocked, but it's cast off!  And it's super soft and cozy and I kind of love it even though it was a boring bear to knit.  Once my week of guests is out of my blocking room, I'll get 'er all blocked and then finally do that photo sweater post.  Woohoo!

Don't worry - I'm still alive

Here's how I currently feel about knitting in stockinette in laceweight yarn:

 

That is, slightly blurry, and quite bored.  I do love the fabric that is being created, but it's dreadfully dull at this point.  I'm on the second sleeve, which means that casting on the front band is in sight, and at least that will be in ribbing...

The funny thing is, I already have post-sweater plans... for a fingering weight sweater.  Yes, I realize how bored I currently am, but it looks really cute.

Temporary Insanity

So, what did I decide to do after finishing a super bulky weight sweater in about a week?

Cast on a lace weight cardigan, of course.  That is all stockinette.  I am insane.

I am happy to report that it is going way faster than anticipated, and I'm now about an inch past the armpits.  The pattern is the Featherweight Cardigan, by Hannah Fettig (Ravelry pattern link), and the yarn is Knit Picks Shadow in the color "Oregon Coast," because who doesn't like the Oregon coast?

I finished a pair of short Noro stripey socks recently, and my current sock project is two at a time magic loop toe-up short socks to use up some sock yarn I had leftover from my Outside In socks.

And I promise to get good pictures of the most recent sweaters up here soon.  Maybe when this featherweight cardigan is done, I can have a super spectacular cardigan post.  :)  Back to the stockinette!

Look! The back of a sweater!

So, I finally finished re-knitting a sweater that I originally finished in January (Modern Garden Cardigan).  After I finished it, I learned about negative ease and couldn't find anyone who could wear it.

I re-knit it in a medium, and it's perfect!  Love it.  Love it so much that I tried to take pics of it on this bright sunny day,  but all you get is the back and my face because the camera battery died.  I'll get a full post up once the battery is charged.

 

In other sweater news, the Girl Friday sweater has buttons!  But they are too small for the button holes.  Sooooo... those pictures are still on hold.

1972 called - they want their sweater back

Hey, Gwen - can you make the most 70s looking sweater possible?

Sure, Interwebs!  Here's how.

Step 1:  Start with some totally old yarn that your Grandma gave you.

(That's right - Aunt Lydia is not messing around.)

Step 2:  Start knitting the Girl Friday pattern from Knitty, Fall 2009.  An inherently retro lace pattern, if I do say so myself.

Step 3:  Run out of Aunt Lydia's weird peach yarn while making the collar, and instead of going out and trying to match the color, just grab some other really old yarn from the Grandma Stash and create a collar that looks like it belongs on a letter sweater from the Nixon era.

And, of course, take emo mirror pictures because you're not quite done and ready for the official Finished Object Photoshoot.

 

 As you can see, it's hilarious, and totally deserves some pleather-covered woven buttons.  

Stay tuned, folks...

Introducing Vivian!

So, I finished the Vivian sweater sometime in September.  And it is absolutely fabulous.  I still need to baste down the ribbon backing on the zipper, but that hasn't stopped me from wearing it at every opportunity.  :)

Pertinent details:
Pattern: Vivian, by Ysolda Teague
Yarn: Cascade 220 Heathers in the color Turtle (awesome)
Needles: US 8/5.0mm circular (first Addi Natura, but then after that was chewed on, trusty Knit Picks Harmony)
Ravelry link
 
And now, for the fun part...

As you can see, the hood IS small.

Fenny started to get interested.

Clifford just wanted his but scratched.

Nappy Fenny shows off the cabling.

Vivian traveling on a road trip to Niagara Falls.

And Vivian by a large boulder at Niagara Falls.

Woohoo!  Wearing handknit sweaters is so fun that now I have a hankering to make more...

Thanks for making babies, everyone!

You know what's fun?  Knitting for babies!  Everything is so tiny and adorable!  And fast!  And did I mention adorable?!

My friend Liza is due in November, and since her baby shower was yesterday, I can finally post the adorable sweater I made for her. 

I started with some random yarn I had lying around the house, and the Five Hour Baby Sweater pattern that has been adapted and transcribed by  more people than you'd care to shake a stick at.

That was cute enough.  But then I decided to go all wacky and embroider onto the sweater.  With yarn and not embroidery floss, because this was on a whim.

So, I taught myself chain stitch, which is ridiculously simple, and winged a little sun and a llama, because Lliza lloves llamas.  A llot. 

When the llama was finished, I actually giggled out loud.  Like, "Teeheeheeheeheeee!"  The Husband was a little concerned, until I showed him and he had the same reaction.  It looks a bit like a prehistoric cave llama, but I think it's awesome. 

So now I'm working on a Super Secret Project for my sister-in-law, who is due in January.  It is also adorable and I'll be sure to post it after her shower.

In other news, Vivian is done!  And she is awesome!  And I need to take pictures!  When it is light out!  So, you'll just have to wait a bit...

So close!

I'm doing it again.  Wearing an unfinished sweater, that is. 

Because the sleeves/shoulders/yoke are done!  And all that is left is to knit the hood and install a zipper (which I anticipate taking far too long but turning out far too well).  

Here's an emo in the mirror picture to show progress.  I think the purple cable of the needle adds a certain je ne sais quoi.

I suppose next you're going to tell me I have to take it off in order to keep knitting.

Unknitting

Well, I did it.

I finally worked up the courage to rip back and re-attach the rogue left sleeve of Viv.  Okay, "rip back" is a little harsh.  With so many cables to worry about, I instead painstakingly "un-knit" two and a half rows (I was really stoked when I realized the left sleeve was the first one I came to in the unknitting - no need to even unknit past that one in the attachment row!  Woohoo!).

Then I wanted some Ramen noodles,  because that's what the unknit yarn reminded me of.

Another reason the unknitting was helpful, was that I was able to transfer my lovely Viv to my beloved Knit Picks Harmony needles.  Why?  Oh, someone decided to nom the Addis.

But guys?  Guys?  GUYS?

After unknitting, and counting, and knitting, and recounting, and then counting some more, and then, oh, maybe a little more counting...


I'm back to the same row as before the Great Sleeve Fiasco of 2010 and this time the sleeves match!  Viv is symmetric!  And I'm wearing a yoke-less on the needles sweater as I type this just out of principle!


Okay, I have to go now, it's really too hot outside to be wearing wool.

Hey, That Girl!

It's done!  And it's soft!  And yellow!  And cute!

Finished just in time for church last Sunday.

Pattern: Hey, Teach! by Helene Rush Knitty Summer 2008
Yarn: Knit Picks Comfy Worsted, Creme Brulee
Needles: US 8 /5 mm Harmony interchangeable circulars (Knit Picks) 
Ravelry link

Now onto the pics...

I suppose you're going to tell me that 8 buttons are too many.  (I may agree.  These buttons are gorgeous but heavy... perhaps too heavy for the poor button band.)

Clearly the best way to wear it.

But the options are limitless!

Ta da!  Thanks, Nikon, for autofocusing right under my arm instead of on me.

Then something adorable happened.