Hourglass Sweater Revealed

First, thanks, everyone, for the kind comments about C's hat! K wants a hat with a lizard on it & I'm no longer feeling so intimidated about trying new things, so I'm going to design one for him, too. But now, another FO!

Pattern: Hourglass Sweater from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts
Yarn: Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride worsted in Chocolate Souffle

First, some details. There is no sewing in the finishing of this sweater (Is that the sound of one knitter clapping? That's me!). The neckband is finished by securing live stitches down the inside of the sweater. It makes for a smooth inside hem, seen here:

From the outside:

To hem the sleeves and bottom, the pattern calls for slip-stitching. I used a crochet hook & although I don't yet crochet, I definitely want to learn. I shortened the sleeves by 1/2 inch because I'm short & don't need to look like I'm playing dress-up in my mom's closet. Other than that, I did everything by the pattern, which is easy & I think most beginners could accomplish this.

I'm going to re-do the bottom hem because it's bunchy in some spots where I guess I stitched too tightly. Overall, though, I'm pretty pleased with my first adult-size sweater.

Enjoying a well-deserved cuppa

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One Day Hat for C

Yarn: Some stash Patons Wool leftover from another project
Pattern: Mine!

This hat came from nowhere. I have to say, I'm extremely proud of myself here because I designed this hat. C needed a hat & I figured, what kind of knitting mom would I be if I let my child go around in a store-bought hat? I wanted something different, though, and snowflakes came to mind--as in, one of those things I never see. I worked it out on graph paper & did all the calculations (I must've been slipped a Happy Math Pill while I wasn't looking because this isn't like me at all). This is also my first two-color project. I don't know if it counts as Fair Isle, but I'm just happy because I tackled it. Yes, I wrote it all down & if I can ever figure out how to get the chart posted/printed/whatever, I'll be more than happy to post the pattern.
I'm aware that some of the snowflakes appear to be lobsters with deformed claws, but I'm still gonna bask here, okay?

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The Good , The Bad & The Knitty

As far as knitting goes, I had a great weekend because I knitted until I tired of it. Still, I felt like I was knittingknittingknitting & not getting anywhere. I only worked on 1 WIP & that's the Hourglass Sweater. I'm on sleeve #2 & I kept measuring it & it seemed to never get longer. Still, I'm hoping I'll finish the sweater some time this week. I'm trying to concentrate on 1 WIP at a time again, so I haven't worked on my Socktoberfest socks in a while & I miss them.

As far as everything else goes, this wasn't the best weekend because K (my 8 year-old son/Professional Little Brother, PhD in Tactics of Annoyance, 5 time winner of the "Dennis the Menace Award" in our home) was grounded. He couldn't play outside, which meant that he was cooped up in the house. Which begs me to ask, who was really on punishment here? Because I know I suffered (until DH opened the wine anyway).

Sunday afternoon, with the Twilight Zone sleeve that never seemed to grow

You can tell this is pre-wine because I'm all stiff. Hee hee.

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Auntie Amanda Rocks!

I am so flabbergasted right about now. I got this package today from my Secret Sistah Friend Auntie Amanda. What's so funny is that I was just admiring this shawl on her blog, having no idea it was for me! (Her photos at her blog are so much nicer; today was rainy & drizzly here.)

This is actually a book I didn't have and my very first Rosewood needles! Apparently, it was a bit of a wrench for Amanda to give these up (hee hee), but I am so appreciative.

Is this not gorgeous?

No one has ever knitted anything for me before (let alone a shawl!), so this shawl is super special. I cannot say Thank You enough.

Perfect fit!

Tonight, I'll be looking through my new book and fondling my needles, all while wrapped in my beautiful new shawl, sipping some tea. I'm so looking forward to that!

Amanda, you are a jewel! I love everything so much!!

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I was a Lorna's Laces Virgin

This came in the mail; I ordered it in celebration of Socktoberfest--you know, part of the festivities is to buy more yarn. When I saw the colors online, I felt they were perfect for my niece, N, and I planned to knit some socks for her with this.

Enter Stage Left: A Problem. Prior to this, I was a Lorna's Laces virgin. If you've knit (or even touched) LL, you know what's coming next, don't you? Guys, this stuff is butter. Buttah. Now, I'm like, do N's feet deserve socks made with this? I'm not talking N here because N is a lovely person; I'm talking N's feet.

I feel like calling her & asking "So, do you lotion your feet every night with heavy cream? Do you pedicure them? Do you love them? Do they smell unpleasant in any way because if so, your feet ain't touching this yarn. This yarn is for special feet." My feet. All of a sudden, my generosity evaporated & I found myself hunched over this yarn, growling and snarling.

After my family members gave me a couple of rousing slaps (because I'd tried to bite someone's hand when they reached out to touch the yarn), I came to my senses a little bit. They made me repeat after them: This yarn is for N's socks. These are her colors, not mine.

But the next LL I get? Mine, mine, all mine. Grrrrrrr.....

Edited to add (because you all sure were curious): You can find this luscious yarn here. (Black Purl) If you're a Socktoberfest participant, make sure you stop by Lolly's blog to get your deal.

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I Am Woman...Hear Me Roar!

Confession: I don't like working on the weekends. Although I work from home (it's not the easiest thing in the world with 3 kids & the youngest is at home all day), I try & manage to have a "regular" work week, Monday through Friday. I had a couple of assignments, though, that had to be finished, so I spent a lot of my weekend on that. I was grumbling a lot at first because I was wondering how I would finish it all. Well, not only did I finish my work on time (including the writing of 80 trivia questions), but I fit in knitting, reading and taking the kids to the movies to see Open Season.

I felt like Super Woman. My cape, of course, would be knitted, though I'll keep the red boots. Meow.

So I'm up to dividing for the yoke on the Hourglass Sweater & should be able to start on the sleeves today. I'm not making as much progress on my Socktoberfest socks, though. *sad face* I was hoping to do 2 pairs this month, but I doubt it's going to happen. Still, I'd like to thank my faithful companion, Joe, who makes it all possible.

Joe, what would I do without you?

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Bits & Pieces

This hasn't been a bad Friday the 13th at all so far. My knitting article can be seen here. Also, a short story of mine will appear in the next edition of this e-zine. If you read the knitting article, feel free to comment at the bottom of it.

This weekend, DH & I will discuss this job offer of his. I like the idea of moving; I don't like the idea of getting a house ready with 3 children in it. In fact, just the thought of having to organize things around their little bodies makes me want to go hide in my closet, rock back & forth, and suck my thumb.

In knitting news, I'm working on 2 more Caps to the Capital & after that, will resume my regularly scheduled knitting. I'm hoping I can make good progress on my Hourglass Sweater this weekend because my fingers are really itching to start on the Marseilles (previous post).

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Of Knitting Clones & Cold Fronts

This is where I am so far on the Hourglass Sweater and my Socktoberfest socks. These colors make me think of chocolate & caramel, which is not necessarily a good thing. I could look at it & think of coffee & toast, but where's the fun in that?

Our recent cold front here has made me anxious to start my next projects (by "cold front," I mean our high temperature was 75 degrees instead of the usual 109. Brrrrrrrr...). A cardigan is on the to-do list. At first, I was planning to make a basic one for myself since I haven't made an adult-size one before and I thought I should keep it simple, but I really like Bristow. Also, Sienna from the latest Interweave Knits. Then, of course, I love this pullover, too (IK, Summer '06).
I have no idea where I'm going to find the time to do all of these things. This is one of those times I start wishing for a clone of myself so that I could sit & knit all the time & the clone would have to do all the drudgery--cleaning, cooking, talking to DH, etc.

Speaking of DH, he's looking at a job opportunity in another city, which means we might move. While I don't mind moving, I wanted to move further north, not south, which is where we'd go. Why do I want to move further north when I'm allergic to shovelling snow & blizzards?? So that I could wear all my handknit sweaters, of course. This hasn't been a convincing argument with DH.

Me: But honey, I can knit sweaters for all of us & we'd get to wear them all the time.
Him: I don't have a job there.
Me: *thinking* But honey, I can knit sweaters for all of us & we'd get to wear them all the time.

Can you believe he's not convinced?? Non-knitters & their lack of imagination...

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My Beloved Scarf/Caps to the Capital

Well, the pattern is actually My So-Called Scarf. I love it because it was so easy to knit & the colors are simply beautiful.

Yarn: Noro Silk Garden, 3 skeins.

Best part of all: this scarf is for me! You know, for all those freezing-cold winter days we have in Florida.

Fringe is just the icing on the cake.

And what do we have here?

These are the first of my Caps to the Capital contribution. If you'd like to do some super-quick charity knitting & perhaps bust your stash (I busted some acrylic--I'm so glad its dark powers can be harnessed & used for good), this is a good cause. We're even having a Knit-Along over at Knitting Help.

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Yarny Derrick, or Balls With Attitude

See this mess??

This is Yarny Derrick, named after an ex-boyfriend who shared chilling similarities with this knotted mess.

It was hard finding an inside-pull on this ball of sock yarn, but I finally found it & the ball threw up Yarny Derrick. I should've known right then there would be trouble (when yarn balls regurgitate, there's always trouble). Still, I thought it was loose tangles, so I cast on & was happily knitting the cuff when things started tightening up. I would untangle a little, knit some, then encounter more tightness. Finally, I realized there was a real knot in the middle of the tangles, so I started trying to find it.

2 days later, I did. 2 days, people.

I'm sure there are knitters out there who would've tussled with the knot for 10 minutes before saying "forget this" & then pulled out scissors & gotten themselves out of that situation. If that's you, you must've been an "A" student in school.

There are words to describe the heights to which I soared to rid myself of the knot. Perseverence, Fortitude, a certain Stick-With-It-Ness...none of those. Actually, I made it to the top of Mount Stupid. I spent my whole weekend tussling with Yarny Derrick! Note to self: Family members avoided me muttering about the house while I fooled with the yarn, so perhaps I can use this tactic in the future when I want them to leave me alone, just with decoy balls & decoy tangles. Clearly, I was giving off the distinct aroma of Onset of Insanity.

It took me 2 days to make it to the scissors. Why?? Because I'm an idiot!!! I didn't want Yarny Derrick to win, just like I never wanted ex-boyfriend Derrick to win. Derrick must be out there somewhere, with a Voodoo Ball of Yarn, sticking pins in it.

Alas, Yarny Derrick & Derrick share these qualities:

-Both are externally pleasing to the eye, but when you get to the inside, a mess awaits you.
-I wrestled all weekend with both & came out sweaty, frustrated & angry.
-I have cussed them both out.

But who's working on the cuff now, huh? Huh? Socktoberfest, here I come!

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Socktoberfest & The Hourglass Sweater

Because I'd already cast on for a pair of socks & then found info about Socktoberfest, I said "what they hey? I'll do it." It starts today, so it's not too late to sign up! If you love to knit socks, this is right up your alley.

Also, Jeanine & I are having our own little Knit-Along. We're doing the Hourglass Sweater from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts. If she wasn't doing this with me, this project would still be sitting on my back burner, so thanks, Jeanine, for that kick in the pants!

What's this: A swatch, you say?

See, I am a good little knitter, doing my swatch & all (considering that I love swatching as much as a little kid loves liver & onions). The sweater is knit in the round, which is great. So it shouldn't take too long, riiiiiight, Jeanine??

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