In Thanks

First, I'd like to say a big THANK YOU for the many, many kind comments you all left for my Gathered Pullover. That really helped this knitter out because last week was rather crappy for me, full of ups and downs. Downs that made it impossible for me to even knit. But, I'm on the rebound now and looking forward to the holiday season.

I'm revisiting my WIPs and have a new determination to work through them, one by one. First up, my Arctic Diamonds Stole, on the needles since March. I'm finally nearing the last repeat! I'm finishing up work now because when we go out of town Wednesday, I'm not taking any work with me. I'm having a completely work-free Thanksgiving.

And to give you a little glimpse of what I'm thankful for this season, here's the fam...peeks of them anyway.

#1 Girl, the most fiercely loyal child I have

Animal Magnet, who's really gentle & kind

The Dimpled One, who's way too smart for his age

Weedinator, who's seen me at my best and my worst, and incredibly, still sticks around

I hope everyone has a safe one and I'll see you next week!

Pin It Now!

Gathered Pullover

Pattern: Gathered Pullover, Interweave Knits Winter 2007
Designer: Hana Jason
Yarn: Knit Picks Merino Style, color Moss
Needles: US size 8 (5mm)
Modifications: Shortened sleeves by 3.5" (8.9 cm) and body by 1.5" (3.8 cm)

As you know, I whipped this up super quick. It helped that I'm so short that I cut out several inches in the sleeves & body. I love the cable detail in this sweater, which was really fun to knit. It's a wonderful addition that makes an otherwise plain sweater not so plain.

Even though this is my third sweater, this is my first time sewing in sleeves. I was real nervous because all the pattern says is "Sew in sleeves." How? With what stitch? Help me! I referenced my Vogue Knitting: The Ultimate Knitting Book & after trying several seams, decided on backstitch. It doesn't give the smoothest inside, but I thought from the outside, it looked fine.

This is my first time using Merino Style & it was very nice to work with. However, when I blocked, a lot of green bled into the water & the color does seem slightly lighter to me after blocking. I've also been warned that this yarn will pill, so I'm prepared for that.

I'm ready for my closeup, Mr. De Mille

Also, as you may have noticed, I'm not particularly busty (What? Didn't notice? Let's move on then), but I've been reading in different forums about more endowed knitters wondering how the cabling might look on them. Sandi at Knitting Daily is also knitting this sweater & she's promised to keep readers updated on how this sweater may work on women with more up top.

Tired of headless knitters?

All in all, this was an extremely fun, easy project and the fit is fabulous. I love it!

Pin It Now!

In Praise of the Dinosaur Woman

I needed a new cell phone because my last one was old & wonky, so Weedinator takes me to the phone shop where he knows everyone. I want a simple phone. All it has to do is make & receive calls. That's it. I don't need to take pictures, check my e-mail with it, warm up food on it, etc. Just phone calls. I tell the saleswoman that & she responds that they don't even have phones that don't take pictures, all the while looking at me like "oh this poor Dinosaur Woman, doesn't she know what year it is, all phones take pictures now & warm up food. She probably changes the channels on her TV manually. And I bet she knits, too."

So half an hour later, I walk out with a phone that takes pictures. The best thing about it? It's red. #1 Girl has taken more photos on my phone that I have. And I know that one day, I'm going to be walking down the street & I'm going to see something amazing & I won't know how to take pictures & I'll miss recording the whole thing.

But the Dinosaur Woman can do this...nearly finish up a sweater in 8 days.

2 sleeves & a body--I still have to pick up stitches around the neckline & knit a border

Flying in the face of all things technological. Except for the fact that I needed a camera, electricity and the internet to bring this to you.

Pin It Now!

It's not easy being green

I had no intention of starting another project, but this past Saturday, I received my Interweave Knits, winter issue & the Gathered Pullover (which I didn't think a whole lot about from the preview) really struck me. Even better was that I had yarn in the stash for it. Now this green yarn has been sitting in my stash a long time. It's Knit Picks Merino Style & I must have bought it during a yarn binge. Once I got it, I didn't care for the color, but I stashed it anyway because that's what I do with yarn. Every now & then, I would take it out & look at it to see if the color had grown on me & it never did until now.

When I looked at the pattern, I thought it was perfect for the poor green yarn I'd neglected. Once I started on a swatch, I was pleasantly surprised to find the Merino Style really soft & nice to work with. I really began to love the green.

Swatch-turned-sleeve #1 and beginning of sleeve #2

I started my first swatch with US size 7 needles, knowing that if they were the right size, I'd have to go to my LYS on Monday for 29" circulars. The size 7s didn't work, so I went up to size 8 & it was perfect. Luckily, I already had size 8s in 29" circulars. What made me even happier was that the needles were bamboo. The reason this made me so happy is because I learned to knit 4 years ago this month. My first needles were bamboo, size 8. A lot of times now, I knit with Addis or metal needles because I can knit faster, but when I'm able to settle down with quiet wooden needles & have the yarn still move along easily, I just love it.

This leads to NaKniSweMo, which I joined late, but I figured, since I've already started a sweater, maybe I can actually finish it this month.

Since I cast on Saturday afternoon, I've completed one sleeve, started the second & am midway through the cable chart. The sweater is knit in the round, so I guess I'm about halfway done with the body. All you astronomers out there might want to check the alignment of the universe because if I've gotten this far this quickly, something's about to blow.

Cable detail, Gathered Pullover

Pin It Now!

What has blogging done for you?

At the time I started this blog, my knitting was sporadic & I thought that if I had this online diary, I'd feel more accountable, more motivated to stick with it. It worked. Of course, a great benefit is becoming part of the whole knit-blogging community. But lately, I've realized there's more. (The only bad part? The yarn pr0n...I tell you, you all are a big bunch of enablers.)

I've become better not only for myself but also for the blog. Maybe that sounds weird to some of you, but I genuinely care about what I'm going to show all of you out there. It matters to me that what I knit & what I photograph is beautiful. (**side note** I'm getting a real camera for Christmas & will no longer have to endure Weedinator's PMSy-hag-of-a-camera-that-he-purposely-lost-the-directions-for. You wouldn't believe the work involved in getting decent pictures out of that thing **side note complaining now over**)

This isn't to say that I knit things I'm not going to use or wear or gift solely for your benefit. First & foremost is how much I love a project. But it's nice to show a project to you guys & get such positive, useful feedback. Also, is it just me or has anyone else noticed that the general quality of photos in all of blogland has gone way up? It's like we find inspiration in one another & feed off of it & it helps all of us. I tell you, there's nothing like looking at some beautifully photographed fiber. Except maybe for chocolates in bed. Oh, second bad part...sometimes, I spend so much time blog trolling that I don't knit. What can I say, you all are highly entertaining.

Blogging has made me a better knitter. YOU all have made me a better knitter.

What has blogging done for you?

Happy weekend, all!

Pin It Now!

How to Make Those Knitting Deadlines Every Time

Good morning, class. Today, we're going to cover "How to Always Make a Knitting Deadline." I know that many of you generous knitters make things for lots of occasions, like birthdays, baby showers, Christmas, etc. How can you ensure you always make a deadline? Do what I do & simply push it back.

Exhibit A is Sock #1 of Weedinator's Birthday Socks. Did Weedinator receive socks for his birthday? Oh, no! These are now Weedinator's Christmas Socks. I bet I can finish by Christmas!

Baby shower looming & you need to finish that blanket, but you haven't even cast on? Why, go ahead & make that a First Birthday Blanket! Now you have a whole year! Better yet, make it a Kindergarten Blanket! Even more time! See how easy that is?

Exhibit A: Weedinator's Birthday Christmas Sock

Sock & I nearly had A Parting of the Ways when I started the heel flap before remembering that I had made modifications to the pattern. I had to rip back & I wasn't happy about that. But now all is well & Sock is on my good side again.

I was tagged by PAJNSTL for 7 random facts about me. I'm breaking the rules right off by not listing the rules, but if you want to play along, consider yourself tagged.

Here's 7 random facts about me, which may or may not be TMI, you decide.

1. I learned to knit at age 32, from a book I bought on a whim.
2. One of my huge pet peeves (irrational, really) is when able-bodied people leave their shopping carts all over the parking lot, even when they're 5 feet away from a cart corral. I need to work on this.
3. My favorite color is red.
4. My last meal would be lobster, oysters, macaroni & cheese, bread, and coconut cream pie.
5. I'm an only child and a military brat, so I'm spoiled to the nth power.
6. I grew up on scary movies, but if I watch them now, I'm up all night, terrified.
7. My dream job used to be a correspondent for 60 Minutes, which probably does nothing more than confirm my deep-seated nerdiness to all of you.

Retro rib sock - cuff flows seamlessly into the leg

Pin It Now!