Category: sweaters

whaaaat

So there I was, binding off the buttonband on my grandpa’s Christmas-gift vest, looking forward to starting (and finishing) the armhole bands when I decided to lay it out…

And saw that I’d somehow completely twisted one front when I attached it to the shoulder. And picked up and knit the entire buttonband with it twisted like that.

Of course, it was late when I noticed, and I was rather angry at myself for making such a stupid mistake, so I had to fix it right then (although I considered just tossing the whole project!). I ripped out the buttonband, but then when I tried to take out the shoulder seam…I couldn’t find the end. In a moment of weakness I took out the scissors and…

…I cut my knitting, but in the wrong place. Of course. Eventually I did find the seam, took it out, reknit the shoulder which now had a hole in it, sewed the shoulder back together properly, and picked up the button band again. Now I’m almost done the second armhole band, then it’s onto blocking and all that stuff.

Take this as a lesson, folks – don’t just keep your knitting all balled up on your lap.

December 21, 2008
now featuring sock yarn

As I went through my sock yarn bin, I realized that I don’t have as much sock yarn now as I used to – at least, not in sock quantities! I’ve been stashing a lot more sock yarn in sweater quantities, as it turns out! Lots of sock yarn being used to make scarves, too.

Nevertheless, I did dig up some that I’m just not in love with anymore – time to move on.

More info on Flickr and Ravelry.

It’s not allll re-organizing around here, I have been doing just a wee bit of knitting – man, I just don’t know where the time goes, but I don’t think I’ve been using it very effectively.

My grandfather’s vest has been getting a little time in, but it still just looks like a blob:

I need to seam the shoulders and do the button and armhole bands and then I’ll be done! That’s on tap for today – I hope.

And because I can never leave well enough alone with the on-the-needles list, I started something for myself, too. I’m bypassing a lot of winter this year by going on my trip – that’s prime knitting season! So I thought I’d try to get at least one more sweater in before I go. It’ll be my trip sweater, to be worn basically every day anywhere it’s cooler (Tokyo, Shanghai, Beijing, Edinburgh).

It’s another Lucy sweater (it’s been over two years since I released that pattern? crikey), a bit bigger this time, and will be longer too. I’m thinking of re-releasing a new version of the pattern with a couple bigger sizes and a new layout, but I’m not sure – I certainly wouldn’t be able to get to it before my trip, but maybe during it.

I’m using Dream in Color Classy in Black Parade. I love this yarn (I’ve got 2 sweaters out of it!) but this colour is rubbing off on my hands all over the place, and that sucks. I can’t decide whether I should try setting the dye on the other skeins before I knit with them, or just on the whole thing once it’s done. The second option will leave me with black fingertips a lot, though. Hmmmm.

December 16, 2008
Amelia!

So busy. Just enough time to blog a little before I head out for the day!

My Amelia pattern is up in Winter Knitty! I knit this one back in September and even wore it at Rhinebeck (without buttons – see?) so people there got a bit of a sneak peak! (Sorry I never sent the pattern to you cassie – oops.)

I love, love, love the Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted I used for this pattern (and would certainly be amenable if someone wanted to send me some more to design with…not that I think I’m entitled!) – it’s so soft and squishy, especially the garter stitch cuffs. The stitch definition is awesome so the bits of twisted ribbing really pop!

Natalie, who works with me at lettuce knit, is an awesome model, no? It was totally freezing out and she was willing to stand through quite a few snaps. Also she is super cute. (Her hat is Princess Diana’s memorial tartan, or something.)

I’m stalling out on the Christmas present thing, although my grandfather’s vest is very nearly done. I’m just finding it really tough to motivate myself to pick up stitches and stuff! Instead I cast on for a new Lucy in the Sky for myself, out of some nearly-black Dream in Color. I really want to get it knit over the holidays…

…so that I can have something new to take along on a trip in the new year! A friend and I have gone a little cuckoo-nuts and are planning a long trip basically around the world starting January 18. I’m only going for six weeks while he’s planning to stay a bit longer, but we’re still in the planning stages and looking for places to stay (recommendations for cheap+decent places or couch crashing!) or people to meet up with (because some English-speaking help would be really appreciated) in the following places:

– Tokyo, Japan (around Jan 18-22)
– Shanghai and Beijing (to 2/1)
– Singapore (2/1 = 2/6)

After that we’ll be headed to India to stay with his family in Chennai (Madras) and Delhi, along with some other internal side-trips. Then I’m coming home with a stop in Europe, either Rome, Amsterdam or maybe Edinburgh to visit Ys again!

There’s so much to do to plan for this trip! Yikes! It’s seriously freaking me out. But it’s true, no one ever regretted traveling. Whew. Now what kind of knitting do I take for 6 weeks?!

December 12, 2008