Knitting Updates

I finished the blue cardigan. Its Reynolds chunky alpaca, my own design. I love it when something I designed actually fits!! But I'm very disappointed because its a warm sweater and we're having unusually warm weather for October. I'm not much of a fan of cooler weather but I really want to wear the sweater. Its supposed to cool off a little next week maybe then I can show it off!!

There's the wonderful yarn from my secret pal. The sock itch is finally being satisfied without having to use those tiny sock needles that bother my hands. The yarn is Artful Yarn Handpaint Stripes and I started making toe up Thuja socks. Its very soft and striping up nicely.

I bought some BFL roving from Blarneyyarn. I love the colors but its the first time I'll be spinning variegated yarn and I'm a little concerned about how the colors will be broken up. Maybe its time to start dying my own fiber.....I havent started spinning it yet because I want to finish the fiber on the wheel. I'm hoping to have around 500 yards when I finish but have no idea what to do with it yet. Its very exciting to finally spin fiber that looks like yarn.

Blue Cardigan

Here's the latest progress on the blue cardigan. Once I decide where to place the buttons I hope to start the other button band, maybe next weekend. I cant decide about the collar. I'm hoping for some stroke of inspiration.

sp11 questionaire #2

1. What is the one knitting accessory you could not live without?
really sturdy project bags
2. If you're heading on vacation, do you take knitting with you? If so, how much and what type of project?
my last vacation i took lace socks and a lace shawl. i only worked on the lace shawl.
3. Where have you travelled to that you'd consider your favorite spot?
i loved paris. i'm thinking about going back for christmas 2008.
4. What is your favorite knitting book at the moment? Do you own it?
my 2 favorite knitting books are knitting without tears by elizabeth zimmerman and vogue knitting, both of which i own.
5. Do you listen to podcasts? Which is your favorite(s)?
lately i've been listening to knitpicks podcast, lets knit2gether, travel with rick steves, autism podcast and bon appetit
6. If you could only knit with 1 color for the rest of your life, what color would that be?
blue
7. If you were far into a project and then noticed a mistake near the beginning what would you do?
depends on what the mistake was and how noticeable it was. if it affected how the project fit then probably. if it was in the pattern probably not. i'm trying to be less of a perfectionist and go with the flow more.
8. Where is the most unsual spot you've ever knit?
in the recovery room after minor surgery, dressed in hospital gown and all. i dont think i knit very much but it was very soothing after.

Surprise

Friday was the 2nd day at the new job and I'm feeling so overwhelmed. Its been so many years since I've done anything even resembling the type of work I'm going to be doing. Its going to be such different work environment bouncing around from client to client. Especially for me because I having a routine. Maybe this wasnt such a good career move...

I got home and found a package waiting for me from my Secret Pal!! I was so excited to see what goodies were waiting for me. My Secret Pal is awesome. She sent me a "got yarn?" totebag, perfect for carrying around sweaters in progress, sheep post-its, reallu nice Fleece Artist sock yarn, a notepad "my wishlist for the yarn fairy" and a subscription to IK!! Knock me over with a feather. It made my entire day.



This is giving me incentive to finish the blue cardigan already so I can make something with the new yarn. I still have to be careful with my hands. But I might need a travel project because my commute will be longer, depending on where the clients are located. I really miss knitting on the train.



Patches was pretty excited too.

UFO to WIP!!

It was a very busy Labor Day weekend. I went to my Mom's. We shopped 'til we dropped and ate out every night. I gotta cut out those desserts or I'll never have any clothes that fit.

A little stash enhancement. It was on sale. Its my favorite pinks, the picture doesnt do it justice. Maybe the Forest Canopy Shawl but not before I finish the Swallowtail, which is going slowly.

I also picked up a UFO from last winter. I had to stop because my hands were so dry from the winter that the wool was cutting into my hands. I finished the body last year and most of the sleeves. I've been having trouble getting the sleeves on sweaters to be long enough but I think I finally got the length right on the 1st sleeve and there are about 20 rows left on the other. I also sewed the shoulder seams. Its a sweater of my own design so I've been making it up as I went along. I'm considering a double crochet border for the buttonholes because I hate picking up stitches for ribbing. Plus it goes more quickly than knitting a ribbed edge. Maybe I'll finish it by the time its cool enough to wear.

Tomorrow is the big day when I start the new job. I'm a little anxious, a little excited. Hope I can sleep tonight because morning will be much earlier than at my previous job.

Oops

Guess I hit the wrong key and published that oh so riveting post. I've been very industrious lately, knitting and spinning away. I picked up Clapotis again. I forgot how mindless it is. Perfect for knitting group, TV watching. Its also not too taxing on the wrists. Slow and steady win the race..... A little progress on Swallowtail shawl. I wish I could knit more but I dont want to re-injure myself. Barbara from the knitting group said it took her wrists 6 mos to heal!!

I've also been spinning. It bothers my hands less. What a spin-tastrophe that was. I kept breaking the fiber, I think because there was not enough twist. After several attempts I finally couldnt even find the end to re-join. I thought maybe another fiber would be easier. But when I took the bobbin off the wheel the top thingee came off the bobbin. I ripped the yarn off the bobbin hoping to try again. I went rummaging through the stash. There was fiber everywhere.

Finally I was able to draft the brown BFL. Even more amazing was the realization that it was so much easier to let the twist travel up the drafted fiber instead of trying to spin and draft the fiber at the same time. Duhh. I finally settled down and me and the BFL have been getting along pretty well now. The fiber has been returned to its original hiding place and order has returned.

Well maybe not to the entire apt. I promised myself I'd organize my papers before I started the new job but thats less than 2 weeks away...

I've been baking a lot too, which no doubt is contributing to my inability to fit into several pairs of pants. It could be worse. It could have been Haagen Daz. This is a little GF fruit crisp. The topping is another Rebecca Reilly recipe using GF corn flakes, brown rice flour and butter. Yummm

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