Spring Knitting Update

Much has been accomplished since my last post in the throes of Christmas Knitting Panic. Dad's vest turned out beautifully and I should have pictures of it whenever the parents get around to taking some. Mom's sweater (pictured, though she hates this picture) was a success though the fronts seem to stretch longer than the back (or I knit them that way. Who knows.) Nothing blocking won't fix, right? I still have to knit up the belt for it but that seems like such a boring project compared to the vastness of the sweater I'm having trouble starting it. Barbara's Pewter Coat is dead in the water, as they say. We have reconciled by picking a new sweater (the Placed Cable Aran) which is already chugging along at a good pace.

I frogged my first sweater once my BALL WINDER AND SWIFT (woohoo!) were gifted to me, and have since knit it into the Citrus Yoke pullover. I love it. I've even gotten to wear it a few times since it was finished. Plans for my next sweater for me are already in the works.

My yarn stash is growing. I remember when I used to say I wasn't going to have a stash. Silly me.

I am also participating in Sock Wars III to provide motivation for my first pair of socks and let me tell you, I hate knitting socks. Thankfully, I will be put out of my misery shortly.

So, things on the needles: Barbara's sweater (which is GORGEOUS!), Detonator socks.

Soon to be on the needles: Dad's Uber Hat, more sweaters. (Did I mention knitting in the round is where it's at?)

I hope this satisfies some of you for a bit. Now that I've started my own business, blogging is towards the bottom of my list, especially now I have Ravelry to help me keep track of my projects, but I'll try to at least update quarterly. More pictures coming soon, I hope.

Holy Cats, Christmas?!?!

Egads, where did the time go? Oh yes, to knitting and hiring people at work. Slippers were a roaring success this year. I have a bit to do on Andy's before they get shipped out but what the hell. Dad's vest is...not done yet. Mom's sweater still has to be put together (when things go wrong, it puts a serious hitch in my giddy-up) but Andy's present got done lickety-split. My Barbs' sweater has not been started yet but I have high hopes I will be able to finish it before it's too warm for sweaters anymore. We'll see.

I received a ball winder and swift for Christmas which makes me SO HAPPY. I celebrated by frogging my first sweater. THAT'S RIGHT, you heard me. It's gone. No more. Only yarn. It's new project has already been picked out and I promised myself when Mom's sweater is put together I can start on it.

Finished Things!

Hooray, things are finishing! Jan's hat is done, turned out pretty snazzy, though I wish I'd used a different yarn. The slow gradation of Moda Dea's Tweedle Deeyarn in Blue Heather was not well suited to the hat I'd chosen for her, since it had a cuff knit separately that you pick up stitches on the side to make the top. Nice yarn though. The skein I got was mostly blue, with a leeeeettle bit of the purple in the middle. The skeins are more impressive in person. Unfortunately, I have no pics of this hat yet.



I do have two other hats to show, though: the emergency Cold Sister hat and Vaughn's Tychus is done ... which I plan on sending to him soon. You know, whenever I get to the post office. For some reason ... the gauge is horribly, horribly wrong somewhere between my knitting and the pattern. The pattern calls for 5 of these triangles ... I finished three and went "y'know ... this looks hat sized." Measured it ... remeasured ... and indeed, it was time to stop. So ... err ... it's a little pointier than it ought to be. Next time....I will not do it double stranded, as required by the pattern. It also says you don't have to wrap or anything on the short rows...err, hello? There's holes! Being my first short row project, I did not realize that this would happen. Well, you live, you learn.

On to the next hat. My sister has moved to Salt Lake City and with the oncoming winter, has realized she's cold. Somehow, when one becomes a knitter, one feels responsible for keeping loved ones warm. I received an emergency call for a brown hat. This was whipped up in a few hours or so, easy peasy. It's fast becoming my favorite hat pattern, modified from the Flame Head hat in Stitch'n'Bitchfor solid and now, in the round! This has two former incarnations; one for me *gasp* and the first for my Dad, which can be seen in action here.

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel on Mom's sweater. Speaking of sweaters...I need to do something with my first sweater. It isn't very flattering...should I rip it out? Add a cowl/turtleneck/some sort of collar? I love the yarn...but the the whole design of the sweater is too boxy.

My First Sweater is DONE

Well, here it is! Finally, it is done. The pattern is Sideways Garter Stitch Sweater by Miriam of Miriam's Well/the Santa Fe School of Weaving. She suggested it as a good first sweater. It was that, but it was also...boring. Allllll garter stitch. I'm mucho proud it's done and will wear it often. It's not the most flattering design, but DAMN it's warm =o). Just in time for spring. Did I mention it snowed today?

Snow. Seriously.

Well, spending my glorious Friday day off with the parents (well, really, in the parent's house while they're at work) and rather enjoying the snow that's been falling all day. I've also been enjoying playing with my parents' digital camera! So, here we go.


Snow on the cherry blossoms

Just look at it

My sweater; with about 7 inches left to go on the second (front) piece. Then, it's just sleeves!!

Kat's mitts, to match her scarf. Hopefully, pics of the scarf soon. I just have to wrangle Kat.

Still Crazy

So my truck's fixed. It wasn't the starter. I'm halfway done with the second piece of my sweater. Then it's the sleeves. Looks like it'll be done in time for summer, haha.

Life is Crazy

Well, I've finished the first piece of my sweater. Yay! Life has been crazy, and, of course, my truck won't start. Again. Any bets on it being the starter...again?

Lazy Day

After much excitement at work, I finally arrive at my Saturday day off. I think a trip to the yarn store is in order to check out the finished version of the sweater I'm working on. And to buy yarn, of course. Perhaps I should decide on a project *before* going....

Knitting and Taxes

Life is going pretty good. It is not often I say this as I am cynical and pessimistic (the two go hand in hand, I feel.) But this morning, after a good while spent at the coffee shop already at this early hour, I shall say it and probably regret it later. The purse from hell is done (at least the knitted portions; lining still needs to go in.) I shall never knit a flat purse again. So now my attention can be focused on my first sweater: a sideways garter stitch sweater designed by the owner of Miriam's Well/the Santa Fe School of Weaving. I'm excited. While one might think that I'll start hating it due to tedium, like my purse, one would be mistaken. Despite the rows and rows (and rows and rows) of garter stitch, it's still exciting. It's my first sweater and it's going to be awesome.

And as for the rest of my chipperness, my federal taxes are ready to be sent out (I can't wait to get my grubby paws on that refund check...) and I'm about to e-file my state taxes. No procrastinating for me this year. It's funny just how much of a motivator money is for me.