Friday, January 19, 2007

A wicked fitting

Wicked is temporarily off the needles and on waste yarn because I didn't want to chance knocking half the stitches off the circulars and knowing me that's exactly what would've happened. This was so nerve-wrecking for me but so far it seems to fit! It's a little snug over a thin tee but that's what I was hoping for because I really dislike baggy, bulky sweaters.


My 1st Sweater

Something tells me grilling season is officially over!






I've cast on for Wicked which is my first attempt at knitting a sweater. After the legwarmer disaster, I decided to selfishly knit something that would be all mine. I'm doing this in the small size.


Yarn:Paton's Merino Wool in "New Denim" (3 skeins bought for $3.99 ea @ JoAnn's. Deal or what?)
Needles:#8, 29" Circular, the pattern called for #7, 32" but my gauge was incorrect & I couldn't find 32"'s in 8's
My gauge(for future reference because making this swatch on circulars was a real pain in the behind): Paton's Merino, #8 circs 4.5 sts to the inch(18sts 4"), #7 circs 5 to the inch(20 sts 4")

Wicked woes: I finished up what I thought was a near perfect neckline only to drop a stitch and then drop 5 more in a failed attempt to fix my error. Eh, stubbornly continuing to knit in the dark after losing power probably wasn't one of my better ideas. To make things worse I then noticed I'd been knitting the cable twists on the wrong side. Unknitting wouldn't help this mess. So, I hid myself in my room when I discovered what I'd done to avoid teaching the kids some colorful new words and began to rip. I'm about reading to try it on. More later . . .

Thursday, January 11, 2007

Kitty Comforter or Dishcloth?

I've finished up the dishcloth for the January KAL and attempted to set up a clear shot so I could forever document my screwup (not that the cloth itself won't be a good reminder). Ms. Mia, though, she had other plans for the soft little square.



Is this for me?







Thanks mom, these purly nubs provide most excellent traction for my paws.








What's that you say, you want me to move?








Needless to say she didn't budge without much prodding. What do you think, is it a winter flower, a snowflake or a bobble-less poinsettia? It was done up on #7's, per usual, with a straightforward seed stitch edging that I managed to maul during an episode of the Dog Whisperer. It's not my fault. It featured the author of one my favorite reads of 2006, Marley & Me and I couldn't tear my eyes away. I was so engrossed by the family's newest dog woes (the new dog gleefully slaughters pet chickens) that I didn't notice my error until I had bound off and well, by then I was too lazy to bother unraveling the thing. I'm the main dish scrubber anyway and it'll be a good weekly reminder for me to always read the pattern instead of mindlessly knitting along thinking I know it all.



Hey look, it's almost a very imperfect sock!









One of the myriad reasons why sock one still isn't complete. These are more basic vanilla vegan cupcakes that I won't get to eat because I wasn't bright enough to triple the batch. The dogs have been drooling over me all evening holding out hope I'll throw them a treat but, alas, they're for a dance competition kickoff celebration and not meant for me or the canines.

Friday, January 05, 2007

Legwarmer FO & socks!

I've discovered I'm a loose knitter. Either that or my daughter and I are punier than most average folks. Despite obtaining gauge for the Ruffled Wristlets they're still flopping around on my upper arms and the legwarmer project had to be frogged after I completed the first one, showed it to my daughter who looked at me with a horrified stare and said "those are for my legs?" I think she feared I'd force her to wear them to school where everyone would point and say very mean things. It's so hard being a third grader these days . . .

So, after going down several needle sizes and chopping off a good 4 inches of length I figured they'd be perfect. Nope, still too baggy according to the kid who doesn't like them. Sigh, I forget she wasn't raised in the 80's and really hadn't a clue what a "legwarmer" was all about. Sorry for the crappy picture but she wouldn't leave them on long enough to get a snapshot. Guess I'll be frogging these and making myself a hat. They were knit up on Lion Brand Wool Ease with size 6, 7 & 8 needles and seamed up the sides with a somewhat neat mattress stitch on one and a sad, confused attempt at mattress stitch on the other (I was too lazy to redo it after the daughter decided legwarmers weren't her thing) . If I ever desire to knit up another pair I'll use circulars because the seaming thing is just not for me. Which brings me to my next WIP:

Yep, that's a sock, alright. After all of my bitching a month or two ago, I decided to give circular knitting another try. Only this time I ditched the slippery metal needles and am using bamboo instead which makes a world of difference. I've been following Silver's Sock Class tutorial and so far I've managed to knit up the ribbing and am ready to start dividing stitches for the heel. Wish me luck because I'm betting I'll need it. I'm using size 4 dpns and some cheap acrylic yarn because I didn't want to mess with the good stuff until I have my technique down.

And here's my sweet old Sam who may end up wearing the legwarmers:

Wednesday, January 03, 2007

Where To Start?!

I scored some fabulous books and magazines but don't know where to start. Such problems, eh? I am so thrilled to own these to peruse at my leisure. No more rushing to the library to bring 'em back on time.



I decided to frog the dreaded, never ending boucle blanket but did it only after my little one was fast asleep. I know, I know, I'm a horrible mom but I'm only willing to suffer so much for love and, hey, she did steal my Ruffled Wristlets that took me half a lifetime to knit. I detested working with that splitty boucle stuff and decided to pair it with some cheapie Pound Of Love to make a snuggle for the local Humane Society. The pattern, from Knitting for Peace, is a simple 44 CO, garter stitch done on #8 needles and it's turning into a nice cushy mat that should keep a kitty good and warm. I was hoping to do several of these but it's so very heavy on the needles that it makes my hands ache.

And my little Mia who promptly sat on the snuggle as soon I set it down.