1 FO before I go

Finished and ready to wear- my Venezia Sweater. This was a really quick knit and something I think I will actually wear often, especially on those days when the weater is cool in the morning and semi-sunny in the afternoon.

Venezia Sweater by Cascade Yarns
Found in the 2007 SnB Desk Calendar
Yarn: Ella Rae Classic

Needles: Size 9

Off on vacation for a week. Swimming, bikes rides, golfing (?), plenty of drink and maybe some yarn shopping! See ya soon.

Finishing and Bad TV

I had so much planned to get done this week. Time alone and I thought I would be watching a movie every night, knitting away. I have been a lazy ass ( in a good way) and have been knitting but haven't done so well on the movie front. Fear with Reese Witherspoon was on and since I hadn't seen that, I watched it and it was ok but I had a stack of Netflix waiting- Bobby, Elizabeth, Muppet Show Season 2- but none have been watched. Instead I have been a victim of bad TV- Rock of Love, Scott Baio, Singing Bee. Why? I guess I am a sucker and would rather watch something mindless while I knit.

With that said, I finished seaming Venezia last night (while watching more mindless tv), picked up sts around neck and knit the neck band. Now is the hard part. When it comes to picking up sts for button bands, I notoriously either pick up too many (droopy) or not enough (bottom curves up) sts. I think it looks good as is but still in the back of head feel like I was beaten by the button band yet again. So I am calling it tentatively done. I plan on wearing it to work tomorrow and giving it a test drive. If I remember, pics wil be taken too!

One more night of alone time and bad TV. Let's see what knid of crap I can find to watch tonight.

WIPs and a trip

I know it has been a while since I have posted my progress on current projects. I have started a couple new things in the past week or so. First off, the Short Row Hat. This is a fun project and I liked how the yarn (Noro Silk Garden) was working until the big strip of green hit but maybe it won't be so glaring when it is finished.

New socks on the needles- The Cross Stitch Block socks from More Sensational Knitted Socks. I am using STR in Nodding Violet.

The Venezia cardigan is still on the needles. I have about 3/4 of the sleeves done. Then, seaming and finishing will be all that's left.

A group of us from PurlyGirls headed out to Bainbridge Island yesterday for Churchmouse's Yarn Sale. We got the a bit after it started and some of the people there had huge bags full of yarn. I was amazed at how much people were buying. I managed to find 7 skeins of Hemp for Knitting hemp/wool blend to use for the Pimlico Shrug from Knit 2 Together. Only a little over $4/skein! We also checked out the local fabric store where Mara, Meg and I decided to sign-up for a beginning sewing class. After lunch and a stop at the bakery, we took the ferry back to Seattle. I ended the day by going to the Seattle Sounders games with the fam.

Now, a week to myself since hubby and step-son are camping. Then, a week away on vacation. I can hardly wait!

Venezia Update

Still no word from Cascade about an errate for Venezia. The good news is that I finished the left front last night and ended up with the same number of sts on the shoulder that I did on the back shoulders. The right front is started with a little more confidence than the left.

No one?

Apparently I am the only person in the world making the Venezia Sweater. After posts on a couple of message boards and an email to Cascade, I have heard nothing. So I am continuing on with the sweater hoping that it will work itself out in the end.

I made some good progress on my socks this week. I am not a huge fan of Self-striping but I like these. Simple, mindless and cute!

is anybody out there?

Anyone else making the Venezia cardigan from the SnB calendar?

I finished the back last night but ended up with less stitches than the pattern states. I CO 70 and knit to decreases. The decreases say BO 3 sts at the end of the next 4 rows. Then decreases 1 sts at each end of every 4th row 6 times. 24 sts down right?

70-24=46. Ok. Then on last row. BO 15. Knit 22sts in pattern and place on holder. BO 15.

huh? 15+22+15= 52 Where did I go wrong? I have email Cascade about an errata. but for now I fudge it a bit and keeping my fingers crossed that the fronts will match up. It may be time to learn more about steeking.

Chips, Dips, Chains, WIPs

Ok, well I have the WIPs covered. My 2 latest projects. First up the Venezia Sweater from the SnB Calendar. Most of the patterns, I skip over but this one caught my eye. It is so quick that I have nearly finished the back in about 4 days.

My other mindless knitting project is the self-patterning socks. Not my favoritie but they are growing on me. With these, I am actually knitting the leg to the length I think I should have been all along. I always have half of my yarn leftover.

More Pitchin than stitchin

Good news! I got tickets to Stitch n Pitch here in Seattle on the 26th. They are even in the Diamond Club where it is all you can eat and drink and I heard the food is actually pretty good. Roast beef, buffet line, etc.

The bad news in all of this- I got them through one of our vendors and the she is hosting my husband and me. so no knitting will be taking place. I do hope to get there early and take a stroll through all the vendors. Maybe at least I will get some yarn out of the deal.

I realized I had a serious case of startitis a couple of weeks ago and have put my Chevron Scarf and tote bag on hold. They have both been voted Most-Likely-to-be-Frogged. I worked on my stockinette socks and Venezia sweater yesterday and Sunday and they are coming along.

Finally a pic!

I admit I have had Soemthing Red done for a while but today I am wearing it for the first time and finally have a photo. Excuse the blurriness...

Something Red from Knit and Tonic
Yarn: Cottonease in Popsicle Blue
Needles: Denise size 7

Button shopping

Time to head to Joann's and find a button for Thorn and Thistle. Yep, that is all I have left.

I started the Cabled-Down raglan from IK last night. I love knitting sweaters in the round and, yes, my sock mojo is still missing.

We packed our spare bedroom last night- well, 2 boxes were packed and 6 garbage bags headed to Goodwill. Why do we keep so much shit? We are looking at 2 more houses tomorrow and 1 for second time. I am ready to find a new house.

Blockin' and Packin'

The knitting is all done on Thorn and Thistle. Once I got going, it flew by. Now the sleeves are blocking. Not bad for my first lace sweater.

We have started to pack/pitch all the clutter in the house. We didn't find the perfect house this weekend but the realtor suggested that we start getting out house ready to sell. I didn't realize how much crap we have!

Progress is my middle name

I finally got my butt in gear this weekend and focused on one project- Thorn and Thistle. I have finished the back and am working on the left front. It still looks short even thought I knit 11" inches on the body instead of 7" but once it is blocked, I think it will be ok.

Found it!

Thanks to Katydid I have found enough Cotton-ease to make the Cabled sweater! I still have the Thorn and Thistle Lace to work on but that sweater is on tap next.

I also rented the Meg Swanson Fair Isle Sweater video(?!) from the library and watched part of that last night. I got to the arm hole portion and then Heroes was one so I will have to watch the rest later. I am excited to see how the steeks work. Overall, it has been very informative and has some great tips esp. about how to increase evenly in the round. I always have problems figuring that one out. Math is Hard- to quote Barbie.

Just a memory

Remember this?

I guess I didn't either becasue it has been sitting in the back of my closet for over a year. The only time I wore is when this picture was taken. Looking back, I am really wondering if I was that hunched over or if it was the way the sweater hung. Anyway-

Now that has become this...

I think I have a little less than 4 full skeins there. I haven't weighed them yet. I had more but 1 became a pair of pants for a friend's baby and another is Twitterpated, which could be frogged if needs be. I am not sure if that is enough for the IK Cable Sweater. Anyone have some bright blue Cotton-Ease (Popsicle?) they would like to trade? I have a couple skeins of the light green to swap.

Decision made

After much deliberation and a search through my stash, I decided to continue on with the lace cardigan. I really don't want to buy any more yarn for a while and the colors I had were not what I wanted for the Fair Isle Yoke. Once I started back on the cardigan last night, I was excited about it again.

Also got the new IK yesterday and love Stefanie's sweater. I have a Sitcom Chic in Cotton-ease that may be frogged and resurrected for this. It was one of the first sweaters I knit and I never wear it. It isway too big and has sat in my closet for 2 years. This cable sweater would be great for the Spring.

A potential frog

I am thinking about frogging the Thorn and Thistle Lace Cardigan and instead starting a Fair Isle yoke sweater. I have admired Jessica's and even thought I really like the T&T cardi pattern, I think Cascade is turning out a bit too stiff. Maybe Cotton Fleece woudl work better and it would be easier to wear in the Spring/Summer. For right now it is in limbo until I decide for sure. I have already been thinking about the Fair Isle color scheme. Brown sweater with blues or teals for the yoke. Maybe I will do some swatches first.

I also went to the gym last night and had my old trainer do some measurements. Bascially he told me I am borderline unhealthy and I need to do 6 days of cardio and 4 days a weights a week. Huh? You mean I need to push myself? I knew I was doing the minimun so today I am making a calendar of what I am doing when with my scheduled days off. He did say this which has really stuck in my head - For everyday I don't workout or eat right I am pushing back achieving my goal by that many days. Common sense, In know but I guess I just needed someone to tell me.

It's all about the YO's

I don't think I have ever worked on so many projects with yarn overs. First up the Waterfall Rib socks in STR Bleeding Hearts, which I just realized is named after the plant not gory bloodshed. No green thumb here. Anyway, I love this one and a ready to do the heel flap tonight.

The Thorn and Thistle Sweater is coming along too. 203 stitches so a round is taking a bit but it isn't boring. THe more I knit it, the more excited I am to wear it.

The throw I am working on incorporates Yo's too. No pic right now. That is my mindless knit at the moment.

Frogged!

Something Red has been frogged and a lovely Thistle Lace Cardigan is cropping up in its place.
(Did I say once I would never do lace?)

Something Thistle?

Knitting sweaters makes me so neurotic and Something Red has given me more headaches than it really needs too. I was worried about sizing the other night and decided to add some bust shaping. That didn't turn out so well and last night I frogged back about 4". I knit a couple inches and tried it on. I think it may be too small around the boobage area. That and now I am thinking that the ribbing right under said boobage will make me look even bigger than I am. Hubby told me to just put it aside for a day or 2 and come back to it later.

Good thinking but last night in bed I thought of other sweater I could make with the same yarn. I remembered this sweater from IK Summer 06. I love the cardigan but maybe done a little bit longer. Sos this morning I swatched with some extra 220. Love it! Now for the big question...Do I frog Something Red and start on the Thistle Lace Cardigan?

Something Brown

Progress on Something Red has been going pretty well. I think I was really looking for a simple knit and this is simple but not too monotonous. I have about 20 more rows of increasing to do and then divide the sleeves and back. I love knitting sweaters in one piece. Finishing is not my strong point and the less seaming, the better.