Finished and never ending

Here is a pullover I knitted a few years ago for my granddaughter who was 4 years old.  I admit that I loved that pattern more than she did, and she has plenty of sweaters to choose from, AND she doesn't seem to get bigger, just longer...  (It also has a history which I shared 4 years ago.  Click the link above.)

So, on my last visit, I saw this one languishing in a drawer and decided that she would NEVER wear it because it's too short for her, both in body length and sleeves. I'm so thrifty... can't part with anything, it seems, so I.... yep, bought more yarn!!  Isn't that the solution to many problems?  (Mr. T., just go buy some yarn...)

Of course, I didn't have the sweater with me, but thanks to Ravelry I knew the brand and weight, just not the exact colors.  I bought 3 colors to match, and none of them did... hence, the contrasting bands.

My aptitude for ripping out, and adding and kitchener'ing back together has soared to new heights and lengths!  Now it's ready for an 8 year old who may or may not reject a repurposed sweater into a tunic.  Fingers crossed!

Meanwhile, back home, I haven't been attending Knit Nites like I used to.  Semi-retirement for a musician seems to backfire, BUT I finally convinced some of the group to double up and instead of meeting every two weeks, we've added a NOON date on the off weeks.  WORKS for ME!

Never ending... The Dr. Who scarf, which is really long.  How long?  Maybe Callie can tell us...because here it isn't finished, but now it is, and even has knotted fringe on both ends.  She says she quit when she ran out of purple... nice!

It's a beauty, and some lucky young man is going to love it!

No more knitting

Finishing time:

I've been concentrating on this sweater in anticipation of delivery of it to my daughter, as a belated birthday gift.

It requires some assembly...

I'm making two sweaters.  Below is mine, which will take a rest while I am away.

I had yarn only for two sleeves and two bodies, so only one could be finished.

Here's the leftovers.  Modeling to follow.

...until I finish the finishing!

Knit nite

Two of the stars at knit nite...
A beauty purchased at seconds shop, $2.50. In excellent condition.

And a newly finished masterpiece.  We've been watching the progress since Knit Camp.

Great job, C!

Different Seasons

Post-holiday postings...

On Saturday: (St, Maarten)

On Monday: (Norway)

Very excited that these turned out so well!  Papa's sweater is 2-1/2 years old... and since they hike together, I thought she needed a matching pullover.  

The Pattern: "Single Stranded Tunic by Susie Bonell from the Cascade Yarns website.  However, I used the pattern for Raglan Sleeves from The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns by Ann Budd.

The Yarn:  Ecological Wool by Cascade Yarns

On my needles

Yummy, little stitches... of a pattern I'm making up as I go.  

First, I buy the yarn.  Can't resist:  When at WEBS, most things are yummy.  And the color, "Byzantine", is a coppery red.  It's Madeline Tosh Merino Light, and I bought it having no plans. Then one day, last November, I couldn't keep my hands off of it, so I started a shawl with a beautiful lace pattern.  Other projects got started and finished and in January I picked up a second skein and started this project.  I "was" using a pattern, for the sleeves, but the bodice was too lacy, too open for my liking, and it took a friend asking about a stitch dictionary (which I had forgotten I had) that made me open my Stitch "Bible" and select this motif.  It will need a camisole underneath, and will be perfect for chilly weather.   HURRY!

Two sleeves done, and 1/3 of the back.  One of three projects I have on needles.

Fuzz

De-pilling a sweater.  Isn't it a beauty?  Did I knit it?  No.  Why do you ask?

I purchased this sweater years ago, and absolutely love it.  It's from Christopher & Banks, and needed a little work.  I used little scissors and snipped away the pills.  Tedious, but the only way with which I'm comfortable.  Looks new!

Do you have a de-pilling method to share?

Sea breeze

The weather outside was...frightful, NOT!

Pool onboard.

Tamed "feral" pig in Costa Rica.

Panama Canal with a man who has been in my life for 48 years... Yikes!

Cruising the Mexican Pacific coast, Panama Canal and Caribbean, I managed to find time to finish this gorgeous piece.  Too bad it didn't fit me, but then, it wasn't supposed to! ;)

And the wedding bell on the door means we were celebrating our anniversary!

Sea Breeze

by Martin Storey

from Rowan Classic Beach, Book 9

RYC Natural Silk Aran

by Rowan

Aran / 10 ply

73% Rayon, 15% Silk, 12% Linen

71 yards / 50 grams

Ah!! Another HAPPY Birthday.

Another year of knitting ahead... Time to count up:  (Thank you, Ravelry, for keeping tabs on me.)

8 pairs of socks; two on needles now.

18 other projects:  2 little girl pullovers, 1 sweater for me, 1 pullover for Halvard, 1 poncho, 1 vest, 1 shawl, hats, mittens, a necklace....

And how many Ken-Ken's did I complete?  Many hours there, too!

Recently I finished these in (hopefully) a 5 year old size.  They were such fun.  Nice and thick for little feet in water-proof boots.  And they match (kind of) Mommy's socks.  I don't do many socks two-at-a-time because they aren't as portable as one, but this time, without a pattern, I knew they wouldn't be the same if I didn't do them at the same time.

Notice the heel:  I followed Charlene Schurch's toe up pattern which confusingly referred to making the heel upside-down.  It worked, and probably only would bother a knitter.  Anyone else ever try that?

The heel flap is on the bottom of the foot.

In other news, I "fixed" my Dahlia sweater to suit me... Although I was ecstatic that it came off my needles in a shape that I could wear, I grew to regret the ends being too short.  See my Ravelry pictures to describe how it is a rectangle with arms in the middle.  The short ends of the rectangle are bound off;  it is knitted from the center out to the short ends.  Those ends needed a few more inches, and after years of wishing and pulling on them, I unraveled the seed stitch, and voilà!

Hangs nicely.  Hopefully I won't add 4 more inches in a few years... but I'll let you know!

Update on Knitting

Here's the most recent progress, however, (spoiler alert) I just bound off!  Yay!  Two days to go, and I'm SOOOO close.

I don't know why it is sideways… It wasn't when I imported it...

And speaking of close, I want to let you know that no one is CLOSE to winning the prize from January 16!  You can go back there and review, but here's a refresher and hint:
When I asked for 5 things I needed to do to complete this project, two of them are (in no particular order) finish the back, and knit the front edging.  If you have trouble seeing the image, click on the photo and it should open up in an enlarged format.  If you want to see the pattern, you can probably get to it through my Ravelry page.
Ok, Marija!  It's up to you, and you have 24 hours from … NOW!
Good luck!  (There were more than 5 things, so don't worry if you can't get them all in 5!)
And go ahead and write them in comments… or email me.  I don't care if you spoil it for others.

Almost… finished, second try, second knitter...

A pullover with hood has been on my Ravelry page since last summer, and it proudly is described as C's project, not mine!  Six months later, I arrive for a visit and now it's mine.  I'm a finisher, that's for sure.  In fact, I detest unfinished projects.  Sometimes (sometimes) I don't start things because I KNOW it won't get finished…a noble life to live…but sometimes my startitis gets a grip.  But now the pullover is officially mine.  My last question to C was, "If I can't finish in 2 weeks, would you be willing to finish, by knitting the hood and assembling the pieces."  The answer was emphatic, and it didn't sound like "not finished" was an option.  So I have a schedule, that doesn't look especially realistic…
It's a beauty!

When I started, the sleeves and the bodice pattern part were completed.  I was asked to finish so I knitted merrily around and around without pattern instructions until after a few inches there was a discussion as to whether it would be big enough for Juju.
I measured this one, and I measured sweaters that are in use, and determined that no, it wouldn't fit.  Then there was further discussion about cutting it open and inserting side panels, or a front (cardigan) opening, and it all seemed too much trouble, so with great gnashing of teeth (not mine, of course) I ripped the bodice back to the garter ridge bottom border.
Of course, I used the previous model as a gauge sample, and knowing what I know about garter ridges compared to fair isle construction, I decided to increase from 150 to 180 for the color work.  And I decreased at the end of the color work.  It looks a bit…roomy… but I console myself with "better bigger".  It now is a size 6.
So here's a little challenge for all you followers:  I have a nice ball of Big Delight (DROPS) in charcoal colours (OK, I'm using a Norwegian keyboard which insists that colour should have a U in it, and I'm tired of fighting with it…).  It will be YOURS if you can tell me how much more I need to do before January 27.  (Hint: I shouldn't be sitting here blogging…)
There are five things to complete before I can leave it here and travel home.
If you email me, and don't spoil it for others in comments, I'll put your name in a hat as a prize candidate.  If you don't know my email, comment and I'll get back to you.  You have until Tuesday to give me your answers, and you can use any means available to figure it out.  I don't care if you think I can actually get this done…:)  Let's just say I have some airport and train time ahead of me this weekend.
And the prize:

It's a beauty.  I bought and used the same yarn for a wonderful scarf.

Good luck!  Have a great weekend!  Stay warm, and KNIT!

Still 100ºF/35ºC

Not for long... But it's still hot in the direct sun.  And I'm out from under the wool:

Isn't it a beauty?  I'm not totally convinced that the collar is the most beautiful... it's plain garter stitch...but I'm convinced it's the best for this pullover.  i.e. not bulky, and stretchy.  I don't think the collar needs to add warmth with the rest of it being so... "bulky".
I'm super happy that it turned out nice, and that it's DONE!  See Ravelry link at top for details.

Summer Knitting

Yes, my friends, it is still VERY MUCH summer in NW New Mexico.
And I'm chugging along under wool.  A fan, an outdoors breeze at 90º F, "it's a dry heat", and ...

 Overhead:

This

turns into this:

The last color, white, is left... And as the weather stays hot, and the sweater is growing... I might have to put it aside for awhile.
It's on #9 US needles and flies along.  Each section is a mile marker and easy to see progress.  I'm looking forward to making another one with the leftover yarn from this one plus other leftover yarn.  My mind is racing along, although I've decided to get to a kit (pattern and yarn) I purchased almost a year ago in a mosaic pattern.  At least it will start small, and not feel so heavy in my lap.

Pattern:  Single Stranded Tunic (A137)  by Susie Bonell  from Cascade Yarns Website

Yarn:  Ecological Wool  by Cascade Yarns  Bulky / 12 ply, 100% Wool, 478 yards / 250 grams
 

Time for Fair Isle

Love love love the look,
The feel of two colors entwined,
The bands of design,
See how it grows!
Just one more row before bed...

And then it will rest until August.  I'll be traveling, and no need for a nice sweater over the summer.  I'm going to take my time, and start many other projects...

Child's Redbird Pullover

by Tone Takle and Lise Kolstad

from Sweaters: 28 Contemporary Designs in the Norwegian Tradition

It's a beauty!  Using fingering weight yarn from other projects.  

Can't wait...

Every day for a week, I think, blog-sojourner-blog-sojourner-blog-sojourner...  Quite consuming!! Yet I have a class to prepare for (four days a week), and rehearsals and laundry and meals and... 

I really WANT to finish my Sojourner Sweater and I really want to show it off in my blog post.

It's SOOOO close now, and I'm running on fumes here, so here it is:  Incomplete.

Decided to block before seaming:

 The sleeves...

 After I seamed the shoulders, I discovered that the back was too long.  I ripped out down to the stitch holder:  !!  Quite a lot, but it fits nicely.

 Next worry:  Will the sleeves fit?  Maybe...

It's a nice dk weight... I'm motivated!  I want to wear it!

Perfection, I guess...

In February, my daughter presented me with a pattern and yarn, we shopped for beads, I bought extra yarn, just in case, and I cast on:  Mademoiselle.
I stalled, I put it away, I knit numerous other things, and then as September approached I realized that winter weather and sweaters are inseparable, and I got out the whip sleeves and started again in earnest.  The impending season AND a visit by my daughter looming was enough to get me focused, but little did I know that it would take me up to the final day that I could put it in her hands.
It was a good thing I had her body with me, because there's no better way to get a fit and a "look" than to see it modeled.

 I did the sleeves first.  It was earlier agreed upon that they would be 3/4 length.  Then the body turned out to be overly "hour glass" shaped.  C thought that was great;  she likes a close fit.  Then came the collar in contrasting color, pattern, and with beads.

 It traveled from New Mexico, to Canada, visiting Niagara Falls, drove to South Carolina where I was watched by dogs, and it grew, grudgingly it seemed!

 Finally it was "sew the sleeves in" time, and when modeled...  it definitely needed more at the neckline.  I picked up stitches and made a raglan decrease to keep it from falling off the shoulders. (The weight of the beaded collar would surely drag it down.)  This extra neckline I knitted and ripped four times until I finally had it right.  With a stockinette finish, the collar would still pull it outward... so

 In the end I finally had a reverse-stockinette, and not too tight, not too loose bind-off.  Whew!  (I imagined that it was going to be a Christmas present after all!)

Nice hems on the cuffs, and the same for the bottom edge of the body, but at the (almost) last modeling, it definitely needed a few more inches of overall length!

 I unraveled the hem and added 3 inches, a new hem, and voilá!  Finé!
Never blocked.  North Carolina humidity would mean that C would have to take it wet, and NC weather ... Well, there's NO excuse that I didn't snap a picture when it was finished and modeled... Shame on me.  Someday, I'll surprise you!

 By the way, the sweater can be worn backwards or forwards.  C prefers the split of the collar to the back.  It is the YUMMIEST of yarn.  I loved the feel in my hands.

 Lucky me!  I WAY over-estimated the amount and have plenty left for another project.  (Not exactly stash-busting, is it! LOL)

Commuting again

I can't believe how busy I've been.  It's like I added a full time job to my normal day.  Well, maybe I have, but only for a week.
I mentioned before that the local museum is my volunteering gig, and last week a new exhibit opened which requires someone in that particular room at all times.  I normally would sign up, but when I saw the many openings they had, I doubled my effort, and packed up knitting-to-go.  I managed to clock 28 hours in 8 days.
(If you are local, you would be welcome to volunteer.  Otherwise, staff have to stop their jobs and go sit.)  It's a wonderful exhibit, and we are very lucky that someone knew someone to make it happen.
To see more about this exhibit, click HERE.
Progress made:
Mademoiselle Pullover
One sleeve, and bodice is finished:

 Starting the collar which is sewn on.  Beads!!

Pattern is in Norwegian: Du Store Alpakka
Colors look dull and grayish.  They are much nicer... should be in sunlight.

Some things...

Some things, in the past 6 months, have been just too depressing, and therefore not blog worthy.  The past week has been full of "work", cleaning out a house, wondering what, if anything, is worth the work.
When I get back to reporting about my down time = knitting time, I find that knitting an adult sized sweater... well, it takes awhile.  I'm motivated to get it done or mostly done by early September, and realize that it's going to take me that long.  Have I made any progress? Let's see:  I started in February, but have finished 11 little and big projects in the meantime.  That's how I am!

It's a fun pattern, and if I can convince myself that it's moving along, I'm contented.  Knitting in the round, I'm farther along than I think!  There is a small hem which I turned under at bottom right (in the picture).  And one sleeve is finished.  This is my go-to project for the next month while I carry a sock around in my bag.
The pattern is in Norwegian: "Mademoiselle", and has a big beaded collar.  I love the feel of DROPS Baby Alpaca Silk (fingering).  So smooth to the touch! Much nicer than the keyboard...

Old Stuff

Back to... Dahlia!
Today, finished the body... I'll be able to open the sleeve openings and discover what I've done.  Will it fit?  Will I have it for next Fall, or by April?

Focus, Woman!
And the answer is...
I don't know.  I tried it on, and it's so.... odd.  I thought, "I've been working on this since August, and it's such yummy yarn, and I SO want this sweater."  I was determined to have it done by the end of January, but I had to go to plan B.  I finished something else... and packed another sweater.
It's really "old stuff" since it's been around for 6 months, and when I put it on I was deeply disappointed.  It doesn't look right. A funny shape... a wide rectangle, with holes for sleeve openings. The fronts are rolling up, the collar is strange, the shoulders are in the wrong place, and I don't know... Hopefully, "when it's blocked...."

Fixed and Finished

Two weeks ago I wrote about fixing something that you've knitted.  At the time, I was consumed with my errors, and I didn't have a way to include pictures.  Today, I have the means to post photos, AND it's finished!  And not JUST finished, but last week finished.

I told you, she likes that pose!
Here's the stripe problem, front and back. These go with the blog about fixing (see February 13, 2012)

Quite an original pattern, with the false sleeves.  I started with orange cuffs, but they were sub-standard so I cut them off and knitted purple (larger) cuffs as an afterthought.

 This became my Egypt-sitting-on-the-beach project since I was determined that at least ONE of my projects would be purchased, knitted, completed and delivered without crossing the Atlantic several times!

The pattern:
From DaleGarn mini 2-8 år (years) nr 184

The pattern is "Sweater" 18407 designed by Kari Haugen.

The yarn: Falk by Dale of Norway/Dalegarn, Sport / 5 ply, 100% Wool, 116 yards / 50 grams

It was a joy to knit, and went so fast!  I've been knitting on 1's and 2's... Bigger needles!  Yay!