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I will not discrimate against a yarn based on it's color, fiber, manufacturer, or retail outlet.
Knit Alongs
Starting 3/15/05
Friday, April 22, 2005 posted 11:39 AM EST
I know, I'm a little later than normal for my post today. However, I was able to set up the main pattern for Marilyn. 274 stitches and 8 different charts (and she has you increase within the charts as you go... I think if I were to do it again, I would do the increase row on the last row of the bottom border so I'm not trying to figure out the stitches and the increases).

Anyway, it's set and I've done 2 rows. I made a little list of the order of the charts and how many stitches between each chart. Not an easy pattern to set, that's for sure. I also was completely confused by one of the charts. If I wasn't familar with the cable, I would have done it wrong. When the crossover sections are next to each other, you can't tell which cable is which. It's a bit confusing. I consider myself to be fairly comfortable working cables, but this pattern is a challenge (again, once I can read my knitting, I won't have to rely on the charts as much and I should be fine).

Now I get to work 274 stitches back and forth for 12.5" or so before I divide for the sleeves. I'm sure it'll just fly off the needles (what did I say I was averaging when I was working the bottom border? One or two rows a day.... hmmmmm. I think this one may take a while....)

Have a good weekend!!!
Starting 3/15/05
Finshied 4/7/05
Finished 1/3/05
Finished 9/21/04
Finished 5/23/04
Current WIPs
Diamond Patch Sweater
Body Hugger Raglan
Spring Forward Cardigan
Marilyn
Cropped Cardigan Reduex
Thursday, April 21, 2005 posted 8:29 AM EST
Recently Finished
So I played housewife yesterday... well, as much of a housewife that I'm willing to do. Grocercies and a little spring cleaning. Meaning I washed 2 sweaters. No vacuuming was involved.
Cozy Shawl Collared Aran
Cross Over Top
Denim Socks
Thanks to Matt at
Crowing Ram
for the button.
Kate
Kristi
Jacq
Lauren
Nicole
Rosie
sUsAn
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Some Favorite Blogs
I understand there are actually people who use their dining room table for things like eating.

That's actually my first washing/blocking on Inishmore. I had been procrastinating on it. Part of me was secretly hoping the yarn would soften up and the sweater would be a little more comfortable to wear, but the other part of me knew this wasn't going to happen, so I kept putting it off. The second part of me was right. Not any softer.

The rest of my day was spent with Gorden Freeman. I'm trying to play Half-Life 2 on my laptop. No mouse and it's a bit awkward (why does the spelling of "awkward" look awkward?). So I think I'm going to pick up a gamepad for the PC.

I also had a pair of sock needles lost yesterday. Gena had been leaving my knitting alone, but I've also been trying to keep the wooden needles out of temptation's way, but the striped socks were left in range and the needles are now history. Gee, I need a store that sells computer games and knitting needles. They go together like books and coffee, right? Hmmm... a business venture just screaming to be implimented. I mean doesn't everyone knit during cutscenes or loads when they play games (and trust me: in Half Life 2, you get long loads... surprisingly long).

Only other knitting I did yesterday was one row on Marilyn. At this rate, that baby will be done before the end of the decade!
Tuesday, April 19, 2005 posted 8:53 AM EST
I wanted to say thank you to everyone who left me birthday wishes. It is truely appriciated. I usually get a little depressed about my birthday, but this year's was so pleasant thanks to all the nice comments. So thanks again.

Let's do a little show and tell (as that's why we blog, right?)

First up is a totally tubular project.
That's the start of the aran pullover vest for Matt in Encore. He picked the color and the pattern. The yarn is nice for him to be able to wear while working in his wood shop over the winter. I'm not sure how well the tubular cast on shows up in the photo, but I do love it.

The back of the sweater is nothing but moss stitch (as is most of the front). I'm doing A LOT of moss stitch right now. The Cropped Cardigan Reduex is a lot of moss stitch, too (the back is solid moss stitch with cables on the front and on the sleeves). Not the most exciting knitting in the world, but I do love the way it looks. I don't have a picture of the Cropped Cardigan Reduex yet, as it's kinda boring, but I love the color and the way the alpaca yarn is knitting up.

Next up in show n tell is the German Twisted Cast On Sock.
Okay, its not a good picture of the cast on, but again trust me, it looks pretty cool. The yarn is Regia's Ringel Color and I love the softness of this yarn. The color is pretty cool too. I haven't decided which heel I'm going to use yet, probably the afterthought heel, as I like that it doesn't break up the striping effect.

Last, but far from least is the restart of the Marilyn sweater. I loooove the color of the Black Water Abbey yarn. The iris color has these subtle light blue tones mixed in with the lavendar.
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I'm glad I restarted. I decided to go down a size and I had a couple of minor mistakes (ones I could live with, but I had hit the "2 mistakes-must pull back to fix" rule). I hope to get the bottom band done today then I get the dubious joy of setting up the pattern row on the body: all 218 sts of pattern setting. I think I'm going to actually write out a complete chart of what goes where so I don't have to keep flipping pages while I'm counting and figuring out what goes where. I really hate set up rows. Once they're set up, I can read the pattern, but all those stitches and charts can be a bit overwhelming....

Here we have beautiful weather, and I'm back to knitting on wool sweaters? Oh well, I'm sure I'll get back to work on some of the other projects floating around on my active list. Variety is the spice of life, after all!
Monday, April 18, 2005 posted 7:58 AM EST
I had a lovely birthday weekend. Matt took me out to lunch on Saturday after we went to The Knitting Studio. He doesn't really enjoy yarn shopping, but he knew I would enjoy going. I picked up a just a couple of things (some Encore for an other vest for Matt, a Patons pattern booklet and some sock yarn).

We had dinner last night with our really good friends and neighbor. It was a lovely evening. Betty really out did herself with dinner. A wonderful birthday indeed. (with some of the most beautiful weather imaginable).

I decided to learn how to do the German twisted cast-on for socks. So after a few attempts (took a while to get the rhythm going), I now can do the German twisted cast-on. Great for top down socks.

However, I also decided to put my new tubular cast-on skills to the test and used it for Matt's new vest (the vest pattern is a very simple moss stitch vest with a cable up the front). I looooove this cast on. It may not be as fast as the long tail cast-on, but I now can't imagine doing a 1X1 rib with any other cast on. Next step will be to practice doing it in the round.

Well, the wonderful weather is supposed to continue thru today, and I fully want to take advantage... I'll try to get some pictures up tomorrow!