Knitiot Savant

Before and After

I started this sweater for Boogie in the fall.  I liked the yarn, (Bernat "Soy" in Celery); I dug the pattern, ('Child's Placket Neck Sweater' from "Last-Minute Knitted Gifts" by Joelle Hoverson); and it seemed like a fun quick project.  Of course I chose a large size because Boogie is growing like a weed and I checked my gauge.  But last night, as I wheezed through the sleeve, I got to looking at the sweater a little bit more closely.  (yeah. I said wheezed.  We got hit by the flu again with the added fun of projectile vomit.  Good times.)  I held the body up to Boogie and it looked as though it would be a crop top.  Then I held up the sleeve.  It was a good 4 inches too short.  Damn.  So, keeping in mind that the weather is getting warmer and a long sleeved sweater wouldn't be of much use in a few months I did the only thing I could do:

Yeah.  I frogged it.  I already have another project in mind for the yarn so it's all good.  In the mean time I think I'll finish up those socks I started for Boogie.  Maybe her feet won't grow as quickly as the rest of her.

A Pathetic Bit O' Knitting

Thanks for all the good wishes for Boogie.  She's doing fine.  She's pretty congested but otherwise okay.  Yeah!

So look!  One half of Fetching!  Not only had I hit the blogging doldrums but the knitting ones as well. I'm working on the second one at the Thursday knititng group.  Only I could take one of the quickest projects around and turn it into a month long ordeal.  I'll put the specs up once the it's mate is finished...probably around the yeat 2010.

I've been trying to catch up on all the blogs I read but Bloglines is loading very slowly.  Eek.  I'll pay you a visit when you least expect it...like a rude family member who drops in and doesn't take the hint that it's time to go. 

It's come undone

KS:  Hey Hon, remember that beautiful sweater Fantine?  How I lurved the pattern and searched for just the most wonderfulest yarn on the planet to make it from?

Big B:  Uh....yeah.  (Clearly not really remembering but wishing to appear he does)

KS:  I think I'm gonna frog it.

Big B:  You don't like the pattern?

KS:  No, the pattern is great.  It's the yarn...and the fact that I look like a linebacker in it.

Big B:  (snorts)  You couldn't look like a linebacker.  It can't be that bad.

KS:  Wanna bet?  (grabs Fantine and slips it on.)

Big B:  (stares at the sweater.)  Hm.  Have you considered...

KS:  Frogging it?  Yeah.  Look at me. 

Big B:  As long as you said it and not me.  (Goes back to his book)

See that ball of yarn next to Fantine?  It just got a whole lot bigger.

Knitting Content

The weekend brought Book Club, ballet lessons, bookshelves that we happily filled with all our books, Christmas decorations unpacked but not up, and one finished object.  Believe me.  I am as shocked as you that I actually finished something...especially this sweater.  This thing has been lying around in pieces for MONTHS!  Here's the scoop:

Pattern:  'Salsa' by Knitting at Knoon
Needles:  Size 5 circular and size 5 DPN
Yarn:  Little Lehigh Pebbles in "It's a Boy"  (Kraemer Yarns)
Modifications:  None. (The pattern calls for i-cord ties.  I made them but hadn't sewn them on at the time I took this picture.)
What I Learned:  I learned how to attach a ruffle and that I absolutely, positively detest sewing seams.  At one point I considered throwing this sucker under my serger.  Yeah.  I was willing to let a sewing machine with a KNIFE stitch this bad boy up. 

Thoughts:  First, Boogie adores this sweater.  I cast off during her ballet lesson and, when she came out, she wanted to wear it to the car. 
I really love this pattern.  It was a cinch to knit.  The ruffles look great though I would like to steam them a bit more.  And even though I hated every second of sewing it up, seeing it on Boogie made it worthwhile.  Shit.  Who am I kidding?  I still hated the sewing...I was just glad it was over.

P.S.  Yes, she is wearing pink rainboots.  They have kitty heads on them.  No.  It was not raining.

Ooops.  One more thing.  I updated here before I hit Ravelry!  See!  I didn't stray!

Ruffly

I started this sweater in January!!  I blocked while we were in the middle of selling our house then carried the pieces in my knitting bag as we drove from Texas to Georgia.  The pieces lived in a plastic bag until a few days ago when I became disgusted by all the UFOs littering my home.  This is how the sweater looked Friday morning.  I have to do the ruffle on the left side and make the i-cord and this sucker is done!!

If you read my blog last year you might remember that I did a Knitted Christmas.  I knit every gift I gave.  This year, we're doing a Charity Christmas.  Each gift is a donation to a charity.  We have so much in our lives that we wanted to share what we have.  I hope it becomes a tradition with our whole family.   Of course I'm confident Boogie will be visited by Santa but I feel sure he'll respect our modest Christmas and will act accordingly. 

Now, I'm planning for next year.  Next year all my gifts will be sewn.  I might mix it up because I know my Mom loves socks but the majority of the gifts will handmade.  Just like the Knitted Christmas I plan on getting an early start.  Yeah, I'm crazy but I won't be crazy and stressed out next Christmas!

Progress

Even though I didn't have to travel for my Thanksgiving holiday, (thus providing extra time to knit, of course!) I did manage to squeeze in some knitting.  Usually during a football game.

Boogie's sock started the holiday looking like this.  Not too impressive, huh?  But, as I watched Alabama get beat like a baby seal by Auburn, (Roll Tide anyway!), Boogie's sock magically turned into this:

An FO!  Even in defeat I find a victory of sorts.  And yes, the minute I finished I cast on for the second sock.  Yeah me!

Betrayal

Dear Blog,

There is no easy way to say this.  I have been unfaithful to you.  I posted a partially finished project on Ravelry before I posted it here.  On you. 

I never thought this would happen.  I have loyally put pictures of my crappy knitting on you for over 2 years now but I was seduced.  Seduced by Ravelry's mad organizational tools.  Seduced by it's oh-so-easy little notebook feature which puts all my projects in one place.  I know, I know.  These are pathetic excuses but it was a momentary weakness.  I swear it will never happen again.

As atonement I offer you what I'm sure you will see as sloppy seconds.  Here's the project I posted:
It's Fantine and, since putting it up on Ravelry I haven't worked on it at all.

Promise. 

This will never happen again.  Trust me.  You will be first in all things posty.  I hope you can find it in your heart to forgive me.

Love

K.S.

Not My Mama's Feet

There is an odd up side to surgery. Okay the painkillers are an obvious plus but the knitted up side is the finished object.  I managed to finish the socks I'd started for my Mother way back before our move.  She was thrilled to finally get them and I was thrilled to finally finish them.  Here's the scoop*:

Yarn:  by Sweet Georgia yarns in a colorway who's name completely escapes me.  My Mom picked the yarn from my stash and I'd won the yarn from Kat.  I LOVE this yarn.

Needles:  size 1 1/2 bamboo.  I LOVE this size needle for socks.  I don't know why, but I do.

Pattern:  From "Sensational Knitted Socks" by Charlene Schurch.  The pattern is called Harebell Lace and can be found on page 49 of the book. 

What I Learned:  This was the first pair of socks I'd knit in a lace pattern and it was a comedy of errors.  Really.  I'm stunned that I didn't mangle the second sock as badly as I mangled the first sock.   I'd have to say that I made it through these socks for my Mom.  Love ya Mom!

I am on a mini-vacation right now.  I'm visiting my sister and should be back Wednesday evening.  (What better way to follow up surgery than an 8 hour car ride!  Am I right?  Can I get an amen?)  I've  had a lot of time lately to think about all things bloggy and some changes I might make here.  Hm.  Let's see what thoughts pop up on this second, relatively painless vacation. 

*I posted my project on Ravelry but the info is all the same.

Only the Lonely

I think every knitter in the state of Georgia is off to Atlanta to see the Yarn Harlot.  Except me.   I saw Stephanie last year when she was in Austin so that's cool.  (Wow.  That seems like a lifetime ago.  Being in Texas I mean. )  You Georgia knitters are going to have a lot of fun today.  Stephanie is a really fun speaker plus I know you'll all be shopping your asses off for yarn!  Buy some for me!

Oh yeah!  Today is J.P's birthday!  Go give the boy some love!

Eye Candy? Friday!

I completely bonked on Glee.  Here I was knitting away on the ribbing at the bottom and, one inch in, I just stopped.  I was sick of looking at it and even sicker of knitting it.  So I started a new project.

Funny, I'll knit to dishcloths right away so I have a pair but I won't do that for socks.  Clearly the migraine that crushed my brain like a grape yesterday was at work here.  I'll get back on that Glee horse, though.  Maybe after one more set of dishcloths.  Where did I put that Peaches n' Cream anyway?