I knit a lot, who knew?

I decided today that it was cold enough for me to wear my purple sweater, which needs a turtleneck underneath, making it a very cold weather only sweater. While I was getting dressed I realized that I really like the pattern I used for the sweater, or at least the overall idea. The sweater was kind of Kimono inspired, with a large waistband and draped sleeves that go a little past the elbow. It’s very comfortable and cute, but obviously there are a few things I would change about it. The biggest issue is the waistband, because while it’s very pretty and cinches nicely, I’m pretty sure it took nearly two skeins of yarn all by itself. And as much of a waste that is, it’s also just plain frustrating to be knitting and knitting and not get anywhere. I need to think of something that I would replace it with that is a different texture than reverse stockinette, but it’s overly complicated. There are a few other little details and shaping issues that I’d want to fix, but the waistband is my biggest complaint.

In addition to the purple sweater, which I made this past spring, I also made a sweater for my friend Rosy around the same time, and two winters ago I made a long cardigan (which I used completely the wrong yarn for), and I can’t forget my most recent – the sweater dress. But thinking about this made me feel a little better, because I’d been feeling bad about how infrequently I publish patterns, especially compared to someone like Glenna C. In reality, I designed a lot of things over the last two years that I just haven’t spent the time to write up and publish. Part of that issue is that I’m still not used to writing for multiple standard sizes. And there’s the fact that I don’t seem to plan out a pattern fully before I start, or even write it down as I’m knitting.

Going through Working Diamonds has been nice, just doing the calculations and seeing how things work out. I’ve nearly finished the front, which I need to measure to make sure it matches what it should be. And I’m a little worried that I’ll run out of yarn before I finish, so I might just have to order more yarn from KnitPicks, bummer. Also, taking pictures on the metro doesn’t work as well as it should.

Happy Knitting!

Need Moar Yarn

Yesterday I was able to wear my sweater dress for the first time in appropriate weather, but unfortunately I still have no pictures. And as yesterday was Tuesday I got to show it off to everyone at Looped. I definitely need to order some more Knitpicks cotton to make a second, hopefully a little longer and with better fitting sleeves.

My swatch for Working Diamonds is done and now all I need to do is some math, in theory. Maybe a spreadsheet is in order, they certainly make repetitive math easier. The more I knit with the gorgeous brown color I have for this sweater, the more I’m thinking I’ll keep it for myself. I certainly don’t have enough hand knit sweaters for myself, or at least not ones that I’m proud of. I am a little worried that Ty will be jealous if I make myself another sweater without ever having made him one. I still can’t decide on a yarn for his sweater, although I’m sure I’ll end up with Cascade 220.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011
If you knew that whatever you ate next would be your last meal, what would you want it to be?

I saw this prompt last night and the first thing that came into my mind was Shepherd’s Pie, just the way my mom makes it. But the more I thought about it, the more I realize that I know what all of my favorite dishes taste like, and if I only had one left, why not try something new? So my last meal preference would be to give Ty a fully stocked kitchen and let him have at it. What sounds better than that?

 

Happy Knitting!

P.S. Tonight I will try a heel flap and gusset, something I haven’t done since 2005, and it will be translating a cuff down pattern to a toe-up. Good luck to me.

Things Finished and Things Starting

My GRE is done and over with and it feels great! Except for that little nagging voice in the back of my mind that’s saying “time for applications now!” But I think before I get too stressed over something else I’ll be focusing just a bit more on my knitting to-do list. I really need to get the Katherine pattern to the test knitters group, and I need to hurry up on the cold weather stuff for Ty, it’s not frigid out, but it’s getting chilly in the mornings. I finished one of his Jaywalker socks last night, and I queued up Skew for his other Ty-Dy yarn.

I was pretty accomplished the other day and took a whole bunch of pictures of my yarn stash and updated ravelry. There’s still a lot that’s not on there, mostly things with no tags anymore, which probably need to be on ravelry even more. But it’s a start, and if I try to update each time I buy I won’t be sitting on the metro or at work wondering what yarn I can use for something, I can look it up on my phone!

The next week or so is going to be very yarn-ful. I ordered a whole bunch from KnitPicks, mostly to revisit some patterns, Working Diamonds and Starburst in particular. But also some autumn colored Palette, because I’m greatly missing the New England leaves turning. More yarniness will be this weekend, Looped is having their 1st birthday! Therefore they have a 20% sale, which would be just silly to pass up. And on top of that, though not able to be combined, is my 15% off coupon for Looped, which I might just have to use for my birthday next Wednesday. All in all, more yarn = awesomeness. I was just saying to Ty the other night that we could put all the yarn on the bed and roll in it and cuddle it, ahhh…

And on a slightly less insane note, I finished my sweater dress! It’s all washed and ready to be worn, looks super comfy and warm. Hopefully the weather will cooperate tomorrow and do what it says it will do for once – high of 66! Then I’ll have some pretty pictures of it. I’m already dreaming up more variations on it, with a different center cable, simpler back and better fitted arms. With KnitPicks cotton yarn, it cost less than $30!

FO and yarn haul pics to come.

Happy knitting!

The Perfect Day

…to cuddle up with some knitting on the couch. It’s been rather rainy the last few days with lots of thunder and lightning, and is planning on continuing through this weekend. If I had my druthers I’d be at home under a blanket with some tea, my knitting and good movie, or maybe Battlestar Gallactica. This labor day weekend was also a weekend for hunkering down with knitting, but mainly because we went to visit Ty’s parents in Pittsburgh, which involves a four hour drive. I got a lot done on my sweater dress, even did several inches of the raglan. But unfortunately blindly choosing a decrease rate doesn’t always work. It didn’t look raglan at all when I tried it on. So I ripped it back last night after knit night at Looped (which was awesome as usual), and did some quick calculations to see if what I had re-planned would actually work. I still might have to rip back, but I think I have a better chance now, and changing it from a double central decrease to two decreases at different rates for the sleeves and body should help. I’m thinking that I won’t submit this to KnitPicks IDP, the back isn’t quite what I want it to be , and I’m not sure how much I like the center cable. Fortunately KnitPicks cotton yarn is so cheap I won’t feel bad about making another one (probably for me, etsy can wait).

And speaking of Etsy, I had two whole sales this weekend! I think I have their ‘Pounce’ feature to thank for the second, but still! It’s inspired me enough to start a twitter account for my shop, and to purchase custom labels for everything, just as soon as a figure out a logo. Is a sheep too cliché?

Others are coming along, kind of. My re-knit peacock feathers sock is more than the cuff now, and I opted for twisted stitches instead of plain because I just couldn’t stand how stretched out everything looked. I’m sure it will be ok that I’m changing the pattern a little more than I intended. And the Katherine hat still needs its chart before I can put it up for test knitting. Maybe I’ll be able to convince a test knitter to use the same yarn, or at least a silk blend?

Who knew?

My sweater dress is coming along very nicely. I had decided that I was going to try raglan sleeves, and I’m nearly at the point where I can join the body and sleeves together. Because I have been, as always, designing as I go, I decided to work the sleeves simultaneously with the Magic Loop method. And lo and behold, it’s great! It might be a bit nicer with a longer circular, but it’s actually quite easy. And I have to say, being able to finish both sleeves at the same time seems ideal (unless, of course, I screw something up with the design and have to frog both back). I’m still not sure what I want for the neck, I’m stuck between a nice big comfy cowl neck, or a more slim-lined boat neck. Although the more I knit the more I realize how quickly I’m running out of yarn… So it might end up as a boat neck out of necessity. I am very excited for the finished product, although it’s still a few weeks/months away from being sweater dress weather. In the meantime though I can type up the pattern and perhaps submit it to KnitPicks IDP program, seeing as it’s knit out of KnitPicks cotton yarn. Which, by the was is super soft and smooshy, especially after running it through the washer and dryer, I used it for Rosy’s sweater too.

My Etsy shop is hobbling along, views dropped a bit when I stopped adding new items, which was expected. I’m still not sure what I can do to get sales, but I’ve talked to Ty a bit about creating a twitter account for the shop and maybe draw some people in that way. Social media marketing is definitely more of Ty’s thing than mine though.

The Gabriella test knit is pretty much finished. There are only a few details I’d like to fix in the pattern, getting rid of any needle number references, is one of the big ones. I’ve been realizing while doing the sleeves with the magic loop method that tons of knitters have to do socks this way, no second sock syndrome to worry about! And I’m sure that people use it for gloves and mittens too, so to have any reference to what number needle you should be on seems overly confusing. My plan is to switch it to say ‘beginning of back of hand and palm side’ etc, that way there’s no confusion, hopefully. Once the patterns completely finished, with some better pictures too I think, I’ll post it here and link it on Ravelry. Then I’ll have my test knitters link their FOs to it and poof, insta-pattern-awesomeness. And maybe some new people using it too, that’d be nice.

sleeping during the hurricane, and cuddling my sweater/protecting it from the cats

Aaand, the hat, which I might be naming Katherine (with K, not a C, it’s much more alluring)*, is finished and blocked and beautiful! Really, I’m quite surprised that it turned out so well, it even seemed like it needed a bit of expanding during blocking, and I might block it again and actually stretch it a bit while it dries, just so it’s a little more slouchy. I still need to do a proper swatch, my first one was pretty good, but not enough rows, which is really the most important part for this hat, seeing as the band is knit sideways. I still need to take pictures of it, but I’ll start formatting the pattern soon so I can start it’s test knit soon too.

All in all I feel good about my progress, both with designing and with Etsy. I feel like I’m really putting effort in, and I think for now, that’s what counts.

Happy knitting!

*brownie points to anyone who gets my reference (really brownies if you’re local!)