As the last post says, I attempted the ravelympics.  What it does not tell you is that not only did I have to switch patterns, since the yarn looked terrible at the gauge for the Poet’s Pullover, but I also failed miserably at getting the second sweater, Decimal, completed.  I actually just frogged what I had of that a couple days ago.  The yarn wasn’t quite right for that either.  It just didn’t have the drape I hoped it would, and between that and the halo I really didn’t like how it interacted with the lace pattern.

I am about to embark on a third attempt at using the yarn with this cardigan.  Hopefully this time will be the charm… if not I’m chucking the yarn at someone else and hoping they have better ideas than I do.  As it stands, I’m fairly hopeful that it will work out this time.  The pattern was originally knit with an alpaca yarn that is described as being fairly similar to the Quechua, and it looks like a pretty straightforward, simple cardigan.  If it turns out, it’ll be a nice addition to my wardrobe.  I also like how it has a deep enough neck that I can wear another color next to my face.  The blue is pretty, but it’s not necessarily my most flattering color.  Another reason to get rid of it if this one doesn’t work out…

No promises that I’ll blog more often, since I know myself better than that, but it’s likely… we’ll just have to wait and see!

But until then…

It’s time for the Ravelympics!  For those who might not know what that is, it’s an event put on by Ravelry for the Olympics.  The basic premise is that you pick something to knit, and try to complete it between the lighting and extinguishing of the torch.  I will be on team uKNITversity, which made up entirely of college students, and I will be “competing” in the Sweaterboard Cross event.  What does this mean?  It means that, in sixteen days, I am going to try to knit an entire sweater.  I think I must be insane.

Alright, time for the details.  The pattern is the Poet’s Pullover, and I’ll be using some Elann Peruvian Quechua in a kind of periwinkle color that I picked up at a yarn sale a few months ago.  I have a couple of modifications in mind.  I’d like to make it a little longer, and I saw a really cool version of it that added long ribbed cuffs to the sleeves.  I’m still trying to decide which size to make, since I’m between sizes.  I’m going to have to do a swatch.  If my gauge is a little off, I can make a size up or down based on that.

My recent obsession is using up all of the random cotton I have and the way in which I am doing it is knitting washcloths. Specifically, the Ballband Dishcloth by Maison Dixon knitting (available for free on Ravelry). Its a fast colorful fun knit and I am tickled that it will be very functional in my kitchen…or someone else’s.  I started out cutting the yarn each time I changed color, but I have decided that that is ridiculously and recently have begun carrying the yarn along the side like you do for colorwork which seems to be working.

Take a look!

next up? More socks and washcloths…I’m starting to gather ideas for holiday presents, but its too hot to get started on them for quite some time.

Thanks to gywn_sully, I’ve jumped on the sock bandwagon and I sense a deep obsession coming on. They’re functional with enought variation to be interesting and a small enough project to be portable and keep my attention…

Here is my progress on the second sock of my first pair! I’m so excited for it to start getting colder so I can wear them!

soon I’m off to the lake and then the seaside so hopefully I’ll be able to get in some more light summer knitting. Either socks or dishrags-my apartment could really use some dishrags!

Vivian is almost back to where it was when I had to frog it.  It’s fitting much better this time, and I’m glad I decided to redo it.  Not only am I going to like the finished product a lot better, but I also discovered that I had done too many increases the first time through, so I would have had to pull it out later on anyways.  At least this way I frogged it on my own terms.

Now I just have to hope the weather stays cool enough for a while that I feel like finishing it.  This is not a warm weather sweater.

Kisses, SBM

I would like to apologize now for the lack of pictures. I have no idea where my camera is. This is a real shame, because A Grand Yarn was just about perfect in every possible way. Not huge enough to be intimidating, but big enough to be filled to the brim with luscious yarns. As I was getting there a class was letting out, and it was so refreshing to listen to the chatter of knitters talking about their projects, and picking up various doodads. I myself ended up with a tape measure that looks like a black sheep. It’s my new favorite knitting widget. And as for the knitters themselves, everyone was super nice. Despite my claim that it shouldn’t have been intimidating, I was still a little shy, and seated myself a little to the side. It wasn’t too long though before I was invited to join them at their table, and I had a great time. I’m hoping I can go up again next weekend, and make it a regular thing.

So yeah.  Vivian is now back on the needles, and I have a new favorite place to go knit.  Hopefully I can find my camera soon and provide pictures of both, as well as the baby booties my mom commissioned for all her friends at work.  (Seven pairs… I think.  Possibly more than that)

Shovelburn: The Way of the Trowel

The past few weeks have gotten chilly here in Seattle, so the need to be inside, cozy and knitting, has increased significantly. I cannot complain! I’ve managed to put a small dent in the WIP box of Doooooooooom.

Here, I am proud to say, is the first sweater I have ever knit for myself!!! (I apologize for the craptastic photo) The Colorblock Pullover is complete after two years on the sticks. I am honestly a little disappointed with the finishing (the seams are a bit bulky) and I notice every single mis-stitch (one purl stitch in a sea of knit sticks out like a sore thumb). With practice comes perfect, so I better knit myself a few more sweaters.

I’m tempted to jump on the bandwagon and start in on garter yoke cardigan from knit1. But I also have a soft spot for duotone cardigan (also knit1), and about a dozen others, namely these: little birds, come together, vivian, and snow white.

Nevertheless, there’s a lot in the WIP basket to still complete. I’m working on a sweater for the tiny Portland baby.Isn’t she adorable? I started it over a year ago for a co-worker’s new born, got confused about the pattern, thought I’d screwed up and frogged all of my work (about half of the sweater) to come to the realization that I hadn’t actually made any mistaken. In my frustration, I gave up with a few rows worked and knit up a different sweater (on much larger needles).

Half of a sleeve to go and then seaming the whole thing together! I’ll have enough yarn left over to make little match sockies, and enough of the white and pink to make petit chou. Baby clothes are my knitting weakness. You have the benefit of the instant gratification hat or mitts, with the challenges that come along with a sweater.

Work is slow on gigi. It’s become my on the go project, since it’s mainly stockinette and easy to keep track of while simultaneously taking notes. I do not anticipate a finished project anytime soon though.

The knitting group I joined at work has kind of come to a stand still. Last meeting, not one member showed up (except me, and promptly left. knitting alone at a bar is far to lonely for me). I’m desperately trying to find a night that works for everyone, and the plan it to get an email list set up after that, so no one will be confused about what day/time we’re meeting.

In my non-knitting life: My boy and I celebrated our one-year anniversary (of dating….how high school ) on Friday with a fancy Italian dinner and cocktails. I am unsure if this restaurant is actually fancy/authentic, but it was delicious.

The bartender looked less the pleased to serves us; not only do I look fourteen, but Ian and I were both under-dressed. The bartender looked even less pleased after I spilled wine all over myself. Seriously, I can’t handle myself in public. Fortunately, there was no stain!

When I’m not at school, working, knitting or snuggling my boy…I sleep, I D&D, and chill with friends, enjoy the greener things in life…Sometimes I feel like my life is like record player, and the needle is stuck in a groove and I hear the same few seconds of melody over and over again, same thing every day. I’m hoping the groove will end with college, or maybe with an increased income (traveling will then be in order).

Until next time, I remain…
SBM

Eight weeks down, two weeks until freedom! I’m haggered beyond belief at this point….but my grades are high and I have a surprising amount of time to knit, so how can I really complain?

The sleeves for my Colorblock Pullover are finished! If I have time between homework and filming this weekend, I plan on weaving in ends and blocking. The pleasure of being this close to finishing my first sweater is almost more than I can handle.

More pictures to come soon.

Luffs,

SBM

PS: play some Pokémon today!!! In celebration of the 11th Anniversary if it’s release.