I can't think of a title right now.

Yesterday my parents took C to a car show and kept him overnight so DH and I could attend bachelor/ette parties. D has strep so the bachelorette party was canceled. I did take advantage of the time to get the PBSJ blocked and pinned out. Everything sank to the proper measurements, except for the sleves, but I will work with those when I sew them and steam block later this week. I was able to unpin the fronts and the yoke this morning, but the back and the sleeves need a bit more time to dry.




Progress has been slow on the Alpine Knit Scarf. I did change the needles to the KP Option 4's and have managed to trudge through one and a half repeats this weekend. I think once I hit the transition and the rose leaf pattern and don't have to p2tog quiet as much, I should start moving a lot faster on this. The Alpaca Cloud is so soft to work with, an is much finer than the Shimmer I used for my last shawl.




I did rip out all the color work progress from last weekend on the Deep V Argyle vest, and I re-started it on the size 5 needles Thursday night after I bound off the last sleeve for the PBSJ. This isn't the best color combo I have seen the vest done in, but it is growing on me as I knit and get more rows done. Worse comes to worse, I can always wear it with a red shirt and go as "Ugly Betty" on Halloween.

Friends of ours had their second child yesterday, and speaking of child, its time I go get dressed and pick up C from my parents.

Mid-week update, still photoless

I'm still adrift on sleeve island. I think I'm about 1/2 way done with the second sleeve of the PBSJ. I just did the last set of decrees in the arm, and have 28 rows to go before I start binding off for the cap. I still haven't had the time or energy to block anything, but my parents are taking C on Saturday, so I will add that to the list of chores do be done while childless. Besides, the floor of his room is the best place to block in the house.
The rest of my knitting has been abandoned until I am done with the PBSJ. Almost done.
I will switch over and use these 4's on the Alpine Lace Scarf. I don't think I'll frog and start over, I'll just deal with one repeat being done on smaller needles.
And I still need to from the Deep V Argyle Vest back to the ribbing, but that can wait.

Monday again.

Monday is for Weight loss
And I'm up again this week, back up to 225.8 Ug. I've regained almost everything I lost in January. Doing WW online isn't working for me, so I will start attending meetings tonight. Which will put the posting of the weekly weigh in at Monday nights, or Tuesday mornings. Oh well.
Knitting Front
I finished the second front piece for the PBSJ on Friday night, but didn't take any photos. I hope to start blocking this in pieces tonight after my WW meeting, after DS is in bed. Instead of casting on for the second sleeve, I decided to "swatch" for the Deep V Argyle Vest. By swatch, I mean, look and see that the called for gauge is the same that I am knitting the PBSJ at, and cast on for the vest. I am knitting the 44 inch version, since that is the largest I am willing to accept that I am right now. This is just for practice after all. I managed to complete the ribbing at the bottom and about 13 rows of the color work when I decided to check my gauge.
You guessed it. Its off. Instead of getting 22 stitches per 4 inches, I'm getting 27. I have to go up a needle size, which I never do. I'm a loose knitter and normally have to go down a needle size or three.
I did put the vest aside last night and cast on for the second sleeve, and will try to have it finished this week, including blocking and piecing, but I'm not really holding my breath.
The shawl has been neglected all weekend in anticipation on switching over to the size 4 KP needles that will be sharp enough to do the P2togs.

ETA: I started a new blog to journal my weight loss struggles at http://shrinkingcynder.blogspot.com/
I will try to keep this blog more about knitting and less whining.

Row counters not matching up?

I am almost done with the right front on the PBSJ. When I knit the first side, I was meticulous about making notes about which rows I did all the shaping on, as well as where the diamond pattern was as a back up. This morning while I was doing my post shower knitting (yes, I knit first thing in the morning while DH is getting ready, before its time to get C up and ready) I noticed that the diamond shape and the row # were not matching up with the first side. So I grabbed the left front, and matched up each diamond and noticed I needed to do another repeat in what I was sure was only 8 rows left. Either I flipped the wheel too much on the right front, or not enough on the left front. I'm just glad I thought to check before I started binding off for the neck. I should finish up the right front tonight, and instead of starting the sleeve right away, I will start swatching for my next sweater pattern, the Deep V Argyle Vest, also by the talented Eunny Jang. Her third design this year. As I have mentioned before, I will be using leftover yarn for this. I have 10 balls of Merino Style in Storm, which will be the MC, and I should have 9 ball in Honey, left over from the PBSJ. I don't know if the color combo is in style currently, but to me they work together, or at least I hope they work better than the colors I chose for the Endpaper Mitts did.
I did cast on for the Alpine Lace Scarf from Victorian Lace Today on Tuesday, and progress has been really slow. Since I'm using my trusty Addi Turbos, the P2tog's on the back row are hard to do. The pattern so far is really easy and fun to do, but I am only getting two to 4 rows done a night. Maybe after I finish up some other projects, and make a travel copy of the patten things will go faster. There is something about knitting from the book that slows you down.

FO: Print O'The Wave Stole

She is blocked and unpinned.

Stats: Print O' The Wave Stole, by Eunny Jang
Yarn: Knit Picks Shimmer in Turquoise Splendor, 2 skeins
Needles: Addie Turbos, size 3
Cast On 1/14 Cast Off 2/17
Mods: I knit in one piece instead of two in order to avoid having to graft the center.

Thoughts: I loved knitting this. The pattern was easy to memorise, and lots of fun. This is the first rectangular shawl that I have completed (two prior attempts went to the frog pond). I have decided that I HATE using variegated yarn for shawls. I got this yarn for Mother's day last year, thinking that I would knit Icarus in it, but I never got past the first chart with it. I do wish that Knit Picks would come out with this blend in a solid color yarn, since it feels so YUMMY to work with.

I do need to get better at at taking photos of my work.

Tuesday update with photos.

The POTW stole is off the needles, and being blocked right now. I did have enough yarn to finish her, and had a tiny amount of yarn left over.
















Next up on the lace front: The Alpine Lace Scarf from VLT, knit in the KP Alpaca Cloud, Midnight.

Monday is for Weightloss

but this week I am stalled, again. Still at 226. Grrr. I was doing so great the first half of last week, I was down 2 lbs early on, looking like I was going to make a full recovery in the gain, than V-day and AF hit on the same day, and I have been a chocolate-eating-pizza-gorging-whats-a-veggie? girl ever since.

This week I will do better.
This week there will be no massive chocolate eating.
This week there will be no binging on doughnuts while working OT after already having MacDonald's
This week I will make the time to work out even if I have to drag my fat ass out of bed at 5 am to do it.
This week I will not trip and bang up my knee to where I can't work out like I've done the last two weeks


On the knitting front:
I finished the POTW stole, and have a photograph of it pre-blocked in the camera, at home, unable to post it right now.
I finished the first sleeve of the PBSJ, and cast on for the right front. I think I should get this finished this week, or early next week. Then I can use the needles for the Alpine Lace Shawl from VLT. I'm thinking I'll use the Midnight Alpaca KP lace weight yarn for it, and see how much yarn I use.

Thursday Morning Ramblings

C has an ear infection, and was up half of the night screaming. I am trying to wean him (finally), and he wanted his Boo. DH would take him in the other room and cuddle on the recliner, and C would calm down afterwards, but when they came back to bed C would smell be and start crying for his Boo again. I tried getting up, leaving the room and sleeping in the guest room (which surprised Ying) but C wouldn't stop screaming. I finally caved at 2:30 and gave him Boo, but and he slept latched on for the rest of the night, which meant that I didn't get any sleep at all. *Sigh*
This isn't working anymore. I told DH that co-sleeping needs to stop if C thinks that I will be his all night pacifier. When we get the tax refund I want to get him a twin sized bed to go in his own room, so we can lay down with him at night. DH thinks that we can move the toddler bed in his room, but he hasn't yet in the 7 months I have been asking for him to do it.
Weaning C has been an ongoing struggle since Thanksgiving. I know I made the promise to myself to nurse him until he was two, and after that to play it by ear, but now I am regretting nursing him so long. He will be 2 1/2 next month, and is more attached to the boos than I though he would be, but I am so resenting all the nursing we do at night. At least he hasn't attacked me after work the last two nights, and has waited until we were doing the bedtime routine to ask.

On the knitting front, I have 17 edging repeats left on the POTW stole, and should finish it on Saturday. The PBSJ has not seen much action this week, and the arm is taking much longer than I anticipated to knit. I am on row 47, and not even halfway done with the first arm.

Monday is for Weightloss

Or weight gain as this week has been.

After the week from heck last week, not being able to work out and making bad food choices, I am up 4lbs, back at 226 *grrr* So much for fitting into a smaller size bridesmaid gown for N and D's wedding.
At the rate that I am going, I am never going to lose this weight.
I did work out on Saturday, starting over with the Firm beginner rotation, but tripped again on Sunday, ripping up my knee in two spots this time. I will take some Ibuprofen and try to work out tonight after C has gone to bed, but I don't think I will do that great with squats and lunges, and I know I am not going to be able to do the full tall box climb.

Knitting content ahead.
In order to make sleeve island a shorter stay, I cast on for the first sleeve of the PBSJ on Saturday, and have done the third set of decreases. I think I am almost 1/2 way to the point of doing the serious decreases for the shoulder shaping *yeah* and should finish the sleeve this week. Then next week will be the right front and maybe the second sleeve. However, I do have plenty of yarn to lengthen the sleeves, and make them more wrist length than bracelet length. I will have to debate this.
On the POTW stole, I rounded the second corner on Saturday night and am almost done with the second short side, should be turning that corner tonight. I have 34 out of 84 repeats of the border left to go. I have been doing 5-6 repeats a day, and should be finished with this next weekend.

A good week for knitting...

A Bad week for everything else.

The week started of with C and I both being sick at the same time. Normally I don't mind taking a sick day from work to stay home with him, but when he is sick (running a fever, controlled with Tylenol) the boy is one little hyper ball of non-stop energy. I needed to rest and recover myself, instead C had me playing, dancing, cleaning doggy doo (don't ask), baking, and doing a lot of holding and snuggling. Tuesday I traded off with DH so I could go into work and recover from my sick day, but had to watch C while DH had a meeting. When I finally got to work, the first thing I did was to spill my coffee all over myself and my desk. Wednesday was the 2 year anniversary of my SIL's death from Cancer. Carrying C into daycare, I tripped, spilling both of us to the ground, hurting my knee and banging his head really hard. Being a 2 year old, he has made a full recover much faster than I have.
The border of the POTW stole is coming along well. I have been averaging 5 repeats a day (more on Monday when I was home with C) and I am almost halfway done with the edging. I am not liking the stripes of the edging, but I think I will have to learn to live with it unilt it is blocked. Who knows, maybe the miracle of blocking will change my mind on that.
I have made good progress on the PBSJ. I finsihed the left front tonight, while surfing YouTube for Bollywood videos. All that I have left is the right front, which I will cast on for tomorrow, and sleeve island. So fare I have only used 6 of the 20 balls of Merino Style that I have for this, so I think I will have plenty left to make the Deep V Argyle Vest from Eunny's website as well. While the color's aren't the best combo together (MS Honey and Storm, both left over from other projects), it will give me a chance to practice stranded knitting on a larger scale than the Endpaper Mitts did, and maybe I will build enough confidence in my knitting to order the yarn to make either Wendy's Ingrid or Eunny's color work sweater from the winter IK.

Monday Weightloss, Tuesday eddition.

I'm up a pound. I'm not happy about it, but we have all been sick at the Cynder household, and I haven't had the time to workout since Wednesday, and I have been eating junk since Saturday. I am counting points today, and will have to dip into Flexies for tonight, and I know I was way over for yesterday.

C and I stayed home sick yesterday, and had pizza and made cookies, so I blue a bunch of points there. I'm trying to eat healthier today.

On the knitting front, I'm about 70 rows in the left front of PBSJ, and should finish the front by Saturday (which is my goal), and I have 14 repeats of the border done on POTW stole. However, I am paranoid that I am going to run out of yarn, so I will be keeping my fingers crossed. Since I bought these skeins last May, I doubt that the same dye lot is available.

Knitting Math.
If there are 2 rows each with 17 and 21 stitches, and 4 rows with 18, 19, and 21, that averages to 19 stitches per row and 304 stitches per repeat.
The body had 80 stitches per row and 960 stitches per repeat.
That means I can do 3.15 repeats of the border with the same yarn that it took to do the body.
84 repeats of the border divided by 3.15 equals 26.6, the equivalent number of body repeats that I could do with the same yarn. Since I ran out of yarn on the first ball in the 33rd repeat, and still have a small ball left over from the Swallowtail (in the same dye lot), I think I will be ok.
*SIGH*

Weekly Photo Progress report.

PBSJ has been mostly neglected this week. I finished the yoke piece Tuesday morning, and ignored it until Thursday morning when I cast on for the Left front. I had a few rows done by Saturday morning, but the POTW grew to a point where it no longer makes good car knitting (more on that later). While we were out running errands the last few days I got up to row 40 on the PBSJ in the car, (pardon the blurry photo), and should start on ball 6 of the Merino Style here shortly.
I have finished the body of the POTW stole! Picking up the stitches for the edging caused much stress and hair pulling, but I put markers on every quarter of the long sides and knew to pick up 60 stitches between the markers. This morning I finished the inner border, and I have done the first few repeats of the edging. I think I should be able to do 4 a day (84 repeats, divided by 4 a day should be 21 days), and have this done and blocked before D's wedding. N and D came over for dinner Friday night, and we gave D the PFS shawl. Her face lit up when she saw it, and that made the 6 weeks of working on it well worth it.


DH got me an early Valentines Day present. We decided to buy stuff for each others hobbies, so he got the new WOW expansion pack, and I got yarn...
4 Skeins of Misti Alpaca Lace in a pale pink to make one of the larger shawls in VLT, and a skein of Cascade 220 Merino in a heathered blue (already wound in a ball with plans to make Shedir from the Knitty Breast Cancer special. I chose the blue color in memory of my SIL Cindy who died of Ovarian cancer (turquoise) two years ago this week.

Cromarty, revisited

After reading that Wendy was getting ready to knit Cromarity, I had to finally post a photo of the Cromarity that I knit last year pre-blog.

Stats: Cromarity by Alice Starmore, in the Celtic Collection

Started December 31, 2005 and Finished June 14, 2006

Yarn: Brown Sheep Natura Sport in Green Apple

Needles Addie Turbos size 3

The sweater is still in need of the last two neck band cables and a good blocking, but in the move to our house last June, my copy of the Celtic collection was lost. Until I can find the instructions for the cable and the dimensions for blocking, this sweater will remain a sad UFO.

Monday Report on the WL front

I had a good week last week. I worked out three times using the Firm, but forgot to check which work out was on the rotation for Saturday, and did the wrong one. Oh well. I feel good, and am down 1.6 lbs for the week, and 5.6 so far for the year. I don't know if I am going to make the 10 lb goal by Valentines day, but I will do my best. I am also pushing myself to get down to 210 by N and D's wedding, or to be able to fit into a size 16 bridesmaid dress. The store had plenty in both sizes in stock, and if they need to order one, they should have it within 2 days, so I don't feel bad about not buying it this weekend. I did look Hot in the size 18, but I want to look hot in a smaller size.

Last week also marked the second week in a row where I didn't use all my FP (just barley though). The Sourdough Jack that I had for lunch Saturday in the midst of the dress stress put a big hole in my points (20 pts between that and a few bites of fries!)

The website said that there was a store that had the dress at Grapevine Mills Mall, so we headed there (since it is closest to my mom's and she was watching C for us) first. We hiked around the complex, consulted the kiosk and Customer service in vain. There wasn't a store there. A few quick calls to D and H (for her Google fu) provided there was another store in Stonebrier Center, so we hopped on 121 and were there in less than 30. They were so helpful, and the dress was so flattering! I do think I need to get the proper undergarments(strapless bra and pantie shaper's) before I go try on again and buy. Thank goodness there is a Nordstroms right next door, I might actually get fitted by an expert for the bra.

Flip Her Over Man, She is Done

The Peacock Feathers Shawl is Blocked, and ready to give to D next time I see her, or when N says its a good time to do it. I love how she turned out, and hate that I have to give her up, but I do have yarn in the stash to make another one for me, in a blue green.
Detail of the point of the shawl pinned out. I opted to keep the side feathers shallow, but to do a full pinning on the center feather. I think she turned out lovely, and not too big. She is 82 inches across (I know, because I pinned every inch on the top to keep a straight line), but I didn't take the measurement of the height. It hits me just below my bottom, so it won't drown D too bad.
I've made good progress on the POTW stole. I am almost done with the 20th repeat, and should finish the last 14 this week. The color of the bridesmaid dresses match the midshade blue perfectly, so I have a feeling that this will be worn that night as well. I actually like how the yarn is pooling, and hope the first skein makes it for the whole body, so I don't have to match the striping.
I've also made good progress on the PBSJ. I finished the back Friday night at movie night, and cast on for the yoke this morning. The yoke is going fast and should be finished tonight or tomorrow. I couldn't capture the details of the armhole or neck shaping thanks to the insane curling of the stockingnet, so more detailed photos will have to wait until blocking.

I've been asked to be a bridesmaid!

Eek!

Its for D, who I knit the Peacock Feathers shawl (that is still unblocked, and unseen by the bride).

The gowns are peacock blue, and strapless.

Oh god. I have to fit my 200+ lb bod in a strapless gown!

But, some of the colors of the POTW stole look like they might match the gown, so I won't be completely exposed.

The wedding is in march, so I don't have time for serious weight loss, I just have to keep up with my toning.
I think DH and I will be heading to the mall this weekend to see what size I need to get, and we will have to put the gown on the CC. *Groan* Not to mention strapless bra, and Spanx. Def Spanx. And shoes.

Warning: No actually knitting content

I started this blog to help keep me on track with my weight loss.

This time last year, I was doing awesome! I had lost 50 lbs, was195, under 200 lbs for the first time in years, and was looking and feeling great.

Then we went to Singapore to visit my parents, and it was a two week eating orgy. I came home 10 lbs heavier, with my jeans not fitting anymore.

I got back on track, slowly, and lost some of the weight that I gained, not all of it, but most, but didn't' commit myself fully to WW, and bounced between 198 and 205 lbs for the next few months.

Then we bough the house, moved in and the scale went up to 208 (OUCH!) I worked out harder, didn't eat much better, but I was running 2-3 (ok, really 1-2) times a week, and the scale went up
and up
and up
and up, next thing I knew, I was at 218, and it was December. I rejoined WW online for my birthday and half heartily tracked points for the rest of the year.

January 1st the scale read 228. I was heavier than I was after I had C. I had regained 30 lbs in the last year. Clearly half ass dieting wasn't working for me.

In the last few weeks, things have been better. I have been eating healthier, and I haven't had any appetite at all, which is a good thing when you are trying not to overeat all the time like you normally do.

I'm down to 223, which is where I was when I started WW in Dec 2004, when C was 7 weeks old. My pants are tight, but I worked out for the first time since before Thanksgiving yesterday. Why did I let myself slide so far?

I think it might have to do with the huge UTI that I had last fall, you know, the one that I thought I might have, but I didn't have the time/money/drive to go to the Dr's office to get treatment started. It put me in a funk, and the funk wasn't helped by the fact that I was wanting to get pregnant again, but DH is unwilling to try until we have more money, but he won't look for a better paying job, so that isn't happening any time soon.

(rambling here)
Last week I though I might be pregnant, I was 5 days late, and starting to get my hopes up. I told DH that I was late, and he was upset and angry. AF started on Saturday, and I have been a raging ball of hormones, crying and po'd from one minute to the next.

I need to get back to a healthy weight (under 190 in my book) so I can get pregnant again, and not be the obese pregnant lady like I was with C. I need to so I can have a better chance of having a VBAC and not winding up under the cutting knife again. I need to lose weight so I can knit smaller sizes and can buy better quality yarn for the same ammt of money (who am I kidding, I will probably stick with the cheep stuff, and save money anyways). -Hey, there was some knitting content after all.

Good Progress for the week.

I think I have made good progress this week with knitting. Here is the back of the PBSJ, where I have closed the lower triangle, and just started the second. I have placed markers on both sides of the fold line stitches so I won't miss one on the back side (again).








Here is a detailed shot of the triangle. Notice the stitch markers are just cut up bits of straw. Very economical when your toddler keeps dumping out and losing your stitch markers.










I'm about 7 1/2 repeats in on the POTW stole. So far the pattern is very easy, and I think the variegation of the yarn is working with the pattern. I know others who have knit this thought variegated yarns would take away from it, but I am liking it.

Its a rainy weekend here, and my parents bailed on watching C today, so DH's and I will be staying in (again) and I will probably get a lot of knitting done.

FO: Endpaper Mitts

I finished them! My first foray into colored knitting.

The pattern was fun and fast, and I will knit it again with yarn that is more contrasting.

Pattern: Endpaper Mitts by Eunny Jang

Yarn: KP Palette in Fog and Hyacinth

Needles: Susan Bates Double pointed needles in sizes 1 and 3

Modifications: I used the long tail cast on since I was on the road and didn't have the instructions for doing a tubular cast on with me. I also only did two repeats of Chart A before I started Chart B, and they still come down far enough to go under my shirt/jacket.

A Very Productive week.

I finished the PFS on Saturday, but haven't blocked it yet, maybe tomorrow when my parents have C for the day, that way I can vacuum and pin out on C's floor.
I finished the first Endpaper Mitt on Sunday, before going over to Danny's for a haircut (my first in a year...Yikes), bud didn't cast on for the second one right away. Instead I decided to work on Lucie for a bit...
Then I noticed that I had dropped an edge stitch on Lucie 20 rows back. *sigh* To the frog pond she went for now, until I can either tighten my gauge enough to work on one of my circular needles (from a 2 to a 3, which is in use, but more on that later) or I break down and buy a size 2 circ (with my next knit picks order, after the yarn diet has shed some more weight).
So I did an actual gauge swatch for the PBSJ, and hit gauge on my size 4 knit pick options, and cast on for the back panel. So far this is an easy knit with just enough of a cable to keep me from getting completely bored. I am on row 30, almost done with the large bottom triangle. I have to say, I am impressed with how the pleats come together, but not as happy with working with the KP Merino style as I was last time. I am knitting on bigger needles, but it feels like the yarn is bigger than the last batch I got for Christmas of 2005. But, as I get further into my second ball of yarn (already) I see it getting softer, and thinner, so maybe there was just one ball of yarn that was too bulky. We will have to see. Hopefully this doesn't end up eating all 20 balls of yarn, because I really want to have leftover to knit the Deep V Argyle Vest.
I also cast on for the POTW stole on Sunday, using an invisible cast on from Victorian Lace Today, and after a few false starts with the cast on, it has been smooth sailing so far... The only thing I don't like is how I have to move stitch markers with almost every row, but if I keep track of my YO's I think I have come up with a way to do it without having to move markers. More on that later. As of last night, I am six repeats in (of 34 if I knit it in one piece)
Monday was a holiday, so more knitting on the two new projects.
Tuesday it was back to work, and it was frigid, not cold, but frigid, in our building. I cursed myself out for not completing the second Endpaper Mitt all day, and cast on for it at lunch. I made an executive decision to put all other knitting on hold and to get the second mitt done ASAP, and stayed up late Tuesday night working on the first repeat of the color chart.
Tuesday night/Wednesday morning that light chance of snow that wasn't going to do anything turned into a major storm for the area, bad enough for the University to close (during the first week of classes for the Semester!) so I had more time to work on the second Mitt, when C wasn't demanding my full attention (his daycare was closed that day as well). That night when S was putting him to bed, I finished the second mitt, wove in the ends for both of them and blocked them. Thursday morning, my hands were glad to have their warmth.
Thursday night was back to knitting on PBSJ and POTW. This weekend I hope to block the PFS, get some more done on the PBSJ, and do another couple repeats on the POTW.

Peacock Feathers is Finished! (mostly)

Friday night I finished knitting the pattened rows on the Peacock. That left only the row of plain knititng and the crochet bindoff for Saturday.

The Bindoff took time, but it wasn't as bad as others in blog land have mande it out to be. I guess it was because I crochet for years before I ever started knitting, and could get it done in almost no time.

The thing that worried me most about the bind off, was what if I had missed a YO on the last row, and I didn't have enough stitches to make all the bo's a multiple of 3. As I rounded the bottom corner (above) and saw that the stitches were lining up, I breathed a sigh of releif. But it wasn't until I got to the final six stitches that I finally felt confident that I compleated the shawl without screwing it up. I had another fear that C would come in, take the hook, and unravel the BO edge, and the entire shawl would unravel, but as you can see, that didn't happen.


Here she is in all of her unblocked glory! She is so beautiful! I can't wait until I have free time without C around to help to block her. That would have been today, since the University is closed due to the MLK holiday, but thanks to Mother Nature dumping and ice storm on us last night, his daycare is closed today as well.






While I had the camera out and was taking pictures, C couldn't help but try to get in the shot, so I present Peacock with C.

Pattern: Peacock Feathers Shawl byDorthy Siemens
Yarn: Baruffa Cashwool off white
Yarn Source: Simpatico Yarns
Needles: Addie Turbo Size 3, and D crochet hook.
Start date: November 24, 2006
Finish Date: Januart 13, 2007, with multiple frogs in the first few weeks.

I'll be doing the feather dance this weekend!

I have 8 3/4 rows, plus bind off, left on the PFS. I didn't get much done on it last night (only 2 rows or so) because my back is killing me, and I went to bed early. I didn't get my morning row done either, because C was awake as soon as I got out of the shower and wanting some Mommy time. *Sigh* I am optimistic that I will have it finished (sans blocking) before N gets to our house tomorrow night for his game. Even if I wind up finishing it while the boys are hanging out. I am actually looking forward to doing the crochett bind off. Crochett was my first pashion, even if I have't done more than a simple chain for a provisional cast on since I made C's baby blanket.

I sent DH out to find the Winter 06 Interweave Knits yesterday, and Barns and Noble didn't have it, so I will be checking out a few other places this weekend. I will get my hands on it so I can start charting out my color variations for the sweater (even if I can't buy the yarn for a few months). That will give me the chance to do a few more stranded projects before I invest the time and money into Veniza.

SO much for knitting just from my stash...

After Seeing the swatches FlyinMySoup did for the Veniza pullover, I think that I must add that to my To do List. But I am seeing a sweater done in shades of pink and green, or green and purple, with blue swirles. If my math is right (and since I don't actually own a copy of the Fall IWN, so it probally isn't) my size would only take 18 balls of Palette, and therefor I could make the sweater for $40 ish. But since I won't have any money for things like that until after the tax fairy commeth, I should be able to know out a project or two before then.

I am on row 236 of the PFS. I know I can finish it this weekend. I might not block it this weekend, but it will be done. I will try to take some photos of it this weekend, since I don't have time to take photos and upload them durring the week (thats precious knitting time, and its dark by the time I get home, plus I need to spend time with C)

Lucie will not make a good travel project, since she is being knit on straght needles, so I will probally cast on for the POTWS or the PBSJ once the Endpaper Mitts are done.

Knitting plan for 2007

I think it has been decided.

I should finish up PFS over the upcoming 3 day MLK weekend, and if I get done early enough, I will block it on Monday while C is at daycare. If not, then it will have to wait a little bit.

Lucie and the Endpaper Mitts will be the next priority, and I will finish the Endpaper Mitts before I cast on for my next project, which will probably be the Print O' the Wave Stole in the KP Shimmer.

After Lucie and POTW, I will work on Pearl Buck Swing Jacket (PBSJ) in KP Merino Style, Honey and the second PFS (for me!!!) in KP Alpaca Cloud Tide Pool.

Then Lace, lace, lace, lace, and the Deep V Argyle vest with leftover yarn From the PBSJ and the Kimono Styled Sweater I knit last year. I think the Storm and the Honey Merino Style should look good against each other.

I think that should carry me through most of the year.

If I need to buy more yarn (And I have to lose 25lbs off my body before I can buy any yarn) then I will get some KP Palette to knit Ingrid from the Wendy Knits book (I'm in the poor, cheep yarn phase of knitting). And while I am ordering that, I think I will get some Telemark yarn to knit Craig the We Call Them Pirates hat from Hello Yarn. I think I am going to knit Craig and Laura holiday gifts this year to welcome them to parent hood.

I think after that I will only have a few odds and ends left in my stash. I still have no idea what I am going to do with the 1300 yards of yarn left over from Cromarity. Maybe something will come up.

Grr. They had us clear the casche at work, and it cleard out all my stored usernames and passwords.

Shake Your Tail Feathers

I had to use that title. I am on the edging of PFS #1 The end is in site. I can't believe that I made it through chart 7 in a little over a week! I think I might have this baby done in the next 10 days, if I can get 3 rows done each day (one in the morning, and two rows done after C is asleep). Of course, I am at work and don't have a new picture of it.

The Endpaper Mits are going slowly. They have been downgraded to a lunch time/car project, but since we haven't gone anywhere where I haven't been the driver all week, and I have been working through lunch to get some comp time earned, there hasn't been much progress in the last week.

The Lucie sweater body got ripped out and I cast on for a sleeve, thinking that I could get a better gauge of how much of my yarn that this is going to take, and if I can keep my gauge consistent.

The Merino Style that I got for Christmas is probably not going to work for the weekend pullover. Even though it has the same 120(ish) yards to 50 grams that the called for yarn has, the ball I pulled out to swatch with does not match the sample strand pictured in the magazine. I think I might have to come up with another project for it, maybe the Perl Buck Swing Jacket from a previous issue. That jacket has grown on me in the last few months, and from the FO's that I have seen while browsing the web. Plus, I should have enough yarn left over to make EJ's Deep V Argyle Vest with the Storm and Honey Merino Style. Two projects for the price of of one.

Holiday Wrap up and goals for 2007

Its been a busy few weeks. The university has been closed for the last one and a half weeks, leaving me with a lot of knitting time.

Peacock feathers is growing up fast. I haven't had any trouble working on her for the last few weeks, and I am up to row 197. Since there are 249 rows on the shawl, I think I am almost done. I don't have time right now to hunt up the shawl calculator to find out how far I am done with it, but I think I can finish it in January.

I am participating in Wendy Knit From Your Stash, as I posted about before the holidays. I think I have enough to keep my busy to last the next 9 months, and if I run out, well then, I guess that means I can buy more yarn.


Pictured:
20 Balls of KP Merino Style in Honey to knit the Weekend Pullover from Fall Interweave Knits 2006 (Christmas Present from my MIL)
9 balls of the Austrian wool that I am using to knit Lucie (Christmas Present from C)
10 Balls KP Merino Style in Storm to knit ??? (Left over from the Kimono Styled Sweater)
8 Balls of Brown Sheep Nature Spun to knit ??? (Left over from Cromarty)
2.25 skeins KP Shimmer in Turquoise to knit EJ's Print O' the Wave Stole
3 skeins each of Alpaca Cloud in Tide Pool ( Peacock Feathers #2) Iris (???) and Midnight (???) (Birthday and Christmas presents from the DH)
Some random sock yarn that doesn't look pretty when knitted up that I will use if I have to.
2.5 balls of Russian Angora yarn (left over from the Not-So-Portland Pullover)

I finished the Trekking socks for my sister, but didn't get a FO picture of them. She liked them, and thought they were much nicer than the last pair of socks I gave her.

I also finished the Calorimetry for Heather. She was confused when she opened the package, but when she tied it on, she thought it would come in handy. Since it is knit from the leftover C's yarn, she thought it was cute that they matched.

I did start two new projects:
Endpaper Mitts in KP Palette Fog and um, a too light purple
And I started on Lucie on Um, gulp, size 2 needles to get gauge. I have 2200 yards of this yarn and I HOPE it is enough to finish the sweater. If not I don't think I will be able to get anymore of the yarn.

I've also had a lot of time to get some reading done. DH got me Victorian Lace Today for my birthday, and I know I have to knit several of the shawls and scarves from there. DH also got me Wendy Knits and Yarn Harlot's Knitting Rules for Christmas. I think I will have to get yarn to make Ingrid, probally more palette, and I will swatch with the left over yarn from the Endpaper mitts.

10 days

That's it. 10 days until my birthday.

Also, 10 days until H's birthday and I have lots of knitting to finish for her.


I have the first Jaywalker sock done and I am done with the leg of the second one. I have also tarted a Calorimetry out of the leftover yarn from C's birthday sweater, which was a real quick knit. I cast off on it last night, but haven't taken any photos yet.

I haven't done much work on D's PFS in the last week. I am back at the point where it was frigged, but I have been focusing mainly on getting the Jaywalkers done. I think when they are done, I will go back to the PFS full time.

C did some holiday shopping for me on EBay.






2200 yards of fingerling weight Austrian Merino wool. I think I see a Lucie coming up, which will take me forever, which is good since I joined Wendy's Knit From Your Stash 2007 project. I think I have enough birthday and Christmas yarn coming, if not, I can hit Simpatico with birthday money that my brother is going to give me. I think my one "Get out of Jail Free Card" will be used for the Firecracker sale in July.

Moving Right Along

The PFS is almost back to the point that it was at when I showed it off last. I am about halfway though chart 2, and so far, so good on this time around







The first Jaywalker is about halfway through the foot. I love how pale the colors are in this (pardon the washed out look from the flash) I hope H enjoys getting them for her birthday.







The Holiday decorations are all done. The Santa's Marching Band has made another appearance, the first in our new house. C hasn't been as thrilled with it this year as he was last year, but our new neighbors said they have the same band ready to come out when they unpack the Holiday stuff.

Trial and error

After much trial, error and frogging, I finally made it off of Chart 1 of PFS again, and stuck a lifeline in there so fast. I'm started the second feather pattern on Chart 2 this morning, and hope to be back to where I was by Sunday, but next week the Jaywalker socks are going to be bumped to the top of the knit list, so I can have them done by the morning of the 24th. I only hope they will fit H's foot, since they are a tad too tight for me. I turned the heal on Saturday, and should finish the gusset of the first sock today, so I don't think I will have a problem.

We are 90% of the way done with holiday shopping. Saturday was all about shopping for C while he was with is grandparents. We got him a ... Well, you are going to have to wait until after the holidays to find out.

I did decided to gift out my Swallowtail Shawl to S's grandmother, since she is so hard to shop for, and it is small enough for her to get on and off in bed. I think in January I will start holiday knitting for next Christmas, knitting socks for everyone, but I haven't really decided yet.

I also want to say I hate the lighting in our house for trying to get pictures. S hates having any overhead light on in the evening, and it is too dark to use natural light when I get home, so I try to get photos on the weekend, but we are too busy.

A Frogging we will go...

Warning**Photoless post ahead.

I decided to give sock knitting another shot. I am currently working on a pair of Jaywalkers for my twin's birthday present. We are broke, and I have had the yarn (Trekking in pastels, C destroyed the band so I don't know the colorway right now) that had been a SIP for the last 11 months. Monday night I came home and frogged that sock and cast on the Jay's. So far it is an easy and fast pattern, and I think I will have the pair done before our birthday, even if that means PFS is put on hold for a bit at the end.

speaking of PFS...
I did a stupid mistake. I set her down mid-row, when I had less than 20 stitches on one of the needles, because C needed me RIGHT THEN. When I went back to PFS after C was calmed down, I forgot that I was mid-row, and accidentally pulled the needle out of the 20 stiches. After trying for 30 minutes to get the stitches on the needles, and failing due to the very delicate nature of the yarn, I made the ultimate decision to frog. Since I was knitting commando (no life-lines), that ment frogging the entire shawl.
All
100
rows.

*Sigh*

I did break the yarn and keep some as a pseudo swatch to show N how soft the yarn knits up, and if he wants to tease D with the yarn, than that is good.

C saw the 'swatch' and asked if my knitting was broken.


I did cast back on, and I am almost done with chart 1 (again), and I think I will install lifelines (if I can find something that isn't white dentle floss) between charts. I am only working on this after C goes to bed right now, since he likes to poke the needles in the ball, and has tried pulling the yarn off the needles.

FO: Icarus

Stats: Icarus from Interweave Knits Summer 2006 by Miriam Felton
Yarn: Skacel Merino Lace in Cranberry
Needles: Addi Turbos size 3
Start date: October 30
End Date: November 22

I think this was one of the fastest knits I have ever done. From start to finish, it was just over three weeks. I think the fact that the pattern was so easy was such a help to me. After the first day of knitting, and first pattern repeat, I didn't have to refear to the chart again until I was on Chart 2. I did find a bunch of mistakes in my work after I was done with this, snags that didn't block out, SSK and K2togs that were backwards, but I am not going to let them bug me, and nag at me, keeping me up late at night any more.

I did let C help me unpin in Friday night, and he had a blast pulling up all the pins. I guess that means that I can't do any major blocking while he is awake or around.

The shawl did keep me nice and warm in the chilly banquet hall where R had her wedding (which was so beautiful!)





I did cast on for PFS on Wednesday night, and I am on chart 4 right now. This was taken 24 hours ago when I was just starting chart 3. So far PFS is a lot of fun, and I can see myself knitting another one for me. I do hope it doesn't turn out as large as Icarus, since D is so tiny

Uncharted Territory

I finished Chart 4 of Icarus this morning! I only have the 4 rows of the edging and the BO left to do. I will get this done to wear to R's wedding on Saturday!
I brought Icarus with me to work on at lunch today, but left the book at home. I have Trellis here also, and can work on that, but I am eating lunch at S's office, and the father of the little guy I am making Trellis for is S's boss. Can I work on it without him noticing?

I can't wait to get Icarus finished and cast on for PFS. I think I that will be tomorrow, depending on how much Turkey Day Prep I can get done tomorrow with C's help.

It Came! It Came!

The pattern for the Peacock Feathers Shawl came in the mail on Friday! It is taking all the will power that I posses not to throw the last 8 rows of Icarus aside (and take off the needles since I only have circ needle that I like to use in the right size) and get started on this beauty.

I didn't finish chart 4 this weekend, but I think with hard work, and ignoring the husband and child, I should finish it tonight, and get started on the 4 rows of edging and binding off either tonight or tomorrow!

I am so close to being done with this puppy that I can cry, and Icarus has been a fast knit. I CO on 10-30, and am almost done 3 weeks later.

I only hope that PFS is as fast, especially since I hope to knit another one for myself out of KP Alpaca Cloud in either Midnight or Tide Pool. I put both on my holiday wish list, and will make another Kiri out of the one I don't use for PFS.

How Cool is This...

I posted progress of my Icarus on the Lacevember page, and my first reply was from the designer herself.

I think I am giddy with excitement.

There She Grows!

As has been long promised, here is a picture of C in his birthday sweater. I love how the dark colors make his hair pop! I think this is the best sweater that I have knitted to date. But since it is a toddler sized sweater, it didn't take to long to complete, and I didn't get bored half way through the project.


Icarus is growing along. I am in the middle of Chart 3, and have 33 rows left to go. I love the color of this Marino Laceweight, and I know that it will go with so much in my closet.

Now that I am actually paying attention to the way the charts are written, instead of how the previous row was written, it feels like it is going faster, even though the rows are getting insanely long. It is taking me 30 minutes to do the wrong side rows and around 45 minutes to do each right side row, so it really is slow going right now.

10 days to finish Icarus

Will I finish in time?

I am well into Chart 3 now. I think I should have it finished by tomorrow night, providing C doesn't have a repeat of not wanting to go to sleep like we did on Sunday night. That will give me this weekend to do Chart 4, and next week to work the edging and the CO. This shawl is working up so fast!

I did notice that I had my SSK's and K2Tog's confused for a large portion for Chart 2, but I don't think it will be that noticeable when blocked.

In other news, it was actually cold enough today for C to wear his birthday sweater to daycare. S was able to get a few pictures of him wearing it, so I will try to add those in the correct place later tonight.

I made out my Christmas yarn wish list last night. All from Knit Picks to make for easy online shopping for S and L, and emailed it out. I have requested yarn to knit a few sweaters, and lots of laceweight, since I am on the lace kick again.

Finished with Chart 1 on Icarus!

I finished the first chart last night, and started on chart 2. Because C didn't want to go to sleep, and stay asleep, I only got a row and a half done, and I know I have mistakes in there.
No pictures yet, but I feel like I am in the final stretch. Only 52 rows to go! I can get this done in the 11 days I have left before R's wedding!

I also bought the stuff to knit the Peacock Feathers Shawl for D's wedding! Simpatico had a wonder Marino Lace weight from Italy that was $14 for 1500 yards, and this is finer than the Marino Lace I am using for Icarus. The pattern is on order, which is a good thing. If I got the pattern on Saturday, then I would have been tempted to rip Icarus off the needles and start on the Peacock.

If I don't go too crazy doing D's Peacock, then I am going to do one for myself, in a bright blue/color.

Trellis only grew by one row. I think I will work on that 100% when I am done with Icarus, before I start the peacock.

What are your ideal lace making conditions?

Another Lavevember Q&A!

I don't have any ideal lace making conditions. I have knit lace almost anywhere and everywhere. In the mornings I knit in bed waiting for my husband to get out of the shower. I knit in the car in the way to work when my husband drives. I knit at my desk before work, I knit a lunch. I knit lace walking across the college campus to meet my husband for lunch. I knit when we get home and my son is playing, I knit lace at night while watching TV, after my son goes to sleep. I knit in the car on trips to visit family, or go to the good grocery store across town.
About the only place I haven't knit lace at is church and while running on the treadmill. Any spare chance I get, I am knitting.

I'm cheating on Icarus

I cast on for the one bit of Christmas knitting that I am going to do this year. Trellis in Lion Brand Cotton Ease from my stash. This is for my the son of my husband's boss. The family loves the color orange, and I happen to have two balls in a bright orange that should be enough for the sweater, if I make a few mods.
I am knitting the body in one piece, to cut down on the seaming, and I think I am going to knit the collar onto the body as I go as well, so I only have to seam across the back.
I am also going to put the button holes on the "boy" side, unlike the version of this that I made for Corwin's first birthday.

Slow going on Icaurs

I am slowly working on Icarus.
This is knit on size 3 needles in Skacel's Marino lace weight in a raspberry/cranberry color. I cast on for it last Monday and had been getting one chart repeat done each day until the weekend's disaster.

I should finish the next to the last repeat of chart 1 tonight, and hopefully will be done with Chart 1 by Monday.

I offered to knit a shawl for N&D's wedding, so I have to gather some photos of different shawls and let them see it, then N is going to take me yarn shopping! He had the look of a deer caught in the headlights when I told him that we would either have to go to Bedford or Arlington to find the right yarn, but I told him what we would probally pay and he was impressed.

I think my new favorite thing about knitting lace is you can get so much knitting done with very little out of pocket cost.

FO: Kimono Styled Sweater

Pattern: Kimono Styled Sweater from Knit Picks
Yarn: Knit Picks Marino Style in Storm
Modifications: I left off the optional belt

It took me almost 4 months to knit this sweater. I gained 15 lbs durring construction, and the sweater is a little snug on me. Back on the diet so I can wear this.

Sorry for the pictures being so dark, and the inabilty to read the cables.

FO: Not-SO-Portland Pullover

Pattern: Portland Sweater from Fall 2006 Interweave knits
Yarn: Angora Goat50%/Wool 50% from Russia
Yarn source: Ebay.com
modification: I put a split in the reverse stockingknit section of the body since I didn't have a larger needle. I used a sport weight yarn instead of a lace weight mohair. I modified the neckline for more of a scoop neck instead of the high neck in the original sweater.
Knit in just over 3 weeks

Due to the itchness of the yarn, I doubt I will get much wear out of this sweater.

FO: Swallowtail Shawl

Pattern: Swallowtail Shaw from Fall 2006 Interweave Knits
Yarn: Knit Picks Shimmer in turquoise splendor
Yarn source: KnitPicks.com

I like how this turned out, however, I think the yarn overshadowed the pattern of the shawl.

FO: The Birthday Sweater

I knit this sweater for Corwin's second birthday.



Pattern: Double Scoop
Yarn: Interlacements Superwash Marino Wool in Turkish Carpet
Yarn Source: Simpatico Yarns
Modifications: Knit in one colorway and left out the design on the original sweater.

Of course, Corwin won't let me put it on him for a photo.

The Knitting Questions, or the Usual Suspects

How long have you been knitting?
Off and on for the last 6 years. I picked it up as my main hobby about 18 months ago.

How did you learn to knit?
I taught myself from a book.

Favorite thing about knitting?
It relives so much stress, and can be done almost anywhere.

How long have you been knitting lace?
One year. I did my first lace project last September.

Favorite thing about knitting lace.
You don't have to worry as much about "Will it fit" or "Will it be too hot to wear in Texas"

The yarn question, or flash your stash
Favorite lace yarn?
Alas, I am at work and having camera issues still, so no flash. Love Kid Silk Haze, and am plotting how I am going to be able to afford to get my hands on more. Until then, I am going to have to live with KP, and Zagger.

variegated or solids for shawls?
Solids. The only project I have completed in a variegated is too busy. That said, I am planning on doing a rectulanger shawl in a variegated soon to see if that looks any better.

Favorite lace color?
None, they all look nice.

Technique, or show us your skillz

Circs or straights?
Circs, for everything. Straights are too unwieldly

Favorite lace knitting trick?
Tinking back a few wors.

Lifelines?
Only if it is a very difficult pattern. Well, only my first bit of lace really.

If so with what?
Dental Floss

Fancy blocking wires, or just sewing pins stuck in your carpet?
Pins stuck in the carpet, and cotton string for the straight edges.

Pattern, or can you follow directions
Pattern.

shawls or lacey items?
Shawls, but I will try a lacy sweater soon.

triangle, rectangle, or circular shawls?
Triangle. Rectalgles are too boring, and I haven't tried a circular shawl yet.

Charts or printed instructions?
Charts. I am a visual knitter, and written patterns confuse me.

Favorite lace you've knit?
Kiri, in Kid Silk Haze, but I gave it to my mom for Christmas. I want to knit it for myself.

Favorite lace you want to knit?
Peacock Feathers Shawl. I have been wanting to knit that for a year, and might be able to knit it in a few months for a friends wedding.

Just Fun, yup that's right, just for fun

Favorite jelly belly flavor?
Peach

Tell me everything you know about Eric the Red.....
He was a Viking warlord who settled in Greenland a long time ago.

Coke, classic or with lime?
Classic. All the way.

Holiday carols, sing along, or wish they would be banned from all public airwaves?
Wish they would be banned, but since I have a young child, I am going to be hearing them for the next two decade's.

What is the definition of irony?
Me doing something delicate

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop?
57

Why is my cat always puking in front of my son's bedroom door?
Because its a cat (Same problem here)

What is your superior power?
I make milk.

If the laundry is 9 foot by 11 foot (just dreaming, that's a big laundry room), and the walls are 8 feet tall, and you are going to tile the entire room in tiles that are 3 inches by 5 inches, what color should those tiles be?
White. Better to photograph items against.

What's for dinner tonight?
Leftovers. Chicken noodle soup and salad.

What is clogging my children's bathtub drain?
You don't want to know. Trust me.

Friday night I was working on Icarus while watching a Bollywood movie with friends. It wasn't until I sat down to work on her last night that I noticed I dropped stitches, in the row of K2tog's. They had laddered down about 8 rows.Somewhere between screaming, crying, and trying to figure out how to fix it, took a deep breath and frogged. back. 8. stinking. rows. Everything I had done the night before.I only wish that I had been using lifelines.I have everything back on the needles, and didn't miss a stitch, thankfully, and am almost back to where I was Friday night with the knitting.

I also found the camera that Heather got me for Christmas a few years ago. I hunted down fresh batteries for it, only to find out that it is not compatible with my new laptop. Windows doesn't read the softwear, and I don't have the right type of plug to download pictures, so I am going to have to rely on using Steve's camera when I can find it.

I'm in the process of seaming up the Not-so-Portand Pullover, and I hope to have photos of it later today.

Progress

But no photos.

I did change the name of the blog yesterday, to something more Knit friendly. I like it, its kind of catchy, but not as catcy as some of the more famous blogs on the web.

I joined the Lavevember knitalog! Its my first official knit along, and I hope that I will learn some blogging and knitting tips from everyone else there.

I was home sick from work yesterday, and got much knitting done on Icaurs. I finished the 3rd go around of chart 1, and should be done with the 4th run through today. If I keep up at this pace, I hope to be done with the 5th' repeat on Sunday, and the 6th by Wednesday. I think I will finish this before Rabeya's wedding on the 25th (Only 21 more days until then).

I also got some blocking done yesterday, without the little one around. Swallowtail is blocked. I just need to weave in the ends and take some photos of it. I think I will give it to Steve's mom for Christmas, then we are done with her.

I also blocked the Not-So-Portland Pullover yesterday. I think I will seam it tomorrow or Sunday, and then she will be ready to wear, with a shirt on under it of course.

Tomorrow I will try to get photos of everything, both for this neglected blog and for other places that I lurk/post.

I really need to blog more.

*Sigh*

I must also remember to take pictures of stuff.

Swallowtail remains unblocked. I have the pins to block it, I have the cotton thread(yarn) to block it, I have the space to block it, I just haven't had the time to block it.

I did suck it up and finish The Portland Pullover in like 4 days. Once I got past the second sleeve, I got the body done in no time. I cast on for the body on Thursday morning, and bound off Sunday night. I did make some modifications to the pattern. Since I didn't have the money to buy size 13 needles, I added a slit in the reverse stockingnet area. I also left out the 10 rows of knitting on the top, and left it with a more scooped neck look. I hope to block it this weekend, and sew up the sleeves, and depending on how it looks then, I might go back and adjust the neck line.

Icarius in my left over shimmer Died again. I did cast on again Monday night in some Skacel laceweight Marino that Steve bought me last June for our anniversary. If I don't mess up again, than I hope to have it done in time to wear to Rabeya's wedding on the 25th.

Sherwood hasn't been touched in a week. I still think of it as a WIP, but I don't have a deadline on it since I am making the size 4.

I have finished seaming the Kimono Style Sweater, but I hate it on me. Maybe after I lose more weight (instead of gaining weight) it will look better. Or maybe if I had thought ahead and put in short rows for my big nursing boobs.

I haven't been here in a while

I have fallen off of the weight loss track again, but I have been a knitting fiend the last few weeks.

I have finished three 'big' projects in the last month, but of course I don't have any photos of them up yet.

I finished Corwin's birthday sweater on his birthday. He know's it is his, calls it "My Yarn", but he won't let me put it on him to get a picture. *Sigh*

I am 99.9% done with the Kimono Sweater. I have it bound off, seamed, and tried it on again on Saturday, only to find out that I droped a stitch at one of the shoulder bind offs. So as soon as I get that picked up and woven in, I will be able to wear it out in public.

I also have jumped on the Swallowtail Shawl band waggon. I cast on for it 10/2 and I finished it on 10/21, so not even 3 weeks. Of course it is a fast knit, and once I got past the nupps, it all went really fast. All that is left is blocking it, and I might do that tonight after Corwin is down.

Now my only problem is what to knit next. I have cast on three more projects, and have the yarn and desire to do two more after that. I have the Portland Sweater on one set of needles, Icarius shawl on a second set, and I started Sheerwood on my quasi broken bamboo needles, that were the right lenght for knitting it in the round. I really want to cast on for Glasgow Lace, and did cast on Saturday, but wasn't able to get guage on the needles I was using, and my 3's are in use Icarius. I also want to knit the Shapely Tee with my leftover yarn from the KS.

Now that I have found my digital camera from the move two moves ago, I hope to get some photos taken soon.