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I'm pretty sure I'm not going to make tonight's NaKniSweMo deadline. I still have a sleeve and a quarter left to knit, plus the seaming, the collar and button bands. Combine that with my change purse zipper shipment arriving today (more of the wee knitting change purses) and I won't have time. I'm going to try for a weekend finish. So instead of a triumphant finished object, how about a picture of the elusive Indy cat.
Every morning this week I got up, I poured a big cup of coffee and locked myself in my office. My goal was to sit at the sewing machine for at least an hour to get the juices flowing. My thought is to use up fabric scraps and notions that I already have and shop from my stash until the New Year. The result this week: teeny little change purses. They're addictive to make! I've listed most of them in the splityarn shop today and I expect more by the end of the week.
The hardest to cut into was that fabulous red and white knitting print. I followed a link from 6.5 Stitches a while back to Aunty Cookie's Etsy shop. It was a limited edition fabric print and I snapped up all that I could. It's one shop I'm going to keep my eye on. Gorgeous stuff!
When I was nearing the completion of the Husband Sweater, I started thinking about the next big knitting project. We've made the transition from Austin to Boston, but I'm not ready for the cold wardrobe-wise. I have a coat, I have plenty of scarves and hats but I have zilch in the way of sweaters. The zipper on my black cardi uniform just gave up the ghost, so I have only a hoody from Target. Time to fix that.
I'm a little bit late starting NaKniSweMo, but I'm giving it a go anyway. I cast on for Twist late last week in Cascade 220. The left front is finished and I'm halfway through the waist shaping on the back. It's been a while since I've done anything cabley. Yum! I can't get enough of looking at 'em.
The first sweater I knit for The Husband was such a roaring success that I was definitely going to knit him another. He wears that first one so much that it's challenging to get it out of rotation long enough to wash it. Enter Husband Sweater #2. It's another Elizabeth Zimmermann, this time the seamless raglan. If I want to knit something that the Husband will actually wear, it has to be basic; clean lines, nothing too busy, no bright colours. This one fits the bill nicely.
At one point today while he was wearing it, I smoothed the sweater down on his shoulder and gazed admiringly. He chuckled and said, "I'm never sure if you're doing that because you love me or the sweater." Truthfully, it's a lot of both.
Pattern: The Seamless Raglan from Knitting Without Tears
Yarn: 5 skeins of Cascade 220 in colour 4002
Needles: Size 8 US (5.0mm) Bamboo
Started: September 29th, 2007
Finished: November 4th, 2007
Modifications: None, but I followed Techknitting's advice with the transition of ribbing to stockinette. I think it's made a big difference to how the cuffs lay. On the last row of ribbing, I slipped all the knit stitches instead of knitting them. The cuffs look great and the fabric doesn't flip up at all. I'm going to do this with all my ribbing from here on in.
Final Verdict: I should have knit the body about an inch longer, but other than that, it's pretty dang good.
Husband Sweater #2 is off the needles and blocking slowly in the guest room. The Husband is impatient to wear it and I'm impatient to get some finished object photos. Sadly we're both going to have to wait until Saturday morning when there's some decent daylight (and when the effin' thing is finally dry.)
In the meantime, I've kept myself busy knitting up a quick Alpaca Neckwarmer. I think this one took longer to block than it did to knit. Speedy! A proper modeled shot will have to wait until Saturday as well. All my efforts this morning came out myspace-like (mostly rack and hardly any FO.) It's time to invest in a new tripod and camera remote. Santa?
Pattern: Yarn Abuse's Cashmere Neckwarmer
Yarn: One skein of Elsebeth Lavold Chunky AL. 50% Alpaca, 50% Wool
Needles: Size 11 US (8.0mm) bamboo
Modifications: I was knitting at a slightly smaller gauge than called for in the pattern, so I cast on 19 instead of 15.
Husband Sweater Numero Dos is coming along. The sleeves have been attached and I'm working my way up the raglan decreases. Along the way I've found this sweater's nemesis though; an 8.5 pound kitten named The Keymaster. Teek is still learning what he can and can't play with in the house. Knitting WIPs are definitely on our No list. Night before last he ate one of mum's scarf projects so I've endeavoured to secure every last piece of yarn in the house before the situation gets out of hand. While getting some sweater progress photos this morning, he zeroed in on the excitement. The spray bottle seen with the sweater is not for blocking, it's for cat discipline. I left the scene for one minute to refill the bottle and returned to find him INSIDE my project bag, paws around the yarn ball.
He's learning slowly but at least with all the water spritzing, he'll be clean.
