Swatch Fwatch

Have I mentioned how much I hate swatching? For real. Hate. I know it's necessary, but I don't like it. It delays my project starting process and is just annoying. Here's my swatch for my Featherweight Cardigan that I would like to knit sometime this century.



This swatch should be 4" across. I am exactly a 1/2" off. Which is much better than the 1-1/4" off I was before I washed the swatch. This means going up a needle size will work. Most of my anger about swatching came before the washing. It looked like I was going to have to swatch a few more times before getting what I needed. I guess this means that I'm not all that mad at swatching afterall. I changed my own mind. Now, if I knit this sweater and it's a bagillion times too big or small, I will go back to hating on the swatch again.

The Head

I'd like to introduce you to someone. Her name: The Head. I purchased her at Hobby Lobby(my new favorite store since moving South). She was only $5, but will be my hat/scarf and whatever else model for a lifetime. I will keep her safe and locked up in my office/craft room. Because I'm so excited about my purchase, I decided to retake photos of recent knitting projects with her modeling them. This has nothing to do with my abundance of free time. Let the show begin!

Here The Head is modeling my 16 Cable Hat. Remarkably, she even makes my photography look better. I don't know how she does it, but if we all had this ability, we would all be models, wouldn't we.



Next, The Head is wearing The Cashmere Cowl. Knit out of cashmere lace, The Head can wear this anywhere, from a brisk walk along the water, to a shopping adventure outdoors.



In this next shot, The Head dons The Darkside Cowl by Sarah Fama, knit out of The Plucky Knitter MCN worsted yarn in the popular colorway Honey Wilkes. I know! She made me forget about the clutter on my desk too. I didn't even notice it! She is amazing.


Lastly, although she resisted, The Head models my current work in progress, The Slouched Tuva Hat. "I don't want to model a hat without a top. What if everyone sees my thoughts?" were her words. I didn't say she was smart.



And there you have it! The Head. I am currently searching for someone whom I shall call, The Body.

Spring Forward

I finished my Spring Forward socks and I'm very excited. I only started knitting them in (cough) December of '09.



The first sock went VERY smoothly. I can't say the same for the second sock, however. I had to restart that sock at least four times! I kept screwing up and when I'm working with fingering weight yarn and size 1 needles, little can be fixed without ripping. Anyway, I hope the person I am gifting them to, loves them and that they get a lot of wear. I used Wollmeise in Fleiderbusch and I absolutely ADORE the color.

Well, with the Girasole and the Spring Forward socks done, I was left with no works in progress! Can you believe it? I'm not counting the old old projects that I haven't touched in years, of course. So...I decided to cast on for this.



I'm using Bryspun needles for the first time (size 4) and I feel that the hat is really quite small. I'm also not really like knitting with plastic. I'm going to truck along, though and hopefully it will turn out the way I want.

The homefront has calmed down, but it always does. We;ll see how it goes next Thursday!

I've Been Thinking

Mostly, I've been thinking about what I want to knit next. After Girasole, yes, only two days ago, I finished my Cashmere Cowl.



It's so soft and beautiful! I can't wait to wear it once summer's over.

Now, I am finishing the Spring Forward socks I started in December of '09. I'm working on these for a friend. One sock is complete and I'm working the leg of the second sock. Wow, I'm such a snore today.

A New Blanket

I DID IT. I knit a Girasole!! I can't even describe how happy this makes me. I have never, in my life, knit something that was this complicated and that took so long to complete. When I say complicated, I don't actually mean it, either. This pattern is so clearly written that the only mistakes I made were out of my own stupidity. I only THOUGHT it would be complicated.

Knitters, if you love the look of this blanket, and long to have one sitting on the back of your couch, or draped over your bed, KNIT IT. It can be done! I'm so not kidding. I thought I would, for sure, make some unfixable mistake or get stuck on the pattern and never finish it. I did finish it, and you can too!!



Please excuse the unwoven ends and my blue carpet. We need hardwood floors. Bad.




This picture shows the pattern nicely, but does not correctly reflect the color.



This shows the color perfectly! What to do next? Besides weave in those ends, I mean! I think I should finish the two WIPs I have on my project page on Ravelry. Yes, I should finish them. But will I?

Spring Girasole

It's a beautiful Friday morning. I just went outside and cut some of our Azaleas back, got out the old mason jars and made vases:



It's been a busy month and a half. I HAVE been knitting, though! I am still working on Girasole. All in all, this is a very easy knit. So far, my only obstacle has been the cast on, which I figured out using this video:



Seriously, this video is THE reason I am knitting this blanket. The other methods just didn't click.

Does anyone else find it strange that I am knitting a blanket just when the weather starts hitting the 80s? I do! But I really want to finish it. I still have quite a while to go, and 640 stitches per row. I've made a couple of "stupid" mistakes, but I've managed to get myself out of each one(so far). When I finish this, it will be my biggest knitting accomplishment thus far. Literally. BIGGEST. Here's a pic of my progress, albeit squished.



I'm actually a little bit further at this point. After this is done, I already want to knit the Hemlock Ring Blanket. There's about half the yardage needed for this little lap blanket. So want to knit it! Anyway, off to walk the dog! Enjoy this beautiful day!

New Challenge

So, about that cowl I was working on. The dog got a hold of it, tore the inside of the ball outward and made a mess of my cashmere lace. There have been numerous attempts to salvage it and keep going. There was a point where I just had to put it away until I had the patience to finish it. I only have an inch to go! I WILL get back to it at some point.

I took a wee knitting break. It was probably only about a week and a half, but a nice one at that. I decided I really wanted to knit a blanket. I mean, I wanted to knit something over the top nice and intricate. I downloaded the pattern for Girasole a while ago. Never thought I'd knit it. Always wanted to. I ordered the yarn and cast on and now I'm moving along!



I'm on Chart B. I've been part of a fabulous Knit Along (KAL) on Ravelry too, and I know if I hit any real snags they will be able to help me, which is a HUGE weight off my shoulders. I'm knitting this out of 220 Superwash in Japanese Maple. So far so good! I just have to be careful not to try to get ahead of myself. The first few charts look pretty easy, but I think it gets a lot more complicated.

Spring has sprung in Louisiana. There is pollen EVERYWHERE. I am not exaggerating. It's thick and you can't get rid of it. We need a good day of rain. Maybe then I will be able to breathe again!!