Happy Holidays!

Hooray! I managed to finish making gifts with time so spare this year! It wasn't that difficult actually, since I cut the list of projects down to practically nothing. And they are all sewn - no knitting gifts in sight this year. I just didn't feel like I could finish the things I wanted to knit in time and saw no reason to stress myself out over it!

Two trees: for my parents and in-laws.



TV remote for scale

Mini tree set, given to a friend. I really like these and am going to have to make myself some for next year!



Sorry for the lousy photos. I remembered to take them on my way out Friday morning - of course, it was still dark!

I'm off to make the best of the holidays with the horrendous cold I managed to catch thursday night. This is actually the first time I've been this sick since, well, last Christmas. I think it can officially be called a tradition now! Just my luck.

So everyone out there enjoy spending a little time with family and a having little time off work. I'm going to sit quietly and try not to infect anyone.

Stockings

**Edit: I've been trying to post this for about six days now, but Blogger hasn't cooperated. My apologies if it appears multiple times!

I have been worse than usual at posting in progress photos of my knitting projects lately. Once again, I have no photos of in progress objects but a couple photos of finished objects!

I have wanted to make Steve and I stockings for a few years now and this year I finally buckled down and did it. Mine is the one on the right.





I used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes. This is my first time using any of the Knit Picks private label yarn (I'm soo behind the times) and I was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was, especially for the price.

I realize that there is no scale in the photo, but the stockings are about 18" long and 6" wide. I didn't use a pattern for the stockings themselves (they are just big socks!) but the tree applique is from Nicky Epstein's Knitting Embellishments. The stripes on Steve's stocking are Fibonacci in origin. So they look kind of random but are not since my brain has a hard time dealing with randomness.





The lining was also down off-handedly (is that a word?). I just put the finished stocking down on a double layer of fabric, traced, cut, sewed, stuck inside, made a little hem at the top, and slip-stitched it to the stocking. Incidentally, the green stripes in Steve's stocking above match the yarn much better in person. The stripes in mine are red.

I'm currently working on some mini hats and mittens for package attachments/ornament gifts. I've cut my gift list down to basically zero besides those, since I actually used my head for once and realized that there is no way I could finish everything and still be sane in the end. Even though I love giving hand made gifts, and I know people appreciate them -it's just not worth the stress. I swear next year I will start my gifts in July!

Stockings

**Edit: I've been trying to post this for about six days now, but Blogger hasn't cooperated. My apologies if it appears multiple times!

I have been worse than usual at posting in progress photos of my knitting projects lately. Once again, I have no photos of in progress objects but a couple photos of finished objects!

I have wanted to make Steve and I stockings for a few years now and this year I finally buckled down and did it. Mine is the one on the right.





I used Knit Picks Wool of the Andes. This is my first time using any of the Knit Picks private label yarn (I'm soo behind the times) and I was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was, especially for the price.

I realize that there is no scale in the photo, but the stockings are about 18" long and 6" wide. I didn't use a pattern for the stockings themselves (they are just big socks!) but the tree applique is from Nicky Epstein's Knitting Embellishments. The stripes on Steve's stocking are Fibonacci in origin. So they look kind of random but are not since my brain has a hard time dealing with randomness.





The lining was also down off-handedly (is that a word?). I just put the finished stocking down on a double layer of fabric, traced, cut, sewed, stuck inside, made a little hem at the top, and slip-stitched it to the stocking. Incidentally, the green stripes in Steve's stocking above match the yarn much better in person. The stripes in mine are red.

I'm currently working on some mini hats and mittens for package attachments/ornament gifts. I've cut my gift list down to basically zero besides those, since I actually used my head for once and realized that there is no way I could finish everything and still be sane in the end. Even though I love giving hand made gifts, and I know people appreciate them -it's just not worth the stress. I swear next year I will start my gifts in July!

Moving in Stereo

Sunday night my husband, parents and I went to see The New Cars at the House of Blues in Chicago. The Cars are "new" because TODD RUNDGREN is singing with them. I am the biggest TODD fan ever, and hey, the Cars had some good songs. (It's not even possible for me to type TODD's name lowercase because I get so unbelievably excited at the idea of seeing him perform live. Just thinking about it makes me want to get out of my chair and do Homer Simpson's finger waggling "But I'm missing the chili cookoff - it's going on right now" dance.)


So anyway, the concert was incredibly good. Possibly the best show I have ever been to. The only downside (and barely enough to complain about) was the New Cars didn't start their set until 10pm. On a Sunday. And they were on until nearly midnight, with only a short break before an encore. We didn't get home until almost 1am, and I had to drag my sleepy butt into the shower for work only 4.5 hours later.

But yeah. SO WORTH IT.

Are there any other Todd/Utopia fans out there? If so, you will probably also recognize a couple of other new Cars members. Anyone else catch this show? Either in Chicago or anywhere else?



For even more fun, check out a short clip of Todd and the New Cars performing Let's Go at another show in Milwaukee.



Knitting. Sure. I do that too. Check back later. =)

Spinning and Sewing

Here is my very first attempt at spinning on a spinning wheel. It reminds me of sherbert:





You can see the roving I used in the background. I'm sorry to say that I do not remember in the slightest what kind of wool this is. (Oops!) I really enjoyed learning how to spin. A few times I sort of got into a groove and things when along smoothly - but then I'd have a big chunk (technical term) of wool sneak through my hands and have to be pulled back.





I'm not sure yet what I am going to make with it. Probably nothing for a while; I feel like it just needs to sit and be "yarn" for some time!


On other craft fronts, I have been looking for the perfect bag to take to work for months now. I was getting a little tired of juggling purse, lunch, water bottle, thermal coffee mug, knitting, etc. every morning but could not find exactly what I was looking for in a bag. Then I remembered a sewing pattern I had picked up over a year ago and it all came together.





This is McCalls #M4851 made from corduroy and flannel. I am really pleased with the way it turned out. It was relatively inexpensive also - both fabrics were on sale, just the interfacing (throughout the whole bag) was kinda of pricey. I've used it every day so far and it really is just what I needed!

In this photo you can see how the entire bottom piece is a pocket. There are also pockets inside, as well as a removable pocket divider thing that I haven't make yet.



That is a legal pad holder inside to get an idea of scale.

I've got so much to say,

but I don't think I can get it all out in any coherent form. Some times I feel like I need a dozen more hours in the day. Like today, when it took me 1.5 hours to travel the 14 miles home from work. I am in such a Catch-22* of "wasted" time and no time at all.

I've also got so much that I have wanted to post about, but my computer at home has been acting up - or should I say slowing down - to the point where trying to anything on it (especially edit/upload photos) is an exercise in futility. I'm not sure what the problem is, but I have run anti-virus and anti-spyware programs and nothing is ever found. My husband thinks it might be the motherboard going... Fun.

I am not yet brave enough to try posting to my blog from work (I've only been there 7 months and don't really want to push the limits of the IT department just yet), but I am braving the slowness to at least type this.

I have put aside my Diamonique top for now (since it is too cold to wear it anyways) for some more wintry things. Here is a quick list of what I have been working on:

1) recycled Debbie Bliss sweater (or, "why not knit something that actually fits!")
2) Christmas stockings for Steve and I
3) surprise gift #1
4) Opal sock
5) other various gifts in the planning stage. Not sure how many of these are going to pan out.
6) the neglected Diamonique

I finished my spinning class a week ago and have some actual real hand spun yarn to show for it. It was so much fun, but my scratchy throat, itchy hands and painfully red eyes after each class make me wonder again about a wool allergy.

I have also been doing a fair amount of sewing lately. I finished a bag to take to work, and am ready to cut out a skirt.

I am anxious to post photos of all these things once my computer is feeling up to it - so look out for a photo heavy post this weekend!


*you know, if I quit my job I wouldn't have to spend upwards of 2.5 hours in my car a day and I'd have so much more time to get things done (both fun stuff and the laundry,) but I wouldn't be able to afford any of it!

Because I totally need another hobby.

I signed up for a spinning class through our local community college. It is actually held at a sort-of-local yarn shop, Wool, Warp, and Wheel, which I didn't know about until now.

The first class was last night. It was my first time trying a spinning wheel and I think I am hooked. Like I have the time or money for something new! Here is my first little skein of hand-spun yarn:





I love it! This was actually spun from pencil roving, to learn how to control the twist and wheel - I'm sure my first attempt at drafting next week will look like a rats nest!

Pink Ribbed Scarf

Last week I happened to look in one of the many tote bags I have sitting around and found a project I had started a few months ago. My Mom had given me two balls of Lion Brand Cashmere Blend yarn that she found on clearance at a Hancock Fabrics, to make "you know, a scarf or something little and cute". So I did both by making a cute little (and simple) scarf. And to make up for my appalling lack of both blogging and knitting, I am posting the instructions here.



Pink Cartridge Rib Scarf


You will need two balls of Lion Brand Cashmere Blend yarn, and size 10 needles.
Gauge is not really important; my finished scarf measures approximately 3"x70".

yf= move yarn between the needles so it is in the front
yb= move yarn between the needles so it is in the back
sl= slip stitch as if it purl

Cast on 15 stitches
Row 1: *K3, yf, sl, yb. Repeat from * across. End with K3.
Row 2: K1, yf, sl, yb, *K3, yf, sl, yb. Repeat from * across. End with K1.

Repeat these two rows until you are almost out of yarn (or patience); bind off.


See? Simple!

I love weekends without plans.

(EDIT: I wrote this post Sunday night, but was too lazy to resize the photos and post it until now.)

I get to sleep in (woke up at 7:30 on Saturday and couldn't fall back asleep - but it was still 2.5 hours more than usual), wash the dishes and clothes that pile up during the week, and then have this thing called free time.

I took advantage of it by knitting, watching TV show DVDs, and blog surfing. I feel like I miss so much in the world of knitting when I don't get a chance to look at blogs for a few weeks. I even looked around Craftster for the first time in ages, and started a mental list of crafty Christmas ideas.

I really should get started early this year since my new job is going to get very busy towards the end of the year. I was told last week that people in my department are "discouraged" from taking any time off between now (August!) and January. Poo. Yeah, so I really need to avoid the super-holiday-stress-fest I bring on myself when coming up with the perfect handmade gift idea on December 19th.

I've made decent of progress on my Diamonique top.




At least I think it is decent progess until I remember that this is the back, and I still need to do the front.


And because I obviously don't have enough to keep myself occupied, I started a garterlac washcloth.





Easy, but a little too tedious for the mood I am in. The lace top requires less thought than this! But that's probably just because this is the first time I've tried entrelac and don't have any kind of feel for what I am supposed to do next.

Another week gone.

I have knit at least a few rows every night this week. That doesn't make for much progress, but it is better than nothing. I've been motivated to finish projects lately, since I have seen so many things I would like to knit. The current plan is not to buy any more yarn until I knit up the projects I currently have waiting.

I wish I could say that my purchasing restraint at Stitches Midwest (see previous post comments) was based on this plan; unfortunately it was due mostly to a lack of funding, if you get my drift.

BUT my husband had a job interview on Wednesday that went well, so cross your fingers for him (us, my future yarn stash)!





I have past the waist shaping on the front of my Diamonique top. I love the way it's turning out and can't wait to wear it. I hope I can finish before the weather cools off too much.

On an unrelated topic, we went to see The Devil Wears Prada. I am aware that most people saw this movie weeks (months?) ago, but I really didn't even know what it was about. (Obviously haven't read the book either.) I really enjoyed it, and have caught myself thinking of bits of the plot during the past few days. It is definitly one to rent or buy and watch again.

Stitches Midwest

We made it to Stitches last Saturday! It was lots of fun, because of all the fibery goodness and also because I got to spend some quality time with my Mom.

First of all, it was no where near as packed as I was expecting. In fact, it was probably the least crowded event I have ever attended at the Rosemont Convention center. For some reason I was expecting it to be a madhouse. That's not to say it wasn't busy - just not insane.

We were both pretty conservative with our purchases, although I saw a ton of stuff I would have loved to buy. We have already decided that next year we need to arrive more prepared with specific yarn amounts and types for projects. We both have a hard time randomly buying yarn without a purpose, even if it is a good deal. (A few vendors had full bags of yarn on sale; and WEBS was there.)

Here is what I went home with:





Three kits for felted flowers, (since I had just mentioned to her how I would like to have a vase of knitted flowers in the living room when we came across the kits), a ball of Rowan Calmer (for the Shedir hat in the special breast cancer awareness edition of Knitty), a ball of Trekking 106 (for me), a skein of Socks that Rock in Spring Fling (for me), another skein in smoky Topaz (a gift for my husband's aunt), and two patterns: Baby Bobbi Bear, and Fibertrend's Felted Hedgehogs.

Mom cut me off on sock yarn purchases since I have too much already - but they are just so easy to buy since you know exactly how much yarn you need and the colors are fab.

Just for fun, here is a gratuitous cat in the sun photo to go along with the yarn.

Almost the Weekend.

I think this seriously has been the fastest week ever. Probably because I have been really busy at work, and need to finish a few different projects by tomorrow. Sheesh, time's flyin' and I'm not even having fun!

Last weekend we went to the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis. It was H-O-T, but still lots of fun. We didn't really take many photos, but here is one of us that I look kind of bizarre in so I will keep it small:





As for knitting, I ripped out the three inches or so I had completed on my Diamonique top after realizing that my gauge was off so much that the finished product could hold two of me. I have restarted on smaller needles, but there is no way it is going to be finished to wear to Stitches Midwest this weekend as I hoped.

Speaking of...my mom and I are going to the Stitches market on Saturday, and I'm sure I'll have lots of good stuff to write about afterwards!

Happy Birthday to Mom (and me)!

This past Saturday was my Moms birthday. I made her a knit beaded bracelet from an Earthfaire kit (the "crystal plus" bead soup kit).





(I also got a bead soup bracelet kit for myself and a kit for MaryElla from Knitty. I couldn't resist!)

I have never knit anything with beads before, let alone beads on thread with size 0 needles, but the bracelet was very easy. The instructions from Earthfaire were great - the hardest part was stringing the beads onto the thread in a "random" order! I kept thinking about to too much an agonizing over which one to use next.

Yesterday was my birthday. It was pretty uneventful, but nice. I had to work of course, but was treated to lunch by my coworkers. I received fabulous gifts from both my parents and husband, include a subscription of Interweave knits, Mason-Dixon Knitting, Lois and Clark Season 2, and three Nintendo DS games: Electroplankton, Magnetica, Super Princess Peach. Too much fun. =)





Also, I purchased tickets for Stitches Midwest. Only 10 days more to wait! I have been trying to make it for the last three years, but things have always come up. However now that I am living only a few miles away from the convention center nothing is going to stop me!

Some actual knitting for my knitting blog.

It is hot here today. As in upper 90's/low 100's with plenty of humidity. That might not usually be quite so bad, but this is the first heat wave we have really had this summer so my body is not used to it at all. So I am kind of dragging today, although I have lots of stuff I want to get done.





I am finally knitting something again. This is going to be Diamonique from the Jems Collection over at SaunShine. I just love her patterns - most of them are on my "to be knit" list. The yarn I am using is Dale Svale purchased at Crazy Girl yarn shop in Muscatine about a half a lifetime ago. (Actually it's probably closer to two years.)

So I am working on this, a sock, and some small sewing projects sporadically during the week. I would love to have a weekend of nothing but crafty endeavors, but so far it hasn't happened.

Sometimes I wish there weren't so many things I always want to do: knit, sew, **insert any other craft**, play on the internet, blog, play with my digital camera, watch DVDs, sleep, read, play video games, cook, sleep, shop, write, be outside, watch baseball, watch NASCAR, see friends/family, sleep... plus all the stuff I don't really want to do but have to anyways (work, drive to work, grocery shop, wash dishes, clean the bathroom, find something to wear every morning...). My husband says I shouldn't wish to be boring; I at least wish I didn't have so much guilt for not getting to things!

Such a Slacker

So I haven't been up to a whole lot lately; but we did find a kitchen table:



SALMI table and JULES chairs from IKEA.


And, I actually managed to sew something without extreme frustration:



headless shot so you wouldn't have to look at both post-thunderstorm hair frizz and arm flab.


I hope everyone is the USA has a fun and safe holiday weekend!

Long time no post

I feel a little guilty that I haven’t written here in a while. I think about writing often, but never quite have the motivation to sit down and do it.

Part of the problem is that I haven’t done much knitting lately. Not sure if it is the warmer weather or what, but I really haven’t had much desire to knit in the last few weeks. I have been working on a skinny pink cartridge rib scarf every once in a while watching DVDs at night. (We have been watching The Pretender series; I never watched while it was on originally but absolutely love it now. If you are a total nerd like me, you can go read some fanfic.)

Eh. It's not too impressive. Not really even worth a photo yet.

What I have felt like doing is sewing. I recently purchased a half dozen or so patterns for various work-type clothes on sale for $1.99 each at Joann. I also got some fabric to make a few of the pieces, and scored a rotary cutter and large mat for 50% off. The only problem is I have no place to sew! We do not have a kitchen table for the new apartment yet (our old one was too big) and there is no other place I can set up my machine. Yes this does means we have been eating on the couch for over a month now.

Hopefully that can be remedied this week. If not, I am at least going to start cutting out fabric.

Liesel Scarf

It’s finally finished! This is a project that seemed to drag on and on. Not that I don’t recommend the pattern (here’s a link to the free pdf), but it required a little more concentration than I had available to give lately. I never did memorize the lace pattern, but that might just be because I didn’t try to memorize it, you know? I didn’t do a row without looking although I could guess what was coming up next. Here is a photo of the scarf blocking on my living room floor:



So the ends still need to be sewn in – I still call it finished!


Here’s a close-up:





The yarn is Lana Grossa Riso which my parents purchased for me on a trip to Texas a few years ago. (They actually looked up “yarn store” in the phone book while on vacation, and went to one specifically to find me some unusual yarn for a birthday present. How cool is that?!) I don't think this yarn is produced anymore, since my search didn't turn up any good links.

Lots of Photos

I have some knitting to show! Amazing right? I have been working on a pair of socks for my Mom, and actually finished them before Mother's Day. Now that is even more amazing.



Opal Brazil


I think I am going to finish my Liesel scarf from about a year ago before I start a new project. Which, I might add, won't be more socks! I need a break from size 0 needles.

Below are some photos of our new apartment. You will see a shot of the love of my life, a washer and dryer of my very own! Seriously, you have no idea how much this improves my quality of life. And saves me quarters!






I still like my new job a lot. Mom and Dad sent me "congratulations" flowers.





I love the vase! Definitely a nice (needed) splash of color in an otherwise neutral apartment. I can't wait to have the time/money to decorate more.

Oh, also on the plus side, I found a different route to and from work which cuts the commute down to 45 min. Woo Hoo!

Tired, but happy.

I haven't had much time online is the last few weeks to do much besides check email. Moving was an adventure and a half, but I'll explain that more later when my brain is a little more "fresh".

But the new apartment is great and my new job is great. The only not great thing is the commute - which is due to traffic. I only live 16 miles from work, but everyone is traveling in the same direction as me to get to work at 8:00am. So that 16 miles takes me about an hour. Yesterday it was an hour and 10 minutes. Blah. But that's OK, I'll deal.

I should have time this weekend to write more. Until then, happy knitting!

Countdown to Moving Day: 5 hours

I am writing this from the hotel next to my (old?) apartment. We picked up and loaded the truck last night, which is a HUGE time savings today. I had originally thought that we'd pick it up this morning and load it in "a few hours". 5 hours later last night and we are not quite finished yet... Luckily my Dad has a better grip on reality than I do and saved us the pain of doing it all this morning!

It feels strange to look around and know that I won't be seeing any of this for a long time. We will be back in the fall to go to a football game or two, but it obviously won't be the same.

My last day of work felt the same way. Very Surreal. I had to force myself to look around and realize that I wouldn't be seeing any of this, or any of these people, ever again. My purse feels too light without all of my work keys and security gate cards.

Hopefully everything will go smoothly today, and I will be able to check in later this week! Not sure about internet access in the new apartment yet, but I know they have an internet cafe in the main building of the complex.

So, anyone know of any knitting groups near Round Lake, IL?

Countdown to Moving Day: 7

I can't believe everything that has happened in the last month. It is strange how even when you want something, and know it will happen eventually, it is still kind of a shock.

Reality is really starting to sink in - we are moving; I am starting a new job. I spent some time over the weekend thinking of everything and everyone I am going to miss in Iowa City. We went downtown for some coffee and drove around a few blocks to see the tornado damage from last week. Not really the way I want to end things here - but what can you do.

Packing is going, well, it's just going. The list of things I have to do in the next week is huge! I realized that in a packing frenzy last night, and put all my knitting in a box and taped it shut. I think it is going to have to be unpacked so I have something to keep me sane these next few nights!

You don't know how much you really have until you try to pack it.

I knew Steve and I are both pack rats and we have a lot of stuff crammed into the apartment. But when actually see it all... The plus side is that we are being generous to the Goodwill and trash piles. Here is a shot of the living room. (unfortunately, all the other rooms look just like it.)





If you look closely, you can see (ahem, some) of my yarn on the left edge of the frame. Notice that we still have approximately 500 pounds of books to pack up. I think those are the worst!

I made up some Post-it notes with "Do Not Pack" written on them, so we don't pack something we still need. Everything is such a mess (see above) that things are starting to blend together. Mollie seemed a little concerned over all this activity, and made it clear that she didn't want to end up in a box.





I almost forgot - during the apartment hunting last weekend my car turned 50,000 miles old.





I love my car so much; I don't want it to get old!
(Yes, I am a dork.)

Guess What!

I finished my socks.
They match perfectly, and I didn't really try.

and...



I GOT THE JOB!!!


I start on May 1st, which is freaking me out slightly. But only because I have to finish (I'm in the middle of everthing) work here, pack up a (messy, crowded) apartment, find a new (not outrageously priced) place to live 200 miles away, haul everything (we are both pack rats) there, get utilities (but not cable and high-speed since it is $$$) hooked up, find my husband a (not crappy) job...

We are going apartment hunting in the north Chicago 'burbs this weekend. Wish us luck!

Keep your fingers crossed.

So my job interview last Monday went well. I like the company and job description and hopefully they like me too.

Well apparently they do, since I got a phone call as I was driving back to Iowa a mere 4 hours after my interview ended asking me if I could come next Monday for a second interview!

I haven't been this excited about something in a long time. We have starting looking for a place to live already - it feels so good to be moving back to the Chicago area. Just driving past all the restaurants and shopping malls gave me a warm fuzzy feeling.

The absolute BEST part is that my good friend and former college roommate just started a job last week not more than two miles down the street from my possible future office! We have already gone out for lunch. So. Fate?

Sorry, no photos or knitting. I think I've knit about a half inch on a sock over the last two weeks!

Busy, but not much knitting

Real Life has really taken over the last few weeks. I haven't had much time for knitting but haven't really missed it - there is too much other stuff going on.

I spent last weekend at my parents to pick up my wedding photos and album. Gorgeous! If you are getting married in the Chicago/Milwaukee area, I highly recommend Edward Fox Photography Studio.

Also, I have a job interview in Chicago on Monday! Everyone cross their fingers for me. We would love to move back to Illinois - not that Iowa hasn't been great to us.

As for knitting, I finished a lacy edged baby blanket for The Preemie Project.





I also played around with the idea of a "flower garden" baby hat. This is what I have come up with so far:





I'm sure I won't have much more knitting to show until after my interview, but I'll be sure and let you know how it went!

new/old projects

Instead of starting another large project, I decided to finish a pair of socks I started ages ago.





The yarn is from the Opal Rainforest collection - it is "fish". (I don't really see the fishyness, but hey...) It was a birthday gift from Steve last year.

Also, I am almost finished with a blankie for The Preemie Project. All it needs is the crocheted edging and some ribbon.

Klaralund

I finished my Klaralund sweater last night. I think this just might be a record for the fastest completed item. I didn't even mind sewing it together.

I am pretty happy with the results. I realize now that since it has such a boxy shape, I probably should have made the next size smaller.

I was concerned when I first tried it on that it made me (specifically my shoulders) look huge, but I think a lot of that was the weird mirror angles I was getting. Things looked a lot better when I could see the whole thing at once on my camera. No one was around to take photos, so I had to use the self-timer.



Wait, wait - I can work this.


That's better.


The back view...


So I think it is growing on me. At the very least, it's really comfy!

Feeling ambitious.

So after finishing the Manos cardigan a week or so ago, I had a hard time deciding what "big" project to do next. I decided on the Klaralund sweater, which I have lusted after since the first time I saw it.

Even though I love the look of the striping Noro yarns, I knew there was no way I could wear a sweater made of them. (Too bad; I also love the Rosedale and R. United sweaters at Knitty.) I'm jealous of those who can, but the scratch factor is just to high for me. So given that and the fact that I am trying to conserve our limited financial resources, I am using some Plymouth Encore purchased last summer. Of course I wish now that I would have bought the Colorspun Encore - but hindsight and all that.



the front, back, and half a sleeve
color 100% not accurate


I also managed to finish some baby items for The Preemie Project's February donation. (What's with all this finishing stuff? That doesn't sound like me!)



so much for remembering to take a photo at the last minute;
it was difficult to crop out all the junk on the spare bed


They are all kind of random pieces, since I started late and didn't have a coherent idea of what I wanted to make. My Mom mailed me a crocheted blankie she had been working on to include in the donation.



it is really beautiful; my lousy, overexposed photo doesn't do it justice

Now we do the dance of joy.

Look! Its a sweater! Sewn together, buttons, and all. I am really happy with it. The set-in sleeves were a lot easier to sew in than I was expecting. Maybe I just got lucky, but I got them to look good on the first try. I made the sleeves a few inches longer than the pattern stated to accommodate for the fact that sleeves are nearly always too short for me. Not surprisingly they ended up a little too long. (Need to remember that a tape measure can be my friend...)





project specs:
Pattern from Hip to Knit, by Judith L. Swartz
Yarn from Beads and Beyond (map) in Cedar Rapids, IA -
Manos del Uruguay, color #100, 5.5 skeins (the pattern called for 7)

I think this is a great simple cardigan pattern. I can see possibilities to use it again in the future, and add some stitch detail or colorwork. Perhaps a border from Knitting on the Edge? (I don't actually own this book yet - but its high on my list!)