Thursday, December 13, 2007

What should I take...

... on my holiday trip? I will be spending about 12 non-driving hours in the car, and with it being a car trip, I don't have space restrictions in terms of packing and project size. So... socks? sweater? lace? hats? I don't know what to pack! ::wails::

Tuesday, December 11, 2007

Surgery

The buttons for my mom's Wicked came in yesterday. I was worried about them not arriving in time and they showed up two mailing days after I ordered them! So my mom will get her very belated 50th birthday gift (oh, didn't I mention that in my last post? Yeah, this gift is almost 8 months late... oops) on Sunday at our family's Christmas party. Hopefully I'll remember to take pictures!

Next up:
Knitwear Surgery. There are some things in my knit wardrobe that, while I really like, need some modifications. They will go under the knife soon. What am I changing? Well, since you asked...



This will be lengthened in the body and sleeves. And I may omit the the ribbed cuffs and hem and throw in a purl row instead. Nothing against ribbing, but it just isn't working for me on this sweater, and since I'm already going to be removing the hem and cuffs to lengthen it, why not change it?


Next is a big modification. One that's not actually a modification at all.



This is getting frogged. And re-knit. It is simply too small. Plus the neckline is too wide. Aggressive blocking has not helped. Wearing it has not helped. It is too small. I'm not too worried though, because it was knit on US 10.5 needles and won't take too long to re-knit. And I do love the sweater as well as the buttons, so lets git 'er done!


This lovely thing is great except for one small part



The turtleneck/cowl has relaxed just enough to resemble a bib. I will be re-knitting the turtleneck/cowl with a US 9 needle (it was originally knit on a 10.5).


This pile of coziness (it is a VERY warm sweater) needs a new neck.



I'm not sure how I'll do it, or if it will work (the neck is the cast-on edge), but it needs to change. I'm thinking rollneck?

This needs new buttons



The current ones are too heavy, stick out a bit too much, and are too many in number. I'm thinking wooden buttons, and I'm thinking of only sewing on a button at every other button spot. Don't know how that will work though.

This needs longer arms



...just maybe an inch will work.

These need shorter palms




and this is too big!



I'm going to re-knit it on US 6 needles because I really like the hat otherwise.


Whew! I have a lot ahead of me!

Friday, December 07, 2007

Progress

Well, its been awhile since I posted, and that's because I haven't finished anything very noteworthy. I have knit a few hats and scarves for holiday gifts, those will get posted at some time. Good daylight is hard to find now. I haven't completed the two additional sweaters yet, but I have re-calculated and decided that I have through January to finish, because this sweater streak started in February of 2007.

On Sunday I decided to make my mom a Wicked out of the huge pile of off-white Suri Merino I have. I had 66 balls of that yarn. Why 66 balls? Its a long, long story that I won't get into here. Lets just call it a mix-up. Anyway, white is not my color. I actually hate white things. Diamonds, clothing, underwear, shoes, yarn, walls. Ick. So the yarn has been sitting around for a couple of years. Recently I swapped a bag out for 7 more balls of yarn for this sweater. And I'll probably get rid of 7 balls of yarn to make my mom's Wicked. The rest I am thinking about dyeing. We'll see how that goes. The yarn is actually quite lovely, but I've never had any interest in dyeing. I guess it would put that crock pot with which I never cook to good use. Wicked is coming along well. I started it Sunday and have two inches of ribbing for the hem left. Then start the 3/4 sleeves. I just ordered shell buttons from here, so hopefully they'll get here soon. My mom's family's holiday Christmas party is next Sunday and that's the only time this season I'll get to see her. I know the sweater can be done and blocked by then, but only time will tell whether the buttons will come in time.

The other sweater that has stalled but is near completion is the Dollar and a Half Cardigan. Here is a picture of the back (unblocked)



All of the pieces are now finished, with the exception of the button band. The seaming is what is stopping me. I hate seaming and linen is not fun yarn to seam and lace is not fun to seam and I don't like seaming. Wah. And I'm not motivated to finish it because I probably won't be wearing it much in this weather. But it will be finished. At some point. Maybe I'll offer to knit someone's CPH button band if they seam for me :) :) :) Or knit them a hat or socks or anything else they might like.

Next episode: Knit Surgery