Wednesday, April 25, 2007

Cutaway progress

Cutaway is moving along nicely. I really like this yarn and pattern. I did have some trouble withe the cable cast on for the right front, but the left front went very smoothly. I think it will work out when I add the ribbing, and am totally prepared to rip and retry if it doesn't work. I'm continuing to worry about my size choice, but will keep going as I tend to over estimate and I did measure. One thing that continues to amaze me is my gauge. It's perfect! At this point I have started the left front, but have pictures of the back here:
Hpim1093

And close ups of the armhole shaping. I had to work a bit to figure out the decreases, so they would mirror appropriately:
Hpim1095

This one's a little fuzzy (after three shots)
Hpim1096

Tuesday, April 17, 2007

Man, I've been knitting a long time

I realized this weekend I've been knitting for 20 years now, with a 3 year break for graduate school. In that time I counted 16 adult sweaters knit, at least 7 kids, and a full layette set. I have no clue how many booties and hats I've knit. So, this blog should be good for me to start tracking stuff. When we're back in the house, my goal will be to back track through my storage bins and try to log past projects.

Obviously I am more of a sweater knitter than other items. I've always enjoyed sweaters because I enjoy the process & the product (I've always been a sweater girl). I'm relatively new to the world of socks, but am having fun with them too. Unfortunately, I find them like sleeves, I really have to push myself to finish the second. However, since there is a name for that "second sock syndrome," I know I'm not alone.

Current work in progress: I'm really moving along on the back of cutaway. I love the yarn and the pattern. I usually shy away from stockinette, but this is really enjoyable to knit. I'll try to get a progress shot. I've finished the sleeve shaping and am working my way up to the top.

I also have a second sock on the needles, but don't seem to have a photo. It's a fun yarn that I got two big skeins of. E picked out the color for us to have matching socks. Goofy, yes, but it doesn't hurt anyone.

Friday, April 13, 2007

A new project and a completed project

I finished C's socks. Of course I don't have the yarn information with me, so I'll have to update this. But here they are for now:



I'm happy with them. The yarn was a little splitty, so they weren't a particularly fast knit, but he likes the color and they fit, so that's good. These are the first socks I knit for him. I think there will be more.

I would have liked to have made the stripes line up better, but there's always next time.

I started my "Cutaway" from ChicKnits this week. I checked my gauge and found I actually had to go up a needle size -- this is a new thing for me, I usually go down a needle size, so it was quite the scramble through my needle box looking for the right sizes. With my inventory, it's usually not a problem. The yarn is Berocco Ultra Alpaca in the Marsh Mix. So far it's a really nice yarn to knit with. I'm new to the fitted sweater concept, so it seems really small so far, but I'm going to trust Bonne's sizing and not my own judgement, considering my judgement gives me sweaters that could carry me through the full term of a pregnancy. I've knit about 36 rows so far, but here are some pictures of the swatch and yarn: