Fits and Starts

I am so glad I began the Tangled Yoke cardigan with the sleeves. As the pattern is written, they are just too tight for my fat upper arm. It is a pretty simple fix, just frog back to the ribbing and increase more stitches on the way to the top. Then, just increase the body by the same number of stitches and add in a couple of repeats of the cable pattern. Still, I was annoyed enough to put the project in time out and cast on for two new projects.

The next deadline for afghans for Afghans is October 12. This time they are collecting clothing and blankets for children age 7 to 17. Since they never get enough sweaters (or socks), I am going to make a couple of sweaters. I am almost done with the first one and will post a picture soon.

The other sweater I have begun is the Minimalist cardigan from the same issue of Interweave Knits as the Tangled Yoke. Miles and miles of moss stitch using the yarn I got to make the Sand Dollar pullover and then didn't get gauge.

But I did finish something!



Swan Lake, aka Mystery Stole #3, is done and ready for blocking this weekend.


Laura from Yarn Church knit this baby sweater from a pattern in Greetings from the Knit Cafe. It is knit from side to side in a very attractive waffle stitch.


The sweater crosses in the back and ties in front.

For those of you wondering about my post featuring my nephew's baseball card, I was thinking like a proud aunt and not like a careful parent. When his folks asked me to remove his picture, I did so immediately. Some aspects of this modern world sure are crappy.

No wonder I was complaining

Last Wednesday was the hottest day since July 1977! I was living here then in an apartment with no air conditioning. The building was old and the systems had never been updated. The electrical service could not even support a window unit. In order to sleep, I would put a box fan on either side of my bed and drape a wet washcloth over my face. I was in graduate school then so I probably spent my days at the studio where it was somewhat cooler.


Finished the first sock from Mary's yarn. One more to go and I can begin the I Love Gansey socks.


Also finished the first sleeve of my Tangled Yoke cardigan. I have really been enjoying the Plain & Fancy Sheep & Wool yarn. To keep the variegation subtle, I switched to using two different skeins once the ribbing was complete.


I've been spending lots of time uploading pictures to Flickr for my Ravelry page. This little EZ February Baby Sweater is from several years ago. It is my favorite baby pattern - what a classic.


Peach says pay attention to ME!

Helllllp me, I'm melting

You know that Joni Mitchell song that begins Hellllp me, I'm falling? Well, that's what I have been singing except I had to change it to Hellllp me, I'm melting because it is so hot. It was 105 in my car this afternoon. I know I am in Virginia and it is always hot here in August (and June and July and September) but I still am amazed when I walk out into a thick wall of heat.


I've been working on the sleeve of the Tangled Yoke Cardigan in the vain hope that by the time I finish the two sleeves it will have cooled off enough not to be too miserable with the body of the sweater in my lap. I am enjoying the yarn which Stewart found at the sheep and wool festival in Taos.


Clue 5 of Mystery Stole 3 is complete. It is the beginning of the wing. I am getting somewhat burned out with the lace. Still love the yarn but knitting it is so dang fiddly and I'm not really a lacy person. I want to spend my time making something I will actually wear or projects for afghans for Afghans. Ravelry really sucked me in too. I am almost finished posting my projects and have no intentions of putting my stash up. I like the feature where you are matched up with people who have knit the same projects you have. The forums cover the gamut. I even joined one for owners of big dogs.

Distracted

Well, I could not get gauge with the beautiful blue yarn for the Sand Dollar sweater so that project is resting while I figure out what I want to make with the yarn and find the right yarn for the sweater.


So I cast on with some Plain & Fancy Sheep & Wool Co. yarn (no website, but available from The Yarn Lounge) for Eunny Jang's Tangled Yoke Cardigan in the Fall 2007 issue of Interweave Knits.


I've been wanting to make a sweater with some cables and this sophisticated take on tradition seems like a perfect project. Of course, now all I want to do is knit away on the first sleeve but I still am working on my Mystery Stole 3. The theme has been revealed - Swan Lake. With Friday's clue we began on the wing that will be the other end of the stole. I hope that when the designer publishes the pattern for sale she has a version that is wings at both ends.


I have a sock distraction too. The new Six Sox along is designed by Janine Le Cras from the island of Guernsey. It is called I Love Gansey. I'm going to use this beautiful blue Fleece Artist Sea Wool. The color, the yarn are all perfect for an island theme. However, I have been strong and have not cast on. I am still working on my yarn swap socks.


There is a Jane Austen forum on Ravelry - Austentacious. I found out about this bag there. It is available from The Republic of Pemberley. I have stacks of canvas bags and hardly need another one but I'm awfully tempted. After all, it is only $20.


And how could I resist this alternate view of the Whippeterrorists?