weekend sweater update

First off, I hope that everyone has a safe and fantastic Thanksgiving, and that you all eat way too much, and laugh even more.


I am midway through working both sleeves on the circular, and it's been going rather smoothly. If I didn't have my row counter on the needles though, I think I would have had more issues, as the counter keeps me in place as far as the back and forth work.

Due to working OT at my company, this is what I got out of doing this past weekend. My boyfriends kids did a fantastic job though as I watched from the office window.

My first project after the Holidays are over and done with is to make a doggy sweater for this adorable little fellow.. This is Gizmo, and he's the master of the household.

Ravelry.. so addicting

I'm on Ravelry, which is good as I'm now taking yarn inventory, and will be updating my Ravelry stash sometime this week with what I have. It's amazing all the yarn I have ordered, and have just placed in plastic bins. Now I'm finding myself searching patterns on Ravelry that go with the yarn I have. Unfortunately, this has caused me to locate more, and more patterns. I need to win the lotto and become a full time knitter.

I just finished the front of the DB weekend sweater last night, and have started the sleeves. I'm trying something new and working both sleeves on a circular needle. My original goal was to have this sweater completed by Thanksgiving, but I don't think this will happen. The sleeves should be complete by then, but then I still have to block, and then add the neck in.

Current WIP

I have completed the back of the XOX Cabled Pullover, and am now on the front. Although I love how it's turning out, the cabling is constant with just a few regular knit and purl's to give me a bit of relief till I get to the wrong site, and just knit and purl.




I also received my DB Cashmerino aran yarn in last Friday and started in on the Weekend Sweater from the Cashmere Collection book by Debbie Bliss. By Monday, the back was completed, and that was after a decently busy weekend of being out of town. I'm now working on the front, so hopefully by this coming Friday that will be done, and I can work on the sleeves. Goal is to have it wearable by Turkey Day.

Ravelry

I finally received my invite tonight. Unfortunately, I'm at work with no time to start doing my organizing on it, but will definitely start this weekend.

new addiction

Things have been rather insane here at work lately, so there has been very little time to post. I finished the back of my xoxo cabled pullover the other day, and have started the front. It's getting colder now here in the midwest, and I absolutely refuse to go out and buy any sweaters since I have discovered the joy of making them myself. Bottom line, I have much work to do in the next month, or I'll be wearing nothing but sweatshirts.

I found a fantastic meet site online for knitters in my area.. bonus **it's across the street from my house**. My first meet up was to be on the 4th. I got over excited and for some reason equated the 4th with Saturday, so I showed up at the designated Panera Bread, and waited for like 15 minutes. I then foolishly realized that the 4th was Sunday, NOT Saturday.. DUH!! My boyfriend, found this very amusing as you can all imagine.

I went back on Sunday and met up with around 10 other women who live in this area. Some new knitters, some seasoned, but all very entertaining, and the projects they were working on gave me more and more ideas.

On to the topic of this post.. Since I have quit my part time job and am relying solely on my full time job income, I should be watching pennies a bit closer, right?? wrong.. I'm now addicted to hording yarn.. I have a list a mile long of projects I want to work on, and have more than enough yarn to accomplish this, so why do I feel this sudden urge to find all the yarn steals on the internet or in the yarn shops?? I need to be banned from Ebay, as I'm finding some of the very best deals there, and will happily place my highest maximum bid in, in hopes that whomever else wants to bid on what I want, will get frustrated and stop bidding once they realize that they aren't becoming the top bidder.

Why can't I be a really good knitter and work on one project at a time? buying only the needed yarn for that one project? till it's finished??

My camera is a on the brink of dying a slow and much used death, but once I replace it, I'll take a picture of my "knitting chair" and all the bags that have different projects in it. My boyfriend is a saint though.. He only asks that I clean up my stash once a month.

How will I explain the 3 shipments of yarn that will be coming to our doorstop relatively soon? How do I explain to him that I need one bedroom for myself and my yarn? I believe he will tell me to go get a storage unit for my precious stash very soon.

well.. time to get back to work, and hopefully new pics will be up shortly and I can start posting more regularly.

on the needles

I need to learn to start one project, and FINISH that one project prior to starting yet another project.. and why, oh why, can I not work on a simple project?

The current project that I have on the needles is the

XOXO Cabled Pullover from the IK fall 2004 magazine. I'm using Wool-Ease yarn in Natural Heather.

I'm loving how this pattern is working up, though it's a bit more time consuming as this is a larger sweater. This will be perfect for the upcoming cold weather taht we have in store for us here in Illinois.

I just ordered some scrumptious Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran yarn in a deep purple to make this from the Vogue Knitting 25th Anniversary issue. The yarn is coming from the UK, so I should have plenty of time to complete my XOXO Cabled Pullover.

I am currently involved in one active Swap for dishcloths through Swap-Bots, and just sent out my very first swap. This was my very first one, so I'm hoping I did everything correctly *fingers crossed*

**Edit** just made my very first attempt at a hyperlink in this post, and they both worked!! YIPPEE FOR ME!!

ho hum..

Well, I have started yet another sweater and think that I'll be putting the afghans away for a while since doing sweaters is my new addiction. I keep hearing about knitting swaps, and knit alongs.. let me tell you.. KAL's are far easier to find than swaps. I want to join swaps, but so far have only been able to find two and they are both for dishcloths. One through Swap-Bots, and one through Yarn Lovers Room. While these appear to be great, I did a google search and most of the swaps are through blogs, but it appears that invites are hard to obtain. This seems to be some inner sanctum for knitters, and I want to get involved.. question is, HOW??

well.. in the meantime, I'll continue to search and to prove my knit-worthiness and try and beg and plead for some invites to these wonderful swaps.

Finished sweater

Well, I have finally completed this sweater. While I do like how it turned out, I would certainly modify the pattern and yarn a bit on the next go.

SO close.....

I'm so close to finally getting this sweater finished. I have just completed sewing the sleeves to the raglan inserts for both front and back. Now I have to figure out all my stitches that were left on numerous needles and stitch holders to begin the boat neck collar. Once that is done, then I just have to sew the side seams as well as the sleeves.. My goal is to have this completed Tuesday evening.

Too many WIP's

Not sure how I did this, but I have recently found out about KAL's.. this is not a good thing to a person who already has too many projects currently being worked on.. Besides the Sweater and the afghan pictured in my first blogs, I also have an afghan I'm making for my DS for the holidays.. now here's a bigger picture of the pickle I'm getting myself into..

Promised to start projects

1. Hat & scarf set for my boyfriends daughter
2. dishcloths for my colleague
3. dishcloths for my first ever swap (these will be a breeze)
4. doggie sweater for Gizmo

KAL's I have now gotten involved in

1. top down sweater from Craftster.org http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=152316.0
2. Cable Luxe Tunic http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=199929.0
3. and one KAL that I started.. http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=202815.0

At this point I need to book myself into a private lodge on a mountain - fireplace a MUST, and bring all my projects, and knit happily for a month or so.. I would actually do this some where on the east coast too.. so long as there is a good view, and a fireplace.. I just truly do not know how much longer my boyfriend is going to tolerate the constant knitting at night... I do try and give him attention, but he knows deep down I'm on my own private mission..

First Blog EVER

This project is out of the Debbie Bliss Denim Cotton pattern book and it's the Boat Neck Aran Sweater. I did not use her yarns (though I really would love to!), and instead found some yarn that was the same gauge, however, when I started knitting, I realized that this would be far to big & lumpy for my taste, so I purchased Sensations kashmira yarn in black which had a smaller gauge, and to my amazement is coming out in the right size that I wanted it to, including the raglan shaping. I have completed the front and back, as well as 1 sleeve. Now I need to finish the other sleeve, the raglan inserts and the boat neck shaping, and I will have a wonderful and warm sweater. This will be my very first completed sweater.. meaning that this will be the first one ever to be sewn & worn.

The detailing in this picture is a bit hard to see, but it is literally all cabling.. Love to knit something challenging!

2nd project

I recently joined Knittinghaven.com and found out about the world of blogging.. strange since my job keeps me on the internet all night.. regardless, I figured I would finally start to write about the projects I'm working on, the ones I want to start, and the ones I finish (hopefully).

The first project is one I started about 3 weeks ago and has worked up very quickly. I just need to go and get more yarn for it. The pattern is from the Debbie Bliss Cotton Denim pattern book and it's the "Cabled Throw".. I love this pattern!! I used the Vanna's Choice yarn in Beige and in Taupe and are knitted on No. 9 needles. This pattern has a total of 5 strips and at this time, I have 4 completed though have only pictured two of them.

I have 2 more major projects I'm working on that I need to get pictures of before I can post.