Waiting...

The thick and thin cardigan has been on hold for about a week. I knit all I had of the Debbie Bliss Soho. Before I finished the last ball, I went back and lengthened each arm...and then went back to the body. I did shaped the waist slightly...and now...



Here we wait. (Got my hair done today...finally, since Christmas! I am feeling human again....but look at the big white arm...I need some SUN...where or where is spring???)

I went to the LYS to find something to finish the ribbing off around the collar, 1/2 sleeves and body...but found nothing. I am really struggling with what colour.
I don't want a big band of the light beige around me so I was thinking brown or navy. I couldn't find the right brown...or navy for that matter....so I ordered some navy cascade 220 online. Who knows if it will be right. I would rather keep it monochromatic...and I have yet to use this yarn...so hopefully it will all work out.
I was knitting away on the front of Demi and something went wrong. I dropped down and knit back up a bunch of stitches...but no...I don't know...there will have to be some major ripping here. Oh well...that'll teach me to knit charts while trying to watch TV.
So, lesson learned, I started knitting a TV watching project....

Thanks so much for your comments on the Puff Sleeved Cardigan. I love it!

Puffed Sleeved Cardigan

Hey Look! A sweater!



Pattern: Puffed Sleeved Cardigan from Stephanie Japel's Fitted Knits....LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this book.
Yarn: 8 skeins of Online Linie 157 Tessa. There was nothing left but a 4 inch tail to sew in. I was holding my breath until the end.
I really like this yarn! It has sat in my stash for a long time...It was suppose to be a scarf for someone else. The colour I didn't really love...until I knit it into a sweater. Now I am thinking of going to get some more of this stuff. It is inexpensive and it is superwash! Crazy, I know! I did hand wash it and it really softened up.
Adjustments: The only thing I did was make 12 button holes on the button band. I made it to fit...as directed. It turned out perfectly. I would have used smaller needles on the collar to make it a little stiffer. But other than that, I LOVE this sweater.

It is a simple knit. Perfect for watching TV....distractions are OK;)
I picked up some buttons at the local notions store for about $2...



Can't beat that!
Stephanie is brilliant. I really enjoy knitting from the top down in one piece and it is fitted, as promised.



This is actually something I would wear...who would have thought about actually wearing sweaters we knit! In fact, it has already made it's way around town...with more stops to go tomorrow.



Two sweaters still on the needles...and moving!

Sweaters.

Not one, not two...but three!
I know, this is not like me. I like the challenging ones...the fine gauge...but suddenly I find myself knitting thick knits and a whole lot of st st.

With all the stomach flu...causing lack of sleep...Demi is moving, but slowly. I will hopefully finish the back over the weekend.
So the Puff Sleeved Cardigan is complete and should be dry today. Hopefully I will have a couple moments to stop and get some buttons before work. This could mean a finished knit to show you by Friday! A sweater....horray! Here is a sneak peak of her blocking.

I received some wonderful yarn as a trade on Ravelry. Soho by Debbie Bliss. I haven't met this yarn before (I know...what kind of a DB fan am I if I haven't tried every yarn?!) but I must say that I love it! It is thick and thin and reminds me of malabrigo...not as super soft, but soft yes. I believe this yarn was replaced with Maya...for what reasons I do not know. I, however, lucked out and have 6 balls. Well...had...because I knit them over the past couple days!



I decided to start the Thick and Thin Cardigan by Stephanie Japel. Another great pattern in Fitted Knits. The guage is different than that called for in the pattern, so there are a couple minor adjustments. Being a top down knit...you just try it on as you go and make a perfectly fitted sweater. I did a little waist shaping even though it is not called for in this pattern. I knit 3 balls then decided to go to the arms and length them a little. They will end up being a half sleeve, but I didn't want to run out of yarn. So after the sleeve lengthening I just knit the rest in the body. I ended up at just below the waist (shorter than the actual version) and now I will just finish off with ribbing.
Well, once I figure out what contrasting yarn to use...a trip to the LYS is in order.

Thanks for all of your suggestions with cleaning up the accident the other day. There still is a stench from the keyboard...I will try compressed air and just hope that it disipates eventually..or this may need a professional cleaning. Love all the "barf" stories;)

Minor set back.

If you are not a mom, you may want to skip this one...

Ok, we are up and running again.
I was going to post about my lovely sweater that is complete! Just waiting for buttons....then Matteo really wanted me to build a firetruck out of lego. I found instructions on the lego site and we took the lap top down to the lego table to build.
He was really clingy and tired...pale...you see where I am going...
That was the hint for me...the mom.

Yeah, I just finished cleaning the BARF out of my keys...mainly the arrows in the right bottom corner of the keyboard.
The smell...oh the smell.
The lego...oh man.
The play rug is now in the garbage...horray for laminate floors.
I can still smell it...and lysol...and rubbing alcohol...mmmmm.
how do I get rid of the smell...this might need a professional cleaning!

I love being a mom...I love being a mom...I love being a mom....

Hey MA are you feeling ok?? Don't worry, you won't catch this one and it won't ruin your trip to disney...
Oh yeah, FYI Lucca had a little bit of the "trots" the other day...I thought maybe it was something he ate....hmmmmm. Do you think they disinfect the school table in kindergarten? Cause I am thinking NO. They don't.

Sweater knitting.

Finally, I am knitting sweaters! Enough with the mitts and hats...it's sweater time.

Firstly (yes, I have two sweaters on the go...a first for me), I have Demi of Rowan's vintage knits. I picked up some Jo Sharp silkroad aran tweed 1/2 price...and there were 12 balls left, just the number I needed! Perfect! It is a dark purply-blue colour that is impossible to photograph.



I just can't seem to capture the colour.

The first part of the chart was intense...but I soon got the hang of it. I am not sure why one of the cables are three knit stitches and not 2 knit 1 purl...I am assuming for ease of charting it. There are I think two points when you have to use the 3 knit stitches. I was a little confused at the chart (the symbols are also not what I am used to) but I just went with what I thought it should be and now just knit to create the fabric. I do have to really watch the stitches though and occasionally refer to the chart. It is not the best TV watching project.

For that reason, I cast on Stephanie Japel's Puff Sleeved Cardigan of Fitted Knits.



I love her patterns. This is my favourite way to knit sweaters...top down in one piece. You go back to finish the sleeves and button band then there is very minimal seaming. Not that I don't enjoy seaming, but I like the fact that when I am done a piece, I am pretty much done the sweater!
The only down side to this are the never ending rows...I am close to 300 stitches now working across the yolk and the sleeves...but really I am just about 1/2 way done the sweater!
The yarn Linie 157 Tesssa I have had in the stash for a while...not really paying much attention to it. I am not sure why I bought this colour...but I am really loving it knit as this sweater. It is a superwash wool and knits up smoothly. I especially love the hairy halo.

Hopefully by next week I will have a finished back to Demi and possibly a finished sweater!

Picot Edged Mittens II

I finished another pair of mittens...



Pattern: Picot edged mittens
Yarn: Sundara Sport weight merino ( I used one skein...it could have been a parital skein, I am not sure...but it was one that left me with about 1 meter of yarn! A close one!)

Yeah, I am hiding. I haven't showered yet and it's 1:00. I tried out some of the suggestions...set up the coffee maker...dirt...then I bought the tims grinds...a little better dirt. I really don't get it. So my sister says...just walk to the one in the hospital.
Yes, it is true...there is one about 1/2 block away in the entrance of the hospital. I thought it had closed (I think my DH said so...but it says it is only open mon-fri). Normally I would have my coffee as I get ready for work, or if not working I would sit and relax with the laptop and catch up on some knitting news and blogs and maybe do a little blogging myself.

RELAX is the key word here.

So this morning I had breakfast and got the kids in their snowpants and coats, hats, scarves and mitts. I threw on some jogging pants and a coat with the snow boots and of course a knit had to cover the unwashed hair. Zeebee was the choice this morning. We ventured in the snow to the Tim Hortons. I got my coffee and then thought while out there I should reshovel (some kind neighbour...not sure which one yet...shoveled the "dumping" we got yesterday for me). I also noticed the recycling truck making it's way down the street and ran to get that out. Of course the kids are with me so everything is really a "big ordeal" to get done. My coffee got a little cold (yes the cozy didn't really help...but I have another in mind...with a little fairisle work maybe...a little longer...we'll see) and I would hardly call it relaxing. We got a call from a friend to meet them at the "hill" for some tobogganing...so we went to do that. Ran home and put everything in the dryer, made lunch and got them off to school.
I just walked to the Tim's again to get the secound round...and this time I am sitting relaxing. I am thinking about a shower....maybe a work out first..or do I work out when the kids are home and do a little knitting now. Oh...and the house needs a little cleaning. Hmmmm.



I think I will just relax.
FYI no one has called to offer free coffee for the free advertising I am giving them...can't say I didn't try.

Aaaahhhhhhhhhh....coffee

Need I say more?

I used up some cashmerino aran for this little coffee sleeve. (Catherine the idea is not origional...and the pattern is not mine...and would Tim Hortons really want to sell knit sleeves for their cups?)

I could say a little less...



They aren't paying me to advertise...if that was an option I will do it for free coffee, but it must be delivered!

In other knitting news...

Thanks to Ashely who gave me the "you make my day award"! It's so nice to know people are still reading my blog...I know I disappeared for a while....and don't have time to knit and blog like I used to. I am just starting to get back into it...hang in there;)

So, I will pass on the award...of course to many who have already received it...so many make MY day. These people are serious knitters who's blogs are a must read for me (in no particular order)

1. Jared over at brooklyntweed. You know why if you have ever been on his blog.

2. Laura over at cosmicpluto. She knits some beautiful sweaters.

3. Kirsten over at throughtheloops. A fabulous knitter and her photos really capture her hand knits in action.

4. Franklin over at panopticon. He is hilarious! I recently discovered his blog...it's a must read!

5. Julie at littlecottonrabbits. Go check out the gorgeous little creatures she knits! I don't remember how I stumbled upon her blog, but I am glad I did.

There are so many others...I could sit here all day listing them...but I have some knitting to do!

Where's my coffee....

Life is changing a little bit around here.
My DH has started a new job and he is no longer home in the morning to bring me my coffee. Yes, I know, I was quite spoiled. He would always venture out early in the morning and bring back a coffee for me which would be waiting when I get out of the shower. For those of you who are american...we are talking about Tim Hortons here. Some may refer to it as their "timmies", all you need to know that it is one seriously cup of coffee.
So now, I am home with the kiddies in the morning. I can't pack them up in the car first thing in the morning to go get my timmies...we would have to get dressed, the car is cold....oh no...

Yesterday was a rough day with the children...was it because it I didn't have my morning coffee? I tried tea...not so good. I actually got out to get my coffee at 1:00, that was a little late. We need to set up a new routine. I was forced to dig out the dreaded coffee maker.

So in celebration of this...let's psych ourselves up here...I knit this...



Garter Mug Cozies from Interweave Knits Holiday 2007. I used up a bunch of cashmerino scrapes...and because of the shape of the mug I did a little decreasing...that didn't really work out and turned out was not really necessary. But whatever...it is fine. Keep the coffee warm, that's it job!
The pattern is so simple and who doesn't love garter stitch!? (hey, new group on ravelry called FLOGS)
I may venture out into the dollarama to pick up some mugs to knit these for...what a great gift that would be! Plus I could use up some partial balls and scraps!

There has been some other knitting going on. I have been cheating a little on the "blog" and spending a little too much time on ravelry. In loading up some stash, it makes you really look at all that yarn and wonder what were you thinking?! I think when I really got crazy about knitting I just started buying yarn without having a project in mind...or thinking I would knit something and then never do...so I have put a bunch of yarn and pattern books up on my sell/trade page in hopes of aquring some yarn that I will actually use now. I pretty much have the stash down to one under the bed storage container...well, plus one big basket (but some of that was from my sister's surrendering...so it's technically not mine!)

FYI my coffee tastes like dirt. I am going out for my timmies.
More to come, hopefully this week!

New projects on the go.

I discovered the destashing group on ravelry.
This is fantastic!
I have Rowan Vintage Knits on the way...as well as Fitted Knits. Two of the books I have been looking for. I actually traded a book that I don't really knit from and and the other trader wanted some yarn. AWESOME!
I can't wait until Vintage Knits arrives....I picked up some Jo Sharp Tweed in 129 enamel for 1/2 price!!!
I am going to knit Demi!
I have admired this knit in blogland...yeah...and yeah...and knew that one day I had to knit it. It will be for ME and it will be THE knit of the year. Seriously it is just a drop dead gorgeous knit...I hope it I am not disappointed...needles, don't fail me now!

I am sweater knitting again!

In the mean time, I have cast on for another pair of picot edged mittens.



This time I have use the 2 st picot (which I like better). I am using some Sundara sport merino....leftovers from this. I really love this yarn. I thought I would try the pattern with a subtle verigation...not bad!