Mommy knitting

I love reading Elizabeth Zimmerman's books.  Its almost like having a conversation with her while she encourages you to take new challenging steps in your knitting adventures.  So in May I decided I was going to have a knitting adventure of my own.  I wanted a basic cardigan/ sweater jacket and I thought what better pattern to use than EZ's hurry up sweater pattern.  This was not my first time knitting on of EZ's hurry up sweaters I knitted one for my brother-in-law Beau a few years ago.  In fact when I bought I bought Cascade Eco for his sweater I bought enough so I could make at least two.

 

 

After I had calculated the number of stitches to cast on I started knitting, cheerfully thinking I was doing something I rarely did...knit for myself!

 

Since I was essentially designing my own sweater I decided to add a little shaping in back with some ribbing for couple of inches.  About this time I realized that I didn't have enough of the cascade eco to finish the sweater so I decided it could be a two tone sweater starting where I joined the sleeves.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Since I am an impatient person knit the sleeves two-at-a-time until they were too big to fit on my circular needle.

 

I am a plus size beauty so when this sweater was knitting up to be very large it did not cross my mind that it might be too big...So when I went to try it on in very warm coffee shop it was too big and I had to do something I very rarely do....rip back the sweater and try again and again and again....Around the 4th of July I declared my sweater finished.  It was still huge I will admit, but not as big as it was originally.  Then the idea floated into my head that maybe I should try to shrink it a little by lightly felting it....This was the death of my sweater.  I am now the proud owner of some very thick 100% wool felt.  I'm sure I'll use it eventually.

Interweave store Grand Opening!

Calling Interweave fans...

Interweave has opened an online store and is having a Grand Opening sale.

http://www.interweavestore.com/

Knitting Projects

So last night I finished a scarf that I had promised a coworker of mine that I would knit for her if she purchased some yarn for the scarf.

Today I have been learning all about the invisible cast off method for the "Beer Gloves" I have been knitting for Paul. These gloves are beginning to seem like a lot of work when it takes longer to accomplish the invisible cast that it does to knit each finger for the gloves. Anyway I found a tutorial online that has been guiding me every stitch of the way...since my pattern book "Son of Stitch n Bitch" doesn't have a stitch glossary in the back.

The past week I have been adding to my growing knitting library...first Paul let me spend both of the gift cards that we received from his mom for Christmas. My first pick was Luxury Yarn One-Skein Wonders, and Knitting Goes Large. Sometimes working in front a computer for over 12 hours a day can be detrimental at payday because I found more books online that needed to be added to my personal library at home...Two more gardening books and two more knitting books are on their way through the shipping system to my doorstep. Amazon makes it really hard to resist buying books when they have free shipping.

Christmas Knitting Projects

I have completed two of my Christmas knitting projects so far this year. My first deadline is December 7, so that my knitted gifts are ready to take to California when Paul and I visit his sister Sarah and brother-in-law Ethan.

I'm really proud of the scarflet that I knitted for Sarah I got the idea from another from two other patterns. The February Ladies Sweater from raverly and then a free pattern that was posted randomly on line. So her gift is truely an original knit. Once I work out the kinks in the pattern I might post it in my notebook on raverly.

The second completed project was for future sister-in-law Mia. Jaydan's fiance. Also a scarf from

I have not started Ethan's gift yet because I haven't decided on the pattern yet. I'm debating between the Medallion Mitts from 'Knitting with Balls' slightly modified to have half fingers added and 2 x 2 ribbing instead of the cables and Knucks from knitty. The yarn that Paul picked out is lovely: Malabrigo Silky Merino in a wonderful burgundy color #41.

Its break time.

Stitch n Bitch Meeting for November 19, 2008

Hi Ladies,

Next week's meeting will be in Madrona at the Madrona Ale House and Eatery.

http://seattle.citysearch.com/profile/10798152/seattle_wa/madrona_eatery_ale_house.html

Unfortunately I won't be joining you for the meeting because Paul and I will be racing back from Portland at the end of his leadership conference.

A week from Monday is my Thanksgiving Dinner Party. I hope to see you all there and don't forget to RSVP to your evite and let everyone know what you are bringing to dinner.

Kathy