2008

As two thousand eight comes to a close, I would like to remember those projects that made me laugh, made me cry, made me curse and swear I will never knit again.

Sweater, Baby

Jen & Steve Espach are proud to announce the birth of

Woodland Henley Espach

Born September 30, 2008

Conceived December 30, 2007

Size 60"/ Weight 2lbs

Color - Brown

A Knitter's Sigh of Relief

The Best of Me

About a month ago I started the Top Seed Shawl from Cast On (issue May-July 2007). I did my gauge swatches, found the right needles & was off and running. I was very pleased with the yarn I

 chose. Reynolds Saucy Sport. A lovely sage green. I was so lucky to have purchased 10 skeins from someone in my weekly knitting group (thanks Erin).

Right from the start I knew I was short 1 or 2 skeins. The corner cutter that I am, I thought I could slip 1 or 2 skeins of another dye lot

 in without anyone noticing. WRRRONG! I got about 10" done before I noticed. Honestly, I didn't even notice. The lighting in my house is so terrible I couldn't see that my beautiful Tiny Bowknot stitch was 2 very different colors. It was embarrassingly pointed out to me. Devastated, I took it home & threw it in the corner. It took me 2 weeks to confront it. I finally frogged it, rewound the yarn and started it all over. I had a plan (really it was Steve's plan). I would knit the body with the 10 skeins of "good yarn", as I began calling it, and do the sleeves with the 2 skeins of "bad yarn".

10" along, again, I discovered that I still won't have enough yarn to do the body! I also had decided this would be a Mother's Day gift. With a little over a month to go, I would need to knit about 2.5 - 3" every day to finish.

Back to not having enough yarn. I am getting gauge, but it is 4" wider than it is suppose to be. Why? I have no friggin idea. I am, however, getting 5" of length out of each skein. It doesn't take a genius to figure out if I cut 4" of width off I will have enough yarn for the body.

I just keep knitting. I am in denial. This is exactly what I do with everything. Just keep going & pretend it's not there. It's April 7 & I haven't even looked at my taxes. Say no more.

I love knitting, but there is something that I am missing. The ability to stop when things aren't going right & do it over & over & over if it's necessary. I think, "It's not perfect, so what." Why put all that work into it if it's not wearable?

I started the sleeves & put the body away for a bit. Let's be honest, there is more frogging in my future. Good news, I get to cut 18 stitches off of pattern when I start over.

FINALLY, A SWEATER FOR ME!

I started this cardigan during the frustration period of the project below. It's coming along wonderfully. There is a problem in the armhole decrease math. I am winging it. I have contacted 2 people doing this project. Neither seems to have been bothered by the mistake. So I motor on,

 optimistic. The back is done, as you can see. The stitch pattern is so easy, but looks complicated to non-knitters. I felt like the back came out a bit small for my size, so I bumped up the size of the front panels(which I am doing at the same time on one needle) by 2 stitches. Gotta make sure they cover "the girls".

Another Sweater, Another Set of Problems

I started a sweater for my sweetie.
I found a pattern that seemed simple with a great texture. It can be worked from the top down, which needs to be done because he needs to be able to try it on as it goes along. We took the time to pick out the right yarn & color.
I'm about 5% in. There's already a problem. I think it's the pattern (it's always the pattern). I spent an 1 1/2 hours at the Sheep Shack getting help(thank you Liz). When I left, things were motoring along. I picked it up again the next night, DISASTER!
If anyone can help... I seem to lose the stitch pattern somewhere when I transition from back to top of right front.

SUCCESS

The saga of the sweater ends

It's done, my friends. Now I just have to wrap & gift it. I'm struggling with the idea that I have to let it go. I feel like I'm letting a child loose on the world.

It's a sweater. Though, like a child, I have loved it & wanted to strangle its neck hole.

Holy Crap! It's a Sweater!

I can't believe this thing is actually looking like a sweater. This may be wearable after all! (These photos show it inside out.) Last night I finally gave up on pretending it didn't exist. You never know til you try. I did have to modify the right front (armhole was sooo wrong). I set the sleeves in & sewed up the right side & sleeve. After exhaustion, excitement & a very sore elbow, I went to bed. I thought when I woke that it was all a dream. There it was. Still on the dining room table. Still a sweater! Thank you knitting goddess!

Next up, sew left side & sleeve, finish neck, weave ends, block & sew on buttons.

Stay tuned

Another Side Button Sweater Update

2nd armhole went fine after 2 tries. whew! sewed back to front at shoulders & i have one whole sleeve done. one sleeve to go! of course that means i must finish this thing. too afraid to finish. afraid to find out it won't fit anyone. afraid to find out i REALLY can't sew. get help with sewing you say? too embarassed about size of sweater. it's a vicious cycle. alas

Sweater News

My 2nd attempt at knitting a sweater is not a success, so far. My first attempt has been abandoned for a while. I shouldn't even be knitting for myself between September-December.
Well, it's the holiday season. Time for gift giving. My aunt MAY be getting a lovely oatmeal colored sweater.
I was motoring along until, 2nd damn armhole! I CAN DO THIS! Please send good wishes.
PS I wish I had a WIP photo

Tinking away

Are you kidding? I must have spent 2 hours knitting and tinking(unknitting- tink is knit backwards) the same six rows! Ripped back to fix mistake. Success! Very long day, very tired. I couldn't get back to the pattern. My hands cramped , my arms ached, I thought I was going to pass out from thirst, but I wouldn't stop until I got back on track. I know this is a very common knitting occurence. Just gotta vent.