10 inches and Sex in the City

So...I've finished about 10 inches of the body on the top down sweater and am seeing some progress! I'm thinking I may get much of it done before Thanksgiving, but we'll see...

Ok...I have to admit. I've become addicted to Sex and the City! I've found myself knitting through re-runs until nearly midnight. Way too late for this chickiee.

Gorgeous!

Well, I finished the Child's Placket-net Pullover and it's gorgeous! I'll post a photo soon. I found that I really liked the knit-picks merino. The only drawback is that's it's not machine washable, but the yarn was really quite nice to work with. Very soft! Now, I just need to convince Knit Picks to produce some machine washable yarn that would work for kids items.

Anyone have suggestions for a good natural fiber yarn that's machine washable and AFFORDABLE to use for kids clothing? Really, I can't justify using yarns like Debbie Bliss (even though I love knitting with it!) because kids grow out of everything so quickly.

I'm back to working on the top down sweater for my six-year old and it's going well. I cheated a bit and fixed the glitch by decreasing a few stitches in a row rather than frogging it and it seems none the worse for it. I'm past the sleeve openings and am knitting the body. Should go pretty quickly from here on out. If I don't finish it this week I'll take it on the plane with me for our Thanksgiving holiday.

So...I'm using Peace Fleece for the sweater and while I like the concept of it, and some of the online reviews say it softens with blocking, I'm finding it a bit difficult to work with. It's quite rough on my hands and somewhat slow going ...even on my Addis! Although, the slow going part might be because I've got too many stitches on the circulars and could stand to go up to the next length. But that's for another discussion.

Back to my sweater....

What is up with this???

What is up with all of my patterns? I've yet to go back to the top down sweater because I just can't get myself to that zen frogging place needed to really concentrate. So...I began the Child's Placket-neck pullover from the Last Minute Knitted Gifts book. i knew that there was a correction online when I began but couldn't get to the computer to print it out so I figured...ok...the error won't be in the first bottom round, it's got to be in the decreasing, sleeve sections, etc. So...I knit four rounds from the book in seed stich. This evening I download the correction and #@$#@ @#$#@$#@$ the error was in the first row! I'd cast on 112 stitches and the new correction called for 113.

So...of course I frogged it and am starting over. But geez, I'm starting to feel cursed. Tell me it's just a run of bad luck...that it will get better. Please???

Back from a long vacation...

Well....I'm back from a long hiatus. I found that I stopped knitting during late spring and summer. All summer. Just too much to do outside, I guess.

That said now that it's fall I've caught the bug again and am working on a couple of projects including a top down sweater for my six year old and a couple of baby sweaters using knitpicks merino wool. The knitpicks wool is incredible soft...although I'm a tad bit concerned because it's handwash only, but I couldn't resist the cost. I'm working on my gauge swatches now. The aldi turbos in seven (per pattern) were a tad too big so I've switched to sixes. Cross your fingers that it works!

As for the top down sweater...I'm going to keep working on it, but I'm afraid I'm doomed. First, after knitting six inches of it I found an error in the pattern and had to start over. Yes, start over!!!! Six hours of work downt he tubes. The author of the pattern was nice and did confirm the error when I contacted her, but still. I wish she had put the error on her website so that I could have corrected it BEFORE I started knitting. Now, I'm a good eight inches down and found another error...said to knit three inches on the placket, but I think I have to backtrack and re-knit six rows. #@$@#$@#!!!! I was supposed to have 54 stiches between the back two stictch markers and found I have 58! Anyway, I went back into the pattern and figured out that I should have ended the placked two rows earlier in order to reach her numbers...so a frogging we will go. I haven't touched in in a four days because I just haven't been able to face the frogging again. On a good note I'm using a gorgeous burnt orange Peace Fleece wool.

All knitting aside...it's Sunday night and I've just finished watching Grey's Anatomy. Good god, I love that show. For years my weekly TV time was dedicated to ER and the West Wing. But, I have to admit...after all these years together it's time to move on. Now it's Grey's Anatomy and the new show with Gina Davis as the President on Tuesdays. Isn't it sad when you desperately wish the television character was the REAL president?

I have to admit I do feel guilty for neglecting the West Wing. But the writing was never really the same after the original screen writer left the show. I really should have shared that observation with Bradley Whitford when I stood behind him in the ice cream line at the Fourth of July the summer before last. (Yes, true story) Instead, I just bit my tounge and smiled like a good local welcoming a tourist.

But back to my new favorite medical drama...the only pet peave I have is that they don't accurately portray Seattle. Really! My husband and I lived in Puget Sound for six years before we moved east and I ADORED the Pacific Northwest with all my heart. Every day I wish I could go back! So, I'm much too invested in the way they portray the city. On tonight's episode there was a major thunderstorm. Ok...yes, it's possible. But, in the six years we lived there it thundered TWICE. In fact, I know because I called my Mother each time! I grew up in Minnesota...home of REAL thunderstorms. I really had to struggle hard to suspend reality this evening...but I did it and I'm so glad I did because Sandra Oh's character got back together with her boss surgeon. Good decision!!

Still knitting...

Finishing up the grande alpaca scarf in the simple seed stitch. Wasn't liking the seed stitch at first as I really needed to concentrate, but now I've found it's a breeze. Muscle memory...that's it! My fingers just do their thing....

I'm back....

Yikes! Time got away from me....way away from me! For those knitting wonder women who crank out project after project...how do you do it??? You are my heros.

Current knitting projects in the works include:
1. A pair of socks...still working on finding time to finish turning a heel. I'm determined to get back to them tonight as I want to crank out at least a pair before spring.

2. A baby grande alpaca scarf in a beautiful light blue for my mother. It's just a simple seed stitch...but I find that I have to concentrate on it rather than knitting while I'm watching a movie or television. One small slip and you'll find yourself frogging a few rows, which of course I've not done more times than I care to admit!

3. Of course, there are TONS of projects on the to do list. But, I'm trying to finish the projects I have in the works.

I recieved both Weekend Knitting and Last Minute Gifts as Christmas gifts. Both are beautiful books to look at but I do think I prefer Weekend Knitting projects. I whipped out a flower chenille washcloth one weekend and love it. A few of those would be great gifts with some handmade soap!

I'm back....

Yikes! Time got away from me....way away from me! For those knitting wonder women who crank out project after project...how do you do it??? You are my heros.

Current knitting projects in the works include:
1. A pair of socks...still working on finding time to finish turning a heel. I'm determined to get back to them tonight as I want to crank out at least a pair before spring.

2. A baby grande alpaca scarf in a beautiful light blue for my mother. It's just a simple seed stitch...but I find that I have to concentrate on it rather than knitting while I'm watching a movie or television. One small slip and you'll find yourself frogging a few rows, which of course I've not done more times than I care to admit!

3. Of course, there are TONS of projects on the to do list. But, I'm trying to finish the projects I have in the works.

I recieved both Weekend Knitting and Last Minute Gifts as Christmas gifts. Both are beautiful books to look at but I do think I prefer Weekend Knitting projects. I whipped out a flower chenille washcloth one weekend and love it. A few of those would be great gifts with some handmade soap!

First a BIG BIG BIG thank you to my secret pal for the wonderful packages that she's sent this past week. Here's a photo of the entire stash, although secret pal will notice that the white chocolate with macadamia nuts is missing. It was quite delicious! THANK YOU! I can't wait to try my hand at some of the new patterns.

I'm ready to turn the heel! This is my first successful attempt at knitting socks. I love it!

Finally finished and ready for blocking!