Slowly but surely

I finished up the first sleeve of Round Trip shortly after my last post. I believe I finished it on Monday, but I could very well be mistaken. I have to be in the mood to pick up that many stitches again, so I've not yet started the second sleeve, but here's the first one.

I love that gentle slope of the sleeve, and making the cuff was FUN. Aside from the picking up of stitches (somethng I've never liked), I wish this sweater would never end!


While I wait for the gumption to pick up for the second sleeve, I casted on for T's fingerless gloves. I'm just using Brown Sheep Naturespun in a dark gray, and I want to finish them before winter is totally over.


I'm just finishing up the thumb gusset. I'm using Ann Budd's Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns, which I highly recommend.


I met up with my friend Amy yesterday at the yarn store, where I managed to not get any yarn, but did get two books, both by Debbie Bliss. I picked up The Tweed Collection, because I've been eyeing the Biker Jacket ever since the book came out, and New Baby Knits, because Amy is expecting and her baby NEEDS to have an all-in-one sheep outfit. I've never heard of the yarns she uses in the baby book, but I'm sure it won't be hard to substitute. Most of the patterns in the book are cute, and I'm sure I'll get to make few more things out of it, too. (Though, not for my nephews, because my sister prefers clothes for her kids to be plain, plain, plain.)

Progress Continues

I can't wait until summertime, with its abundant sunshine, so I can take pictures more often of my WIPS. Work continues on Round Trip, I am right now making the cuff on the first sleeve.

I took this photo yesterday evening before I started working on it again.



The sweater has 3/4 length sleeves, which I didn't really notice in the photo, I thought she just had the sleeves pushed up. I toyed with the idea of making the sleeves longer, but decided that would a. just look weird, and b. I would be always pushing the sleeves up anyway, which would make them bunch up unattractively at my elbows. I really enjoy working on this sweater, and appreciate the fact that when I finish the second sleeve, all I will have to do is weave in the ends and block!

Yay! FO and Secret Pal Goodies!

I stopped by work today to see if my iPod had been delivered (long story), and while it was not there, I did have a package!

My Secret Pal rules! I've been listening to the mix CD nonstop. The tape measure is the cutest knitting accessory I own now, and the cookies are delicious! Can't wait to try the tea and the yarn! Funny thing is, I used this exact same color to make a bag for a friend and loved the color! Thank you, Secret Pal!


I was sent home early the other day due to a raging snow storm, so I finally got a chance to cast on for the cowl. I would have worked on the cardigan, but I decided to have some wine with my lunch and had just enough peace of mind to know trying to count rows would end in disaster.




This cowl took no time at all. I knit it while watching Shaun of the Dead, and finished it while watching the special features. It's a fun knit because the yarn is so soft and nice and it's very warm. Thanks to Bonne Marie for the pattern!




In other news, if you've not seen Shaun of the Dead, go immediately to your video store and rent it. They had references to ALL the zombie movies in there, from "We're coming for you Barbara!" to the domestication of the zombie straight outta Day of the Dead. Of course, I love me some zombie movies. If you hate gore and the undead, this movie is not for you. But if you see some blood and guts and ask for more, this movie is hilarious and should not be missed!

Wee Projects

I finished up the hat and bootie set last night. As it is 5:36am as I type this, in the middle of winter, I have no natural sunlight to photograph them in. I used Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, single strand for the booties and double stranded for the hat. I knew as soon as I casted on for the hat that I wouldn't have enough of the blue for the whole thing, so I decided on the fly to make the brim blue and the rest white. There's another baby due in the same family in April, so I'll use up the rest of the white on that one, and get some lavendar to compliment it (next up is a girl).

The colors in this picture are pretty true.


I also just found out that my childhood friend is expecting! She's due in August, so I have plenty of time to make a baby sweater or two.

But right now I will turn my attention to the Round Trip sweater. I will try my hardest not to start another project until I finish a sleeve. Oh, screw it. I know I'll break that one! It's time to start some fingerless gloves!

Slowly but surely

I've been spending a lot of time this past week ripping my CD collection (finally), and not doing as much knitting. A couple of nights ago I finally picked up stitches for the first sleeve of Round Trip, and casted on for the second baby bootie.

All I have left to do for this bootie is make the cuff. Easy-peasy. I planned to make a hat with white stars on it to match, but I think I'm going to skip the stars. I don't even know if I'll do stripes... though maybe I should, since I only have white ribbon for the booties.



The sleeve has started! This picture shows the color in the yarn a little better. It's mostly black and gray, but with some red thrown in. In this particular ball of yarn, I was shocked to come up to a section of BRIGHT, almost neon, green. I've not come across that in any of the other balls thus far, but I decided to go ahead and keep it. It'll add some flair.

Yesterday I went shopping "for my secret pal," and naturally also found a little something for myself, since I've been so good about beating this yarn addiction. The other day, Bonne Marie over at ChicKnits was knitting a cowl, and the moment I saw it, I knew it was the gater I've been looking for. While I happen to have a nearly complete ball of Baby Alpaca Grande in the color she used left over a scarf I made for a friend, I also knew that color isn't really me. So I stopped off at this wacky little yarn store I have a love/hate relationship with, and picked up some alpaca in a more suitable color.



The lady at the store said that Plymouth is coming out with ten more colors of this fabulous yarn! Since I was last there, they'd added this orange, a really nice red, and a deep purple (everytime I see purple I try to convince myself that I like it and that I'll wear it, but I'm just not feeling it right now).

Of course, I can't take photos of the treats for my secret pal, but it was so fun poking around the yarn store for stuff to get for her. Our tastes are similar, but different enough that I found myself picking up yarn I never would have looked at twice before. I can see myself doing another secret pals in the future.

To my Secret Pal

I forgot that I was going to post a link to my LiveJournal knitting journal, so you could see what I've been up to before this blog was created.
Bigballofyarn