CWT, you PYT

For some reason, whenever I think of CWT, the song PYT starts playing inside my head. Fortunately, I really like that song, because I think this sweater will be in heavy rotation.

When we last left the sweater, I was working on the ruffle. I finished the ruffle somewhere around the 16th (I know this because of when I took the following picture), and was astonished enough by the ends hanging out that I was moved to take a picture.

Thankfully, I had already woven in the ends of the top portion. Otherwise, I may still be glaring hatefully at the sweater, rather than wearing it.

I spent the next day on all of the finishing while watching BTVS. Finishing tasks included attaching the top portion with gathers, basting the cinched waist to make sure I could get it over my head (I could), and staring disconsolately into the mirror at my ruffle which had become a tutu. Believing in the magic of blocking, I finished it anyway, and was rewarded!



I'm glad I added some length to the ruffle, though I only added about an inch or so. I also decreased the number of stitches for the ruffle by... one repeat? Two? I need to keep notes. I did a wet block, and am surprised to report that wet cashmere is just as stinky as wet wool. I guess I thought maybe it would be odorless, or carry the gentle scent of a rolling spring meadow, freshly mown. I laid the wet sweater out on a towel overnight, and moved the mostly dry sweater in the morning to a drying rack to finish the job. I didn't actually sew the side of the corset waist and ruffle until after blocking, because I wasn't sure if I would want to add a few more inches to the ruffle.


The tank top I'm wearing underneath it is bunching around my middle in this picture, but I'm so pleased at how well the ruffle lays. I kept petting myself all day, this sweater is so soft! I didn't think it would be possible, but it got even softer after a wash! I don't remember how much yarn I used, but I want to say it was almost 8 balls. I have some left over, and also a few balls of black, and I can't wait to find a project for it! To recap, I used Laines du Nord Royal Cashmere and US10 needles. The center portion was done on US6 needles, which made a very firm fabric. The pattern is from Vogue Knitting Spring/Summer 2006, and the original pattern was done in cotton. I might consider making another one of these in cotton, but I rarely knit the same thing twice (and if I do, I probably knit it three or four times!).

I started the February baby sweater from EZ's Knitter's Almanac, and have just reached the fun part! Reading the breezy directions have me feeling that maybe another spreadsheet is in order, but I'll try it without first.

So nice, I made 'em twice!

I woke up this morning, and upon realizing it was the 15th, and we are entering week three of April, I said to myself, "Self, it's time to get those Jaywalkers done already." And I did.

I hunkered down with some TV on DVD (Freaks and Geeks and BTVS, season 7), and got through the second sock in short order. All I had left was about another two inches and then the toe. Due to my supreme luck (I don't pretend it was skill, though I did try), the stripes on both socks match perfectly, and I didn't have to do any measuring at all. I just knit to the same number of stripes. Easy-peasy.



See what I mean? Every time I look at my feet, I pat myself on the back for these. I will have to keep them forever, because it will probably never happen again. To recap, these are the famous Jaywalkers by Grumperina. I have made these before using another striping yarn, but on these, I used a US2 for the leg and a US1 for the foot, which resulted in a supremely comfortable sock. I used AustermannStep in color #3. I love this yarn, though the aloe content makes it feel a little strange in the ball. Mrs. Cooper approves of this color.



I'm sure I'll be making more Jaywalkers. I can't imagine knitting self-striping yarn in stockinette ever again! I highly recommend this pattern.

Next up is the adorable February baby sweater from EZ's Knitter's Almanac. While I continue to work on the CWT, of course. I'm almost done with the ruffle (I'm finished according to the pattern, but I'm adding length), and then I just have to get it all sewn together!

Hooray for Progress!

So I got pretty far on my Jaywalker and then found myself staring wistfully at the Cinched Waist Top. After seeing the top on my dress form, I got excited about seeing this piece together, and had to pick up those stitches already! It's a nice break from the teeny needles I'm using for the sock (US10.5 for the ruffles!), and the cashmere is so incredibly soft, it's a joy to knit. I'm trying to give both projects equal needle time, but must confess that I've been working much more on the CWT, spurred on by the promise of the finish line. I'm almost to the point where the pattern has me stop the ruffle, but I'm going to add an extra inch or so. Of course, once I'm done there's an ungodly number of ends to weave in, and some fiddley finishing, so I predict more sock time and a start on a baby sweater before you see the CWT finished.

I definitely think I'll have some leftover yarn. Which is definitely okay! I have a few balls of this same yarn in black, and I could do with a luxurious scarf.

I'm pretty excited about wearing these puppies! The yarn feels awesome on my feet, and warm. Given the crummy weather we're having, I'll be wearing these socks until June. I did end up using US2 needles for the leg and US1 for the foot, and it made a huge difference! I have no problem at all with getting the leg over my heel, but the foot is nice and snug, just how I like it!




Despite the fact that it's snowing outside right now, my mind keeps wandering to spring knits. I have Rusted Root queued up, and have been checking out my cotton stash for possibilities. I hit the big WEBS online sale and ordered some Jo Sharp Silkroad DK to make the puffed sleeve cardigan out of Fitted Knits, and some Cascade 220 Superwash for a vest. The office I work in is always cold from late spring to early fall (until it turns into a furnace in the afternoon), so I will be needing a little something to put on to ward off the chill. Right now I have an ancient black cardigan and Cafe Bastille Cables hanging out there, but even though my office is cold, I don't think it warrants Lamb's Pride Bulky. [As an aside, finding that journal entry also dated when I made the Kool-Aid dyed yarn that I just now knit. It was three years ago. How times flies!] What projects are you daydreaming about?

Instant Gratification

You know how sometimes you want some pudding... or maybe some cake... and you don't want store bought but you also don't want to do all the measuring and melting and blah blah blah so you buy instant pudding or boxed cake just to satisfy that craving, even though you know they won't taste quite as good as your homemade, labor intensive concoctions?

That's how I feel about these mitts.

I waited patiently to work on the second mitt until yesterday, opening day of the Quick-Fix Knitalong. As luck would have it, I also had the Buffy complete boxed set (with extra special features dvd!) and a lot of time on my hands. I started the mitt in the morning with season 1, and ended it in the early afternoon with season 3 (I skipped around). The more I knit with this yarn, the more I actually liked it. I wouldn't choose it if I saw it in a yarn store, but the different shades of purple aren't that bad, and the blue adds a nice punch. I even got used to the aroma of grape Kool-Aid. To recap, I used Ann Budd's Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns for the pattern (I used the mitten pattern and lopped off the top, adding ribbing), and Kool-Aid dyed LB Fisherman's Wool with US3 needles.

After I finished the mitt, I waffled between picking up the ruffle for the Cinched Waist Pullover or starting Jaywalker #2, I decided I'd rather do ribbing in the round than pick up stitches. I got through a couple of inches of sock before I had to turn my attention to the newest addition to our family, Betsy.



Betsy is a Dumbo rat, known for their large, low-set ears. We thought that since new rats must be quarantined for two weeks (minimum) before joining established rats, we should get a pal for Eunice sooner rather than later, since she's so lonely. Isn't she adorable?

I didn't expect to finish my first quick project so, erm, quickly! I wondered if I'd have to abandon the pullover this month, but it doesn't look like I'll have to. I finished the top portion last week, but didn't take a picture. I'll get right on that!

Is This Thing On?

*Dusts off keyboard*
Sorry for the prolonged absence. I've waffled back and forth over whether I should bring up the reason for it, and finally decided that I should, just a little, because I talk about my pets so much. My white rat, Squirrel, became ill last week. She went to the vet almost every day, and seemed to be improving until Saturday, when she took a turn. She died on Sunday, laying in bed with me while I read a book and stroked her. We're planning to bring home a new friend for Eunice (who is so lonely) as soon as we find her, and I'm sure I'll post about it when we do, so I thought it would be best to just get it out there now.

Naturally, I didn't get much knitting done, but I did do a little, and my pace has been picking up the last few nights. I've been working exclusively on the Cinched Waist Top, and let me tell you, this top has earned it's three (out of four) star difficulty rating. Not because it's hard, per se, but it's fiddley, and every time I get to a new part in the pattern, my jaw drops open because it's nothing like I would have expected.
Surprise the first: I may need to use hooks and eyes for closure along the corset edge.
Surprise the second: You have to knit the front, back and sleeves in a specific order (I usually skip around), because they are joined and then seamed.
Surprise the third: The lovely raglan detail is from a new technique (to me)! A cabled decrease. Fun to work, and it sure is purty.

The rounds are long right now, so I only work maybe three or four a night, but I plan to hit it hard this weekend! Doesn't it look cute?



The sweater in the magazine is made with cotton, but I think my cashmere version will be perfect for spring. It pretty much stays chilly up here until August, when we get a heat wave, and then fall arrives. I'm toying with different ideas for the ruffle. Maybe making it less... ruffley... and a little flatter? It kind of depends on how much yarn I have left over, though I've gone through surprisingly little.

Seeing how this project is taking longer than I expected, I am so looking forward to Amy's new knitalong, starting in April, the Quick-Fix Knitalong! The idea is to break up the tedium of long projects with some short and sweet ones! It's a low pressure knitalong, you can do just one small project, if you like. I have an informal goal of completing a quick project once a week. This may include one week to knit my second Jaywalker, and one week to knit my second World's Ugliest Mitt.

Oh, I haven't yet shown you the WUM?



I don't even know how long ago I dyed this yarn, but I dyed it myself using Kool-Aid and Lion Brand Fisherman's Wool. If you haven't used Fisherman's Wool, please be advised that it is very scratchy. I suppose that it's just as well that I experimented with this wool, since I find this colorway so appalling, but it made it difficult to choose a project. I don't think I have enough for adult mittens, and I didn't want to be responsible for playground taunts by making kids' mittens. A hat was out of the question. So I finally (after years and years) settled on some mitts that I can bring into work and leave for when my hands get cold. It feels good to get this out of the stash! The last bit of yarn I have from the Kool-Aid experiment is a not too bad red/orange/yellow mishmash that I will probably make into mittens for my nephews.

Anyway, I'm pretty psyched for the Quick-Fix Knitalong! In addition to the sock and the mitt, I'm planning to make a February baby sweater from EZ's Knitter's Almanac, and Rusted Root. If I remember correctly, I finished Green Gable pretty quickly, so I'm pretty sure it can be done. I'll save it for last anyway, and have it to wear in May, when the air becomes more mild and I want my skin to soak up every drop of sun (through a layer of SPF, of course!)

Stuff: Finished and New

I finished my nephew's vest!

I love it! It's so soft, I love the color, and I know it will fit him (for a few months at least). To recap, I used The Knitter's Handy Book of Patterns by Ann Budd for the pattern, and Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran with US7 needles. I used about three and a half balls for the second smallest size. In the book, the vest pattern has a v-neck, and the sweater pattern has a crew. I prefer a crew neck, so I just followed the sweater pattern for the front, since the front and back of both patterns are identical.

I must confess that I started another sweater before I finished the vest, though. I had to! I had that cashhmere yarn sitting in my basket, taunting me. I'm not made of steel! Right now, it looks like a cashmere dishcloth, but it's going to grow up to be (I believe it's called) the Corset Waisted Pullover [EDIT: It's actually called the Cinched Waist Top!] from VogueKnitting Spring 2006. I couldn't find a photo of it, and I didn't think I'd need to take a photo of the magazine. I'll take one soon. The pattern calls for the waist to be knitted first, and then the bottom (which is a ruffle), and finally the top pieces. I'm going to knit the top pieces first, however, since I'm not sure exactly how much yarn I will use, and I would rather sacrifice length on the bottom than the top. So far I've used two full balls of yarn on the waist, and I believe I have less than ten inches to go. Thank goodness! The corset is knitted at a very tight gauge, which is hard on my hands. Once it's finished, the rest of the sweater will be a piece of cake!



See what I mean about the dishcloth? Plus, the fabric is very stiff, adding to the dishcloth vibe.

Lastly, for Pioggia, a picture of the rattie girls! Just because they are so freaking adorable and love yarn. Squirrel, as usual, refused to cooperate, but Rattie behinds are cute, too.



(In all fairness, I did wake them up for playtime when this photo was taken.)