Long Time, No Post

Wow. I really thought I had posted last weekend! Oh well, I probably didn't because there wasn't much knitting going on, and I didn't have much to show. I had the Zippy cardigan knitted and seamed, but didn't want to show it without a blocking. Here it is, in all its unzippered glory:

I'm planning to go out this week and get the zipper. There's a baby shower this weekend, and I'd like to have this wrapped up by then. Stats:
Pattern: Berroco Zippy cardigan
Yarn: Berroco Lullaby, in quince colorway. I made the smallest size and used about 3.5 balls


I liked using the Lullaby, even though it snagged on every little thing imaginable. The finished sweater feels so cuddley, yet light. Like a fleece jacket. I know the baby won't be able to wear it for awhile, but I'm hoping he'll be able to wear it in the winter or next spring.

Next up, I casted on for the lamb all-in-one sometime in the last week or so. I've got the foot and part of one leg done. I think I'm up to where I need to begin shaping for the (for lack of a better word) crotch. It's a good thing this baby is small, because the whole thing is in garter stitch, my most dreaded stitch. I've never been a fan of garter stitch, and actually have never made a garter stitch scarf, but I think it works in this project. It gives the idea of a lamb's coat.



I like the yarn I'm using for this project, but I won't get too attached to it, because it seems hard to find. I googled for it and came up with lots of links of people using it, but none for where to buy it. The yarn store I bought it from is hardly local, so I will simply put it out of my mind. It costs about the same for the same yardage as Debbie Bliss' Merino DK, which is also superwash.

Since I'm having such a grand time with baby projects lately, I decided I should do just one more sweater for this baby. I have five balls of Mission Falls 1824 Cotton which I bought for the express purpose of making a sweater for this baby, but it just wouldn't work in any of the projects I wanted it for. Pawing through my stash, I came across this beautiful cotton yarn that I bought on sale at least a year ago. They only had one hank in the entire store, but it was 400 yards, so I figured I'd pick it up and find something to do with it. Well, the project for this yarn has arrived!



The yarn is Shaefer Yarns Laurel. I don't know which colorway, since I lost the tag, but it doesn't look like it's still available. This yarn has reminded me of the beach from the second I first picked it up. My friend Amy is making a seaside themed nursery for her child. It's a match made in heaven! I'm using Amy King's Little Sister Sweater pattern. She created the pattern in her frustration to find a simple raglan sweater without seams for babies. I have to say, I'm glad she had the problem, because her pattern neatly filled my requirements for this yarn. I hate when I'm using variegated yarns and have to worry about matching colors at seams. The sweater would probably be done already (I started it the day before yesterday), but I had to spend six hours working out the most heinous knot I have ever seen. T had to help me at the very end, when I had what looked like a lump of macrame left. I'm glad I saved all that yarn though, because I might have enough yardage left over to make another sweater later.

And my Secret Pal is....

I got my final package from my fabulous secret pal the day before yesterday. I was so excited, I took a picture right there at work with my Palm.

I got some swanky stuff from the Body Shop, Eucalan (I was going to buy some this weekend!), the book Knit Lit, a little pot I can grow lavendar in, and two balls of GH Mystik.

I also got a reveal!!! My secret pal has been... Parikha of Dropped Stitches! Thanks for the amazing packages, Parikha! I definitely felt spoiled. What's most amazing is that she kept up with Secret Pal 4 while in the midst of a cross country move. And I was getting stressed out over a move two towns away! The funny thing is, I had already read Parikha's blog a couple of times, when I was randomly clicking on blogs from the Secret Pals blog. Anyway, she's awesome, and you should check out her blog.

The secret pal I was sending packages to was Lalitha, at Knittylali! I had such a good time picking out things to send. She's branching out into sock territory, appreciates a fine yarn, and is studying to be a librarian. Drop by her blog and say hello!

I've always loved sending packages to friends, and that's what secret pals felt like, even though I wouldn't have known my secret pal if I walked into her on the street. I'll sign up again some time in the future.

Not a whole lot of knitting this week, but I did manage to finish the fronts of Zippy.


This photo is also courtesy of my Palm. The batteries for the camera are charging.

I broke from tradition and knit the fronts seperately, at the rate of one per night. I was feeling the need for something fast, and thought maybe doing one wee front at a time would be the ticket. And it was! Now I'm ready to tackle both sleeves together. They are casted on, but only about two inches long right now. I'll spare you the picture. The sweater is going to be so freaking adorable when it's finished. I believe I'll be inspired to cast on for a second baby sweater immediately.

I was going to knit last night while watching a movie, but felt so lazy I just watched (half) the movie (before falling asleep). It was one of my favorites: Guess Who's Coming to Dinner. Anyone who's seen it can understand why I was so disgusted when I saw previews for the "updated" version, called simply Guess Who. The original is a funny movie, but not in a slapstick kind of way, and the acting is superb (I mean, come on! Tracy, Hepburn, Poitier....). If you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it.

Nearing the finish line!

Over the last week, I seamed up my Ribby Cardi. Here she is, so far, modelled by Betty:

When I first started this sweater, I thought I would do the large collar in the pink yarn. Now that I see it all put together, though, I think I'll do the rolled collar instead. I plan to make a solid version of this summer, and will probably use the larger collar on that. I still have to pick up stitches for one front band. I forgot that I frogged one of them, because the stitches were too tight and were warping the fabric. I'm taking my sweet time on this sweater now, since I probably won't be able to wear it when it's finished. I'd like to think it'll be too hot outside.

I casted on for the Zippy Cardigan this weekend. The back took me no time at all:



I'm using the suggested yarn, Berroco Lullaby. While it's incredibly soft (it rivals, though is not quite as soft as, Wendy Velvet Touch), it also sticks to my, shall we say, less than girlish hands. I have dry skin anyway, add to that my finger biting habit and you have lots of little places for a soft yarn to catch. Putting on hand cream helps for a bit. I guess it's just more incentive to leave my fingers be. As soon as the Zippy Cardigan is finished, I plan to cast on for another baby sweater using the Mission Falls cotton I got (cabled, I think). My friend is due in August, so I have some time to get these done, but I'd prefer to not be rushing. Besides, baby sweaters are so fun! When else can you finished a complicated cable design in a weekend? Of course, that's only if you don't use sport weight yarn.

Well, off to work!