A scarf, sweater, and a butterfly…

I think I have ADD. Perhaps a specialized case that only happens to obsessive knitters. I need to remind myself that just because I have the yarn to start a project, it does not mean I have to start the project. Especially when I have perfectly good projects currently on the needles. But I can’t help myself.

So first–my finished object. One night I just needed a finished object, you know? Instant gratification. A few days earlier I had received 3 skeins of Rowan Ribbon Twist in Racy for the Casey scarf in the Rowan Ribbon Twist Collection book. I casted on and several hours later I had an extremely satisfying finished object.

Close up of the bobbles, cables, and yarn:

Me with my new scarf (kind of a fuzzy picture but it shows the scarf best):

Yes, I know it is summer. Yes, I know I can’t wear it for several months. Obviously. But I don’t care. I love the scarf and it is one of those “really fast to do but still looks hard and looks great done” projects. I am thinking of making it for a few friends as Christmas gifts. I am glad I made it with the Ribbon Twist yarn as it adds a dimension that I think is really cool. Although I think it would still look great with other substitutions so I might try any find some yarn to make it a cheaper knit.

Now for new projects started…Last week I ordered on ebay, 20 skeins of Debbie Bliss Baby Alpaca Silk in a Plum color for the Paula sweater in the Alpaca Silk book. Excited by the oh-so-soft texture of the yarn, I cast on as soon as I had it in my hands.

I am about halfway up the back:

Detail of bottom rib:

If anything, this is going to be a very comfortable sweater–so soft and warm. I wish fall were here already. (Side note: as I wrote that last line it started raining outside–no joke. A sign perhaps?)

The project I am probably most into right now (perhaps because it is the most seasonally appropriate of all my current knits) is the Butterfly vest (or camisole as I prefer to call it) from Rowan 37. I am using the suggested yarn–Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Majestic. I am several repeats into the hem frill:

I can’t wait to see what it will look like all blocked out. This lace is soooooooooooooo pretty.

First 4 repeats of hem frill:

I guess all my projects will have to fight it out to see who gets worked on. Or maybe I will start another knit�??you never know with me. Who knew knitting could be so consuming?

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The following 1 comment was originally left at blogspirit:

I like your Paula. I have made one on the same colour Alpaca Silk – you can see it on my blog. I left the collar off as I thought is was a bit big, and the edges curl under and look fine. It’s really warm and nice to wear in the winter.

Posted by: Sally | 09/19/2005

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The Catch-up

So I figure I should give a state of the union on my knitting. I don’t really know why as my sister (Hi Kara!) is the only person who currently reads my blog and as she is my roommate and fellow knitter�??she already knows everything there is to know about my knitting projects. But I am going to pretend for this post that there are others who may be interested. So here goes.

Current projects:

Intarsia Sweater �??This is a horribly plain name for what (I think and hope) is turning into a really beautiful sweater. The concept was to find a basic sweater pattern and then find a design I wanted knit onto it by transferring it onto a graph and thus creating a unique piece. The sweater pattern and yarn I got on a trip to NYC in June. The Yarn Co was so awesome. They have some basic patterns that they will customize for you based on your measurements and a gauge swatch. So from them I got a pattern for a fitted v-neck sweater (size=me) and 16 balls of Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino. I love this yarn. It is soft and looks so elegant knitted up. The only thing I don’t love is how long it takes to knit an adult sweater using size 4 needles and a 6×8 gauge. But I had to have a small gauge or I worried my intarsia designs would look too simple and not give the sweater the look I was going for.

For the intarsia, I found a clip art book of Chinese designs. I decided to do a flower that would wrap around my left side and then a butterfly flying on the upper right-hand side of my back. Using this handy site, I transferred the designs I chose to my gauge graph and then played around with colors, design, and placement until it was to my liking.

I started in mid-June and I have finished the back, front, and one sleeve. I am currently working on the second sleeve. You know, sleeves are tricky. You think they are going to be quick knits because, well…they are sleeves. But then when you get down to it, it is just as time consuming as a whole back or front piece.

Here are some pictures of what is done so far.

The back:

The front (the flower connects to the one on the back):

Butterfly detail:

Front flower detail:

I still need to finish sleeve #2, weave my ends in, block, and then sew together. So much work…it better turn out.

Opera Gloves �??This is one of those cases where the yarn comes before the pattern. I picked up some Koigu Painter’s Palette Premium Merino (KPPPM) while in NYC that I seriously love. I mean it…I love everything about this yarn. The colors are so beautiful, like raspberries and blueberries and cream. Yum. I love the way it knits up, seriously, everytime I start knitting with it I have to make everyone around me admit how great it is.

See, how beautiful is this?

So I decided I wanted to make gloves. Then I thought long gloves. Then I thought long over-my-elbow gloves. I know, not very practical but I decided to make them anyway. So I found this free pattern online that I thought I could easily adjust (the Koigu is a smaller gauge then the suggested yarn). I have started twice (the top wasn’t looking like I wanted it to so I frogged and used a different ribbing) and am now just barely into my first glove.

A picture of my progress:

So there are the two main things I have on the needles now. I am probably going to expand the group soon as I have purchased the yarn for several projects I am itching to start. So now you are all caught up.

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The following 2 comments were originally left at blogspirit:

OMG that sweater is Beautiful!! Great job!!!

Posted by: Melissa | 08/09/2005

Beautiful sweater – I’m designing an intarsia flower sweater for my mother and this is very inspiring…..

Posted by: Posted by: Cynthia | 08/22/2005

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The Beginning

While in college, I applied for a job at a Craft and Flower Shop. During the interview the manager asked if there was anything they should know about me. Being young and inexperienced I responded with “Well, I am not crafty.” Oddly, I got the job.

Even after that job was over, crafts just seemed so boring and so, well…ugly. It took years to realize that it wasn’t craft I didn’t like�??it was many people’s taste. Last September, in a moment of inspired web surfing, I came across a kitting pattern for something that didn’t look anything like what I pictured about knitting. After some research and the purchase of a book, I taught myself to knit and haven’t been able to stop since. (I am a little obsessive.)

So the thing is, I am crafty. Who knew? Certainly not me. But I love it.

I love other things too. Reading, writing, conversation, anything British, cooking, travel, peanut butter, story telling, friends, family, etc. I figure it is time to start a blog. A blog about knitting and whatever else pleases me. So it begins…

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The following 2 comments were originally left at blogspirit:

very nice….can’t wait to see the gallery!

Posted by: Posted by: knitting fan | 08/04/2005

What a fabulous job you have done….I can’t believe that you have been knitting for such a short time. It almost inspires me to give it a try. I can’t wait to see your next project!

Posted by: Posted by: Deedee | 08/30/2005

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