Of slogs and socks…

I’ve been doing a lot of knitting since the new year, but I don’t have too much to show for it. Why? Because I had to do a lot of ripping. That’s why!

Right after the new year, I started Hush-Hush. After having this project in my queue for nearly four years, I thought this would be the year to knit it.I cast on using size 3 needles, as recommended in the pattern, but quickly decided that the lace pattern looked too big. At that point,I had knit about 10 rows. No big deal. So, I started again using size 2 needles. The lace looked much better. Once I go to the body of the dress, I stuck with the size 2 needles. Things were flying...Or, so I thought. I made it through 3 decreases, about 30 rounds, then decided to try it on. Unfortunately, I could tell that it would be much too big.

I decided to rip all the way back to the lace pattern, and work the body with size 1 needles...Except I didn't own size 1 needles, so they would need to be ordered.

While I waited for the new needles, I started a project that I knew I could make quick progress and still put down at any point. I opted to start a pair of Jaywalkers. I quickly made it through the first sock before my new needles came.

Now that I have the size 1 needles, I realize that the knitting is much slower. I have only completed 5 rounds in the last week. I have miles and miles of stockinette to go before this is finished. I recent found out that my SIL is expecting her first baby. I will most likely knit a blanket for the occasion...just nothing as intense as the Log Cabin from last year. I have also become quite fascinated by Cable Luxe Tunic. I am officially naming 2008 the Year of the Slog.

welcome to 2008...

Let me start by wishing anyone reading a Happy New Year. Some time around mid-December the Holidays get the best of me, and things didn't stop spinning until last week. At that point, work kicked into high gear...Today, I finally think I have time to breathe.

I'll do a knitting update soon.

NaKniSweMo, recap...

I finished Katy on Friday, but I'm just getting around to posting. Of all of the pictures that I took, the only one that turned out was of the neckline...and, even that is hard to see. I'll experimenting with more pictures tomorrow.

Overall, I am happy with the way this project turned out. I love the color and look forward to watching it fade over the next few washings. The fit is definitely smaller than I thought it would be. At this point, the sweater fits perfectly. I won't be putting it in the dryer ever again for fear of it shrinking further.

This was the perfect choice for NaKniSweMo. Since the bulk of the sweater was in stockinette, it made for mindless knitting. Plus, the lace pattern was easy to memorize. I would have to say that the best thing about knitting this sweater in a month is that it helped motivate me to keep knitting. Instead of starting something new when I started to get bored, I kept slogging away to make sure I finished it in November.

NaKniSweMo, day 29...

I'm seaming as fast as I can! Last night I washed to pieces and dried them. Although the yarn is not supposed to shrink in width, I'm a little worried about how this sweater will fit. I knit the size that is supposed to fit a 34" bust. The pattern says that the final width should be 19 inches...well, mine is more like 17!

I set in the sleeves over lunch, and will be working the first side seam on the way home. Not only am I fond of knitting in public, I even do my finishing in public. I should definitely earn a badge for that!

Thankfully, I still have tomorrow...

NaKniSweMo, day 27...

I'm in the home stretch! I was very productive over the holiday weekend, as I expected. I had finished the back last Tuesday, and I finished up the back yesterday night. Tonight, I will be weaving in the ends and washing the pieces of the sweater. I think the beauty of this sweater will be the fact that it doesn't get blocked!

NaKniSweMo, day 16...

The month is halfway through. With 15 days down, I am exactly 50% through Katy. This morning, I finished the 6th of 12 skeins. I'm 9.5 inches in to the back. I'm not even going to think about taking a picture of the progress I've made because I basically have a dark indigo rectangle. I suspect that it wouldn't make the most interesting photo shoot.

I have a busy weekend ahead of me, but I should be able to sneak in some knitting time. Since AF and I are driving to North Carolina for Thanksgiving, I'm not worried about finishing by the 30th. I'm guaranteed four and a half hours of uninterrupted knitting while AF drives!

NaKniSweMo, day 13...

Nothing to worry about. I'm still plugging away at Katy. Here are some progress shots that I took last Thursday.

Close up of the stitch pattern.Since taking these pictures, I have completed the second sleeve and made it about four inches into the back. I'll spare you the boring details since the body of the sweater is stockinette.

Once I finished the second sleeve, the rest of the weekend was spent working on the Log Cabin Blanket. I completed all of the seaming, and have already started the crochet border. I can honestly say that this project will be finished this week.

I'm still trying to decided what to do about my camera. I hope that I can make it until the end of the year without buying one. Maybe there will be some deals after the holidays.