Better late than never

Photos from Saturday's visit with Chicks with Sticks at the Yarn Sellar in York, Maine:

L to R seated; Laurin, Gigi, Ericka, Gina, Julie, Melissa, Amanda, Chris, Chris, Heather, Mary
Standing; Patti, Lisa, ME, Lora



Melissa taking a picture of the store (with Gigi doing the same in the background)

The store:



Everyone getting settled in before lunch:



Lora having a moment with George.



Chris with nephew's finished sweater:



Me trying on Gina's tragic/beautiful Spunky sweater.



My haul from the store:



Some DK Baby for a new cousin due in August, the Cotton Fleece for The Boy's cabled sweater, and a pattern I've been eyeing for a while, the Felted Ballerina Slippers by Fiber Trends.

Every Saturday should be so fun.

Happiknits is...

Ah, the feeling of being done with 408 rows of garter stitch. (I previously referred to it as stockinette - I'm dumb like that) I've never been so happy to finish something in my life. I'm so glad that I did it before starting the second panel of the Tote 'Em bag. It's not hanging over my head.

I still have til the end of May to complete the bag so no rush. I have time to get The Boy a sweater done before summer. I've picked out both the pattern and the yarn.

Kid's Cable (#208) by Cabin Fever

I'll probably go with Brown Sheep's Cotton Fleece in barn red. I'm happy.

Happy Spring?

Just a couple of photos from my yard.

I think it's the last of the snow, and it'll probably be gone in a day or two. I'm actually enjoying it. The only downside is it can't use my grill. I can't even get out the side door right now.

Onto the knitting content. I haven't made any progress on the gusset from hell. I need to force myself to pick it up again. Perhaps at knitting group. The pleasant company will distract me from inane repetitive stitchery. I just need it done.

I have (just about) finished my one and only sport-weight argyle sock. I still need to weave in the trillion ends, but since I'll never wear it, what's the point?



I am definitely going to make a pair of argyles in a thinner weight. Just not right now. I have to finish Tote 'Em before I can think about any new projects. Speaking of new projects, somebody talk me out of knitting Rusted Root, because I can't stop thinking about it, and I promised the Boy a red sweater.

Along with the Tote 'Em bag, I'm also working on the We Call Them Pirates hat in red and cream for the boy. Instead of a provisional cast on and a knitted liner, I'm just going to line the whole thing in fleece once it's done. I'm thinking he'll wear this one next year anyway.



For anyone interested, the yarn is Tove.

And lastly, yesterday I took the girl for an actual haircut. It was getting really unruly. Her before:



Her after:



And, because I'm instituting an equal-time policy, one of the handsome Boy:



No haircut or anything. Just enjoying the New England Aquarium.

Hell is

408 rows of stockinette.

Not even halfway there.

I'm currently knitting the gusset for the Tote 'Em bag from the Fall '06 issue of knitters. I've finished the first side, but after holding it up next to Gina's I think it's about a third too small. I hope it comes out okay since it's going to be a gift.

Here's the front panel.

This part was fun and I'm looking forward the the second side, if I ever finish the gusset.

Here's what it's supposed to look like after felting:


The pattern calls for i-cord handles, but after knitting all that stockinette for the gusset well, I'm rethinking my options.

Wicked done!

Behold, the two-week sweater:

Closeup of neckline/sleeve:



Ubiquitous side view:



I've been wondering why people in this view often have their hand over their belly, it became apparent to me after trying to get this shot; there's nowhere to put your other hand. You can't just leave it at your side because that will obscure the sweater. I ended up sticking it in my back pocket, which made my belly kind of pooch out. Now I know.

Details:
Wicked Sweater, Zephrstyle.com
Size med, with 2" extra length
Started: February 17, 2007
Finished: March 3, 2007
Moda Dea Washable Wool color Raspberry - 4 skeins
US 7 32" knitpicks needles

I love this pattern, but there are a couple of things I'll do differently next time. First, I love the baby cable at the neck and arms, but the bottom is in seed stitch. The seed stitch was tedious. I'll do the bottom the same as the neck, and I think it'll lay better too. Seed stitch tends to be puffy. Puffy at the waistline is never a good thing. Also, I found the pocket to be too small to actually be useful. I'd make the pocket longer as well.

Last picture for Gina, who asked, "when you raise your arm, does the pit show?"

Nope.

I almost hope it never ends

I'm finishing the body of my wicked sweater s l o w l y. I've got another inch or so then I'll start the pocket. I love when I have a knit that's just long enough to not be boring. This knit is perfect because there's shaping to break up the 11 or so inches of stockinette body, then you get to knit a nifty pocket, and the seaming of pocket to body is something different and interesting. Plus, it's top down, knit in the round. God, I love this sweater.

Today is the perfect day to stay in and knit. The snow has now changed over to freezing rain, and we're not going anywhere.

The kids are entertaining themselves, and my house is (relatively) clean*. I'm pouring myself another cup of coffee and knitting.

*Disclaimer: do not come over my house to verify this statement, my version of clean and yours may be completely different.