Perfectly Happy

Finally, some finished object pictures! Eleanor was thrilled this morning to make her debut as a finished object model in her very first stylized pictures for the blog. The pictures have been delayed mainly by my inability to adjust my schedule to the end of Daylight Savings Time this week. I just haven't been able to get home early enough to get some natural light for pictures of the Perfect Sweater. Scout and I were up this morning at 5am, so after our walk and respective breakfasts I decided to seize the opportunity.

The Perfect Sweater is a free pattern offered from the wonderful ladies over at the Mason Dixon Knitting blog, and it's one I've had in my mental queue for years now. In fact, I purchased the yarn for it then as well, but there always seemed to be something else on my needles. Now that I've recommitted myself to knitting down my stash, I felt ready to knit up the beautiful Cobalt Heather Cascade 220 wool I'd selected for this garment. I'm over the moon with how it turned out. I adore the shaping, the elegant simplicity of it, and of course, the stunning color. I obviously opted for the v-neck option, and I chose the picot hemmed edging for the body and the sleeves. To help me get through all that stockinette, I adapted the pattern to be knit in the round to the armhole shaping on the body and to the cap shaping on the sleeves. I Magic-looped the sleeves and knit them simultaneously. At the end, the only real sewing left to do was to set in the sleeves!

I can absolutely see myself knitting this pattern again sometime in the future. I think it's the ideal knitted garment to live in. I think I'd eventually like to try it in a lighter weight yarn, maybe DK. Wouldn't it be decadent in cashmere?!

More details and pictures over on my Ravelry Perfect Sweater project page.

After laying out the Perfect Sweater to dry, I found myself surprisingly without the burning need to cast on a new knitting project, so I turned my attention back to the Napoleon Vest to see what its fate might be. I'd attempted a "winging it" approach to the welts and been disappointed before putting the project away to focus on the Perfect Sweater, so I knew there was a bit of critical assessment to do before proceeding on it. I'd gotten some really good advice from a Berroco pattern support person in the Ravelry forums, so I revisited the video tutorial she sent me to see if a new light bulb went off for me. I had to frog a few inches again to start anew, but I know now how worth it that was. It was like magic! Suddenly the welts appeared in all their glorious beauty as if no struggle had ever taken place. My fervor for this project returned with a vengeance, and before I knew it, I'd completed the lower back portion of the vest. I cast on yesterday morning for the back yoke and bound it off last night before going to bed. That's 9 inches of flat stockinette over 72 stitches I knitted in ONE DAY (a work day, no less)! Thank goodness for meetings, right? I couldn't help but cast on for the lower front last night, and I've been happily knitting away on it this morning. I just can't wait to get to those welts again! After that, it'll be the two front pieces and then the crochet finishing, and this knitter will be in a brand new, handknit vest!

A Very Long Month

I should have never even mentioned blogfade in my last post! It doomed me to even more time between posting. It's been quite an eventful month of time, and I'm very glad it's over. There have been some good but a lot of not so good. Things have been so crazy that I don't have a lot of crafting to report, certainly no finished objects to show off. But I would like to introduce you to my latest "work in progress."

Meet Scout.

I've wanted a puppy for what seems like forever, and it's been a difficult thing to commit to with my demanding work schedule and allergy problems since starting my job. Still the desire was there, so I kept my eyes open for the right puppy to bring into my life. I researched breeds and visited a lot of different breeders. Finally I came across a sweet family nearby who breeds and raises Maltese/Poodle mixes (i.e. Maltepoos). My mom and I drove out to visit their available puppies and to test drive any allergy symptoms that might arise while I was around them. Surprisingly I had no reaction at all and came home with this sweet little boy. He's 16 weeks old now and has certainly changed my life! He's bouncy and busy and affectionate and wonderful. We're still working on housebreaking, but we're getting there. He loves to snuggle and is endlessly entertaining. I think he looks a like a little sheepdog! You'll be seeing lots more of him around here, no doubt.

So shortly after bringing Scout home, I came down with a little viral upper respiratory infection. It all started with a tickle in my throat that evolved into an awful cough and horrible congestion, but I pushed and worked through it. About a week later I had a really good day that convinced me that I was on the mend, followed by a day that sent me to the ER with my asthma. I saw my pulmonologist the next day and was prescribed an arsenal of antibiotics, steroids, and home breathing treatments. That night I was back in the ER again. I spent the next week struggling to make myself well with all my prescribed meds and breathing treatments four times per day. On Friday morning I was back in my pulmonologist's office desperate for help. He admitted me directly to the hospital, and I spent three days getting IV antibiotics and steroids with round-the-clock breathing treatments. I came home still very weak and easily winded. So now I've been off work for two solid weeks, and I'm still not 100% yet - but I'm getting there! I'm headed back to work tomorrow.

All of this has really left me re-evaluating my life and what it has been over the last year. Never have I had such trouble with my asthma, and it's been nothing but downhill since I began doing the work I'm doing. I'm being exposed to scary allergens over and over, and my body is just not tolerating it well. Not to mention the immeasurable emotional and psychological stress that has come along with all this. Time for my creativity has been almost completely stamped out, and I really, really miss it. The time I've been forced to take off with my illness has been cathartic and clearing for my mind. I feel like there are changes, big changes, coming in my life very soon, and while the unknown is intimidating, I'm excited to see what is to come for me. I feel like I'm waking up again, like something amazing is blossoming inside me. I'm so ready!

I had a few hours here and there while I was in the hospital in which I actually felt alive enough to knit, and so I managed to get the sleeves for the Perfect Sweater completed! Last week I finished up the v-neck, and today I sewed in the sleeves. The sweater is currently drying after its blocking bath, and I plan to snap some pictures of it this week on Eleanor. It turned out so beautifully! There's just nothing like a really great, well-written knitting pattern. It's such a classic shaped sweater, a real staple for anyone's wardrobe. All the stockinette was made much more tolerable by my adapting the pattern to be knit mostly in the round. I might not have made it through if I had to do more purling than I did. I knit the body in the round to the armhole shaping and the sleeves in the round to the cap shaping. The shoulders are finished with a three-needle bind-off, so the only seaming there was to do was tacking down the neck facing and sewing in the sleeves. It all came together really well.

So now that the Perfect Sweater is off the needles, I don't feel in much of a hurry to cast on something new. I'm already back to working on the Napoleon Vest, and it's really satisfying. I'm determined to conquer the tucks on the body! It'll be so nice to have a new handknit to wear soon. It's already been such a beautiful Fall here.

I'll leave you with one final Scout picture - an action shot! Thanks for sticking around and reading!

Blogfade Averted

There have been numerous reason that things have been so quiet around here, and I must have composed at least a dozen posts explaining them all. Working 50-60 hours per week, computer troubles, the entering of my new Blackberry into my life (love it!)... They were all really good excuses. And then last week brought a visitor into my life I could have done without. The flu. BAM! I've been literally on my back, out of commission, and sick, sick, sick for almost a week now. I wasn't even able to knit for the first 2-3 days of my illness! I seem to thankfully be on the mend now and ready to enter back into blogland.

So let's talk about the really important stuff - the knitting! Once I was finally able to lift my head again, I reached for the Perfect Sweater I have on my needles. I realized that it was the only thing on my needles (another sign that I was ill), and so it got all of the knitting attention I could muster. Friday evening I felt so good that I picked it up and knitted the entire back from the armholes to the neckline. Of course, I realized after that point that I'd forgotten to do any of the armhole shaping before I started knitting away. This meant that I'd knitted 8.25" in stockinette over 100 stitches when I actually only had to do it over 70 if I'd only read the pattern correctly. I took that as a sign that I was still a sick girl. I ripped it all out and reknitted it yesterday. This morning I was able to perform the 3-needle bind off on the left shoulder, and I'm not putting it body aside to knit the sleeves. I had such a good time knitting the body in the round that I plan to knit the sleeves that way as well. I think I'll use a super long needle to knit them two-at-a-time Magic loop. Hopefully they'll go as fast as the body did. After I got the body done, I decided to let Eleanor model it for the progress pictures. I'm really happy with the how it's coming out. I love the length and the fit. Of course, Eleanor is a smaller size than the intended recipient, but she gives me a good idea of how the sweater will hang. I'm really having to resist blocking it yet. I may jump ahead and knit the V-neck before the sleeves so the body will be completely done. Isn't the color gorgeous? I just love Cascade 220 heathers.

I've been swept up in the frenzy surrounding the Endless Cardi Shawl patterns that were recently released by StitchDiva Studios, but I just haven't had it together enough to start on that pattern. Actually the active planning phase of this garment, for me, has been the longest in my knitting history. I love the knitted version of the pattern, but I don't love the stitch pattern of the body. I really prefer the open, lacier look of the crochet version. So I decided to do some stitch substitution. I've been pouring through my Barbara Walker books trying to find the perfect stitch pattern. To add to the complexity of my process, I've decided to use some beautiful natural merino lamb yarn that I acquired over a year ago at a local fiber festival. It has a handspun quality that I love, but it's making getting gauge a bit of a challenge. I think I've finally settled on a plan of attack. I'm going to be aiming for between two sizes, and I'll be using a simple eyelet stitch pattern. Surely the blocking process will give me some leeway. I've never swatched so much in my life! I really hope this turns out okay. I adore the garment and think it will be so versatile in my fall/winter wardrobe.

Fingers crossed that I'll be able to cast on for it today! It'll depend on how my energy level hangs in.

Perfect Knitting

This has been quite the domestic weekend for me. Yesterday I spent the entire day cleaning, knitting, cooking, and doing laundry. It was fantastic! I even took a little afternoon nap - something I rarely get to do. Today has been more knitting and rest. I've gotten a lot done on the Perfect Sweater. I'm nearly through the waist shaping! It's been a challenge to maintain monogamy on this project as there are so many other great patterns calling to me right now. Since beginning this project, I've renewed my focus on knitting down my stash to near nothing. I even visited a yarn shop out of town and avoided all yarn purchases! It was a miracle!

Speaking of the yarn shop visit, I have to tell you a little about that trip. I was passing through Clarksville, Tennessee, for work and so I peeked online for any yarn shops in the area. I came across Unique Yarns & Crafts and decided to stop by while I was in town. The owner, Marie, runs the shop out of the bottom floor of her home, and she proved to be warm and delightful to talk with. Despite her fantastic selection of Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Bulky, I managed to get out of there with only a couple of pattern books. I'd never before seen Jean Greenhowe's amazing designs, so I couldn't resist bringing a couple of booklets home with me. I bought Traditional Favourites and Topsy-Turnabout Dolls. Adorable! I've tucked them away for future knitting.

I also FINALLY received my very own copy of Jared Flood's new pattern book from Classic Elite, Made in Brooklyn. None of the local yarn shops in my area have yet received their shipments, so I was forced to order from Webs. I simply could not wait any longer! Since I was already ordering (and paying for shipping), I decided to go ahead and order the new Norah Gaughan pattern booklet of men's patterns from Berroco. Both booklets far exceeded even my highest expectations. There is just something so beautiful about classic, timeless knitwear. I can certainly appreciate the haute couture of the knitwear design world, but when it comes to what I want on my needles, it's traditional all the way.

I've been reconsidering my plan for my next project on the needles. The Textured Shawl certainly has kept my attention, but I've been tossing around ideas for making a more wearable, practical garment that harnesses the same feeling of the Textured Shawl. I love the variations of the very simple stitch patterns in the shawl, but I'm not sure how much wear I could get out of this shawl in my day-to-day life. I recently saw Jasmin (from the Knitmore Girls podcast) pictured at Sock Summit wearing her graceful Katarina cardigan, and I couldn't help but think what a useful garment that must be. So I've been shopping around for a similar pattern that I could substitute the stitch patterns from the Textured Shawl. I'm considering using the using the Minimalist Cardigan pattern as a starting point, but I may still start fresh and come up with a completely new, original pattern. Either way, I'm envisioning something with classic lines, 3/4-length sleeves, and no closures. The perfect layering piece for the cooler months of the year!

Forward and Back

I don't think it'll ever matter how much I knit or how many projects I finish in my lifetime - it seems that knitting it always going to teach me something. I like to imagine that it's that way with all knitters all over the world and with all those knitters who proceeded us. Surely even the Knitters among us, like Barbara Walker and Nicky Epstein, still find that they have to look up a technique or the like every now and then. I by no means compare myself to the big names in knitting, but there are some things things I thought I'd learned along my knitting way. Gauge is one of those things. I tend to give very reverent respect to gauge. I swatch tirelessly. I wash the swatches as I would the finished garments. I measure and re-measure. But somehow I let gauge become a problem for me with this sweater. The lesson learned this time?

Don't neglect row gauge. Count it. Note it. Live row gauge.

Last night I finished all the decreases in the waist shaping for the Perfect Sweater I'm knitting and realized that I was coming up a bit short. I measured the gauge on the needles. I found my swatch and measured it. The stated pattern gauge is 20 sts and 25 rows over 4 inches. My gauge? 20 sts and 28 rows over 4 inches. I toiled over the math, trying to figure out exactly how much I was short (and if it really mattered). At the end of my efforts, I discovered that I was about 1.6 inches short. The sweater's recipient is tall. Very tall. Very tall with a long waist. Yeah, this was no good.

I had to rip it out.

Most of the dirty work was done as I'd figured all the math out already during my contemplation. So I ripped and ripped and rewound the yarn. I've already started reknitting it, and I'm trying to see the whole episode as merely an opportunity to prolong this happy in-the-round knitting. I really am enjoying it. It's just hard to take two steps forward and then a step and a half back. I'll certainly pay more attention in the future. Especially when a pattern tells me to do X for so many rows/rounds. I'll know that I need to translate the rows/rounds into inches. Oh yeah - and check my row gauge.

Not Bad

After a significant amount of online research and legwork, I decided to take the plunge and buy a compact point-and-shoot digital camera. I realized that most of what I enjoy about blogging has little to do with showing off my finished crafting projects. It's more about the expression that blogging itself allows me. It's being able to muck through my thoughts and find new creativity and inspiration under all the noise in my head. It's about taking a moment to sit down, push away all the obligations and stress of everyday life, and find the small voice inside me that is inherently and irrevocably me. That said, I want to be able to share more of my life and of what inspires me in my creative endeavors.

Thus, enter the new camera, a Canon PowerShot SD1200 IS. I'm having the best time playing with it! The images are clear and crisp; the camera is intuitive and responsive to my whims. I love it! I've always been of the Nikon camp (and still am!), but this little point-and-shoot Canon impresses me far more than the Nikon ultracompacts did in the stores. I've been shooting the most mundane things: garbage trucks, birds, and the like, and the raw, unedited pictures are truly amazing. What fun!

In knitting, I'm loving the mindless, in-the-round stockinette of the Perfect Sweater I'm knitting right now. Why in the world have I ever knitted sweaters any other way?! I'm using some beautiful Cobalt Heather Cascade 220 from my stash, and the stockinette is just what my stressed mind needs lately. I'm already planning my next in-the-round sweater. I downloaded Wendy Bernard's Drive-Thru pattern last night, and I've been shopping in my mind for the right yarn. I have some brown Cascade 220 in my stash that would work, but the last little girl sweater I knitted was in brown. I'm thinking I need a change of pace. Maybe red. Or gray. Or blue. Something different is in order, I believe.

Okay, okay - off to knit. More soon!

On Blogging

I've been thinking about my blog a lot lately. It wasn't too terribly long ago that I got a tremendous amount of pleasure from sharing my creative endeavors and thoughts on creating here. A change in day job status made my life far more hectic and my schedule very unpredictable, and most of the time I used to spend creating is now spent doing the mundane must-do tasks of life, like laundry and grocery shopping. So I usually end up feeling that if I don't have new projects to share then a blog post isn't warranted. My other hesitation, as it has been before, is pictures. Surely no one would want to read a blog post in which I blather on and on without any pictorial relief for the eyes. And with no new projects, how can there be pictures?

So this logic led to another train of thought. Why do I have to show only pictures of my current projects? Blogs are about sharing your life, which inevitably includes crafting projects, but does that mean that posts without shiny new projects are insignificant? I don't think so. Look at the likes of the Yarn Harlot and Knit and Tonic. Most of their posts are merely about the minutia of their lives, and I love it! So why do I hold myself to a different standard? If all that's holding me back from posting is pictures, where does the problem lie now? It's my very expensive, impeccably performing digital camera. It's perfect for shooting in and around my home, but I don't feel comfortable toting it with me in my day-to-day life! And what is a blog? A log of day-to-day life!

I need a lightweight, ultra compact, high-quality digital camera!!! So I'm shopping now...

One evening last week I came home with a creative fervor and started working on a project from Patchwork Style that I've wanted to make ever since I bought the book. I love the idea of standing on a beautiful, handmade patchwork mat while doing the dishes in my kitchen. I dove right into my scrap box, assembled a color scheme, and went to work. I ran out of steam and time before it was finished, but I love how it's turning out.

I also took a little time yesterday to ply up my very first handspun yarn! It's made up of the many wool samples given to me during my spinning class at the fiber festival I attended last Spring. It's overly energized, it's thin and thin, it's warty and bumpy and slubby, but it's mine. My very first handspun. I doubt I'll ever knit anything with it, but I also doubt I'll ever get rid of it. I used an Andean plying technique and ended up with two skeins of just a few yards of ugly yarn apiece. Now my wheel is clear and available for me to continue practicing my spinning. I have some undyed roving that I plan to spin up next. We'll see how my spinning has improved since the class.

I'm still taking to heart the resolution I made in my last post to stop seeing all my stash as too precious to use. So yesterday I started swatching for a new sweater using some Cascade 220 in my stash. I want to make a simple v-neck pullover, like the Perfect Sweater, but I'm going to knit it mostly in the round. It'll be good to get that amount of yarn out of my stash.

Well, I'm off to research some digital cameras!