July 15, 2012

The sweater is finished.... It still needs to be blocked, but the ends have been woven in and it fits J nicely.

I've started making my way through the collection of unfinished projects piling up in my closet. Next up Miralda's Shawl

Progress

Jimmy's sweater is coming along. It's been tough resisting the urge to start new projects, but I'm determined to finish it and not just put it in the closet and cast-on something new. This is one of the few times I've used the recommended yarn and Brooklyn Tweed Shelter in Woodsmoke is my new favorite. I can't say enough about this yarn.  It's sturdy, springy and softens the more you handle it. It's an absolute dream to knit with - no sticking to my fingers or scratching my hands.

On New Year's Resolutions

I'm not typically one for making New Year's resolutions. I'm easily distracted and generally lack the commitment necessary to make the changes worthwhile. I've been thinking though, that making a change in one area of my life might not be too challenging or overwhelming. While I'd like to say I'll lose weight, read more, go back to school, finish my knitting, etc... realistically I know this just isn't likely to happen. My hope for this year is that if I focus on one goal, that other goals might begin to fall into place. With that mind, I've decided to devote 2012 to knitting.

2012 Knitting Goals (in no particular order)

• Update my blog at least monthly (January ~ check)
• Finish Sudoku
• Finish Jimmy's sweater
• Update Ravelry photos and projects
• Take a spinning class
• Have Max's fur spun into yarn
• Work on TKGA Master Knitter portfolio

New Year, New Beginnings... Sort Of...

I promise I shall not neglect my blog this year!

I've actually been knitting quite a bit the past few months. That's not to say I've finished anything but I have been making an effort to keep knitting. It seems most of my time is eaten up with work and teaching. I can't tell you how many hours I've spent on other people's knitting.

This year I will finish everything on my needles! Let the inventory begin...

Spanish Peacock

I've started Spanish Peacock from A Gathering of Lace. It is one of the charts shown in the back of the book in the gallery section. This is really a pretty easy pattern. I'm using Addi Turbo US 7 Lace needles I moved my marker at the beginning of the rounds listed below to prevent the pattern from spiraling.

Round 23: 1 stitch to the left
Round 24: 1 stitch to the left
Round 28: 2 stitches to the left
Round 30-45: 1 stitch to the left
Round 46: 1 stitch to the right

On most of the rounds, the first stitch knit will be knit again at the end of the round to complete sl2kpsso. After completing sl2kpsso I placed my marker on the right hand needle and then went on to work the first stitch on the left hand needle. For the rounds where the marker only needs to be moved 1 stitch to the left, it is not necessary to move the marker further. On round 28 I knit the first stitch on the left needle and then placed the Marker.

READ YOUR KNITTING!!! I only give this pattern a medium rating because it is not necessarily intuitive to everyone that the marker needs to be moved on certain rounds, otherwise it would be very easy. The stitches are not difficult and in fact the pattern gets boring pretty quickly.

It Came!!!!

Oh yes, my packet arrived in the mail today! Now I just need to pick out some yarn and get started. I think I'll start with Galway and Cascade 220. I do have some beautiful Shepherd's Wool in creamsicle which probably isn't light enough, but is so soft to work with.

The Cult of Knitting

I finally broke down and joined the Cult of Knitting. I'm not sure what it says about me that I really care how a small group of women will evaluate my knitting, but I'm pretty excited.