Wednesday, June 20, 2012

Fruit Stripey

Well, I've made some more progress on the Lilleput cardigan. I've just completed the first sleeve and I'm about to begin the back. It's been pretty steady knitting: a little here, a little there, but nothing I'm in a big hurry to finish. I think this will be my commuting knitting for a little while. If it turns out well, I think it will end up in the State Fair.

Kinda reminds you of Fruit Stripe Gum, yes?

One project that has been languishing has been my Hydrangea bag. I have all the stuff to finish it except the zipper foot for my sewing machine. I had been considering whether I should challenge myself to finish it as a Ravelympics project, but after seeing the cease-and-desist letter sent to Ravelry by the United States Olympic Committee, I've decided that I must enter it in the Ravelympics. It'll be either WIPS Wrestling or the Felted Freestyle. Or maybe both, if the Ravelympics mods will let me enter the same project twice. Did you notice how many times I've used the word "Ravelympics" in this paragraph? It's four times so far, but I may be able to come up with a couple more. I think that my writing about this asshattery on the part of the United States Olympic Committee towards the Ravelympics constitutes Fair Use (commentary & criticism?), but who knows, I might get my own cease-and-desist letter. I'll have to check with my buddy Paul, who has lots of experience with cease-and-desist letters. And for good measure: Ravelympics. (I've sharpened my pitchfork and have lit a torch, though it's not an official Olympic one, just a metaphorical one.)


Anyway, Friends, I'll keep knitting away. I'll probably still watch the Olympics on television, but every time I hear some blather about the "Olympic Spirit," I'll be reminded that the whole movement has been taken over by money-grubbing jerks. Way to make looking at chiseled, nearly-naked swimmers less fun, USOC.

Until next time, Y'all.

Monday, June 11, 2012

The cute just keeps coming.


So I finished the Jasper Diamond Hoodie this weekend, and I think it's adorable. The hood makes all the difference! I can't wait to take it to knit night to try it on my friends' kids. The two who have been coming are almost too big to be able to wear it, so this is probably my only chance to see it on an actual baby. I'm not sure who I'm going to give this to - I might even enter it in the State Fair. I haven't decided yet.


Since that project is finished, I decided to start Lilleput, which is the project I was all excited about last week. I cast on in the car on the way to a family reunion, which was far enough away that I made good progress on it. After having a great time with my husband's large extended family, camping out in the state park, and visiting an old friend in town, we hit the road the next day and I continued knitting on the cardigan. By the time we got home, I decided that I didn't like the way the colors were working out, so this morning I ripped it all out and started over.


I also took a look at other people's Ravelry project pages, to see why I wasn't liking how mine was knitting up. Turns out I had misread the directions and was making the stripes too wide. I also didn't like the contrast between the red and the white. When I started over, I used the red as the accent color and used the variegated yarn with the white for what I hope will be a more pleasing finished cardigan. It definitely looks better with the narrower stripes. I don't think it will go anything like as fast as the hoodie, but slow and steady will do just fine for now.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Finally. The effing mittens are done!

At long, freaking last, I've finished the Chawton Mittens. What's kind of sad is that each thumb only took an hour or so to knit. I don't know why I was dreading them. That seems to happen to me a lot. Anyway, the thumbs are done, I've washed and blocked the mittens. Too bad they're a little on the long side and my floats are a little short. On the plus side though, they did soften up beautifully after washing. And they don't look too bad from a distance.


I also added a little something to the Big Cuddly Bunny: a pompom tail! I had yarn left over and knew I probably wouldn't use it for anything else, so I whipped it up and stuck it on the back. I'm nearly breathless from the squee on this.


And as promised last time, I had myself photographed in the Raindance Sweater, and I have to admit that I'm very pleased at how it turned out. I've finally knit myself a sweater that fits correctly, and, even better, it's not the biggest size listed on the pattern. It's two sizes smaller than the biggest size. This working out thing (and watching what I eat) is pretty cool.


Now that I've gotten three projects finished, I felt like it was safe to start another, so I cast on for the Jasper Diamond Hoodie, by Kristen Rengren. I had enough yarn leftover from Raindance to make the smallest size, and one of my friends had just finished one (it's so cute!), so I thought this would be a quick, fun project. Of course, almost immediately after I cast on, I found another pattern I just have to knit, so I'm trying to get this done as quickly as possible. Since I cast on Thursday night, I've managed to complete the body of the sweater and start the sleeves. It helped that I had an hour to kill this morning while I waited for my husband to come jump start my car, then another hour while I waited at the car battery place while they installed a new one for me. The diamond pattern is easy to memorize, so it's almost like it's flying off my needles.


Well, I think that's all I've got for this time. Maybe I'll have Jasper done by the next time I post. Until next time, Friends.