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Words & Wool

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Something new on the needles

Thank you to everyone for the awesome comments about Thermal! It was so nice to hear that you like it too. Happily now I can move on to my next project - Wicked.


I cast-on for Wicked Sunday night and I'm already past the division for the arms! Wow! I'm using Lion Brand Cotton Ease (50% Cotton, 50% Acrylic) in the color Lake. I'm knitting the 36-39 inch size on size 7 needles. I did go ahead and knit the neckline on 6's as other people online went down one needle size with good results.

I tried the top on last night and so far it looks like it is going to be an excellent summer top. I was worried that the blue was a little too light in color for me, but I'm starting to really like it. The Cotton Ease is knitting up very nicely and feels good.

***Knitting Group is Tonight! We meet at the new Starbucks in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Laramie, just to the west of I-94 on Lake Ave.). We start at around 6:30 and go until 8ish. Any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***

It Was Like Knitting a Sock for Bigfoot

Thermal
Pattern: Thermal by Laura Chau
Yarn: Knit Picks Gloss in Dusk (9 skeins for the 40 inch size)
Needles: Knit Picks circular and double points size 0 (2.0 mm)
Start Date: February 18, 2007
End Date: May 8, 2007 (89 days!!!)
Comments: Sock yarn. Size 0 needles. Waffle stitch. Sounds like a sock, doesn't it? No. Instead it is the most fabulous sweater I have ever knit. Even though the number of stitches involved is equivalent to knitting Bigfoot a pair of socks, it was all worth it. This sweater rocks! The only downside is that it's 90 degrees outside and that is just not silk/wool sweater weather. Guess this top will have to wait for an Oregon premier this winter (maybe by then I'll find a good tank top to wear under it). :)

Overall this was a wonderful pattern and a great use of a lightweight yarn. The Knit Picks Gloss knit up beautifully and I'm very happy with the color I chose. I knit the 40 inch size knowing that my 42 inch bust would be decreasing as I worked out the last couple months. Sure enough. I'm now a 39 inch bust and the sweater fits very well. No changes to the pattern. I did everything it said. After knitting with this minuscule gauge, I'm off to knit a sweater in worsted weight!

The smaller pics are close-ups of the shoulder seam/collar and the new, improved buttons.

You May Notice

This post is not all about my finished Thermal. I'm having button issues. The ones I bought for it are a little too small and the only other ones I had in the house looked dumb. Hopefully I can pick up some good ones this weekend and show you a completely finished Thermal next week.

As for now I am working on a super plain and easy sock. The yarn is Meilenweit Cotton Fantasy (a wool/cotton blend). The color has the descriptive name of 803. Doesn't this sock just make you think of 803? :)

I'm knitting this sock on size 0 (2.0 mm) double points and doing a simple 2x2 ribbing with a peasant heel. I'm a couple inches past the heel already. The yarn is knitting up very nicely and, as always, the self-striping just makes me knit faster and faster. I love seeing the next stripe appear!

The Loopy Ewe Seasonal Sock Club Summer Kit

Yea! The first Loopy Ewe Seasonal Sock Club kit came yesterday! It's awesome! The kit came with a Loopy Ewe Sock Club bag, a new pattern from Wildhorse Farm Designs (I love her patterns), All Things Heather Sock Yarn in Skinny Dipping (the yarn is a wool/bamboo/nylon blend - neat), a little sheep soap, a packet of lemonade Kool-Aid, and some chocolate kisses. Wow! Great kit!

March 25th

March 25th. Do you know the significance of that date? It was the date I last finished knitting something. It was a pair of socks (my super awesome Yarntini Project Runway socks). Since then I've been knitting Thermal and a little bit of sock. That's it. 45 days.

I always thought I was a process knitter. I love the needles, yarn, and the actual knitting, but now that I realize it's been nearly 7 weeks since I finished something and I am bothered by this fact immensely, I'm thinking I am a product knitter after all. Maybe I'm 40% process, 60% product. How about you?

P.S. The picture is a peek at my finished Thermal! Right now it is blocking/drying. A final finished project post will be up soon. Apologies for the dark, yucky picture - Stormy spring is here. :)

Seeing Double, At Last!

After doing little else aside from knitting Thermal over the weekend I am thrilled to announce I've got two sleeves now! The next step is to knit the button band and pick up a bajillion (maybe a slight overestimate) stitches to knit the collar, then I'll just have to sew on the sleeves and weave in the ends.

Friday I received my first Pure Knits Yarntini Sock Club Kit and from the moment I opened it I knew the best word to describe it is "Yowza!" Included in the kit is Yarntini Sock Yarn in Pure Breeze Stripe, a coordinating Misocrafty bag, Lucy Neatby's Cool Socks, Warm Feet, some cute stitchmarkers, a sample of soak wash, and a little lip gloss! I absolutely love the color of the yarn and the bag is so cute. I'm so happy with this sock club and I am excited that there will be two more kits in my future. Yea!

Looking Forward

As I draw closer to the completion of Thermal, which has occupied my time for weeks and weeks, I am busy planning my next projects. (That's Thermal's 2nd sleeve in progress to the right). I mentioned last time that I'm thinking of knitting Wicked in Cotton Ease. Well, I'm also looking at Rusted Root as well as the Summertime Tank from Interweave Knits online. I've ordered some Hemp For Knitting allhemp6 for the Tank.

Why am I ordering more yarn? I don't need to be ordering any more yarn. We are moving in 2 1/2 months and I feel like my yarn stash will need it's own truck! Therefore, until we move I'm not buying any more yarn. At all. Including sock yarn. I'm in 5(!) sock yarn clubs so that should keep me happy, right? My knitting group is planning a field trip to a yarn store in Wisconsin. I'm not going to buy anything when we go. Nope. I just don't need anymore. I have so many fantastic projects planned that will use yarn that's currently in the stash that I feel at peace with this decision. Also, with the impending homeownership, I need to save some money for house stuff like a washer and dryer, curtains, etc. Oh, and a puppy. :)

Speaking of sock clubs...I got my April Petals Collection kit yesterday and I'm ecstatic! The color is Dahlia and it is an absolutely stunning yarn (and very difficult to photograph). The pattern looks good, but it's sized pretty small so I'll have to tinker with it a bit if I end up using it. I may do a different pattern though, but for now I'm just going to leave this skein near my knitting area and pet it every day. I love this yarn!

The sleeve that would not end...

I really feel like I'm in some fairy tale in which I knit on my Thermal sleeve during the day. Put it down at night and then pixies come and unravel what progress I've made. I swear I never thought I would spend so much time on a sweater! I have faith I'll love it though. Everyone's finished one's have been awesome. So, I'm on the final sleeve. Then I just attach the sleeves, pick up the neckline and knit for a couple inches. Then I'm done! In time for summer! :)

I'm starting to sense I may finish this sweater sometime in the next week or so (clearly I didn't make my April deadline). What next? I'm thinking Wicked. I need a nice quick knit and I just love that top. I even have the yarn ready to go...Cotton Ease! Kim knit one with it and it turned out great. I'm such a copy cat. :)

***Knitting Group is Tonight! We meet at the new Starbucks in Wilmette (corner of Lake & Laramie, just to the west of I-94 on Lake Ave.). We start at around 6:30 and go until 8ish. Any yarn enthusiast is welcome!***