FO: February Sweater 1

Well, nearly finished. It does still need buttons, but that is minor. The sizing worked out that it fits Eleni with a little room to grow so it should make an excellent cool morning/night option in her wardrobe. This however means I am on the lookout for some easy care worsted weight yarn so I can make another for cousin Colette.
Pattern: February Sweater or Baby Sweater on Two Needles by Elizabeth Zimmerman. Pattern available in A Knnitters Almanac

Yarn: Swish Superwash DK by KnitPicks. I used under two skeins.


Notice the pretty purple flowers in my yard? They are Violas. I think they are far prettier than the crazy dandilions consuming my front yard.


I wonder if the weed killer will knock them out too. I suppose if it does I could always sneek new ones into the grass right?

JUMPAROO!!

Ok, hopefully that worked. Blogger's video feature just didn't pan out, so I ended up using YouTube.

February in April

I am knitting again, and not just cotton squares to catch baby spitup (I guess I skipped blogging about them). I am knitting something new and challenging and much more fun.

It is the "February Sweater" from Elizabeth Zimmermen's Knitting Almanac. Using Knit Picks Swish Superwash DK, and having a good old time with it so far! I am not certain of the repcient. If it is big enough it will go to Eleni's cousin- who is a bit older than Eleni. But if it is too small for her I will let Eleni have this one, and knit a second for the cousin.
Also, behind the knitting is my forsythia bush that I forced earlier this year blooming away on its own. Spring is here!

It runs in the family

So I am not the only creative genius in this house. (hehe) Eleni brought home her first art project from school. So we hung it in the gallery.

She calls it "Lion in paper and yarn"

I couldn't be more proud knowing she took to using yarn so proficiently. I think she will make an excellent knitter one day. Here she is at the gallery opening

The gallery will be displaying this work through the end of summer. By appointment only.

Knit-On

I had every intention on posting some over the weekend. Before Easter. However K and I came down with a wicked stomach bug Saturday night and it messed everything up. We are doing much better and for that we are greatful. We both took a sick day on Monday and while home I managed to pick up some knitting again.

I forgot to take a finished picture, and it was gifted to my mum today for her birthday which was yesterday. Just a dishcloth inspired by Michelle's Love Bug bib on Ravelry. Thanks to all of you for the encouragement. Nothing like a dishcloth to get a gal back on the knitting bandwaggon.

The real post delayed due to my illness is this. On Friday we received a new dining room set. It was bitter sweet. The set belongs to my grandparents who where moved into assisted living this past year. I casually mentioned the set and was told that it would likely be sold as no one else in the family had expressed interest in wanting it. I just couldn't imagine strangers dining at the table I ate all of my childhood holiday dinners at. Grandpa shared my feelings and was happy to let K and I have it. It fills the room wonderfully and it holds such a special place in my heart. Mom and Dad brought over some table cloths and napkins to go along with the table. I burried my nose into a table cloth and sucked in the familiar smell of grandma's house. It brought tears to my eyes. How many more times would I be able to smell that smell and have all the associated memories rush back so quickly?

I just deep down wish it was all still in my grandparents home, with my grandparents. It is ours now, to make new memories at while being reminded of the good times we have had in the past.

Looking in from the kitchen

And from the living room



Hope that you all had an enjoyable Easter weekend.

Ready to talk

I think the sting of my knitting trauma has faded enough now that I can talk about it again. It has been over a week since I have last knit. I sit quietly on the trolley each day staring out the window wondering where I went wrong, why I let myself get so out of control knowing all along it could only end badly. Was I subconsciously trying to make a mistake? Was this the wrong project to take on after finishing the mammoth Baby Moderne? I think the answer to both is yes. Lets start at the beginning, shall we?

My Interweave Knits for sprig arrived at the house early in February. All of the patterns got me excited for the warm weather and I was itching to knit the Cotolino in my stash. So that is what I did. I was unfaithful to Baby Moderne, and began to knit a sleeve. All while knitting this sleeve on size 4 needles I thought to myself, "gosh, I should go get a tape measure and check my gauge" but was easily able to convince myself otherwise. "Nah, the tape is WAY upstairs and I can do it later" or "I can't check my guage until this is washed anyway, knit on!". Well that is what I did. I knit on. I easily wasted a month of precious knit time in this manor. Knitting on, knowing deep down there was a problem. The sleeve was finished and I was still fearful of measuring. I hand washed and allow the piece to dry. It seemed small. I didn't measure. I convinced myself that it should be machine washed per the labels directions. After all, the ride in the washer would surely make this sleeve grow right? Wrong. So just last Saturday, one day before our regular knitty get together, I pulled out my measuring instruments to confirm what I had known all along. It is too small. By about 3 stitches over 4 inches.

In this process I have developed a dislike for the pattern, the yarn, and size 4 needles. This project is certainly being put on hold, perhaps to never again reappear. Who knows. Now I am in search of a quick knit, something for me, so that I can regain my confidence in knitting before April's get together. Oh, and I will be certain to knit a guage swatch- and not just use the sleeve as my swatch.

"Won't You Wear a Sweater?"

Today is Won't you wear a sweater day in honor of Mr Rodger's 80th Birthday. Eleni picked out a lovely hand knit sweater from our bloggless friend Erin! It is so soft and warm, thanks Erin!