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!

Has it been that long?

I have had a few impatient comments the past few days. I suppose it has been too long since my last update. I am finally feeling better now that I beat this cold that had been haunting me for two weeks. Miss Eleni brought it home with her from daycare and seemed to do a much better job at beating it than I did. It is my excuse for my disappearance. Plus since my last post I have returned to the working world. My reentry was not especially traumatic for anyone involved. I enjoy getting out of the house and having back part of my pre-mom identity again.

Hopefully I will have a chance to post another update soon. I have had some knitting trauma, bad enough that it kept me home from our monthly get together. I am not sure I am ready to discuss it right now.

until then....Happy Easter

FO- Baby Moderne

The beast is finished. My first finished object of 2008, and we are almost to March!
Project: Baby Moderne, Mason Dixon Knitting
Yarn: Knit Picks Swish Superwash
Started: September 17, 2007
Finished: February 18, 2008


Overall I am a fan of the finished blankie, although it has not yet hit the wash. I might be more gentle with that this time around as I have had surprises with the Swish yarn in the past. I made a few mistakes when begining the intarsia technique, but I didn't notice until I was too far past them to care any more. I just couldn't bear to reknit that much garter stitch. It is not THAT obvious

Towards the end I definitly wanted to be done with this blanket!! I didn't expect it to take me 5 months to complete, but I did reach my goal of finishing it before going back to work! I even had a week to spare.

Hopefully with my return to work I will be able to make progress on the Cables and O's Cardigan once again!

Forcing Spring

The cold of February was finially getting to me. I long for the warmth and color of spring. Thankfully some plants are able to be tricked into blooming this time of year. About a week ago or so I gut a few branches from my forsythia bush in the yard. I put the branches into some water and waited.


It reminds me of Easter at Grandma's, as she always decorated the table with a few short forsythia branches on the table. Hopefully it won't be long before it is warm enough for them to open outside on their own!

Happy Valentine's Day

We barely celebrate Valentine's day around here. K has a sincere dislike for the holiday which retailers try to convince women their man does not truly love them unless he is bringing home roses, chocolates, and diamonds. I don't blame him and honestly this year I couldn't even bring myself to read cards long enough to pick one out. However, over the weekend K bought me this wonderful handmade mug from the Union Project's craft sale.



This mug was made by the talented brother of my friend RD who occasionally blogs here. She told me about the sale, and we just happened to be headed for that side of town to celebrate Heather's first birthday! So we ran into RD at the sale and she helped me with the difficult decision of which cup to buy. She and her husband thought the one I picked looked like snow-in reality. So I had to photograph it with some snow. I would have to say that real snow is still whiter than the mug.

And here is Miss E on Valentine's day, playing on her mat after a fun visit with Cara and her boys!

Unfaithful

I tend to be a single project gal. Unless that project is far too large to commute with. I still don't have to worry about commuting and knitting though. And I am afraid that I have been unfaithful to the Baby Moderne blankie. My Interweave Knits for spring showed up and inspired me to pull out the Cotolino yarn I bought when No Sheep for You was first published.


It may be freezing outside, but I am dreaming of the warm days when I can wear this sweater!!

I was guilty of the time I put into this sleeve (which will also be a guage swatch when I get brave enough to measure)... so I finished the I-cord on the blankie this weekend as well. However there are many ends to weave in before its photoshoot.