May 31, 2003

goals

its done!

IT is done!! Pagan is ALL finished. I even blocked her last night. (yes I will post pictures, I know that I keep saying that but I am too lazy to go downstairs and get the camera .. tomorrow though)

I have come to the realization however that I should not be knitting tank tops for myself. My breasts are HUGE in these tops. (you will see this in the picture). Because of this epiphany I have changed my mind on another sweater I am doing. I was using FDC's Antea and Amore Dolce mixed together, now I am going to do a sweater with either short sleeves or with 3/4 sleeve length.

Also, I am using CanCan (don't remember the supplier) to make a tshirt/sweater for a store model. I will post pictures of that also (I might even do it later tonight depending on when Cameron goes to bed)

So ANYWAYS, again, to recap, Pagan is done and oh so pretty!

May 27, 2003

divided

I have divided the Pagan tank into the front and back. I am doing the front first to get some of the shaping done since I had to cast on more stitches than the pattern called for. I am HOPING to get this done this week and am not too concerned about it. I think I can, I know I can!

*Warning: Non Knitting Content*

Yesterday I went out to my friends barn where she stables her horse. It was there that I got to meet an actual 'horse whisperer'. Was it ever phenomenal. Watching him work was amazing. I am almost *g* speechless when it comes to talking about it ... almost.

*Warning Part 2: Gushy 'my son is so adorable' content*

We bought him this play station where he can swivel around and be constantly entertained. Each day that passes he gets better control of his head and this toy has really helped! Plus he really seems to enjoy it. Although he does look a little shell shocked in the picture!

And of course there is Cameron and the puppy [phoebe]. She loves to lay on his play mat with him. She will also curl up around him and go to sleep while he is playing. I have a feeling that they are going to be best buds as they both grow up!

**Ending of all non knitting content**

So where was I? Oh yes, knitting. I am not going to start up any of the other knitalongs until I get pagan done. I have also been working on Luka ... I just don't feel pressured to get it done because I am sending it to my mom's friend in Toronto, where her child isn't going to wear it till the fall. BUT I know that if I put it aside I won't get it done and I want to get it done! One of the reason's I'm not great at knitting for other people ... there is always something else i'd rather be knitting for myself!

And yes, I owe pictures. I will try to do them today!

May 24, 2003

i'm here

honestly, I am. I have finished the decreases of Pagan and am now getting started on the increases. It was another hectic week but this weekend is dedicated to knitting. There will be progress pictures soon.

On a personal front. I went shopping today. I bought clothes, dishes and a case for my new Palm Tungsten W! Gotta love technology, days off and Memorial Weekend sales *g*

May 20, 2003

knitalong progress

I am loving this tank so far. I need to post more pictures and will soon, once I get a bit more of it done.

Here is my issue though. There are so many OTHER projects I want to do at the same time. I finally changed my side bar to say 'in the bag' rather than 'on the needles' since I have too many projects on the needles. In the bag right now is a cotton classic/koigu sweater that I am starting and also a baby yarn and FDC's Antea yarn held together. I promise pictures will be up by this weekend.

In other knitting news, I bought a piece of furniture for my yarn. I went to Target to take a look around. They have these book cases that have glass doors and a drawer on the bottom for $80! I was happy about that and it looks great with my yarn in it. (i promise a picture of it too!!)

Anyways, off to browse my fellow knit along people to see their progress.

May 16, 2003

worth an entry

A few comments were posted to my last entry that I felt needed to be addressed here.

1) Carolyn asked about 'breasts' after babies. All I have to say to that is YES! I had 'em already and they just won't go down. I would really like to be able to do a size 40 in a Rowan pattern, not change it to a 44!! :) But hey, its a great 'natural' way to obtain them *hehe*

2) Nora and Maggie asked about knitting in the round. I cast on the amount it calls for to do both the front and the back and then join the work. (if you have ever made socks its the same thing, except you use a circular needle instead of double points). I place one color marker (blue) at the beginning and another marker (pink) at the halfway point. This allows me to differentiate between the back and the front. I will also place a safety pin on one of the sides IF the front and back have different increasing and decreasing. Then as I am working I do my increases and decreases on either side of the stitch markers. Once I get to the part for the armholes I do each piece separately.

3) To Kerstin: I also do projects flat (even though i'm not!). But I love the ease of doing tanks in the round. I also have so much I want to knit that I need to do it rather fast or else I have a feeling my UFO (for those of you unfamiliar: Unfinished Objects) stash would get huge.

May 15, 2003

in the bag

Matching sweaters

Rowan Cork

Charlotte 2

Getting Gauge

This is the most important part of knitting. If you don't get a gauge all the hard work you do can go right down the tubes. My knitting since I had my baby has become very loose. So I have had to experiment with my gauge quite a bit for my next two projects. I have had to switch to metal needles (ick) rather than bamboo. My knitting changed drastically just with that. I just keep telling myself to 'embrace the metal needles' .. perhaps I will eventually believe it.

Anyways, back to gauge. Here is a lesson for the day:

# of stitches per inch X bust size / 2 = # of stitches to cast on per side.

Using this little rule, you can use a slightly bigger or smaller yarn for the pattern you are doing. You don't want to make a huge jump in yarn weight however as this will throw off the pattern.

The reason I am sharing this is because I have had to increase the size of the pattern for the Pagan knitalong. Since having my baby my bust size has increased .. and let me tell you ... I was already big. Plus I am getting a smaller gauge than what is called for since I liked the look of my tighter swatch. So this means I have to change the pattern just slightly. But that is okay. I am also knitting it in the round rather than two separate pieces. I love knitting in the round since every row is a knit row. When I come to the armholes I will work each side separately.

If you want more updates you can always check the link under the knitalong area since I will post new pictures there!

May 14, 2003

A quickie

arg, busy day at the store, however I was able to finish my Calmer sweater. I will post a picture probably tomorrow since I need good light to take the picture. I wasn't able to swatch for Pagan but I plan on doing that either tonight or tomorrow ... plus I have some pretty yarn that I am going to mix with something else ... I need to swatch it to get a gauge and then I will find a project and post it here.

May 13, 2003

Yarn anyone?

Okay the sale was tonight. I restrained myself and didn't buy anything that was my discount price. I only went for the really discounted stuff.

This is what I bought:
1) Hanne Falkenberg Kit - Delta - 60% off
2) Pyramid Jacket Kit - From Interweave Press 2000 - 60% off
3) Irresitible Knits (book) - 40% off
4) Reynolds Morocco - 35% off
5) Rowan Denim - 40% off

Not bad for a nights work. I would have gotten some of the other stuff that was on sale but we didn't have colors that really made me go "oh I want to buy that".

On knit along news, I have been anxiously awaiting the swatching of pagan. BUT I have made myself a deal that I can't start until my Calmer sweater is done. SO I have three more rows to do on the Calmer sweater and weave in the ends. I should be able to swatch tomorrow. That is if its not too busy at the store.

Links

May 12, 2003

Oh the restraint

Working in a yarn store has its bonus' but also its downfalls. Everytime I go in I want more yarn. Seeing people and their projects gives me more and more idea's of what I would like to knit. Plus, we are doing inventory right now which means that I am touching yarn and going through books and patterns constantly. It is a horrible cycle, kind of like a revolving door that you just can't escape from. To make matters worse, tomorrow we are having one of our two yearly sales for our frequent shoppers. ~arg~ I had to really restrain myself today because there is this yarn I want for one of the knitalongs but I must wait until tomorrow. There might be even more of a discount than the one I already get. Oh how hard life is.

On the other hand, I also get to sit in with yarn reps and view the new stuff they are offering. Plus help with the decision making of what yarns to carry. That is always fun to do. Still, I wish I had a million dollars.

My goal is to have enough yarn to justify a really nice piece of furniture to hold it all. How is that for a goal?

Oh yes, and I have been busy updating the links on the side bar to reflect my projects. Remember this page is still semi underconstruction since there are other things I wish to add.

May 11, 2003

Gallery

Pagan

Rowan 27

Top down v-neck

w/ Rowan Calmer

Luka; Rowan Junior
CanCan

im the bag

Luka; Rowan Junior

breaking it in

Well hello new blog. Fancy meeting you here. This blog has been a distant thought for sometime now, but Becky was able to help bring the idea into reality. Isn't she great?! She does awesome work.

This is my knitting blog. [i have had other websites but lost the inspiration to write. this is my fresh start] There will be other area's as time moves on but for now you are stuck hearing about my life and my knitting. I must say, I am addicted to knitting. Or perhaps its obsessed? I am not quite sure yet which one I am but at least its not that dangerous of a habit.

A little about myself for those of you who want to know:
-I am a new mom (my son is 4.5 months old)
-I am a student finishing my Bachelor of Liberal Studies and working on a Bachelor of Natural Health
-I work at a yarn store (where I used to be a customer ... I really love that place)
-I am very happily married
-I have two dogs, a deaf great dane and a heinz 57

Of course there is more to me, but why oh why would I want to give up all the goods on our first date? I may be loose but I'm not easy. ~snicker~

The blog is still being updated. I am working on getting my links up and happening. Also I am involved in a few knitalongs that will be starting up over the next few months.

So stay tuned.

May 10, 2003

knit along

February is Finishing Month

morgan

sarah b.

**send an email to morgan@fiberaddictdotcom if you want to join**