Potential 1000

Tiny yarn and big ‘ol blue pants.

The counter on my WordPress says this is my 1000th post!  Who knew I had that much to say?  I suspect many of those posts aren’t all that informational, but thanks to those of you who find my crafty journal at all interesting.

Moving on, what’s up craftwise with me?

I am still knitting away on my boucle pullover.  Yes, it’s interminable stockinette but it’s coming out well.  At least I think so.  I’m 3/4 of the way done with the front and it’s sleeve island up ahead.  The yarn I’m using is Garnstudio DROPS Alpaca Bouclé and it’s lovely and soft so I hope the resulting pullover will be as I envision (slouchy and comfy).

Because I’m highly suggestible, when I got an email blast from Nordic Mart proclaiming a nice sale I innocently clicked through and ended up getting what I hope is enough yarn for the new Alvinda cardigan from Twist Collective.  The Garnstudio Baby Alpaca Silk is so yummy and soft with that nice hint of silk sheen.  It’s a pretty sweater and the blue gray is a good neutral for me.  But first to finish the Boucle pullover.

On the right is the electric blue material I’m using for a pair of pants/trousers that I’ve finally plucked up the courage to make.  I’m using a Simplicity Amazing Fit pattern (#1696).  The truth of that name has yet to be determined.  The polka dots are for the pocket linings and seam bindings for a bit of fun – don’t worry I’m not planning polka dot clown pants on my arse.  My last pant project was “not good” so I’m hoping these turn out because the bright pants trend may not be a long lived one.  I hope it’s at least long enough for me to get these pants to fit.

Other than that I shall be dazzling someone with my “professional” smile all weekend…sigh.

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What the hell, I finished something!

The past couple of weeks of have been some of the most stressful in memory.  Knitting an easy thing for a few minutes at a time was just about all I could manage.  Luckily, just that little bit enabled me to finish the green version of Something Silver.  Garter stitch is very soothing, no thinking just doing.  I just knit until I ran out of yarn.

The green yarn is from the stash, it’s Lana Grossa Merino Big Superfein.  It’s a nice yarn to work with and it knit up a bit stiff for me in this pattern and needle size.  But when I washed it the drape came out.  Lucky for me I must say.  This style of sweater lends itself nicely to a bit of swing and drape.

The pattern is good, as you would expect from Veera.  Nothing weird or complicated and error free as far as I could tell.  The only mod I made was to make the sleeves a bit shorter since I didn’t have enough yarn.  In fact I knit the pocket backs in burgandy yarn.  It’s actually a cute little detail when it peeps out during wear.

The buttons are from the button box, so this really is a green version of Something Silver.  Sadly, it’s about a million degrees outside so this will be a cardie for after sundown.  Thank you fog!

Knitting bones

It’s been one of those weeks.  Very little crafting has been done.  To use the charming Sophanne’s terminology, Mother of Silvia (MOS) had an accident and landed in the hospital.  So instead of my usual life of working and playing I’ve been Nurse Silvia.  I’m sure many of you know what that kind of stress and worry is like and understand that crafting and concentration desert you.  As an aside I did wear my Cambie to discharge my mom from the hospital, so that was fun.  I think the straps need to be taken up a hair, it’s one of those things you don’t have to do but it would make it perfect if I finally got around to doing it.  Later though.

My only crafty endeavors (other than installing grab bars and changing shower heads) was working on my green version of Something Silver.  I appreciate the soothing quality of garter stitch this week.  I finished the sleeves and they turned out firmly in the 3/4 sleeve camp due to lack of yarn.  My last ball of yarn is being knit onto the bottom to get an acceptable length.  The pockets will have to be a different color (or sewn up and ignored).  I’ve got two other colors of this same yarn to choose from so when I get there I’ll figure out how to put up a poll and let the public decide.  That is unless I don’t like your answer and I’ll play dictator.

Send MOS your healing thoughts and if anyone has any advice or knows of great home health care aides in Sonoma County (or the Northbay) let me know.  Kisses!

Srsly stop

My green version of Something Silver is heading into the homestretch.  I’ve got less than two balls of yarn left with one ball needed for the remaining sleeve and one to finish the bottom garter section.  No leftovers here.  My sleeves are a tad shorter than the pattern specifies, but they’re still a solid 3/4 length (even on my monkey arms).  I’ll eke as much length out of that skein as possible and the pockets will probably be knit  in some other color.  I’ll call that a charming feature.

I also stole some sock yarn and needles from my sister the other day.  If you invite me over, that kind of larceny is on the agenda people, be warned.

Other than that I had a hideous trip this weekend at work since it was a “holiday” and the “start of summer” – two phrases that make me despair for the human race.  Since I was up for 24 hours yesterday I shall spend today being a sloth and knitting.  Errands and necessities will have to be postponed til tomorrow.  Hanging With Friends just may be my cardio today.

Green takeover

Apparently all that frog pj sewing put me in a green mood.  I’m currently knitting one green cardigan and just bought wool for a green pullover.  Considering that I’m restricting my knitting time as to not exacerbate my tendonitis, I think I’m being a bit optimistic here.

Oh well it’s on!

First up is my green version of Something Silver.  You may have noticed I have a fondness for Veera’s patterns so it’s not shocking I’ve got one on needles.  I’m almost halfway to the point where I go back into garter stitch even though my knitting time has been curtailed.  Good project for tv watching, but interesting enough to keep me going.

My next green project is the Set-in Sleeve Seamless Sweater with V-Neck by Elizabeth Zimmerman.  I’ve had this copy of Spun Out #21 for ages and just didn’t get around to trying this steeked V-neck technique.  V-necks are my fave to wear so I’m intrigued by the steeking.  I found a bag of Peruvian Highland Wool at Elann for a great price thinking that this yarn will be “sticky” enough to steek.  Plus it’s a fresh new leaf green color that I adore.  I may add a hint of pink to the sweater if I’ve got a nice pink stashed.  So far I’m just in the mulling over stage.

My intention is to get a bit further along with the green cardigan before starting a pullover.  I must admit, the leafy green yarn is calling from it’s bag across the room.  I shall be strong.

Powerball, shmowerball

Well I didn’t win the Powerball tonight so I’d better cancel that bulk buy of yarn and fabric.  Hold please…done.

What I did do was finish my Paulie Cardigan.  I found some yellow buttons at the Joann’s last weekend.  I thought I’d get gray buttons but gray turns out to be incredibly hard to match.  Who knew there was such subtlety to gray?  So yellow buttons were my best bet.  Photo at right is of my boobs in the background, yellow buttons in the foreground.

I dutifully wove in the ends and blocked the cardigan and voila!  Finished.  I love the finished sweater but I did give myself double tennis elbow knitting this up on small needles without adequate break times.  Two acupuncture sessions have begun to help but  I shall be knitting my next sweater with fatter yarn and larger needles.  No word on what sweater that will be.

Sweater details:

Pattern:  Paulie by Isabell Kraemer (free pattern!) my rav link here; Yarn:  Fiber Optic Yarns – Foot Note (lovely stuff); Mods:  I didn’t do any waist shaping and knit a few extra rows to make the raglan lines long enough for my well developed shoulders.  I also didn’t do sleeve decreases until about the elbow level because I didn’t need to.  It’s just that simple.  Try on the sweater and work with the fit you’ve got.  My developed biceps did so not want to be decreased upon.  Only after I passed my enflamed elbows did any decreases happen.  The whole point of the top down sweater is to try it on as you’re going.  I knit on the i-cord edging from the wrong side since it looked nicer to me from that side.  I skipped the shawl collar since there was no way my yarn would want to be squooshed into folding over for ever and ever.  V-neck is fine and dandy.

All in all, I made a very low impact sweater.  I skipped most of the shaping and collar.  I just knit until I needed medical attention and here we have Paulie!

P.s. While it may look like I’ve just returned from the gym in these photos, rest assured these phots are BEFORE I went.  Sadly this was as good as I got today.

Edges

First off thanks for the FB birthday greetings!  That was awesome to get so many happy notes!  Yes indeed, Monday was my birthday.  I had a great birthday weekend and am still on vacation.  That’s right, I’ve got two weeks vacation for my birthday.  That is how I roll.

Now you’d think I’d have lots of crafty efforts to share with all that time off, but no.  I don’t.  I’ve still got tennis elbowS and have for the most part stopped with the knitting until the pain subsides.  I did finish the neckband of the Paulie cardie though since I’m itching to knit.  I worked a row now and then, stretched and I seem to have survived.

The neckband is super cute with the icord bind off in contrast color.  It’s a bit of pain to do, but really not much more work than a tubular bind off.  I really want to start the sleeves.  Perhaps I’ll try a row here and there just to test the tendons?

Does anyone have great tennis elbow cure-alls?  I’ve got stretches from my PT and ice the offending elbows.  Any miracle cures?  If not, I’ll have to get going on the sewing since that doesn’t seem to hurt.  Argh!  Such a cute sweater to finish and I can’t work on it (much)…

Body wave

The Paulie Cardie has a body!  Yay!  That took rather an age knitting all that stockinette flat.  The fabric itself has little rows of wonkiness because of my uneven tension, but for the most part it’s fine.  I hope a good blocking will take care of some of the weirdness.

Up next are sleeves…I shall do those in the round because stockinette is so much more fun in the round.  EZ knew what she was talking about there.  I shall have to refresh my mind of the jogless jog technique, but the internet is full of knowledge.

I have one more skein of gray yarn left (420 yds) so I should have enough yarn for sleeves and placket/collar.  Perhaps I should start with the placket and collar?  I need plackets and a neck edge but with possibly insufficient yarn supply, 3/4 length sleeves may be necessary.  I don’t think so, but I’ve just talked myself into placket knitting.  Oh yay!  Picking up and knitting hundreds of stitches…AND an i-cord bind off for dessert.

Oh well, it needs to be done so I might as well get the hard bit over with first.

Pretend progress shots are interesting

I know project shots are dull, but that’s all I’ve got.  I’ve knit a few more stripes on Paulie and finally thought to try it on.  It fits fine.  It’s hard to see with the curled up stockinette held together with an uber technical hair clip, but it fits.  The neck is kinda wide but that’s something I can live with.

Other than this, I’ve got nothing.  Well, if you don’t count granola.  I made almond granola and it’s easy and much more delicious than what you buy.

The well is dry people.  I’ve got nothing and tomorrow is work.  I shall try harder next time.  Kisses!

Stripes on the brain

I think I’m stripe obsessed.  I’m knitting the Paulie cardigan – it’s striped.  I’m dreaming of making a striped Renfrew top but I washed the striped material with some magenta fabric and now it’s got a few blotches (jetlag and laundry don’t mix).  It’s waiting for a hot wash to see what happens.

And then I see this pattern!  Stop already.

How can I possibly resist such striped loveliness?

Today is a dreary, foggy, cloudy day – perfect for crafting and studying.  (That’s for my work thing next week – must pass or no FAA certification…)  Luckily I can study and knit simultaneously.  I plan to sew a bit on the brightest magenta Renfrew top to blow those clouds outside away.  Spring is here, I saw trees flowering in San Francisco on Monday.  No pics as I was driving.  Happy to see the blossoms though.

If you’re more interested in crafty pursuits than making dinner, I can point this Sweet Potato Chili recipe out to you.  Easy and delicious, no one will know it’s so freaking easy to throw together.

Happy February!