Labor Day Weekend Show

Monday we are dyeing wool. I am really looking forward to that.

I created a little spreadsheet to estimate how much wool I need to dye to make the Tulip sweater. I tested the first measurement and it came out about 4 yards long. This is good! I will probably end up knitting the entire sweater once to verify the amounts but then I’ll know for future reference that the estimator works and I can use it for other (simple) items. I’m using the same yarn I plan to dye, but in leftovers from other projects. I’m not sure how the colors will work out together though. It could be quite ugly.

My plan for Sunday and Monday morning is to get stuff moved out of the work room. I have started some of that but there is a lot. I hope to have it mostly done by the middle of next week. Making a list of UFOs will be part of the process. Since the only real votes were for making next year a UFO year I might as well get the pre-work on that started. I also need to get a good look at what I have that I can complete for this year’s challenge.

Pictures shall be forthcoming!

drat

Well my worst fears were realized last night and I ran out of yarn to finish the baby sweater. I am about 1 inch from complete. The pattern called for 3 oz and I had just under 4 oz. It should have been enough, especially when I had gauge and everything. Alas, this is why yardage is a more useful measure than weight. I looked for a complementary yarn to do the remainder but I don't have anything. I suppose I can just frog it and put the yarn aside for another R&S baby present. I'm very bummed.

Any Ideas?

I am quite pleased with how my sweater challenge has gone this year. After all - I have finished 4 sweaters so far this year and I still have 4 months to go. I think I'd like to try it again next year - with another challenge.

So here are my choices -
1) Socks (I have several!!! patterns and balls of yarn set aside)
2) Starmore sweaters - still sweaters - but topical. I believe I have 6 of these kitted up
3) Lace work - I only have 3 or 4 of these kitted up but given the degree of difficulty finishing one a year could be a challenge
4) Finish all the things I have on the needles - an end to UFOs - this one will be a challenge - I have 3 Starmores on the needles right now, a shawl and several pairs of socks.

I'll take votes and advice in the comments.

I started EZ's baby surprise jacket for my friends R&S. I really enjoy this pattern. I'm almost to the halfway point. I started it yesterday morning, before I left to pick up my daughter in Fargo. I only got to knit on it about 1 hour on the road. My son didn't help with the driving very much. It's too bad. I could have had several good knitting hours if he had shared.

YARN CALLS!

So I want to make a HP sweater (specifically the House Sweater on page 86 of Charmed Knits). I can get the yarn from Knitpicks for $28. It's nice, classic and I would wear it. (always important sweater elements). I have to finish things in my stash before I add more. And really - I don't need to add anything for several years.

In other news my daughter got accepted into the high school she wants to attend. Now I have to figure out how to get her home early (from Grandma's) so she can attend orientation and figure out how to get her to school. This school doesn't provide bus service so we will have to find a carpool or metro service. Her father wants to know how she is getting there NOW, I've only known we needed to find out for 5 minutes. It's all very exciting. She is thrilled.

Back to the Aunt sweater. The rows on the body take much longer than the sleeves. It's exhausting!

Auntie Bernie's Sweater

I have finished the second sleeve! I have finished the ribbing on the body and I am ready to start the first pattern row! YEE HAW!

Stop me before I cast on again!

I have a bad case of startitis. I am trying hard to focus on finishing my Aunt's sweater (second sleeve half done) but I want to start something new. So badly that I cast on the body of the sweater just to trick myself. It didn't work of course. I just spent my morning looking for a pattern for a iPod cosy. A good use for left over yarn!

I have tooooo many things on needles already!

Fixing the sleeve

Picking up the stitches. This is the easy part.




















Cutting off the bottom. This is the scary part.

















Then start knitting. The pattern is knit from the top down rather than the bottom up















The stitches do sit upside down.















The completed pattern row and the nearly completed cuff. I think it looks just a little odd.















But the pattern certainly looks more delicate. The black is less heavy using the proper 2ply yarn.

Home and rested

I had a very nice vacation. In spite of the rain and all the mud and all the drama. But any time you get that many people together in one place there will be drama. My friend Terri has decided we should name the drama. I don't think so - if you name it you own it.

I have about 10 inches on the body of the Kauni sweater that I managed to get done while traveling and camping. It is BEAUTIFUL.

I have, from the vantage of 16 hours of driving distance, made a decision about my Aunt's sweater (as seen here). I'm going to run a thread through the sleeve just above the first band, cut that part off and reknit it down to the cuff. That way I can fix the mistakes without redoing the entire sleeve. I will attempt to remember to take process pictures and post them.

Wish me luck.

Home

I'm sunburned and tired but home. More later.

Vacation

I'm leaving on vacation in about 1 hour. I'll be back in 10 days (assuming things go as they are planned)

For those who are concerned

I am fine and so is all of my family. Although I work in downtown Minneapolis I get onto and off of 35W north of that bridge. I also had to leave work promptly tonight so I could get my daughter to her end of school year concert. I was quite nearly home when the bridge collapsed and no where near downtown.