I was working at Knit Picky on Saturday.  Since Tiffany was there, also, I knew I’d get into trouble.  See, Tiffany is there a lot.  She knows all the stuff that I haven’t seen yet and shows it to me!  So, now I’m looking at the pretty colors of Cascade Magnum, which doesn’t do much for me.  I just don’t knit with really Bulky yarns.  A customer comes in and we’re talking about French Girl knits, which is one of my favorite books.  There happens to be a short sleeve, lacey, cardigan-type sweater made from a super Bulky yarn.

You know what happens next.  I come home with 3 skeins of purple Cascade Magnum and cast-on.  250 grams of super bulky is too much for the average ball winder, so here’s what it looks like:

250g - Super Bulky

 After going out to dinner on Saturday, I worked on it pretty much all day on Sunday.  Went to work on Monday, but by Monday night I had this:

Cascade Magnum Wrenna

You’ll have to excuse the pajama bottoms.  I was using the timer on my camera, in the bathroom and had already put on my PJ’s for the picture.  Not bad for a self-portrait!  And the back:

the 1 day sweater

Today, I got the shipping notification for my 2nd STR package.  So, I better get back to the 2nd sock I’ve been ignoring.  No, it isn’t 2nd sock syndrome, I’ll explain more tomorrow.

A very late post for a Monday.  Last week was Spring Break and we stayed around the house this year.  I got some non-knitting accomplished:

the fruits of physical labor

 I think it looks really nice, but my parents said I need to put some sand under the stone.  So, since I have no idea what I am doing and they do, I’m going to wait until they’re here in May to finish.  They own these fun tools like cultivators.

And something I know a little bit about:

STR KAL

Now, I’m working on the Queen of Beads.  I received the Janurary installment on the 30th which gives me 14 days to finish the second sock before my next shipment comes.  Oh, and I signed up for another KAL.  The Mad Color Weave socks using STR Farmhouse.  Guess the mohair is on temporary hiatus.

Here is the situation:

I’m going out for sushi tonight and I would like to wear my Riding to Avalon sweater and my Leyburn socks.  The sweater is no problem.  As you all have seen, it is finished.  The Leyburns, however, are not.  I am on the leg of the second sock (toe-up).  So, today I’m going to keep you posted as to whether or not I can finish the sock by 5:30pm.  Maybe I should have called in sick…

8:45 am :  7 repeats + ribbing + bind off remaining.  Store is quiet – back to knitting.

11:30 am:  4.5 repeats to go + ribbing + bind off.  Starting to get nervous about the goal.

Sunday morning:  Friday came and went and the Leyburns did not get finished.  It is OK since our weather is in the 70′s and I couldn’t wear the sweater anyway.  They will be done by the end of the day!

A few posts ago, I left you with a picture of some yummy green yarn.  That yarn is Louet Kidlin.  I am working on Anjou from French Girl knits.  Here is my progress so far:

It fits!

An interesting thing happened when I pulled it out at Knit Night on Tuesday.  One of the sleeve stitch holders was missing.  I felt like crying.  The thought of ripping out my progress at this point (mostly because it IS mohair) scares me.  I picked up the stitches and I believe everything is correct.  The nice part about mohair, when you do drop a stitch, it doesn’t tend to go far!

How can you not adore Shaun the Sheep?  So, here is what I got:

How cute is he?

Notice the buttons...

The buttons might might be a little heavy for this design, but I love them.

Hood down - still cute

The sleeves are long, but I don’t think the’re ‘too long’.

Love the silhouette

Probably should have taken a rear-view picture with the hood down.  Hindsight is always 20/20.

A Great Ride

The specifics:

Pattern:  Riding to Avalon by Connie Chang Chinchio

Available in Knitscene, Fall 2008

Yarn:  Sublime Merino Cashmere Silk DK

Color: 59 Beetroot

Skeins: I bought 10 (I think), needed just over 11

Mods: Hood increases were done on the ends as opposed to the middle so that the pattern wasn’t interrupted.  I created right and left sleeves so that I had perfect button placement.  You can also check Ravelry for her errata.

Growing up in the MidWest, I never liked winter.  The grey skies, the snow, the ice…  Living in the South, I have a whole new appreciation for winter.  You can have a couple grey days, but you know the sun is just around the corner.  You can have snow, but for days, not months.  The beauty of a fresh snow, sunshine and blue skies never fails to take my breath away.

White Snow, Blue Skies

Excuse me as I go to make a ‘snow family’ with the girls.

I had really wanted to have my Riding to Avalon done by my birthday.  Some things just aren’t meant to be.  Between Bugga and I getting the flu and a new puppy in the house, my new sweater got delayed a bit. 

As of Sunday night, both sleeves were ready for their sleeve caps and the ends on the body and hood of the sweater had been woven in.  This left 2 sleeve caps, weaving ends in on the sleeves and 16 button holes…oh, attaching the sleeves and buttons might also help, too.

On Monday, I finished the first sleeve cap.  This took extra time due to the fact that I didn’t like how the designer did them and decided I needed a right and left sleeve so the buttons would be on the outside of my wrists.

On Tuesday, I finished the second sleeve cap.  It seems I should have gotten more done because I went to knit night, but I remember that I was late that night, so maybe not.

On Wednesday, I crocheted the button loops on and sewed on the buttons.  That evening, I seamed in the first sleeve several times.  I’m still not completely happy with the way it looks, but I think after blocking it will be great.

On Thursday, I seamed the second sleeve.  Completed weaving in any last ends.

This weekend, I will take pictures if the weather cooperates and you will get to see the finished product SOON!

For now, I will leave you with this yumminess:

Destined for greatness...

This lovely yarn is going to be Anjou from French Girl knits.  It might be the first time that I’ve knit something in the same color and yarn as the example in the book.

I really want to like this sweater…I really do.  Everytime I think it is going smoothly, a road bump appears.  OK, I still love the sweater.  Maybe that’s why I just want it to be perfect.  Is that really too much to ask?

My current problem is the shoulder seam.  It is just not pretty.

We can do better...

Had to try it...

Get your mind of of the gutter…this isn’t that kind of blog.

This is what I got: