the spousal sweater nears completion

What a charming mess. I am not fond of this stage of a sweater's development. Bits and pieces precariously joined, ends flying everywhere, little holes threatening to develop along the neckline. I'm thinking of it as the gangly adolescence of sweaterhood.

Has anyone ever in the history of knitting ever bought exactly the right quantity of yarn? I bought five of those big Bernat Super Value monsters for the spousal sweater and then I added stripes because I didn't think five monsters would be enough. Newsflash: five monsters would have been enough. I only have the neckband and sewing up left and it looks like I'm going to have almost three monsters to spare.

Of course I have given in to the sock yarn that has been nagging me. I've cast on the Ribbed Lace socks from Sensational Knitted Socks in Opal Petticoat. Pretty yarn and pretty pattern and they look nice together. Too bad the knitting sucks. I'm waiting to photograph them until the elves have had a chance to come in during the night and even out all my misshapen stitches. It will happen if I truly believe.

on my complete ignorance regarding winding balls

I never know whether I should reply to a comment with another comment, create a whole new post or edit the original post. This time I have decided to create a new post in order to deliver the following emphatic reply to Stephanie: You are SO asking the wrong person.

One: I've never even seen a ball winder. Two: This is the first time I've bought laceweight in a hank. My uneducated guess is that it will take forever to wind, and I'm rather anxious about tangling it. The only yarn I've wound before (by hand, of course) was little hanks of Koigu and Lopi, and I managed to snarl them up quite thoroughly. Right this very moment I'm sitting here trying to unsnaggle the remains of a ball of worsted acrylic that I have done quite a number on.

So. I suppose I'm doomed. Sorry to be of no help whatsoever.

musings on my new yarn

It's here! It's here! Now if I could only figure out what to do with it.



Isn't it lovely? It's almost too pretty to knit. And I have to admit that my wonky shoulder and I are not looking forward to winding all 2400 yards of it by hand, so I think it's going to ripen for a bit while I figure out what kind of shawl it wants to be. I want a lacy pattern but not something that will do battle with the colours. I don't want another triangle because I just did Creatures of the Reef last year. I'm not a big fan of rectangular stoles but I'm not ruling them out either. My first choice would be a square, second would be a circle. I'm toying with the idea of winging it, using the basic instructions from Traditional Knitted Lace Shawls and choosing my own lace patterns, but it's an intimidating prospect and I am a wimp of the highest order.

I did pretty well in my effort to plow through my other projects before The Lovely Yarn arrived. I finished the Taylor socks and the baby set, and I'm on the second sleeve of the spousal sweater. I really, really want to cast on some socks (I have some Opal Petticoat taunting me in the corner) but I know they'll distract me and I'll never get this other stuff done.

So it's back to the spousal sweater and mile 47 of stockinette stitch. A tip for knitters who are single and looking: choose small partners and don't feed them much.

The FO frenzy continues

I continue to astound myself.



Taylor's socks are done and I have to admit that they're every bit as dull to look at as they were to knit. They're a tad big at this very moment and they'll probably be too small by September, but she put them on as soon as the last end was woven in and kept them on all day. I consider that a sign of approval. The yarn is Lang Jawoll Cotton Superwash, and for the record I found knitting with the reinforcing thread to be a less than pleasant experience.

And in case anyone was worried and/or considering hiring extra security, I want to assure everyone that I have not had any further dreams involving the destruction of property of notable knitters. Just wanted to put minds at ease.

by george I think we have an FO!

My finishing frenzy has commenced.



I'd love to give you all the details about this project but I fear they will disappoint. The yarn is an unlabelled mill end. The pattern is from an old Patons booklet and is imaginatively entitled "First Size Layette". I will be donating the set to charity. So there you have it: mystery yarn and an untitled pattern for an unknown baby.

In other news, I am past the gusset on the second Taylor sock. Still on the third square of the baby blanket. Husband's sweater is in limbo but is next up in the queue after the sock is done.

The really fabulous news is that there's no mail delivery for the next four days. Surely I can get something else finished before that merino lace stuff gets here. Just having four full days without having to stalk the mailman will free up a lot of my time too.

WIP inventory

OK. OK. I'm serious now. I have to finish something.

At some bizarre hour last night I received an email that the Cherry Tree Hill merino laceweight that I ordered on March 17 has been shipped. FINALLY. I am not a patient person and in that spirit ordered a product that, from all appearances on the website, was In Stock. Apparently it was Not In Stock. In fact it was quite, quite Out Of Stock. But I'm fine. Really. I haven't broken anything or kicked any puppies over it. Our postal delivery fellow is a little bit afraid of me now but he seems to be the timid type anyway.

But as I was saying, I want to reduce the WIPs (have you heard this before?) before embarking on the lacy something-or-other -- let's say it will be a shawl, shall we? So here's the list.

The baby blanket: am on third of four squares of the inside part and then will have to knit border. Might need to buy more yarn.
The baby sweater: only have a few inches of tedious plain knitting left to do on the bottom. Then must make hat and booties to match. Why do I keep starting these very plain, simple projects? I start out thinking they'll go quickly but boredom inevitably sets in halfway through.
Taylor's socks: less than an inch to go on leg of second sock -- cuff-down of course, which means I am approaching the heel.
Husband's sweater: almost up to the armhole on the front (back is done).
Faroese shawl, Istanbul sock and long-forgotten sweater for me: let's not discuss those for the moment.

Plan of action: none to speak of. Will work on something during kids' swimming lessons this afternoon.

I really need to vacuum

I think I'm down to one little patch of floor where I can take a picture without the knitting being obscured by dog hair and kid debris. Perhaps I'll get around to some cleaning today.

Anyway, I present herewith a more reasonable approach to the baby blanket. Thank you to Chelle and Stephanie for supporting my desire to rip the ripples. I am a firm believer that fancy yarns should not try to coexist with fancy patterns, and though I wouldn't consider this yarn or the ripples particularly fancy I think my rule needed to be applied. So here's the new and improved blanket, based on Lion Brand's Happy Baby Blanket, with one of four blocks completed and the second in progress.



As ever, please try to overlook the carpet debris. I'm going to clean it today, really. Probably. Hopefully.