It's been like forever

Loops started nagging me almost a month ago to make a blog post.  Obviously I don't really listen to him.  He should know by now I do things in my own time and cannot be rushed into anything.  Not to mention I had nothing to blog about.  I needed to finish a project or have something exciting happen before bothering to post anything.  Sadly, nothing exciting has happened, but I did finish something I've been working on for a bit. So...

At Christmas I promised my favorite sister I'd knit her a new scarf so she could keep warm and cozy while hiking and whatnot.  Soon after Christmas I purchased the yarn for her scarf (Loops picked the color.) and got to knitting.  I soon started regretting my choice of pattern because seed stitch is so tedious and boring, but I'm glad I stuck with it because this is one warm and cuddly scarf.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="378" caption="Look how soft and cuddly it looks!"][/caption]

Pattern: GAP-tastic Cowl by Jen Geigley

Yarn: Loops & Threads Charisma

Needles: US 13

More details… here (ravelry link)

I love infinity scarves.  They are very easy to wear either double wrapped as above or worn draped around the neck  like below.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="378" caption="The only thing better than the scarf? This shirt!"][/caption]

I hope Stacy likes it.  Now just to wash it and get it ready to send to her.

Lickety split

That's a funny saying, isn't it?  Lickety split.  It makes me laugh though and it describes how the knitting of my latest sweater went along.  In just over a week I knit the whole sweater.  Add in a few days for blocking and by today the sweater was ready to wear (and photograph, of course).

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Thanks goes to Loops for the photo taking."][/caption]

Pattern: Cadence by Jordana Paige

Yarn: Stonehedge Fiber Mill Shepherd's Wool Worsted

Needles: US 10

More details… here (ravelry link)

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="391" caption="A closer look at the yoke detail"][/caption]

This is a very nice, easy to follow pattern.  To top off the greatness... it's FREE on Knitty.com.  I feel like it came out really well.  I think I'm starting to get the hang of this whole sizing thing finally.  I believe this was my best job with getting the thing knit to my size.  I had to adjust the length when knitting because I knew this thing would grow when I washed it.  In the end, I believe the sweater grew over 3 inches in length so I'm glad I knit it shorter than I wanted it.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="331" caption="Yay for skirts with pockets!"][/caption]

What's on the needles now?  A vest.  It shouldn't take long to do so maybe there will be a new blog post before Turkey Day.

Torture and anything but.

Yesterday, I went and got a root canal I'd been putting off for awhile.  To say it was torture is really a terrible exaggeration.  I don't see what all the gloom and doom about root canals is.  I've had two and I have to say they are probably the easiest dental procedures I've had.  The worst part is having to go get a crown put on the tooth and the fact that our insurance will only cover 50% of the cost.  Ouch.   Now THAT is torture!

What is anything but torture?  The latest pattern I knit.  It was a whole lot of wonderful.  I learned a new increase that I LOVE.  I only had to pick up a total of 12 stitches for the whole sweater.  The only weaving in I had to do was at the neck, bottom, and under the arms. What's the best part?  It fits.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="353" caption="Isn't it wonderful?"][/caption]

Pattern: Idlewood by Cecily Glowik MacDonald

Yarn: Berroco Ultra Alpaca

Needles: US 10 and 10.5

More details… here (ravelry link)

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="361" caption="Loops insisted on taking a pic of my butt."][/caption]

Continuing the love-fest.  I love this yarn.  Ok.  It's a smidge itchy and got fuzz all over me as I knit, but there's a lot of cool colors going on.  It's like a fall feast for the eyes.  Yellow, gold, brown, red, and even a little black.  I wasn't sure I liked it when I bought it, but now, you guessed it, I LOVE it.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="361" caption="Anyone noticed how I always look drugged in pictures?"][/caption]

On a sad note, I'm seriously thinking of frogging the cardigan I'm knitting.  It pains me to undo all the work I've done, but it is just too big.  Right now, I'm not doing anything with it though.  I'm just not ready to make a move on it one way or the other.

On to happier things to look forward to for my next post. I'm about a third of the way through a new sweater and it may be ready in about a week. Stay tuned. :)

Quick turnaround

Not even a week and I'm blogging again.  I did say I'd be finishing up a sweater soon.  I finished it on Sunday and got it all washed up and photographed on Monday and Tuesday.  Without further ado,

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="341" caption="I'm, unoriginally, calling it $7.50 in Charleston"][/caption]

Pattern: $5 in Paris by Anna Peck

Yarn: Red Heart Soft

Needles: US 8 and 9

More details… here (ravelry link)

The pattern was easy, quick, and free.  The yarn is cheap and machine washable and dryable.  What more could a person ask for?  I could see myself doing this pattern again, probably in a solid color because I am tired of weaving in ends after all those stripes.  If you can't tell in the picture, the neck is so wide it will fall off my shoulders easily which is sort of what I was going for.  I wanted to be able to channel Jennifer Beals in Flashdance.  I've been going around singing Irene Cara's What a Feeling a lot since finishing it.  Maybe I'm too old to have a sweater falling off my shoulder.  I don't know.

So Loopas and Mom, what do you think?  (Anyone else who might read this is free to give opinions as well.)