Inishmore and Knit Picks sweater

Since the camera is so readily accessable I thought I would go out on a limb and actually post 2 days in a row and post some pictures. It's sort of an update to yesterday's post.

So here is DH's Inishmore:


Now that I think about it, I would say it's 2/3 of the way done. This is the front since I've already knit up the back and it looks pretty much the same way. I really love working with the yarn, Rowan's discontinued Magpie Aran. It's a shame they didn't keep this yarn in their list of current yarns. IMHO it's easy on the hands and just knits up wonderfully. The cables just pop. I made an Inishmore for myself out of Magpie, a cream color, and I had the opportunity to wear it this weekend. DS #1 had a Cub Scout happening this weekend past and we were outside the whole time. I didn't feel cold at all.

Here is the Knit Picks sweater:



I know it looks kind of funny but I took this picture after I had divided the back and front; the circular needle I'm using hasn't been used in about a zillion years so it wants to stay as its coiled self. In any case, so far I am pleased with the way it's turning out. I don't get much of an opportunity to do Fair Isle work so this is a treat for me. I think it's really facinating how just by mixing colors and creating a pattern it comes together into something that is pleasing to the eye. Hopefully I'll be finished with it before the end of this year.

What I'm knitting now...

Since I last posted I've started on that purple sweater from Knit Picks. I'm about 4-5" above the band of Fair Isle knitting on the body. Normally, the front and back are knit seperately but I really don't like doing purls in a pattern with a design like this. Instead I decided to knit it in the round and it's working great. I love this color purple. So far, so good.

I am also working on DH's Inishmore. I'm halfway up the front; I love this design because after a while the pattern is easy to remember. It seems improbable but really, I feel that is the case. The only problem with this pattern is the toll it tends to take on my elbow. I still have to be so careful with it. Eventually I'll take pictures of both sweaters. Someday.

It's Finally Happened! Pictures!

Yes, it's true...there are finally pictures on my blog about knitting. I finished the Very Thought of Him sweater yesterday. I had to modify the collar since I didn't like the way it turned out when I followed the pattern directions. My collar sits on the front shoulders at a lower point than the original, which seems to almost to point out to the sides.

I wish this pic was sharper, so the details can be shown. The tips of my collar point down while the originals points out toward the arm.
You can't see it but the sleeves are quite long on me but I think it's supposed to be that way. I have to roll it up and there's about 5 in. of material doubled back. I have not blocked it yet and although I normally do block everything I knit, I won't with this. It's a mistake stitch rib and the last thing I want is ruin that aspect of the sweater. I also learned a few days ago that mistake rib stitch has a tendency to stretch out and stay that way. Although I did make it out of 100% wool, (Jo Sharp Classic DK Wool Heather Yarn color 912) and wool does have that wonderful ability to bounce back to its original shape, I fear that this sweater will continue to get longer and longer on me. It is very warm and comfortable and not scratchy at all.

I have in the works another sweater I want to make. It's a fair isle pullover sweater and just the other day my box of yarn came home all the way from Washington state. It will be the first time I'm using Knit Picks Wool of the Andes. Isn't that a pretty sweater?

It was designed by Louisa Harding and as soon as I saw it, I knew I had to knit it. The pattern is from Modern Classics. In the book, the sweater is black, not this lovely amethyst color and the fair isle color work is not very exciting IMHO. The only problem is the largest size is 42" and I just a wee bit larger than that. Luckily I can whip out my trusty Sweater Wizard software (thank you Carole Wulster!) and change measurements so that it fits my voluptuous self. In doing this I have discovered that I will need a few more balls of yarn, maybe 2.
The one thing that bothers me is that although on Knit Picks' website it gives a choice of sizes, the larger sizes are not listed in the pattern book. I'm very glad that I'm able to use the SW program (finally!).

Now, for my next trick, I think I'll work on DH's Inishmore. It's about time!

Happy New Year!

So, it's a brand new year. New hopes, dreams, wishes,etc. and a revision of last year's resolutions.
As for myself, my major resolution is the one that many other people make this time of year...losing weight. I haven't looked "normal" since I was in college and that was almost 20 years ago. Which brings up another landmark in my life; I'm going to be 40 this year and oh boy, I am sooo not psychologically ready for this one. Although I do have a few more months to wrap my mind around this concept, I don't think it will truly sink in until it actually happens. Stay tuned...

Of course, there are other things I'd like to set up as resolutions. Becoming a better wife/mother/sister/and friend to myself is one. Another one is to be happy. I am one of those wonderful people on whom you can rely on to point out the bleaker things in life, aka, a pessimist. It makes perfect sense to me! Why hope that only the best and positive things happen in life and be dissapointed when they don't when you can just as easily believe that things won't turn out the best way and then when they do you have a reason to jump for joy? I know, some people will roll their eyes and close their ears ( if that were physically possible) and shug off my attitude. Well, that's my attitude and I'm sticking to it.

I've added a different quiz result which is now below the Which Jane Austen character are you?quiz. I happen to really like JR Ward's Brothers of the Black Daggerhood books. The whole concept is so out of the realm of reality that you can't help but be pulled into the stories. I know she's got another book coming out this year and I'm really looking forward to it. So I just had to take the quiz and those are my results. (a wolf whistle heard in the background) What results!!!

Ahem...Oh, I'm sorry, is this a knitting blog? Yes, I believe it is. I still have The Very Thought of Him on the needles, but at least I'm practically at the end. I just have to finish the right side, the collar, and sew the thing together. Maybe I'll actually put a picture on the blog. Wouldn't that just beat all? Now, if I could just finish my DH's Inishmore....