Beautiful yarn sitting in my closet - never again to be worn - simply gathering dust. There really was no other option.

Six months ago this was a near-perfect fit…  no so much anymore.

I finished this sweater right before I started my weight loss regimen in February. Now, it will not even stay on my shoulders, and hangs in a very unflattering way around my torso.  I have lost the majority of my weight on top - down three cup sizes, and several inches in my arms and ribcage - so there aren't many tops that fit anymore. Now to get some of that reduction in my hips…

No last rites - no swan song. 

Just some scissors and the trusty ballwinder. 

Yeah, it was a little liberating.  Kind of the whole creator/destroyer aspect; "I brought you into this world, and I can take you out of it!" Good news is that I now have some thousand yards of worsted weight alpaca/silk blend to do whatever I want.  The possibilities are endless! 

I was on a roll.  The fun did not stop there. 

I fell in love with the yarn, and the amazing color, and bought it all up at my LYS with my Christmas 2004 gift certificate.  The Tempting pattern called for this same yarn, and in my opinion, it was not a good match.  The yarn is too heavy for the sweater - even after one wear, the yarn begin to droop and sag, being pulled down by its own weight!  In retrospect, I should have used a cotton or a blend for this pattern.  As you can see, the sweater is a huge mess.  Ribbing is supposed to be slimming, no?  (There was a ribbon that was used to "cinch it" through the eyelet holes up top, but even that could not save this sweater, unfortunately).

While ripping this one out, I fell in love with the Cashmerino Aran all over again.  It is beautiful and soft, and while it does "fuzz" a little with wear, it is really a great yarn. The most important thing however, is finding a pattern to support it.  I actually got a crazy notion in my head… this Cashmerino would make a really nice Hourglass sweater…

 

I am happy with my decision to rip these sweaters.  Although they may not be knit up again anytime soon (who knows?) I am happier knowing that there are possibilities for them.  Plus, since I have not purchased any yarn for the last three months, it kind of feels like a stash enhancement!   

I will be meeting up with some friends at the yarn shop this afternoon for some knitting… wonder if I can keep the yarn diet strong… only one more week (officially) left!  We'll see what happens!

 

I am a weekend ski widow. Kris took a long weekend and headed up to Pennsylvania for some skiing with his brother and uncle. I have enjoyed my few days of solitude. Staying up late reading, watching foreign films, knitting for as long as I want, and taking the dogs out on long winter wonderland walks. It really has been quite nice… Except for the spill I took on the ice this morning. (All is well, just a bruise)

I always find it interesting that when bad weather hits the northeast corridor of the US, it makes front page news. Like it is news to have winter weather in a winter month… I do not remember seeing any headlines last week when southern California was in the 90s (in February!). That seems more like news to me - at least it is unexpected.

Before the big snow hit, I had a nice morning with my parents and my sister, Sarah, who was came home for the weekend from college. We headed down to Virginia for a few hours, and as we were driving home to Maryland, the snow started. It was good to fit those few hours in before the weather got too bad. So, it was not complete soliude!

It was a pretty snow; it seemed to stick to everything, so it made for nice photo opportunities. My town, Columbia, Maryland, got about 20" - I never got the ruler out to measure, but that seemed like a good "guesstimate".

…and the perfect way to warm up after a winter romp?

Butternut Squash and Apple Soup (with a dollop of sour cream)

This soup is amazing. And its orange. Sweet and filling yumminess.

Sunday was snowbound, and that meant catching up on the week’s TiVo, and knitting away. I made a nice comfy nest on the couch, and stayed there until I finished all of the seaming of hems, collar, and sleeves of my Hourglass.

Hourglass Sweater
Pattern: Last Minute Knitted Gifts by Joelle Hoverson
Yarn: 13 skeins of KnitPicks Andean Silk in Lettuce
Needles: Size 7 Addi Naturas; size 7 Brittany DPNs for sleeves
Started: September 7, 2005 / Finished: February 12, 2006

I feel that there is little left to say about this sweater - many knitters have made this sweater, and that is because it is a classic piece that is simple to knit. I very much enjoyed working with the yarn, and I feel like it was a success overall. I knit a size smaller than I usually would, and I am quite happy with the result - form-fitting but not scandalous. I extended the body by about 3 inches to compensate for my long torso.

I initially ordered 10 skeins from KnitPicks, as that is what was needed according to the pattern. However, as I noticed in the book errata and corrections, and saw on many blogs, this sweater’s yarn requirements can be a little spare. So, it is beneficial to buy a few extra skeins. I bought this yarn for a different project last year, and when I decided to make Hourglass instead, the dyelot was already gone. However, Dani came to my rescue! She made the same sweater last year, and had some of the same dyelot leftover. She mailed it to me and saved me from a too short sweater! Thank you so much!

I blocked the overall sweater, and heavily blocked the neckline hem once again - and yet, it still flips over. Yahaira mentioned she had problems with this too, and she suggested rehemming. I may just leave it, because it does not bother me (yet) but I don’t want it to look weird. Any thoughts one way or the other?

I have no idea why this sweater took so long to knit. I was never bored while knitting it - I love straight stockinette! I guess Socktoberfest, and my subsequent love of socks grew into an obsession… so garment knitting fell by the wayside.

I am quite pleased with the polished look of the sleeves and hem after being seamed down. I may try this technique more in the future with garments.

Remember, I was "baching" it this weekend, since my photographer was on his little trip, I had to make do with the dreaded bathroom mirror shot. Perhaps a better modeled picture for the gallery is in order…

I finished the sweater early in the day, and still had several hours to devote to socks, and a quickie stashbuster scarf.

A little trial run for the Neutrals month of Project Spectrum - I am using a variegated fingering weight mohair (no label) held together with the Cashmerino Aran knockoff from AC Moore. The mohair is adding nice color spots to the knit - little bits of black, rust, and gray mixed in with the overall beige color.

Speaking of Project Spectrum: we are worldwide and 300 strong! And for the Postcard Swap for Project Spectrum, Teresa created four great buttons to use! Make sure to check them out! Postcard swap sign up (for the month of March) is open until February 20th (a week from today!)- I will be sending you your postcard pal’s name the following day. Go ahead and start planning your postcard design now!

I joined Self Portrait Tuesday because I thought it was an amazingly innovative project. I loved the concept behind it, and the aspect of personal exploration. Unfortunately, I have not been the best SPT participant, as I only post a picture about once a month. And here I am, the last day of the month…

The weather in Maryland (and for much of North America, for that matter) has been very fickle this season. It is supposed to be winter. That means cold outside, pulling out the warm sweaters, and snuggling by the fire. Except, it has been 60 degrees outside… while I love the pretty weather, I want some winter too. That is why I am wearing the legwarmers - with bare feet.

My weekend proved to be quite productive - I worked on my Hourglass. I finished sleeve one, and started on sleeve two. I hope this one goes quicker. Maybe I will be able to wear it before it gets too warm…

I chose to make the sleeves “bracelet length”, falling right above the wrist. This length is perfect for me and my daily tasks - can’t have sleeves getting in the way while I am working with materials in the archives, or am crafting at home. The yarn continues to be a good fit for the project. I am glad that I decided to go with this yarn, and I am particularly happy with the shade of green (KnitPicks Andean Silk in Lettuce).

For those of you unfamiliar with this pattern (perhaps one or two of you that have not made this pattern - are you out there?) there is a special hem on the sleeves, collar, and bottom of the sweater. I have not yet hemmed my sleeves and bottom, but I like the polished look of the tucked in hem.

Untucked hem - Unfinished

Tucked hem - Finished

You know how you look through your stash, and you come across this great yarn you kind of forgot about? and then 10 minutes later, you find that you have already cast on and started it? Yeah… well, that happened to me this weekend.

I should not have started something new, but I was really taken by the color of this yarn. This was the first yarn I ever bought at a yarn shop. Before this, all yarns came from the craft store. Hey, I am not knocking the craft store, but this yarn just sticks out in my mind for that reason. It is Classic Elite Provence, Egyptian mercerized cotton. I bought the yarn with this pattern in mind - the “Little Black Top” by Jenna Wilson in the original Stitch N’ Bitch book. Except, mine will be a little blue top. This will be a slow-go knit on the size 5 needles, and that is fine with me.

…and now for something really pretty…

Hill Country Yarns Sweet Feet in Strawberry Swirl colorway

Hill Country Yarns are a new kid on the block, and they have some great yarns to offer - look at their colorways! They are all inspired by the colors of the landscape in their home state of Texas. I chose the sock weight yarn, but they also have a special yarn called Instant Gratification, that you can knit up for a pair of quick socks. Lynda just made some in the Blue Bonnet colorway (in 5 days - definitely instant gratification!) Stay tuned to see how this hank knits up.

I chose the pink and red colorway specifically for Project Spectrum - another pair of socks for March! But, I may just have to start these early… along with all the other socks I have planned.

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I compiled the list of Project Spectrum participants, and we have a great group! Please let me know if you see any mistakes or misspellings, and of course, let me know if you want to be included too!

Project Spectrum seems to be catching on, and I am so excited that many of you are making great plans to think “outside of the box”. Remember, this is not just about knitting! You can do anything that revolves around the color of the month!

• Tracy and Kathy are planning to work on their beaded jewelry.
• Moni is planning to work on handpainting and dyeing her own yarns.
• Allison and Amy are planning paper crafts and scrapbooking.
• Cara is planning to focus specifically on her spinning.
• Kate’s plans involve photographs and picture essays.
• Stephanie started a sew-along for knitters! You can still sign up for the Sew? I Knit! - the first project is to make a skirt by March 20th. You could easily use a pink or a red fabric for your skirt! I signed up immediately after seeing it!
  

What do you have planned? Please leave a comment and let me know! Hearing what you have planned is an inspiration to all of the participants, and a perfect way to attract more crafters to the Project! Of course, there is plenty of time to plan, so if you don’t have a project in mind, that is okay!

Plus, remember, there is no reason why Project Spectrum cannot work with your other projects, no matter what you have planned - it can be as little or as big as you want to make it. It can be your dinner plate, or your finger painting with your child.

In closing, I saw this great little piece of word art over at Karma’s today…thought I would share.

See that on the right? The bolded words say “Lolly Love One Project Socks” - that is just too true! Although, my lonely Dublin Bay sock is not feeling any love right now…

It’s a double pointed needle project parade… It just so happened that all of the knits I am currently working with are on these little needles - the second Koigu Indigo sock, my first Hourglass sleeve, and the second Dublin Bay sock.

These projects have gone with me everywhere this week, and I was able to fit in a few rows here and there: on the way to class, on the ride coming home from work (Kris was driving!), at knit nite with the girls…

On the train - so MetroSOCKual

While the double pointed projects are so small and portable, my wrists and hands were in need of a little break - that is when I decided to pull out this lovely Morehouse Merino laceweight (triple skein) and begin the balling process. I tried to put this yarn on my swift and ball winder, but the yarn is fine and unplied, and it broke almost immediately. It was back to the ol’ hand winding process for me. There is a lot of yardage in this hank - nearly 700 yards. This yarn is slated to be the simple and elegant Bellini shawl; my kit was purchased from Morehouse Farm at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival last year.

This year’s festival is only four months away, and I am already thinking about what I am going to buy… I am hoping to find the LaScala and Violetta shawl kits at their booth this year - they are so beautiful! (okay, truth is, I really love all of their lace kits…)

I am planning to cast on for this project, as I am quickly realizing the need for a black scarf (even with variegations). It should be a quick knit, as the shawl calls for US 9s or 10s.

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The weather in our region this week has been unseasonably warm - this morning, it was about 60 degrees. We decided to take Jen and Bella on a walk / hike on the river near our house. We had a lovely time; it seems like a lot of other people had the same idea about getting out of the house. As you can see, the girls were quite happy to be outside

Jen (left), Bella’s tongue (center), and Bella (right)

PS - Memes are all over the blogs again, and while I do enjoy reading these memes on others’ blogs, I rarely enjoy answering them myself. So, for those of you that tagged me, thanks for thinking of me and caring enough about what I have to say - no offense, but I just think I will pass.

Aspiration and idealism have been my themes for these first few days of 2006 - I am getting so excited thinking about all of the possibilities of the new year. Especially all of the new crafts I can’t wait to try…

This is the Sublime Stitching Stitch-It Kit, a Christmas gift from Kris that I am “itching” to try. I have seen some lovely embroidery on the Sublime Stitching website and this kit has some real goodies in it - check out the transfer sheets and the pretty thread colors! Stay tuned for some sublime stitching by Lolly I have seen a few of these around the blogs - any recommendations or tips to share about embroidery?

Of course, before I can get too excited about all of the 2006 possibilities, I feel the need to close the book on some of the lingering 2005 projects. At one point, I was just as excited about those projects, so I am seeing the need to rekindle the passion I had for those knits just a few months ago…

One day, this will become this:

However, I am not quite sure when this will be…

The camisole / cowl combo from the book Weekend Knitting. This is a very slow knit; firstly, because it is lace, and I am not well-skilled in the art of yo, k2tog tbl, psso, etc. (I know, it just takes practice!) Secondly, it is constructed with Rowan’s Kid Silk Haze, which, in my opinion, is both a blessing and a curse. It is so soft and light, yet warm because of the mohair fiber. However, it is so light that it is like a cobweb - kind of hard to knit with that- and definitely easy to drop a stitch. So, slow and steady wins this race. I am about 10 inches in, and I have been working on this one since August 2005… maybe I can finish it by its year anniversary!

Since I finished Kris’s cardigan on Tuesday, I have been keeping myself busy with another knit from the Last Minute Knitted Gifts book: my Hourglass sweater.

Hourglass has also been on the needles since early fall 2005. I am using KnitPicks Andean Silk in colorway Lettuce, and I really do like this yarn. I would recommend it for any light worsted / DK weight project; it is very soft, and knits up in a very smooth and even texture.

In the past three days, I have doubled the length of the body; it sat in my knitting bag for 4 months at about 6 inches long, but I am closing in on the arm holes, thanks to some long Metro rides, and a few traffic accidents on the Beltway. I am extending the body of the sweater by a few inches - it calls for 15 1/2 inches for my particular size, but I am planning to knit 17 inches because I have some extra yarn, and I have heard some reviews that this sweater came out a little short. Anyone had any trouble with this?

Next up: sleeves on double pointed needles! I really enjoy the yoked patterns - many of my recent knits have used this same construction.

 

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My school’s spring semester started up this past week. This semester, I am taking only one course: a Library Science course entitled Libraries in Society, it is a required class that all grad students must take. It is the basic class to educate librarians in intellectual freedom, copyright law, privacy issues, information ethics, and various other contemporary, and often controversial, issues in the field. This semester will be a vast departure from the fall semester, and I wholeheartedly welcome that - it means more time for the other pursuits…. getting crafty!