Knitting... remind me ...

what exactly is that and how do you find time to do it? [laugh]

How is it that time just seems to disappear on you? Work expands and fills up every moment of your cognitive existence? When you get home, you're like jello? Even knitting seems like a bit of a challenge? Such has been my tale of late.

Poor, poor, pitiful me hmm? [laugh ... don't give me any sympathy... I don't deserve it].

In the almost two weeks since last I posted, I have squeezed in a *small* amount of knitting time, mostly on MLK day (a giant blessing!). My cabled hoodie is slowly coming along, but is getting minimal attention, I have to admit. I still seem to be distracted and wanting to do something else.

My most recent distraction, another square for the cabled afghan I started years ago.


That top square represents the end of square 6 of 16. A funny thing happened after square 6 though. I got all excited about starting another square, pulled out a stitch dictionaries to come up with my own square, cast on and knit about 8 rows, and then asked myself the fateful question "why are you doing this?".

You see, even I had to recognize that the 6 squares I had completed were never going to go together into an afghan. When you look at the picture up there closely, you'll see it too. The far left, far right, and top squares are all nice and large (these are the three most recently knit squares). The three squares in the middle, the ones I started with, not so much on the large size.

I deluded myself for awhile that I could block them into the right size, but you know what, just a delusion. I could have blocked to the right length OR the right width, but there was no way physics was going to allow me to get to both the right length and width simultaneously.

Really I had three completed squares and three objects with no practical use. How much did I really want a 16 square afghan? How many more months would I spend on this task.? Was this the task which was most worth my knitting time?


Does this picture answer the question for you?!

I looked myself squarely in the face, admitted that the early squares had been a good learning experience (this was how I taught myself to cable and how I learned that you don't knit through the back loop normally ... something that never occurred to me when I taught myself... something I only discovered later when watching knitting on television and someone made the distinction between knitting normally and knitting through the back loop), and did the frog dance.

The most recent three squares I've saved and I think I'm going to turn them into throw pillow shams. The first three squares... dust. Let's just say they now rest in the stash, ready along with a number of companions to find another use in the future.

I feel a great unburdening and I've just decreased my "knitting in progress" list by one.

Now if I can just escape the vortex of work and not get distracted into frogging any other WIPs around here.... [grin].

First FO of 2009

Yesterday, inspired by both Kay over at Mason Dixon and Ellen at LA is my Beat, I felt compelled to cast on for a new project -- Calorimetry, to be specific. And really, truth be told, it was Ellen's fault suggestion that led to my choice. She participated in this really great idea, cast on with wild abandon. I love that idea! Don't worry about what you have in progress, what you think you "should" be working on, give into your fancy. And that's just what I did.

I printed out out the pattern for Calorimetry, pulled out the perfect yarn from my stash (and trust me that rarely happens, so it must have been meant to be) and off I went.


The best thing, it's already a finished object!


S and I have been keeping up our morning runs and this is going to be perfect for a cool morning. I find that I get a little too hot with a hat, but think this headband will fill the bill. Keep the ears toasty while letting a little steam out as well.

I used Plymouth Yarn's Boku for the first time to do this project. I actually bought the yarn at my LYS's closing sale thinking I'd knit up a tea cozy (and then I promptly stopped using the tea pot ... I'm much more a 'one cup at a time' girl -- probably because the tea gets cold in the pot which is why I need a cozy... grrrr). Let me tell you, I love the colors. It's very similiar to Noro and I'm starting to understand why people love Noro so much.

Boku is pretty much like Noro in terms of its feel too ... a bit on the scratchy side. It's 95% wool, 5% silk, but honestly you don't feel the silk. But the colors... pretty. I love the transitions. I'd definitely put this on the list to use again.

And gold star for the project that can be finished in a few hours of dedicated knitting!

Calorimetry
Plymouth Yarn Boku (95% wook, 5% silk)
< 1 ball Color 7 Lot 37 (a mix of blues and greens)
US 4 circulars
Cast on January 11, 2009
Finished January 12, 2009

Modifications: None, just dropped to a smaller needle to get gauge with this yarn.

Ravelry details here.

What's better...

than knitting with friends! [rhetorical question... of course]


Since my LYS closed, my knitting group hasn't met. Last night we all got together at my house for a night of fun, laughter, and knitting!


There really is nothing like having fun with friends! And to end the evening, we here in California like a little rock 'n roll....


Yep, nothing like a little tremblor to shake you up and get the adrenaline rushing. At least no one will forget knit night at my house!

I can't wait for next week to see everyone again.

My newest start

Hey everyone ... thanks for your feedback on the ribbed cardi. I'm going to take your advice and leave it as is.

Of course, with one sweater off the needles, it was time to cast on for something new. Next up, the Cabled Pullover with Hood (it's from a Paton's brochure).


With the new found realization that yes, texture is my friend, I'm going to do another all over cables pattern. This one should keep me busy for awhile I think. Fun, fun!

So what's up for 2009?

2008 was a good year... busy but good.
Last January I set some goals for myself and didn't do too badly on the list. Let's review shall we.

1. More quality knitting.

Check ... I came up with several projects I really enjoyed and a number of finished objects I'm quite happy with. Not everything was a winner of course, but on the whole, a successful year. I did knit one pair of socks... I love having the finished pair but still think that socks take an awfully long time to finish.

2. Higher quality blogging.

Hmm... well I think I get a mixed report card on this. My posts have become more infrequent so there is less "trash" post, but the visuals haven't improved tremendously. I still struggle with sharing alot of quality information. Something that can still be worked on I think.

3. Spinning.

Oops... failed this goal. No spinning at all this year.

4. Live within a budget and save money.

Well this always seems to be an area for improvement doesn't it?

5. Live healthier (eating healthier foods, exercising).

I finished 2008 having walked or run 616.4 miles, exceeding my goal of 540 miles solidly. I also began running. Now this my friends was a crazy thing; I have never run. Not even when I was a kid. I used Robert Ullrey's Couch to 5K podcasts and, OMG, now I can run. I got up to 5K and then dropped down to what I think is most reasonable for my knees... about 2 miles per run.

6. Learn Spanish.

Excellent progress here... I've now completed two semesters of college spanish and have learned quite a bit. Still couldn't carry a conversation in a bucket, but man oh man do I feel like I have accomplished something.

7. Increase my research productivity at work.

Well it didn't go down... does that count? This year was a crazy busy year with too many other work demands. Research didn't get the time it deserved. I'll try again on this goal.

8. Commit to being more present and positive with people at work.

I'm going better with this but will continue to work on this. We can't ever be good enough to the people around us.

9. Work on being more outgoing, less introverted, with others.

OK... I'm still just as shy and introverted as ever. Honestly, I'm not sure how important this goal is for me. The costs still seem to outweigh the benefits.

10. Appreciating what I have, being mindful, managing my work-related stress, enjoying nature.

This I did well with. Of course there were crazy moment, stressful moments, but on the whole I managed to keep my sanity. Morning walks go along way with this as does being surrounded with such a great group of handsome boys.

2009 should be a pretty busy year. Always more to do than time to do it in, right? To get off to a good start, S and I have come up with a few new resolutions. Here's my new list.

1. Appreciating what I have, being mindful, managing my work-related stress. I've decided to move this one up the list. It's what gives me quality of life -- got to give it priority.

2. More quality knitting.

3. Live within a budget and save money.

4. Live healthier (eating healthier foods, exercising).

• 630 miles by 2010
• run 2 miles, 3 times per week
• watch my diet, eat at home more often, cook healthier foods
  

5. Contine to learn Spanish.

6. S and I have committed to taking a nature trip and going to the movies at least once per month. With mountains, desert, and beach all within a short drive, we need to take advantage of the bounty around us.

Seems like a pretty reasonable list, right? I'm looking forward to the year. Hope your's is off to a good start and you're optimistic too.

Off the Needles in 2008

It's always a very rewarding feeling to look back over the past year and to see what's been accomplished. Shall we take a walk down the 2008 memory lane? I think I'd like that.

From right to left, starting on the bottom row:

• Ribbed Cardi with Collar

• Cable Luxe Tunic
  

• Chunky Knit Cowls (v 1 & 2)
  

• Scott's sweater
  

• Fantine
  

• Trinity Stitch Baby Jacket
  

• Rotating Rib Trekking Socks
  

• baby's pure & simple pullover
  

• Garter Stitch Mitts v. 1 & 2
  

• Celtic Tote
  

• Baby Booties & Beanie
  

• Doctor's Bag
  

• One hour hats v. 1-5
  

• Neckwarmer v 3.0
  

• Elizabeth Bennet cabled cardigan

Not bad for a year... 7 sweaters, 4 cowls/scarfs, 7 hats, 2 bags, 1 pair of booties, 1 pair of socks, and 3 pairs of fingerless mitts.

All and all, and enjoyable year of knitting. My favorite init this year was definitely the cable luxe tunic. I must have been slow on the up-take, but it has finally dawned on me that my love of texture extends to knitting. I'm a cables girl.

My second favorite knit of the year was the Doctor's Bag... no suprise, another textured object. Love that herringbone texture on the bag. I also love the fact that it's big and can hold big knitting projects.

I'd put both of these projects high on the to-knit list.

Hope everyone else had an equally enjoyable knitting year. Next time, I'll do a bit of planning for 2009.

Happy Holidays!

I hope everyone has been having a great holiday season! The picture above is from my flight last week. The plane flew right over the tops of the mountains close to where we live. A beautiful parting shot of our warm L.A. home, I have to say.

S and I spent our holidays with family and then moving him back home from Indiana.


With family, we of course ate generous meals and had very good company. We then had two days of very pleasant, if not cold, driving through Oklahoma (where the family lives), New Mexico, and Arizona on our way back to California.

It is good to be home though and to have S back here as well.

Best wishes to you all from us both!

Ribbed cardi done

I am always astonished that it can feel like you work on something forever and you still have miles to go. Then one day, all of a sudden, without warning, you're done! Such was the case with the ribbed cardi I cast off last night.


The sleeves are wayyyyy too long. I foolishly made them longer thinking that would be a good idea. Not such a good idea. Laugh. I may chop the ends off. I'm still giving this some thought.


I'm also not 100% sold on the wide collar but it's growing on me.

I can say that I loved the Sidar Eco wool dk the sweater is made out of. I'd describe it as a loosely spun single. A little splitty, but not too bad. Nice and warm, pretty soft for wool. Good stuff!

So what do you guys think? Shorten the sleeves? Narrow the collar?

Regardless...Yeah!... one more project down.

Ribbed Jacket with Collar
Sidar Eco woll dk book (336 Code c)
12 balls Sidar Eco wool dk (100% undyed virgin wool)
US 6 circulars
Cast on about October 27, 2008
Finished December 19, 2008

Modifications: Recalculated the pattern given that I got very different gauge than the pattern suggested. Extended the sleeves longer than recommended by the pattern.

Ravelry details here.

A new day

This morning broke clear, blue-skyed, cold, and beautiful.


I love it when you can see snow blowing around on the mountain top, snug from inside a snow-free home.

Life is good -- despite my momentary melt down yesterday.
=]

It must be a monday

• It's raining giant bucketfulls of cats and dogs today (yes, I live in Southern California where it never rains.
• I needed to go into the office early today to do a make-up exam (my oral exam for Spanish that I've already missed twice!)
• Today was the day my car battery decided to give up the ghost so I couldn't get into work
• Depite the fact that I'm wearing a turtleneck, a sweater, a jacket, a scarf (handmade alpaca of course), and boots, I can not get my feet warm.
  

But have no fear, all is not lost.

• It only took AAA 20 minutes to come out and jump start my car
• I only spent an hour at the repair shop getting the battery replace (and oh yeah... did I realize that one of my brake lights was also dead and did I want to have that fixed too?)
• I still get to take my written final exam in Spanish in an hour
• The rain has finally gone down to "light"
• We have no mud to slide in my neighborhood and all that snow that I can see up on the mountains won't get down to us here in the valley

Some days you know it must be Monday.

=]

Long lost blogger

Yep... I'm still here. Long time no post. =]

Life goes on ... work is busy. I'm so looking forward to time off at the holidays. Knitting has happened, in limited spurts.


My ribbed cardi is coming along. I finally cast off the collar last night (after the photo was taken). Now there's just the rest of the endless body to go. I get tired of sweaters before they're done. It's inevitable ... I can take a break or I can just push though... but I just get bored.

I'm going to like this one when it's done though so I'm knit, knit, knit, purl, purl, purling away. =]

In honor of our upcoming holidays I also managed to put up a few lights.


I believe strongly in celebrating the winter solstice and can't wait for the days to start getting longer again.

Hope everyone is doing well and having more free time for fun than me. I'll try to update you again soon.

Lazy days... love em

Five days off of work ... this has been a great, lazy five days! I need to do this more often. And the best thing, big piles of work shouldn't be waiting for me since everyone else has been off too. Yeah!!

So what have I been doing for the past several days. Well amazingly little knitting it turns out. I've been on a Twilight binge. After I saw the movie, I reread all the books. I'm thinking about going back to see the movie again. Teen angst... love it!

But it hasn't been all teen romance around here, I did finish up one project and have been working dutifully away on my sweater. First up, a finished object.

A pair of garter stitch mitts for myself.

Last May I made pairs of these for my mom and sister and planned to make a pair for myself. Here were are 6 months later and I've finally gotten around to it.

My favorite part... the way the greenish gold colors contrast with the pinks of the Soy yarn on the palms.

Garter Stitch Mitts by Ysolda
1 ball Pattons SWS (70% wool, 30% soy), Natural Violet (color 70312)
US 9 circulars
Cast on about November 14, 2008
Finished November 28, 2008

Modifications: Cast on only 26 stitches given yarn with a different gauge.

Ravelry details here.

I've also been making progress on my ribbed cardi. Instead of knitting the body pieces in pieces, I put them all on the needles at once. This is making for slow going, but it is finally starting to look like a sweater. So far, I'm still pretty pleased with how this one is coming along.

And last, pictoral proof that I am able to cook and enjoy Thanksgiving solo. S... here's my yummy thanksgiving lunch. An overflowing plate of starchy calories.


Yum! Hope all of you counted your blessings and enjoyed your weekend too.

OK... admit it ...

you want to see it too.

I did ... I love teen angst movies... always have. Loved it. All the sappy, illogical, heartthrobby stuff. It was great! Want to have that giggly teenage girl feeling again... you should go too! You won't regret it.

Sad news in the LYS department

Yes, I hate to be the bearer of bad news but my favorite LYS, Knitwitz in San Dimas, will be closing next month. I'm going to miss this place... locale for my regular Thursday night knit group. What will become of me? (OK... maybe that's a bit melodramatic, but it is quite a loss, a girl has to have a place to whine a bit). It's been great to have a store close by with friendly people, a place to hang out and knit on thursdays. Maybe this will be a good excuse to move to a venue with wine.

As part of the closing, the store of course is having a sale. While I hate to prosper at the cost of a closing, I did want to continue supporting the store, so I went out sweater-quantity shopping. Here is my ambivalent (yeah new yarn -- boo store closing) haul.

Pretty cascade pastaza ... great soft lavendar color.


Alpaca with a Twist, Baby Twist. There probably isn't quite enough here for the cabled short sleeve sweater in the new Debbie Bliss magazine, but maybe for something similar.


More ecological wool! I really liked this wool when I was making S's sweater so it seemed like a good choice for more knitting.


And last, but certainly not least, cascade 220 in a rich purple.


All lovingly selected, even with some remorse mixed in. I was laughing at myself a bit when I picked this pile out. Recently S made a comment about how all my sweaters are light green ... not the truth I claimed. Of course, in the store I kept being drawn to the green yarns. I purposefully didn't let myself overload with green and look what happened... purple everywhere. At least I can identify themes in my likes and dislikes!

So on other fronts, life around here has been crazy, accounting for my recent blog absence. I spent several days in Florida on a business trip and then came back and had to immediately report for jury duty. I spent two days on a panel seating a jury for a gang-related double homocide (with a juvenile defendant). It was a long process to seat the 12 jurors and 4 alternates. Out of the panel of 60-80 people, there were only 12 of us left (including me) who hadn't been questioned when they finally settled on a jury. It was a frightening insight into the judicial system, I have to say, although in the end I felt the process was OK. Now I am back to work, trying to dig out from the pile of work that accumulated during my absence. Studying to make up a spanish exam I missed during my excursions. Why is it that you have to work twice as hard before you leave and twice as hard when you come back from an absence? Somehow that means you've done twice as much work as you would have if you never left. Makes me want to stick around more.

Hope everyone else is having a good pre-Thanksgiving week!

Look what the postal carrier brought

A gift, and what a gift! Barbara Bretton just published another book and did a celebratory drawing on the blog she contributes to, Romancing the Yarn. Lucky me... I won some Debbie Bliss cashmere. Great hmmm? And to make the gift even more super she threw in a copy of the new book! I can't wait to read it. I think it will be perfect plane reading when I go on a business trip soon.

And all that cashmere... well I'm going to have to think about what kind of sumptuous items I'll make with that. Thanks Barbara!

And those of you who haven't visited the blog, you should. Barbara's very generous and has been having a number of give aways of late. It's fun to see what she, and her other author contributors, are up to.

Knitting on the ribbed cardigan continues slowly ... because of work I'm once again finding less time to knit. Yep another Sunday spent in the office... = [

On Monday for my spanish class we had a bit of fun though. We're learning various types of past tense now and for practice found recipes (in spanish) for a popular spanish food. We were to make the recipe, bring the food to class to share, and then share with the class how the item was made (yep in spanish).

My contribution... arroz con leche. S wanted to see a pic...



It's not a runny soupy pudding like you get an most indian restraurants, but more of a sticky rice dish ... full of cinnamon, raisins, and condensed sweetened milk. Can you say sugar? Comfort food, Spain and Latin American style. Wish you were here to share the left overs!

Knitting?

Who me?


Well yes. Spending hours in front of a television watching election results allows one the opportunity to cast on new projects and make good progress!


These (terrible) photos are of my newest work in progress, the

Eco Wool Ribbed Jacket with Collar (ravelry link) by Sirdar.

After my last post about the bulky cabled cartigan, I saw two separate discussions about the pain that knitters get in their hands (which I also experience). I decided to take my own advice and take a break from knitting with big needles (which seems worse for my hand). That means I needed to cast on for a new project. The ribbed jacket is something I bought a few months back ... I ordered both the pattern book and yarn online from Rams and I've been looking forward to having the sweater.

It's a very interesting construction. You start at the end of one sleeve and knit up to the shoulder. The work then gets wider and half becomes the yoke for the back and the other becomes the front yoke. The front yoke includes lots of decreases so you end up with a v-neck jacket. Construction like this isn't my favorite because you can't try on as you go... you have to have faith.

I hate that since more often than not, faith in patterns seems to result in bad fitting garments.

Nevertheless, off I went. I had to recalculate the whole pattern since, even though I'm using the recommended yarn, there was no way I was going to get gauge. (The pattern recommended 6s... my swatch on 6s and 4s suggested I might have to go down to 1s or 2s to get gauge... no thank you!). You might guess this has even further heightened by lack of faith issue.

I ripped back once part way through the sleeve due to a misread on my part and then after the photos above were taken ripped back the very end of the "point" on the front of the jacket. I decided that the point needed to end sooner so the sweater would fit. The fronts do overlaps some, but would have completely doubled over each other if I hadn't tried, tried, tried again.

After I do the right side, I'll pick up stitches along the bottom (or what looks like the bottom in the picture above.. bottom is relative given how this is knitted) and knit the ribbing down. This should provide a nice finished project with ribs going multiple directions (down the sleeve and body; across the chest).

Wish me luck (and better picture taking for the next set of photos)!

You spin me right round baby ...

We're having a dance party around here today!

Wanna join us? You've got to check out this web page for folding candidates president elect, first lady elect, and vice president elect. The music at this page (really play the video on the page... you'll feel good) is exactly how I feel today about the presidential election... deliriously happy, spinning .... Some things are good in the world.

Unfortunately, not all is well. In California, 5, 359, 110 people voted to legalize discrimination towards others. Really? Over 5 million people want to discriminate against other Americans? America is not yet a country of equality. I'm still hoping beyond hope with others though:

Statement by "No on Prop 8" Campaign on Election Status

Roughly 400,000 votes separate yes from no on Prop 8 – out of 10 million votes tallied.

Based on turnout estimates reported yesterday, we expect that there are more than 3 million and possibly as many as 4 million absentee and provisional ballots yet to be counted.

Given that fundamental rights are at stake, we must wait to hear from the Secretary of State tomorrow how many votes are yet to be counted as well as where they are from.

It is clearly a very close election and we monitored the results all evening and this morning.

As of this point, the election is too close to call.

Because Prop 8 involves the sensitive matter of individual rights, we believe it is important to wait until we receive further information about the outcome.

Geoff Kors Executive Committee NO on Prop 8

Kate KendellExecutive Committee NO on Prop 8

Keep your fingers crossed that those who voted early by mail weren't bigots.
After all, two other states made the wrong choice yesterday. I'm going to keep hoping bad things don't come in threes.


link to puppets courtesy of monster yarn's post today.

I voted ...

have you?

No?! ... well get off the computer and go! Voting this morning was so energizing! I got up early, well in fact I woke up early several times and had to keep going back to sleep until it made sense to get up. After a brisk walk with the pup and a quick shower, off to the polls I went.

I love my neighborhood ... so many different kinds of people. The polling place was a great slice of America ... it made me feel proud to be able to vote with people of different ages, races, sexual orientations.

My wait wasn't too bad... only about 25 minutes. I figured that early (I went around 7:20am) was the best bet for beating the crowds. I suspect it will be even busier later. Even more reason for you to go vote now!

Be part of the process. Read up on the issues and go vote! Me, I'm going to be waiting anxiously for the returns. We Californians voted on some important issues (beyond the obvious presidential choice) including whether or not to legalize discrimination in the state constitution... I'll be glued to the returns to see whether my fellow residents are truely humane and don't make the aggregious error of passing Prop 8.

I haven't been so excited to vote since 1988 ... that seemed like a chance to turn the country around but we didn't do it then. I think this time we might make a better choice. =]

Crazy times

Hey everyone! So another week has passed by and let me tell you it has been a crazy week around here.

Most exciting, S came home from Indiana for a visit. We had 11 days to just hang out and do alot of nothing together. . . or so we planned. Life of course always has a way of intervening doesn't it?

Friday I came home from work a bit early, around 3:45pm. Now the day before on my drive home I noticed smoke and the whole drive home wondered where the fire was. I got increasingly anxious as I got closer to home and realized that the fire was somewhere close by. No worries though, it was somewhere past our neighborhood (and I never actually did determine exactly where).

So Friday when I drove home and saw another fire, I just thought to myself, well this one probably isn't in the neighborhood either. I started to realize I was really wrong when I turned into the neighborhood and 1/2 a mile away people were out in their yards looking down the street. Yep, the fire was clearly on my block. As I got closer I could see all the fire engines and that the police had our block blocked off. I went to the next street over to park and could see over the houses that the fire was right where our house should be.

You know, adrenaline coursing through your body is not such a nice feeling. I kicked off my sandals and ran barefoot around the corner to our street. Big black billows of smoke everywhere. When I got around the corner I could see the smoke was right over our roof but our house was not on fire (of course the words in my head were "yet").

Apparently, a fire started near the alley of one of my neighbor's house. It burned their garage to the ground and then came into my next door neighbor's yard. The people next door lost two garages and everything in the back yarn (trees now black crispy sticks). Luckily for us, the fire fighters stopped the fire there. One of the garages that burned is within 8 foot of our house.

The good news here is that no one was hurt. Also good, it was only garages and yards that were lost. Scary stuff though to think about my four boys trapped in my house with a fire so close by! They were definitely a bit on the frantic side when we got into the house, but settled down after a few hours. Nothing like smoke, siriens, and lots of people to reassure animals hmm?

Needless to say, the rest of our Friday (and Saturday for that matter) ended up being fire-related. Neither neighbor had electricity so we pitched in to drag some extension cords down so they could at least have a light on at each house. We also helped our next door neighbors (who are in their 80s and were already talking about assisted living even before the fire) with contacting insurance and talking to all the people who show up.

Let me tell you, we have some great fire fighters here. They did a great job and were so very helpful even after the fire. At one point we had 6 trucks here. Which I guess makes sense since in my mind at least three houses were threatened (and damage happened on two properties). Did I mention that there was a large propane tank in one of the garages that exploded before I got home? Apparently that caused quite a noise and threw shrapnel quite some distance.

Nothing like a little excitement hmm?

This photo may give you some sense of what's left of the neighbors' yards (usually there would be a fence along the back there that would block the view of the alley and the yard and white wall of the neighbor across the way.

So after all that craziness, S and I decided we did want to relax a bit on Sunday and what would a trip to California be without a visit to the beach? So early Sunday off we went to our favorite beach destination, Crystal Cove State Park (no roller bladers and starlet-wanna-be-s here!).

This was the view when we first arrived.


Nope, don't adjust your screen ... you're seeing it correctly, overcast, foggy, cold. It was absolutely beautiful! The marine layer was dense and it was quiet and great for sitting in a chair with a sweatshirt on.

A few hours later, in typical southern California fashion, the clouds burnt off and we had beautiful blue skies and sun.


Can't ask for much more that an 80 degree day at the beach in October. =]

So S and I left the beach Sunday and he flew back to South Bend on Monday ... right into SNOW! Laugh ... yep quite the contrast. Sounds like the northeast has a bit of an early winter. I'll try not to rub it in, but I love being here where it will get into the 80s again today.

So has there been any knitting between visits and fires... a little. I started the bulky cabled cardigan by Stephanie Japel (see picture at top). I think I really don't like it. Why do I knit clothing with bulky yarn? It probably will be terrible. Somehow I still haven't decided to frog it yet though. I'm almost finished with the body now (only the body trim to do). I think I'll do one sleeve to see how that looks and then decide. Don't let me do bulky again, OK?

Friends don't let friends knit bulky.

Cable Luxe Tunic done!

Call the press... throw a party ... the cable luxe tunic is done AND it fits!



This was a project that I was really skeptical about when I first started reading about it. Everyone (and I'm not exaggerating, every post I read about it) talked about the problems with the pattern. Nevertheless, I was literally compelled to cast on. It was the yoke and the cables -- I'm a sucker for texture and cables just do it for me.


So I started with the cabled yoke -- which is what initially drew me to this sweater. Love the garter stitch top and the cabled section. Once that was done it was down to the body. I loved the top but will admit I wasn't in love with the body as it finished up.


After a bit of a break, I picked the sweater back up and started on the sleeves. After at least one false start (maybe two, I've repressed the memories), off I went to sleeve island. The first sleeve was slow. You know the feeling (I know you do), you knit and knit and knit and you feel like you're no closer to the end. Then at knit-night, suddenly I was at least half way through the first sleeve and I felt the end was possible.


A dedicated weekend of knitting and one sleeve done! Now I love the sweater. Having that long sleeve just pulled it all together. The second sleeve came together in no time and Saturday I cast off and wove in the ends!

I had fun with this sweater and am pleased with the finished project. I made mistakes along the way (the slipped "stripes" between the cables -- see my last post), but also learned how to fix my mistakes. I made a few modifications to the pattern, based on the helpful hints I picked up online and am just tickled pink with the outcome.

Final verdict... a winner!

Cable Luxe Tunic (a Lion Brand pattern)
size Small
Cascade 220 (7? skeins)
Color 8407 (a greenish grey) Lot 0999
US 8 circular needles
Cast on May 14, 2008
Finished October 18, 2008


Modifications:
Quite a few.

I started with the cabled yoke which is knit flat from side to side and then seamed together. I next picked up stitches and knit the garter stitch top of the yoke. With these two parts I could try the sweater on as I went to make sure the fit was working. From this point forward, I knit the rest of the body of the sweater in the round. I picked up stitches from the bottom of the cabled yoke and knit the whole body of the sweater in the round. By knitting in the round I was able to fit another cable repeat under each sleeve (there isn't a stretch of filler as would be the case if knit flat and seamed). I also knit the sleeves in the round. With a little trial and error I simply started with the right number of stitches rather than doing the strange increase the pattern recommended. I also calculate the number to cast on so I could do an even set of cable repeats around the whole sleeve (again no filler stretches where the seam would be).

1st an errata from the pattern -- row 11 of yoke: p7, 3/3LC, 3/3RC, p7

Other changes... all found by checking out bulletin boards and suggestions given by others.

For the 3/3 LC Cable: Row 3 knit as a 3/3 LC after the center cable, Row knit as a 3/3 RC before the center cable

For the 4/4 Center Cable: Row 3 knit as 4/4 LC, K4; Row 9 knit as K4, 4/4 RC

For all sizes, the pattern indicates that you are to continue in pattern as established increasing 1 stitch in each of the center 14 purl sections every row 3 *2 more times*. I only increased once more so that I wouldn't end up with too much of a bell bottom to the sweater. It probably would have been ok in hindsight to have done both increases recommended, but I was cautious.

Last, the pattern did not specify how to do the slip stitches between the cable columns. After some trial and error I decided to slip knitwise with the yarn held in back.


Ravelry details here.