New Season, New Duds

It's a new season, which always means... new patterns! I've been thinking about what I'd like to make this spring, and I've got a few ideas:

1. Bolero Jacket
I bought the new Vogue Knitting, which I think is better than the last several issues. I really like the bolero sweater trend. I'm still trying to decide, however, whether it's one that works for me, a long-leg, short-torso, broad-shoulder kind of chick. But if I made one and it didn't work for me, I'm sure I could find a willing friend to take it off my hands! There’s also a cool shrug from Knitty that I think would work well – and I can make it out of stash, which is always a good thing.

2. Nothin’ but a T-shirt
I love this pattern from Alison, published in the new Magknits. This is a classy tee-shirt sweater, but it’s especially fun because of the ringer style. I am envisioning a very modern color choice, like the Blush (hot pink), trimmed with Coffee (dark brown). This would be great with jeans, which I am rarely without.

3. Hourglass Sweater
Since I am always cold, it’s not too late to think about an Hourglass Sweater, made in silk or even a wool/cotton or wool/silk blend. I love the Himalaya Wool Silk at Knit Pixie – but there are too many beautiful colors to choose from! I’m narrowing it down, though - never fear!

4. Rebecca Wrap Cardi
This item is languishing in my Upcoming Projects list – I feel a little guilty because I’ve had the yarn and pattern for a while, even before others who’ve now finished their cardis! I think this will be a great little item to kick around in – but the swatch made my wrists hurt. Hopefully I can overcome this and get on with my cute sweater!

By the way…have you seen those new RY Classic pattern books? They are billed as "a new collection of handknits for the style conscious knitter." So this leads me to wonder whether the Rowan magazine will get less “style conscious.” Sort of makes me think I should wait to re-subscribe.

Otherwise, the Lucky cardi is coming along nicely:



Although, I almost had a heart attack when I read that I have to make 62 inches of ribbing for the trim!! That means 62 inches of sewing, my friends, and if you have gleaned anything from reading my blog you know I am not a seamstress. But I am so excited about this cardi that I'll just have to make it work.

Off to Sleeve Island (cue palm trees, ukelele, mai tais)…

Happy Easter

Just a short post today to show you my favorite Easter bunny:



The pink sweater was knitted by moi! And this little bunny (my coworker's little one) has worn it quite a lot, as I understand. I am tickled pink.

Happy Easter, everyone!

Can we talk?

So I’ve been blogging for about seven months now, and I’m thinking about what I might do to spice things up a bit. Blogger is cool and all, and it’s great that it’s free – but it is clearly limited unless you know a lot of html. Then there’s Typepad, which you have to pay for – but you can set up some really cool looking blogs that way. Of course, for the truly adventuresome (or computer-savvy) there is the option of using MT and doing everything yourself. Photo storage is also an issue, since I am knocking at the limit of my free Photobucket account.

Clearly, I am at a blogging crossroads. So I’ve put together a little poll to get some input from you all. If you don’t think either of my choices are the best option, leave me a comment or send me an email with your suggestions. I would really appreciate it!

Which blogging software do you recommend?
	Blogger
	Typepad
	Other
Free polls from Pollhost.com

The Wearing O’ The Green

Paying homage to Bonne Marie, I stepped out in limey-green style for St. Patty’s Day:



I made the scarf first, and then decided that a lime green shirt would be just the thing to make the shades of blue in the scarf *pop*. So far so good!

Last weekend was full of debauchery – a grown up slumber party, bridal shower and bachelorette party in less than 48 hours! Needless to say, I didn’t do very much knitting, lol! I am, however, now finished with the right front of Lucky:



It looks okay so far, but that whole no-room-for-a repeat-at-the-neck-edge is a little weird looking in my book. Hopefully the finished product will look good. Onward to the left front!

Everyone is going nuts over this Martha Stewart poncho business. Someone referenced a design that looked very similar to the Marth-cho, and thought that the name “Freedom poncho” was a reference to the newly-freed style maven. In fact, the pattern is from Twilley’s, and the yarn is called Freedom. Just wanted to clear that one up.

Finally, I leave you with a photo of an item from the Ram Wools catalogue. Is this scary or cute? Let me know what you think!

Blogger Problems

I have heard that some of you have been unable to leave comments; turns out Blogger is having some sort of problem. So, I thought I would add an email link in the sidebar. I look forward to hearing from you, whatever the method!

I Guess I Could Take Up Knitting

Says an ad for Asics running shoes:


"I guess I could take up knitting.
People who knit seem happy.
But then, I’m too competitive.
It seems like highly competitive knitters are frowned upon.

What would you do, if you couldn’t run?"


You know, I don’t pick on runners; why should this running ad pick on knitters? And there’s nothing about knitting that says you have to be anti-competitive to enjoy it. In fact, I think knitting would be a good activity for a competitive person, because you can make it as challenging as you want it to be. You don’t compete with other knitters, but with yourself; I think many runners are this way as well. The average person buying Asics running shoes doesn’t plan on winning the Boston marathon; he/she hopes to finish it or have a personal best time.

As for the broader issue, not just about knitting: this ad is a sad commentary on how women in our society are pigeonholed. You can’t be an athlete and practice “domestic arts,” be a successful CEO and not be a b**ch, excel as a mother and as a worker, etc. When will corporate America acknowledge that we aren’t easily categorized, that we are multi-faceted, multi-talented, and deserve praise and credit for what we attempt and succeed to do every day? It’s really amazing that we get shat upon like this in the media, especially when you consider that women buy or influence the purchase of 85% of all products and services sold in this country. A sobering thought: we fund the companies that publicly denigrate us.

March is Women's History Month. So go do something womanly: go knit, go running, get a subscription to Ms. or Bust or Essence or Bitch. Better yet, write a letter to a particularly egregious company of your choosing and announce that you will boycott their products because of their shameful portrayal of women.

No knitty photos today. Or maybe later this afternoon if I get around to it.

A Small FO

No, not the wee Poppy (I'm still fighting with that one)...just a scarf for moi:



This was made with Noro Lotus in Shade 152. I used a pattern from Stitch n Bitch Nation - thank goodness there are designers out there who appreciate people like me - i.e. who want patterns for even simple drop-stitch scarves. So anyway. This yarn is difficult to photograph due to the shimmery rayon thread running through its center. Obviously the yarn changes colors, but what is not so obvious is that this shimmery thread changes colors too. If I were a better photographer I would show you this! But alas, nighttime knitting does not make for good photographs. Anyhoo, I'll be back again soon. Hope everyone is having a good day!

Little. Purple. Frustrating.

I have been steadily working on Poppy, which I am making out of the Blue Sky Cotton. I am pulling my hair out over this one! Although the BS Cotton is very soft and has great stitch definition, it also (as a commenter on Wendy’s blog pointed out) sheds tufts of cotton as you go. This turns out to be a big problem when you need to rip out. Which I had to do about 6 times as I was picking up the stitches for the collar.

If you are not familiar with this pattern, you can view a photo here. As you can see, there are many stitches to be picked up in order to knit the ribbed border. (Actually there are 162 stitches to be picked up, but who’s counting?) For some reason, at the increase edge on the left front, the fabric’s curvature is slightly different than the curvature of the right front. This is noticeable in the photo below:




I think my main problem was in the row gauge; I had a devil of a time finding enough stitches to pick up. Maybe the left side was more stretched than the right side because of this? I don’t know. I am feeling very Type A about this. However, there isn’t time to rip it out and do it again, if I care about an on-time delivery to its recipient. And frankly, the picking up stitches experience is NOT one I would like to repeat any time soon. But I am frustrated that my rendition of Poppy is not *perfect*. Not only that, but I still have yet to pick up the stitches for the rest of the border! Grrr. More work...

Sigh. So I went back to Lucky last night. She’s the only one who loves me right now! (sniff) Pix again soon when I finish the right front.

Happy knitting, everyone!

Hello out there

Greetings, knit-lings! (not sure why that seemed funny to me, it just did.) All is well in the nation’s capital, except that it seems winter will Just Not End. Winter is still kinda pretty, though:



We were supposed to get 7 inches of snow or something – but it wasn’t nearly as bad as they predicted. Now it’s just cold and windy.

Anyway, I am knitting away on my Lucky cardi. I feel I have made enough progress to show you now. As I said, I’ve finished the back; this is the right front (apologies for the distracting background):



I think I have become something of a convert to 4-ply. I’ve been looking at the new Rowan designs and thinking there may be another dainty sweater in my future. But since I’m not even halfway through Lucky, maybe I’d better wait and see how that goes.

Thanks for the votes of confidence on my GGH Soft Kid color choice. Hopefully I will cast on for this cute cardi this weekend!

Happy knitting, everyone!