Spring Lady Sweater

Before you ask, no, I did not block that other cardigan yet. I know I said I didn't want to start another sweater until that was done.

I also have no discipline.

And so my Spring Lady Sweater as begun! It's the ubiquitous February Lady Sweater. I'm using some Red Heart Designer Sport I picked up a couple years ago for $2 a ball. So this sweater will cost me about $10 to make. I worked a gauge swatch and after a few days of knitting, I'm ready to separate for the sleeves.

I've also been compulsively checking the fitting notes and other people's variations. How long do I want the garter section to be? How much do I want it to flair? I know I want it to be fuller than my last 2 sweaters. The sleeves in the pattern are wider and I KNOW that will not work for me. Oh pattern mods, how I love you.

In other knitting, sock 1 of 6 for Quarter 2 is finished. It's another pair of vanilla socks, so I will post the picture of that when the pair is done.

Irreconcilable Differences

They've tried working it out. They've talked. They've gone through counseling. They've even taken a break to give themselves some alone time. But nothing is going to fix this couple....

...Of socks.

I've given up on 2 at a time socks. The idea is nice, but to me they are so fiddly and I was getting so discouraged at knitting for so long and not even seeing a heel. I just don't think this technique is for me. The socks are now on separate needles, and will hopefully be able to get on with their separate lives.

Making a Dent

I've had 5 skeins of Mirasol Tika, a pima cotton, in my stash for...well...a while now. It was a find at Tuesday Morning, but I had absolutely no clue what to do with it. I finally found a shawl I liked, Not too lacy, not too dense. The Summer Flies shawl has different sections of lace and a ruffled picot edge. Knitting it was fast and easy, though my butterflies didn't exactly turn out the way I planned. Still, I love it, and can't wait to wear it!

I Tend to Go a Little Catwoman When I Craft

Lately, my knitting seems to be slowing down a bit. I'ma little socked out, and since I've reached my goal, I'm giving them a break. I finished the sleeves of my Striped Cardi, but haven't blocked it yet. So I haven't started my next sweater, the February Lady Sweater. but I still have the urge to make something, so I've started making jewelry again. A LOT OF JEWELRY. I talked about it with a friend who i found out also made a ton of jewelry and still has her supplies. I "shopped" her bead store and scored a ton of stuff. I've spend the past few weekends hunched over our ottoman in the living room with Netflix running in the background (Ghost Adventures and Paranormal State at the moment) surrounded by bags of beads. It always looks like I went crazy opening them. Here are a few of the things I've made. (apologies for the low quality pics. i promise they will be better for my etsy store)

This is black and red beads accented with silver chain. Matching set includes earrings and long necklace.

Stitch marker set includes 5 markers of blue stone framed in silver.

Brown and olive stones with gold chain. Set includes dangle earrings and long necklace.

Stitch marker set has 7 markers. Assorted beads.

Navy and gold beads on gold chain. Set includes earrings and necklace.

Pastel beads with silver flower beads. I'll admit, I've worn this and love it. Necklace and earring set.

Purple beads with gold rings and chain.

It's not gonna be that warm tho...

Goal #4 has been completed! I finished the simple lace scarf and showed it off at my last spinning class. Here's a picture of it blocking. I wasn't sure if i could ever get the corners perfectly square, so i left it a little on the bias. and with the weather staring to warm a little, this scarf will be perfect.

I't So Tiny!

I started my friend's baby sweater a couple weeks ago after hours of agonizing over patterns on Ravelry. I'm using the Garter Yoke Cardigan and Bernat Baby Coordinates in yellow. The sweater is a basic top down raglan. Of course I didn't bother to pay attention to gauge so this my fit her baby later rather than sooner. All I have left is a sleeve (which i made shorter since the baby is due in June) and button bands.Oh, and I should probably buy some buttons for it.

At Least It's Warm?

Of course I haven't been working on my actual quarter 1 goal. That would be too logical. Instead, I finished another scarf. The longway striped scarf is finished! It was my mindless knitting for a few weeks now, and I really knocked a lot out over the past few days. I even managed to knit while reading Dead Until Dark. I decided to add firnge so that I wouldn't have to weave in ends. However, I sort of overestimated the number of stitches necessary, so the scarf is extra long. Wrapped loosely around my neck once, it reaches my knees. Looks like a very tall man will be getting this as a gift. Any takers?

It's So Fluffy I Could Die!!!

I've picked up my drop spindle again after months of wheel-only spinning. This is a new one I picked up a few weeks ago after spinning class. I prefer the slightly heavier spindles since I can get it to spin much longer (we all know how impatient I am). The fiber I'm spinning is a 50/50 silk and alpaca blend from The Trading Post in Pendleton. The fiber is DREAMY. I love spinning it. But because it's alpaca, the more you touch it, the more it expands. It also sticks to sweaty hands and dark fabric. I'm planning to turn this 4 ounces into a 3 ply DK-ish yarn. I haven't decided if I'm plying it on the spindle or wheel yet. I also have an equal amount of silver gray that I'm going to try to spin on my wheel.