Back with another FO

It could almost seem that I was that impressive with back-to-back FOs, but I finished this sweater well over three weeks ago. I'm a bit ambivalent about the finished result. I like how it looks, but I had some problems with the pattern. Even though I reknit the neck, it is better, but the neck doesn't sit properly on me. Once I put on the sweater, I have to adjust a bit to make it sit right and fumble with it all day to keep the neck/shoulders up. I think it's a good pattern, but I must have made some errors when I knit the pattern. I also chose to knit the sleeves plain.

Enough with the blathering and on to the pictures. I could never get the timing right to have someone take photos of me at home. I had a presentation tonight in one my grad school classes and I wore my sweater with a skirt and felt comfortable enough to give a presentation, so I think it was a winner in that sense. Unfortunately you get bathroom shots. Sorry about that, but I thought that was better than waiting awhile longer. Soon it will be too late to wear this sweater at all.

Full-on frontal view:

 On the side:

And a couple photos just because I liked them. I went to the extra effort of rolling my hair for the presentation, so I wanted to document the hair. Silly, I know.

Project Specs

Pattern: Ribby Pulli by Bonne Marie Burns
Yarn: Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool
Needles: US 7 (4.5 mm) and US 5 (3.75 mm)
Length: October 2007 through January 19, 2009

This project really shouldn't have taken me this long. I was going strong on it initially, but in January of 2008, I put it aside to work on the Everyday Tweed sweater. Once that happened, I did not come back to this sweater until November of 2008. After my previous neck debacle, I had to rip it out and start over with picking up of stitches around the body and reknit the ribbed neck. This time the amount of stitches seemed correct, but I think that I could have decreased it by eight stitches for a better fit. Whether or not I want to do it again, eh, not so much.

The high point to all of this is the yarn and the color. I absolutely adore Silky Tweed and have already added enough yarn for 3 projects to my stash.

Thanks for reading this far along, if you did so. Hope you all have a great weekend. I'll be back early next week with a new post.

FO Report: Back to School U Neck Vest

I finally have a finished garment that I can show on the blog. You might be surprised to see that it is the Back to School UNeck Vest by Stefanie Japel, instead of the Ribby Pulli, but pics will be coming.I finished the Ribby Pulli first, but have not yet had a chance to get modeled shots.It is super comfortable. I have already worn it twice.

Now on to the Back-to-School U Neck Vest. This project was very easy, as evidenced as I knit it in just over a month. I would have had it completed by the month's end if I hadn't screwed up sewing the seams. This vest is knit in the round, until you get to the bust area. When I needed to seam the shoulders, I ended up seaming them to the wrong sides. And then I wove in all the ends quite well. I was not able to find the ends and had to wait to take it to my LYS to help find the end(s), so that I could seam the correct sides together.

Now, for a couple of shots.

Project Details-

Yarn used: Cascade220 in a blue-green variegated color, 3 skeins

Project: Back to School U-Neck Vest by Stefanie Japel from Fitted Knits

Needles: US 7 (4.5mm)

Length of project: started January 1, 2009 and completed February 7, 2009

Mods: I didn't make any modifications to this project and knit it as written. It was an enjoyable knit and I liked the addition of bust darts in the vest. Very quick and easy even with loads of 2x2 ribbing. I love how the vest turned out and it looks great with my teal shirt or I can wear it with a white shirt. The vest was the perfect amount of warmth too. While wearing it, I never felt too hot, which is always a concern for me. All in all, a great project. Here's to NaKniSweMoDo!

January Knitting Goals Progress

So dear readers, it's been awhile. I have been meaning to pop in and blog and it just never happened. I've been thinking about this alot and that I will have a goal of blogging at least once a week. While I haven't been blogging, there has been plenty of knitting going on. I even managed to make most of my knitting goals for January too.

The first goal was to knit myself a hat. Finally did that:

It was made using my Malabrigo leftovers from the Ruffles scarf. Oh, so yummy and soft. The hat pattern is the Amanda Hat of Sleepy Eyes Knitting. This hat went very quickly and I had just enough Malabrigo leftover to knit the hat. Good way to use up leftovers!

Second goal was to finish up M2's candycorn socks. Done! They have been washed and blocked and given to M2. And they have already been worn a couple of times, so it appears the socks are a success.

These socks were made from  Red Rocks Fiber Works , hand-dyed by my friend Mary Kay. Very nice base sock yarn. I am scared for M2 blowing out a heel, but of well. There is plenty of wool for socks in my house.

Third goal was to continue to make progress on my vest project, the Back To School U Neck Vest. I did pretty good with progress for January.

Actually this picture is not the most accurate of progress. The vest is now completed. I finished the picking up the stitches around the neck and armholes just earlier today. I hope to block it early this week and wear it soon.

I also ripped and reknit the neck for the Ribby Pulli. It has been completed and blocked, but I have yet to wear it. Once I finished the sweater, it took about a week to get around to the blocking. However, the weather in Denver has not been cooperating for me to have a photo shoot or even wear it. The weather the past week has been mid-to-high 50s into the 60 degree temps. Sorry I wasn't willing to wear wool to get a photo op! :-)

I hope to have some FO photo pics by next week of the Ribby Pulli and the Back to School U NeckVest.

Talk to you soon!