When a Problem Comes Along, You Must Rip It....

And that's exactly what I did. Remember that cute cropped jacket from Vogue Knitting. You know, the one I've been talking about for the last 2 posts. Come on, the one I'm knitting for the month of February in the Knit a Sweater a Month Challenge on Ravelry. Yes, that one! Well, I was working along quite nicely, I had joined the sleeves and begun the decreases of the neckline, but as I was working something just didn't look or feel quite right. You know how sometimes you work along, knowing something doesn't feel quite right, but figure it'll work itself out along the way. Yeah, well that didn't happen this time around. Well into the decreases, I realized that my 2 front panels of the jacket weren't matching, meaning I had decreased more on one end than on the other. And so, there was no avoiding it, I had to rip back... alllllll the wayyy back to before the joining of the sleeves. Yes, while it was painful to do all that ripping, and trust me when I tell you it was quite a lot of ripping back, I'd rather have a great little jacket than one that's lacking and lopsided. So, I'm okay with my decision (it took a lot for me to say that... lol) Hopefully, the next time we chat, I'll have something productive to show you all. Until then, I shall continue to knit!

For Whom The Bell Tolls...

Well, I've done it! You knew I couldn't put a pattern that I loved out there and not start knitting it right away, and that's exactly what I did. Last we spoke, I had shown you the Cropped Jacket from the Fall 2009 issue of Vogue Knitting. Well, I kept day dreaming about that damn thing that I had to go ahead and start it right away. I had some gorgeous, no, I MEAN GORGEOUS Berroco Lustra in my stash in a phenomenal Peacock blue color. Everytime I look at this yarn, it takes my breath away..... it's soooooo pretty.

So, I went ahead and cast on this cute little cardi and started knitting, and guess what this pattern calls for... seed stitch and you guys know my affinity for seed stitch... :op So, right off the bat I was a happy camper. Then we got to the bell pattern which makes up most of the body of this cute jacket. At first, I wasn't quite sure I was doing the right thing because it was a little holey (is that a word?) from the yarn overs. But one quick look at other people's Ravelry projects and I knew I was on the right track. Boy, let me tell you, when you first start knitting those bells, you aren't quite sure what you got yourself into, but when you see it work up bell after bell, you simply FALL IN LOVE!

Now, for pictures of my WIP (that's Work In Progress for you non-knitting folk). But first, can I just vent and let you all know how pissed I am that I am sans-camera and that I now have to use a stupid web cam to take pictures of gorgeous yarn and of my work. It's not fair, that my pics are crappy. I like pretty pics, I want them just as much as the next person, but alas I'll have to stick with the webcam until I figure out another solution. Okay, so now that I've warned you, you have very low expectations for the picture I'm about to show you and that's a good thing, because the picture sucks... lol

Just What I Needed!

Oh you guys,
I can't tell you how much I LOVED making the Easy Baby Cardigan by Diane Soucy. It was fan-freakin-tastic to make and can I tell you that I loved the end result! Are you dying to see it? Come on, I know you are!
Okay here it is, my Easy Baby Cardigan for Ghassan (my sister-in-law's soon to be little one) in a gorgeous, let me repeat that, GORGEOUS peridot green.

Note: I have to apologize for the quality of the pics, they're from the webcam as I lent my camera out and of course now it's no longer working....



Honestly guys, I cannot tell you how gorgeous this color is! It's luscious and lovely and well I just can't say enough and the pictures just don't say enough!

Okay, now let's get into the details of this little sucker.
First, the original pattern calls for a garter stitch border, but I wasn't feeling that. I went ahead and changed my border to a lovely seed stitch border. I just love seed stitch, something about it just makes me happy. Now, I know there are those of you who don't feel the same way, but for me there's something soothing about knitting and purling, and knitting and purling, and knitting... and well you get my drift.



Can you see the magic of the seed stitch... Ahhhhhh, it makes me happy even in a crappy picture!

I also chose to go ahead and attach 2 I-cords for ties right at the neck.



Now, I wanted to make another set of ties a little further down, but my mother-in-law insisted that one at the base of the hood would be enough; however, I have to be honest and say that I think my sister-in-law is going to request another set of ties because well, it just makes sense, at least to me!

Can I tell you guys, this was just the project I needed. I've been down and out lately and while I'm not out of the woods, this renewed life into my knitting. It was incredibly soothing and not at all stressful and I have to tell you it helped bring my knitting mojo back, which is great because I really need to keep my mind and hands busy with something otherwise, if I sit and think about the problems at hand, I might just go crazy!!!!!!!

Well, I guess that's it for now, I have to go and contemplate what my next project will be. I'm not sure I want to go ahead and pick up the Featherweight Cardi just yet. I'm thinking I might make this cropped jacket from the 2009 fall issue of Vogue Knitting



Isn't it purty! If you have any ideas, let me know! 'Til next time....

In Hibernation

Okay,
That's it! I've had it with this yarn and with this cardigan for now. I don't know if it's me or it, but for right now the Featherweight Cardi I'm dying to make just isn't dying to be made by me for now. So, I've decided to put it down for a bit in hopes that it will coax itself into submission.
In the meantime, I've started on something a little simpler and super cute: The Easy Baby Cardigan by Diane Soucy.

Photo by verabee

Since this is an April baby, I've decided to make this with Berroco Cotton Twist in a gorgeous peridot color. I've chosen cotton because this is a Middle Eastern baby and so April is nice and warm so cotton is a natural choice.

Courtesy of Yarn Market.com

I have to be honest, this picture does not do the color justice, but my camera is out on loan right now, so this will have to do. I've already finished the cap and will begin working the yoke soon.

All in all, this has definitely helped me gather my knitting and soon I'll be back to my Featherweight, but for now I'm enjoying knitting for babies.

My Heart's Just Not Into It...

I know I spoke of how super excited I was to start on my Featherweight Cardigan by Hannah Fettig, but after some familial issues I'm dealing with a bout of depression that I cannot shake loose. Even worse, it's not letting me knit. I mean I try, really I do. I start with my cast on, get 5 or 6 rows in and then BOOM, a mistake or a dropped stitch, or something and I find myself ripping out my work putting it down for the day and not wanting to pick it up again for the rest of that day. My heart is heavy and hurting and I hope that this bout passes soon.
Thanks for listening....