The Musings of Meri

random thoughts to help me escape the ho-hum of everyday life...

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Thursday, February 23, 2006

Three days left...

... and I'm thinking I won't make it. Perhaps, if by some miracle my children take long naps the next three days, and if I can keep my eyes open (which has been the real problem)... but I'm beginning to think I will not be done by Sunday night.

However, I'm really proud of what I've accomplished... and I'm not giving up yet. So, here's a picture:

This is the main body and one sleeve - if you look at the left side of the picture, you can see the start of the second sleeve... obviously nothing is seamed together yet, and the pieces are curling terribly because they have not been blocked yet. The sleeve is just folded to look like it (sort of) will. While the pieces are being blocked, I'll begin the cabled neckband.

And now I must sleep...

Thursday, February 16, 2006

Progress check...

Just a quick post to let you see progress. This picture is from this morning.

That is the back of the sweater. I have finished the back and am now working on the right front. I had gotten maybe two inches in, but decided to frog and redo -- the pattern says to decrease (SSK) at the beginning of the center front every six rows -- well, I was doing it right at the edge, and didn't like the sloppy edge that left, so I'm knitting one THEN doing the SSK , so the decrease isn't right at the edge. I had thought about doing that initially, but silly me thought that it would be less noticeable right on the edge. Thankfully, I didn't wait until I was half done with the front before deciding to go back and frog.

I should be grateful -- this is the first time I've had to frog on this project. That is pretty good...

Tuesday, February 14, 2006

plugging along

The knitting went so much faster on the weekend when Don was home to help. Oh well. Did manage to get some done yesterday...
This is almost the entire bottom of the sweater. I have just six rows left of this cabling section before I split for front and back and have some straight knitting for a while (which I'm anticipating will go MUCH faster.) I'd really like to be able to WEAR this sweater the Sunday of the closing ceremonies, so that is my "goal", however, I will be happy to even finish it. If the next part goes as quickly as I think it might, though, I'm hoping to get it done and ready to wear the 26th. We'll see -- that is definitely subject to change! ha ha

Sunday, February 12, 2006

Let it snow! (and day two progress pic)

Well, its here -- the snow storm that has been making almost as much news around here as the Olympics. I'm thinking we won't be venturing out to church this morning. Perhaps tonight.

While I hate to miss church, this will give me more time on the sweater today. Yesterday was very productive! I finished the first set of 24 rounds, and am almost halfway through the second set. Here's the pic: This is the first ball of yarn. Today I start with the second ball.

In other news, I totally forgot to update here on the pants for the custom order! The yarn arrived in Thursday's mail, and I finished the pants (except for kitchener stitching) shortly after midnight. Did the kitchener on Friday morning, and they are now washed, lanolized, and dry -- ready to ship out tomorrow. Pic:


That's it for now! Back to knitting...

Saturday, February 11, 2006

It starts...

... the insanity -- the fun coupled with frustration and an urge to knit almost unlike any other I've had! The project is not easy. The yarn is thin, the needles are small, the pattern is tedious. Sixteen days will be a real challenge. I will try to post daily progress pictures. The pictures will no doubt be taken at night when I finally decide bed is inevitable and really will make me more alert to knit in the morning. The post will probably come in the morning.

So, without further ado (and because my two year old is throwing a fit and I really need to go make my coffee)... here is my first night's progress on the Kimono Sweater:

So there you have it -- this is the first 12 rounds in the first set of three rounds of 24, which will make up the bottom of the sweater.

Tuesday, February 07, 2006

Countdown...

...just what, 3-4 days now until the Olympics! WOW!!! I'm getting nervous about the sweater, but I shouldn't. Its for me and I'm going to love doing it. I have wonderful Addi Turbo needles to use, and my Knit Picks Elegance is all wound and ready.

In the meantime, I'm working on a LionBrand hooded sweater using Homespun -- which I think could contend to be the worst yarn in the world. It splits. While soft, it just feels "ick" after knitting with lovely wool for months. However, the color is pretty (its the Rococco, so a lovely neutral beige). I can't wait to be done with it, but I'm having a hard time making myself work on it. Did finish the back yesterday and start the front. MUST try to finish the front today and at least start one of the sleeves...

I have a custom order that I have to do as soon as the yarn comes in. We've been having trouble with the yarn -- the dye jobs just haven't been what the customer wanted. So we finally found something that will (hopefully) be perfect. It was dyed last weekend, and shipped to me Priority Mail from Washington yesterday... I'm thinking it'll arrive Thursday (though I suppose tomorrow is a possibility). Then I have to stop everything and MAKE THOSE PANTS!!! I may even have to stay up all night to do it... But I HAVE to get them done before 2pm on Friday. That is of the utmost importance. They can be washing or lanolizing after 2pm, that's fine. But all knitting and grafting and weaving MUST be done so that I can start the sweater on time...

I've got some great plans for sets in the future. Would you like a sneak peak??? Well, I really don't think many people read this blog, so I'll go ahead and post the pictures, because I love looking at them. LOL The pictures aren't great, because I took them at night and the lighting wasn't very good, but I'm so excited about them. If you like what you see, you'll just have to stalk my store sometime this spring/summer. *wink wink*


That one is Amy Butler fabrics and Mosaic Moon Yarn in "Chai Latte."


More Amy Butler (her temple flowers line) with some natural Maine Organic yarn.


Amy Butler and BFL from Wooly Wonders by Nada in "Coffee with Extra Cream."


Not Amy Butler, but isn't he cute? Finished that sweater this weekend. (It really does have buttons on it now, but I was too excited and wanted to try it on him). The yarn is LTK superfine merino in "Rudolph" from her Christmas Collection, with a solid red stripe towards the botton in the front. Excuse the dirty face, please -- he has a cold.