Yarn Crawl

Wicked FO and Itinerary Info

So, I decided to wear Wicked to work today as it is a perfect top for layering and it snowed last night, so I wanted to wear something warm.

Here it is:

I made between the XS and S, doing the same thing as I did with 28Thirty (following the XS instructions for the front, then continuing to do the increases for the S on the arms and back.) I like how it came out. I made it longer than I would make most tops and I like how the length worked out. The yarn is the Tess Cultivated Silk & Wool that I bought at Stitches Midwest last year. I used about 500 yards, so I still have a skein and a half (about 300 yards.) Ideas? I will probably destash it, actually, because I'm so not about the small projects.

Now, on to my itinerary for today through the next two weeks:

2/29 –flight from Chicago O’Hare to Miami at 5:50 p.m.; flight from Miami to Santiago, Chile at 11:25 p.m.
3/1 – arrive in Chile at 9:40 a.m.; set sail from Valparaiso, Chile at 9 p.m.
3/2 – La Serena (Coquimbo), Chile: Tamaya Winery and Santa Cristina Country House
3/3 – At Sea
3/4 – Puerto Montt, Chile: Petrohue Falls and The Chilean Lake District
3/5 – At Sea - Cruising the Chilean Fjords
3/6 – At Sea - Cruising the Strait of Magellan
3/7 – Punta Arenas, Chile: Magdalena Island Natural Penguin Reserve
3/8 – Ushuaia, Argentina: Beagle Channel Navigation & National Park
3/9 – At Sea - Cruising around Cape Horn, Chile
3/10 – At Sea
3/11 – Punta Loma, Paleontological Museum & Welsh Tea
3/12 – At Sea
3/13 – Punta del Este, Uruguay: Punta Del Este, Ralli Museum and Casapueblo
3/14 – Montevideo, Uruguay: Juanico Winery
3/15 – return flight from Buenos Aires, Argentina at 11:40 p.m.
3/16 – arrive in Miami at 6:20 a.m., depart Miami for O’Hare at 11:20 a.m., arrive at O’Hare at 1:35 p.m.

I am so excited!! In my absence, my friend Lisa (partner in crime for the 2006 Stitches East "Yarn Crawl", formerly referred to as "Blog-free Lisa") has volunteered to take over my blog as a "guest blogger" for the two weeks. She will be showing you her projects, finished objects and talk about knitting/upcoming projects she has planned. She has been knitting since college (or before that, maybe?) and likes epic projects. She is a fan of "knitting gymnastics" and likes a good challenge served up with her knitting projects. I was looking for a picture of her to show you, from Stitches East in '06, but I can't seem to find one right now.

I went back and forth about which projects to bring with me, but now I think I finally decided. I am going to go with the Mirepoix sleeves, Cable Down Raglan and Lacy Little Top. (ETA: my Mirepoix pattern is hiding from me right now, so I am taking the plunge with only two projects - I may finish both!) I considered Forecast, but that's a lot of wool to cart around!! I also have audiobooks on my iPod, the Bose noise cancelling headphones, and some logic puzzles to keep me occupied. Jim has his own iPod, his own set of headphones (extremely key), puzzle books, the Lord of the Rings book and a few little bottles of Jack Daniels to keep him occupied. LOL!

Talk to you on St. Paddy's Day!

"Wicked Skirt" Done!

This morning I took another look at the "Wicked Skirt" and decided it would be too hard to take in, because the yoke/waistband would also have to be taken in, etc. So I just decided to wear it lower down on my hips, as it's supposed to be worn 1" below the waist anyway.

I did decide though that it will *not* look right with Wicked as it hits just below the waistband and makes it look funny. I guess I could rip Wicked back to make it shorter, but I wove in all the ends and it would actually be difficult to find them now. So these two items are going to be worn separately. I'll show the Wicked sweater separately either tomorrow, if I have time, or when I get back.

Here's the pics of the skirt by itself, which I wore with an Eileen Fisher jacket I had in my closet but don't really wear a lot.

Here it is without the jacket:

I like it, but I will make one size down next time. It could be a little shorter too; when I hemmed it, it was sitting higher up on my body so now it's a little long. Usually the best length for me is just above the knee - this one is just below. You can't really see it that well as I'm wearing it with knee high boots. I actually am liking A-line skirts a little better now than this style now that I have a bit more of a waist. The lower-rise skirts seem to look a little dumpy now. Right on time, as I think higher waisted things are back (but I can't go super high, as I am short-waisted and it looks silly!)

28Thirty - Done!

I finished 28Thirty yesterday and am wearing it to work today - I love it!

Here's my "glamour shot" of it:

and a normal shot - bonus, in front of the yarn closet from where it came (knitted from stash):

The only straight on shot came out a little blurry:

and goofy Jim also had to take a picture of me wearing it while I was putting my makeup on - blogstalking opportunity for everyone to see my messy bathroom and millions of "products":

Now for the specs - I got gauge on the recommended needles, used Noro Kureyon I had in stash (I think it was about 6.5 skeins) and made between an XS and a S. Because I am narrow across the chest and wider in the back and have muscular arms in proportion to my bust size, I followed the XS instructions for the increases for all, then when I got to the part where the XS size is directed to separate the sleeves, I kept knitting but only did the increases for the back and sleeves. I probably didn't need to do this on the sleeves, as they are roomier than most sleeves I knit, but that's OK as it's comfy and easy to slip over a shirt. I knew it was going to be a layering piece, so I wanted to make sure it wouldn't be too tight across the back or sleeves. Mission accomplished, without being too large.

On the sleeves, I didn't do the garter ridge pattern after separating the sleeves as I didn't want to add bulk. I just knit them in the round in stockinette but did the 2 decreases every 6th row until I got to about the elbow, then knit without decreases for about three inches, then started the four inches of seed (moss?) stitch. I did keep that part as directed by the pattern.

I made the sleeves a little short because I wanted whatever layering top underneath to show, also because I was worried about the sleeves growing in length too much and being over my knuckles, as this happens sometimes with my projects after I wash them. They're a little short, but I like the look with long sleeve Ts, which is probably the way I'd always wear this. I didn't put the top button at the very top of the collar as I didn't like how it would look. I also don't ever button anything up, so that looked funny to me when I tried it on, although it fit fine.

I really like this pattern the way I made it, but I also like the others that people have made that are longer (check Ravelry - Cattywampus made a great looking one.)

In other happy news, I was looking at myself in the mirror this morning and decided to measure my hips to see if anything changed, as they looked a little narrower to me. Well, yay! I am one inch off from my goal of 36" hips. I haven't seen that in awhile. I'll never be the "ideal hourglass figure" as I am too rectangular/athletically shaped for that - my waist will never be 10" smaller than my bust as that would mean it'd be 24", a waist size I haven't seen since I've been measuring it, even not at 16 and 90 pounds (which is disgustingly thin on me, involves eating only iceberg lettuce and is a 26" waist for me - my bones are just too big for that.) Right now I am 34-29-37 and I'd like to be 34-28-36.

So Yay! My workouts are working!

Bought Yarn for Equinox Yoke Pullover!

I just bought yarn for the Equinox Yoke Pullover with part of a very generous Elann gift certificate I just received. It was on the cover of Fall '06 Interweave and I've had my eye on it for awhile. I even tried it on at a trunk show awhile back, which confirmed that I should definitely go with the smallest size, the 34, which is my usual size anyway. The sample was a 38" and it was way too big on me, as 38" finished measurements always are. I remember I was surprised at this as I was still pretty new to knitting and was in the mindset of "positive ease" rather than zero or negative. I had been put off by the large number of skeins it requires, though, because of all the colors.

Enter Elann. Now that they have pure alpaca in so many colors, the price is substantially lower for the same yardage of 100% pure alpaca. They had all the colors except for one - which I had already bought of the recommended yarn from another source about a year ago - tell me that isn't a sign!! This will be my fall fair isle project! I guess I always have to have at least one "epic" project on the needles (like Mirepoix, the Lace & Bobble jacket, etc.)

Cable Down Raglan Progress

Last night I didn't get much done as I was really wiped out, and we got a lot of snow. I had zero energy so I ended up going to bed really early. I really need to get my clothes together for the trip though! I have my three formal night dresses figured out, as that's actually the easiest part, but I need to figure out the other nights, and daytime wear for excursions, etc.

Here's the beginnings of the Cable Down Raglan:

Today I plan to sew the buttons on 28Thirty and weave in the ends, because I want to wear it tomorrow! I have my MBA class again for the first time in what feels like forever, now that classes are back in session after the tragedy. However, I should be able to work in some time today to do it during the day.

Thanks!

I just sent the email to my instructor and dropped the class through the web site. It's done, and I feel so relieved! This tells me it was the right decision. Now for that bonfire....

Last night after I posted about dropping, I decided to work on the Cable Down Raglan I had started a few weeks ago, as I thought something that takes a lot of concentration might be just the thing to distract me from my blah feeling about the sewing class. It worked like a charm! I got the first 12 rounds of the cable chart done and now this is making a lot of sense. I had been confused about it before, but now it made perfect sense.

So yay!

I plan to show 28Thirty, take in the waist/hip on the Wicked skirt and model it with Wicked, and show pics of Cable Down Raglan this week. Also I'll be posting about shore excursions for my trip (flight out on FRIDAY NIGHT) and telling you about a special "guest blogger" I'm going to have taking over my blog in my 2-week absence.

Have a great week!

Eliminating Stress

I finished 28Thirty today and it is drying off after its bath. I washed it in some of Jim's all in one shampoo/conditioner to soften it up (as it's Noro Kureyon and a wee bit scratchy.) It seems to have relaxed a bit and should fit perfectly. Usually I would do all finishing, end-weaving, button sewing, etc. before washing it, but this time I decided to wash it first to see what it looks like after that and then do everything after it dries. It's drying quickly and it should be ready to model by Tuesday!

In other not-so-upbeat news, this jacket actually has me feeling physically sick now. I've cried, screamed, and sworn at this thing and it's not getting any better. Bleah. There are definitely better ways for me to spend my free time.

Therefore, I plan on sending this email to my instructor. It's still in draft form, but I really think it's the right decision.

Hi Luanne,

I just wanted to let you know that I'm planning to withdraw from FASH 1156 tomorrow. I'm very frustrated with this jacket project and despite a significant amount of time and effort, it really doesn't look good at all. The experience has encouraged me to plan to work on another jacket style later on my own timetable, though, and I will use the underlining technique you taught us as that aspect worked out very well.

The biggest reason for my withdrawal is that I'm pretty stressed out about "sewing on a deadline", and the stress has taken the fun out of sewing. It's very much become a task to me instead of something I do for fun. So, I think I need to take a break from deadline sewing for a while and work on projects I feel like working on, on a timetable I can manage. I think I learn best through practice, so I think I just need to do that now with the great information I've gotten from your classes and also find some reference books/online sources to continue learning more techniques.

Thanks for all of your help. I just wanted to give you a heads-up that you'd be seeing my withdrawal coming through and that I won't be in class going forward.

Robin

Too dramatic? Too "goodbye, cruel world"? It really communicates how I feel. The other projects are knits (already learning about this on my own) and pants (already learning about these adjustments on my own too through the muslins I was working on.) I just feel like the additional knowledge I would gain by being in class is significantly outweighed by the deadline stress and time investment. Ugh. I feel sad about it, but at the same time, relieved. Blah....

I'm going to sleep on it and decide tomorrow. The one thing that is really bothering me is the lack of time to knit. Until today I hadn't knit a stitch all weekend because I was working on this, and it was really upsetting me. Knitting never makes me feel upset, knitting always makes me happy. Although I'm not saying I'm going to give up sewing, I think it needs to take a back seat to my "true love". It's keeping me from designing sweaters, too, and there are so many designs I have in mind that I haven't been able to get to working on.

Done with Sewing for the Day

I have hit rock bottom with this jacket and we are officially breaking up.

I decided to just pin the lining the way I think it should go and mark the buttonhole and button placement, and bring it to class for help. I think the lining is supposed to be pinned with the wrong side out so that then it can turn right side out, but I'm confused about the sleeve lining. I'm totally frustrated with the sleeves anyway, in general, as there is usually a side seam to line up the sleeve seam with, but not on this pattern because there's a side "panel", the seams of which are not supposed to line up with the sleeve seam. Grrr.

Here's some pictures of the "tranny mess" as Christian on Project Runway would say:

It's taking everything in me not to throw this into the catbox. OK, that was my first real laugh of the day.

Buttons and Stitch Markers!!

I'm currently procrastinating about finishing my New Look jacket. I was out late last night at my friend's party and slept in a little bit today, til 10 am. I did do my full regular workout, and ate a healthy lunch. Next, I decided to go to Hancock's and get some buttons for all my projects that need them. They just so happened to be 50% off today, so that worked out well, especially as I was buying so many. They didn't have quite enough of a few of the styles I liked, but I like the ones I ended up getting.

First, the ones for Forecast - I have to go back for two more when more come in, as there are supposed to be ten. I may or may not end up making that many buttonholes when I do the button bands, as usually I don't need as many as the patterns say because I shorten everything.

I decided to go with 1" buttons on 28Thirty, as that looks like it will fit the buttonhole size well. They don't actually say what size buttons to get in the pattern, maybe because everyone will make their "double YOs" a different size, or even do single YOs. I did the double YOs and then dropped one and knitted into the other to keep the stitch count consistent.

On the New Look jacket, which really prompted the button-purchasing excursion, I bought two different sets of buttons as I wasn't sure which to go with.

Here's Option 1

and Option 2

It's hard to see in this picture, but Option 2 has multicolor sparkles on its black background.

Here's how they look against the jacket fabric:

I'm leaning toward the 2nd one, as one of the multicolor sparkles is the same color as the jacket. I almost think the jacket needs more "pizzazz" with the sparkly buttons. I don't know though. Too much?

The other thing I wanted to talk about was the fabulous package I received from Monica of Rubys-n-Purls! I emailed her to ask if she was still making stitch markers, as I really like hers the best out of any I've used, and so we agreed she would make me some purple ones for $12 including shipping (which I think is a great price.) She surprised me with another wonderful set for my birthday!! The edges of the card and the birthday stitch marker-card ripped in my haste to get into the package, I was so excited! So that's why they look like that! Monica's pictures of them look a lot better than mine do! Thanks again, Monica!!!

Fabulous, huh?

OK, now back to the jacket. I made a ton of progress on it last week in 3 1/2 hours, so I should have no problem finishing it by Monday with all the time I have til then. I don't technically have to walk in on Monday night with a finished garment in hand, and I am sure almost no one will, but I want to be done and not have any last minute deadline pressure in the classroom making buttonholes, sewing buttons, etc. That was why I think I ripped through the buttonholes on the shirt I made last semester, because I was rushing to get it finished. So all the other projects I have going have to take a back seat to this one til it is done and out of my life. I still don't know how well I'm going to like it, but maybe I will be pleasantly surprised! Hopefully! And if not, I learned a lot about jacket construction and can work on a style I like better next time!

FRIDAY!!!!!

Woo-hoo! It's Friday!! Today is Bonus Day at my company and my bonus was happily deposited in my checking account in the wee hours of the morning (and transferred to savings as soon as I woke up!!) Last year we didn't get one, and it was a good year, so this year's is XXL. Love it!

Last night I started a new spring/summer project to take with me on my cruise (one WEEK from today). It's the Lacy Little Top from Lana Knits, using some black Elann Canapone (lightweight hemp) from stash. I have to say I am really enjoying working with the lighter weight hemp, even though it is on size 2 needles, as compared to the worsted weight version. This lightweight version (6.25 stitches to the inch) is easy on my hands and it actually is working well on the bamboo needles. I wasn't sure how that would work, because on the heavier hemp, I would only use Addi Turbos. Without further ado..

It doesn't look like much yet, but I am liking the project.

At first I was thinking I would bring three new spring/summer projects with me on the cruise, but now I decided that I am going to try to finish up at least one of my WIPs instead. I am going to bring the Mirepoix sleeves for sure, as they are on size 3s and I seem to have been working on this first sleeve forever. Then when I get back I can finish this sweater up already, as all I have to do on the body is about three more inches, then the steeking.

I am kind of thinking of bringing Forecast to finish it up too, as I have the body ribbing and both sleeves to finish, and it would only require bringing the two remaining skeins of the Lamb's Pride worsted. It will be cold in the southern end of South America so I could even wear it once I finished it, if I finished it on the cruise. Not sure on this yet, but it would feel really good to finish something else!

In other news, I got my hair done yesterday and LOVE IT. I went to a new place by my house, as I wanted to get some highlights put in, and also correct an issue I was having with the allover color being too reddish on top and dark on the bottom. It was only $50 for the highlights and allover color, plus a $20 tip for the stylist. Can you believe that?? I have paid so much more than that and have not been half as happy with the results. This girl is really talented, only 21 years old, and I will definitely be going back to her.

Check out these highlights!!

One other great piece of news for the day is that my workouts are working!! Despite no movement on the numbers on the scale (which was really discouraging me as I really have been ramping everything up lately) I measured myself this morning and I've lost 1.5 inches off my waist!! Woo-hoo!