Whittling the Queue with WIPs

More specifically, by COMPLETING WIPs…

I love starting new projects. You can play with new colors, new yarns, new stitch patterns. You imagine how wonderful it will be when the days get cold and you can bundle up in lovely wraps, sweaters and hats. But then, you get bored. After hours of the same slog – have you noticed that some of the loveliest patterns are the most boring? – you want a change. This leads to a lot of WIPs. How many are on your needles right now? Let’s be honest.

My breakdown is as follows: (I think)

6 sweaters (3 are about 80% done, 2 about 15%, 1 about 0.05% – just cast on)

1 tank (40%)

1 shawl (40%)

2 pairs of fingerless gloves (60%)

3 pairs of socks (80% for 2, and 50% for 1)

So, 13. That’s actually a lot better than it could have been. It’s still pretty bad, though.

(And it’s an unlucky number. When 13 projects are stored in the same basket, the first one grabbed will be the first to die, or dye, or something like that, I’ll have to ask Professor Trelawney.)

I have sworn to finish a few more projects before starting anything new – minus that new sweater I just cast on, which between us, I never should have started at this point. In the interests of not losing interest (did that make sense?), I’m going to show you a few of the projects in the works. These held high priority in my queue at one point. Maybe they’ll make yours this week?

_______________________________________________________________

#33 Worldly – by Verona Design Team

I’m making this sweater for my father as his Christmas 2014 present. Yes, I know.

In my defense, it is knit on size 2 needles and was completed up to the armholes early last year but then he tried it on and found it too small. I suggested he could lose weight. He didn’t like that suggestion. So I ripped it all out. Let me say that I again in case anyone missed it. I ripped. it. ALL. OUT. When there was about 1 inch left of it that hadn’t been wound into the world’s largest yarn ball, he looked at it, asked what I was doing and then said, “But I could have lost weight!”

Can you really blame me now? Honestly? Wouldn’t you have to experience a temporary sweater separation after that debacle?

It’s about a foot long now. We’re getting there. I’m hoping for an FO by the end of the year. If nothing else, I’ve made the world’s largest gauge swatch. If it doesn’t fit this time, there will be no strike 3. The heart can only take so much.

Please do not let my horror story distract you though, it really is a wonderful sweater, and when this baby is done, it’s gonna be epic. EPIC!

_______________________________________________________________

Sand Pullover – by Ela Torrente

I am almost finished with this one. You’ll likely see an FO post for it at the beginning of next month. This sweater has so many positive qualities. It’s longer in the back than the front due to some added short rows. It’s top down (yay!). The stitch pattern is easy to memorize but not too boring. The broken ribbing makes the sweater stretchy and very warm. Limited lace details add a lot of appeal without a lot of effort.

In addition, this is the first sweater that I’ve knit using Dream in Color Classy. I’m sold on this yarn. It’s nice and soft after washing, but doesn’t seem to pill as badly as some. I’m not so sold on the color I chose – that’s the curse of online shopping – but an over-dye shouldn’t be too difficult to manage.

It should be noted that when making a top down sweater, periodic blocking is key. I may have made mine tunic length by accident… we will see once it’s completely dry. I like it anyway.

_______________________________________________________________

And let’s not forget the weekly recipe, either.

Lemon Poppyseed Bundt Cake

In the interest of keeping up with the WIPs theme, it should be noted that this recipe is already in progress. Mixing is completed and all it needs at this point is to be baked. It’s going in a regular loaf pan because I’m not convinced at this point that I won’t destroy it if I go the bundt route – the bundt and I have not been friends, lately. I’m also probably not going to add the icing because, while I love icing, my jeans don’t.

But if one of you decides to go whole hog and actually follow directions – what a novel idea! – please let me know how yours turned out, as I’m quite curious. 🙂

Till next week! May we have fewer WIPs tomorrow than we do today!

 

It’s Finally Here! – And Back Again

So, guess what’s been posted for download? You got it!
And Back Again

I love the simple clean lines and the natural progression of this pattern, and hope you’ll all enjoy knitting it as much as I did. Warning: It’s addicting and moves fast! If you have any questions about the design, please contact me and let me know. I’ll do what I can to help you.

So, now that my latest sock has been knit, what’s next on the list? Well, I have a half-finished sock that needs some attention and once it’s finished, the pattern itself needs to be written so that it can be sent to my fabulous test knitters. (You folks are amazing!!) Hopefully I’ll have that for you all soon.

Oh, and you know my sad little Ravellenics sweater?

Yeah, it could use some love I think.

I feel sort of bad. For the last week my yarn has been mostly ignored in favor of knives. Yes, we got our knife kits in class today and I think I may be in love. Other people have children to cradle. Give me time… For now though, I’ll be satisfied with cradeling my knives. – Kept safely in their cases, pointy parts covered by plastic, of course, I’m not THAT crazy.

That reminds me. Anyone have a good vinagrette recipe? I could use the practice.

Or, Maybe Not.

Have you ever had one of those days where you looked back at the last, oh I don’t know, week, and realized that you’ve gotten nothing accomplished? Well, that’s me today. Work wise, I suppose a lot of things have been closed and completed in preparation for my leaving. At home… not so much. The apartment looks like a train hit it (I still can’t figure out how that works when it’s half empty) and I think it can be stated with absolute certainty that Dahlia will not be anywhere close to complete by the time the Olympics are over. This is where it currently stands.

Yup, lacking a little bit, huh?

But, there is one good thing about knowing without question that you’re going to miss a deadline. Now, I can take my time and make this sweater look the way I really want it to. Here’s the plan.

Combine this and this.

I love the back of Dahlia, but absolutely hate the front. It doesn’t seem very flattering in general, and I can’t help but think of a comment I saw earlier describing it as a “sweater for Sponge Bob Square Pants.” This combination though, it could work. Has anyone ever done something like this before, and if so, have you got any suggestions for this poor knitter? Other than adding length, sweater adjustment is something I’ve never really tried as of this point. Any tips would be a God send. Thanks in advance!

By the way, I have been working on a design for a new sock for the last few days, so I have been knitting, just not what I told myself I’d knit. Inspiration hasn’t hit yet, but give it time. If nothing else, I now have verifiable proof that Dream in Color sock yarn holds up like iron. It handled rip after rip after rip after rip…

On Pigs and Geico Commercials

Today I did something I haven’t done in 6 years. I turned in a Letter of Resignation. Last time, I got the response of  “You’re joking, right?” It totally threw me for a loop. Today’s response was much better but then, I think they knew it was coming. I got my MBA this past spring, so the time had come. Still, I’m going to miss everyone.

Like the guy who poured rotten egg smell on a towel, placed said towel in my office and then shut the door overnight…

Or the little stinker who liked stealing my purse and sticking it on the top row of the walk in freezer…

I’ll even miss the person who threated to sneak a fake rat under my desk just last week – yes Tom, I’m talking to you.

You know, looking back it amazes me we had time to get any actual work done.

But anyway. The two week countdown has begun. Woohoo!!! I’ve been feeling a bit like the pig in the Geico commercial all day. You know. Wheeeee!! wheeewheee!!! I did that all the way home – ok, not really. Only about halfway home. 🙂

Speaking of two weeks… The Olympics start today! You didn’t think I’d forget, did you? Everyone ready?

Here’s my plan of action- if you read my earlier post on the subject, you’ll note that none of the projects that I’m starting are any of the ones I’d planned. But then, where’s the fun in that?

The first (and maybe only) official project – Dahlia.

Yarn is Knitpicks Palette, in Lipstick.

The back of this cardigan is absolutely gorgeous and the construction looks like a lot of fun, but I’m not fully sold on the way the front is draped. I’m also between two sizes (size 38) and don’t trust the swatch at all, so this whole thing could be a complete bust. We’ll see, half the fun is in finding out.

Along with the sweater, I’m going to attempt to do some further sock design. Will let you know if I strike gold.

BTW, is it a requirement to actually WATCH the Olympics while you’re doing this? My television is still on the blink. No channels, just movies. Was considering doing an Olympic Star Wars and/or Lord of the Rings marathon, but I wasn’t sure if that would be cheating.

Summer Olympics – AKA, So Much Yarn, So Little Time

It’s possible I have a yarn problem. The stash just keeps growing, it won’t stop, and every attempt I make to slow it down just makes it worse.

And you know what? Yarn diets don’t work.

They might help in the short term, but in the long run, you’ll end up binging. Trust me, I speak from experience. Coincidentally, the same went for the Atkins diet a few years back. I ended up in a doughnut coma. Tasty, but baaaaad for the waistline. And just thinking about it makes me hungry…

So, since yarn dieting is out, I guess knitting the stash is in. The summer olympics run from July 27th to Aug 12th. Now we’re going to ignore the fact that 1- my television currently doesn’t work and 2 – I’m gonna have to move from my apartment in that time period. I’d still like to finish a project or two. The above issues will work themselves out. 🙂

Here are my choices. Feel free to add suggestions.

The Mermaid’s Gift – by Lachesis

Her designs are beautiful in general, and this one is so delicate and floaty it takes my breath away.  Not to mention, I have a lot of lace yarn, so there are plenty of colors to choose from. This is gorgeous in pastel, but I bet it’d make a beautiful dark wrap as well.

Terra Linda Cardigan – by Rosemary Hill

Am I the only one reminded of February Lady with this one? I love the texture here, it would be lovely in rich tones – especially blue (although I love blue, so I might be biased). The fact that it’s top down is a winner as well, since I have a compulsive need to try on every sweater I make.

Another project by Lachesis – Daphnae

The springy nature of this wrap is what attracted me to it. Couldn’t you imagine    wearing something like this at the start of spring? Or maybe at the end of winter to kick spring into high gear? I have some green Dream in Color that would work well here.

Finally, on to the last one. Now this one, I don’t really relish knitting it to be totally honest. It would be fiddly and nowhere near relaxing because I’d have an obsessive need to make it look perfect, but…

Maeh – by Beate Zach

I love it. I want it. I need it.

Of course, there’s always the odd chance I’ll try to design something new. Speaking of which, I’m just about to post my first pattern. Woohoo! I’m excited! Please everyone, cross your fingers that all goes smoothly on the publishing front.