Week-old photos

Well, I finally got the pics I mentioned last week. Here they are:


All sewn up, but lacking a border


Sleeve detail

Since then, I've added the border (including a buttonhole), and had a fitting. It looked fantastic on my sister. The edging sits high on her neck like a collar, and I but the buttonhole lower than I had planned. Between the two, it sits on her like a tailored bolero jacket, rather than a slouchy snuggly cardigan. I'm going to lengthen the sleeves by about three rows (3/4" or so), but otherwise, it fits beautifully. Of course, I forgot to take pictures of the fitting. Sigh.


I've also been working on Clapotis:


I've done a lot more since then; I'm up to the third dropped stitch. It is absolutely gorgeous. I had a brief concern about the yarn: next to the brown duvet and in artificial light, the greys look much more brown than they do elsewhere and in daylight. I absolutely love it, though.


And now, for no reason:

Camoflauge cat.

Quote of the day

Gauge swatch? I don't need no stinkin' gauge swatch! - knittykitty on You Knit What?


I did half the seaming on Blackberry (thanks to Danielle for the good advice), and hope to have the other seams sewn, the picked-up edges done, and the whole thing blocked by Sunday, when I'm going to NYC to see my sister, and hopefully give it to her.

I also did about four inches of Clapotis while mad at Blackberry's seams.

Alas, you won't get any pictures. I did take them, but can't find the cable for the digital camera. I'll bet the cat stole it. I had some incriminating pictures of her shedding on wedding gifts on there.

Jessica Needs

Blantantly stealing an idea from Danielle:

Jessica Needs:
(results of googling "jessica needs)

1- Jessica needs to keep her mouth shut sometimes instead of just blurting out whatever is in her head
(context: Jessica Simpson)

2- Jessica needs cash
(context: Sarah Jessica Parker, and no Sex & the City movie)

3- Jessica needs a bit of time off by herself to process things
(context: profile of sisters in need of a foster family)

4- Jessica needs an adoptive family that is very structured.
(context: another girl in need of a foster family. Is something going on here?)

5- Jessica needs to change direction... and fast
(context: some Jessica's dating journal)

6- Jessica needs to keep her effin hands off my boy.
(context: Jessica Simpson)

7- Jessica needs you!
(context: Sponsoring Jessica Zaluzky, motorcyle racer. Rock on!)

8- Jessica needs fake titties and then she would be perfect.
(context: Jessica Simpson. Sigh.)

9- Jessica needs to get a kidney fast so she can live her life like she used to.
(context: "Saving Jessica" by Lurlene McDaniel, whose work has been called "pathetic", "melodramatic" and "lightweight" by Library Journal)

10- Jessica needs anything she wants.
(context: the blog of a Hilary Duff fan named Jessica)

Happy birthday, Becky, and congrats!!!

My lovely sister, Rebecca:

Shown here in her first of three bridesmaidings this year (TAKE THAT, PROVERB!)

Shown here with our uncle Brian and our sister Melanie, the rapper

not only has her birthday today, but SHE'S GETTING MARRIED!!!!

I am incredibly pleased, not only because Ryan makes her happy, not only because they're great together, but because I really, honestly like him. He's a great guy, and is going to make a great brother.

Rebecca is the lucky recipient of Blackberry, which I hope to have done in the next couple of days.

Ryan, the lucky man, is the super-nice guy I mentioned in my cheese-loving post back in May.

Blackberry pics, L&L!!!

Here is my Blackberry progress, in all it's glory:

laid flat, and apparently incredibly interesting to Una


Wiht fronts laid approximately in place


The mostly-done sleeve I did on the way to New Hampshire this morning (mmm... cables...)


The Knitting Deities have blessed me. I have not one, not two, but THREE gorgeous yarns for THREE fabulous projects in my newly-dubbed stash. You've already seen Ambrosia (for Hopeful) and Shadow (for Sweet Mary Jane), but now I have Lion & Lamb for Clapotis #2 (fall edition):


Ok, not all of it is for me. Half of it is for my yarn buddy in CA, who also wanted to make a Clapotis in this colorway. The pattern for Clapotis calls for "a little more than three" skeins of L&L. Considering how pricey it is, an extra skein really makses a difference. So instead of buying 4 skeins each, we bought 7 to split. Whee!

Not only is this beautiful, soft, light-weight yarn, but the colorway is perfect. It is #37, "Forest", which no longer appears on the Lorna's Laces color card, but which Angelika's Yarn Store convinced them to bring out of retirement for us. (Thanks, Angelika!)

I spent literally months looking for just the right yarn and colorway for this project. Most of my clothing is either turquoise, teal, or red, so I looked for something that had turquoise, red and black in it. I found Noro Silk Garden #211 (as seen in this photo from Knotology):

which had all the right colors, but the yarn was somewhat scratchy against my neck. I am very sensitive to these things.

After looking and looking I found another that had those colors, but it was hideous. (I won't say where.) Finally, I decided not to try to go all matchy-matchy, and started looking into other options. Once I let go, I found the perfect thing. The many colors in Forest will look great with my turquoises, teals, jeans, and blacks. Plus, I strongly suspect they'll work with my reds as well.



Oh, great Yarn Dieties, Rulers of all Fiber! Now that I have been so blessed, may I be deserving of thy luxurious bounties of yarn. (Specifically, may I avoid flying through Clapotis, and remember to savor every stitch of this gorgeous yarn.)

Flying Blackberries

Fastest. Sweater. Ever.

My yarn arrived on Wednesday. On Wednesday night, I did the pattern math and cast on.

On Thursday, I worked the entire back and both sides of the front.

I'm half-way done. Dude.

I reached the half-way mark 27 hours after starting the project. And in that time I also:
- worked a full day
- got 7 hours of sleep
- had a leisurely dinner at Legal Seafood
- did six loads of laundry


Process knitter though I may be, I'm beginning to understand why people love bulk yarn.

(pictures coming soon)

Yarn!

Mmmm... not one but TWO shipments from Knitpicks, arranged nicely for ogling:


Thats:

Andean Silk in Slate (top)
to be used double-stranded for Blackberry, as a birthday gift for my sister. I get the perfect gauge on the needle size called for (11st, 14rows on size 13s) when double-stranding. Plus, I end up with a bulky-weight alpaca/silk/merino sweater for under $50!

Ambrosia in Fog (outside)
for Hopeful for ME

Shadow in Vineyard (front)
for Sweet Mary Jane, also for me. That was a total impulse purchase, but how often can you blow $10 on a project (and that covers yarn AND the pattern) and get a full-sized garment out of it? It's lovely, and the pattern fee is donated to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

Alpaca Cloud in Horizon (top)
just to play with. :)


And now, for no reason, Una:


Showing her appreciation for fine woolens


Revealing her true evil nature