Hopeful tweaks, BSJ, colors selected for Autumn Rose

I did the secret-ninja snip, knit, and graft to lengthen my Hopeful. I'm very pleased with the fit now. I think I used the wrong size needles, though: I started with size 6s but the fabric looked too loose, so I frogged back and switched to fives. I think 6s were the correct choice after all. Oh, well. It shouldn't be too noticeable once I even out the tension on the transitional rows (particularly the grafted row) and then block it. (The rest of the sweater was blocked in September, so it has had a chance to relax, while the inserted section hasn't.)




My next step is to make the sleeves longer. I'm not sure if I'll take them to 3/4 or full-length. It may depend on how much yarn I can get my hands on. Knitpicks is discontinuing this yarn and they're out of grey. I contacted a user on Ravelry who has two balls in her stash, but I haven't heard back yet. I'll be crossing dye lots, but I think it won't be obvious if I use the same dye lot for the entirety of both sleeves, rather than switching part-way through the body, for example. We'll see!


I'm also working on a baby surprise jacket for a family friend's coming baby. I'm going to need more yarn. I've ordered more of the gold, light turquoise, and orange. I've got plenty more of the brown, burgundy, pink, and teal, but I think it really needs a turquoise stripe before I use any more of the darker colors, so I'm waiting for the additional yarn to arrive. Here's what I've got so far:




I'm tempted to use the wrong side, since I love the mini-stripes you get on the wrong side when changing colors:


I've also selected the colors for my Autumn Rose:


I'm sitting on my hands to prevent myself from casting on (or even swatching!) before I finish the baby gifts and at least one of my in-progress projects. The yarn is Knit Picks Palette, which I love, especially now that they have more tertiary colors and heathers. The colors are:
Reds: merlot heather, garnet heather, red
Blue-greens: marine heather, calypso heather, tidepool heather (these were xmas gifts from my mom)
Oranges and Tans: brindle heather, fawn, apricot, peach, golden heather

The photo doesn't do the colors justice. The blues are much more blue-green and zippy than they appear, the reds are much richer (and move towards brown), and the oranges transition more smoothly. The oranges and reds just POP against the blues. Every time I passed by the table I had laid them out on, I was struck by how great it looked.

2007 in Review

Here's my annual New Year's Day post.

2007 was a big year personally, but not a big posting year.

NOTE: this post is going to replace the 2007 items in my Finished Objects sidebar. Click on the pictures to link to the appropriate posts, which often have more pics.


STUFF THAT HAPPENED ON THIS YEAR:

- bought our first condo

- made the transition from semi-pro to full pro bellydancer, including teacher training, giving my first workshop, and my first student

- released two episodes of my video podcast on dance composition for belly dancers, Taktaba

- quit my new job and went back to my old job (YAY!!!)

- attended six weddings (including my sister's) and a baby shower

- went to France


THEMES FOR THE YEAR:

- being really busy and not blogging

- knitting a fair bit, but not completing many things

- considerable restraint in yarn shopping

- colorwork, and a general color awareness

- spinning


THINGS I MADE THIS YEAR:

- Tubey #2 in Karabella Aurora 8

This is also the first sweater I've made that has my husband's raving approval; in his words: "I'd buy this one for you in a store".

- Odessa in Knitpicks Merino Style


- Target Wave Mittens in Beaverslide Dry Goods Fisherman Weight Wool


- Droplet Hat in Beaverslide Dry Goods Wool/Mohair blend


- Snowflakes and Arrows Vest


- 2 hats for Afghans for Afghans


- Banff for Afghans for Afghans for Afghans
re-sized for an older kid and re-gauged for McTaggart Tweed


- Snuggly Red Blanket

I finished knitting this over two years ago (maybe closer to three...) and have been using it since then (it's even gone in the washer once or twice), but I didn't get around to weaving in the ends until recently.

- Northern Lights Mittens


The pattern was from KnitPicks, but doesn't seem to be available anymore. They ended up bigger than I wanted, so they weren't warm enough (too much free space inside = not enough insulation), so I gave them to my mother-in-law, who has bigger hands. I'm crazy about the pattern, though, so I'll try it again, although probably in just brown and turquoise.

- Teapot Onion Dome Tea Cozy

(my own design. Pretty much just a Sideways Shortrows Hat with gaps for the handle and spout (white only). When they get all steamed up, hear them, well, smell! Made from two yarns that I spun myself. The brown was my very first yarn ever, done on a drop spindle, and the white is my first wheel-spun yarn. Speaking of which:


THINGS I SPUN THIS YEAR:

- White Lamb's Pride Wool
Came with my spinning wheel. I thought I had photos, but apparently not.

- Thimbleberry roving from Beaverslide Dry Goods

Haven't figured out what I want to make from this yet. Maybe a cozy for the great big (but poorly insulated) teacup/strainer that lives on my desk.


THINGS I'M STILL WORKING ON:

- Sunrise Circle Jacket

I re-gauged this one, and am not sure the fabric is stiff enough for the design...

- Improvisational Cardi

My own design - having some fit problems. I haven't decided if I want to alter it or learn to love it the way it is. (It actually looks fine on, but since it's both tighter and shorter than I had in mind, it looks like a completely different design.)

- Serrano

I pulled the needles from this one for another project, and just never picked it up again. I need to do a sanity check on the sizing before I go much further.

- Retro Throw

Just slow going.

- Rising Flames Socks

I've ripped out the instep twice, but they're still tight. The third time is probably the charm. But as much as I enjoy ripping out (hence, the blog title), frogging lace is a pain in the bum, so I think I'll let it rest for a little while before I tackle it.

- Oatmeal-colored wool yarn

Spinning that up on my Babe's Fiber Garden Pedal Pusher:



IN THE TIME OUT BIN:
Items in need of finishing or adjustment.

- Blissful Jacket
I finished knitting the pieces a year ago, and seamed them up not long afterward, but for some reason, I just can't make myself finish adding the pinstripes. I also ripped out the collar - I wasn't wild about the shape. Will try with a different needle size to see if that helps.

- Lelah top for my sister

Or did I finish this? I can't remember... I think it wanted to be taken in a little at the overbust...

- Hopeful

This needs some extra length in the torso, and I will probably make the sleeves long. (Alpaca/cashmere blend is gorgeous, but completely inappropriate for short sleeves.) This one received the husband seal of approval.

- Juno Regina

I'm using smaller needles (to suit my yarn substitution), and it came out very narrow (about 11" vs. 16"). I'm also not sure the color is right for me. It has a nice range of bluish greens that suit me well, but it also has some more foresty, yellow-based greens. I'm in love with the yarn, but I don't know that I'll be in love with the FO.

- Synopated Brioche Hat

My own design. I don't like the decreases, and it doesn't quite cover my earlobes, so I'm going to rip it out and make it deeper.


THINGS I MAY NEED TO GIVE UP ON:


Haven't worked on this in at least a year, maybe two... Perhaps I'll make a snuggly something out of this yarn instead. I have plenty.

- Tubey #1

I think I'd like to redo this one with some cable detail around the neckline.

- Hush Hush Chemise

Why did I think a knitted nightgown with no waist definition would be a good idea?


NEW TECHNIQUES I'VE TRIED:

- wheel spinning
- brioche stitch (syncopated)
- applied i-cord
- i-cord cast-on
- knitting with beads


OTHER FIRSTS:

- first mittens


NICE PEOPLE I MET:

- Jenn from Brooklyn, a fellow bellydancer who hosted a fabulous yarn crawl at the Yarn Harlot's book release party in NYC.

- Jen from Calgary, whom I met on Jenn-from-Brooklyn's yarn crawl.

- Jody from FL, whom I met after her SP9 punted.


ITEMS I WANT TO MAKE IN 2008:
Many still pending from my end-of-2006 list.

- Autumn Rose, probably in blue/greens and browns (maybe with some red)

- Apricot Cardigan
I have some yummy Karabella Aurora 8 in hot pink that would be perfect for this.

- Hex Coat from Knitting Nature

- Whisper

- Eiffel

- Sweet Mary Jane from Knitpicks (apparently no longer available)

Have yarn, will knit.

- a big cozy handspun something



THINGS I WANT TO LEARN/TRY/ACCOMPLISH:

- REALLY getting a handle on fit. Not just how to make a sweater with the desired dimensions, but how to decide what those dimensions should be.

- Get an understanding of collar and neckline shaping. Again, not so much how to produce the desired shape, but what shapes produce what results.

- Explore stitch patterns. I really enjoy texture, but since they add bulk to the garment, I end up working in stockinette more often than not.

- Play with color some more.