Whoa!

How did that happen?!

(This is a shot from the back.)

I was knitting along, not paying much attention to actually how much I had left to do in anticipation of the color work section.

The stranding came and went.

Then, all of the sudden, I was binding off.

Voila!

The body is complete, along with a pair of sleeves.

All that remains is to steek and pick up stitches for the button bands.

Yay!

Hussy Stage I Complete!

(click on image to enlarge)

The Bohus project was cast on with a slight modification to the project.  Instead of 10 steeking stitches down the middle of the cardigan, I opted to cast on 9.  The first stitch I cast on was in the middle of the steek.  I made that stitch a purl, then knit 4 more steeking stitches, placed a marker to denote the beginning of the cardigan proper, then continued in the round until I was four stitches from my cast on (purl) stitch, placed a second marker before I knit the final 4 steeking stitches.

If I were to do it again, I would recommend leaving 10 steeking stitches and purling the middle two steeking stitches (the first and last stitches of the round).  The single purl line can still be seen and will make cutting the steek (along those purl stitches) much easier, but no math would have been involved at all, if I had kept the original number of 10 stitches.

The cabled ribbing is really nice, although I was ready for some stockinette when I reached the end of the hem.  From there, there was some waist shaping, then straight knitting for a good while.  In addition, the designer added some nice wrap and turns (W&T) for bust shaping, a welcome addition.

I am loving this project, and the yarn could not be more wonderful!!

I quickly moved on to Stage II:

As everyone well knows, sleeves just are not my thing, so I cast on two-at-a-time.  Again, the cabled ribbing at the hem is very nice, but I was quite pleased to get to the stockinette.

I know several of you have started your Bo-Hussies, too.  Would anyone like to send me some pictures to upload and share?

Happy Knitting!

Question

Wollmeise does not count as stash enhancement, does it?

That moratorium thing and all...

Live to Swatch!

Okay, I waited as long as I could stand it.

I have been swatching for the Bohus.  Because this project is knit-in-the-round and my knitted stitches are usually tighter than my purl stitches, I decided to cast on using a 16" circular needle and swatch-in-the-round, too.   I also took the opportunity to test out how well the colors work together using one of the colorwork charts for the design.

Success!

Using a US 8 needle, my gauge was bang on, even in the colorwork.

Yay!

I think the button is perfect!

Anyone else ready to cast on??

If you are, be aware, the pattern calls for 10 steeking stitches down the of the cardigan.  This is where we will cut the sweater open and pick up stitches for a button band.  Instead of 10 steeking stitches, I would recommend 9 and knitting the steeking stitches as follows:  k4, p1, k4.  Alternatively, as not to mess with the numbers in the pattern, purl the middle two steeking stitches:  k4, p2, k4.  The line of purl stitches will provide an excellent guide for cutting when all the knitting is done.

More to come, after I cast on, myself.

Sleeves, please!

On Christmas Eve, I was feeling a little jolly and more than a little selfish, so, I cast on a sweater for me.

By New Year's, I had the body of a sweater soaked, blocked, and seamed!

Pattern:  Improvised
Yarn:  Classic Elite Waterlily in Lily Pad


Classic Elite's Waterlily yarn is a delight!

The colors are gorgeous with a hand-dyed semi-solid effect.

See:

Left to right:  Blueberry 1924, Azalea 1925, Lily Pad 1972 (green on top), Wedgewood 1957, and Bramble 1927.

It knits up to a true Aran weight, which means almost immediate gratification.


Unfortunately, this sweater has remained unfinished since then.  All she requires are a pair of sleeves and neck edging.

She even fits!

Because I have kind of made up a simple pullover design, my plan was to pick up stitches on the armholes and create after-thought sleeves with short-row shaping for the sleeve caps.  I have done it before, and it is easy, I have just not been in the mood for sleeves.  Even though, it is cold outside, and I would really, really enjoy wearing a new sweater...

Startitis has consumed me.

Like buttah...

Eadon in this Cascade Eco Cloud is just flowing like thick luscious cream from my needles.

Thirteen inches in length and counting!  But for that full-time-day-job-thing I might have had this done by now, it has only been two days.

The yarn and ribbing are a nice distraction for some of life's difficulties.

It is definitely going on the weekend's road trip!!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

Casting-on like MAD!

The past several days have been devoted to pouring over my favorite patterns in the queue and matching them up with stash yarns.  Much swatching has been underway, too.

Despite three or four (or more) sweaters in WIP (work in progress) status, I cast on for two more last night because there is a rather long road trip looming ahead of me that cropped up rather unexpectedly yesterday.

Apparently, I deal with pending adversity with knitting, a most excellent coping tool.  Not to say that I do not also deal with joy, happiness, and run-of-the-mill life the very same way.

Pattern:  Greta from Elsebeth Lavold's Book Twelve:  The Walk in the Park Collection. 

Yarn:  Gaia Organic Merino Aran, which was originally a gift of undyed yarn from my friend Lolly. I had Stephanie of Spinning Colors dye it for me to match some sock yarn I had.  

This one has been on my list for a long time.  I love the simple v-neck and textured pattern.  I think it will be a quick knit or it would be a quick knit, if only I applied a little project monogamy.  It should take just less than 1200 yards.

Next up is a loose cardigan that screams everyday wear:

Pattern:   Eadon from the Twist Collective's Fall 2011 edition.
Yarn:  Cascade Eco Cloud in 1807 Otter.


This yarn has been a wonderfully delightful surprise.  I won two skeins from Yarnorama in Paige, Texas during the Hill Country Yarn Crawl.  It is a 70% merino and 30% alpaca blend that is braided.  Normally, alpaca has me clawing at my skin, but this one feels great!  The small swatch in the foreground is actually still slightly damp, but I love the undyed colors, although, Cascade dyes them up nicely, too. 


I adore this yarn so much, I got more to make a Bohus cardigan:

As I have mentioned this one before, I will refrain from repeating myself.


What is even more exciting about this project (aside from the fact the Husband bought me the yarn as a gift and I had the glory of actually unwrapping yarn on Christmas morning!), I even found the perfect buttons for this cardigan!

They are slightly smaller than the 1" buttons called for in the pattern, but I am determined the make them work.  Besides, I rarely wear a buttoned up sweater, they are truly just ornamentation for me.


If anyone is interested, through The Knitting Nest in Austin, we are doing a knit-a-long beginning February 1st!


Not in the Austin area, no problem, join along through the Ravelry forum here.  While I will be doing tutorials at The Knitting Nest for basic Fair Isle and steeking, I will also be posting something of a pictorial here.


So, if you are interested, give me a shout out!


Happy Knitting!

Happy New Year!

While the Chinese New Year does not begin until January 23rd, and they are proclaiming it to be the Year of the Dragon, I am only a quarter Chinese, but all knitter, so, instead, the Feisty Knitter hereby proclaims 2012 is the Year of the Sweater!

Profound and impressive, no?

Okay, so I tried.

2012 may only be the Year of the Sweater for me, but I have high hopes!

2011 saw a multitude of knits, but my knitting was disjointed and, not in least, organized.  (More on this in a future post because my finished projects are not, well, organized.)

2011 also saw the acquisition of quite a lot of sweater quantity yarns, hence the need (desire, wistful hoping) to transform the carefully acquired skeins, hanks, and balls to lovely, useful, and warm apparel.

Besides, the eve of New Year's Eve found me in my last pair of jeans that actually fit when I was beset by a most unfortunate event:  the metal button/rivet/fastener thing came off in my hand because the denim had completely worn through.

Of course, translated that actually means I need to reassess my priorities, and, perhaps, reallocate a few resources to non-yarn-related wardrobe items.

Bottom Line:  This chic needs a new pair of jeans or two to go with the fabulous sweaters she intends to knit this year.

If I am not being completely clear,

(drum roll, please!)

Stash Acquisition has been halted for 2012

There.

Not only have I said it, I have put it in writing.

Sort of.

Geez, and I thought losing weight was a tough commitment. Not that I have ever actually managed to maintain or keep that promise for a whole year, but this is different....right?

Of course, it is!  I shall eat more to compensate for the lack of yarn buying.  No food diet this year.

There are only two exceptions to the above moratorium:

1)  If I am knee deep in a project and actually run out of yarn and desperately need a skein or two to FINISH a project, I am allowed to buy only enough yarn to complete said project.

2)  All bets are off during the 2012 Hill Country Yarn Crawl over Columbus Day weekend.  Seriously.  There are prizes for Pete's sake.  There is no way a sane person, moreover, a true blue knitter, can visit that many stores to have the vaunted Yarn Crawl Passport stamped (for the Grand Prize drawing, you see), and not succumb to a skein or thirty.  Besides, by the time October rolls around, I shall be really and truly stash depleted.  At least, that is the plan.

I would love to post a mosaic of pictures pairing patterns to yarn, but I am still organizing.

Stay tuned!

What are your knitting resolutions or plans this year?

Anyone else embracing The Year of the Sweater?