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  • ‘Nother Sweater Report

    Are you sick of it yet? What’s that you say? You are?

    Too bad! Look at my progress:

    My February Lady Sweater in progress
    My February Lady Sweater in progress

    I have separated the sleeves from the body and started the lace pattern. Lookie!

    Closeup of lace pattern
    Closeup of lace pattern

    In the end I did not do the eyelet increase row, and I did not cast on extra stitches at the armpit. I think I am something between two sizes, and the sweater was starting to feel too big already, even without the increases, so I’ll knit for a bit longer then try it on to see if I like the fit. Also, I plan to knit the sleeves in the round, so I will pick up stitches along the underarm when I am ready to do the sleeves. Then I’ll knit a couple rounds in garter stitch and decrease back down a little so the sleeves aren’t so poofy. That’s my plan, anyway. I hope that what I see in my head works out! I’ll keep you posted on the fit.

    Tomorrow is the first day of Spring. Yay! I don’t think I have ever been happier to kick Winter in the behind on the way out the door. And I’ll be celebrating by going to my knit group. What a great day it will be!

    That’s all for now… I’ll write more later this weekend. Ciao!

  • Bowie Borders Knitting Meetup

    Date: April 3, 2010

    Time: 2:00 p.m.

    Location:
    Borders (in the same strip as Target)
    4420 Mitchellville Road
    Bowie, MD 20716

    Phone: 301.352.5560

    See you there!

  • Please Tell Me It Looks Bigger…

    My Sweater in progress, after a weekend of nonstop knitting
    My Sweater in progress, after a weekend of nonstop knitting
    I’ve been knitting like crazy. You know how it is when you get to a point where you knit and knit and knit, and feel like the product isn’t getting noticeably bigger? That’s where I am with this sweater. I knit every chance I get. I’ve been ignoring e-mails. My addiction to Bejeweled Blitz has gone mostly unanswered. I did go shopping with my daughter in the rain yesterday; school pictures are on Tuesday and the princess who wears hoodies and high tops requested a new dress. How could I say no to that? But, other than that, it’s been about the knitting. Does it show? Can you see a difference?

    I keep hoping that I’m almost to the end of the yoke section. I keep trying it on, and it still looks huge, but sadly, it’s not big enough yet to be called “done”. So I keep doing the raglan increases. I secretly was hoping that it wouldn’t be necessary to do the number of increases stated in the pattern for the largest size. Well, shoot. I’ll have to diet, so I can make a smaller size someday. That should be a dieting incentive, right? Get smaller so I can use less yarn and be done with my projects faster. You’d think that would work…


    Filati Infanti magazine by Lana Grossa
    Filati Infanti magazine by Lana Grossa

    Look what I found yesterday on the magazine rack at Barnes and Noble. It’s a magazine by Lana Grossa, called, “Filati Infanti.” I don’t really know much about this, if this is a special issue, or if they put this out periodically, or what. But it’s made with heavier paper than a typical magazine and it is loaded with the most adorable patterns for babies and little kids. I’ve never really purchased their yarns, but I am hoping that there are lots of appropriate substitutes already in my stash. There are lots of babies coming or already here in the extended family, and I’ve been meaning to knit for them. I’m hoping this little book will lead to some inspiration.

    But for now, I’ve got a sweater to knit. And knit. And knit. And knit….

  • Bowie Borders Knitting Meetup

    Date: March 20, 2010

    Time: 2:00 p.m.

    Location:
    Borders (in the same strip as Target)
    4420 Mitchellville Road
    Bowie, MD 20716

    Phone: 301.352.5560

    See you there!

  • Knitting Away on the Sweater

    Yet another shot of the sweater yoke in progress
    Yet another shot of the sweater yoke in progress

    I hope you’re not sick of seeing photos of my sweater-in-progress, because it’s probably going to be around a while. I’m about three weeks in, and I only just finished my first ball of yarn today. So today was a milestone. I did the third buttonhole, and I joined a new ball of yarn. I guess that means I’m into this sweater for the long haul.

    Reaching the third buttonhole has made me ponder what sort of buttons to get. Then a friend of mine from work (also a knitter) showed me this fabulous website: Bergschultz Buttons. Turns out, if you send this lady a bit of your yarn, she’ll make some buttons to match your sweater. I’m thinking of the circle-in-circle ones. Something simple, because the yarn itself is uber-busy. But we shall see.

    I think it must be the purple in the yarn, and the amazing way it blends with the blues, that’s making me so excited and happy about the project. It feels nice, and the colors are just amazing. I can definitely see why so many people are so in love with Lorna’s Laces. Now I can count myself among them. It’s been a while since I’ve been so happy with my knitting, and I don’t know how long it will last. So I’m on a quest to get as much knitting done as quickly as possible, before the feeling passes. I’m almost sure that it will, but I can’t think about that now. For now, the knitting is great, and I’m attacking it. Am I knitting manic? Haha… maybe. But for now, it’s a good thing.

  • 14, And One to Grow On…

    Diana soaking up the sun on a happy day
    Diana soaking up the sun on a happy day
    At the risk of sounding mushy, I’m going to tell you that 14 years ago tonight, almost to the very moment of this writing, I became a mother. That moment, at the sound of her first cry, on what was a snowy night in March, was so much more than the realization of a lifelong dream. It was EVERY dream. Practically the only thing I ever wanted in my whole life. And there she was, pink-faced and perturbed that we disturbed her napping with the business of being born. The enormity of the moment thankfully didn’t hit me just then, but eventually it did… that I would be completely and utterly responsible for the well-being of someone other than myself. That not only would I have to keep her fed and warm and clean and dry, but that also I would have to teach her things, and help her find her way through this life that is becoming more and more complicated.

    Would I be up to the challenge? To help this little, wriggling girl know the difference between right and wrong, and to help her make good choices? Would I be able to share my knowledge with her without passing on the guilt of my own mistakes?

    Would I forget to be so serious all the time, and teach her how to laugh? Would I teach her that the most wonderful places in the world are the ones you conjure up in your imagination? Would I show her how to be curious without being afraid?

    Fourteen years ago, as all these things were crossing my mind, I could not imagine being here. Fourteen years on, with a daughter who now towers far above my head, but has the shyness of a child. One who is a giggling schoolgirl and an old soul all at once. We are a work in progress, she and I, and only time will tell me if I have done well. I think so, though, and so far I am very proud that of all the daughters in the world, God gave me this one. I am truly lucky.

    Happy birthday, sweet girl. I love you.

    Jumping for Joy
    Jumping for Joy