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Tag: February Lady Sweater

  • One Week Later… Good Progress

    You’ve heard me say it many times. I believe that I am the slowest knitter in the world. So slow in fact that I usually lose interest in a project long before it’s done. But this week, I’m proud of the progress I’ve made on my February Lady Sweater in such a short time:

    February Lady Sweater yoke progress
    February Lady Sweater yoke progress
    Closeup of one of the buttonholes
    Closeup of one of the buttonholes

    I even got to the second buttonhole tonight, which was actually something of a close call. All week as I’ve been knitting I’ve been laying the knitting on my shoulders, to see if I am doing ok with the size. And I’ve been getting this increasingly sinking feeling that the sweater was looking too big, and that maybe I should go down a size. This morning I went into my co-worker’s office and announced my intention to take a trip to the frog pond at lunch time. She’s a knitter–a quite accomplished one–but had never heard the term, “frog pond.” After explaining myself and what the term meant, she suggested that maybe we should go in the bathroom so I could see it in a mirror. (A fabulous suggestion from my co-worker, who happens to be blind.)

    She helped me position the yoke on my shoulders just so, and you know what? It’s looking good! The increases are laying right where they should and the neck opening is not too wide. So, she saved me a trip to the frog pond, and I was able to keep right on knitting! Whew! That was definitely time well spent at lunchtime today.

    So I will keep knitting, knowing that I have miles of garter stitch to knit before I can get to the lace pattern, and hoping that I can maintain my resolve. I must get over my, “I’ve never knit a sweater” knitter’s block. Because, you see, I’ve got big plans for the next one. But it’s too soon to talk about that. Right now let’s just bask in the glow of my progress this week. This is MY Olympic moment.

  • February Lady–Again

    On Wednesday I received some new yarn in the mail. Ok, I know, this isn’t exactly earth-shattering news around here, but, look how pretty it is!

    Purple Yarn!
    Purple Yarn!

    It’s Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Worsted in the colorway, “Purple Club.” Of course I’m just a wee bit partial to purple. And this yarn is not disappointing me! It’s the first time I’ve ever had any Lorna’s Laces yarn. People say that the colors are really beautiful. And you know what? They’re right. This yarn is so gorgeous and so soft, that I knew I could not just let it languish in my stash. So, yesterday, I started this:

    February Lady Sweater--Beginnings
    February Lady Sweater–Beginnings

    It’s another February Lady Sweater. Ok, I know I never finished my other one that I started last Spring. But, truth be told, as much as I thought I would love the yarn for that one, it feels good in my fingers, but I didn’t really like working with it. Plus it’s a lighter weight yarn and the progress was painfully slow. And for an ADD-knitter like me, that is a recipe for disaster. I probably will finish it someday, because I do love the color, but I think I want to do the purple one first. The purple one is thicker yarn, so it’s going faster already, and well, it’s… purple. ‘Nuff said.

    Also with the blue one I honestly think I should visit the frog pond and start over. It was my first time trying buttonholes, and I didn’t like the way they turned out. Thankfully, Amy from Knitting Help.com has a fabulous YouTube video buttonhole tutorial which I watched about 5 times before work this morning, and then I did my buttonhole with no problems. I’m sharing the video here, so I can use it as a reference for myself for when I get to the next buttonhole in a couple days:

    I know my sweater doesn’t look like much yet but this is only one day’s worth of work and it is already progressed much further than it would have in the same amount of time with the other yarn. I’m enjoying it.

    I have hope. Maybe 2010 will be the Year of the Sweater.

  • Saturday Sweater Report: Week 5

    It’s that time again! Here’s the sweater progress update at week 5:

    sweater yoke after 5 weeks of knitting
    sweater yoke after 5 weeks of knitting

    It looks like half an inch a week is about all I’m good for with this thing. To top that off, I’m up to my eyeballs in knots again and the yarn is driving me mad! I am this close to cutting it again so I can work on the knot. Some of us got together at Marie’s house today and Alice worked on my knots for quite a while, but I do think the whole ball is a mess.

    I’ve got quite a few inches to go before I can even start on the lace section. Maybe 5 more weeks and I’ll be there! I must say that I am growing ever more jealous of the folks who can burn through their knitting at lightening speed.

    I do love the February Lady Sweater! But I understand now why the original design was done with worsted weight yarn. I am a little nuts for trying it with Tess Yarns Raw Silk, but it is pretty and it does feel wonderful! I think I may get some more of this fiber next weekend at the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. Can’t wait!

    Today I went to a jewelry show and knitting party at my friend Marie’s house. It was a blast! Several of the folks from knit group were there, and it was wonderful that Marie’s house is accessible to me. I’ll post my pictures about it tomorrow.

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    Listen to this article

  • Saturday Sweater Report: Week 4

    If you’re a knitter, you know how it is with garter stitch. You knit and you knit and you knit, and after what seems like forever and miles of knitting? What have you got to show for it? Next to nothing, that’s what. Such was this week for me:

    a lousy half inch of progress on my sweater
    a lousy half inch of progress on my sweater

    It’s all I’ve got, after knitting my fingers down to little nubs. A half inch. At this rate, my sweater will be done in about, oh, THREE YEARS! Nah. I swatched. The lace section goes a lot faster. At least I’m telling myself it does. (It does, right?)

    Here’s to hoping I don’t lose the mojo. I’ve got a couple of events coming up over the next couple of weeks that should keep me excited about knitting. Next Saturday promises to be a day of knitting with friends, and then in TWO WEEKS, it’s the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival. I go with Steve every year, and so far we’ve lucked out with decent weather each time. I’ve already made dinner reservations for The Melting Pot for that evening. Should be a great day all the way around.

    Here’s to hoping I’ll have more to show next week!

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    Listen to this article