A bit of progress

This weekend had bit and times for knitting.....not near enough for me....but o.h. well. I did make some good progress on SCJ, I finished the left front [have not sewn/knitted the hem]. I am about 6" up on the right sleeve, it is going much quicker than the left side did. Guess it is because I already know the steps. Have to be careful that I don't feel so confident and get careless.

We did take time this weekend for a major project. We have about 2.5 acres fenced [out of 5] and we like to allow our two [stupid] dogs to run loose on the property. They like to get out of the yard [dummies], anyway we have used a radio controled containment fence on them for the last few years. Evidently about 2 weeks ago a rabbit chewed thru the wire [probably several rabbits in several places]. We searched and searched for the break, no luck finding it. Break in wire = no containment fence = dog must be on runs when we are not right there to supervise them. Finally we got new wire [gave up looking for break] and this weekend I re-strung the wire. Sound not too difficult...yeah well we ran short of clips to attach the wire [we put it at the top of the fence this time so we can see a break if it happens] so I keep having to crouch down to remove the clips from the old wire [on the ground]. Can you say TIGHT leg muscles. Ah but the good news is the wire is WORKING [well that probably isn't good news to the dogs].

Tonight is free and open..so maybe I can knit, knit, knit. I am getting pretty excited to see real progress.

Not much knitting time

Well last night I thought I might be able to make good progress on the sleeve; but it was not to be. Hublet has been working on a deck railing project [one he will get paid for] for the last week and half. He is down to installing the upright rails and needed to cut 140 rails to size. Could I help? you know carry the wood back in forth?, stack the rails as they are cut? count the cuts make sure we are making enough? I am more than happy to help [but grumble, grumble, grumble....I won't get anywhere on the sleeve...you know at least back to where I ripped]; we got the boards cut -- took us until 9pm and burrrrr was it getting cold; down to freezing. Yes I know for most of the world that is no big deal ..... but we live in Southern California for a reason.....we are big babies! [and proud of it].

Nothing planned on the schedule this evening ..... so I am looking forward to making some serious progress. In my previous venture [before frogging] I had gotten to the point in the pattern where the increases for the curve in the sweater begin. That part looks like so much fun, watching the pattern come to life. I just realized that maybe you lucky readers have no idea what sweater I am talking about.


Here is the pattern as shown in Interweave
[free pattern for download]. I am part of a group
of knitters all working [or completed] on this sweater.
I am really enjoying this aspect of knitting because
everyone has had such nice insights to share as they
knit along.

Here we go a frogging

Well I did it. It. Was. Hard. I ripped out the 109 rows that I already knitted [with those twisted stitches], wound the yarn up loosely, took a deep breath [yeah I had an Irish Coffee also]. This picture is how far I had gotten before ripping.










Then I began AGAIN. Acutally this time my knitted hem came out beautiful.....so I guess all this "practice" is going to serve me well. I was able to knit about 40 rows last night and EVERY THING IS NICE AND STRAIGHT -- HOORAY FOR ME.



I took this picture of my previous knitting, not sure how well you will be able to see the difference in twisted and not twisted. You are looking at the needle edge of my knitting. Last 1 1/2" of knitting is not-twisted all the rest is twisted. The twisted stitches have much more texture.

1 Step forward 3 steps back

O.K. my yarn for the Sunrise Circle Jacket came in last week. IT IS BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! The color is so rich looking, dark green with little specks of red -- looks just like a forest. I guess that is why the color name is Deep Forest Green.

As per the recommendation from other knitters working on the pattern I started the pattern on the left sleeve as it knits up into the front as one piece. I have also been reading up on turned and knitted hems [using crochet cast-on]. I decided to try this method.....o.k. I had to knit the beginning and hem 4 times before it worked out but I love the look. It is so finished and I do a horrid job of hemming or seaming. At any rate I spent a VERY rainy [and snow...yeah snow in Southern California] weekend and got to the point of beginning the front panel. 107 rows - 17 1/2" of knitting -- pretty good huh.

You know there is a story to this don't you? Well yesterday while scanning the knitty coffeeshop I came across a posting from ENTRELAC with the most excellent pictures of twisted vs non-twisted stitches. I went home looked real hard at my sleeve and how I was knitting. Following ENTRELAC guidance I knit the next several rows. Guess what they are not twisted...Unfortunately the other 107 rows are! I have taken a DEEEEEEEEP breath and tonight I guess I rip it all out. Well at least I should be able to do the hem turn with out any problems.

I took pictures of the sleeve todate and tried to show the difference in the stitches. I will try to get them posted soon.

FINALLY!!! I selected my yarn

Gosh I signed up for the Sunrise Circle Jacket kal when it first started...what two weeks ago and I just now FINALLY decided what yarn to use. The color [Deep Forest] looked wonderful on the screen, hope it is as luscious in person . I ordered it from Elan.com so it is coming from Canada but it is only suppose to take 2-3 days.

This is the first time I have ordered ANYTHING over the Internet. I am such a computer virgin....my husband on the other hand orders stuff 2-3 times a week. Guess it doesn't make him nervous.

Anyway I am anxious to receive it, this will be a big project for me and my first sweater using something other than acrylic [not only am I timid I'm also fiscally conservative....again the opposite from the hublet.....must be like they say opposites attract].

Now although I have knitted 3 sweater, 2 pairs of socks [yeah I finished my sideline olympics socks] and numerous scarf I am bad bad bad. Why you ask? Cause I have never swatched before I begin a project. I'm going to make myself do it on this project. It looks like gage and sizing could be a critical factor ... ya think so . Anyway I need to commit myself to swatching on future projects and not be soooooo lazy; or is it too anxious to start.

This weekend, while I am impatiently waiting for my yarn, I will continue to practice a twisted cable stitch. Got confussed on the first repeat but I think the second one is coming out correctly. I really LOVE learning new stitches and patterns. A question was asked on KnittyCoffeshop last week as to whether one was a process or a progress knitter. Guess I have to conclude I am MUCH more of a process knitter [but I have to finish what I start!!!]

Time to go home YEA YEA YEA the Weekend is here and we have an uncommitted weekend [that happens like once in a blue moon] YEA YEA YEA