Secret Pal 9

I signed up for Secret Pal 9! I've never participated before, so I'm really excited. Okay, I'd be excited even if I had participated before, but you know what I mean. Signups close this Saturday, and the gifting will be October 15th through January 31. If you are so inclined, go here to signup!

Checkers

So I've been swatching for my Palette Fair Isle Cardigan. I swatched in the round, since the cardigan is knit in the round. I've heard that some knitters get different gauge in the round than flat.. Since I don't know if I do or not, and I don't want to find out on this project, I cast on 100 stitches and knit nearly 4 inches on size 3 needles. I got 31 stitches & 35 rows to 4 inches. According to the pattern, I should have 32 stitches and 36 rows. I don't think I'll change needle size, but I was contemplating knitting the extra solid color rounds dividing the pattern bands to make the cardigan longer.

I did the math and the row gauge only makes it about 1/2" longer than what exact row gauge would be. However, the difference in stitch gauge makes it about 1 1/2 " larger around, which might be to my advantage. I'm halfway between two sizes and I can't decide whether to go up or down. I can almost guarantee I won't wear this buttoned, and I don't like to swim in my cardigans. But I don't want it to be too small either. I want it to be just right, especially considering all the work that will go into it. I will probably wear this with a thin knit turtleneck (storebought, slightly heavier than t-shirt fabric, if you know what I mean).

So, opinions, please: My bust measures 41 1/2", so I fall between the pattern sizes of 40" and 44". What size should I knit?

BTW, you and any other interested parties can sign up for the KAL here, or just watch the progress of some beautiful fair isle cardigans, vests and socks! Spread the news!

Finished Object, Times Two

Ok, so as a consolation prize for not posting the promised picture yesterday, I have a SECOND finished object to report! Up first is the Baby's Hoodie, a free pattern from Bernat. I knit the 18 month size in TLC Baby. The color is New Mint Sparkle.

The latest finished object(s) is/are the Simple Stripes Fair Isle Socks. They were designed by Kathleen Taylor for Knit Picks. I knit them in the recommended yarn and colorways, Essential in Black, and Simple Stripes in Sweet Tarts.

Incidentally, Kathleen Taylor is also the designer of the Knit Picks Palette Fair Isle Cardigan, which I am starting soon. Follow this link to go to the knit-along for this cardigan and other fair isle projects. Stay posted to both blogs, I'll post details and pictures of my swatch in the next couple of days!

Finished Object

I finished the Hoodie Cardigan for Sweetpea, finally, and am nearing completion of the Fair Isle Sock. No pictures, I'm too tired to go searching for the camera. But I will post at least one picture tomorrow, I promise. And hopefully I'll get the Falling Leaves Cardigan blocked.

20-Something Years Later...

Check it out - I go into Barnes & Noble last night after stitch group to look for a Barbara Walker knitting book. As I'm heading for the craft section, I cross paths with an employee who I think I don't know from Adam, and it turns out to be my best friend from Junior High! We were soooo close in 7th & 8th grade, and ended up going to different high schools but still stayed in touch. We lost touch when we were about 19, both living on our own in different parts of the country. He moved, I got married and changed my name, and we just lost contact. I have thought about him almost every day, and look for him whenever I'm in a big crowd of people, no matter whether I'm in my city or another. Anyway, I never would have recognized him on the street, he either shaves his head now, or is balding, and has a full mustache and beard. It felt so surreal to be talking to him! I've missed him so much, and I am so happy we ran into each other! Oh and in his many moves over the last umpteen years, one of the only possessions he has kept is a blue sweater I knit for him in junior high (I think I knit him more than one blue sweater, I'll have to find out which one it is). He said he still wears it every winter. How cool is that?

Edited to add: I'll have to knit him another sweater - I know all I used back then was 100% acrylic yarn from K-mart, back when K-mart used to sell yarn.

(Im)Patiently Waiting

I have nothing new to report on the knitting front - I have yarn on order from three different companies, I think all for over a week now, and not a single package is here yet (sob). I get this itchy-knitty thing, where I want my yarn and I want it now. Until it gets here, I have the almost irresistible impulse to shop, shop, shop. Unfortunately, my bank account could not bear the abuse.

What do I have on order? I ordered some Silky Tweed, on the recommendation of Wendy for a Simple Knitted Bodice and Sizzle. I don't think the gauge is right for the Sizzle, but I have confidence in my mathematical abilities ;) I also ordered a kit for this cool looking pullover that I've never seen before. I think it's brand-spankin' new. And finally, some deep chocolate brown superwash and this pattern. I've decided with two little ones to contend with, and the BHE doing laundry more than half the time, most of my often-worn sweaters should be machine washable. And this would get worn a lot, considering how cold my office can be sometimes.

Oh! There is something to report! Laura over at Sugar Bunny Boulevard and I are co-hosting a KAL to begin October 1st, if anyone is interested, for the KnitPicks Palette Fair Isle Cardigan. I cast on for a gauge swatch last night, on the recommended size 3 needles, but I am doing a swatch in the round. I've read other knitters knit at a different gauge in the round than flat. I don't know if I do or not, but this isn't the project where I want to find out the bad way! It's slow going since it takes so many stitches of fingering weight to fit comfortably on my 16" needles. I'll post more in a day or two when my swatch is longer. BTW, I'm swatching on my new KnitPicks needles, and I love them! Pointy points, smooth joins, super flexible cable, and slick needles!

C'est Fini!

Here is the long awaited (by me) picture of the finished Lacy Lattice. The late night photos of the stole being modeled by myself were not flattering to it or me, so a blocking photo will have to suffice. Closeups may be viewed here and here.

Pattern: Lacy Lattice Stole by Fiddlesticks Knitting
Yarn: Filatura di Crosa Baby Kid Extra
Needles: US size 4 Bryspun, 10"
My finished size: 20" x 70"
Started: Summer of 2005 (I think)
Finished: 9/4/06

Yet Another Lacy Lattice Update

And it is finished! Well, almost. I won't really consider it finished until it is blocked, which will happen tonight. I did finish it yesterday, before midnight, which was my goal.

Still fighting the allergies / cold / whatever it is. We went to the lake Saturday night through Monday afternoon, and wrangled kids, so didn't really get to knit much. I also couldn't find the camera, so have no pictures to post. I did find it this morning, snuggly wrapped up in my Mystery Stole 2, which is next on the list to finish, so I will post LL blocking pictures tonight.

September

September is here, and that means the new issue of MagKnits is up. Three sock patterns this time! I like this month's patterns a lot more than last month's. I'm not really a fan of chunky yarn, though.

I did end up going home yesterday afternoon, and slept like a rock. I feel like I could do it all over again today, but needed to get some things done at work.

Lacy Lattice is little over 86% complete. I am now on the edging, and did one out of the nine repeats that go across the end. It will go pretty fast from here on out, I think. Pictures this weekend!