Houston, We Have a Problem

I having problems getting started on a new project! I cast on last weekend for some Jaywalkers (my first pair), and have knit a couple of inches. Right now it seems like they will be too loose. I cast on for the larger size, since I've read there's not a lot of elasticity, but the yarn I cast on with does have a bit of elastic in it. Hmm, after typing that, it seems a bit obvious what I should have done.

Anyway, I was wavering on what sweater to cast on for next. I have a top down raglan cardigan pattern in my head I've been kicking around, but the chosen yarn is Peace Fleece worsted, and do I really want to work on a worsted wool sweater in 80 degree weather? Granted, I got good gauge with size 9s, so I don't think it would take more than a couple of weeks to knit up, but still. Springtime doesn't seem like the time to be knitting heavy wool sweaters.

I have all the yarn for Marihone, a Dale of Norway toddler pullover pattern. It's also wool, but soft fingering weight, and looks like Springtime, what with the colors and ladybugs and such. Unfortunately, I don't have the size 0 circulars called for to cast on with. They are currently on order :)

I've also been trying to swatch for an out of print Debbie Bliss pattern for a toddler cardigan with a sailor collar, but can't get gauge with any of the yarns I try (I'm on my third now). The called for yarn is not available locally, and I want to touch and feel the yarn for this cardi before I buy. It needs to be soft and comfortable, plus machine washable. I've either gotten row gauge or stitch gauge on everything I've tried, but not both at the same time. I'm going to try washing the swatches tonight, but I really don't think anything will change since they are acrylic blend yarns.

So, all in all, I feel like I'm in a knitting slump. What do you all do when you're in a slump?

FO Report: Leopard Striped Socks

Pattern: Wendy's Detailed Toe Up Sock Pattern

Yarn: Superwash Merino/Nylon blend, handpainted by me :)

Needles: Size 1 dpns and circular

Started: January 12, 2007

Finished: April 18, 2007

Modifications: Picot hem at top, and customized for my foot.

I can't believe I finally finished these! They've been one the needles forever it seems like. I knit the first sock on size 2 dpns, decided the knitting was too loose, so I knit the second sock on size 1 dpns. It fit much better, so I ripped out the first sock, and started over with the smaller size dpns. Up the this point all knitting on the socks crept along at an alarmingly slow pace. About halfway through the foot on the third / final sock, I switched to a size 1 circular and started knitting magic loop style. This was just a few days ago, an d the rest of the sock flew by from there on out.

This is the first pair of socks I've knit from my own handpainted yarn, and I love it :) I have enough left over to maybe do a pair for one of the kiddos, but I'll probably wait until the fall, since they are wool socks, and who knows how much their feet will grow by then.

And for now, there is nothing on my needles......

FO Report: Ariann

Pattern: Ariann by Bonne Marie Burns of ChicKnits
Yarn: Salishan by KnitPicks
Needles: KnitPicks Options, sizes 6 and 7
Started: March 22, 2007
Finished: April 9, 2007
Modifications: I made the sleeves about an inch longer to accommodate my long arms, and made the body about two inches longer. I also added a buttonhole at the bottom. This took some amount of calculations to figure out where to start the waist shaping in relation to the buttonholes, so I would end up with a buttonhole the proper distance from the top, instead of two or three inches to low.

I love this cardigan! I love the pattern, the yarn, everything, and will definitely make it again. I actually started it March 17th on a road trip, but knit out all eleven inches because I had made a mistake with a buttonhole, and another mistake with the way I was knitting (instead of purling) the last stitch on the right side rows. I knew I was making the mistake, and kept on knitting, thinking it was a "design modification," but finally decided it would always bother me if I didn't fix it. So I ripped the entire thing out and started over on March 22nd. I used the Magic Loop technique for the sleeves, for the first time. I think I'm definitely a convert, and plan to switch my current socks over to a long circular!

The yarn is Salishan in Walnut. It was available very briefly last fall on KnitPicks website at clearance prices, and I loved the color, so I bought 14 skeins, at 95 yards each. I ended up using 11 skeins, plus about half of another. The yarn is a pima cotton / wool blend.

I think this is my fourth sweater for the Sweater-A-Month KAL. I'm going to wait a week or so before starting my next sweater. I'm not quite sure what I want to do yet, plus I have just under a week left before Tax Day! I don't need to stay up (too) late, falling in love with a new project, and for a few days after T-Day, I will need to do a major cleaning on my house.

You'll have to excuse look - its called End of Long Day Exhaustion. And really it's not the end - I'm headed back to work as soon as I tuck Monkeyboy into bed. I'll start posting more regularly next week!

More Progress on Ariann

Catchy title isn't it? That's all I could come up with given my drug ridden state. Yes, I've been sidelined once again, this time with killer allergies. Sinus congestion that won't be knocked down, and yet, my mouth and throat are dry as a bone from all the decongestants I've been popping.

Anyway, I've finished both sleeves on Ariann, and have joined them to the body. Now it seems to be going really slowly, I'm not sure whether to blame the 300+ stitches on the needles, or the medication (I've fallen asleep mid-row for the last two nights).

My work schedule is still full swing, as I am deep in tax season. I figure I can not breathe at work as well as I can not breathe at home, right?

Edited to add: That really sounds confusing doesn't it? What I meant to say was, my head is stuffed up no matter what I do or where I am. I'm drowsy from the drugs, but can't sleep well since I can't breathe very well. So I might as well suffer at work!