Sweater #1

Pattern: DROPS 109-1 Jumper with hood

Yarn: Berroco Peruvia Quick

Needles: US 10, 10.5, and 11

Start: December 30, 2008

Finish: February 22, 2008

My first sweater of the year is finished! This was one of those total spur-of-the-moment, I must make this sweater kind of things. The pattern included a hood, but I decided to make it with a shawl collar instead. I followed this pattern's instructions for the collar. I knit the body on size 11 needles, the collar on size 10.5 and then I only had size 10 dpns, so I used them for the sleeves and just cast on a few more stitches to make up for the difference in the needle sizes. That worked out fine and the sleeves fit perfectly. I am fairly happy with how the sweater came out, but it tends to bunch up around the ribbing on the bottom. I think if I would have knit the ribbing in a smaller size needle, it would have probably eliminate the bunching. I like the sweater, but I'm not in love with it. I like knitting things with bulkier yarn because it goes faster, but I think sweaters knit in a finer gauge are more comfortable and flattering. From now on, I think I'm going to stick to things knit on a needle size 8 or smaller. Well, until I want a quick sweater...

A Challenge

I have decided to take on a challenge: Knitting 12 Sweaters in 12 Months. There is a knit-a-long going on for this purpose and I have decided to join. I know that is a ridiculous amount of knitting, and generally I don't like to have deadlines or even goals when it comes to knitting, but I think it will be fun and it will be a challenge.

My rules are this:

• Twelve sweaters finished in 2009 - it doesn't matter when they were started
• Any adult garment is considered a sweater - this inculdes tank tops, vests, and traditional sweaters
• All garments must be finished and wearable by December 31, 2009

In 2007, I completed 6 adult garments: 3 tank tops, 1 shrug, and 2 sweaters... ...so I will have to double my efforts in 2009. However, I already have 3 sweaters and a vest on the needles. I am hoping to have my first sweater of the year finished this week - I just have one sleeve left to do. And I have yarn and plans for 3 other tops: a vest, a tank top, and a cardigan. So, if (when) I finish those, I will have 7 projects completed and I will have almost cleaned out my yarn stash, which has been a goal for over a year now! The only problem I forsee is that I have other projects I also want to work on - I know I won't be able to work on sweaters exclusively... my attention just won't last.

Valentine

Pattern: Helleborous

Yarn: Ornaghi Filati Superkid

Needle: US 9

Start: February 4, 2009

Finish: February 12, 2009

I had to interrupt my sweater knitting to do some gift knitting. I decided at the last minute to knit a scarf for my friend Heidi for Valentine's Day. I had this yarn on hand and it worked perfectly with the pattern. I held it double and about half way I thought I was going to run out of yarn before it was long enough, but I just kept knitting and ended up with a scarf that was about 60 inches long. If I would have had time to block it, I could have probably gotten another couple inches, but I didn't have time. It turned out great and looked beautiful. I really hope she likes it as much as I do! I love mohair - its so soft and so warm, despite all the holes. I have another mohair project on my mind.

I hope ya'll had a nice Valentine's Day... Alex and I decided last minute (I was looking for an excuse to take my new car on a little road trip) to go up to Pagosa Springs for a night to sit in the hot springs and relax. It was snowing and really nice, but COLD! I persuaded Alex to go cross country skiing - he had never done it before. He has been downhill skiing since he was 4 years old, but had an accident last season and tore his ACL, so he hasn't gone since then. He said cross-country skiing was like 'driving a ferrari all your life and then being demoted to a golf cart'. So, um, I guess he wasn't sold it. I think next time we're gonna try snowshoeing instead.

Sweaters (and Sock)

I ride the train to work 3 to 4 days a week. Its an hour and 20 minute ride each way, so that provides lots of knitting time. I usually knit about half of the way in the morning and the whole way home (except when I'm roped into playing poker. Which I always win.). Anyway, I really don't mind the train part of the commute - I've made quite a few friends and its a nice way to wind down after work. We actually have a lot of fun. What I don't like is that I dont like is that I don't get home until almost 7pm. My day is spent pretty much at work or getting there and back. Its kind of a drag.

But on to knitting:

First off, I finished a sock I have been working on forever. Its a pretty simple basket weave pattern in a purple and black yarn (Crystal Yarn Panda Wool) that I bought when Molly and I were in Austin last spring. I have yet to cast on for the second sock...

Otherwise, I have been on a sweater mission this winter. I started two sweaters; the first is a cozy sweater knit in bulky wool (I'm using Berocco Peruvian Quick). It is a hybrid between these two patterns. I have the body finished and I just started on the shawl collar. Its really too bulky at this point to take on the train, so it hasn't gotten much knitting time lately.

The second sweater is a top-down raglan sweater I am knitting in some sport weight cotton I have had forever. Its going to be a pretty simple striped sweater/tunic with bell sleeves. I am having a lot of fun with this one because I am using a "sweater calculator" and just making the rest up as I go. I think it will be nice for spring, which is already here in Albqueruque. It has been in the 60's lately :)