New Project Love

Two of my favorite couples are getting married this year, and I am pumped. Both couples were at my wedding (kinda) and all four people are extremely important to me. What does this mean? Wanting to put thought and meaning into their wedding gifts.

Easy right? Ha!

I was at a complete loss until Sam (future wife in couple P) asked my husband to make them a gift and then BAM! I had an idea-quilts. YES!!!! Nothing quite like a good comfortable idea to send my creative motivation through the roof (and my work attention span down the drain).

Obviously I cannot speak of my ideas and plans but I will, hopefully, when they are done and given away.

I have not been excited about quilting since I was a Freshmen I college and wanted something to express my creative side as Art classes sucked. That idea turned into a 6 year labor and a King Size quilt. I learned a ton about quilting but I made some big mistakes as well. I really look forward to taking the time to plan everything out and do research on how to do things properly.

Wish me luck!

Sweater Progress

In a turn of success, I was inspired for another attempt at the bolero but this time I had the correct needle, checked my gauge and rejected the pattern stitch and just K the knit and P the purl. The Bolero turned out just how I wanted it, big and cozy. This is a great success for me and it seems like I was against the odds after reading all of the reviews of the pattern. In the end I had to look up a different Lion Brand pattern to get the specifics on how to do the finishing on part of it. I might have been a bit liberal with the length on certain parts as well-it's my sweater darn-it!. 

I have recently bought one of Elizabeth Zimmerman’s books, Knitting Without Tears. The concept of a sweater with no seams is so exciting I can’t stand it. I read slowly-which killed me-but I wanted to make sure I really absorbed as much as I could. The book changed my knitting life- I now understand gauge and how to make it work for me and the percentages system is so far working well. 


I have completed the body up to the arm pits and did the 3/4 length sleeves this weekend. This sweater project was a test of my tolerance during the first try but now it is an exciting challenge where I am learning new things and honing my skills. The project is now sentimental as I am using my Nana's size 5 metal circular needle and the set of size 5 double point needles are from my mother.(Thats right, metal knitting needles. Dude.   I have found the trick with metal needles is the tension-too loose and they slip right out causing a heart attack but just right and they happily stay.)


Anyways, I will be adding the sleeves today and starting with the yoke part!! YAY!!! I plan on making it a wide neck and I intend (right now) on doing a simple eyelet detail around the neck to make it interesting.. we shall see how I do..