« Welcome To My New Home | Main | I Really Shouldn't Be Surprised »
July 6, 2005
Priceless
Licorne Yarn, 10 skeins = $50.00
Time Knitting = Hundreds of Hours
Finished Pieces = 12
Blocking Board = 1
Pins = 350 (or more, I lost track)
Hours Spent Blocking = 2 1/2
Having a Perfectly Blocked Sweater = Priceless!
It was hell, my back may never recover, but it's blocked to the measurements on the pattern. Now, I just have to wait for it to dry and then the ever-fun seaming begins. I wonder how many hours that will take. Yikes, I'd rather not think about it.
I made 2 swatches for the Lotus Blossom Shawl, one on size 7 needles, the other on size 8. Size 8 is the winner.
I found the Bryspun needles I want to try at Wild & Wooly in Lexington, MA! Yippee. The lady I spoke with was extremely nice and she shipped them yesterday. Keep your fingers crossed for the end of the week.
And, since I've decided not to start the shawl until the proper needles arrive (I just can't take much more lace on addis, although the bamboo was much better) and I thought I wanted something else to work on in the meantime, I've cast on for some socks (crazy, I know).
This is my first attempt at a figure 8 cast-on and I found it kind of difficult. Well, more awkward really, but not the easiest thing I've ever tried. We'll see how it turns out. These socks are destined to be short summer socks and the yarn is a gift from Jenn.
I really appreciate all of your compliments on the new site. You really made my day. Have a wonderful day and thanks for saying hello.
Comments
Wow, that's a lot of sweater pieces! Good luck with the seaming!
Nice job on the figure-8 cast on. I tried that once, but it didn't look nearly as good as yours!
Posted by: Diana at July 6, 2005 9:49 AM
Wow I second that lots of sweater pieces. BUt it sure looks great! One day I'm going to have to invest in a true blocking borad, I currently use foam insulation with checkered 1 inch fabric over it. It really does work well, but I can see how a blocking board would be really usefull with a project like this. Of course I also want a wooly board and blocking wires, and, well you get the point.
Posted by: Rebekah at July 6, 2005 10:01 AM
You are making progress that is for sure. I have one question....how is Trav handling the dining room table being taken over? Let me guess...you told him to deal with it and didn't listen to him.
Posted by: Stacey at July 6, 2005 10:39 AM
Sweet jesus, two and a half hours blocking time? Is that the zippered cardigan from the spring Phildar? If so, I'm working on the same one, and am frustrated after only making the back and one front panel. My goodness, somebody get me a drink--I need to erase this from my memory toute-suite otherwise my Phildar sweater doesn't stand a chance.
Great work, I love the colour you chose.
Posted by: Anna at July 6, 2005 10:59 AM
Ooooh! I'm so excited! You're knitting with the yarn I sent. Is it the Lana Grossa cotton??? I can't remember what I sent you but I think I sent the same one that I just started socks on!!!!
What pattern are you using??? We could knit the same pair. I'm really not groving on the pattern I am using right now.
That is insane about the blocking. But that sweater is going to be AWESOME! I love the colors you picked out. I can't wait to see how it turns out.
Posted by: Jenn at July 6, 2005 11:17 AM
Whoa! That's a lot of pins, and a lot of (perfectly!) blocked sweater pieces! Looks great though - hopefully the seaming will go quickly for you.
Your lace swatch looks great... hopefully the Bryspuns will knit to the same gauge as the Addis. Sometimes my gauge is different with different types of needles of the same size - looser on Addis, tighter on bamboo - I think it is because I go faster with the Addis.
Posted by: Cyndi at July 6, 2005 12:39 PM
Bryspuns are great for lace. The surface has enough grip to keep the stitches on them and the tips are nice and pointy even with the little ball at the end. I bought the 10 inch dpns for a shawl I was knitting from the center out and was sorry when I had to switch to the circular. I haven't tried the circular Bryspuns yet, my LYS only has them in large sizes.
Posted by: Mary Tess at July 6, 2005 2:42 PM
Wild & Wooly is about 5 minutes from my house.
Just sayin'.
;-)
Posted by: claudia at July 6, 2005 4:04 PM
Awesome new site!
And my favorite thing about toe-up socks with that kind of cast on is the wee little toe. So cute!
Posted by: Em at July 6, 2005 4:39 PM
I love how all the cardi pieces take up nearly the entire board, and then the little shawl swatch is tucked in safely in the corner :). It looks great, by the way, it will be a lovely shawl. As for the seaming, good luck, there are A TON of pieces!
Posted by: grumperina at July 6, 2005 7:59 PM
Look at all those blocking pieces! Love the color :)
Posted by: Dani at July 7, 2005 8:48 AM
