June 30, 2005
Are You Ready?
Believe it or not, Tivoli 2 is finished and I absolutely love it (the loving it shouldn't be a surprise)! Now, I have to say, the pictures aren't the best, but that's just because I have a stupid look on my face. Please disregard that and look at the sweater. Ready?
Details:
Pattern: Grumperina's Tivoli T-Shirt
Size: bust 32", waist 26 1/2", hips 32"
Yarn: Blue Sky Alpaca Dyed Cotton in Shell - about 2 1/2 skeins
Needles: Size 8 Addi Natura in 16" and 32" lengths
Gauge: 18 stitches and 24 rounds over 4" in stockinette stitch
Comments: This is a wonderful pattern that had absolutely no mistakes, aside from operator error (see yesterday's post). I love the cap sleeves and the shaping. It's very flattering and comfortable. I'm already thinking of making another one in wool to wear in the winter under suit jackets.
In other news, I've started back into the Zip Cardi and I'm working on the ribbed pieces. The current piece starts with 5 stitches and then you cast on 2 stitches every other row to increase - very strange, but it seems to have worked.
And finally, here's a picture of the mountains looking to the west from my house (the purple flowers are wildflowers that look like delphiniums). The grass looks brown in the picture, but it's actually so long that it has seed heads on it, which make it look that way. I can't remember the last time the grass was long enough to sway in the wind!
Have a wonderful day.
Posted by Stephanie at 08:53 AM | Comments (13)June 29, 2005
How Many More Mistakes Can I Make?
I must start today's post by telling you all that I'm an idiot. It's true - stop shaking your head. When I tell you why I think so, you'll agree. So last night I get done with all of the increases for Tivoli 2 (this is 8 rows from binding off) and I count the stitches - there are 4 too many - crap. So, I count the total number of times I increased and it's right. Next I count the total number of times I decreased for the waist shaping - you can see where this is going, right? Yep, one too few decrease rounds. Crap. Crap, crap, crap. You'd think I could read very plainly written instruction, but apparently, I cannot. I blame it on the fact that I read that portion and calculated the rows while I was at the dentist. Clearly, stress fuddled my brain, and I simply misread what it said. Note to self: don't do math at the dentist - or read directions for that matter. I briefly considered leaving it or simply doing one less increase round, but I just couldn't do it. So, I ripped out 20 some rows (I think it was 22), put in the last decrease round, and proceeded on my merry little way. This morning on the way to work I finished the increase rounds (again) and counted. I had the correct number of stitches. Exciting, I know. So, I now have 6 rows to complete before Tivoli 2 is finished!!!! Pictures tomorrow. I promise, even if I have to stand outside in the rain to get a decent one, I'm putting pictures up here tomorrow.
I hope you all have a wonderful day and make no mistakes in your knitting.
Posted by Stephanie at 09:14 AM | Comments (4)June 27, 2005
Dinner?
I feel like the entire mosquito population got a memo that I'm available for their feasting and they're coming to take advantage of a free buffet. I tried to work outside this weekend - I helped Mom plant some new perennials and put a trellis in for my honeysuckle - and holy crap. You should see the mesquito bites I have. Now, we're not just talking about a couple - there are no less than 30 bites on my body, and they each swell to roughly the size of a silver dollar and get hard. I'm pretty sure this isn't normal, but I haven't a clue what to do about it. I look like the victim of some rare and disturbing disease. You'd think that bug repellant would be the trick, but it just aint so. The little suckers are immune! So, if you can't be outside, what can you do? Well, knit of course! I'm about 2/3 through with Tivoli 2 and am quite pleased with it (again). I'm keeping my fingers crossed on a good fit since I believe we have figured out the mysteries of cotton (which of course could just be my delusional ideas of such matters). I expect to have it completed for viewing by the end of the week (maybe sooner) :) Keep your fingers crossed and have a great Monday. I expect mine will not be particularly wonderful since I'm on my way to the dentist to have a cavity in one of my wisdom teeth filled. Sounds like a bunch of fun, for sure.
Posted by Stephanie at 08:58 AM | Comments (7)June 23, 2005
Kind Words
Thanks for all of your thoughts and kind words. You'll be relieved to know that Tivoli 2 is alive and well. I've almost finished the raglan shaping for the sleeves and have 3 rounds to knit before I bind off for the armholes. We're cruisin' right along.
I'm still waiting for the pattern from Fiddlesticks Knitting (I know I just ordered it on Monday, but I can't help that I'm impatient - it's a sickness, really). I also need to get a couple of sizes of Bryspun needles for this lace knitting business, but I need to find out what size the pattern calls for. Anyone have the Lotus Blossom Pattern and could help me out? If not, I can call Fiddlesticks and get the info.
I had another meeting this morning - politics drive me nuts, but what are you gonna do? At least I can hole up in my office for the rest of the day and review my little contracts and no one will bother me. Have a great day.
Posted by Stephanie at 10:50 AM | Comments (0)June 22, 2005
Let Us Share A Moment of Silence...
... for Tivoli. She has passed on the the yarn stash in the sky. Want evidence?
We have Tivoli as we all remember her:
And then we have her during the frogging:
And then of course we have her ready for her reincarnation:
I cast-on the 112 stitches I need for the second version and will begin the re-knit of the beloved Tivoli and hope to have her done by the weekend. This was my first major frogging project, and I have to say, it wasn't too bad. I had a moment when I looked at all of those piles of yarn and thought, man, it sure didn't take me long to rip out all that work, but it was kind of neat how it came apart. Don't get me wrong, it isn't something I plan to do on a Saturday night for fun, but it was interesting. Once.
So, I finished the second sleeve of the Zip Cardi and came out with 2 less stitches than on the first sleeve. I'm sure I did an extra set of decreases somewhere, but darned if I could find it easily and I wasn't going to rip out a bunch for 2 stitches. I'm just gonna make it fit - I mean really, we're talking 2 stitches in 4-ply cotton - that's something like 25 stitches to 4 inches. It can't be too big of a deal, right? Right?
So, I leave you with pictures of my kids playing in the yard last night. These are pretty normal pictures because I missed the "dead" poses - both on their backs with their legs in the air - crazy I tell ya.
Riley and Isabelle
Have a good day - it's Wednesday!
Posted by Stephanie at 08:29 AM | Comments (0)June 20, 2005
Lots of News
I have lots to tell you. It seems like I've been gone forever. I know, three days isn't really forever, but I've missed you guys. Friday I went to the Estes Park Wool Market and took a class on Natural Dyeing. Here's a picture of the view outside the classroom:
It was a wonderful class. The class was taught by Liesel Orend and we dyed yarn using black walnut hulls, osage orange, cochineal, madder, marigolds, cutch, logwood, and indigo.
So, we dyed three skeins of each color, then shifted one skein of each with iron, and overdyed one of each with indigo. We then dyed three skeins of indigo - one dip, two dips, and one dip that we shifted with iron. It was all very cool and informative. I think there may be dyeing in my future!
Now, on to knitting. Some days I really hate cotton. Tivoli finally dried, I put it on and it fit. I wore it for about 10 minutes and it's too big. Why, you ask? Well because the cotton stretched. Only horizontally, but enough that in Travis' words "that sweater makes you look pregnant". Isn't he sweet. My gauge changed from 19 sts to 18 sts to 4 inches. Enough so that sweater is about 2 inches larger all the way around. Lovely. Not the patterns fault, I should have washed my swatch before I started so I knew what the ending gauge would be. So, because I really like the pattern, I'm going to frog and re-knit with the proper gauge in mind.
The Zip Cardi sleeve #2 is coming along nicely. I'm shaping the cap and will be done with it this week. I also found 2 options for a zipper - aqua, which is a bit lighter than the yarn, and a dark gray. We'll have to see which turns out to be the better choice after I get the rib panels done (remember there are 7 of those suckers!). I think I'll re-knit Tivoli after I get this sleeve done before I tackle the ribbed pieces. I can only handle so much cotton on size 1 needles.
I'm still undecided on the shawl, but I think it is between the Leaf Lace Shawl and the Lotus Blossom Shawl. I hear from a good authority that the Fiddlesticks patterns are fabulous and the charts are wonderful. So, we'll see as the time for this project draws nearer. The wedding I want to wear it to is August 6 - so I have a bit of time.
That's all for me. I hope you all have a wonderful Monday.
Posted by Stephanie at 09:45 AM | Comments (0)June 15, 2005
Lace Questions
Tivoli was completed last night at about 11:00 and is now blocking. I really wanted to wear it today, but it did need blocked, so I gave in and did the right thing. Here's the blocking picture.
I really, really love this pattern. I love it so much I'm thinking of making another one at some point. I promise I'll put it on tonight and take a picture of it and then I'll give you the specs.
So, now that Tivoli is complete, I'm back to sleeve island with the Zip Cardi. True, it's the second sleeve, but I'm on row 27 (I know this because of my lovely new row counter) and the ribbing continues until row 64. After that it is miles and miles of stockinette stitch. Oh well, I am determined to get this thing done, so that's the way it's gonna be.
Now, on to the lace questions. My only experience with lace is the Rebecca Wrap Cardigan, which I enjoyed and didn't find overly difficult. So, my wish is to knit myself a shawl. I have some lovely pearl gray merino/silk fingering weight (or what I think is fingering weight) yarn that I'd like to use. I recently acquired A Gathering of Lace and there are two patterns that I think I like. One is the Beginner's Triangle Shawl and the other is the Faroese Shawl (shown on the cover of the book). I'm not sure which would be better, if there is such a thing, but I want a versatile shawl that I can get a lot of wear out of - I'd like to take it to my brother-in-law's wedding in August and imagine wearing it in my office. I'd appreciate your opinions or suggestions for another pattern.
It's Wednesday and I'm not working on Friday because I'm going to a natural dyeing workshop at the Estes Park Wool Market. So, I only have today and tomorrow left to work - woo hoo. I hope you all have a good day.
Posted by Stephanie at 08:18 AM | Comments (0)June 14, 2005
Minimal Progress
I made minimal progress on Tivoli last night because of karate. I did finish the waist decreases and tried it on. Everything seems to be working perfectly. Here's a picture of my progress, please disregard the karate pants (I know, they're very fashionable!)
So, this morning on the commute I started the increases. I don't have much planned for this evening so I expect I will get this done! I am so excited - a finished project! It's been a while since I've had a finished sweater for myself, and a long time since I've had one I'm going to like as much as this. I may have to wear it to work tomorrow!
The weather's actually acting like it may be summer here today - no rain, no 40 mph wind, and most importantly, no snow! I have to go buy my dad a father's day gift over lunch. I'm thinking a book and some cigars - do any of you have a better idea? I hate having to buy things for my dad because he buys himself everything he wants and doesn't wait for a holiday so someone else has a clue what to buy for him. Oh, the joys of gift giving!
Have a great day.
Posted by Stephanie at 08:11 AM | Comments (0)June 13, 2005
Busy Weekend
My weekend was busy - not surprising since I always try to cram as much as possible into two days. Friday night I cast on for the Tivoli T-Shirt and can I just tell you, I love this pattern. It's so ingenious it's hard to even imagine. That Grumperina is one smart chick. This is my first attempt at a top-down raglan sweater and it appears to be working perfectly. I meant to take a picture of my progress, but forgot. I'll try tonight. I'm about half way done with the waist shaping and it's really looking good. I probably could have gotten the entire sweater done this weekend, but I went to the greenhouse and bought a ridiculous amount of flowers for my yard, and then of course had to spend hours planting them. I guess that's what summer's for right?
Yesterday it rained all day, so it was the perfect day to spend sewing my new knitting bag.
All in all, it was a good project. The pattern is well written and the construction is good. I modified the interior pockets a bit, and I would change them even more if I had to do it over again. It's designed as a diaper bag so all of the pockets are fairly deep. I'd like to have a few more shallow pockets for my little knitting things. I'd also add a snap or velcro to the top because it needs some sort of closure. When I got it done I thought, My God, this thing's huge! But, when I put Tivoli and my various knitting paraphernalia in it, things fit just right. I'd definitely use another Amy Butler pattern - I may have to make myself a purse or bags for Christmas gifts and this bag would be a great baby shower gift (if I ever have a friend who's having a baby). :)
Have a good Monday and a lovely week.
Posted by Stephanie at 08:29 AM | Comments (0)
