Girl Who Knits

 I think I like it.  This is a pretty good picture of the color although it is a bit more vibrant in real life.  I am knitting size Medium--sort of.  Really it is somewhere between the M and the L since I added some extra rows and increases.  I am attempting to cater the fit to me and am going to make several adjustments to the pattern in order to do so.  I am going to try short row increases at the bust and add more decreases at the waist.  The beauty of this sweater is that I will be able to try it on as I go so I can frog if something doesn't work out. 

I finished the left panel of Rambling Rose and I think it looks awesome.  My only worry is that it looks a bit small.  I hope I don't end up with a too petite sweater.  That would make me sad.  Here is a peek at the rose pattern.  I only added one of the roses so far--just to see how it looks.

 I am aware that I walk a thin line with this sweater.  It could either turn out vintage and anthropologie-esqe looking or it could look really antiquated and grandma-like.  Obviously I am hoping for the former. 

Finally, indecision...I have been having some second thoughts on my first Amazing Lace project.  I know I said I was going to knit the Baltic Sea Stole but now I am debating if I should begin with it since I realized I don't have enough of the yarn I was going to use.  So now I am thinking it might be fun to find yarn for the stole at the Estes Park Wool Market.  But then the official start of the Amazing Lace was yesterday and I can't wait weeks to start.  I don't know why this project has been so difficult for me to make a decision on. I keep seeing more and more lace projects that I want to knit.  Sometimes I feel panicked like I have to get them knitted soon or the good projects will go away or I will forget all the projects that I want to knit.  I know, I am silly.  I am now thinking I might start with something smaller...perhaps the Trellis Scarf from spring '06 Interweave.  I have two very different yarns I could use for this scarf. 

Kaalund Expressions in Silky Oak:

Anne, Schaefer Yarns in unique colorway:

Both are stunning yarns that I love.  Which would you pick? 

So sister/roommate Kara is out of town for 10 days. Leaving me the house to myself. I used to live alone so I thought it would be nice to have the place all to myself and that I would enjoy my alone time but frankly, I am feeling a little lonely.  I miss Kara...sigh. 

I also thought that I would be knitting like crazy.  I have been knitting but not crazy-like.  It has been pretty slow going on all my projects and for some reason I haven't been able to commit to one.  Each project is strewn about on the parts of the couch I am not sitting on, all screaming "pick me, pick me."  I just need to settle on something, buckle down, and finish.  Here are a couple updates:

Rambling Rose: I am on the left front (the part with the pretty rose chart).

What I have been working on the most is a new project...

Oh yes, I have joined the many ranks of the Green Gable-rs.  I love the color I found at my LYS.  It is Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Willow Leaf which is like a bright olive green.  The color in the picture is not quite accurate—it is a bit lighter in real life.  I am almost to the point where you put the sleeves on a holder.   I can't wait to get there because then I can really try it on.  I am loving top down sweaters mainly because you get to adjust the sizing as you go. 

Next up, I need to start my lace project for the Amazing Lace...my team introduction is soon to come.  So stay tuned for that.

Also, thanks to everyone for your encouragement on my Deep-V Vest.  This week I am going to embark on operation goodbye wings.  Cross your fingers.

As for tonight, I think I will get some knitting done.  The question is...which project?

So even though I had written off my Deep-V Vest attempt as an unfortunate, un-wearable mistake, I still check out the knit-a-long to see how everyone is doing. I mean, I still love the vest and I am planning on making another one come fall but I do still love the the one I made. I love the colors and I worked hard on it and the stitches look good but...it just doesn't fit well. I really had no hope.  That is, until, I read this post today on the knit-a-long.

It appears Marika had the same wing problems I did and I am cautiously optimistic about her fix.  So do you guys think this could work on mine? Is there hope after all?  I would have to frog the armhole ribbing and figure out how to re-pickup the stitches to the size I want it and then sew to secure it and cut the extra material. In my head it works but is there anything I am missing that I need to take into consideration? Should I try it?

I am relying on the greater wisdom of the blog world to give me advice. Of course if no one gives me advice then I will take that as a sign.  A sign for what I don't really know.  If you have any ideas for what the sign should be then you can let me know that too. 

Soon I will have news of another...yes, another...project I cast on for and another...I know, another...knit-a-long I joined.  I am crazy.  But I also found out I have 15 days of vacation that I have to use before the end of August or I lose them so it looks like I have some summer knitting days ahead. 

My first teammate for the Amazing Lace is...

the Baltic Sea Stole! 

It came down to Icarus and the Baltic Stole.  Thanks for all your comments, the advice really helped me narrow my choices.  It was tough but I settled on the stole because I love it and I already have the yarn (see right) I want to use for it.  That is Kaalund Expressions in Wild Oak colorway.  I know it is going to be difficult (lace pattern on every row!) but I am excited to see just how difficult.  I still want to do Icarus (and most likely Print 'o the Wave too) so I will be keeping my eyes peeled for great yarn to use for those projects.  Who knows, maybe the summer of lace will bring more then one teammate.

It is the sister/roommate Kara's birthday today (go and wish her a happy birthday!).  I don't know how I feel about her getting older.  Is it bad that her turning 27 makes me think that I will be turning 31 this year.  Yikes!  To sum Kara up, well there is no way to sum her up.  She is funny and beautiful and creative and clever and the best. roommate. ever.  I thought I was done with roommates but when both of us needed a place to live at the same time I felt right about living with Kara and am so glad I listened to my gut.  We are completely different and totally the same.  We share many obsessions including knitting, Gilmore Girls, and Baskin Robbins ice cream.  There is no one I would rather knit with than Kara.  I just love my girl.

Here are some pictures from yesterday's Happi-tiser (Kara calls them Happi-tisers because appetisers make her happy) picnic:

Good times at the park (Kara's the one with the tiara.)

My poor attempt at cupcake decoration...they tasted good though.

Niece Ellie loving her cupcake.

It was good times.

And finally...Mom.  For those of you that don't know, my parents live in Hong Kong.  So, they live far.  I miss them always but on days like today the distance hurts a little more.  If they were living near, today we would all get together for a big mother's day dinner.  Maybe we would sit outside because it has been so nice.  We would share inside family jokes and there would be lots of hugging and teasing going on.  I am sure at some point we would also watch the Survivor finale together (Kara, Dad and I have fun watching that show together.)  We are a close family and we get, love, support, and accept each other. 

There is one thing we all feel passionate about.  That is, our mother.  Mom is and always will be, the heart of our family.  She is smart, kind, thoughtful, and compassionate.  Everyone loves being around my Mom.  She is the best teacher I have ever had.  She is wise and is not afraid to share her mind.  She cooks, sews, reads, travels the world, teaches, adjusts to new cultures, worries over her unmarried daughters (think Pride & Prejudice), and delights in the successes of her children.  If I am blessed with a family of my own someday, I hope I can be even a fraction of the woman and mother she is.  I love you Mom.  Happy Mother's Day.

Yes, I joined another knit-a-long!

1. Icarus Shawl
2. Baltic Sea Stole
3. Print 'O the Wave Stole
4. Leaf Lace Shawl

All are beautiful.  You see my dilemma?  I need help.  So which is your favorite? 

As I write this post Kara, her (and my) friend Meredith, and I are singing Karaoke Revolution for the PS2.  Could there be a more amusing pastime?  What is funny about it is we are all singing slouched on the couch and I am blogging when it is not my turn.  We are very relaxed and efficient revolution-ers.  Right this second Meredith is singing "You Make Me Feel Like a Natural Woman".  Darn her, the crowd seems to be liking it.  Just as in American Idol, this game is all about song selection.  Kara is now singing Michelle Branch's "Everywhere".  A song she would never in a million years listen to on the radio.  She is doing good too.  Oh, it is my turn now...

...Aw yeah everybody.  I got a perfect score on "Time After Time".  I had to go with a ringer.  I am song selection queen.

So what have I been up to knitting-wise?...lots and lots of ribbing. 

First, there is Forecast...

This 2x2 ribbing actually goes pretty fast but since the warmer spring weather I have lost my motivation for this sweater.  I still want to finish it and love it but there is no way I will be able to wear it until fall.  So I am okay with a slow pace on this one. 

Next, there is Rambling Rose...

Okay, I am LOVING this sweater.  I know I am only on the back but the yarn is so soft and is knitting up so pretty that I am very hopeful this will turn out well.  I actually just finished the back ribbing last night.  This 1x1 ribbing knit on 1's was not so fast.  It would have taken me a lot longer if I wasn't so in love with the garment it is creating and am really excited to get to the front.  I want to wear this sweater while picking flowers in a field.  It seems like a sweater I could have deep, romantic, and meaningful thoughts in.  That is just how I feel about it.

So I am about to sing the final song in our last round of the game.  The problem is this round is random.  Meaning the game picks the song for you so forget about song selection.  Kara is singing "Pain"—a crap "hard" rock song.  Oh it is amusing watching her try to belt the chorus she doesn't know.  My turn again...

I got..."Play that Funky Music White Boy".  Junk.  This game was mine until I had to sing that one.  Kara won.  I was robbed.

I loved May Day in Hawaii.  Flowers, hula, and maypoles.  Sometimes I miss school since it would force celebrations on me.  I didn't even remember it was May Day today until someone at work mentioned it off-hand.  This weekend, however, I did notice spring had arrived.  I love my house.  I have only lived there since last June so I have been enjoying the surprises of spring since I have no idea what is going to bloom next.  Like take a look at the purple budded tree...

This bloomed almost overnight.  So pretty!

In honor of spring, one project I have decided to take on is planting a garden.  Now I have not done any form of gardening in the past.  In fact, I could be known as a killer of house plants—I just can't seem to keep them alive.  I have no idea why I think I can plant and maintain a garden.  I do have help though.  There is this nice retired guy who lives down the street...his friends know him as "the tomato king"...and he has volunteered to teach me.  He has given me advice, prepped the ground, and helped me plant my tomatoes.  Here is the garden as it stands today (tomatoes planted, everything else soon to be planted):

The blue plastic are walls of water that you put up to protect the plants from frost.  Those come down on May 15th.  I have yet to plant the rest of the garden...really need to get to that this week.  I am thinking beans, carrots, cucumber, squash, bell peppers, peas, and onions.  I think that sounds good but any suggestions out there?  What's that?  You want to see my tomato plant growing?  Well, okay:

The tomato king tells me I will have tomatoes from July until October.  I don't know if I would bet on it but so far I seem to be keeping my plants alive. 

This weekend I casted on for the decidedly spring project Rambling Rose.  I have miles and miles of ribbing ahead but I am LOVING the way it looks (pictures soon to come).  The yarn and color (Rowan 4 ply soft in #378 Daydream) is very feminine and I think matches well with the very vintage-y, girl-y accents of this sweater.  I think the season is propelling me to work on this sweater because it so wants to be worn while the flowers are in bloom.  I must work on it tonight. There I go...my own little May Day celebration.  Happy May Day everyone!