Girl Who Knits

Take a good look:

 

I can't believe it is done.  I finished yesterday in time to wear it out for the evening.  I love the way it turned out and am tempted to do it again.  It was a perfect gift to myself for my birthday.  Which is today...

Today, I turn 30.  Or should I say, today, I am 30.  This means: I am no longer in my 20's.  I know that is stating the obvious but it is a meaningful point to me.  I have been dreading this day but then oddly the weekend came and I feel empowered.  A good friend sent me an email sharing that once she turned 30, all pressure to do or to achieve x before she turned 30 was off.  I agree with her.  I like who I am and am proud of what I have accomplished and I know I am more equipped to handle what life throws at me.  How can that be bad?  So happy birthday to me.

My birthday weekend began with my sister taking me to the Beehive Tea Room for knitting and herbal tea.

I am working on the last strap of Butterfly, Kara on a shrug:

The tea room is beautiful and a great place to sit and knit.  A perfect present from my knitting sister Kara.  Last night I went out to dinner with my sisters and a couple friends wearing this:

Yes it's my pretty butterfly.  I kept switching my outfit to see how many ways I could wear butterfly in the fall.  So below is the cardigan butterfly look.  I am blowing out my candles after a good 5 minutes of thought on my birthday wish. 

Look closely and you will see butterfly:

The stunning cake was made by domestic goddess sister Kara.  Thanks to my beautiful sisters for making my birthday special.  How cute are they?:

Kara and Bri: don't hate me for the morning breakfast shot.  See, you are even beautiful first thing in the morning...wearing aprons...making cheesy poses with your hands.  I love you both so much.

Actually, it is seemed too but I really liked the alliteration of the title so I am pretending that is as far as I got.  I finally found those pesky bead needles and got to work on the second panel, finishing much faster then the first one took me.  This pattern really goes quickly once you get the hang of it.  And it is so...beautiful.  I love it. 

Here is a so-so picture of my baby on the blocking board:

Now on to the Picot edging which I hope isn't too hard.  One thing I am mystified about is how little Kidsilk Haze I needed.  I have really only gone through about 1 and a half skeins where the pattern called for three balls.  I made size M and even made it a little longer then the pattern called for—as I am a tall girl.  So the leftover ball will be added to the stash I guess

Speaking of the stash, I went through mine this week and was surprised at how much I have accumulated in the year I have been knitting. 

Some of my stash:

These are deep containers filled with yarn.  When did I buy all this yarn?!  It is crazy, I am crazy.  Strange to think that a year ago I was struggling to make an even swatch.  Strange but cool. 

Tonight, my sister threw a knitting party for some of her co-workers.  Here is the fall knitting decor:

So fun.  I have done some more work on the Clapotis but I put it aside to finish Butterfly.  I am really glad I stuck with the Koigu.  I will post progress pictures soon (along with final pictures of Butterfly.)  I need to get a picture outside so you can get a good look at the colors.   The lighting inside doesn't give it justice.  Once these two projects are off the needles I am going to finish Paula and then I am not sure what I will embark on.  What I really want to make is a lace scarf but I am not sure what pattern I want to use.  Suggestions are always welcome.

I did it!  I finished the first panel of Butterfly:

 

Isn't it beautiful?  I can't wait to see it all blocked out.  As promised, I cast on for the frill of the other side and completed about 3 repeats.  Not a huge dent but at least it's a start. 

I also purchased this book from my LYS yesterday:

 

I needed a baby pattern book for my soon to be born nephew and found plenty of great patterns here.  My only problem is the patterns I am most drawn to are the girl ones.  How much do I want to make this for my 3 year old niece?

 

A lot.  I want to make it a lot.  She would be so cute.  But really I need to focus on the baby.  Problem is, the boy pattern I want to do is for a toddler and NOT a baby:

 

 

See...how cute is that??!?  I am hopeless.  I will just have to get it figured out.  Baby comes in November so I need to get thinking.  Also, my new obsession...the Clapotis.  I know.  EVERYONE and their dog has knit this and it is very unoriginal of me but I can't stop thinking about it.  What I can't decide is what yarn to use.  I have researched and I think I have looked at almost every Clapotis (pronounced Clap-o-tee--REALLY glad I learned that as it sounds dirty otherwise) in knitting blog land.  My sister put a bug in my ear and I think I might try to do it in the Koigu PPPM that I am currently using to make opera gloves.  I decided that I love the idea of Opera Gloves but I love this yarn and color palette so much that I don't think I should use it on something that is so not practical and could very well look comical and not be used as much.  So why not try it for the Clapotis.  I only have 3 skeins so I may need more but first I am going to swatch this weekend and see what I think.  I am not sure it will drape as I want it too so I need to do more thinking.  Either way, the opera gloves are frogged and off the list. 

Remember how I wasn't going to obsess over new projects until my current ones are finished? I need help.  But I haven't forgotten about Paula and Butterfly.  In fact, tonight is dedicated solely to Butterfly.  I want to finish this weekend but I think that may be too lofty of a goal...especially with so many new projects turning my head.  Tonight, my sister and I are staying up late, watching season 4 of Gilmore Girls, and knitting until we can't knit any more.  Sounds fun doesn't it?  I think there may be Baskin Robbins Peanut Butter and Chocolate ice cream involved too which sounds even more fun.  Yum.

I haven't written in a while and I am not sure why.  I think it started with watching all the suffering in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.  After the hurricane struck, I felt guilty knitting.  I was still doing it but I felt like I shouldn't.  I went out for ice cream and wished I wouldn't have enjoyed it so much.  Like I should deny myself the everyday luxuries of my life because others are being denied theirs.  I feel less guilty now but still feel so sad for everyone who has lost so much. 

I got some knitting done (although I wish it was more).  Here are some updates...

Intarsia sweater:  I finished all the pieces and seamed this baby up.  Actually, I did this weeks ago.  The night I seemed and tried it on was not a happy night.  You have to understand.  This project is a labor of love.  It took forever to conceptualize and to get designed and started.  It was expensive (although I love the yarn and don't regret using it.)  Then it took forever to actually knit the thing.  I kept going because I knew how it would look.  I visualized exactly how it would fit and what I would wear with it.

So I tried it on.  Granted, I hadn't yet done the neck ribbing or weaved in the seeming ends or done a final block but I was sure I could get a good idea of how it would look.   With perhaps too much anticipation, I looked in the mirror and immediately felt like I was 5 and someone took away my cotton candy.  It looked nothing like I pictured.   Where I wanted it to be really fitted, it was loose.  Where I wanted long sleek arms, they were well...not.  Without further ado, I promptly took the sweater off, folded it up and did not look or talk about it for weeks.

Yesterday, I decided it was time to assess the damage.  Do I need to re-seem?  block?  gasp...re-knit?  Well, here's the funny thing.  It isn't as bad as I remember.  So it doesn't look exactly as I pictured.  So what?  Really I think this is salvageable.  I just don't know how to do it.  I think it is too bulky in the back.  I also think it could be a little smaller all around.  So do I re-seem?  Try and shrink it? 

Here are some pics...first, the mirror shot:

the front:

the back (picture makes my upperbody look HUGE):

I feel much better in general about this sweater but part of me wishes I could re-knit it so it will be exactly as I picture.  But really, when does that ever happen?

Paula: I finished the back, left front, and am half way through the right front.  Fall is beginning and I would love this one to be done by October.

Butterfly: I finished the fringe and started on the body:

Close up of the pattern (if you look hard enough you can see beads):

I love this knit, the only problem is that it is very intensive.  I have to concentrate really hard so I don't mess up that lace pattern and I haven't been in the mood to do so.  This is another one I want to get done by October so I need to step it up.

New Yarn: On a trip to LA over Labor day, my sister went to Suss Designs and got me this beautiful yarn:

Isn't the color beautiful??!?  I love my sister.  No idea what I am going to make with it but it is really cool because it is two separate strands twisted together. 

Basic Cable Hat: For my friend's birthday I need to knit her something as I have been promising to for way too long.  I am going to make the Basic Cable Hat from Stitch-N-Bitch Nation with this yarn (Lamb's Pride Worsted) that I got at my LYS:

If this turns out I am SO making one for me too.  

So that what I have been up to.  Sometimes progress seems so slow.

 

I think I have ADD.  Perhaps a specialized case that only happens to obsessive knitters.  I need to remind myself that just because I have the yarn to start a project, it does not mean I have to start the project.  Especially when I have perfectly good projects currently on the needles.  But I can't help myself. 

So first--my finished object.  One night I just needed a finished object, you know?  Instant gratification.  A few days earlier I had received 3 skeins of Rowan Ribbon Twist in Racy for the Casey scarf in the Rowan Ribbon Twist Collection book.  I casted on and several hours later I had an extremely satisfying finished object. 

Close up of the bobbles, cables, and yarn:

Me with my new scarf (kind of a fuzzy picture but it shows the scarf best):

Yes, I know it is summer.  Yes, I know I can't wear it for several months.  Obviously.  But I don't care.  I love the scarf and it is one of those "really fast to do but still looks hard and looks great done" projects.  I am thinking of making it for a few friends as Christmas gifts.  I am glad I made it with the Ribbon Twist yarn as it adds a dimension that I think is really cool.  Although I think it would still look great with other substitutions so I might try any find some yarn to make it a cheaper knit.

Now for new projects started...Last week I ordered on ebay, 20 skeins of Debbie Bliss Baby Alpaca Silk in a Plum color for the Paula sweater in the Alpaca Silk book.  Excited by the oh-so-soft texture of the yarn, I cast on as soon as I had it in my hands. 

I am about halfway up the back:

Detail of bottom rib:

If anything, this is going to be a very comfortable sweater--so soft and warm.  I wish fall were here already. (Side note: as I wrote that last line it started raining outside--no joke.  A sign perhaps?)

The project I am probably most into right now (perhaps because it is the most seasonally appropriate of all my current knits) is the Butterfly vest (or camisole as I prefer to call it) from Rowan 37.  I am using the suggested yarn--Rowan Kidsilk Haze in Majestic.  I am several repeats into the hem frill:

I can't wait to see what it will look like all blocked out.  This lace is soooooooooooooo pretty. 

First 4 repeats of hem frill:

I guess all my projects will have to fight it out to see who gets worked on.  Or maybe I will start another knit—you never know with me.  Who knew knitting could be so consuming?