Girl Who Knits

Finished.

Okay seriously folks?  I am having a good day.  Rambling Rose.  Hands down my favorite knit ever.  I am really not trying to toot my own horn here but...well, yes, that is exactly what I am doing.  Please forgive me though because I am just that happy.  As some of you know, I struggle sometimes with my sweater knits.  I am a perfectionist and am a bit hard on myself when it comes to finished objects.  I want them to fit well and look like I envisioned and perhaps shock people when they find out I made it but in knitting--especially with your first few sweaters and major projects--that just isn't always possible.  But I am getting better.  I am learning what works for me and about the importance of a washed gauge.  Oh the importance of the washed gauge. 

After Green Gable I feel more comfortable with making adjustments to patterns to fit my body.  Before when I looked at my expensive, time-consuming, and failed beginning sweater projects I would get sad and frustrated.  But now I can look at them and see what I learned, and that my friends, is invaluable. 

Okay, Rambling Rose...

Here are the stats:

Pattern: Rambling Rose

Source: Rowan 39

Yarn: Rowan 4-ply soft, #378 Daydream, under 8 skeins

Size: 36, knit with Size 1 and 2 US needles

Mods: I used wool instead of cotton.  I just loved the softness and drape of this yarn.

Notes: This pattern is not very hard...but it is not for the knitter who gets easily bored.  Knitting 15 cm of ribbing (sorry to go metric on you but seeing how Rowan is English I am kind of in that state of mind) on size 1 needles was a bit time consuming.  The rose pattern on the front is something you have to pay close attention to but it is fun to watch grow so not too bad. 

The only thing I would change if I were ever to knit it again is to make the body a bit longer.  But it fits so well in my past hard to fit knit areas (arm holes, shoulders) that I am not complaining. 

Overall I enjoyed the process of knitting the pieces but the real fun for me came when I was putting it all together.  It was just plain fun to seam.  This may be attributed to the finishing class I took at my LYS a couple of months ago.  I haven't had a sweater to seem since I took the class so I worried that I would forget all I had learned.  But not to worry, it all came back to me.  I want to give my teacher a big hug--I wouldn't have wanted to ruin a lovely sweater like this with horrid seaming but I think I turned out well.  I am sure there are parts of this sweater that I could pick apart but I just don't want to.  I am simply pleased.

 I love it.

Finally, it is blocking.  See...

Exciting yes?  My worries over it being too small are somewhat calmed.  Blocking is magic.  Of course, I won't really know how it fits until I seam.  I bought the buttons and ribbon yesterday so I am all ready to put it together.  After seaming I need to do the button and neckbands and then put the buttons and roses on.  And then I am done.  This is not a knit for the lazy or faint of heart.  I really don't know why I choose it.  Glad I did...but still wondering. 

I do have one beef with Rowan though.  For blocking purposes they don't give enough information on what length every part of the sweater is supposed to be.  I know how long and wide overall it should be but how long should the armhole be blocked to?  How wide is the neck?  Really, I am just winging it.  I hope it fits right and if it doesn't it better not be because I didn't block it correctly.  That's all I am saying.

This morning Kara and I decided to wind some skeins of yarn.  I choose to wind yarns for three of my current knits.  Once done it became very obvious what my favorite color is. 

(Top: Sweet Georgia sock yarn, moss for Hedera Sock, Middle: allhemp6, avocado for Cool Hemp Ponchette, Bottom: Cascade 220, dark olive for Forecast)

I really need to branch out.

I bound off the arms for Green Gables and was finally able to try it on.  Want to see?

 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).

See the beginnings of the vine?  I am enjoying it so far but this chart is pretty slow going.  I knit several rows and then I get tired.  I am encouraged by the start though.  I think it is going to be pretty.

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?

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!