November weather
In England we’d of had 2 months of dreary weather by now. Here in Seattle the sun was lovely and bright today. Of course, it’s cold- so that really pushed me to go ahead and finish Keld- which has been hanging over me for some time now. I loved the pattern, and I loved the yarn- the colour is gorgeous and it is very warm. I am very happy with the way it came out. BUT I am not happy with the way it looks on me. I should have made a shorter garter stictch part to have the waist shaping actually shape my waist. It was a miscalculation on my part. Also the round collar in general is not flattering on me (busty and small waist)- so it doens’t look that great on me. However, it does fit well- the shoulders the arm lenght is all perfect and it keeps me really warm, the whole point of making it in the first place. So I’m keeping it and wearing it proudly. Today I got lots of compliments while I wore it around the shop (my new workplace- Hilltop Yarn), so that’s got to be something.
What I did to Keld- the main change was the gauge- since I was using Peace Fleece. I used size S for the lenght in the pattern and size L for the width and stitch count. It worked! Except I wished i had done less of the garter stitch part- about 4″ less! I also shortened the sleeves - I made them about 6″ shorter and then started the bell of the sleeve. i have short arms- and I just kept measuring them on my arm until I thougth I had enough lenght. The sleeves are the perfect lenght now.
So now on to another project to finish!! I really want to get the Clapotis done so I may wear it in this weather. In the meantime I am exploring the world of toddler mittens- so far Natasha has about 5 mittens- all different sizes and shapes. I think I have the final ones now- pattern from The Knitter’s Handy book of Patterns by Ann Budd.
Filed under 2008, Keld, Knitting, Projects | Comment (0)The update and the news
In the end I decided that I was going to Southern Texas where it was still 75 F in the shade, I wouldn’t need that much clothes, so the yarn took up prime space on my bag. I also braved the feared “traveling thorugh airport security with knitting”- a small lace project on circular Addi Natura needles. No problems at all with security- with my daughter thought…. Here’s a thought- if you’re traveling to the other side of the country with a toddler, try to start the travel in the morning. She was an angel from Seattle to Houston- where I wished I had my knitting, and a devil from Houston to Seattle- where I did have my knitting and didn’t have time to even think about it because I was busy with the little BabyBee.
Now I’m back in real Autumn weather wishing I had finished Keld- but with my in-laws visiting from Spain, knitting time is almost nill. I am considering frogging the sleeves… oh dear… I hate sleeves, they always take me a long time to finish, but I’ve increased the sleeve width too quickly… I’ll have to think about it — very hard.
On to other news news. Tonight I spent a lovely night tonight not thinking about anything but knitting in my soon to be place of employment- Hilltop Yarn in Queen Anne! I met future work collegues and got to eat buiscuits and drink tea- and knit knit knit- almost heaven… then I stepped out into the freezing cold…
Filed under 2008, Just talkin', Keld, Projects | Comment (0)going round
I can’t help think that I would have avoided a whole LOT of frogging if I’d decided to do this coat in the round… BUT I do love knitting Peace Fleece on my rosewood needles- and although I also love my Addi Turbos I don’t love them with the Peace Fleece… The CHP flew on the rosewoods, but not that much on the turbos which was a big suprise. Maybe it’s personal preference…
Note to self: MUST consider doing sweaters and coats in the round before I simply start knitting with the nearest needles to hand… in other words, don’t fall in lust with yarn and pattern and jump into knitting - THINK before you KNIT…
It’s almost like marriage, no?
Filed under 2008, Keld, Knitting, Projects, Tips and Tricks | Comment (0)Keld Coat frogging.. and more moving
This weekend in the big moving weekend… We signed the papers (all the 40 papers or so) and in the next few days, the owners of the house will be signing the same amount of papers- and at some point Saturday, the house will be ours. On Sunday, all our things from all parts of the USA are going to converge in our new house, and we’ll probably have just enough time to think about cleaning before the movers arrive with our stuff. To me that means I better get some knitting in QUICK!!! I will barely be able to find my stash and knitting, much less find time to knit something.
I’ve been busily working away of the Keld Coat, which I love so far… I’ve loved it so much I’ve just been knitting away not realising that I’d made a very fundamental mistake. I have made the left side shorter than the back- about 10 rows too short- since I’d miscounted as well on the neck line, I thought I might as well frog the whole left side and do it again- do it proper…. I hate having to frog… HATE HATE HATE… but I hate more knowing I’m wearing something that I knit wrong. I though I might actually get most of the coat done before we move (Peace Fleece is so quick to knit and addictive), but no chance now. I’ve been pretty monogamous to Keld, which is rare for me. I usually have several projects on the go at once, but the same happened with the CHP- I couldn’t stop. I have knitted a few rows of the Thwaite in the yarn it was meant to be in - the British Breeds Sheep Collection Wool- and it is also somewhat addictive. I’ve come to realise that knitting with wool is what I prefer (at least this year).
I got to wear my CHP yesterday when the weather turned from gorgeous sunny to drab and cold. I wore it while it rained and I didn’t feel a drop! I love my CHP!
Filed under 2008, Central Park Hoodie, Keld, Knitting, Projects, Still working on it, Thwaite | Comment (0)