Aug 24 2004
Time to Get Crackin'
I laid out a number of my current projects on the dining room table, window sill and sideboard, and draped one across Claire’s highchair so I could get a sense of where I was at with all of them. One look left me feeling completely overwhelmed. I turned to my husband and said, “look at all of that knitting. Isn’t it crazy how much there is?”
He glanced over at the display of my projects, shrugged and said, “I’m used to it…now.” That’s my guy. comfortably numb.
One project that has been languishing in the bottom of my knitting bags for weeks and weeks was the ballet wrap top I am making for Claire. The problem is weeks and weeks translate into months. I told Robert that I had plenty of time to finish it for Claire since it was sized for infants up to six months of age. Imagine my surprise when he announced that she had just turned five months old on Saturday. Five months!!! Where did the time go??? I knew then that I better hurry up and finish the silly little cardigan, which shouldn’t be too much of a problem since I only had one sleeve left to knit. I finished that off on Sunday and left it to block. I’ll be able to start sewing it up on Tuesday.
Then there’s Audrey. Some people seem to be blazing through this project, but it’s going at a snail’s pace for me. I have to fess up to making a somewhat major error with the whole project, which has resulted in me feeling less enthusiastic about it: I cast on two too few stitches for the back, somehow added the darts exactly where they needed to go and didn’t realize my mistake until I cast on for the front. Now, the number two doesn’t seem like that big of a deal, but it will mean 4 stitches will be missing once I seem the bugger up…which will mean that it will be missing just under an inch of fabric to go around my torso. I hope it doesn’t end up looking too tight/obscene. We shall see. Once I finish the second body piece, I’ll baste them together and try them on. Opinions from the Peanut Gallery will be solicited at that time :soap:
Meanwhile, I decided to swatch for Klaralund. I had to go up to size 10 needles to get gauge. I was surprised at how loosey-goosey the fabric is at 4 stitches to the inch. I would have liked it better at 4.5 stitches to the inch. Still, it’s nice enough that I don’t feel compelled to rework the numbers in the pattern for a different guage. Isn’t the Silk Garden pretty stuff? I love this colorway! I got a real deal for it from Woolneedlework.com…under $7 per skein and they shipped very quickly.
It’s funny that I chose that particular colorway for Klaralund, since I also have some Kureyon in an almost identical pallette. I’m going to use it to knit “Butterfly” from the new Noro book by Jane Ellison. I’m absolutely in love with this sweater. I love the chevron stripes and the wide collar…I want this sweater yesterday!
And just for kicks, here’s Sam reminding you to “stay cool, dude!”
