Knit One, Blog Two

Inspired by the Yarn Harlot, I've decided to start my very own knitting blog. The real purpose here is to force me to knit -- with a 3.5 month old baby and a full time job, not to mention keeping the house in a semi-reasonable state of disorder, I feel like I'm always putting knitting off these days. I cringe with shame at not having knitted a single sweater (or hat, or bootie, or toy...) for my darling daughter. There's a sweater on the needles, sure, but it's just barely halfway done, which is only slightly further along than it was April 24 (the day before the poppet was born). I also miss designing, and have a sweater I'd like to submit to Knitty, if only I can get it actually knitted. So I figure if I write about knitting, maybe it will force me to, you, know, have some knitting to write about. I wish myself luck.

WIPs:
- Purple Adirondack Yarn Alpaca/merino blend "Sam" sweater from Wee Knits
- Circular sweater from a past issue of Interweave Knits. This one's really cool -- you cast on a few stitches on DPNs and then work around, increasing every few rows and eventually switching to circs. You do two of these for the body, then join them and knit the rest of the thing (not sure exactly how this works yet -- I read the instructions but I'm really more of a "doer."
- Big oversize cable knit out of some pamphlet. This is being knit in some beautiful Cherry Tree Hill wool that I bought from Seaport Yarns at the last Stitches East in Atlantic City. It makes me sad that I won't get to go to Stitches East for a very long time since they've moved it to Baltimore. But I think the sweater's going to be great, and it's almost done, too. By "almost," I mean about 2/3 of the way. And now I work just a few blocks away from Seaport, so at least I can go there.
- Brown and white panel sweater. This is the one I want to submit to Knitty. Only one panel of either 10 or 12 (depending on the sleeves) is complete, so I've got a ways to go. But this will be great train knitting after I'm done with the baby sweater.
- A fluffy brown shawl thing that may or may not get finished and may or may not end up being what it's meant to be.
- A pastel silk and rayon wrap that is out of yarn I bought at my first SE, dyed myself, and have so far made about four things out of. It's not leftover, it's frogged. It just doesn't seem to be able to make up its mind what it wants to be.
- Finally, the Paisley Sweater. We speak of the Paisley Sweater in hushed tones of awe and reverence. This is my second attempt at making it, with the first failing miserably due to my lack of intarsia knowledge at the ripe old age of 17. Yes, I've been in love with this pattern for 16 years, and I will make it. It will be the only intarsia sweater I ever make. I hate intarsia with the white hot passion of a fiery sun. Unfortunately, I discovered this after I fell in love with this pattern and knitted the back (twice). I've got the second back done and about half the sleeve. Someday, this sweater will be done and there shall be rejoicing across the land. Perhaps it will be done in time to wear to my daughter's high school graduation, but I wouldn't lay odds on it.

posted by Laura Y. @ 2:36 PM