Latest projects

I have not been blogging in ages but I have been knitting up a storm. Here is a small sample of what I have been doing in the past year.

Finished

I am finally finished with this sweater. I has taken me a lot longer than expected. Almost 4 months (with numerous other fun projects to distract me). All that's left to do is to weave in ends (ug!), and try it on my husband -- hopefully it will fit. If not, I will be happy to wear it - it is almost like a dress on me! And very warm too. You can see the section I added at the end to make the sweater wider. It bubbles up a little which is unfortunate - but better than having a too tight sweater that won't be worn.

I mentioned before that I had numerous other projects to distract me (in between front and back and sleeve one and sleeve two). An adorable blue hooded sweater for Clara, two bubbly scarves for my nieces, finishing a sweater for my mom -- ironically the same shade of green as the Aran - very unfortunate - I'm so very sick of dark green now. Plus, of course, my never ending car project -the yellow varsity type sweater for me. This is the thing I keep in my car at all times and knit at red lights, stopped traffic, school lines, bank lines ... you get the point. I actually brought it inside one day and added 6 inches to the body - now it actually looks like there is an end in sight.

Oh Well -so I lied.

Ok -- so I never finished it in two weeks. In fact, it's been over a month and I'm still not done.

It's not that I didn't try though. I was so close. I finished the front and the back in two weeks an then it happened. I tried it on my husband. Shock. Horror. It was too small. What to do?? I guess this is the price I pay when I try to use worsted weight yarn when the pattern calls for bulky.

I know, I know - this was dumb. But I did swatch and I did use bigger needles and I did try to compensate by adding many stitches at odd places to the pattern but I guess I didn't do quite enough. Well....now I am in quite a predicament aren't I. What to do.. What to do. Should I ripppp ..... no no no way never Not after all that cableing. I thought and thought. Should I give it to someone else?? No - I won't part with this one for obvious reasons. Here's my solution (please don't laugh). I will pick up stitches along each side and add several vertical rows of garter stitch. Do that on all four sides, seam together, knit a rectangular piece of border, add that on and the retry. I think I am doing way to much for this damn sweater. Below are some photos where you can see the funky border I added. My little Max enjoyed modeling it for me.

Isn't he a ham?

Aran Sweater -- WIP

I have been diligently working on Darrin's Aran Sweater. I want to finish this before I start another project but am anxious to start something else. Working so many cables is tedious. They are going much quicker now that I learned how to do cables without a cable needle. I am giving myself two week to finish -- from today --ready .. set ..go.....!

Knitty Calendar Contest

This is the picture of Clara that got Honorable Mention in the Knitty Calendar Contest for 2009

Liam knitted sweater from Junior Knits - Celtic design

Liam knitted sweater from Junior Knits - Celtic design
Originally uploaded by jennits

Ok -- So here's another example of a complicated knit for my kids that they will soon grow out of. Although I made this one pretty big so Max will wear it for more than one season, and I may even get little Clara to wear it in a few years.

This design was by Debbie Bliss. I am a big fan of her patterns.

Max's Aran Sweater

IMG_1432
Originally uploaded by jennits

This Aran is from Knitting the New Classics by Kristin Nicholas (p34). It was my first big cable project and came out a bit too small. It fits him now but I really would've liked it to be a little bigger so he could wear it next winter too. That's the tough thing about knitting complex patterns for kids-- they grow out of them so fast !! And Clara won't wear it (she won't wear anything that's not in the pink family). I suppose I will give it to the next little boy that arrives in my circle of pregnant neighbors. And from now on I am sticking to simple but sweet for my kids!!

Frock Camisole

josephine top
Originally uploaded by jennits

This is my Frock Camisole from Interweave Knits, Spring 2008 edition. I made it in a silk yarn that is a little too smelly and itchy-- but I love the look of the shirt. The style is in and is my style. I love tank tops and short sleeve shirts. I purchase the yarn is one giant skein from an ebay store. That was during a period when I was hooked on ebay and buying almost all my yarn from there. Big mistake-- I got a lot of duds -- smelly, scratchy, pully yarn. I try to avoid ebay now -- although it is very satisfying to win an auction. I can see why so many people get hooked.

Sandcastle Tunic from America Knits

Sandcastle Tunic from America Knits
Originally uploaded by jennits

Clara is wearing the Sandcastle Tunic I made for her. I used wool because that's all I had in multiple colors at the time. Big mistake --it was way too hot for the summer. I should have used cotton and better colors.

Seamless Yoke Sweater

I followed Elizabeth Zimmermans Knitters Almanac and whipped this up very quickly.
I love her books and have learned so much about knitting from her. I made this about a year ago -- probably the fall of 2007. I used Brown Sheep Worsted which is great wool but I'm beginning to realize that pure lambs wool is not for me. It is to hot and scratchy. I prefer to wear blends or a pure merino wool that is very soft.

Darrin's Aran Sweater

This sweater is from Knitting the New Classics by Kristin Nicholas. It is called Plaits, Knots & Crosses. The yarn I am using is Cascade220 Superwash (color 1918 shire). I am liking it a lot now but at first was a little unsure of the color. Now that I am about a quarter done with the back I think it may be a little snug. It is measuring small. I think I will try to sneak in some increases and I work my way up. For now I am stopping the back and starting the front. I want to be absolutely sure of the fit before I continue up the back. Here's a picture of my work in progress.

baby blanket

I have been working on this baby blanket for 3 days. I'll finish tomorrow. The yarn is bulky and beautiful. I bought it in the city and a fancy yarn store. I'm not sure which of the new babies I will give it to (I currently know 3 pregnant women).
My next project is man's aran sweater. Started swatching today. This is my first real post. I will be adding a few pictures of past projects and go forward from there. I am an avid knitter so I suppose I need a blog...