TCB

Believe it or not, I have been taking care of business.  Knitting on a consistent basis means that I have managed to stick to only a few projects and to make some progress.

Over the last weekend, I finished the back of SFR's sweater.  Whew.  He loves the color, but I guess compared to most other projects, it's not terribly exciting.  He doesn't want all that fancy stuff.  That's fine as long as he actually wears it when I'm done.  I haven't casted on for the front yet, but I did pick up more yarn. 

I'm using the basic pullover pattern from Knits Men Want: the Ten Rules Every Woman Should Know Before Knitting for a Man by Bruce Weinstein.  I love this book.  For the most part, it contains very basic patterns for knit.  The best part?  It covers those gauges with half stitches, i.e. 5 1/2 stitches to 1 inch.  As a huge fan of Ann Budd's books, I like having patterns with multiple gauges.  Here though, Bruce incorporates half stitches, which means I don't have to work too hard to get gauge.  Beyond that, there aren't a lot of goofy patterns or details as in Never Knit Your Man a Sweater (Unless You've Got the Ring). 

Stats:  Paton classic wool yarn.  Size 7 needles.  Gauge:  5 stitches = 1 inch.  The book recommends not using yarn that is expensive or exotic, given the low deference of care by the wearer.  I'm inclined to agree.

The cardi for Jbug is certainly coming along very well, too.  Over the weekend, I finished the right front, and I casted on the left front.  In retrospect, I should have knitted both fronts at the same time, but, as is, working on one piece at time means that its much easier to pick up and put down. 

This is the right side before I completed it.  I love the ribbing on the edges - mistake rib?  The first row is knitted, and the second row is PI, K1.  I think its one of my favorite stitch patterns.

My most favorite stitch pattern is the broiche stitch - a challenging,  intricate pattern, but very beautiful, IMO.  I haven't even come close to learning all the variations of this pattern, but I hope to make a sweater out of it.  Does anyone have a favorite stitch pattern they enjoy?  I'm sure there are many more that I would like but haven't tried yet.

A couple more pictures before I ship off:

Those curtains.  Its straight forward sewing, but the copious amounts of fabric means maintaining a certain level of patience that I barely managed.  Other than quilting tops, I'm not using to sewing on such a large scale.  I also didn't realize how expensive decorator fabric is marked.  I bought this at Jo-Ann's at $13.00 per yard, and that was the clearance price.

The other [nearly] completed project is on the blocking slab.  Details to come. . .  

(Cricket sounds)

Finally!  The weather has turned much more pleasant.  No more humidity.  Still not much rain.  A lot more pleasant cardigan weather.  I would recap what I have been up to, but, basically, I have been busy.  The kids have since returned to school, and I have been helping the oldest with homework at lot more (boy, who knew I would still know a ton of algebra!).  I've been working extra hours to take leave to attend this Navajo weaving workshop next month - so excited!  Finally, I've been taking two classes that I am hoping, at a minimum, will help me do my job better.

In the meantime, I still have been sewing and knitting.  There is a lot of stuff to show, but I'll just stick with what I have now.  Recently, I signed up for a knit-along on Ravelry.  Two, actually - the flax and twine sophisticate cardigan KAL and the Lion Brand wisteria shawl collar pullover knit-along.   I'm not actually knitting along with the Lion Brand one . . . yet.  The other, I've managed to make some progress without too much griping on size 5 needles! 

Typically, I don't use needles lower than size 6 for garments, but the cardi is very cute, and the small pieces seem manageable.  If all goes well, I am seriously considering making another one for the Banana in the pink and yellow. 

This article I read about a month ago seemed to help change my perspective about long stretches of knitting and how to get it done.  Basically, you set small goals of knitting, say, ten rows every day or every other day.  Rather than thinking I'm only 1/3 way through the back (like here), I am through five rows, then eight, then ten, and you're done.  For that day, at least.  It sounds a bit juvenile and maybe obvious to some, but it changed my frame of mind.  I feel like I'm getting stuff done, and I can work on more than one project as long as I complete that goal.

Outside of knitting and sewing, I'm learning how to spin yarn with a Navajo spindle.  I wouldn't have even consider doing all this, if it were not for my husband, but I am finally seeing what the fuss is all about!  Its really amazing.  And relaxing.  I spun my first ball, but, as you might expect, its uneven with the thick and thin parts.  I'm told this will even out with practice, but I'm in love.  I can't wait to try more exotic fibers, and, of course, churro. 

As part of that, I eventually want to  move onto rugweaving which is why I'm taking the class, but I want to make the wool for the rug as well.  Growing up, I remember my great grandmother spinning and weaving, and I always wished I could have learned from her.  That chance is gone, but I feel blessed and honored to be learning now.  We'll see how it goes.