That was fast!

Sewing machine is here already - I can't quite believe that it came that fast. Okay, right I have to go play with the machine and the new fabric I got. While I'm busy doing that, here's a couple of shots of my first finished Ripple Weave Sock from the Fall 2006 issue of Vogue Knitting.

It fits!

So I finally made something that fits, which has been a tall achievement for me recently. It warms a knitters heart to complete something that can actually be used for it's intended purpose. I have to say that I love, love, love this scarf, the stitch pattern is perfect for this scarf, it shows off the beauty of the yarn so well.


Pattern: My So Called Scarf by Stacey.
Yarn: Malabrigo in "Velvet Grapes", courtesy of Alyson (thanks Alyson!).
NeedlesDenises #11
Adaptations: I only had one skein of Malabrigo, so cast on only 26 sts, giving me a 4 1/2" wide scarf, that was 56" long. Because of the tendency to curl, and since I'm getting a dab hand at it, I added a single crochet border, which completes it perfectly.



Coming up... one completed sock, and a hat (yes, that fits too).

In other news, the sweater, after blocking, is not only wide, but super-long now too - on to plan B.

Something new

I bought a sewing machine! Now before you go getting too excited, I don't have it yet, it will be with me in 5-10 business days (can't complain at $1 shipping) and it's only a pretty basic machine, nothing too fancy. However, I did get a $300 machine for less than $90 - does anyone else love overstock.com as much as I do? This machine had a lot of great reviews, okay, it's factory refurbished - but I've had a lot of luck with factory refurbished items in the past. Anyway, the machine is a Brother XL3500T machine, here's a picture for ya.

FO-less

I know some of you have been anticipating a modeled picture of my proudly finished Nantucket jacket. What I can say, is that it is finished, however it's far too wide for me, so I'm re-blocking it, stretching it length-wise, giving it length and thus, making it narrower (or so I hope). Failing that, I try shrinking it, failing that I re-seam - thanks Spiders for the hints and suggestions. Anything to avoid knitting it again. Just in case you're wondering, yes I did gauge swatch, I think I may have knit one size too big.


In the meantime, I cast on for My So-Called Scarf with that mmmmmmmalabrigo. I'm in love...

Defeat and Joy.

Okay, the Thanksgiving deadline drew closer and closer and I gradually came to realize that Mr. B's zipped raglan would not be done (I had finished it - AGAIN - but the collar needed frogging and re-thinking). My sweater still had hope, until my social life became hopelessly busy, and before I knew it, I'd seamed only one side and BAMM! my family had landed. It was the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and I, sadly, admitted it could not be done, all blog reading and posting stopped (well, almost all) and I was 'indisposed' I have the day off today, but they're still here until Wednesday. On the bright side, both items are so close to completion, it won't be long before I have some FO's to share with you all.

I had a wonderful surprise for me the day after Thanksgiving, a package from Alyson, not just any package, but a prize-winning package, and I mean this in more ways than one. I won the goodies just by commenting on her blog, which is no hardship, I love it, it makes me smile, and she has some pretty pictures (esp. now she's taken up spinning, they get yummier). If you don't read her blog, you should definitely check it out. The Haiku is fantastic.


Anyway, on to the what was in that pretty little package.

Number 1, Malabrigo in "Velvet Grapes". I nearly deafened Mr. B. when I opened this. I then had to see, touch and smell it - have you sniffed Malabrigo? Yum! The color is stunning, the texture is soft as a babies, you know. I'm already wondering what kind of knitter I am to have never even touched this stuff. This could be a dangerous affair beginning.


Number 2. Elann's Baby Silk in "Oxblood", a soft, beautifully colored 80% baby Alpaca, 20% silk yarn. If I wasn't sure about Elann.com before, I am sure now, I love this yarn, it's love and luscious.


Last, but not least, number 3. Noro Cash Iroha (in color 16). I do believe I am one lucky, lucky knitter. Thank you Alyson, you really spoiled me.


Just one last look at the prettiness all together. Excuse me now, while I go and play :)

Sweat shop.

The Bloglines plumber has been in and clearly fudged things up - trying to tell me I had 100+ posts to read this morning, eh? Ha! They lie!

Anyway, I've got some pictures for ya! First of all, the love of my knitting life right now, the Nantucket Jacket. The back is complete, and have started the right front - no pics of that since it's just a smaller version of the back ;) I'm making the jacket longer in the body, since I like longer tops. I'm going to make the sleeves longer though. I just haven't decided between 3/4 length, or just going full length - ideas? opinions?


Now the neglected, but definitely not forgotten Man's Zipped Raglan from LMKG. Can you see in the picture that I partly blocked the right front? I'm posting a photograph of it here is to make me feel the urge to finish the damn thing (again!).


My goal (dream?) is to finish both of these for Thanksgiving - am I being too ambitious? Considering I've never knit a sweater before, it's quite possible that I am, but that's not going to stop me. I better be off to get some knitting done...

Endings and Beginnings

Those of you with bloglines will probably be told that there are two new posts for this blog. I updated my list of FO's (I added pictures). So that's the endings.

As for the beginnings, here's a quick progress shot of the Natucket Jacket from this winters Interweave knits - I'm loving the pattern so far, but am a little concerned about the amount of seaming ahead of me...



Have a great week.

The Mailman Rocks

Guess what I'll be reading on the train tomorrow...