Eldest's Blanket

So I finally got done with the eldest's blanket that I had promised to knit her. It turned out wonderfully. I used the lace and fans pattern. The blanket was supposed to be about four feet long, but I extended that since the pattern was for a baby blanket. But she needs something a little longer.

So I knitted on it until I felt it was the right length for her. I honestly could have done more, but she was getting rather impatient for it. And with my promise to knit a blanket for her boyfriend before he graduates next year, I kind of wanted to get a move on with that one. So here's the result.

And I was very happy, that when I was looking for needles to complete her sweater, I happened upon a great little convenience. I don't know how I managed without it for so long. But I absolutely adore my Norwegian knitting thimble. Makes it all go so much faster!

And done!

Yay. Sat up until one thirty in the morning working on that sweater for the eldest. Still wasn't done, so I put it aside. Picked it up at just after nine this morning. Aside from breakfast, coffee breaks and cuddling the youngest, got it completed, sewn and trimmed up shortly after three. Eldest arrive home from school about 3:40. She was in a crappy mood and storming around the house until she noticed her completed sweater laying on the couch. Then the squeals of happiness were deafening. Tried it on. Loves it. Pictures hopefully to be up soon!

And while we have an idea about what we'd like to do for D2's sweater, I don't have the boa or eyelet yarn. Have a gorgeous stripe yarn goes from pink to gray to black that she likes. But I was kind of thinking of saving that for a prayer shawl for my mother, to match the slippers I made for her. If I want to get more, I'll have to drive two hours one way to get more. Esh! I'll figure it out though. Thankfully D3 wants a straight green sweater. And I have some adorable pastel stripe baby weight for D4's vest. So I have plenty to keep me busy the rest of the year. Not to mention all the blankets!

So Close to Being Done

... on the sweater that I am knitting for the eldest. I am about two inches away from having to switch to larger needles that I have not purchased yet. Then it will be three inches of rib pattern on the larger needles, bind that off, sew the seams and it's done. My daughter and I are so excited.

And good news, the next sweater project has been lined up. My second eldest has agreed with the pattern that I found. Now we just have to find the colors we like. We'll need a multi-toned yarn that isn't too bright or gaudy for the main body. Then we'll look at some lighter, more feathery yarns to highlight the collar and cuffs. My ideal colors for her would be a soft brown or tan for the body and a honeyed golden yellow for the collar. That would be such a pretty combination to highlight her hair and eyes. And just enough ruffly to make it a little more girly than just a straight sweater. Can't wait to start on it!

More Projects

I am in love with my shawl that I bought with Christmas money this January. It's black and grey woven with fringes along the front. But when I spread it out on the floor to get a good look at it, I realized that I could do something so similar in a knit pattern. So I started doing some scheming. I was thinking of doing a zig zag pattern on a stockinette background. That way I can make a nice border for it. And about midway, because the pattern would have a five stitch border, when it is time to make the front, I can easily break the ten stitch between pattern stitches in half to repeat the edging down the front. I think it will look very nice. I'm planning that in several varieties of green and will maybe expand it for some others.

I was also thinking that I had made a pair of slippers for my mother in her favorite combination of pink, grey and black. I can certainly get some more yarn and make a matching shawl for those cold winter days. I think she would really enjoy that. Who knows, shawls and sweaters for the family this year at Christmas time. Scarves, gloves and slippers for the guys!

So work on the sweater is awesome. I'm halfway done the second sleeve. Still have to get the right size for circular needles. But I expect the cowl will go very fast working in the round as I will. So off to do some more work and more scheming on daughter's boyfriend's grad blanket!

So there's the back piece of the sweater. The front is much the same, but for the raglan sleeve and neckline additions. Can't wait to get started on the sleeves, then the cowl. Will try and get some pics of the blankets I'm working on as well soon.

Progress On Sweater

Well, I completed the back piece. The front of the sweater is almost done. Just need to finish with the second shoulder. And then I can move on to creating the sleeves, which will go along very fast. I realized about half way through the pattern, that I need to go buy some circular needles. Which doesn't bother me. I like having all sorts of different sized needles to experiment with. I'm looking forward to making the cowl. And I just found the other day, a very pretty sweater pattern that I could do for daughter number two. It doesn't have the cowl like this one, but instead some really pretty fluffy collar adornment. And the suggested yarns would look so pretty with that one's eye color and hair combination. I'm thinking of a burned bronze for the sweater with honey brown highlights. I'll have to get to the hobby store with the massive collection of yarns to start checking out combinations. It would be a nice addition to her small collection of "professional" looking clothes, as she calls them. I also found my pattern book with sweaters for little girls. There's a particular vest in plum that the kindergartner wants. So I might work on that when she's in school for a birthday present this fall. And the younger two are clamoring for blankets. Yeah, I think I'm hitting my quotas on projects this year, already!

Back Piece K1 Sweater

So, I've completed the back piece to the sweater that I am making for the eldest. She is naturally thrilled to see that done. I've got a decent start on the front. For some reason, the rib stitching was going very quickly this time around. Possibly because I've been watching videos while I was knitting. There's a fascinating rhythm to get into there. Looking forward to getting that done. Then, I will do the raglan sleeves and the cowl and put it all together.