I've totally forsaken my other projects in favor of the hooded pullover. guilt will probably set in later, but for now I'm just enjoying the ride. I didn't get as much knitting done as I had hoped this weekend, but this yarn knits up so fast that it didn't really seem to matter. I finished the second sleeve today and don't they make a lovely pair? I probably won't get to join them to the body tonight, but hopefully tomorrow I'll be working my way to the hood. there is one little problem though. I'm already eyeing up another sweater. thankfully I don't have any yarn for it and none of the swatches I have match up, so it'll be a while until I can cast on.

eta: ack!! yet another sweater I covet! all those cables are so gorgeous.

Posted by bitter purl at 06:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (17)

something hit me all of a sudden a few weeks ago. I just HAD to knit something, anything, everything. I barely touched the needles while I was away, only working on a linen cardi from time to time. when I got back, I tried to finish it only to realize the sleeves were too small and that really I don't like working with spring/summer yarns. I needed some wool on my needles.

I had some red cashsilk in my stash begging to be knit up. I've wanted to knit the turbulence u-neck top since knitting nature came out, but either didn't have the time or the yarn. finally I had both and quickly got through the body and most of the sleeves. unfortunately I ran out of yarn before finishing the sleeves. I was able to order a few balls in the same dye lot, but while I waited I started

the pentagon aran cardigan, from knitting nature, for Tom. I've been wanting to knit him something besides hat for a while and he finally agreed when I showed him the picture from the book. I didn't have anything in my stash to swatch, so I just ordered the recommended yarn. this is my first time using jo sharp silkroad aran tweed and I love it. the color I'm using is 'brindle' and it's a greyish brown with little blips of beige, brown, grey, purple, and, once every million stitches, aqua. I started with the sleeves to get them over with and because they're just stockinette. I have the back done and started the left front but I sorta stalled because, to be honest, I wanted to knit for me.

I picked up this grey yarn at school products a couple of years ago and it's sat on my shelf taunting me since then. I've had no clue what to make with it since no where does it say how many yards are on the cone. I decided to go for it anyway and knit a little seed stitch jacket. I'm knitting it in one piece from the bottom up and 10 inches in it looks like I won't have enough yarn. I'll either have to search the world for another cone of this yarn or just suck it up and rip. really, let's just pretend this one doesn't exist for now.

of course, that means that I get to start something else while I decide. as soon as I saw vouge's fall preview I knew I had to knit the hooded pullover and started searching for the right yarn. I ended up finding jo sharp silkroad ultra in a crazy sale that I couldn't pass up. I started working on the hoodie last night during the olympics and I'm already done with the body. I forgot how bulky knits make you feel like a super fast badass! I'll probably start the sleeves tonight while I stay up late watching the olympics again (please no more volleyball!!)

I've obviously broken my 'one project at a time' rule and that whole 'no yarn buying' concept I had going for a while so I won't even show you my collection of swatches and sweater yarn I've picked up. there are already lots of patterns I'm eyeing up. I guess I'm going to be busy knitting this fall!

Posted by bitter purl at 03:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (15)

I had another post planned for today, but that was quickly derailed last night when I figured out my comp was attacked by some trojan (sounds really exciting that way). so I basically lost a lot of my docs on my regular comp and I'm now using a foreign computer with nothing on it. until I get everything set up again I can't get any photos off my memory card.

anyway, that has nothing to do with my question! I figure since I have nothing else going on really, other than a lot of swatching, I would finally figure out how to stop all the freaking spam comments I get. while I was away I got a few hundred if not a thousand posted and a few thousand more in my junk folder. how do I freaking stop this on MT?! it took me forever to delete all those comments? do you use akismet? recaptcha? something else? help!!

Posted by bitter purl at 02:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)

pattern: hypoteneuse stole, knitspot
yarn: farmhouse yarns, summer spun (aka silk blend) in charcoal
needles: 5mm addi circs
date started: 4.20.08
date finished: 4.26.08

I find it hard to write about a project months after the fact. there's newness and excitement following that last stitch off the needles. the journey from cast on to bind off, how ever short or long, is fresh on your mind. you can share tidbits on the pattern or yarn in a post and then go on living with your new creation. sometimes people come back, months or years later, and share how the project is holding up or how it integrated into their wardrobe, or not.

I find myself in this weird project/blog post limbo- I didn't get a chance to blog about my stole when I finished it in april, but I can't really say how it's aged because of the season. I will say this though, I started wearing it regularly after I washed it. I even took it down to miami with me. it was still in the 30's or 40's on the morning I drove to the airport, but it was a balmy 100 by the time we landed. it's been away since then.

actually, I took it out of my drawer hoping for a tactile memory to emerge. the best way to describe this yarn is 'real', which was a welcomed change from the more commercials yarns I'm used to (and that eventually start to look the same with just a different label stuck on). it isn't the softest nor the roughest; but don't worry, it softens up in the wash. expect some grass and whatnot , after all, it comes from a farm. I think my favorite part of the yarn is the plying. I really enjoy how the white ply transitions from thick to thin, while the grey becomes the backbone with its consistency.

the yarn's home spun look and feel combine perfectly with the Anne's non-fussy lace pattern to create a rustic, and one of a kind, stole. the pattern was soothing and intuitive- no need to carry around a chart with you. I know I'll be wearing it all the time come fall and winter. I just hope the change in seasons isn't delayed yet again.

I've probably gone on for too long now, but I wanted to say thank you to Anne for the beautiful pattern and to Alli for suggesting it in the first place.

Posted by bitter purl at 04:41 PM | Permalink | Comments (14)

I didn't mean to go on a blog break, but sometimes life throws you some curve balls that include going away on a family emergency for a few months. everything is ok now, but I needed the last couple of weeks to just regroup and get used to being in my own home again.* so what was I even knitting or talking about before I left?

these poor sweaters had been sitting on my kitchen table for months, basically since I took that photo. I finally mailed it to Stef a week or two ago and crossed my fingers that Mazie didn't already outgrow them AND that they would actually be IN their envelope. thankfully they arrived safe and sound, unlike the pants I mailed before, and she still has room to grow.

pattern: child's placket neck pullover from lmkg
yarn: koigu kersti (k-613), 3 skeins
needles: 4.5mm circs

I never got any progress posts on this sweater since it moved off the needles so quickly. I can see this one becoming my standard baby knitted gift and will probably knit a few more during the holidays this year. this was my first time using kersti, though it had been in my stash for years. it has a rounder and squishier feel than their sock yarn that I really enjoyed.

pattern: vintage baby cardigan, shibuiknits
yarn: my own sock yarn (wool/nylon blend)
needles: 2.5mm circs

apparently Mazie likes the kimono more than the pullover. I guess this means she's a minimalist and garter stitch will be her favorite stitch when she grows up. or maybe it's the loud colors that have her jumping up and down. I don't mind either way, as long as she's happy.

*if you've emailed me and have not received a reply, now you know why.

Posted by bitter purl at 02:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (12)