Progress Report - Harlot Cardi

I am into the last six inches to knit on the body of the sweater. At this point I have measured the circumference of the sweater to make sure it is going to fit me when it is done. So far, so good. Then I have sleeves to knit. Those will go so much faster since I will do them in the round and they are over a lot less stitches.

So far I really like the way the yarn feels for this sweater. I hope it turns out as nice as it looks at this point. It is a really easy pattern to follow, thus making it a great TV watching project.

I hope everyone is making good progress on their favorite projects~!

What I Knit To and Worked On

This week I worked on my new top down wrap cardi from Knitting Pure and Simple. It is a fabulous knit. This first one is being done on Lion's Brand Wool Ease.

I have divided for the sleeves and am about 12 inches into it. The finished length is somewhere around 23-27 inches depends on how it looks when I get to that point.

I really liked the increases used in the raglan section. They are the kf&b and make a lovely braided effect in the fabric, so no gappy holes. The next one I make will probably be in Berrocco Vintage Wool in Sloe Berry, pictured here. After that the ultimate goal is Dream in Color Classy in Dusky Aurora, but that is for a more flush pocketbook time.

I also knit on the beaded scarf, a hooked bead scarf beginning for a child and the Colonnade Shawl.

While I was knitting I listened to audiobooks for lunchtime knitting: Bitteroot by James Lee Burke and started The Time Traveller's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger. I understand from several folks that you had to read that book before you see the movie, sort of like Angels and Demons. I am about halfway done and keep thinking how in the world did they manage to make a movie. It will be interesting to see it when I am done with the book, which is excellent, by the way.

In the evening I knit to several movies, lots of movies, some from Netflix and the rest from the library: Cutting Edge, Good Luck Chuck, Girl with the Pearl Earring, Perfume, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Enchanted, and Season 4 of Bones.

Have I ever told you how much I love my Netflix prescription, er, I meant, membership? It is the best thing I do for myself every month. I get to see such a variety of film that keeps me engaged, wondering, in awe of the creative ideas of others.

I hope that everyone is finding wonderful ways to be entertained~!

Harlot-Inspired: A New Wearable for Me

More than once in my blog reading I come across ideas from other people's knits. This is no exception to that rule. The Yarn Harlot shared her favorite sweater pattern, the Top Down Wrap Cardi from by Knitting Pure and Simple, in her March 4, 2010 post, and I had to have it.

First step was to lay my hands on the pattern. Since it is not offered as a PDF download anywhere I had to go to the shop locator and hope that one of my LYS' carried it. Luck! Green Valley Weavers and Knitters had a copy.

I found that I had yarn to knit a test one and I cast it on this weekend. After one false start caused by how I was reading the pattern, I am now about 20 rows from dividing out for the sleeves.

I am excited about having a general use sweater that can be used year round where I live. I am knitting this first one out of Lion's Brand Wool Ease in Blue Mist, a lovely color for blue jean wear.

My ultimate goal is to knit one in Dream in Color Classy in a purple combo, the one pictured is Pansy Golightly. The yarn is handpainted and the variegation is muted so the colors just flow into each other. A wonderful look when it is knit up.

I hope everyone is finding new things to be excited about~!

100 Days to Go

Only 100 days to what is being billed as the biggest Sock Knitting event in the universe. (I have no idea if the world has recognized this designation but the Ravelry group has). I think we are all still contemplating how many of us will be on the server when registration opens and if it will hold.

In preparation for this event, I have been learning how to knit wee tiny socks to swap at the event, designing and creating the wording for Moo Cards that I will order next month, and reviewing the other places (knit shops) and non-knit attractions I want to see in Portland.

I am done with one Wee Tiny Sock Swap which will be mailed to the recipient in DC today. It was fun putting together the package and getting to know her better. I hope she enjoys it. Once it is received I will post the picture of the package ingredients.

I hope you have fun adventures planned for this summer!