Ravelympics Halfway Mark Update

Ok, it is more than halfway through the Olympics, so I thought I would give you a little update on my progress on my unofficial goals. I'm pretty proud of myself.

1. Neckwarmer- done
2. Liesl 1- done
3. Liesl 2- no progress
4. Katie's beret- done (no post because it looks just like my other one)

So this week I need to work on that Liesl. The yarn for my shawl is also on its way. I can't wait to finish it.

Neckwarmer

Pattern: Pidge Podge! by Sasha
Yarn:Araucania Azapa
Needle: size 15 straight
Date Started: January 19, 2010
Date Finished: January 19, 2010
Comments: Quick project to use up the last of the yarn from my Twisted hat. I found the perfect button at fibre space. I wish they had two in stock, but I was happy to find one that was exactly like I had imagined.

Oops!

I think I promised you this story a week ago. See anything wrong with this photo? Look closely. Yup, that is the end of my yarn. I tried to modify that pattern to be half the size, thus using the one skein I had instead of the two called for in the pattern. That obviously did not work. I still have two and a half more charts to finish. I adore the yarn (merino cashmere nylon blends are one of my favorites), and the pattern is very pretty, so I contacted the dyer, Lotus Yarns, and she graciously agreed to dye up another skein for me. As soon as that arrives, I can get back to work on this. Note: the color contrast is more striking IRL, a dark black and deep (not washed out like in the photo) turquoise.

W Book

I read the book How to Be Lost by Amanda Eyre Ward over the weekend. This is a beautiful book. It is about a family fifteen years after the youngest daughter disappears. It is what we would have called in high school English a "coming of age" story, albeit not in the way that you might expect. Although there is a danger with this theme of straying into cliche, I think the author does a fairly good job of avoiding that. I both love and hate the way it ends, which is often a sign of a good book. It is not "smart" in the way that The Elegance of the Hedgehog is, but it is no dime-store mystery novel either. The multiple perspectives (narration, letters, memories, dreams) keeps it interesting. Overall, it is something I probably would not have picked for myself because it strays from my reading comfort zone, but I am glad I gave it a chance.

* Image from amazon.com.

Liesl

I feel a little silly that it took me six months (!) to do the finishing on this. I sat down and did it in less than an hour last night. Sorry for the crummy photo; it's really hard to take pictures of a sweater on yourself.

Pattern: Liesl by Ysolda Teague
Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Sport in Cherry
Needle: size 11 circular
Date Started: August 2, 2009
Date Finished: August 3, 2009
Comments: Held the yarn double to get gauge. I don't think this is the best yarn for this sweater. It lacks structure. The color is pretty though, and I like the way it looks with this dress. A picture before I put on the button:

Ravelympics

I'm sure you've heard about the Ravelympics. Just about every blog and podcast in the past couple weeks have talked about it. So it might sound like knitting blasphemy, but I am not playing along. I am not good at deadlines. Plus, I have too many other things going on right now to commit myself to anything. However, I do like a good challenge. My unofficial goal then in the next two weeks is to completely finish (photos and all) four projects:

1. Neck warmer- done blocking, just needs pictures
2. Liesl 1- just finished weaving in the ends and sewing on the button today; just needs pictures
3. Liesl 2- needs second sleeve, bottom, and finishing
4. Katie's beret- to the crown decreases

No pressure, just these have been languishing for awhile. I started the Liesls in August and September, and this is the second incarnation of the beret, the first incarnation of which I knit a year ago.

To all of you who are participating in the Ravelympics, good luck! What are your goals?

Not a Good Knitting Week

I have had the entire week off because of the major snowstorms. Of course, I should have been spending the time catching up on sleep, research, and homework. I confess that instead I have been watching a lot of movies and knitting. Although now the second one seems to have been in vain. I got to the armholes on my Mythica vest and just tried it on. It is huge! I have no idea what went wrong. I think my gauge is right. The band around the middle fits perfectly. I am not quite sure what to do. If I go down a size, the finished bust size is only 1" bigger than the band, and that can't be right. It is going into hibernation for now while I think about it. Maybe this is a hint I should finish some other projects instead.

Snapdragon Tam

Yay, a new project! I plan on making the matching mittens and a scarf eventually, once I get over my current vest obsession.

Pattern: Snapdragon Tam by Ysolda Teague
Yarn: Madelinetosh tosh dk in Guilded
Needle: size 6 circular
Date Started: January 30, 2010
Date Finished: February 4, 2010
Comments: I wanted one that looked just like Ysolda's sample, and I think I got that. I adore this yarn and am so happy I still have two skeins + of it. If I had the money, I would totally make a super-indulgent sweater out of it. As always, Ysolda's pattern was perfect, easy to understand, and brilliantly clever.

A detail shot:

An Old Project Revisted

I made these fingerless mitts back in October 2008. I had them on today, and I can't help but think how much I like them. They may not be the softest things ever, but they are the perfect length for maximum coverage while still allowing me to type, write, etc. I wear these in class a lot when my hands are cold but I need to be able to take notes. I always thought fingerless gloves were a little silly, but, you know what? They are one of the most practical things I've ever knit.