audioknits

Vest progress

Just a quick post to confirm I'm still here.  The 2 main projects on the needles are the spring green baby Garter Cardi, and the Cabled Vest, above.  On the right is the first attempt on the left front, which was knit using the smaller needle as instructed in the pattern, which for me was a 10 1/2 for the Lamb's Pride Bulky.  I thought it was odd that the smaller needle was called for when the back was knit using the larger size needle (size 13).  The smaller needle resulted in a width 2 inches less than it should be according to the schematic, and the fabric was very dense.  So I frogged and restarted on the size 13's, which has resulted in the right size.

Free publicity

I was asked by two of the men in my family to show off for them.  My initial response was, "Get your own blog!"; however I then complied out of the goodness of my heart.

First, son-in-law's new car.

It was kind of comical that when he and K were driving his old car to check this one out at the dealership, that his muffler broke.  

My husband is teaching himself leathercraft so he can make a holster.  I'm the recipient of his first practice article, (a swatch if you will), this cute little keychain.  He said there's a good and a bad side, but they both look good to me.

On to knitting content: 

One baby sweater completed.  It's from Virginia D. McGlynn's  Simple Knit and Crochet Patterns Illustrated: For Watching TV While Talking on the Telephone.  I bought the little pattern booklet several years ago when the guild had a meeting at the late Lace Wings in Warwick.  I bought it both for its funny title as well as the great go-to patterns.  I've made this little cardi several times.  The McGlynn pattern booklets apparently are hard to come by; if you come across one, snag it.

The back of the Garter Cardi is blocking and the first front is underway.

Sunday I went to the Sit and Knit at Eneri Knits.  The time flew by.  There was a shop sample for a Berroco vest I'd had my eye on, and I bought the booklet. (Americano Vest, modeled by the adorable Cirilia Rose.)  I may use the Tahki Cotton Classic from the Ruched Yoke Tee that didn't come out the way I wanted.

Speaking of vests, I'm working on what should be a fast knit- Norah Gaughan's #21 Cabled Vest from VK Fall 2010.  I'm using Lamb's Pride Bulky, which is not as bulky as the yarn called for (Berroco Peruvia Quick), so I went up two needle sizes to get gauge.  I won't be wearing it with the camo shorts.

 

Sunday, Jan. 15

There's always that nagging uncertainty especially when knitting for other people, despite repeated measuring,swatching, playing with needle sizes, combining portions of different pattern sizes, modifications...will it actually fit the intended wearer?  Thankfully, my dad's completed Evergreen Vest fits.

The Deborah Newton pattern gets 2 thumbs up, I love both the pattern and the Black Water Abbey yarn.  I have several skeins of BWA left over, as I'd originally planned to make a pullover.  

 The Cabin Fever baby sweater just needs to be blocked and seamed.  In the meantime I started the Garter Cardi baby sweater using Cascade 220 Quatro Superwash in the prettiest heathered spring green.  The back is finished already, mostly done at quilters group Friday night.

Plunging into January

My husband, Kate, and Dan took a Polar Bear Plunge on New Year's Day.  Much as I wanted to go into the water (not) , I sacrificed and was the designated photographer.  K chose the Plunge at Goddard Park because it had the cheapest donation (for pitbull rescue!) plus it was just down the road from Grampa's so he could watch the crazies.  They lucked out temperature-wise, as it was around 40 degrees.  Unfortunately I couldn't see without my reading glasses to adjust the camera for action, and the in the water shots were a blur.

It was a little unnerving when the lady in charge kept repeating through her bullhorn to stay away from the dogs in the water as the excitement and flailing might send them into "prey mode".

I finished my dad's vest and bought buttons for it at Knit One Purl Too with my Christmas gift card.  The buttons' basketweave pattern coordinates with the vest's basketweave lower border.

 I also bought a few skeins of several washable yarns for baby items- I never seem to have baby yarn on hand, and there are 3 co-workers expecting this year.  With a 20% discount on everything for filling up my shopper's card, on top of the gift card, all this was a steal.

I did start a top-down baby sweater using Cabin Fever Cotton Tweed, a favorite from the stash.