Luxurious Sweater - FINISHED

I finished this sweater about 2 weeks ago. I really like how it turned out. I had to shorten the arms because they were about 8 inches too long. I also spent a lot of time concentrating on setting in the sleeves and sewing the seams. I think my diligence really paid off, though, because I don't have any parts of the sweater that are really stiff, or that make me wince when I look at them.

The yarn was the "Whale of a Skein" that I got at Purl Soho a couple of summers ago. I'm glad I used it because the yarn is really too expensive to sit in my stash for a long time.

I don't know if this happens to others, but as you can tell, I don't finish sweaters for myself that often. From my behavior, I would say that I don't like doing it. When it came time to start sewing it up, it took me days to pick up the project again. It wasn't that I minded the sewing so much, but I just think that I missed the routine of sitting down at night and just knitting. Then the for a few nights after the sweater was finished, I read. I didn't want to knit anything - which is so not like me, that I didn't even recognize myself.

I realized that finishing a sweater is kind of a let down. I still really enjoy wearing it, but I am not as excited about the sweater as I was when I bought the yarn, or discovered the "perfect pattern." I felt like I was in heaven once I started using this gorgeous yarn, and I even enjoyed the painstaking attention that I paid to the finishing - so once the sweater was done, it now just becomes an article of clothing in my wardrobe, as opposed to my "friend" that was with me during the planning and most nights for the past few months.

So now it is on the my next friend. I feel a little disloyal, but I'm working on a pair of socks - kind of like a rebound project. Fun, sexy (it has a little lace in it) but I don't think I will feel so lonely when I finish them.

Happy spring.

Go Red Sox!

P2K

Another Day, another hat

I don't know if you noticed, but the hat that I made last weekend, was way too small. I didn't realize this until my daughter tried it on, and I thought that it looked pretty good on her. (This is a picture of my 2 year old in the hat, but the 6 year old inherited it.)

It was good that the 6 year old got the hat, because that hooded sweater that I made for her was put in the laundry by my lovely husband, and now the sweater fits my little one. (There were lots of tears, and an order for another sweater.)

Anyway..... So, I loved the fact that the green hat had a brim that was doubled, so that my ears would stay warm - which is a definite priority these days. I found my malabrigo and whipped up this hat, using Ann Budd's book of patterns. I love the way it feels.

Hats are super satisfying because they are so quick!

Stay warm and knit with yarn you love,

P2K

Brrrr it's cold. Time for a new hat

It's another cold wave in Boston, so it was time for another hat. I liked the last one, but it was loose - so here is the "Cable Hat" from Island Yarn. There were a couple of problems with the pattern, but once I figured it out, the hat took no time. I made it with Mirasol Sulka which is a really beautiful yarn. The recommended needle size was 10.5, but I didn't have those, so I used 10 dpns. Unfortunately it is smaller than I would have liked, but I used the left over yarn for the pom pom. One of these days I will make the perfect hat. Fortunately, they don't take long to make.

For Christmas, I also finished the sweater for my neice. I liked the way it came out, but making 4 row stripes on a baby sweater is WAY too much yarn changing. It was a pain. I can't wait to see her in the sweater.

I hope wherever you are, you are enjoying the season. Personally, I like the excuse of slowing down and being inside - at least for now.

P2K