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

Almost vacation!

I am SOOOO excited about the upcoming vacation. Let's face it, vacations are always terrific and I always feel like I'm trudging through the desert to get there -- but this time, I REALLY need it! My husband has been working like a crazy person since the middle of October, and so that leaves a lot of child duties and house duties to me (in addition to my full time job.) Can we say T-I-R-E-D?

People have asked what I am working on these days, and I am not a monogamous knitter. So here are pictures and labels:

A sweater for my niece.



A blanket for my nephew.








Super cardigan for me.


and a mindless in the round yoke sweater with Jamie Harmon yarn.


Hopefully the new year will be full of F.O.'s for all of us!

Happy Winter Solstice

P2K

Instant gratification

I have been working on a lot of knitting -- a sweater for me, a sweater for my niece that was born in October, a blanket for my nephew (born last April) and my Clessidra socks. So of course, you know, I was totally fantasizing about a new hat. Actually, that isn't exactly true. It was FREEZING here last week, and I hated the hats that I had, so I made a new one.

This is made of Jamie Harmon yarn, and is so soft and incredibly warm. I really love it -- and it is reversible. (It is basically a tube, as you can see.)

I met Jamie at Rhinebeck this year, and I ordered a sweater's worth of yarn that she is plying for me. Her yarn is so soft!!!!!!!! It is 50% merino and 50% angora. Definitely a luxury - but if we didn't want this really special stuff, we would just buy all of our sweaters and hats!

Happy Thanksgiving.

P2K

Popping the liberal bubble

During the past few weeks I have been feeling so proud that I live in a country where people care about civil rights and are able to elect the strongest candidate for president regardless of his race and that all types of people, all over this country, have rallied in support of gay marriage. People have shown that they believe that all law abiding citizens are entitled to the same rights and privileges.

I live in one of the more liberal cities in one of the most liberal states, and I am proud of this fact and grateful to live here. I am also a Jew and my city has a sizable Jewish population. I became complacent. Living in my liberal bubble, I believed that racism, bigotry and antisemitism happened in other (less enlightened) places, but not here -- Not here in Newton, where the public schools are closed for the Jewish holidays and not here where we give truckloads of food to food pantries and knit mittens and hats for the homeless.

But despite the open minded values and world healing actions of my synagogue, some person decided to spray paint a Swastika to the entry sign of my synagogue.

Let this be a reminder to all of us that we should never take our freedoms for granted. All over this nation we need to continue to fight hate and denial of civil rights, because if we are threatened here in this liberal bubble of Newton, MA, we know that the rights and freedoms of all are at risk in this country.

P2K

I'm still alive - and still knitting

It has been quite a while. This summer just sped by, and it seems that I just got caught up in all of the traveling, relaxing and having fun with the family. Before I knew it, I was back in school and going 75 mph. It is a crazy life we live. I always think that I will be able to get the mess in my house under control if I just clean 20 - 30 minutes a day - and that is true. The thing that I forget is that I am exhausted at the end of the day and have NO desire to clean at all - thus the incredible mess in the house!

I discovered "Facebook" this summer. I had been on it for a while, but many of my high school and college friends are now on it, so it has been fabulous hearing from those people again. I've gotten together with some, have talked baseball with others and generally caught up on the past 15 -20 years. That has been TOTALLY AWESOME. (Is my '80's culture showing?)

I finally finished this sweater for my daughter. She LOVES it. It took me about a year and a half, which is really embarrassing, but I found it really boring to make. Every time I would pick it up, I would kind of snooze after a couple of rows. I'm glad I finished it, and also glad that she is so happy. (even though she has goofy smiles in these pictures.)

Hope life is good wherever you are.

P2K