Stasia's Place Of Grace

Thursday, October 31, 2002

 

Finis!

I am pleased to report that the "Welcome Back, Old Friend" gray, cable-knit tunic turtleneck, from Interweave Knits Fall, 2000 issue, is finished! What a long project this has been for me!

However, I will not be wearing it to the party tonight, as I'd like to wash and block it first. As with most oversized sweaters knit flat (in pieces), it has gorilla arms. :-(

The measurements are all as indicated on the pattern; it seems that the sleeve length would be correct, but the stitch pattern on the sides of the body is really stretchy, and that adds to the sleeve length when the sweater is worn. Perhaps after blocking it will not be so noticeable. It is a great sweater anyway, but will probably be reserved for casual, around-the-house wear rather than a "showpiece."

I wish more patterns would be knit in the round, a la Cottage Creations or Cabin Fever knits! I really prefer to pick up sleeves and knit them down to the correct length, trying the sweater on as I go.

I now know why the sweater was photographed for IK on a model with her arms held straight out!

But I'm happy that this two-year project has come to a close. The seaming up proved relatively painless, but weaving in the ends took forever because of the nubbly yarn. I thought I'd go blind!

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What am I wearing to the get-together my mother is hosting for my sister, who's visiting from California? An orange sweatshirt, a purple turtleneck, and of course my orange, purple, lavender and camel Meilenweit spooky sox, complemented by clear, see-through Lands' End clogs! (They're hard to find on their website - you may have to e-mail, as I did, for more info.)

My mother made chili, so I think my non-meat-eating sister will thank her lucky stars that I will come bearing a sushi tray from my favorite sushi shop.

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Looking for creative gifts for the little ones on your list? Things like craft or cookie baking kits, educational toys, musical instruments? If I had kids, I'd shop for everything at HearthSong. Take a peek - they have wonderful stuff, including a knitting kit!

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Works In Progress

• Regia socks, my own pattern, in the "Sylt" colorway.

• Second funky hat, my own pattern, with spiral curlicue "hangy thingies" at crown, in Red Heart "Artists Print" leftovers.

• Considering a sweater - a top-down turtleneck with raglan sleeves - in more of the above acrylic... yes, I found it at another store and admit I bought them out of it. I know, I know, I said I'd never make another sweater, and - egads - can you believe I'd make one from acrylic?

  But with no seaming, well... what do you think? There is something about the colors of this yarn that I find particularly healing, and it really does soften upon being washed.

• Have ordered two hanks of Louet Gems Merino Sport from Handknitting.com in "Taupe" and "Caribou" to make the little "Leaf Cravats" in the Winter 02/03 Interweave Knits. How could I pass up a colorway called "Caribou?"

• Have ordered two purple-based colorways of Brown Sheep Wildfoote sock yarn from Linda's source, The Knitting Knook in Vermont. Purple socks will abound in our household, as well! Linda has a photo - the only color I didn't get was the lighter, lavender one.

• Wanted to make a lace Indecieta alpaca scarf from the current Vogue Knitting and was all set to order the yarn... then saw that the magazine didn't even provide a chart for the lace pattern.

  Fuggedaboudit, I'm not reading lace in text!

  Like Larry, I'm less than thrilled with this issue. In fact, I really don't like (to make) any of the "fully fashioned" type of patterns that VK offers. I don't know why I continue to subscribe, except I'd somehow feel I was missing out on something if I wasn't getting it!

• Silk scarves remain to be woven - I haven't progressed beyond sleying the reed, but am still very psyched about the project and anticipate getting to it soon.

• A nostie I'd ordered for a gift, and the stand which just arrived for my Ashford rigid heddle loom (I was scared I'd smash it, keeping it on the floor), both need to be finished. Will get out my Wood Beams this weekend.

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I hope you will have a very happy Halloween/Samhain tonight! I plan to sit and visit with old family friends and my sister, and knit on my Regia socks. Maybe if I'm lucky, there will be some old scary movies on cable at my mother's (we don't have cable here, and I miss AMC at the holidays!)

Gotta run - have to get the dogs out, grab my knitting, and pick up that sushi platter!

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