the Akamai Knitter

it is finished.

Pattern: February Lady Sweater (Ravelry)

Yarn: Patons Classic in Navy (yeah, yeah. i know that looks purple.)

Needles: 6US/4.0mm

Size: L

Date Started: February 1, 2009

Date Finished: February 20, 2009

what can i say about this sweater? there’s a reason why over 4,000 people have decided to knit it. it’s fabulous. fun to knit and fun to wear. what more could you ask for?

yes, i still haven’t attached the buttons. yes, i wore it out without said buttons. i swear i’ll do it tonight and maybe i’ll even have modeled shots on friday!

i think this would be a good project for those just venturing into lace, because the stitch pattern is very simple and easy to memorize. just the way i like it. :)

the sweater does run a bit on the large size. if you noticed, i knit the large. that was mainly due to my gauge. i’m normally a 2X, so dropping to a large was quite dramatic.  even the large is a little baggy for me.

i could not, for the life of me, get my camera to cooperate and get an accurate rendering of the color of this yarn. bleh! the above photo was the closest i could get.

there’s been a lot more knitting being done around here since i haven’t been spinning. my knee is feeling a lot better. i’m really tempted to spend a little time at the wheel. i’m trying to hold off, but i did experiment a little with it last night and i treadled the wheel with no fiber for about 5 minutes. the knee held up well. things are looking up!

happy tuesday, folks! i mean wednesday.

yeah.

it’s been that kind of day.

As much as it hurt, I thought it was particularly appropriate to have finished the Snakeskin Clapotis on the very day the Pittsburgh Steelers won the Superbowl. * As you can see, it’s their team colors.

Pattern: Clapotis

Yarn: Zitron Incanto – Color 08

Needles: US8 / 5.0mm

Started: January 13, 2009

Finished: February 1, 2009

Modifications: I knit 11 repeats width wise and 12 repeats lengthwise.

I’m thinking this might be the ugliest thing I’ve ever knit.**

I kinda like the colors, but the way they fall together is just this side of hideous.

I kinda liked the yarn, it’s soft and it drapes well.  Only it split like a mofo, which annoyed me to no end. On the whole, I don’t think this yarn is worth the frustration seeing as how spendy it was.

On the bright side, once I was able to get past the splittier-then-hell yarn, I did enjoy the knitting. The Clapotis is always a fun knit. I’ll just be more careful of what yarn I choose for it in the future.

Also, in my defense, the store model was really pretty.

*sigh*

With all this doom and gloom over a failed knit, I started another project that’s imminently appropriate for February.

It’s the ever trendy February Lady Sweater (Ravel it!). I’ll be knitting along with the effervescent Megan S. and I’m using Patons Classic Wool in Navy.

So far, I’m really loving the wool. It’s softer then it looks and it’s incredibly squooshy. Thanks to Kim for turning me on to the good stuff!

Unfortunately, what you see there will soon be frogged. My gauge is wacky and after some counseling from my Wendy, we decided I should go down a size or two if I want the sweater to actually fit me.  It shouldn’t be too painful as there’s not much there to rip out.

You can see that most of my time this weekend was spent knitting. I was too sick to spin, but as much as I miss my wheel, I’m definitely getting my knitting mojo in gear! Plus, I’m on my way to better every day. So no worries there!

Thanks to everyone for their get well wishes. They were/are/whatever well appreciated.

Happy Monday, people! I hope you’re all recovering from the weekend well!

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*I was cheering for the other team, the Cardinals. I won’t go into a football diatribe, but I will say it was heartbreaking. *sigh*

**Of course I could be wrong.  I don’t see straight when I’m ill. I reserve the right to change my mind. I’m always whiny when I’m sick.

Now that I’m back home, I feel I need to take stock of all the projects I started with reckless abandon during my long vacation.

First up is a shrug I started with Pedicure Shimmer in Pond. It’s designed by Carla who owns the yarn shop Delightful Ewe back in Altoona, PA.

The sparklies are actually sterling silver thread shot through the yarn. You’d think that would make the yarn scratchy, but it’s actually pretty soft.

Then there’s the Origami Cardi that I couldn’t resist starting. I’m using Berroco Comfort DK and I’ve already got the back and the two fronts done.

I’m a little nervous about whether or not this one will fit me. Most of the sweaters I’ve done have been raglan sweaters and this cardigan has a really unusual construction. So I’m a little insecure as to how the pieces will come together.

Now I had to also have a pair of socks on the needles. So while I was in Pennsylvania, I picked up some new sock yarn and started a pair of plain 2×2 ribbing for the plane ride back home. I managed to get one sock down and I’ve made a good start on the second.

These aren’t pretty socks. In fact, they look more like man socks, but I really like the yarn. So much that I bought more of it in another color. It’s a nice sturdy yarn that I think will wear well.

It doesn’t seem like I have too much on my plate when you look at these three projects, but when you look at these:

That’s when I start to feel really overwhelmed. I also have a feeling there are some other projects lurking in the wings that are completely forgotten and undocumented.

Let’s not even talk about how many spinning projects I have going on. We won’t even go there. Not today.

I think I’ll just reminisce over the beautiful grounds of the Mount Assisi Monastery and let the memories of all the beautiful wisteria cover me in tranquility.

P.S. I would probably get more done if I weren’t plurking all the time. It’s all Wendy J’s fault. I dare you to try it. ;-)

Yes, there has been knitting. Actual knitting. Hard to believe, isn’t it? But it’s true! I managed to finish a cardigan during my stay here in Altoona.

I give you the piCardigan (Ravelry link).

Pattern: piCardigan

Yarn: Tatamy Tweed in Black

Needles: size US 7 / 4.5mm

Started: May 5, 2008

Finished: May 21, 2008

Modifications: I left out the shaping for the sleeves. They would’ve been too baggy if I had done any increases.

I love top-down raglan sweaters. I love the way the increases look. I love Tatamy Tweed. It’s so soft and easy to knit with. The tweed had just enough going on that it made knitting with black not so monotonous.

The hem was the most tedious part because you have to sew it in. I’m a knitter, not a seamstress. The sewing nearly did me in. There was quite a bit of sighing and groaning during the process. In the end, I think it was worth it.

There you have it. Actual knitting content. Don’t you all faint on me!

Have a happy Thursday everyone! Friday is right around the corner which means the weekend will be upon us soon!

It took me awhile, but I was finally able to get some photos of me in my finished sweater, Something Tweedy (Ravelry Link).

Pattern: Something Red by Wendy Benard

Yarn: Tatamy Tweed (Ravelry Link) in Walnut

Needles: US 4 / 3.5mm

Started: November 26, 2007

Finished: February 22, 2007

I had to tweak the numbers a little bit to get the right fit. Luckily I have a sweater guru to help me out, otherwise I don’t think this project would have been the success it is. Also, the pattern is very loosely written making it very easy to modify.

I loved working with this yarn. Unlike most cotton yarns, this one in particular seems to have more give in it which made it much easier on the hands. It’s the nicest cotton blend I’ve ever had the pleasure to use.

It’s also more of a light worsted. The resulting fabric is nice and light, which is perfect for Hawaii’s climate.

My favorite part of the sweater is the button. I found it at Kaimuki Dry Goods and it was just one of those times where you find exactly what you need without any effort involved. Their button selection isn’t quite extensive either so I was even more impressed with me my find.

All in all, I’m very pleased with the way this sweater turned out. It fits beautifully and it just feels good. Hopefully it looks good too!