the Akamai Knitter

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. ;-)

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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!

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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!

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This weekend passed by in a blur as I’ve been getting ready for a big surprise. I’m not going to say what the big event is just in case I jinx it. For those of you who already know what it is or might be, please keep it to yourselves. Besides, everyone likes a surprise. Right? ;-)

I didn’t get much gift knitting done as I was too excited to sleep. Sleep deprivation and fair isle is just a recipe for disaster.

Instead, I worked on Something Tweedy and now I’m almost done with one sleeve. Here’s a picture of my progress. (I won’t mention the acrobatics involved in getting the pictures ready for today. I’m surprised I got any decent shots.)

This sweater is such a soothing knit. It was the perfect balm to the hectic pace of the past weekend and the sad football game I watched yesterday. (I still love ya Tony! DeMarcus you were spectacular!)

I’m still in love with the yarn and the pattern is deceptively clever in its simplicity. I’ve been trying it on as I go and I just love the way it fits so far. I have high hopes that this will turn out to be a favorite once it’s done.

One sweater that has become a favorite of mine is the Ariann. I finished this back in November for NaKniSweMo. I didn’t really give it much blog time once it was done due to a lack of photo opportunities. I still didn’t manage to get a really good shot of it, but here it is.

Pattern: Ariann

Yarn: Lion Brand Cotton Ease

Needles: Size 5US/3.75mm and 4US/3.5mm

Started: November 6, 2007

Finished: November 24, 2007

I had a couple of problems with this sweater. First I had to rip out 14″ and start all over again when I realized that my initial try would have resulted in a garment much too big for me.

Then there was a spot of trouble when I had to attach the sleeves to the body and I ended up breaking a pair of needles. To avert a repeat of this disaster, I put each section on a separate pair of needles resulting in a monster of a project in my hands. I managed to work through that and once the sleeves flattened out a bit I was able to get it all back on one pair of needles.

Despite all that, I really did enjoy knitting this sweater and I love it now it’s done. It’s roomy and comfy and soft and cozy. Who could ask for more? :)

Well I could ask that the white cat stay away from the black sweater. Hrm. Does Pressie look just a little bit disappointed?

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First off, I wanted to thank you all for the wonderful comments and emails of condolences regarding Onyx’s passing. You have all helped make this difficult time for me so much easier. I can’t say that I’m back to 100% but I am feeling a little better and I have been able to do a little bit of knitting.

Not much progress has been made on my Seaweed Lace Socks (Ravelry Link). I only managed to get past the heel. It hasn’t been much of a priority since this pair is for me and I’ve got to get some other things done first.

I did manage to finish up the Anemoi Mittens to the point of where all that’s left is the thumbs. It’s a good thing too as I’d hate for my friend Dani to leave the islands without these because it’ll be quite an adjustment for her. She’ll be going from temperatures of 80F to 50F. Brr. (Yes, I’m a total wimp.)

There is one project that I’ve been working on for myself and that’s the Something Tweedy. It’s a completely mindless knit, which makes it something akin to comfort food. I find it perfect for those times when I’m feeling a little overwhelmed by my feelings of grief over the loss of Onyx. Though I have to admit that it’s also great football knitting too. (Go Warriors!)

Right now it’s at the point where it actually looks like a sweater, instead of a brown blob of ew. I was a very good girl and took the sweater off the needles to try it on and it fits! There’s nothing like having the confidence in knowing a garment fits to make the knitting all the sweeter.

Another great comfort has been my other two cats. Pressie and Quincy have been wonderfully affectionate since Onyx has been gone. I don’t talk much about Pressie here on the blog because she’s always been more my mother’s cat, but lately she’s been sticking to me like velcro whenever my mother’s out of the house.

We adopted her back in 2001 (at least I think that’s the year) and she was already an adult at that time. She had been a feral cat when she had been rescued. At the time she was rescued she was also pregnant with two kittens. By the time we came into the picture, Pressie’s kittens had already been adopted out.

Pressie didn’t have such good luck. I think it was mostly because of her appearance. She had to have her ears cropped because of some cancerous growths. She also has some really horrible eye allergies which makes it seem like she’s crying blood. So she sometimes looks a little like a demon cat. In fact she’s been known to strike fear in the hearts of men.

(I kid you not. Once, she really scared one of the strong hurly burly workmen we had working on the house. He was afraid she might attack him and she only weighs maybe 7lbs and he was at least 180lbs of pure muscle.)

Regardless of her appearance to others, she is one of the sweetest cats I have ever had the privilege of being with and I thought she deserved some time on the blog.

Thanks for reading, I didn’t know I had such a ramble in me! Have a great week/day/evening! :-)

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