Too Much Wool

silence

As we must account for every idle word, so must we account for every idle silence.
    ~Benjamin Franklin

with abandon

I had thought I was going to blog again last week, but then at the end of the week I got totally caught up with a new/old project.

I started this DROPS/Garnstudio pattern cardi at the very end of August. I distinctly remember working on it, rustic wool and the scorching sun making my hands sweat like crazy. However, that wasn't what made me lay the project aside - it had more to do with the miles and miles of moss stitch than anything else. It got - shall we say? - a little tedious.

Amazingly, though, I had almost finished both sleeves when I put it aside. So in picking it up again last week, I just had a teensy bit of moss stitch to do before I bid that wretched stitch goodbye.

In picking it up again last week, I was a little bit nervous. I had been totally messed up by the other DROPS Design pattern I had in progress last summer. That particular UFO was sidelined because I had failed to see the impracticality of the super-wide neckline. That, and my row gauge being off by a bit (I think, I never actually measured) forced me to rip back inches of knitting just when I htought I was almost finished, and I haven't picked it up again since.

So, the current jacket/cardigan. I started in again cautiously in the middle of last week, but by Friday I was in full swing again. Moss stitch finished, sleeves joined to body, yoke in progress (etc., etc., etc.....)

This morning, it looks like this:

 

I was kind of perturbed by the instructions when I got up near the collar - I've never done a collar before. Fortunately, Rachael had already finished this sweater, and so I harassed her throughout the weekend with questions.

The yoke/collar/v-neck section currently looks like this -

(That weird overlap is a collar that folds down. Really. It works but looks strange laid flat.)

Having just laid it out and measured it carefully, I have about 4cm more to go before I bind off at the back of the neck and work through the rather obscure instructions for the collar. It involves some kind of short rows and then sewing the collar to the bound off stitches on the back of the neck.

I tried it on just before taking those pictures and the fit seems just right. The yarn is a very scratchy (softens on washing, I did do a real swatch for this one) wool/yak blend from Cestari Farms. I believe its been discontinued, but I'm not sure about that. I'm hoping it will make a nice spring jacket, which may be unbridled optimism on my part considering the abnormally springlike weather we've had for the past few days.

Just in case you were wondering - I am too. This is me, finishing up UFOs and knocking out sweater projects long abandoned with ... abandon. What in the world is going on? That other DROPS cardigan (Ravelry link) better watch out. It's next in the queue.

P.S. The Amelia sweater has grown on me. I've worn it a lot since I finished it, on the days before the weather hit 45 degrees. It is indeed comfortable, flattering, and fits well. Thank you to everyone who voiced their approval when I was so unsure. Finished is a nice thing.

spinning and another finished thing

I've mentioned a couple of times that I've been doing a lot of spinning, but I haven't posted about it very much at all, so it's time to play catch up in that department.

I posted back at the end of December about spinning for a sweater. I finished that up a while ago (1375 yards!) but hadn't done anything with the yarn because I was focusing on finishing some older knitting UFOs. Well, I swatched with it the other day and ...

Here's the swatch. The yarn was spun from some Spinner's Hill batts. I couldn't believe, when I started to knit with it, how incredible it felt. I've knit with my own handspun before, but this ... this is sproingy and bouncy and soft and ... Can you tell I like it? It's clocking in at nearly 6 stitches per inch, and I'm going to have to do some thinking about what to make with it. But with 1300+ yards, it will definitely be a sweater.

The most recently finished spinning project was some sock yarn.

Now, I know that this looks suspiciously ... blue. But the name of the colorway was "Muddy Waters" and I just couldn't resist. The batts were from Spunky Eclectic/Amy, and spun like a dream. This is a 3 ply, and I've got 550 yards, or thereabout. I'm itching to get the current pair of socks on the needles done so I can work with it.

I also managed to finish something up, as in really finished, not just yarn.

It's another Lace Ribbon Scarf (my second one). I started it back in September, but got bogged down with other holiday knitting and kind of forgot about it. While searching for my 3.75mm needles yesterday, I unearthed it, took a quick look and realized it was essentially done. I added a few rows, bound off, washed and blocked it.

The yarn is an Icelandic lambswool/silk blend from Wild Geese Fibers. It was so soft and had such a beautiful halo that when I first worked with it, I was wondering if it was kid mohair. (Shame on me for underestimating an Icelandic lamb!)

This one is heading straight out the door, a gift for my mother-in-law for Valentine's day. My MIL was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, is due to start radiation treatments soon, and lives in the cold midwest. I think a nice, warm handknit scarf is just what she needs right now.

Hmmm....

Hmmm....

Well, I have a finished sweater. I've been sitting around half the morning, sewing on buttons and trying to take pictures and also trying to figure out what to say.

Over the weekend, I was very excited about it. Ran out yesterday morning at about 11am to buy buttons so it could really be finished. Washed and blocked it.

Simply, I am not 100% thrilled. Through no fault of the pattern, I might add. I think my gauge was a bit loose, maybe. I'm not 100% sure the sweater is flattering. But hell, you know what? Its done.

Pre-washing/blocking/buttons:

With one button:

(and a loose end I forgot to weave in before washing)

And with all five buttons:

Oh, and the rest of the sweater:

Pattern: Amelia by Laura Chau.
Yarn: Scholler Stahl Edelweiss, ancient yarn from my stash
Needles: 4.5mm Knitpicks Harmony
Size: Small, 34" bust
Modifications: I shorted the garter cuff on the sleeves by a bit, and added a button in the garter band around the neck (where one wasn't called for)

Things I'm pleased about: I finally learned my lesson about cardigans and negative ease - if you go too far into negative, they don't button properly. Sleeves are plenty long enough - I didn't skimp there.

What I don't like: My biggest problem with the sweater is that I think the sleeves are too wide at the top. If I were to do it over, I'd skip a few of the final increases on the sleeve and adjust the yoke accordingly. However, I've also suspected that my gauge got a little loosey-goosey towards the tops of the sleeves, so its possible it has nothing to do with the pattern as written, and more with my gauge than anything else.

After all is said and done, I did finish it, and as a matter of fact it was only 32 days from start to finish, with at least a full week of not touching it somewhere in there. It fits, may or may not be totally flattering, but will definitely get worn.

I apologize for the negativity - I'm really on the fence on this so far. However, having only sewn the buttons on about a half hour ago, I think it may just need some time to sink in. Sweater. Finished.