Finished sweater on its way?????

Here is my progress on Blackberry after the weekend. I knit the back on Wednesday, most of the right front on Thursday, finished the right front and the left front on the train home on Friday, and started the sleeve on Saturday. I think I might just have to pick up bigger needles more often. I think I may have done the bobbles incorrectly on the sleeves though. Somehow I ended up with the bobbles on the wrong side. Need to frog two rows tonight and have another go.



I would have more done on Blackberry if it wasn't for...........curtains! Yes, I finally have gotten my curtains up! I was so sick of being able to look over into my neighbors apartment all the time! The roman blinds were good, at least when it was daylight. When it got dark I might as well not even bothered to put them down. Now I can finally have privacy in my living room. I also put together an ikea bedside table and my lovely bf helped me to put up the blind in the kitchen. It's only been a month, but the apartment is finally starting to get organized. Now I just can't wait for my bookshelf to be delivered so I can get all my knitting books out of boxes.


Sorry neighbor, no more peep shows!

Good Girl/Bad Girl

Good Girl

I've been a good girl this week. I finished the back of butterfly on Monday! Don't mind my bright background, I'm too lazy to dig anything else out at the moment (maybe my old blue carpet background wasn't so bad afterall). I've already started the front frill and hope to be finished the front very soon. Well, finished very soon if I had been totally a good girl this week........

Bad Girl

So I went to the yarn store yesterday - to shop for my Secret Pal - I SWEAR!! Well, it didn't quite go the way that I planned. I walked out of there with two balls of Kidsilk in Trance- destined to be the shorter version of Butterfly (I just can't help myself!) I also couldn't resist buying 6 balls of Big Wool for Blackberry. The store had just received a new shipment of Big Wool and I just couldn't help myself.

Then, to make matters worse, when I came home I spent several hours working on Blackberry instead of poor Butterfly. I checked my gauge and then started knitting like crazy. I had forgotten how nice and quick it is to be using a needle larger than size 2! So I knit for about 2 hours and got all the way up to the armhole shaping when I realized that my gauge was off. That sucked the big one. So I frogged the back and dropped down a needle size. Perfect! That is the beauty of large knits - work 2 hours - wrong gauge - no problem! Blackberry is filling a very big void in my life right now - or at least very soon - A FINISHED PROJECT! I haven't finished a project in I can't even remember how long. In fact, since I have started this blog, I have only finished a scarf and shrug. Shame on me! Lucky is ready to be sewn up and the FairIsle is almost finished and ready to be stitched also, but they don't seem to want to be sewn up any time soon.

Butterfly Progress

And SP6 is on its way! I received an email from my secret pal yesterday and sent an email off to mine today. I am really excited to finally be apart of the swap. Now it gives me an excuse to check out the fall stock in my LYS. I've been trying to stay away due to my large inventory of projects to be knitted.



Butterfly is coming along very well. I'm 3cm away from decreasing for the armholes. I hope to be starting on the front by next week. I guess it all depends on how much IKEA furniture I get put together over the next couple of days. I'll tell ya one thing, It's amazing they can fit an entire love seat in 3 small boxes. They must have an entire team strictly dedicated to getting the furniture to fit in small boxes! Could you imagine getting paid to do that?

I know I say this all the time, but I really need to start knitting faster. I have so much I want to knit, and not enough time! With the new Knitty out, I want to make almost everything! Every issue gets better and better. I think it's wonderful to have an open submission process that brings in fresh ideas. Knitty rocks!

Secret Pal 6 questionnaire

Yay! I didn't miss Secret Pal 6, though I probably would have had it not been for the heads up by Chia!

So here is my (hopefully interesting) questionnaire:

1. Are you a yarn snob (do you prefer higher quality and/or natural fibers)? Do you avoid Red Heart and Lion Brand? Or is it all the same to you?

I prefer natural fibers. Acrylics just pill way too much - after spending all that time knitting something nice, I want it to stay looking nice. As far as Red Heart and Lions Brand - every yarn has it's place, but it hasn't really found it's way into my knitting projects yet.

2. Do you spin? Crochet?

I want to learn how to spin. I bought my drop spindle about 5 months ago and am yet to get going with it. I know how to crochet, but don't do it very often.

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)

Sometimes the occasional feline will send me into a sneezing fit.

4. How long have you been knitting?

About 5 1/2 years.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

Amazon and Half.com - though I only have a few knitting related things on there at the moment..........

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)

Vanilla

7. Do you have a sweet tooth?

MMM, chocolate...... What was the question again????

8. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do?

Bookbinding, beading, restoring old Dodge cars

9. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

Alternative music such as Bad Religion, Pearl Jam, Weezer. Yes, I am MP3 capable.

10. What's your favorite color? Or--do you have a color family/season/palette you prefer? Any colors you just can't stand?

I tend to lean towards cooler colors: olive, blues, turquoise but I also have a new fondness for magenta and rust oranges. Don't really like purple or pastels. Black is always good too (I've been living in New York for too long!)

11. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

No pets, but I really want a dog soon.

12. What are your life dreams? (really stretching it here, I know)

Life dreams - simple - to own my own yarn store in the near future!

13. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with?

Anything by Rowan - but I'm looking to break my Rowan addiction. HELP!! Kidsilk mohair rules my life!

14. What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

Acrylic and scratchy wool

15. What is/are your current knitting obsession/s?

Small needles and Rowan kidsilk - I also am itching to learn how to do socks.

16. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Sweaters on small needles. But I really want to knit some socks.

17. What are you knitting right now?

Butterfly from Rowan 37 (mmmm, kidsilk and lace - perfect together)

18. What do you think about ponchos?

Well, considering I work in the fashion industry - I was over them before they ever hit the racks.

19. Do you prefer straight or circular needles?

Straight

20. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Bamboo

21. Are you a sock knitter?

I want to be.

22. How did you learn to knit?

My grandma taught me when I was about 7, then I picked it up again during college.

23. How old is your oldest UFO?

5 1/2 years young.

24. What is your favorite animated character or a favorite animal/bird?

I have several: Grommet and Shawn the sheep, The Powerpuff girls, Hello Kitty

25. What is your favorite holiday?

My Birthday - it should be a holiday!

26. Is there anything that you collect?

Besides yarn..........can't think of anything

27. What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

Rowan International - though I should really get Interweave too, I buy it every season, it just took me like 2 years to notice I did!

28. Any books out there you are dying to get your hands on?

I've been searching for a good sock book.

29. Any patterns you have been coveting, but haven't bought for one reason or another??

Blue Sky Alpacas: Knit Boots, Glampyre: Tubular Camisole, Mac and Me: Yoga Socks

So there you have it. I can't wait for my Secret Pal to be assigned! This is going to be so fun!

Moving Aftermath

So I've been in my new place for about a week and a half now and I absolutely love it! I only moved a couple of blocks away from where I used to live, but the new neighborhood is so much busier.

Here we have a perfect picture example of what moving can do to an otherwise healthy dana:


I moved into a 4th floor walkup without an elevator. We all felt like the above after going up and down those stairs 50 trillion times. So I am pretty much unpacked - NOT! As you can see, I have the computer up and running and then tons of boxes all over the place. I venture forth to IKEA this weekend to pick up some cheap furniture. I love IKEA! Then maybe I can get all my knitting books out of boxes and my yarn stashed away in it's proper place. I'm going to have a little designated knitting corner with a comfy chair, basket for work in progress, and a nice bright light so I can see what I am doing for a change.





And here is my progress on Butterfly from Rowan 37. I'm finally up to the waist after neglecting it during the move. I am very surprised by how quickly it is knitting up and I should have the back done in no time. The wood floors aren't exactly the best backdrop for the picture, but I really don't miss my old blue carpet! Next time I'll stop being lazy and get out a pillowcase or sheet or something!

And finally, thanks to all who have left me nice comments about my Magknits pattern. It keeps me motivated to keep turning them out. Knitty is next on my agenda, wish me luck!

Magknits is up!

Yay! Magknits is finally up and my new pattern is posted! It's so exciting. You can view my new pattern here: http://www.magknits.com/Aug05/sesame.htm.

I applogize for my lack of knitting posts lately, but I moved last week and it took up most of my time for the past couple of weeks. I only moved a couple of blocks away from my last apartment, but this one was a 4th floor walkup. Let's just say that my calves were screaming a little after the move. My legs are finally starting to feel better - 4 days after!

Butterfly has been coming along and I will post pictures once my computer at home is unpacked and back online.