Uncle

I think it's time to acknowledge that no, I am not going to finish my Tilted Duster for NaKniSweMo. I know, I know, big surprise, but I am disappointed.



This was my progress as of about 5am yesterday morning. Not pictured are two sleeves, knit but not seamed.

I had eight hours of classes yesterday (without sleep), and though I knit for as long as I was awake last night, I still only finished 13 of the 80 skirt rows. Which is to say nothing of the collar or the rest of the finishing.

Considering I have class from 2-10pm today, with all the work I can stand this morning before class, then another full day tomorrow, this just isn't going to happen.

Sigh.

Looking back on this month, I can come up with plenty of times when I could have been knitting. I took several long train rides, working on my traveling sock instead (great progress there, by the way).

During an extended visit at my parents', I spent most of my time knitting a hat, then trying out another:



At least I like where it's going, even if it's a blazing symbol of my constant knitting infidelity.

I'm not going to completely beat myself up though, because this month has taught me a lot about knitting and myself as a knitter.

For one thing, I shouldn't have been so afraid of seaming. I let that hold me up for the longest time (if even subconsciously), when it actually took about 20 concentrated minutes of work. The seams came out alright, not great, but acceptable enough for my first full seater.

I should have been afraid of picking up stitches from the cast-on edge, as this turned out to be a nightmare. I still don't know why I had such a hard time with it, but it literally sucked up hours of knitting time Tuesday night.

I also should have thought more about the pattern itself and what I was attempting to accomplish. The skirt portion is 80 rows of 210 or more stitches per row, which in and of itself is nearly like knitting an entire Tempting over again, but with increases. I might have reflected on the time it took me to knit the original Tempting (which yeah, we'll talk about soon) and realized that no, leaving a few hours is not sufficient for that part.

Lastly, if I really want to finish something by a deadline, I shouldn't dally around with other projects. I know it's so easy for me to rationalize a hat or two or working on my socks instead, but obviously that was time I should have been working on the Duster.

I am much further along in this than any other sweater I've started so far, so it shouldn't be too much time before I finish it, provided I actually stick with it and don't put it aside indefinitely when I start up Christmas knitting next week.

Ahh the insanity. I realize it's ludicrous to stress about knitting, since this is the hobby I do to relax, but I don't like facing my limitations in any context. There may be no NaKniSweMo police (and thank you, Amanda, for reminding me of this), but I can still be annoyed with myself that I didn't rise to the challenge the way I thought I could.

I hope your NaKniSweMo's were more productive and successful than mine, and I'm excited to traipse through FO posts when I find a moment.

Finishing woes

I was foolish in choosing the Tilted Duster for NaKniSweMo, considering it cannot be even halfway completed until I do major amounts of seaming. I chose it knowing this, hoping this would be the sweater that broke me of my seam phobia, and yet, I remain paralyzed.

I've knit the back, both fronts, and both sleeves, and now I am at the point where I just cannot avoid sewing. I tried one seam with embroidery floss, which worked out better than any seam I've ever made... but it was only a few inches long and I'm still terrified of the rest.

The trouble is, this is a pattern with me. I get caught up on some small detail and let it hold a project up indefinitely. To wit:

Things I Am Avoiding Like the Plague:

• sewing buttons on the baby cardigan (which has been otherwise finished since August)
• threading a ribbon through my finished Tempting
• undoing two bind-offs and sewing down facings on the Summertime Tunic, then threading ribbon
• sewing the body of the Tilted Duster so I can pick up the skirt and finish the silly thing

For good measure, I'm also wearing my winter coat open because I am avoiding sewing two buttons back on it.

I realize that if I committed just an hour or two to finishing, I could have quite a few FO's and a functional winter coat. Yet here I am obsessing over hats. And socks.

Must sew. No matter what, I must get over my fear of sewing.

Kind of a hat...

Have you seen Stephanie Pearl-McPhee (aka the Yarn Harlot)'s An Unoriginal Hat pattern? It's so cute and looked like a fun, instant gratification knit.



I ordered a skein of Bernat Softee Chunky in the color Nature's Way, and I've been trying to think of why I love the color of this yarn so much. I don't think its resemblance to some of my favorite pajamas is coincidental.



The pattern is fabulous and it was great fun to knit. Interesting cabling, but enough stretches of easy knit and purl that it was relaxing while watching TV with my mother. I started the hat late Wednesday evening on size 10.5 DPNs (adding 4 rows of 2x2 ribbing at the bottom), and it was finished on Thanksgiving afternoon. Fast, easy, and a blast.



Trouble is, it just doesn't fit my head. Whoops.



I don't think I have an exceptionally large head, but I used slightly smaller than the called-for needles, I didn't check gauge, and I ignored my misgivings when trying it on.



Unless I find a child who might like this hat, I think I'm going to frog it and use the yarn to make a zig-zag pattern similar to a hat worn by Jennifer Love Hewitt on Ghost Whisperer this evening (episode 309 "All Ghosts Lead to Grandview" - if anyone has a photo I'd really appreciate it).

I think that will take advantage of the stripes that form in this yarn and look quite cute. But you can bet I'm checking gauge this time!

Traveling Duster

I have in fact made progress on my Tilted Duster, finishing both fronts last week. I'm past all the increases on my first sleeve, which made it pretty easy train knitting during a trip this weekend.



(I never realized I look so somber when I knit.)

I didn't knit for very long because I was exhausted and ended up napping, so I still have a lot of work to do, but I'm very glad to have gotten over whatever angst I had toward this sweater.

I'm cranky because I stayed in a house full of people smoking cigarettes (the co-ed frat/sorority literary society I belonged to in college), so everything in my suitcase now reeks. I've always been really sensitive about smoking anyway, but knowing it was effecting my hand-knits was making me batty.

I am just about up to seaming the pieces together before picking up stitches for the collar and skirt (well, one sleeve away anyway), so I've been subconsciously worrying this whole time.

I've always suspected that I could use embroidery floss or similar to sew up a sweater instead of yarn, and The Knitter's Book of Finishing Techniques confirmed that for me, so I ordered some dark brown DMC cotton to seam with.

I read on Ravelry that I must take care to pre-wash the thread so that it doesn't shrink or stretch differently from the yarn in the sweater (which would result in puckery or gapping seams). If anyone has recommendations on how to wash small skeins of embroidery floss besides my "dunk it in the sink and swish it around, then spread on a towel to dry" plan, I'd really appreciate it.

Missing It

I haven't knit in almost a week, and that's making me a bit sad. I am at a crazy busy point in the semester, and I had house guests this weekend, a paper to write, an all-day bronze casting demonstration, and so on.

Finally I feel I am able to pick the needles back up (although admittedly, I have homework I should be doing), but I have almost no desire to work on the Tilted Duster.

I can't really say why this should be. Maybe I don't like knitting in pieces, and I'm severely dreading seaming (though I did get a copy of The Knitter's Book of Finishing Techniques by Nancie Wiseman, which should make it better). Maybe it's the feel of the yarn on straight needles, maybe it's the pattern itself.

I just don't like doing it, and I realize that this is why I have so many UFOs. It will be a really good exercise in discipline if I am able to force myself through this sweater for NaKniSweMo, though it is incredibly challenging to keep from casting on for something new instead (my typical behavior).

Also, sorry no photos, but right now it's just a few boring brown pieces, and I can't even get inspired to pin them out to show. I hope I will have more exciting progress to share soon!

Unfaithful

I just can't stay faithful to a single project, even when I only have a month to complete it.



I've been cheating on my sweater with socks. Not only did I finish one of my toe-up socks, but I cast on for the second and have made quite a bit of progress up the foot. They are like a compulsion, I can't keep myself from them.

You know what else I can't stop doing? Buying yarn.



Lots and lots of delicious yarn.

Knit Picks has some kind of spell over me, and this time I went overboard with the thin stuff, all in fingering and lace weights.




Knit Picks Shadow 100% merino lace weight 2ply, in Sunset Heather

This is such a warm and inviting red with flickers of purple, orange, and yellow. I just love Shadow, and I look forward to slipping it through my fingers.


Knit Picks Gloss 70% merino wool / 30% silk fingering weight, in Serengeti

I had picked out some Palette in Twig for my boyfriend's Henry scarf, but it just seemed too pinkish of a tan. When I held it against his olive green coat, it almost seemed a salmon color, and I had major misgivings. I'm thrilled with this yarn's color - it's exactly the shade of tan I wanted - and I think that the Gloss will be much nicer against his skin than Palette.




Knit Picks Gloss 70% merino wool / 30% silk fingering weight, in Woodland Sage


Knit Picks Gloss 70% merino wool / 30% silk fingering weight, in Dusk




Knit Picks Shadow 100% merino lace weight 2ply, in Vineyard Heather

I was surprised at the deep saturation of this purple when compared with their website photos. Knit Picks is notoriously inaccurate, and I realize that purple is very difficult to photograph, but it was a delight to see such a rich and complex shade when I was expecting something grayed out. This makes me think that the other colors they have on sale would definitely be worth checking out, as they'll probably be similarly delectable.




Knit Picks Alpaca Cloud 100% baby alpaca lace weight, in Iris Heather

This is the sleeper hit of this purchase, if not my entire yarn-buying career. I bought it on impulse, despite a suspected alpaca allergy. And I am so glad I did!

My goodness, what a beautiful yarn. It is softer and dreamier than I ever imagined yarn could be - luscious, silky, and just plain decadent. Its richness and depth of color is phenomenal, and I just can't stop touching it.

I am so happy with all of these purchases, and I feel I must seek out more lace shawl patterns so I can buy up every colorway of Alpaca Cloud and Shadow they make. These yarns are so pleasant to touch and look at, and I can only imagine what a treat they will be in knitting.

Now that I have sufficient incentive to finish, I must stop neglecting my Tilted Duster if I'm going to get to play with all my new yarns!

Silk

While I am plugging away at my Tilted Duster for NaKniSweMo (and I plan to have progress photos soon), I find myself staring at one of my birthday presents to myself, a gorgeous cone of 100% silk DK that I purchased from Colourmart.



It is so intensely beautiful, and I keep running it through my fingers to enjoy its decadent feel. The color is "moss green," and it is one of my absolute favorite colors. It is every bit as lovely as I hoped it would be, if not more so.



I'm kind of amazed at the value, as this is (supposedly) enough for a cute top I have in my queue, yet the price (with shipping included) was extremely reasonable.



If this is anywhere near as pleasant to knit with as I suspect it will be, then I will definitely be buying a lot more silk in the future.

NaKniSweMo, here we go!!!

At midnight I cast on for my NaKniSweMo sweater, a Tilted Duster. Well, I tried to. It took me a few minutes to get this photo.



At the same time, I started NaBloPoMo on my regular blog and started celebrating my 26th birthday. Hehe, I was busy.

I've never knit a full sweater before, and my last attempts at seaming were frightening, so this project makes me more than a bit nervous.

I am optimistic, however, that if I'm careful and diligent, I can make a really nice first sweater. In a month. Wheee!!!