The Sleeve

So, this is the first of the two sleeves, which look unremarkably like the body of the sweater. Raglin says it all. So, I'm actually 3/4 done with the second sleeve. Almost completely finished except for blocking and sewing up. Yah!

Ready for it to be done, I am. 

Like the Name Says...

...Tea and knitting and knitting and more tea and more knitting. Some podcast listening. I'm on the second and final sleeve (as I don't have three arms) of the sweater. I can do this. Nevermind that I am bloody tired of this sweater for all my frantic knitting. Oh, yeah. Then's there's the part about how it may not fit me. All my friends are anxiously counting on this possibility, I think.
For those of you who know what this means, I really tried to speed up this process by doing continental purling through the back (p tbl). Yah, as if. My hands ended up in a cramp faster than you can say "Intarsia" fast, 10 times. At least I can knit through the back (k tbl). Not so hard.
At least I haven't tumbled like last night's ice dancer's yet...

Olympic Rings

For those of you who read the article but didn't see the actual newpaper (most of you), I thought I would take a picture of the paper itself. Someone on staff at the Oregonian (Mims Copeland) knitted the image. I thought it was pretty cool.

Stash Confession

I'll let this picture speak for itself... 

LYS Accident Yarn

Does this picture even do it's luxuriousness justice? Most exquisite alpaca I've ever had the pleasure of meeting. It will become the most lovely (I hope) wide and soft scarf in a pattern from the book Scarf Style from Interweave Knits.

Under a Star

I knit under a star.
Day....whatever of the knitting olympics. I'm starting the cabling on the front of the sweater. No errors this time. I'm going to be very careful.This star (and two others) are actually suspended over the daybed that I knit on most days. 

A Day

There's no picture of the project today because it would look just like the beginning of the back, just completed. The front and back are identical. At least I didn't have to read the pattern this time. Today was a just a day of being. Folks on my knit list chatting and keeping me going. The last of the blanket squares arriving from overseas. Life is just being. Again, I can't imagine tomorrow. I'm not gonna. Just keep writing, just keep walking, just keep knitting and sleeping. Lots of sleeping.

Raglin Sweater Back

Hey, see if you can find the flaw. URGHHHH!!!! 

Hail!

For those of you who don't already know, I'm a weather freak. I really CARE about weather. So, the excitement of the day was a 3 minute hail storm that I observed from my apartment window. It's already melted. Pout. 

It's Bloomin' February here in Portland!

These blossoms are actually on a tree, just across the street. I don't know what they are, so if anyone can illuminate me on this, it would be great. REALLY large tree.

Cables are started on the Back!

 

Olympic Sweater as of Sunday 2-12

 

Finally Finished Hoodie

Okay, so the deal on this baby is that I bought this yarn a couple of years ago and started this project. I ordered two different handpainted lots from Lotusflower on Ebay. One was more yellow than the other. So, I used both dyelots, alternating every 2nd row. I couldn't tell if I was going to have enough yarn for sleeves. OY! So, I did some steeking, and sewed the zipper in, added the hood and then added the sleeves. The leftover yarn went to knitting buddy Carley because if I had to look at any more balls of this stuff, I would probably scream. In fact, this whole baby might get gifted.

Hoodie Detail

 

Link to Team Wales

Olympic Progress 2-11

This is 10" completed on the sweater back. The extra bit on the right side will get stitched into the seam. Okay, so I was so tired last night that it wasn't until this morning that I realized that I had two extra stitches on one side! I forgive myself...

Opening Ceremonies and Start of Project

Perhaps as I was swatching for my Olympic project, I was in some other knit-fantasy world. But, last night as I started the sweater in earnest, I realized that I should have knit the body up to the sleeves in the round? Why? Because doing a twisted rib is no fun when you have to purl through the back of each stitch on the wrong side. No continental speedy knitting here! I have 4 inches of the front done and I am NOT starting over (I think).

This is classic Melissa. Or perhaps just classic harried knitter. Either way, I think I should make a decision right away before anymore quality knitting time escapes me.

Morning View

 

Walk to Work

I think these greenhouses are abandoned. 

On the Needles and no End in Sight

This is a handpainted Merino shawl that I started 3.5 months ago. Little did I know that the garter stitch pattern would bore me to tear. The yarn is really soft, though and I expect that once it's done, it will be a pleasure so wear. Later. Much later.

What's on the Needles Now

Feather and Fan Scarf, hand dyed wool, rapidly growing! 

Olympic Dreams

Here's a link to the article that appears in today's Oregonian about the knitting olympics. I was interviewed at length by Steve Woodward on Monday and am pleased to see my quotes in the last paragraph. Knitting article

Life is a little busy, but I'd love to see more comments on my blog. Feedback really keeps me going. The last picture I have up here of the shawl looks to EVIL to me, I'm dying to get a better more colorful picture of something up later on today. Always have the camera with me!

Button, Button

Today was a stressful day, but just when I thought I was going to snap, I caught sight of the lovely Portland Button shop, Button Emporium. I've collected buttons for years, but I think most of my favorite ones must be used up by now, because I can never find what I'm looking for when I finish a jacket or sweater.
Aw, I gave in. I bought buttons for sweaters not yet made, those whose color I wasn't quite sure of, and some I just had to have. Hey, it wasn't yarn. That's some progress, huh?
Two more days until the knitting Olympics begin and I think I should study my pattern. I want to eliminate the zipper at the neckline and should make sure I know what I'm doing before I get there. There, the virtual knitting coliseum? I'm not even going there with that thought. Instead, me on the day-bed, knitting and watching the tube...

Shawl too Small (and imperfect)

I finally finished the shawl that I was working on in Boston. Flaws abound, and it's too small, but I added some tassles to the ends and gifted it to my knitting buddy, Nana.
She loves it, I'm happy it's out of the house and perhaps I'll make another one someday that will fit me! 

Flower Petal Shawl

 

In Waiting

Tra la. I am homebound and knitting and finally finished a project that has been lurking around for a long time. Yes, LONG time. I wish it had turned out better. It's my own design and I just wish that this cardigan hoodie with zipper had set-in sleeves instead of off the shoulder. More shaping would have been better. We live, we knit, we learn.
I am waiting for a big project to come my way from some knit-sibs. It will be an all out marathon. Of course I have to finish in time for the knitting olympics, starting Feb 10th. Bring on the Advil!

Running on Empty!

(See January 21st, Put Down the Scissors)
Yes, I have procurred the necessary Lana D'oro to complete this capelet. You remember. Boston trip. Big knitting disaster. Better now...