Happy Blog Anniversary to Swatchy.

Enough of that.

Observant reader Elizabeth has correctly identifying the mystery sweater as Fern. Way to go Elizabeth, and thanks for leaving a comment. Now I know they work. Elizabeth, if you wish to foward your address to my email ( see side bar ) I will send you a present.

Last Thursday, I posted, then took off to have a molar extracted. Yuck. This was the result of a root canal gone very bad. I was fortunate about not being in pain, and not having to do this in an emergency situation. Now, I have about a year of bone growth, and implant baloney before I can get a crown in the spot where that tooth used to be.

My dear husband kept me iced and down on Thursday, waking me up to give me more Demerol. Friday, I was on my own, but very very stupid. It took me maybe two hours to set up the pattern section for the yoke of Hardangervidda. But once it was started, whoopee, what fun. So much fun, that a week later, I find myself done with the complex pattern section, and at the neck decreases.

I have made some more pattern changes. I'm not big on the neck zipper, so I'm going to make a regular neck. I'm planning to knit the little diamond pattern around the neck, then make a turning row, and tacking it down on the back, rather than rib. While examining the pattern, I noticed there was a slight difference between the front and back yoke pattern, and I liked the back pattern better. Thus it is on the front as well.

GingGong is not impressed.

Well, I'm a little dopey on Valium. I am having a tooth extracted in a few hours, and the preprocedure Valium is kicking in.

It's Thursday, and I have some stuff to show off, so here we go.

I finished my first sleeve. Now, I was trying to encourage some comments when I asked for a guess on the pattern. Surely, you anonymous people who are looking at my work would know what this is. I may send some mohair and instructions for a fluffy brioche scarf to someone who identifies the new project.

About the yarn. This was a most excellent eBay score. I have a sack of different colors of this same brand, but over 14 2 oz skeins of this same color and dye lot. The sleeve took just less than 2 skeins, so I'm comfortable that I have plenty.

It's wonderful to work with, and as I recall, quite a value.

Hey, by the way, I noticed that this blog will be having a birthday next week. 4 years of knitblogging. How about that?

Well, watch Hardangervidda grow, will ya?

Both sleeves are done.

The body is about an inch from the underarm, where the two color action will begin again.

In the mean time, I still am troubled by this beautiful multi-colored Brilla that I bought from Elann a long time ago. It is cotton/rayon, shiny and slick. I tried a pattern with it, and it just wasn't right. I was so frustrated that I swatched it every which way. It was not speaking to me. I put it in the closet. That was 2004.

Time passed.

Last week, was visiting our LYS, to pick up some needles. I seem to be missing my #1 circular, and needed another long #2. I saw the new Vogue Knitting. I saw the number two design; a mesh bathing suit cover up. It's not on the preview page, so interested readers will have to go look at the magazine. I found Brilla. I swatched. The Brilla spoke to me. This is what it wants to be. How about that?

I'm finishing up my five day conference tomorrow, and the evil plan has worked well. I completed most of the pattern section of my Hardangervidda sleeve on the car ride to the meeting. I didn't grab some extra white, so I ran out, and have to set the piece aside until I get home.



I'm motoring up the stockinette section. I astound my peers as I don't look at my hands, and can concentrate on the speaker. I've even had a few conversations on the difference between Norwegian and British style designs. Technical people are fascinated by the charts.

In the mean time, my new project. Can a reader id this one? It's easy.

The Azaleas have bloomed and pooped out, and now we have some winter back. I've been meaning to wash all my sweaters so they can be put away for the summer. But just for Easter weekend, we got some winter back. Go figure.

Chris asked about the pattern for Elegant Diagonals. It's from Interweave Knits Spring 2000. I've still not fixed the collar, but thanks for the complement!!


With the rainy weather, we had a bit of a movie marathon. I upgraded our cable subscription so that husband could get his Speed channel. That upgrade came with some movie channels, and I've not checked out what was showing until last week. There were some ones I wanted to see, so I set up the DVR, so Saturday we had quite a few to see.



We started with a Korean film that my husband and daughter recorded called "3 Iron". They both said it was good, and have been bugging me to watch it. They were right. Yes, it has subtitles, but the main character does not speak in the entire film. The lead actress has maybe three lines. It's about a young man who breaks into and lives in houses and apartments while the owners are away. While he is there, he does their laundry, cares for the plants, and fixes things around the place. He breaks into a home with a battered wife, and the story goes on from there.


I knit up to the beginning of the top sleeve pattern section on Hardangervidda. Must put it away for my trip next week before I do any more.

and

another brioche scarf was finished.

and

I choose a new project.

Question for you stash knitters. Do you ever find yourself thinking about "getting rid of" stash, as opposed to simply "using" it? I don't want to think about projects made with discarded material, or leftovers. Although, quite of lot of my stash is yarn that others have "discarded". Vintage yarn from eBay that was never used by the person who purchased it originally.

Sometimes, I drive myself into a frenzy, trying to figure out an acceptable way to use some yarn purchase mistake, so it will no longer be in my closet. Then, I think, yikes! I have all this other beautiful yarn, what am I saving it for?

I purchased a large lot of this Bear Brand wool and Shetland wool. Enough for an entire cabled sweater. There is a certain pattern I've been wanting to make for a long time. The swatch worked out. Here we go.

Mission Accomplished.

Hardangervidda is up past the lower pattern section for both the sleeve and the body. Now, 12 inches of stockentte before the action starts again. I'm bored already.

Well, I'm ready for that conference week after next. Maybe I'll work on the sleeve some. I have a three hour car ride there and back so some pattern work could be considered.

Hey LOOK!

Another fluffy brioche scarf. This one is red and black, as you can see. How many is that now? I'm losing count.

Well, here is the plan.


I knit Hardangervidda second sleeve past the lower pattern section, and have eight or so inches of plain stockenette. I cast on the body, and plan to knit past the lower pattern section there as well. I'm most of the way through the texture section, about to start the last bit of two color pattern. Then, set aside, as I have a large conference to attend mid month. Having a stretch of stockenette to whale on during that meeting will help me not go crazy.

Miss GingGong has not been featured on these pages for some time. I noticed her monitoring the front driveway her perch on the top of the Miata. It's a good place for a kitty to sit; she can see all that comes and goes, and it's sort soft, and doesn't get too hot. Much better than a regular car top.

Good Morning.

I was knocked out most of the weekend with nuclear allergies. What a waste. I thought I was getting away with something by being out of town two weeks of the big spring bloom, but Thursday, the pollen overcame my Allegra, and I was mostly out of commission for three days. Whatever it is, it has receded some, and I'm back in the game. I still have itchy eyes, a headache, and upset stomach. Ewwwww.

But hey! I finished another brioche scarf. This one is hot pink and yellow, but from a distance comes off as almost orange. The pink was a one skein wonder, I think from ArtFibers in San Francisco.

If anyone is counting, that is 7 brioche scarfs, and over 1 pound of stash mohair devoted to 2007 holiday gifts.

For some reason, this one photographs nicely close up to show the fishtail effect I so enjoy. The other side would show yellow knit columns with pink fishtails.

On Sunday, when I started feeling better, and the snot stopped leaking out of my nose, I found some special time with my tapestry needle, and E.D.'s pieces. It took me a few tries to get the pieces to fit nicely. The neck edge is an extension of the button band ribbing that needs to be stretched a bit then sewn down. I apparently haven't stretched it enough, as it looks all wavy. There is still the matter of all those ends to deal with as well. So, there is still some work yet to do before she is done.

Back from holiday, but too busy with laundry and old e-mail to post.

We had some issues with our outbound flight. First, there was a smoothie spill from one of the early boarders. Then, when the entirely full plane was settled in the seats, the pilot announced that he had found a leak, and we had to swap aircraft. I was quite pleased that the pilot was so attentive, as I prefer to be late to my resort than not arrive in one piece.
The airline was able to steal another airplane and had us reloaded in less than two hours. I thought that was pretty tight. I also finished this black and white scarf.


Before leaving, Hardangervidda was at a point where she needed a lot of plain knitting. Even with her relatively small gauge, it was a snap, even when knitting drunk to get to the top of the sleeve. Then some fiddling to set up the top pattern, and Viola!

Now that I'm home, I've started the second sleeve, but it's been a busy week.

Hardangervidda is back

While I had three projects on the needles, and was making myself crazy, one of the things I did was explode my yarn stash. There, I found 14 110meter skeins of red Norwegian wool. Yes! I don't know why this pattern has such a grip, but now, the grip is on the needles, and on it's way.

I'm 13 inches up the sleeve, and it seems like I can do the sleeve in two skeins and maybe a bit more than that of the red. Plenty of material. Notice also, that I reversed the texture section between the two pattern segments, as the last time I tried this pattern, I thought that the backside looked better.

Oh, and the next brioche scarf is coming along. I'm off again out of town, so no updates for a week or so.

Oh look. The raspberry and pink scarf is done. A little early as I ran out of the lighter pink yarn. It's only 62 inches; I go for 74". Yet, it still doubles around my neck, and has an acceptable tail.

What a surprise. Another is on the needles already. This one is black and light grey. Knitters who remember the hand knitting boom of the 80's may recall Sisi from a company Chat Bot or something. Chat is french for cat, but I don't have the label, and can't remember. That's how old the black is.

E.D. is in a heap waiting to be seamed and finished. I currently feel little motivation to do this. Not sure why; just too busy getting put away from last week and ready for nex.

I get to go an ANOTHER vacation next week. Mexico - whoo hooo. That's probably a good thing for people at work, as I have been terse and grumpy. Seems I have limited tolerance for people who won't read instructions. One fellow said there were too many words, so someone had to show him how to do everything.

Eeech; I'm outta here.

Been on vacation the last ten days. That meant travel, and travel means knitting. Before I left, I finished and gave away the Blue/Purple scarf. Here is my back porch modeling it.

I took some one skein wonders with me, and finished a yellow scarf, that reminded me of popcorn and butter.

I'm more than half through of a pink scarf that reminds me of raspberry sorbet. The green marker is the half way point. I do that so I don't have to carry a measuring tape around.

I also finished the knitting of Elegant Diagonals. Have some sewing to do, but here is how she looks right now

I learned some things with Arwen, but not all what you would think.



I learned how to Kitchener stitch for ribbing.



I learned that more than two projects on the needles makes me crazy.

I went and joined the Dale of Norway KAL, and I was working out that new project, while Arwen and the Elegant Diagonals and a scarf were on the needles. I turned myself into a nutcase. I like to knit, but it is not something that should make me crazy. So, I stopped the Dale, and finished Arwen.


I like two projects on the needles, if I have one that is sort of complicated, or has reached a place where I need to pay attention, or has become too large to travel. This year, I seem to be making a lot of fluffy mohair scarfs. I have been putting a marker on them at 46 inches. Then, I don't have to measure again. If it is even when I fold it in half, it's done. This purple/blue one is folded in half, and as you can see, almost done.


In the mean time, I exploded my yarn stash, and have come up with some other choices for the Dale Hardangervidda. More on that later. Later means after ED is done.


Elegant Diagonals, aka ED, has been chugging along un-photographed for a while now. She has been a good car project the past month or so. I cast on the body in December, and read, "work for 14 inches". That's a lot of ribbing at the gauge that is being worked. I actually cast on Arwen about that time, because I wanted some faster gratification. (18 stitches for 4 inches instead of 26 stitches for 4 inches)

I choose to knit the body in one piece, as I am paranoid about the pieces being different lengths. This pattern has pretty specific shaping, and I wanted it all to match up. It's been quite a slog these past 14 inches, but it is now in a place where I need to pay attention, as the diagonal ribs, and arm shaping are upon me.

Major project D'oh discovered. I put the button holes on the wrong side. This annoys me, but I don't plan to rip it all out because of this error.



Second D'oh was the sleeve caps. I did one of them twice, after reading the directions wrong. Turns out I did them wrong again. So I've ripped back to the cap decreases on both of them, and am working them again.

A contest
and
Items for sale

I've been enjoying making fluffy brioche scarfs from my stash mohair. My daughter has already tried to steal one, so I know that at least one picky teenager approves.

I have a lot of stash mohair, and am prepared to spread the fun by offering it up with instructions while supplies last. See the side bar.

The contest, is, like many contests, self serving. I'm asking YOU to help me advertise this mohair for sale, by blogging about it, and creating a viral buzz. That's what the Internet is good at, right?

So, get yourself a kit, check out the instructions, and the yarn, and either comment back here, or, better yet, post your ( I hope ) positive reactions on your blog. In return, I will send you ANOTHER scarf kit.

Please check my new FLUFFY BRIOCHE SCARF page for more information.

I started one in purple and blue over the weekend. It looks blue on blue on my screen, but the lighter color really is purple. Half way done already.

First finished sweater of the year.

I was surprised how much yarn the hood took. Each sweater piece, back, left front/sleeve, right front/sleeve was about three and 1/2 2 ounce balls. The hood was another 2 1/2! Didn't see that coming. Seemed the silly thing was 9 inches from the shoulder for about a week.

I had a little head trip, as I used vintage yarn from my stash. So, when it's gone, there is no getting more. As it turned out I used 6 1/2 skeins, out of the 7 that I had of this color and dye lot. So, quite a successful knit, and stash busting project.

Hardangervidda is frogged.

I did lots of yardage calculations, and thought that 10 skeins of Nature Spun Sport would be enough for large. I knit up to the end of the first skein, and even accounting for the swatch, I didn't get enough length to be comforatable that this would work out.


Some notes to self, as I will probably try this project again.

I liked the backside of the "block rib" better than the front side.

I also learned that three project on the needles is too many. I do like two. One complex, one easy. One color, one texture. One that travels, one that does not. One big and one small. Three, in any combination makes me itch.

So, I'll finish Arwen, and keep plugging at the "Elegant Diagonal", and shop for a color project to work on next. Or maybe another cable. Hmmm.

Happy Monday.

I was able to get a back seat in my class last week, and thus knit for two days on Arwens back, with only my neighbors knowing what I was up to. I also was able to pay enough attention to win a prize for answering questions. Hurrah Me.

I settled down on Sunday to finish the back, and work all the seams. All that is left is the hood. The instructions have you make the hoods as extensions of the left and right side, then seam the back neck. I don't see why I can't just use the back neck live stitches, and knit both pieces together. So that's what I'm doing.

I also finished another mohair brioche scarf. Navy on one side, varigated blue on the other. Fluffy!

Somebody has been sleeping in my knitting basket, and I don't like it. Yes, he is pretty cute. Yes, I wash my projects when they are finished, but the idea of them smelling like dog butt is not appealing. I plan to fix this by piling my books and magazines on the top from now on.

The front and sleeve sections for Arwen are complete. Yummy.

All Arwen, all the time.

I was hoping to knit to the shoulder last night, but was way too tired. Almost there. I guess a leg work out and a double Manhattan would do that to an old lady.

I'm leaving Sunday night for a short business training session. Arwen's back is waiting for that. Nothing like a big chunk of plain stockinette for a training session.

My daughter and a work friend have admired, and attempted to claim that green scarf. Thus, I have been dipping into that mohair again. Dangerous.

A mohair folly.


I was so inspired about reducing stash, that I went on a bit of an inspection. The yarn swap I attended was one of those yearly things, and occur ed on Superbowl Sunday. Well, that's coming up, and maybe I could be prepared. So, what did I really not love. I decided I was no longer in love with the giant bag of mohair.

But, how to get another to love it? Well, I could demonstrate how nice the yarn is by making a fuzzy fluffy scarf. Two colors; maybe brioche. That's light when done on big needles, should work up fast, and would be attractive on both sides.

By the end of the weekend I was six feet in, and finished it Wednesday. It is light and fluffy; seven feet long and less than three ounces. See how one side is light with dark ribs and the other is dark with light ribs? A mirror image; very clever.

A problem. You see I have mohair in purple and teal and navy and grey and yellow, and a few other colors Wouldn't the purple work up nicely with either of these greens? Navy and grey, Navy and yellow, you get the picture? How can I get rid of all that mohair with the potential for light fluffy scarfs? Great gifts, I'm sure. My daughter has already tried to claim this one.

Closeup of one side. The knit side up on the dark green was hard to see, both in real life, and in the photograph. What shows is the herringbone feathers of the lighter purl side color. But here is a close up of the light green "right" side.

Oh, and I joined another Knit Along - the Dale North America group. Cast on is Jan 20th. I swatched some Lambs Pride sport for Hardangervidda. I"m glad I did too. I figured on doing main color green, contrast1 orange, contrast 2 yellow. However, I wasn't pleased with how the orange read against the green. Thus, I will use yellow as contrast 1 and orange as contrast 2. Spot on gauge with #2 needles

Let's talk about Arwen

Her left front is finished.

The arm as specified is way to narrow at the body join. Now it measures 18 inches instead of the 13 1/2 inches specified. No way was was that going to fit over a T Shirt using the original pattern. I notice on the KAL boards that people are already making this adjustment.

I plan to do the hood in one piece at the end. I'll just leave the hood stiches on their holder until all is together, then pick up along the back neck, and take it from there. The shoulder stiches will also stay on a holder for a three needle bind off. Another minor planning for the finish choice was to use a provisional cast on for the arm, so I had stiches waiting for the grafting, and of course, the three needle bind off for the sleeve.

I actually finished the left front before the New Year, but was so unhappy with the sleeve depth that I ripped it to the sleeve cast on, and doubled the yarn over increases. ( starting a t 9 st from the sleeve/body join, and working every 5 stitches instead of every 10 ) Now, I could have considered ripping another three inches of body so as to keep the cropped profile. Didn't occur to me. Duh. Instead, I have a sweater that will be three inches longer than the model, which is fine too.

Another motivation for the big sleeve rip was that I totally dorked the grafting of the sleeve detail. This weekend, I found a grafting article, and read it about eleven times, and tried again. Turned out way better. So proud I took a picture. You can also see I somehow ended my graft a half stitch off and also see ( and count ) the matched YO increases up the sleeve.

I have found that the cables can look right on one side and wrong on the other side. Don't tell anyone, but there is an incorrect cable cross at the graft line on the inside of the sleeve. Shhhhh...

Now lets' have a cleansing chat about buying yarn off of eBay.

The yarn came from a vintage yarn lot sale during my bad eBay yarn habit. This habit caused my guest room to fill with yarn until it was close to exploding. No pictures; this continues to be truly embarrassing. But I will share my eBay bargain secrets.

My favorite searches were:
wool yarn vintage

wool yarn lot

I found a lot of 50's to 70's era worsted that way. I particularly like the Bear Brand and Bernat "Wool and Shetland Wool" line. This one was a different brand, and I scanned the label because it was so retro. Notice all the different gauge choices, and that there is no yardage anywhere.

After a bit of price comparing, I decided to bid no more than 50 cents per ounce; with shipping that made most purchases about 80cents to a dollar an ounce. I figured that is about half price of comparable worsted. Then Elann launched the Highland Wool line, and that works out to almost the same price. So, if I can get the colors I want, and new to boot. Oh, and it isn't in my closet. I figured, what's the point of used e-bay stuff unless you pay even less than my 50 cents. To my luck, I find I now rarely win bids even at my personal limits. So, no more eBay Yarn habit. Thanks Elann, and thanks you people who bid or price too high.

Happy New Year

Swatchy is back, and has been knitting a lot on a holiday road trip.

I notice that Stash Reduction is a big theme for 2007. This has been a Swatchy theme for a few years now. I noticed two years ago that I had about a walk in closet full of yarn. A bit of a calculation around usage rates and life span caused alarm. I believe that I own more yarn than I can knit over my lifespan. You may notice that most of the 2006 knitting was from stash. I think my only yarn purchase in 2006 was Cashmerino for my daughters requested bolero cardigan.

I like so much of my stash, and have oh so many plans. I enjoy taking it out, throwing it around the bedroom, and putting it back.

I did participate in a local yarn sale/swap year before last, and got rid of more than I acquired. It was arranged on Super Bowl day by our LYS. I took home some $$'ss too!!. I'll try to take advantage of that sort of opportunity presents itself again.

So, now for the goal setting; 2006 was not a huge year for knitting productivity.

So, the Swatchy 2007 Stash Busting Challenge - 6 ADULT Sweaters from stash.

This will encourage the use of my vintage worsted weight will, which is bulkier, and takes up more space than all the rest. I may keep track of ounces used, and traded away as well.

So, on to the pictures

Many of you may recognize this a "A Cardigan for Arwen" from the recent Interweave Knits. This appears to be a very very popular design, evidenced by not one, but two knit alongs in process.

I started it on Christmas, and I am using vintage worsted wool in a pistachio green color. It is Fair Lady brand. It was a purchase my eBay yarn purchase addiction. I believe I have recovered from it, but I still find myself browsing the auctions. There are a lot of closets out there stuffed with yarn, mine included.

These are sleeves for "Elegant Diagonals" from Interweave Knits Summer 2000. I'm using Lana Grossa Klimatika, which is a very nice cotton/woool blend. This was purchased during my Elann.com addiction phase. You know I had a hot link to their site, and checked it every day after reading Wendy. The body is on the needles, but not feeling photogenic today.

Well, what's this?

It's a "Trellis" from Knitty. It's going to work this week, for a boy who should have been delivered last month. I don't work with that group anymore, so, I don't see the announcements. However, while in the office in the summer, I saw the bump.

I like the JHB Beatrix Potter buttons. Apparently so much that this sweater ended up with a mix of Jemima Puddleduck, and my favorite, Benjamin Bunny.