Wednesday, August 5, 2009

yarny update

Finally! A knitting update! I know you all are shocked and amazed, just as I am.

FO: Baby Surprise Jacket

FO: baby cap

I finished these a month ago, but it took me a while to get around to blocking it, buying the buttons and, um, buying needle and thread. It was my first button-sewing experience, what can I say? I don't know why I dawdled because I'm really pleased with how the sweater turned out. I'll definitely be making more of these in the future -- I love all the garter stitch. I will mention that I found this spreadsheet to be super, super helpful for keeping track of the rows. Elizabeth Zimmermann's patterns are more like "vague directions" that can be tricky for a gal like me who tends to overthink things. This chart really helped.

The sweater and hat are for my co-worker Luis, who's going to be a dad in September. A co-worker and I are organizing a shower for Luis and his wife. A co-ed baby shower means no silly games. Since he is a designer (and so many of us are, too), we are providing people with onesies and Tees -- and iron-on stuff so they can make a shirt for the baby. The shower's in a week and a half and I can't wait to see their faces when they open the package!

I am on the fence about whether to continue knitting for co-workers. This is the first time I've upped my game beyond baby socks and hats. A month ago, I showed off this sweater in progress to my co-worker who had a baby in November and is pregnant again, due in February. I didn't know she was pregnant then -- only found out a few weeks ago. And now I feel obligated to make her a sweater. (She got a hat and a bib last time.) What should I do??

Last week, when I was feeling down about my granddad, I realized I had $35 sitting in my PayPal account from various destashes on Ravelry. So I hopped on over to my favorite yarn retailer and spent that money! I got STR mediumweight in Crabby McHappypants:

STR mediumweight: Crabby McHappypants

I just love that name. It makes me think of eating steamed crabs by the beach ... so I will need a lovely pattern to make a pair of crabby socks.

I also got STR mediumweight in County Clare:
STR mediumweight: County Clare

I have finished three pairs of socks in the past month (that will wait for another post), but I can show a picture of my current sock in progress:

WIP: 2x2 ribbed sock

A 2x2 ribbed sock in Trekking 100. I am digging how it's working up -- and my fear was that the thin yarn would be splitty, but I have not found that to be the case at all. Yay!

2 comments:

  1. Yay for FOs and new yarn! I love County Clare--I made a pair of socks in that colorway :)

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  2. <3 it all! Your BSJ is beee-u-teee-ful!!! You know you can just use yarn to tie on the buttons? Tie on the back side of the garment...just knot it twice and it is pretty secure. Makes life very easy!

    I have 2 skeins of Trekking 100 in my stash. I squish it now and then and give it a little love...someday soon...your socks are going to be gorgeous!

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