FO - Frock Camisole

Pattern: Frock Camisole by Katie Himmelberg
Source: Interweave Spring 2008
Yarn: Gedifra Korella, 4.5 balls
Needles: US5 circular

I finished this twice, and twice I made silly mistakes that caused me grief. First, I had decided to do i-cord straps and to use kitchner stitch to attach the straps to the back, but I didn't like the seam and decided to take it out, but because this yarn is rather craptastic it got caught, I got frustrated, unraveling occurred. The Frock sat in a bag for over two months. Yesterday, I got her out and fixed her up, but then today, after I attached the straps (knit the way the pattern calls for), I had a million ends to weave in because the yarn was knotty. Stupid yarn. Anyways, a knot had occurred right along the front 'seam' and I didn't like the way the two ends made a gap so I started fiddling and the next thing I new I had a big scary hole. After some frustration and much patience I was able to fix the hole pretty well, as in no one but me will every know. Perfectionism got me in all sorts of trouble with this one. It was actually a really easy, fast knit. I'm not sure if I love it. I wish the straps were more 'finished' looking. I may still crabstitch the arm and neck edges to see if that helps, but not right away. It still needs to be blocked, but I'm calling this one done, done enough to wear to Worldwide Knitting in Public Day on Saturday!

from tragedy to triumph (hopefully)

I have only successfully knit something for Matthew once. The "men's cashmere scarf" from lmkg, which I knit in a now discontinued yarn from knitpicks called panache, which was an alpaca, cashmere, silk blend. It's beautiful, he likes it, he wears it, but alas it is the only one.
This is not to say I haven't tried. There was the first hat I knit him, which just didn't work. He wore it a few times, but it was too short, and when I tried to lengthen it it looked weird. It has been retired to a bag, inside a box, in the back of a cupboard. Then there was the second hat, the earflap hat from lmkg. I swear I have no idea how that woman gets gauge half the time. The first time I knit it, it was enormous. Now, I have just finished knitting it a second time, and while better, it could still stand to be a bit more snug, but it will do, and he will wear it, I tell you he will wear it.
Finally, this brings us to the tragedy. The tragedy of the man sweater gone terribly wrong.
I swatched, I measured, I knit. It turned out awful. The men's zipped raglan from lmkg is going to be frogged. I started out with such hopes for the first man sweater, but alas the pattern sucks and nothing can be done. The neck is huge and the armholes are all wrong. The sweater is so ridiculous we both couldn't stop laughing to take a decent picture for posterity. A waste of much time and one custom ordered orange zipper. But there were lessons learned, and I am actually really excited to use the yarn to make him EZ's seamless hybrid sweater. I am modeling it on the gorgeous one Brooklyntweed made. (I totally have a knitter crush on brooklytweed, don't tell anyone) Mine will be rather different: not tweed, but variegated, and not DK, but heavy worsted, but I think it will be pretty, and it's a time tested sweater recipe, so hopefully everything will go well. I'm planning to do the hemmed cuffs using some leftover yarn. I tell you I don't know about sweater curses, but I feel cursed when it comes to knitting for my husband. Let's hope my luck is about to change and I will emerge triumphant at last.

weekend

This weekend we finally made it to the Pecos Wilderness! Here are some pics:
Above: The puppy posing by the sign marking the enterance to the Pecos Wilderness, which is about a quarter mile from the trail head. Below: Me looking out at the awesomeness from the meadow. Honestly, I had never experienced anything like it in my life.
Above: Me with my pack back on, feeling none to happy about leaving the meadow, but that's okay, there was way more purtiness to come. Below: Awesomeness.
Below is a picture of Scarlett checking out some cattle that were grazing in the meadow on our way in, on the way back she would get a much closer look. The stupid cows were actually on the trail. Now call me silly, but I was a little worried about walking through a herd of long horned cattle with an unpredictable dog, after some debate, and coming within three feet of a big bull staring us down in the middle of the trail, we decided to go around them.Finally a video that captures the awesomeness and Scarlett's favorite activity, can you guess what she's doing?


That's right, she's rolling in poop, whatever kind she can find, deer, horse, cow, no matter, the fresher the better. Dogs are gross.

exhausted

We finally made it up to the Pecos Wilderness. I have pictures and video to share, but I am way to tired to post right now. In knitting news - I have way to many wips at present and cannot decide what to knit when. In philosophy news - I only have two weeks until I am going to be teaching Ethics and the Meaning of Life, and tons of preparation still to do - including discovering the meaning of life. Wish me luck, because all I want to do is:
Yes, I know, very flattering shot of our rumps, but it's still pretty cute.

WANTED - Master Destructor

WANTED
Scarlett "Puppypants" Silverstein-Pinix
Wanted For: Theft, Destruction of Private Property, Excessive Cuteness
Description: Redish-Brown Hair, Golden Eyes, ~50lbs
If you see this fugitive report her immediately, do not attempt to approach her as she is extremely dangerous. She has been known to lick her victims nearly to death. Don't be fooled by her seemingly sweet and loving nature, she is a hardened criminal.

WIP - moderne baby blanket

This is a special baby blanket that needs to be finished before Christmas. So far, I really love the crayon, it's soft and squishy, very nice for a baby. The pattern is fun, because of the color changes, but very mindless and relaxing.

FO - baby sweater

Pattern: Child's placket neck pullover from lmkg
Yarn: Knitpicks Swish DK; Colorway - Moss - 2 skeins plus about 10 yds
Needles: US5

This is for our friends' baby that is due in August. I am hoping it will fit him this winter. The pattern was really easy and straight forward and I think it turned out really cute. The color doesn't really show well in the photo, but it's a nice dark olive green. I like it. The plan is to make a little hat to go with, and add some beads to act as buttons on the placket.