Further adventures in finishing stuff.

So all this time I thought I was a slow knitter and never finished stuff and that turns out to be kind of bullshit.  Ah, well, not the first time I have believed something slightly uncomplimentary about myself that turns out to be maybe a tiny bit of a misconception. 

(I spent the holidays around my mom which means I must now laboriously relearn how to feel and also, not to believe only negative things. Project!)

Anyway - I had this kind of backlog of knitting that I realize now all dates from the perfect storm of the wrist injury I had three years ago and the process of learning how to be a reasonably competent knitter/pattern choose/size estimator.   So for a long time it felt like I got nowhere.  But this weekend I picked up an old project and realized there are, like, six empty cubbies in the 9 cubby work-in-progress thing. (Oh, and one sweater in a bin somewhere.  And one pair of socks I began that I cannot yet speak of.) 

In fact, my cat has taken to sleeping in one of the empties.

I should probably dust.   

Anyway -here's another thing that I meant to show you when I cast on, but it was over so fast I didn't hardly have a chance.    Christmas gift for my niece - who of course burst into tears when asked to wear it, but her Mum liked it, which is almost more important.

Dream in Color Classy, Ruby River Colorway - Pink!  And Purple!  And Soft!  We Like!

Baby Soft Cardigan from The Knitters Book of Yarn (which is my favorite knitting book in a very long time and you should all take a look at it at the very least - great information, great patterns.)
5.5 mm  needles -  Harmony Options, which are, at this point, slightly edging Holz and Stein for favorite needles ever.  I love them both - but the points are so good, and if I broke one or lost it I wouldn't have to cry like someone stole my corsage AND my boyfriend, which is a plus.  I keep making people buy them. 

Touch the needles.  would you like to knit a row?  Yes, that is www.knitpicks.com ......there's a starter kit, you know.

If I had it to do over again I would pick up and knit down for the sleeves, rather than seam them on after, but that's it.  Easy as pie, almost as cute at the intended recipient.  Took WAY less than the 500 yarns of worsted recommended - like barely 300.  24 month size.  A few days of casually paced knitting and a great outcome for the effort.  Ravelry Link.

 

Comments

[Kat with a K]

Cute!

[Romi]

Oooh! I love this! :)

[Manise]

So you and Steph are knitting the same ones eh?? With leaves and tendrils and with a wine theme to them? Hmmmm....

Sweater is way cute btw.

[Danielle from SW Missouri]

Love the baby sweater! I have 2 new babys (well maybe 3) one was born dec 29 one is deu early feb, and one is due this summer and am lookinf for ideas for baby things to knit foer when they are a little older than newborn that sweater would be perfect as they get older :-) as for the cat in the cubbie, check out my blog post from about a week ago bligh is in my desk organizing basket I guess he wanted to be organized too!

[Laurie]

Oh the Mom thing! I know that well. It is like they feel like they have such a short time to "fix" us and can only focus on negative stuff. Stupid negative stuff too. Sometimes she will "gently" suggest something that is so petty that I'm speechless in the priority that problem has in my life.

Personally, I think mine focuses on fixing me like that to avoid the things she needs to do in her own life. It is so much easier to be critical of others than actually be active in her own.

[Jocelyn]

Yup, love that book. I just waxed poetic about it on my blog, encouraging all and sundry to buy it. I sounded like a paid advertiser, alas. But such great patterns! And now there's another one I have to try. Darn. (and maybe I need to get myself some of those needles for my birthday this year? yes?)

[Melanie]

I'm waiting until the Harmonies are back in stock (and some of the early production kinks are worked out) and then I'm definitely buying some. I already love the fixed circs for mittens and socks.

Ah yes. The always look on the dark side of life approach. My dad does this and it drives me nuts. It gets easier to get out (and stay out) of that particular mental rut as you train yourself to see all the more positive alternative reasons for things. Heck, just being aware of the pattern helps.

(Complete tangent: every time I see the Marcus Aurelius quote I think of P.G. Wodehouse's Golf Without Tears, wherein the meditations get a walk-on part.)

[sharon]

What pretty colors! The buttons are darling. I think that was a really super gift.

[cari]

Wait...what's this about socks?

[Amy]

I love the buttons. I don't know why, but they just steal my heart. Gorgeous!

[lisa]

I do like that book! And you made a great sweater from it!!

[Laurie]

So cute! And the Mom stuff? Just keep working on the new neural pathways, and soon, falling out of the mother doldrums will become easy.

[Beth S.]

I got the book and the needles for Xmas. It was a seriously good year for me, present-wise. Agree wholly with you on both. :-)

Those are perfect buttons, too.

[Deborah C.]

That's an adorable baby sweater - I have to keep it in mind, my cousin's due in about 3 weeks.

My DH bought me the Harmony Options set from KnitPicks for Christmas! I'm doing a happy dance - I love these needles. I cast on the Nantucket Jacket from Interweave Knits to try them out and I love them. I'm going to add the larger points and more cables when I get a chance.

[Tsock Tsarina]

Lovely colors. And congrats on the FO.

Now. Should I be worried about these unspeakable socks?

[Lissa]

Yeah, I like my Harmony dpns, except for when I knit.

*cough*

Sorry. They drag a bit, and I am one of those impatient knitters. But the needles sure are pretty, and I DO want to try some of the Options just to see if things get better at larger gauges.

I'm gonna go sit and drool over my Knitpicks catalog now. THANKS EVER SO MUCH.

[NerdGirl]

Don't you just love Dream in Color? I am sometimes temped to buy a whole bunch, sew a couple of sheets together and stuff the yarn inside and use it as a yarn bed. Like a feather bed only not sneezy or pokey. But that is just crazy talk...or is it?

[Flan]

I'm delurking to say that this just jumped into my Ravelry Queue thanks to you! (flanknits on Ravelry)

[Lizbon]

Completely beautiful. And I totally lust after those needles.

The holiday-parent talk reminds me of a great line in an otherwise mediocre (but not bad) sitcom (Mad About You): Wife: "I'm 30x years old, how come my parents can still push all my buttons?" Husband: "Because they installed them."

[Katie]

I've never commented before but I really like your knitting and I really like your philosophical musings and how you write. Keep up the good work!

[Dr. Steph]

So cute! I thought it was for you with the first photo--It would look awesome in a adult size.

[regina]

That cardigan is adorable! I owe you a debt of gratitude for letting me test-drive your Knitpicks Harmony needles. I got the set (in fact, i ordered it shortly after you left my house the last time we all knit there) and I love it.

As to the holidays: come to our house next time.

[Gina]

Adorable!