Oh la la!

Oh la la!
Originally uploaded by kbelle.

I did it! I made a sweater and it is wearable! Despite it totally not looking great with black pants, I wore it in to work today after creating a complete mess looking for the perfect bottom to wear with it. I was just that excited to wear it. But seriously it looks like my closet threw up all over my room and I still had nothing to show for it. But then I put on some jeans and forced the DH to take dorky pictures of me outside. So, here is me with my knitting bag that is full on old lady sized, and our vain attempt to recreate the Knit and Tonic picture. Yes, the dog is on the wrong size but you try getting my Annie May to sit. I love her, but she is not the brightest dog ever, let me tell you.

Pattern: Flair by Knit & Tonic
Yarn: Blue Sky Organic Dyed Cotton in Toffee
Needles: Knit Picks options Size 8 US
Mods: Added 2 inches to length, still a bit short

Flair is so freaking close

I almost have my first sweater!!! You would not believe the difference that putting that collar on (last step) makes for the whole sweater. It looks so much better.

I am going to block it to try to give it just a smidge more length. I am convinced the pattern is wrong... it says that I should knit 7 inches from the underarm to the seed stitch border (1.5 inches). But then the garment from neck to bottom should be 18.5 inches. My ass. Mine is barely that and I added 2 inches on (so I did 9 inches from underarm to border). I still have plenty of yarn left over (a whole skein plus some!) so if anyone makes this go ahead and make it as long as you need without fear.

Photos soon. I have informed DH of the importance of doing a complete photo shoot for the purpose of my knitting blog. He is not convinced.

On the edge

Flair with collar started
Originally uploaded by kbelle.

Well, the collar edge that is. I can see the finish line. I've picked up the stitches for the collar and made it in 3 rows. Now we just hope that blocking makes me like the way this looks on me.

Sleeves are slow

Sooooo slow. When will the cotton work be done?!?! My fingers hurt.

Flair and Chevron progress

I traveled to Detroit and other parts of Michigan this weekend, so I managed to get in some airplane knitting time. Brought along the Chevron scarf, which I ripped out completely and started again at the gate alternating two skeins of the same color to help avoid pooling. As you can see, pooling is still happening, but I like it quite a bit anyways.

Flair sat at home, but I haven't posted an updated photo, so here is one. Now that I am home, I'm going to finish up the sleeves and the collar, then block and pray the length is long enough.

Too short? Just right?

So I am working away on Flair. I have bound off the bottom and started the sleeves. I tried it on... and it's too short. Or is it? I added an extra 2 inches onto it before starting the moss stitch border, and the husband still claims it looks dumb. But, the work-friends, who had me try it on today, all claim that it is just right. I will finish it up, block it a bit, and then post pictures here for my 2 whole readers to decide.

And, I'm a bandwagon jumper, so I've started on the chevron scarf. Mine is a very muted colorway and I am not switching between 2 yarns, so it is quite different than the ones posted on Flickr. I might buy one more skien and switch yarns to help it out, but I can't decide. Ehh.

Oops

So I was early morning browsing on Craftster, and someone mentioned that Sarah's Yarns is having a sale on Artyarns Supermerino and whoops! 3 skiens fell into my cart. But I can't help it. I need a scarf for me for the move to the frozen north and I really want to do either a chevron, or a so called scarf, or a shifting sands. I'll probably swatch all 3. Plus, look at this colorway... gorgeous.

I'm also making a bunch of progress on Flair. Yesterday morning I was able to put it all on waste yarn (hence the white yarn all over the place in the picture) and try it on. It fits! Yippee! I knit a bunch during the day and I'm now a good 2 inches below the armpits. I think the button holes are too close but I am just going with it. Hopefully I will have this finished in time to take it to Detroit with me in 2 weeks. Yes, DH has convinced me to go with him on his trip to Detroit, so I am going to spend another weekend in the cold.