Once upon a time, I knit this cool strappy tank:

I loved the yarn and the design independently but the tank was just too bulky and warm for a summer tank.

So I frogged it to make a mini-sweater/ boob-holder with sleeves instead.

I quickly realized that I was insane when I originally knit the tank because I ended up with about 20 itsy bitsy balls of yarn.

So I did what any sane person would do. Put it on my head and pouted for a while.

After I recovered, I happily began to knit my mini-sweater until I got halfway through the top part. Then I realized that I had forgot to knit the darn garter stitch border around the top. How could I have missed that? I have no idea.

Frogged it, yet again.

Then I started it up again from scratch and was happy for a little while.

Until I burned four fingers on my left hand on a pan handle. Why do they make metal pan handles?!

I cannot knit with my hand in cold water. No, I cannot.

I will have a mini-sweater. I will not give up! gah!

I am so much happier with this pattern… what do you think?

I’ve been trying to knit one pattern repeat every day (there 24 rows in the chart) but today I have fallen behind since I only knit 4 rows. ooooops.



(click to make pictures bigger)

This pic was slightly blurry:

and this one seems too sharp:

hmmm…. blogging too late makes Jess a unable to make decisions. So you get both pictures.

Here is a close-up. Yeah, baby.

Have you ever had a project that you really wanted to go well? You were making it for a special person, you planned it out for ages, bought the necessary materials and started with plenty of time… but then after you have invested many, many hours into it, you realize that you just cannot make it work?

For me, that project has been the stole I have been knitting for my best friend, Julie’s wedding.

I bought this gorgeous yarn, Karabella Aurora 8 (color 705). LOTS of it.

The plan was to knit a large rectangle in stockinette stitch (complete!)

Then pick up stitches around the edge for a beautiful leaf border. Sounds simple, huh?

Aww… isn’t it pretty?

The problem is that I was stupid when I knit the rectangle and I only put about half the yarn ball transitions on the side of the piece… which was driving me nuts because you could see that the fabric got all wonky every 5 inches or so. (anal, I know.)

Like this:

Then I could not figure out how to get the pretty border to turn the corner. My only option was to just knit it straight up and then join the border to itself at each corner… which was not making me happy. AT ALL.

So, after having several good cries and mild panic attacks, I have given up. I am throwing in the towel. The wedding is 24 days away and I am starting over.

I found this pretty scarf patter (Lead or Follow Lace Scarf) from Heartstrings Fiber Arts in the middle of the night last night and assumed that I would have to wait a week… drive to my vet’s office… pay too much… Oh wait, well, you know what I mean. (I have obviously been watching waaaay too much tv while knitting lately.)

Did you know that there are these sites out there that are so efficient! You find a pattern you like, do the paypal thing, and then they send you a link right away where you can download a pdf file of the pattern. It is the awesomest. Especially when you decide to make drastic knitting decisions in the middle of the night.

Also, if you are up at 2 in the morning and can’t remember for the life of you how to slip, slip, purl (ssp), this site kicks ass. They have video! For both continental and regular knitting! It is super!

Here is what she looks like so far… I am doing a seed stitch border, instead of the lace ribbing from the pattern. (Julie wanted a warm, cozy shawl.)

Somehow I don’t feel panicked anymore now that I have made a decision… at least not yet. I am just so happy to be ripping out 10′s of hours of my work! weee!!

See… one last look! (okay, it hurts a little)

Yes, I do know I am a crazy, crazy person. Thanks for listening.

I have had that word stuck in my head for days, since I got a surprise package in the mail from Stephanie. The note said, “Behold! Canadian sock yarn!”

I love that word now. Behold! It just gets you excited, huh?

Well, behold this!

Koigu, of course. Color P601.

Sweet.

Thank so much, your Harlot-ness.

Thanks to everyone for all your ideas on Seattle! I have had a great time here and am sad to be leaving early tomorrow morning.

I will have to come back… it is really a great city.

Thanks to Lisa, I did get to a yarn store today. It is called So Much Yarn and is the an area of the city called Belltown. (maybe because it is at the end of Bell Street?) It was a nice store- a good layout and there were a few comfy couches in the back. The people there were friendly and we chatted a bit.

But what did I buy? I just got one skein of this beautiful yarn from Montana. (I know! Not from Washington… but they still don’t have this stuff back home…)

Isn’t she pretty?

She is going to be some pretty sockies and will look super with my Dansko maryjanes.

The yarn is Mountain Colors‘ Bearfoot and the colorway is Ruby River. It is really soft and the color is even prettier in person. wee!

See you soon, Beantown…

I am coming home!

So I have been thinking about my post yesterday and I think it was a little obnoxious.

I mean, anyone who has read my blog before knows that Casey and I looove each other. A lot.

Then I am like, “My boy loves me! LALALALA!”

Anyway, it was a little overboard and I wanted to acknowledge that. The end.

I mentioned that I bought some yarn the other day when we were out in western Mass doing some stuff for the wedding (in one month from tomorrow if anyone is counting !! and I am !!)

I am going to post it real big so that you can see its beautiful-ness even if you are too lazy to click on the darn picture.

It is Manos de Uruguay, of course. (The green is color 70 and variegated is 116.)

Anyone have any ideas for projects that are worthy? Maybe a felted bag? Anyone?

Okay, I am still feeling like crap so I am going to bed.

I just cast off my Flower Basket Shawl! woohoo!

Next: blocking. gah.

The knitted thong pattern (that I mentioned yesterday) is up on Carolynn’s new website! Go here for the ‘Frecklegirl Thong Pattern‘.

Woohoo!

Think of it- you could have one of your very own!

(Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about Part 2! just a little ramble first…)

I went to my friend Carolynn’s baby shower today- it was very fun to see all the cute little clothes and toys for little Walter!

I have been knitting a sweater for him but haven’t been posting about it here because Christopher and Carolynn stop by here from time to time.

Here it is! ta-da!

It is the ‘Child’s Placket-Neck Pullover’ from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts…

(Please note, if you are going to knit this pattern there is a corrected version of it on this site.)

I am pretty happy with the way it turned out, for my first baby sweater. I was supposed to graft the underarms together but it is impossible for me to graft apparently so I just did a 3 needle bind-off instead. It is not as pretty as the grafting would have been but I told Carolynn maybe she can help me to learn and then I can fix it. (I know, I need to get a life! haha)

I was going to post my shower stuff…. I swear!

I have been editing pictures for ever and ever but it is still not done.

Don’t hate me.