Pre-Op

That small pattern row marks the place where, in the very near future, I have to cut in order to get some sleeves going on this thing. I have steeked before so I am quite aware of what's involved. All the same, I am at the place where I always wonder if I shouldn't just stuff it and turn it into a pillow. Or just pack it up for the summer and think about it next winter.

Off to the Frog Pond

As much as I tried to tell myself that giant sleeve would somehow fit later on, the time came to finally face facts. Out in the bright sunlight of a beautiful Saturday morning, I could actually see well enough to get an accurate stitch count. I wasn't even close. Rip it. Rip it. Rip it.



The second time around, I ditched the magic loop for double points and found that knitting up the hem was a piece of cake. Happily, the false start did not put me off this sweater. The colors are so beautiful I don't want to put it down.

No Chance in Hell

I realize I just posted about how I like to wear only the simplest of knits but, I also have this delusion that I am going to knit a tank top to wear to next year's Sheep and Wool Fest. I passed by several gorgeous lacey ones last weekend and that sent me right to the internet to research summer tops. I came up empty handed over on Ravelry but I eventually found the Crest of the Wave Tank Top over at Elann, which knit in their Sonata, costs under $20. Here it is in Fresh Pesto. Unfortunately, given my track record with getting anything I make to actually fit, the chances that this is going to turn out to be something that can be worn is pretty slim. But it won't hurt to try.

A Classic

I love to knit fancy things. Lace. Cables. Colorwork. All fun to do but not fun to wear. At least for me. I am a plain Jane. I like everything simple. My plain old vanilla seamless raglans get the most wear-by far. When I saw the Classic Lines Cardigan over on Knit Picks, I knew that someday it would be mine. Someday is here because I just got finished casting it on in Vineyard and Spice. One sleeve, that is. You use two strands of lace weight held together and every 6th row you throw in another strand of a contrasting variegated lace weight. I love the way that looks.



I have managed to make gauge, but the sleeve still seems enormous. I like my sweaters baggy but I don't want to look like a bag lady. I am planning on knitting a few more inches before I decide if this is going off to the frog pond. I improvised a straight hem off two needles in order to skip the sewn in hem and almost had a brain hemorrhage trying to figure it out, so I am not quite ready to rip it all out and start over just yet.

Prodigy 2

My new little knitting buddy is unstoppable. Her first colorwork project is amazing. Perfect in every way.




Now look at what she's up to.
I warned her it was a slippery slope.

Just One More

During her almost 3 hour creep up Route 144 towards the fairgrounds last Saturday, Daughter took this photo of a knitter on the side of the road. Broken down cars are no fun but this lady seemed to be taking it all in stride.

Last-But Not Least:The Socks

Of course I had to add to my collection of 50 plus balls of sock yarn, so on Sunday morning I queued up for Socks That Rock and bought a skein in the Lenka colorway. I then went over to pick out something from Creatively Dyed, which had a lovely location with a breeze and a big fan. I spent a long time there before I decided on some sock weight in the Ghana colorway.



Before heading home, I went back over to Misty Mountain farm where I also came away with this ball of Crazy Zauberball.
At $20, $23 and $19 a skein, this is some pricey sock yarn.



To end my 2010 Maryland Sheep and Wool posts, let me confess that I also stopped on the way home at Micheal's where I came away with this pretty Patons at $4.99 a ball. I just couldn't help it. I still had a few bucks in my pocket.

This year's total: $415.
Ouch.
I went a little crazy, but I am now only 27 school days away from a pitiful fixed retirement income.
This stuff's gotta last me a LONG time.