Progress! Good progress is moving forward on projects that have been around for a while. I finished the button bands on my Sesame sweater so now all it needs is a good blocking and some buttons. Remember that great cropped shrug I was making with the bobble sleeves? Well, I made some SERIOUS progress on that last weekend.

The beautiful fibers and color changes in this Noro Silk Garden laceweight were not meant to be wasted on a one-wear silly cropped sweater. I tore the whole thing out and I was so ready to start again.

It's a mini clapotis! I'm totally winging it and not completely sure that I have quite enough yarn for this, but that's what makes it mini. I really like my red clapotis, but it's a bit hefty for spring. Had a gross stomach flu this week which resulted in lots of time at home in bed, and on the couch, so I actually made some progress on this easy peasy knit. I contemplated how nice it would be to knit one project at a time. The huge chunks of progress seemed so appealing! But then I was forced to pick up my apartment, which forcibly leads to moving yarn around and thinking about what I want to make with it.

Look at this great koigu! I initially ordered it to make the chevron scarf from last-minute knitted gifts when I was in a bit of a headscarf phase. But seriously, if I knit this enormous thing with these four skeins, would I really want to wrap it around my head? Ok yeah, I would. But in public? I'm starting to think that this gorgeous yarn would be better suited to some handknit socks. I have three pairs of handknit socks in heavy circulation these days... and if I use the pink it would be so perfect for Project Spectrum... I could make some jaywalkers now that the internet craze has died down...

I was just thinking. Brainstorming! Then I remembered the Koigu Kersti that I have been moving around and dreaming about for more than a year, not knowing what to do with it. It sure would make a nice bright neckwarmer for cold spring days! Yes, I know that there are probably about 5 more cold spring days in the books, but you never know! I might even have enough free time this weekend to start.

I mean really, did I think I was going to finish that Clapotis anytime soon?

Posted by Molly at 06:10 PM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

The good, the bad and the ugly of my first experiment with stranded knitting, Carole style.

The good: I did it!

Click on the photo to see the inside. It's great!

The bad: The beginning/end of each row in the middle of the pattern was a little iffy. A tense night, maybe.

The ugly: I don't know what's worse. All these ends and having no idea how to weave them in or just the awful technicolor yarn. The jury is still out on whether I'll be making another or even finishing this, for that matter.

But I did it!!

Posted by Molly at 08:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

One of the great perks when I go to work (among many others) is that I can use the sewing machines when students are on vacation or taking exams. It's so exciting! Yesterday I whipped up a new drawstring pouch using some Japanese fabric that I bought a while ago. (for a closeup of the print, check this out). I figured it's about time I start using this stuff before I have to think about shipping it home. It was fun and easy to make, and I really love the feeling of feeding fabric through the machine. It's just so much fun to make stuff. The way I see it, a knitter I can never have too many drawstring project bags.

I've got some pillowcases up next on the sewing agenda, but I'm not particularly looking forward to it. It's a belated Christmas gift that I have lost enthusiasm for, but I DID commit to it so I'll do my best. After that, the sky's the limit!
I'm thinking I MIGHT have to invest in a Japanese pattern book or two.

I did also get a start on my Project Spectrum knitting last night. Nothing too exciting just yet, but I hope there'll be time for it to take shape soon!

Posted by Molly at 04:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

As I lay awake in bed tonight, I started to wonder what was keeping me up (I'm an asleep-as-my-head-hits-the-pillow kind of gal) and remembered that today is the beginning of March!* Not only does this mean that I can get rid of my cardboard, milk cartons, plastic bottles and magazines in the special trash this week, but it's the beginning of Project Spectrum! Have you heard the exciting news?

I've been kind of anti-knitalongs lately because I'm trying to avoid unecessary deadlines. But this is something special! I love the idea of choosing a different color each month, and I already have something planned for the pink and red month that I'll start later this week (it's getting a little late). I once told a friend that "I just love colors!" and I don't think he'll ever let me live it down. I don't think it's mockworthy, but true! I'm a sucker for anything that's lined up in color order. Get me in Tokyu Hands and I want one of just about anything bright. I used to love my Benetton store because they organized all the clothes by color. Get the picture? This knitalong was made for me.

To celebrate, I took some pictures of things around my apartment in March colors. It was almost too easy. I look forward to seeing what all the many participants have to contribute. But for now, I'm going to bed.

*Current time: 1:39 am, March 1st.

Posted by Molly at 01:22 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)