Knitting: The Opulent Raglan

So due to the crazy hectic week last week, I didn't have too much of an opportunity to work on this sweater. I made a bit of progress here and there, but not really much until this weekend. I did many rows between the 2 days. I like it so far, it's a pretty easy repeat... and the sides/underarms and back are all stockinette. It's nice because instead of just going around and around forever, the middle cable section adds a point of interest. And when I'm going around it doesn't seem like it's taking me too long to get back to that section, so that's cool too. I definitely understand why those that have made it said it's a fast knit. In some respect it is. I think my stuff just seems to take forever because I'm always making larger sizes which use a LOT more stitches. :)

ION... Coraline, 3D! WOW! (don't worry liz, you can keep reading, I won't spoil it). It was actually my first 3d movie... yes EVER! It was a cute story, I was uber tired when I went though and got a little drowsy towards the end. I never officially FELL asleep, but I think I closed my eyes a couple of times. Not sure if anyone could tell behind the 3d glasses though.. HA!

But seriously... there was the cutest part at the beginning and I just laughed and laughed. I thought it was really well done, all of it! And the bonus part was that part way through Coraline is out shopping with her mom and she's wearing what look like knitted stockings and a knitted skirt!!! AND, the thing she wants most in the store is a pair of stripey knitted gloves! LOL I thought it was sooo funny that of all clothing they could have drawn for her, it was knitted garments. Too awesome.

I guess that's about all the update that is in me at the moment. Here are a few shots of the sweater. A close up of the cable section and another one showing more of the "make."





OH and aren't you all impressed... yes I've cast on a few new things of late but I have meticulously been sticking to one project for more days at a time. Perhaps before it was lack of interest in projects... or now I just have that need/desire to finish? Who knows... anyway, I'm liking that I'm having some doneness in my life. One sweater nearly finished (still not entirely seemed), and another well on it's way. You know, now that I think about some of those unfinished projects, I realize that the majority of the undone stuff was stuff I was making for other people. Maybe that's the problem, I can't seem to finish stuff because it's not for me?! That's a bit selfish, but I think that might be it! Hhhmmm....

In other news, I picked up the new Debbie Bliss Spring/Summer. I like a couple of things... the sweaters as is would cost a fortune because the DB yarn is not cheap! I'm anxious to see knit picks new cotton blend option and maybe try out swish as well. After the op rag, I really should look into doing something more for spring summer. Of course that will require new yarn because most of what I have now is wool and not really summer friendly. :)

Oh and in Ravelry news... someone contacted me about a different Verena sweater. It seems they needed help with the pattern. I had to go back and pull out my summer issue. She is making a pattern I really like and was having trouble interpreting the chart. I think I helped, but I thought it was really nice that she reached out. It doesn't look like she's super updatey on Ravelry, but I hope she posts about it.

I actually do have a lot more to say about stuff I've read recently and other patterns, but I'm going to go... the more I write, the less I knit and I really want to get started on those shaping decreases... off I go!

Blogging: to Avoid Knitting

Crazy eh? Well, I've been knitting my fingers to the quick and they are a little sore. Today I did the crochet cast on for the FRONT piece of the cable sweater. I have 30-some rows done already. This works up so quick I can't believe I didn't finish it a long time ago. I'm so easily distracted.

Anyway, it's going along well and I hope to be finished and blocking it by Sunday. Of course that means no seaming until like tues or so once it dries. I still haven't decided on the neck either, but I do know I'm not making it as designed. I just don't think I will like all that bulk around my neck.

In other project news... I was really wanting my next project to be this cute cable/lace motif sweater called, Ode to Jackie O. It has a really cute boat neck and I even went so far as to buy the yarn for it. Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in Jalapeno (green). Well, I've ready the pattern over and over for the past few weeks and I really am not liking the way it is written. I've been thinking about doing it top down, but I'm still not convinced I can pull it off like it should be because of the way the cable/lace pattern is set up. Call it, not enough confidence.

So, found another sweater in my queue that is aching to be knitted. Or is it me that is aching to knit it?! Anyway, its the Opulent Raglan by Wendy Bernard that I've wanted to make since that particular issue of knitscene came out. I bought all this gorgeous teal yarn for it, Arucania, but after I did this... I realized the sweater is knit in a heavier weight and the teal yarn is a dk weight. So, again, I could modify it and I was going to, but again I'm feeling a bit lazy on that end. So, I've decided on WOTA in the Amethyst Heather color. I really wanted to use one of the other purples, but they are all out of stock on those 2.

And while I was perusing the forums, I was reading on the Sipalu bag from Knit Picks. IT comes with the Palette samplers. I bought the Tranquil one back in December (I think). So after reading about it and such I really want to make it. My fingers are twitching to get back to color work. I really need to draft some more of my own designs and get stuff made as well.

Anyway, I am vowing NOT to cast on for that bag, until I finish one more project. It will either be a sock or the Verena cable sweater. And as far as color work, I have those gorgeous Entrelac socks to work on. They are my February sock project. I love the yarn for it. I played with the cast on the other day and did a couple of rows, but am considering frogging and starting over. I feel like they should be perfect. I'm not usually a perfectionist when it comes to these things, but I really think I can do it better, so I should I suppose.

I have about 4 inches done on Schooner Sock #2, so between that and the sweater front, I will hopefully have a productive weekend.

Knitting: Ravelry is the coolest it's what everyone is saying

Ok, I don't know why I titled it that way, but it seemed funny at the time. Don't hate.

Anyway, yesterday some folks commented on the progress bars posted on the blog here (which I think are way fab!). I believe I had first seen them on Mollyloohoo's, oh and she's doing this flower project for her thesis so if you have some extra time and want to help a gal out, go here and read all about it (how's that for a pimp-yo!), and Cath's blogs. So I said, "Hey, where'd you get that neat code stuff?"

Well I didn't really say that, but I did ask, Cath then led me to the wiki link on RAVELRY itself. Which does shock and amaze me because... really, who thinks up this shit?! I mean, I think of a lot of random crap, like wouldn't it be nice to have xxx but then to actually CODE it and make it a reality. My brain just doesn't work in those patterns. I mean I really feel like code IS an art. It's not my style of art, but it truly is amazing to me. I guess I take for granted that the programs I use daily are all just code, but we've gotten so used to the mundane and then Ravelry came along and swept us away with the awesomeness.

At least a couple of times a week, I notice these little gidgets are out there, like extra clicky things that do some piece of awesomeness. This all goes on and on and on, always with these updates. And then sometimes I get scared... what if some evil monster tries to take Ravelry away. What will we all do. Or what if Casey just says, "Heck no, I'm tired." And is done. EEK!? I will pray that THAT day never happens or is way too far off in the future for me to conceptualize.

Anyway, since you have all been so patient, that work in progress wiki is here. I hope those that have asked and that want can make the most of it. Enjoy!

And PS, since I am a little of an awesome coder... you will now notice all my links will open EXTERNAL windows so that you don't even have to leave my blog! GO ME! :)