Grace

Then Beauty?

pattern: Grace
size: 2 (38") - fits 38-40 bust
yarn: Fiddlesticks Zephyr DK in Marine - 8 balls & ~30 grams of the 9th (not including 2 swatches)
needles: Knitpicks size 5 & 6


Why no modelled shot? Because when a knitter ignores the narrow look of the sleeve pieces and fails to measure the width of her arm against the measurement shown in the pattern schematic, chances are the arms don't fit. A check on the few Grace sweaters on Ravelry revealed that the one other knitter that finished the sweater noted that the sleeves were a little tight and that in hindsight she should've knit the next size up for the sleeves.

I probably knew this in the back of my mind, but failed to pay attention to it or do the proper things one should do like re-measure myself and compare all the parameters, not just the body. While I was seaming this sweater, I kept thinking it would be better for my mom. And so now it will be.

But why not undo the seams and re-knit the sleeves, especially since I had a 10th ball virtually untouched? It is after all, a wonderfully charted pattern and thus very easy to knit. But by the time I tried it on, I had already woven in the innumerous ends and simply had no desire to start the sleeves over.

So gifting this to my mom is the change I'm affecting:

God, give us grace to accept with serenity
the things that cannot be changed,
Courage to change the things
which should be changed,
and the Wisdom to distinguish
the one from the other.

The semi-monthly warning

That's right, it's time for my fellow Rockin' Sock Club members who do not like to be spoiled to stay away from the 'net or at least, don't scroll past the stinkin' cute Tulip sweater (in progress) pic. So instead, I will do a belated Wednesday WIP report.

The Grace sweater sleeves & body are slowly being seamed after I seamed the shoulders and knitted the collar. I'll need to re-block as I don't like how the bottom of the collar is pulling up the bodice, assuming the silk content will relax the fabric enough to counter this issue.

I started this project thinking I would be making this for me, but I'm considering passing this on to my mom. I think the silk content and the lace should keep it cool enough for winters in Hawaii.


Also on a slow pace are Monkey1's Lindy Hop front piece and my second Cleopatra's Stocking. I had a brief bout of Second Sock Syndrome 'cause I so didn't want to knit another short row toe.

There's some seriously small gauge stockinette stitch going on here.


And what's making those 2 WIP's even slower (aside from the small needle thing) is that I have been sucked into the utter cuteness that is the Tulip Sweater. The smaller Monkey2 size and the bigger size 9 needles makes for darn quick work too. Plus it's fun to change colors only every 10 rows. The only drawbacks are that I didn't read all the Rav notes (my bad!) recommending NOT slipping the seam stitch and for a superwash wool yarn, it's got some funky crunchiness/squeak to it.


So. Finally - my eagerly anticipated July RSC kit!


Not just one, but 2(!) patterns by a great teacher & BMFA's tech editor, JC Briar, and our totally fun Sockateer, Hot Flash! I love reading Tina's Dyer's Notes as they give a fascinating insight to her color aesthetic and news of the next color collection.

I think I'll do both patterns, but using the July yarn with JC's pattern and another lighter colored STR skein for the anklet pattern. I am tempted to use Hot Flash's colorway for her pattern. It's only fitting since Monkey1 chose the colorway on my last BMFA purchase and the anklets would be uber cute on her.

That is, after I finish that darn sweater of hers. Someone shoot me the next time I say okay to knitting a fingering weight sweater for anyone, even my darling Monkeys.

Why, yes.

It is all about Socks that Rock all the time. Well, it is easier to take quick pics of pretty yarn than finishing my sweater WIP's, especially seaming my Grace sweater. As Irishgirlie pointed out rather well, tapmouse & I freed her of a few skeins of yarn after her visit to mecca.


left to right: lightweight mill ends in Queen Rock, Azure Malachite, County Clare, and a "Bronze"


I normally don't go for heavyweight (minus the occasional Funky Monkey), but this skein said Monkey1 all over it.


Another Rare Gem, this time in lightweight. Sorta Dixie Chick gone sideways or goth or Lost.


I love getting new yarn cause they motivate me to finish at least one project.


same deets as before:
Spring Forward by Linda Welch
Socks that Rock lightweight in Motley Hue
size 2.50 mm KP dpns
no mods

Not exactly a pair

It's always amazing to me that you can take the same yarn (abeit in different colors), the same stitch count (66), the same twisted rib 1" cuff, but with 2 different designers, come up with totally different socks.


Sock one:
Spring Forward
Socks that Rock lightweight in Motley Hue
size 2.50 mm Knit Picks metal dpns

No mods to the pattern - However, after reading that this pattern was tight on some knitters in the KAL, I did try it on one decrease short on the gusset to check if I would need to rip back & do a longer heel or less gussest decreases since it seemed like the stockinette stitch gauge was appreciably tighter than the lace pattern.


Sock 2 from the May Rockin' Sock Club kit:
Cleopatra's Stocking
Socks that Rock lightweight in Incredibly Shrinking Violet
size 2.50 mm & 2.50 mm Knit Picks circulars


modifications:
- Size large for the stitch count (I'm tighter on circs than on dpns), but size medium for foot length
- Switched to the larger needles for the last 1" of the twisted rib cuff though it's possible I could've switched a little earlier since I started getting really close to my calf
- Did the front and back slash patterns up to 3", per Yarnissima's original design. (I pm'd her on Ravelry for the original directions.) Due to concerns with not having enough yarn for the large size, BMFA had the leg pattern cut down by 1-ish repeat. I've ordered more yarn in case I run out for sock 2, but I still need to weigh my sock and the rest of my skein to check.

Well, I won't be done with my second Cleo's before our July sock club kit hits, but I will definitely get my second Spring Forward done.

Officially off Sleeve Island

...for now. Gotta love long holiday weekends when I get 2-2.5 hours each way for some focus knitting time. While I'm almost at the end for Grace (blocking, sewing, collar), Monkey1's Lindy Hop is nowhere near done since I still have to do the front.


I also made some progress on my Cleopatra's Stocking. It took me awhile to get used to the pattern, but I'm still not used to the left twist as it's not the yarn over that I keep losing, but the regular stitch.


But I'm loving the quick knit that is the Spring Forward sock from a fellow sock camper, Linda Welch. The STR Motley Hue I'm using reminds me more of a SF Bay summer than a typical one, especially when the fog rolls in and the bay gets all choppy. Miserable as all get out if one was out there on a boat, but really cool looking in that moody Gothic novel kind of way.


The sock does go nicely with the new Namaste Newport bag I got in Charcoal from Woolgirl. I love this bag. Perfect size, classic color. Perfect. And it came with it's own little white cloth bag like those fancy high end bags do!


Of course, I can't just get a bag, so I finally ordered a couple little skeins of Pigeon Roof Studios in Pink Lady light (so cute!) and knitspot's fine cabled fingerless mitt pattern. ( I'd like to use some of my sock yarn for gift mitts.) And Jen threw in a couple wool wash samples (Soak being one) and lip balm. I always love those little extras Jen throws in.

Back to the usual

My secret project is done & handed off to the proper person Monday night, just in time for her to take pics before sending them on. I hope I did well. I am back to my sleeves, but for a little something different I started the transitional rows from the toes to the foot on my Cleopatra's Stockings. Wow, sock club members weren't kidding with the twisted stitch pattern being a little tricky. (eta - it's that cabling a yo & a regular st tbl!) This knit looks like it will need some quality focus time.


So I've decided that I need a sock WIP that doesn't require as much focus and am gearing up to wind up my lovely Socks that Rock lightweight in Motley Hue...


for a fellow Sock Camper's pattern - Spring Forward socks from knitty.com's Summer 08 issue.


Hope everyone has a lovely holiday weekend!