A Few Sheep Shy of a Farm

EZ’s Icelandic Yoke Sweater, started February 8th, 2008, finished February 28th, 2008
Pattern: EPS Icelandic Yoke Sweater
Yarn: Paton’s Classic Merino & Cascade 220
Needles: Size 7 Addi Turbos
Dimensions: 40″
Pattern Notes: added 5 extra stitches and steeked front for cardigan
Would I knit it again? Definately!

This photo is from when I cut the steek - the sweater is finished (except buttons) and as soon as I have buttons on it I’ll take another on the maniquin so we can see what it really looks like.

Work continues on the EPS Yoke Cardigan.  I’m about 12 inches (out of 15) into the body of it . . . . I had hopeed to  be working on the Yoke by the time I went to knitting last night but life in general has not been granting me as much knitting time as I’d like.  So 3 more inches and then I can join the sleeves and lower body and begin working on the yoke . . . .

 I’ll try to remember to take a picture when I join the pieces together, perhaps by this evening if things go well - otherwise tomorrow for sure

(edited to add photo)

Yup, I’ve done the sleeves first for this current sweater and I’m really glad I did.  This time I started the sleeves (twice, but still) instead of actually swatching.  And given how tedious I’ve decided sleeves are, its a good thing they are done!  In fact, if I liked sweater vests at all, which I don’t since its ususally my arms that are cold, I’d only knit vests - just so I’d never have to do sleeves!

Plain, old boring vanilla sleeves.  Knit in the round, from the cuff up, two at a time and they are waiting on the needle to be attached to the body when its ready.  The body looks like it will be a quick knit . . . now that the ribbing is done its basic, knit in the round with the exception of the 5 steek stitches in the center front.  Those I’ve decided to do 2 st in seed stitch to either side of a center knit stitch (the one that will ultimately be cut).  I think I read somewhere that working the side stitches in Seed Stitch helps to lock in the yarn so it won’t unravel too easily.

Last night I wound off a cone of the Cocoa Harrisville Shetland and scoured it in prep for starting the swatch hat for the Fair Isle sweater.  I’m still trying to decide which other colors to actually put with it . . . perhaps Sunday I’ll have time to really look at it, preferably in some natural light . . . .

back to knitting!

Yeah, that’s right, I’m going to blame it on pregnancy food cravings

I’m sitting here as I type this watching “Biggest Loser” and eating a pint of Ben & Jerry’s Strawberry Cheesecake Ice Cream! How’s that for irony?

Baby-wise things are moving along . . . she and I are growing - up 4 lbs in the past 2 weeks (and no, its not from icecream - really) and it turns out I’ve developed Iron deficiency Anemia.  That wasn’t a huge surprise since I’ve been borderline anemic most of my life . . . but it turns out that the anemia likely explains why I’ve been short of breath and tired a lot of the time lately.  I’m now taking iron pills and have been told that after a few days I’ll likely start to feel better.  That will be nice.

The little guy and I also managed to get a cold - I’m pretty sure we (okay, he) picked it up at the Musuem of Science when we went this past Friday.  He loved the museum! We’re thinking of becoming members and taking him often as he had such a good time.

The tide pool was easily his favorite - he just loves playing in water . . . now I just have to convince him not to splash the other kids or to drink the water! Say what you like, but this little guy is all Boy!

Knitting

The Minimalist Cardigan is done! I finished the knitting on Friday, blocked it over the weekend and sewed it together on Monday just before knitting group. 

I actually got blocking wires - steel rods frome a welding shop - on Saturday so that I would be able to block the sides straighter than they turn out with pins.  The blocking made it a lot easier to sew up, I think.  I had worried a little that the texture of the Moss stitch would make sewing it up that much harder but it worked out.

I had changed the gauge from 5 st/inch to 4 st/inch which meant doing a bit of math . . . there were a couple of things I would do differently but overall I’m happy with how it turned out.  Naturally, since I’m the size of the “Goodyear” blimp it doesn’t fit quite the way I’d like it to fit at the moment. 

I’m working the sleeves of the next sweater . . . I’m doing an EPS Yoke sweater in the style of the Icelandic Yoke sweater though, again, my gauge is different . . . but since its and EPS sweater gauge isn’t an issue. 

The plan is to knit this one up quickly as practice for this style of sweater and then to do a KAL with a couple of the ladies from the Monday night knitting group - we’re going to do the Fair Isle Yoke Sweater (or the Icelandic as an alternative) and I plan to steek the front and turn it into a cardigan. 

And since I just have to share the cute photos - this is the little guy on a rocking horse that a friend of mine from knitting gave me last night for him.  He was soooo excited when he saw it this morning and rode it on and off all day.

Minimalist Cardigan, started January 7th, 2008, finished February 11th, 2008
Pattern: Minimalist Cardigan
Yarn: Steadfast Fibers Wonderful Wool
Needles: Addi’s size 7
Dimensions: 39.5 inch finish
Pattern Notes: My gauge was 4 st/inch instead of the 5 st/inch called for in the pattern.  I had to do a bit of math in order to knit it up but I’m overall happy with the results.
Would I knit it again? Not likely, this much Moss stitch makes me a little crazy