FO Thursday

Or rather, it was FO Friday last Friday! I know I am a tad wee late on posting this since tomorrow is Friday. Almost a week since I finished my Knitty Thermal. Last Friday morning I assigned myself the mission of finishing this baby before I did anything else that day.

So at around 9am, 10 mini peppermint patties (5 for each sleeve) and 2 hours later, my mission was complete! I held my breath when I tried it on for the first time. I always get nervous because I never really know if things are going to fit me right or the way I want. I exhaled with a sigh of relief. It fit perfectly.

I even wore it to work on Monday. Let me tell you, this sucker kept me warm, maybe a little hot. I wore a very light t-shirt underneath it, but I think even without the t-shirt, I would have been warm. Maybe the air condition was malfunctioning at work that day?

Here are Thermal's stats:
Started: December 28, 2007
Finished: March 28, 2008
Knit Picks Fixed Harmony needles sized 2.5
Yarn: Knit Picks Gloss; colorway Burgandy; 6.5 skeins (I purchased 8)

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(50-Miles from Bear Mtn to New Rochelle) - June 8, 2008

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Weekend Knitting

This is what my weekend knitting amounted to for me. I finished the back of the Tilted Duster and have started the right front (not in picture). Juno Regina is now in the "Lets knit the same two rows for 42 inches" stage. I stuck to my 10 rows a night (some nights I did a little more) and am 4" into the 42. Lastly I made huge progress on my Thermal sleeve. I finished the increases and am just now knitting to my desired 18.5". Almost there with it. It should be done in the next few days.

No, I didn't play with my new toy this weekend. Soon though!

Sleeving Through The Snow

When I opened my front door on Friday morning this is what I saw. Those are the steps leading up from my apartment. I quickly captured a picture of the perfect snow on the top step before my landlord decided to get out the shovel. This would have been the perfect day to stay in bed with a good book and some knitting. Unfortunately I had errands to run in the city.

Oh I bundled myself up nice and toasty warm and braved the city for a couple of hours. It snowed/sleeted all day long and I believe we ended up with 6-9 inches total. One of my errands took me up to the Road Runners club to pick up race numbers for the Saturday morning "Al Gordon Snowflake 4 Mile Race". How perfect that it decided to snow for this race. However, when I got to the club they informed everyone that because of the weather the race was turned into a fun run. Meaning it wasn't going to be a timed run.

Therefore on Saturday morning we didn't head into the city (all the way up to 102nd Street) to particpate in the fun run. Instead we ran in Astoria Park in my neighborhood. I have to tell ya'll. This was the first time I have ever run in snow/ice covered surfaces. What a workout! The majority of my 4.5 mile run was done in the street around the park but some of it had to be done on the sidewalks. That is where the roughness came in. While I didn't have and slips or falls, my muscles definitely feel the workout today. It's amazing how a slight difference in terrain can work one's muscles differently.

I did manage to get some knitting in this weekend. Here is Knitty Thermal's Sleeve #1. In this picture the sleeve is not yet complete. However, as of an hour ago it is off the needles with the ends woven in. I managed to finish it off while watching one of my Netflix movies. I actually thought I would have finished it yesterday when I put in "Letters From Iwo Jima", however, that movie was subtitled. Duh! I had no idea. So of course no knitting was accomplished for those 2 hours and 20 minutes. I haven't quite mastered knitting, watching a movie and reading subtitles all at the same time.

Hanging Around

Well I did say the other day that I would be getting some Knitty Thermal knitting action going. After reviewing my list of things to do with my sister on Sunday, I had mentioned working on Thermal. So I couldn't come through, right?

As you can see Thermal is now hanging around on a hanger. I only had three short-rows to work before the 3 needle bind-off. It didn't take me long. I just needed to do it while I was bright eyed and bushy tailed. What I love about it all being attached is that I could try it on. I was very happy with it. This sweater is actually going to fit me nicely. I'm so excited.


Another goal on my Sunday list of "To Do's" was to start the sleeves. Since I didn't have size 2 dpns I decided to use the 2 circ method of knitting them. I am only knitting one sleeve at a time so I am kinda dreading the extra time it will take to knit the second one, but I think it will go pretty fast. I know if I taught myself the Magic Loop method I probably could have done both at the same time. Maybe next time.

This picture is of my sleeve as it stood last night. I actually had about 20 more rows done than what you see here. One thing with the pattern is your kinda on your own in trying to figure out a few things. It doesn't tell you how they want you to continue in the waffle pattern after you increased by 2 stitches. So I did my own thing because the pattern needed to stay straight going up the sleeve. However, when I stopped on Sunday I didn't like how it was looking on the inside of the sleeve. I had 3 purl and 3 knit stitches together. Instead of in 2's. I know that means nothing to ya'll who haven't done this pattern. Anyhoo, I decided I really didn't like it yesterday and frogged those rows. I'm back to square one (almost) and now that I know in my mind how I want to handle the increases and keep the pattern going straight up the arm, I'm sure it will fly on my needles.

BTW, I know many who think the yarn I am using is pink, but it is actually burgundy. I know the flash can make it look pink. I think the picture of the sleeve portrays the real color. At least it does on my computer.

Tripley Good and Some New Yarn Too

1) Knitty Thermal - Isn't it amazing how this has grown over the past couple of weeks? Up until Monday, this was my *bring to work* knitting. As you can see here, I am about 50% done. I am working on the back of Thermal where I will put one set of shoulder stitches on a holder, shape the neck and then work the other shoulder. I am quite pleased how quickly it is knitting up, especially with ALL those stitches. I promise. I won't do the math on how many stitches I have done anymore. Don't want to scare anyone away from knitting this sweater. I will be knitting this again for sure.

2) Peapod Baby Set - No this has not been forgotten. Last Thursday night into Friday, I started and finished these sleeves. I need to seam the shoulders together and pick up the stitches for the collar. After that, it will be seaming the sleeves and attaching them to the body. I have further comments on this project, but I will reserve them for a future post. What? I can't share everything at once. Gotta keep some stuff for the future.

3) Jay Socks - Yup I casted on for another pair of socks Monday while at work. I guess finishing my last pair almost 3 weeks ago was enough time to get some sock mojo back. I actually couldn't wait to start knitting with this Jitterbug yarn, but I was having a hard time deciding what pattern I wanted to do. Well, as you can see, I am just doing a basic stockinette toe-up sock pattern. I feel this is all the beautiful yarn needs. Now I am thinking a sweater in a matching color?

And guess what? I am blog contest winner! When I commented on Kim's blog the other day for her almost 1,000th Comment Contest. I honestly did not think I would win. I mean at least 6 people commented before me and I was just thrilled with the idea of her blog hitting that monumental comment number! I met up with Kim today for lunch and she bestowed upon me a prize of this beautiful, and super soft, sock yarn from Sundara Yarn. The color is French Navy over Topaz. Isn't it yummy?

That's Alot of Waffling!

If you have 17 rows of Twisted Ribbing times 252 stitches you get 4,284 stitches. Then if you have 16 pattern repeats of a 4 row pattern that equals 64 rows. 64 rows times 252 stitches equals 16,128 stitches. Add 4,284 stitches to 16,128 stitches you get a whopping 20,412 stitches. So what does that look like? Well here it is...my Knitty Thermal! That's alot of waffling if you ask me. This has been my *bring to work* project this week. I am loving the feel of the Knit Picks Gloss yarn. Oh and did I tell you? This is being knit on size 2 needles! I am using Harmony Wood needles from Knit Picks and they are awesome.

Here are my completed Fawkes Socks. I finished them at the end of December while in SC. I knitted them in the medium weight STR colorway *Hot Flash* on size 1 needles. I wore them for the first time last night and they are very warm and comfy!

Can you say M-A-L-A-B-R-I-G-I-O? I definitely did when my sister Mary Beth and I visited Island Knits in Pawley's Island, SC. This was my first live encouter with this yarn and it just jumped into my basket - all 3 hanks! I am going to be knitting this yummy yarn into a shawl that MB is going to be creating for us. The square buttons go with it. I also picked up the Jay Jitterbug yarn. It was the only one there and I snatched it up. I've been loving this yarn color ever since Kim knitted her Jay socks. The best part of this yarn purchase was that everything was 20% off.

Chevron FO

Yes folks, that is correct. I have another FO to add to my list. Friday night I decided to complete the last inch of my Chevron Scarf. I had wanted to start the Left Front on my Ribby Cardi that night and needed my size 5 needles to do the ribbing. So instead of "borrowing" the needles from Chevron, I just sucked it up and finished her off. So here she is all wrapped up amongst herself. She's being a little camera shy. I honestly don't blame her though. I would hide too if I were a little warped. She just needs a good steam bath that's all. Hopefully she'll be ready to show her beautiful colors in a few days!

On Sunday, I had paid a little visit to JoAnne Crafts out on Long Island. As you can see from this picture I have picked out the buttons I will be needing for my Knitty Thermal. The pic doesn't really do the buttons justice. They have a bit of shimmer and really pick up the color of my Gloss yarn just beautifully. While I won't be starting this until I finish my Ribby, I am just happy I have all the things I need for it now.

I just finished the Left Front of my Ribby tonight and will be casting on for the Right Front later. Looks like I will be in sleeve island by Friday!!!