How The West Was Spun

NaSweKniMoDo 09 Thoughts

So far this year, I've been doing pretty well with the NaSweKniMoDo challenge.  It's March and I have 3 sweaters completed so far this year, and working on a fourth (my Trinity vest).  I'm getting a wee bit concerned that I'm not going to have enough yarn, but I am hoping it will just be close, a la Susan, and I'll squeak by with at least a yard of leftovers.  The good news is that there isn't a lot of finishing to be done on this sweater, just front bands, and a few rows of garter stitch trim on the neckline and arm holes.  Keep your fingers crossed for me!

I've been looking ahead to decide what my next project might be.  I currently have the following things earmarked in my Ravelry queue as possible options (meaning, I have the yarn and pattern easily accessible) for the remaining projects for the year.

Sand Dance Pullover
Side Impact Sweater
Elizabeth Cardi
Tangled Yoke Cardi
Cassandra Cardi
Amelia Cardi
Isobel of Mar
Phyllo Sweater
Coraline Cardi

I had sort of planned to wait to work on the Sand Dance and Isobel of Mar as my last 2 projects, as they are both wool and heavier, and not really quick knits (in a comparative sort of way).  I am also on the fence about whether I want to tackle all the twisted rib on the Amelia cardigan, so I've sort of back-burner'ed that for a bit.

I think the Tangled Yoke or Elizabeth cardigans would be great to wear this spring, but if I don't get going on the Elizabeth, I know that it'll be too hot here for me to work with the Kid Silk Haze before long around here.   Phyllo in Silky Wool would also be a nice multiseason garment, and I could probably get some wear out of that before the summer arrives, and then again in the early fall.

Which of these projects is your favorite?  I need something without too much stitch detail/manupulation to work on next, as the trinity stitch and braided cable in the Trinity vest actually are hard on the hands and quite time consuming. 

Or should I start something else entirely different that's a sweater project you adore?  Lord knows it's not like I don't have other sweater patterns in the queue I could change out for any of these as well!

All for now.....

WIP Wednesday - 02/03/09

Project #1:  Amanda Cardigan

Alrighty then!  Nothing like a foosball game to get some good knitting time in, eh?  I finished sleeve #1 for Amanda, PLUS started and finished sleeve #2, AND got all the parts joined together.  The sweater has raglan shaping, so now I've got the extra long and tedious rows to get thru until I get going on the raglan shoulder shaping decreases.

 

Goal:  Knit the decrease rows of the sleeves and neck.

Project #2:  Flutter Scarf

I'm sort of unofficially starting 2 new projects this week.  Both of them can be put on hold when the yarn for the sock designs arrives, but I did need something else to keep my hands occupied, especially since Amanda is getting large enough it's a pain to lug around with me. I started Mim's beautiful Flutter Scarf with the handspun singles merino/Tencel I blogged about last week.  Here's the start:

 

The provisional cast-on with this slippery singles yarn was a little dicey, but I got that done, and the lace is a nice, soothing knit.  Not too hard, not too easy - just perfect for a pick-up-and-knit kind of project.

Goal:  I think I still have a little time before the sock yarn arrives, so I'd like to try to get 10 more pattern repeats knit.  (There are 50 repeats on each side before you start the ruffled edge portion.)

Project #3:  Oceanwind Knits Merino Roving

Again, another project that I can put on hold if I need to.  This was a gift from my buddy, Lori, at Oceanwind Knits that I blogged about perhaps a week ago now?  It's a hand-dyed superwash merino roving, in a gorgeous mostly-solid blue colorway.  I wanted to spin this up into a worsted yarn for a hat.  It's a beautifully prepared top.  Nice and soft, easy to draft and lovely colors!

 

Goal:  I would like to try to get the first bobbin's worth of 2 ounces spun up into singles.

All for now......