In progress

I think I've been here before.  I'm working on a cabled sweater with worsted weight yarn.  Sound familiar?  This one is faster, with lots of stocking stitch between cabled panels.  It's top down, and in the round, so when it's done there will be no seaming.  Still, I'm at that long part of the sweater, where I have to knit til it's long enough.  Right now, I'm about 3 inches below the armhole.

Enough time in front of the tv and this one will move along nicely.  I hope.

Irish Coffee - WIP

New project feels great after so long with the gray cables for Amanda.  Here's the start of Irish Coffee:

It's knit back and forth to start the neck and raglan shaping, but joined after 2-3 inches to create a bit of a 'V' notch at the neckline.

Amanda - my new BFF

She's done!  And I love it!  Just in time for the coldest day of the year (so far) as temperatures were below -20 Celsius yesterday.  I seamed it together and am thrilled with how well that went.  I followed Kate Gagnon Osborne's tutorial, and it's the best job I've ever done.  Working for a few inches and then pulling tight made the difference.  The buttons were in my very small stash so I chose silver.  I like them but they are very heavy, so they pull back the sweater when it's not buttoned.  I will look for replacement buttons at some point.

Despite the buttons, I love the sweater.  The fit is with about 2 inches ease at the full bust.  I knit the Large (40 inches at bust).  My measurements are 38 bust, 36 upper bust (under armpits), 29 waist, 38 hips... I like to know the amount of ease shown when I look at a photo so I can judge the size I want to knit.  I added about 2.5 inches in length to the body and to the sleeves because I'm tall and have very long arms.  So here she is!

My plans for knitting in 2015

As I finish up Amanda (finally!) I am looking ahead to 2015 and my plans.  I have a lot of yarn stashed away, so I'm committed to knitting from my stash as much as possible.  I don't have any specific goals in mind.  Every time I set a deadline or make a list of 'must knit', I feel like I'm letting myself down when I don't meet the deadline or the goals.  Knitting is my hobby, my personal creative outlet, and I don't want it to become something I feel I "HAVE" to do.  So, here are some general ideas for the next few months...

First up, I've joined a KAL to knit a Baby Cocktails pattern.  I've knit Thea Coleman's patterns before (Cape Cod, Vodka Lemonade) and have Bastille in progress.  I'm knitting Irish Coffee using Briggs and Little Regal, a Canadian wool that's rustic but softens when blocked.  The colour is Turquoise, and is different than it looks below.  Poor iPhone photos don't do it justice!

I also have yarn on hand ready to knit Adelaide by Kate Gagnon Osborne.  I'm going to change the pullover into a cardigan.  Not steeking, like a few have done, but will follow the designers mods and knit back and forth instead.  She blogs about it here:  http://kelbournewoolens.com/blog/2011/05/finished-project-adelaide-cardiganized/

I will be using mainly Briggs and Little Regal in an off-white colour, with some stashed Cascade 220 and Ultra Alpaca for the colourwork:

I will get more wear out of a cardigan, I think. I also find them more flattering than a yoked pullover.  I am looking for a pullover with set-in sleeves to do after... maybe.  These should take me a while!  In the meantime, I'm at the neckband of my Amanda, and am done the back of my preppy vest.  Will finish the Amanda tonight!!!