it's not easy being green...

Looked at all the Amanda pictures on instagram (viewer only), and on the www.fringeassociation.com website.  Inspiring and motivating until....

I was humming along nicely with my Amanda sweater for the fringeandfriendsknitalong... until last night it occurred to me that the honeycomb on the right back was wider than the left.  A full repeat wider.  This will make the centre back skewed two inches to the left.  I have the correct number of stitches for my size.  I have read the chart incorrectly.  I will have to rip out close to 200 yards of knitting, all the way back to the ribbing.  I have already done this once to correct a cable turned the wrong way.

I've been knitting while watching tv.  Outlander late at night (not a show for kids) and Once Upon a Time (with the boys - fantastic show!).  On Once, the Wicked Witch is green with envy (literally) and trying to wipe out an entire town and a few specific people as a result.

(image from oz.wikia.com)

 

I admit when I'm looking at all of the lovely sweaters well underway, I'm feeling a little green with envy myself.  For me, I ripped out hours of work in minutes, and am starting over again, from the chart up.  Here is my "do-over" WIP, as I once again go back to the beginning.  I hope this one is worth all of the work!

Not your average "tv knitting", or how to rip more than you knit

So I"m just started on the back chart of Amanda, my sweater for #fringeandfriendsknitalong.  I've also just started watching the tv series Outlander on Showcase.  I've read the books, and love the first one in particular.  Knitting while watching tv is how I spend most evenings. 

I have discovered, however, that chart reading and intricate patterns don't necessarily go with this series.  I'm watching too closely, instead of listening with my eyes on the knitting (easy to do when watching with the kids - "Air Bud" just isn't as compelling!).   I've made a mistake inside the diamond on the right back, but won't rip back as no one but me will notice a purl instead of a knit on one row.  I also made a mistake with a honeycomb, went the wrong direction and didn't notice til 4 rows later...



I may have to find a video on how to fix a cable without ripping back.  Not sure.  My mom always says "a man on a gallopping horse wouldn't notice" so I may revert to this advice.  I admit that the glass or two of red didn't help either!

 

Amanda - underway!

I cast on for Amanda, my KAL sweater with Fringe and Friends Knit-Along, or #fringeandfriendsknitalong.  I'm seaming the sweater to keep its shape and provide stability.  I'm knitting as written, with the back first.  Only on the ribbing as I'm not a fast knitter.  And I teach full-time, parent two kids, and do all the other spouse/housekeeping/friend things in my life.  Still, I'm committed to getting this done within a reasonable timeframe.  Here's the start, Cascade 220 in gray, on 3.5mm needles for ribbing (I'll switch to 4mm for the body).

amanda swatch - tried and true

My swatch for Amanda cardigan is predictable.  I'm using Cascade 220, a yarn I've knit with many times before.  I knew I'd need 4mm needles, but knit the swatch in honeycomb to be sure the cables worked.  I also want to knit this without a cable needle.  This swatch gave me a chance to try that out.  I used a tutorial from Grumperina's blog that made the front and back cabling make sense.  Easier than I anticipated!

Yes, that's an error on the left side - I did the wrong cable directions on the end one.  It's a swatch so I'm not ripping out to redo it.  Have to watch this when I'm working on the entire thing!  I'm going to feverishly work on my Snowdrift Shrug so that I can move ahead with the KAL over at Fringe Association.