But why would I read the pattern???

Please tell me this happens to others?

I was knitting away on Sedum last night and was all happy with myself when I got to the armholes.  I went back and counted how many stitches I had - what?  How could I be way over on stitches in one area and way under in another?

Back to the pattern to investigate.  Turns out one little sentence "Increase at the beginning and end of each row as well as before and after each stitch marker" - well I missed the increase at either side for like 40 rows.....

Suffice to say, I ended my night ripping 6 inches of sweater out.... boooo!

I am back at it tonight with hope of better results.

Lesson learned again.... read the DAMN pattern :)

Big Update - some FO's, WIPS and Christmas Decorating

It has been a little slow in updates on the blog lately, but I have been busy! Here are some completed projects and new ones I have gotten started on!

Completed Caelum for Lucas

This is a Christmas Gift for my sisters little boy - just in time to get in the mail for Christmas without having to pay more for postage than I did for the yarn.  

Used the Caelum Pattern from Ravelry and plan to make another one for my little guy with the same yarn soon!

I have also finished my resurrected Mondo Cable Cardi and made it into a short sleeved vest that will fit Carson's Grandma perfectly  - just working on some seaming and button closure for the top!  Pictures to come!

New WIP's - Boyfriend Hat and Cedum

I cast on 2 other projects as well:

#1 - the Boyfriend Hat - from the Hat Fit for a Boyfriend Pattern - here is my project link!  So far have been knitting on it last night and will tonight while the Boyfriend is working in the evening.  Good thing it is a hat and not a sweater or I am sure he would catch me :)

#2 - Cedum - wanted something quick and comfy.  We just had a week of crummy weather not that long ago which made me want to cast on something warm.  The pattern used Seed Stitch which in bulky yarn makes for a very "skwoooshy" (in loss of a better word) fabric that will be nice and cozy!  The pattern is knitting up quick at 12 sts per inch and I already love it!

A little Christmas Decorating

Picked up a new "fake" tree at the Depot this weekend - the new condo is of course real tree un-friendly - so I found a cute fake one to do the trick.  Gingerbread house preparation with the boys starts tomorrow night - I am preparing for a mess and a candy-high 2 year old!

My decorating assistant!

Here is my decorating assistant that thinks that the plant behind him looks much better with lights!

New Stash

Before Dyepot

After dyepot

I recently got some fantastic yarn from a stash on Ravelry - when I got it, I loved the colour, but didn't think it would work well on me.  I was set on a specific project for it, so figured I would take a shot at re-dying it.

I skeined up the yarn (it took forever as I had a 2 year old assistant) and soaked it in warm water with some white vinegar.  Then I fired up the slowcooker on low and added some Wiltons Icing Dye.  I put the wet yarn into the water and let it sit in the dyebath until the water was clear - about 30 minutes.  

Love the end result!

New Project - Caelum

Caelum
Yarn:  Aracania Nature Wool
Needles:  US 8 / 5 mm

Well I have been a busy little bee over the last few days and got the majority of the body done on this Caelum Sweater.  It was originally going to be for my little guy, but think I might sneak it into my nephew's Christmas Gift.  He is 6 weeks younger than my son and totally adorable.

I have also cast on a baby blanket for my sister - she is due in the Spring and I am notoriously slow lately and have been frogging projects left and right - so figured that I better get a start on that :)

My Knitting is Bossing Me Around

Well - me and my Mondo Cable Cardi are taking a break from each other.  After ripping out the sleeves twice and the neckline three times, I tried it on and went - YUCK.

I have fallen out of love with this sweater and need to put it away for awhile.  I find it interesting that I knit cardigans all the time, even though I never wear them.  I have gifted 4 of my sweaters (all cardigans) to family or friends, yet I keep the sweaters - maybe I should catch the hint...

So in effort to not lose my mind and throw my project out the window, I am casting on a new project to keep my hands busy.

Caelum

I have not knit anything for my little guy in ages - so I figured - he was due.  Will start tonight and see how it goes :)

Mondo Cardi - Modifications

Mondo Cardi Sleeve Modification
Fancy iPhone app camera fanciness!

So, I am a Continental Knitter - translation - I hold my yearn in my left hand when I knit.  This is a very fast way to knit, but there are some drawbacks as well.  When knitting a pattern that is both knit in the round and knit back and forth, there are sometimes obvious differences in the look of the stitches.  In a small gauge it is not obvious - but at 18 sts per inch, I am noticing it.

So when I got to the sleeves of the Mondi Cable Cardi, I decided to make a modification.

I took the finishing instructions for the neckline and applied them to the sleeves as well to make a little cap sleeve.

So far so good.  Of course I still have the collar - then I will be done right?  Not so fast - I tried it on and figured out that I had not increased in the body, so it is too small at the bottom.  Once I finish the neckline, I will be taking my perfectly finished sweater and ripping back half the body - booooooooo!

Back to the couch and my sweater - all day Throwdown with Bobby Flay on the Food Network - perfect :)

New Project - Sockettes & Ferry Knitting

One Skein Sockettes

Sharing custody of a child is tough.  Add to the mix that Dad just moved to Vancouver - you end up with lots of ferry miles....  Today was my turn to bring the little guy across, and I made the most of my solo trip back to the island by starting a quick pair of Sockettes.  I used the super simple recipe I wrote up and posted on Ravelry ages ago - One Skein Sockettes.

I have a new place with hardwood everywhere and I figured these might be a nice alternative to slippers.  The colourway doesn't show up well in the photo, but is a beautiful skein of Lorna Laces....

Off to work on my bigger - non-portable sweater projects and bond with the tv...