I laid all of the components: the sleeves, back, and sides (completed in that order) on the bed, and noticed: hey, this thing looks like a sweater!

Sewing it up was a lot harder than I expected. The sides were no problem, but the sleeves got a little bit lumpy (nothing that a good block shouldn’t fix), and when I put it on, I noticed one side longer than the other. However, it wasn’t on account of it being the wrong size. I was able to get both fronts to match up, and, since they were still wet from the blocking, I tied them together so that they could correct while I started the hood.

Let’s take a moment to talk about blocking: it’s brilliant! I decided it would probably be smart to block each piece individually before sewing, though there will definitely be one big post-finishing block when all’s said and done. Though my apt. smelled a little bit like wet dog for a while, it’s definitely worth it.

So now, here’s what’s left: I picked up the stitches for the hood and have started on that, though the first 8 rows are not entirely mistake-free. I have to get used to knitting in the pattern again, though I think that it will look fine once the whole hood is finished. I decided that I’d rather have a flat hood instead of a pointy one, so there will most likely be no flower on the hood. Though we’ll see. I kind of like the idea of it being there; I’ll put the stitch markers in just in case I decide otherwise.

I’ve been reading on the message board that the flowers take about 90 minutes per flower. With three or four flowers, that’s gives me maybe another week and a half with this thing if I’m diligent, maybe two if I decide to be social. Which means… time to decide on a new project!

prepping for my vacation to Middle Earth

Sans petals, this is actually two stitches too short up top, but I’m not worried– I’ll pick those up when I start the hood.

The pattern says to do the fronts next, which I will most likely do. I was toying with the idea of knitting the petals on now, but I think that the top flower will overlap with the hood, and right now, I’m kind of up for some mindless seed stitch.

I can’t believe I made this!

So far, I have two sleeves, both of which kinda sorta look a little like this:

and have started the back:

look, a pattern!

The sleeves were not hard at all. Hello: seed stitch! I kind of changed around the cuffs, because I thought it was dumb to have a flap, and it made sense to me to sew them into each other and make a seam.

The back… well, let’s just say that this photo above is the result of starting six times. Also, I had to go get another longer needle because the one I thought I got at Knit Happens kinda disappeared. I went on a mad trek to not one but both locations of Stitch DC (and, for those who were wondering: go to the Capitol Hill store. Just sayin’… I felt like I was interrupting somebody’s knitting circle for help. Sorry! I’ll remember that the next time I need yarn, which, um, they kind don’t have there, either) to procure. There have been two dropped stitches in this thing, but you can’t tell unless you look real hard. My mom’s advise: it may take an extra two minutes, but at the end of the wrong side row: count ‘em! That way, you’ll be able to catch the drop and go back top fix it.

One thing I am getting good at: unknitting when there’s a cable needle involved.

It’s exciting, I’ll say… it’s not really so much difficult as it is paying close attention, knowing when I’m too tired to make sure I’m doing it right, getting my whole set up, including the pattern, the chart of stitches which also acts as a row guide, the phone or remote to act as a weight on top of this whole scheme, a pen to mark off where I’m at, and… making sure that I’m not disturbing a cat that might be sitting on my lap:

After much deliberation, I decided not to try to get the Briggs Atlantic, which is only available by calling the company in Canada. It’s beautiful yarn, though, and such a great selection of color. I also had this idea that I wanted to get some kind of yarn that was machine washable, but Olga at Knit Happens pointed out that I’m not really gonna wash a coat like this, and that if I did, I’d have to re-block it each time. So, I just have to be really really careful when I wear this thing.

Knit Happens had two choices: this beautiful alpaca in the grayest green… SJP called her Oscar de La Renta Oscar dress “barely mint,” so I guess this may have been almost moss. So pretty… but not enough. Which is all well and good because that would have made a drapier sweater, and I want this thing to almost be able to stand up on it’s own. It’s an impressive, sturdy coat.

So… what I chose, and what I left with (the most yarn I have ever purchased at once), is the Debbie Bliss Donegal Tweed in Denim. A good neutral. The red looked too Little Red Riding Hood, and the grey was too, well, grey. The denim will cross over fall and spring, too.

the most yarn I have ever bought at one time

The biggest accomplishment, are the Christmas Stockings made for Edie and Maeve:

There were some coaster sets:

felted ornaments:

And also, socks:

The key, I learned: start early! As in: July!! I started knitting the socks for the Ravelympics, and as Michael Phelps was swimming to 8 gold medals, I was trying to finish the Sock Put. So, six months, three pair of socks, two swiss cheese scarves, some Christmas balls (insert your own joke here), a few coasters and a two hats. And while I am still making a scarf for my mom out of the cabbage dyed yarn… I think I can say: I did it!!

Now, I get to make stuff for me!

proof of concept

Also, Tina knitted two pieces of sushi, a Maki and a California Roll… though the catnip pouch we stuffed in there (sewed by Elizabeth) was mysteriously extracted by a cat in less than 24 hours.

sushi

But, in the middle, Emily ran the New York City Marathon! Her first! So, since I couldn’t be there along the route, cheering her on, I decided to send her a congratulatory present. It’s not every day you run 26 miles!

A feet for the feets!

The socks are made with Tofutsis, which contains some kind of wacky crustacean shell that’s supposed to be like wicking. This batch was neat because it went from a looser thread to a tighter-wound one. I like that they look like the classic, cozy L.L. Bean socks. My first real pair.

The note card is left over from Crafty Bastards two years ago… made with the Gocco and some clip art Laura and I found in some book somewhere.

The instructions at the above link are much better than anything I could produce, so instead I’ll just give you photos and witty anecdotes.

This ended up being about 28″ in length, and the loops are scraps of ribbon that I saved (because I do that sort of thing). The loops are about 8″ from the top of the fabric, and are stitched across the front and back to reinforce them. If I were to make another one, I’d probably use shorter ribbon loops – however they nicely accomodate our scarves:

I attached the scarf holder to the back of the closet door with a couple of little nails since there’s no internal structure to support it. Other options could include putting a strip of wood or metal to provide backing – or just use nails. It’s totally easier.

(Oh, I promised witty anecdotes.  The best I can do is stories about the scarves.  From left – the multi-colored wool one was a gift from my friend Oday, given to me when I visited him in Poitiers.  It’s warm and fabulous.  The second one is Shane’s, provenance unknown.  Third from the left was a Christmas present from Shane’s aunt Corinne – blue and soft and fabulous.  The last was a gift from my friend Karla on the occasion of my departure from GSLIS last year.  I feel terribly sophisticated whenever I wear it.  I also have a super fuzzy red scarf that was a gift from Eva – she said it was very David Bowie, a beautiful soft pink scarf from Sarah from last Christmas, a silky one that Heidi sent me from Morocco, and at least one scarf that I made myself.  The good thing is that I have a lot of options.  The bad thing is that since I can’t really make anything other than scarves, I need to either diversify my knitting, or befriend more people with cold necks.  I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. It’s going to be a very crafty Christmas, and I’m just getting started!)

Anyway, over the course of the last 2 1/2 weeks, I’ve completed the above little sampler and also a few small Christmas present-y items.  Since Sonya has previously alluded to my pineapple cross-stitching skills (on her Twitter, not here), I bring you the pineapple stocking:

I think one of the problems we’ll run into the next few months is not spoiling Christmas surprises by posting about exciting craftiness.  If you’re the recipient of this here pineapple, please act surprised.  For my sake.