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09/18/2006
Let's say I'm in limbo...
I'm in a weird space, folks... I'm trying to figure out if I can realistically finish my University degree. I need money and I have a possible opportunity for a job I'd really like to do. Had an interview there 10 days ago, it went really well, so I'm going to have a trial day on Wednesday, keep your fingers crossed it's working out. No matter how I'm going to decide on the University thing, I sure can use some new input/perspective/silver lining.
Anyhow, I've had some serious finishitis lately! There's so much to talk about, I've been making notes;-)
First of all, I had finished the cabled sweater for Johanna, which tuned out really cute, but getting it over her head was close to a second birth experience for her. Man, that collar turned out so tight! Here's her posing proudly and then there's the 'after' picture of her complaining about the collar.Okay, the hood has to be taken off again and I need to rip back the collar a few rows to make it wider. Good thing I decided on knitting the hood separately and doing a bottom-up raglan this time.
The next finished item on the other hand is so stretchy, it even fits ME! Wow, me and my toddler can share some of our clothes!;-)
Here's the hand-dyed, hand-spun, hand-knit sweater in action
Finished item Nr. 3 deserves a drumroll... the Pretty Petals socks are DONE!!!
These were actually supposed to get finished during the Trek-Along, but I've been terribly frustrated with them and had too much welcome distraction.
Some stats:
Pattern: Pretty Petals by Jeanie Townsend
Yarn: Trekking XXL 110
Needles: US 1/ 2.25mm Pony Pearl DPNs. What an annoyance. Those needles are so wiggly and wobbly and constantly snagged on the fiber. Terrible.
Pattern modifications: Since I used smaller needles, I ended up having to add one panel of the pretty petals pattern in order to get the right circumference. Therefore I have two panels going down the foot, which I really like. I could have just used 2.5 mm needles and stuck with the pattern but I liked the texture of the yarn being knit with the US1s.
After alreading wanting to throw out those crappy plastic Pony Pearl needles, I was up for an extra special surprise in the mail:
MY DYE-O-RAMA PACKAGE! It finally got here! THANK YOU SO MUCH, Katherine!
In it not only my luscious soft 100% superwash merino yarn in beautiful blues and greens, but also a set of wonderfully smooth bamboo US1 DPNs. Weeheee! But wait, there was a lot more.
I actually rummaged through the box extensively and wound the yarn into a ball before I realized I'd forgotten to take a picture of everything unopened. The chocolate was missing some chunks already;-) And, uh, there's almost half a Mata Hari sock there already that I've knitted Saturday afternoon and Sunday morning while waiting in line to get a spot at the local fleamarket next Sunday.
My wonderful, talented Dye-o-rama pal Katherine also sent me one of her awesome handprinted T-Shirt for which she carved the wooden block herself. Isn't it cool? She's planning on selling those on ebay some time soon.
Oh, and something curious about the tea filters Katherine included in the package to go along with the excellent Earl Grey tea- they're available here, too, so I was wondering where they were produced. Check this out:
these are some crazy travellin' tea filters! Hamburg-Salt Lake City-Hamburg-Salt Lake City-Hamburg. What a trip:-)
21:15 Posted in Baby Stuff , dye-o-rama , Knitalongs , Socks , Sweaters | Permalink | Email this
Comments
your daughter is adorable!!!! i'm also loving the pretty petals. i tracked down the pattern when you started it, but haven't given it a try yet.
Posted by: jenn | 09/18/2006
awwww, Joanna!! I love both the sweaters you knit for her. Your socks look great too. Look at all the goodies in your dye-o-rama package! wow! ; )
Posted by: Amanda Cathleen | 09/19/2006
Your knitting is looking awesome! Good luck with the limbo...
Posted by: JessaLu | 09/19/2006
OMG! Those FOs are incredible!!! Send some Finishitis Germs over my way, will ya? I'm drowning in UFOs and am having a bad attack of Cast-On-itis...and my stash is calling out to me...it needs to be fed! (I just fed them 2 skeins of Noro Kureyon the other day, but now they want the new Lana Grossa Soffice!!)
Now, I really want to cast on for a new sweater for myself!!!
Posted by: Elemmaciltur | 09/19/2006
Go for the job...you can always go back to school, right? :)
And I have to say, the sweater looks better on the little one. :) Don't you love the "in action" shots we always have to get with the toddlers?
Posted by: Natalie | 09/19/2006
Love the kiddo. Not afraid to embrace the camera ,eh? :o) And the pretty petals handspun socks are lovely. I tried the Pony Purl dpns once and cursed more than I knit.
Posted by: amanda | 09/19/2006
I love your socks!! Your daughter is just such a cutie and that is such a great sweater.
Posted by: Kimberly | 09/20/2006
Hey Julia,
It's taken me a while to catch up. Let me just say that Johanna is SO cute. Your best FO to date ;-) My little guy can't stand tight collars either. Children must remember their beginnings. How cute is it that the sweater stretches to fit you! If I could share a piece of my sons clothing it would definately be his footed pjs!
I can completely empathize with you limbo feeling. My belief is that things feel the most unsettling/confussing/frustrating just before some kind of significant change. It sounds like you are open to the process though so you'll be able to recognize the clarity.
I'll be thinking about you guys.
By the way, thanks for the tip on the Pony needles. I am always attracted to their colors but have never made the purchase because I think I doubted their quality. You confirmed that for me :-)
Posted by: SpiderWomanKnits | 09/27/2006