It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Fall!

I'm up in Oregon at my parents' house for a couple of weeks, and though it's been warm, fall is definitely coming. The trees are changing color, and this beauitful place is looking even more wonderful every day. Hopefully I'll get some cooler weather this week before I head back, so I can wear my newly finished project! I'm so happy with this sweater! I've finally created something for myself that I feel is fun, fashionable and flattering. Here are some different views of the sweater.
I made a few mistakes while knitting this. I had quite a difference between the tension of the front and back. I don't know why or how I did this, but I think I fixed most of it by blocking before I seamed. Other than that, there wasn't anything majorly wrong.
Here's a back view with my mom's finger in the corner. I really like this blue! After 6 years of knitting, I'm still learning with each project, and I really enjoyed this one!

Finished Cape

It's done! I'm so glad. I really do like the argyle pattern in this cape, but the overall design was not my favorite. If I were to knit it again (and I won't) I would change a few things.

I would use a different yarn. The Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick N' Quick recommended for this project sheds so badly it gets all over my clothes. So unless I bring a lint roller out with me, it's not entirely practical.I would also write this pattern with different size options. It's only given in one size, and even though I got the gauge before I started, it's way too big for me! Had I realized this, I could've adjusted the pattern, but I didn't. I may give it to someone who'll wear it better, I'm not sure.

I would also add a garter or seed stitch edging on the cape, as well as in the armholes. The stockinette stitch rolls in, even after blocking. I would use a few more buttons, to keep the garment together. This was a fun project, and hopefully it'll get some use!

Wallis

I've begun knitting this pattern from the Rowan 38 magazine, called Wallis, by Sarah Hatton. I love it so far, and think I finally may create something that I'll actually wear. The blue is actually a little darker than it appears in the picture. I'm not the best photographer, but I try. I'll post more as it progresses. Hope to have it done in a couple of weeks!

Argyle Cape

This Argyle Cape is from the Fall/Winter 2005 issue of Knit.1 Magazine. I loved it when this issue came out, and started knitting it in 2006.


The cape starts knitting at the top, then works down through the armholes and the colorwork. I was about half way through the argyle pattern, when I put it in my closet, unfinished.

After a few years in my closet, I've pulled it out and revisited it today. It's kind of sloppy work and I'm not really sure if I'd ever even wear it now, but I bought the yarn and I want to finish it.

Justin took a pict of me working on it today, yarn everywhere. Intarsia is not my specialty, and I have kind of a mess of yarn on the bed.

I'm interested to see what the end result will be like.

Here's a close-up of my work.

My Mom is a Winner!

Okay, this is unrelated to my knitting, but I just had to share, since my mom doesn't have a blog of her own. My mom is a very talented scrapbooker/card-maker, and she recently entered a card-making contest at the Oregon State Fair. She won second place!!! She's so great, and my dad and I are proud. He made her this special frame of her accomplishment. How sweet! I guess crafting runs in the family.

The Blanket is Finished!

Ahhhhh... it's done! I realized during the creation of this afghan, that I love to start knitting them, but it's very hard to finish. Especially considering how ambitious I can get with the size. I put the finished blanket on my queen-sized bed to give an idea of just how enormous it is.



Now, I really want to make something wearable for myself. I'm thinking a sweater, wrap, hoodie, I'm not sure just yet. I have several fun things queued on my Ravelry page. I also have this argyle cape from a pattern I found in Knit.1 magazine that I started a couple of years ago and has been sitting in my closet since then. I might revisit that, just to see where I am, and if I even like it anymore.

Politics and Ravelry

I'm still knitting away at my rippled afghan. I have 2 1/2 thick stripes left to knit and then just a lot of finishing. I've been watching the coverage of the RNC, which is confirming to me more and more why I'm proud to be supporting Obama. I'm ready to get started knitting something for me to wear. I realize how long it's been since I've made something for myself that wasn't a scarf, hat, pillow or blanket. Hopefully pics of the completed blanket will be up soon and I'll get started on something fun to wear soon!

I just discovered the Ravelry site, which seems to be already pretty popular, and so fun! I just love the idea of a social networking site that is geared toward knitters and crocheters! You can do just about anything on it: keep inventory of yarn, needles and hooks, updates on projects, friends, patterns, books, groups, it's endless. I'm really excited to keep exploring it.