February 15, 2010
And inbetween..
So I do actually knit the finished projects I show here. I've not been very good at showing the progress type pictures of late, have I?
I've been trying out Project Monogamy lately. It's very unlike me, I get bored far too easily to stick to it for very long. However, it's very productive. Makes sense really, don't know why I've been so surprised!
I'm currently working on the Featherweight Cardigan. I saw Ailsa's and straight away decided that I had to make one. And we all know that I'm not lacking for laceweight yarn! So I had a dig through the stash and surfaced with some Dream In Color Baby in "In Vino, Veritas" (Love that name!) that I'd acquired from The Loopy Ewe some time ago. It's a heavy laceweight, made from Australia Merino. Nice and squishy!
I swatched, somehow got a needle size three sizes than recommended, and cast on. A sane person would have figured then that 3 sizes smaller could be problematic, but I've never been known for thinking things through.
After knitting for a while, I began to think that maybe it was looking a little small. So I measured it, and sure enough, I should have been using bigger needles. I was feeling particularly lazy (again, not unusual), so instead of frogging the whole thing, I decided to get clever.
I was using 3.25mm (US3) needles, so I pulled out a 2.25mm (US1) needle and threaded it through a row of stitches quite a few rows back.
Then I just frogged it back, reknit the stitches onto the bigger needle, and didn't have to worry about losing any stitches anywhere. (Still recovering from the Cap Shawl debacle here).
I decided to rip it back to that point for a few reasons. I could have just frogged it and started over, but like I keep saying, I'm inherently lazy. I then convinced myself that because the cardi is knit at such a loose tension, having the first few rows around the neck in a tighter gauge will help add stability. (Yes, I can justify anything). At any rate, it worked nicely, the armholes are still deep enough, and it's pretty much flying off the needles.
My camera hates this colour for some reason. Of course, now that I've mentioned how quick it is, something is going to go horribly wrong. Stay tuned.
Mind you, I'm seeing the benefits of this project monogamy stuff!
Comments
My mother is a 100% monogamous knitter who buys yarn for each project and generally, only for that project.
Recently I bought yarn for a particular project that just didn't work out (the colour was wrong,wrong, wrong). I bought more yarn (as one does) and she is still asking me what I am going to do with the 800g of yarn I originally bought.
Me: Put it in the stash till I need it.
Mum: Stash, what's a stash?
I'd better not let her look in the wardrobe in my study when she is visiting next month.
But, you're right, monogamy does have its advantages - especially with small knits!
Posted by: Lynne at February 15, 2010 02:26 PMAre you, by any chance, lazy? You always make me laugh :)
Posted by: Restless Knitter at February 15, 2010 02:34 PMoh - very clever frogging indeed - I am mostly monogamous with my knitting. I find I don't loose interest and get there faster that way. I usually have socks and one other.
I am thinking of that red lace weight I got from you and the featherweight - mmmm(sounds of brain ticking)
I can't believe how fast this is coming along! Great color (and love the name too!)
Posted by: Jeanne at February 16, 2010 03:37 AMYour FW is looking good & growing really fast. I love the color. I am not a monogamous knitter as I will be bored to death. Plus I prefer knitting different projects so that my fingers get a better work out.
Posted by: Ann at February 16, 2010 09:42 AMProject monogamy is kinda boring but at least we are getting some things finished! I like the color. Keep on knitting...it will be done soon.
Posted by: Rusty M, at February 16, 2010 09:57 AMThat is coming along quickly. I found that pattern and then found three skeins of Malabrigo lace in the stash. I don't know what they were orginally bought for, but they will become that sweater eventually.
Posted by: Suzanne at February 16, 2010 10:05 AMOh Donna you make me laugh! I am sure it will turn out perfectly fine! You are very ingenious to do that instead of ripping it all out. I have lots of wip's and a stash too that will probably be passed onto future grandchildren (if I have any) that will last them their lifetimes too. I really do admire people that buy yarn for a project and actually finish it before buying more yarn. I guess they have more space in their house that way, and more than one pair of knitting needles that can be used, lol!
Posted by: sue at February 16, 2010 10:58 AMyes im pretty sure i want one of these too! but i am trying a variation of project monogomy myself and it would be irresponsible to start something else. except i do have 4 skeins of malabrigo lace weight in paris night that i am struggling to find something to do with, and it really should be knitted soon before it falls apart right? (justification you say?!). i am not surprised at the lengths you are going to to avoid frogging given the last couple of episodes. it looks magic!
Posted by: drk at February 16, 2010 12:24 PM
Even though I have about 20 wips, I do tend to only work on a couple at a time, so I'm sort of monogamous!! (see, I'm pretty good at justifying things too...sort of!)
I'm so tempted to do a featherweight too...but I'd really better finish some of the things on the sticks already!
Posted by: Rose Red at February 15, 2010 01:24 PM