Sweater Headache

So I made this sweater, and it was full of problems.
Problems like the pattern not including some little details, for instance anything about the hem. Or not mentioning blocking before seaming, which I should have done anyway but was not smart enough to.
You can see here that there are wobbly panels on the side. The sleeves are also a mile too long, although those were mostly improvised so it's not too surprising. It looked about as flattering as a garbage bag in a really nice colour. It is a gorgeous colour- a rich deep pink heather with flecks of yellow.
Last night I had to make a choice. I sighed, pulled out the scissors and began deconstructing. Ripped out the bottom hem, removed the side panels and reinforced the sleeve where they'd be removed. Then I seamed the cabled panels to the sleeve and down the side and removed 10 rows from the sleeves. Then I redid the bottom hem, this time decreasing and going down a hook size to get a tight, tidy look.


Now I have a flattering sweater that I really like! I was worried that it was going to end up in the pile of "I made you, but I'll never wear you." It would have been a shame because I do really love the colour, and the cables.

I also love the cowl, and the sleeves. I used esc (extended sc) for them, and I think I am a little bit in love with the stitch now. I do believe my next cardigan is going to be made with that little stitch.

Speaking of next cardigan, I wound up the yarn for it today. It's Cascade Pastaza. Aren't the colours awesome? The light pink is going to be the main body, with the turquoise-y and dark pink being the accent colours. I'm really excited for it!

I finished a few cowls lately, too. This one is a simple tunisian cowl for a friend.This one I really finished months ago. It's the sample I made for work of my Cable Crazy Cowl pattern (I have a pattern for sale! I'm a real designer! Woah!).
I taught a class on it, and although I only had one student it was really fun. I'm planning next month's class- I'll be teaching reading a crochet pattern. I'm excited to help people learn to understand patterns. It really opens up your world.

Winter Mode

I have definitely been in winter mode lately. Due to some strange but not serious medical things I was feeling really down and just exhausted. Much better now, but I feel kinda hunkered down, as though I should stay inside crocheting until May.

I made myself some wicked angora blend mittens for when I do have to go outside. They're so soft and so warm. I adore them. The white is some Fleece Artist Peter Rabbit a coworker donated to my cause. It's 100% angora and totally awesome! The pink is the Sugar Bunny I got myself as a treat before Christmas.

The matching hat. I was going to make a matching scarf as well before I realized how dumb that would be. Yes, it would be super warm, but I don't want a mouthful of angora all the time. I always wear my scarves up on my face to keep it warm.
Speaking of angora getting everywhere, because of these yummy projects my black winter coat looks as though it's been attacked by a madly shedding pink animal. I've cleaned it a few times, mostly, but I don't think I have enough lint roller sheets to really get it clean.
I think my boyfriend may just be a bit ashamed of the state of my coat. Whatever, the angora is worth it.

I finished this pair of socks for a test crochet. I adore them. The heel is perfect. My old heels I was making were never quite right, but this one is perfect. I'm going to start using it for my vanilla socks. They get closer and closer to perfection.


This is a pattern I just published on Rav.
(here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/tunisian-rainbow-cowl)
My new year's goal was to publish at least one pattern a month this year. I already have my sweater that's being tested right now (someone finished it! It looks amazing! Eee, I feel like a real grown-up designer!) and another cowl that just needs a few more pictures, so things are starting off well. I'm also going to be writing up the design for the mitts pictured above and a hat similar to above. They're so nice and simple, but really warm.

This cowl pattern is free- it's so simple- but the other two I have ready I'm actually going to charge for! I want to get in to designing more seriously, and this has been a great start. I have lots of ideas... now I just need to start putting them down on paper.

Some WIPs and things

I'm all about the WIPs lately, huh? I really want to get some of the things on my Rav page done. Yeah, it really is just about making my project page cleaner. I mean, sure, actually having the finished objects would be great, but c'mon. How can I start more projects with such an untidy and full WIP area?I did start this, though. The first part of my wall decoration project. It's an exploded miniature doily. With a bulky weight yarn, a real doily would have been too much. This one was perfect, and quick. Good for my patience.

My Herringbone sweater. I bought the yarn at Lettuce Knit in the spring for a totally different project. Then I saw this pattern and knew I had to start it. Even though I don't have enough yarn and I will probably end up having to get a different dyelot to finish this. Whatever. I'll use it for the sleeves. Yeah, that's it.
The pattern has taken some serious figuring and I swear there are some counting mistakes in it. I'm just fudging it as best I can, but it seems to be doing well!

My Critron. This baby is taking forever. I'm basically finished what the pattern calls for now- well, I'm on the last section and other than the border I would be done. I used a very fine yarn, though, so it's too small for my taste. I'm going to add several more sections. I'm already almost 550 stitches in the ripple section, so yeah. It's going to be awhile.

This is the project I really want to finish because I think it's gonna be great for work. It's a light little cardigan that I'm using totally the wrong yarn for and loving it. It's gonna be too big and totally cozy and perfect for the slightly-more-than-a-t-shirt but not-a-real-sweater that I need at work.

And look, I took some pictures of me wearing my pretty mink cowl! I'm feeling pretty awesome today. It's my day off, so I get to recover from the festival finally. I did my Wii Fit exercises, am down to my lowest weight in a year or so and got past 20 hours on my Wii-piggy-bank thing.
Now to get a bunch more work done on some WIPs! Today is a good day.

Waffle Cowl and Christmas Presents

I just finished this waffle cowl using some yarn a friend gave me and some thrift store yarn. Originally I had the darker colour on it's own, but the cowl was way too small. I pulled it out and made this waffle cowl. Much better. I like the delicate little picot edging too .

The slight waffle pattern gives it some texture and I think adds some warmth. It's just sc flo worked in the round.

I've been making hats for some of the guys on my list for Christmas. Isn't this pattern great? It' the Best Guy Hat Ever and I think it's just a great all around hat. Simple, stretchy and nice. Easy to work in any yarn, feels great on. I made this one and handed it to my boyfriend to try on. He was very sad when I told him it wasn't for him.
I might make one for me once I'm done with the boys on my Christmas list.

This weekend I'll be at the Creativ Festival downtown. I've never been, so I'm looking forward to it. I'll be working, but that's ok. I'm not to spend any money there. Only look. Nothing at all.
(I'll do my best...)