Knitting Update...

Just wanted to talk about knitting for a few minutes, because it's always a good time to talk about knitting, no?

Recently finished, my mom's Hey, Teach! cardigan. 

I tweaked the pattern to make the sleeves 3/4 length, per my mom's request. I'm really happy with how this sweater turned out. I had the perfect buttons in my stash, too! (More pictures of this sweater are on my Ravelry project page, including a button close up.) I made it out of Lang Kappa (cotton/polyester). I'd like to make it for myself at some point. 

It doesn't look like much yet, but here is the start of the yoke of my February Lady Sweater...

I'm actually done with the yoke now (or I will be soon...need to put it on waste yarn and see where the armholes fall), so there are three button holes. Looking forward to starting the lace pattern tomorrow! Actually, I'm looking forward to having this sweater finished, as I think it will be a perfect transition-weather piece. 

I'm making it out of Elsbeth Lavold Silky Wool, which is actually turning out to be rather hard on my hands. Almost like cotton. Not as rough as cotton, but it doesn't have the give of wool, thus making it feel like it is cotton when knitting it. I've found I can't do more than a couple rows without taking a break (granted, there are 300+ stitches per row at this point!) to give my hands a rest. 

Being all garter stitch so far, I've knit it entirely continental, and that may have something to do with my hand pain, too, as I tend to really grip the needles when I knit in that method. But it goes so much faster than English! Always a trade-off, no? (I happen to have a good bit of this yarn in my stash because I fell in love with the colors and had to give them a good home during the shop closing sale. Might need to space out projects made from this, though, lest I ruin my hands for good!)

Also on the knitting topic, I've found a new blog to love: Skrilla Knits. It belongs to Cirilia Rose, who is the newest member of the Berroco Design Team. Isn't she the cutest? Anyway, my latest WEBS catalog came yesterday, and as I was flipping through it, I noticed one of the models looked familiar. I finally figured out who it was, and that sent me on a search for her on Ravelry and that led me to her blog. She doesn't post often, but as with all new-to-me blogs, I'll enjoy reading her old posts. 

Another blog I stumbled upon recently is Lolly Knitting Around, which is self-described as being about craft, photography and travel -- three of my favorite things! Lolly's photography is amazing. She is also big into color with her Project Spectrum, so that only makes me adore her all the more. 

In the category of UFOs, I really, really need to finish up the Green Purse and the Lopi Vest (refer to my fun new WIPs widget there to the right). The purse has been languishing for over a year, and the vest since winter. The purse just needs lining and a zipper, which I have here ready to sew and put in. The vest just needs a zipper, which I also have. Do you see a theme? I hate dealing with zippers in knits! Argh. But I really want to get these two things off my WIP list, so I am going to have to bite the bullet and deal with the darned zippers! Soon!

Lastly, I'm really getting a hankering to learn to weave. Blog posts and articles and advertisements about weaving have popped into my path several times in recent days, and they've totally reminded me how much I'd like to try the craft...really try it, with an actual loom, rather than a hand-made frame. I'm not ready to dive in and purchase a loom (though if I was going to, it would probably be either this one or the first one on this page), as I feel the need to figure out ahead of time how I'd make time in my life for both knitting and weaving. 

I've already given up any hope of pursuing spinning in any serious way at this time because of the time involved. I don't want to lose knitting momentum, and I think I might with spinning. But weaving seems more laterally compatible. Plus I think it is something the girlie would be interested in...so it would count as school. ;) Must think about this some more.