one day sweater

Como back, originally uploaded by gradschoolknitter.

In all seriousness, I thought I could get this sweater done in one day. I was compelled around 6am to make it but I had to wait until the store opened at 11 to get the yarn. And if I had worked from dawn til dusk, I probably could have finished. Super bulky wool + super huge needles = super fast knitting. So my bragging was for naught, but I did get the back done. Not the best picture, but it was taken last night in the dark and rain.

Another new addition to the knitting supplies is my new robot pencil case:



LOVE. I found it on etsy in Rohmcraft's store.

I heart this sweater

Chinese lace, originally uploaded by gradschoolknitter.

Have I mentioned that I've wanted to make this sweater FOREVER. And now that it's getting close to being done (ok, so I'm on the first sleeve and we all know how me and second sleeves go...) I'm loving it even more. I actually want it to be cold out so that I can wear it. Seriously, in love.

The sleeves, however, are not so much in love with me. I spent most of Sunday afternoon attempting to cast on the first sleeve. I had wanted to do both at once, but that just wasn't going to happen. First I tried casting on for the lace portion. HUGE. I mean, 5 times the size of my arm huge. I know they're supposed to be bell sleeves, but this was ridiculous. So we looked at a bunch of the pictures of finished Chinese Lace Pullovers on Ravelry and I actually decided that I wasn't in love with the lacey bell sleeve. So then I tried casting on the # of stitches for the decreased ribbing. Not as huge, but still way too big for my taste. So I ripped that back and finally decided to cast on to smaller needles, but only for the ribbing. I didn't want to mess too much with the numbers... I was afraid it wouldn't work out for the sleeve caps. I may switch to larger needles as I get closer to the top too, just to see how that goes.

fell off the blog-wagon...

chinese lace pullover, originally uploaded by gradschoolknitter.

So I was doing really well there, posting almost every day... but I had a lot of quick projects to finish up and then I had nothing. OK, so I still have those two sweaters (wicked and Mrs. Darcy. Although in my defense I'm still waiting for a friend to bring me some yarn to finish up that last 1/2 a sleeve on Wicked) but I really really wanted to start something new after finishing all that socky stuff.

SOOOOO.... this is the Chinese Lace Pullover by Angela Hahn. Ravelry page and purchase via blog page. I have been wanting to make this sweater for about a year. In fact, I attempted it once, in a different, handpainted yarn, and it just looked like Rainbow Brite threw up yarn into a sweater form. I think this is much better in a solid colour / semi-solid like the Malabrigo Silky Merino here. Which, by the way, is to DIE for so far. So soft, and silky... I cannot wait to wear this. Although I may have to the way the summers drag on down here.

So that's what I've been working on. I'm about 10 inches into it. Another 4 to go before possibly splitting off for the sleeve holes. I say possibly because it seems that sweater patterns are too short for me. I'm hoping this one is ok 'cause I really don't have even a yard of extra yardage.... Although I'm going to do the sleeves at the same time and if I start running out I'll adjust the length accordingly.

Sorry there isn't a better picture of the lace, I'm going to try it on when I split for the front/back and hopefully it will be easier to photograph then.

Another FO!

entrelac socks, originally uploaded by gradschoolknitter.

Wohoo! I finally finished the entrelac socks. It took exactly 4 months to the day (according to my Raverly page I started April 3 and finished yesterday, Sept 3) but they're finally done! And, if I might say so, very pretty. And far too warm to wear right now.

Pattern: Entrelac Socks by Eunny Jang, from Interweave Knits Spring 2007

Yarn: Crystal Palace Yarns Panda Silk in green and pink (In reality I used a LOT less than called for, but I didn't make tassels)

Needles: Size 1 dpns

Mods: None, except for yarn substitution. If I were to make these again, however, I would definitely increase a bit earlier and a second time in order to make them fit my calves better. As it is they're fine, but it takes some convincing to get them on. Also, the cuff and especially bind off is a bit fussy but definitely looks very good and is a nice finish to the socks.

FO: Pomatomus

Pomatomus, originally uploaded by gradschoolknitter.

yay! another FO. And more socks. Have I mentioned how sick I am of socks? Silly me only took sock yarn home to Canada with me this summer and wow am I ever tired of making socks. Good thing I'm teaching an intro to socks class next week...

Anywho, the details:

Pattern: Pomatomus
Needles: US 2 dpns
Yarn: Zitron Trekking XXL (with TONS left over)
Mods: Accidentally worked all decreases as k2tog rather than k2togtbl, continued the knits and purls across the toes and only decreased toes to 24sts instead of 12.
My ravelry page: here.