On the one hand the weekend was kinda lousy — I was dealing with chills and fever most of the day Friday and a crushing headache both Friday and Saturday. On the other hand, that’s a perfect excuse to stay in and knit. And it let me finish the guild knit-along vest that we’re supposed to show off tomorrow night.
I’m reasonably happy with it. It is too loose…as usual I am too fearful of negative ease, but this time also because the measurements to which I worked were last year’s measurements. Yes, I’ve lost some inches — and I think I’ve learned the negative ease thing, so if I were making it now it would have narrower stripes of the various stitches. It would also be longer as I could use more yarn on length than I did on width in this version. Will I remake it? No…just not a pattern I’d choose for myself, but it will be fun to wear to guild events like knit outs and such…or at least to take along to show the 
variety of stitches.
I also started to design a shrug to wear to Marie’s wedding. I’m going for very simple — rectangle stitched up on each end for sleeves with ribbing around the opening and the cuffs. Looking for it to hit elbow length with slack. The object is to cover the upper arms in the MOB dress with something a bit fun, but classy. I’ve fooled around with swatches and settled on 
this combination of lace weight yarn and stitch providing when I do the math it doesn’t equate to a one hundred hour project. The swatch took just under an hour, so I think I’ll be okay.
Speaking of the wedding, the shawl center panel is very nearly finished…hope to be working on border next weekend and I’ll have lots of car time as we’ll be driving to DC for two parties — one is Marie’s bridal shower. I didn’t think to invite you as I was focused on people in DC. If by some stroke of luck you’ll be in DC on the 13th, let me know. I’ve got to write Karen and let her know the same thing. So, I should be able to nearly finish the shawl by mid-month. Then on to finish Heidi’s socks — a perfect travel project for the trip I’ll be on that week, and then the remaining 5 weeks to crank out my shrug.
Jan and Ellen are identical twins who have always had an innate fashion sense. Crafting is an integral part of their lives and they stay stitched together sharing their love of knitting, family and community.
January 8th, 2008 at 4:04 am
The vest is cute, but you are right, too much ease. Nice job on the various stitches though - the fair isle in particular is quite nice.
No current plans to be in DC, though one never knows. What is the theme? I’d like to at least send something.
I like the swatch for the shrug quite a bit.
MRI didn’t show any clear lesions, so they say they won’t inject steroids. I have to subject my whole body to them with orals. Sigh, there go my Olympic dreams.