FO: Fibonacci Ribs Sweater

Pattern: Fibonacci Ribs Sweater - Queenie Sisters Designs
Yarn: Knit Picks Merino Style in Asparagus
Needles: various size 6 needles
Started: November 2005
Finished: February 16, 2008
Modifications: none
What I learned: Knitting a sweater takes a long time! This was one of the first 'real' projects I ever started and yes, it took me 2 1/4 years to finish it. The most important thing I learned was to choose a sweater design that is appropriate for the recipient. Looking at a pattern book and getting a "That one looks nice" response does not mean it's the right design. This has a pretty deep set-in sleeve which made for a lot of fabric bunching in the armpit. I may take it apart and attempt a re-knit at some point.

This will be a sweater to remember though, if not for how much use it gets, then definitely for what I'll recall happened while I knit it. I worked on it at my desk during lunch at my first real job, it traveled on the train to Toronto the weekend I proposed to my wife, to IKEA in Pittsburgh (from Michigan) to get the first furniture for our new home and got shelved for fear of destruction when we adopted our first puppy, Lola. A lot has changed in our lives while this one was on the needles.

I held off blogging this while I searched for more progress photos, but they seem to have disappeared on me, so you only get the finished product. This won't be the last sweater I make, but I think the next one I knit for my wife is going to have to be a lot better or she won't let me knit for her any more!

I have another DWFO* yet to post, but I'm holding out for another modeling session. I've also re-started progress on the Sorta River Rapids socks and making excellent time. I don't know what it is about that pattern, but it goes really quickly. I may finish by next weekend, just in time for a belated St. Patty's party we're going to. Once those are done, it's back to the Carbonite socks to finish those up. I must say, knitting 3 pairs of socks one at a time works wonders for second socks syndrome.

*Dear Wife Finished Object :-)

I've Been Busy

So I haven't blogged in over two weeks. So what? I've been busy knitting, and that's really the point isn't it? I've finished the Fibonacci Ribs sweater, it just needs to be blocked, modeled and photographed. So I should have that done in another year or two. :-) The other good thing about finishing the sweater? Leftover yarn! I ended up with two whole skeins of Asparagus Merino Style left, and so I knit the following over the last two weeks:

Aww Knucks!


Pattern: Knucks from Knitty.com
Yarn: Knit Picks' Merino Style in the Asparagus colorway, 1.2 skeins (approx.)
Needles: Bamboo DPNs size 4 & 3, Knit Picks options size 4
Started: October 22
Finished: November 2
Modifications: Made the fingers longer, magic loop instead of DPNs - much easier

These were a quick and easy project, only took me a week to complete. Love that instant gratification! Don't mind the color, it's really a lot brighter green. That's what I get for indoor photos at midnight. I'll be making more of these, hopefully refining the design along the way, they're a little loose after the thumb gusset. I started the textured cuff and I liked it, but I couldn't complete the crab stitch edging since I couldn't find the right size crochet needle. I frogged and worked a ribbed cuff with smaller needles. I'd like to unvent a cuff up (?) version that eliminates the gaps between the fingers. Still haven't come up with anything to embroider on the knuckles yet (P*SS OFF!, F*CK OFF!... I'm an angry driver :-) ), suggestions are welcome. My wife asked for a pair, but she wants a different color, so you know what that means...yarn shopping!

Baby Shedir


This is the Shedir pattern from Knitty using the modifications found here. I got the idea from Ravelry after browsing other patterns knit with Merino Style for ideas. Again with the color... I started it on Saturday to have something to work on during the Michigan vs. Michigan State game, Go Blue! I know, wrong color, but it didn't jinx the team. I've knit this pattern before and it's just as enjoyable this time around, even more so working on two circs instead of DPNs. I have to say, even thought it's my first, I LOVE knitting baby items. They're so quick! I'll definitely be making more of these in the future both for us (we're all talk for now) and for friends that are expecting.

Not much else to report on in the knitting world, Ravelry still consumes much of my internet time (more than it should), and the October (now November) garter-rib socks get a row longer here and there. I'm just not feeling the tiny needles right now. (Maybe it's the DPNs?) And I decided I'm not totally giving up on the SAMKAL4, just skipping October. I figure I have one pair 65% done, I can finish those sometime this month, then have a month and a half to knit a December pair. Four out of five isn't bad in my book.

P.S. - Had to do a little surgery on one of my Options needles. The end came off the cord - cleanly, not broken - and I used super glue to reattach. I must've waited too long after applying the glue though, the cord wouldn't go all the way back in. It's usable and it doesn't snag yarn, but I'm not happy about it.

Yarn pr0n and progress

Some yarn pr0n for you.



I ordered the two blue and yellow skeins and the girl took an extra week to ship them, so she tossed in the other skein and a free issue of Vogue Knitting. How cool is that! I'm thinking of making a shawl with this for my mother, any pattern suggestions? I was thinking of doing the Yarn Harlot's Snowdrop Shawl, but I just noticed today that is takes ~1300 yards and I only have ~850 in each skein (the two blue and yellow skeins are different).

Up next we have progress on the twisted tweed socks.



I hate progress pictures because they're immediately obsolete. From this point I've since picked up the gusset stitches and begun decreasing. But hey, the lighting is great. You can also see my newest sock knitting bag ;-)

And lastly, we have a progress picture of....the Fibonacci Ribs Sweater!!!



It's a Knit Picks pattern that is no longer available on their site. It was my first attempt at a sweater with good yarn. I'm not in love with the set in sleeves and I think it's too long, although my wife likes it that way. I think I started it almost two years ago now and I'm determined to finish it before winter! Right after I finish the twisted tweed socks... and a bag for my wife... and some more socks... and a water bottle cover... and so on...

P.S. - The yarn I got from the sweater? I'm going to - ever so uncreatively - make a pair of socks in the same stripe pattern. I figure I can get a pair of socks just out of the sleeve yarn, right?

P.P.S - ekgheiy, the Twisted Tweed pattern is available in both cuff-down and toe-up versions, the toe-up is at the bottom of the PDF.