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 :-)

More Than a Headband

Two days progress on my wife's Shedir. Tubular cast on rocks.

ETA: Since blogger doesn't handle comments well - I can't reply via email - I'll have to take care of that in posts.

To LarjMarj and Crystal: The pattern for the blue and green socks in the post below is a mock cable pattern called River Rapids. I modified the pattern to only work the first 8 rows of the 'cable' pattern and then repeat, instead of the full 16. This is what's giving the 'cable' a twist. Otherwise it would weave back and forth.

Stripey Goodness

The sun wasn't out today, but with all the snow we've gotten lately, it's still bright enough for some good pictures. These were accomplished by opening the back door to let in the light. Our house sucks for letting in light. We have a grand total of one window with southern exposure, and it's in the dog's room.


We 'bee' stripey yo

You can just see the end of a dark line on the larger sock on the right; this is for an afterthought heel. I'm not sure how long I can make the legs since I didn't separate the ball of yarn into two equal balls; one of the disadvantages of not having a ball winder. I started the first sock from the outside of the ball and the second from the inside. That should make things interesting closer to the finish line.


We are limp and lifeless without a foot

I hate photos like this. Sock blockers are a step better, but in my opinion, socks need to be showcased in the environment they're most used: on the foot. But, by the time I got around to taking these photos, this was pretty much my only option.


Ahhh, that's better

I tried to do a round toe at first, but that looked awful. So I tinked back and finished with a wedge toe. This sock is the best fitting sock I've finished so far. It's a tad tight to get over my heel, but once it's on, the foot fits perfectly and I'm pretty sure the leg will stay up too. My only complaint is that I worked it cuff down and there's a lot of leftover yarn. Oh well, I suppose I'll save it in case the heel wears out.

Finally, we have some yarn porn:


Feel the wooly goodness

Some Cascade 220 Wool from WEBS. This will eventually become a Shedir hat and matching scarf for my wife, Matrix gloves for me (x2), a chunky cabled purse for her and hopefully a Koolhaas for myself. It's friggin cold out there!

Finally, I was going to suggest you go watch the NHL All-Star Skills competition on VS., but it's pissing me off this year. The camera work is AWFUL (camera guys on the ice is a bad idea), the powers that be changed the setup of some of the competitions (have you no respect for history?) and every five minutes there's a 'technical difficulty' either with mikes, timers or something else. Hopefully the game tomorrow is better.