knitting slump

I've been too busy to knit much since I cast off the first of what I hope will be a pair of fingerless mitts. The only pair of anything I've ever finished knitting was a pair of slip-stitch socks. The incentive was strong -- they were my final gift for a secret santa exchange -- so I had to do them. Even those I finished quite late, so that I mailed them in August. The recipient liked them a great deal, or claimed too, and I'd like to knit a pair for myself, but I know I'd probably knit one and then lose interest. I have a small basket nearly filled with single socks and mittens attesting to my fickleness. I have at least started on the second mitt -- a good 2" -- but the cats got to it and I don't have the time, energy, or inclination to detangle. Nor do I have sufficient yarn to start again. It may be that I don't have sufficient yarn to finish anyway, so I feel justified in abandoning the project for now. What I really want to knit are some baby things for the finch, due in May. I'm planning an EZ suite -- the gull wing sweater and some longies from knitters' almanac, the baby surprise sweater, and a baby bog jacket from, I think, knitting around. We're too poor now to buy yarn (I know, wah, wah -- but our heating bill was unbelievable, and we're keeping the house at a mere 60degrees! It's not fair!!) Anyway, as soon as we're in funds again I'll get some nice wool and knit some stuff for next fall and winter for all the children. I wonder whether I'll still manage a yearly sweater for each once the finch grows a bit? I'll have to cut back on the housekeeping!

fo!!

Wren's sweater turned out pretty well. I like how the cabled edgings look, but I miscounted rows at the top of the center cable. I actually discovered it a few inches after knitting it incorrectly, but I'm a very reluctant frogger, so it stayed. I think have enough yarn leftover for a hat, but I'm going to finish my fingerless mitts first.

missing dpn, found wip

I've just bound off the hem of Wren's sweater and I'm not entirely happy with the way the center cable joins with the baby cables. I bound off using larger needles than I used for the ribbing, so it should be easy enough to pick out if I think of something better. I'll give it some thought while I'm knitting the sleeves. Which won't happen until I find the missing dpn. I suspect the children of using it as a clay modeling tool. Or I might have used it myself for making cables -- I'll have to check my basket. One of the places I looked for the missing dpn was an old wooden typewriter box in which I keep oddments of yarn, markers, needles, etc. I didn't find the missing needle, but I did find a nearly finished miniature version of EZ's baby bog jacket. All I have to do is weave the underarm and I've got a baby-doll jacket for the kids! Of course, the reason it's been sitting there for probably two years now is that I loathe (and suck at) kitchener stitch. I resolve to conquer this fear and loathing, and master the kitchener stitch forthwith. Then I'll be able to finish Robin's pirate t-shirt from last Spring! Pictures later...

wip going well despite lackluster yarn from knitpicks

I've made a lot of progress on Wren's pullover this past week, and I think I'll be finished in another week. I'm using KnitPicks' Wool of the Andes in 'mulled wine' for this one. I can't say that I'm disappointed in the yarn --- it's a good basic wool for a very moderate price --- but it isn't the joy to knit with that other yarns have been. It's not quite as soft as I would like, and lacks springiness. I don't know anything about large scale spinneries (is that what they're even called?) but I wonder if this wool has been processed too harshly. Something for me to research! Despite not enjoying the knitting as much as I usually do, I've been diligent and am just about finished the body. The pattern is for a plain, top-down pullover with rolled hem, cuffs, and neck edge. I've added the central cable and plan baby-cable ribbing for the edges: