Big Weekend

So, ideally, this post would have happened Sunday. Or Monday or Tuesday. Or Wednesday or Thursday. Even Friday. I had a grand plan to show off what Mom got done over last weekend, plus throw in a finish off (well, almost...) that I've been just dying to share. But there too many late nighters trying to get work done and seemingly no time for blogging. So alas, a week late, check out what Mom got done last weekend:

Above are the popular Giant Chocolate-Toffee Cookies, found online at epicurious.com and featured on the Today Show. Apparently they went over really well at home, especially with the boys in the family ... I just wish I'd been home to try some of that chocolate-y goodness. But Mom's promised to whip up another batch when I come home (two weeks and counting ... here we come Ms. Marigold and Juliet!)

In knitting news, Mom got the Boy's Garter Stitch Yoke Sweater all joined in the round!

Since this photo was taken last week, a lot more progress has been made on the raglan decreasing. Mom hopefully will have an update on her progress soon! I don't have much to share ... I've been knitting along on my Wear Everywhere Pullover but since it's still just a tube in the round, I guess update pictures aren't that exciting. Also, knitting time has been a bit short this week, last night I was too tired to get much done, and I've been working on a summer fellowship application all day today .. but maybe I'll have something exciting to share soon. I could show you my big finished object, but think I'll save it for another day. So, until then, I'll leave you with a lovely Gerber daisy and wish you a knitting-filled weekend!


P.S. The picture above is of a t-shirt that I got in my stocking this year.. thought some other knitters might enjoy it. It's from a little shop in the town I go to school in, but you can check them out/order online (that's how Mom got it for me ...). They have knitting and sewing tees that really amuse me.

Fall Term Recap

So, updating has been shamefully neglected while I was at school fall term. I, as usual, overestimated the free time I'd have at school, and barely had time to knit, let alone update. And mom stayed busy as well. So here is an update on what we've been up to since September.

Pictured above is a knitting store I visited on my recent trip to Denmark. Though I (sadly) didn't purchase any yarn, I visited every knitting store I could find. I even ran into Brooklyn Tweed's Koolhaas from Interweave's Holiday magazine displayed in a window which I thought was pretty neat to find all the way over there.

As I said, I got very little knitting done while at school. I finished a brown blob of a seed cardigan sweater, finally realizing it was a lost cause as I tried to seam the sleeves. It was confirmation of something I've suspected for quite some time. I just don't like big knits. The instant gratification of the projects is great, but the end result never pleases me. The gauge was three stitches to the inch, and the wool fabric ended up reminding me more of chain mail than a sweater. I might at some point redo the sleeves which might make the thing wearable, but I wouldn't count on it. I did whip up a cute hat over my midterm break weekend, though.

Pattern: Berroco Kilo Hat

Yarn: Peace Fleece Worsted in Bakail Superior Green
Gauge: 4 stitches to the inch
Needles: Size 8 (?) Addi Turbos
Started and Finished: A long weekend in October

The hat was quick and fun, and I liked the wave stitch pattern. The hat is slightly slouchy which also loved. The Peace Fleece yarn was nice to work with and will keep my head warm during the chilly Minnesota winter. Other than that, my big accomplishment of the term was teaching three of my friends to knit. By the end of the term, they were all making substantial progress on their first scarves.





Mom had some much more noteworthy project completions while I was gone. The first was Art Yarns Little Hooded Top Down Sweater:

Pattern: Art Yarns Little Hooded Top Down Sweater
Yarn: Art Yarns Super Merino in SM104
Gauge: 4.5 stitches to the inch
Needles: size 7 Addi Turbo circulars
Started: July 2007
Finished: September 2007

Mom made the largest size in the sweater, but she still needed to add to the length of the sweater, as well as the hood (which she finished with a three-needle bind off which made a very clean seam). She changed the sleeves completely, ignoring the severe decreases that the pattern called for, and bound off in stockinette to give the sleeve a rolled cuff. Overall, she was very pleased with the project and the yarn. Best of all, there was almost no finishing!

Even more exciting? Mom designed her first sweater using Elizabeth Zimmerman's Percentage System!

EPS Yoke Sweater
Yarn: Canadian Regal in Grape, Noro Kureyon in 188
Gauge: 5 stitches to the inch
Needle: size 5 circular Addi Turbo
Start: September 23, 2007
Finish: November 17, 2007

Once again, Mom loved that the in-the-round yoke sweater required almost no finishing. And she designed it all to her own specifications using Elizabeth Zimmerman's directions for a yoke sweater, deciding on a garter stitch yoke. Overall, she was happy with the result. When she makes her next sweater using EPS, she plans on lengthening the sweater a bit and adding even more short rows to the back.


Stay tuned for updates on our current projects, and good luck on the last minute Christmas knitting!