January Sweater of the Month...Fini!

Things have been really busy here in el casa de monos. My dh has been grading feverishly because it is the end of his semester, and I am trying to get a chapter of my dissertation written up for publication and apply for jobs so that I can continue to eat and support my yarn habit post-graduation. Run-on sentences are a symptom of the resulting stress and lack of restful sleep.

However, I have been knitting a bit at weird hours. So here is my sweater progress:

Big Surprise....hourglass is done. I was debating on making it a bit shorter, but after blocking I think that I am happy with where it is. I'm officially sticking a fork in this one:


Pattern: Hourglass
Yarn: Rowanspun Aran in Heath
Needles: Addi circs US 7
Mods: Used the same slip stitch edging that Ashley did on her hourglass
Started: Around Christmas
Finished: Around last week (Maybe Jan. 20 ish)

The sweater looks the best (especially hourglassy) when I hold my arms like that, so if you see some freaky chick walkin' down the street with arms akimbo in a purple sweater....it may be me.

On to February's sweater:


These are parts for the Zara sweater from Rowan's Bigger Picture (scroll down for Zara) pattern book. I knit the front and back last night in about 4.5 hours (11pm to a bit after 3 am). This is the speediest knitting ever. Size 17 needles, people. I am not looking forward to sewing it, but all of the knitting is done on this thing except for the neck. If you have a solid day off of work, put in the LOTR trilogy and you get get this one done in day. I keep going on about the quickness of it, because I am still a bit shocked that I got this done in less than 24 hours, with mostly insomniac knitting. I am betting that this will not be the most flattering of knits....but we'll see.

Looking forward, I have swatched for Cheesy Puffs sweater for DH. I think I will start this one next, and do a bit on Erin at some point next month, as well. I'm thinking that I want to get ahead on the whole sweater a month thing, because I doubt I'll be as prolific when it gets warm out.

Also.....I bought a wheel! I LOVE my Lendrum, but haven't had much time to really play a whole lot. I have some starter wool that I am using, so I spun up two bobbins full and plied them, which resulted in this:

Pretty uneven, thick and thin standard beginner fare. I feel like I am getting a bit better at controlling it and being able to keep it up for a longer time. I went through a period on the first day where I kept breaking off and having to restart. I was convinced that I should just pack it up and ship it back. But, I stepped away from it for a while, and when I came back to it I spun for an hour straight -- smooth as could be (albeit very uneven). I have started on some chocolatey wool that my girlfriend sent me for my B-day:



I think that it is more even, but now that I haven't touched it for a few weeks, I 'm afraid that I have lost any gains I may have made. I think that I need to just set aside a day a week and spin in the evening when I get home.

Also....some stash-busting progress. I haven't bought yarn this year. None. I also am keeping track of yarn skein number and poundage so that I can keep track on the whole stash resolutions thing. I will report on that after Zara is done.

And...since the sock stash resolution, I have finished two pairs of socks, and have three more on the needles (cable socks & ribbed lace form SKS, and one pair of plain vanilla pattern). Between the three sets on the needles, I have about 3 socks worth of knitting done. I am kind of stocking up on the completed socks, so that I can order some STR or Fearless Fibers or Fleece Artist in bulk. I am trying to wait to get more sock yarn until I have knitted up 9 pairs (so that I can order 3 skeins). I think that will work.

That's pretty much it. School and some knitting. yup. Have a great week, my non-existent audience!

It's January already? What...we're halfway through?....ohhh...

Many things to update! I am frankly shocked that we are already more than halfway through this month, but I am trying not to panic.

First, I wanted to publicly list my New Year's Yarn resolutions, so that it is a matter of public record. I am currently experiencing stash overload, so to combat this I have made the following rules to help reduce/manage stash and learn new stuff:

Stash Reduction Resolutions:

• No new sock yarn purchases unless 300 grams have been used, so for each 3 pairs of socks that I knit, I can buy one new ball of sock yarn. This shall hold until I reduce my current sock stash of about 46 pairs to at least half, about 23 pairs or so.
• I cannot buy new non-sock yarn unless I use at least twice that amount. The goal here is to half my non-sock yarn stash.

Organization:

• Build an Access database to hold current projects, stash, and "I want to knit" list all in one.

Want to Learn:

• I want to improve spinning ability
• Learn entrelac
• Learn how to do mitered squares
• Take a finishing class
• Make a cardigan so I can learn how to do a button band (Bristow?)
• Steek!!!

Also to help reduce stash, I joined the Knit a Sweater a Month KAL!!!! I think I may be a bit crazy, as I am trying to finish up my dissertation this semester and get my house ready for market, but I really want to work on knitting from stash this year. So....we shall see. My current list of the twelve sweaters that I want to knit this year are:

1. Hourglass in Rowanspun Aran color: Heath
2. Erin from Hot Knits book in a variety of worsted yarns
3. Cheesy Puffs in a green Merino/Cashmere blend that I have from School House Products (For DH)
4. Rogue in either an oatmealy Cascade 220 or sage green Jaeger Shetland Aran
5. Rachel from Hot Knits in Rowan Cork
6. Joseph Sweater in Rowanspun Chunky color:Excaliber (For DH)
7. Elsie Cardigan in Jaeger Luxury Tweed color: Blue Sea (For Aunt T)
8. Cyd Vest in Jaeger luxury Tweed
9. A simple turtleneck in Rowanspun DK color:Mouse
10. V-neck in Jaeger Luxury Tweed color: Fern
11. Zara Sweater in Big Wool Fusion
12. ? Wicked? Bristow? Hardangervidda?

The great ( and a bit disturbing) thing is that for all but Hardangervidda, all of the yarn needed to make all of these sweaters is in my stash. All. of. it. I do not need to shop at all. Wow.

As for current January status, Erin exists in the same condition as last year, body done and sleeves not done. I will be working on that as soon as I finish my January sweater:

Hourglass....mostly done. I did the mods and used the same yarn as doggedknits, and am very pleased with it. I ripped back both sleeves (too long), have finished one and am working on the last (6 more rows). The body may also be too long, so after I get the sleeves done I am going to assess the length and decide if I need to rip back the bottom a few inches. I will definitely finish it this month. Yeah!!!

Other things that I am working on/finished this month:


Bad Juju! I made it for a friend of mine who is having a rough time with her boss. Very quick knit, I used Lion Brand Wool-ease from the stash.

I have finished 1 pair of socks this month, and have three pairs on the needles. Fleece artist Ebony colorway using the 3x3 cable with moss stitch pattern from SKS, and some plain vanilla socks in a lovely self-striping:


Some lovely sparkly Socka Disco in the ribbed lace pattern form SKS:

I'm mixed about these, but I haven't ribbed them out yet. I am just putting them away for a bit to see how I feel in a few weeks.

I also want to introduce the newest member of my family:

We'll talk more about him later.....

Good luck to all my fellow Sweater a Month crazy knitters! We can do it! Really. I think....