My First Sweater - Day 16

So, what with work and all, I am getting a bit behind posting updates on the sweater. Day 16 was actually last Tuesday. Oops.

Anywho - Here is the first sleeve, 85 rows complete. I'm glad I'm taking pictures each day because it really lets me see the progress. It is also letting me see the color change - sometimes while I'm knitting it feels like the color is the same row after row after row (and that's just boring.)

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My first sweater - day 15

Started on the first sleeve; I'm not sure why but I've discovered my bamboo needles have started to bend. They are a generic/knock off so that may be the culprit.

23 rows completed.

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Haiku Thursday

Truth bursts free from you

Stunned silence and look of shock

We had not yet told

Sit and clear your mind

Make room for peace to enter

So completely bored

Life's sweet elixir

Bring forth history's wasteland

Rinse it from my heart

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My First Sweater - Day 14

The Front is Finished! It seems as if I'm still having slight gauge issues, but nothing that will cause the finished sweater to fit poorly.



I'm pretty excited to have finished the two large pieces in two weeks. Hopefully I can stay on track and finish the entire sweater in under one month. Heck, I better, or we'll be out of weather cold enough to wear it until next year!

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My First Sweater - Days 12 -13

Short update - No progress day 12 due to all day meetings and a doctors appt. 37 Rows Day 13, bringing me up to 103 rows completed on the front.

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My First Sweater - Day11

So, I discovered a strange loop sticking out about 2 rows down and realized I had not only dropped a stitch, but dropped a stitch on the edge. Now, I've dropped stitches in the middle before, and been able to work them back up to the needle with a crochet hook because I usually have enough wiggle room in my tension. I could not for the life of me figure out how to make this work on the edge, so I gave up and yanked.

It made me sad, but I did complete 18 rows, which means only 12 more until I start working the armhole decreases. I'm pretty sure I'm going to meet my goal of finishing the front by end of day Sunday. The pic is the front of the sweater, 66 rows completed.

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My First Sweater - Days 8, 9 &10

Yeah. Life got busy. So, just a little update - The Front, 48 Rows completed.

The hubs keeps coming up with other stuff to do in the evenings, and I'm just exhausted by bedtime so I've not even gotten much done then. I'm still hoping to have the front finished by Sunday.

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Haiku Thursday

Something so simple
Changes how you view the world
Never be the same



A boundary of glass
Enforces the loneliness
Walk through it - not real


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My First Sweater - Day 7

So, Day 7. What can I say about the front of the sweater that is different from the back of the sweater. Not a whole lot yet.

I completed 42 rows, which finishes all decreases and brings me up the the increases. There is one stitch that is currently bothering me - it's clearly a spot where they joined two pieces of yarn as it is quite a bit thicker. Short of pulling out several rows, cutting that section out and rejoining as if I were starting a new skein, I think I'm just going to have to accept it.

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My First Sweater - Day 6

WOOT! Day 6 being a Saturday, I was able to ignore all other obligations and just knit. I forgot to take my allergy meds Friday night, so I felt (and looked) like I had the plague. Pretty much all I did besides knit was watch Buffy the Vampire Slayer (TV show.) It's pretty good for what it is.

This is the finished back. (FINISHED!) I completed 67 rows, bringing the total row count to 133. Clearly a significant portion of these rows were shorter than the lower body, so I'd guess it was equivalent to about 40 rows.

Pretty decent considering I had to stop and blow my nose after every row...

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My First Sweater - Day 5

Day 5 included completing 22 rows and changing over to a new skein (never done that before with knitting.) It was fairly straight forward - youtube is a knitter's friend.

Here are 66 completed rows, which leaves one more increase plus a few straight rows before starting the armholes. I'm not a huge fan of the "single brown line" but it is actually part of the pattern not from switching skeins, so I guess I'd better accept it :P

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My First Sweater - Day 4

Day 4 can suck it. Between craziness at work, and craziness at home I managed to complete two rows. TWO ROWS. Ugh. I only did those two rows because I refused to let an entire day go past without working on this project.



Back, 44 rows completed, just started the first of the increase rows.


To help console me over Day 4's difficulties, I baked. The top loaf is my gluten free bread. The bottom is a whole wheat loaf that has our 4x4 cereal mixed into the dough prior to baking. Since it's got gluten I didn't try it, but judging by how much the hubs has already eaten I'd say it must be pretty good.



These are both batter breads, which are really pretty simple. Though they don't rise as much and are a little denser, they are very tasty and satisfying.

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My First Sweater - Day 3

Day three was far less productive. Between a busy day at work and preparing for company in the evening there just wasn't time.




I completed 10 more rows, bringing me to a total of 42 completed rows. All of the decreases are done, and tomorrow begins the increases. I had to pull out some scrap yarn and practice these, as I've never done them before. They seem pretty straight forward, at least.


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My First Sweater - Day 2

Clearly, I had much more time to work on my sweater on Day 2. I was able to complete 24 rows, bringing me up to 32 finished rows. If my gauge is correct, I will start to work in for the armholes around 75 rows.

Halfway through the decrease rows for the waist. After knitting straight for 2.5 inches (for me, 12 rows), complete a decrease row (k1, k2tog, knit straight until last 3 stitches, then ssk, k1) followed by 5 straight rows. Repeat four times (30 rows total.)

Close-up of my stitches.

I love the way this yarn is variegated. It's subtle and random, so I don't think it will be necessary to try and "match" the next skein of yarn. I'm guessing I'll finish this skein prior to starting the decreases for the armholes.

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Haiku Thursday

One of my favorite things about Thursday is called "Haiku Thursday." It happens over on a very lovely lady's blog - Mrs. Sulfa. I often participate, however I don't always share.

It occurred to me that the Haiku I write probably fall under my personal definition of "crafting" and that I would be remiss in not including them in this account of my projects. They are often a much more personal project than working with yarn or fabric or paint, but worthy of sharing none the less.

So, my thanks to you Sulfa, for reconnecting me with Haiku after a 15 year (20?) absence.

Dig deep, Dear, dig deep

Discover your dark demons

In naming, be free.

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My first Sweater

So I started knitting again. This time was quite a bit more successful than the last few attempts. I've finished two pair of socks, and am almost done with a third. I supposed I'll have to dig up pics eventually.

For now, I've started working on my very first sweater. It's a Lion Brand Pattern, and I am using Lion Brand 'Amazing' yarn in Rainforest.

Here is my finished work from day one:



This is the back, 8 rows finished. Cast on 98 stitches using size 9 bamboo needles.



This is a close-up of the stitches. I'm pretty happy with my consistancy.
I would link to the pattern, but you have to have an account with Lion Brand or Ravelry to see it.

Here is a PIP of the finished product (I hope.)


YES! Success. I'm hoping mine will look exactly like this. Only green, and big enough to fit me, not this blond stranger.

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