Cherish

Look! I'ts not gray yarn! Taking as long as I did working on the Traveling Sweater I don't want to use any more gray in my garments for awhile. I have plenty of stash that has a ton of color. For instance, for this cute vesty project I'm finally using Dream in Color Classy in Gothic Rose...a very dark red wine sort of shade. I hope to finish up before month's end. Cherish should be a nice layering piece to wear at work even through the summer months.

So much gray!

Goodale, originally uploaded by Filipina Sakura.

This is Goodale, another gray project. I say that because the last 3 FO's have all been different shades of gray. I'm in desperate need to have a pop of color somewhere! I apologize this is not a good picture of it. One of these days I'll get a decent full length mirror at home so I don't take these pictures in the office restroom.

I finished the knitting over a year ago. From what I remember, Madelinetosh's Pashmina was a dream to knit up and I love how drapey the garment turned out. Overall, I'm a teenie weenie bit underwhelmed with the final product. Yes, the little details are very cute, but not on me. Wearing it for the first time today I found the pocket flaps (the fronts that are folded) a bit flimsy. They don't stay folded back and it looks awful. They'll have to be sewn down to lay flat. Eventually I'll warm up to it the more I wear it.

The rest of my knitting agenda is finishing all the WIPs I've put on hold. I have high hopes to have Saroyan done....soon?

Traveling Sweater: A year in the making

Traveling Sweater, originally uploaded by Filipina Sakura.


I'm so freaking elated that this sweater is off the needles, ends weaved in, and all the wonky parts are steam blocked. The amount of yarn the pattern called for the larger size I knitted was 5 skeins of Woobu and I only used 4 skeins. I probably have about 1/4 of the 4th skein left. I'm kind of ticked that I have an entire skein left untouched. Woobu is wonderful to knit and the draping is lovely but this stuff ain't cheap!

Knitting it was a piece of cake compared to seaming all the parts together. When I seamed the right sleeve, I ran out of material on one side leaving the other side open and unseamed to nothing. I had to undo and reseam it to make it work. Looking at it you'd never know there was a problem. I never said I was a great knitter. :) So glad I can enjoy wearing this sweater before the weather gets warm again. I look forward to the rainy weather coming up in a few days!

Next is the Goodale cardigan. The knitting was done over a year ago. Life seems to get in the way of all my knitting projects. I got some sewing of the pockets done and weaved in all the ends. I still need to find the perfect 7/8" buttons to sew on, seam down the i-cord edging of the pocket flaps, and knitting the neckline edging. Getting 2 cardigans done in a week and ready to wear is enough encouragement to get Goodale finished! I need to find a cute top or spring dress to wear it for work.

I started a summer tank top but it's slightly complicated getting it started. It's more lacey than I expected. Lace and I dont' exactly get along. I might move on to another summer tank tunic with the Habu yarn I splurged on at this year's Stitches West. The past 2 months have been so busy I almost forgot that I bought it.

Liesl: In progress

The summer flies by fast when you're trying to finish a summer tunic. I'm currently working on Liesl, a tunic tank by Coco Knits.
I couldn't exactly afford to spend the amount on Louet linen yarn that the pattern called for in my size. When I saw a sample garment of Liesl on one of the the Coco Knits ladies at Stitches West, I knew it wasn't a 100% linen yarn that was used. She said it was made from Berocco Origami. I immediately went to the Webs booth and hunted that yarn down! I knew with the amount I'd need that the yarn would be discountable at 20% for purchases over $60. Berocco yarn is somewhat in my price range too, so yay me...I'm making a tank top for just under $100. =/ It's insane. I would never purchase a tunic tank top at that price. EVER. Only snobby yarn knitters would understand the psychological explanation for that one.

I like this yarn, but I wish that Origami came in solid colors. Variegated tops aren't usually my thing but I like the colors. Although it's a crazy amount of stockinette, it does keep my interest with the decreases and the construction of the pockets.

I want to be done with this before the unofficial last day of Summer...Labor Day. This gives me less than a month to go. After that i have to get a move on with Jolyne's birthday project. What that will be, I don't know but I'll only have 2 or so weeks to complete it. Fortunately it'll be a scarf or cowl. I can spit those out pretty quickly if it's an easy pattern. Even faster if it's lacey. It can be done. That's what I keep telling myself. I'm not of a fan of deadline knitting. It takes all the fun out of it.

Saroyan: The increases

Saroyan increases, originally uploaded by Filipina Sakura.

I'm keeping this project at the office. I'd be further along if I didn't get distracted so easily by work, Ravelry, other internet black holes, etc.

I think I'm at the point where I'm ready to start the straight section. I'll get to that right now.

Traveling Sweater: Wanderlust

Traveling Sweater: The take-off!, originally uploaded by Filipina Sakura.

Wanderlust: Very strong or irresistible impulse to travel.

That's exactly how I'm feeling these days. I'm so sick of rain and cold. I'm ready for a little bit of camping. Maybe even a road trip. I may even splurge and get on a plane! Where? I don't care as long as it's some place I've never been to that I can explore. So yes, it seems appropriate that I'm working on this sweater. I'm so excited about it! This is 1/4 of the first wedge. 31 more of this quarter wedge to go and I've got myself a collar/body. Baby steps.

Too much on my plate?

In the past couple days I've casted on for two different projects, both of which I bought yarns specifically for at last month's Stitches West extravaganza:

Saroyan

A leafy scarf sorta thing. I'm using Sanguine Gryphon Codex in Secret Garden. This murky shiny blue/greenish/black color is GORGEOUS! I've decided this will be the project to keep at work. The following project will be too much to carry in my bag everyday.

Traveling Sweater (TS)

A comfy open cardigan sweater. I'm using Blue Moon Fiber Arts Woobu in Deep Unrelenting Gray. It's perfectly gray. Not dark, but not light. No variegation whatsoever. This wasn't my first choice of colorways. I wanted my TS to be a darker shade of gray with some bit of dark blue mixed in, like colorways Corbie or Thraven.

Unfortunately for me the Woobu selection was picked over and it was only Friday at 1pm at Stitches!! There were 2.5 days to go and they were cleaned out by the time I left. I'm sure I'll love this cardi when I'm done but it's ANOTHER GRAY SWEATER. =/ I say this because I just finished (but not yet blocked) Goodale, made from madelinetosh Pashmina in Composition Book Gray.

I'm being lazy with Goodale's finishing. It needs blocking, then sewing, then re-blocking to set the pockets. When the weather gets better and I have reason to wear a short sleeved OPEN cardigan I'll have it completely done in no time.

Oh, I forgot one more project I'll be casting on soon...my first mystery KAL. It's feministy's (AKA Liz Abinante) Roxanne Mystery Shawl KAL starting April 15. I'm using sock yarn stash. I'm trying real hard to not purchase the suggested yarn because the color is absolutely beautiful. I'll wait to see how my choice of yarn turns out first.

I suppose my gray phase is fitting for this awful weather we're having. Last night as I was making my gauge swatch for the TS it sounded like my house was going to get blown down by the strong wind and pounding rain. It seemed to never end. At times I love this weather, but after 2+ days of gloom I need a shot of sunshine. I don't know how you northwest folks do it! I'm especially bummed this weekend because we cancelled our trip to Safari West. I was looking forward to staying in a fancy schmancy tent cabin. If you didn't know this is a full moon weekend as well. Our photo opportunities have been duped by Mother Nature. I was looking forward to playing with my new cameras.

California needs the rain before the dry season begins but when it interrupts my plans that bitch needs to calm down. Space it out a little bit, lady! If her intention was to blow off the final bits of blossoms off my plum tree, she succeeded.