Tuesday, October 21, 2008

Ninety Percent Done!



Finally, after two weeks of not really having either the time, energy or motivation to finish this sweater, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel! I worked on setting in the sleeves yesterday which was a little tricky as they have a slight gather/puffy (highly technical design terms I'll have you know!) piece at the top. Unfortunately, if a less experienced knitter were to work on this, they might not have realized this straight off and it could cause some challenges for someone like that. As soon as I placed the center of the sleeve at the center of the shoulder, I realized something had to give... and considering knitted fabric doesn't hold a pleat the way fabric does, I don't think I did too badly. I pinned the underarm and sides and 'tried' it on and they seem to look the way they should.





Now all I have to do, a somewhat simpler task, is to stitch up the sides and sleeves - this is something I can do while watching TV to be honest. I still have to pay attention but it is not as tricky (or tricksey as Gollum would say) as those sleeve tops!


A warning for anyone who may consider making this sweater -- I would have made it a bit longer in the body than it calls for - I am not overly fond of sweaters that hit my waist exactly. Having said that, it seems to fit quite well and have a nice look so I think once I've finished it, I'll take some pictures with me in it! The V is not too deep either -- though I am sure if someone wanted it deeper, they could adjust the pattern accordingly. Another note, it does not call for dpn's for the neck finishing but I think it was the only was to do it -- not connecting it in the round because all you do is pick up and knit the required number of stitches and then immediately cast them off once you get all the stitches on the needles. But it got very awkward with a straight needle so my recommendation is to use dpn's.


Anyway, I love the subtle detail by using K3 tog/K3tog tbl at the neck and shoulders and especially using this yummy alpaca, it was a joy to knit! It was instant (as instant as knitting a sweater can be) gratification! Can't wait to wear it now!

That's all for now!





Posted by Event Safety Solutions at 1:39 PM
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1 comments:

Heidi said...

what a yummy looking sweater! I love the color, and your comments and insights about the pattern were very useful to keep in mind! You have just made this sweater in such short a time! Hmm...what a little motivation won't do...LOL!
hugs form the Low lands,
heidi

October 22, 2008 3:43 PM

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Some Writing

Sad Scene of Children Playing (originally written 10/25/93)

The filthy, trash-laden streets are the children’s playground. From the alley, an overpowering smell of rotting garbage permeates the entire block, trash and food scraps overflowing onto the ground to be picked over by mangy stray animals and desperate homeless people. Laundry is strung between the tenements, looking not a whole lot cleaner than it was to begin with.

Whipping around the corner, a group of youths – four or five of them, ages six through twelve – search for excitement. It is extremely difficult to determine the boys from the girls. Winter is upon them and they dress in layers of tattered, ragged, soiled hand-me-downs, grubby, threadbare hats on each head. Their faces, covered with the grime of the city, give a haunting look – a look of innocence betrayed, of shattered dreams, of incredible hardness. Malnourished, one of the gang clutches a prize – a piece of rock candy. He holds it high in the air while the others push and shove, pummel him, leap in the air trying desperately to claim the prize for themselves. In an instant, the candy is shaken loose and tumbles onto the pavement – splintering into a hundred pieces. Scrambling furiously, the urchins wrestle for a sliver of the heavenly confection.

The children are only partially satisfied with this, restlessness reigns supreme. A slightly built boy, the one always picked on, pounces upon a crushed tin can, kicking it down the street. Another scrawny child, perhaps a girl of seven or eight, sprints down the block after the can. The children spread out in a pattern of some sort (like a ballet), a few on the sidewalk, one covering the entrance of the alley, and two others in the street itself. From one of the grimy windows above, an exhausted woman yells out at the kids in the street below – she fears they will come to some harm but cannot express this concern adequately. A particularly bratty, sullen girl shrieks back, “Mind your own business, old hag!” Just then, from around the corner, the neighborhood policeman approaches, spying the truant children playing. The scrawny boy shouts out, and the children speed down the alleyway, scrambling up waiting fire escapes, shaking off the cop’s pursuit.

My Birthday

Your Birthdate: April 2
You're so intuitive, it's like you have a sixth, seventh, and eighth sense.
You connect with others freely and easily - and you tend to have many best friends.
Warm and caring, it's hard for you to close your heart to anyone.
Affection is like air for you - you need to give and receive it to survive.

Your strength: Your universal compassion

Your weakness: Your unpredictable mood swings

Your power color: Mauve

Your power symbol: Butterfly

Your power month: February