I Did It

My February Pink Lady was done in plenty of time before the end of he Olympics. I sewed on the last button at 7:43pm. All ends were woven, and I am feeling pretty proud.

As you can see, Gertrude stepped up to the plate to model it. Or rather, she hopped up on the tub. I can't wait to wear it tomorrow.

I see that my Ebony worsted weight Shine, cotton/modal from Knit-Picks is ready to be mailed so I will wait till that comes in to start the nursing shawl for my niece. Probably by the end of the week. So I am working on my Pi Are Square shawl for the time being. I think that is coming along quite well. I may have another Finished Object coming off those needles before long.

And of course, I have been inspired for more projects. Next up for me is a purple cardi, using Bartletts yarn in Mountain Laurel for the body, and some homespun marl yarn for the yoke and narrow stripes just above the ribbing on body and sleeves. I probably will use the pattern for the old jeans cardigan.

Except of course the new sweater will be one piece, instead of several, and raglan instead of set-in sleeves. But other than that, the same pattern.

Yeah sure.

Down to the Wire

I still do not know if I will finish my February Pink Lady by the end of the Olympics. 
Last Saturday I would have told you no way.  But I did get about 3 inches done on Sunday.  I decided it was less depressing to knit that wide expanse around my bod without adding a marker before I began each day, to see how much I accomplished.  After between an inch or inch and a half each day since, I have about 11 inches below the arm pit.  I think I need to go 13 1/2 before doing the garter stitch border.  And I want ends woven in and buttons on before I call it done.  Off the needles but no finish work would at best be a bronze.
I want to go for gold.
So, I will probably be taking the Pink Lady with me tomorrow when I attend a Spin In at The Old Farm Girl, a nearby yarn/fiber store.  I have a bunch to spin, but I also want to try to get the Pink Lady done.

We Got Sleeves

Gertrude graciously concented to try on the Pink Lady. Here you see sleeve number one.
And below are both sleeves.

I didn't want to tug the fron together, for fear of dropping stitches, but I tried it on myself at Knit Nite yesterday. I was able to close it easily and I think it will be fine when done.

Very warm, but fine.

Continued Progress--an Olympic Update.

Last evening, even with some reading time, since Hubby was making his weekly night out at the livestock auction, I settled down with the Pink Lady, a tall glass of Diet Coke at hand, Olivia deHavilland (in The Snakepit) on the TV, and was a knitting fool.
Maybe not a complete fool. I learned Saturday that I cannot sit with all that wool on my lap without frequent breaks to avoid heat stroke. So now, bare foot in my birki's and wearing capri jeans and short sleeve t-shirt is the order of the day while knitting in my corner.
I started the garter band on the second sleeve. I should be able to cast that off tonight at Knit Nite. I made sure I had the larger needle tip as well as the cable and tips for the body.
Maybe I will even knit the body on a 60 inch circ, until I can get a chance to have Gertrude pose with it again and get a current picture. By using the longer cable I may even be able to try it on myself, gingerly though.
Once I start the body though, it will be just some long slogging through the lace pattern for about 14 inches or so. I have to double check the length on my favorite cardigan, but it is close to that.
Sounds like some mind numbing knitting ahead.

Let the Games (and the Racing) Begin

At precisely 9:04 Friday, I picked up the Pink Lady and began to compete. (Gilbert the Wonder Dog was a bit poky on his break, so I started late.)

To show where I am starting, below you can see how much of the lace of the body I finished. Just a few inches.

After that long, I decided to switch to sleeves before it was too heavy to have on my lap to keep switching around. I'll go back to the body after both sleeves are done. Below is the back view and the right sleeve.

Only a couple rows of lace done here. And the sleeve in progress that caused the sweater to sit so long in time out:

A few inches on it was where it left off. I did discover one of the other reasons I set it down. I cannot use my Knit Pick needles on the sleeve. I have reverted to a 16 inch Addi Turbo. While I do like the speed of the metal needles, the point just isn't there. I can't wait to finish the sleevea and go back to the KP nickel plated circ needle.

However after less than 24 hours from the Opening Ceremonies, I have sleeve number 1 done. Maybe I better be thinking on a second WIP, in case this goes faster than I figured.

And now, no more time for blogging. Back to the Daytona 500 and my awaiting needles.

Racing and Knitting

I probably won't be posting much for the next couple weeks. I get to pick the Pink Lady tomorrow at 9pm and start knitting on that thru the duration of the Olympics.
And as I type, I am watching the Dual races, and the Daytona 500 is Sunday. Not to mention the Truck series has local man Johnny Benson back for my Friday Night racing. And of course the Nationwide series on Saturdays.
Usually I find race days to be great for spinning, but for the next coupe weeks, I will be knitting up a storm.
I just have to remember. One pattern row, one plain row.
I don't want to have to tink back another 4 inches.

Random Musings

I heard on the radio today that Tiger Wood's first bimbo to go public wants an apology from him. She feels he owes it to her for lying, telling her she was his only mistress.
Huh?
If he was lying and cheating WITH her, what made her believe he couldn't be lying and cheating ON her?
The mind boggles.

Future Project

I have some homespun yarn that has been calling to me.

I can't remember exactly what the roving was. It may have been Cherry Tree Hill, top, cool colorway, 8 ounces. The actual colors are more purple and less blue than the picture shows. It seems to shade from a few touches of medium aqua throu lavender to deep purple. The white is falkland that I plied it with. Total here is 15 ounces. I put it on the yarn scale and I caculate it is about 650 to 700 yards. I am looking at some worsted weight heathers in a deep purplish color to knit with. The yarn is telling me "Cardigan, Cardigan vest or hoodie." I am waiting for the yarn to settle down to one project.
Besides, on Friday, the Pink Lady moves to the front of the rotation. Until then, sock projects and a couple of shawls will keep me occupied.

Off Needles and Button Sewed On

The important part of the title is Button Sewed On. I hate the finishing sewing up. That's probably why I mostly knit in the round with only underarm seaming at the most. As it was, I had to sew half the snap twice. I needed the "inny" turned around for the snap to work. But I do like this. The cables were easy--again I decided to mirror them for myown peace of mind. If I were to do again, I probably would taper them just a smidge. But I think the Nephew's family will approve as it is. Homespun Alpaca, hand-knit for baby. What could be better?
Other than knitting here, it was a great weekend. Racing is back, and I watched the Bud Shootout Saturday. My man Mark didn't win, but did all right, considering he got involved in a couple bumps and bangs. But come this Sunday--My Mark has the Pole. Signs of things to come I hope.

Three more days till the Duels, or as I call them, the dualies, on Thursday afternoon.

New Project

Since I have another week before I can resume work on the Pink Lady, I began the sweater for my new great nephew.

It is a pattern from Knitting Daily, a free one called Cabled Raglan Baby Sweater. I am using some of my homespun alpaca that I bought as raw fleece. I hope to have it done before the Olympics start.

Did I mention that NASCAR racing starts soon? I will probably be watching that instead of the Olympics. Plus the Bud Shootout is this weekend!

Gorgeous Morning

Cold and clear nights make for some beautiful winter mornings.
Don't you agree? It makes running out early for bunny chores much more pleasant when it looks like that.