I recently finished my Josephine Top:

The pattern is from Interweave Knits magazine, Summer 2007 and the designer is Deborah Newton. I used a yarn called Camila from Elann, which is a summery, linen/cotton blend. I knit it on a size 3 bamboo needle. I like this pattern a lot, because it had just enough pattern to keep things interesting, minimal finishing, and inventive use of short rows to make cap sleeves. I had visions of wearing this deep-v necked garment over a fresh white blouse or camisole. I plan to knit another one making corrections based on a Very Important Lesson that I learned while working on this project.

This top taught me the true meaning of having a long torso, and of the importance of taking a shoulder seam to-what should I call it-underboob?-measurement. Let's face it-I am tall, but appear to be tall in a different way than most tall people. I apparently (according to highly scientific research I did looking at charts on the internet) have regular length legs. Pants with the normal (or what the world has declared normal) inseams of 31"-32" fit me, but if I look at "tall girl" clothing sites, it appears that most tall people have trouble finding pants with a long enough rise or long enough inseam.

Me, I am tall in the upper half of my body, and have thus spent my entire life yanking my shirt hem down so that it covers my stomach. Where "standard" garment length puts hem to armhole measurement at about 15", I need about 19-20." Similarly, my shoulder to underboob measurement is 16" and I have found I am most comfortable with garments that end up at about 29"-30" garment length. Poor Josephine that I just finished is approximately 22" in garment length. The ribbon that is supposed to go under the boobs and create that flattering empire waistline hits me right at the highest point of the bust, instead of where it should be, approximately 6" lower.

The moral of this story is, know your measurements. But not only that, use the handy-dandy schematic that is printed with the pattern and hold your own measurements up against those of the schematic. In this particular pattern, there were two easy places that I could have given myself more length. I could easily have worked more repeats of the lace pattern at the bottom, and then could also have easily added more length (or even short row darts) to the allover texture section before starting the armhole decreases. I would totally go back and fix this, but as it turns out I had ordered exactly enough yarn to make the garment at the length specified in the pattern, so I have about a 1" ball left over. Turns out I was so worried about making the distance around correct, I forgot to give proper attention to the measurement that is most important for me-the overall garment length.

With the advent of Ravelry, I have woefully neglected this space. Recently I converted this blog from Serendipity over to Drupal (well I can't say I did it-I chose to move to Drupal and my husband/sysadmin did all the grunt work, thanks honey!)

In October of 2008, our family was hit directly by the effects of the current economic recession, when my husband was laid off. Due to this, beyond 1 cone of Jaggerspun Zephyr that I bought myself for Christmas, I have not bought any yarn this year. Knitting from stash, thought, I have completed a few things this year, some that I'm pretty proud of. I also have a ton of WIPs that I have been sort of slogging through.

Currently on the needles:

Rona Lace Shawl by Anna Marie Jensen, in Jaggerspun Zephyr burgundy on a size 5 Addi Lace needle. This is a round shawl and I am on row 108 of 153. There are currently 624 stitches to a round, which takes me approximately 45 minutes to knit. It also looks like utter shite, as most unblocked lace does. Hence, I haven't photographed it.

Josephine Top, by Deborah Newton, using a kind of linen yarn from elann.com that I can't remember the name of on a size 3 bamboo needle. The back of it is finished and the front is about 1/3 complete. The sleeves are little so it should take that long, relatively, to finish them. The linen hurts my hands though so I can't get much done at one sitting. I haven't gotten a progress pic of it, but it is a pretty rose color.

Bacchus Socks from IK

These are fun, but they just haven't struck my fancy lately. I've finished the first one, but haven't been able to get it together to finish the first one. I can't understand why-I am using Dream in Color Smooshy so I should be chomping at the bit to work on them. Maybe socks are better winter fare.

Other 2008 FOs:
Central Park Sans Hoodie, for my Mom, who is cold in Portland, Oregon. I used the Cadillac of wool yarns, Cascade 220, for this one. I modified the neck and made a wide, ribbed collar instead. I did end up (finally) finding the perfect buttons for this. Mom loves it, but still hasn't sent me a picture of her wearing it. I loved it so much that I was sad to send it away and have a hankering to make one for me. Then I remember that I live in North Carolina and don't have much occasion to wear a heavy sweater like this.

Sidelines Top, from IK, by Lou Schiela, originally destined to be worn by me. Turned out way, way way too short even though I added (or THOUGHT I added) 3" length to the body. I love the curvy seams. I do still consider this unfinished because I was never able to figure out the crochet edging. It's sitting in my hall closet and making me crazy, but I can't wear it unfinished (or with my belly hanging out!)

Proudest achievement of late 2008-early 2009:

Wing O' the Moth Shawl by Anne Hanson of Knitspot, executed in Jaggerspun Zephyr (this is my Christmas cone!) on a size 4 Addi Lace Needle. I'm really pleased with how it came out, but can't bring myself to ever wear it because it is white. And yet I chose white so that I could see the contrast in the stitching. Never satisfied.

I finished Kepler and my Shapely tee

I was in the process of making the Shapely Tee for myself from Rowan Calmer to wear to Helena's baby shower. Last night I finished all the seaming up and tried the thing on and it is just too damn short. I mean, I could wear it if I stood stock still with my arms at my sides, but not being able to move one's arms does not a particularly wearable garment make. So tonight I undid the seams and ripped back the two pieces of the bodice in order to lengthen it. That was frustrating, because the upper part of the bodice fit SO WELL...basically from boobs up I looked like a pinup. But the stomach part was all wrong. Let's face it--the world does not want to see my belly!

Then I did what any self-respecting knitter would do--started on another project! The Josephine Top from Interweave Knits, for which I am using Camila, a linen/cotton blend from Elann that hadn't found its way into a project just yet. It's a gratifying, if time-consuming knit. And this time I'm building in extra length from the beginning so I don't have to rip back--I've learnt my lesson. So here is the first of four repeats of the back. Trudge, trudge.

At long last, my Birch shawl is finished. We have a long and complicated history, but we've finally made it through. I started this project in summer 2006 when I was still fairly new at knitting. It was my first lace project. I was a bit naïve so I used the suggested needle size instead of going by my now-customary two-sizes-smaller rule. So, the thing turned out huge. In July of '06, I made an error that I thought was irreparable, AND the thing was turning out huge--I was afraid it would end up a blanket instead of a shawl. I put it in a plastic bag and shoved it in the dark corner of my guest bedroom closet. Every once in a while I would open the closet and hiss at it a little and then slam the door. Turns out in the elapsed time I've become a better knitter. While cleaning out the UFO drawer last week, I returned to it and determined that it would be an easy fix. Sure it would mean ripping back 5 rows but there's no law that says you aren't allowed to rip back 5 rows of mohair. So I ripped it back, and then knit the last few repeats--would you believe that it was about 2/3 the way done when I chose not to fix it? I blocked it on Thursday and while its long diagonal did fill up the queen sized bed, this is a GOOD thing as I am not a small person. When worn, the triangle point does not create an arrow that points directly at the fattest part of my butt. Instead, the point hits right about at my knees, so it is a very warm and cozy shawl that feels like a giant soft hug. It's wonderful. I'm so proud I admit that I got a little arty with the photography but hey, I am proud and I want to put it on and run through the streets of town.

I have no idea why it took me so long to complete this, but the finishing is finally done, huzzah! I guess I was intimidated by sewing the ears on but in the end it was no sweat. Amazingly I found seven buttons that were all the same in my button bag. Wonders never cease! I like Baby Cashmerino. I know it is impractical, but I do like knitting it. I guess it is a great splurge yarn. This is for Baby Iggie (or Ellie) who will be joining us in July! Probably not the most practical for a baby that will be a newborn in the summer time. But hey!

Now with a tie! I made a 3-stitch i-cord with contrasting yarn. I put the cord through one of the eyelets on the left from hem. Then I crocheted a chain on the right front side in contrasting yarn that I could tie the cord through to close the kimono. The pattern was so quick and easy, now I want to make a second kimono in yellow with a green tie.

I finished my first Fair Isle project! This is the Northern Harvester Toque from Imperial Stock Ranch, made from a kit my mom bought for me when I was in Oregon. She said that she wanted a hat with a tassel and earflaps. Ask and ye shall receive! I enjoyed knitting this--it was quick but a good way to practice my Fair Isle skills. The only problem was that the yarn was a bit underspun and tore easily...had to be very careful. I'm going to send it off to her today. Hopefully there is still enough cold weather in Oregon to wear it this season.

I have been cabling and cabling and cabling today. I've finished a sleeve and the front. I've finished the second sleeve's cable band, and started on the back's cable band. I'm getting so I can anticipate the crosses so the repeats go really quickly. Color-coding the chart was a smart move!

I think I must have "finishitis" -- the opposite of startitis. I finished the baby kimono. It only took two days but I was obsessed because it was so cute. I used lime green kitchen cotton which is a pain in the wrist, but worth it because it looks so nice in garter stitch. Now I just have to figure out a way to do the ties. I was thinking I-cord or braid in yellow. And then I will make a yellow kimono and do a lime green tie. I hope that the new mom will not be shy about putting a baby boy in lime green. If it IS a baby boy.