knitting to flatter

I am knitting the Cypress sweater from Knit to Flatter. (http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cypress-cardigan).  I'm knitting it in stockbridge by Valley Yarns-in Dark Green. It hasn't started off particularly well. I start off with the left front. The ribbing is to be done in twisted rib. I knit the twisted rib for 2 inches. I hate how it looks. Rip it all out, start again. Plain ribbing this time. I like it much better. While I'm knitting the increases, I start thinking about sleeves-how I should cast on the sleeves so I can have easy portable knitting (there is a lace pattern on the fronts and back). Cast on the sleeves. Do twisted rib. Remember an inch later that I decided not to do twisted rib, rip back. Get 3 inches into the rib and start thinking about lengthening the sleeves-cypress cardy has 3/4 length sleeves. I don't know how to lengthen sleeves but Amy Herzog writes about how easy it is. Cool. I frog the sleeve. Work on calculations, try to figure out new number of cast on stitches I need, how many increases. Start to panic because I'm not sure I'm doing it right. frog everything, hide the extra needles.

That is where I am now. I have no confidence in my ability to modify the pattern, beyond changing the ribbing. I want someone to tell me "cast on this many" "now increase by _ every _ rows". So even though I don't want another sweater with 3/4 length sleeves, I am going to knit this sweater with 3/4 length sleeves, dammit. I'm going to knit it as per the instructions because I'm not comfortable with the idea of making a huge mistake that might turn me off from knitting this sweater at all. And I really do like this sweater! Also, I don't even know if I have enough yarn to have made the sleeves longer :/ So I frogged it for nothing.

I've been binge watching American Horror Story: Coven while I've been working through these knitting issues. I'm sad that I have only 2 episodes to go. Angela Bassett and Kathy Bates are fantastic. What will I binge watch now??

I hate seed stitch.

I finished the hat for my mom shortly after my last blog post. I washed in it the Eucalan (I've loved eucalan since my 2nd child wore wool soakers over her cloth diapers) and it did kind of soften up-but still too rough for my tastes :/ Hopefully my mom will like it.

Btw, how cute is that knitted beard?? I love it, it stays on my creepy mannequin head.

After the hat was done, I started a sweater in some bulky Berroco Vintage (in black cherry-pretty!) but I hated it. I didn't like the feel of the yarn.  I had purchased the pattern off of Patternfish many months back, and it's got a lot of seed stitch. I don't know what I was thinking, I hate doing seed stitch. I always have to pay attention otherwise I end up ribbing :/  Not too mention, I'm kind of a big gal, I do not need the extra bulk of seed stitch and bulky yarn. So I frogged it. I felt like I was just knitting this sweater to get rid of some yarn that I've had for a long time. It's not really what I want to be knitting. I'm not sure what I want to be knitting right now, but it wasn't that bulky, seed stitchy monstrosity. I hate that I wasted time on a project that I was feeling meh about when I started.

 I think I've already mentioned that there are a couple of sweaters in Amy Herzog's Knit to Flatter that I have my eye on-particularly the Stoker Cowl and the Cypress Cardigan. I also like the look of the Holloway pullover. I don't know that I can actually knit any of these items. I consider myself an advanced beginner, and they don't seem very beginner-ish. But I'm not going to get better at knitting if I stick to easy things like hats and mitts, rights?

So, being that I had all that leftover yarn that I wasn't even crazy about, I decided to make some slippers. About 2yrs agoI had printed out a really cute patter for these mary jane style slippers (can't remember the name or where I found them-i'll google it at some point) but I found the pattern intimidating for some reason. Couldn't figure out why when I was reading it over the other day, it's pretty simple. Anyway, I figured slippers made with three strands would be a good way to use up some of this wool. Love the slippers, they are cozy and warm and so bloody cute and because it's bulky yarn and big needles-so so fast (even for me).

I still have a butt ton of this berroco vintage, next time I'm in a knitting slump I may just make a bunch of slippers and give them away-everyone loves slippers right? I think even my fussy girl might like a pair...

Don't eat cheetos while knitting.

I'm starting to wonder if I should blog about being sick instead of knitting-I'd be blogging a hell of a lot more often.. I don't remember being sick so often when my older three were little. But since the youngest was born, I  feel like I'm constantly fighting off cold after cold. I keep telling myself that this is his first year of school and that next year will be better. We spent a couple of hours at the emergency room this weekend because B (the 4yr old) had an ear infection. First one for him, first one for me as a mom.

I'm knitting my mother the Winter White hat (free on ravelry). I chose it because it looked fairly simple and had bobbles on it. I've never made bobbles before so yay! I learned something new. I don't actually like the look of bobbles for myself, and have no idea if  my mother does either, but I guess I'll find out.

I also learned that eating cheetos while knitting is not a great idea. Especially with white yarn. Oops. Actually,  it was the coughing (because I'm always effing sick) of orangey spittle from eating the cheetos, on the hat that was the actual problem. I suppose I should title this post "beware of coughing fits while knitting, when you've eaten cheetos, because you will get orangey phlegm all over your wip" instead-but it's very wordy and kind of gross. Btw, I'm not a total barbarian; I did move my head away from the wip, I just wasn't fast enough. Sometimes coughing fits will surprise a gal.

I'm hoping that the little orange spot will wash out :/ I'm using cascade 220  it's not superwash and apparently felts easily so I'm going to wash it by hand as I do most of my knits.And hope for the best.
 I also hope it softens. A lot. I'm finding it rough and scratchy. Maybe my hands have become prima donnas and only want the softest yummiest yarns like Juniper Moon Farm Chadwick (squooshy goodness) or Malabrigo worsted (super squooshy goodness).

 Stupid cheeto phlegm!

I made bobbles! And I still don't like them!

Now, I'm going to do a shot of nyquil and hopefully feel better tomorrow morning!