Leafy!

Lets start with stitch n bitch last Sunday; I brought all three projects that I was working on, Aiken, Greenfield Cardigan and the Vite Cowl. I wanted to put a little bit of work on each project. The first thing I worked on was Aiken, I bound off using a 3x1 ribbing, which looks really great.  It was very satisfying to finally finish the body.

I worked one set of pattern rows on the Vite cowl before focusing more on the Greenfield cardy. As the stitches increase, the rows are becoming mind-numbingly long. It's like knitting the last couple of rows of a hitchhiker (but with more stitches) and i'm starting to hate it a little bit (but just a little bit because Miss Babs <3<3<3) I still have a lot of increase rows to knit. The problem is that it's getting to be a little bulky and heavy to bring as travel knitting.

Knitting in a smaller weight yarn has made me vow that I will never ever make a sweater in sport or fingering or lace weight yarn.
(I once said I would never knit)
( I once said I would never knit socks.)
(I once said I would never knit a sweater.)

I already mentioned that I had knit another repeat of the pattern on the Vite Cowl while at the stitch & bitch. Then, that night, after B went to bed, I did 3 more repeats of the pattern before binding off. I opted to do 5 repeats (of a 24 row pattern) did Jeny's surprisingly stretchy bind-off  which is a totally brilliant bind off btw, and ended with a blocked length of 74.5" long of squooshy goodness.
Must have the picture of knitted object soaking in bucket..

It took me a couple of nights to get around to actually seaming it, it's been an FO for a couple of days. Super squooshy and warm!

The leftover yarn is going to be mittens...I'm Canadian,we can't ever have too many pairs of mittens.

Anyway, so I'm at the point where I can start sleeeeeeves!
So, I started sleeves. Nifty construction, enjoying the knitting. I find short rows  pleasing, they work like magic! Stayed up late, wanting to get the short rows finished, and when I was done, I realize I fucked up. The bloody sleeves were upside down. Again. Sigh. Ripped it all out, grumbling and cursing.
Got my self sorted out, knit the short rows where they belong.

 Despite how long it's taking me to get this sweater finished,  I keep thinking that an Aiken in a cotton linen blend would make the cutest summer top with short sleeves. The only thing stopping me from casting on another Aiken is that I haven't finished this one. I don't  want to make a summer weight top that I won't even really get to wear before the cold weather comes, and will take away from my sweater knitting time. Maybe next spring, like April/May.


So, with the projects I'm working on, I still had some start-itis going on and cast on  Autumn in Garrison hat by Kate Gagnon Osborn. This is actually the third time I'm making this hat. I had made the first one using The Fibre Company Canopy Worsted, which is absolutely lovely yarn. But, I wasn't really keeping the things I knit at that time, and gave it away.

Another friend had commented on how much she loved that hat, so I made it another one for her using  Berroco Ultra Alpaca.

Now, this one, that I'm keeping, is being made with (stashed! go me) SweetGeorgia superwash worsted in Coastal.

 The above picture is closer to the true colour.

I like this leafy theme that's going on in my knitting-the Vite cowl has a leafy motif, this hat has a leafy motif, and the Greenfield cardy also has a leafy motif.
I am loving knitting with the SweetGeorgia. and the colour is just perfect.

Keeping in line with start-itis, I fell totally in love with this sweater I came across on Ravelry  it's called audrey-cardigan by Isabell  Kraemer. I want to buy it and cast on right this very minute. buuuut I'm going to wait until Aiken and Greenfield are finished, and if I even remember this cardy exists, I'll make it (I even know what yarns in my stash I can use, wouldn't even need new yarn, which is good, but also kind of sad.)

In non-knitting things, there's been birthday celebrations! Mah oldest turned 20 on the 2nd, and my second child turns 17yrs old on the 7th. We had a joint bday dinner celebration tonight with "breakfast for supper" (17yr old requested) of pancakes (plain and chocolate chip), breakkie sausages and hash browns. Followed by cake for each of them of their choosing.  P wanted a wafer cake-which is super yummy and made with thin chocolate wafers sandwiched between, and covered with whipped cream, and refrigerated overnight. A wanted chocolate cake with chocolate frosting. She's my chocoholic.
Next up is our 10yr anniversary, followed by B's birthday at the end of August. August is a very busy and expensive and wonderful month.