Even More Startitis….

Ah so last week I Cast On for Donegal designed by Alice Starmore using the Rowan Donegal Tweed as called for in Celtic Collection. I have had the yarn stashed away for this sweater for many, many years and admired the garment since I first saw it when the book came out. Yes Iam known for my procrastination. I finished the ribbing and started the stranded color pattern this weekend. Now Sheila-mamam had inquired about how to fix a problem a few years ago while knitting so I immediately incorporated my suggested solution. I am not sure I am happy but its hard to tell after one piddly round. Here is a shot of the ribbing inside and out…. gotta get the yarn porn in sometimes:Image340.jpg

Believe it or not I actually belong to a knit-along for this baby and am now officially several years behind.

Inquisitive readers may be interested in discovering what yarn I purchased last week. 10 hanks of Tahki Donegal Tweed in shade #845. It’s a lovely deap purple most often called aubergine by me. I have been wanting to acquire 10 hanks of this yarn for quite a while to knit up Rogue. I even discussed knitting it last fall with a friend to wear to MS&W since it seems to be a blog thingie to have a festival sweater knit under the wire. Alas my printer is out of ink and every time I suggest my going out to purchase a new cartridge my husband says he has one already and will put it in poste haste. Poste Haste has lasted 2 years. So I swatched my yarn for several garments including Denmark Gefjon on pg 60+ of Knitters issue #53. This issue is particularly lovely if you are wondering which back issues are worth having btw.

Now there are a few problems with this pattern IMO. It comes in 2 sizes~38 and 49″ and is long. 33″ for the size 49″ Now I am not particularly short. 5’4″ is supposed to be avg but I have worn dresses shorter than that. I resigned myself to figuring out how many sts to cast on to achieve a normal length{the sweater is kinda A-line with regular decreases until yoke pattern is reached} and also closely eyed that deap V and wide collar treatment, which I am not sure I totally approve of. My swatch was beautiful. Hey I swatched!

Image342.jpg

And good thing too. I decided that Donegal Tweed was nowhere near as drapey as Lopi Lite[never have knitted it] and the whole A-line thing wasn’t gonna work. Scratch Gefjon back to Rogue. Husband be damned I am sitting at the computer glued to the instructions and skipping from one page to another to another. I want my printer fixed. Oh and here is the sleeve so far:Image343.jpg

I am starting to wonder if the yarn is too dark and flecky for the pattern. Not that I would ever do it in a pastel but I may be being impatient. Anybody feel up to saying Elka you can’t begin to see the cabling?

Ok enough of my aimless knitting expose. Have a great yarny day and knitterly evening you alls!

And the FO’s Keep Rolling On

Despite the non knitting at Soiree I did knit during my vacation. I worked on my socks a bit on plane, on the Hooded Cardie from yesterday, and Reef. I am fully aware that most knitters would have knocked off a pair of socks or two but I just managed to turn the heel so no pictures of that. But…Reef-after a mere 3 years now- is done. Well its damp and needs buttons but the knitting and weaving in of ends etc is done done done. Even better it is large on Ashley. Her hands are totally engulfed by the sleeves and its huge around her. She is 5 years old and I cleverly[more like knowing my dedication level for finishing my kids sweaters] made the 5/6yr old size. I see no problems with it being totally wearable come next winter. So ta da here she is in all her glory:Image37.jpg
By and By my mum arrives from Miami Thursday and leaves on Sunday. She specifically asked that I do NOT knit while she visits. I guess that is pretty telling as to how much sitting and knitting I do on any given day. So most likely I will not be blogging on Friday and will have precious little to show on Monday. But feel free to check in cause I will try and have something nice to scope out-a neato link if nothing else. Have a great yarny day you alls.

Onward Ho

Reef in progress.jpg
I finished the shawl and it is soaking in a tub. The next WIP soon to be FO is Reef for Ashley who snuck into the picture. One more chart repeat then ribbing on sleeve and neck/front bands left to do. Shawl picture tomorrow–reef coming up. BTW if you are wondering why I am contemplating the domino sweater instead of Lint Project yarns gotcha–the yarns not slated for anything in basket just happen to be Rowan DLT and domino calls for DLT. I am *not* cheating. Really!