My Tortoise And My Hare

My two current projects  might be seen as the 'tortoise and the hare' story of my recent knitting. The 'tortoise' portion is  Stephen West's Spectra.   I am  enjoying it  still, but it is  a long ways from being finished.  Mind you, it is a project that does allow for an individual decision as to when exactly to cast off.  My motto though (sometimes), in order to  give  a good template for future projects,  is  to knit the first one as the pattern suggests.    So here you see mine, with 63 wedges out of the suggested 86 complete.

While much further along than the last photo I showed, still .....

Thank goodness for Noro and it's beautiful colour changes.  It keeps this project interesting.

Then,  there is my 'hare'. 

My version of the Whisper vest, machine knit with Fleece Artist Zambezi.  Despite a re-knit of the back after I realized I had forgotten to do any armhole shaping, it has been knit and seamed since Friday.  All that remains is to edge the fronts and one armhole.  Tonight's knitting.    That's an impressive 'hare'. 

Adding a little 'hare' to my 'tortoise' knitting life feels so-o-o-o good.

I Forget Things

I have a memory problem.  I don't have a good one. 

Yesterday, after dinner, I took my own Zambezi yarn over to the knitting machine and started my version of Whisper.   Having tried on Sandy's at knit group a few weeks ago, I knew the pattern, as designed, was too drapey for me. Droopy rather than drapey was the feeling I had.  Being short, those styles sometimes make me feel as if I'm wearing my bathrobe.  Not a pretty sight in public.

So I re-wrote the pattern to more appropriately fit a petite person.  At the machine, within minutes I zipped off one front.  then the back.    As exciting as that was to be able to knit an entire vest in half an hour, I made myself stop. It can't be this easy I thought.  If by chance, I had mis- calculated, it would be a lot of mohair to rip back.  Today, I pinned the two pieces together,  pinned the whole thing to me at the shoulders, then stood in front of the bedroom mirror to take a self portrait.  Awkward.

Only then did the memory kick in.  I have my new,  duct-tape, dress form.  Now doesn't that look better?

I am so thrilled.  My pattern works.  It looks good.  It fits.  And photography is so much easier with a dress form.  Now if only I could improve my memory, I'd be good.

Thursdays Are For Knit Group

Designer Linda Benne needs to put the Meaford Knitters on commission.  Gail and Sandy both worked on their 'Whisper' cardigan's today.

 

 Gail with Fleece Artist and Sandy with Zen. 

Carol, with three skeins of Fleece Artist Zambezi is anxious to start her Whispers but had to wind her yarn first.

Doreen is nothing if not determined.  She is well on her way to a beautiful,  mitred-square scarf.

You've come a long way from your initial, mitred morass,  Doreen.  

Ingrid is back from Victoria and a visit with her 'special' guy.  We're glad you are back, Ingrid.  We missed your lilac.

Did you not get much sleep out there, Ingrid?


Wilma.  Hang onto your Gemini.  It's lilac.  Ingrid has her eye on it.  She even has the shoes to match, remember?  Gemini, from the latest issue of Knitty,  is a very cute summer tee. Just enough lace to make it an interesting but not overly complicated knit.

Bonnie is busy with something.

Another cutest-ever, and destined for the Meaford Craft Festival,  baby sweater. 


Speaking of cutest-ever, Sandy finished the multi-ruffled dress.

That is a very creative, asymmetrical, shoulder strap treatment.  A great finishing detail, Sandy.

 Dianna works yet on her 30 - or was that 40  - year old project.

In fact, today she went backwards.  We all know what that feels like, Dianna.

Lots of 'lots of' at knitting.  Lots of colour.  Lots of knitting.  Lots of laughs.  Lots of yarn.  Lots of different patterns.  Lots of fun!