Black Sheep

Minty Green (AKA Apricot) Jacket

Here she is!
Pattern: Jacke in Apricot (or Apricot Jacket) from Rebecca No. 27.
Yarn: Cotton Ease in Mint.
Needles: Addi Turbos size 8.
Started: September 13th, 2005
Finished: October 5th, 2005

Click here for a pic of the back.
Click me for a buttoned up shot.
Click me for a side view.

I actually wore it today…It did stretch out a bit, which is good. It’s not really all that small, I guess. I think it’s supposed to fit snuggly. It just really accentuates a certain part of the female anatomy, one in which I am very self consious . I like it best unbuttoned.

This was such an easy knit. The pattern was a tiny bit difficult to understand, but once you understand the logic behind the design it’s very easy to figure out, I think. I really like the design. Very stylish and fun. I think this would look really good in black. But, then, I think everything looks better in black. I just kind of felt like knitting something a bit more colorful than what I’m used to. And this is definately bright and colorful.

I hate these pictures of me in this sweater, tho. ugh! I will need to work on more flattering poses .

10 comments October 6th, 2005

Almost, but not quite

Apricot jacket it all seamed. I just need to put buttons on it. I also need to block it. I tried it on after it was all seamed and was kind of dissappointed. It’s a bit small. I should have knitted the larger size. I almost considered re-knitting but decided I would just block it first and see what happens. And, frankly, it’s not THAT small for me. So I will leave it as is for now.

I finished my Opal sock this morning! I like it. It fits like a glove! nice and cozy. I will probably cast on for the second one today. As I was knitting this I decided that this month I will focus on smaller projects, socks, hats, scarves, mittens. I can feel a chill in the air and I want to be prepared when we reach single digits. I can’t believe it’s going to be that friggen cold. I just can’t wrap my head around it. Right now it’s in the fifties, forties in the morning. That’s about as cold as it ever got in Santa Cruz. ugh. I need to knit wool sockies. Like, now. It looks like my knitblog pals Heather and Lolly have similar ideas .

Gotta cut this post a but short today. I have a truckload of stuff to do. Boring things. Have a great Monday!

9 comments October 3rd, 2005

Seaming and reading

Exciting news! Apricot Jacket is being seamed! YaY! Hopefully she will be done and I will have a picture up this weekend. The weekend being, for me, Sunday and Monday.

In the meantime, I wanted to show you this adorable book that I came across at work. Have you seen this, you with little ones at home? It’s called “Farmer Brown Shears His Sheep: a yarn about wool.” I takes it’s little readers through the process of yarn making, from the shearing of the sheep, to the spinning and coloring of the wool, to the knitting up of little sweaters (by MR. Farmer Brown!) for the chilly little sheep. It’s a really cute story, and the illustrations are great, too! I’m going to develop a storytime around this book. I decided that I’m going to bring in some unspun wool, and a hand spindle to show the children what unspun wool looks like, and maybe try to give them a little demonstration on how to spin wool. I’m thinking i will wear one of my knitted sweaters and tell them that I knitted it myself. I may even bring in some knitting needles and yarn…I’m still brewing over this…I found some other cute storybooks that incorporate knitting that I will read, too. Still kind of hunting around for more, though. I might have to read some books about sheep, to fill in a bit.

Anyway, just wanted to share my little discovery with you .

5 comments September 28th, 2005

My obsession with pink and green continues

Two fronts and a sleeve finished this week..Working on last sleeve. It’s kind of difficult to stay with it. I’ve got a bad case of sleeve-itis. I so want to start something new, BUT I WON’T DO IT! This knit is really fast, anyway, so I’ll be crocheting around the neck and adding buttons in no time, I just know it. Plus, I’m looking forward to wearing it! I need cardis right now. Fall up here is all about layering.

So this past week I’ve been obsessed with the pattern Josephine from the new Knitty. I’ve just had it in my mind that I HAVE to have this sweater. So I’ve been thinking of what I could knit it with that wouldn’t bee too expensive. And then a lightbulb went off in my head. I thought I would try that Karabella Softig that I bought on ebay last year, you know, the one I used to knit that no-seam sweater last fall? Obviously, I would need to frog the sweater (which I NEVER wear) and buy a few more balls of Rose Softig. Since the yarn is discontinued it was difficult to find, but I actually found 4 balls on e-bay. I didn’t buy it, thinking I would wait until I cast on to see how it all went. So glad I didn’t buy it. Because I cast on yesterday and knit a few rows. I decided, after about 3 rows, not to knit this sweater right now, if ever. It’s way beyond my patience. The chart makes abosolutely no sense to me. I might try it at a later time, when I’ve knitted more cabley things, but this is waay beyond my ability right now.

So, now I’m thinking about what to do with this yarn. It needs to be a cardi, and I want to knit it up soon, like this fall, because of my obsession with pink and green. I found this pattern in Vogue Knitting Winter 2004 and I’m thinking I might try it. It’s easy, and I will get practice incorporating cables into a sweater. And I have enough yarn for it right now. I just wish it had a shawl collar.

Oh, if you’re wondering what’s going on with the Lacy Kerchief Scarf, it’s still around. We’re just “on a break” right now.
Happy Monday, everyone!

5 comments September 26th, 2005

On to new things

So I started the Apricot Jacket last weekend after finishing Lucky Clover. Wow. Is this a fast knit, or what? Well, at least compared to Lucky Clover. Since I took this picture this morning I have almost finished the left front!

The pattern is really weird. The translators did a terrible job. Thank goodness that others who have gone before me have figured it out. Karma’s notes about knitting up the back have been especially helpful! Once you get the pattern figured out it’s very easy and quick, and everthing makes sense.

At the moment I am having a difficult time with the neckband for the left front. So I am asking anyone who has knitted this for advice. Knitting 8 cm doesn’t seem like nearly enough..should I knit it longer? How long did you all knit it?

I’ve been kind of holed up in my house all day knitting and doing housework and am feeling a little bit stir-crazy. I think it’s time to get outside

Have a wonderful week!

7 comments September 19th, 2005