OAL Sweaters and Play Practice and Moving, Oh My!

Oh, look! I have part of a sweater back! What a refreshing change! I've been working on my Hetty for the OAL at music rehearsals for the summer musical, and it's pretty much the perfect project for that. Of course, it helps that it's still small and in the beginning stages and that I've knit it before.

I had a bit of a mishap on Monday night- I realized that after the first repeat, I'd been shortening the repeats by two rows, so I had to rip out a few dozen rows. I'm almost back to the point I was at before that happened now, and it's been smooth sailing since then.

My week is kind of a wreck right now, with play rehearsals every night and my move coming up on Friday. I'm probably not going to be posting on Friday or all of next week while I deal with moving and unpacking, but I promise lots of photos once everything's done!

Almost Ready

I have my swatch done for my OAL sweater, and I'm just about ready to cast on. I haven't really been getting much knitting done the past couple weeks, and I probably won't be getting too much done until after the move, but I'm hoping to get this sweater started, at least.

Tomorrow is the first night of the Shakespeare Festival. This year they're doing Richard III, and while my whole family is going with some friends on Saturday night, I've decided to go to the Thursday and Friday showings too. It's always a great show, and I need a break from packing, and sitting in the park is a perfect opportunity to bring along some knitting!

I haven't been reading too much lately, but I'm almost halfway through Beneath the Sugar Sky right now. It's an Interlibrary Loan book, and I need to get it finished soon. I already requested a renewal on it, but the new due date is creeping up on me!

My moving sale is still going on!

 All my patterns are currently 25% off on Ravelry with code MOVING.

Linking up with Yarn Along

OAL 2018 Time

The Outfit Along started on Friday, and I'm so excited! Last year I managed a sweater, but not the dress. This year I am more hopeful, and I have quite a bit more sewing experience now. Of course, moving in the middle of the  OAL is going to throw a wrench in things, but I'm going to just forge ahead and see what happens.

For my sweater this year I'm making Hetty again. I love my full-length Hetty that I made for the OAL last year, but ever since I finished that one I've wanted a cropped one as well. I had this yarn in my stash, and it seemed to be a perfect match. I'm hoping to get my swatch done and cast on the back today.

Since I'm moving in LESS THAN TWO WEEKS, I'm having a little sale to celebrate. All my patterns are currently 25% off on Ravelry with code MOVING.

Linking up with Crafting On

Me-Made May 2018 Roundup!

I finally participated in Me-Made May this year, after several years of wanting to. I didn't get photos every day, and I missed two or three days, but overall I'm really pleased with how I did! I definitely need to sew more, and I figured out a few more knits that I feel are lacking from my closet- I definitely need more light cocoons, some more linen tanks, and another Ella, probably in black. Did you all participate?

 

 

 

 

 

 

The End of a KAL, the Midpoint of a Project

The TTTKAL ended yesterday, and I didn't manage to finish a single project. It's kind of a bummer, because I really like meeting arbitrary and meaningless deadlines, but I know I've got a lot going on right now, and it might have been unreasonable to think I could finish a fingering-weight top in a month. The group forum was, as always, a complete delight, and I'm definitely looking forward to Shannon's next KAL.

I'm hoping to get this cocoon finished and the pattern written soon- within the next two weeks. I'm moving to my new place two weeks from Friday, and I'd really like to have this finished before my whole life gets upended. I'm already besotted by this, and I want to finish so I can enjoy wearing it all summer.

TTT Alonging

I was hoping to get a whole bunch of stuff done for the TTTKAL this year, but, as usual, I tried to bit off more than I can chew. I've been working pretty faithfully on this new cocoon sample, and I think it might get done by the end of the KAL if I knit very quickly. This leaves my Zinone and Morning Mist unfinished, but I do still hope to get at least one of those tops finished yet this summer.

This is almost at the 2/3rds point, and while I'm definitely still enjoying knitting it, I wish it were further along. I managed to bang out quite a bit last weekend with two trips to the city, but this coming weekend we're planning on doing a bunch of work around the house, so I don't know how much knitting time I'll actually get. 

Finished! Intense TPCT

So, it's only taken me forever, but I finally got pictures of my Intense TPCT and I love it even more than I thought I would. I was really nervous about the pooling, but it definitely doesn't look as bad once it's on a body, and I'm so relieved it worked out.

I changed up a couple things from the first time I knit this pattern. I made the neckband wider and I added a couple inches to the body before starting the bottom ribbing. I love the end result, and I definitely plan to knit more of these tops.

Ravelry Page: Intense TPCT

Pattern: TPCT by Teresa Gregorio

Yarn: Cascade Yarns Heritage Paints "9812 Intense Mix" 

New Pattern: Spindral

I am so thrilled to finally have this pattern out in the world. This shawl started with the yarn- Bling Lace, by T & H Fiber Works, in the colorway Tiger Lily. The little flecks of sparkle immediately made me think of spider webs beaded with morning dew, and I could not get that image out of my head through the whole design process.

Spindral is a generous but light shawl inspired by morning dew on spider webs. The garter stitch body is worked from the bottom up, the stitches are picked up along the long edge, and finally the attached border is knit on perpendicularly to the shawl body.

Lace patterns have both written out and charted instructions.

Spindral is available on Ravelry now and is 20% off through Wednesday, May 23.

TTT-Alonging

Right now I'm juggling two projects for the TTTKAL- my Zinone and a new shrug sample. I like to balance sample knitting with knitting other people's patterns, and I'm really enjoying both projects so far.

I'm really excited for this shrug. I really want more light and breezy cardigans for summer, and I think this is going to fit the bill exactly. I'm loving how the columns of lace look in this yarn, and the knitting itself is just one step above mindless, making it a great portable project.

Weekends and Borders

Well, I didn't get this shawl sample finished, but I got so much other stuff accomplished this weekend! I sewed a dress, I started seeds, I made pickles (I can taste them after work today and I am SO EXCITED I CAN'T WAIT), and I had my community theater audition for the summer musical.

I did manage to start the border on this beauty on Friday, and I'm absolutely pleased with how it's coming along. We're on the final stretch now, and I don't think it's unreasonable to expect that I'll have this ready to block and send to my TE this week. The rest of the week should be pretty quiet- my choir and handbell rehearsals are done for the summer, and if I get a callback for the musical, it won't be until Friday.

Linking up with Crafting On