Hanging Out in the 20's

I feel a bit guilty when I find myself watching shows inside during the summer. I justified my video binge with the fact that we did make it to the pool twice this past weekend.

In fact, I was finishing up a sweater (another silly summer activity) and it's nice to have some background entertainment while one figures out how to pick up stitches along an edge.

I made it through several episodes of Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries while adding sleeve edges and sewing up seams. I thoroughly enjoyed Miss Fisher's adventurous forays into crime solving and the not too violent crimes. Can you say that about murder? Well CSI this is not. Add a good cast, the amazing outfits, the Melbourne setting and did I mention the outfits? This is show you wish you could walk in to.

I really need to go back and watch these lighted yet intriguing mysteries again to enjoy the details. Sewing knitted seams is not the best way to watch a show that has such rich attention to details. While I didn't give it my undivided attention, the series made an unpleasant knitting task a whole lot more bearable.

Finishing Things

Last weekend I finished a sweater that I started years ago. Originally, I bought the wool to make another pattern but there was this tricky fringe along in edge that I could not figure out. I abandoned that sweater and pulled out the back that I had knit, rewound the wool and started on an easier pattern.

Then I got side tracked, misplaced my notes and lost my place in the pattern. Finally, I just left it to deal with more pressing stuff.

Coming back to an old knitting project is always a challenge and a little unnerving. What if it's all wrong? What if I have to pull the whole thing out?

Happily, I was able to solve the puzzle. I restarted and over some weeks was able to tackle the unfinished front and match the shaping. Knit two sleeves, sew the shoulders, add the collar, sew it up and tuck in all of the loose ends.

Assembling and finishing is my least favorite part of knitting. I find it stressful. The knitting is sometimes very meditative and peaceful, but sewing requires full focus and my fear that it's not all going to work out in the end takes over.

The sweater is finished, it's not perfect but it turned out well. It fits and I actually like it. Now, when the cold weather comes in the fall, I will have a reason to celebrate. Now, I'm celebrating pushing through and the joy of finishing.

Top image the sweater I was going to make.
Bottom image the sweater I made.
Images from Rowan Ribbon Twist Collection.

Knit One

Now that it's freezing out I'd really like to get back to some of my knitting projects. I feel like I need a big chunk of time to get going again, but really I just need to decide what and where to start. Also to get excited about finishing a sweater in time to wear it this winter. I would be thrilled to finish just one project before Spring. And by finish, I mean the dreaded sewing part as well.

I find it helps to think about new projects I could start once I make it through the back log of half finished knit wear. Here are three sweaters that are far beyond my current skills but tempting none the less.

Patterns available at Kim Hargreaves from the Precious Collection.

Finishing Up Old Projects

I spent yesterday tying up some loose ends literally. I sewed up three hats to send off to friends and while I enjoy knitting I certainly don't enjoy seaming. To keep myself going I thought of how nice it feels to finish things and kept a beautiful ball of Crazy Sexy Wool from Wool and The Gang in my sights. I stumbled across their new shop in Soho just before Christmas and couldn't resist leaving the store without something. So I ended up buying one ball of chunky wool in a vivid magenta. It is destined to become a warm cowl that I'm going to keep for myself.

Sweater Love

I really have to catch up on my knitting. I was browsing through the patterns section of The Knitting Garden and found another sweater I love and must have (in other words - knit)! The sweater is from Louise Harding's Winter Muse Classic collection. All of the sweaters take their inspiration from a film star of character. My favorite is appropriately called "Bridgette". C'est fantastic, n'est pas?

A Good Day for a Sweater

The rain continues and the deep grey of the morning sky is more suited to late evening, which makes me just want to curl up in a cozy sweater and sip hot chocolate. I wish I had the time to start a new knit project (or finish some old ones.) I can’t wait till the knitting decks are clear and I can finally consider a project from one of Kim Hargreaves’ collections. I loved the patterns she created for Rowan over the years and her own site is full of one great sweater after another. Here are two I’d love to make. If you don’t knit or have time to, the site is still a great source of inspiration with lots of great styling details.