I know, I know . . .

I know I haven't blogged for almost a week. But I was working monogamously on one project and other than saying that I was progressing there wasn't much to say.

I have worked back and forth on the buttonband stitches attaching it to the back of neck stitches as I worked across to the centre back of neck from both sides.

Then the two sides of the buttonbands which meet at the centre back of neck were joined with a 3-Needle cast off.
Really looks like a sweater now. I have knit the sleeves to just above the elbow. Did I show you how the sleeves come out?Here it is sans person.One evenings work and the first sleeve is completed. One more evening and the second sleeve was done. Popped it in the washing machine on delicate and there it is. It's drying now and I have some wooden buttons for it.I have the Guenevere (www.cabinfever.ca/P305.html) knit in Briggs and Little Regal which I knit for myself in 2005. It's still going strong and very comfortable.

Now what's next? I cast on a sock to celebrate.And I'm going to redo my pink hat in this. There is some orange and the littlest bit of green in there with the pink (from www.Shelridge.com).And there MUST be something I can do with all these little balls in the bottom of my sock wool box.It will come to me, probably in the middle of the night!

-Deb

That's a sleeve?

The sleeve is getting bigger and bigger.

And I have a ton of stitches on my needle. How does that blob become a sweater with sleeves?
Here it is roughly folded. Imagine yourself knitting merrily across the Back of the sweater in pattern, you hit the shapeline (the diagonal line), turn a 90 degree corner (made by increasing) and work the plain knit part (which is the sleeve) knitting around under the arm, turn another corner and work across the Front in pattern to the buttonband edge. Weird but wonderful.
I have worked a 3-Needle Cast Off along the shoulder from the shapelines to the neck edge and my sleeve is made. The sleeve stitches are open and sitting on spare yarn ready for me to slip my short circular needle into the stitches and work the sleeve down to the cuff.
I worked the 3-Needle Cast Off on the right side of the cardigan because I think it adds a nice ridge.

Can't seem to get the colour to come out quite right, especially when I'm taking pictures in the late afternoon when it's getting dark. You can see that the sweater is coming along. Still some ways to go. I have to finish the neckband and knit both sleeves down to the wrists.

This shaping comes to you from the brain of Elizabeth Zimmermann (http://www.schoolhousepress.com/) from her Knitting Workshop book. It's the nalgar shaping and fun to do. Especially when it stumps your knitting friends. That, apparently, was one of her favourite things.
-Deb

Would I lie?

I know you've been dying for a progress report. You can hardly wait for this mysterious sleeve to appear. How can you make the sleeve as you continue knitting? Ta, da. There it is.Where? It's right there, yes, that little V at the top. That is the beginning of the sleeve. Honest. And there are two of them.Would I lie to you? This sweater is getting big and will get bigger still. And they will start to look like sleeves pretty soon. I also have some swamp, er, drought-free land for sale. Any takers?

-Deb

monogamy

This monogamous knitting is rather boring for you I'm afraid. But I am further along on my Guenevere. The V-neck is coming along nicely.

I am up to the underarms and have placed 2 markers at each underarm.

And now I am going to increase at these 2 markers and make my sleeve as I go. This is based on Elizabeth Zimmermann's Nalgar shaping and it is the most amazing thing. Wait and see. I'll hope to have enough done tomorrow so you can see the sleeves emerging.

-Deb

Back to it

It feels good to be over the worst of my fall cold and back in my knitting chair with a clear head and rested fingers. Today I wanted to get to the beginning of the V-neck shaping on the Guenevere (www.cabinfever.ca/P305.html) and here it is. The pattern is showing up really well.

As we tour the Guenever I will point out some features. The first being the beginning of the V-neck shaping.The thumbtack is in the last buttonhole and you will notice that above it there is an extra ridge (3 ridges instead of the previous 2 ridges). The extra ridge is 2 extra short rows which are worked in buttonband only, just below the beginning of the decreasing for the V neck, to make a better corner for the buttonband. Both buttonbands have this. The scissors point to the first decrease which is in the Body beside the buttonband. The second decrease has just been worked right beside the marker. The texture pattern is so nice and easy that working the decreases and working the pattern at the same time is no problem.

We will move along on our tour . . . ah sorry there will be a slight delay as we wait for our knitter to get some more finished. Please talk among yourselves. Stay tuned . . .

-Deb

Kleenex

My accessory of the moment, the one thing I cannot do without, is unfortunately the kleenex box. No knitting is being done because of the woolly head I have. I had started the pattern of the Guenevere but no more progress has been made since then.

This weekend should see a return to a sharper state of mind.

-Deb