Good Morning Everyone!
What a beautiful summer we are having. I'm thoroughly enjoying spending so much time outside "working" from my porch, it really doesn't get much better than this. Especially when you consider that summer is my least favorite season, too hot, muggy and buggy most of the time for little ole me. But I really can't complain despite the bug bites and occasional sweat dripping off my nose, it's been pretty close to perfect. So perfect that I've been able to cruise along on my Fall/Winter "shop samples" I'm almost finished with my Leticia and have worn my Valeria already! I'll be casting on the Efa in Renew next while working on finishing Addie's Sipila and perhaps the new little hat kit I received from Alaska (QUIVET!!!!).
My Leticia had a couple of setbacks, caused primarily by yours truly, shocking I know...Apparently one really should use a tape measure versus laying the fronts on top to see if the back is long enough (without stretching the shit out of it). You know how overly optimistic I get when I just eyeball my knitting, my Grouse Creek sweater was 3" too short and don't get me started on sleeves. I do prefer 3/4 sleeves, but most of the time it's because I won't measure and convince myself this is the way I wanted it, pure genius I know. Anyway, so I'm binding off the shoulders to the back of this adorable little vest when I decided to double check myself with the tape measure, oh boy, off by 2". By this point, I'm an absolute expert at tinking YO, CCD, YO, eyes closed, so I start going backwards, such an exercise in patience building. I am thinking about Paula the entire time, that gives me a ton of perspective and no room to whine. I did this to myself because I was too lazy to find my tape measure. I may as well point out that my ever handy Maker's Board HAS A RULER RIGHT THERE,and it was right next to me, duh....
Shortly thereafter, my armhole length is the 10" needed and I shape the shoulders and seam them together, using those very handy Claw Clips and ta dah! I pick up the stitches for the ribbing around the armholes and knit 2 cm and bind off, now for the front ribbing. I'm getting ready to pick up the stitches for the front when I read, "Cast on 18 sts and begin K1, P1 ribbing." I keep reading, UGH!!! I don't want to knit the ribbing and then seam it, I hate doing that, it puckers, I get it wrong , it's too tedious and I just don't want to do it that way. I tried compromising by attempting to attach it as I knit it, looked like shit, pulled it out. Then I decided to pick up all of the stitches up the front, around the back and down again and then attach it as I knit, nope. Having just completed the Valeria I decide to use all of those stitches I just picked up and knit the ribbing on. Yes, it will be going in a different direction, NO, I DO NOT CARE!! The jury is still out as to whether or not this is an acceptable replacement method, I'm already envisioning issues with the buttonhole placement, stay tuned...
I'm so excited for tomorrow, Addie and I are going yarn hauling with Carrie, Susan and Sandy! We are going to my favorite "other" LYS, Hermit Thrush Fibers, I can't wait! To make the day even better, we're eating at the Mad Taco in Waitsfield!! We are planning on visiting 5 shops tomorrow, one of them I haven't been back to in almost 25 years. I'm excited to see Jen at Yarn, it's been 2 years since I saw her. I bought the contrast colors for my gorgeous Birkin sweater last time I visited. Sandy has patterns printed and is ready to go, I haven't a clue what I'll be looking for. I think I'll bring along the 2 skeins I bought at Hermit Thrush last time to see if I can grab 2 more colors to knit the Feel The Bern Sweater by Caitlin Hunter. I have 2 skeins in my stash that would work, but if I can get 2 more Vermont produced yarns to make this sweater, I'll be happier, and my happiness is worth everything lol...Like all of you, I don't need another project, but it's so much fun going around to all the different shops to see what they're making. I do appreciate inspiration and feeling completely overwhelmed by what is already in queue and then all of the pretty things I'd love to add. Having been raised to never be bored (being bored meant time to clean), I can honestly say that I take great pride in saying, I AM NEVER BORED! I thank my Mimi everyday for the gift of teaching me to knit, how to bake, and what a clean house is supposed to look like (still working on that one).
We will be meeting tomorrow evening (Wednesday) from 6-7:30 for Stitch and Bitch, I hope you can join in the fun. We will be recounting our yarn haul adventure and likely bragging who spent the most money, I plan on eating the most tacos. Make it a great day and I'll see you soon!
Katy