2008 knitting in review!

As we put 2008 to rest, I thought I'd post pictures of my finished projects...

above:

sphere, Finally finished, stuffed, and given to my dad as a christmas present!

Below: "Flicca" , as modelled by a newly padded out Myrna, was knit in Elite Classic Duchess. I am really happy with how this turned out, despite my botching the short-rowed collar and ham-fistedly weaving in the ends. Some improvements to work on in 2009..

Here is my finished version of Teva Durham's Corrugated Vee neck. love the pattern, love the color, HATE the yarn. Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Bulky. it pills when you look at it. the sweater looks ok in this picture, but in reality looks like muppet fur. I was told it was hard-wearing and machine washable. what it was was EXPENSIVE.

Other draw-back- I made it too big- it stretches slinky-like and falls off of my shoulders. shoulda made it the size I originally though but was worried about being too small. live-and-learn.

Blue belle: in classic elite monteza alpaca. No complaints here- I love this sweater and wear it all the time!

it fits like a dream, best of all, I made it without a pattern, and learned all kinds of things including how to steek!

A detail of my gussets- the skirt swing flirtily and gives me a TINY waist!

Side view with belled sleeves and peplum!




Neck detail and slightly more accurate color-

I thought I'd mostly wear it zipped up high(wattle-hiding don't you know), but actually love it like this. The alpaca is a bit too warm otherwise!

I steeked(cut) the front after knitting it whole on circular needles, then put in a zipper and faced it with velevet trim. Yes, a lot of work, but I've barely taken it off since it came off the needles...

back view

I am well pleased all in all and may make another with a few variations!

blue belle's arms...

Here, once again is the lovely Myrna showing off my progress so far.
The plunging stock markets, world wide economic crisis, and the bankruptcy of ICELAND have done wonders for my knitting. Now, more than ever, I need to knit.
The sleeves, hem and neck are not done yet. all of that has to happen before I get to the STEEKING!!!!

Here's a good view of the back gussets(with string looped through the stitches

- not very photogenic, I know).


I am very pleased so far- it's just working beautifully.
HOWEVER:
I have just been reading alarming and worrisome reports on other people's blogs about alpaca- it apparently stretches and sags like crazy, making all of my elegant shaping for naught.
here is hoping that MY alpaca will not behave that way????
not too happy about this- after my fiasco with the Debbie Bliss chunky cashmerino for Teva Durham's corrugated vee neck, am still feeling burned.
So much work, and It looks like a stretched heavy floppy pill-ed Muppet after only one washing!
Argh!

blue belle!

Here are the first photos I've taken
(as modelled by my lovely assistant Myrna)
of my current project "blue belle" Myrna is a bit slimmer than I, so the work is a bit drapier on her than me.
On me, it is quite fit-and-flair, and very flattering indeed.

This is knit entirely in the round with increases and decreases for shaping. I was under the impression that I'd posted my sketches for this one, but that does not seem to be true.

So, see below for my artist's rendition of what I'd like this to be like:

Still to come are: Arms- sleeves- I've got 'em, even if Myrna doesn't, and I intend to cover them. They will be long, slightly flared with purled trim.

Also to do:
A high ribbed turtle neck, purled trim at the hem, and, the coup de resistance( or, perhaps, the coup de grace), steeks up the front and a zipper!

In layman's terms it means that after all of this hard work, I will risk it all by cutting up the center seams to open the garment up into a cardigan!
whoopee! I do live for danger....

This project has been so much fun-
and the beauty part? No Pattern!

just knit, try on, knit try on, adjust, add, try on.
how freeing....
(I take NO credit for "designing" this garment-The basics for this came from Stephanie Japel's excellent instructions on her Glampyre knits site for the raglan swaeter from the top down, plus many other inspirations and advice already out there. )

What does not show up well in the photos:
how lovely the llama/alpaca wool is, how rich the color, and how unbelievably frigging cool those gussets are!
I love gussets anyway, and these just shape the whole thing so marvelously....
this is (famous last words) truly painless sweater making.

This is indeed the same yarn I had in my shower all those months ago- for once I did as I said I would, and am USING UP MY STASH!!!

How very virtuous I feel. Not really- this stuff is so lovely and tempting it would be impossible NOT to use it. I have lots of other stuff that require more imagination and foresight...

Okay, so onwards- sleeve it is!