I’m not happy. I had finished 24 rows of the Classic Cabled Aran using Paton’s Decor. I had done this much…

…finishing the first diamonds and the 24-row repeat. The plan was to do another full repeat and be at 8″, ready to start the shaping.

Ahem. This would mean that 24 rows would be 4″. Yup, I checked the pattern and the gauge is 24 rows x 18 sts in moss st/cable st pattern. I have measured 18 sts. I have 4″. I measured my 24 rows. I have 3.5″. ARGH. No I did not swatch. This is a dog sweater. The sweater is the swatch.

I shouldn’t be surprised. I know I knit a bit tight, a habit that stuck after making a sock one of my very first knitting projects and trying really hard to avoid ladders. (I did, for those curious).

So I frogged. All of it. And started over. I think Sam realized I wasn’t too happy about this, as he stopped trying to catch my yarn or needle, and instead tried to appear as inconspicuous as possible:

I did 6 rows before realizing I’d had enough of the Classic Cabled Aran for the night. So it sits at this much done…

…until tomorrow when I can bear to look at it again. (As an aside, a big “thank you” to my mom for bringing me back the metalic magnet-board from her trip to Florida over the holidays. I didn’t think I’d ever use it ‘cus I put all my patterns in my Palm, but the lace socks taught me that I really prefer working from a chart v.s. a written-out “k4, C4B, p1, k1, p4, C4F, blah, blah, blah”.)

Because Law & Order: SVU was still on and I needed something non-aggrivating to work on, I pulled out the blue charity baby sweater. I’d started it yesterday by doing 5 rows of the ribbing during my knitting class. Tonight I made it up to 23 rows before stopping to come post and go to bed:

The sweater is using Paton’s Astra that was donated to the Lakeshore Hospital Auxiliary and given to me for these sweaters, and a pattern called Heart Warmer from an old Paton’s book that calls for the Astra. Only another 13 rows and I begin the raglan shaping.

I really love raglans. I didn’t like them at all until I started knitting, and now I love the neat little paired decreases and the ease it is to seam when you make the decs 1 st in from the edge. I’m looking forwards to putting this together, which is odd ‘cus I’m only 23 rows in of the only piece I’ve started.

Now to bed, to hopefully wake up tomorrow and forget that I’d ever worked the full 24 rows of CCA (even though I’m still really proud of myself for dropping those 5 sts 6 rows and working them back up in cables, no less).

I know I said I’d be knitting, but I couldn’t resist catching up on a few blogs and found this link in Mindy’s post of Feb 1. Truly hysterical knitting patterns. Tres original. Go see.

I’m home from work, have changed into my shloomphy clothes, have an onion soup heating up in the oven, and Yannick’s at bowling tonight (on a league team with my dad, my brother and my cousin). This means I have the night to myself…to knit!

I’m hoping to make some really good progress on the dog sweaters this week so I can use Sunday to make up a bunch of stitch markers. I’d really like to send some RAOKs out on Monday when I’m at the mall with my LYS as they have a post office branch there. I know some RAOKers read my blog, but I figure that no one will be able to tell in advance that I’m sending them something, and even though I will be posting pics once they’re made, it will still be a surprise when they come in the mail.

To Keri from the comments: thanks for making plans to stop by! It’s encouraging to know that people read me. 🙂 And I get Mondays to knit ‘cus I work Saturdays, so my weekend is Sun-Mon. (This stops for the summers when I work Mon-Fri, and since Yannick is home those days, I’m supposed to hang out with him, so I get less knitting done). I like the way it is right now ‘cus he’s home Sat to clean the house, we see each other Sundays, and Mondays I have to myself to do what I want while he’s at work.

To Julie from the comments: that duck outfit sounds adorable! I look forwards to having kids for the torture, I’m already planning on making the corn cob baby bunting to start the torture when they’re young!

(click the pic to get taken to Lion Brand’s site for the free pattern)

To Amanda from the comments: thanks for the sweet words!

I didn’t post my progress last night because my computer started acting all wonky and lost use of the mouse, and then keyboard. Once I finally got them working again I was too stressed to want to use the offending devices.

So here is last night’s report. I did this much on the Classic Cabled Aran:

I think it’s about 4″ or so. Wanna know what the best part is? I’ve only ever made one cable before, a little one on the front of the purse I knitted with my Reader’s Digest Learn to Knit kit last year. That cable was made with a cable needle. I remembered it being fiddly. I also remembered lots of knitters online singing the praises of knitting without a cable needle. Guess what I did? Yup! Each and every cable above is made without a cable needle! (As you can see by the lowest twist of the right-most cable, it took me a few rows to realize how to insert my needle depending on whether I wanted the first sts to go to the front or the back. I know that one is the wrong way. Tough.)

But wait! That’s not all! There’s more! I did something last night that I am so incredibly proud of myself for!!! :]

This is a closeup of those cables. See the mistake? Oh, wait, you can’t see the mistake. The mistake was that the left-most middle point of the left-most diamond actually twisted the wrong way before the side of the diamond went up from left to right. It looked really silly, because although the diamond shape was there, the point of the diamond went the wrong way. Know why you can’t see the mistake? Because I, fearlessly armed with my favorite little crochet hook, deliberately dropped the first last 5 sts of the center cable section down 6 rows and then worked them back up properly, including the 3 rows that had cable twists!! I really can’t believe I did that! Fine, I already knew how to pick up a dropped st even if it ran a row or two, and I knew that if I picked it up from the front it would create a knit stitch, whereas if I inserted my crochet hook from the back it would create a purl. But I’d never gone back more than 2 rows. Never on purpose. Never 5 at a time. And never had to cable while bringing those sts up 6 rows. I really don’t think it shows at all that there was ever a mistake there.

I knew this was possible in knitting, since almost anything is possible in knitting. I just didn’t think I’d be able to do it. And I did! Yay!

Now I have to leave for work during this nice blizzard we’re having.

I just got back from my knitting class (ok, I stopped for a few errands on the way home). I only cast on and did a few rows of the blue charity sweater, but it felt so good to knit again. I haven’t done anything since finishing the black and pink Snazzy Jacket Thursday night. Friday we had dinner and the movie so got home too late, Saturday I worked and then while my dad and brother and other male family and friends played poker, the respective wives/girlfriends all went to see Sideways and then for dinner. Again I got home too late to knit. And yesterday after brunch with Yannick and my friend Debbie who’d slept over Saturday night, Yannick and I cleaned the house. Until 8pm. Ugh. By that point I was so exhausted that I couldn’t even bring myself to lift the needles. I did read a few knitting mags though, during commercials of “The World’s Pizza Challenge” pizza cook-off. Hey, I already said Food Network is my favorite channel.

In any case, my lack of knitting lately will be more than made up for today, since my plan from now until supper time is to do nothing but knit! I’m going to put aside the charity sweater just for a few days to work on the latest sweaters for the pet accessories store. Hopefully I’ll have something to post with a pic later.

Wow! I’m so thrilled that people actually answered my call for comments on the RAOK board! Thanks guys!

To Gina: thanks for the kind words! Sam’s actually pretty laid back, so I knew he wouldn’t mind the coat. I was more worried he wouldn’t sit still long enough for me to take the picture.

To Mar: I think the coat is adorable too. It’s one of my favorites of the ones I sell. If your daughter ever wants one, the pattern is the Snazzy Jacket with Faux Fur from The Gift Knitter by Tara Jon Manning. (And yes, I have the publisher’s permission to sell items I hand-knit from the book’s patterns.)

To itgirl (Rebecca): As I mentioned to Gina, Sam is REALLY laid back. Even when we had Yannick’s 4 nephews sleep over (all under 8 years old) they were carrying him around and lying on him, and he just sat there and took it. Plus his front claws are declawed, so I didn’t have to worry all that much. 🙂 Thank you for mentioning the socks I’m knitting. They’re my first attempt at lace knitting, and my first time working from a chart. Not my first socks though. They’re the ones labeled “24” in this pic:

and they’re from this book:

which I really love and really recommend. There are 31 patterns in here! 22 for socks, 5 kids’ sweaters, 2 womens’ and 2 men’s, all really nice (except that they’re worked in sock yarn so they take forever lol).

To Jenifer: I’m glad Sam sat still for the pic, although I don’t think pink is really his color. I think the jacket will look much better on the Maltese/Bichon Frise it was made for! I’m glad to know I didn’t miss an issue of knit.1 though. I really like some of the patterns! There is a sweatshirt in the first one I can’t wait to make, plus a whole bunch of other things. I’m looking forwards to the next issue.

To Julie: thanks! I’m glad you like the coat, and when I do have kids one day and torture them, I’ll explain to the authorities that you said it was ok. 😉 “But officer, I had permission….” LOL Although I can’t wait to have kids so I can knit for them one day.

To Chelsea: I will be going to swipe that button tomorrow, I’ll do anything if it will encourage people to comment! I upkeep this blog for myself but it’s nice to know if anyone actually reads it! And Sam wants to thank you for calling him a “kitten”. He’ll be 5 April 1st but is really flattered you think he still looks young. I’m not kidding, he’s actually preening in the mirror as I type this. 🙂

To kmckiernan (Keri): Thank you for coming by and posting! (And I won’t tell Sam you called him a girl. His ego is fragile- see above comment to Chelsea) 🙂

A big thank you to you all for posting, and to anyone else who comes by and drops me a line, I promise to write a little something back. I really appreciate this!

As for today, some minor knitting content. I dropped off the jacket at the pet accessories store. They liked it, but I was disappointed to find out the two other custom ones I made didn’t fit the intended dogs. I know I triple-checked my work, even to the point of rolling up towels to the required diameters to check the fit, so I doubt it’s my work. Either I was given the wrong measurements, or the woman tried them on the wrong dog (I made 2 different sizes) or I don’t know what’s wrong, but it bugs me. Anyways, I sold the jacket and got orders for 2 more. These won’t be custom, just for stock. 1 is an Aran so I’ll get to practice my cables, and the other has a kangaroo pocket and some chain-stitch embroidery, so I’ll get to work on my lettering skills.

Now off to bed ‘cus we went to see the late show of Constantine but I still work tomorrow. The movie was great btw, really, really enjoyed it. Oh, and if anyone goes to see it, stay until the end of the credits, there’s a little bit more coming.

I was back at work today, that gastro thing really is only 24 hrs (thank God!). Didn’t do any knitting at work but on my lunch and dinner hours I did catch up on reading some knitting mags I’d bought previously. Read the latest knit.1, Knitters and Creative Knitting. I have to say, of the 3 I really preferred knit.1. And while I am under 30, I’m not the hip, urban, New Yawk type who seem to be the target audience. I just honestly think that off the patterns in each mag, I prefer those and would actually make them. I’m not into ponchos and can crochet an afghan much faster than knit, and the patterns in Knitters are just boring! I’ve seen the same things everywhere else but with more pizzazz.

No, much as the covers throw me ‘cus they try so hard to be “raw” and “edgy”, I really enjoy knit.1. I hope I remember to buy it each season. I just realized I’m missing the Winter one. I have Fall 2004 (the premier issue) and the Spring 2005. If anyone out there has a copy of the Winter 2004 issue please let me know? I’d love to buy it from you!

Now for the FO. I worked on it during CSI and Without a Trace and even had time to make up my little labels. I’m so glad I’d bought a grommet tool through Crafter’s Choice a few months ago, it really gives the labels a bit of a polish. So now the Snazzy jacket is officially finished and ready to deliver tomorrow. Commission date to delivery date = 1 week. Not too bad, I think.

I love this pattern! It works up fast, it’s not difficult, and it’s so cute! Plus you can customize the buttons and “fur” to make it really unique.

Here is the finished jacket:

I loved how it turned out, but really wanted to see it on a model. I knew it wouldn’t fit Yannick, so I turned to the next best thing. Oh yes. Sam.

Tee hee hee

*giggle*

*grin*

Can’t you just tell I’ve scarred him for life? He’s trying to uphold his masculine dignity, but really, who can be dignified in hot pink fun fur? I know. He’ll be in therapy by his teens. God help me when I have real kids to torture!

Well guess who woke up with that gastro this morning? Yup. Moi. My father is so thrilled. I bet he can’t wait for the next time I get together with B and the kids. Maybe I’ll come back with the plague!

In any case, once I made it past the every-10-minute bathroom runs (again, no pun intended) I managed a bit of knitting. Ok, a lot of knitting. I was able to finish my cast on and do the ENTIRE headband! I’m kinda impressed with myself. This was my first two-handed fair isle attempt ever, and while I can’t say it felt totally natural, I do think it turned out quite good. No obvious puckering or pulling in, and you really can’t see a difference in tension from one color to the next.

the lovely outside with the pale blue snowflake pattern on the charcoal background

the lovely inside with all the floats.

The curly-looking borders around the snowflake design are 12 row stockinette sections that will be later turned to the inside against a purl turning row and then grafted together to make a band that hides the floats. That’s why the provisional cast on was used and instead of binding off I slipped the sts to waste yarn for now. I might press it before I graft to make it lie more flat.

Now I’m off to bed, thankful this gastro thing only lasts one day, even though tomorrow is my long day at work.

Ugh. After knocking on wood that we would somehow escape the gastro that was passed around all weekend, Yannick calls me today to tell me he’s heading home at lunch time, sick. Poor thing has been in bed all day except for the bathroom runs. (OMG no pun intended!) And of course, ever since he mentions that he’s sick, now I’ve had stomach cramps all day. Luckily not sick yet *knocking on more wood* but I’ll wait and see how tomorrow goes.

I got a minor bit of knitting-related stuff done tonight. I started casting on for my fair isle headband. I’m doing my first-ever provisional cast on using cotton waste yarn which will later be unravelled to leave live stitches so I can graft the back (inside) of the headband closed to hide all the floats on the inside. It’ll make sense later, I promise.

The snowflake design I’m doing is 20 sts wide, but I want a few sts between so the snowflakes don’t touch, so I decided on 3 sts between each. After measuring my little swatch I found out that 23 sts is 4.5″ wide. Measuring around my head on the diagonal (like I would wear a headband) gives me roughly 22″-23″. I want to make this headband snug so it stays on, but I also know that my first attempt at fair isle will probably pull in quite a bit. I decided to chain 115 sts with the waste yarn (4.5″/repeat x 5 repeats = 22.5″, 23 sts/repeat x 5 repeats = 115 sts). This chain is rediculously long. It wraps around my head more than once. I know it’s loose though. If I do only 4 repeats of the pattern which is a total of 92 sts, it gives me a finished diameter of 18″. I don’t know if that’s too snug. I can also adjust at will by doing more or less sts between each repeat.

This is what I’ve done so far. The bright yellow (that doesn’t look yellow here) is my waste yarn, the charcoal color is the main color I’m picking up the sts in.

This is as far as I got tonight because my brother came over to talk about his relationship and I got a bit sidetracked. I think tomorrow I will keep picking up until I have 92 sts, hold it around my head and if it’s too small I will try to figure out another multiple of the repeat with a different # of sts between.

Ugh. After knocking on wood that we would somehow escape the gastro that was passed around all weekend, Yannick calls me today to tell me he’s heading home at lunch time, sick. Poor thing has been in bed all day except for the bathroom runs. (OMG no pun intended!) And of course, ever since he mentions that he’s sick, now I’ve had stomach cramps all day. Luckily not sick yet *knocking on more wood* but I’ll wait and see how tomorrow goes.

I got a minor bit of knitting-related stuff done tonight. I started casting on for my fair isle headband. I’m doing my first-ever provisional cast on using cotton waste yarn which will later be unravelled to leave live stitches so I can graft the back (inside) of the headband closed to hide all the floats on the inside. It’ll make sense later, I promise.

The snowflake design I’m doing is 20 sts wide, but I want a few sts between so the snowflakes don’t touch, so I decided on 3 sts between each. After measuring my little swatch I found out that 23 sts is 4.5″ wide. Measuring around my head on the diagonal (like I would wear a headband) gives me roughly 22″-23″. I want to make this headband snug so it stays on, but I also know that my first attempt at fair isle will probably pull in quite a bit. I decided to chain 115 sts with the waste yarn (4.5″/repeat x 5 repeats = 22.5″, 23 sts/repeat x 5 repeats = 115 sts). This chain is rediculously long. It wraps around my head more than once. I know it’s loose though. If I do only 4 repeats of the pattern which is a total of 92 sts, it gives me a finished diameter of 18″. I don’t know if that’s too snug. I can also adjust at will by doing more or less sts between each repeat.

This is what I’ve done so far. The bright yellow (that doesn’t look yellow here) is my waste yarn, the charcoal color is the main color I’m picking up the sts in.

This is as far as I got tonight because my brother came over to talk about his relationship and I got a bit sidetracked. I think tomorrow I will keep picking up until I have 92 sts, hold it around my head and if it’s too small I will try to figure out another multiple of the repeat with a different # of sts between.