Vine Yoke Cardigan COMPLETE

The cardigan is finally complete, and I'm wearing it at this very moment! I'm pretty happy with it, although I might give it a second blocking just to try to add some length to the body and get the shoulders to keep from bunching up. Overall though it was a fast knit and a fun project. I have full information about sizing and modifications over on Ravelry for those who like all those fiddly details, and for those who don't- this post is done.

A teaser...

Ravelympics have commenced!!

This may be a little vulgar, but it's 1am and I'm tired so indulge me... the picture above is actually my dear little monster's bum!

As mentioned previously, for the Ravelympics I will be knitting Seamus von Swimmy for my sister. Here is a teaser of the progress that was made during the opening ceremony. I am also proud to say that my other two projects were finished with all ends woven in before the opening ceremony and they are now blocking in my living room.
Many more pictures to come, but for now I am le tired. Off for some honk-shuuuuu and then more knitting fun tomorrow!

Your monster is coming sister dearest, he's a comin!

Knitting Goals

This is proof that I am able to meet some of my goals. This time last year all I could do was hats and scarves, then I learned how to cable, and then I got on Ravelry. This has made me a much less fearful knitter and I've been open to trying new techniques. Last February I would not believe that I could make a sweater, that to me was what "real knitters" did. While I've now made three sweaters I don't yet feel like a "real knitter" but I'm getting there (this is a teaser of the Vine Yoke Cardigan which I did indeed finish, I just need to block it and add buttons!)

I'm sitting on the couch with Rick, watching Bear Grylls do stupid things on Man vs. Wild, and looking through fiber classes in Boston and it got me thinking about goals. Now that I'm at the point in my knitting where I can fairly consistently make a project that at least vaguely resembles the pattern I'm looking to advance my skills more.

What things do I want to work? Well I'm so glad you asked?

Short term goals:

• Improve my finishing skills, make each piece that much more "mistake-free"
• Learn how to do entrela
  
• Getting more comfortable with cables, oh how I dread those twisty devils
• Finally writing up some legible designs, I have a languishing mitten pattern that has no thumbs

Longer term goals:

• Learn to dye, I feel like this would be like a kid in a candy store: turning natural fiber into all different beautiful shades (I remember when my Mom used to weave and dye fiber in the basement, people would call and ask for her and I'd respond "Oh, she's in the basement dyeing")
  
• Learn to spin!! (Rick should watch out because I have a feeling this is the gateway to me pushing for us to own and run a fiber farm...)
• Join the Knitting Guild Association and do a correspondence course (thinking the professional finishing skills)
  

Long longer term goals:

• Working on a Knitting Guild Association Master Knitting Level 1 (this is a big commitment but I'm thinking once I'm done with grad school and settled into a full time job I'll want something to give me a challenge both intellectually and creatively)

So whatya think? What are your goals?

Knitter's Boyfriend's Observations...

The following is a list of observations posted to Ravelry by user Padgee. I found this to be uproariously funny and had to share it will all you non-ravelers out there (but seriously, what are you waiting for? go join now!). Enjoy:

"I am not a knitter. I joined Ravelry to see where my girlfriend spends her time on the internet lol. In the 10 or so months that she’s been knitting I’ve been secretly/overtly observing and documenting this crazy thing called yarn and what it does to people. These things I know to be true.

1. Yarn is NOT string and should not be referred to as such.
2. Knitting needles are not sticks,stix, or styx.
3. Casting on is NOT a fishing metaphor.
4. Yarn comes in different weights, colors, styles. Kind of like drugs.
5. People dye their own yarn with varying degrees of success.
6. Knitting is taken everywhere. No exceptions are to be made.
7. Fun fur is frowned on by “real” knitters.
8. “Lemme just finish this round” is a lot like me saying “Lemme just finish this round of video games” fair enough
9. A collection of yarn is a “stash” much like drugs.
10. Yarn barf is actually a thing.
11. Ravelry has a weird economy of bartering. Yarn can be exchanged for other goods not related to yarn. ????? Weird.
12. There are knitting groups, where other like minded knitters knit together and (this part is an assumption) talk about how knitters should rule the world.
13. Do NOT sit on or around yarn left on the sofa. This will cause knitter in the other room to jump up and rescue said ball of yarn from your evil ass.
14. Thank goodness there are no shows about knitting on Primetime TV.
15. Stitch markers are NOT earrings.
16. Lots of knitters have kittehs. You know who also had them? Witches.
17. If I want something, “Did you want to go to the yarn store?” are the first words out of my mouth.
18. Yarn stores are populated by alpha knitters. Some stores are better than others. Michaels is not a suitable substitute for a yarn store.
19. The needles that are attached with wire to each other, do not make good nunchuks.
20. Kitteh won’t chase a ball of yarn no matter how many balls you throw at his head.

These things I know to be true."

Like I said, I was significantly and substantially amused so I had to share. Now I will have to find out if my own boyfriend agrees, although I know Rick has had to experience #13 several times.

Happy Snow Day!