Vacation Crafting

I spent all of last week chained to the desk in my spare room doing work, so I wouldn't have to do any work this week (that plan failed.  I've checked the email everyday this week, even if I didn't act on it).

However I do have some knitting related items to share with you.
The Cambridge Jacket is 99% finished!

I still need to modify the zipper (the instruction called for a 26in zipper, I bought a 24in zipper, and it's still too big) but do you remember what I said about the size issue?

Yeah . . .It fits me.  This will definitely swamp my dad.  I'm a little worried about this.
(momentary pause to acknowledge that it is currently 89 degrees outside and I'm standing here in a wool sweater)

I have a few things I need to finish on the jacket (weaving in ends mostly), but the jacket is largely done.  I feel pretty good about it because it is my first completed sweater, it looks pretty decent and I learned a lot.  The Rubicon has been crossed.

I've also done some sewing this week.  I finished this in two hours last night.

The back of the DPN Case

DPN Case Interior

When it comes to sewing, I don't have a case of Startitis.  I can sit and look at the pattern and the fabric all day long and won't cut the fabric.  However, I have to admit that once I get started, I'm always pleased with the results.  I still sew decently well.

I've been working on this hat all week

M'Gonigle Hat

I loved the pattern when I saw it on Ravelry and I thought it would be a breeze, since the cable pattern has the look of the Bayerische socks I knit two years ago (wow, has it been that long?).

I've had to rework this hat 4 or five times.  Every day I end up tinking something because I either forgot to do a second repeat of the cables, or I messed up the pattern or I put the pattern where it wasn't supposed to be.  Either way, I goofed something.  But now I'm almost at the end of one skein of Stroll Sport Mink Heather and ready to finish this off.

In sad news, Needles and Knobs in St. Petersburg is the newest victim of the economy.  I got her email yesterday saying she was going out of business.  I know I should run up there to see what is on clearance, but since I just spent $151 at A Good Yarn Monday, I'm holding off.  I'll probably go on Friday.

The Cambridge Jacket

I am trying not to say "I HATE SEAMS", but I'm really feeling that way.

This jacket is turning out really well.  I can see myself doing another sweater from my queue, but I need to find a better way to manage shoulder seams.  I have the side and sleeve seams down pat, but seaming in set-in shoulders is getting the best of me.

I am worried about the size, though.  I'm probably twice the size of my dad and I made this jacket in the 39" size.  Soo.....

Why do I fit in this jacket?  With room to spare?  This is very scary.  It will SWAMP my father.

Weekday Vignette: Sunday

Well, here's another travel update story.

Sunday (7/25/2010) was supposed to be an easy day.  I would sleep in, then drive to the airport to catch my flight to LaGuardia, drive up to Westchester, have dinner and enjoy the season's premiere of Mad Men.  Well, that didn't happen....Enjoy!

---

9:00 AM:  Finish packing.  Take nap.

11:15 AM:  Wake up to the sound of the cell phone.  Delta is calling me to tell me that my "3:15 pm flight to New York--LaGuardia has been delayed to 4:30PM.  We regret any inconvenience this may cause . . ."  I smile and roll over to continue my nap.

2:15 PM:  Leave the house to head to Tampa.  I need to return some items to IKEA and this is the most time-efficient way to do it without using extra gas.

2:40 PM:  Phone rings.  Delta is calling me to tell me that my "4:30 PM flight to New York--LaGuardia has been cancelled.  We regret any inconvenience this may cause . . ."  SERIOUSLY!!!  You mean I just wasted my gas on a cancelled flight?  Nah, dude, you are getting me to NYC today.

The Final Stretch

I'm headed into the final stretch with the Cambridge Jacket cardigan.  All the pieces have been blocked.

Cambridge Jacket--Left and Right Fronts

Cambridge Jacket--Sleeve

Now for the sewing up part. . .

Progress

Isn't it a great feeling when you attempt something that serves to illustrate how much experience you've gained since you first learned to do it?  I remember the first time I made a sock. . .well, a sock-like object. That sock would only fit a person with extra-wide feet and cankles.  The important part, however, was that I followed a sock pattern and ended up understanding how socks were created, how gussets work, and why those weird instructions actually worked to create something that would cup the feet.

Since then, I've made plenty of socks and hats, but I still had my own personal Rubicon to cross:  Sweaters.  That's right, there are absolutely no sweaters in my repertoire.  Why?  Well, let me see:

1. I'm a plus-sized woman, which means:
1. There's a shortage of patterns to work with (Big Girls Knits, notwithstanding)
2. I don't like most plus-sized patterns
3. All those patterns require a great deal of yarn
4. I really didn't have the money to buy the yarn required
2. I tried making a sweater once before but it was a disaster, because
1. Instead of trying to follow a pattern and learn the basics, I tried to modify the pattern from the beginning.
2. The sweater in question wasn't even for me; It was for my dad
3. I was a really slow knitter, so I was easily distracted and bored

All the items above meant that sweater knitting, for me, was more of a hassle than a joy.  However, I started reorganizing my yarns last month and realized that it was a shame (and really ridiculous) that I had so many cardigans and pullovers in my Ravelry Queue, but I never knit them.

Hello Rubicon.

I had the yarn in question, I had the time necessary, I just needed the right project.  I started the Cambridge Jacket 2 weeks ago thinking that it would take me at least a month.  I am proud to report that at 5:20 this morning, I bound off the second sleeve and threw everything into the washing machine for a quick bath before blocking.

Now I wish I hadn't drunk so many cups of tea.  I need to sleep.