Knitting Updates - More Simply Marilyn

I first just wrote this and it was too random and didn't really seem to say much, so am not switching to list form - got to love lists. Warning - number one is long.



1. Blog Community: Wow, I just thought I'd do a quick google to find the Interweaves image for the Simply Marilyn sweater and stumbled upon people's blogs about their adjustments for the sweater. I really need to learn that there is a community out there that I should use especially as research before starting a popular sweater.



2. Simply Marilyn: Well back in October last year I finished the Simply Marilyn sweater - free pattern here. I didn't use the expensive cashmerino yarn called for, but had a good substitution wool yarn. I plugged along, it was a fast knit and in the end I got a teaser sweater. I call it a teaser sweater because it was almost great. It was too short both in the arms and torso for me. It was a bit bulkier than I would have liked. But otherwise turned out to be a very distinctive, beautiful sweater. However, with those "minor" issues it wouldn't really get worn and sit in the back of the closet - hense a tease.







It's now September, almost a year, and enough time has gone by to unravel all the hard work. As mentioned earlier I carefully measured and made comments on the instructions before undoing the work. The sleeves I only had to undo back a quarter of the way to allow for elongation in the correct area. The front and back had to be undone in their entirity. Well, working on the front, I decided to cast on 8 less stitches (called for 68 - CO 60). And I've been working on the shaping for the waist.






Funny thing, looking at other people's comments: from fig and plum to stacy's there is no mention of need for elongation so think that might just be me. They did comment on the bulkiness and lack of fitting for the shape. I am a bit waifish like the model so don't think I need to do as much as they are. Although I'm starting to wonder if I should have reduced the size for the sleeves as well. Those are quick so will just wait and see.







Anyways, I'm almost done the front - cranked most of it out last night while trying to get sleepy for bed. Done the sleeves, and am not doing the neck until I've stitched up everything to make sure it fits. So really only have the back to do. Good progress - that's whats so nice - it's so simple. The bad news - I don't have circular needles in the right size so have been knitting on the old fashioned straight sticks.



3. Circle Needle Convert: What with the weight of the sweater and the new way of holding things my hand cramped up a bit. I guess I'm a bit of a convert now on circulars - never understood originally. Also I'm dying to bring the project on the road but the straight needles require too much elbow room which I just don't have on the bus/subway.



4. Ravelry Prep: I'm starting to get the yarn in order so as to process it for photographing in preperation for joing ravelry. Frankly, I'm more interested in accessing all the info on there than showcasing my work. But as friends have started documenting their stash and completed projects, I've caught the bug and am excited about it - plus it's organizing, how can you not love that. Granted, all I've done so far is wind some balls of yarn on the winder. Gotta start somewhere.



5. PeaPod Sweater: Still working on yet another Pea Pod sweater for a friends baby - the largest size. It's a good travel project and frankly I seem to only knit it at staff meetings so it's been slow going.



6. UFOs: I've tried to finish up random projects. Not much exciting knitting news to report. I've staved off starting any new projects until these are done. I am stuck on two projects though. One is the orange cardigan from this sweater - need to learn how to knit in a different die lot of yarn. The second sweater I recently discovered and wondered why I hadn't finished it - I ran out of yarn. So need to make an expedition to find something that matches - doesn't have to be exact.



Don't know why I wanted to blog about all of this right now, as I don't usually report on knitting until I've finished something and even then it's a hit or a miss. Anyways, that's the report.