Sad Collar, Happy Sock
Hi there! Thanks for all of your encouraging thoughts and words for my sister ... she will totally kick ass and get lots of pledges and finish the marathon, I know it. Yay Cathy!
And happy belated Valentine's Day ... mine was great! Jacob made me yummy dinner (seafood pasta with scallops, shrimp and tuna -- see his artistic presentation here) and yummy key lime pie for dessert (my fave!). And then, we watched some Law and Order. Ahh .. dinner, TV, and my schmoo. Perfect.
I have been knitting, A LOT, in an attempt to finish the Super Sweater That Will Not Be Finished. With the help of a wise knitting friend, I managed to attach the sleeves. Evidence of one attached sleeve is here:
One sleeve attached. Check.
At this point, both sleeves are on, one sleeve is seamed, and I have attempted to attach the neckband ... *three* times.
First time, I tried the free loop backstitch thing and had NO IDEA what I was doing. Looked like crap. Pulled it out. Called Miss High Energy. She talked me through it. I thought I got it.
Second time, I dove right in. Finished attaching it. Admired my handiwork. Started looking closer... then Jacob tried it on. Here's what he said .. "Are you going to fix that lacy part?" D'oh! There were some holes.
Third time. Really concentrating. No lace. Finished up. THE COLLAR IS NOT IN THE CENTER OF THE SWEATER. What is wrong with me?
Clearly, I need professional help, so I'm meeting with Jenny this week for a session. I hope I can save it... Here's a picture of the sad little collar.
Please excuse my wonkiness. Carrie will fix me soon.
Ahem.
In happier knitting news, I finished a sock today! It's a pretty blue sock for me, using my own make-it-up-as-I-knit sock pattern.
Soft blue sock. All for me!
I knit this sock completely on two size 3 bamboo circs. So far, I think the gusset is easier with dpns, but the circs are much more portable. I tend to drop stitches when I'm toting a sock-in-progress on dpns (and it's usually just thrown in my purse on the way out the door) so the circs make it easier to literally throw the sock in a bag and go without losing stitches. Also, I'm currently running the spotlight for a local production of Fiddler on the Roof** so this sock has been my knitting in the dark between scenes project, and it's a lot easier to knit a sock on circs in the dark because there's only two join spots instead of four or three. Does that make sense? Yay. I'm starting the second one this weekend during the run, and hopefully I'll have it finished soon. I heart sock knitting.
Hopefully sometime this week, you will see a picture of a cute Jacob-schmoo wearing a fabulous Finished Sweater. Send neat, pretty Fluffa-like finishing vibes.
**if you're in town, I highly recommend it - it's good stuff. And I've seen it like FIFTY TIMES. And, um, don't tell the director I'm knitting in between scenes. :)
Comments (22)
The sock looks cozy. What yarn is that?
Posted by cari | February 20, 2005 11:40 AM
I so feel your pain! I find picking up collar stitches to be very difficult. I too am sending good karma your way... good luck. :)
Posted by Elizabeth | February 19, 2005 12:54 PM
You are SO gonna rock that collar! The sweater is looking good so far!!!
btw, does your schmoo have a brother that could come over and make ME pie?
Posted by Lara | February 18, 2005 2:03 PM
Did I ever tell you that I'm psychic?
Carrioke + HEJ = one kick ass sweater collar fully attached withOUT lacey bits!
That's my prediction at least! With all these good knitting vibes behind you, how can you go wrong? :)
Love the socks!
Posted by elizabeth | February 18, 2005 1:42 PM
Hi! You must have so much patience with your finishing. I once grafted the toe of a sock vertically instead of horizontally when I wasn't paying attention and practically cried when I had to rip it out and do it again.
I also just joined the Purling Puppies webring because I just got two new little schmoos and I couldn't be more excited for more fun knitting inspiration!
Posted by Nadia | February 18, 2005 10:09 AM
Here's some
*****good knitting karma******
Way to be so upbeat about it! I always grumble a bit about redux, but in the end you want it to be the best!
oh can't forget Cathy...
***good marathon karma***
take care!!
Posted by heather | February 18, 2005 9:23 AM
Carrie, I think it is so impressive how you're ripping out and fixing while remaining on such a positive attitude. And I'm chanting for you over here: Go Carrie, go Carrie! Soon we will see your Schmoo wearing a fabulous manly two-toned raglan with perfect finishing touches!
xoxoxo,
Becky
P.S. Katharina Buss has great illustrated instructions on sewing collars using that method. I bet you can find the book at a local library if you don't have it.
Posted by Becky | February 18, 2005 4:03 AM
Look at you, already making up socks as you go along!
Posted by alison | February 18, 2005 1:18 AM
Aw, hell, I work on freaking Broadway and *I* knit between scenes (currently Knitty's Tempting - perfect brainless ribbing!) Tell the director that's how they do it in New York!
Posted by laurel | February 18, 2005 12:50 AM
Your collar will be perfect! I can already tell... and besides, it's only fair.
Cozy socks- how I love them! The best portable (or secret) knitting ever.
Posted by Mary-Heather | February 17, 2005 11:25 PM
consider this to be some schmooey sweater vibes.
MMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMsweaterMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM. xoxo MJ
Posted by MJ | February 17, 2005 10:45 AM
That sweater is fabulous--Jacob is certainly a lucky guy. And you *must* show me how to knit socks on circs. The dpns are taking me FOREVER.
Posted by Stephanie | February 17, 2005 8:42 AM
I am sending super good vibes your way for the finished collar. You can do it! Thanks for letting me come hang out. I mean spleen.
Posted by jenny | February 17, 2005 5:51 AM
L'chaim.
Posted by Catherine | February 16, 2005 11:44 PM
when can I come over for dinner??? yummmy
don't worry about the sweater-I made one for my husband and had to practically knit the whole thing 3 times
Posted by joy | February 16, 2005 11:33 PM
I'm calling Tom right now. He'll yell at you on the headset, and then you'll be sorry!
Ask him to tell you about the time in his youth when he was running lights and missed a cue because he was playing some game (backgammon, maybe?) in another part of the theatre. Good story.
Posted by Amy | February 16, 2005 9:42 PM
Oh you are getting there though!
Can I borrow Jenny for my sweater? :)
Posted by frecklegirl | February 16, 2005 9:28 PM
You know what's even better than two circs? One super long circ! I had my doubts, but it's fantastic. I don't lose any stitches and you can see where everything joines and...only one set of needles needs to be perfect! (I think it's the Magic Loop, but it's not that magic. Nobody get cut in half or anything.)
Posted by kristin | February 16, 2005 8:53 PM
Yummy! That sounds like an amazing dinner and great night. Sometimes staying home is much more fun. The sock looks great. Socks on circs is on my list of must-learns.
Posted by Vicki | February 16, 2005 6:38 PM
Good grief, did you get in some kind of time machine to finish that sock? It looks great, I can't believe how much you got done since I saw it last night!
And Jacob certainly can make a kick ass key lime pie...so, uh, is there any left?
Posted by Anne Marie | February 16, 2005 5:04 PM
Bless him for making you dinner, your favourite dessert AND standing there letting you take his picture half dressed. He's a gem!
Posted by Tracy | February 16, 2005 4:55 PM
May your seams be invisible, your joining without holes, the collar immaculate, and your jacob most appreciative!
Posted by meg | February 16, 2005 4:34 PM