sweetgeorgia

Saltwater. I finished a sweater.

It’s sunny. It’s Friday. And I have a new sweater.

… more, better photos will be coming… but these are just quick snapshots until then.

It’s knit in my worsted weight yarn (Saltwater colourway) from the top down and finished with a stretch of vine lace at the bottom. I’m pretty sure I knit the sleeves the same length… I measured and everything… but it still “appears” as if one sleeve is longer than the other. Hmm. Maybe my arms aren’t the same length.

The design is my own and I’m knitting up a second version of it in a sportweight yarn. The worsted weight version was so quick to knit, it practically knit itself… but with the sportweight version, I’m seeking a lighter quality to the lace bit and a finer fabric altogether. I’m looking forward to more knitting this weekend…

I knit.

Yes, in fact, I do still knit. Unfortunately, I don’t think I am particularly productive… my knitting speed is not terribly bad, but I just never seem to finish things… all the while, I have a million things I want to make. I think one of the Twist Collective issues had an article about knitting productivity. Something about always asking yourself if you are knitting… if not, why not? It’s not about knitting fast, it’s about always knitting. It is, of course, a little bit difficult to always have knitting in your hands when you are busy mixing dyes and bookkeeping, or lesson planning and warping, but that is probably the same as anyone with a day job. I don’t have a television, so there’s very little sitting-down time. Some days, I fantasize about afternoons where I have no responsibilities, no phone calls to make, no emails to answer… and I can just sit and knit for hours at a time. Maybe that day will be today. It’s sunny and warm in Vancouver today. It’s Friday.

Here’s what I’m actually knitting:

I guess it’s a recurring theme… the need to focus on one direction. I don’t know if this is a lesson I will ever fully learn. I’m just too easily distracted by lovely, engaging things.

On a totally different tangent, I was so happy to see Alexa’s yarns up on her blog… several weeks ago, she was in our dye class at the studio and produced some beautiful hand dyed yarns.

Another student came by the studio this week to show me some of the panda roving she spun up recently… so utterly fabulous… that and her “Wicked” sweater in Cascade 220 complete with front pocket (I love it and am tempted to make one now). A few girls have contacted me about renting wheels to try their hand at spinning and I’m constantly delighted that there are new spinners being born each day.

The weather is getting phenomenal in Vancouver and in the upcoming weeks, I’d love to host a little spin-in at the studio… most likely on a Saturday afternoon. Possibly May 23rd? We’ll see. Drop me a line if you might be interested in coming with your wheel… or your knitting… ’cause, as you know, I do still knit.

Three more rows to go.

I am mere stitches away from finishing the Central Park Hoodie.

So close to being done.

Michelle reminded me that I should show the finished product already… but it’s not yet done.

All the seams are done and I’ve tried it on… I love it already. I’m terrible at finishing projects since I kind of rush through the seaming process. It all ends up a bit messy, but this time I took my time, pin-basted the pieces together and seamed with a strong backstitch or fake grafting. Now I just have to finish picking up the front bands and making buttonholes. Then, I’ll have a thick wool cabled hoodie ready to wear, just in time for the hottest days of July.

Blocking Central Park

All the main bits and pieces are done for the Central Park Hoodie… so I’m just blocking the pieces before I seam the shoulders and pick up for the hood.

Now, I have to decide on buttons or zipper for the closure… I’m leaning towards buttons.