a southern gal in the north

ok.  so Nephew #2 ‘s birthday is well. uhm. Friday (as in this Friday).  Originally wanted to give him this great Airport from Lego but well, its a big out of the budget for now.

So since his mom (the Village Sister) has recently graciously but firmly requested only MACHINE washable items – the little sweet aran that I designed and was just adding the sleeves – and ready to do them in DPts too now that i am an expert you know (after ALL those gauntlets for gifties this past xmas)– anyway its kaput.    probably to be frogged.

but anywho back to the drawing board…and in my inbox was an email with a yarn sale…off to the website (Joanne) and ordered LionBrand Wool Ease in denim and red to be for simple sweaters – but well, that didn’t last too long. 

My nephew is a FIRE ENGINE and TRUCK fanatic – he knows more trucks than I ever imagined – thanks to a book called 100 TRUCKS (who knew?)    Its been in my mind to knit a sweater with one of those motifs for awhile.  Feeling emboldened by my Fair Isle experience at Camp last summer (and the practice on hats this past summer and fall), I looked thru EZ’s Opinionated Knitter and decided on the Fair Isle sweater pattern (with EPS styling). 

Then at my computer with EXCEL after a bit of time – who’s counting – designed a little fire engine and then added a border of ladders.  Really enjoyed doing this.  no.  REALLY.DID.

Last night swatched for gauge and cast on for a body of 23 inches (so he can grow into it ;o) .   Started on the ribbing (1–1) .  Tonight will finish ribbing – i guess two inches? – and then start the pattern.    Photos tomorrow.

ps we got a SMATTERING of snow – sorry its too late to take photos.

pps – A new KAL has been formed – for the RUSSIAN PRIME sweater of Meg’s (See MEG SWANSEN”S KNITTING).  Go see. Join.  It will be fun and challenging and you will learn lots.  Truly.

See Kay’s dilemma at MASON DIXON KNITTING 

And the GAUGE GHOUL is visiting my house too.

I know I have mentioned that after MANAANANANAY gauntlets knit for xmas I am rewarding myself with the WELCOME BACK FRIEND Aran sweater by Kathy Zimmerman from IK.  Its a bit loose fitting and for my first adult sized aran thought it would be a good pattern.

i even knit a swatch and based on the stitches and the wool (Patons Classic Wool) cast on the largest size – and knit about five inches – it was HUGE. 

So ripped out and went down a needle size (how the HECK DID my gauge change from the swatch and its not in the round either?) 

ok.  cast on the small size this time – and knit one whole pattern repeat of the largest pattern – 35 rows   You know what’s coming –  Just a bit too narrow for an aran now.

SIGH

So I was going to add an extra two panels on the back and make this the front – but rethought that and ripped back again!

Ok.  So before I ripped – I analysed and measured (OFF the needles) and determined that knitting the medium size should give me the ease I was looking for.

Ok.  So I am into the second repeat of the largest pattern (see below)

Here is a more artistic shot so you can see my lovely new Stitch Markers (a late birthday present – purchased from Black Water Abbey) Aren’t they purty – makes me feel like my knitting is special!  (I had sworn by the red rubber rings for years but now… well I don’t see any going back to them)

So I measured it laid flat in the top photo and its a bit larger than I had wanted.  But this pattern is a pain really to adjust cause those two stripes on the far sides of the panels are about 1.5 each.

Here are the options I am mulling over:

1.  Make the front with only one of the side panels on each side of the cables…then there would be three repeats of that panel and the middle one could be centered to be the side seam panel.

2.  Make the front the same as the back and have a biggish sweater – I guess for my first adult ARAN that wouldn’t be the end of the world – but …I really want to be able to wear this without it making me look like an big blue cable. 

3,. RIP OUT AGAIN (i REALLY dont want to – its turning REALLY cold today – a drop of 23 DEGREES ) and now that the cold weather is here to stay (presumably) I want to finish this and be able to wear it.

sigh sigh and more sighs

in other news – my Joann order came today – pretty quick delivery and a great sale is being had there.

The goodies:

1.  Patons Classic Merino Wool in Blue Storm for the Aran sweater (above).  I probably have enough but i LOVE this color.

2.  Lion Brand Wool Ease in Racing Red and Blue Denim for the nephews’ sweaters and things. 

Finally giving in and getting machine washable wool – this will be my first time knitting with this yarn – but I want my nephews to wear what I make .  The ages are good for handing down – the eldest will be five on the 20th, the next will be three on the 19th and the baby was born on Dec 23 06.  So anything made for the five year old will go down to the other two and the three year old and just born are brothers so there is inherent handing down there as well as possibility to make matching sweaters…. oh can’t wait!

So the other Aran sweater for the three yo in non machine washable wool will be ripped out – seem to be doing a bit of that these days – and I will cast on for a sweater for him with some kind of fire engine motif – need to play around with either intarsia or fair isle border or …… and something for the baby as well.

That’s Cordelia guarding the box that the yarn came in – from other kitties and things !

urh sick couch really.

my ickiness turned into a full blown SINUS infection.  fever hit 102 sometime Friday night saturday morning… then by sat it was down to 97 something.  but lots of sleeping over the last 24 hours.

of course the upstairs neighbors decided to BUILD something Friday night – i dont know what but by 10 pm i was ready to crawl up there and beg for mercy from the relentless hammering and furniture parts falling down on the ceiling OF COURSE directly over my sofa .

but it stopped at 1030 pm – however all yesterday and today there have been furniture pieces dragged across the floor and dropped on the floor and loud machinery doing something – cant tell if its sanding or vacuuming or what the heck is going on.  but for relatively quiet up til now neighbors they have turned into the monsters of noise this weekend .  of.course.

i am thinking maybe furniture and room re-arrangement due to impending baby (although she is not even showing yet so its got to be six months at least away). 

however if this keeps up tonight i will have to go say something… i mean. really.

couldn’t even watch tv saturday much less knit.  however today after sleeping FINALLY for a stretch of six hours this morning. i actually made tea and washed two days of dishes in the sink and even (well, will do it in a minute) cleaned the cat litter box.  its a rainy gray and ucky day outside and more predicted for tomorrow so am not feeling like i am missing much – although the weather is really screwed up.  its 40s today and supposed to be 15 on wed night… and then back to 40s next weekend.  no wonder i am getting sinus infections.

ok.  off to get more tea and try to find something to eat – maybe mac and cheese and then knit something mindless.

urh sick couch really.

my ickiness turned into a full blown SINUS infection.  fever hit 102 sometime Friday night saturday morning… then by sat it was down to 97 something.  but lots of sleeping over the last 24 hours.

of course the upstairs neighbors decided to BUILD something Friday night – i dont know what but by 10 pm i was ready to crawl up there and beg for mercy from the relentless hammering and furniture parts falling down on the ceiling OF COURSE directly over my sofa .

but it stopped at 1030 pm – however all yesterday and today there have been furniture pieces dragged across the floor and dropped on the floor and loud machinery doing something – cant tell if its sanding or vacuuming or what the heck is going on.  but for relatively quiet up til now neighbors they have turned into the monsters of noise this weekend .  of.course.

i am thinking maybe furniture and room re-arrangement due to impending baby (although she is not even showing yet so its got to be six months at least away). 

however if this keeps up tonight i will have to go say something… i mean. really.

couldn’t even watch tv saturday much less knit.  however today after sleeping FINALLY for a stretch of six hours this morning. i actually made tea and washed two days of dishes in the sink and even (well, will do it in a minute) cleaned the cat litter box.  its a rainy gray and ucky day outside and more predicted for tomorrow so am not feeling like i am missing much – although the weather is really screwed up.  its 40s today and supposed to be 15 on wed night… and then back to 40s next weekend.  no wonder i am getting sinus infections.

ok.  off to get more tea and try to find something to eat – maybe mac and cheese and then knit something mindless.