Here is my quickie FO from Knitty - Three Tams, Option B. I have cast-on for Option A already. I will pick up my Transition Gloves as soon as the second tam is complete. It is such a fun and easy project. I chose muted colors on this one, so the entire design is a little less apparent. I love it none-the-less. Here are two quickie pics, but I will have real ones uploaded later. I'm still using the gray yarn as my main color, but a more springy choice for the contrasting color.
Specs:
Pattern: Three Tams by Angela Sixian Wu
Yarn: Patons Classic Wool Merino in Dark Grey Mix (less than 1/2 the skein) and Patons SWS (Soy Wool Stripes)in Natural Navy (3/4 skein)
Size: One size fits all
Needles: US 6 (24" circular) and US 4 (16" circular)
Notes: While I tend to knit larger and therefore drop one needle size on all projects, I know my stranded knitting is a bit tighter. I kept the needle sizes that were suggested in the pattern and it fits perfectly. I like the little slouch on the side. It's also not too large where you can't see that I even have hair - the drawbacks of going very short and wanting to wear hats! lol.
I am feeling the color work thing. That's right; I'm now obsessing about something that I use to avoid like the plague. Of course, that was because I had never done it and assumed I would fail miserably. Ms. Tomato changed all of that. I'm still plugging away on my Transition Gloves and have gone out and purchased yarn for the Three Tams project from Knitty. My inspiration...Canary Knits. I'm starting off with Tam B and will go for Tam C if it's a success. I also purchase Euny Jang's Deep V Argyle Vest. Check it out in Ravelry. There's some beautiful FOs. This will be a huge undertaking, so I'm going to go for my gloves and the Tam first. This will also be my first go at steeks. The idea of actually advancing my knitting skills feels good, especially with 11+ years under my belt. It's about time I expand and get out of my comfort zone.
Just a quick post letting you all know that I survived surgery. Tonsil and adenoid removal in your thirties is quite a different creature than as a kid, believe me. My uvula has been so swollen that I'm only able to do broths and a bit of yogurt here and there. I swear I have a tiny penis hanging from the back of my throat - which is NOT a good thing. lol.
I'm back at work today, taking it slow and trying to catch up on things. I came in briefly on Saturday to dig through the email and snail mail messages, which has helped me in not feeling overwhelmed. I am exhausted, though. Since I'm not legally allowed to drive under the influence of my meds, I had to wait until I got to work to take them, which had me crying on my way in this morning. As soon as I got to work, I popped them in my mouth, but that means I'm stuck plugging away for at least six hours to allow the meds to wear off, so I can drive myself home!
Not much knitting or moving was done during my healing process, just a small start on the transition gloves. I'm really digging it, except that I'm now tinkering back the top portion since I've misread the instructions twice. I think I get what they're saying now, so I should be able to complete the left glove and start on the second by this weekend. A great first color work for sure.
I am off to have surgery at 7:15 am tomorrow. I've been told that I will be out of commission for 2 weeks. I hope to crank out some major knitting this first week, since I'm scheduled to go back to work after one week. I'm still working out the kinks - who'se taking me, who's watching me for the first 24 hours, and who's keeping me for the first week, but I'm feeling pretty okay with everything as it stands.
First things first - Sarah from What if Knits is having a blogiversary contest that benefits animals. Go check it out! I'm adding a link to my side bar as well. My first cat Tupper (R.I.P) was a barn cat and my other two - Hannah and Scofield are Animal Shelter cats. I stand by her contest 100% and think we should all have fun in a contest that will benefit local charities.
I received the "You Make My Day Award" from Ruby's N Purls. She is fabulous and Made my Day by giving this to me! So here's how it works:
Give the award to up to 10 people whose blogs bring you happiness and inspiration and make you feel so happy about Blogland! Let them know by posting a comment on their blog so that they can pass it on. Beware! You may get the award several times!
So I figure that I'll mention those that I obsess over each day. These are even checked several times a day (I know, just get an RSS feed, huh. No way! I enjoy obsessing! lol).
1. Anna's Flying Needles. She's my first blogread of the day, and she never disappoints.
2. Canary Knits. Not only does she make fabulous knitwear from current designers, she dabbles in making her own creations. I expect to start buying her designs any day!
3. Delana Knits. She is amazing. I'm pretty sure she beat out everyone in my blog roll for the amount of 2007 FOs she completed. She is amazing. From colorwork to lace, she's done it!
4. Gail Knits. I have had the pleasure of meeting Gail to knit in public. She's such a sweet heart and a talent in her own right. She can crochet, too and even suggested that I try it as an easier finishing technique (since I'm seamingly challenged...catch the joke....seamingly.lol).
5. Green Apples. No talk up needed here. This girl actually gets me jealous. She hasn't even been knitting for very long. I think a little over a year. Pure talent. That's all I can say. I purchased the transition gloves kit after seeing hers. Scared to make them, but that's another story.
6. MLE Knits. I think that I am in her head, because we have so many projects (both FOs and queued) in common. I love when she completes hers first, so I can see the project in all it's fabulousness.
7. Ruby's N Purls. Of course she couldn't think that she's going to not get this award right back, since she makes MY day! We've been knitting in the same KAL circles for awhile now, and I feel like I actually know her.
8. Sknitty. She comes in as a close second to Delana on 2007 FOs. She counted a total of 50 projects. Tres vite!
9. Team Knit. I'm so happy I ran across this dynamic duo. They really have a unique voice and fab FOs. They even share some pics of tasty treats that they've made, too. Yumm all around.
10. Yarn Crawl. Last - only because I went in alphabetical order, Robin from Yarn Crawl is a blessing to the blogging community. Many of my daily blog reads were spotted on her blogroll. She always leaves inspirational comments and has hosted two amazing KALs, Fitted Knits and Knitting Lingerie Style.
In knitting news...I frogged my camisole. The pieces were not the right measurements and for the life of me I can figure out why the second armhole doesn't match the first. I will revisit this again down the road, but with so many projects on queue, why not move on? I chose the yarn for my lacy cardigan project to go to a new project by Sensual Knits. It's the Transparency Sweater. Gorgeous. I'm still on the I-cord cast-on, a first for me. I'm really happy with how it looks already. Cast-on row, can you believe it?
My final images of from the Italian Carnivale in Little Italy in San Diego. The mini-festival took place this past Saturday. They close part of the streets down and have singing and people in masks on stilts. Here's two pics I took while driving back:
Happy Friday everyone. Not a lot to share in the knitting world. I have been working on the Camisole from Knitting Lingerie Style book. I have completed the upper back and left front. I should finish the right front this evening and then join it for working the bottom lace portion. Here's my progress so far:
I've been a bit under the weather, which is not good seeing as I'm scheduled for my tonsil and adenoid removal this Thursday. Because I'm congested, they'll have to play it by ear as far as going ahead with the surgery. I'm taking pills 3 times a week along with cough syrup with codeine at night. I'm hoping this will work. Tully is taking the cats on Wednesday for his 2-month time with them. His place is a lot larger, so Scofield will be happy to get space to run like a banshee. Since it's on the 3rd floor as opposed to the first floor where I'm at, they can go out on the porch and enjoy the fresh air.
Speaking of fresh air, I went to a Design and Manufacturing trade show in Anaheim yesterday. I drove up from San Diego 87 miles each way, landing across from Disney Land. I'll have to drive up again sometime to actually go in. lol. Here's a few pics from my trip.
Since I forgot to bring the right side of the camisole, I'm planning on starting Jennie Atkinson's barely-there cardigan known as "Lacy Cardigan #22" during my hour lunch today.
