A Summer Top

I'm frantically knitting to finish John's sweater, so I have to keep this short!

Girl on the Wing

Pattern: Icarus by Leah Goldstein via Knitty
Yarn: Knit Picks Comfy Worsted in October
Needles: US 5 and 4
Project Page

For this year's Tops, Tanks, and Tees Knit-along, I was super excited to knit this top. The yarn had been destined for something else years ago, but I found it in my stash and decided it would do for this just perfectly.

Excitement aside, not all went as planned. The chart wasn't right, the directions for the armhole shaping on the front wasn't right, and the sleeve caps aren't right, either, so I had to do quite a bit of tweaking along the way to get it to work for me. Aside from fixing those things, I shortened it by 2" and didn't do any waist-shaping. I regret shortening it, but I think I'll go back and pick out the cast-on so I can add the length. I'm not crazy about how it's curling, so a lower edging might be in order too. The sleeves are also going to go. It's going to need a new FO post when I get done with it, lol.

I left extensive notes on my project page (including charts), but, if you love this pattern, worry not! I got a message from the designer just today that she is submitting my fixes to Knitty as errata (that might just mean the chart, though). So just wait for the errata to appear and you can have a lovely version of your own. :)

I'm glad I finally got to work with this cotton. It's a beautiful color and it's so, so soft! It sheds a bit, but that's nothing for how lovely it is.

I named the top for a song by The Shins. It's been a Shins kinda summer so far. :) How has your summer been? I probably asked that on Wednesday, didn't I? I need the weekend, if you couldn't tell. :P

Summer

Oh hi there! Summer has arrived. I thought that might mean a bit of relaxation, but John and I dove right back into the books. Our own now, no more teaching to worry about. That leaves a lot of time for studying, which feels pretty great for a change. Gotta jump on that train before it speeds past. We both have a lot of work to do this summer, so the sooner we set a schedule, the better.

This past weekend bumped our schedule around a little as we went out of town to visit my family. It was a really great visit, but now we've got to get back to work.

Of course there is always time for knitting! I've been knitting John's sweater as I read. It would be getting larger faster, but the book I'm reading is interesting and helpful (for a change!), which means I'm taking lots of notes. :)

I finished a tee for the Tops, Tanks, and Tees KAL. I should have that to share on Friday. It was a lot more work than I bargained for, but I think it was worth it.

How is summer shaping up for you? I hope you are also keeping busy in joyful ways.

For more WIP Wednesday posts, head to Tami's Amis.

Reflections

This isn't going to be a post that's very faithful to today's prompt, but rather a heartfelt thank you to all the new visitors today and every day this week. I really enjoyed prepping for this blogging week. Sometimes it can be a chore, but I had fun! I hope you all did to.

If I haven't made the rounds to all of your blogs it is because my computer is in the shop and it's just not feasible on my tablet. Besides that, I'm supposed to be grading, so I'll have more time to mosey through them next week. I can't wait to read them!

I'm supposed to be writing something from last year's Day 7, but I didn't do a post that day. But Day 2, that I did do. I have nothing more to say about last year's post except that I did make my wedding dress and I posted about it and, nope, I'm not married yet, but I'm hoping I'll still fit in it next year or the year after or the year after that when I do get married. :) We're in no hurry. That's a good thing though because there's sewing to be done to finish it off with a sash and a tulle underskirt. If it doesn't fit by the time I do get married, I've got mooooooore than enough yarn for another go at it. ;)

Thanks again for stopping by! I hope you'll make a habit of it. :)

Nanny

All my life I've known that my great-grandmother (Nanny to us) was a magnificent crocheter and knitter. I have no memory of seeing her do it, but I have the products to prove that she did and she did it well!

I talk about her as though she's gone, but she's still around. 92! She just doesn't crochet or knit anymore. A few years ago, she asked me to remind her how to cast on so she could knit some house slippers. She couldn't get the hang of it, but she wasn't too discouraged. She just found something else to do instead.

I wish I had that ability. When my knitting pisses me off, I waste hours trying to fix it or show it who's boss, or just steam about it. I can't set it aside and work on something better. Maybe next time I'll cuddle up under this beautiful blanket, admire her work, and feel better about my current failing. Just a bump in the road. I mean, look at this gorgeous thing! Who can be mad at some sticks and string for a moment when you've created something as beautiful as this?

That's something I don't do very often. I rejoice in a project as soon as I finish it, but I very seldom revisit projects and just look at them and bask in my own talent. I think we should all do that. We make stuff! We make beautiful stuff! Some of that stuff might have mis-crossed cables or a dropped stitch or crooked eyelets (I should also write about my grandmother, whose knitting is almost tragically flawed, yet she laughs about it and moves to the next project. She's a riot and a sweetheart), but only we will ever see those things. To the rest of the world, they are beautiful things and we should see that too.

Video Tour

There should be a video tour of a recent finishing project here. If there isn't, it's because my computer is who knows where and I couldn't figure out any other way to get it here. The latter case would make this a not at all creative post, but you can find loads of them by Googling the weird-looking tag below. :)

The Swift

I am the humble Swift. I'm supposed to be happily twirling, decked in gorgeous yarns. With all the knitting Ness does, you would think I'd be spinning all the time, dancing with my buddy the ball winder. Do you know how many times I've been put to work this year? Once! Now I'm an unemployed swift.

Not entirely unemployed, I guess. I've become keeper of the sock yarn remnants. But is that what I was built for? No!

Hi, Swift. I hope you don't feel too offended that you're a bit dusty. There are a few reasons and I hope you'll understand. Do you remember that gorgeous stack of blue-green Shibui we wound? It was beautiful! You have always done such a great job for me. You've done a lot of work and I just want to give you a rest. I'm knitting from cones and frogged yarn and sometimes it's just soothing to sit on the couch, watch some tv, and wind a skein from my knees. If I had a surface you could clamp to nearer the couch, you bet I'd use you! But I thought you could use a break. Enjoy a vacation for a while. I've got plenty of work for you to do later.

Photographing Works-in-Progress

I have the hardest time photographing works in progress. My default is the close-up of a pretty stitch marker in a sea of indistinguishable knitting. It works out most of the time. But what about something a bit more visual? Maybe this will be a bit better for showing the "progress" of a work-in-progress.

Google the tag below to see more innovative photography ideas.

SPS Seeking HCS

Hi there! I'm Same Lines, Different Colors! I'm a scarf. A well-loved scarf who is trusted and dependable. I love my job keeping Ness' neck safe from the wicked prairie winds, but I feel like something is missing, like I was meant to be a part of something greater!

So here I am, a Single Pink Scarf seeking a Handsome Cozy Scarf to hang beside for all the rest of my days.

Age: I'm not a young scarf. I am two years old, but I have aged well. Only a pill here and there. :)
Hobbies: I love to watch people. They happen by so often, it's hard not to, honestly.
Dream Date: A long stroll amid fluffy snowflakes, tucked around an appreciative neck.
Dislikes: Slowpokes. If you trail too far behind, you're going to get caught on something!

Oh! Wait! I have a message from a match:

Dear Same Lines, Different Colors,

What are you doing, you silly scarf? Don't you know that Ness made you for a reason? You match me! I've been hanging beside you all along and I intend to forever.

Love,
It's a Scarf

Google the funny looking tag below to find more dating profiles of other lovely knits!

A Day in the Life of Tweety Pie

Hello! I'm Tweety Pie! Welcome to Bunnies and Bettas! Ness is taking part in the 5th Annual Knitting and Crochet Blog Week. She left me in charge today. Maybe I'll change the blog name to Bunnies and Birdies while I'm here...?

She wanted me to tell you about a day in my life. I lead a blessed life as indoor gardener. Look at how beautiful this plant is! All thanks to me! Oh, sure, John fetches water once in a while and pulls off the dead leaves, but I'm the real gardener in this house!

Today, I spied from my window perch a lovely planter outside. But, no birdy to watch over it! Well, we can't have that, can we?

So I flitted my cute little self outside to check on the plants. Not too shabby! Ness must be carrying the water out as needed (surprise surprise).

I nested in the corner for the rest of the day to see that the plants received the right amount of light and, in this case, shade. I would have loved to set up shop there all night, but it was a bit too chilly in the evening, so Ness brought me back inside. I can't forget about my indoor responsibilities, after all.

Check back in tomorrow! Ness has instructed me to turn control of the blog over to her favorite scarf. It is a nice scarf. She always waves hello and goodbye to me as she heads in and out the door.

Google the goofy-looking tag you see below in order to find the Day in the Life of many other knitted objects around the 'net!

Ah Ah Ah Ah!

(That's my Count von Count laugh)

Oh boy, do I have a full post for you today! It was Wednesday's post, but then I walked away for a moment and suddenly it was Friday. I think you'll figure out what happened as you read on. :) First of all, thank you so much for your reassuring and encouraging comments on my sweater post a couple weeks ago. I decided to give it another shot, but wasn't feeling it, so I'll block it again and cross my fingers.

I'm taking part in two knit-alongs this month, which means lots more sweaters. :) How many more, you might ask? Well, let's count (ah ah ah)!

I've got this little cotton number. A sweater for my sweetie for an informal Knitting for Him Along on Instagram.

But his birthday is this month and it's a big one, so maybe he deserves two sweaters. This cabled beauty is going to be a rough one, but a stunner.

And then there's this mint thing that's just sitting for now, but I'll get back to it in a couple weeks.

Oh yes, and this one:

An Old Navy sweater being reincarnated as a cute Baby Cocktails cardigan. This one deserves much more attention than it's getting. I'm knitting along with a couple friends as one teaches and the other takes a class on it. :) It's been a lot of fun!

Wait just a second....I think there's...yep! One more:

Very Shannon's summer Tops, Tanks, and Tees KAL started Wednesday and I can't pass that up! I'm knitting Icarus in some cotton I've had for years. I held off on starting for a day or two. I want to finish John's white sweater by the end of the month, so I had some benchmarks to hit before starting a new sweater.

Thank goodness summer starts next week! You know what else starts next week? The 5th Annual Knitting and Crochet Blog Week! I've been working on my posts. I have to send my computer off to get it fixed next week, so I'm scheduling everything. :P I imagine I'll get a lot of knitting on these sweaters done without my computer to distract me. :) Though there is the tablet....

What are you working on? Did you see how quickly I went from "Finish All The Things" to "Start a Million More Things"? Are you doing better than I am?

Winners!

Again, thank you all so much for knitting or crocheting along with me. I had a lot of fun and I hope you all did too! Check out all these great projects you were all working on. I have drawn three names using a random number generator and they are *drumroll*:

1. Vivianne

2. Kate

3. Ann

Congratulations! I will be in touch about the prizes. Please thank our generous sponsors yet again! This wouldn't have been as fun without their participation and talents.

I have finished things but have no photos of those finished things. Next week is the last week of classes, so I'm in grading panic mode and haven't had much time to spend on the blog stuff in general, so I'll get to your posts, comments, etc. soon! There has been knitting! Next week should allow plenty of time for the sharing of the knitting. :)

Have a great weekend! Go cast on something new and fun. You deserve it. ;)