the blue blog archives: bee-u-ti-ful

The bugs are back! At Knitsmiths on Sunday I picked up where I left off in March. But after about five rows, I decided that the whole thing was looking a wee bit small. B's grown since then, so this is not a trivial issue! So I ripped it all out (230 stitches) and started over with size US2 needles instead of US0's and now it's just right. And despite having been sooo bugly when I was working on it before, it's coming out rather pretty this time!

posted by alison at 7:34 am | in bugs!

Comments

Hi Alison,

I just finished the ladybug sweater for my grandson. Are you using Dale Baby Ull yarn? If you are, wash your swatch! I didn't. I just washed the finished sweater and boy did that yarn relax! Before washing, it was knit to gauge. The sleeve length went from 9 7/8" to 11". Maybe it's something weird about my knitting technique, but I thought I'd let you know that the Knitting Curmudgeon is right, you must wash those swatches! I wish I had. Your little boys are gorgeous, as are their sweaters. Give them each a hug and kiss from me.

Posted by: Barbara at September 4, 2003 6:50 AM

hey lady - did you see melissa (loose ends)'s question today? let us know how you handled it, would ya? :)

p.s. love the lady bugs!! :)

Posted by: carolyn at September 4, 2003 7:08 AM

Thanks for mentioning my Smooch! :)
Are you having cooler weather there too? We are finally having some fall-ish weather which makes knitting non-summer projects much more pleasant.

The bugs are coming out nicely.... I think it's going to be gorgeous!

Posted by: Rebecca at September 4, 2003 7:45 AM

Oooh, Barbara, thanks for the tip! I didn't wash my swatch, 'cause my swatch was just the first sleeve. (I'm a bad example, I know, but I was too excited to do a proper swatch and I was worried that a back and forth fair-isle swatch wouldn't be that reliable.) But I'm glad to hear that it grows as opposed to shrinking!! As long as it doesn't get smaller, I'm happy!

Rebecca, we are having real early fall weather here. It's very inspiring, since I've got all these fall projects to finish. But I'm sure that when they're all done, it'll get warm again! ;)

Posted by: alison at September 4, 2003 7:59 AM

Such a cute sweater!! I can't wait to see what it looks like once it's done. btw, I love your site!!

Posted by: Sara at September 4, 2003 8:23 AM

YEAH! love the bugs sweater :) thanks for the links to the beautiful things! I love it when people do that :)

Posted by: Carissa at September 4, 2003 9:32 AM

Not that you've gone up two whole needle sizes, you should be flying through those bugs. Oh, I forgot. You fly no matter what needle size you're on. ;) You did wash your swatch now, didn't you? I'm super impressed that you ripped out all those beautiful tiny stitches. I would've framed them.

Posted by: Kerstin at September 4, 2003 11:31 AM

Ah, you're a brave ripper Alison : )
The bugs are as cute as ever.

Posted by: Kathy at September 4, 2003 2:34 PM

Hey Alison! You've made great progress on the bugs since Sunday! Wow! There must have been extra hubby snoozing time this week! heehee! :)
The boys look wonderful in their pipsqueak sweaters! They are perfect for the cool fall weather! You rock, girl!
Sandy

Posted by: Sandy at September 4, 2003 6:12 PM

That's a lovely row of bugs.

Glad you like the cookies. They freeze really well (if they don't get eaten right away!).

Posted by: Melissa at September 4, 2003 7:29 PM