the blue blog archives: headway

While I was sick, I made lots of headway on the leftovers vest. This was actually a pretty good cold for knitting. I felt alright when sitting on the sofa snuggled up in a blanket. Getting up was a different story though - something about head congestion at a five and a half foot altitude, I guess!

Anyway, after knitting in the round for the bottom (fewer ends to weave in that way), I separated at the armholes, and made up some armhole shaping. Had a few problems there remembering to do the shaping and keep changing the colors. I blame my sinuses! But since I wasn't going anywhere, I was able to rip and reknit a few times. So here's the finished back.

I decided on a few loose rules for the stripes and felt much better then about the level of randomness. I have lots of the orange and pink yarn (thanks, Kerrie!), so those colors repeat more often than the others. And have only a precious little bit of the chartreuse left, so that one serves as a highlight every four inches or so. Now I have to invent some sort of neck for the front while repeating the stripe sequence I made up for the back. I decided to wait on that until my head was all cleared!

Only a little headway was made on my chemo caps though. I left the one I started last week right at the point of beginning the crown decreases, so the beginning knitting students and I can go through that part together in the last class. For this week's class I started another chemo cap. I was showing the students how to join to knit in the round and knit some ribbing for the brim. So, in order to be able to knit along with them, I decided to start a new hat. I'm following a pattern in Monkeysuits for a hat that looks more like a bonnet. S was nice enough to try on what I've knit so far. He's not so good at holding still, though!

Finally, here it is November 12th and beyond buying yarn, I've made absolutely no headway on my Christmas presents: four scarves and two hats. Please tell me there are six weeks left until Christmas!! I'll have to start a 'one-present-a-week' schedule. Ugh!

posted by alison at 9:06 am | in a christmas story , chemo caps , leftovers

Comments

Lovely stripes! Oh, the little cap is very cute, too. I am impressed with your ability to knit while sick! Glad you're feeling better. Now you can get cranking on that present-per-week schedule, right?

Posted by: Mariko at November 12, 2003 11:28 AM

I wish that I only had to produce one gift per week !!! I'm crankin' out gifts like mad which leaves me no time for knitting for myself :(

Posted by: kimberly at November 12, 2003 11:48 AM

Just check out my blog for a daily count-down to Christmas....... :-) That should get you going on some X-mas presents. It keeps me focused.

Love the stripes!!!

Posted by: Uli at November 12, 2003 12:40 PM

Oh - I love those stripes Alison, it looks fantastic. I'm so glad that you were able to put the pink and orange to good use. Hope you're feeling 100% again soon.

Stefan won't thank you for that bonnet picture when he's grown up and bringing girlfriends home you know? Save it for blackmail... :)

Posted by: kerrie at November 12, 2003 1:45 PM

I think I have a lot more than 6 presents to make before Christmas, mad present knitting coming up! The stripes look great!

Posted by: sarah b. at November 12, 2003 2:43 PM

Hey Uli and Kimberly, wanna join my holiday gift-along so we can spur each other on to finish all our holiday knitting?? Pretty please.

Posted by: alison at November 12, 2003 3:01 PM

Thanks for the invite on the holiday giftalong, I"M IN! Especially easy, since I already have one done and one almost done. Easiest knitalong I've ever been in. But don't worry, there's always more!
The stripes are fabulous! Very stripey. Which is a good thing if you are a stripe! :)
Feel better!
Sandy

Posted by: Sandy at November 12, 2003 5:51 PM

Ooo--count me in on the holiday knit-along! I'm 1/2 through an afghan and a scarf with a tiger hat, felted purse, pair of socks and a couple of pairs of mittens to go--AAAAAARRRRGGGGH!

Posted by: Dava at November 12, 2003 7:45 PM

Hmm, this knitalong is very tempting! Put me down for two things... (I can always increase later, right?) I haven't decided what to make for whom yet but a knitalong is just what I need to get going. Pair of socks for my father maybe. And there's my stepmother too. Two hoped for, 0 started, 0 complete. Can anyone tell me if the taboo on knitting for unmarried men is still in effect?

Posted by: carrie at November 12, 2003 8:06 PM

Alison, thanks for being so supportive with the knit alongs. Your leftovers vest is beautiful.

I'd like to ask a question if you don't mind. What do you do when you change colors for each stripe? Do you cut the yarn each time or carry it up the selvege? I think I've made a big mistake with my sweater. I didn't attempt to carry the yarn up the selvage and now I have a whole bunch of cut ends to deal with.

Posted by: melinda at November 12, 2003 10:35 PM

Glad to have everyone joining the knitalong. Hope we get to see some pics of the finished projects despite holiday surprises and all! For those without blogs, I'd be happy to post a pic here of any presents you're particularly proud of.

Carrie, I think it depends on if you're with the guy or not. Friends, okay. More, a little risky, or so legend has it.

Melinda, since the colors aren't repeating that often (at least two inches before a color is used again), I have cut the yarn each time there's a color change. I guess I would carry the yarn up the seam if it were only a few rows inbetween, but otherwise it's snip and weave!

Posted by: alison at November 13, 2003 1:05 AM

Striping looks great! I love that hat, too. I also have the Monkeysuits book and there are a lot of cute ideas for hates in it. [Stefan, you are sweet to lend your adorable head for the hat photo.]

Posted by: Becky at November 13, 2003 3:10 AM

Hey Famous Alison of the Famous Knitsmiths! The Boston Globe this morning says Knitsmiths are hip....guess it must be true...;-)

Posted by: claudia at November 13, 2003 8:26 AM

COUNT ME IN on the holiday knit a long. I think at first count I had 33 items to knit for the holidays. I have paired my list down to 21 items. I'm going to try to keep up my pace. I have 4 items completed. I think that I can do it! Or at least I hope that I can!!

Posted by: kimberly at November 13, 2003 8:35 AM

ooooh! Can I join the knit-along? I've never done one before, but maybe this will get me motivated for Christmas!! I currently have nothing knitted and 4 gifts - possibly more - in the plans! Can I join? Please? Please?

Posted by: Libby at November 13, 2003 11:08 AM

Hi Alison, thanks for adding me to the two knit-a-longs. In the Christmas gift one, next time you're making changes, can you please change me to 2 of ? Not quite sure how many it will end up with, but I have at least 7 more items planned. thanks!

Posted by: Brenda at November 13, 2003 9:03 PM