the blue blog archives: tuesday is knitalong day

Doesn't it look done that way? This is how it really looks though. Still the last sleeve to finish and sew in and the bottom edging to complete.

After going back, adding a couple more inches to the bottom, and watching it roll even higher, I decided to hem the bottom edge. It's a nice, clean look and the sweater is the perfect length now. I wasn't 100% sure what to do at the neck however. Ribbed cuffs, hemmed bottom edge of body, and a roll neck seemed like too many styles for just one sweater. So I did the same stockinette hem on the neck as at the bottom edge and I'm giving it a day to see how I like it.

Aimee has 13 bars finished on her scarf
Jen also has only one stripe left on her scarf
and Karlie is almost done with her PoA scarf too
MA has finished her Hufflescarf
Ruth has finished a House glove - you gotta see it, it has all the House colors on it! - and is knitting away on her Ravenclaw scarf

It's almost time to close the door on the sockapal-2-za! There are lots of make-up socks underway and a couple more socks have made their way to pals:

Beth got some fabby mermaid socks
MeBeth received some supercool superhero socks
and Nanette loves her new socks (check out her post and see how much!)

In the holiday knitalong, we've got over 80 participants and even more in the queue to be invited. There are some really fabulous projects over there! I love the fact that people can post their pics there for us all to see without the gift recipients seeing them on their normal blog. It's so fun being in on everyone's gifts!

My holiday list of 7 pairs of socks, 1 scarf, and 2 hats has a half a checkmark on it, as B's kool-aid hat is all knitted but still needs a lining. S's red hat is underway, so that's like a quarter checkmark. Woo hoo, that's 3/4 of a checkmark all together! Of course, I've just added 2 more scarves to the list, so I'm actually 1 1/4 checkmarks down now. Hmmm, maybe this keeping track thing isn't such a good idea after all. (Heh, heh.)

posted by alison at 9:34 am | in another weasley , holiday cheer , sockapaltwoza

Comments

And I received some fantastic socks from the Yarn Maven! I posted a photo at http://ramblingmebeth.blogspot.com

Thanks Yarn Maven!!

Posted by: MeBeth at November 15, 2005 9:44 AM

The Weasley looks awesome! I think you made the right decisions.

Posted by: Gloria at November 15, 2005 9:46 AM

The Weasley sweater looks wonderful! I like the stockinette collar.

Posted by: Jennifer at November 15, 2005 9:48 AM

I love your sweater, it's beautiful and so comfortable looking. I like the collar, too.

Posted by: Carin at November 15, 2005 10:13 AM

I'm not going to make the Nov. 18 deadline, but I'm not going to the theater that day anyway. Maybe I should tell myself that I don't get to see the movie until the scarf is done. That'll motivate me to finish. ;-)

Posted by: Beth S. at November 15, 2005 10:30 AM

Pam got her socks too. I put a picture on my blog since she doesn't have one. :)

Posted by: Carry at November 15, 2005 10:35 AM

Alison--once again I'm impressed by how quickly you get things done! The sweater looks great and I love the color!

Posted by: Cristina at November 15, 2005 10:54 AM

Hey Alison -- Don't forget about my Weasley progress. I'm about halfway through the first arm by now and will post updated pics soon. But the current progress can be seen here.
http://yarnaholic1963.typepad.com/dances_with_yarn/2005/11/im_in_love.html

Posted by: Jeanie at November 15, 2005 10:58 AM

I love reading your Holiday knitalong blog and am inspired by the projects that are getting done. Would you consider setting it up as a blog feed so that those of us that are reading can get it in our daily feeds?

Cheers!
Stacey

Posted by: Stacey at November 15, 2005 11:36 AM

Great sweater! I'm so impressed by your intarsia, seeing as how I'm intarsia-challenged (even though I took an intarsia class from Sasha Kagan). I'm duplicate stitching the H onto Hayden's sweater and it will be done this afternoon. Pictures will be posted tonight. Also, I gave into the Gryffindor scarf temptation and have ordered some Brown Sheep Nature Spun Worsted for it. Not meeting the Friday deadline for that, though.

Posted by: Stephanie at November 15, 2005 11:50 AM

I love the way your Weasley is turning out! I'm knitting as fast as I can but am no way near done. waaaaa! (Maybe because I've started a Slytherin scarf too?) Anyway, Could you please add me to the holiday knit along? Thanks!!

Posted by: Becky at November 15, 2005 12:10 PM

Eventually I will have to give in to the Weasley Sweater. Yours is fantastic!

Posted by: Julia at November 15, 2005 1:40 PM

i'm always a fan of clean, hemmed edges. Good decision!

Posted by: peggy at November 15, 2005 3:37 PM

I have awful luck with hemmed edges rolling up. Any hints on preventing this?

Posted by: Joanne Lester at November 15, 2005 3:48 PM

I love the look of the hemmed neckline ... I'm going to have to try that on the next basic pullover I make.

Posted by: Ruth at November 15, 2005 3:54 PM

Stacey, Blogger says that the holiday knitalong blog is producing an Atom feed at: http://whowouldntloveahandknittedgift.blogspot.com/atom.xml.

Posted by: alison at November 15, 2005 4:11 PM

Hey, can you recommend a sock pattern that is easy and fast? I noticed you plan on doing 7 pairs by Christmas...I have a similar amount and can't settle on a pattern...any ideas?

Posted by: Stephanie at November 15, 2005 4:37 PM

I also really love hemmed edges. I've never tried it for a neckline, but I may have to the next opportunity I get! :)

Posted by: Laura at November 15, 2005 6:29 PM

Also, in response to Stephanie's question right above my first post (which I didn't see until after I clicked on "post") --

If you are open to making bed/lay around the house/not really for shoes type socks, the Log Cabin pattern in Handknit Holidays is very pretty, really impressive (cabled) and fast. I highly recommend it.

Posted by: Laura at November 15, 2005 6:31 PM

I received my socks from my sock savior Julie. Julie, they are beautiful and the colors are great. I also wore my matching beaded bracelet today and love it! Thanks so much! A proper thank you note is headed your way by snail mail.

Posted by: kellyt at November 15, 2005 6:45 PM

I've started a POA scarf but I'm doubting I'll have it done to wear for the movie. I've got a picture up of my progress as of yesterday on my site.. http://knottymouse.blogspot.com/2005/11/more-photogenic-project.html
(I forgot it was Tuesday.. oops!)

Posted by: Mouse at November 15, 2005 7:29 PM

Weasley looks flawless (as usual!) and I love the hemmed neck and bottom. Beautiful!

Posted by: allison at November 15, 2005 8:23 PM

You do such lovely work. Every time, I amazed. And you're so FAST! Wow!

Posted by: Mary at November 15, 2005 8:35 PM

The Weasley is looking great! Your intarsia is so even. What's your secret? Meanwhile, my Slytherin House Sweater is done. Planning to wear it this weekend - with pride!

Posted by: Nathania at November 15, 2005 8:52 PM

I like the finished edges way better than the rolled - I'm glad you added it! Looks great!!

Posted by: ruth at November 16, 2005 8:08 AM

It's looking great.I like the name and colour of your blog!;)

Posted by: justin at November 16, 2005 9:21 AM

I know I'm way behind here, but I ordered my Yarn Waerhouse Kit today. I probably won't be able to start until after Christmas, but I expect HP to stay in fashion for quite a while yet.

For now I'm focusing on the Christmas knitting :)

Posted by: Helene at November 16, 2005 10:03 AM

It's so good-looking!
I'm excited that the Rowan Felted Tweed for The Princess' Weasley is due for delivery tomorrow. Hurray!

Posted by: Songbird at November 16, 2005 10:50 AM

Love your Weasley! Can we see pix of all the Weasleys on?

Posted by: Ina at November 16, 2005 1:17 PM

Of course, Ina, but you gotta wait 'til Friday! ;0)

Posted by: alison at November 16, 2005 1:25 PM

Stephanie asked about what kind of socks I'm making and if I could recommend an easy sock pattern that would make it possible to knit 7 pairs of socks by Christmas. Well, I can't stand doing socks on tiny needles at 7 stitches to the inch, so my big tip would be to make socks in sport or dk weight yarn. They seem to go so much faster then! Almost all of the socks I'm making are in this weight yarn (only 2 fingering weight socks). I usually just use a basic pattern (like Yankee Knitter classic socks) either in a 2X2 rib or 3x1 rib or, if I've got a fun a variegated yarn, I just do stockinette!

Best of luck getting all that sock knitting done, Stephanie!

Posted by: alison at November 16, 2005 2:07 PM

I really like that hemmed neckline. Did you just do the stocking stitch and double it back? It'd be perfect for the DG's Christmas jumper...

Posted by: Ellie at November 17, 2005 8:14 AM

Yup, Ellie, I just knitted it in stockinette, twice as long as I wanted, folded it to the inside and whipstitched it into place. You might think about doing some increases on the portion that is going to be on the inside or at least binding off VERY loosely. Otherwise the tightness of the bind off will constrict the neckline after it's sewn down.

Posted by: alison at November 17, 2005 9:32 AM