A quick check on my knitting mojo project, frances, reveals that even though I'm busy quilting and even though wee one hasn't gotten the hang of regular old eastern standard time yet, I'm still knitting. Oh yeah!

The back of the sweater is done and I've got a good start on all that ribbing for the front. I'm going to have tons of extra yarn, because that Jaeger Luxury Tweed has like a mile of yarn per ball, so I'm considering lengthening the sleeves. What's your feeling on those medium short sleeves? How are you supposed to wear them? I mean, they're not short sleeves, where I feel like I could wear a long sleeve shirt underneath, but they're also not 3/4 sleeves, which are generally warm enough to wear on their own. I love the look of the original sleeves, but a wool sweater with half-sleeves, I'm not sure I "get" it. Any ideas?

Maybe, just maybe I've regained my knitting mojo. I brought two projects to Rhinebeck that were for me me me and I actually knit successfully on both of them. Woo hoo!

First, I started one of my favorite projects from my book, Ron's animal crackers hat. Last year I dyed some bulky wool I got at a yarn swap in some fun colors. Turns out I've got the right number of colors with similar variations as in the animal crackers hat. I had no idea when I was dyeing it, but the yarn is perfect for this hat!

On the drive up and sitting in the author tent, I managed to make it a little more than halfway through the colorwork around the bottom of the hat. I can't wait to get to those crazy fun braids!

Next, an actual me-sized sweater: Frances from Laines du Nord "Simple Knits 5". I fell in love with this sweater as soon as I saw it. I think it'll be flattering and has the cute button collar which is crucial while I'm still nursing. I cruised through all that ribbing in the car in the dark and am now on to the stockinette. This is fabulous no-brainer, fool-proof knitting!

The yarn is Jaeger luxury tweed that I found at a Wild & Wooly clearance sale. It felt nice in the bag, is a lovely pink, and was on sale - can't beat that! But now that I'm knitting with it, I'm loving it even more than I thought I would. It's an alpaca/wool blend and the alpaca makes it all soft and snuggly and the merino makes it all sproingy and squooshy. It's so cool. And best of all, it's just for me!

Mojo back, knitting on.

I haven't been knitting anything for myself because I've been so busy with design work and, really, who knows what my body will look like tomorrow anyway. But now that I can see the finish line on this pregnancy thing, I have started to think about what I might make next for me, for after. I've been keeping an eye open for something that might flatter the typical post-pregnancy figure and found two sweaters that I can start just as soon as my design work is done and sockapalooza four is underway. And as I'm trying to whittle down my stash a bit to make room for baby, I've got plans to make 'em with yarn I already have!

The first is a ruffly, side-tie wrap sweater from Edition Rebecca #8. I've got some lovely Ingenua Mohair to use for it that I got on sale at a Wild & Wooly clearance last year. It's red. I like red.

And then an irresistibly cute little shirt-style sweater with deep ribbing from Laines du Nord Simple Knits #5. For that one I've got some pink Jaeger Luxury Tweed I found this year at the same clearance sale. I knew it was safe to buy the yarn, because I simply cannot keep pink in my stash - it will get knit!

Soon, my pretties, verrry soon....