Amidst all the ripping last week, I finished my neckwarmer. As usual, I had to add some stripes. But now it matches my winter coat just perfectly. Pattern, anyone??

And I guess we're not done ripping after all. I found another project in my wip basket that needed a good frogging - the cowl that I started knitting as a Christmas gift. I had second thoughts about using up so much of this fabulous alpaca and decided to save the yarn for something else.

And spotted elsewhere in rip-city: Carrie (who ripped several projects last week) was knitting away Sunday at Knitsmiths with some beautiful homespun yarn reclaimed from an old project. And several more rippers have joined the list over the weekend. Check out all the projects Stacy is planning on ripping!

And finishing off the rip-a-thon, a little cool down exercise. Remember blue, my bumpy giboulees sweater that I knit half of using the wrong pattern? I've decided to stick with this pattern, but since I don't have enough yarn to do the big bell sleeves, I ripped out the sleeve that I'd started so I can reknit it straight. Ready for one last rip?!

Before and after:

Breathe out. Begin to knit again. I was glad to read in the comments yesterday that so many of you were inspired to rip out old dead-end and unloved projects and are excited to start knitting with the old yarn again. I had so much fun, I'm already thinking about other projects that I might want to rip and redo. Might just have to make the rip-along a regular event!

Wrapping up the ribby rippy.

One last before picture.

And after.

Want another view?

Think it'll be enough to make Banff? I can't wait to find out. Seriously, I can't wait. Hey, Banff babes, how's your Banffs coming along?

Back to the yoke. And this time I mean business. Rip, pull many feet of kinky yarn all the way through, pull through again and again, rip more. (This is the best exercise I've gotten all year!) Finally, using the last smidgeon of patience that the boys left me with, I got through the yoke. We got parts!

Whew. After a few hours, I was beat. Time to wind up some skeins, give them a bath and call it a day (someone I know could use a real swift!).

Elsewhere in rip-along-dom: Iris is having a ripfest, both Lynette and Monica are passionately ripping, Dava has begun to frog THE Red Sweater, and Cheryl, Laurin, and Peggy are ripping as we speak. Who would have thought that ripping could be this much fun?!

Step two, remove elastic in the collar and start ripping!

Man, unravelling this yoke is a nightmare. Don't know what I did when I knitted this thing, but I've hit several snags. Really, snags. Had to pull all the yarn through a loop and then back through another and then back again. Then I had to take a break! Finally, after a late night session of tedious unlooping, I made some progress and am going to bed. Current rippy stand:

There's more ripping going on in blogland to see. Check out Larissa and Silvia's ripping updates. Carrie sent this pic of her reclaimed yarn (all that yummy Colinette!) and Monica, Ingrid, Chris and Xona have all promised pics on their blogs. Go, girls!

On to the ribby! Got the boys set up with some morning cartoons, got out the seam ripper and went to work on that zipper.

note oblivious Dora fans in background

Then the front bands. And by the end of the Dora/Blue's Clues hour, I'm 3/4 of the way done removing all that zippery stuff. Woo hoo!

Can you hear the frogs? I believe Leigh's been doing some ripping. Knitsmith Carrie undid at least half her projects Friday night! And another Carrie reports having ripped 5 (FIVE!) projects in the most fabulous yarns (can you say Colinette....mmmmm). Leya sent this pic of her Rowan Polar sweater which has now been ripped TWICE. And speaking of double whammies: Jen will be joining us, ripping out her poncho from the ponch-o-long. Two knitalongs at once. Coooool!

Thanks for joining in everyone. I'm loving the stories and pictures and am having an absolute blast!

If you recall, I put my mother's fandango vest aside when the first panel came out too short. I needed to rip back to the armholes and add several inches. I got discouraged and then along came the holiday crunch and sent the fandango to the back burner. Rip-a-long to the rescue! I pulled it out again yesterday, so I could rip it back to kick off the rip-along.

Before.

During.

After.

That felt good.

Alright, rip-alongers, the rip-along is ON! Ivete has already ripped out her ribby (mine's up tomorrow!). Carol ripped out her felted bag (yes, felted!). And Knitsmith Carrie has enough projects to rip one every day this week. Oh yeah, it's a week long frog-a-thon. Try to have fun and be sure to share some pictures!

Yup, the ribby is slated for frogging. It makes me sad, but it just doesn't suit me, especially once it grew after blocking. I'm not a gal who needs ribbing wrapped all the way around her butt. So, it will have to go. It's funny to think that many of the ribby knit-alongers are still working on theirs while I'm getting ready to rip mine out. I'm either waaaay ahead or waaaay behind them now!

And what do I want to make? Something more my style. Something like this! Yes, knitty comes through again with a pattern I have to make. A hip, bulky sweater with ribbing around the waist. Yes, that's more like it. I'm learning!

Now that I know what I'll be making with the yarn and I've got a whole support group of rip-alongers, I'm actually getting excited about tearing the cardie apart. I know many of you also have unfortunate projects made with the best of intentions and the most fabulous of yarns. Next week we will reclaim those yarns, ladies! Be sure to take some pictures. This is going to be fun!

Happy New Year!

New Year's is a time for reflecting on the past and setting new goals for the future, right? Well, I've reflected on one of my recently completed projects and thought, I'm just not going to wear that, so why not rip it out and knit something else with the yarn? I've seen Linda do this several times - she's so brave! So what do you all say to a rip-along?

(I love making buttons!)

Got a completed or partially completed project that simply didn't work out that you need to frog? Want some company and support through the ripping process? How 'bout we start the year off right and make the week after next rip-along week? Let me know what you're ripping and be sure to post a picture (or send me one) if at all possible. The picture is the best part!

Larissa's already agreed to join the fun. Who else is in?