Thursday, January 01, 2009

Happy New Year

I'm not nearly as organized as some. I can reflect, abstractly, on what I knit in 2008, and it included two adult sweaters, one of which I eventually ripped out over the summer. The other I just finished last week, and it, too, will eventually be ripped out, probably over the summer. It doesn't fit well and I am going to blame it on the design and my lustful need to knit without seams.
Imogen Finished
Imogen (Ravelry link) with Araucania Nature Wool Chunky
If you can imagine, for a minute, how this sweater is put on the body, and think about what happens to the rolled edges when one is crossed in front of the other and held together with a shawl pin? The edge bunches up under the other one and adds some lumps around the wearer's waist. Yes, I probably made this too big, but it also bags in the back a lot right underneath the arms, as it does in quite a few on Ravelry. Lesson learned. This year I would, however, like to complete at least one or two adult sweaters that I wear. For now, this one is still my favorite, imminently wearable (even while not pregnant), washable, dryable.

For now, though, I caught the crochet bug. Actually, I've been meaning to try this for quite awhile. It's a revisit of sorts as my introduction to fiber arts was at a very young age - my mom's mother taught me how to crochet. I think I only learned how to chain and do a single crochet stitch, though. This project got me excited to try again, however.

Crochet

This particular grandmother died when I was in middle school. There was a time in my life when people just kept dying all over the place. First my paternal grandfather, when I was in the fourth grade, and then it just went downhill from there. His widow, my last living grandparent, died when I was in college.

Crochet hooks
What I have left of Grandma: Her crochet hooks

I have a bunch of loose Rowan Handknit Cotton that I plan to turn into a Ripple Blanket for our daughter. I knit her a blanket when I was pregnant with her, before I knew if she was a boy or a girl. And that blanket, a neutral tan, has never appealed to her. She carries around a yellow polyester fleece blanket. I'd like to bump it out of its prime spot - we'll see. That's a large spot to fill.
M's blanket
Rowan Handknit DK and Denim for M's ripple blanket

4 comments:

momsue84 said...

Happy New Year! I used to crochet all the time, so I understand the bug.

Bertha said...

I'm totally dying to make that ripple afghan! Got to get a little better with the crochet first...good luck bumping that blanket out of the rotation! June has recently become GLUED to her blankie (unfortunately not one of the ones made by me!) and I'm not sure I'll ever be able to pry it from her clutches!

Mandy said...

I love that collection of hooks.

I, too, hope to knit a sweater that fits this year.

Yarn Devil said...

Happy new year! Good luck with your sweater endevour. The sweater looks nice... too bad the function isn't what you want! I must say like mandy I love the colletion of hooks as well!
BFN