SKC Fifi & Red Carpet Convertible kal

I recently read the Sexy knitters club site and they are doing another knit along. I've decided to participate. This will be my first knit along, so hopefully I'll be able to finish within the time frame. It's also my first neck down knitting. I'm going to try and do both projects,

Fifi - cropped sweater - Rowan Calmer - color vintage (490)
Red Carpet Convertible Corset - Berrocco Bonsai - color japanese maple (4141)

Victoria tank (take 2) & Dirk's sweater

I just about finished the Victoria tank and it's way too big.... according to my swatch it should have been right. My yarn was 2 stitches bigger than the swatch in the book, so I did the smallest size (32 1/2" chest/bust circumference, I have 35" chest/bust). It was a little big around the chest, but way too big around my waist. What to do? I put it on and I figured it's about 4 of the repeating vine lace stitches too big (multiple of 9 stitches) 36 stitches total. Final decision, I ripped it all out to start again (sigh). That's the way the cookie crumbles, I'm sure I'll finish it within the next week.

Dirk is the friend of mine who asked me to make him a sweater. I knit up about six swatches for him:

• plain stockinette
• sailor's rib
• granite stitch
• alternate granite stitch
• pillar stitch
• knit 2, purl 2
• and there was one more but I can't remember it.

What did he decide on? plain stockinette, ha ha, I tried to talk him into part sailor's rib and the balance stockinette, no go.. he wants it all stockinette.

Oh well, what can a girl do. I have the dimensions from one of his old sweaters, so it should be a quick knit.

pojects in the works 2

Well I've finished the shell, the neckline is not quite square, because of the way I picked up stitches on the sides of the neck, but I'm happy with how it turned out. I only used 2 skeins of the microspun and 1 skein of the sparkles, so I have left overs.... I've decided to make a cropped cardigan to go with it just a generic design nothing special. I really need to get pictures up of these things so my blog will be a little more interesting.

A friend of mine decided he wanted me to make him a sweater, so I told him to find some yarn that he liked. He picked Wool of the Andes from Knit Picks in the color asparagus... I told him I would knit up a few swatches of patterns so he could pick one... he wants it kind of plain so it should be really easy to knit up.

On the needles after the cropped cardigan - Victoria tank from summer 2004 Interweave knits with Knit Picks Shine sport in crocus, should be fun.

Things I've Completed

Here is a list of things I've completed:
baby blankets (several I have five nieces)

• full size blankets (almost everyone in my family has a blanket)
• sweaters for kids (Alexis, Sara, Anna, Suzy)
  
• hats and scarfs for everyone (one year I decided to use up my scrap yarn and made hats and scarfs, I packed them all in one box, shipped to my mom and everyone picked the ones they liked)
  
• sweaters for mom
• sweater for sister
• dress for Sara
• dress for Suzy
• vest for Anna
• leg warmers for Suzy (she takes tap classes)
• bikini top and bottoms for me
  
• oh yea, sweaters for me
  
• hats, scarfs and gloves for me
• Shawl for me

Hmmm, can't think of any more right now, I'll update as I remember with pics if I can find them. I should have started this when I was actually home to add pictures.

Projects in the works

There always seems to be something I'm working on. I'm sure that's true of most knitters.

In Progress:

I'm making a shell. I bought two skeins of Knit Picks Sparkles in Beach awhile ago (which has four variegated colors: white, yellow, peach and blue), just to see if I liked it. Well, it's a little stiff and prickly for my taste, and now a discontinued item, so I couldn't buy more even if I wanted too. What to do with only two skeins? Scarf? I decided to use it as edging. I didn't want to put too much money into the project, so I went to Michaels and picked up four skeins of the Lion Brand microspun in french vanilla (the yellow is a close match to the french vanilla).

The microfiber is a stretchy yarn so a semi-fitted shell seemed perfect. I'm knitting the base in stockinette stitch. As for the edging, I decided to use the lotus lace stitch I found in the Interweave knits summer 2006 pattern for Lotus Blossom Tank. I wanted a square neckline rather low cut, so I'm thinking about knitting the sparkles in a broken rib pattern to give it some texture. Lastly sleeves, cute cap sleeves I think.

I'm not a hundred percent sure yet how this will look, since the front isn't quite done, or if I'll even like it.

I'll keep you posted and with a few snap shots so you can follow along.