I am continuing to knit every evening. I ran into some confusion with the Ribs and Bobbles vest (how do you do a 7-st left cross in the middle of a 1x1 rib without messing up the rib? Aren't you glad you asked?), I began working pretty seriously on the Elizabeth cardigan. That one is knit sideways, starting with the cuff, as I explained in my last post. Since that is almost all stockinette, in a worsted weight yarn, it is going very quickly. I have finished the first sleeve and gotten 8 inches into the body, and bound off half of it for the right front edge of the cardigan. This is what it looks like now:
That's the sleeve in the middle, with the bound off front to the right, and the back to the left. At the moment it is actually pretty clumsy to handle, with that sleeve wiggling in front of me as I work the body. I need some kind of knitting jock strap to keep that thing under control. (The other possibility: doesn't it look like a uterus with fallopian tubes?)
I love the idea of knitting a sweater sideways, but it does get clumsy, and bulky, and heavy. All sweaters knitted in one piece get clumsy and bulky. But hey, few or no seams to sew.
I have said before that I think arts and crafts blogs need to be all about the pictures, and mine have gotten worse and worse. . I have tried taking pictures outdoors, on the floor, on the bed over a white sheet, on the blocking mats, or as above on my white work table. I don't like the results. I get decent pictures with my cell phone of other things outdoors, but I think I need a camera. The cell phone is just not cutting it. A digital point and shoot. I would love a digital slr, but that'll be pricey, and I want something that is easy to carry with me for other photographic opportunities. So I am shopping and reading reviews, and will buy myself one after Giftmas. I am not, for once in my life, looking for the cheapest one out there, and have my eye on a Panasonic Lumix ZS20.
I was also thinking of building a light box, but am feeling lazy. I just read on someone's blog that they got the best results taking pictures of their knitting outdoors on a sunny day but in the shade. So either a light box or outdoors in the right circumstances. But I haven't gotten great results outdoors either. So... maybe a light box. Though one big enough for a sweater will be a real pain.
And finally... with the flurry of hat knitting I did for Hurricane Sandy relief efforts, I discovered I am one finished project short of "12 in '12." That is a goal some knitters set for themselves each year, with the number of finished projects corresponding to the year. My best year was 2000. Ahem. Anyway, this doesn't work for me because I hate knitting to a deadline or to expectations. But without realizing it, I am already at 11. So hey, why not one more thing. I could try to finish Elizabeth by Jan. 1, but I still have a lot of knitting to do on that, and I do not want to make it a chore. So I think I will knit another hat. That is only a couple of days' worth of knitting, and my winter break is coming, so that should not be difficult at all.
I have of course grand plans for my break. I will have 11 days off, and since I do not celebrate Christmas, and am not flying off to visit family, I HAVE 11 DAYS OFF!!!!!!!!!!! So of course I am planning on:
Putting warps on a couple of tapestry looms and starting projects.
Putting a warp on my little Cricket rigid heddle loom and starting a project.
Painting the living room.
Finishing Elizabeth.
Finishing the Ribs and Bobbles vest.
Getting the sewing machine out.
Completely reasonable expectations for 11 days, right?
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