Cashmere Sweater Upcycle: Stage One

Thanks to everyone for the great feedback on what to do to help with the moths. I've got a system of rotating freezing going on, and some moth traps, as well as Irish spring soap and lavender oil, and as soon as I get my hands on some cedar planks, I'll be adding that to the mix, too.

After the horror of finding all three of my cashmere sweaters chewed by moths, I wanted to set about finding a way to upcycle them somehow. I cruised my pinterest fashion upcycle board for ideas, and really fell in love with the idea of embroidering on sweaters- as seen here, here, and here.  I used to love doing cross stitch when I was a kid, and still have loads of embroidery floss- so I got out my stash and started working on one of the sweaters (I'm starting on the least expensive sweaters first, work. Here is the progress so far:

I'm aiming for a  sort of abstract/geometric kind of thing. I think it's actually working out! Which is good, because I needed a bit of cheering up. Guy and I were excavating Lila's closet, to see if there were moths in there, and we found my old beloved Turkish carpet chewed to bits, and teeming with larvae. The carpet was the only one I bought myself (in the Grand Bazaar, no less!) when living in Istanbul many years ago, and it was really expensive for me. Even though we weren't using it at the moment, I was utterly heartbroken when we unrolled it in the bathtub and saw how bad the damage was. It had to be thrown out. I cried, and then had some wine. It was the only thing to do, really.

Disaster FO, and a Promising WIP

I did a dumb thing. And I really should have known better.

As I mentioned in this post, I am (was) working on a green version of my Wildflower Tank. And it turned out too big. I decided to make one size larger than I originally made, because i have a little bit of muffin top post-baby (I have not been exercising nor done a single ab exercise of any kind since before I was pregnant, so it's entirely my fault). But clearly my upper torso is the same size, because this tank turned out way too big. The idea of frogging it just seemed too painful, so I googled about shrinking silk and read that if it's in hot water, the weave or knit should shrink up, but not the fibers themselves. So I tried that on my new FO:

And the dye bled, and the white sections turned lime green. Which of course that's what happens when you submerge hand dyed yarn in hot water, and is why you block and wash knits in cold water. And after all that, it didn't shrink at all, not even one millimeter. I'm so gutted! I'll take modeled shots so you can see, but not just yet. Even though I finished it more than two weeks ago, the pain is still too fresh.

So I'm taking comfort in my new WIP, a classic black version of Nespelem:

I always buy cheap black cardigans from H&M/Gap/etc., and they just get ratty and old looking so quickly. I want a classic black cardigan that I can thrown on with anything, and I'm hoping that this is that cardigan! I'm a 32, and this cardigan comes in a 30 or 34, so I'm trying to get somewhere in the middle. But I'm nervous now, the green tank disaster has shaken my confidence.

Almost an FO: How to Submit to a Knitting Magazine, or, Lessons Learned

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I'm getting very close to finishing a new Wildflower Tank, and I'm loving it. there's something so buttery soft yet cool making a summer knit in 100% silk. I'm hoping to wear it on July 20th, when I participate in the TTC Knitalong here in Toronto (I'm on Team Fair Isle)!

What's been very interesting about the process is that I'm knitting it from the pattern in the magazine Interweave Knits Spring 2012, which was pretty different from what I originally submitted. For those of you who have not submitted to a magazine before, let me share with you the key points of what I learned along the way:

Disclaimer: I sent them a schematic and photos based on a finished knit I created, and they accepted it, which is not their customary process. The official process is to submit a swatch, sketch, and details of your prospective design. Then they agree to take it, send you the yarn, you write the pattern, grade(size) it, and send them the sample. So some of the mistakes I made were due to me bucking the system. My first piece of advice is to not buck the system if you are just starting out.

1. They finished knit cannot be a stitch different from what you wrote in the pattern. Seriously, not a stitch. I sent them the finished sample, but in knitting it, there were a few things that I thought would improve either the knitting experience or would make for a better fit, and wrote the pattern accordingly. They told me that it wasn't their practice to do this, and they had a tech editor rewrite the entire pattern based on the sample. You read that right- the entire thing.

2. Tech editors are using the spreadsheets for sizing. You might want to learn about this process now, to help yourself out. I took a very useful course on Craftsy about this, and although it is pretty dry stuff, it's extremely valuable.

3. It's not customary to get your sample knit back. So if you're hoping to one day have your  knit back so you can wear it again, be upfront about that in the contract stage. Keep in mind that if they provided the yarn, they might say no. Magazines can have trunk shows, too!

4. Remember that even though the knitting world is big, its's also small. We're all in this together- the magazines are trying to put out the best issue they can, with the best patterns they can get, with the best of intentions. If you don't like the experience, or don't think they photographed your knit in the most flattering way, or whatever, do not complain on the internet. People remember that stuff. I have never criticized Interweave, mainly because I don't think they did anything wrong, it was all me; but I've seen people venting about certain publications on twitter and on their blogs, and it makes me cringe a little. It's funny how we feel like we're having a private moment because we're at home, in our pajamas, doing our own thing; but the internet is a very public space.

A pattern in IK was a huge learning curve for me, and I was so embarrassed by my lack of understanding of the process that I actually haven't submitted to a magazine since (I am convinced the tech editor thought I was a blithering idiot). When I get embarrassed, I hide. But lately I'm thinking more and more about designing, and I think it's time to get back into the saddle.

WIP: Lotus Honey

The last time I was in Sudbury, I paid a visit to Sweet Yarns, a really wonderful little shop in the south end that has a great selection of yarns and a really friendly vibe. I went to get a replacement needle for a project I was working on, and ended up chatting with their knitting group while I browsed the yarn, and ended up taking home a couple skeins of Malabrigo Rios in 'lotus', specifically to make the Honey Cowl:



This cowl, particularly the bigger size that I'm making, is a lot of mindless knitting, which is great- it's the kind of project you can do while carrying on a conversation, and it's a nice fit for yarns with a lot of colour shifts, which often look so attractive in skein form and then become a bit of a mess when you try to knit anything with them. However, it's not my only knitting project on the go, since I often like something a little more challenging for when I'm feeling like a super knitter. But more on my other projects later.

While trying to get photos, there was a little helper who was eager to get in on the action:


See how some stitches are already coming off the needle? Good helping, Lila!

WIP: Mudra Cuff

The winner of the deluxe edition of Annie and the Swiss Cheese Scarf is..... Candi! Congratulations, Candi!
For those that didn't win, I really recommend picking up a copy, it's totally worth it and I can't emphasize enough how beautiful and high quality the book really is.

On to the WIP!

I've wanted to try beading in my knitting for a while, and when I picked up a Mudra Cuff kit on my October trip to Montreal, it was the perfect opportunity to try. The  kit is great- it's a small project that even a newbie beader like me could manage, and comes with all you need, as well as weblinks to Laura's blog with great videos of how to get started.

 
I'm almost done, just one more strand to go. I'm loving it so far, even though I'm slow with it, I can see how beading your knitting gets addictive. I really like the clasp it comes with, too- feels really sturdy (read: baby proof). I'm excited to finish it over the holidays, hopefully I'll get it done in time for some lovely seasonal photos.

WIP: Red Tanenbaum Mitts

 It was shortly after I finished my Fiddlehead mittens a couple winters ago that I thought to myself, 'I should knit one pair of mitts for myself every winter.' I don't know why, exactly- something about a new pair of mittens seems like a nice and cozy way to celebrate a new season. And you know how it is, after a certain point in your knitting (long after it crosses over from 'hobby' and into full-blown obsession) you just can't fathom buying a pair of mittens anymore. I mean, anyone who has worn well crafted, handmade mittens know this to be true- They are warmer, prettier, and softer than anything commerically available.

I'm currently working on a pair of Tannenbaum mitts, after finding some Classic Elite Inca Alpaca in my stash in a lovely shade of red. I need red mittens in my life!

Thing is, an unblocked red mitten looks sort of sad. Especially this one, all thumbless. I like to do my thumbs at the end, after completing both mitts. But once they are both done (I'm just about to cast on for the second mitt), they'll have a good blocking, a couple thumbs, and a nice photoshoot. In the mean time.... here are some awkward, unfinished mitten photos guessied up with a fun union jack cushion and picmonkey borders:

WIP: Fiddlehead Mitts

It recently became abundantly clear that I needed a new pair of mittens. For those that are sensitive to horrible scenes of mitten tragedy, please avert your eyes:

 They are store-bought mittens that my grandmother gave me years ago. When she passed in 2008, and I couldn't bring myself to use any other mittens than these, the last ones she ever gave me. But as you can plainly see, they are done. They fought the good fight, but they are ready to go to that great mitten cupboard in the sky. 

The Fiddlehead Mittens were on my knitting hit list. I have a Tanis Fiber Arts Mitten kit, but the yarn colours were perfect for another project I want to work on so I substituted the yarns. I have now have one completed mitt:

 These mittens really came about because of Turtlegirl, who had originally got the lovely skein of  Lollipop Cabin Sock Yarn, and then generously gave it to me! Thank you!!

The colourway is called 'Laughing in the Autumn Leaves along the Pacific Crest Trail'. I love the colours, it has knitted up beautifully against the Tanis Fiber Arts DK weight, which is the contrasting colour. The lining is knitting up in Knitpicks Suri Dream, which is so buttery soft, fuzzy, and warm.I don't usually knit colourwork items, so this was a nice change of knitting pace. It was so interesting to watch the pattern develop, and I think this project has given me more confidence with my stranded knitting.

G says is looks like an oven mitt, it's so thick. But I don't care- I love it. I can't wait to finish the second one.

FO: Blackberry Cowl

 Pattern: #12 Cabled Cowl

Yarn: Knitpicks Gloss HW in Blackberry

Needles: 5 mm/ US 8 circular

Mods: none.

Notes:  I loved knitting this. The cables and stitches made for an interesting project to knit, and the size of it meant it was done pretty quickly. I love the final result! The yarn was really lovely- it has great sheen, and holds up really well.

Over the long weekend, I also got a chance to indulge in many of the things I said I wanted to do. I did a bit of gardening, drank gin & tonic (and wine...), ate lots of delicious things (including radishes, one of my favourite vegetables) and had a lovely picnic with friends. It is this very picnic that the above photos were taken! After all, why not get some FO shots when you're doing something fun, right? It was delicious. Erica made a wonderful chickpea salad and lemon tassies, and I made couscous salad and coconut macaroons from Lunch in Paris (I don't recommend the recipe, they ooze everywhere and were not fun to make. I ended up making them in muffin tins just to corral the oozing.)

You may have noticed that we are drinking (well, I'm drinking) wine out of wine glasses. Just because you're outdoors is no reason to drink out of plastic cups! Hey, it's important to class up your picnic be environmentally friendly.

The empty plates pretty much say it all!

I'm also working on Athyrie at the moment... I'm loving the pattern so far. It's straightforward, and simple enough for a bit of mindless knitting. I'm really looking forward to the convertible end result:

Current WIPs, and my Next Projects

Before I even had a trip booked to Chicago, Eliza and I were planning on having a fingerless mitt swap. We would each knit one mitt, and give the mitt and the remaining yarn to the other, so that they could knit just one mitt and have a complete pair. I knitted her theSwan Maiden mitt, which I loved- I'm definitely going to knit myself a pair of these! Here is a photo of Eliza modelling the one I knit for her:

And Eliza knit me one of the October Leaves Fingerless Mitts, which are lovely: They are going to be perfect for spring!

While on the flight there and back, and anywhere else I could squeeze in a bit of knitting time, I've been working on this:

This lovely peat coloured, moss stitch lump is a test knit  Twenty Ten cardigan from Veera, who is working on the pattern. I love it so far!! I'm very excited about the asymmetrical front, and also excited to find the perfect project for my new massive button collection. I'm much further along than this photo shows- I'm actually at the collar portion. But how could I resist posting this picture of Gatsby modelling the WIP? He's such a camera ham, that Gatsby.

Some of you may recall the lovely Malabrigo laceweight I picked up on the trip, and it is definitely earmarked for specific projects! The olive colourway is going to be the Geodesic Cardigan from the new Knitscene, and the Paris Night colourway is likely to be a Featherweight Cardigan Meets Minimalist. Mods will be especially necessary, since the Featherweight starts at a size about 4" too big for me.

I love the olive green (it's one of my favourites), but I'm also in love with that Paris Night colourway- just look at the lovely variations in shade!

Into Hiding, Briefly

I'm having my wisdom teeth removed this morning. They are impacted, and apparently one is so close to my sinus that they won't be able to get it out with nicking it slightly, and leaving a small hole (it'll heal, but wtf?!) between my mouth and sinus. The lower ones are so close to the nerve that runs along my lower jaw that they suspect I'll have some temporary nerve damage (again, sounds like a party, right?). So I'm  hunkering down this with painkillers, smoothies, and these two knitting projects:

I know that the minimalist cardi won out in the vote, but the February pullover has cast a spell on me. Also, a bit of a confession- I suspect that I might prefer the minimalist in grey. I'm not sure. I need to have a think about it, especially since I suspect I have enough yarn for both. Crazy talk, right? Well folks, I'm feeling kind of crazy. Must be the oral surgery I'm undergoing, oh, probably while you're reading this.

I'll be back next week when I'm off the painkillers! Mod Mondays will go forward as scheduled.

Decisions, Decisions....and Boatloads of Knitting

Look at this beautiful pile of Tanis Fiber Arts Aran weight, in the grape colourway:

Of course, now that I have a lovely, cuddly pile of this delicious yarn, I'm not exactly sure what I want with it. Definitely a pullover or a cardigan. Which only leaves me with, oh, a few hundred patterns, according to the Ravelry pattern search. So, I've decided to let the yarn tell me what it wants to be, via swatching. Here's the one long swatch I knitted up to see how the colours responded to different stitches:

I'm considering the Minimalist Cardigan (seed stitch), February Fitted Pullover (gull lace stitch), Garter Yoke Cardigan (garter and stockinette), Francis (seed stitch and stockinette), and Vaila (stockinette & ribbing). Which is more of a long list than a short list, to be fair.

And you know what this swatch tells me? It ALL looks great!! I was really hoping for a clear winner, but the yarn just knits up so well in all stitches, with no strange pooling. Which is great, but also makes the decision process that much more challenging. Any thoughts?

And I've been working on a lovely little confection, the Whisper Pullover. I'm modifying it quite a bit, and so far love the results. I'm ashamed to admit that this is my first time working with kidd mohair, and I have to say I love it- the garment is so lightweight and smooshy, it's like a cloud of pink cotton candy. I'm really looking forward to wearing this when it's all done.

I've also recently completed a new project, but it is a test knit, and I can't fully reveal it until the pattern goes live. So here is a little teaser shot:

 (why yes, I did think it looked a bit like I knitted with a bag of cheezies, too...)

The Endless WIP, and a Quick FO

I've been quietly working away on the Apres Surf Hoodie for a couple of weeks now, after I joined the mini KAL that started on Ravelry recently. I've also been working on the Leyburn sock. Although in a fit of cleaning I tucked it somewhere safe and cat-proof, and when I was taking photos, I couldn't find it. You know how it goes. I knit, every day. So you'd think I'd be making some good progress, right? WRONG. I have no idea what's up with my knitting at the moment. I was having a lot of difficulty with the Leyburn sock, so I frogged it, decided to give it a couple weeks so I could cool off, and then I'd try it again. I've recently cast on for it again, but it is currently little more than a toe pocket. As for the Apres Surf Hoodie, which I'm calling my Reading Hoodie (I don't surf, but I have read 5 books so far while knitting it...), I made the decision to knit it in the round instead of separately front and back. I figured I'd save myself an evening of seaming in lace, which seemed so clever at the time. But then my brain decided to have tremendous difficulty in adapting the pattern for working in the round (possibly because 4 of the 5 books I was reading were the Twilight series...bloody distracting books!), particularly when it came into increasing in the pattern. Le sigh. So in the mean time, I decided to churn out a quick knit just to keep my knitting morale up: Pattern: Mary Jane Booties Needles: 3.5 mm Yarn: Stash DK weight, fingering weight for embroidery details Mods: I went up .5 a needle size, since they seem to be very small. I'm glad I did, I think it helped a bit. And, of course, the embroidery- just a little extra detail to make them extra pretty. Notes: These were a very quick knit. I knit both booties in the same day, and then embroidered on the details the next day. buttons were harder to find, but ta-da! I'm really pleased with how they turned out. With all the people I know who are pregnant, one of my goals this summer/fall is to stockpile some baby knits, as I know of three new babies that will be coming into my circle of family and friends between August and October of this year. Hopefully one of them will be a girl, so they can receive these lovely little mary janes. And if not- well, I know that these are not the last babies that will be coming my way. I'll just stockpile!

Making Up After the Break Up

Lelah ended up in the languishing wip pile because the last time I was knitting it, the bust came out too big and I knew I'd have to frog that portion and re-knit. Frogging makes me so depressed. So when I first knew that it wasn't going to work out, I couldn't bring myself to frog just yet. So I gave myself a breather. A nice, long, year-and-then-some breather. But then I needed my 3 mm circulars, to which Lelah was still attached. And that's when I saw her again, still gorgeous even after all the time apart. I frogged the bust, and just like that pesky ex you can't quite let go of, I suddenly had forgotten why we broke up in the first place, Lelah and I. I invited her out to be my TTC Knitalong knitting, and we such a great time together. It was like we had never been apart. And now- well, I'm head over heels for her all over again: (a blocking photo- Lelah in Repose) I just need to sew in the elastic and add the ribbon. I'm not someone who puts off the finishing of a knit, so expect some FO shots very soon!!

Amigurumi Knits- Eggplant in Progress

I'll admit it- one of the major reasons I've wanted to learn to crochet is make amigurumi toys. Who can resist such cuteness? But my crochet skills are just not up to par yet, and I find that being such a beginner can be really frustrating-each time I haul out the hook, I have to spend time focusing on learning the basics (I just learned how to crochet in the round), and not much whipping up of crochet amigurumi creatures. Fortunately, us knitters now have a solution: Amigurumi Knits! I first heard of this book over on Orata's blog, and was immediately smitten- I've been eyeing Hansi's designs for a while, and here is the book version of collected cuteness. The book is divided into 4 sections, each containing related patterns: the first section has garden veggies (tomato, eggplant, carrot, peas in a pod, garlic, cucumber); garden critters (earthworm, praying mantis, ants, garden snail, spider); sea creatures (crab, octopus, jellyfish, anglerfish, sea star, sun star); and then three wonderful mythological creatures (kraken, jakalope, and nessie the Loch Ness monster). I'm a sucker for knitted toys- kids love them, adults love them. Cuddly softies are always a win. So, I cast on for the eggplant this weekend: (I apologize for it's dishelved state- I know the top looks like Bart Simpson's head, but I will wet block those leaves down when it's finished!) Although the instructions are simply for a gorgeous stuffed eggplant, I'm going to add a face and some limbs, give him a little personality. But I can't bear to call him Eggplant, I need a better name. Monsieur Aubergine? Eggy Purple? Anyone have any ideas? P.S.- Midas is coming along, it's nearing the finish line! I'll have a pictorial update next week, I promise.

Straw into Gold- WIP

I'm not sure what happened. I went into my LYS to look for sock yarn, I swear. And somehow, I came out with several skeins of Berroco's Lumina, in Gold Coast:I have to apologize for the photos- I have been waiting for a really sunny day, so that you could truly see just how damn sparkly this yarn is, but it's been rainy and cloudy and only seems to be sunny when I'm at work and trapped at my desk. So- semi-overcast shots. It's a lot more sparkly in person. I bet you're wondering what that mysterious shining gold thing is. And I'm going to be mean and not tell you anything, except that it is a surprise, and a design of my own. I will say this- it is very fun knitting with this yarn. It reminds me of the story of Rumpelstiltskin, how he spun straw into gold for the miller's daughter. It's how I imagine spun gold would really look! And feel. It's a little scratchy, I won't lie.

Reader, I Married Him.

What can you possibly say about your own wedding? It was incredible. More to be found on Flickr, but I'll warn you now that I don't have ALL the wedding photos up. I wanted to knit a shawl for both of my lovely maids of honor, Jen and Monica. I needed something that I could do without needing to look at a chart most of the time, and something quick- cue Wisp. (Jen getting totally choked up during her speech at the wedding.) Pattern: Wisp Needles: 5 mm Yarn: Elann baby cashmere in 'Calypso' and Kitten Mohair in 'Navy' Mods: None. Notes: Loved knitting these. The pattern is so easy to memorize and I found it easy to knit them even while standing on the subway (I consider standing the entire time on a subway without holding onto a pole an urban form of pilates)I apologize for the lack of photos- in the craziness of the wedding itself, I forgot to say that we needed some good pictures. I'll have to chase up Jen and Monica for better photos soon. The Elann baby cashmere was a dream to work with, and the kitten mohair behaved well. But after baby cashmere, everything feels like sandpaper in your hands. I was really disappointed that I didn't manage to finish knitting an all-white version of Stefanie Japel's two toned shrug to go with my wedding dress. I was really close, but it just didn't happen. Running out of the yarn and not having time to go get more may have contributed to this. It's still not finished. The night before we left for our honeymoon, I could not for the life of me find the knitting I wanted to bring (the final sleeve of this beast). This is what happens when you have held your own rehearsal dinner in your apartment and at the last minute crammed everything into any random nook or cranny your could find. We actually left for the airport later than we intended because I was having a Nothing Suitable to Knit meltdown- basically, none of my WIPs I could find were portable enough, I didn't have a suitable new project to start, and we were in the final hours of the all-nighter we had pulled after our wedding to get to the airport for 3:00 a.m. (ugh, don't ask). And then I found it- the skein of Misti Alpaca laceweight I had purchased at the Purple Purl last spring, and had earmarked for the Swallowtail Shawl. And even more amazing- I could immediately find the pattern in my apartment. Ah, knitting bliss. We went on our honeymoon to Puerto Plata in the Dominican Republic. It was.... okay. G got heatstroke, I got food poisoning, and we both got sunburns, but we laughed about it all and had a good time. That's something great about being with him- we're always having a good time, no matter what. A big wedding budget post will be forthcoming shortly, for those who are interested in how well I pulled off a $5k wedding in ten weeks.

The Difficult Month

I can't believe that November has gone by with TeamKnit postless! Please forgive us, this has been a really hectic month for all sorts of non-knitting related business. First, I signed up for Nanowrimo. Tragically, it did not go very well- my crooked landlord, who has always been the kind of person you would typically cross the street to avoid, has been doing his best to get me to move out of my apartment (which I've only lived in for two years!) so he can raise the rent by hundreds of dollars when getting a new tenant in. In Ontario, Canada, this is completely illegal- there are fixed annual rent increases allowed, but when a tenant vacates, you are free to charge whatever you like when negotiating a new rental contract. It's been a really difficult situation, and the result was that I spent most of November looking for new digs. As I'm sure you either know first hand or can imagine, looking at the adverts, calling places up, staggering appointments with enough time apart so that I can get from one part of the city to the other, and then the amount of really awful places for rent in the city.... well, it's depressing. And time-sucking. And subsequently, not much writing or knitting has been taking place. I keep trying to remind myself that sometimes a big change feels like a crises but is actually for the better, and then when G and I signed the lease for our new place last week.... well, let's just say it makes all the nuttiness of November worth it. For one thing, I'll be moving out of a basement apartment and into a lovely second floor with big bay windows! Finally, some decent light for knitting photos. And yes, this was definitely something I was considering when checking out new places. Priorities, people! December is going to be filled with harried packing, because I actually move into the new place in the middle of the month! And of course, I have Christmas knitting to do....So, some pics of what I'm working on: first up, is the River Forest Gansey from Handknit Holidays, which I'm knitting for my dear friend Paul. And since it's absolutely huge, I've been doing a lot of reading while knitting it. Skrilla Knits suggested these handy little things, and I was happy to try my hand at them: Bookweights! Check out the great little pig fabric: I love it! it works really well, and is filled with popping corn kernels. It was a snap to make, and is now indispensable. And this, although currently nothing more than skeins of yarn, will be a bulky mini cardi for my friend Monica. She saw me wearing my black bulky cardi one night, and asked if I'd make her one. It's a pretty quick knit, so I'm hoping it'll knit itself in no time. And for reasons I can't explain, this hat is taking me forever:The pattern is a modified Marigold. I'm aiming to have a slouchy version a la Eliza's gorgeous version. And since it's been ages, since I posted, here's a shot of my darling kittens doing what they do best. Sleeping, and getting into trouble:

April Resolution

I recently decided that I'm desperately behind in my movie watching, so I was playing a bit of catch up on the weekend and watched American Gangster and Children of Men (hey, I said I was behind!). Just me, a couple of movies, and my knitting. And I was all the way through the second film when I realized I had made a mistake in one row, approximately twenty rows down. I have to admit, I'm a lazy knitter and I hate ripping back- I often evaluate how obvious a mistake is, and if I don't think it's too bad, it stays put But this was right at the front, on the bust, dead centre. Not happening (It's supposed to be 13.5" right now).

So I got to frog a couple hours work. Fun times. And I was so hoping to be finished the ribbing this weekend, and begin the button bands. : (

Jen and I went for Korean BBQ with our friends Kevin and Becca on the weekend. Have you ever been for Korean BBQ? Basically, you pay money for someone to bring you raw meat, which you then cook yourself at the table. Sure, you could be home and doing the same thing, but it wouldn't be nearly so much fun. Having this blog has really made me face up to something... I'm really uncomfortable having my photo taken. I don't know why, exactly, but I find that when I've had time to register that my photo is being taken, it's like I tuck away my personality somewhere, where the camera can't see it. So the best photos of me are the ones where I didn't have time to react to the camera, or when I didn't even know I was having my picture taken. And, I'll confess, they also aren't bad when I've had plenty to drink..... damn the liberating effects of alcohol! None of those factors are in play below, though:I totally knew Kevin was taking a picture, and Jen is making a cute wide-eyed face, and I'm moving around, playing with my meat tongs, trying to pretend the camera doesn't exist and generally blurring all over the place. Classic. You'd think I'd be comfortable considering I was the one that pulled out the camera, but no. And then here's Becca, being super cute, and really working the meat tongs: So, I'm conducting an experiment to get myself more comfortable in front of a camera- I'm starting self portrait Sunday. I'm not sure exactly what but if it means I don't have to take three or four tries to get some good shots of FOs, then I'm all for it. Sunday, I'll post the first one. I'm interested to see how long it takes before I feel more comfortable in front of a camera.

Which means sometime between now and then, I'll have to take some photos of myself.