Done for Easter!!

This may be a first so mark this date.... well maybe not a first but I don't do it very often. What am I talking about, you ask? Finishing a project on time, actually two days to spare. The In the Green Sweater that I started on March 23rd, yes of this year, is finished, completely, even sewn together (sometimes things will sit in wait to be sewn together because I dread it soooo much)



In the Green Sweater pattern from Creative Knitting Magazine July 2008

I am very pleased with the finished project.  This pattern has taught me more than I expected.  I like to learn new things but I was surprised that one simple pattern could teach me so much.

I learned the pattern stitch, wildflower knot, is a simple but very nice stitch result.
At first it reminded me of the bauble stitch but not near as puffy. Then as the pattern continues through the sweater it almost looks like a cable stitch from a distance.  Just a very pleasing effect indeed. 

Also I learned to crochet backwards.  Well that is what you do  but it is called reverse single crochet.  I had never heard of or seen this before but what a beautiful result.  It is the finish stitch on the neckline.



Reverse single crochet neck finish

It has a beaded or rope look to it.  I will definitely be using this stitch again. 

You may notice that the pattern has longer sleeves than my sweater.  I did alter the sleeves.  I knew when I started that I wanted the sleeves to be shorter so I did not follow the pattern sleeve directions.  Instead I just followed the armhole shaping directions after I had knit in ribbing and pattern stitch for the length I wanted the sleeve to be.

The only draw back to this sweater is that it is very heavy when finished.  I don't know what I expected but I swear it is heavier than the skeins of yarn that made it.  Is that possible???  That isn't a problem for most wearings of it but my first wearing was going to be for Easter Sunday and with the glorious HOT (90 degree) weather we are having hear in FL I might be a little warmish if I step out of the air-conditioning.

I learned one more thing from this project, not from the pattern itself but when it came time to sew it all together I went for help.  I have never enjoyed the hand sewing part of finishing a garment of any kind (one of the reasons that I never got into quilting).  It is was because I always made a mess of it.  I do many things well but hand sewing isn't one of them.  So I went for help this time, to my Tips and Tricks page and watched the video Seaming a set-in Sleeve.  It helped so much that I am never going to let something sit unfinished again just because I don't want to sew it together.

I really feel this is a simple pattern, very easy that anyone with the basics of knitting could do.  But it was also such a learning experience for me even though I consider myself an experienced knitter.  I learned that I can finish a project in a timely manor if I just apply myself, and I learned that one can always learn something new if we keep an open mind.

TTFN 

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Charity Projects Done

Today I finished the last of my charity crocheting projects.  I will probably start another project later in the year but for now I will concentrate on my WIP and start to think about Christmas gifts.

I started two projects last month that I feel are very worthy causes.  One is making baby blankets for Bernat Cares, and the other is making 6X6 or 12X12 squares for On-Line Angels.  The Bernat website has info and free patterns for all different charities for you to choose from.  I chose the Project LInus Blanket Drive.  The On-Line Angels information I got from SmoothFox Crochet and Knit blog where you can also choose from 3 patterns that she will send you if you join in on the project.  Right now On-Line Angels is also having a baby booties drive.

For the Bernat Cares/Project Linus Blanket Drive, I chose to use a simple continuous granny square pattern.  I used some scraps of leftover yarn that was all acrylic and had the little blanket (approximately 36 - 38 inches) done in no time. 



Granny Square Baby Blanket



The crochet squares for On-Line Angels are also made of scrap yarn that is also all acrylic.  They request that you use only acrylic because they take all the different squares and sew them together and make blankets.  What a job that would be.  I don't know why but I have never liked sewing all the squares together. I prefer to crochet them together as I go.  I loved just making the squares though it seemed so quick.  I just picked up a hook and some yarn when I got tired of knitting and made  two or three 6X6 squares  then I would go back to knitting.   Before I knew it I had 25 squares.  They have requested the squares be sent before the end of April so tomorrow I am sending them off to their new home to be joined with all the rest of the donated squares.



6X6 squares using the #3 pattern created by SmoothFox

I will also package up the baby blanket and send it off to the Linus Project. 

I have really enjoyed making these things.  As I sit and knit or crochet I always like to know that whatever object I am making has a purpose.  In doing these projects I can rest assured that someone, somewhere, will benifit from them and hopefully will be warmed inside and out by them and their heart touched so that they may make their own contirbutions to others, in their own way. 

I hope you will leave a comment and let me know what your charity projects are.

Colossians 3:12

 

Therefore, as Gods chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

 

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Wednesday's WIP

This week has gone by so fast already.  I meant to keep blogging everyday but life keeps getting in the way. 

Sunday I had trouble with my wireless router and had to spend and hour and ten minutes on the phone to India, trying to get that worked out.  By the time I got back online my hubby had come home from his weekend away at hunt camp so of course I couldn't just ignore him. 

Monday I just don't even remember, other than I did knit a lot because I finished the back of my sweater I am trying to get finished by Easter. 

Tuesday I was very rudely awakened at 6:30 AM by the weather alert radio going off saying our area was under a tornado watch.  That got me up and I thought that I would get some early knitting in but our little dog Tuffy seemed to think that nothing should come between us when there is stormy, noisy weather going on.  It did finally clear up around 1 PM and turned into a gorgeous afternoon.  However something got my back muscles to spasm (this happens when I get too tense) and for the rest of the evening I had to fore go knitting and just lay on the heat/vibrator to relax my muscles.  It took all night and into this morning before I started to finally get back to normal.

So today now that I have dishes washed, clothes washed and folded and before I have to start supper, I thought I had better try to squeeze in a few words and let you see how far along I am with my green sweater that I mentioned in the Dust Bunny post.



In the Green Sweater pattern from Creative Knitting Magazine July 2008

I have finished the back and have started on the front.  I have about 41/2 - 5 inches so far and about 20" or so to go.  And of course the sleeves.  I am not going to make them quite as long as it shows them in the pattern picture.  It shows them as just above the elbow but I want mine to be midway between the shoulder and elbow.  Other than that the pattern is just great.  I haven't had to make any changes or had any trouble following the pattern at all.  It really is going faster than I expected on the little #5 needles (gee that sounds familiar, I must have said that already before).

I may just get it squeaked in by Easter if I don't have any set backs.  Of course in a few more weeks the weather will probably be so hot I won't be able to stand to go outside in it. At least the pattern stitch isn't lacy so I won't have to wear a slip/camisole under it.

Now if I could just figure out what to have for supper tonight.........

TTFN  >^..^<