I finally finished the Rorschach sweater. It was almost finished last year without buttons or a belt. I wore it a few times and the neck drooped down a bit in the back and it didn’t seem to want to stay remotely closed in the front. So, I added a garter stitch belt and belt loops. I did NOT like where the belt sat and this made me look too large around the middle. So, I took that off and added 5 tab buttonholes and buttons like are shown in Knitters Workshop, but that was somehow worse than the belt. So, my husband suggested one button at the top and I decided to take off all but the top tab buttonholes and buttons and this might be the best so far. He probably knows more about knitting than he ever thought he needed to. This sweater isn't the most flattering, but I do like the pattern.
Rorschach Sweater
Back:
The back turned out fine - the bottom is just a little rumpled I think.
Yarn: Nature Spun Worsted Weight in aran and black
Needles: size 8
Pattern: Rorschach from Knitters Almanac.
Has anyone else made this and run into these problems? The look of the sweater is kinda retro and overall very nice, but it has been awhile coming together.
2008 Knitting Goals:
* Now that I have a little traffic, I want to improve the content of my blog. I'd like it to be more interesting.
* I'd like to improve my technical skills with blogging. There are some things I see on other websites that I'd like to know about. For example, I want to figure out how to have slide shows of groups of photos.
* One of my knitting goals is about to be realized - successful sleeve steeks on a drop shoulder sweater.
* Making more gifts.
* I don't have too many unfinished projects, but I'd like to wrap up a few things. (But wrapping up the 2007 projects in 2008 already makes me look super productive this year!)
* I'd like to make the an aran sweater from Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitter's Almanac, but alter it to have raglan sleeves. I need to decide on the right yarn. I am kinda over Nature Spun - a little too bouncy, and Cascade 220 sometimes seems a little lightweight, Knit Picks Wool of the Andes does seem pretty nice - but they don't have the color I have in mind. I might check out schoolhouse press - anyone recommend the rangley or Quebequoise?
To answer a question from one of the previous comments - yes, the hats that my grandma and I are wearing are the Fiber Trends swirls hat pattern. My grandma seems to be a big hit - the bulk of the first comments I have one my blog were about grandma. Putting grandmas on your blog feels like cheating a bit - the cute factor is so high - it is like putting kittens on your blog! But thanks for the nice comments - it was fun to make and fun to give.
Deep freeze
It was -16 below zero in Minneapolis today. Sometimes, it can be fun to be stay gather supplies and hunker down to stay inside all weekend and have a good excuse for doing not a whole lot of anything. There's no walking for exercise going on, no easy running around to get a few things done, and the sun is so damn bright - it is deceptive - it looks like it should be great weather, but no. So, it is a weekend of staying inside. On the upside, I have a great TV series from the library 'Monarch of the Glen' and it is a very fun show and a good show to knit by. Highly recommended. For anyone who watches this show, isn't Kilwillie one of the best characters on TV?
We also like making some great dishes during the cold and wintery weather. The mister made an Alsatian pork and kraut dish from the Joy of Cooking.
He used a pork tenderloin roast so it was very lean and the sauerkraut included fresh cabbage, beer, carrots, and caraway. It is very yummy - and dishes look so nice in the giant cast iron. Good diet food.
