done! (almost)

below: a truly terrible photo of the finished surface sweater!



now, i just have to do the wrap. argh. i decided to up-size it just a wee bit (casting on 242 stitches instead of 230) because i needed to embiggen the sweater itself via blocking (yes i swatched! yes i did!), and let me tell you - casting on over 200 stitches, and then knitting 4 stitches in 1, 40 times across the row, and then yarn-overing those added stitches... well one row takes me a long time to get through. i bought a circular needle in honour of the wrap, even though i generally don't like knitting on circs - but this meimei circ (purchased at the ashton general store for an amazing $1.99!) is nice. it's bamboo, the same hard, dark bamboo as the chiagoo dpns i have and love (it's something they do in the finishing, i forget what), but more importantly the cable is not stiff/springy/determined to turn around on itself even when i don't want it to. it's sort of soft and floppy. it would be nice if the cable was a bit more slippery, but so far i'm really liking it.

except for the number of stitches per row, that is. ugh.

blocking blues

i've been taking it easy this morning (where "taking it easy" = doing laundry) after yesterday's ordeal: 6 hours in a waiting room because the receptionist neglected to tell the doctor i was there (despite the doctor asking her to call as soon as i got there, my mum telling the doctor i was waiting, and the receptionist calling me at home and leaving a message asking me to come in... sigh). i did get a fair amount of knitting done thankfully (although i didn't knit non-stop - i think my wrists would have fallen off if i had). the collar on surface is almost done, and i finished seaming the sweater this morning. so why the blues? well, it's a bit snugger than expected... despite the fact that i swatched. i also added an inch to the length, and thank goodness i did, i could have added two! i blocked the pieces prior to assembling, but i don't have anything here at mum's to properly pin things down, so i'm going to root around and see what i can find and see if i can't block it bigger once i've done the front bands of ribbing. wish me luck.

meanwhile, allow me to show off my seams, which i think i did a pretty good job with:




in other news, the vintage hollywood group on ravelry may have answered a question that has long haunted me: what film was it that featured joan crawford in an absolutely awesome robe with tasselled sleeves? most probable answer: the last of mrs. cheyney, which happens to be available on youtube. you can guess what i'm doing tonight!