Finally!
I have enough of the back of Bob's FLAK cardigan completed to get an idea of how it will look.
This time I think it's going much better and will fit him. It's amazing what getting gauge can do.
I'm off to visit my friend Nancy tomorrow to wish her a Happy Birthday and to spend a whole day knitting, spinning, chatting and chatting and more chatting. We'll probably spend a lot of time talking about the lambs we both are expecting and dreaming about what we will get.
Off to bed now....have to rest up for my day of knitting!!
I have enough of the back of Bob's FLAK cardigan completed to get an idea of how it will look.
This time I think it's going much better and will fit him. It's amazing what getting gauge can do.
I'm off to visit my friend Nancy tomorrow to wish her a Happy Birthday and to spend a whole day knitting, spinning, chatting and chatting and more chatting. We'll probably spend a lot of time talking about the lambs we both are expecting and dreaming about what we will get.
Off to bed now....have to rest up for my day of knitting!!
SWATCH, SWATCH AND MORE SWATCHING.....
Seems like this is all I've done for the past week. I thought I had it figured out on Bob's FLAK sweater but ended up taking a swim in the frog pond on that one. I started all over and I think I'm getting close.
Then there is my sister's FLAK sweater that I'm spinning the yarn for. The last skein of yarn came out in a finer weight than the first 3 did. So, I thought it best to wash up the skeins and start some swatching for it. I've started with some of the heavier weight yarn and while I'm very close to getting gauge on it I'm not sure I should now use it. The last swatch I did was on size 3 needles and I got 21 stitches/4 inches. I'm without a long enough size 2 needle at the moment to try but I'm afraid of using such a small needle for this sweater. I think I'll try the finer weight yarn out too. So...more swatching ahead for me!
I'm so anxious to get these sweaters going but I absolutely WILL get gauge first!
This afternoon we will be in the barn giving the sheep wormer vaccinations. We have 5 sheep leaving tomorrow to go to their new home so it seems like a good time to do it. I sure hope it warms up some!
Seems like this is all I've done for the past week. I thought I had it figured out on Bob's FLAK sweater but ended up taking a swim in the frog pond on that one. I started all over and I think I'm getting close.
Then there is my sister's FLAK sweater that I'm spinning the yarn for. The last skein of yarn came out in a finer weight than the first 3 did. So, I thought it best to wash up the skeins and start some swatching for it. I've started with some of the heavier weight yarn and while I'm very close to getting gauge on it I'm not sure I should now use it. The last swatch I did was on size 3 needles and I got 21 stitches/4 inches. I'm without a long enough size 2 needle at the moment to try but I'm afraid of using such a small needle for this sweater. I think I'll try the finer weight yarn out too. So...more swatching ahead for me!
I'm so anxious to get these sweaters going but I absolutely WILL get gauge first!
This afternoon we will be in the barn giving the sheep wormer vaccinations. We have 5 sheep leaving tomorrow to go to their new home so it seems like a good time to do it. I sure hope it warms up some!
BOB'S BLUE FLAK CARDIGAN
I'm so excited! The yarn arrived today for Bob's sweater! I had just sat down to knit and was wishing it was here so that I could get started on his sweater. I was knitting for maybe 10 minutes when Bob went to the door to get the mail from our mail carrier. He came in and set the box down on the kitchen table and I had this feeling like maybe it could be his yarn. But then I thought no, that would be way too quick for it to arrive. Yeah! It came from Elann.com and it has to be the fasted delivery I've ever had!
I have enough of the back of Bob's cardigan
completed to get an idea of how it will look.
This time I think it's going much better and will fit him. It's amazing what getting gauge can do.
March 7, 2006
Progress on Bob's FLAK Cardigan!
Now, I was going to post this after I completed the back to the underarm until I found out from my husband that there are a few people he works with who have been checking his sweater out on my blog. Hello Arctic Glacier, Inc. employees (at least the ones who have been watching ;-). There is still an inch to go on the back and then I'll put the stitches on a holder for awhile. I'll then start working on the front and complete that to the underarm. Thanks for watching and feel free to ask Bob (as much as you possibly can) how is sweater is coming!!
FLAK Update!
I've finished the right front on Bob's FLAK and have started on the left side.
Here is just the right front:
(if you click on the pictures you can see it a bit larger)
You can see in the photos that I switched from using the circular needles to the straight needles towards the bottom of the front. I didn't like how the moss stitch on the side looks like it's dragging down. If when I get the other side done using the straight needles it look better I may frog the right side and do it over. I'd love to hear opinions on this! Does anyone think it might straighten out once the sleeves are on it?
I'm so excited! The yarn arrived today for Bob's sweater! I had just sat down to knit and was wishing it was here so that I could get started on his sweater. I was knitting for maybe 10 minutes when Bob went to the door to get the mail from our mail carrier. He came in and set the box down on the kitchen table and I had this feeling like maybe it could be his yarn. But then I thought no, that would be way too quick for it to arrive. Yeah! It came from Elann.com and it has to be the fasted delivery I've ever had!
I have enough of the back of Bob's cardigan
completed to get an idea of how it will look. This time I think it's going much better and will fit him. It's amazing what getting gauge can do.
March 7, 2006
Progress on Bob's FLAK Cardigan!
Now, I was going to post this after I completed the back to the underarm until I found out from my husband that there are a few people he works with who have been checking his sweater out on my blog. Hello Arctic Glacier, Inc. employees (at least the ones who have been watching ;-). There is still an inch to go on the back and then I'll put the stitches on a holder for awhile. I'll then start working on the front and complete that to the underarm. Thanks for watching and feel free to ask Bob (as much as you possibly can) how is sweater is coming!!
FLAK Update!
I've finished the right front on Bob's FLAK and have started on the left side.
Here is just the right front:
(if you click on the pictures you can see it a bit larger)
You can see in the photos that I switched from using the circular needles to the straight needles towards the bottom of the front. I didn't like how the moss stitch on the side looks like it's dragging down. If when I get the other side done using the straight needles it look better I may frog the right side and do it over. I'd love to hear opinions on this! Does anyone think it might straighten out once the sleeves are on it?
My Day/Pi Update
I've had such a wonderful day! I've been swatching in preparation to begin a sweater with the FLAK group. In fact, I guess I'll be doing 2 of them! I am spinning the yarn for one I'm doing for my sister and I've also ordered yarn to make a cardigan for my husband. I did a poll recently amongst the men in my household (my husband and my 3 sons) and asked them if I were to knit you a sweater, would you actually wear it? My husband seemed the most appreciative so of course I MUST knit one for him. Two of my sons said absolutely not! So, I will wait a few years and ask again hoping some day they will see the value in a hand knit sweater. My other son said he probably wouldn't wear it when he was out with his friends but when he was with us and doing "family" things he thought he would. This son will get a sweater much sooner than the others will. Here are the swatches for my husband's FLAK cardigan:
This isn't the color I'll be using for his sweater. His will actually be Antique Blue. I happened to have the same kind of yarn in my stash and decided to use it for the swatches while I wait for the blue yarn to arrive.
Now, on to my Pi Shawl. I am still making progress on my shawl but it is definately slowing down. I took some pics today in attempt to show the progress I've made but decided it's very hard to get it to lay out well. It just looks like a big sack. Oh well, for what its worth here it is.
The one on the right shows the center motif well.
I've had such a wonderful day! I've been swatching in preparation to begin a sweater with the FLAK group. In fact, I guess I'll be doing 2 of them! I am spinning the yarn for one I'm doing for my sister and I've also ordered yarn to make a cardigan for my husband. I did a poll recently amongst the men in my household (my husband and my 3 sons) and asked them if I were to knit you a sweater, would you actually wear it? My husband seemed the most appreciative so of course I MUST knit one for him. Two of my sons said absolutely not! So, I will wait a few years and ask again hoping some day they will see the value in a hand knit sweater. My other son said he probably wouldn't wear it when he was out with his friends but when he was with us and doing "family" things he thought he would. This son will get a sweater much sooner than the others will. Here are the swatches for my husband's FLAK cardigan:
This isn't the color I'll be using for his sweater. His will actually be Antique Blue. I happened to have the same kind of yarn in my stash and decided to use it for the swatches while I wait for the blue yarn to arrive.
Now, on to my Pi Shawl. I am still making progress on my shawl but it is definately slowing down. I took some pics today in attempt to show the progress I've made but decided it's very hard to get it to lay out well. It just looks like a big sack. Oh well, for what its worth here it is.
The one on the right shows the center motif well.
I've been very busy working on some handspun for a KAL I've decided to do. I've joined the FLAK group and will be knitting an aran sweater for my sister Kerri. So far I've completed 12 oz. of yarn. I'm extremely tempted to start on the sweater because it's designed by Janet Szabo who is one of my favorite designers. This sweater is knit from the top down so it will be a learning experience for me. I've done aran sweaters before but I've always knitted them from the bottom up and in pieces so they had to be sewn together. Not my favorite part of making sweaters! I'm going to try very hard to be a good girl and for once get the yarn spun before I start the sweater.
Here is the yarn I've completed so far.....
I finally have gauge! Now on to the saddles!
I'll be using size 2 needles for this sweater.
Update on Kerri's FLAK Sweater
Most of my time has been spent working on Bob's FLAK Cardigan. I really felt like I've been neglecting my sister's sweater so I took it out today and finished the second saddle. I seem to have found some balance on some of my other projects by picking them up almost on a daily basis and working on them for a short time before I pick up Bob's sweater. I hope to continue working on this sweater in the same matter at least until I finish one of them.
group and will be knitting an aran sweater for my sister Kerri. So far I've completed 12 oz. of yarn. I'm extremely tempted to start on the sweater because it's designed by Janet Szabo who is one of my favorite designers. This sweater is knit from the top down so it will be a learning experience for me. I've done aran sweaters before but I've always knitted them from the bottom up and in pieces so they had to be sewn together. Not my favorite part of making sweaters! I'm going to try very hard to be a good girl and for once get the yarn spun before I start the sweater.Here is the yarn I've completed so far.....
I'll be using size 2 needles for this sweater.
Update on Kerri's FLAK Sweater
Most of my time has been spent working on Bob's FLAK Cardigan. I really felt like I've been neglecting my sister's sweater so I took it out today and finished the second saddle. I seem to have found some balance on some of my other projects by picking them up almost on a daily basis and working on them for a short time before I pick up Bob's sweater. I hope to continue working on this sweater in the same matter at least until I finish one of them.
