April 19, 2009

The Knitwit Chronicles


The Yarn Plan: Lovely Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted -
Two skeins would be enough for a sweater for The Little Turnip. Better order three skeins just to be sure! Then there's leeway to change to a more complicated pattern if one strikes my fancy before the yarn arrives in the mail. Leftover wool could be used for nice, warm mittens.
Pattern Plan: Hmmm... that turquoise Cookie Sweater I just sent to France fits The Turnip pretty well. Had better make next sweater in a larger size. After all, cold weather not coming again in Lambersart until around November. I noticed that it was 23 degrees Celsius there the other day. And I do have lots of yarn.
The Action Plan: Start making Ann Budd's basic raglan sleeve pullover. Finish the body on circular needles up to the armholes. Looks bigger than the Cookie Sweater. That's okay. That's the idea. Finish the sleeves. Gee, they are much longer than the Cookie Sweater's. Check measurements again. Compare them to other sweater patterns in that size range. Hmmm.... they seem to be in the ballpark.
Continue on.
Join sleeves to front and back this evening and forge upward and onward to the neckline. Ah, well...
The Long Range Plan: Going to be a lovely two tone pink turtleneck for the six year old Turnip Francaise.
Let's hope 2013 is a cold winter. Fight global warming!

April 03, 2009

Finnie's Little Sherbet Sweater


Pattern: Variation of the Little Star Sweater
Designer: Zoe Mellor
Yarn: Sirdar Breeze (discontinued)
Needles: 3.75 mm
These colors now would not be not my first choice for Finnie (she looks great in deeper, stronger tones) but the yarn was the first I bought when I heard she was on her way. I didn't want to waste it so perhaps she can wear this little item on cool evenings if she is outside helping Mummy in the garden.

April 01, 2009

First Year Anniversary


I walked 10.75 kilometers (6.68 miles) today to celebrate the first anniversary of my fitness walking program. My average speed was 4.1 miles per hour and maximum speed was 5.6 miles per hour.
April is always a good month to take stock of life and make new plans. I can say that in the past year, I have been true to my walking goals. I have improved my knitting skills. I have painted an entire set of kitchen cabinets, all the exterior doors of the house, and the deck floors, front and back.
All that I know for sure about the coming year is that I will walk more, travel a bit, paint the front and back deck floors yet again, garden in the summer, knit more in the winter, and remain taller than Sophie.

Sumptuous Yarn


Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted
Color: Pink Blossom
Source: Birds 'n Yarn
Project: Sweater to Warm Finnie in the French Winter of 2009-2010
This is the first purchase I have made from Birds 'n Yarn in the U.S. The service was very fast and the shipping charges quite reasonable. She has a number of exclusive Lorna's Laces colors in the various yarn weights.