The Cyber Sweater

Here, as promised, pictures of the Cyber Sweater.

It turns out that I'm not as good at measuring, adjusting for size, or finishing off, as I hoped I was. But it's wearable and cute and that's all that matters when you slap it on an almost-two-year-old (if I'd taken out the binkie, washed his face and combed his hair I could have said "an adorable almost-two-year-old", but...)

The Specs:

Knitted from Wool-Ease in black and grey on size 8s.
The bottom and sleeve cuffs are turned up like the bottom of these pants (which I will also finish one day).
Collar is garter stitch, and I put some buttons down the back to allow for the huge-headedness of children (this one in particular).
The Generic-Cybernetic-Lifeform is done in Berroco FX (silver/black) in duplicate stitch, because I had knitted the body so many times that I couldn't face doing the intarsia again and then discovering that it STILL didn't fit. It was my first attempt at duplicate stitch and, naturally, I didn't consult any books or anything, so just don't ask to see the back (at least for the first few rows).

It could do with being longer in the body and shorter in the arms, and I really should have picked up fewer stitches for the collar, but it was made with love. And I figure I'll be a lot better at this stuff by the time the boys are old enough to care (or have friends who laugh at them).

CyberSweater

I'm very excited. I have finished G's Cyberman Sweater. The pattern was helped along by the Stitches software (because I knitted a whole sweater for a pinhead and had to rip it out). The sleeves are way too long somehow, but I figure at this point we can roll them up.

Pictures and details tomorrow. (Guess what G will be wearing?)

Discipleship

Gauge/Tension Square Pre-felting
Originally uploaded by jwordsmith.

Because I am a dedicated disciple of the Yarn Harlot (and because the Heathen Housewife had already planted the seed) I have ordered the pattern for the Fiber Trends felted clogs.

Since I ordered it online, I was lured into Michael's by Husband (who is, whoo-hoo, going through another crafty phase himself) where I found wool, yes real feltable wool. This was almost unprecedented in my experience, so i bought a bunch, not even knowing if it was the right weight. But I've never let that stop me...

(Is this why I have so many UFOs, I ask myself?)

The postal delay (what, no pattern download? What is this, the Dark Ages?) has forced me to sit around and fondle the wool, then wind it into balls, then cast on and knit a tension square. So I suppose that's a good thing. I'm usually much too impatient.

(Again, we ponder the number of UFOs in the closet).

Anyhoo, after waiting until daylight to take a picture and (wonder of wonders) remembering to write down the guage, I have thrown my little square into the washer with gay abandon (and a bunch of towels).

Both me and my sister know about how wool can felt (still feeling guilty, F?) so I'm waiting to see what comes out.

And yes, I have an old top-loader (inherited from the people who lived in my house before me for 20 years) so I should be golden.

Cedar McGee Hat

Cedar McGee Hat
Originally uploaded by jwordsmith.

Baby hats are a big favourite with me. Almost-instant gratification and little tracking required.