My Next Project - The February Sweater

February Lady Sweater

I know it is called the February Lady Sweater and it is May, but I am still having a wonderful time knitting it. I like built-in raglan sleeves because I never seem to get set-in sleeves quite right. They fit okay, but I can tell them are not exact. I also love doing lace

If you are on Ravelry, you are familiar with this sweater. It has been one of the most popular projects on the site. It is kind to all body shapes which is critical to me and all ages (since I just turned 60), and it has been on my bucket list for years. Be sure to check out the pattern yourself. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/february-lady-sweater

The yarn has a story of its own. I purchased it at the Estes Park Wool Festival but I don't remember which year. It has been at least a couple of years because I know I didn't buy it last year. I figured I better knit it up since the Wool Festival is in two weeks and I will have to buy some more yarn. It's 100% merino wool in bright red and I think the reason it took me so long to pull the yarn out of my stash is because one of my sons told me the color reminded him of Elmo. For a long time, Elmo was all I saw when I looked at it. But it's okay now. I'm over it. Besides, I like Elmo -- I just don't want to look like him.

Almost Done with my Carmel Jacket

This working for a living sure cuts into not only my knitting time, but my blogging time as well! But ...

Ta-Da! All the knitting is done so now it is just the finishings. I blocked it and loved how it came out. It is light, but still had some body. It will be perfect for both warm and cold weather depending on the skirt I wear underneath. I still have to sew up under the sleeves, weave in the ends, make button loops, and add the buttons. I am thinking that the buttons I bought will be too heavy for this material. I need to go to the store and see what else I can find. I'll post a picture when I am completely done, but don't expect me to model it. I avoid pictures of myself as much as possible.

While I was blocking it, Neko decided to make it into a temporary bed. I wouldn't mind that so much, because all my clothes are covered with black cat hair, but it's when he thinks he can sharpen his nails on the sweater that he gets into trouble. The thing about Neko's hair is that it comes out gray instead of black. Could his blackness just be an illusion?

Meanwhile, I am onto the next knitting project.  Back to the needles ...

Baby Sweater in Blue and Orange

My friend Tara's baby is due next month. This is her first and she is so excited. Since they are big Denver Bronco fans, I had to make a sweater in the traditional orange and blue, but the colors are actually pastel orange and blue.

The sweater turned out really cute but the hat was a disaster. I tried to adapt a pattern for worsted wool to a baby yarn and it got weird and floppy -- and not in a cute way. So I will have to use another pattern. Tara's baby shower was yesterday, so she already has the sweater. I'll get the hat to her before her little boy comes in June.

Back to the needles.

It's May, or Spring -- or Winter

April 30

You have to love Colorado. On Monday, it was 80 degrees. On Tuesday, it rained. On Wednesday, it snowed. (I stole these pictures from a friend of mine to show the contrast.)

It was fun taking the train into work this morning because I could see all the cars stopped on the road dealing with the snow. This is one of those wet snows so
it isn't sticking much yet, but it may be a treat getting home.

May 1