Red hooded sweatshirt.

The quest for the perfect red sweater lives on. I cast on for a Featherweight a few days ago, got a couple of rows in, and then threw away the whole thing, yarn and all. It was not the pattern's fault--I'm sure it's lovely--but rather the yarn. Here's a tip: 1440 yards of laceweight for $14 may seem like a good idea, but it's really not. It's kind of a disaster with absolutely no body at all. Into the trash!

So I'm back where I started (minus 1440 yards of stash). I have 8 skeins of red Cascade 220 in the stash just waiting to be turned into the red sweater of my dreams. Care to help me choose?

Cardigan for Arwen (picture from Interweave Knits). I like the cable detail, and it actually has a hood (not a requirement, but kind of charming). I would lengthen it, of course.

Farmer's Market Cardigan (photo from Interweave Knits). I love the pocket, and again, nice cabling. This looks like a fun knit.

Miss BB (photo from ChicKnits). This one has a lot more texture. I wouldn't necessarily wear it buttoned--I'm not really that kind of girl--but there have been some really lovely versions of this on Ravelry.

Brainwave, and a finished shawl.

I just had a brainwave - I have 2200 yards of Madeline Tosh Merino Light in a lovely purple in my stash. I think it would be perfect for the Dockside Cardigan. I was planning on making something else with it, a pullover, I think...ah, yes, Olive. Hmm. Decisions, decisions. The Madeline Tosh is a singles yarn, while the Heritage is plied, and if I'm going to wear the cardigan a lot, I may want to go with the plied so it doesn't pill and show as much wear... I'm also thinking that the Heritage would lend a little more structure, which a curved piece like this needs. So yes, Heritage it is, I think. In one of the purples. Your comments were so helpful - thank you so much!

On to a finished knit. I finished this one a few months ago and never got around to blocking it. Really, it just looked like a wadded up piece of ick. But then it hit the water and BAM, did it grow.

This is Flamboyan, by Stephen West. I had hoped it would be a more interesting knit, but once you get to row kabillion and knit knit knit and then switch colors and purl purl purl, it's a little much. The ribbing at the bottom was particularly painful, especially when I had to rip back a few rows because I was going to run out of yarn for binding off. All that said, I think it turned out very nicely, and my mom seems to love it.

I wasn't quite sure how to block it - there weren't any instructions on that - so I went with a Farasoe shape (so it would rest nicely on the shoulders). This way, I was able to use my blocking board so that the point was at the short side, and then the shoulder pieces were able to go the entire length of the board. She can wear it as a shawl or as a scarf, which is great. I do love making shawls, but I'm not much for wearing them, so I'm glad my mom likes them.

By the way, I used Sundara superwash sock in Brambleberry (the brown) and Roasted Persimmon over Green Apple (the red). I have 1/5 of the red left, and used all the brown. I really like Sundara's colors (I got these through the Seasons club a few years ago), and they didn't bleed at all during the soaking. The price tag is a little too much for me - it's not the be-all, end-all yarn for me - so I probably won't be buying any more unless I see a great deal in someone's stash. I do, however, have enough Aran Silky Merino to make a Lady February...

Must make.

The summer issue of Interweave Knits arrived yesterday, and for the first time, well, ever, there are actually things in it I want to make (I'm not much of a summer knits kind of girl). Both are presenting problems, though. Help me?

The first is the Pebble and Reed tunic.

I don't know why, but I love this shirt. Love. I think it'd be good for Autumn post-baby wear, and I can see myself wearing it a lot. The yarn used is Rowan Purelife Revive, and the problem here is that it's more than I want to spend. I need 10 skeins (eight for the body, two of a contrasting color for trim), and it's $10.95 per skein. Bah. Can anyone out there think of a more economical substitute? Mama's on a budget here. Now, I would get the Webs discount because I'd be spending so much, and that would take 20% off... Normally, I would just go into my stash, but I don't really have any non-wool that would work. But I DO have Elsbeth Lavold Silky Tweed AND Silky Wool in many colors. Internet, did I just solve my problem?

The other pattern from this issue that I love is the Dockside Cardigan.

This is knit with Cascade Heritage, a very lovely, economical sock yarn. I would most likely need five skeins (my in-house measure-er isn't home to measure across my back), which would only run me about $60. Again, good post-pregnancy sweater, and good year-round cardigan.

Alas, the problem here is color. I'm not even sure I like any of the colors offered. I'm so used to wearing black and grey and brown that when it comes to picking out an actual color-color, I just get stumped. I could go for Blood Orange, Moss, and either Plum or Italian Plum (the latter seems a little brighter). What say you?

State of the Stash, November 2010

Dear Stash,

I am trying, okay? I have knit 11,096 yards of you since the beginning of the year, and destashed an additional 4,065 yards. I consider that a lot of yarn, my friend, but you're absolutely refusing to work with me here. Only 7.75% of total stash knit since January 2008? That's all I've done?

Yes, I did buy some yarn in Austin. But I was smart and bought a sweater's worth, because the last thing we need is 600-some yards that I don't know what to do with. Practicality apparently gets me nowhere with you, and I'd think you'd be a little more lenient about yarn that even Justin loves.

I'm furiously knitting up holiday gifts, just like I promised I would, but some of that yarn is leftover from other projects and (this hurts to much) not what I consider to be part of my stash. I also have some half-finished projects that need an extra push, and even though a considerable amount of yarn has been knitted, I can't count it.

Just tell me, Stash, tell me straight out - I'm not going to knit 20% of you before January 22, am I?

Yours in failure,

Kristin

Update on Tuesday, November 16, 2010 at 6:05PM by Kristin

PS - I'm glad you think it's funny to have Justin come upstairs after work and tell me the only thing he wants for Christmas is a handknitted pullover or cardigan. Cabled, of course. And then the yarn he picks isn't cataloged in my stash spreadsheet. That's 2,304 yards. I'm adding that to the starting yardage total. TRY AGAIN, PUNK.

What to bring?

Weddingpalooza part II starts this weekend, and we're back in the car for six hours at a time (plus some airplanes at the end!). I'm not too worried about clothes - new dress and shoes for the big event, comfy car clothes for the rest, and some crappy jeans so I can work at the Habitat house with my dad and Justin - but I am overly perplexed about car activities.

Do I bring work? I have some work I can do in the car (with pen and paper). Which knitting? I know the baby blanket has to come with me - so close! Needs to be done by Monday! - but my lap may get hot. Unfinished socks? I have two of those. The last Bayerische sock? That requires charts, but my chart is small and I could tape it to the dashboard. Start Christmas knitting? Again, charts, but this time with colorwork. Cast on for a sweater with my handspun? I'd love to, but I haven't swatched yet.

You can see why some days I have trouble just getting dressed.