Zip! Another week whizzed by. We’re in that end-of-summer-busy-ness phase. Trying to stuff a lot of things into what little remains of summer. We already have leaves changing and it’s still August for crying out loud! I’m not a hug fan of summer (too hot!) but I’m not quite ready for fall yet. It probably has a little something to do with the fact that I still have lots of things to do on my 10 Things this Summer list.
I feel like I’ve cheated on the list though. I REALLY wanted to complete the third item on the list (finishing the 10-year sweater) before I started on the fourth item — starting my Lopapeysa sweater with the yarn I purchased on our trip to Iceland. I did drag the 10-year sweater out and look at it (shouldn’t that count for something?) but then I shoved it back into the bag. I need courage. Or alcohol. Or something. I reeeeeaaally don’t want to work on that sweater again. ;-)
In the meantime, the trip to Utah came along and I wanted something new for vacation knitting, so I succumbed and started the new sweater. Here it is, lying among a few fallen maple leaves. (Don’t let that fall scene fool you though — it’s HOT out there today.)
I LOVE working on this sweater! This is how all sweaters should be knit — bottom up with NO seams. The torso is done up to the armpits and I’m currently knitting the sleeves — two at a time just like knitting two at a time socks. I love this method — that way I know the stitch increases will occur in the same places on both sleeves. And I won’t have second sleeve syndrome. ;-D
I’ll knit the sleeves up to the armpit and then the body and arms will all be joined together and the neckline will be knit. So far, this sweater is clipping along at a pretty good pace, but it will slow down when I get to the neckline. That requires three different colors of yarn going at once and I’m pretty uncoordinated in that department. I’m using THIS free pattern from Alafoss Wool.
Oooh, look — I found some of those cute little sheepie stitch markers when I was in Utah. I had forgotten to take stitch markers with me and I was using yarn scraps, but I kept knitting them into the sweater. I could have bought the plain little plastic circles and saved a lot of money, but where’s the fun in that?
So, I’m whittling down my summer list — not much time left. And while I’m at it, I’m taking credit for number 6. Clean Some Closets. I haven’t done so many closets, but among the drawers and cupboards, I did clean the garage and the dreaded tupperware cupboard. That’s enough suffering for a month or two!
Have a good week!
XOXO,
Anna
it looks lovely – I wish I could knit but I just have not mastered it – not anywhere close LOL
I’m with Karen. I just don’t have the patience for knitting I guess! But yours is beautiful ! Congratulations for making progress on your list!
The jumper looks fab, Anna. :o)
Congratulations on cleaning the garage and the tupperware cupboard. I don’t do the garage – it’s Douglas’s territory, thankfully – but the plastic boxes cupboard is mine to do and, oh, I hate doing it! I’ll never understand how things that stack together get into such a mess! :oD
Dang look at you just knitting away – so cute what’s on those needles and that sheep marker – might be worth taking up knitting just so I could use them. Oh wait – what was I thinking – I must need a drink lol. Seriously laughed out loud when I was reading about the 10 year sweater – I think it’s ok to release it and let it go – it’s ok. Sometimes you just have to – done that with a few quilt UFO’s. After I sucked in wind – I was good with it. I’m loving the sight of those leaves – candy to my eyes lol.
Stay Cool My Friend – or is that – stay thirsty my friend :) – Mrs. Farmhouse
Love your Icelandic sweater. It looks like fall and You will be warm and toasty. I say, “you’ve cleaned enough closets”, where’s the fun in that? Go knit.
i don’t like to sew knitted OR crocheted things together – and i TOTALLY understand a 10-year-sweater … i have come to realize that i will NEVER do EVERYTHING that i THOUGHT i wanted to do, and that it is okay to LET GO of the things that i just can’t bring myself to spend another moment working on or feeling guilty over … my 19-year-needlepoint-bunny-doorstop vacated the premises a couple of months ago and it was like a burden had been lifted (including angels singing hallelujah) – as a matter of fact, this is the first time i’ve even thought about it … it would have been SO CUTE, but it was NEVER gonna get done (ever) and now someone else can buy it for 50 cents at the thrift store, take it home and either stitch it or not … not my problem any-doggone-more…
OR … maybe there is someone who LIKES to sew already knitted things together who will do the part that you don’t like to do, and you can do something for him/her that you DO LIKE to do in trade? like bake some cookies or … ooooo!!! i know!!! bake one of your beautiful pies!!!
Your knitting is just beautiful. I guess I should try to learn to knit instead of envying all you smart people who already know how, huh?
That sweater is on my bucket list, too. I am knitting a raglan sweater as I am reading this—it is knit the same way with no seams. I am knitting it out of some Malabrigo that I bought to make a cardigan for myself. I have knit that cardigan twice, and STILL wasn’t happy with it, so I frogged it all and am going to knit two sweaters for WoolAid to use up the yarn and get it out of my life. I also have a pair of socks going—I love me some self-patterning sock yarn.
Don’t we all make lists that are too ambitious? It’s great you have finished some stuff and it’s even more wonderful that you cleaned some cupboards and the garage. Phew, you’ve done more than I have! It’s not even that hot here, but I’m not a Summer person either, though I would be when I lived in France on a hill with a view and without any neighbours….
You’ve lost me a bit with all that knitting jargon, but the sweater looks great already.
oooooooh love it! I have one of these on my one-day list :)
okay your knitting method has me utterly confused. don’t feel badly, it’s not hard to do. tupperware cupboard? :gasps in horror. If I receive a package in the mail of the containers with no lids because you couldn’t bear to throw them away, i’m going to go and lose my mind (again). have a wonderful monday. i hope you brought your knitting to work in your attic24 bag so you can knit at lunchtime (and never, never, never while on a conference call).
:waves madly
I used to knit sweaters like that – I once knitted the largest size for the husband of a regular customer – and their dog chewed holes in it! Unfortunately it was beyond saving. Herdy stitchmarkers!! – I got some when I was at Woolfest in June – all I need to do now is get my knitting mojo back!
I love that sweater… and I adore those little stitch markers! (I’ve been clearing out closets too!)
Very lovely Anna! I’m doing some hand-work myself. Working on getting some bindings done so that I can USE the quilts that I’ve gotten back from the quilter. Plus the Memory quilt. I’ve been busy; just quiet. Not ready for Fall yet either. Sleeping at night with no AC has been awesome though!
Gorgeous new jumper!! And that 10 year old one?? Well, it’s been there for 10 years….what’s a few more??!! Glad you found some sheepie markers – fun!!
I like that method for the sweater, it looks like you’ll be at the finish line before too long. What’s another year or two on the other when it’s been 10 years already?
Just beautiful. I love the yarn. I am itching to knit. Actually I am itching for life to slow down and knit!! Love sheep markers too. Clarice
You totally crack me up! And I say that … “Yes, you do get credit for at least taking the 10 year old sweater out and looking at it!” Hey … at least you finished that red and green quilt from 20 years back. That was impressive! I would have donated it to a thrift store half finished!
I hereby give you permission to never finish the 10 year sweater. If it’s something that doesn’t make you happy to do, then you shouldn’t do it. Life is too short. Amen.
Oh Anna, that is going to turn out so pretty! I haven’t picked up my needles in so long, now I’m getting the itch to start something after seeing your sweater, and those markers are too cute. I’ve done all but 3 on my summer list, you go girl on the closets :)
That sweater is going to be gorgeous! The colors are so pretty! ;p
Wow! You’re doing a great job there Anna :)
I love this pattern, it’s somewhere on my to do list for my Andrea.
What is it about early fall?? Must be global warming or something, fall is also about month to early here too! Well, at least you’ll have a pretty warm sweater waiting for you when it gets cold ;)
Let me know if you need more lopi!
Love the new sweater! Jana in comments took the words right out of my mouth. Give up the 10 yr. sweater…life is short. What the heck is with Tupperware in the drawer anyway? The container drawer has been a lifelong battle with me…lol. Bottoms…no lids. Lids…no bottoms. OK…let’s buy all the same…still can’t find matching tops and bottoms. Argh.
That looks like a very cosy jumper… or sweater (which I always think is a rather forthright name. Ladies, after all, don’t sweat. Mind you, perhaps they don’t jump either).
I love your mum’s quilt and wondered for a moment if I should see if you had any kits left and then I thought… ooops, maybe there’s something else I need to do before buying any more fabric. Ahem.
Wow! You have been busy! That sweater is gorgeous. You must be about half done. (or better, by now.) I’m impressed with your closet-cleaning. I just did my Tupperware cupboard the other day. It’s amazing how quickly it goes all bonkers again. (I blame the kitchen goblins.)
I’m with you about the seasons. I don’t love hot, sticky weather, but I’m not yet in a hurry to get to Autumn, even though it has been my favorite season forever. This summer has been soooo nice with my 2 older boys home from college. They leave this weekend , and I dread it. But I’ve lined up enough projects to keep myself busy.
Happy knitting!
That is, by far, the most cozy looking sweater I have ever seen!
Oh yeah, I have a 10 year old sweater, too. I should probably work on that sometime! Why don’t I? Because there is always something new to try. Cheers!
What a beautiful sweater! I love that soft grey (gray?) color.
Wow, you are quite the accomplished knitter – looks so even and professional.
Cute photo shoot.
As I told another blog friend, “follow your bliss, not your list” :)
Oh my word, how gorgeous it is. It shouldn’t be possible to have sweater envy when the sweater’s unfinished but I seem to have it anyway!
Your sweater looks great, and I love the sheep stitch marker :-) I just started knitting a new sweater over the weekend- like I don’t already have plenty of ufo’s…. Oh well, love those new projects!