Holiday Recap

First post of the New Year...a recap of FO's for the 2007:

5 small (2.5") knitted Christmas ornaments

4 large (4") knitted Christmas ornaments

7 pairs of socks

2 felted handbags

2 lace shawls

2 scarfs

4 hats

1 pair mittens

1 pair felted clogs

3 calorimetry headbands

1 Mermaid Jacket

I guess that's not too bad since I think of myself as a process rather than product knitter. I'm most pleased with the Mermaid...by far the most intense knitting done to date. Not that it was hard just that I had difficulty wrapping my brain around the pattern instructions. Once I started writting out the pattern by row things moved very well...I could check off the row and keep track of all the "at the same time" instructions HF gives in her pattern. I was much happier and relaxed with the knitting and the final product fits beautifully. It's back on the 2008 list for my Mom...need to find the right colors of yarn.

Still finishing up another Koolhaas Hat for youngest...he thinks the original is too big. This one has only 96 sts CO and knit on US size 6 and 7's...also shortened the height by one repeat, doing only 4 pattern repeats. I hope to finish by Saturday in time for his return home.

Need to pick out projects for upcoming ski trip...thinking socks would be the easiest. H's blanket is just too large to trek to the Mountains!

The Finished Mermaid

Last night I finished my Mermaid Jacket! I started it on July 19th and completed Sept 25th which was too bad considering all the questions I had in the beginning. It fits very nicely- flares off the hips and nips in at the waist. I am so pleased that I was able to complete this and have it fit so nice. I had some doubts I must say at the beginning- it isn't "just garter stitch" I can tell you that!

OK- now some measeurement details:

sleeves: top of left sleeve: 24 1/4 inches

underside of left sleeve: 16 inches

top of right sleeve: 24 inches

underside of right sleeve: 16 inches

shoulder seam: right side to bottom edge: 25 inches

left side to bottom: 25 inches

back center line: 25 inches

The jacket has been washed, blocked and is now drying. Let's hope the sleeves haven't grown while wet!

The Body...now on to the Sleeves

Mermaid body is now totally completed- the icord bind off did work as planned and looks very good from both sides. I'm happy with the end results. I started one of the sleeves last night- kind of stuck trying to determine what Hanne means on her increases after Ridge 6. There is already an increase going on for 11 repeats when she talks about doing another for 8 repreats? Confusion reigns again-

Picture of the body to follow later.....

The Body of Mermaid

I'm done with the body of my Mermaid, well not totally true. I still have to finish the shoulder seams, attach the collar and complete the i-cord bind off all the way around the front edge. I so hope that works as planned.

Then on to the sleeves- I haven't finished writing out those directions yet. I've gotten stuck and actually need to knit up to that point to see if I can figure out what's next. A bit of confusion as to how many & what kind of increase Hanne is talking about after the 6th ridge. I'm heading to the Burg next week so I hope to be at least to there and ask D (or someone) there what's up with that section of increases.

Happy Knitting

Still knitting happily (for the most part anyway) on my Mermaid. I'm actually moving along pretty quickly. I'll finish the 2nd underarm gusset tonight- provided no frogging or stupidity happens- which really could occur.

My last picture was actually done before I finished the back- need to get the batteries charged and new shots done soon!

I'm pleased that it actually is looking like the photo and has become much easiler to knit. That has been the most difficult thing- to get an idea of how Hanne F. writes her pattern directions. I've figured the darn thing out and hope to finish the body by next weekend, maybe....Of course then I have to do the sleeves, they have to be the SAME, then I have to block & put the thing all together.

Joy will occur when that last stage happens- cannot wait!

Mermaid has Arrived

After much longing I received a Hanne Falkenberg kit (Mermaid). An early Christmas present from Mom- Yeah! I have loved this 'jacket' for quite sometime and I finally have it. Of course I wanted to start knitting immediately....after swatching...getting gauge...reading through the directions....re-reading several times OUT LOUD for goodness sakes!

What the heck is up with these directions...unlike any others for sure. Too many "at the same times" for my comfort. I did some reseach & found a Hanne KAL http://hannealong.blogspot.com/ that I joined for the help I knew I'd need since my LYS isn't exactly close. I started not with the recommended i-cord, but did a provisional cast on per members of the KAL. So far so good, but I've stopped at the striping due to fear of not putting the decreases in the right spot. Waiting on the experts that have gotten thru the process before I continue forth- don't want to frog this yarn too much, lol.

I think I'll work on my Lutea Lace Tank for a bit until I'm sure of what to do with these decreases.