If I had realized how much fun it was going to be, hosting a Knit-along, I would have come up with one months ago.

  Well, no, it’s better that I waited until I had some idea what I was doing–AND found a pattern to get really enthusiastic about–but I’m having a good time, and I’ve barely begun (grin). We’ve got five people signed up already which I think is pretty good considering I just set this up and it’s the weekend, and all that.

In the time when I haven’t been trying to figure out Blogger and basic HTML stuff for setting things up, I’ve been working on the lace chart for my Chai shawl. It’s not a complicated lace pattern–just basic diamonds with a double row of YOs outlining them–but it’s 20 rows by 16, and my brain just hasn’t locked into the math/geometry needed to figure out how many increases I need and with what frequency to gracefully shape this into a triangular shawl. Not because it’s too hard, mind you, but just because my brain and I have been going in 20 directions at once!

I finished the front of my NbaT last night, and started the first sleeve–it’s a short little sleeve and I know it won’t take that long, but I’m not enjoying those knitted-in hems. I love the way the look, and I love the weight they give to the bottom of the pieces, but I do not like knitting them in! I think the hard part is picking up the stitch from the cast-on edge. I’ve tried it with my knitting needle point and also with a crochet hook and don’t like it either way.

Reading ahead on the Union Square Market Pullover (a mouthful of a name, but at least all easily-pronounced, recognizable words, unlike the Clapotis phenomenon)–it also has a knitted hem but it starts with a provisional cast-on whose stitches get picked up by another knitting needle before joining the hem–so it’s more like a combination of K2tog and a three-needle bind-off. I’m sure I’m going to like that a lot better.

Actually, reading ahead on the USMP pattern is a good idea. It’s a nice, challenging pattern–not a sweater you can dash off in a weekend. (Or at least, not one that I could dash off in a weekend.) It’s got all sorts of interesting touches–short rows in the slightly belled sleeves, the fold-over flap in the front, contrast edging, buttons at the shoulder . . . not a boring sweater to knit at all!

I can’t wait until that sport-weight Alpaca from KnitPicks comes so I can try a swatch and see if I’m anywhere near the gauge I need. Gosh, I ordered it on Friday and here it is Sunday . . . what’s taking them so long?

Must be the heat slowing them down. All I’ll say about this weekend’s weather is . . . ick. It didn’t rain, and we have air conditioning, but ugh. Hazy, hot, and humid. Blech!

And, I just came across my Button on another site–the first time I’ve seen it anywhere but here. Thanks, April! Which makes me wonder–has anyone else borrowed it, and I just didn’t know? If so, let me know!

• Tags: Knitting/Spinning • Permalink:If I Had Only Known //