Change of Scene
Finally, I’m off of sleeve island!
Okay, it doesn’t look like much right now, but give me a chance. I did only just barely finish casting off about ten minutes ago. Lots of ends, curling on the bottom hem . . . yes, yes, all of that. But the important thing is that the knitting is done.
And that, hopefully, all the pieces will fit together properly. I completely winged the sleeve cap shaping. It might work, it might be completely wrong, but what can I say? It’s not like I could follow the pattern! Tomorrow I’ll weave in all the ends, and perhaps even sew in the sleeves, which will be challenging. There are, you see, no shoulder seams. Instructions state that you just pin the front and back edges together, sew in the sleeve, and then secure the shoulders with buttons. Which, of course, I still have to buy. And then, cross my fingers that it’s going to actually FIT.
The downside? Look at all the yarn I have leftover!
It’s one of the advantages, I suppose, to having such a drastically different, bigger, gauge–Fewer stitches, fewer rows equal less yardage. But three full skeins (and a fraction) left of the main color, and about one and a quarter of the contrast color. I’m not sure what I’ll do with it, though no doubt I’ll come up with something. I knew that there would be leftovers, mind you, because of the gauge issue, but for some reason surprised at how much is left.
Anyway, hurray, hurray, calloo, callay. The knitting is done! It’s not a FO yet, but it’s darn close. Two sleeve seams, (buy and) sew on some buttons, some blocking (that, please, will fix that hem roll on the bottom), a couple loops to hold the buttons together . . . Not only am I through the tunnel, but I see the parking lot approaching.
Or, rather, to keep my metaphors unmixed, not only am I off the island, but I can see the marina up ahead. There’s a pina colada over there, calling my name.
Oh, and my hair today? As I expected, bad curl issues this morning after I woke up. Remember, yesterday, I completely forgot to add gel to my hair–nothing to encourage the curls to stay together while sleeping. So, I did something I haven’t done in a long time. Years, even. I french-braided my hair this morning before going to work. It’s really kind of gratifying to know that I haven’t lost my knack. (And before you ask, taking the picture of the back of my head was harder than doing the actual braid.)

















































I’m starting to think I’m never going to actually FINISH a project again! Nor have I had a chance to spin in the last three nights, and I’ve so wanted to! But there have been other things to get done–like getting my Christmas Tree Pattern ready to self-publish. I think I’ve got it–now I just have to finish setting up the Knit-Along. I’ve got a button for it, though! (It’s not too big, do you think??)

Tannenbaum.
House Calls


