Something different

I've still got two projects in Nihon Vogue to finish but I'll post more on them later. They are both in the stage that I am more bored than inspired with them so it is difficult to muster up excitement in describing either of them.  Sometimes I think I'll finish in time for the last class in January and then other times I think "ain't no way".  Last week I accepted a new job at my company which will require more travel and the responsibilities that come with have a larger team reporting to me.  Thus, I'll have to make very good use of the holiday period and my days off to get as much done as possible before the complete transition into my new role.  Last weekend I went to the Bellevue Bead Festival and purchased some great lampwork beads, crystals and stones and silver.  I've got ideas for several jewelry and beading projects to work on prior to Christmas and will have to take a break from evening knitting.  Tendonitus in my left elbow has been bothering me so a short respite from the needles will hopefully help.

Two more projects completed for Nihon Vogue, Year 2

Whew.  What a huge relief.  I have been staying up very late at night in order to finish two projects before class this coming weekend.  The capelet turned out lovely and I am happy with it.  I embellished beads on it to my heart's delight - on knitted hem, button loop w/Czech crystal button, and wrong side rows single crochet and 3 chain loop front edge borders and back neck edge.   It went for a test wearing today while I was at the office and it was so, so, so wonderful.  Soft, drape-y, warm and cozy llama.  Surprisingly, it may become a wardrobe favorite of mine after all.  Pleased to announce I have also finished the yoke sweater.  Scratchy, sticks-together-easily Reynolds Lopi-Lite yarn.  Thankfully, the yarn softens up with washing.  I am happy with the body color, fair isle pattern. seed stitch edging in place of ribbing, and color combinations of greens, brown, charcoal, lavender and rose, but I am not sure if I like how the yoke sweater fits.  In the midst of knitting it,  I thought the body and the sleeves would be too short.  The sweater turned out to be an acceptable length but in a late night, exhaustion induced moment of panic, I added a few rows to the sleeves which now makes them longer than I like. Why don't I ever trust my drafted pattern? Shortening the sleeves is an easy correction if I decide to pursue it (someday, when I have nothing else to do - ha!)  Either that or giving the garment to a relative with longer arms than mine who is claiming to all of a sudden, out of the blue, be fond of the color purple.  Knowing I was going to wear a turtleneck or shirt underneath the yoke sweater, I purposefully was more generous in calculating ease.  That said,  the yoke part of the sweater seems overly loose fitting to me.  Not sure if is the style of the sweater that I am unaccustomed to or if I should have done something different with measurements during the pattern drafting process, or if I should have used a different row gauge.  In any event, I like the sweater but will have to get used to how it feels on my shoulders when I wear it.  Despite my slight consternation regarding fit, and the fact that fair isle knitting technique is something I struggle with, the sweater was fun to knit.  Concentric circles incorporates a round of decreases 4 times between the bottom of the yoke and the neck.  The body and sleeves were knit flat, joined and then the yoke or colored fair isle section was knit in the round.  The last Nihon Vogue, Year 2 class is set for early January 2010 and then we have a 8 month break before Nihon Vogue Year 3-4 begins.  I have yet to finish the sleeves on my gansey and also come up with a design project.  The Nihon Vogue clock is ticking... loudly.