Finished

So I did it . . . 

Adding the Crochet Trim

The tank is finished!  Yay for me!  I deserve a cookie . . . 

Finished Soliel Tank

However, now I'm confused:  I'm not sure I truly love it.  I really like the added lace with the added length.  The fit is good.  But I have some qualms about adding the purple crochet trim . . . hmmmmm.  I still have extra green Bamboo Silk so I could rip out the lavender trim if my heart so desires it, but should I?    

Tank Love?

I think I should live with it first.  I should step away, and work on something else.  Time and space will help me to look at with "fresh eyes".  Yup, that's what I'm gonna do.

I'm in the middle of writing a paper due this week  (Yeah, I'm back to working on another  course). Have a good week :)

As for the Soleil . . .

Its done.  Sorta.

Side View

At least the knitting part is done.  Shoulder seams need to be sewn together and ends need to be woven in.  Then I've got to crochet a border 'round the neckline and armholes.  But the actual knitting part is done--it just ain't completely done.

Front View

As for the fit: a preliminary fitting proved successful--as in the tank fits.  Yay medium covers my perfectly plump self very well.  Only drawback:  it's a wee bit shorter than I'd like, but I can live with it.  Besides, I'm not sure but the silk-bamboo may stretch with wash 'n wear.  Only time will tell.

Lace Detail

For now, back to the Navy Bohus.

All Kinds of Progress

Sorta.  Over vacation, I did manage to get some knitting done.  Surprising how much one can do barreling downtown via subway train.  And there's been a smatterin' of knit time throughout the week.  Of course there's been this thing called "work" that has sucked up most of my time--go figure!.

First off, I'm close to finishing off the body section of my navy Bohus: just another half inch and I can join the sleeves to the body (although there's the small detail of actually making the second sleeve).

Bohus in Progress

The photo above is not accurate as I've gotten further along since photographing my Bohus.  My zeal for this project has not abated, in spite of the miles and miles of stockinette.  At present my only real concern is adjusting the yoke; thus far, my modifications have created the appropriate size (so says my tape measure).  I'm hoping this continues as I grapple with the decreases in the yoke (and don't get me started on the short-rows for the neck . . . that could be a little scary).

My other vacation project is my green Soleil.  I hadn't even swatched it when I left for Toronto.  Lo and behold, I've gotten to the waist.

Soleil Progress

It was the perfect airport/flying project (knitting is great for occupying one's hands and mind when one has a fear of flying--just saying).  The lace section was very easy once I memorized the pattern.   And the stockinette section hasn't been too mind-numbing, especially since I have to keep track of rows for the waist shaping.  And the silk-bamboo fabric: very nice feel and drape.  This is gonna be very pretty when its done.  I just hope it fits.

One Down. Two to Go.

The fishtail scarf made from Paton's Silk Bamboo is finally finished.  Hallelujah!  And I was right in my calculations:  it reaches approximately 52 inches unblocked (perhaps I can squeeze out another inch or two with blocking?).  A deep sense of relief washed over me as I cast off the final stitch.  Perhaps it was because this scarf started off as something else here and then had to be ripped out; maybe it was because other projects seemed more interesting; or maybe its 'cuz this one is for my mom and I was plagued by doubts over whether she would truly appreciate it . . . .  At least I only have two other items left to finish for Christmas and then I can focus on other projects--non-holiday related projects.

There's a big bag of Christmas knits that need darned ends or a little seaming or perhaps a button or two, but at least I can now see the light at the end of the tunnel.  I'm actually quite proud of myself for having completed so much and for staying some what on the long and narrow path--and it was a long, long path 'cuz my Christmas knitting began in August! 

Happy knitting :)

Experimenting . . .

Since I've started blogging, I think my photography skills have improved--relative to where I was when I started.  Reading the manual, playing with the camera settings and checking out tips at various photo blogs are hopefully netting me good pictures.  Personally I'm attracted to beautiful pictures; most of the knitting and crafting blogs I enjoy reading and return to repeatedly have wonderful pictures.  Nothing can make--or break--a blog like good photography.

Then I came across an excellent link from one of the blogs I follow; over at Green Apples Stitchywitch (who incidently has great pics) had an awesome link here regarding how to build a lightbox.  I bookmarked it.  Winter is fast approaching.  With dwindling daylight  and frigid temperatures, I needed more options other than taking pictures outside.  That just isn't gonna work in minus -20C!  As soon as I find the right size box, I'd like to build my own lightbox.

The information in the link got me thinking: where in my house can I find better light?  Then the light bulb in my head went off (sorry for the bad pun): over my washing machine and dryer I have a fluorescent bulb.  White bristol board covered up the machinery. Then I photographed some yarn and knitting.  What do you think?  I took these pictures at night.

By the way, that's my fishtail lace scarf (remember from here and here?)  Reinforcements arrived in the mail a little over a week ago: 3 new balls of Patons Silk Bamboo in moss.  I've already gone through one ball.  Only two left.  And guess what? 

My scarf has just passed the halfway point.  I'm aiming for 52" and at 27.5" I can honestly say I see light at the end of the tunnel.  Oh joy!

RIP RIP RIP

So remember my Andrea Reversible Lace scarf (see post here and below)?


Sadly she is no more. The picture above is all I have left of her.

Since starting other lace projects, my Andrea scarf has looked less "pretty" (I'm thinking it was all the purl rows). As time wore on, doubt plagued me. I wondered whether my mom would indeed appreciate the scarf. She was once a knitter and avid crocheter, but not sure how she'd feel about a hand-made gift--although she seemed to like the gift scrapbook I made last year.

So today I ripped, ripped, ripped … all the way to the frog pond. Not to worry. The silk-bamboo will shortly be turned into something more pretty and perhaps more to my recipient's liking. In fact, I've already cast on for another scarf using a pretty fishtail pattern.






I like the new scarf better. I hope my mom will like it too. It's so hard to make things for one's mom.