Sheep Shots

Last year I resolved to:

*Lose 15 pounds. Didn't happen.

*Get more exercise. Ditto.

*Eat better. Double ditto! In fact, my cholesterol, which was under control in February, was Way Out Of Control by October. What's up with that?

*Entrelac! Also didn't happen. Though, I think my next scrapghan, I might give it a try.

*Use up stash! One in, two out! Happened in a half-assed manner. I have reduced the stash, somewhat, but nowhere near the level that this year's FOs would indicate! Clearly, my heart wasn't in it. Updated stash report will be up on the sidebar on January 5.

*Explore spinning, dammit! Spinning remains no more "explored" than it was a year ago. This bothers me, but not enough for me to actually do anything about it.

*Comment more. Yep. That one I managed. Rather than just passively reading blogs and lists, I have been interjecting comments, thoughts, and suggestions. I hope they are helpful to someone.

14% of the 2007 resolutions fulfilled. Not such a good effort, was it?

I think I'll just do a repeat performance in 2008.

And sliding into the new year, does anyone actually push to finish or frog partly finished projects on December 31? I tried this a couple of years ago and settled on frogging only those that I really had come to hate. It's only fair--to me and the yarn.


Speaking of finishing (and we were, I believe), I have finished the reknit sweater. Fifteen days! I am really impressed with myself! It would have been less, but I started per the pattern--knit flat and seam--and about 14" into the front (I started with the front), I decided to start over in the round.

Good decision!

The decreases are strange. They involve a cable needle (I chose not to use one, but followed the technique, essentially, placing one stitch on the CN, holding it in front, knitting the next two stitches together, then knitting the held stitch (reverse shaping on the other seam).



Here's the finished sweater on the intended body recipient. It fits well.

The yarn needs a serious wash and block! And it got one (in the washer, then on the pool table). It should be dry and ready for its maiden voyage on Wednesday.

The cables start 10" into the knitting and run up the sleeves and the center of the front. The back is stockinette stitch.

Pattern is #30 Vogue Knitting International Special 2002 "Men." Yarn is an unknown recycled tweedy wool.




Here's a closeup of the fabric.

Color is close. Sort of a steel-cut oats tweed with flecks of black, cream, dark brown, gray-blue.

The cable was an ordinary 3X3 crossed right, flanked by 2 reverse stockinete stitches. Nothing unusual.






The first run-through, I followed the pattern directions for the neck ribbing. The Other Half found it too high, so I set the sweater aside (on my desk chair) for Sunday morning rework.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that it had been coopted.

Imagine that I wasn't the slightest bit surprised. Sparky has good taste!

Stay tuned tomorrow for the Annual Finished Object list, the reciting of the Resolutions for 2008, the periodic whining about the weather (it's snowing here in eastern PA), and all the other features you have come to know and love here at Sheep Shots.

Labels: big people clothes, current events