FOs

I've hit a big milestone, y'all. I didn't come by it easily. There may have been some weeping and gnashing of teeth, but, everybody, I have knit a sweater:


True, it is a very tiny sweater. I made it for my future nephew, and my sister-in-law does not make big babies. When my mom saw it before the blocking she said, "...is that for a doll?" But I did it! I was cruising right along with the pattern until I got to the armholes. This pattern (the Bitty Cabled Cardigan by Heather at Western Sky Knits) is written for someone who already knows what they're doing. I had to go on the Ravelry forums/ to get someone to explain what the hell I was supposed to do with the extra stitches (thanks, guys!). Now I just need to find some buttons (I'm thinking some pretty wooden ones), and I'll have this ready for the October Baby!

Also:


I finished the second sock over the weekend. It's a little smaller than the first one, but they both fit, so I'm taking the W.

Next up: fingerless mitts! (Yes, I know it's July in Mississippi.)

Josie

You know you have an obsession when you hold your new puppy in your hands and think, "She would make really good yarn."
This is a picture of Josefine (Josie) about three weeks ago. It wouldn't make a lot of yarn, but it would be very very soft. I think she'd approve of becoming yarn; she certainly seems to be a fan of it in general.This is Josie chewing on my leftover sock yarn. She also likes to chew on tape measure, knitting needles, and the WIPs themselves. While her fondness for all things knitting is endearing, I have to draw a line at getting teeth marks in by ebony DPNs.

A Yarntroduction

I've started a lot of blogs in my life, but I always seem to peter out. It's gonna be different this time (I tell myself). This blog is about something I already love: knitting. I know it's awful early in the relationship to be using the "L" word, but, my dears, I've fallen hard. Back in February, I got some bamboo needles and acrylic yarn at the local Michael's and a little how-to booklet, and I taught myself to knit. The illustrations in the book were next to useless, so I youtubed my knits and purls to set forth on the crappiest scarf of all time. That treasure has since been frogged and turned into a hat for my friend Ally (I had only bought one skein of that yarn. Oh, how I giggle from my comfy spot in the future.)
Since then I've worked up from scarves and worked-flat hats to hats worked in the round and my very first pair of socks! I was so proud of that turned heel, I showed my parents, my brothers, their wives, and they, the generous people, pretended to care.

I know you've noticed that this is only one sock; I'm about halfway done with the second one. The romance is definitely gone, y'all.

So this will be the catalog of my adventures learning how to knit. I have the basics down (I think), but there is elusive game ahead of me. Things like, sweaters and cables and colorwork. Oh, my!