MelodyKnits

This is my weekly blog on my current knitting project as I knit to distract myself from life.

[melodyknits]

Le Sigh,

This my third time starting the Antique Filigree sweater. I keep refusing to knit a gauge swatch and I keep paying the price.

The first time, it was clear I was off by a lot so I frogged it and started over pretty early.

The second time I finished the body and one sleeve. I kept trying the sweater on and it fit tight, but I kept telling myself that it would block out. I finally stopped lying to myself and frogged it.

I’m finally getting close to gauge and the pattern is shaping up beautifully. In the last week I’ve knit 7”. Next week I should separate into sleeves and will be able to start on the body.

[melodyknits]

Week 3 Zweig Sweater

The body is complete and this week starts the sleeve.

I have extra white yarn so I’m going to change up the sleeves from the original pattern. I may be playing a little yarn chicken so we’ll see how it all ends up.

[melodyknits]

Week 2 of the Zweig Sweater

This sweater is moving along. It currently measures 7” from the underarm and I should reach 10.5” this week and I’ll start the ribbing.

The body has a texture that I’m not sold I like with this particular yarn. It does photograph much better than I expected.

[melodyknits]

Time to cast on a new sweater!!!

This one will be for me and I have been dying to use the yarn I was gifted. I started on New Year’s Day so this is 8 days of progress.

This is my first fingering weight yarn sweater and right now it’s moving faster than I thought it would. Since the lace portion is done, I think it’s going to slow way down.

[melodyknits]

And I’m finally done. I finished on the 22nd and gave it to my Dad for Christmas. I forgot to get better pictures so this one was taken when he received the sweater.

The sleeves are a little long but overall the fit was good, especially since my mom took his measurements for me.

[melodyknits]

Week 10 - The back panel and both sleeves are complete. I am 17” done on the front panel with 7” to go.

It’s looking like I may actually finish this before Christmas. I estimate that I’ll finish knitting the front panel next week and can start putting the pieces together with two weeks to go.

[melodyknits]

Yet another week down. The back panel now measures 23” long, so only 4” before I start the front panel.

I always find it interesting how life shows up in my work. This week was hard. A child that I have been nannying for over two years moved away. While I know the move was best for his family, I’m heartbroken. I’ve been caring for him since he was a couple of months old. I had a hard time concentrating and made a mistake that I didn’t notice until it was too late to fix it. So I’ve decided that the mistake is part of the beauty and story of this sweater.

[melodyknits]

Week 6 of the Handsome Chris Pullover

The back panel now measures 15.5” which is another increase of 6”. Since I need it to reach 27”, I am estimating another 2 weeks before I finish the back panel and then 4 weeks to knit the front panel. That will put me one week before Christmas to piece everything together and knit the collar so that I can give it to my Dad.

Whew! I’m cutting it close this year.

[melodyknits]

Another week down on the Handsome Chris Pullover. This is the back panel and it’s currently 9” long which is an increase of 6” this week. If I keep at this pace, Christmas is not looking good since I still need to start the front panel and put all of the parts together. I’m still loving the pattern and it’s actually pretty simple and easy to memorize.

[melodyknits]

Week 3 of the Handsome Chris Pullover

I have finished both of the sleeves and am now starting the back panel. It doesn’t look like much yet, but I can see the potential.

[melodyknits]

This week I made Dumbledore’s Sherbet Lemon Rolls. My taste tester agreed that the roll itself was delicious but the candy center didn’t add to the roll. He gave it 6 out of 10 stars and put it in the maybe make again list if I had a better idea for the filling.

Substitutions I did not use the recipe for the sweet dough. I used the sweet dough recipe found in the book 100 Morning Treats. It is hands-down the best part.

[melodyknits]

Another week down and I’ve started the second sleeve. The sleeve currently measures 13” and I feel like I am flying through it. As this is a Christmas present for my Dad, I’ve been really worried that won’t finish it in time. I’m still worried but I’m starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel.

I ran into my first real big issue this week. I wasn’t paying attention and cabled multiple cables I. The wrong direction. It was terrible so I ripped it back and re-knit multiple rows.

[melodyknits]

Week 2 of the Handsome Chris Pullover

I have finished the sleeve. It measures 22” long. I’m loving this pattern so far. It’s easy to memorize and I’m flying through it. As always, there are mistakes a plenty. There are days I have a hard time focusing and I can see where I cabled in the wrong direction.

I see those mistakes as a testimony to my ability to keep moving. They aren’t ideal, but those mistakes tell the story of where I am in life. Right now I’m distracted and tired. I’m full of worries and stress. The mistakes make the sweater beautiful.

[melodyknits]

I’m trying something new.

Not knitting… posting about knitting. My goal is to post a picture of my current project once a week so I can measure my progress. This is my first sleeve of the Handsome Chris Pullover. It is currently 12” long and will be 22” long when finished.

Maybe talk about my life too. I was diagnosed with Ductal Carcinoma In Situ a few months ago and this week I finished my radiation treatments. I frequently try to remember how lucky I am that my cancer was found early and that I have free access to healthcare. Next up, starting the medication to turn off my estrogen so that new cancers can’t grow.