FO Friday

I do have another FO to show you and it's not a hat.  It helps not to show all your cards projects all at once. I started this sweater two years ago for Rhinebeck but quite obviously it wasn't finished in time as I just finished it this past fall.

From Knitting Kitties

Back in the late 90's BJ's sold sleeveless dresses with a cute little knit sweater to match.  I had bought several of these every year in different pattern.  However, I lost them all when I moved in 2002.  I've been in the process of sewing my own dresses and wanted to knit matching sweaters for chilly days.  The colors I wear are either black, blue, teal/turquoise or purple and a bit of tan.  It makes it really easy to mix and match.

From Knitting Kitties

For my first sweater, I fell in love with CMF bfl in Avalon. I thought 8 oz would work, but then during the knitting decided that it wouldn't hurt to have extra and ordered another 8 oz.  Unlike the second batch of Layla SW merino I ordered and didn't match the first, the second bump of the Avalon was a perfect.

From Knitting Kitties

When we arrived in Tucson, I spun the second bump by dividing in three equals sections length wise, or as equal as I could get it.  Then proceed to spin and ply the three strands into a fingering weight yarn.  The first half of the sweater had been stuffed in my cross stitch project bag, instead of a tote where I keep my wool with lavender sachet.  So when I pulled it out, I found a few holes.  GRRRR.  I ripped out that part, froze it, cooked in the sun and froze again.  The very best thing about summer here with temps 110+F is that you can really cook wool in black trash bag out in the sun.  Just have to be careful that neighbors don't try to be helpful and carry it away.

From Knitting Kitties

I enjoyed spinning and knitting with this fiber so much that I didn't mind reknitting with it. I designed this one myself top down, with seed stitch trim and a stitch pattern I pulled from my 220 Aran Stitches and Patterns: Volume 5 (The Harmony Guides).  The cats really love it, especially Bootsie who slept on the damp wool while it was blocking.  She hissed at me when I tried at different times to pull her off.  At some point I would like to get a silver clasp for the top.  Something silver and Celtic looking.

Four pattern rows left on hat #2.  It rained here yesterday for the first time since beginning of October.  Of course the cold rain and wind came in just as I was coming home from running an errand.  My I-Google said the humidity was 96% when I checked it this morning.  It was no wonder I felt like I spent the night on the rack.

The red yarn is dyed for hat#3, final chapter of the hat hell chronicles.  Just three days to finish #2 and 3 to be mailed out by Tuesday at the very latest.  It's really crunch time now. There is also an afghan to finish and fudge to be made.  Is the suspense getting to you? Will I make it or will I be making phonecalls of shame and apologies on Christmas?