In the run-up to Madrona

Wow...getting so excited about the big trip to Madrona. This will be my first big fiber weekend. I've snatched up some Kauni and then hid it from myself. It will be unveiled and packed just in advance of the trip.

I am hoping to finish my spiral yoke sweater in time to wear it. I'll start the sleeves tonight.

Also, I have a lingering list of must haves from my favorite LYS: new rowan magazine, new knitscene magazine, new french girl book. Sheesh. Maybe I can get there tomorrow...

Wow. The color.

Well, I blame the Yarn Harlot's last post and my as yet unrequited love for Jared Flood's Noro Striped Scarf last year. And now I am almost done with a striped scarf of my own. The addictive part of this scarf is trying to decide which color combinations I love the most?
Soft oatmeal next to tangerine?
Nutmeg next to robin's egg blue?
Charcoal next to rasberry?

I had an odd color moment when I was editing my pics in iPhoto and noticed that this blurry picture from the Shedd Aquarium had the same colors as the scarf. Wow. Those Noro people are color geniuses.

And a big thank you to the Harlot for the scarf prompt.

Cardigan overdose

I wanted to post a couple of pics of the finished lovely Tempest from the Tour de France Knit-along. It turned out great, and still needs buttons. But I am off on the road with some vacation travel and it will be button-less until I return.

The cardigan got dicey near the end. I should have been packing for my trip, but NO. I had to keep working and be sure all the finishing details were complete before the tour ended. After feverish finishing all weekend, I finally finished the hem on Sunday night while watching the Tour ride into Paris. Then on Monday I had a business trip. Then finally, I began packing at 10:30 Monday night for my Tuesday trip.

It all turned out well. And I am on my way.

But I couldn't face another sweater for my travel project. I'm bringing my new Jamieson's for some Endpaper Mitts. A little knitting snack for me.

The big sprint finish was touch and go until the last second

Wow. I literally cast off the last stitches for the hem just as the sprint in Paris was finishing on my Tivo! Wow! Done!

What a huge effort this has been. The tour has been amazing to watch and this has been a LOT of fingering weight knitting. I still have some post tour niceties to take care of. The linen needs washing, drying and steam blocking and then the cute little buttons need sewing on. This pattern had a lot of (beautiful) finishing that made it quite a stress right up until the last minute.

Take a peek at the arm length in the pics. I bet that will change quite a bit after the wash. Wow. More pics later. Right now I need some serious rest.

Whew.

Done Knitting! But wait...I need to sew. A lot.

All the pieces of the tempting Tempest are done. I am keeping good pace in the Peleton with my Tour knitting. I was so excited to cast off the second sleeve today and now, belatedly, have realized I have A LOT of sewing to do. Well, we are in the mountains. What could I expect.

Unfortunately I will have some trouble with a two-day business trip getting in the way of my sewing. But I still hope to finish as we ride into Paris!

We interrupt this tour...

I mentioned my wandering eye: I don't like to stick with one project non-stop for too long. But the Tempest is going well (finished the first sleeve!) and I love having the defined timeline of the Tour for the project.

So I let my eye wander in another direction. Yarn.





My LYS has scored a ton of colors of Jamieson's Spindrift and I can barely restrain myself. I got a bunch of colors (and did a special order) in preparation for the Enid Cardigan from Interweave Knits. Then nabbed yet another color to strand with new Noro Sock Yarn for some Endpaper Knits. Love it love it love it.

Lastly, my local Craigslist came through this weekend and I found a mid-century modern cedar chest for yarn and sweater storage! Perfect for me expanding stash and horde of FOs.

Whew. Back to Tempest...

Front (and back) of the peleton...

Whoopee! Still riding well. Though I must admit to some exhaustion. I am not usually so committed to a single project. But the linen on the Addis is superfast. Fronts done. Back done. On to the sleeves. Three cheers for people who design three-quarters length sleeves for fast knitting (and a cute look).

The pieces are looking a little bit big, but hopefully it all shrinks appropriately in normal-linen fashion.