One Sexy Beast

These buttons can tell a story of travels from Oregon to Alberta and then to Australia. I have to say I wasn't sure if they'd be worth the wait....


(I think they were - they look amazing on it....)


My Love is one of the most patient people I know (he has to be - he lives with me) - but I think he was getting somewhat impatient about getting his sweater.


I'm pretty sure he thinks it was worth the wait.

Did someone say buttons?

So J. and I are overcoming our button issues by turning to Etsy.

J. has found a lot of options for her Tempest at Buttons by Robin. We've both ordered buttons from her before, and they are gorgeous. She even has little boy options (which I assure you, are hard to come by). Go with what you know, I say.

I'm looking into a variety of wood buttons options, that need approval from my Love. I want his a-ok before ordering anything, because he darned well better like them, and darned well better wear the resulting sweater.

Update coming soon.....

The Ongoing Button Dilemma

So the Beast is done and I can't wait to do the big reveal.

But there is a problem.

A button problem. Again. Still.

So the reveal has to wait a little longer. I have gone to two stores, but need to expand my search grid.

Can you wait one more week? I promise the wait will be worth it.

Item #2

Again - I'll reiterate - I completed THREE things last week. Unheardof.

Item #2 - Socks with sparkles.


Knit with yarn from Andi and J. - they gave it to me when my oldest started kindergarten. It's from Zen Yarn Garden and it has silver in it (I of course can't find it on their website). They are perfectly plain socks - which I'm coming to realize, are truly my favorite kind of knit sock.

Next time - the Beast. Yes, you heard me. THE BEAST.

Insanity

Things here have been a little crazy, hence the radio silence.

I was out of town travelling quite a bit last week, however none of it very conducive to knitting. And the knitting at Chez T has been on hold a bit anyway.

The Beast is still NOT steeked.

The current project I'm working on is almost done but I'm COMPLETELY out of yarn.

I don't know what to start next and fear that J. may bug me incessantly if I start something new without steeking the Beast (she can be a scary little woman).

But I promise by the end of this week, I'll have something to show you ..... it may just be pretty pictures of my trees turning green, or gratuitous kid pics, but I promise, there will be something.

Avoidance

In an effort to avoid the Beast, I decided to make my Stink a new sweater. Everytime, every single time, I pull out my knitting, he asks me if I'm knitting him a sweater. So, I figure it's time he gets one.


He helped pick out the colours (from the stash) with significant involvement and suggestion from me. It's actually good - getting rid of stash so I have less to move. There's some Cascade in blue and a heathered brown, with a little bit of Galway Paint mixed in for good measure.

And he's excited. So very excited.

The moment of truth

So The Beast.

It stresses me a little bit (kind of like how hauling my 3 year old out of public places stresses me out "a bit").

A lot of work is going to go into this little project and I just really want it to work out. So, on the suggestion of the knitting guru AKA J., I decided to block the pieces I've done and see how they fit. Make sure my original swatch didn't lie.

Last night was the moment of truth.

And guess what.....



...it's good. Really good.

We measured it against one of my Love's favorite sweaters and it's almost a perfect match. I'm debating adding 0.5 more inches to the body, but other than that, I'm totally on the right track.

Did you hear the HUGE sigh of relief from my little neighbourhood last night?

The Lies I Tell

Long ago I wrote a post saying how I had only one thing on my knitting list for Christmas this year (I of course can't find that post, but trust me, I said it).

The Beast.

Then the closer and closer we get to the big day I start adding in projects. Little ones here and there. And a couple of big ones. And then my Love also starting adding things to the Christmas knit list. Next thing you know.....

No Beast done.

My Love knows it's not coming.

He laughs that I'm stressed about it.

He laughs at me a lot actually.

He will get a body and a sleeve under the Christmas tree this year. I hope that he can be wearing it by Valentine's day.

I'm pretty sure he'll keep me around no matter what. I make some pretty good Nanaimo bars to make up for my shortcomings as a knitter.

And here it is...

The Beast.


(it really isn't that much of a beast - but it is large and cumbersome and a pain in the butt to pack around).

I am keeping it as written by Meg's pattern notes - with the original cables and all.

I am also reminding myself to keep Meg's advice close at hand - even if it looks like it's small, it will be fine.

The big question is will it be done for Christmas???

Where are all those finished objects?

I've finished quite a few things lately.

Like this.....

lovely hat designed by this lady. I love that lady. LOVE her.

I also finished this little knitterly friend....

And this little hat for a gorgeous little girl....


And just last night I finished these to put in the gift basket.....


These fo's are all to distract you from my dismal advancement on the BEAST....Slow and steady wins the race right???

The Beast

Calculations done and redone. And done again. Swatches made.

Pondering about how to get the ribbing to flow into the cables. Drawings. Scribbles.

The beast will prove to hurt my brain every now and then.

But I've cast it on. I've completed 2 rounds. Only about 1600yds of yarn to go.

I can't wait!!