Ahhh. I'm sitting in a thoroughly de-crappified kitchen -- took me an hour and a half -- and drinking a cup of coffee. The house is quiet, the sun is shining, the dishwasher is running, the dogs are sleeping. Whew! Summer is a lot of work.
I finally have a whole day where I could stay home if I needed to. And I do -- alarm repair guy and new gas gauge installation guy are slated to come between ... um ... 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Of course they will both come at 2:58 p.m. when I have to go get kids at school and I'll have to reschedule. That is the way of things, don't you think?
Anyway, the waiting gives me time to talk about Kauni.
The colors here are pretty accurate -- she does kind of glow in the dark right above the middle there. A factor of letting yellow and bright blue play together. Serendipitous is the fact that purple and orange and red come out right next to my face and hair... I couldn't have planned it better. I'm at the point in the pattern where I've casted off (hmm... is it "have cast off" or "have casted off"?) and done shaping for the front and back necklines -- now I'm waiting to get to 62 cms. Then it's off to the steeking races. I'm looking forward to steeking this sweater, actually. The yarn is stiiiccckkkyyy. I doubt I really need to do the machine stitching, but I will 'cause the pattern says so. I don't mess with patterns as a rule until I've knitted them once. (Which is to say I rarely mess with patterns because I rarely knit something twice. ***grin***)
Neck steek and shaping.
And, while I wasn't planning to, I think I have enough yarn left to match up the sleeves. YA THINK?! Jeez. This yarn is like a giant bowl of spaghetti. There never seems to be any less of it! Some bloggers knitting this sweater have let the sleeves fall where they may and others have made matching sleeves. I'm on the fence. The sweater is a quiet riot anyway, why not let the sleeves just be what they will be? On the other hand, this sweater is a quiet riot. Matching sleeves might just be the balance it needs. Here's what I bet I'll do: knit one and see if matching the other is too much trouble.
Here's what I wish I had:
- A dressmaker's dummy. Then I could try this on it. I think it might be a tad big, even though I'm spot on with gauge. And I could try Planalto on it too -- you've noticed I haven't posted a finished picture of that sweater, haven't you? Yeah. Seaming it makes it seem way too small... so it's in timeout until I feel better about it or lose 20 lbs. On the other hand, if I had a dressmaker's dummy that was my size, it might be just the visual encouragement I need to lose the weight. A good excuse all around for getting one...
- A postal scale. Then I could weigh the sweater and the leftover yarn and see if we're hitting the 2/3 sweater, 1/3 sleeves yarn estimate.
- A wife who would de-crappify the rest of my house.
I need a wife, too. ;-)
That sweater is a fabulous accomplishment!!
Posted by: margene | August 27, 2007 at 11:55 AM
The sweater looks great! After you told me how the sweater wasn't that hard to work, I went ahead and ordered the yarn for it. The only thing that really freaks me out is the steeking.
Posted by: Kelly | August 27, 2007 at 01:19 PM
The thought of having a dressmaker's dummy (probably named Porky by the rest of the family) in my exact size standing in the bedroom where I have to see it every day is enough to make me want to throw away all the hot dogs in the house. And what, pray tell, is a stay-at-home-all-day day? I think the last time I had one of those was when I was flat on my back with the flu in 1992. And you think I'm joking....
Posted by: Pat K | August 27, 2007 at 01:47 PM
1) How do repair guys do that?
2) Nice sweater.
3) Please send her to my house when she's done with yours.
Posted by: Lucia | August 27, 2007 at 03:05 PM
I wish I had a dressmaker dummy, too. I'm seriously considering making one out of duct tape and old t-shirts. Again, the only problem would be seeing a 3-D representation of my belly. No thanks.
Posted by: Rachel | August 27, 2007 at 03:27 PM
It's "have cast off" as in "I will cast off; I had cast off; I will have cast off" :P
If you do a google search under "duct tape double" you can see how to make a dressmaker's dummy in your exact size for less than $20. I made one. It's an eye-opener, but really useful. Let me know if you're interested in making one & I'll try to help.
Gorgeous sweater! And I want a wife to come to my house too!
Posted by: 7-letter Deborah | August 27, 2007 at 03:33 PM
Its beautiful. I put mine back in the stash until I finish the brown sweater first. Then, I need to practice ribbing with 2 colors because mt last try I ended up with a tube. Opps!!
Posted by: Kim | August 27, 2007 at 05:39 PM
It's been great catching up on your blog! I should come see you sometime at the new store! What are your hours there?
Vaca pics look awesome and this sweater! Gorgeous!!
:)
Posted by: Mary Beth Cooper | August 27, 2007 at 08:11 PM
Beautiful sweater. I vote for "have cast off."
Posted by: Lee | August 28, 2007 at 06:58 AM
Wow! It seems like Kauni has really grown since I last saw her. I'm with the let the sleeves go where they may camp, but matching would be quite an accomplishment if it didn't put you round the bend. And I hear you on the wife part -- I need someone to take care of me, too!
Posted by: Susan | August 28, 2007 at 07:06 AM
my wife doesn't clean much...oh right, she's roomate, not a domestic servant.. shoot...
Posted by: Mindy | August 28, 2007 at 09:07 AM
I have said for years that I need a wife. In fact I got into a pissing match with dh last night over the housework because he is officially back into full study mode and unable to help out...
Posted by: Kris | August 28, 2007 at 12:11 PM