Status Report

Sahara Sweater is going along quite nicely. I haven't had to rip back (yet). I've done the decreasing for the waist and am going to start increasing for the hips. I got quite a lot done last Sunday while watching movies with my best B. Thanks B :) I love watching movies and knitting. Good times.

My Timberline Toe socks from Lucy Neatby's book Cool Socks Warm Feet are going very smoothly. I've turned the heel and am working on the foot. The garter stitch short row heel came out nicely so I should be okay with the garter stitch toe. I would venture to say, they'll be done this weekend...maybe.

My Knitted Hearts

Here was another attempt to work with wire. The wire is 28 gauge and I used size 5 aluminum needles on both of them. I was making my movements very exaggerated with the second because I wanted to see the stitches as they were forming so it came out way bigger.

Sahara Sweater progress update:
I've finished the start of the back and picked up to start down the front. I am loving the KnitPicks Options needles. After doing the back armhole shaping I needed to place the stitches on a holder to pick up the provisional cast-on for the front. Instead, I was able to unscrew the needles, put the end caps on, and continue with a different cable on the needles. Very convenient. :) So now I'm working down the front of the sweater. It's been slow starting out but I'm picking up speed as I go.

Gotta Love Gauge

After casting on for my Sahara sweater and working for a few inches I noticed my gauge was a little off. It's supposed to be 5 stitches to the inch and I was getting 6. It was also supposed to be 7 rows to the inch and mine was 8. I just happened to be at my LYS today and the suggestion was to go up two sizes on my needles. I was using a 6 so I went up to an 8 and my gauge is now perfect. I like the way the fabric is looking with the correct gauge too. Tonight I will re-cast on with the corrected gauge and go from there.

They also showed me their new sock yarn called Jitterbug by Colinette. Love it! There was a sample of it knitted up and it looks just as awesome as the Socks That Rock. The colorways were also as impressive. I had a hard time choosing one (because, of course, I had to have at least one hank). I'll probably be keeping my eye on it for future socks. I ended up with the colorway Sahara, which I thought was a sign since I'm working on my "Sahara Sweater". It reminded me of a tiger so I think they will empower me when I wear them. My tiger socks. I can't wait! I love sock yarn...