FO!

The little boy's sweater for the Armstrong Fair (I.P.E.) is finished and in Hazel's care now. I took my time with the finishing because I wanted it to look good. On Wednesday evening, I blocked it by pinning it out and laying a damp towel over it. It stayed that way until Thursday evening, when I sewed in the sleeves and sewed on the buttons. The buttons, incidentally, are mother of pearl on a black backing. I (and John) think they finish the sweater off quite nicely. In fact, John liked it so much, he asked if I could make one in HIS size! Maybe one day, but that's a heck of a lot of knitting, especially if I were to use fingering weight yarn, as this one is.

Now, I just have to wait and see what kind of results I get at the fair. The fair runs from September 2-6; all entries are to be in on September 1. All entries are to be picked up on September 7, Labour Day (I'm right this time, right?), so John and I have decided that we'll go to the fair next weekend, probably Saturday, then go back on Monday to pick up my items (and whatever prizes I might have earned). I'm not sure if I've mentioned it or not, but I have 5 items entered: the Evolution Shawl, the Inga Hat, the Rubayiat mittens, a pair of gloves I designed last year (for me, but they fit John, so they're his) and the little sweater. We'll see what happens.

In other knitting, I've finally finished the 4 cm (2") of black ribbing on 2.0 mm needles. Good grief, that took a long time! Now, though, the knitting is positively flying! I'm talking about the little Setesdal sweater, by the way.

I took this picture on Thursday night and I'm already a couple of inches past this point. I'm now working on 2.5 mm needles and it's all stocking stitch, so it really is working up quickly. As a recap, the pattern is from the same booklet as the little boy's sweater, SandnesGarn's Lanett Baby, #0812. The yarn is the yarn called for, SandnesGarn Lanett. I'm knitting this sweater, you will recall, because I'll be learning a technique I've never done before... steeking. At the rate it's knitting up, I'll be up to the armhole area in no time!

Did I mention that I'd cast on for a simple shawl/scarf for last weekend's Sit & Stitch? The Multnomah scarf, by Kate Flagg, is a simple garter stitch shawl/scarf (it's smaller that a shawl, shaped like a shawl, but bigger than a scarf). I'm not sure what the yarn is; I think it's Cherry Tree Hill sock yarn, but I can't be positive. I know it's been in my stash for a long time and it's about time it became something. It's a free pattern; you can check it out on Ravelry.

This is the perfect, almost mindless project for those days when you want something simple and comforting to knit. I love the colours in the yarn; the picture (on my monitor) is pretty accurate and it's knitting up nice and cushy. I'm using slightly larger needles than the 3.25 mm needles called for in the pattern; I'm using 4.0 mm. Right now, I'm about 2 rows away from starting the feather and fan section.

I'm supposed to be working on the podcast today, but unforeseen circumstances (a migraine) have kept me from coming up with anything interesting to talk about. I would rather skip this episode and do it when I feel like myself again. It will be up when it's up. In the meantime, I'll just keep working on a mindless (or nearly so) project.