won't be long now!!!

Here's my Ravelry update:

You signed up on July 6, 2007
You are #7673 on the list.
370 people are ahead of you in line.
14044 people are behind you in line.
33% of the list has been invited so far

And I bought (sort of) yarn yesterday! (squee!) Gift certificate to LYS + babysitter = Rowan Kidsilk Haze and Sublime Kid Mohair. I don't know what they are going to be, but mmm...so soft...

WIP update!

So I have been able to squeeze a row or two in between various child-rearing and housework duties. And it adds up. I am switching easily between my two big projects, the Bonsai tunic:
and the Montego Bay scarf:

It is gratifying to see some progress on each. The scarf is just sort of an ongoing project, I think. The tunic, well, I'd really like to have that done by the end of August. That probably sounds ridiculous to a lot of you knitters out there who whip the thing out in a weekend, but hey, that's a reasonable goal for me. Most of the time my hands are occupied wiping something or someone.

Bonsai Tunic swatch

IMG_5135
Originally uploaded by Selzhanik

This picture is pretty dark, but here's my swatch for the Bonsai Tunic. I got stitch gauge (using the recommended size 8's) but not row gauge, but I don't think that matters much since it says "work until piece measures x inches" and stuff like that. The fabric is really cool and makes up for a temperamental yarn. I didn't have trouble with it splitting like I have heard from some people - perhaps because I'm using bamboo needles with relatively dull points. I think using bamboo needles really helps control this slippery yarn.

So far I am only a couple of rows into the actual project, since I need focused knitting time to do it. I forgot to take my stitch markers with me to Oklahoma so I made some with cut up drinking straws (a tip I saw on Knitty Gritty once). This actually is a big help because I used different color markers to denote the different sections of the lace repeats. This will help me keep track of what I'm doing, and I ALWAYS need help with that.

Enough blogging, time to knit.

Knitting for the ungrateful child...

I am not motivated to work on the top for Kate because:

-She wiggled so much I got incorrect measurements and therefore cast on too many stitches.
-After figuring out I cast on too many stitches (several inches later) I was too lazy to frog and restart so I just decreased like heck and made a rufffle.
-After it became a pretty big ruffle I modified my mental design to become a halter top, apron style with ribbing at the top and a ruffle. I kind of thought this would look silly but it meant I wouldn't have to start over.
-She then totally refused to try it on so I have once again no idea if it will fit.
-After binding off the back and working a few rows in the front I discovered that I lapsed back into my old twisted stitch yarnovers so the ribbing looks weird.

Maybe this whole thing should be frogged and I will make her a hat. Knitting is supposed to be relaxing and fun. This project has suddenly become neither.

The downside to this is that I really liked how the colors were pooling at the hem. If I can find my camera I will take a picture of it.