i might be wrong

CIMG3746.JPG, originally uploaded by digitaltammi.

I handed over this pretty green baby blanket for Willy and Genevieve. They don't know the sex of their child yet so I thought this pretty green would be a nice non-gender specific color. This is a classic and simple basketweave pattern. It didn't take long to make at all.

Best Friend Cardigan - in progress, originally uploaded by digitaltammi.

This sweater has humbled me. The design is from Twinkle's Big City Knits. This book has the most amazing sweater and dress designs. They're very chic and modern and wearable and they're all knit on gigantic needles with bulky yarns so they knit up quickly.

I have had so much trouble making this cardigan. And I am beginning to realize that the trouble is not in the pattern writing, but mostly in my inability to read. I have been reading "Dec 1 st each side every row (5 times)..." as "Dec 1 st each side every 5 rows." Am I dyslexic or something?! I was following what I thought I read and of course the back of the sweater was entirely too long and was on its way to being a dress, so I ripped it out up to a point before my mistake. I was just about to post a question on the Twinkle Flickr group when I re-read the directions and found my mistake. How silly of me. I'm looking forward to going home tonight to finish this thing off!

In early July I started a "To Knit List" and totally forgot about it. Today, I found it and I'm amazed at how much I've done since July.

Here's what was on the list and an update of each project:

Weave in ends and block Johanna and Issa's baby blanket
This is finished and turned out quite nicely. Johanna and Issa just gave birth to a cute little baby boy named Oliver. Love that name.

Weave in ends of Sadio's Finland scarf
Sadio's Finland scarf turned out to be a neck warmer of the type I love making these days. The scarf I was making using Noro (can't remember which one, Silk Garden maybe?) I decided was too short for her or should I say, too short for Finland. Anyway, the neck warmer is based on one a co-worker wore to work one day. I figured out the pattern and made 2 or 3 in a weekend and gave them to friends. For those I used either Rowan Big Wool or Blue Sky Alpacas Bulky Naturals. This one was done in bright red Rowan bulky cotton and ribbon yarn. I think Sadio liked it and I hope it is keeping her warm in Finland. This weekend I organized the yarn stash and was pleasantly surprised to find that I actually have a little of this yarn left.

Begin Fumiko and Alex's baby blanket
Done. It turned out to be more of a rectangle than a square, but I did love how it turned out in the Koigu Kersti. I ended up running out of yarn twice and had to add in 3 differnt color ways. They were all quite beautiful on their own and nice together. I have about 3 skeins of a peachy/orange color way left. Not sure what I'm doing with it though.

Finish Damon's son's baby hat
I did finish the hat, but I never did get my cousin Damon's address. The hat was given to Jo and Issa. Ah well. His kid will be too big to wear it by the time it gets cold anyway. The hat came out smaller than I expected. It was still rather cute. I think I knit that with Classic Elite Yarns blend of tencel and cotton. Quite a soft yarn. I have lots of it left. It's a weird light blue color that I am so/so on.

Start booties for Damon son
Never did this one.

Begin Miss Dashwood hat from Knitty for Darrell's daughter
Never did this one.

Start booties for Darrell's daughter
Looks like my family loses again, because I never did this one either.

Start booties for Willy and Genevieve
This project turned into a pretty and soft green baby blanket. I'm blocking on the type of yarn used. I loved this blanket most of all the ones I made this summer. The color was sophisticated and the basket weave pattern was subtle. Their little one will be cozy this winter wrapped in this one.

Continue working on red baby blanket
I just found this one in an old Forever 21 bag. I really do need to finish this one. The yarn is Cascade 220. I think I'm using size 8 needles. Oy! This blanket is supposed to be for Dorla's niece. It's just taking so long to finish. I may end up using a bulky yarn to make her a blanket though. That Lion Brand Thick and Quick is great for baby stuff since it's washable. Could make a nice blanket. Maybe striped with a brighter color. Hmm...

Finish the black sweater (or at least get past the rib on the bottom of the front piece)
Well, this one I'd like to finish, but I can't find the damned Vogue Knitting magazine. I know it's the Summer 2007 issue. I thought it was in the basket with the unfinished sweater but organizing the yarn stash this weekend showed me that I was clearly mistaken. I have no friggin idea where that magazine has gone. I do hope I find it soon because I would like to tackle it again. I made a mistake on the back piece, got frustrated and started working on something else. I'm ready for it now. I'm using Debbie Bliss Cathay in black. I like the yarn. It's great for a summer sweater.

All this reminds me that I should update my "On The Needles" section in the side bar. So many things on the needles now. Christmas is coming and I plan to make a lot of handknit gifts. Hand sewn, too. I already have my new "To Knit List".

I haven't worked on the sweater in a few days. I picked it up again today and couldn't figure out where I left off. I swear I am retarded with knitting this particular sweater. I don't know what it is, but it's both aggravating and pleasing to see this coming along, slow though it may be. I actually have most of the front/back of the sweater done. Just need to get through the neck shaping and then knit up the sleeves. I almost want to blow off running tonight to work on it.

Every week I get asked this question by someone in my running group. They tell me how many miles they ran that weekend and how great it was. They are happy about their progress and I'm happy for them. Then they want to know how my training is going. The answer is "patchy". To be honest, I am quickly getting over marathon training. It's lonely out the in the streets. I signed up for the 18 Mile Marathon Tune-Up given by the Road Runner's Club this weekend, but I really don't feel like running 18 miles this Sunday. It's Atlantic Antic and I may be too tired to walk the street fair after running 18 miles. I'd much rather skip the training run and go to the Antic with Clay, but I'd be cheating myself if I skip this race.

November 18th seems so far away, but yet so close. I don't really feel ready. My longest run to date is 16 miles. After Sunday it will be 18. This 18 mile race represents the last organized Road Runner's Club race until the big event, the New York City Marathon. Well, that means I have 2 long runs (not counting my marathon in Philadelphia) ahead of me. A 21 miler and a 23 miler. I will have to do these alone. I am not looking forward to it. Man, I can't wait for training to be over. If only I could run the marathon without actually training for the marathon. The training was fun for awhile, but now I'm just over it.

More progress on the Best Friend Cardigan from Twinkle, originally uploaded by digitaltammi.

It's coming together. I figured out what I was doing wrong and finished up the main part of the Best Friend Cardigan from Twinkle's Big City Knits. I started working on the sleeves this morning on the subway. I hope to be done knitting those by the end of the weekend and then I'll sew the sweater together. I think I'll make a quick stop at Knit NYC when I get out of work tonight. I think they have some big blue buttons I can use.