Believe it or not, Tivoli 2 is finished and I absolutely love it (the loving it shouldn’t be a surprise)!  Now, I have to say, the pictures aren’t the best, but that’s just because I have a stupid look on my face.  Please disregard that and look at the sweater.  Ready?

Details:

Pattern: Grumperina’s Tivoli T-Shirt

Size: bust 32″, waist 26 1/2″,  hips 32″

Yarn: Blue Sky Alpaca Dyed Cotton in Shell - about 2 1/2 skeins

Needles: Size 8 Addi Natura in 16″ and 32″ lengths

Gauge: 18 stitches and 24 rounds over 4″ in stockinette stitch

Comments: This is a wonderful pattern that had absolutely no mistakes, aside from operator error (see yesterday’s post).  I love the cap sleeves and the shaping.  It’s very flattering and comfortable.  I’m already thinking of making another one in wool to wear in the winter under suit jackets.

In other news, I’ve started back into the Zip Cardi and I’m working on the ribbed pieces.  The current piece starts with 5 stitches and then you cast on 2 stitches every other row to increase - very strange, but it seems to have worked.

And finally, here’s a picture of the mountains looking to the west from my house (the purple flowers are wildflowers that look like delphiniums).  The grass looks brown in the picture, but it’s actually so long that it has seed heads on it, which make it look that way.  I can’t remember the last time the grass was long enough to sway in the wind!

Have a wonderful day.

I must start today’s post by telling you all that I’m an idiot.  It’s true - stop shaking your head.  When I tell you why I think so, you’ll agree.  So last night I get done with all of the increases for Tivoli 2 (this is 8 rows from binding off) and I count the stitches - there are 4 too many - crap.  So, I count the total number of times I increased and it’s right.  Next I count the total number of times I decreased for the waist shaping - you can see where this is going, right?  Yep, one too few decrease rounds.  Crap.  Crap, crap, crap.  You’d think I could read very plainly written instruction, but apparently, I cannot.  I blame it on the fact that I read that portion and calculated the rows while I was at the dentist.  Clearly, stress fuddled my brain, and I simply misread what it said.  Note to self:  don’t do math at the dentist - or read directions for that matter.  I briefly considered leaving it or simply doing one less increase round, but I just couldn’t do it.  So, I ripped out 20 some rows (I think it was 22), put in the last decrease round, and proceeded on my merry little way.  This morning on the way to work I finished the increase rounds (again) and counted.  I had the correct number of stitches.  Exciting, I know.  So, I now have 6 rows to complete before Tivoli 2 is finished!!!!  Pictures tomorrow.  I promise, even if I have to stand outside in the rain to get a decent one, I’m putting pictures up here tomorrow.

I hope you all have a wonderful day and make no mistakes in your knitting.

It’s a problem really.  When I decide I want to do something, I want to do it right now.  When I decide I want to paint a room in my house, I can barely wait until the weekend to start it.  When I see an article of clothing I think I need, I need it right now.  Same goes for yarn and knitting.  This sickness is somewhat hampered by the fact that I live in Wyoming and my shopping options are minimal.  I love the internet, but shipping takes time.  And time makes me cranky.  So, the point of all of this rambling is that I’ve decided I want a pretty, fun blog (with the new name), so I contacted some designers about possibly providing this service for me.  The first company is so swamped with new customers that they can’t get to it until late summer - this still may be the best bet, but darn it, I hate to wait!  The great thing is that someone got right back to me - like the same day as I sent the request.  They were kind enough to recommend another company, who does equally cute, fun stuff.  The designer they referred me to is on vacation until July 11.  Grrr.  The one company that got back to me doesn’t seem to be quite what I’m looking for.  So, I’m forced to wait patiently to give someone my money.  I just hate that.  Will someone please assure me that the world will not end if I do not have a blog design by sometime next week?  I mean really, I know this, but I can’t help it.

The dentist visit yesterday went quite well.  The entire process - driving to the dentist’s office, waiting, having the filling, and driving back to my office - took just at an hour.  The filling itself was maybe 20 minutes.  Most efficient dentist I’ve ever been to!  And the best part was that it really didn’t hurt.  I’m a big wimp when it comes to the dentist and this was painless.  I was amazed, still am for that matter.  This experience, however, does not make me want to have any more cavities, but it’s comforting to know that there is at least one good dentist on the planet, and I have the good fortune of being his patient.

My Fiddlesticks Pattern came yesterday in the mail.  It is fabulous.  There are written out directions, lots of charts, an entire page devoted to the structure of the shawl and making a gauge swatch, large pictures - it’s awesome.  So, of course I want to start it right away, but I’m going to make myself finish Tivoli and the Zip Cardi before I start on the shawl.  Tivoli is very close to done - I have about 18 rows left.  I am close on the Zip Cardi too - I just have the ribbed bands to do, which should go quickly because there aren’t very many stitches on any of them - they’re just long narrow pieces of 2×2 ribbing with minimal shaping.  So, my goal is to start on the shawl by July 11.  That will give me just about 4 weeks to finish it before the wedding.  Do you think that’s enough time?

Have a good day and enjoy the sunshine.

I feel like the entire mosquito population got a memo that I’m available for their feasting and they’re coming to take advantage of a free buffet.  I tried to work outside this weekend - I helped Mom plant some new perennials and put a trellis in for my honeysuckle - and holy crap.  You should see the mesquito bites I have.  Now, we’re not just talking about a couple - there are no less than 30 bites on my body, and they each swell to roughly the size of a silver dollar and get hard.  I’m pretty sure this isn’t normal, but I haven’t a clue what to do about it.  I look like the victim of some rare and disturbing disease.  You’d think that bug repellant would be the trick, but it just aint so.  The little suckers are immune!   So, if you can’t be outside, what can you do?  Well, knit of course!  I’m about 2/3 through with Tivoli 2 and am quite pleased with it (again).  I’m keeping my fingers crossed on a good fit since I believe we have figured out the mysteries of cotton (which of course could just be my delusional ideas of such matters).  I expect to have it completed for viewing by the end of the week (maybe sooner)  :)  Keep your fingers crossed and have a great Monday.  I expect mine will not be particularly wonderful since I’m on my way to the dentist to have a cavity in one of my wisdom teeth filled.  Sounds like a bunch of fun, for sure.

There’s nothing exciting going on today.  I’ve been up since 5:00 a.m and am still feeling a little sleepy.  Why did I get up at such an ungodly hour?  Because Travis got up to drive 4 hours to a team roping.  Team roping is to him what knitting is to me.  Enough said - now you understand.

I’d like your opinion on something.  I’ve been thinking of changing the name of my blog (and possibly moving to movable type).  The name I’m thinking of is “Unwind”.  What do you think of the name?  Is it good, not good, exciting, interesting, boring, stupid?  Those of you out there who use movable type as your platform, what do you think of it?  How would it work for someone who know absolutely no html?  Anyone switched from Typepad to Movable Type?  Thoughts?

I didn’t get much knitting done last night.  My dad called and I talked to him for what seemed like forever.  Sometimes he doesn’t have anything to say and than other times he just talks my ear off - last night was a talk your ear off night.

Anyone know anything about peonies?  Mine aren’t blooming - they don’t even have buds.  I’m thinking they’re planted too deep, but really haven’t a clue - my only knowledge on this subject is that someone told me that you can’t plant them too deep or they won’t bloom - I don’t even know how you know if they’re too deep.  I could do some internet surfing, but I’d rather hear it from someone who knows from first-hand experience (and I’m kind of lazy today).  Oh, and if they are planted too deep, is it to late in the year to dig them up and plant them at the right depth?

Have a great Friday and a wonderful weekend.