Fuchsia - Finished!

I finally finished up this sweater, after starting it at least 3 times.  I spent about 20 hours in the car (my red Honda Element, license plate YTTRIUM) this past weekend, which gave me a lot of knitting time.  We had to go down to Kennesaw, Georgia for a funeral (Bruce's uncle passed away) and Bruce does all the driving when we're out together because he says that I am a better co-pilot than he is.

The sweater fits very nicely, although I will probably fine tune the pattern just a little when I make another one. The sleeves could be just a little longer, right now they are almost too short.

The yarn is Jaeger Extra Fine Merino DK, I used a little over 8 balls.

Fuchsia - Sleeves!

I finished the sleeves today (been reading a lot on the computer at work) and cast on for the body.  The cuffs fit my tiny wrists perfectly, hugging them just a little without being too snug, and the upper arm is comfortably roomy.

Fuchsia - take 3

I think that this is the third time that I have started a sweater with this yarn, two attempts from the top down and now this third one in the more conventional bottom-up.  All three in the round.  So here is the beginning of a sleeve.  I usually start with the sleeves - lets me check my gauge without knitting a gauge swatch.  I needed to get it past the ribbing so I could have some simple knitting for my everyday bag that I take to work.  I find that knitting on something simple (and it doesn't get much simpler than knitting in the round) while I'm reading helps me to focus better.  It also helps me think when I am writing.  And sometimes, when things get too crazy, I just need a knitting time-out to re-center and regain my equilibrium.

Fuchsia - left sleeve started

 

I set aside my lace knitting this morning to work on Fuchsia, my top-down raglan.  I had been getting close to the point of joining and starting the sleeves and I wanted to get past that point before the work week started up again, as this is the project I am currently carrying with me in my everyday bag.  So this morning I curled up with my Kindle (I'm re-reading "The Lord of the Rings" as part of my prep for Susan's knitting journey) and finished up the neck shaping and started the first sleeve.  I did a figure 8 cast on for the stitches under the arm.  I've never done this before but like the look of the results.  It is a common technique for starting toe-up socks and also for mittens.