Ravelympics Sexy Vesty

I casted on this vest as part of my 10 in 2010 projects.  So, now that I have a medal for the Sit N Knit entry into Ravelympics, I want ta be fair and get a medal for my 10 in 2010 entry.  I just completed the front of the vest.  I have to complete the back, then kitchener the shoulders, and add ribbed edging to the neckline and armholes.

Can I get it done in time???

Ravelympics Sweater Complete!

I am editing this post, because I want to post my medal.  This feels gooooooood!!! 

My Top-Down Raglan Sweater is complete. This is the entry I had for the WIP event.  It has been on the needles since June of 2008.  Sheesh!  The pattern is from Laura Chau (CosmicPluto).

I used size 9 needles, did a ribbed button band, and waist shaping.  I used Manos Del Uruguay Wool in the Mulled Wine Colorway.  This sweater is warm beyond belief.  It is snowing outside today, and I work for the corporation whose doors never close, so it will be very instrumental in keeping me warm on my journey into work.

Sewing on the buttons last night.

Here are the pictures I took before I left the house to go to work.

Front

Back

Side

Sidebar: Thesoapyknitter (Rosi G.) left a comment yesterday that got accidentally deleted because I was checking blogger on my phone and the screen is so small that I clicked the wrong button.  Her words were "GO!! GO!!".  Rosi, I did it!  Thanks for the encouragement.

Happy Knitting everyone!  I gotta scram.  Have to catch a delayed bus to get to work.

Ravelympics Roundup!

I have been such a stranger to my blog.  I am so sorry.  I have just gotten so caught up with doing 365 in Flickr, and working late, that my poor blog seems to suffer.  For all the readers out there, I am so sorry.  i will try my best to keep things a little more updated.

As it stands now, I am taking part in Ravelympics 2010.  Last Ravelympics, I failed miserably trying to do a sweater and a pair of socks.  The sweater has since been completed, got a moth hole in it, been repaired and washed, blocked, and worn to work.  Yay!  I am so glad that I was able to save it.  Warning!  Clothing moths like Alpaca too. The socks are still a UFO, because I just don't like how the yarn feels, and I feel like i am knitting with brillo.  Over the course of time I have grown to appreciate finer grades of sock yarn, so my tastes have changed.  Who knows if I will ever get a chance to finish them.

So we move on to 2010.  The winter Olympics is ON AND POPPIN'.  The US has won 20 medals, and I would like to believe that part of the reason was because I was knitting while I was glued to the television set every night.  I belong to 2 ravelympics groups; Team Sit N' Knit NYC, and Team 10 in 2010. For my Sit N Knit entry, I decided to do WIPs Wrestling, and complete my Mulled Wine Raglan Cardigan using Cosmic Pluto's design.  I am proud to say that at this point, I have completed the body and am working on the sleeves 2 at a time.  I feel like a figure skater who has completed their second to last Triple Axel. One more to go! Here is a picture.

My second entry into the WIP category is my February Fitted Pullover that was supposed to be my NaKniSweMo project.  Well.... that wasn't completed in time for that, but I still wanted to wear it this winter so I decided to enter it into this category.  All I have to do is sew on the sleeves, and finish the neckline.
Here is a picture.

My entry for my Team 10 in 2010 group is the Sexy Vesty made out of Lion Brand Cotton-Ease in Azalea.  This yarn was originally bought for Hey Teach, but I frogged it because I didn't like how it was coming out. I started this on Tuesday night, and this was my progress after knitting group on Wednesday.  I have knit about 115 yards so far.

Before Ravelympics started, I was working on Vaila during the month of January.  I decided to work on it from the top down. I have completed the waist shaping. Here is a picture.

Here are my charts for my 10 in 2010 progress.

2010 Goals

Happy New Year Everyone!

So, some of you may or may not know that I work for a group of investment bankers.  Every day I query databases and spit out data that helps them win bond deals all over the US, and adds $$$ to our company's revenue.  So, this charting and graphing stuff is what I have been doing off and on for the past 5 years.  Has it really been that long?  Well... over 5 years you feel like you are looking at the same thing over and over.  So, I decided to curtail the charts to my needs.

Here is a pie chart of the projects that I am planning to complete in 2010.  I joined the Ravelry group 10 in 2010 to get some help, engcouragement, motivation, and much needed therapy when necessary. (Deb you will still remain my number 1 therapist.  Don't go getting all jealous ;-) )

So, one of my knitting buddies called me a knitting geek.  Hehe!!  I just like to keep things organized.  In college I got an A in Biostatistics.  Well, this isn't Bio, but it's not Investment Banking either. I calculated the amounts by the specified yardage that is required for each pattern.  When I sum it all up, I am slated to knit about 7.24 miles of yarn this year.  That's the distance from Times Square to Washington Heights along the West Side Highway.  Hmmm.....  Let's see if I can do it this year.

So, I didn't get to finish my Sexy Vesty or my February Fitted Pullover last year.  But, I am still working on them, and they should be done soon.  Aside from a dinner party that I will be cooking for tomorrow night, I have no plans for the weekend but to knit.

Happy Knitting everyone!

4 Days Left In December.

4 Days left in December, and I STILL haven't finished my NaKniSweMo project.  Sigh.....  I just lost my Mojo on it.  Once the excitement of finishing it in time was over (because I didn't),  I just let it sit there in my knitting bag.  I keep looking at it saying " You just have 1 more inch of garter stitch to go, and sew on the sleeves".  It keeps looking at me and saying "help me".  Then, I see my Sexy Vesty that I started on December 6th.  What is this obsession that I have with starting new things? It's driving me crazy. Somebody get me some therapy!

I even thought a Mojito would bring me back to my February Fitted Pullover, but as you can see, my drink wanted to color coordinate.

Then, a new yarn shop opened up in Brooklyn.  La Casita Yarn Shop Cafe.  This was the place in which I actually casted on the Sexy Vesty, during their opening day.  They are located on Smith Street between Douglass and Degraw.  They have a nice fireplace, and a bar that will be serving tapas, cafe y vino starting next year.  The wonderful owners made it clear that they wanted to properly set up all of their yarn displays before they brought food and drinks into the mix.  That was fine by me, because I was busy getting swept away by the yarn fumes.  On my second visit there, I did a little damage.

But this proved to be perfect because it allowed me to be able to make these goodies as a Christmas present to a very nice friend of the family.

Debbie Bliss Cabled Beret

Darkside Cowl

The yarn used is Araucania Toconao.  100% Merino wool.  The hat is a little stiff, but it is probably because I went down a needle size.  The pattern was for a big slouchy beret, and i just didnt want it to be that big. The cowl is soft and squishy.  I love it. Both patterns knit up very quickly.

So, now that those projects are done, I can focus on what I need to finish up before 2010 rolls around.

So, will the person who hijacked my February Fitted Pullover mojo please give it back? I need to wear this next year dangit!

Any plan for 2010 you ask?  I joined a Ravelry group called 10 in 2010.  I have decided to make 10 sweaters or vests in 2010, and complete the ones that I have already started.  My goal is to totally rid myself of storebought sweaters.  I am sick of people asking me if I knit that, because they know I knit, and then I have to say something like " No, it was on sale at Macy's".  I would much rather say "absolutely, and I enjoyed every minute of it".

Happy knitting everyone.  More updates to follow.

Sidebar : I joined the 365 group on flickr, so there wil be many, many pictures next year. I'm kinda nostalgic like that.

The Day Before NaKniSweMonday Chapter 5

As promised, here is my progress picture. This is my February Fitted Pullover status at 12 PM.  I have to finish the sleeves, pick up the neckline, and seam the shoulders. Can I do it???  I have until tomorrow night. Blocking?  Who needs blocking? I know, I know it's lace... but whatever!

The Front

The Back

I had to pin it on to see if it would fit. OK. Back to knitting.  I wanna wear this to work this week.

NaKniSweMonday - Chapter 4

To all my faithful readers, I must apologize for the lack of pictures.  I worked a 9 hour day today, then came home to laundry, Thanksgiving meal planning, trying to squeeze in a workout, and discovering that I have a hole in one of my sweaters that I was intending on washing (Wicked).  Well, thank goodness it is a sweater that I knit myself, and actually have the yarn handy to fix. More on that later.

So, I have completed the left front neck and arm shaping on my February Fitted Pullover.  I am halfway finished with the neck and arm shaping on the right side.  After that is done, I just have to complete the armhole shaping on the back, knit the sleeves, and pick up the neckline and complete it in garter stitch. Should I start panicking? I intend to do the sleeves 2 at a time.  The pattern calls for 3/4 sleeves, but I intend on making mine full length.  I am hoping that I can really put in some sweater time over the weekend. Thanksgiving is making me miss my weekly Wednesday knitting group, since I have to prep the night before. Arrrgghhh!!!  But I am going to enjoy the Pumpkim Flan, Peach Cobbler, Sweet Potato Casserole, Collard Greens, and Turkey with my secret stuffing.... to name a few dishes.  Notice I put the desserts first???

Good news.. since I have been using the Nintendo Wii Fit +, I lost 3.3 lbs.  Lord knows it will come back on Thursday. But, it will be well worth it.

More pictures soon, I promise. Happy Gobble Gobble day everyone!