Jitterbug Jive

This weekend I head to my first cruise. The BFF's crew has organized a 3 day cruise of the Bahamas and I am tagging along, a best friends weekend. Nothing like lounging on cruise ship in the Caribbean, oh so I have heard.

To get ready for the breezy nights, I wanted to make a Clapotis from Knitty. It became a struggle of what yarn I really wanted to use. At first it was Gloss yarn from Knit Picks and then it was some Colinette Jitterbug, which won in the end. So wanting to use some Jitterbug in the Rapheal colorway which I bought last year, I had to find another three hanks quickly. The biggest problem was dye lot. I did not remember that Jitterbug is hand dyed and that the dye lots would be so different, bad bad knitter. I had to unravel what I had already worked on and then start all over again. Problem number 2, I needed another hank since I had an older hank from last year and two new ones from a 3/08 dye lot.

I turned to a local yarn store on the Upper East Side, I turned to String NYC.

Not only did they get me the first 3 hanks, they were able to get me the last hank from the 3/08 dye lot that Colinette had so the Clapotis will be perfect when I finish it. Now I do not know when I will be shopping at String again, I have a lot of stash to use up, but the store is so close to my job and they were just so helpful, and that means a lot to me. I have had my fair share of bitchy LYS owners and I do not go back to their stores.





It is looking pretty but I will not be able to finish it before Friday, being a plus size woman I need it to be just a little longer.
So I will finish it, but not for my cruise.



So for my trip knitting I will be taking along a sock that needs to be finished. Second sock syndrome runs rampant, I really have to master the two socks at one time on long circular needle. Its not like I don't have the new book sitting gathering dust on my bookcase.


Thank you to all for the sweet comments on my mami's cardigan and the sweet birthday wishes.
Smooches.

Mami and the Birthday Cardigan

So it is finished!

In my knitting career I have made several kiddie cardigans and such, but no adult clothing besides a hat or sock until now.
The cardigan I started in November for my moms birthday was finally finished and seamed only a few days before her 78th birthday.
She had an idea that I was making her something since I had to measure her once, and since my mami has gained a little weight, I had to make it a size larger. She tried to be nosey by looking into my knitting baggie.

Using the Autumn Cardigan pattern from the book 12 Months of Knitting and Knit Picks Telemark yarn in the Bayberry colorway, the cardigan fit her perfectly. I was lucky to find the best buttons to match the cardigan at Tender Buttons on 62nd Street....warning !!! dangerous place.

My mami was thrilled and quickly posed for several shots for the benefit of my blog and the fact that she is a total ham when it comes to the camera.



The cutest part of this picture for me is the teddy bear, yeah that's hers too.


The detail of the flowers on the front of the cardigan were overlooked by her until she got up close and then she would not take it off. Unfortunately its getting warm and she won't have much occasion to wear it, but she will somehow.


So Nancy being my mami's second daughter, she made her Ice Queen from Knitty. My mami loves keeping her head wrapped when its chilly or at church, so this will be perfect in all occasions for her.


Now she can't complain that she doesn't have enough hand knitted items, besides all the socks I have made her.
My mami is a seamstress by trade, she could make anything she ever wanted to make since the age of 8, and she has made me almost every dress I have worn my entire life...so I guess it is my turn now to make her some goodies.

Next time ... the saga of my Clapotis and my new favorite LYS.