you told me there's no need to talk it out

IMG_8018, originally uploaded by pirateygoodness.

This would be the next stage of my Owls sweater. What a disaster.

I’ve been trying to salvage the yoke, and make this into something I’d enjoy being able to wear, but it. . .has not been going well. The sweater hits me right up until the waist shaping – which I thought, at the time, was so clever, but ended up producing this weird billowy hunchback effect between my waist and my shoulders. It was super attractive.

Between that and the fact that the math on the yoke just wasn’t shaking down the way I wanted it to, I ended up spending the better part of an afternoon on Ravelry and decided to just frog the whole thing. I’m going to take the yarn (which I still love, and which is not that much worse for being knit up once before) and turn it into the Garter Yoke Cardi (Rav). Everyone will just be happier.

I am, on the one hand, a little sad that I have to let this sweater go, because I was so excited about it. On the other, it wasn’t going to be what I wanted, and I’m in love with this yarn, so I’m glad I’m grown-up enough to realize that now and not after I’d cut the steeks and destroyed my chances of using that wool for something else.

Also, this is happening. It’s a very special birthday present for someone I am 99% sure does not read this blog, so I’m allowed to mention it every now and again as I go.

Song of the Entry: Ashley Tisdale – It’s Alright, It’s OK (Listen)

but you gotta be as fly as me, gotta know how to rock your stuff

IMG_7906, originally uploaded by pirateygoodness.

This would be the stack of notes I need to learn for my latest exam, coming up this week. I’ve been a little on-and-off about knitting while I study, despite the fact that knitting really really helped back in November, when I was working on that sweater I love for NaKniSweMo. But I think a lot of that has been because, when exams roll around, I don’t always have a project that I’m in love with. That, apparently is the trick.

I’ve had six skeins of Lorna’s Laces Worsted sitting in my stash for a few months now, waiting for the Holy Grail of Sweater Patterns. I thought maybe that pattern was going to be Francis, or this button-sleeve raglan (without the dorky Harry Potter lettering), but then I saw elevenstitches’ cardigan adaptation of Owls, and thought to myself, “. . .aha.”

A few swatches and a lot of math later, and I think I have something to help me destress while I’m studying this time around.

Song of the Entry: Lil’ Wayne f. Juelz Santana and Starr – Rockstar (Listen)