Knitting in pink

My first sweater is finished. Done. And it fits. That really is the best part. Even after soaking it. It still fit.

I finished it at midnight the evening before the Connecticut Sheep and Wool festival. I really wanted to wear it that day and was ready to stay up all night until it was done. Thankfully it didn't take all night and I was able to sleep some before heading out to Connecticut on a beautiful sunny morning.

All in all it took me 2 months and a day to finish it. But while I was knitting it I went on vacation for a week and knit 2 and half pairs of socks. So it probably could have taken me 1 month if I had been monogamous. But I just can't do that! lol!

Here is a fun collage of my Hourglass from its earlier stages to the FO status. As always you can click on the picture to see it bigger.



My thoughts on the sweater now that it is completed:
It was my first full sized garment and I am quite happy with the pattern I chose as it was fairly simple and easy to follow. The stockinette wasn't boring, especially when knitting the small size. I managed to customize the length and width of the sleeves to fit me better and the results are pleasing. I ended up not adding more decreases in the neck area as I felt it fit fine when I tried it on prior to the turning round. I noticed though that the neck post block is a little bit wider than pre soak/block. But it still fits fine and is quite cute with a tank top underneath. The only thing I wasn't sure about was how the raglan fit. It felt a little small at the armpits, although it was still comfortable. Post soak the armhole stretched out a bit and is more comfortable. The yarn I used (Classic Elite Skye Tweed) was a good choice. I got gauge right away with the recommended needle size and it was easy to knit with. There were some really thin parts to the yarn but only in a couple balls. Overall it was a good match pattern/yarn.

Final Stats:
Started on February 26 and finished April 27.
Yarn: Classic Elite Skye Tweed. I used about 7 and a half balls out of the 10 I bought.
Pattern: Hourglass Sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts
Mods: Shorter sleeves started on smaller stitch count. I didn't seam the hems after finishing but picked up the stitches as I knit.

I know I said I would give you the winning name today, but I haven't had time to think about it quite yet. Instead I will give you all the names that have been suggested to me. I received over 60 name suggestions, which I have separated into a few categories.

Women's names:
Julianna
Cassandra
Helga/Zelda
Daphne
Stella
Matilda/Mattie
Leandra
Elisabeth
Rose
Lily
Portia
Emily
Franka
Delilah
Penelope/Penny
Louie
Linnea
Vicki
Charlotte
St Elizabeth/ E
Elsebeth
Eudora/Ewedora
Isobel
Isadora/Izzie
Fran
Clotho/Clothilde
Bessie

Names inspired from books or stories:
Morgaine – Mists of Avalon
Thérèse – Tale of Two Cities
Rumpelstiltskin
Arwen – Lord of the Rings
Aurora – Sleeping Beauty
Rapunzel/RapZ
Trixie – Trixie Belden Books
Willa – Willa Cather

Names inspired by movies, arts or music:
Miss Daisy – Driving Miss Daisy
Mary – Proud Mary song by CCR
Janie – Janie Fricke country singer
Frida Fricke – Frida Kalo
Molly – Molly Ringwald from Pretty in Pink or Andie character's name
Beyonce
Samson – Song by Regina Spektor

Irish inspired names:
Aran
Clover
Shamrock

Quirky, wildly imaginative names or that just didn't fit in another category:
Ms Spinster
Pinkerton
Spinny McSpinnerson
Arachne
Spinderella
Professor Fricke
Lamb Chop
Sister
Salem
Willow
Yarn Spawn
Sweet Pea
Ewe-La
Cyclopticon
Zirha- Hopi for "she who spins"
Spanky

I hope you won't disagree too much with the way I have categorized those names and that you will enjoy reading them all! I will try to give you the winner within the next couple of days. Thank you for all who participated, it was great fun reading all your suggestions.

Cross posted from the Hourglass KAL

A couple days ago I joined the sleeves to the body and started knitting the yoke. I'm probably half way into the decreases as per the pattern but will probably be adding more to avoid the "falling off the shoulders" look.

I tried it on this afternoon to make sure it fit, and I think it does.

Sorry for the extremely blurry picture but that is the best I could do!

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Thank you to everyone that has been submitting names for my new wheel. I'm having a great time reading all your comments and suggestions. Keep them coming, there are some great ones!
It was suggested to me that I list all the names that were given, and I will do when I announce the winner of the contest.

I've been making progress on the second Child's First sock. Only a few more rows of ribbing, bind off, weave in ends and done!

Here's a shot from earlier this morning, when there was a little bit of sun outside:

I should be showing finished pictures tomorrow if I have time.

I have also cast on for the second Hourglass sleeve. I will devote myself entirely to it after the sock is finished and until the beginning of next month when Sockamania starts.



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Fun things happening in the next few days:

One of my best friends is visiting from Iowa (she's a knitter... imagine the possibilities)
My wheel arrived yesterday at Twist of Fate Spinnery. I'm going to pick it up tomorrow! : )
Next week is my one year blogiversary!

The last few days I've been working exclusively on a secret project. I'm over halfway done so I should resume current project knitting in a few days. But in the mean time I will show you what I finished last week:

I finished the first sock of my Child's First Sock. It went fairly fast after I figured out the pattern. I'm hoping I can knit up the other sock after my secret knitting is over and submit it for Socktopia April under the theme: "Bumblebees and Butterflies". I think that the shell pattern looks a lot like butterfly wing...


I also knit up the first sleeve to the Hourglass sweater. I am pleased of the modifications I made on the sleeve. Now I hope that it will all work out together when I start knitting the yoke. But first I have to knit the second sleeve, which will have to wait a bit!

For your enjoyment:

Do you remember last week when I asked you all to guess what project I had just started working on? Today is the big reveal. There's not much to see yet, only a few inches of stockinette, but at least it is the beginning of something.

Let me introduce to you, my own Hourglass Sweater. So far all is going well, I've done the decreases and am about half an inch away from starting the increases. The size looks ok compared to one of my sweaters, but I do wish I could try it on... I know I can put the whole thing on scrap yarn but I guess I'm just too lazy to do it quite yet. But I know I should, just to be sure it will fit! : )

The yarn I am using is Classic Elite Skye Tweed, that I bought on sale at Webs back in December. I knew it would make a perfect Hourglass. And I was not disappointed. The yarn is a bit rough while working it, but the swatch softened quite a bit so in the end it should be comfortable to wear.

My other WIP is, of course, another pair of socks! I am using a DK sock yarn called Duet Sock yarn from a Swell Yarn Shop. The color I am using is called Lemonade Stand. I chose this DK yarn to have a quick pair of socks by the end of the month. I am going to be going on vacation next week and might not have a lot of time to work on the socks. And the Hourglass sweater is definitely not a traveling project, at least not for me.



I really want to keep these socks for knitting on vacation, so I have to stop myself from picking them up and knitting on them! I need to remind myself to work on the sweater instead...