Making excellent progress on my Ribby sleeves. I’m probably about to jinx myself, but I love this sweater. It is flying off the needles! It’s a great pattern, and the Highland wool is gorgeous to knit.
Because a few people asked, here is how I prefer to knit sleeves. Or two fronts of a cardigan together.

I cast on for one sleeve, then before I turn and start to knit that sleeve, I cast on on the same needle for sleeve number 2. Then turn and knit the first row of sleeve 2, then the first row of sleeve 1, turn my work, knit the second row of sleeve 1, then the second row of sleeve 2, and so on. When I first started doing sleeves like this, I had problems remembering which sleeve I had just knit on if I stopped in the middle. I would be unsure if I was supposed to do a row on sleeve 2, or if I had just done a row on sleeve 2.
Then I picked up this tip from someone’s blog. (I can’t remember whose, but if I could I would give them full credit. They’ve made my knitting so much easier!) I pin the sleeves together with a small stitch holder. Then I can’t stop in the middle!
It is so easy. All the increases are done at the same time, and all the decreases are done at the same time. It seems to go so much faster for me than knitting them one at a time. And I can see how my yarn is going and if I am going to run out or not. I wouldn’t knit sleeves any other way now 🙂

Here’s one of the outfits I made for Em this week.

Pic is clickable, but it’s rather large. This is the pattern that I used.

And, as you can see, I had to use Em’s favourite colours of the moment, Hot Pink and Lime. I am really enjoying these Lizzie McGuire patterns. Cute outfits, but not over the top tarty stuff. We’ll see how many I can churn out before the sewing bug dies off 🙂
I started the ribby sleeves, knitting both at the same time. If I have to knit two things at once (sleeves or fronts), I usually do knit them both at the same time on a long circular needle. This way, I don’t get second sleeveitis, and if I make an adjustment, I can adjust both at the same time. I have a bad habit of not writing adjustments down. Then when I get to the second front or sleeve, I think “What the hell did I do there??”
Confusion reigns supreme in this house 🙂
However, I have never felt the urge to do two socks at once. Or to use a circular to do socks. All of my socks are knit one at a time on DPNS. Preferably Crystal Palace bamboo DPNS in a size 0. I’m a creature of habit 🙂

Ribby fronts are done!

Amazing what I can get done when I’m the only prson in the house for 12 hours a day. Mind you, Twinky feels I’m smothering her 😉
I’ve also been a virtual sewing magician. I cut things out, run them through the machine, and hey presto, new outfit for Em! I should have taken a pic this morning before she left, will take one when she gets home. She’s wearing a very bright ensemble today that I whipped up from a Lizzie McGuire pattern.
I also picked up a pattern and some fabric for me. Spotlight has brought put a range of Retro Patterns, and I immediately wanted this jacket.

They also had their wool suiting on special for $6 a metre! So I grabbed enough for two jackets.

The lighter one is pinker than it appears here. I’m not quite sure where I’ll wear these jackets, but I just liked the pattern so I grabbed the makings while they were on sale.
The sewing bug is back 🙂
Obviously I need to get rid of my family more often – loads of knitting and sewing, less housework. I even get to hold the remote!

I’m chugging along on the fronts of my Ribby 🙂

I’m ready to start the armhole shaping, so I should be done with these soon, I hope! My elann order arrived yesterday, so I have the yarn for the sleeves. I’m much happier with the eggplant than I was with the Dusky Purple. Of course now I have 5 balls of Dusky Purple seeking a purpose. Oh, and the sock yarn I ordered 😉
DH has a workmate whose wife had a baby yesterday. The baby was very early, (9 weeks early!). We haven’t heard how they are doing yet, but yesterday I knitted up a little hat.

I’m not sure how small a 31 week baby is, but even though this hat is teeny, I think it might be too big. I hope all is well for them.
Some Lizzie McGuire patterns arrived from eBay today, so I don’t know how much ribby I’ll get done – I see sewing in my immediate future 🙂

My Ribby back is done!

Admittedly, not much housework or anything else has been done 🙂
I’m enjoying this knit, and I love the yarn, although I am a little concerned now that I know this yarn pills.
Being the fickle knitter that I am, I was barely halfway through the back when my mind turned to the cone of pink yarn that I picked up at Nundle. It wasn’t enough to make something for me, but perhaps something for Em (As if she doesn’t have enough pink clothes!)
My hands are itching to pick it up, but I will make myself work on Ribby first. Speaking of the Empress, she was out all day yesterday at a dance event. They must have worn her out. She got up briefly at 9.15am and said she was still tired, so I sent her back to bed. It’s now 10.50am, and she’s still not up.
She’s my kid alright 😉