Hey look, it's knitting!!!

So I teach these knitting classes and during class I do a lot of knitting. Really? You knit during knitting classes? I know right? Well most of the classes I teach are beginning ones and I'm constantly talking about how good it feels to finish a project and that's why when they choose their first project for the last three weeks of class we encourage them to knit something they can finish, well and so that we can cover all aspects of knitting a garment, starting with choosing a yarn and pattern to weaving in ends and blocking if necessary. But here my beginners are every week with me knitting something different. They might "ohh and ahh" a little bit, because you know those beginners are an easily excitable bunch- rightfully so, but they do a lot of asking me if I finished the thing I was working on the week before. I hang my head and shamefully say "no". It's always the same thing out of my mouth, something about also being easily excitable, and adult ADD, and lots of UFOs (which getting those beginners started on the knitting lingo is hilarious, Frogging, get it... rip it, ribbit, or tinking, those always get a giggle).

But really I feel sometimes like a failure as a knitting teacher. Shouldn't I be bringing in finished things each week for inspiration? It feels that way sometimes. But look I did finish something, and seriously I talk a lot on here about finishing v. not finishing things, I really need to remember how great it feels. But oh doesn't it feel so good to start something new, even if that means you have 10 things going at the same time.

Back to the "look it's knitting!" part of this blog, I did start and finish something last week....
A pair of longies for a sweet little boy. The pattern is Looking Glass Longies and the yarn is Cascade Jewel and 220 for the ribbing. The pattern is written for five different sizes using three different weights of yarn. The pattern is written using a series of charts to determine what number of stitches goes where since there are so many options, this sort of thing is a little intimidating to me as I don't have the patience to look at the charts. I'm glad I stayed focused though, and I've already cast on for a second pair. The construction is pretty ingenious and keeps it interesting. The crotch is knit first while you have your butt and leg stitches cast on and on the needles. There is a bit of picking up and simple decreases for shaping. I didn't follow the short row instructions for the rump, again that patience thing, but I've done a few pairs of soakers so I felt comfortable doing my own thing here.

They fit him great! And this yarn is holding up so well, which says a lot considering the kid spends most of his days crawling around. He's worn these almost every other day since they were finished and they have done their job as a wool diaper cover should.


Now enter my next undertaking, very excited, once again. Sarah, that I work with, mentioned wanting to start one of Jared Flood's new shawl or wrap patterns and not to feel left out I decided I wanted to knit one too. We agreed to do it as a KAL and decided the Guernsey Wrap was perfect. After a little bit of stash diving I came across this...
It's called Softie from Kimmet Croft fibers and I got it super cheap from Knitty Couture during her closing sale. It's a merino angora blend and is hand dyed, yummmm. It's slightly lighter weight than the pattern calls for so I originally cast on with #6s, got halfway through the first pattern repeat and changed my mind. I frogged it (rip it, rip it), grabbed some #8s and cast on for one more pattern repeat, so 70 sts. I have 800 yards and the pattern calls for 630 yards. I'm really hoping I will have enough to do the full pattern, but I'm getting a little concerned.

The next time I'm at work I'm going to weigh the last of the first skein to see if I can figure out if I will need to stop short before doing the center part. Eff you math!!! Hopefully I'll be able to block the hell out of it to get the length. I should have no problem with the width at this point, but I would kind of like to wrap it around me as it should.

The nice thing about this KAL is that Sarah and I, and now another girl are all talking our projects up on FB, which has been motivation to keep going, while I'm sure our non knitting FB friends enjoy the countless pictures and post updates, sorry guys. Plus this pattern stays pretty interesting with the pattern changing every 11 rows or so. Let's see how far this one gets!