279. A Warm Fuzzy Feeling

You know what makes me happy? 
This makes me happy. 

It's been so long since I've done a sweater.  It's been so long since I've really even knit!  To see this progress just makes me grin and grin.  In fact, if you saw me right now, you'd probably threaten to wipe that sickening grin off my face.

Another thing that makes me happy and relieved -- they're both the same size!  As I was knitting the right side, I kept looking at the left and going, "Oh, no.  It's been so long since I knitted the left side, my gauge doesn't seem right."  I kept measuring it and measuring it, and every once in a while I'd find it a half a stitch off, which in my mind kept growing exponentially so I thought the second half was not going to bear any resemblance whatsoever to the first, no matter how many times I matched up the pieces and compared them.  But it was my kooky imagination again.  I cast off the right, and bingo -- just the right size.  Whew.  I've given them a gentle spritz blocking to get them ready for the seaming up.  But first, I've got to knit the sleeves. And ohmygoodness, lookie here, the first one is already well under way. 

Hard to believe, innit? My hands believe it, though.  I adore Peace Fleece, but it is a rustic yarn, and it can be a bit hard on the hands to knit with it.  I'm developing the characteristic Peace Fleece callous on my right ring finger from where I hold the yarn.  But I'm spurred on by the approaching cold weather and the prospect of having this thing finished for Rhinebeck. I can't wait to wear it!  I'm also looking forward to having it finished, and hope it doesn't suck up all my knitting mojo, so I can knit with something softer afterward.

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And this makes me happy, too:  Another donation of two 50-gram skeins of sock yarn in such a cheerful colorway.

Kindly donated by Kay of Sliver Moon Farm.  Thank you, Kay!

All this has put me in such a good mood, all I want to do is give out prizes.  Mondays especially can be unwelcome days for many of us, but Paula and I hope to make this one very welcome by having let Cynthia and Linda M. know that they have won the following:

• The skein of Hand Maiden "Cashmere and Silk" (65% cashmere, 35% silk) Melon colourway for Cynthia
• and a signed MDK2 book + 1 kit for the Cardi Cozy for Linda

I've emailed the winners.  Check your email!  Congratulations to both of you, and thank you again for donating to the Red Scarf Fund.  There are still plenty of wonderful prizes to be won.  Get your donations in now!  You never know when we're going to award the next prize, and you could be IN! 

Remember, if you donate, please write us at [email protected] to let us know how much you have given.  That is the only way you can be assured of one chance at the prizes for every $5 donated.  If you email me at my regular email address, it could get lost in the shuffle.  I try to find them all and forward them to the RedScarfFund address, but things have been missed already.  So heads up!  Send your emails to [email protected], and donate early, donate often!  Heh-heh-heh. 

Comments

[Dave Daniels]

Beautiful cableness. Isn't it great when the two pieces match? That's something I've never been able to master. :)

[Carole]

Can't wait to see you wearing your new sweater!

[marianne]

I know just what you mean, knitting with Peace Fleece and it remains to this day one of my all time favourites, LOVE that yarn! Your sweater, gives me a huge grin also, I'm beyond tickled that you've decided to finish it!
Congrats to today's winners!

[chris]

I'm working on a sweater in that exact same color of Peace Fleece -- isn't it pretty?? Every time I work on it I fall more in love with that bricky red.

And yeah, "rustic" is right . . . I'm so glad it softened up after soaking -- I was worried that it was going to be super scritchy.

[Seanna Lea]

Ooh, it's good to know that about the Peace Fleece. I've been thinking about buying some for quite a while, because the company does such good things. I think I will hold off until I find a worthwhile project and an good softer alternative project to work on.

Your sweater is coming out great! I'm sure you'll manage to get it done for Rhinebeck, unless you fall down in the finishing like I do!

[Paula]

The sweater looks great! When I knit Ben's Peace Fleece sweater I washed each skein before winding it into a ball and that helped with the roughness.

[Stephanie]

Woo hoo, they match!

I think knitting is to some people completely seasonal. Which makes a lot of sense. It's fall and starting to get cool again and lots of people, including you, are making sweaters. So obviously right now is sweater-making season, and sooner or later it'll be sweater-wearing season (probably more sooner than later, sadly). So... yay! sweaters! Definitely a relief that your two fronts are the same size.

[Linda M]

OOOOOHHHH! I won, I won, I won!! seriously, I'm delighted to be able to support the Red Scarf Fund. I work with college students and anything anyone can do to make their quality of life a little better gets my vote and, more important, my contribution. Everybody, please give a little to help some kids who will really appreciate your support.

[Ann]

woo hoo! I can't wait to see it on, you cheshire cat,you! It is sooooooo your color! Damn, does this mean that I have to make another one? I wore mine this weekend to Woodstock-dropped in on the lovely ladies at Whippletree ( where I got the yarn) and twirled around showing it off. They all loved it. People on the street asked me where I got it also.

[gayle]

So glad the sweater is working! It's going to be your new favorite, I'll bet. Peace Fleece is on my list of things to try.
I wasn't so lucky with my worrying about my gloves being different lengths - but my worrying didn't start soon enough... Argh!

[naomi]

Warm and fuzzy, indeed. I look forward to seeing it in person.

[Marcia]

Good for you, knitting another sweater! (I always loved Heather.) Have you ever knit both fronts at the same time? I do that occasionally, but ALWAYS do sleeves at the same time. Another way to keep them honest is to check off every row, especially with cables. Can't wait to see yours at Rhinebeck!

[margene]

You are going to look SO awesome walking around Rhinebeck in that sweater, the scarf you have planned and that necklace you bough in Utah!!! I can't wait to see you looking fabulous. ;-)

[Cynthia]

What a way to start a Monday!! Winning such beautiful yarn!!! Thank you, Norma, Paula, and all the wonderful people out there who are knitting scarves, contributing $$, contributing luscious prizes, and doing all the other terrific things for this incredible organization. You guys rock!

[Cheryl S.]

You're totally going to love that cardigan!

[Lucia]

OMG, that sweater is stunning! And I love that rich red-brown color. What's the pattern?

[anne]

oooh, we'll have to bump and rub sweaters at rhinebeck; the body of mine is done and i just have to knit sleeves.

[Cookie]

Isn't it nice to know that you can get back on the knitting wagon and the shit works out just fine? :D I can't wait to see you modeling that sweater.

[Katy]

I don't have any excess cash to donate, but I did round up 4 excess scarves I made "just because" over the last few years. I know that doesn't put me in the running for the prizes, but I thought you might like to know a few more neck warmers are in the mail. One of them is even red.

[Lee Ann]

With a title like that, I was expecting something phallic and explosive from your garden, but I'm kinda glad it was knitting instead.

:-)