Plan B

The Backlog plan. Plan A is the Ambitious plan that keeps me focused and on schedule with the projects. I don't know how other people plan and finish their projects but I need a schedule, the more specific the better, as in, I'll knit up one ball of X yarn everyday for the next X days and use one more day for finishing, and give a day or two leeway for unexpected interruptions. That was Will. That was ages ago. So close, yet so far...

That's all the grey yarn I have left and all the while I was knitting the sleeves, I had a feeling there wouldn't be enough and I felt like ripping to start a skinnier sweater. This rip/rip not had me stalling big time, as I'm loathe to rip. As you can see, I decided to continue with it and I think there'll be enough, but just. I haven't touched the steek vest and I started the first of my Christmas gifts, the DNA scarf for my husband. DNA is actually one of his subjects of study so you could say I'm stoking his geekiness for my knitting pleasure. :-)

The yarn is extra fine merino with some silk and cashmere thrown in. Delicious. Even my sensitive neck doesn't itch with this stuff. The slipped stitch at the edges look neat but this scarf is going to need some blocking as the bottom edge is a bit wavy. As always with cables, it's exciting to see the pattern as it emerges. I'm able to get about two and a half repeats out of one 25 g ball of yarn.

So plan B is this: I'll finish Will, the vest, and the scarf before I go to LA and SF in about eleven days time. *Seems* reasonable. If there's time I might be able to squeeze in a skirt from the Simple Chic book.

These Japanese pattern books are very pretty, all on their own. There're about 20 patterns in each book and costs about the same as one Vogue pattern, which might contain just three different patterns. The only thing with the Japanese patterns is you have to trace out the pattern and add on the seam allowance whereas the US patterns are 'ready to cut'.  I think my pattern is somewhere on this page.

Besides the pattern books, I bought some yarn recently too. Here's  some of it. I was so good for a while but I lost it starting with the Jaeger Chamonix from Kangaroo. I bought the pale yellow because I don't have any yellow yarn ;-) and this is one of the few yellows I can wear. Then I found Berroco Pleasure on sale at WEBS and I bought that too, for comparisons sake, of course.

Both yarns have a chain construction and are about the same thickness but the Pleasure is considerably cheaper if you buy enough other yarn to get the extra discount. I bought other yarn, naturally. There's the one hank of Artyarns Royal silk. Gorgeous! I bought it with making a small evening bag in mind but now I'm not so sure, as the yarn is a bit delicate for that.

And some Noro Big Kureyon for (I hope) felted slippers.

The other yarn worth mentioning is Jaeger's Cashair, which I purchased from Colourway. Very soft and light as a feather (so it's not drapy at all). I knit up one ball to see how many balls I'd need for Teva Durham's braided scarf. Cashair knits up at the same gauge as the Karabella Super cashmere called for and five balls of Cashair equals three balls of Super cashmere in yardage. I was hoping to get away with four but no, every yard of the five will be needed if I knit to the measurements specified.

Do you see the knotty ball? There is a knot in the rolled up ball too. This vexes me. For this price, and just 47m per ball, I really don't want to join more ends. It's probably just these two balls, I know. Well, I ought to get on with plan B, otherwise there might be need for plan C, which is just short of vegetating and kicking myself off the knitting planet.

Comments

[erin]

Looking forward to seeing the skirt and Good luck looking for the skirt pattern in that maze. I have seen that simple chic book and was wondering whether the patterns are good. That silk yarn looks so shiny and gorgeous. I can imagine the softness of all the luxurious yarns.

[lyn]

Ooh, so many nice knits in gray! I will probably knit something in gray soon... I do like that colour but I can hardly find gray yarn around here. I really hope you have enough to finish up the sweater. I hate it when that happens... running out of yarn, that is.

[Tracy]

Gosh I think I'd cry looking at that sewing pattern. That Artyarns look just like my Clover silk with all that pink and green going on in there. Naughty Jaeger too, they need somebody on quality control who knows what they're doing, not the work experience boy from the look of it.

[Eva Shiu]

The grey sweater and DNA scarf both look nice.

Usually, I have some plan for my knitting. For example, I will finish project A within one month and then I move to project B. Sometimes I can do but not always. If I can be stick on one project one time, my productivity should be higher ^^

I bought some Chamonix from both Colourway and Kangaroo.
Are you tempting me with Berroco Pleasure again ??

[Siow Chin]

I try to write out a plan albeit a rather loose one and worse thing is I usually can't even stick to it.

[laura y]

Now that's what i call candy eye for the weary soul..:D I like those sewing books you got. Could you tell me where u got the Simple Chic book? really interested in that one.

[Peggy]

Wow! That's quite the shopping spree! The "geeky" DNA scarf is cute in a dorky kinda way. I like it! Reminds me to start my Christmas knitting too @_@

[MJ]

I try not to have more than 3 projects on the needles because I'm quite slow at knitting and finishing (other activities get in the way). Single skein projects, however, are a good way of breaking the monotony. I'm looking forward to seeing what you'll make with the Artyarns Silk!

[Anne]

Hi Joy, the DNA scarf looks wonderful in that yarn. It's a great pattern, isn't it? Your finished work is lovely - we both like the same patterns! Am thinking of doing Raspy, too. Jill in my knitting group made Martha but minus the beads.

[empress]

One word for that pattern on the grey sweater...WOW!

[froggy]

i just love the patterns in those mags. and great yarn choices. wonderful colors. i need hues like that in my wardrobe.

[barbara]

Good mornig Joy,
Plaese, I would like to know where do you buy Nani Iro fabric.
Thank you for your help!

With best wishes,
Barbara

[Nike Shox Navina]

Never was proud. Because a proud, you will be in should agree to the occasion stubborn; Because a proud, you will refuse the advice and friendship help, Because a proud, you will lose objective standard.