FO: Juliet

FO parade!

Pattern: Juliet from Zephyr Style
Yarn: Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in Candy Apple
Amount: 5 balls
Needles: US 10.5
Size: XS
Mods: None really, except for making the longer version so that the garter stitch section ends right below the bust. I also used 4 buttons on one side, instead of 3 buttons on alternate sides.





Front

Back

I am very proud of Juliet because she is the first knitted sweater I have ever completed. And this is coming from the girl who hated knitting when she first learned it because it stressed her out too much. But I am a bit disappointed with how flared it came out. My friends tell me I'm crazy, but I don't like the flare because it makes me feel like I'm wearing a maternity top. So I'll probably only wear this once in a while with my 4 inch platforms to balance the really wide look.

Busy bee

I haven't updated in a while due to being quite busy and stressed out. Last week, I caught the cold that was going around my office and on top of it was somehow extra busy when I had a 102 degree fever. But luckily, I have recovered. Knock on wood! Lately, I have been stressed out over finding a new apartment, packing, and finding the perfect desk, but that will be over soon. :-) Last night, I finally bought a desk that I managed to get delivered to me. Maybe one day I'll find a matching hutch for it, but it will do for now. It is beautiful and in very good condition and I am excited because there will be enough room to throw my WIPs on it.

Tonight I'm going to begin moving my stuff over to my new apartment. I am very excited and haven't been sleeping well lately due to that. I haven't had my own room for six years. Yay to being able to sleep peacefully without hearing my roommate's snores! Yay for being able to control the ability to open my windows wide! (I love fresh air.) Although for 2 years in college, I did have a really good roomie who subsequently became my best friend. Thank god Maryann loved air too! :-D

In knitting news, Juliet was finished last Sunday when I was feverish, bored, and trying to relax. I wove in all her ends as I knitted her because I know I would never be able to finish a project if I had a million ends to weave in after alll the knitting was done. Now all she needs is to be blocked and then I will post some pictures!

Here's a picture of my new desk!

Juliet: Progress Report

If it wasn't for the fact that I keep messing up on my stitch counts and the lace section, Juliet should have been finished by now. However, bf did take some progress pictures over the weekend with his new camera. The first pictures ever taken with the camera too! He even offered for me to bring my FO's and UFO's to be photographed. :-)

Juliet front

Juliet back

Juliet flat

I'm not sure why, but the last picture came out looking very pink. In reality, Juliet is actually a deep burgundy red. Anyway, these pictures were taken two frogs ago. :-( I made many mistakes in the lace section and I kept coming up with the wrong numbers for the stitch count. It really pained me because I hate frogging (especially in knitting), but I tore it out. I was very happy because I finally learned how to frog "safely" this weekend thanks to my friend rchrispy on Ravelry. What I mean is using smaller knitting needles to pick up stitches back to where I want to start over again, and then pulling out my work with wild abandon. This may sound strange, but it made me feel like a liberated woman. Ever since I was 8, I have been scared of knitting because I didn't know how to frog and my remedy for it was to simply knit without mistakes (which is nearly impossible!) Now I finally discovered I don't need to be scared of making mistakes or live with the knowledge of doing something incorrectly, but stubbornly forging on due to not knowing how to go back.

Casting on for Juliet...

I told myself that I wouldn't cast on for Juliet until I finished Rusted Root. But I couldn't resist, and besides Rusted Root isn't really going anywhere until I can get some DPNs, right?

I am using Brown Sheep Cotton Fleece in the very elusive Candy Apple Red. I found it on sale online, and now I regret not buying more since this shade appears to be out of stock.

Look at what I discovered today!

I am especially lusting after that grayish jumper on the cover. Wish I had paid more attention when I was at both Michael's AND Joann's this weekend to see if they were selling it.

Here are some of the patterns that I like...

Lacy, empire waist top and bag

Scallop pattern empire top

Twin set cardigan

Bolero cardigan