Fini! Now We Just Need The Baby.

It's done!

Backstory

Pattern: Sweater with Cable Pattern #7 from Rebecca Kids and Baby #6
Yarn: GGH Samoa
Needles: Knitpicks Options size 7
Exposition: It's just too cute! And it was super fast to make! I wasn't too sure about the mock turtleneck, but there were other issues and I didn't feel like figuring out a change. Besides, it will be so cute over a collared shirt and will keep the baby's neck warm without being too bulky. Everyone wins.

The only problem that I ran into with this pattern was the cable chart. As you can see from this picture, down the center, the cable pattern alternates between a large and small cable braid. Following the chart, however, will give you a large cable braid, followed by two smaller ones. The mistake comes when you start the chart repeat. By the time I got to that point, I was familiar enough with the pattern that I was able to work it without having to refer back constantly. Of course my overconfidence caused me to make a few mistakes, but nothing too bad. I was going to knit up an example of what that chart would look like knitted up, but I found out that my sil's sister is due sooner than anticipated, so I've got to get started on her new son's sweater. I'm thinking argyles. I LOVE ARGYLES!

I didn't do a proper blocking of the individual pieces...as you can tell by how crappy the sleeve seams looks. I will give it a good wash and blocking before presenting it to the baby.

Now, on to more baby knits!

Longer Than Necessary

Here's my progress Cable #7. It sure is cute...but it's taking much longer than I anticipated. First issue was figuring out the first row. Once I got over that obstacle, I forgot that being a left-handed knitter requires me to reconfigure the chart and the corresponding instructions so that my cable crossings reflect the original design [which pretty much meant frogging it all and starting over]. Then I reached the end of the chart and started the repeat over again. Since I have to constantly refer to the picture to make sure the cables are twisting the right way, I could see that after the first row that something was off. And as much as I hate being the knitter who cried "errata", all signs indicate the chart being wrong.

I'm going to do a little more research before I start calling patterns out on their incorrect charts, but for now, all is right in Superstarra-ville.

I Love A Good Twist

So I've gotten started on Baby Cable #7. I had a little bit of a set back, it wasn't anything that I couldn't quickly recover from...but is something I will blog about later. The GGH Samoa is one of my favorite yarns, so I'm sure this is just going to fly off the needles.

And speaking of good twists...have you seen Wisteria? I'm completely enthralled with Julia's.

Issues.

SoI was happily knitting away on Habu-74 all weekend. I bound off sleeve #1 on Saturday afternoon and noticed something strange.While the cone of cotton yarn was still pretty hefty, the angora yarn...hmmm...I know it's thinner, but why was the cone visible?!? Was I running out of yarn? Nah...couldn't be. It's just thinner. It doesn't take up as much space.

So I casted on for sleeve #2 and knit and knit and knit. I got about 1/4 of the sleeve done when panic set in...

This is how much yarn I have left. Something is definitely amiss! I thought maybe I knit too many rows on sleeve #1. So I counted the number of increases. Nope. And if something was knitted wrong and I have the correct amount of yarn, I would be running out of both, right? Right?

So I put in a call to Habu this morning. Long story short, the woman asked me to send an email and she would have to check with her manager. I included the picture of the two cones and another of the inside labeling. I'm hoping it won't take too long for them to get me the extra that I need to finish this. But somehow, in the back of my mind I think it might take a while...

So, what's a girl to do?
Cast on for something new, of course! Nothing says pity party relief like a new project! So I pulled out the GGH Samoa and the Trellis instructions and casted on. The more I looked at it, the more I realized I wasn't in love with it. It's so cute, but the cable and the seed stitch weren't inspiring to me. So I pulled out my Rebecca Kids and Baby #6 to see if there was something cute and cabley [cables just in time for the Fall Cable KAL!].

One of the sweaters I liked the best turns out to be the one that will work with the Samoa! Glory BE! Lucky Sweater with Cable Pattern #7 [again with the uncreative names...]! I love the pretzely cables! Challenging and beautiful! I'm not sure about that mock-half turtleneck action going on there, so I may change it up a bit. Or I may leave it as the kid may have a huge noggin that will require an extra wide neck line.

And as much as I love Rebecca's patterns, I sometimes curse the way they are written. And it's always the first line, and nothing is more frustrating that not even being able to get passed Row #1!!! And as always, after many failed attempts, I figure it out and realize it was much simpler than I was making it.

Here's row #1 for your reading pleasure. The welt pattern is K2, P2.
Cast on 57 sts and work 1st WS row as foll: edge st, 17 sts welt pattern starting with K1, P2, then P3, 6st, welt pattern starting with K2, then P3, 6sts, welt pattern starting with K2, then P3, 17 sts Welt pattern starting with K2, edge st.

My head is spinning and I'm totally calling SHENANIGANS! It took me at least 30 minutes and 4 cast ons to figure it out. Anyone else confused by straight-forward, direct language?