[sashers]

My subscription hasn't kicked in yet, sashers, so I can't comment on any of the recent IK patterns in particular. But I totally agree with you on the two-layer business. I'd love to knit something cute, light, and summery to wear to the office, but I can't stand tops where you have to wear a camisole tank underneath, and having my bra show through a lacy bodice strikes me as Highly Unprofessional (you know, unless you're *ahem* a "professional"). 

[dexterchikk]

Oooh, dexterchikk, don't forget to post some pics of your finished cable/seed top. That one is on my list, and I'd love to see how yours came out. 

Okay, after seeing this preview, I finally broke down and subscribed. Just from the preview I saw 6-8 things I might want to knit. When you consider that after reading the latest Vogue KI cover-to-cover there were were only two things I could imagine doing (and only if I learn twelve new techniques and use size 2 needles), it seemed like IK might be the more useful magazine for me.

[stringy]

Hey, stringy, great job on the socks! Especially considering how unhelpful that pattern sounds. Thanks for the warning--I'd meant to start my first socks soon using that same guide, but I think now I might look for another one.

I, too, finished my Knitting Olympics project just recently--so late that I didn't even mention I'd started it for the Knitting Olympics when I posted it on Craftster!  You can read about it here:

http://www.craftster.org/forum/index.php?topic=89444.0

I'm glad to keep you company in your lateness. Sometimes life just gets in the way, you know? 

[ultraviolet]

ultraviolet and anybody else who wants to see more Samuses, there is a Samus knitalong blog at http://samusknitalong.blogspot.com. It hasn't seen much action lately, but check the archives.

I'm also feeling a bit too chicken to wrestle with installing a zipper, which is why I think the hooks and eyes might be an easier solution. I think they'd fit the shape of the sweater really well. But knowing how much I love procrastinate about finishing things, I probably won't work up the energy to install a closure of any kind until the weather starts turning chilly again. 

Anyway, thanks for your kind comments, everybody! This is the first time I've posted a FO to craftster, and I'm a bit overwhelmed by the positive response.  I will try to contribute more in the future.

MmmmKnits, I think we may be long-lost twins. I've also been watching a lot of Buffy while working on Samus... season 4 in fact. By the time I get to the edging, though, I'll probably be on to season 5.

Hooray for Joss Whedon shows + knitting!

rebeccajane, that is too funny! Hooray indeed. I think for the next sweater I make, I'm going to see how long it takes me to knit as measured in Buffy episodes--you know, start at the beginning of the series and see how old everyone's gotten by the time I bind off. 

Tedious enough. You might knit faster or slower than me, but I'd estimate it probably took me about eight or nine hours. I just put on season 4 of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and went into knitting auto-pilot. 

Just in time for spring, I have finally finished a heavy wool sweater! 



Well, almost finished that is--I still need to add a zipper or some hooks and eyes, but I wasn't going to let that stand in the way of wearing it today. After knitting one sweater, twelve scarves, and five hats as Christmas gifts for other people, I've waited a long damn time for a sweater of my very own. I have to get in at least a couple of wearings before the summer heat wave begins!

The pattern is Samus from the Fall 2005 issue of Knitty. Thanks to unexpected interruptions from out-of-town guests and overwhelming work deadlines, it took me about two months to make. I used the recommended size 8 needles and the recommended yarn, Brown Sheep Lamb's Pride Worsted in the color Orchid Thistle. At first I wanted something more in the periwinkle range, but my LYS didn't have it in stock the night I was ready to cast on, so I went for the pink instead. I admit to suffering a slight attack of buyer's remorse the first time I saw it the yarn in broad daylight--it was a bit brighter than I'd expected--but I'm glad I bit the bullet and soldiered onward anyway. I've gotten used to it over the last two months, and now think it's exactly what my wardrobe needed. The yarn itself is a little scratchy on my forearms, but otherwise fine. It also sheds a bit at first, but I've used it before and expected it.

I followed the pattern almost exactly. The only modification I made was to add some waist shaping--just simple paired decreases and increases at the sides (ssk/k2tog every four rows a total of three times, followed six rows later by paired m1 increases in the same pattern). I'm glad I did this--although they looked a bit wonky at first (as did the seaming), they looked fine after blocking. And it kept the sweater from being too boxy, which was my only complaint with the original.



I love the celtic braid cable along the hem and cuffs. It's already gotten plenty of compliments. The pattern writer mentioned that it was from Nicky Epstein's Knitting on the Edge, which I just might pick up. Other knitters will probably be able to pick out the spot where I made a mistake, but since I mirrored that mistake at the opposite end of the cabled band, I managed to make it look like I did it on purpose. Now it's a "design feature." 

[PlayItGeorge]

PlayItGeorge, on that note, someone should really invent soleless socks for the Britster. That way the tops of her feet could be warm, but nothing would interfere between her and full gas-station-bathroom-floor contact. 

I'm disappointed. I was looking forward to this day for so long (as I do every time), and I didn't see a single thing I'd like to make for myself. The kids' knits are okay, but not amazing enough to make me wish I knew actual children for whom I could make them.