Ugh!

I'm officially sick of the Crisp Rectangle Tunic (CRT) from Fitted Knits. Things just keep going wrong. You may remember that I've already had to rip and reknit the front piece because my guage was off. Now, I'm pretty sure I'm going to run out of yarn. In fact, there is no way I'm going have enough. And that's even with me modifying both the front and back by leaving out several inches to make it a smaller size. To add insult to injury, I just finished knitting the first half of a sleeve on the wrong part of the back. I've been having my doubts about if this thing is even going to fit or not. I think I'm going to have to remove it from my sight for a while and then maybe I'll be able to decide what to do. Who knows if it will ever get finished. I think I'm going to have to move onto something new and exciting.

Actually, it's not all doom and gloom around here. The nupps and I have been getting along great on the Swallowtail shawl. I'm really surprised that I've been enjoying this shawl so much.

It's definitely slowed down a bit because the rows are starting to get really long but I don't think it will be too long before it's finished.

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiip

This about sums it up: Sizing Issues/Guage Issues

Front half of Crisp Rectangle Tunic, Before:After:Lelah:

It's just been one big rip-fest around here lately! You know that nagging inner knitter that you sometimes ignore? that's what I did with the Crisp Rectangle. Well, that and just not use my brain! Let's just say, because my guage was off, I would've ended up with a crop-top. No thanks!

And with Lelah, I just didn't swatch well enough or take into account that the lace would be so stretchy. Waaaay too big! Oh well, back to the drawing board on this one!

I'm just living and learning here people!

Lots to show and tell!

Let's start with an FO.

Pattern: Something Red by Wendy Bernard

Yarn: Blue Sky Dyed Cotton in Toffee; 4 skeins

Needles: US #7s

Notes: I love it! Absolutely love it. I would've liked to have made it just a hair longer but I was really trying to use only 4 skeins. And can you believe it that I'd never done short rows before this? pretty neat and not hard at all.

There is only one thing that I would caution anyone else making this sweater. You have to be careful of your raglan length. The directions tell you to knit the ragland increases until it is X inches or X number of increases. Definitely go by the number of increases. If I had continued on to the directed measurement then it would have been way too big I think. Just something to be aware of. In my mind, the raglan length can be the difference between perfect or terrible fit. I highly recommend this sweater pattern though. I know I will wear it lots. Especially in my chilly office.

I couldn't resist starting the Crisp Rectangle Tunic from Fitted Knits. I'm making the shorter length version. I don't think the longer version shown in the book would be very flattering on me. This is going to be a great summer knit I think. And my next new obsession:

It's the Lizard Ridge afghan from Knitty. Don't even ask what set me off on this (I don't know!). I've never really had a desire to knit a blanket before but since this one is done in blocks I think it will be much more managable. That is Noro Silk Garden I'm using in colors 247 (bottom), 203 (top left), and 34 (top right). I'm only going to buy a few skeins at a time because I couldn't afford it any other way. I love Silk Garden colors!

I'm this close to finishing the Tatami Kimono. I'm really going to tackle it and hopefully finish this weekend.