I don’t know what possessed me to start this, but so is the passion of knitting.

7/21 - After swatching I had to go down to a size 5 & was still over about 2 stitches. Casting on for the large size, since I’d like this to be drapey & comfy.

8/29 - I haven’t even BEEN on ravelry in the last four weeks, gasp! I started my own business, yay!, but that sure does take up an awful lot of my time. I can’t complain though because being super busy means my business is doing well & that’s ultimately better for me. In the knitting world I haven’t done much of anything. I did rip through the first four skeins very quickly. I went back to Fancy Tiger & bought the last one in stock, with the collar still to go plus both sleeves. I knew that wouldn’t get me through it all but luckily they are ordering more! I won’t have to ration out the last skein. It is turning out beautifully. The fit is just what I want, a few extra inches of positive ease. The color is gorgeous & I just love knitting it because the yarn is SO soft plus the colors make me want to keep knitting to see what patterns will come next. I’m hoping to get this done next month to have ready for fall weather. All I have to say is this pattern takes up A LOT of yarn.

10/6 - Haven’t been keeping up with notes but I was done with everything but the one sleeve. Went to Colorful Yarns for the 2013 Yarn Across the Rockies & what did I see? TWO skeins of Chircas! I bought one & put the other on hold.

10/12 - Finished up the second sleeve today & left it soaking in the sink with my NEW bottle of Soak, thanks to Devon’s kind gift from the Salida Festival. I need to block out the very ends, the ribbing makes it look wrinkly & weird. Also it’s a little looser than I was expecting but I think once the edges are crisper it will be fine. It’s supposed to be a drapey, snuggly sweater & a few inches of positive ease go along with that feel. YAY! Seriously, can’t wait to wear this. I love the yarn & the color. It fits like a blankie you can wear, something to snuggle right up in. :)

10/13 - Blocking was successful. I laid the sleeves out over the edge of the counter to stretch them out a bit. It was still damp in the morning so I busted out the blow dryer to form the edges into place. After the important places were dry I threw the whole thing in the dryer to shrink it up a bit. I had a moment of panic after trying it on damp & the sleeves were down past my hips & the fronts were near my knees. I kept my calm because I remembered the Rocky Mountain Caridgan I knit with Rios (Arroyo’s big sis) gave me the same scare. Once it dries it does go back to to normal size. After 20 minutes on permanent press, wa-laa! A thing of snuggle beauty to behold.

~ After looking at that picture of it being blocked on the counter I keep thinking about how much I hate my kitchen! I love my home, it’s the top floor of a town home, huge 3-bedroom, vaulted ceilings, fireplace, balcony, yard, super sunny & open, everything is great…except the kitchen. Hideous cabinets, dark, gross appliances, crappy remodeled construction. I hope one day with a can of paint & a whole lot of faith in the impossible I can make it look less depressing. Someday!