move along

move along
Originally uploaded by Needleworks, Inc..

There's no knitting here. I have nothing to show for the last couple of weeks except some pattern pieces I've cut out. Aren't they pretty?

I'm not done with the Mystery Sweater yet. I have about 1/3 of the final sleeve knit and I'm slaving away today, hoping to finish it .

I've been knitting other items, but they're also secret. Mostly because they are Christmas presents or items for the store.

Maybe next Sunday I'll have a photo shoot with Master P and the Mystery Sweater. Stay tuned!

the home stretch

mystery sleeve
Originally uploaded by Needleworks, Inc..

I seriously can't believe how long I've been knitting this sweater. This is probably the longest it has taken me to knit anything! No kidding.

I haven't had much to blog about because I've mainly been slaving away at this little baby. I finished one sleeve on Friday night and sewed the buttons on yesterday so I could see what it was going to look like. I didn't want to do both sleeves and then realize that I hated it.

But, look! It's cute! I'm so happy! I knit the sleeve as I did the body to about the elbow and then did one round of decreases, every other stitch. Then I switched to the size 3 needle I was using for the ribbing on the body and knit away in a 3x3 rib. The result is a slightly pufffy cap with a very tight sleeve. Super cute!

I knit the sleeves using two circular needles and I have to say that I kind of liked it. It's the first time I've used this method on a item that wasn't a sock and I think it worked really well. Because of the construction of the garment, it's very unwieldy and didn't want to deal with double pointed needles.

Now I know not everyone goes in for the 2 circular needle deal, but if you are crazy enough (ahem) to have multiple needles laying around, you should go for it. I feel like it made this particular garment a lot more portable.

Now, I just have to finish the second sleeve! Hopefully we will have a photo shoot next weekend.

a clue for the mystery sweater

buttons & beads
Originally uploaded by Needleworks, Inc..

I've reached a real turning point with They Mystery Sweater, where I know have a fully realized vision of what she will be.

Before now, I was making it up as I knit, changing my mind often and re-knitting frequently.

I know now, for example, that these lovely white buttons will play an integral part. Stay tuned.

The beads are jade and were purchased at this really cool import store in DUMBO. John B, Master P and I took a little field trip earlier this week and stumbled into this shop. I couldn't tell you where it was, though I may be able to find it again. Perhaps. I really want to go back and buy a couple of these really cool pieces of coral.

Now I don't know the first thing about jewelry making or beading, but I had to have these. I really want to make them into a necklace, but don't know where to begin. Can anyone give me some advice on where to shop, what to do, etc.? Help! I'm lost!

puzzle me this

furniture puzzle
Originally uploaded by Needleworks, Inc..

One of my favorite places in all of New York City is the American Folk Art Museum's gift shop. I volunteer there on Friday nights and hardly a Friday goes by that I don't walk away with some little treasure fromt he shop.

This is a puzzle. It's a block of wood that was carved into eleven peices of furniture. Each one is a little "off" so they really only fit together one way.

They're tucked away on my dresser with my piggy bank and Master P's typewriters. Aren't they cute?

felt up

grenn & yellow felted bag
Originally uploaded by Needleworks, Inc..

What's that? You were really sad because I said I would show you pictuers of my felted bag yesterday and I didn't? Then I showed you some lame picture of myself wearing a corduroy blazer?

I'm sorry. I promise to never disappoint you again.

I've started this felted bag series and this is #2 of 5 bags. They're very loosely based on a pattern from Magknits from a while back.

This yarn is Pierrot Print from Madil. It's a beautiful, multi-colored, thick and thin wool that comes in 200g hanks!

The green and yellow bag I think will have a handle made from ribbon or fabric threaded through some grommets. I have to wait and see.

In other news, I finished the body ribbing on the Mystery Sweater and now only have to do the sleeves!

thrifting in action

walnut lapel
Originally uploaded by Needleworks, Inc..

Remember a while back when I posted about thrift shopping in NJ? Well, I finally got to wear my spiffy corduroy jacket this weekend. On the lapel, my mom's walnut shell brooch.

Master P snapped this shot of my second-hand loot outside of Old Town after a late lunch of burgers and beers on Sunday afternoon. It was such a lovely day that we wandered all over the city, window shopping, and even got to check out the Chelsea flea market.

What a lovely weekend!

yawn

new pen holders
Originally uploaded by Needleworks, Inc..

This is it, folks. Tin cans covered in felt. You're not gonna see much more than this for a little while longer.

If I didn't have such an aversion to progress shots, you'd be able to see the Mystery Sweater that I've been working on. I'm finishing her with about 7 inches of 3x3 ribbing on size 3 needles so it isn't going to fast. I still have the sleeves to do yet.

I started a series of felted bags for a craft fair that I go to every year. They're not so exciting. I'll maybe show you a pic tomorrow.

Oh, and the Jaywalker sock remains unfinished. It's lanquishing in its unfinishedness.

I'm also knitting a series of samples for the store, which are seriously cramping my style. You can see picks of them later here.