5,000 hits and 36 hours

36 hour sweater
Originally uploaded by Needleworks, Inc..

Allow me to present to you The 36 Hour Sweater!

Knit from: Noro Kureyon, color 170. 6 skeins

Knit with: 2 size 9 addi turbos, 24"

Time to knit: 36 hours, one X-files marathon, one knitting birthday party at The Point, one viewing each of In Her Shoes, Heros, Rome and Extras.

I used Barbara Walker's book, Knitting from the Top to create the guidelines for 36. I say "guidelines" because there's not really a pattern. Those of you who are familiar with Barbara Walker will know what I'm saying. She gives you a basic formula and then talks you through creating your own unique sweater, from the types of increases to do (yarn-overs) to the neckline (v-neck). There is nothing left wanting. I highly, highly recommend it.

(Needleworks Inc. is celebrating it's 5,000 view! Yay! I know I'm no Yarn Harlot, but that sounds like a lot to my ears.)

30 things about me on my 30th birthday

1. I'm the oldest child and only girl in my family.

2. My first crush, ever, was on Harrison Ford, as Han Solo.

4. In high school I played 2 varsity sports - soccer and basketball.

5. My earliest career aspiration was "makeup artist".

6. I've never broken any of the bones in my body.

7. I've never had surgery.

8. I was 2nd runner up Miss Majorette of NJ when I was 10 years old.

9. My favorite foods are tomatoes, olives and goat cheese. (Ok, any kind of cheese.)

10. My least favorite food is bell peppers.

11. All of my pets are named after jazz musicians, except one.

12. I've had 13 jobs in my lifetime, including: paper girl, traveling salesperson and nanny.

13. I never had an imaginary friend.

14. I got my first camera when I was 6 years old.

15. I had my first kiss when I was 14 years old.

16. I believe that the month you are born in, predisposes you to the type of weather you enjoy.

17. I believe in astrology.

18. I have a fear of spiders and of heights.

19. I dislike large crowds, but like public transportation.

20. I have no alergies.

21. I didn't vote until I was 24 years old.

22. My favorite book and favorite movie changes with every year of my life.

23. I've never watched an episode of Survivor, 24 or The OC.

24. I have a bachelor's degree in English Lit and a minor in Art History.

25. I have read every Nancy Drew Mystery published until the year 1991.

26. My favorite painter is Vermeer.

27. I know how to drive a stick shift.

28. I know how to ski, ride a bike, roller skate, ice skate, but have never even put on a pair of roller blades.

29. My first car was crushed by a tree.

30. I have a tattoo that is almost half as old as I am.

so, i'm a big liar

ivory buffalo front
Originally uploaded by Needleworks, Inc..

Remember when I said I would only be knitting from the top down from now on? What happened to that?

I'll tell you what. The Urban Naturalist commissioned a very particular sweater from The Works and I had no choice but to knit it in pieces. Unless you know of a really simple way to do intarsia in the round. If you do, please tell me!

This is the front of the sweater. (The back will have an ivory buffalo on it.) I'm using Wonderful Wool from Steadfast Fibers in colorway "sahara." This stuff is amazing. It's actually 85% wool and 15% mohair. It's hand-dyed and just so,so yummy.

I'm knitting on size 8s and getting about 4 stitches to the inch. The most amazing part? Each skein had 190 yards and this piece that you see here, this men's size medium sweater front, only took 2 skeins! I'm absolutely beside myself with excitement! I have an entire bag of Wonderful Wool and I'm thinking I might get a sweater for myself out of it! That would truly be wonderful.

The only thing that's bugging me a little - the whole hand-dyed thing. It's really obvious to me where I started the second skein. I guess I should have been stranding them the whole way, but I figured it would turn out just fine because the whole bag is from same dyelot. Think again.

do not adjust your monitor

mystery sweater
Originally uploaded by Needleworks, Inc..

These photos are really poor. Master P and I tried and tried to get a decent shot and then, eventually, gave up.

This is the long languishing Mystery Sweater. I couldn't start 2007 with a clear conscious without finishing her, so I finally dug in and knit the last 6 inches of the ribbed sleeve.

This was knit from anonnymous cashmere that was gifted to me by and old friend. I think it came from Italy.

Mystery Sweater began life as Bad Penny from Knitty.com. I had nearly finished her when I realized that, first, she was going to be much too big and , second, I was going to have a lot of yarn left over. I ripped her back about half way and did some major decreases too get her to fit around the middle, then finished the rest of the body in a 3x3 rib on tiny, tiny needles. I had plenty of yarn to make the sleeves match the overall shape of the body. So the end result is a kind of vintage-y, doleman sleeve design. Knit from the top down all in one piece, I used two circular needles on one sleeve and the magic loop on the other.

Mystery Sweater really helped me understand design and the idea that nothing in knitting is permanent. She also taught me a few new techniques. I will probably only ever knit from the top down ever again!

I think this one's a winner. Don't you? How could you tell with these crappy pictures anyway?

I'm easing into the new year slowly at The Works. Since I started this blog one year ago on New Year's Eve, I thought it'd be appropriate to do the little blog meme that I've seen so many of The Spiders tackling. Here we go. Copy the first sentence from the first post of every month.

January 2006
I hope there were no bitter tears shed for me here at The Works.

February 2006
I know you were all hanging around sitting on your hands with excitement, wondering if I took the desk my neighbors left in the hallway.

March 2006
Must. Post. Something.

April 2006
Have I told you about our place in the country?

May 2006
A very wise person once told me that you should never buy an article of clothing (dress, skirt, pants, whatever) unless you already have the shoes to wear with it.

June 2006
I'm sure I'm not the first one to ever utter the phrase, "Statcounter.com is amazing!

July 2006
This is kind of a big step for me.

August 2006
This weather is killing me.

September 2006
So I finally had a chance to snap pics of my SP8 loot.

October 2006
This is it, folks. Tin cans covered in felt.

November 2006
I have a genius cat.

December 2006
I started this blog when I entered the knitting community.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!
Originally uploaded by Needleworks, Inc..

I'll be back as soon and the champagne haze wears off. I think, maybe, one more day.