get back
Well, finally finished the top of the back. But because I've already blown through the bandwidth for both my Earthlink accounts, you'll have to go visit Kim's everyday cardi blog to see. I'm liking the project quite a lot (for those of you just joining me, it's the Aran Cardigan from Kerry Ferguson's Two Sticks and a String). I'm hoping the sleeves will go quickly, since it's just the continuation of the center cable panel with double moss stitch on either side. Then it'll be time to cram the back and both fronts on a single needle and knit down to the bottom! I admit I do dread the button bands, mainly picking up what will surely seem like zillions of stitches. Oh well, I'd rather do that than knit it separately and :::shudder::: sew it on. As I'm fond of telling anyone who will listen (and these days, it's my poor students) I'm not in knitting to sew, I'm in it to knit. Right guys and gals?

students
Speaking of students, I am so proud of them, and we are having such fun! Dawn just joined this week and I got such a kick out of showing her the purl stitch. I came back to check on her a few minutes later and she was already into her third or fourth row of ribbing! Susan is almost done with her Fiona and now I wish I'd brought my camera on Wednesday so I could brag on her lovely even stitches--no ladders on her bag, no siree! Nita bowled all of us over when she showed the to die for one-of-a-kind artsy yarn she picked up in Texas last week--and she's making a heirloom vest with it. And last but not least--Missy is kickin' some knittin' butt! The girl soaks up everything knit and purl like a sponge. Her Fiona turned out lovely as well, and she's already ready to felt her first wool purse. Note to all four of you: if you're reading this, please do bring your Fionas and other projects to class on Wednesday (again)--I'll bring the camera and take photos to share with the world, (unless you object). Thanks for making Wednesday my favorite night of the week!

nope, I'm not dead
Was determined to finish the back on the aran cardi so I'd have something to show today, but it hasn't happened yet. I estimate I'm 5-6 rows (and therefore another hour) away from finishing it up, then will begin on one of the sleeves! The instructions say that I can knit the sleeves either flat or in the round. Guess which one I'll choose? Then once both sleeves are done, will gather up the rest of the body on one needle and work to the bottom, then pick up stitches for the button band! So perhaps I'll finish before I turn 65.

fiona along
Well, there are now 126 members of the Yahoo Fiona "knintalong" (tee-hee), and there doesn't seem to be any more mistakes in the pattern. Yay! Head on over to the group and check out the photos of people's Fiona bags--many of you are using beautiful color combinations, innovative buttons, and creative finishing techniques! I'm so proud of you guys--way to improve on the original. And by the way, all this talk about the wonderful Knit Happens has me itching to take a five-hour road trip to Alexandria and stop by!

a thin line between love and hate
Ah yes, the aran cardi: where am I on that? :::sigh::: the bad I admit: progress slowed the day I realized I averaged 12 minutes per row on the back. This means that to do two rows (front side, back side) takes 24 minutes, therefore after an hour of knitting I'll be doing good to do only six rows!!! Also I have found the hard way that this is definitely NOT a portable project, due to the stinkin' ripping I've had to do almost anytime after I take this baby out in public. And, it's all due to the trinity stitch between the two sets of stitch markers. It was only yesterday that I figured out how to actually look at the knitting to determine how to proceed (have already managed to do that with the other stitch patterns in the project--which means I don't have to rely on carrying around the instructions). So perhaps NOW I won't screw it up so much. the good On the plus side, I still like the yarn and pattern--if only I could get it finished before winter 2010. Happy Monday, ya'll!

P.S. Thanks to all who sent positive vibes and condolences about my dear Osiris--he will definitely be (and is already) missed, poor little guy!

oops *again*
Attention: knitters of Fiona--the eagle-eyed Carol found another small transgression in the pattern. :::sigh::: Under the Eyelet Panel section, I say this:

First 3 Rounds: K 3 rnds.
Next Round: [K3, K2tog, YO, YO, SSK, K1] rep to end.

This is a multiple of 8 sts, however since you should have 98 sts, there are two little lonely sts left over that need to be worked! Therefore, the correct instructions should read:

First 3 Rounds: K 3 rnds.
Next Round: K1, [K3, K2tog, YO, YO, SSK, K1] rep to end, K1.

Please mark your copies accordingly and you are welcome to download the corrected version. Thanks so much Carol!
   There are now 46 members of the Fiona Knitalong group--go check it out!

acrylics anonymous
Lest you all think this blog has turned into an all-Fiona all-the-time newsreel, let me also point out that I've joined Daria's acrylics anonymous webring. I decided I may as well face up to the fact that for certain projects, acrylic and/or acrylic blends are my fiber of choice. First and foremost because some projects need to be machine-washable, but also because some acrylic blends are actually nice to work with and are relatively inexpensive. And I can't forget about my cardi (done in synthetic fiber), even though progress has slowed down to a crawl. If you knit with acrylic and are proud, join the ring!