Pattern: Gypsy Mesh Pullover/Spring 2004 Interweave Knits
Finished Size: 38" (96.5 cm)
Yarn: Reynolds Gypsy (100% Cotton; 82 yd/50g): #423 gold, I used 10 skeins as pattern called for
Needles: Clover Bamboo US 8 (5mm) circular
Changes: One minor one. I bound off the neck edging knitwise instead of purlwise--I liked this bind off look better.
Comments: I came across knots in the middle of at least two skeins--very annoying--especially what I paid for the yarn.
I like this particular style completed in the cotton fiber, and overall I'm pleased with the quality of the yarn--nice drape and it makes for a sturdy garment. The color is another thing that attracted me to knit this pattern up in the first place so I'm pleased with the gold--it goes with a lot.
I will wear this a lot--especially Fall and Spring. I love it. I've already worn this twice this weekend! I wore it to my cousin's wedding with a skirt and it was great with jeans on another day as well!

Labels: Gypsy Mesh Pullover, IK, knitted tops, Norah Gaughan

I just went on bostonknitout.com and found out that the Knit-Out has been canceled this year and they're not having it again until 2009. Not enough funds I guess. Bummer! It's just something fun to go to and I've only been once back in 2005.

A second friend canceled out on dinner tonight so myself and one of my other friends are just getting together at my house tonight per usual. This works out best I suppose as I'm exhausted on Friday nights from the work-week, etc.

In more positive news, I've completed one whole sleeve to the Gypsy Mesh and will probably finish the other sleeve by early next week and then sew the seams up and voilà! DONE.

We've also let another monarch butterfly go last Saturday that we raised from an egg found in our backyard. I'll post some pictures of that too next posting.

Oh, and I baked a third zucchini bread Wednesday night! DEEE-LISH.

Have a wonderful weekend!

Labels: Gypsy Mesh Pullover, Knitting in the Boston MA area, life in the BerryKnitty household

C:
diaper rash, teething (need I say more).
B:
wants to know why this and why that; where this toy is where that toy is.

both at the same time and,

it's hot

it's humid and

I'm trying to knit.

I'm nuts.

And so I frogged the front piece back quite a way (oh, and this is also because I never moved my lifeline up--because the above would never happen to me):



at least the cotton is in nice, neat little balls now. From now on, the knitting will wait until the kids are asleep and I have peace and quiet. No matter how often that is. I know what you're thinking--I may never get any knitting done.

Labels: Gypsy Mesh Pullover

I made this delicious raspberry and blackberry tart from the barefoot contessa cookbook that my mom picked up for me at a yard sale about a month ago.





AND all the berries are from my backyard. You see we live in the house my grandfather built and it has about an acre of land --and just about all of it is in the back--huge, beautiful yard--we really are lucky to have it. It's very private too. Anyway, there are all these golden raspberry, red raspberry, and blackberry bushes just bursting with berries this time of year. It's such a treat and while picking or whenever I'm out in the yard, I can't help but think of my grandparents who have since passed. My grandfather had such a knack for gardening. There's wildflowers, some strawberries, he ALWAYS had a vegetable garden--a HUGE vegetable garden with anything you could imagine. And well, we try to too, never like grandpa though.

I plan to bring the tart tomorrow when we visit friends at a cottage near Cape Cod.

Ya, and I've been knitting, really, I have--STILL this:



I can't wait to finish it and hope to wear it out with friends when we go out in August--I better move it. Just not motivated lately . . . new job preoccupying the mind and all.

I got Plymouth Jelli Beenz for C's dress--she loves the yarn as you can see!

the yarn bandit strikes!

and I bought this with another 'health' gift cert!

it looks to be a book right up my ally.

Labels: cooking/baking, Gypsy Mesh Pullover, knitting library

Here is the beginning of the 'front worked as back.' I'm back knitting the Gypsy Mesh Pullover and I can't wait for it to be finished.


Heck, I also can't wait to start my new job on Monday. There will be more flexibility with this position. I need that with a young family. It's a rainy day today so I'm getting some much-needed housework, knitting, and relaxing done before I pick the kids up from daycare.

Labels: Gypsy Mesh Pullover, knitted tops

I have about another four inches to work up on this piece, before casting off and making another identical piece. I've been counting rows so that I make the next piece identical in length. I hate seaming when one piece is evenly slightly longer or shorter than the other. So far I've used almost three hanks. The size I'm making requires ten hanks so if I figure another three for the back, that's six and if I use two for each sleeve that's a total of ten--perfect. I think I purchased eleven or twelve hanks so I'm good.

Labels: Gypsy Mesh Pullover, knitted tops

turned into being a big pain in the you-know-what-row. I had to rip back about five times to get it right--it's not difficult at all, you just really need to concentrate on this pattern. The ability to concentrate while I'm knitting these days doesn't happen regularly.

You can see the 'big eyelet row' in this picture along with some progress beyond:

In working the row immediately above the eyelet row, you're supposed to knit one, purl one, knit one in the double yarnover of the big eyelet row--that took me a little while to figure out too. I mean there's only two stitches and the pattern wants you to work three stitches--huh? You end up increasing a stitch each time and although the pattern says this, I couldn't figure out how. I finally got it.

I have since put a lifeline in this project (I removed the lifeline before taking the pictures yesterday-- but, believe me, it's back in--very necessary for this project). As soon as I got the 'big eyelet row' right, in went the lifeline.

I made a mistake too:

The yarnover is off too far to the left. I can hardly tell so I didn't bother ripping back to it--it doesn't bother me. I really don't know what I did unless I knitted in Row 1 pattern when I should have been knitting in Row 3 pattern at this point or vice versa.

Also, C is starting to show an affinity toward string:

(future knitter?)

Labels: Gypsy Mesh Pullover, IK, knitted tops

to finally knit something for myself. I've started the "Gypsy Mesh Pullover":

and I must say that as for gauge, well, I'm winging it. I think I'm a-okay but will of course check throughout. You had to swatch in pattern stitch and there is a decent amount to keep track of in the pattern stitch with all the yarn overs and well, I just didn't feel like swatching (bad, bad, bad and I may come to regret this decision later).




The yarn isn't too bad to work with, not a lot of give to the cotton and for me not having a ball winder or a swift, I'm risking a really bad tangled mess with this stuff but I have a system and as long as C the 11 mo-old doesn't mess with this system, I should keep my sanity with the yarn. I love the gold color and as that's what attracted me to the project in the first place along with the design, I'm keeping it as it called for in pattern.



I hope my finished result turns out well.

The Good & Plenty socks are finished! Now, I have to get them to my sister as this was supposed to be a Christmas 2005 gift:


Note to self: must never underestimate the fascination an 11-mo-old has with the bright blue 'on' button for the computer. This is my second attempt at writing this!

Labels: Gypsy Mesh Pullover, IK, knitted tops, socks

Something for me? For this Spring? Made on time? We'll see.
From this issue of Interweave Knits:

(Spring 2004)

I want to make the Gypsy Mesh Pullover (no picture unfortunately--but I'll post one soon) designed by Norah Gaughan. It's made with Reynolds Gypsy--a course cotton that may not be fun to work with but the finished result will be substantial and sturdy, I believe. I have the color Gold that the pictured pattern was made in as well. I purchased this yarn at "Snow Goose" in Milton, MA--the only time I've been there and it is a gorgeous yarn shop. I actually bought this yarn right after I got this issue of IK (spent a ridiculous sum of money on it but I needed to make this sweater right then you see) so I've had the yarn for three years . . . just . . . waiting . . . and collecting dust in it's see-through plastic bag. I brought my then 5-6 mo. old son with me to the store (he's now almost 3 ½!). I remember trying to navigate in this delightfully cramped store (though not thinking so delightfully at the time) with his big bulky carriage--I was that desperate to yarn shop! I must get to this store again!

Anyway, I promise pictures of the finished Good & Plenty socks -- the toe to be grafted tonight on the second sock -- and pictures of the yarn and pattern of the Gypsy Mesh Pullover next posting.

As for the designer, Norah Gaughan, well it seems I might have to get her book:


My eyes are drawn to her knit designs. As I was flipping through my notebook full of patterns, I noticed that I have a lot of hers and never realized it. Whether it is from IK or Vogue's KnitSimple, her designs are simple yet elegant--I guess they are attractive to me anyway.

Labels: Gypsy Mesh Pullover, IK, knitted tops, Norah Gaughan