A Tardy Hello

How does a project get to be a year behind schedule? One day at a time.
--Fred Brooks

My name is Patricia, I live in Florida and I signed up with Becky almost at the beginning of this Knitalong. I am very tardy in introducing myself and my project, DaCapo.

My kit, from Denmark, arrived mid autumn 2005 and it sat there looking pretty in its sparse packaging for a few months before I worked up the courage to begin. This is my first grand project. I have since cast on and barring a few mistakes the jacket is looking pretty good. I am knitting the larger size with the shorter sleeves. I hope that it will not be too big. I had read another’s post somewhere in cyberspace that the jacket runs on the large side. The suggestion was made to wash and slightly felt to achieve a better fit. I shudder at this prospect. As I knit, I hope that I chose correctly and am not making a jacket that will hang in my closet unworn. I’m sure this is every knitter’s nightmare.
I am almost finished with the back. It has been slow going, what with the small needle size and the many other projects on ones needles. So far I am enjoying the process and hope to finish in time for the next Florida cold snap.

Let Me Just Say ......

...... before I say anything else at all - that I am a pregnant woman and this pregnancy seems to have seriously addled my brain. So that out of the way - I re-measured the back of my Ballerina and it is only actually 3cms short of what is should be not 20cm short !!!!!! so all is well again - I am happy to pick up that lovely Ballerina of mine and give her a shot at being completed - I was getting very worried indeed about having to find 20cm from somewhere - happily it was only pregnancy brain - hooray for hormones !

So, here is a picture of my Ballerina so far for all to enjoy.

Ballerina Worries

Hello everyone - I have just joined your knitalong. I am so impressed by what you are all doing, your knits are looking gorgeous. I am currently knitting Ballerina in colourway six (I think that's right, it's blue and turquoise anyway!). I am knitting this for my Mum for her Birthday and Christmas so it's really important to me that it works out right.

So, my gauge seems to be just fine, but when I measured the back length it seems to be about 20cms short ! Will this all come out in the blocking or has something gone horribly wrong do you think ? I know it says in the pattern that the drape won't come out until it's been washed and blocked but is it really going to gain 20cm ? I'm quite worried because I have put a lot of work into this and if it doesn't fit her, it's going to be a disaster - also I'm over half way and really don't want to undo it if I can help it. Any thoughts anyone ?

Anyway - I'll post a picture of my progress so far when I've got a minute.

Happy knitting everyone.

Becky x

Yet another Spreadsheet Update

Denise found an error in the last update. I've sent out version 1.70 to everyone on my distribution list. If you didn't get it, send me an e-mail.

There's just 3 tiny fixes that I'll list here. If you just want to scribble them on your printout, that's probably easiest.

Row 58 should be like Row 54
Row 204 should be like Row 208
Row 572 should be like Row 576

That's all folks!

I-Cord Again

Has anyone had experience sewing on I-Cord after the project is finished? Is this viable option?
Or knitting it on after completion as described on ChicKnits? Any caveats?
Thanks everyone!
Ava

Mermaid Spreadsheet Update!

I've updated the Mermaid spreadsheet yet again. This time to update the error that Amanda pointed out. I've sent it out to all 61 (!) people who have requested it so far. I have a couple of more people in the queue, waiting for them to answer the challenge question. If you've received it from me before, check your e-mail for the update. Or ask me to send it again.

If you are knitting Mermaid, I have made a row-by-row spreadsheet of the knitting instructions for size medium. I'm happy to send it to you in either Excel or PDF formats with the understanding that it may contain errors. Those of us knitting from it have found a few already. To get the spreadsheet, send me an e-mail requesting it. I'll respond with a challenge question based on the pattern to verify that you own the kit.

*Ack*

My Mermaid arrived yesterday. I'm a little intimidated by it. http://kniticity.blogspot.com/

*red faced*

Many, many thanks to Amanda in the UK! She pointed out an error in my Mermaid spreadsheet. Something that I either skipped over entirely or completely misinterpreted. Who knows.

The shoulder edge after the collar is supposed to match the hem edge. Hints of that crop up in the gusset treatment at the shoulder and at the back of the neck. I don't know why I missed it.

For those of you who already have my spreadsheet, I apologize. I sent an e-mail earlier explaining the problem. First thing tomorrow morning, I'll work on correcting it and send out an update. You need to decide whether to keep working on it as you have been or whether to redo it.

If you've asked for the spreadsheet, understandably, I'm not going to send it out before I correct it.

I'd like to say that this error was because I hadn't test-knit it myself, but I'm well past that point in the spreadsheet and was just flying right along. I'm not sure what I'm going to do at this point myself. I may frog it all as penance.

Mermaid has arrived

Hi - My Mermaid kit arrived from Cucumber Patch this week, so I thought I'd introduce myself now that I actually have a kit, although I'm not planning to start Mermaid until the fall. We'll see if I can resist temptation that long!

Pictures of Mermaid's arrival on my blog, Stumbling Over Chaos.

Looking forward to seeing everyone's kit progress!

Chris

Another Mermaid

My project is going to be mermaid, in colour 7, like everyone else ;-)
It was a Christmas present from my parents. I have wanted to knit mermaid ever since I saw the kit in my alma mater LYS about 9 months, but decided to finish up some other projects including Great American Aran Afghan first. I started the previous weekend and this is my progress so far.

It is my second Hanne Falkenberg project, but not the last. The first was dacapo in plum, blueberry and black, purchased from Sommerfuglen, Denmark. Pictures can be seen here (scroll down to mid Feb). The strange language is Danish, yep I am from the land of thousands knitting designers ;-) but live on Long Island, NY for now.

I need encouragement

Hanne Falkenberg Knitalong
My kit came yesterday!!!!! I had ordered colorway #4 and was NOT disappointed. the colors are sooooooo beautiful!! the apple green is darker than what I thought, but since this is for the fall, that is fine. But reading through the directions, I am SOOOOO intimated. My first thought was, I have to sell this, there is NO way i will be able to do this..But emailed Amy for the word spreadsheet, and really want to do this.Good thing we don't have an ending date as this may take me a year!!! so glad I found this knitalong. I just keep going looking at the beautiful colors of that yarn.

Yet another new member

Ordered my Mermaid #10 kit 2 nights ago in a fit of weakness and it has already been shipped. I'm a little intimidated. Big sweater, little needles but am so pleased there's a KAL to keep me inspired!

Just started and I already need help!

I just started Mermaid tonight. I knitted the i-cord. 29 inches long. Okay. So far, so good.

Now...picking up stitches. This may sound stupid, but from where do I pick up the stitches. The side of the i-cord? The back? I want to do this correctly. I know I will probably frogging a lot during this whole Mermaid process, but I am trying to cut down on making unecessary mistakes. Can someone explain? I am sure it is simple, but I want to make sure.

Thank you!!!

Just about to start....

Mermaid! I'm still finishing up another sweater, but I figure I can do both at the same time. I did purchase my size 4 double pointed needles and I tried to buy size 2 circulars, but they only had 24 inch length, so I am going to try to find them tomorrow. I really want to start this weekend. Did everyone use size 2 circulars and 4 double points or are other sizes being used? I guess I need to do a gauge swatch, but just curious what everyone ended up with.

Diva

Hi, I'm a new member here too. My name is Arja, I live in the Netherlands. I have just purchased the Diva 10 kit and am trying to be good and finish up a few other things before I start on this new project. Is anyone else knitting Diva? I was lucky enough to find her in a yarn shop here. I tried her on and decided it is perfect for me.

Today is the perfect day to stay home and knit, but alas ... I shall have to dig up my rain coat and cycle to work in a minute. In the meantime, feel free to take a look at my blog. You might have a language problem, but there's enough pics to enjoy. http://bloggy.gasthuis.net

Arja
NL

just joined

Hi, my name is sherry,(yarnfanatic) on the KR boards, and I just joined. Got my mermaid kit ordered, color # 4, and it should be here by the end of the week.BTW, got it from cucumber patch, and if you order it directly from their shop ,it is even cheaper, 99$ plus shipping.
I went thru and checked everyone's blog out, wonderful pictures, got me very inspired.Till I visited 2 lys, and talked to them about it, (they know me)so just gave me this "look" so now I am petrified. LOL. But will tackle it, hope I am able to do this and happy to be part of this group.
I also have a blog, www.xanga.com/bears2share

sherry