a foggy place . . .

zipper

Here is Fugl, finished, zipper finally installed. I am very, very bad at sewing - just completely talentless. Installing zippers are very difficult for me, though I get a very functional zipper, the result is ugly. One day, I tell myself, I will buy a sewing machine and all my troubles will go away, all my zippers will look neat and perfect enough for a close-up photo. The real reason I am posting yet another photo of Fugl is that I am having a very diffucult time with the last sleeve for Fletta. It is in rev st st, boring, frustrating and I don't even like the short rows?! I just want to finish it, block the sweater, and be done with it. I have been working on it for well over 6 months, and my patience for it is all gone. I think I am also dying to have it finished so I can wear it, and my impatience is making me take even longer to finish it! (after 1 week, I am still in the increases! still!!!!!)
For a while, it looked as if we wouldn't be able to go to China this year, at least not for Chinese New Year, but things worked out in the end. We'll be going in mid-February, so I'll be able to hand deliver my lopi sweaters to my in-laws! I am really looking forward to it! Anyone know any LYS in Hong Kong or Guangzhou?

2007 FO no. 1

This is fugl, ok, it is almost done. I just have to cut it and add the zipper (which I am doing right now, honest). If you think the picture has an odd fuzz in it, you're right. The lens had dirt on it (thanks to my little monster) and my model wouldn't cooperate for a second shoot. Sometimes, I really feel like I have 2 toddlers instead of one.

SPECS:
Pattern: Fugl from Lopi 25.
Yarn: Alafoss Lopi, 4 balls of midnight, 2 balls of dark grey heather, 1 ball of white, 1 ball of vanilla (discontinued), purchased online from Ram Wools. This yarn is beautiful, but very itchy. You have to have longsleeves on underneath your sweater! The itchiness is cancelled out by this yarn's ability to keep you warm; it's great for skiiers, hikers or the cottage.
Needles: 6 mm circular addi turbos to the body and arms; 5 mm circular addi turbos for the collar.
Mods: None to speak of.
Started: 1 December 2006
Finished: 13 January 2007
Recipient: Zheng, my father-in-law.

Continental!!

Continental style knitting rules. It just does. Everything is smooth and beautiful, even though I am still mastering the art of keeping a steady tension. I can see an improvement, but it will probably take me this whole sweater to master. I have very bad coordination with my left hand; in knitting and just about everything else. You can find this pattern, fugl, in Lopi 25. I am going to re-knit my mother in law's lopi sweater too, I think, because 1) it will look that much better in continental and 2) the colours are all out of balance - a pale body colour and a dark contrast colour - it just doesn't work. I am going to have to use a dark body colour, even if it means, *gasp*, buying new yarn. So much for using up my stash. I took the photo below this past August at the 18th century style garden at Chateau Ramezay in Old Montreal. It's not that bad. Most of my photography problems happen when I take pictures indoors. But why? I don't know if my feeble brain will ever figure that one out. If I just keep practicing, I will get better ...