WICKED!

So, while I await the 10.5 DPNS for Liesl, I cast on for Wicked last night. So far, I’m about 4 inches in to the yoke, neck cables inclusive. This is (thus far) a pretty easy pattern. I am glad I chose the short sleeved version for my first shot; I can work on size and shaping before I try to get creative. I’m not going to mod the pattern at all, since it will be my first pullover (I didn’t mod round 2 of Liesl either). I’m using some inexpensive but great workhorse yarn: Wool of the Andes in Spruce. Because it’s 100% wool, I got to try out a technique that I otherwise can’t EVER use (since I tend towards superwashes or non-ewey yarns): the spit join! It sounds grody, but works like a charm! I managed to get it felted just perfectly so that it was a bit stiffer than the rest of the yarn, but otherwise hard to tell where I even spliced! Hooray! This right here is the incentive for me to make all of my sweaters in 100% feltable fiber ;)

My goal is to finish Wicked before the Ravelympics so that I can go forth in fine form into the Glove Decathalon for Team FGF! I will be taking on Eden by Ganiggle, in a basic Knit Picks Essential. (Nothing too exciting). I ordered the yarn and DPNs for Liesl this morning.

If all goes well with Wicked, I then have to decide what to make next. I have started THE BOARD at home for knitting projects. I need to decide on a pattern for Megan, since the Liesl I was making as a tester for her went south. She’s a pretty rockin’ gal, so she deserves better than a bajillion dropped stitches. She loves her Endpaper Mitts that I made for her last year, so I know I have a willing recipient ;) What do you think? Let’s see if anyone out there in BlogLand is even listening: leave me a comment by, say, August 15th, with your vote for one of the following patterns:

• February Lady
• Liesl
• Wicked
• Tree Jacket
• Mr Green Jeans
• Flair
• Any seamless sweater that uses about 1000 yards or so for a size 32-34″ sweater. the pattern doesn’t have to be free, but I am anti-seaming / sewing.

Provided more than one human comments, I’ll randomly draw a name for 2 coordinating but not matching skeins of Alpaca Cloud. Mmmm – laceweight alpaca – you know you want some! (and yes, family: you can play too!)