First of all, thank you, everybody, for the great birthday wishes! The day was great, even though I had to go to work. I got chocolate cake twice, so not much to complain about, really. We had dinner at the neighbors’ house, and the birthday girl got to wear a crown.
At least they didn’t insist on 50 candles. That’s my own crown by the way. Every girl needs one.
As part of my birthday present we drove up to the big city to the Tractor Tavern Tuesday night for a little music. We heard Chip Taylor and Carrie Rodriguez, and they were fabulous. Those of you not familiar with either might recognize Chip Taylor as the guy who wrote “Angel of the Morning”, way back when. One of the highlights of the evening was that Merrilee Rush, who made that song a hit in the 60’s, did a duet with him on the song. She lives in the Seattle area, and dropped in to listen, and he invited her up on stage. Very cool.
On the knitting front, I have way too many projects going, and really need to finish something. At last count, there were two shawls, two sweaters, and 1 pair of socks, all in various stages of completion. This much unfinished-ness doesn’t sit well with me. I’m quite happy having the yarn and patterns for 900 projects in the stash, but once they’re started, I’m happiest with three. So I’ve been working away at that orange Pippa sweater.
It’s more copper colored, and less marinara sauce colored than that photo would lead you to believe. I think it’s the yellow background that throws it off. I have the sleeves done, and that’s the back, and I’ve started on one of the front pieces. I modified the shoulders to do short row finishing, as I despise stairstep finished shoulders. They are nearly impossible to seam neatly.
I was going to show a few pictures and add an explanation of how to do this, but others have already done so, and better. I used Nancie Wiseman’s Knitters Book of Finishing Techniques, and nonaKnits has a great post on the subject. It turned out pretty well, I think. I had to do a little juggling so I wasn’t wrapping stitches in the middle of those twisted columns, but once I figured out that I could shift the wrapped stitch one way or the other 1 or 2 stitches, I was off and running. I even wrote down where I did the wraps on the back so I can match them on the front.
Now if I just can keep track of where I wrote it down.
It’s cocktail hour, and I’m off. Have a good evening, everybody!
I’m so glad you had such a good birthday!!
I’m impressed! Thanks for the link. After doing one sweater like that, and swearing over stitching three inches of stitches that wouldn’t play well with others, I vowed to do the short row thing.
Love the tiara! Every woman needs one.
Love the technique for the shoulders – I’m going to have to give that a try! Chocolate cake and a crown – you are truly blessed. :0)
I love your “blocking board”. I’m sure I have a few of those in my son’s room – I’ll have to remember that for next time.
I see you have wonderful taste! I recently purchased the same pattern. Yours is looking lovely. Are you enjoying knitting it? The good tastes continues with the tiara and red wine! 🙂
Belated happy birthday to you. I love being over 50–so many superficial things that I don’t worry about anymore.
Thanks for your support for my brother. He returned to a medical unit yesterday morning because his blood pressure is not under control. One step forward, two steps back!! He is bored but in good spirits. I’m nearly done with his miracle cure sweater!! That will get him to the rehab unit fast!
2 Chocolate cakes and a crown, now that’s how to celebrate! The sweater is looking nice! I agree on the stairstep decreases – yick.
Lorette,
Why are your cheeks and nose so red in that picture?? Must have been a REALLY good time!
Mmm. Marinara. I must make my way to getting the SOLID foam blocks.. Sugarbooks has stabbed my 1, somehow threw my 3 away, and chewed up the little triangle that goes in the middle of the 4. I love my children. I’m glad you had a great evening for your birthday. Chocolate cake too!
Umm, don’t tell anyone, but I think I have something like 900 projects-worth of yarn IN my stash.. Time to inventory and remove the ‘junk’. Pippa’s looking good!!
Happy belated birthday!!Love your crown!I’m in my 50’s too and remember Merrilee Rush and her song “Angel of the Morning” very well. Did you know Chip Taylor is the brother of Jon Voight and uncle to Angelina Jolie?? He also wrote “Wild Thing” by the Troggs.
Pippa looks great! Love the little “cabely” (that’s a real word, right?) lines.
Two chocolate cakes make just about anything a success if you ask me!
The sweater is really pretty, and I love the color. I hope I have as much success finishing the vest I’m making my husband for his 50th birthday next month …
Love the crown – you look great!
Love your birthday crown, every girl needs one!!! My 15-year-old has some left over from her childhood that I just might try on!! And, the Pippa sweater is beautiful. I agree about the stair-step shoulders! Great birthday celebration hearing those guys sing–did they do Angel of the Morning?? Didn’t that come out a year or two ago?? My how time flies when you are 50+!!
Great crown Lorette! I love orange – in any shade so I think your sweater is looking beautiful. I’ll have to look up the technique for the shoulder shaping since it looks much better than “stair stepping” and looks easier to seem up.
It’s nice to see Pippa make a grand reappearance! The shoulders look perfect–I think I’m going to try that with my next sweater. I have Lesleye Solomon’s DVD of techniques, which is also a great resource.
As for the crown, I feel naked without one.
LOL about the crown! I know what you mean about too many projects on the needles. If I have more than about 2, it’s as if anything more than 2 ceases to exist for me, other than to provide distant brain agitation of things undone.
Totally with you on the shoulder shaping – and the best thing about getting rid of the stairstep thing is then using a 3-needle bindoff for nice stable EASY shoulder seams.
Happy Belated Birthday! It looks like you had a great time. Best wishes for many, many more.
belated happy birthday