Jal the Ripper

I started a new project (X-mas gift) and the yarn I'm using is called "Dream" by Moda Dea. It's soft and lush and eyelashy. Meaning it's got little wispy things hanging off the main part of the yarn, which looks like chenille. I love all the different eyelash yarns out there, but having to rip out and start a project over (and over and over) on the same chunk of yarn makes the little eyelashy things tangle up and look mangey.

Being (pretty much) a self-taught and undisciplined knitter, I tend to wing it. I rarely ever swatch or check my gauge. I do try to use the recommended needles and find comparable yarns for a project, but for the most part, I'm winging it. This is OK when you're doing something like a scarf. It doesn't really matter if it's too wide or too long as most scarves are "one size fits all". And for the few ponchos and hats I've made, they've turned out OK without me checking gauge. Actual clothing... that's another story!

My first clothing project was a cotton knit tank top. I really like the design but I think the yarn I used was too chunky. It sits in my closet under a pile of turtleneck sweaters. I blogged about it and put it up for adoption, but no one has claimed it yet.

I made a knit tank dress for little Gabrielle that came out pretty cute. My next venture was a knit guernsey dress for my co-worker's baby, and I have to admit it's the best thing I've ever made. It had everything... bobbles, button holes. It was a beauty. Debbie Bliss patterns are so awesome! Both dresses came from the same Debbie Bliss book. I wish the little baby dress had instructions for larger sizes. I'm sure I could adjust it to make it fit a 3-yr old, say, but I'm not that advanced in my knitting yet.

This summer, I made a sweater for my sister-in-law out of a new fiber, Bamboo yarn. It was really cool, but didn't knit up as soft as I thought it would. It's a cool design I'd like to try again with another yarn. Maybe for myself... this spring...

But for now, it's scarves, scarves and more scarves. I've got 3 scarf projects on the needles and one more being cast on again. I hope I don't tear out all the little eyelashes!