I have been knitting my way into the New Year! I hope all of you had a fabulous holiday. Mine is still in progress as we are having my side of the family over on Wednesday — including Sally et. al. It should be very fun.
I started the Lace Mobius and have made a bit of progress:
As you can see, the long circular knitting needle winds its way in a coil. One full row adds length to both sides — it grows outward from the center. The lace stitch is tres simple. Even though there are 8 rows in the pattern repeat, you only do 2 different lace rows, which can be easily memorized. However, I do not consider it mindless because I really have to look closely as I knit to see the sts.
Because the Moebius is not mindless, I took Oregon to knitting group on Thursday evening. I know fair isle does not seem like a “mindless” choice, but it was the best I could muster, given the status of my currents WIPs. It is a dismal state of affairs. But, here is a picture of Oregon:
I am about an inch from the underarm shaping/steek. Oregon has a shaped armhole, which AS did on a small number of sweaters and all (?) of her fair isle vests.  I am interested in seeing what difference it makes to the fit. Even though the armhole is shaped, the sleeve is still worked without a cap. This of course means that I will have to knit even more sleeve than normal to account for the length that is lost to the armhole shaping. I’ve been knitting on it the last couple of nights and a little progress has been made — I have such a long way to go!!
Thank you for all the comments about the Santa stockings and my Santa mantel :). I love your support and encouragement.
Wow! Oregon is beautiful. I can’t wait to see it progressing to completion!
Comment by Martha — December 30, 2006 @ 2:46 pm
A bit? That looks like quite a lot! Can’t wait to see it finished and blocked.
You’re really moving with Oregon. Soon the body rounds will be getting shorter & shorter! It’s gorgeous and your stitches, so even.
I’m not sure what you mean by having to “knit even more sleeve than normal” … If you mean that you’re going to knit it longer than what the instructions say, that might be a good idea. After doing Flora which was my first shaped armhole, I compared it to all the previous ones I’ve done and have come to the conclusion that she does not always make enough allowances for the sleeve “length that is lost to the armhole shaping”.
But having said all that, (my) Oregon’s shoulder seam ended up 9 stitches longer than Flora’s and Oregon’s ribbing was longer than Flora’s garter stitch sleeve band. (Both had sleeves 138 rows long which is not much more than those without a shaped armhole.) Combined, this made the Oregon sleeve the perfect length but Flora’s was a bit short.
Comment by Marina — December 30, 2006 @ 3:03 pm
Once again I wish your LYS was my LYS so we could shoot the breeze and knit away!!
Comment by Michelle — December 30, 2006 @ 4:27 pm
Wow. Very beautiful fair isle work. I am sure it will be even more beautiful when it is completed.
Comment by Lisa S. — December 30, 2006 @ 4:56 pm
Oregon looks awesome! Beautiful knitting.
Comment by Melanie — December 30, 2006 @ 8:33 pm
Susan — I’m glad to know I’m not the only one who takes a Fair Isle project to knit group as the closest to mindless. Oregon is going great! Isn’t AS’ “new” yarn wonderful!
jennifer w. in DC
Comment by Jennifer — December 30, 2006 @ 9:21 pm
OMG, Bordhi and Starmore? You’re like Einstein to me! Oregon is da bomb! And I love the color of Mobius! A Very Happy New Year to you all!
Comment by Carol — December 30, 2006 @ 9:36 pm
I had to check back in your archives to be sure that Mobius was being knit from Kid Silk Haze. That stuff is gorgeous when done — and your Mobius is awe-inspiring! — but you are right; you really have to pay attention to see the stitches. They kind of disappear into the haze.
Oregon. I’m speechless.
Comment by kmkat — December 31, 2006 @ 12:37 am