Eleanor is done, and she took my finger with her

I finally finished Eleanor in several recent marathon sessions. It's not like I had a deadline or anything, but you know how you get so close, and every day seems like the perfect day to wear it, if only it were ready? Well, I'm powerless to stop, even when my finger is quietly swelling to previously unexplored proportions.

Sadly, it took me awhile to realize what had happened. It was sort of in the back of my mind for a couple of days: Gee, my finger sort of hurts, and I should probably do something about it, or at least take a look at it. When I finally did, it was about double the size of the other fingers.

Cold hands and knitting really don't agree with me, which is why I should really wear my Natalya gauntlets whenever I knit.



I like 'em long.

Pattern: Natalya gauntlets
Yarn: Rowan Calmer, color 480, a little over 1 ball
Needles: Size 7
Notes: Obviously, I made these longer than the pattern. I also used a smaller gauge. I really like them, and they're very comfortable. If I were making them again, I'd do something about the twisting that comes from making a straight tube for a body part that isn't straight. This would probably entail removing some cables to allow for more space to shape. Or possibly going down a needle size or two (there's enough room in the wrist), and adding some purls up at the arm, and steadily decreasing the extra stitches away to the wrist.

But what of Ellie?

Here she is, soaking wet:


Pattern: Lady Eleanor from Scarf Style
Yarn: Noro Kureyon, color 150, 14 balls
Needles: Size 9
Notes: Because of the thinner yarn, I added a square to the width, for a total of 8 full squares across. I also wound up making the stole longer. I completed 43 rows (not including base and final triangles), for a total blocked length of around 76", not including fringer. This was a great pattern for mindless knitting, as there's just enough to keep your interest going. I also learned how to knit backwards, and believe me when I say you do not want to be flipping this thing every 8 stitches.

On my resident model:

There's some law of physics about how a toddler in motion tends to stay in motion. So, yeah, the picture's a little blurry.

Oh, and here's the flower basket shawl on its happy recipient, the little guy's great-grandma:


Well, the loft in Oakland is sold, and we're now in our new house in Carrboro. It's a great house, and I wish I had more time to explore the area. But with the little man, a contract editing gig (thankfully working from home), various and sundry contractors coming and going, holiday madness, etc., it's amazing I have any time to knit. Which hopefully explains why I took months to finish ol' Ellie, and why my blog updates are few and far between. Here's to a new year and a cup running over with knitting and blogging!