I’m sure I got some eye rolling and scowls with that last sentence. You say “it’s just a hobby”. But here’s the thing. I like to have something to show for my time. And I think most of you do too. Right? How much fun is it to parade around town in that soon-to-be cardigan shrug? And those pullover bustiers are all the rage.

Some times, I want to walk around Rhinebeck with my new sweater. Complete, finished and awesome.

But with 2.5 weeks to go I have a lot left to do. Almost too much.

Here’s my plan…

• this weekend – finish knitting cabled part of body
• Thursday – finish ribbing on bottom
• next Sunday – finish sleeves
• Monday – wash and block

I realized when I put this schedule together that It’s crazy aggressive. If I don’t hit this weekend’s schedule there’s almost no chance of getting Raspberry Tart done in time.

Mega sad face

Hoping and wishing won’t make it so. A plan makes it a possibility.  Unless I change my mind about that pullover bustier.

Going to Rhinebeck? How’re your projects going?  A girl needs some good ol peer pressure.

I’ll catch you on the purl side.

I’m sure you’re getting close to having heard enough about this design – I’m losing steam too.  I got up yesterday morning and decided I couldn’t bear to work on RT.  You know how the rest of this goes right?

Ravelry browsing.  Here’s how it went down.

Ooh I can fave more things for Rhinebeck shopping!  I forgot about Deep End – it’s a great excuse to shop for mini skeins of sock yarn.   I wonder if Miss Babs will bring any her kits of mini skeins – polydactyl or gradient.  Gradients are fun – I wonder what designs use them.  Traliccio is new to me.  Spectral too.

An hour later and a bunch more designs to shop for at Rhinebeck – and not a stitch more knitted.  Thinking about knitting and looking at others’ knitting was sadly doing nothing to help get my sweater done for Rhinebeck.

So I took RT out of the bag and started knitting.  I made a deal with myself – 10 rounds this weekend  And a couple hours later I hit that magic number.

Here’s the back…

and the front…

and a close up of those cables…

Contrary to what it looks like on the mannequin, I’m about halfway through the bust area.  I think I have 2 more full repeats of cables and then the bottom ribbing.  I tried it on again yesterday and it still fits great!

If I finish this one in time this will be the third sweater I’ll have finished for Rhinebeck in 9 years of attending.  There’s something about that festival that motivates me to get things done.

I’ll catch you on the purl side.

an idiosyncratic belief or impression that is firmly maintained despite being contradicted by what is generally accepted as reality or rational argument, typically a symptom of mental disorder.

Idiosyncratic belief – check. Rational argument – yep. Mental disorder? Clearly the writers never met a knitter.

Ahem.

We’re just under 5 weeks away from Rhinebeck. 4 more weekends to knit. I’m in my second skein for Raspberry Tart (3.5 skeins to go).

I love top down knitting but this one has me questioning the fit. The deeper neckline means the armhole depth is super shallow. I’ve measured and remeasured but I’m still not sure. This is the fun part where I just have to knit some more so I can try it on to verify.

It’ll kill me if I knit all these cables for nothing.

Speaking of, I did have to fix a cabling mistake last weekend.

Before – you can see the mistake right?

So I laddered down 15 sts for 8 rows and fixed it. I briefly considered working away in blind disregard. It was on the back after all.

But that would have been true insanity. Who can walk around with a miscrossed cable on her back at Rhinebeck?

So now she’s all fixed.

I’m hoping this little transgression is a good sign. I had to do something similar for St. Brigid and I made it just in time (can you say 2 am hood knitting?).

The yarn is perfect for this sweater. Soft, saturated and superwash. And since I bought this at last year’s Rhinebeck I’d love to wear it to the Shelridge booth.

And ok, buy another sweater’s worth.

Totally logical right?  I knew I could count on you knitters.

I’ll catch you on the purl side.

As we all know, my struggle is with follow through.

So far so good though.

I’m done with the ribbing. Miles of 1×1 of ribbing.

And then the short rows with cabling on the WS rows.

Did you hear me?  WITH CABLING ON WRONG SIDE ROWS.

Then we have the adjustments to remove a bit of the cabling on the front. Because we all know I can’t leave well enough alone.

And so far? Total, unabashed love for this pattern.

And what rock have I been under that this is my first introduction to Annamária Ötvös patterns? This is one of the best patterns I’ve used in a very long time. It’s complex and she’s thought it out in great detail. And bonus – it comes in 10 sizes. Given the amount of detail in the pattern that’s a lot of work.

I’m very impressed.

And so of course, I’ve already started looking at more of her patterns. A couple more faves for the future…

Tatu – fun stitch pattern and less than 2 skeins of single ply fingering.  As if I needed any more excuses for single ply fingering.

Gaufres – a removable cowl. Genius.

Prelude – this looks like a simple, versatile, well-fitting pullover in a great gauge.  Hello  single ply fingering.

I know. I’m never satisfied with what I have on the needles.

I’ll catch you on the purl side.