Just Cast On!

I finally (after months of lurking) cast on last night for my hourglass. I'm using Berroco Pleasure in a rich, dark blue. It is part angora, so it filled my "next to skin soft" requirement. My gauge ended up about 19.5/4", and I want it a bit bigger than the 37" size (but not 41"!) so fingers are crossed it will work out ok. I also want to make the trim a different color - I remember seeing (not sure if it was here or on the KR forum) someone who made a green hourglass with a contrasting green trim. Anyone remember seeing it also? I'd love to read how she did it and where she stuck the color in. Read updates, etc on my blog.

Stacey

Update...

Just thought I'd post a picture of my second Hourglass. Here it is, in its full one-sleeved glory:

I am knitting the second sleeve now, so not long to go. I can't wait to wear this - I have even done the seaming and weaving in as I went along so I would have less work at the end. :)

The yarn for this one is Jaeger Shetland Aran in a burnt orange colour. The yarn is discontinued and the colour was, as far as I know, never officially released, but I managed to buy a whole lot of this yarn a while ago on ebay. It's wonderfully soft and lovely to knit with. I got gauge immediately.

another lurker

hello all,

i'm another one of those people who devours pictures of everyone else's progress but haven't put my own up yet! i joined the blog when i was nearly done, but i found everyone's tip usefull nonetheless and my next one will be even smoother.

I added a hood, just by slpitting the work halfway between the two front markers and knitting it back an forth as if on straight needles & then joining the top edge by folding it in 1/2 and using a 3-needle cast-off (WS). it seemed to take as long as the rest of the sweater combined, but i do love how it turned out- kind of like an elf hood! i had to make it crazy long to make up for the width of the neck, so next time i'd decrease it a bunch more if i were to add a hood again. i also made the sleeves 3" longer at their narrowest part because i like my sweaters cozy!

oh yeah, it was made with 1 1/2 balls of Ornaghi Wonderful (no, no typo here - it's 690m/ball!), a mohair blend. i know it's crazy looking but it made me giggle, it was $16 a ball and was just the amount of commitment i could handle for my first sweater. i'm definately making leg wamers with the leftovers!!

Hourglass sweater

Hourglass sweater, originally uploaded by inkmama.

I'm finally finished! (All that's left is blocking....) Here is my 11-year-old Travis modeling it. (He didn't want me to show his face.) The sweater fits, albeit snugly, and I do love the feel of the Noro Cash Iroha, but I doubt I'd make it again. I don't knit fast enough to get past the nervewracking repetition of the stockinette stitch. But it did teach me lots--the only other sweater I've ever knit was the "to dye for" sweater in Stitch 'n Bitch, which was simple and also beautiful.

Slow Going

Suddenly I have stalled on my hourglass. It just looks so plain and my increases got messed up I think. I am up to the bust and really don't ever want to see it again. What can I do to ignite the fire???

http://continueinkind.typepad.com/

Blocking?

I'd love to hear how y'all blocked this sweater. I'm just about there!

Barbara