It's HOT HOT HOT!!!...

... and I just finished knitting a 100% wool sweater in Rowan Big Wool and Rowan Kid Silk Haze. I know it's crazy but it was such a quick knit that my mind easily got side-tracked.

This sweater was in planning for a long time but is finally done!!
1) The Rowan Big Wool used for this project was originally a cardigan/jacket. Either the collar or the buttons never really seemed right... I think I only wore it ONCE, so I recyled the yarn.

What it once was...

2) I came across a pattern from Vogue Knitting Fall 2005 and fell in love. Not only was the design pretty, it used exactly the amount of Big Wool that I had (I don't like to have extra yarn lying around).

The plan...

3) Now I had to get Kid Silk Haze. With the advice from the LYS, I decided to use Madil Kid Seta to substitute KSH (Same fiber, same yardage but at $5 savings per skein, that translates to $20!!). Unfortunately, the store did not have 4 balls of a color that I liked and although I tried placing an order, that didn't seem to work out. **Months later...** I was in Hong Kong and guess what I found? Madil Kid Seta in varigiated colors! I quickly bought 4! With the hints of fucshia, orange, beige and dark purple, the yarn mixed beautifully with the Big Wool for the body of the pattern.

The pretty speckles.

HOWEVER, when the Kid Seta was used by itself for the ruffles... the colors pooled in blotches and the ruffled looked diseased! Don't you agree?

The disease.

4) So, being picky with colors that I am, I went out and bought 1 skein of Madil Kid Seta in beige for the ruffles. It doesn't match 100% with the body, but I think it turned alright...

The finished product!

And here's a picture of the finished Seaberry Shell. Too bad Toronto is a bit too hot at the moment to wear this...
So, what's next?

Trinity KAL - I admit I've neglected this long enough and I am absolutely determined to churn out something. I revisited my original project and unfortunately, I've lost my steam. I LOVE the Michael Kors pattern (from VK Holiday 2005) but the cables & bobbles are difficult to knit using Trinity. The nubbly & rough yarn is hard on the hands and after such hard work, the stitches are barely visible!! I try looking at Erin's FO for inspiration but my floppy lifeless 1/2 of the back is just too demotivating. It's screaming to be frogged. Maybe I will attempt this pattern with a classic wool yarn later.

The pattern and lifeless frog

BUT... I have not given up!! I have more Trinity stash and more Trinity plans. I've started the Lotus Blossom Tank from IK Summer 2006 with the pink "shell" Trinity. I've already completed the lace section... it will be my first Trinity KAL contribution. :)
I just hope I'm not the last one left on it!!!

As for the son-to-be-frogged remains from yellow "corn" Trinity, I might make this from VK Spring/Summer 2006 instead.

Last week, I joined the Drunken Knitters gathering. Met long yarn, stashaholic, pirk, jacquie, jen and a bunch of others I didn't have a chance to chat with. It was quite interesting... everyone seems to have more than 3 projects on the go!


In the meantime, I've been feeling some soreness on my left wrist. I think it's a sign telling me to differentiate the hobbies for a bit - I wanna try crochet and make a quilt. So far, I haven't jumped into anything but they might alleviate my cramping hand for a bit!