I finished 2 things yesterday. The first being Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - it was gloriously perfect. Thanks J.K Rowling! Now I have Post-Potter Depression - I am so bummed there will be no more books. The 2nd thing I finished is Rusted Root. Thanks zephystyle!:
It was knitted on US #5 and US #7 needles using Knit Picks Shine Worsted in terra cotta - a pima cotton/modal blend that was so soft to knit with, and I can't forget to say how much I love this color:
My husband, my very very sweet husband, ran out on Friday night at midnight to pick me up a copy of Harry Potter at the local grocery store (even though I was already going to receive a copy from Amazon) so that I could start reading it. Not only that, I wasn't feeling too grand on Saturday so he packed up the kids and took them out the WHOLE DAY so I could stay in bed, with the book propped open, to read and knit. He also picked me up dinner on the way home and let me tell him all about the book, even the ending, just because I was dying to talk to someone about it! Thanks Matt! Acts of service baby!
This was a perfect pattern to knit while reading - miles of knitting in the round, separated only by a small pattern panel:
I was so engrossed in the book that I may have knitted the sweater too long. The weight of the cotton blend pulls the sweater down in length so as I was measuring it flat on my bed, I didn't account for the stretch from the weight. Also, each skein of yarn is only 98 yards so that means lots of ends to weave in but it came out pretty nice anyways - all of these pictures are of the sweater pre-blocked. I think a good wet block will smooth out some of the knitting blips.
There are lots of photos of this sweater being beautifully modeled by many talented knitters. Here's one that's not too indecent of me (asking Matt to take a picture of me in a sweater with an open lace pattern down the front means getting some booby shots):
Another Project Spectrum knit done and it was not bad for less than $30! I would definitely knit this again - but maybe in a lighter weight cotton.
I also won a contest this week at works in progress:
Thanks Pam! The card, the tape measure and the yarn are all so pretty. I have never knit a lace shawl before. Do you all have any suggestions on what to start with? I hope you all had a great weekend too!
This is really beautiful! Lovely, simple but that lace panel really makes the world of difference!
Glad you were so spoiled this weekend - enough so that you managed to get both the knitting and required reading done :)
Posted by: Pat | July 22, 2007 at 12:29 PM
I love rusted root!! I think if I see one more finished one I may need to make one too!! LOVELY!! ;)
Posted by: Dorre | July 22, 2007 at 01:48 PM
You finished Harry Potter?! I am in awe of your knitting/reading ability. Not only did you finish that book, but you were able to make a perfect Rusted Root. You rock!
And how cute is your hubbie?!
Posted by: Kara | July 22, 2007 at 01:52 PM
Your Rusted Root looks beautiful, great color and a good fit!
Posted by: Sasha | July 22, 2007 at 01:52 PM
your rusted root is beautiful. I love the color! I can't believe you finished it so quickly!! Can I send you my thermal to finish?? lol. Kidding! I hope that you're feeling better! congrats on the contest win too--love the tape measure. Oh and there are so many amazing shawls out there.
Posted by: rhoda | July 22, 2007 at 01:54 PM
Are you saying you read and knit at the same time? Now that is talent! The sweater is beautiful.
Posted by: kim | July 22, 2007 at 02:17 PM
I finished it too but no knitting, I had the kids while DH worked.
I would offer to swap but I think Matt is one of a kind and may be worth more than one DH;), please tell him that too.
I love your Rusted Root it looks like a good fit in that lovely photo :)
Well done on your prize too. :D
Posted by: gilraen | July 22, 2007 at 02:20 PM
Very beautiful! I love that lace panel down the front.
Posted by: Lorette | July 22, 2007 at 02:21 PM
Your Rusted Root is beautiful. It sounds like you had a perfect day yesterday. I haven't started HP yet. My girls just finished, so now I get my chance with the book.
For a first lace shawl I don't think you can go wrong with the Shetland Triangle (Wrap Style). My only advice would be to add a few extra repeats of the pattern. It is a pretty small shawl.
Posted by: Kirsten | July 22, 2007 at 02:24 PM
That sounds like one of the best sick days ever :) I've only got about 30 pages to go on HP.
The Shetland Triangle is my first shawl, and it seems to be working out very well. It could be a good first shawl for you, too!
Posted by: Kristy | July 22, 2007 at 02:30 PM
Your Rusted Root is so pretty! that small lace panel gives it such a special touch! I can't wait to see what you make with the lace weight...there are so many gorgeous shawl patterns out there - you'll find the perfect one!
Posted by: Pat | July 22, 2007 at 02:32 PM
Oh no everyone is finished HP and I won't get mine until Tuesday...augh! :D Rusted Root is beautiful and subtle...I like the 'just a touch of lace'. OK I guess it could be not so subtle without a shirt under it..you know what I mean. :) *Sends it to the queue*
Your husband is very thoughtful. :)
Posted by: Sacha | July 22, 2007 at 02:55 PM
LOL @ Matt. That Rusted Root turned out gorgeous! I've got the yarn to knit myself one. Looks like a perfect t-shirt for Seattle weather.
Congrats on the goody package! I'm still working on my first lace shawl. It's the Shoal Water Shawl from Fiber Trends. Easy enough pattern, I just need to sit down and knit it! :-D
Posted by: anna | July 22, 2007 at 02:55 PM
BEAUTIFUL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted by: adrienne | July 22, 2007 at 04:04 PM
Your Rusted Root looks spectacular--that's the first one in that color I've seen...and your booby shot is so NOT indecent, from the sound of your description, I thought there would at least be some nipple action;)
Posted by: Heather | July 22, 2007 at 04:50 PM
Sounds like a blissful weekend. I spent mine the same way, except I was too engrossed in the book to knit! And it was so magnificent wasn't it? Such a perfect ending. :)
And the rusted root is very cool looking, the color is so perfect.
Posted by: Adam | July 22, 2007 at 04:53 PM
I have to say that I love the terracotta color of you Rusted Root. It looks absolutely perfect, and I wish I could read and knit at the same time. I am usually knitting and supervising children at the same time. I am halfway through the HP book, and already there have been some sad moments, but I am sure I too will have the depressing feeling of no more HP books. Maybe I need to buy Charmed Knits so I can knit some of the HP knits. I love the package you won too, maybe you should buy a lace knitting book. I love the tape measure, very cute.
Posted by: Sue | July 22, 2007 at 05:03 PM
Your rusted root looks amazing and I love the color!!!!!!
Your husband should get the husband of the year award! That was so sweet of him!!!!
Posted by: Meredith | July 22, 2007 at 05:09 PM
Your rusted root is is lovely... I really like the colour. Lace, lace, lace... you should definitely do some lace! 1. Pick something you like (there's nothing like knitting something you don't like). 2. Enjoy.
Posted by: ami | July 22, 2007 at 05:18 PM
Beautiful sweater!! I love the lace panel. Congrats on winning the contest, too. Glad you are feeling better and enjoyed the book.
Posted by: Sue J. | July 22, 2007 at 05:32 PM
Lovely Rusted Root!
Posted by: Zonda | July 22, 2007 at 05:38 PM
ooh...rusted root has been on my knit list for ages. havent really got time yet. i also bought the book on saturday but i haven't touch it yet too!!!
Posted by: Michelle | July 22, 2007 at 05:45 PM
So pretty, and thanks for the compliments on mine. I love Shine, too. It's such a great cotton yarn.
I have that same colorway of Skacel Merino. It's gorgeous. I'm planning on mixing it up with something else...not sure what yet.
p.s. hubby must have scored some major points. ;)
Posted by: isel | July 22, 2007 at 06:32 PM
Like you, I finished the book, and got it from the grocery store with no waiting. I cast on for Rusted Root today! How funny to find that you just finished the same project. Mine will be a lovely light blue... Yours is gorgeous!
Posted by: Karen in Toledo | July 22, 2007 at 07:23 PM
What a perfect day! Your Rusted Root looks gorgeous! Something to remember the book by too :)
How you could read and knit..amazing! I finished the book yesterday too (no knitting though).
Posted by: carrieknits | July 22, 2007 at 09:35 PM
I love the colour of your Rusted Root! And I think it loks very good now, preblocking, it must be super spectactular after blocking!
Posted by: Maud | July 22, 2007 at 10:23 PM
Love your new sweater! We have two copies of HP and the Deathly Hallows, but I think I'm last on the list to read them. Can't wait, but also know I'll be sad it's over.
Posted by: Pam | July 22, 2007 at 10:25 PM
Beautiful! I don't think you have wonky, pre-blocking stitches at all. It looks really great, and I'm so jealous of your perfect raglan sleeves... did you do the increases a few stitches in? And curious, did the pattern remind you to do that? I've developed some kind of raglan obsession... heh
Posted by: Jen - Knitting Sutra | July 22, 2007 at 10:50 PM
Very pretty! I think I'm the only person in the world who doesn't have a copy of HP or is even remotely interested in it, LOL! Glad you are able to enjoy it, though.
Posted by: Jeanne B. | July 22, 2007 at 11:13 PM
Your husband is so sweet! I read the 1st HP book & that's it. My girls got their copy on Sat morning (I had to drive to Borders in the city in the rain & cold) & finished the book before dinner. Great job on the Rusted Root.
Posted by: Ann | July 22, 2007 at 11:56 PM
Great job on the sweater....that pattern will have to be put in my stash. I can't believe that you can read a book and knit at the same time...now that is Talent!!
As for the lace project, my first lace project was the Kiri shawl. Easy enough and I think I had great result for my first attempt at lace. Here is the free pattern link and pictures of my finished Kiri.
http://www.alltangledup.com/movabletype/my_images/my_patterns/kiri.pdf
http://punkypurls.blogspot.com/2006_11_01_archive.html
The next lace project on the needles is the Diamond Fantasy Shawl by Sivia Harding. Not a free pattern but fun to knit. Here is the link. http://www.siviaharding.com/Diamonds2.html
and my current progress picture.http://www.flickr.com/photos/8146438@N06/698350114/
Good luck with all the Shawl pattern choices...there are some many lovely shawl patterns out there.
Posted by: Heather | July 23, 2007 at 03:47 AM
You are a speedy knitter and reader! How do you read and knit at the same time? I love rusted root.
Posted by: Lin | July 23, 2007 at 04:27 AM
What an amazing husband! RR looks great and look forward to seeing a full modelled shot.
Posted by: lisa | July 23, 2007 at 04:43 AM
Stunning! I've used that terracotta - it is so pretty and so difficult to capture on camera! Yours looks just fabulous!!!
Posted by: Elinor | July 23, 2007 at 04:51 AM
I just love it in this colorway! Beautiful, T! you made me laugh out loud with the bit about husband's photography. Kris does the same thing when photographing my knits... wonder where they were looking? :)
Posted by: Lolly | July 23, 2007 at 05:01 AM
Hi - love the rusted root, I just finished one as well, but I think it's too big. I'm not to happy with it, so it's probably going to get frogged. But yours is gorgeous!
Posted by: Christine | July 23, 2007 at 05:22 AM
Matt Rocks! How lucky you are to have someone that is so dedicate to YOU! Sweater is just gorgeous as are all your knits......I want to knit a shawl also...but with never having done this.....a little overwhelmed by the whole thing!
Have a Good One...
Blogless Diane
Posted by: Diane | July 23, 2007 at 06:30 AM
I started reading Deathly Hallows last night! It's SO good so far. Your Rusted Root is beautiful. The color is gorgeous and looks like it fits you great!
Posted by: Bea | July 23, 2007 at 06:42 AM
Your Rusted Root is beautiful!
Isn't it nice just to sit in bed and read?
Posted by: Vera | July 23, 2007 at 07:26 AM
Thank you sooo much for your other copy of HP, I am loving it. I am afraid to talk to anyone for fear they will reveal some part of the story.
The sweater is beautiful. I think the color is great. When I look at all the sweaters I have done all I can think of is what I would do differently, and what I don't like about them. I should share since I am more of a "knitter dont's" than a "knitter do's" If ya know what I mean!
Luv Lara
Posted by: Lara | July 23, 2007 at 08:43 AM
Beautiful Rusted Root!
So now how do you do the knitting at the same time as reading thing? It sounds like a good idea but I"m not sure I could do it... do you have something to keep your book open?
Posted by: Sourire11 | July 23, 2007 at 09:59 AM
Tiennie--Matt is a true keeper!!!;-)
I love this sweater---the pattern is very beautiful and so is the color. Did you like using that yarn? I've wondered about it.
Posted by: Amber | July 23, 2007 at 11:03 AM
Beautiful!
I can't believe you finished Harry Potter AND knit this at the same time! How? You should write a tutorial about how to read and knit effectively at the same time.
Posted by: Erin | July 23, 2007 at 11:55 AM
Beautiful! And reading while knitting (or is it vice versa?) is impressive.
Posted by: Betty | July 23, 2007 at 01:22 PM
Gorgeous! Wow I'm impressed, I couldn't knit and read HP at the same time, too engrossed in the book! What a awesome hubby too. :)
Posted by: Jennifer | July 23, 2007 at 02:58 PM
Tiennie, your Rusted Root is gorgeous! I am, as always, in awe of your work. It's really stunning. I will look forward to seeing your lace shawl when you've chosen a pattern.
Posted by: Cecilia | July 23, 2007 at 03:54 PM
Oh, that's beautiful! I love the color -- what a great choice.
Posted by: susan | July 23, 2007 at 04:52 PM
Gorgeous! I just placed it in my queue on Ravelry last week, so it's nice to see another completed one to see how the pattern turns out. I too had the day free for Potter and finished around midnight since my DH was out at a friend's bachelor party. Cried right through the last 100 pages. Congrats again on the Rusted Root!
Posted by: knittingharvest | July 23, 2007 at 05:25 PM
Super cute sweater! Love the way it came out!
Posted by: Diana | July 23, 2007 at 07:13 PM
What a great husband! He should get the hubby of the year award! A whole day of knitting and reading? I'm jealous woman! The Rusted Root looks great! Love the color!
Posted by: AJ | July 23, 2007 at 08:33 PM