My new approach to Phildar projects

Basically, proceed with caution because who knows what is going to happen. I have such bad luck with these. You all remember the craziness that was my Asymmetrical Sweater pattern. It turned out great, I love it, but deciphering the literally translated pattern gave me (and Olga) headaches. Well, I gave Olga the headaches with my quadrillion questions.

So when I started the Swing Jacket - which I now know won't be used until next season * sigh * - I approached the pattern cautiously. Thankfully, it seemed pretty straight forward, and so I went on my Mexican vacation and left the back to marinate for a week.

When I came back I picked up about 20 cm into the 56 cm back, and knitted along in the pretty pattern. I thought something looked odd, but I chucked it up to vacationitis. My gauge was the same, the measurements were still okay, so I knitted on.

Then one Friday I had to work late, and Tony went out and I could not wait to come home and knit away with some tivod shows and som wine. Then, maybe it was the clarity brought by the wine, the oddity became clearer.
I stared and stared, and sure enough noticed - two different colors.
Don't lie and say you can't see it, because I know you can. Trust me, I lied to myself and told myself I could not tell the difference for a long time. As soon as I saw it, I ran up to our office, took pictures and said a little prayer that Olga was online. I hope she never starts charging me for he knitting classes, because I will be broke. B-R-O-K-E. We both agreed that we never thought Paton's dye lots would be so different! Anyways, after hysterical google messaging for 15 minutes we decided that I was not going to undo anything, that I was going to wash the completed project, and then dye it all.

So I continued on, and knitted the left and right front sides, and once in a while, I would take out the bi-colored back and just stare at it hoping that it would change colors. I was so nervous that after finishing everything, the dye would come out splotchy, or not change anything at all. So I fnished the front, and decided to just frog the back. So this is where I am in this project:












That is the back, that I just restarted yesterday, and a close up of my hem. I LOVE my hem. I want to put hems on everything now.
Do you think the two sides are each a different color, or am I just being paranoid?

Goodies to/from Argentina

I left Argentina when I was 9. It was the hardest thing I have ever done. By far. I hated leaving my grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins behind, and even begged my parents to let me stay and live with my grandparents. I have gone back three times, and leaving them does not get any easier. That is why I hate going back to Argentina.
Thankfully in the age of technology and instant everything, we are able to communicate far better than I have ever imagined. I still get veclemped when they call, or when they send me a picture, cause I miss them so much. Thes pictures of them and the handknitted gifts I sent them really choked me up.

Model: My grandmother - the cutests, bestest grandmother ever. I used to spend every weekend with her and my grandfather running around in their backyard and eating her home made meals. Man I miss her. But isn't she the CUTEST?!
Pattern: Clutch from Handknit Holidays. Yarn: left over yarn from my Somewhat Cowl. Comments: I actually really liked this pattern. I just had a hard time hand sewing the zipper in, and I wish I could use my little sewing machine to line it, but I cannot get the tension right on the thread. I want to make the bag for myself, I just need to find the time to do it.

Model: My tio Roberto. He is my dad's older brother, and one of the few men that I know that can pull off a pink vest. Pattern: my own mock stitch pattern. Yarn: Patons's Merino Wool in Gray.

Model: My Tio Mario. The youngest one of the three brothers. He is a really good photographer and I have the best pictures of him and I when I was a baby. Also super cute man. ( and not an alcoholic - he shared the beer with my dad :) ) Pattern: Coronet from Knitty Yarn: Lamb's Wool in a chocolate brown ( I don't remember the color right now). Model: Tia Gladys (tio Mario's wife) Not only does she look half my age (arghhh!) she is one the coolest ladies I know. She is always calm, patient, and just so much fun to be around. It was her birthday while my dad was there - therefore she got two gifts. Pattern: Fetching from Knitty and Calorimetry also from Knitty. Yarn: Lamb's Wool in seafoam for Fetching, and Seafoam and another color I had leftover from the robots for Colimetry. (don't judge for the lack of information - I was in a hurry to get these out the door before my dad left on his trip and I did not write anything down.)

Apparently the gifts were a huge success, and the talent appreciated. So, what did I get back from Argentina?

YARNNNN!!!

My dad brought me back this:

It is 100% wool, gorgeous and chocolaty brown lovelyness!

My tio Roberto sent this yummy goodness:

Llama (how the heck do you spell that?), in three different shades and I am in love with all of it. He even sent me the email address of the woman he bought it from in case I want to contact her.

Mario and Gladys sent me this gorgeous necklace, that is woven somehow, with the matching earrings.

I really cannot wait to see them all. I am thinking I will go and visit for my birthday next year. That just seems so far away.

Ok, as far as knitting is going. I still do it. :) I am working on that Phildar jacket, and I am completely annoyed by it. I will blog about it later this week, but I will leave you with a little teaser:

Who would have thought Paton's dye lots would be so radically different?

I HAVE to do this...

I am going to get some crap for this. And I know this because Lickety Knit got some crap for it when she did it, (mostly from me for not taking me with her) and I am again copying her. But I just have to! It is like "Where in the World is Carmen Sandiego", but with knitting.

That is where I was knitting last week. You see the ocean? and the pool? and the swim up bar with all you can drink margaritas/pinacoladas? If you see the latter, then you will also see dropped stitched in my scarf. I've said it before and I will say it again do NOT drink and knit.

By the way, I was in Ixtapa Mexico, and no, I did not spend my time in the balcony.