JessaLu Knits (and Spins!)

ETA:  We’re close!  Soooo very close to breaking my comment milestone on this post!!  I knew you guys could do it (and I guess it helped that RR and Dobby hijacked the comments for a bit) a few more and we’ll be there!  Remember, if I hit the milestone on this post, I’m giving away two prizes!  You guys have until 10pm Sunday night to enter – I’ll post the winner(s) on Monday.  Thanks for playing!  ;o)

I know I said I was close but I hadn’t shown you guys how close:

Done!  Yay!  I ended up adding a few more inches to the arms since I had an abundance of yarn.  ;o)  I lurve my new sweater – I’ve even worn it a few times since I finished it last week.  In public, even!  I just wish I had been able to finish it during the month of November…

For the curious, my recipe began with this top-down raglan pattern (I ignored the cut-it-into-a-cardigan steps).  I used size eight needles, two balls of Noro for the CC and about four and a half balls of Wild Apple Hill Yarn for the MC.  I started with the MC then used the CC for the purl rows – I did the increases on the MC rows.  I knit the yoke until I could touch the stitches together under the arms then I put the arm stitches on holders.  I cast on six stitches at each armhole when I continued knitting the body.  After I was done with the body, I put the arm stitches onto needles and picked up the six stitches under the arms so they were seamless.  I then knit straight down the arm for about four inches and began decreases every eight rows until I was three inches from where I wanted to start the garter stitch.  At that point I did the decreases every four rows.  For the garter stitch, I switched down a needle size (on both body and sleeves).  I used the sewn bind-off since it’s nice and stretchy.  Did I mention that I lurve this sweater?  It’s so pretty in person!!  I wish the light was better this time of year so I could really show you how pretty the colors are.

I’ve been having a helluva month – today marks the first full day that I haven’t received an email or phone call requesting copies of documents from my client.  Thank GSD.  Hopefully the peace will last since I still have oodles to do before Xmess.  Presents to wrap, socks to crank, laundry to do (RR literally ran out of socks a couple of days ago, he had to wear hand knit ones, the horror),  and since the world is apparently going to come to an end within the next few days, milk and bread to buy.  The French Toast warning system is on red alert!  ;o)

In other blog news, I’m teetering on the brink of a comment milestone.  I should hit it within the next couple of posts (unless you all go crazy with the comments) and when I do, the person who hits that milestone will be winning a lovely prize!  I’m thinking some kind of stash yarn…and I do have some lovely stash yarn if I do say so myself.  OR perhaps fiber is more your thing?  I have that, too.  ;o)  It’s been a while since I’ve done a giveaway and I’m feeling it’s time…so comment away and good luck!  (btw, if I hit the milestone on this post, I’ll be doing a second prize drawing from all the comments.   I know you guys can do it!! Oh and feel free to tell your friends!)

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