Monday, May 14, 2007

The MIL Sweater

I'm making progress on the MIL sweater. Most of the exciting parts (the pocket) are behind me so it's now endless rows of stockinette stitch(back and sleeves) until I have to add the collar and sew things together. Here's the front with the pocket. I'm going to find three really cool buttons to decorate it since that's a lot of black (her request for the color--sigh). I've started on the back but there's not much of that to show and it's not much to look at anyway. One good thing: this is a perfect watch-Stanley-Cup-playoffs-on-television pattern since it's so mindless.



Here's the original sweater she asked me to copy. I have to admit that I got my LYS Lady to come up with the pattern. I wasn't gutsy enough to attempt that on my own.



I hope to have the whole project finished by my MIL's birthday in September at which point the weather will be more appropriate for the sweater anyway. I'm wondering though how much I'm going to want to work with heavy wool yarn all summer long. What's your experience with that? Do you switch to lighter projects when the weather gets warmer?

12 Comments:

Blogger Fran Baker said...

Nancy:

I usually do switch to something lighter come warm weather. This year, though, I'm going to work on my shrug/marble cardigan (still haven't decided which one I'll do). So I'll be handling heavier stuff as well.

Nice job, BTW!

7:15 PM  
Blogger Julie said...

I'm getting ready to dig out cotton yarns and find my UFOs that are cotton, and get to work on those. I do continue to knit socks through the summer, too.

7:15 PM  
Blogger Nancy Herkness said...

Thanks, Fran! Can't wait to see the shrug/cardigan when it gets going!

Aha, Julie, so you switch UFOs by season--very clever! Socks are out of the question for me although I can understand the appeal of something small and light.

7:24 PM  
Blogger Knitterary said...

I avoid blankets when it's hot out, but other than that, it's knit-knit-knit, same as always.

8:08 PM  
Blogger Ginny said...

Nancy-
I know what you mean about knitting with black yarn. I knit Socks for Soldiers, and I always have another project going at the same time because those long black socks can get tiresome. In recent news, my sweetie's son and DIL are expecting, so I'm searching for baby sweater patterns.
So, are you cheering for Nieder?

Ginny

8:30 PM  
Blogger Nancy Herkness said...

Knitterary, very smart of you to keep the blankets off your lap in hot weather. Just the thought makes me sweat.

Ginny, thanks for the empathy on knitting black stuff. My whole family seems to be drawn to the color and it's just not that much fun to work with. Although I did manage to find a black yarn with very subtle shadings of color for the stole I made for my daughter. That made it more interesting.

As for Nieder, I have to confess that as terrific a player as he is I've never been a huge fan. He just has no personality for me. My husband says I should appreciate his talent (and Hubby does) but I wasn't at all crushed when he left the Devils, except for the fact that he's really, really good at what he does. However, I honestly believe the Ducks are going to win the Cup this year. How about you? What's your Cup prediction?

12:05 PM  
Blogger Ginny said...

I think the Sens are on a mission this year. I'm going with them.
I do miss Nieder, but I don't blame him for wanting to play with his brother. I'm not sure I want him to win a cup on another team, though. I was surprised to see his gray beard last night. I still think of him as a kid.
I'm off to sign up for a spinning class in South Jersey.

Keep cool!

Ginny

1:57 PM  
Blogger Nicole said...

Um... *sheepish grin* I find that in the past I have knitted my winter items in the summer, and my summer items in the winter. Because I start projects appropriate for the season around the middle of the season, and then just don't finish them until well into the next (or more) season.

This year I'm going to try to be better about timing, but I don't think it's going to work too well since I haven't finished my shawl yet. :)

2:45 PM  
Blogger Nancy Herkness said...

LOL, Nicole, you notice I'm doing exactly the same thing so it's not necessary to feel sheepish.

Ginny, after last night's game, I think you might be right about the Sens taking the Cup. I couldn't get over Nieder's gray beard either--isn't he still under thirty?

Are you signing up for spinning as in the wool sort or the exercise sort?

5:52 PM  
Blogger Ginny said...

Nancy

That's funny - I should be doing some kind of exercise, but it's wool spinning.
I received a spinning wheel for Christmas, and it was a total surprise. I haven't a clue where to start. Every once in a while I practice with the treadle, but I suspect it shouldn't be spinning at full speed. I've gotten a few books and watched some videos, but I think a class would be a good idea. I'm foolishly afraid to use the fiber I bought to practice, because I don't want to wreck it.

I think Nieder is 32 or 33. In other news, The Ledger indicated the Trenton Titans may be renamed the Trenton Devils.

Ginny

4:19 PM  
Blogger Becky said...

That is such a cute pattern! I love the button detail and the zipper. I'm a sucker for zippers.

I don't really need to switch to light yarns since our climate is very moderate -- some would call it downright chilly.

7:52 PM  
Blogger Nancy Herkness said...

Wow, Giny, another spinner on the blog. Isn't our Laura a spinner too? I have to admit that I'm content to buy the yarns someone else has spun; it's so much fun to go to the store and browse amongst them. However, I am in awe of those who take it a step further and it's very cool to add pet fur to one's yarns.

Becky, I'm so glad you like the pattern. It is a very handsome sweater, just kind of dull to knit. So where do you live that you don't have to dump your wool to avoid the heat?

11:10 PM  

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