Oh noes! Not again!

Yes! Again! Again I have an FO. And this time it didn't take 3 months either.

It's the Child's Placket-Neck Pullover from Last Minute Knitted Gifts that has already been seen a bazillion times on the 'net so I don't feel too bad about my horrible pictures.

The yarn is Lion brand Wool-ease. I did the smallest size. It took just under one whole ball. I bought two just in case, but I don't really use wool-ease unless it's a baby project for the washable factor so I guess I'll hang on to it until the next sucker has a little girl that needs a sweater.

The only thiing I didn't like was the sewing down of the front flap you make at the bottom of the neckline. See below.

I feel like it would have been better to tuck it under and sew it to the upper side. but I didn't want to change the orientation of the opening so I haven't redone it that way. I'll just keep it in mind for next time and add the 5 flap stitchs on to the opposite side so I can sew it to the back side.

I am not going to add buttons. I think it's fine just like it is. Easy to get over the kid's head and easy to get off as well. And no fiddly buttons to scratch or distract little hands.

This was my second completed sweater ever. (The first being Batman) It was also my first Raglan. I do believe I like raglan just fine and could see easily making one for myself. Perhaps the cardigan I have been dreaming up for myself for eons will be a raglan now. I kinda doubt it because I want cables, but you never know.

That's it for me today! Soapturtle OUT!
(I really hate American Idol and "Seacrest Out!" btw. I'd hate it more but it would mean I'd have to bother to watch the show.)

I did it!

Holy Shit! I actually have an FO!!! The first one since the Mother's Day shawl!! Whoa.

Unfortunately it's a seekrit. I can't show it until the recipient gets it. Which will be over a month from now. In the mean time, here's what I can tell you. It's Manos. Colorway 119. It's the first time I have used Manos, and damned if I don't like it! It's nice and soft and knits up fast. It's a little pricey for me, but for what I did with it, I could see using it for Christmas gifts and getting away with quite an affordable Christmas.

Here's a close-up, so you can see the colorway/yarn without seeing the actual knit.

A lovely day.

What kind of day would you expect to have if you woke up to this?

And the culprit of this mess? Why he's innocent as a babe of course!

Fall Knitty - the self-promotion issue.

Rant incoming.

It's great that a new knitty is out. It's great that it has more and more patterns all the time. It's great that it's free and accessible to innumerable knitters out there.

But this post, it's about what's not great.

Knitty is becoming more and more......"snotty". It seems that it is so hung up on it's own leetness that we are losing something somewhere. I think that something is quality, freshness, and the chance for the small new designer to get their feet wet.

And this issue, (it's the self-promotion issue because knitty has allowed something I have never approved of to not just continue but to flourishing this issue) designers submitting patterns that are in yarn that they make. (With no listed alternatives I might add.) And not only has knitty accepted them, it has given one of them top billing. What the hell?

3 patterns this issue are by the people who make the recommended yarn. Viveka is by Suss, and made in an expensive Suss yarn. Lucie is by some chick that also sells the yarn, but her name is long and cumbersome so I forget what it is. Tamarah is by the owner of Artyarns in Artyarns made yarn.

When did this groundbreaking free knitting mag become a venue of shameless self promotion for yarn manufacturers? When did something the knitting community was so proud of become something shameful, sold out, and dirty?

The fabulous Kim over at YarnAbuse has covered my thoughts on Vivika very well, so go there to read it, I'll wait here and then we'll continue.....

Ready? Ok good!

I find more and more that I prefer MagKnits. Not because they publish monthly, (and on time I might add, since it seems Knitty doesn't know how to do that anymore) but because they aren't pretensious. They don't pretend to be cooler/hipper/leeter than they are. I've always preferred people/entities who are themselves as opposed to always trying to impress, and MagKnits is whooping Knitty's ass in this department.

So while I like "Sherwood" and one of those pairs of socks in the new knitty, (can't remember which and can't be assed to look) mostly I just come away feeling dirty.

If you are still here, thanks for listening.
I have to go wash up now.

Am I crazy?

Or does this 5lb rice bag look like it would be a great small/medium project bag? Because I sure think it does. I'll have to test it of course, but I am sure it will be great, and if it gets dirty or tears or something.... who cares? It was a rice bag!

In other news, I didn't die from the plague that beset me, I just felt like I would. I haven't really been knitting much so I haven't posted either. Hopefully, I'll finish something soon so I actually have something to post about.