Better late than never, right?
And since I have tortured you all enough by making you look at a neverending parade of cat pictures, how about some knitting?
Here we have two days of progress on an Urban Aran Zippered Cardigan for Chris, to complement his Christmas pants perhaps?
"Two and a half days!?!?!" you gasp. Dear Reader, Do Not Faint! Recall how much progress may be made (a) in suburban New Jersey (b) without a car (c) while everyone else is watching sports and (d) most importantly, on size 10.5 needles. Yes, 10.5. I washed and dried a swatch and this yarn does plump up nicely at that size once the spinning oil is washed out.
If you recall that this yarn was purchased for a Fishtrap Aran cardigan rather than the cardigan at hand, you would be correct. I've lost my zeal for twisted stitches for the time being, and settled for loads of regular old plump cables and the Urban Aran instead. I figure, if I can (like brooklyntweed) finish this sweater in 20 days, I can beat The Curse That Shall Not Be Named barring a cataclysmic event, don't you think? (truth be told, we're way past the sweater curse, but I won't lie... when I told Chris it was for him he was like "Are you sure you want to do this? Are you suuuuure?")
Posted by jess at December 26, 2006 11:47 PM | TrackBackLove the competing cables pattern. Cheeky guy!
What a great idea to knit a sweater on such large needles - gratifying to see some quick progress. I should try that.
Cat pictures are always appreciated!
Your urban aran looks SO nice. I want to make Max a sweater, but I told him about the sweater curse and he won't let me. We've been together for 3.5 years, but he's still scared. I'm sticking to socks for now. I don't think I believe in the sweater curse anyway. Merry Christmas!
Posted by: Illanna at December 27, 2006 2:21 AMBeautiful! I'm doing the same sweater for my boyfriend (past the sweater curse too) and in almost the same color! I'm about to finish the armhole decreases and i'm thinking of ripping and adding some length, what do you think?
Ha, ha ... please continue torturing us with pictures of the beloved cat. Have you, by the way, ever knit something for this little being? I can imagine though that cats in general don't like clothes.
Posted by: Elena at December 27, 2006 4:23 AMmmmm, that urban aran is looking just gorgeous. it's one of my favorite cabled sweater patterns! and in school products yarn, too? you can't beat that with a stick.
love the shot with you in the reflection :)
Posted by: gleek at December 27, 2006 8:02 AMOh my gosh - you have to go look at my post today - how hilarious! Looks like we have similar taste...
:) it looks great!
Posted by: stacey at December 27, 2006 8:40 AMThe sweater looks cool so far. Knitting with 10.5s is really fun because it makes you feel so fast. :)
I really like all the pictures you've taken with your new camera, too!
Posted by: natalie at December 27, 2006 8:46 AMoooo, i am so happy you are doing this cardigan! I definitely think this is "the one" for Jason. I look forward to following along. Hope to see you at BG this week?
Posted by: kaitlyn at December 27, 2006 9:02 AMToo funny! Although my boyfriend and I are pretty much past the Curse as well, I keep using it as an excuse not to make him anything. "Kelly, why won't you knit me a pair of socks?" "The Curse!" I'm bad.
Posted by: Kelly B. at December 27, 2006 9:21 AMYes, please keep torturing us with the kitty shots. I'm travelling for the holidays and missing my kitties more than usual for some reason. Your kitty pics make me smile.
You're so brave to flout the curse -- as unsuperstitious as I may be, I just can't bring myself to cross this line!
Beautiful knitting, too. Love the pattern.
Posted by: Jackie at December 27, 2006 9:33 AMYes, you'll get a lot done. I myself am knitting away in suburban New Jersey with my husband's family, although mine is more of a hostage situation than yours sounds like, and I've already made 2 fair isle hats!!
Posted by: Heather at December 27, 2006 10:15 AMEneman!! Happy holidays Jess.
Posted by: joyolivia at December 27, 2006 10:43 AMAre you using a giant cone of school products cashmere for that sweater? I have one too - I intended it for the fishtrap but the urban aran (for me!) might be a better application. It looks great.
Posted by: MeBeth at December 27, 2006 11:05 AMOoooooh, I so love seeing the kitty pics, they really are so photogenic.
The urban aran is coming on so well, I'm really impressed. He's going to love it, and it will look great with the Christmas pants :)
Posted by: schrodinger at December 27, 2006 12:48 PMThe Urban Aran is lovely and I'm sure you're just fine with the whole sweater curse craziness. It looks like a very merry Christmas was had by all.
Posted by: Stephanie at December 27, 2006 1:43 PMOOH OOH OH you just have to use the cat with Xmas wrapping picture as a Christmas card next year. It is purrrfect!
Posted by: kitkatknit at December 27, 2006 1:43 PMBy all means, continue with the torture by kitty! It's quite cute.
Posted by: carol at December 27, 2006 2:41 PMi've made sop several sweaters, the first before i had even heard of the curse, and we've been together a shorter time than you and chris, i believe. Personally, i think a sweater as gorgeous as the one you are making could only strengthen a relationship.
happy season!
Posted by: holly at December 27, 2006 5:35 PMI really have to stop either a) reading this blog OR b) stop changing my mind about my projects. I think I will go with B! Love the sweater in progress (the brown is a lovely color). I thought about showing this to the Flyer, but I just settled on the Patch Man out of the new KnitScene for him. Two sweaters is too much to ask for. Personally, I blame the Fetching wristwarmers . . . I tried to knit them for my Secret Santa, but I lacked the time so my mum got them instead. Happy New Years!
Posted by: Ava at December 27, 2006 6:19 PMLooks great!! I love the Urban Aran.
Posted by: Julia at December 27, 2006 11:04 PMAwww, this cardi is coming along so nicely, what an amazing pattern - and I *so* love the colour of the yarn you're using for it! Perfect!
Posted by: Dipsy D. at December 28, 2006 5:47 AMThe sweater is really coming along beautifully!
I can't believe there is actually an entry on wiki about the sweater curse. Funny.
By the way, I laughed about Eneman until there were tears - TEARS - streaming down my face. Cute!
The Urban Aran looks great! (It's such a good pattern--it's on my to-knit list.) You're really zipping along with progress there. Can't wait to see it in t-minus 18 days!
Posted by: seedless grape at December 28, 2006 3:18 PMyou are totally past boyfriend curse stage. is there a domestic partner curse as well? like, they'll stop cleaning the bathroom if you knit them a sweater. oh wait, they don't anyway.
i also love the wiki entry on this. totally ridiculous.
Posted by: carrie m at December 28, 2006 8:48 PMIt looks BEAUTIFUL! I SO need to teach myself cables.
Posted by: kristiface at December 28, 2006 9:16 PMthe urban aran looks great! i started this sweater last year in orange rowan cork, and knit half of it before i realized that in chunky blazing orange, it was a little... much. but i really like the pattern and want to try it again... the cardi idea is wonderful, because the fabric was pretty heavy & dense otherwise.
curse, shmurse. the only major knitting fight e & i ever had was over a measly ribbed scarf... all sweaters have been accepted with glee :)
Your tree is lovely. May I ask how many strands of lights you used to achieve that holiday glow?
As usual, beautiful cables!
Hopefully in 2007 you'll post a photo of an orchid or two!
Happy New Year!
chris is hilarious. Austin begs for a sweater, and when I bring up an actual pattern or a design idea, he renigs. WTF? good pattern choice, are you going to do the same mods?
Is 20 days is under the statute of limitations for the curse that shall not be named?
Posted by: craptina at December 31, 2006 10:56 AMI love cat pictures. Especially cats in a box. I don't know why they always reduce me to foolish teenage giggling, but they do.
I really like the look of your Urban Aran. Cheeky Chris. ;) May the Schwartz be with you on the curse that shall not be named.
Posted by: Dorothy B at January 1, 2007 12:42 AMOoh, it's lovely! And BTW, you are taking such gorgeous pics with the new camera! That's the merino-cashmere stuff, right? Mmm, does it look yummy.
Posted by: Jessica at January 1, 2007 2:01 PMThat's gorgeous - and so is brooklyntweed's! I have this on my "i want to knit it" but unfortunately this particular patons is unavailable here where I live :( Can't wait to see the finished product!
Posted by: kae at January 3, 2007 7:28 AMOooooh - this is gorgeous!
Posted by: sulu-design at January 3, 2007 10:51 PMJust so you know, after knitting my zippered cabled sweater for the man, we broke up, but are currently back on. Curse, be damned!
I don't have Bloglines so I keep obsessively clicking to your website to see if you've surfaced from 2006. Hope everything is peachy!
Posted by: Cirilia at January 9, 2007 2:51 PMI strictly recommend not to wait until you earn big sum of money to buy goods! You can get the credit loans or term loan and feel yourself free
Posted by: PatrickPenelope27 at July 18, 2010 9:17 AM