Knitgirl's Stash: Martha's got back... and a front!

... but defiintely not in the Sir-Mix-A-Lot way! :D (If you didn't get that reference, please don't tell me... I'm feeling old enough as it is, lol!) I finished Martha's back midweek and immediately cast on for the left front. Erin mentioned this, but it is pretty damn amazing how quickly the front knit up - having half the stitches cast on the needles really make a big difference. *rolling eyes* I actually finished the left front tonight, I just took the pictures much earlier in the day.

Now I'm left with the decision to cast on for the first sleeve or just go right into the second front? If you look closely in the picture of the back, you'll see that I have the shoulders on stitch holders. I decided to modify the pattern for short row shoulders, since I'm never too pleased with my shoulder seaming. Once I got the front done I immediately did a three needle bind off on the front and one of the shoulders. The shoulder looks so much better. All in all, I'm pleased with how it worked.

While working at the shop on Saturday, I came to the conclusion that Emily needed to get off the chair she's been laying on and take a trip to the frog pond. Cindy tried to talk me out of it and convince me that if I was going to rip, just to rip past the armholes and reknit, but I decided that I just wasn't happy with it as it was. So I ripped her today. She now looks like:

I was worried that I wouldn't have enough yarn to reknit the sleeves properly, so I went out and got some more of the Debbie Bliss Cotton Cashmere I've been working with. I will reknit this - I actually have already re-cast on for the back. I'm going down a needle size, so now I'm knitting this on US2s and US5s. Not a huge deal, since I've been using the 2s to knit on Martha, but seed stitch in DK weight yarn on 2s was.not.fun. I was originally doing the largest size (which would have been large on me even if it had worked out the first time), so I'm not worried about going down needle size. I'm quite impressed with the short row shoulders that I will probably do the same on this - I really didn't like the "stairstep" look in this yarn.

Now for Soleil... She actually got some attention this weekend! Amazing, huh? Of course, she didn't get a lot of attention, but hey, she got some, right? I've never knit a sweater or tank in the round before, and didn't really realize that it would seem like forever to knit. There's just something about knitting something in pieces that makes it seem to go quicker, lol. I had to go to the DMV this morning and took her for some mindless knitting while I was waiting... wouldn't you know it, they were organized for once. No sooner had I pulled her out of the knitting bag and joined in the new ball, my number was called. If I hadn't brought any knitting, I'd probably still be sitting there. I had hoped to have her done by MS&W, but that's definitely not happening. Oh well, I don't think any bloggers will still be around on Sunday anyway, so jeans and a T will have to do, lol! ;)

For those who might have wondered what I'm going to do with my now-felted Clapotis, I decided on Saturday to give her to Shanti. She placed it on her shoulders and proclaimed that she liked it like this - then offered to knit my replacement for me! (Shanti, you so don't have to do that, but if you'd really like to.... lol) I did notice when Kelly cast on for her Clap, that the instructions were edited to add: "Note: Just a little over 3 skeins are required to complete the pattern as written. To make Clapotis with only 3 skeins, remove one repeat from section 3." That would explain all the questions we got about not having enough yarn for the full size... but I was able to do mine in 3 skeins... hmmm, interesting.