I suck at Project Spectrum

I started Project Spectrum in May. I started a green Nothin but a T-shirt. It still needs sleeves. And a neck. So, in June, I thought I would make Joe a pair of blue socks. I made him one blue sock. So, for July I thought I would make all kinds of cool stuff. Cause purple I can do. I have tons of purple stuff. I have a purple truck:

















I have a purple cubicle:

















I have a ton of purple yarn in the stash:
















The car I really really really really want more than anything is purple:
















So I thought that I would just ROCK at project spectrum in July since this month's theme color is and always has been my favorite color. All I managed to make was this stupid farmer's market-type bag:




I like it though. I think it will really come in handy in Aruba, and as you can see, it's already making itself useful. Cause I needed more yarn.

Back in business

Back in business
Originally uploaded by jennylewinsky.

(Sorry for the white on white. I know it's hard to see. And, also, sorry for the jammies. It's been one of those days) I have been looking for a full slip to wear under the dress that doesn't have a lace neckline, but am having zero luck. I guess I have to break down and sew a lining after all. Bummer. I'm loving the pineapple pattern so far, though. Memorize a few stitches, then repeat, repeat, repeat, repeat................

If you see this man.........

Jenny 039
Originally uploaded by jennylewinsky.

If you see this man, don't tell him his hat makes him look like he has pigtails! This is knitty's Swell pattern. It's reason #325 to avoid crocheting my dress. I HAAAAADDDD to finish Joe's hat! Cause it's 100 degrees outside & he needs his wool hat RIGHT NOW!

Anyway! About this Swell pattern.... What is up with the gauge the pattern calls for? 16.5 stitches on size 5's with Cascade 220? Um, how? Are you supposed to double the yarn? It doesn't say to doulble it. I got 23 stitches on 6's. So, I changed the pattern to fit my gauge instead of using 13's to get gauge & having a holey hat. I ended up with 121 stitches instead of 99 like the pattern called for. Also, after you incorporate the earflaps into the round, it says to purl for 2 rows. I'm no expert, but there are not two purl rows on the hat that dude is wearing. So, I skipped the purls & did a round of single crochet around the bottom of the hat to keep the thing from rolling. Other than that, I eliminated the colorwork & changed the peace symbol to a Harley-Davidson logo. I could not get my camera to catch the light good enough to photograph it, but it's there, trust me.

Edited to add: I emailed the designer of Swell, and she said she is working on fixing the pattern's glitches. :)

The dress is finally out of the time out corner. After trying to graft the thing every way I could think of, I finally just gave up. It's 12 rows of ripping back. Not going to kill me.

My 'future' Mother-in-law ROCKS!

I called my future MIL about my little mis-hap with the dress. She asked me to send her a picture of the problem and then she would get back to me. She crocheted a mini version of the waistline and cut it to see what happened when she did. How awesome is that? Anyway, she said she cut one row of single crochet out of the work, picked out all the little yarn ends, then slip stitched the whole thing back together & it worked like a charm.

So.........

Are you guys as nervous as I am? I decided to add a few rows of sc to the bottom of the bust/waist line since it was a little short. So, while I do that, the bottom part will hang out on the cutting board. I am terrified these little loops are going to unravel. But I have been assured they will be fine.

Lovin the lace

After just ONE day on the lace part, I am already done with the first diamond pattern. Woo hoo! Now, if it were remotely close to being centered, I would be doing great.

Off by two stinkin' stitches. AAAAHHHHHH!

Any advice? Pam? Help!

Well, that took forever

Here is the progress on the Lily Chin dress. I finished the top! It seems like it's slow going, but I have been working on a bunch of other stuff. There is a mistake on the back that I am counting on my hair to cover, and there is a total fuck up on the front near the left sleeve (my left, your right). Can you see it? Be honest!