Now, I mentioned earlier that I was having trouble with the sleeves of the manswerater. Last night I finally made myself sit down and start reknitting the sleeve that I ripped out. I massively decreased right off the bat in order to slim up the sleeve, and it looked quite nice! I got about a half-hour into the sleeve, and then… I saw it. The sleeve stitches were smaller than the body stitches.

I realized then that when I’d ripped the sleeve out, I put it right back on the needles – the needles that were a size smaller than the body, because I was already on the ribbing for the cuff.

So yeah, I ripped the sleeve out. Again. I may have even thrown it on the floor with an angry noise.

I may start the sleeve AGAIN tomorrow, but if I do, I’m starting on the other sleeve hole. This one is TOTALLY JINXED.

Why, oh why did I cast this on? I am never going to finish all my projects this way. That’s it! I’m declaring a moratorium on casting on until I finish at least TWO projects. I’m gonna hide my needles, lock up my stash, and pretend like these five four projects are the only projects in the world. I am giving myself a break and pretending like that other sweater doesn’t exist, since it’s been in WIP land for quite some time now.

ANYWAYS. Sipalu. This bag has some seriously weird construction going on. First, it has you knit the 240-stitch side band flat. Fair Isle, flat? AW HELL NAW. I took that bad boy and knit it in the round, then tried out the crochet steek I saw one miss Sugar Sticks do.

I made my steek-safe area a little too wide, though; I may go back and chop some more off. Crochet steeking is so much easier than a sewn steek that I don’t dread that idea!

One other nice thing: I find I like colorwork much better when it’s a little, repeating pattern (like the side of the Sipalu bag) than when it’s a bigger panel (like the front). If I can just sit back and knit, rather than have my nose in the chart, it goes so much faster!

So, now that I’ve updated you with what I’ve managed to get off the needles, let me show you what I’m still slogging along on.

First up, that mansweater.

Yarn: Knit Picks Wool of the Andes Bulky in Oregano. Pattern: Top Down Raglan Sweater Generator.

Here it is, in all its sleeveless glory. I did knit an entire sleeve, only to discover that the pattern’s math and Real Life did not exactly mesh. The sleeve was way too wide. My only choice was to swallow my pride, weep bitter tears, and rip that sucker out. Sigh.  The Sleeveless Wonder has been sitting in the time-out corner for a week, waiting for me to recover enough to not hate it.

Next up: Fancy-pants lace!

Yarn: Briar Rose Fibers Angel Face. Pattern: Lilac Leaf Shawl.

After finishing so much Christmas knitting, I wanted to do something just for me and super fancy-pants. I already had the yarn, and I had the book of patterns, and here’s what’s coming out. I have had a few setbacks on this, but nothing huge. This is my first major lace project, so it’s a learning process. I am really, really glad that the lace pattern is only knit on the RS, because then at least I have a row knit straight across to rip back to.

Speaking of ridiculously complex patterns that I’ve been eyeing for months on end, I finally gave in and purchased the yarn for the SIPALU BAG.

Oh Sipalu. I’ve eyed you with equal parts fright, amazement, and skepticism. Colorwork is not my strong suit, but it’s just so pretty!

That is a lot of yarn for one project…

And now, just because all these projects just aren’t enough, here’s one more!

Yarn: Premier Yarns Serenity sportweight. Pattern: Sweetheart Cardigan.

I was having one of those days where every project was just sort of stalled out and I really wanted to cast on something new. Thus, a little bitty cardigan. I am super glad to be done with the bodice, though, because the project backfired and got all boring on me for a while.

So that’s what my easily distracted self has on the needles. And, if that wasn’t enough, there’s some more yarn coming in the mail. I don’t know what I’m gonna do with myself.