Pattern: Bubble Pullover by Norah Gaughan in Knitting Nature Raveled Here
Yarn: Malabrigo Yarn Merino Worsted 5 skeins of Polar Morn
Needles: Knitpicks Harmony Interchangeables US 8 (5.0mm)

Mods:
1) Knit to pattern gauge but reduced each pentagon segment to 28 stitches
2) Provisional Cast-on for all the pentagons
3) Picked up hip band and increase to small size
4) Knit sleeves top down with short rows according to Barbara Walker Knitting from the Top. I cast on 3″ across the top of the sleeve to take into account the smaller pentagon circumference.
5) Instead of decreasing the sleeves right before the ribbing starts, I started the ribbing as 2×2 and decreased it to 2×1 ribbing after 2 rounds.
6) Each sleeve was a skein of yarn which gave the ribbing a 5″ deep cuff.
7) The collar was knit with the remaining yarn with 3 button holes spaces 6 rows apart.
8 ) Switched to smaller needles after one inch at the collar.

Facts to remember: That pre-blocked sweater bodies do grow and the sleeve tops might not need to be as large as they need to be. Plus I need to remember what I did from one sleeve to the next. I did not think that my button holes would be too small until after I was trying to shove buttons through the holes.

Things I love: My first wool long sleeve sweater!!! What else is there to love! It is Malabrigo so it is a super cozy sweater. The weather was perfectly cool in July for a long sleeve sweater at sunset. My Project Spectrum 3 Project: Air Element theme of bubbles has turned out perfectly. And lastly I think this sweater has received the most complements I have ever received on ravelry.

I have been a bit over obsessed with a certain project in my rotation. It refused to let go of my attentions until last night (Wednesday) past midnight. I used every scrap of 5 skeins. Phew. It took a trip to show off at Twisted for my month yarn shop stop. Now it is waiting for a nice bath.

I was in a bit of Ennui with this sock, but I picked it up Saturday night and I fell back in love with it.  It grew quickly under my distracted attention.  The yarn was springy and nice.  I don’t know if my gauge changed or if I just have a different view of the yarn today.  It will probably flow past this weekend as I contemplate its special bits.

Care Bear’s socks are progressing and like I said she has been checking up on their progress, hoping to see the colors and look of these special prezzies.  No worries Care Bear, I know you too well and will be keeping things in the down low.

Needless to say this weekend will probably involve a rash of cast-onitis.

I got the body completed on Saturday. Finished the Hip ribbing that needs a very cool button and a good blocking to look better.

I started a sleeve yesterday. My goal was to do it top down and attach it to the body since I have eliminated seams by provisionally casting on everything. I would not let myself go to sleep until I finished the sleeve cap. I went to sleep quite happy because it fit perfectly.

We have a new person interested in yarn in this house. Mr Bun was sniffing around the sock yarn box yesterday. I pulled out the camera to catch what I hoped was a cute picture of the bun sniffing yarn. Sadly I catch a heinous crime by the grumpy bunny.

Sorry the picture is blurry. He is fast.

He tried to steal a skein of STR out of my box and dig in it. Jesh, I thought only my needles were endanger of being harmed by my animals but no it seems the bunny can not be trusted around an open box of yarn.

Since I have shown you a crime to sock yarn, I will put you at ease that I am not leaving the stash out for bunnies to make snarled messes out of, but rather to knit with them. My BFF Care Bear had a birthday on Sunday. I have had yarn in my stash for her birthday socks since April, but had not asked her for her measurements.

Unfortunately, she reads my blog and looks at my flickr page so ya’ll get to see a picture with the colors scrubbed out.  I tried a new toe with this pattern and I think I really like it.  It has a really cool look to it.

Other than that Knittymuggins and I have started the Sexy Knitters Club’s first all ravelry nominations.  Go check it out.  We have eleven designers nominated this round and hope to have more soon.

POF has finished its move in. I have fixed all the links that I can think of. If something is wonky or missing, let me know. I need to put in some more widgets but mostly it is all done.

Now to the all important, What’s on my needles?

BIL Christmas Socks – almost done

Prayer socks – First done, Second started

Bubble Pullover – 5 pentagons done. I am being a bit weird and blocking as I go. Here is 3 pentagons.

I have swatched for a Christmas present but not sure yet of what I want to knit other than a hat for someone very special. A person who has never gotten a hand knit from me before and he has known me since I first picked up the sticks. I will probably knit my new fav basic ribbed hat.

I fell in love with this pattern, the Bubble Pullover from Knitting Nature, before I ever bought the book. I was just looking for the right yarn and the right occassion. Now I understand the middle of summer is not the most ideal time to be knitting a 100% wool sweater but considering I still wear sweaters for most of the summer it is not too much of a hardship.

First came copious swatching. I really wanted to have a more fitted sweater than the original. The smallest size gave you a 46″ bust. I wanted something a little big but not that big. So the first swatch (red) was knit with the original stitch count on smaller needles. It was still too big. It would have given me a 43″ bust. I wanted smaller so I crunched some math and cast on with the needles to get gauge and less stitches.

It worked and the sweater will be a 40″ bust. Now I am sure you are sick of the bubbles so let me distract you with socks.

My swap socks are past the heel and I no longer am worrying if they will fit. They are a bit snug on my feet so they should fit just right on hers. I love the way this pattern turned out.

BILs socks are coming along nicely. I got to the last toe increase on Friday and got to where you see now while watching Get Smart. I loved the movie. It gave me answers to my fav show as a kid. Now I am not that old but I used to stay up late when visiting the grandparents and watch Nick at Nite.

Lastly the Firebrick Mittens are on to there second mitt. I am so excited. Now if I can keep the momentum up, ya’ll will see the pattern soon.