Purls and Pugs

Central Park in Motion

OK, this is it about the Central Park Hoodie, I promise. First I wanted to show off some action shots of it being worn. The following pictures were taken by my group mate Cody while at school. Who said you can't have fun at school?

Caption: Here I am looking all professional and warm in my new sweater. Is it really going to snow that much?!


Caption: Seriously, Cody, this is for a website! I'm serious...no funny business here!! BTW-do you think the professor is serious about that 60 page paper?!


Caption: Damn! I can't keep a straight face!

Done!

I had this grey wool hoodie from Abercombie & Fitch when I was in college that I LOVED. I wore it everywhere...to breakfast on the weekends, to class, to the bar, to bed...I loved that hoodie so much I wore a hole in the arm. This was before I knew how to knit, so repairing it was not an option. Eventually, I had to retire my grey wool hoodie to the garbage can.

Now I have a new grey hoodie that I think will become as loved as the last. Though I do plan to take  better care of this one, I still think it will be worn a lot. Especially since the temperature of my office is close to frigid. I can see this little number being dressed up with some black dress pants or dressed down with some comfy jeans.

It probably took me longer than it should have to knit, but I love the results. It pays to take your time and make everything look great!

Pattern: Central Park Hoodie from Fall 2006 Knitscene
Yarn: Knit Picks Swish Superwash in Coast Grey
Needles: Addi Turbos size 8 & 6
Notes: I did not change one thing in this pattern, but I did block at the piece level and at the finished product level. I think it helps for construction and then for fit in the end.

More pictures to come...

Almost a Cardi!

This weekend I worked on Bears hats and seaming my Central Park Hoodie. I have the entire sweater sewn together, and just need to do the hood/button band. I wish I just had the time to sit down and finish it. It is going to be a great sweater! I can't wait until I can wear it...the weather had dropped below zero, so a warm sweater is just the ticket.

Something I noticed while seaming the sweater is that I like it! Yes, I just said I like finishing a sweater. Well, I like it when it turns out all pretty and nice. Though I do most of my sweaters in the round because I don't have the time to sit and seam them. When I am done knitting, I want to be done and be able to wear the sweater!

It's good to have sleeves!

Monday is the beginning of school. Which means that I will not have as much time to knit. So, this weekend, I made it a point to try to finish the bulk of the knitting on the Central Park Hoodie. I also did some other knitting that I will share tomorrow.

So, I completed both sleeves. It felt like it took forever, but really, I think it only took a week or so. And I am a fan of doing both sleeves at the same time. Any mistakes I made or changes, I just did at the same time and didn't have to worry about writing down.

Now, I guess it is time to start sewing. That will have to wait until Tuesday for what little daylight I can squeeze out after work. I keep seeing all the finished ones out there, and I just cannot wait to get mine done. I have a feeling it will be one of those sweaters I will wear quite a bit!

Central Park Sleeves

I am still working on those silly sleeves. Even though they don't look even in the picture, they are. I have been working them at the same time. It's cool, so everything is the same...but I have to say the most annoying thing is the tangling of the yarn.

I still have a long way to go on these sleeves. But I was still thinking about the next thing I want to start. Hello?!  What about the other projects that need to be finished? Too many cute things out there to make....story of my life.

We are going to the Super-Market?!

It has been 21 years in the making, but the Chicago Bears are going to the Supermarket! No, I mean, Superbowl! With approximately 14 minutes left in the game, one of my friends started to say, 'I think we are going to the Super...' and she was immediately interrupted with 'Market! You can't jinx it! There is still time for the Saints to come back!'

The best part of the Superbowl this year is that my two favorite teams are playing each other, and I called it back in August. Yes, you read that correctly....I said in August that the Bears and Colts would play each other in the Superbowl! Wish I would have put some money on that. Man, I would be rich....

I tried to knit during the game on Sunday, but really didn't get very far...lots of yelling and singing the Bears' Fight Song (Yes, I know all words...have since the age of 10), and touchdown arm waving prohibited knitting anything. I am still working on the sleeves of the Central Park Hoodie....going strong.

A Little Voodoo

I decided that I am getting so close to completing the knitting of my Central Park Hoodie, so I needed to start blocking the pieces I have done.  I pulled out my blocking wires and went to town. While I was pinning down the wires with the t-pins, my husband said I was doing Voodoo. Ok, not quite, but whatever helps him get my knitting.

I started two sleeves at once, and have not gotten passed the ribbing. I am hoping that doing them at the same time will make life a little easier...at least I won't think this sweater only needs one sleeve! I also decided to pick up some buttons today at Jo-Ann's so that I don't have any excuse to finish this project!

Yoda decided to play poker with the big boys on Saturday. Now, she is paying the tired price. But how cute is that tired pug? She reminds me that I need to finish that quilt....Ahh, not enough time in the day!

Damn, it's already December...

What a crazy month! Seriously, I have been not sleeping, barely eating, shopping, and basically driving myself crazy...

The reasons for not sleep and and eating will be revealed in short order, but not everything is in place, yet. I don't want to jinx anything, but I guarantee you all will be very surprised. (No, I am not having a baby. I'll at least give you that!)

I am totally putting off cramming studying for my Cost Accounting final that is tomorrow. I am not into accounting and this class is painful to me. It's painful to most of the class as well...So, as you can imagine, knitting has been very sparse. But at some point, I was able to finish the back of the Central Park Hoodie.

I don't think I posted the final picture of the back, but please excuse me if I already did...

I better get to studying....

I have to say Yoda doesn't look too excited about the studying either...I don't blame her.

Holiday Slacker

I know, I know...it's been awhile. But I have been trying to concentrate on school and work. Those are noble reasons to not post, right? I did give you cute Yoda pics, though....

So, what little knitting I have been doing is on the Central Park Hoodie. I am to the armhole decreases, and I am loving this KP Swish Superwash! It is sooo soft for a superwash and knits up great. Of course, I don't have to mention the price is right, too. Now they need to come out with some more colors... Here is an update pic of the back with some company swag that is working great for a travel knitting bag:

Here is a close-up where you can also see the beautiful stitch markers Lynette made for me:

The color is better represented in this picture. The name of the color I am using is Coast Grey...a great neutral for this type of sweater! Once school and Christmas shopping are done, I should fly on this little number and get it done....