More Green and Some White Stuff

The Rhinebeck Raglan is finished.  The bottom was bound off on Good Friday.  I promptly put it on, snapped a picture and sent it off to my sisters and friend who were with me when this sweater was conceived.

After that photo op, it took a soak and then was blocked.

I wore it to work this past Friday and got several compliments on it.  One of my co-workers was fascinated with the colors.  He asked a lot of questions about how I got all the variation into it.  I explained the magic of hand-dyed yarn.  Even after knowing the secret he was very impressed with how it turned out.

There are a few things I learned from this.  

First lesson is to not only knit a gauge swatch, but also soak and block it.  I didn't do that last step.  The sweater grew a little with the blocking.  Not too much though, not that it matters anyway.  I was going for a big, comfy sweater.  That is exactly what I got.  In hindsight, I probably could have gotten away with knitting the Large size, instead of the XL, and still have been happy with the results.

Second, my arms are shorter than the average population.  I was once told by a yoga instructor that I have tiny, T-Rex arms.  The sleeves go past the tips of my fingers.  I only knit the sleeve to be 17 inches, instead of the 17 1/2 called for in the pattern.  I should have stopped at 15 inches.  But that would have been before all the decreases were complete.

Third, I could have adjusted the sleeve decreases to taper the arms a bit more.  This would have helped to accomplish shortening the sleeve and to make them not-so-wide at the cuff.

Fourth, I absolutely LOVE Briar Rose Fibers' Joyful.  It is so soft and snugly.  I want to knit another sweater in this yarn because it is so wonderful!!

And the last lesson, sometimes Mother Nature is on your side. I originally hoped to have this sweater finished by Christmas.  When that didn't happen, I was hoping I'd have it done mid-winter.  My knitting mojo lagged for a while, so I didn't progress as fast as I had hoped.  I resigned myself to having a sweater that might sit on the shelf for a few months until it can be worn.  But then Mother Nature intervened.  

Spring has been reluctant to show up.  Night time temps are still hitting the 20s F and daily highs are below average.  Rhinebeck just might get a few uses before it is too hot to wear.

Yesterday I participated in the annual Stitching Sisters quilting event.  Stitching Sisters is an organization that makes lap quilts for people going through outpatient chemotherapy at the OSU James Cancer Hospital.  They hold an annual Sew In to get many quilts made.  About 200 sewers participated.  There were also other people helping with ironing, sandwiching quilts, quilting and binding.   I was able to get one top done before lunch.

I have the blocks for a second top completed.  I just need to sew the pieces together and put on the borders.  It is also green.  

I think I'm in a very green phase right now.  I guess I'm just hoping that this will entice Spring to get here.