Thursday, March 5, 2015

Lady Kina and a full moon.......

I have finally finished my Lady Kina sweater and I just love it.  I'll tell you what there is a LOT of knitting in this sweater.  It is one of those sweaters that you knit, and knit, and knit, but feel you are never making any progress on it.  But the trick is you actually have to keep knitting on it and not get sidetracked by big green blankets and other projects.  I have never said I am a monogamous knitter.  Well I try to be but it just never seems to happen.  In recent years I have tried to have only one knitting project and one crochet project going at a time.  It helps me to actually finish things if I do it this way.  But this sweater has seen many a project completed before it had its big day.

Shall I introduce you?   Blogging friends may I introduce you to Lady Kina..............


Made with eight, 104 yard balls of Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo yarn, totaling 800 yards.  I also used a size 6 circular needle.


This pattern is well thought out and pretty easy, it just takes a lot of time to knit.


Although I do not think of myself as a goldish person, I really fell in love with this yarn last summer when the yarn store I used to visit in Tampa closed.  I can't remember if the yarn was 30 or 40% off, either way it made this a very cost effective project.


The button is from good ole Joann's Fabrics and Crafts.


The only trouble I had with this yarn is with joining a new ball.  You can't do that in the middle of the row because you would see the pull of the stitches as you secured a new ball.  That left me with the beginning of a row, which due to the garter stitch pattern made it more noticeable. I then decided to start the new yarn where the garter stitch border ends and the body of the sweater begins.  This was also noticeable and in one spot looks kind of bad.  When I showed this sweater to my husband he went right to the spot and said what happened here?  You can see it about two thirds of the way down on the right side of the sweater.  Ah well I am not going to worry about it to much.  It is the nature of this yarn to be a bit slippery.  Yarn that has incredible stitch definition like this yarn does not hide flaws well, and I am not a perfect knitter, so it is what it is.  I am just glad it is done and that it fits!


Did you see the full moon last night or this morning?  On my way home from work yesterday evening the moon was brilliant against the darkening sky.  And this morning at 5:30, when I took Max out before I left for work, this is what I saw.  This picture has been enlarged but has not been touched in any other way.  I think it is so beautiful, but then again I am a moon lover. 

Thank you for you thoughts about my son and his swim meet.  If I can be honest I am still not over it, but I will be.  I think jumping right back into the work week and taking care of Little Buddy has not left me with any time to regroup.  I plan on taking some time this afternoon to catch my breath.  Hopefully the little one will take a good, long nap.

Hope you are having a great week.

52 comments:

Ljubinka said...

Adorable sweater, look beautiful!!
Great photos!
Happy weekend.:*

Unknown said...

Wow, I love that sweater! I'd really like to knit it for myself, maybe a bit shorter... thanks a lot for linking the pattern, as soon as my circs arrive in the mailbox I think I'll give it a try! : )
Moon always offers us some marvelous sights, and you managed to get a great picture of it. xx

Unknown said...

Beautiful sweater! You just amaze me with all the things you create.

Pammy Sue said...

Absolutely beautiful sweater! I love it, Meredith! It does look like a lot of work, but you did a wonderful job, as always. We didn't see the moon here. We got 5 inches of snow last night! It was so beautiful.

Stitchy Mc Floss said...

It's a lovely sweater for a beautiful lady!

((hugs))

Crafty in the Med said...

I love it Meredith...I love everything about it...the neckline ( my sort of!!!),the length so right and the colour different but adorable!!! It was worth the time spent on it I'd say!!!

I just can't have one make on the go at once!!! :-)

keep well

Amanda xx

Beca said...

It looks like it was worth the effort. It's a beautiful sweater. Maybe I'll get good enough at knitting that I can do something like this one of these days.
xx Beca

mamasmercantile said...

The sweater is gorgeous, such a elegant creation and a beautiful colour.

CJ said...

Lovely Lady Kina, you've made a beautiful job of it. I hope you're able to regroup this weekend, you've had a stressful time. CJ xx

Betsy said...

Oh Meredith this sweater is just beautiful. It does look like a lot of knitting, but it turned out wonderful. And I don't see any oopsees! :-). We also didn't see the moon up here at Mandy's. We're in the middle of a blizzard so there were no stars or moons to be seen last night.
I must have missed your post about your sons meet. I'll go back to try to find it. I've tried to keep up while her, but I know I'm missing once in a while.
Blessings my sweet friend,
Betsy

Home Meadows said...

Your sweater is gorgeous and I love the touch with the floral button. I hope LB took a nice long nap for you and you were able to get some "down time". We all need time to ourselves. Take care and have a nice evening, Heather

Between Me and You said...

Your work is so neat! I love the colour also. Well done you. I remember your Moon pics from last year too. Solar eclipse imminent.xxx

Amy at love made my home said...

Gorgeous!!!! A beautiful colour and I truly cannot see any joiny bits!! I hope that you feel more recovered after the weekend. Love yourself a little! Big hugs to you. xx

Anonymous said...

Lady Kina is gorgeous and I think that color will look very nice with your dark hair.

I did notice the moon last night, but it was already up high and white (not golden). Still gorgeous though. I too LOVE a full moon.

Kris said...

That is beautiful! I will be so happy when I can say that I am a real knitter like you!!
xo Kris

Teresa Kasner said...

Meredith, that is one magnificent item of wearable art! It's like liquid GOLD! Bravo! I would *love* to see that on you! I didn't see any errors at all. Just smooth beautifulness. And *love* your moon shot, I got a fun one, too. I do hope that long nap happen and you should order takeout and relax. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

Gracie Saylor said...

You know I tried to see the imperfection [where is Waldo?] but I think your Lady K is beautiful and I hope you enjoy wearing it and ignore the imperfection you see and I can't see :-) The moon has put on a show for us here, too. Teresa posted an amazing photo on FB and your photo is amazing, too! I hope you are able to have some regrouping...quiet time. xx

elns said...

Wow, that turned out lovely. I think the bamboo yarn is perfect for it, it really gives the garment the a beautiful drape. Maybe for the summer, I have too many things on the needles now to get distracted by your good and bad influence! ;)

Grammy Braxton said...

That sweater is gorgeous. I love the length, the way it drapes, the button, everything. I don't see any oopsies myself because I was too busy adoring the sweater. Wish I could knit, I think that would be something I would really love to have.
Hugs,
Sharon

Joyful said...

It's a beautiful sweater! The white sets it off very nicely and the button too. xx

Karen said...

Just gorgeous. I love the color and how delicate the yarn looks. The moon picture is so pretty, too. Lovely post.

I'm going to follow your suggestion and finish the blanket I started. Who knows, it might turn out better than I expect, and I'm through most of the hard part! Can't wait to go find some new yarn though:)

My Garden Diaries said...

It is gorgeous friend! Gosh are you so talented!!!! And that moon shot is amazing!!! Here is to hoping your little guy took a good long nap for you! Happy almost weekend to you! Nicole xo

Mrs. Micawber said...

Oh my gosh, that sweater is lovely. I'll bet it drapes and sways beautifully when you wear it. And the button is perfect.

8 balls and only one joining issue? I think that's great. (I just made an alpaca-silk hat for a niece and luckily I could spit-join the yarn ends, because it was so slinky and shiny anything else would have stuck out a mile.) :)

linda said...

it's beautiful Meredith well done on getting it finished, there is no way I could knit a sweater like this my tension is too uneven yours looks perfect to me, I bet it looks lovely on and this colour will go with almost anything. :) xx

Christina said...

I thought I recognised your sneak preview! It is beautiful, and the yarn is so so nice. I can't see any imperfections! I am knitting one of those, too. You are right, it takes a long time. Particularly before the arm cast off. Those endless purl rows made me weep. Have a wonderful weekend with our lovely family. x

Géraldine B. said...

Just a perfect sweater !!! the color is really nice !! HAve a lovely week end !

Tanna said...

Gorgeous sweater, Meredith!! And, I love that shade of gold... looks so good with the white t! Joining bamboo is a bugger. Ugh. LOVE this one!!

Hope you managed to catch your breath! blessings and hugs ~ tanna

Pradeepa said...

Love the sweater! It is very beautiful and the color is great too.

Suzan said...

Your sweater is lovely!!! And the button is perfect!!! When talking with Mom last night, she said the same the same thing as you - she's knitting a baby blanket and she said that she just knits and knits and she doesn't feel like she getting anything done. You'll have fun wearing this!!

Anonymous said...

How completely lovely! The color is yummy and we are not meant to be perfect creatures. A man would go right to a flaw but personally I barely noticed it and didn't until you pointed it out! I saw the moon last night and I agree it was fabulous but then again I love the moon too!
Hugs always my too far away friend,
Beth

Ingrid K. said...

Hi Mere!

Your Lady Kina is gorgeous!!! The colour is pretty and I bet that bamboo must feel so soft!!!

This is definitely also on my ravelry list - but not ready for it as yet!

Also love the button, it goes well together!

Hugs,

Ingrid xx
http://myfunkycrochet.blogspot.be

Mylittlepieceofengland said...

How beautiful, you are very patient and it was worth it. I love the button as a finishing touch xx

Claudia said...

Beautiful, sister! I love that color and it will look great with your tan.

xoxo
Claudia

Jo said...

That sweater is on my wish list. I am knitting with the same yarn at the moment in red for my daughters school cardigan and it does indeed have great stitch definition on the moss stitch part. Lovely button too. Happy weekend Mere and thanks for your lovely comment on my crochet skirt photo diary - it made me smile. Jo x

Acorn to Oak said...

It's super cute! I love it! Well done! Enjoy! :-D

Grandmabeckyl.blogspot said...

The sweater is lovely! I've not knitted a sweater in a long time....well, a few years ago for my granddaughter. small task for me, which I need to get back to! The moon is always fun to see even if it's beaming through a thin veil of clouds, like it was on Wed. evening when walking with my husband. Have a good weekend!

andamento said...

It's lovely!

kathy b said...

Oh Lady Kina how I love thee. Wow Mere, that's a lot of perfect knitting! I should have stuck with mine!
IM so jealous now.

I love the moon too. I always saw a spike in babies when the moon was full. I had zach under a full moon.
Your image is lovely

Anonymous said...

oh wow! that is lovely, and I really love the button. Buttons are so cool.

Chris said...

Wow your sweater is beautiful! The colour and the style are fantastic, wearing that lovely drapey bamboo will feel so nice. And it is PERFECT!! Why do we all point out our real or not very real flaws for the world to see and comment on?!?! Drives me bugs!! Knitters in my classes do that all the time and I have to read them the riot act. You have knit a beautiful sweater and you will love wearing and you will get so many compliments and people will be gob smacked you knit it!! That's my humble opinion for today! Lol!!!

Taci simmons said...

Just gorgeous my dear friend. This sweater is on my "someday to do list".

Carla from The River said...

Wow, your sweater is just amazing. You are so talented.
I am a moon lover too. :-) Great photo.
Carla

Neighborhood Watch said...

What a beautiful sweater! My goal is to make something like this one day. My husband cannot see any little errors I worry over. It's all just knitting to him. My sister-in-law though, she points out errors that aren't even errors.

Caffeine Girl said...

That is a beautiful sweater -- and perfect for you: simple and classy. Love the button.

I hope you've had time to regroup. It is so awful that some of the swimmers were so sick.
Were you complaining about temps of -7? Isn't that normal?

Maureen said...

Beautiful sweater! I want to make one now!

Jennifer Hays said...

Your sweater is beautiful, Meredith! I love everything about it. The color is really pretty and that button is a perfect touch. Very nice work.

Lynne said...

Your sweater is so pretty and I love the color! The moon woke me up shining through a very high window in our bedroom. I never tire of looking at it when it's full :)

Needles and Wool said...

Such a beautiful shawl! I love the berry edging :)

hope you and your family are well!
Lisa

Jill at emeraldcottage said...

Oh Meredithit is so beautiful, you are one clever lady :)
Jillxo

Vicki Boster said...

Holy cow girlfriend!!!! When do you find the time to make these gorgeous creations. If this was mine--- I would wear it almost everyday. It's beautiful!!
Vicki

Judy S. said...

Your Lady K turned out great, Mere! Love the button you chose also; it's perfect. You'rs looks longer than mine, but I know what you mean about a lot of knitting! It's a nice pattern, I think. Nice work!

Tammy@T's Daily Treasures said...

Lovely! And the button is perfect. :)