Finishing a Sweater

I've noticed a sad but interesting thing about myself and, in my very rough calculation, this seems to apply to about 50% of knitters I meet everyday. Some projects, like hats, are very easy to finish, but those that require "making up" can sit, completely knitted, in a closet for years just waiting to be finished and shown off. Let us not fear success! Just think of all the compliments you will receive on your sweater, of the baby that is now six months old and in need of a hand knit blanket, or whatever the incentive that works for you.


If you haven't noticed, I'm trying to motivate myself here.  I have been working on a coat-style sweater on commission since October now.  In my defense, I had to take a break from it for my Christmas knitting, at which time I was able to finish several different projects, though mostly small ones.  But I finished almost all of the main knitting on this sweater about two weeks ago and I've just been avoiding the assembly of the pieces, the next necessary step.  So today I forced myself to sew the side seams and the sleeve seam of the one trial sleeve.  Note that it took no more than an hour.  Oh, and it didn't hurt at all!

New Baby

  Working at the yarn shop means I am always thinking about which items might want to come home with me.
  We sell these beautiful drop spindles on consignment from the talented Tucson artisan Ken Ledbetter.  Each one is unique and they vary in weight, wood type, and embellishments.  This one has always stood out to me and I have seen it passed over time and again by shoppers.  Originally I was waiting until a spot opened up in one of the shop's popular spinning classes, but I decided yesterday that I couldn't wait any longer to bring this baby home with me!

This spindle features a lacquered Russian broach
on a Koa wood whorl
with dyed maple for the shaft.
weight: .88 oz

I watched several tutorials on YouTube and found this one to be most helpful to me:

My first handspun yarn!  It is merino wool which is known as the easiest
for a beginner to spin.  The only question is what will I use it for?

My First Tag

Welcome to 2012

Happy New Year, everyone!


It's been a busy few months for me wrapping up 2011. Since I've been back in Tempe, I've been working two jobs while attempting to keep some time available for my knitting sales. I work at Tempe Yarn & Fiber, which is great because I get to surround myself with other knitters just as obsessed as I am. It's also great because I will be able to learn lots of new skills - I'm particularly excited to take some weaving and spinning classes hopefully starting this month. To help support my yarn habit, I also work at a brand new restaurant/bar called O.H.S.O. in Arcadia, one of my favorite neighborhoods in Phoenix.


It's nice to keep busy, but I need to make sure to keep my priorities straight - so here are my New Year's Resolutions:


1.  Finish Every Project I Start!


2.  Get More Involved On Ravelry!
        ->Find me here as MeghanCecilia


3.  Burn Through My Yarn Stash!

Goin International

In the words of my sister, "business is booming" for my PennyMae shop this week.  I've made four sales to four different countries (Japan, Australia, the US and Spain)!


Three of my items were immediately relisted, but the last one (my Southwestern top) I couldn't, due to a hard-to-find yarn I picked up in Sequim, Washington.  However, I do have the same yarn in a different colorway, which is light pink and orange.  Keep an eye out for this one coming soon...

Southwest Fantasy

As you can probably tell I have many many projects going all at once.  It gives me lots of variety and little chance of boredom.  As much fun as it is to start new projects, of course nothing compares to the satisfaction of actually finishing something!



Coinciding with the miracle of a computer returned from the dead, what a great time to finish a bright and (I think) stylish new top to photograph and edit with the latest version of iphoto!

This Southwestern top is knitted in one piece with an identical front and back.
The bias cut drape was created using a combination of yarn-over increases (at front and back) and decreases (at both sides).

Back to the 21st Century

I am pleased to report that my computer (whose hard drive crashed in like May) is back up and running, and it only cost me $75!  That is the cost of a new replacement hard drive with 500GB of memory.


If you are like me and many I know, you love your Mac. Let me give you another reason to love it, if you don't already know.  You can replace your own hard drive in about 5 minutes with two screwdrivers and a YouTube video, okay?  Do not shell out $85 in labor to hire a "professional"!


"But Meghan," I hear you say, "I didn't plan ahead for this. I threw away my original 2007 Mac OS disk and Application suite disk!" (Okay, maybe you weren't stupid enough to do this, but I was.)  Well, not to worry because you can just go to the Apple store and they will give you the BRAND NEW versions of everything, and it will be free!