Progress!

Now that I've gotten my Mystery MusiKAL shawl finished (pictures to follow when I get the ends woven in), I'm focusing on my Austin Hoodie again.  I have finished knitting the lower body section and divided the front stitches from the back stitches.  I've completed the woven section on the back and I'm about to start the ribbing section.  I had played with the idea of using different stitch patterns, but I eventually decided that I really did like the stitch patterns used in the original pattern, with a couple slight changes.  I did not double strand the woven section because I'm using sportweight yarn instead of fingering weight, and I am going to reverse the ribbed section at the top by knitting where I'm supposed to purl and purling where I am supposed to knit.  This should give me a slightly more subtle ribbing and still match at the shoulders.

I'm hoping to really make some progress on this and be finished with the body before the end of the month.  I have to have the whole sweater finished by the end of March and I will have two sleeves, a hood, and front bands to do after the body, so I've got to get moving!

In other news, Mickael got me a robot vacuum (and it mops!) for Valentine's Day!  It's seriously amazing!  I was just sitting here this morning, drinking my tea, and writing to you while it went to vacuum and mop the master bathroom.  Obi barks at it occasionally,  but he really doesn't seem too troubled about it, he tends to follow it a little bit, but the barking seems to be more on general principal than because he senses any threat.  It did knock one of his squeaky balls out from under the sofa yesterday, and he was thrilled to get that back!

I'm Binding Off!!!!!

Yes, I'm binding off on my Mystery MusiKAL Shawl!  It has been a long road, but the end is in sight.  Sort of.  There are at least eleventy million ends to weave in when I finish with the actual knitting, but I'm getting there!  (I chose to work only one section of the brioche edging, but I made it wider than the pattern called for.  I decided the shawl was plenty big enough and I was starting to make stupid mistakes, so it was time to call it done.)

Choices

I'm currently working on the brioche border of my Mystery MusiKAL shawl, but while I work on that, I'm also thinking about what ribbon I want to use to stabilize the front edge of the Austin Hoodie Cardigan.  From left to right, top to bottom I have: a cream ribbon that has different undertones than the cream color of the yarn, a pale ballet slipper pink, a mauve, a slightly darker mauve that leans a little more brown, a gray velvet that can look anywhere from silver to dark gray, and a greenish gray color.  Nothing is quite perfect.  The two gray tones are too dark and will possibly show through.  The mauve ribbons are both nice, but I'm not sure because I don't wear those tones.  The pink is pretty but it might be a little twee with the cream sweater.  The cream is just the wrong color of cream for the yarn.

As you can see, there are some possibilities, but nothing is quite right.  I'm still thinking about it, but I might need to order more ribbons.  I could also use strips of fabric to stabilize the edge.  While I'm making up my mind, I'll keep knitting the border on the shawl.  I can tell I'm almost finished with it, but each row has eleventy billion stitches so it's not moving very quickly!  

Hopefully this weekend I can get some knitting done and have more to show you next week!