So I just got done with a project that has been languishing for quite some time – my tree jacket sweater! I originally started this one back in … ohhhhh …… October of last year. We took some time off, so to speak.



(not the prettiest picture ever, and I am vain, so I made it small)

I’m completely in love with it. I’ve already decided I’m wearing it for the next several weeks.



pattern: Tree Jacket by Zephyr Style (I’m not sure why all the images on their site seem to not be working, but whatever, there’s the link)
size: S
yarn: Knit Picks Andean Silk in barn red
needles: US8 Denises

I have a couple comments about the pattern. For one, I made it a little longer because those Zephyr patterns run a little short on me. Also, I followed the altered lace pattern for the body that I found here. The lace pattern, as it is written in the pattern, will bias. I saw a lot of pictures of Tree Jackets with biased lace, and although some people liked it, I did not. I don’t think a curving lace pattern would have looked even remotely flattering on my body. I’m a little confused though, because I did knit the collar in the biasing lace pattern and although it was mighty twisty, it came right out with some wet blocking. So now I’m wondering if I could have knit the whole sweater with that lace and just blocked the bias out… Oh well, I’m fine with the lace as it is so whatever. All I’m wondering is, am I just seeing tons and tons of unblocked Tree Jackets or does the bias not block out for everyone like it did for me?

So the photo shoot for this sweater was a fun one. I was blocking it on a mat on the floor of our office, and although Yoshi avoided the sweater when it was wet, the minute it became dry she just treated it like her own personal hand-knit dog bed. Case in point:


exhibit A


exhibit B


exhibit C: diggin those claws right in

Oh sigh. Why do I even bother trying to keep the dog hair off things.

And finally, any Arrested Development fans out there? Because this is one of our favorite moments in the show:


(yes, that picture is not mine. but at least I’m not stealing bandwidth.)

Oh, but is that one ever mine. Ha ha haaaa!!! Peto suggested that I stuff my sweater, but I didn’t want to stretch it out.

Perhaps this is why everything I knit has dog hair wound around every single stitch:



This is what happens when knitting is left unattended on the couch. It becomes a dogpillow. Incidentally, I’ve never known a dog that insists on having a pillow before. Very strange.

Here’s what’s currently on my knitting docket:

finish that pink thing (almost there – probably this can get done within 48 hours, depending on how much time I spend procrastinating on this last paper)
knit the other felted clog for my dad (I’m giving this one a period of three days)
finish up that dish cloth you see the yarn for above. (yes, I do eat off dishes that have been washed in dog hair.)

Besides these items of immediate necessity, I need to get back to the following things:
raspy:


tree jacket


And Peto would apparently like some mittens.
I would like some more hand-knit socks. I’d say the sidewinders are next up, followed by the over-the-knee socks from Handknit Holidays.