Happy New Year!
I hope everyone had a good holiday. We did. Yesterday was a busy one. The kids had another half day at school. As I had the whole day off from work, I was able to take advantage of a couple of hours of shopping without them. I made the semi-annual pilgrimage to the local Ikea. The last time out, I had replaced the rocking chair in my room with the very popular Poang chair with ottoman. I love the chair except it was really too big when paired with the ottoman for the space I had it crammed in. Add in that when I hit Ikea last May, I really had an easy chair in mind but got a bit distracted in the store ;) It was time to rectify that mistake, especially since I couldn't spin in the Poang and had to seriously rearrange things in order to spin. Meant I didn't spin much. Yeah, I'm sticking with that excuse. :)
Behold the new chair. Ektorp Jennylund. Love those ikea names!
It fits perfectly and is what I had in mind for the corner to begin with. I have a small footstool that doubles as an exercise step and a boost for the kids to climb into my high bed (double sided pillow topper. mmmmm)
One bonus of the new, stable chair is that the cats can now take advantage of that extra wide window sill that my father had them install.
Last night's festivities involved dinner with the folks at home, some quiet together time and then the twins went to bed. They were out by 8:30, the folks went to their friends' house for the evening and I spent a quiet night with a drink (margarita), a movie (Casino Royale) and my knitting (kauni). All right in the world.
Today the folks worked the Power Squadron booth at the NY Boat Show while the twins and I spent a nice quiet day. They played in the den while I sat in my old Poang that was relocated there and knitted on Kauni. When the folks came home we went out for dinner at the local diner.
Speaking of Kauni, ready for a serious surprise in the story of the sleeves? I hope so. Well Thursday at SnB, I started the charted fleurs de lis. It was nice, but nothing to write home about. Then I got a comment from Kyra suggesting one of the seeding patterns in the Starmore Fair Isle book (which I got from my granny a few years ago that she picked up for $1.99 at some odd job store ;). Flipping through there and my other Fair Isle books, I didn't see a single sweater that changed the pattern for the sleeves. I then remembered Autumn Rose which uses the same large motif on the sleeves, as well as the body. Out came the sleeve chart and my original damask. I then plugged in the damask pattern into the sleeve centering it on the middle stitch. Like Autumn Rose, I three motifs around the sleeve and am reducing stitches at the center every 5th round. I'm pleased with it and I take back that whole, its too busy for the sleeve business.
I took this picture a little bit ago. I find myself 1/4 of the way through it!
In other project news, since Kauni really isn't commuter friendly, and was in time out for that short bit I did start a new project. The Cozy V-Neck sweater from Fitted Knits in Cascade Pastaza. After knitting on Kauni and its small needles, the Cozy is flying on the US9!
Time for a little knitting before bed. Tomorrow is back to work after 4 days off.
Craft on!
The Kauni looks nice. I think the original motif was the right choice. And the Cozy -- well, it looks like it will live up to its name!!
Posted by: Danielle | January 02, 2008 at 10:22 AM
Happy New Year! I had a similarly mellow New Year's Eve with knitting and a movie (Babel with a grizzled Brad Pitt). The Kauni sleeves look great. I think you hit on the perfect choice. I'm so tempted to start the Cozy as my next sweater (I already have enough Pastaza in the stash).
Posted by: Kim | January 02, 2008 at 12:39 PM
The sleeves look great. I suppose it's possible to over-think things.
Posted by: Ina | January 02, 2008 at 10:07 PM
Risa, I was at Ikea today and never thinking I had read your blog about the chair, I tested the Jennylund and was impressed so I think a couple of those are in my future too. Happy New Year!
Posted by: Elsie | January 03, 2008 at 10:25 PM
Nice choice in a new chair. And I love that pic of the kitty in the window! :) Kauni is looking great. I think the sleeves are going to work out just fine that way. Happy New Year!
Posted by: Jessica | January 04, 2008 at 09:15 AM
Love the new chair in that corner. Having that window behind it will be awesome. Kauni sleeves are looking fantastic. Really like this option for them. Can't wait to see the finished object. Ahhh you're knitting the Cozy sweater. That too is on my list to knit. I'm just trying to decide what yarn to use. Happy New Year!
Posted by: Deborah | January 05, 2008 at 08:26 AM
I can't get over how beautiful the Kauni sweater. It is looking great!
Happy New Year to you!
Posted by: Brooke | January 06, 2008 at 02:44 PM
Question about your Kauni sweater sleeves. Where did you get your graph paper for the sleeves? Does it match the guage you are knitting? Or do you use software to graph your designs?
Posted by: kathy | March 07, 2008 at 03:14 PM