Ready...

At long last, the sleeves are done, but, as predicted, I had to rip about an inch from both front and back of the sweater to make the armholes fit. I'm going to give the sweater a light blocking today and bring it to "knitting practice" on Wednesday night. I have never seamed a sleeve. I love me a nice top-down raglan with it's happy little kitchener stitch under the arm. But, being the technique junkie I am, I have to get over this fear of mine of seaming. Besides, kind of necessary unless I want to wear this thing as a sweater and not a vest with matchy-matchy armwarmers...although... (Did you notice how close the stripes on the sleeves are, until you get to the top? Just in case, here is another view. Really hope the shift doesn't drive me.)

That being (nearly) done, I, of course, had to cast-on for my next project in waiting -- Mr. Greenjeans (hereby to be known as Mr. Bluejeans).

After a bit of debate, I settled on the Med. This won't leave me with much in the way of ease, according to specs, but I will never have enough yarn if I go to the large. As it is, I'm on a wing and a prayer. My plan is, should I run out, I'll pick up a darker blue in a similar wool and knit 1/2 the cable section on both cuffs and body in that. The ribbed button band will be decided later. I figure Peace Fleece would be a good match for this yarn. I am using a somewhat local wool -- Walpole Wool -- produced by the woman who ran the rescue from which I got my Lil' Big Dog, Chewie. It is rough, but not scratchy, and delightfully woolly. I made a swatch and EVEN WASHED IT (it's ok, breathe...) and then gave it the ultimate test. I stuck it in my bra. If I wear it there for hours and forget it is there, I am good to go. Yup. No itchies. It did soften up a bit with washing, and will be long wearing and durable, I am quite sure. The perfect jeans sweater.
Other news? Well, one wouldn't know it, but I did do quite a bit of dyeing last week, but nothing new made it to the shop -- my buckets have been well pillaged by local knitters. I did manage to get pictures of the new colorways, tho, and am diligently working on the website to get these added. Trying, anyway! I am not a tech girl, so it is a tedious task for me, and, unfortunately, too much time at the computer finds my mind and mouse wandering in Ravelry and many many blogs. FOCUS WOMAN! Like I said, it is a work in progress.