Here comes the train...

We had breakfast at a nearby IHOP to meet friends and check out the ceiling mounted train layout in the restaurant. Initially, we looked up every time the train appeared in our section of the restaurant. Fortunately, the company was too good to keep that up.

I want to hang my layout so part of my purpose in being there was to see how the trains were mounted. It was a great choice, because his solution looked homebuilt. Since that is what I plan to do, it was fun to reverse engineer. I have a design. Similar to the restaurant's, but simplified.

Yarn Ordered.

On Friday morning, I spoke to a lovely sounding Englishwoman at J&S and ordered the yarn for the Fair Isle Pullover with Vertical Stripes.

Now, I'm really motivated to finish my sleeves. I completed the last cable twist so I just have the reverse stockinette pattern to go.

I'm very proud of this...

Looks nice doesn't it.

How about this?



Did it almost fool you? I stripped the black paint off the tank on one of the models and used touch-up paint from my bike to make it unique.

On the knitting front, SFC arrived! I've been drooling. And I have had a total change of heart. All the sweaters are so much more vibrant when they are not on my monitor. And, I am sure that I must be feverish, but I really want to knit this:




Further research and contemplation is required.

Note: Ed mentioned when he looked at the manifold picture that the brackets are now on straight. I guess I need to take another picture. And the fenders are quite as finished as we thought. But this too shall pass.

Manifolds & Fenders

Done. When we quit working on the Model T in April, we left ourselves a bunch of headaches. Since we started back on the car this year, it's just been frustrating. But we perservered and the rear fenders look great!



Notice the knitting on the floor in front of the stool. The knitting serves as stress relief for both of us by keeping me happily occupied when there is nothing I can do to help.

I'm diligently working on the sleeves for my cardigan. I finally feel like I'm making forward progress. I have one more cable repeat before I start the reverse stockinette pattern. I know that goes fast.



And here are the manifolds. They now fit together the way they should.



And we got January in during the record warm temperatures. It was quite a banner day.

Impatiently waiting

I'm waiting not very patiently now for my book to come. I've looked at the pictures that Rebekkah posted (great job) and it helped me to narrow my choices. However, I need the book in my hand to finally make up my mind.

I want to do a vest. I like vests. I also am afraid of feeling overwhelmed by a project that is really going to stretch my skills. Sleeves and the related construction might be too much. I love the colors in the Northwest Sunset Vest. I really like the lines of the Wisconsin Fall Foliage Vest. I'm thinking about lengthing the Sunset or changing the pattern on the Wisconsin, but I want to look at the pattern.

Soon, it has to arrive soon.

It's been almost forever...

Christmas has come and gone. I did no knitting for anyone. On my trip to Portland, I knit a hat. It was my first attempt at stranded work, and I loved doing it. I so hated intarsia. It was a pleasant surprise to find that I didn't hate all colorwork. I even modified the pattern a little bit.

Sweaters from Camp should soon arrive. It will be a belated Christmas present from my mother-in-law. I hoped when I ordered it that I might actually want to knit something from it as opposed to just salivating over the pictures. Maybe the knitalong will inspire me to blog. Or not.