Finished Object Friday - Shapely Boyfriend

I truly try and let the yarn guide my project.  I want to love what I work on and I want the yarn that I am using to be the star of the project.

This project has some history.  It started it's life as a vest that I just wasn't pleased with and ended as a cardigan.  In the middle however, I decided to make it a different size and ripped it apart again.

Back in October, I decided I wanted to finish my half done sweater but when I looked at it I realized that I was making it too big.  I had just started my journey to weight loss surgery and knew that even if I finished before the surgery, I wouldn't be able to wear it for long.

So I started over and was shocked at how fast this project went.  I began with a new skein of yarn and once that was used I ripped out the needles on the old sweater and started to use the yarn that was already knitted.  I was about 4 skeins into the sweater and I didn't want to rip it out and re ball it.  So I am carried around 2 sweaters, one that is growing and one that is shrinking.

Beginning Again.

I was shocked that in 6 short weeks I was able to finish the sweater.  I had the entire thing done and the buttons on but still had ends to weave in.  It was also about the time that I was prepping for surgery so I hung it up in my closet and left it alone for a bit.

Buttons!

Then earlier this month I stared at my almost finished sweater and decided it was time.  Between loads of laundry I sat on my bed and worked through weaving all the ends.  It was done and time for it's photo shoot.

It's Done

Check out more Finished Objects at Tami's Amis!

<3 Heather

Now for the Details:

Ravelry Page - Shapely Boyfriend
Needles - Size 10.5 mm Chiagoo Red Lace Circular Needles/ Size 9 mm Red Lace Circulars for band
Yarn - 9 skeins of Berroco Vintage Chunky yarn in Pumpkin
Duration - 6 weeks
Pattern - Shapely Boyfriend by Stefanie Japel in Knitty Deep Fall 2011

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes (Update 3)

Image by Wade Kelly

I have another collage photo to post.  I realized that I like these monthly look backs on how I am changing and improving my life since the surgery.  Once again I have to thank the Amazing Dianne for her photography skills and taking another shot of me at the mall during our knit night.  And a quick thanks to Samie for taking May's picture.

These last two months have flown by and I am super happy with my progress.  I have tried to make it to the gym as much as possible and am really happy with my endurance.  I am able to do 22 push ups in a minute, 45 squats in a minute and jog a mile in 15 minutes and 35 seconds.  What that equates to is 98.5 lbs lost since the surgery and 125.5 lbs since September.  My clothes are really just falling off of me and I have a ton of stuff to donate.

My 6 month progress shot!

For my diet, things have been looking up.  I can tolerate chicken again as long as I eat it slow and take small bites.  I am now allowed to eat salads and other fibrous veggies and am really happy with the variety.  Unfortunately, I had to adjust some things so I can get enough protein.  I have been noticing that my hair has been thinning so I eat with protein in mind first.

All in all I feel great, my energy is amazing and I am really happy with my progress so far.

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - Three Quarters

Hello again, I hope everyone had a lovely Memorial Day and weekend.  I am so thankful to those who dedicate their lives to defending our country.  I definitely try to keep that in mind during the long weekend.

I did however have a nice relaxing weekend where I didn't do to much.  I basically hung out with family, went to the movies (Godzilla - it was awesome!) and cleaned.  Really exciting stuff but I did get a new duvet cover for my bed and new sheets to compliment it.  What was even better was that it was all on sale!  Score!

So in love with Pink and Orange right now

So other than that blanket work has kept me entertained these past two weeks.

Hue Shift Afghan

Three Quarters of the blanket are done!

So I have been super motivated to get this blanket done.  I really love seeing these blocks come together.  I did try and start to join them but the mattress stitch pulled the patterned stripes off and it hurt my brain.  I have a few tricks up my sleeve though.  I am going to try again but move a bit further into the block than my first test.  If that doesn't work then they are getting whip stitched together.

The last quadrant

While I put the thoughts of joining in the corner to think about what its done, I started on the last section.  I purposely made sure this was the last section because these are my favorite colors of the blanket.  I knew when I started this thing that I was going to need a good motivator to get this last section done and so I put these colors last.

That combined with the Willow Square Blanket have really gotten me grooving on getting this project completed.  I even have the ends weaved in on two of the 3 completed quadrants.  Which is huge because there are a lot of ends.  I try and finish some ends after I complete a row so everything is ready when I start to join and complete the border.

I am going to modify the border on this blanket.  Since it's coming out smaller than I thought it would, I am going to make the border thicker to make the blanket larger.  I am also using Navy as the border instead of black like the sample had.

All in all I can't wait for this blanket to be done to snuggle underneath.

That's it for this week.

For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - Poor Benji

Really my post has nothing to do with anyone named Benjamin but it's stuck in my head from Pitch Perfect and my friend Samie.  Goodness I love that movie and need to remember to watch it more often.

Anyway, we have had some really warm weather this week with low humidity.  Aside from my allergies exploding, I am super pumped about this time of year.  Seriously, its gorgeous!

So things have been pretty calm here in Amaryllis land, between work, the gym and home I am pretty boring but I have made some progress on my blankets.

Hue Shift Afghan

Another color bites the dust...well becomes a willow square

As I have indicated, I am really trying to finish a color on this blanket to make squares for the Willow Square Blanket.  It's working pretty well so far as I finished the peachy color called (Shrimp) last night.

Now onto the last row of this section.  With that done all is left is the blues and green section, which may just be my favorite part.  Though after my favorite, I still have a lot of ends to weave in which is my least favorite part.

Willow Square Blanket

Pretty Peachy Square

Since I just finished the Shrimp color last night, I only got one square done but still wanted to show everyone.  Just need to keep on moving and both blankets will be done before I know it.

That's it for this week.

For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis

<3 Heather

WIP Wednesday - Bright and Cheerful

Hello again, a lot has happened since last week.  I have been pretty busy at work so I am a bit behind on the posts I wanted to write.  But I am at least trying to get one post a week up until things calm down.

Anyway, this past weekend was the 41st Annual Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival.  I had been saving up so I bought a lot of awesome yarn for this year's projects.  That in itself is another post hopefully this week.  Plus I still need to get some good shots of the yarns I bought.

On Sunday, I also got to go to my first playoff game of the Pittsburgh Penguins.  Spoiler Alert --> they won!

Now it's back to the grind but I have some awesome things to show you this week.

Willow Square Blanket

I love this square

I got the Pomegranate squares done bu nothing more really started.  I want to get to the Shrimp squares but I need to finish that row on the Hue Shift.  Other than that these are coming along nicely.

Hue Shift Afghan

Half way done with this block

So I am plugging along with this block.  The added incentive to get a color finished to make the Willow Squares keeps this project fairly handy.  I love getting into the middle of a square because each pass is so much faster than the first couple rows.  Overall, I just need to keep at it.

Juicy Hitchhiker

It's Alive!

This is my traveling project and as such it doesn't get to much work done on it or pictures.  I worked on this a lot this past semester because my professor let me knit during class.  I also took it around when I was at Maryland Sheep and Wool for a Project to do when sitting around and resting.  Really this guy usually lives in my car but it's looking pretty good for a travel project.

Other than that I have so much more to tell about my travels and my weight loss journey so stay tuned for more updates.

For other WIPs check out Tami's Amis

<3 Heather