While I certainly could have finished the month ahead of schedule, I'm happy with on time. For the first time. Besides, I did sneak an extra MAN sweater into the mix. That has to count for something. 

While my last minuteness forced me into an artificial light photo shoot, I'd likely have been damned to the same fate at any other point during this month; the weather here has been awful. 

My faith in sewing has been restored. I am just tickled with this final product. Unfortunately, it's getting tucked into the closet until, probably, July when it might actually be warm enough to wear it.

I told you. I'm taking this month. I finished my Spring Pools first just to be on the safe side. They needed the most work.

I had a difficult time trying to photograph the pooling pattern, because I somehow managed to knit these about two sizes too big for my petite feet; there is ZERO negative ease here and corresponding pattern "pop". 

I do happen to know a lovely lady with an early April birthday whose feet would fit Cinderella style into these. (Mom, if you're reading, act surprised). Hopefully she'll let me get some better photos when I deliver them.

Pattern: Spring Pools by Linda Fisher
Yarn: Cascade Heritage Sock color 5631
Needles: Addi Lace size 1.5
Notes: I'm not 100% sure I'm in love with Cascade Heritage for socks, but it is nice to have a go-to for a solid color pallet. I worked with the exact yarn when I knit my Lace Cardigan,and I much prefer the way it works on the sweater. I mimicked the cuff from Hermoine's Socks because I love the stay-up-edness that a longer cuff provides. Aside from that small editorial liberty, I didn't make any modifications. Thank you Ms. Fisher for the fun freebie! 

...I was not disciplined enough to put Mike's Birthday sweater down to finish knitting my March socks or sew snaps onto my March sewing project. Fortunately, worsted weight yarn knits very quickly!* Between bopping around these last weeks, I was able to mange this:

That's right. This month; two sweaters (nearly; I still have some ends to round-up)! This is definitely not typical for me. Honestly, truthfully, I do a lot besides sitting around knitting...

With Dartmouth wet blocking well underway, I'm fairly confident that I will be able to harness my focus, if momentarily, and finish the month as intended. I'm going Jack Bauer on the next 24 hours' ass.

*Results may vary

Because, well, we all deserve a little break. My needles haven't stopped clickity-clacking all month. And, I have a lot to show for it... later...

There are too many "incorrect" things about this video to count. So don't. Just go with it.

 You are now returned to your regularly scheduled program. Get back to the grindstone! Only two days left before the end of the month!

It was too good to be true. Yes. My March Sweater is finished. Yes. My March sewing project is nearly finished. And, Yes. My March socks are within a few hours work of finishing. However, all work on monthy projects has halted. See, I got a little too excited about the prospect of finishing early, and for some reason, outside my ability to comprehend, I have decided to work on a thing completely unrelated.

Not only am I upset that I'm sidetracked, I'm concerned the obssessive aspect of my personality is going to drive me to work on this new project and sabotage any chances I have to finally finish a month ahead, or at least ON SCHEDULE. I can't really begin to explain how or why I thought I couldn't wait until April to start Mike's birthday sweater...his birthday isn't even until April 25. I don't know why I can't bargain with myself to knit a few rows on Spring Pools inbetween cable repeats. And, I'm not sure why my own reflective awareness of the present situation, in no way, sets me straight. Isn't acknowledging the problem the first step towards solving it, or something like that...

I'm hopeless.

A trip to the store and a few hook-and-eyes are the only things between me and a finished March sewing project! 

This month, I found a sewing circle in my neighborhood using meetup. The group gathers, wielding handwork, every third Saturday of the month. I see this as the PERFECT monthly kick-in-the-ass for me to have all my hems/linings/facings pinned and ready for slip stitching prior to the night before deadline. 

I'm keeping my fingers crossed for an improved forcast this weekend. It would be fantastic to get the chance to wear this before stuffing it into the closet!

The socks are still at wip, but I'm making pretty steady progress. I'm starting to feel fairly confident and getting excited at the prospect of free time!

Olive is worthy of some quality photos. 

I'm still sort of relishing disbelief that it's done so early in the month. 

I'm begining to wonder whether Mike might be slipping some crack into my cocoa. If so, I might not be as impressed with my motivation level this month...but, it's a little unreal and a lot awesome.
 
Both bodice and skirt of my March sewing project are lined and assembled... and it's not even the night before deadline! 

Working in phases with sewing this month seems to be incredibly beneficial (I'm sure the simplicity of this pattern is also a major contributing factor). While I wish I were able to cut/mark/sew/finish a garment to perfection in a single sitting, my energy and patience levels are not conditioned enough for the task. I'm finding that with my newly adopted pace, I'm much more attuned to detail and precision than I have been previously. It's an enormous relief to feel like I'm finally producing something worth the energy it's taken to make! 

I snapped a few quick photos of my Olive on the way out the door this morning. The sun joined us.

Pattern: Olive by Helga Isager

Yarn: Dream In Color Baby, color unknown 
         Cascade Heritage Sock in Charcoal

Needles: Addi lace size 1.5us and Addi Click size 4us

Notes: I followed AngelR's modification sizing for my Olive; however, I knit in the round. I don't hate purling enough to trade it for seaming. And, while most knitters agree on the level of bore associated with knitting stockinette, I have to say, in the round, it is completely mindless, and it materializes VERY quickly. Lace weight yarn on size 4us needles produces a LOVELY fabric. This sweater is perfect for spring/fall days. It's light weight, yet warm and very flexible. The fit of my finished product is near perfect! I will likely knit this sweater again. I think I could handle having a dozen just like it. Hopefully I'll get some better, more detailed photos over the weekend; I just couldn't wait to share!

Unfortunately, my interpretation of Spring Pools resemble, with accuracy, the way spring actually looks around here. Grey.  

With only a single repeat completed, it's hard to see the beginning of the swirling pools patterned into these socks. And, my haphazard iphoto doesn't do me any benefit. All is not lost.  There is a twenty row repeat. And, while simple, it is greatly appreciated after the miles (exaggeration) of stockinette I just finished knitting on my March sweater.

Yes. You read correctly. FINISHED KNITTING! I still have a handful of ends to weave in, but the heavy lifting, ladies and gents, is done. I can hardly believe it. Tomorrow; pictures to prove it! 

Today marks the mid-point of the month. For the first time, I'm ahead of deadline! (And, now I'm going to go knock on some wood; there's still work to be done!)
 
Hopefully you're making mad progress on your projects! Do tell, what are you hoping to finish this month?