I've only showed photos of my swatches, as that is as far as I have gotten up to now. I have a couple of other things that have to get finished right now that are distracting me, but I am close to ordering yarn and starting.....

Hi Julie,

Your picture looks great on your blog! The cables are popping. I am 1/2 done with the back but since I don't have a blog I am going to have to figure out how to show a picture.

Susan

Answering the roll call...
Jenny in Pittsburgh - Home of the Black & Gold - This weekend will be great for knitting, at least until the game starts.

After a few stops and starts - quite a few actually, I finally settled on Cascade 220 in a lovely pistachio green. I love Cascade - it is a great all purpose yarn in many great colors. It has a nice hand and works up into a very serviceable garment without breaking the bank. And It felts wonderfully for those jobs. OK enough of the commercial - now back to our regular programming!

I finally ditched the tubular cast on. I got it and then just really didn't like it. I'm going to continue woking with it, but not when I am trying to work on something that s going to have this much work in it. I returned to my old faithful long-tail caston that give me a smooth caston and a first row on one move. I then decided that I wanted the "wrong" side to be my right side, i.e. the purls will be the bottom edge.

I also added two selvedge stitches; after the first row, I slip the first stitch knitwise and purl the last stitch. I am really happy with this edge but have learned not to work the SS's too tightly or it will all be for (k)not. In short, I caston 141 stitches on a size 5 needle.

I am not changing needles after working the ribbing. I really don't like a sweater that tries to cinch at the waist. my 21 year old daughter can wear that style, but not me!

I have worked the decrease row of the back body immmediately following the 4th twisted cross row. It is a wrong side row worked in all knits, creating the purl base row on the front. I now have 140 stitches. This effectively ends the ribbing section and provides a clean slate for the new pattering. I also place my markers for the chart sections.

Wow, All this has taken me almost as long to post as it did to knit! I'll post some pics tomorrow!

Jenny in Pittsburgh

Roll call-have started the fronts. Got it all graphed out on Excel, have finished with the lower bands on both fronts, and I'm 3 or 4 rows into the patterning. Things are working GREAT, and moving right along. I may be to the underarms by the end of the weekend...we'll see.

Roll Call -- Not too much progress so I hesitate to answer your roll call.
1. My marled yarn knits wonderfully but hides stitches.
http://static.flickr.com/41/84914622_c68a718333.jpg

2. Commercial sock superwash mini swatch is not impressive. (no pic)

3. Top of the Lamb knits up very nice. Though I found two extra stitches on the swatch so frogged it. I'm reknitting my way up the ribbing of a front panel, nstead of a small swatch this time. Will try to post a pic tonight. Here is the yarn.
http://bubblegumknits.blogspot.com/

BGK

I havn't swatched yet, but am pretty certain I will be knitting Am Kimen in Cascade 220. I haven't decided on a color, maybe a rusty red or a deep green. Love the color choices in Cascade 220! I have two more sweaters and the Olympics to finish, then it's Am kimen aboard! Theresa, thanks for all the swatches. You're awe inspireing.

I don't have a blog, but have a SmugMug gallery with several photos - http://tourdirector.smugmug.com/gallery/529635
I plan to create a folder within that gallery for the Am Kamin. Right now have only one picture for that - the yarn on my swift, but I'll let you know when I progress.
Dicksie

Hello! Sorry to interrupt your blog, but I just wanted to leave a quick note that one of the Japanese knitters (Ishi) wrote a little memo about her Am Kamin cardi the other day on her blog, and the other lady (who is an administrator of the entire knitting blog group) translated her comment into English.

You can find it here:

http://amimono.g.hatena.ne.jp/lum403/20060125

Once in a while, I receive some messages and questions regarding this pattern, but I was unable to help them at all as I don't have this pattern book.

I hope this Ishi's little memo will be of your help...

I know it is very difficult to knit this cardi, as you have to do the inc/dec etc. both on front and back... but hopefully everyone can enjoy this project! His design is so detailed.., maybe because he is a pianist as well.

In the meantime, if you have any questions regarding general Japanese patterns, please let me know. I will be happy to help you.

Happy knitting!

Wakana

Wakana,

Thank you so much for taking the time to post the site the translation of the comment!! Every hint helps so much. This sweater is slow going for me (I have half the back done) but it is so beautiful!

Susan