Incredible Weekend

This has been the most amazing weekend I can remember. Quick recap first, then full-blown. With photos, from me and G!

Friday: Caps game
Saturday: Cherry blossom viewing, yoga by the Tidal Basin, brunch in Georgetown
Sunday: Ran my second 5k, the Cherry Blossom 5k Run/Walk. Also? Finished a sweater!

The Caps game was great- and of course I brought that ever-present baby blanket with me. Got at least 5-6 rows done, and the game was enjoyable. Though they were not playing their best... boo.

Saturday was just tons of fun. G and I headed out to get our race packets for Sunday with our friend Kevin. I realized if I went to get the packet I might miss the free yoga class by the Tidal Basin, at the Cherry Blossom Festival stage (in front of the monument!), so I went straight there. Gorgeous morning, but tons of wind. It was my first time doing yoga outside, and it was definitely a yoga adventure! George took some great photos during our class, and my friend Manda was also there and joined up afterwards for some creative photo-taking around the FDR memorial and the blossoms.



We went out for an amazing brunch at Mie N Yu in Georgetown, which was a ton of fun- but no photos up from that yet. Lovely decor... and yummy.

Then finally- today I went out with some folks from my company and G and a bunch of our buddies to the Cherry Blossom Ten Miler and 5k Run/Walk. Guess which I did. But I smashed my personal record for a 5k, and loved every minute of it!



After the race I did some chores around the house- not only is Passover coming, I have a parental visit coming up! But I still managed to finish my sweater while we watched our first Blu-Ray disc, Let the Right One In. Horror movie... sort of. Definitely interesting. The sweater is plain ole great! I definitely need to block it- but it's wearable!

Crafty Ponderings

I've been better about updating the wedding blog- and let's be real, that's where most of my energy is centered lately. But I've been crafting a fair bit these past few weeks since the move, as well.

Progress is slow and steady on the baby blanket. I've finished 6.5 repeats, and more importantly I finally am at the point where I don't need the pattern at all. I have finally memorized all six different stitch patterns, and their repeat lengths, and can knit blissfully away on the metro and around the house without relying on the pattern! I am almost done with the second ball of yarn, and it's getting big enough that I have to stuff it in my backpack or a separate bag now, in order to knit during my commute. The baby is due in late May. If I were trying to knit a full 14 repeats, I'd be worried! But this blanket is already coming out so large that I think I'm over half done already. As long as I fit in some serious knitting time over the next few weeks, I should be able to gift it well in advance of the baby's arrival.

In between working on the blanket, I have been remembering that crazy challenge I signed up for, pre-engagement. I (in my infinite wisdom) thought it would be cool to sign up for the sweater-a-month challenge that flew around Ravelry after the Ravelympics and National Knit a Sweater month in November. Why I thought I could knit twelve sweaters in a year, when I average one or two, is pure delusion. But the least I could do is try and at least knit on a single sweater! Like ... maybe the one I started during NaKniSweMo (November). I was already working on the sleeves, two at a time, at the end of November. So I picked it up again, and am now... still not done with the sleeves. In my defense, I really am working on the sleeve caps! I thought I would be able to finish them this weekend, and possibly even start seaming it together, but my optimism was (as always) misplaced. My major work stoppage this weekend was really the fault of the move. It took me some serious searching to find the last ball of yarn for the sweater- it was separated from the project at some point, and was mixing it up with my wool blend yarns in my shelving unit. Living the high life, I tell you! Now that it's been reunited with the rest of the balls of yarn, in sweater form, I am hoping that I may finally get the darn thing done and sewn together by next week.

Of course, now it's April. It's unlikely it will be cold enough for me to wear the sweater more than once or twice before next fall. But hey- knitters are not about instant gratification! It's all about the sweater you'll be able to wear next year. Or you know, possibly the year after that. Once this great big green thing is done, though, all the next half-finished sweaters on my list are summer-weight. I might even finish one before the wedding, and they're forced into November retirement.

But I doubt it.

Knitting Content! No Kidding!

It's all in the headline. I decided to give up NaNoWriMo for NaKniSweMo, and boy am I ever cracking along on it. I finished the back already. Want proof?



Disregard the crazy coloring- it's not sage, it's actually hunter green. But that is really a finished back to the Perfect Sweater v2, knit in Ella Rae Amity. I know lots of purists get all fudgety about using wool/acrylic blends like the Amity, or Wool-Ease (pills a ton) or my general Plymouth Encore. But so far I'm loving the Amity, and the Encore has held up great in the past. My only issue with the yarn? Why would you bother with 220 yard wound skeins if they have at least two knots in them? I have terrible luck with knots. Those sneaky Ella Rae people. I hate weaving in ends, and I hate having to backtrack nearly an entire row even more. Grr.

On the plus side, this sweater got to go on a field trip to see the Capitals whup up on another hockey team. Sweaters just love field trips. Check the Flickr for more Capitals game fun. My sister, who you may remember is the real hockey fan in the family, texts me the same thing every time I go to a game: "You suck." Thanks, sis. I love you, too.

The knitting photos are pretty bad from the game- I kept laughing. It must be that old man I've been hanging around with.



That, or the beer.

I'm a Gold Medal Ravthlete

And I finally took a few photos, as proof. They're not good photos. Did I mention the not sleeping thing?



Better view of the v-neck:


I see more picots in my future:


I did go to Knit Happens this afternoon. Their sale was epic. I bought yarn for two sweaters, a Fiddlesticks shawl pattern, some needles (I never have enough size 7s, EVER), some more stitch holders... and saved 45 bucks for my trouble. I did buy an acrylic blend for my personal Perfect Sweater. It's the new Ella Rae yarn, and it frankly feels very nice. And even full price, this will be a very cheap sweater. I decided not to do alternate color hems; the whole thing will be a lovely dark mottled green. I LOVE green v-neck sweaters- I made my mom make them for me all the time when I was a kid. How did I not make one for myself yet, as a knitter?

I also found Cashcotton 4ply on half off. I've been looking for this stuff everywhere- at a decent price, I mean. Now I can finally make this really nifty lace wrap sweater I've had the pattern for since ages and ages ago. So seriously, a win.

I wonder if making this commissioned sweater counts as destashing, when I immediately go out and buy 11 more skeins of yarn? Details. I think I'm done yarn shopping for a while though... the WIP and want-to-make queue is too big, and I have too many project-ready yarns. Next up in the list is finishing the Cotton Bam Boo sweater. And reading- something I haven't been doing all through these Olympics. Nearly over!

On a sidenote, I've had shin splints for ages now. I keep running, hoping it'll be fine again (after waiting a few days or a week in between). Still hurts. So today I did the elliptical instead of running- and I also lifted weights with a girl from Ravelry who is in my local Arlington knitting group. I then walked all the way to the library and back, with way more books than anticipated. I think I've more than had my workout for the day, and I completely deserve to spend the next 4 hours (after showering) completely glued to the closing ceremonies. Yessiree. Too bad about that whole buying groceries thing- there's always tomorrow. I managed to clean my kitchen in between knitting sweater sleeves, but the apartment is completely trashed otherwise- this will be a very exciting chore-filled week, I can tell!

Ravelympics are killing me

Well, at least they are killing my sleep cycle.

I've watched so many crazy Olympic sports. I have knitted so much my hands are completely cramped. Did almost an entire sleeve today (well, redid the bottom few inches because this morning I was decreasing, not increasing, on the metro).

It's 4am. I have to go to bed. But the challenge ends at NOON! So I guess I will get up earlyish... sigh.

Two days in a row I'll have to nap because Ravelympics has taken over my nights.

On the plus side, I do have some serious status news. It's almost done. I knit the sleeve, did the 3 needle bind offs on both shoulders, completely finished the collar, and sewed in one set-in sleeve. All that's left is sewing in the other sleeve, doing the sleeve and side seams, and weaving in ends. Sadly, that is at least a few hours of work.

I tried it on, in its unfinished state. I can't believe I'm giving it away. It is going to fit like a gorgeous, sexy, burgundy glove. Apparently I need to buy myself some more Cascade 220 Superwash. Or if I finish the darn thing on time, I could head down to Knit Happens and see if any of their sale yarns would work. Yes, I could shop stash- but the only superwash I have is VERY explicitly set aside for a different sweater. I may decide to make this instead, though. The perfect sweater? Totally perfect.

Floating down the river

I went tubing for the first time today. I've determined that although I enjoyed it, and due to the water being ridiculously low it was the easiest way to traverse the river... give me a darn canoe anytime. Floating on a very very slow moving current, four or more hours in the sun, just isn't my ideal river activity. You can go slow and quiet in a canoe, and enjoy nature. And get to where you're going in half the time. So now I know, for future reference. Someday I'll even try kayaking- but I really like canoeing best.

At any rate. I'm still coated in sunscreen, and I have very strange tan lines but so far at least, no sunburn. And it was a delightful day- I can't think of the last time I was out on the water. Nice people, nice time. I slept most of the way home- there's just something about that much sun that completely does me in.

Once I got home, it's been all Olympics and knitting all the time. I suppose that isn't strictly true- I watched For your Consideration, a film I frankly cannot recommend. As to the Olympics, I got to watch the women's marathon, and was reminded how uninterested I am in running much longer than a 5k. And I got the front up to the v-neck, and started working the decreases on the left side. That's some serious progress.

Between the spitfire knitting and having to paddle so much (did I mention the current was practically nonexistent, especially towards the end?), I am having some serious shoulder wonkiness. And it feels like I spent the entire day doing crunches and shrugs. There's only one solution- bed!

Tomorrow, thank goodness, is a lazier Sunday. A few groceries to pick up, brunch with a friend, and a definite trip to the public library. And Oh-Lim-picks and knitting- par for the course in Mikaiya-land.

Ravelympics, let's do a one-two!

So many great one-twos in this Olympics. Americans kicking butt and taking names. I could get into that for a bit- either on the patriotic side or on the side of what do you expect, we're a big nation with lots of money. That's neither here nor there. I'm talking about a one-two punch of sweater fantastic-ness. A finished sweater back, and a significantly progressed sweater front. Who needs an Olympic gold, when I'm still acing my Sweater Sprint?

Finally, I pulled out the camera. I haven't slept in weeks, why try now. Et voila, cheri- un peu d'or ravelympique!

This is what the back looked at after day 2 of the competition (ie, last Sunday morning). I swear it's not hot pink, but I have this thing about taking photos at 1am.


This is what my sweater looks like now. Note that it needs some serious blocking- it has some significant curling issues that I know will be resolved once it's all sewn together. Also? This is a blood red. Nearly burgundy. I can't get it to show up right in photos to save my life.


And did I mention I bought some Kauni for a colorwork cardigan? It arrived. And it's stunning. I saw it in the box and giggled with glee. And then I tossed it around for a little while. It's a bit scratchy for juggling, however, so it's back in the box until I finish Ravelympics.


I also bought yarn today for my 3rd annual High Holy Day shawl. I start a shawl on/near Rosh Hashana, and work on it through the Days of Awe. The last two years I've done this, and finished the shawls by the end of October. What a lovely tradition! This year I'm going to make the Honeybee Stole, in a deep gold color. At least I hope that's the color- I'll find out when the yarn arrives. This yarn purchase is justified because although I do have a fair bit of lace weight yarn... I have NOTHING appropriate for a bee-themed shawl. Not even black, for bumblebees. I have a few other projects in the works coming up, too, and am hoping to zoom through them as quickly as possible. This year I am definitely going to do NaNoWriMo, which means I need a November free from knitting deadlines!

Ravelympics, the men's gymnastics edition

So I couldn't stop watching the Olympics tonight. I meant to just DVR it, and get to bed at 10:30. Got up at 6am today, surely I could do it again tomorrow, and get to work real early and leave at a decent time for once.

So much for that. Since I couldn't tear myself away from the men's gymnastics (WOO BRONZE!) I decided I might as well finish the back of my sweater. I mean, I was really close to just doing short-row shaping by the time we were at the last rotation.

I would have been done a lot earlier than 1am if I hadn't had to redo the short rows THREE TIMES! What's with that! Apparently I have never ever bothered doing W&T before (wrap and turns, yo). So I didn't get it. I guess I get it now, after ripripriping the same 4-5 rows. It's way too late for posting pretty pictures, but believe me! The back, it's done!

I did the crochet chain for my provisional cast on for the front, because it's bad luck to go to bed without casting on for the next section. If you count wips, though, I probably could never ever have bad luck. Ever. Because I have a good couple dozen things already on the needles.

Go Team USA! Go Team 51! Go Team StashDown!

And especially, go Team Mikaiya! I can't believe I finished an entire sweater back between Friday night and Monday night. It's a new personal record!

Also? Phelps is growing on me. Like the rest of the world isn't infatuated already. I hate jumping on the bandwagon, but there's just something about a dude who can race twice within two hours and be entire (long) body length ahead of the rest of the field. It's insane. And looking at all these interesting body types? Cracking me up. The gymnasts with their itty bitty lower bodies and arm muscles of doom. The swimmers who are... well, we all know swimmers are practically perfect in every way. So annoying. The sabreurs with their short squat incredible athletic power, and the ladies of beach volleyball who are the essence of green envy.

Check out The New York Times photo essay Bodies of Work for more amazing Olympic bodies. It's quite reassuring, actually. And boy does it make me want to get back on the ab work bandwagon.

Ravelympics Beginnings

I cast on for my Ravelympics Sweater last night at Jazz in the Garden, at the National Sculpture Garden off the National Mall. It was one of those perfect nights- lovely tango music drifting over to where I set up my picnic blanket, nice food, nice friends... perfect weather. Altogether unlike DC.

I left work early yesterday feeling ill... felt ok in the evening while I was out in the garden... and then it went downhill around midnight. I knew it was a stomach bug coming on, but it's been a while since I had one! I forgot how annoying it is. At any rate, I'm back to eating solid foods this afternoon and I managed to take a stroll this morning, and I think the cool fresh air felt wonderful and really revived me. It feels more like September than August in DC, and I am eternally grateful for the respite. I am so excited to wear jeans without overheating.

Meanwhile, I have been reading like crazy and working on the sweater. I turned the hem this morning, and I think I may knit a LOT more turned-hem sweaters in future. I absolutely love how it looks, and I think I will also love how it hangs. This is my commission knit for a former coworker, so the yarn colors and pattern were her choice. And I'm thinking maybe I need to make myself one, too! I am using Cascade 220 Superwash, one of my all-time favorite wools. I just adore having washable clothes, and I adore Cascade 220 most of all. It's soft and wearable against the skin, but strong and comes in every color imaginable.

Here's the hem in the contrast color, a nice blue, before I turned it:


What it looks like, inside and out:


The final result, as I continue knitting the back of the sweater in red:


I would like very much to go to my new knitting group here in Arlington, but I'm still not feeling up to venturing outside for very long. I'll probably pop over to the library (by car... Ballston is not very far from me by foot, but far enough that I don't think I could carry home all the books waiting for me on hold). And then all I plan to do today is alternate between reading these addictive Stephanie Meyer books and working on the sweater while I watch Olympics. It really is the Perfect Sweater, at least so far! And I am very happy to be home and free to watch the Olympic Games for once. What a great excuse to hang out on my sofa all weekend! And I already got to see the US Women's team sweep the medals in sabre! Being a one-time, pretty awful, sabreur myself, that was pretty awesome. I guess it would be sabreuse? These girls move so fast I could barely see the touches!

Ravelympics 2008

Well, I'm all signed up for the Ravelympics. I signed up for too much, though.

My main event is the Sweater Sprint. I aim to knit this ENTIRE SWEATER in 17 DAYS! I know that's normal for some people, but I'm the procrastinating queen. I have never finished a sweater that fast. In fact, I've only finished what, 3 sweaters ever? That's pretty sad, in the number of years I've been knitting.

Well, I may have knitted a ton of other stuff meanwhile. But still!

It's all in stockinette, on what will probably be size 9 needles. So not exactly a slow slog that way either. I've been knitting my rose cardigan on 5s, if that helps with perspective. And that should totally be done already, but whatevs! Who's counting.

I also have this ridiculous idea that I can finish some UFOs while making this ENTIRE sweater. Like this.


And this (1/3 done)


And a few more.

Crazy? Yes. But darn if I'm not ready to try. If nothing else, I have to knit the sweater. It's my last no kidding for frikkin real I promise commissioned knit. And I said I'd have it to her by September. Funny thing about September. That's next month!

You know what that means? I'm going to be 28. I sure ought to have finished at least 4 sweaters by then. If I can finish the rose cardigan, it will be five!

So what did I do meanwhile, while pondering finishing up UFOs and knitting this I swear it last commissioned knit? I might have bought the yarn for this. Or you can see the pattern here. Or you know, I might go crazy and chart my own. Yummy.

Runnin' and Runnin

In my case, I suppose it is more jogging than anything, but I have a really proud moment. First, I haven't missed a run in a bit. The log goes like this:
6/29, 7/2, 7/4, 7/7, 7/10. That's... the way it's supposed to be. I've finished Week 4 of the Couch to 5k, which means I have two more interval run/walks and then the third run coming up is ... 20 minutes of jogging. Straight. I'm so excited!

The second really proud thing is that although I still hate the idea of running, and frankly don't really want to do it, and don't really enjoy it, I've gotten to the point where I don't keep track of how much time is left in the jogging sections as much. I still am pleased and relieved when I can go back to walking, but I just don't hate this as much as I did. And the feeling afterwards is fantastic. I've exercised to reduce stress before, but nothing has worked so well and so quickly as going for these little runs. By the time I'm done with my cool-down walk and ten minutes of ab work, I have completely let go of any anxiety I felt before I walked over to the gym. It's like the calm of yoga, only more invigorating. And a lot sweatier. I wonder if I shouldn't be burning off the pounds faster for all the sweating and bouncing and whatnot that occurs while I'm on that treadmill!

I haven't been running outside these last few weeks- I like to on Sunday morning, when not many people are out on the streets around here. It's a very church-y community. But it's just been too hot for me to be willing to run outside. To make up for this relative laziness, since this part of town is hilly and I'm thus missing the benefit of running on inclines, I do try and set the incline on the treadmill. Not too high, since I really can't handle it, but at least I make the effort.

Besides running, I can't say that I've been knitting much. In part this is because my hands hurt pretty badly from knitting with the Cotton Bam Boo.

I have to finish this sweater up soon though, and this weekend I'm going to work on it very seriously. I should be able to finish the back (again), and hopefully get pretty far into the 3/4 sleeves. This is because the Knitting Olympics are coming up, and I have to knit an entire sweater during the games! If you're a Ravelry user, you can find us in the Ravelympics forum. For the rest of you, I can only say this:
cast on during the opening ceremonies. For me, that's at 8:08:08pm on the East Coast, while I will hopefully be sitting in the National Sculpture Garden listening to jazz. Knit like the wind. And bind off (and weave in ends?) during the closing ceremonies. Pick a project you think is viable, but is a challenge.

For me, I'm knitting my absolute final commissioned knitted item. A simple stockinette sweater, for a former coworker. I hate hate HATE working on commission, but this is exactly the challenge to force me to knit the sweater and give it to her. Especially since I promised I'd get it to her by September- what fortuitous timing!

On a completely unrelated side note, I'm fanatique for So You Think You Can Dance. And how awesome is it that they did Bollywood- and my favorite couple got to do that style! Beautiful, athletic, and just lovely. Thank goodness for DVR.