Have you noticed, dear reader, that my right hand navigation has been updated? Probably not, since you surely subscribe to my RSS. No matter, here's the scoop!
Mystery Stole 3: the button is gone. Yes, I never finished it. I'm something of a failure that way. Although I prefer to think of it less as a failure, and more a solid grounding in lace theory. I might finish it... someday. Knowing that I'm only a week's worth of knitting away doesn't help, somehow.
ABC-Along: A challenge to post photos for each letter of the alphabet, every two weeks. I'd love to think a bit more creatively with photography (being not much of a photographer at all... I use it for documentation of family and knitting, hardly for art). This should be a good challenge for me, and if I work in knitting that's fine, too! I have a few days to post my "A" entry, and I have a few ideas.
Project spectrum: Lolly most likely doesn't remember me from college, but I do remember her. More to the point, I love her knitting and her use of color. I've held back from participating in the past, but I think this year (the year of knitting for me?) I am more prepared to think critically about color and tone and looking at the world through more varied colored glasses. After all, most of my recent projects were shades of green or blue- isn't it time to mix it up? Fire is the first element we are exploring this year, and I have some beautiful burgundies and rust colored yarns to use. I'd hazard the guess that I'm most closely aligned with the Fire colors- my blog is all over red and pink. I'm still doubtful about orange, but my Jayne Hat will fit the bill. I'm hoping that I will also use Project Spectrum as another excuse to amp up my photography skills. Surely I can get some ABC-along shots, too! It all comes together.
In Love with Autumn Rose knitalong: Still going on this. Rather, I have never begun. My kit arrived, and I have been just plain scared of it. My goal for the month is to swatch the darn thing- let's keep our expectations low! Casting on would be a great step for February.
Anne of Green Gables knit-and-read-along: This knitalong is going much better than the others. It is nearly over, and I am on track- with half of January left, I have only Rilla of Ingleside left to read. I completed the Endpaper and Fetching mitts (very almost-Victorian!), and I can imagine Anne knitting snowflake socks for Gilbert in their later years. Why not? Everyone needs fun socks. I didn't finish my Philosopher's Wool sweater, but I did start it. That's a good first step.
Coming up: A is not for apple.
Showing posts with label ms3. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ms3. Show all posts
Monday, January 14, 2008
Thursday, September 06, 2007
Post Happy: the other stuff
In addition to the baby stuff going on around here, there has been a small amount of other progress. Not with holiday knitting, though. I am woefully behind, having not yet started.
I picked up the needles again for Brian's Behemoth Sweater. The back has been done for a while, so I'm trudging through the front in the hopes of getting it to him before the weather gets too cold. Here's the progress as of this morning- note the back is too big to fit in-frame, so I draped it over the bed:
It was noted at SSK yesterday that last year The Purloined Letter and I both worked on Adamas during the High Holy Days. Obviously, a new lace project is needed. The High Holy Day tradition must go on! I could finish the Mystery Stole 3 project... which is probably 70 percent complete... but I have to knit it at home, and that's frustrating. I could work on the Hanami shawl, but I just don't have it in me to do the basketweave lace pattern right now. I do have two good options!
First, I could knit the Butterfly dress- I have the book and yarn already. When better to knit it than now, in my (almost late) twenties. It's not the type of garment I envision wearing much past 30 odd. I linked to the KnitPicks page, since I purchased their yarn (in the green colorway, Tide Pool), and I envision doing it without beads. Beads are gorgeous, but I've read in numerous places that they make the project far too much of a hassle. Lace alone will do me!
My second option is to knit the Fiddlesticks Lily of the Valley Stole. Again, I have the pattern. I think it would be scrumptious in this yarn, which really is that bright:
I still have a few days to decide. Or I can chicken out and finish MS3. Or perhaps finish one of my numerous UFOs?!
I picked up the needles again for Brian's Behemoth Sweater. The back has been done for a while, so I'm trudging through the front in the hopes of getting it to him before the weather gets too cold. Here's the progress as of this morning- note the back is too big to fit in-frame, so I draped it over the bed:
It was noted at SSK yesterday that last year The Purloined Letter and I both worked on Adamas during the High Holy Days. Obviously, a new lace project is needed. The High Holy Day tradition must go on! I could finish the Mystery Stole 3 project... which is probably 70 percent complete... but I have to knit it at home, and that's frustrating. I could work on the Hanami shawl, but I just don't have it in me to do the basketweave lace pattern right now. I do have two good options!
First, I could knit the Butterfly dress- I have the book and yarn already. When better to knit it than now, in my (almost late) twenties. It's not the type of garment I envision wearing much past 30 odd. I linked to the KnitPicks page, since I purchased their yarn (in the green colorway, Tide Pool), and I envision doing it without beads. Beads are gorgeous, but I've read in numerous places that they make the project far too much of a hassle. Lace alone will do me!
My second option is to knit the Fiddlesticks Lily of the Valley Stole. Again, I have the pattern. I think it would be scrumptious in this yarn, which really is that bright:
I still have a few days to decide. Or I can chicken out and finish MS3. Or perhaps finish one of my numerous UFOs?!
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Progress?
I need to locate my camera, post-wedding, and get some pictures up. I never posted the blue sweater- probably just as well, since I need to rip out both (completed) fronts. Sigh. Frog pond, here I come!
I have completed three repeats of the pastel baby blanket, as originally seen here- so for now, imagine a little bit more than three of these:
On vacation I ended up not knitting as much as I anticipated. I still am on Chart 3 (for the second time) for my symmetrical stole. But that's progress, right?
My Autumn Rose sweater kit has not yet appeared in the mail- insane demand has apparently lead to the shop running out of yarn. No word on if it has been shipped yet- so I'll just wait patiently. And play with the baby blanket, which is like pastel crack.
In the absence of real knitting news, here are a few clips to amuse:
Avenue Jew
GMail on the move
I have completed three repeats of the pastel baby blanket, as originally seen here- so for now, imagine a little bit more than three of these:
On vacation I ended up not knitting as much as I anticipated. I still am on Chart 3 (for the second time) for my symmetrical stole. But that's progress, right?
My Autumn Rose sweater kit has not yet appeared in the mail- insane demand has apparently lead to the shop running out of yarn. No word on if it has been shipped yet- so I'll just wait patiently. And play with the baby blanket, which is like pastel crack.
In the absence of real knitting news, here are a few clips to amuse:
Avenue Jew
GMail on the move
Monday, August 13, 2007
I don't just dream in color, I dream in fair isle. Don't you?
Oh, what an exciting Monday. I am not sure I can make this coherent, because it is all just too exciting.
First, I get quoted on DCist for my review of Firefly- the DC restaurant, not the TV series... though I do love both wholeheartedly. I love DCist because it tells me when and where to go, what I need to know about my fair city, etc. Also it hooks me up with events like seeing Jasper Fforde in person (so funny!) and on Friday, William frikkin Gibson! Cyberpunk FTW! That's assuming I don't check out one of the restaurants that has extended Restaurant Week, or head over to CityZen with a coworker for their astonishingly almost-inexpensive 3-course tasting meal- there are so many choices. I love DC!
I also love DCist because it brings random people to my blog, who are then exposed to knitting content. Hello, random people...
Right. That was a good start to a Monday. But then it got even better- some local knit ladies have started a knitalong for Eunny Jang's gorgeous sweater, Autumn Rose. It is a stunning fair isle sweater that, frankly, I have coveted since I first saw it on her blog. It isn't just fair isle. It's fair isle for a modern figure. It scoops, it flatters, it curves, it would look just as good on a busty thing like me as on a little waify girl... what I'm saying is that it is HOT. You can check out some photos in the Simply Shetland 4 book, at Simply Shetland. I really have to knit this sweater; it's just the perfect fair isle. So let's forget about that Philosopher's Wool beauty I have sitting balled up and ready to go. And that baby sweater that was going to be my first fair isle project. And the trillion projects I have going right now. I simply *must* knit and wear that sweater this winter.
That is perhaps a bit dramatic. But it would definitely give me more street cred in the office as an accomplished knitter! It's not just that the sweater is amazing- but I get to be part of this In Love With Autumn Rose knitalong! Since I should have my MS3 done very shortly, I'm feeling ready to get the yarn for this sucker and cast on, leaving my holiday gift knitting plans in its wake.
Now, we all know it won't happen that way. I'll manage to create a bunch of gifts. I will probably even compete in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) again this November. But somehow, I will manage to do this knitalong, and I will hopefully end up with a gorgeous Autumn Rose of my very own. I'm giving myself two weeks to finish MS3 and at least one gift, before I can buy the yarn. But then it will be September- what an excellent birthday gift for myself! Mm, yarn. Mm, sexy fair isle. This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Oh, did I mention that I saw Casablanca on the National Mall tonight? A perfect evening, perfect weather, and a perfect movie, marred only by not knitting (I didn't want to fade the yarn in the sunlight). Let me say it again- I love DC.
First, I get quoted on DCist for my review of Firefly- the DC restaurant, not the TV series... though I do love both wholeheartedly. I love DCist because it tells me when and where to go, what I need to know about my fair city, etc. Also it hooks me up with events like seeing Jasper Fforde in person (so funny!) and on Friday, William frikkin Gibson! Cyberpunk FTW! That's assuming I don't check out one of the restaurants that has extended Restaurant Week, or head over to CityZen with a coworker for their astonishingly almost-inexpensive 3-course tasting meal- there are so many choices. I love DC!
I also love DCist because it brings random people to my blog, who are then exposed to knitting content. Hello, random people...
Right. That was a good start to a Monday. But then it got even better- some local knit ladies have started a knitalong for Eunny Jang's gorgeous sweater, Autumn Rose. It is a stunning fair isle sweater that, frankly, I have coveted since I first saw it on her blog. It isn't just fair isle. It's fair isle for a modern figure. It scoops, it flatters, it curves, it would look just as good on a busty thing like me as on a little waify girl... what I'm saying is that it is HOT. You can check out some photos in the Simply Shetland 4 book, at Simply Shetland. I really have to knit this sweater; it's just the perfect fair isle. So let's forget about that Philosopher's Wool beauty I have sitting balled up and ready to go. And that baby sweater that was going to be my first fair isle project. And the trillion projects I have going right now. I simply *must* knit and wear that sweater this winter.
That is perhaps a bit dramatic. But it would definitely give me more street cred in the office as an accomplished knitter! It's not just that the sweater is amazing- but I get to be part of this In Love With Autumn Rose knitalong! Since I should have my MS3 done very shortly, I'm feeling ready to get the yarn for this sucker and cast on, leaving my holiday gift knitting plans in its wake.
Now, we all know it won't happen that way. I'll manage to create a bunch of gifts. I will probably even compete in National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo) again this November. But somehow, I will manage to do this knitalong, and I will hopefully end up with a gorgeous Autumn Rose of my very own. I'm giving myself two weeks to finish MS3 and at least one gift, before I can buy the yarn. But then it will be September- what an excellent birthday gift for myself! Mm, yarn. Mm, sexy fair isle. This is the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
Oh, did I mention that I saw Casablanca on the National Mall tonight? A perfect evening, perfect weather, and a perfect movie, marred only by not knitting (I didn't want to fade the yarn in the sunlight). Let me say it again- I love DC.
Sunday, August 12, 2007
On why I knit
First, MS3 Clue 1 is complete (again). Before I get back to the Empire Cardigan or do some real work, I had a few thoughts this weekend on why I knit.
I like what I do for work, but it is essentially a means to support my life. I happen to have a job I enjoy doing 40 hours a week, but I'd have to do something to pay rent whether or not I liked it. So work is a necessity.
Outside of work, a lot of my life is based on other people. Not in the altruistic sense so much as in the realistic sense- I choose activities that will allow me to spend time with my friends, which means I often choose to do things that I enjoy well enough, but may not be my favorite activity. In college that meant watching a lot of Grand Theft Auto at my friends' suite in the dorms. In grad school it was a mix of necessity (grading, writing, reading) and activities I could do with friends (going out for drinks, getting together at Barnes and Noble to grade, late night runs to Steak 'n Shake). Now that I am all grown up, or closer to it, I still end up choosing to do things quite a bit of the time based on other people's interests, and joining them in what they enjoy doing. I get sucked into video games because my friends play, or pick up my guitar again because I hang out with friends who play more consistently. I read more when I hang out with readers (not that I ever really stop reading). Their hobbies remind me of my old hobbies, and I pick them up again for a bit.
Knitting isn't like that. Admittedly, I attend a few knitting groups. More of them when I first moved out here and didn't have a large network for companionship, but I still go to them now when I can. But mainly knitting is a personal choice. It's what I do for me- because I love it. I can spend an entire weekend doing nothing but knitting and occasionally surfing the web or cooking dinner. I knitted all through my cruise last December, and all through grad school when I wasn't actually working or hanging out with my pals. And sometimes when I was hanging out with pals. I'm not sure why I keep thinking about this today, but I suppose it's just a realization of how much it means to me to have this hobby. To be in a way connected to a huge collective of knitters worldwide, of all generations and geography and skill levels. And more importantly, to have something for myself that is completely independent of other people, of responsibilities. I choose to knit for others because I hope that something I knit will make someone else happy. But mostly I knit, whether for myself or for gifts, because I would do it anyways. The act of wrapping string around two needles and creating fabric is mesmerizing and beautiful and simple and infinitely creative. It makes me calmer, happier, and more at peace with myself.
I do almost everything in my life because of what I must do, or because other people expose me to it- knitting is a personal victory. People can laugh at my yarn stash, or roll their eyes at my handknitted sweaters and socks. I just ignore them- I am warmer and and more human because I am a knitter. I am many things- a girl, a Jew, an American, a francophile, a displaced New Hampshirite, a Marylander, a geek, a reader and writer and lover. How odd that above all these things, I identify by my craft. That a clumsy and wacky person like me can manage to create beautiful things out of simple materials will never cease to astonish me. That is why I knit.
I like what I do for work, but it is essentially a means to support my life. I happen to have a job I enjoy doing 40 hours a week, but I'd have to do something to pay rent whether or not I liked it. So work is a necessity.
Outside of work, a lot of my life is based on other people. Not in the altruistic sense so much as in the realistic sense- I choose activities that will allow me to spend time with my friends, which means I often choose to do things that I enjoy well enough, but may not be my favorite activity. In college that meant watching a lot of Grand Theft Auto at my friends' suite in the dorms. In grad school it was a mix of necessity (grading, writing, reading) and activities I could do with friends (going out for drinks, getting together at Barnes and Noble to grade, late night runs to Steak 'n Shake). Now that I am all grown up, or closer to it, I still end up choosing to do things quite a bit of the time based on other people's interests, and joining them in what they enjoy doing. I get sucked into video games because my friends play, or pick up my guitar again because I hang out with friends who play more consistently. I read more when I hang out with readers (not that I ever really stop reading). Their hobbies remind me of my old hobbies, and I pick them up again for a bit.
Knitting isn't like that. Admittedly, I attend a few knitting groups. More of them when I first moved out here and didn't have a large network for companionship, but I still go to them now when I can. But mainly knitting is a personal choice. It's what I do for me- because I love it. I can spend an entire weekend doing nothing but knitting and occasionally surfing the web or cooking dinner. I knitted all through my cruise last December, and all through grad school when I wasn't actually working or hanging out with my pals. And sometimes when I was hanging out with pals. I'm not sure why I keep thinking about this today, but I suppose it's just a realization of how much it means to me to have this hobby. To be in a way connected to a huge collective of knitters worldwide, of all generations and geography and skill levels. And more importantly, to have something for myself that is completely independent of other people, of responsibilities. I choose to knit for others because I hope that something I knit will make someone else happy. But mostly I knit, whether for myself or for gifts, because I would do it anyways. The act of wrapping string around two needles and creating fabric is mesmerizing and beautiful and simple and infinitely creative. It makes me calmer, happier, and more at peace with myself.
I do almost everything in my life because of what I must do, or because other people expose me to it- knitting is a personal victory. People can laugh at my yarn stash, or roll their eyes at my handknitted sweaters and socks. I just ignore them- I am warmer and and more human because I am a knitter. I am many things- a girl, a Jew, an American, a francophile, a displaced New Hampshirite, a Marylander, a geek, a reader and writer and lover. How odd that above all these things, I identify by my craft. That a clumsy and wacky person like me can manage to create beautiful things out of simple materials will never cease to astonish me. That is why I knit.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Weekending
Apparently my aunt and uncle have begun reading this blog... hello! Mom said you submitted comments, but I never saw them. FYI! But welcome! For my other blog readers, I feel obligated to tell you that my Mom and her sister are possibly the greatest living crafters I know. I am awed and humbled by their speed and finesse, at everything from sewing to quilting to knitting and bear-making- and probably every other craft under the sun. I'm hoping I'll catch up to their skill level in a few decades!
It's been a pretty solid week for knitting. I'm just inches away from finishing the back of my Empire Cardigan, which I hope to complete this weekend. And I finally decided what to do with MS3. I just can't imagine myself ever wearing it with a wing- though that is sure to be interesting, it's simply not me. No worries! I cut the yarn at the appropriate point in Clue 4 (the mandatory lifeline), and started the whole thing over again tonight. I'll work the same charts, Clue 1 through Clue 4 at the lifeline, and graft the two ends together. Voila, symmetrical and beautiful shawl. I'm happy with this decision. The "secret" part of the pattern that will come out in the finished for-purchase pattern is a stole with two wings- now *that* I could consider making. I am certainly buying the pattern anyways, in support of Melanie, so I will probably work on that sometime next year.
In the meantime, I've been thinking gifts, especially holiday gifts. As soon as I finish the back of the cardigan, I am going to cast on for a few of them. I don't want to spoil any surprises, but thus far the list includes some socks, some hobo glove/mittens, a baby hat, etcetc. All the yarn is ready to go, I just need to get knitting!
I also really need to try quilting again. I don't mind it- and I loved doing the piecing. But so far I am definitely not in the groove of hand quilting, so everytime I think "hmm, I should finish that wedding gift..." I pull out some yarn. C'est la vie.
I thought about going to see my friends' band Fools & Horses tonight, but the lure of knitting was too strong. Also, I don't like driving all the way to Annapolis by myself. Nevertheless, my room is clean, I have a few more Buffy episodes to watch, and I aim to finish Clue 1 (the second time) tonight. I'd best get back to my "exciting weekend" so I can do a few hours for work tomorrow in between projects. Hopefully we'll get some good in-progress or even Finished Object pictures by mid-week next week!
It's been a pretty solid week for knitting. I'm just inches away from finishing the back of my Empire Cardigan, which I hope to complete this weekend. And I finally decided what to do with MS3. I just can't imagine myself ever wearing it with a wing- though that is sure to be interesting, it's simply not me. No worries! I cut the yarn at the appropriate point in Clue 4 (the mandatory lifeline), and started the whole thing over again tonight. I'll work the same charts, Clue 1 through Clue 4 at the lifeline, and graft the two ends together. Voila, symmetrical and beautiful shawl. I'm happy with this decision. The "secret" part of the pattern that will come out in the finished for-purchase pattern is a stole with two wings- now *that* I could consider making. I am certainly buying the pattern anyways, in support of Melanie, so I will probably work on that sometime next year.
In the meantime, I've been thinking gifts, especially holiday gifts. As soon as I finish the back of the cardigan, I am going to cast on for a few of them. I don't want to spoil any surprises, but thus far the list includes some socks, some hobo glove/mittens, a baby hat, etcetc. All the yarn is ready to go, I just need to get knitting!
I also really need to try quilting again. I don't mind it- and I loved doing the piecing. But so far I am definitely not in the groove of hand quilting, so everytime I think "hmm, I should finish that wedding gift..." I pull out some yarn. C'est la vie.
I thought about going to see my friends' band Fools & Horses tonight, but the lure of knitting was too strong. Also, I don't like driving all the way to Annapolis by myself. Nevertheless, my room is clean, I have a few more Buffy episodes to watch, and I aim to finish Clue 1 (the second time) tonight. I'd best get back to my "exciting weekend" so I can do a few hours for work tomorrow in between projects. Hopefully we'll get some good in-progress or even Finished Object pictures by mid-week next week!
Monday, August 06, 2007
Toe Ups
I've been feeling less bloggy lately (ooh, yet another bad use of the word blog). This is mainly because I have been sucked into the world of Ravelry. I'm loving the community aspects already, and of course nothing is cuter than seeing loads of photos of your projects, stash, everything- all neatly organized.
My stash doesn't seem so daunting compared to some I've seen on there- though I must note that so far only my sock yarns and laceweight yarns have been fully documented. Looking at those, even as a fraction of my total yarn, has very much inspired me to GET RID OF IT. And by get rid of, I mean knit things. Not give away, that's cheating.
Currently, I'm completely obsessed with the Empire Cardigan from Debbie Bliss. No recent pictures, so no visual representation here. Let's just say I'm already past the armholes on the back, with a nice straight easy section ahead of me. I hope to complete the back this week. The only difficulty with that is that I'm also still on Clue 4 for MS3- which makes me a week behind!
Ah, MS3. The theme has been revealed- as Swan Lake. Frankly, that's what I figured from the beginning. I'm less than keen about the idea of knitting a wing, however. The last time I wore wings, they were part of my cosplay costume and I was accosted in Baltimore by someone who decided they would like the pretty wings and tried to forcibly remove them from my body. Not the greatest experience. I realize this is altogether different- one wing, and more an impression of a wing to boot. But I'm feeling that if I just knit the symmetrical stole, it would be something I'd be much more likely to wear. To bring to work, and throw around my shoulders, and wear with pretty garments and even in Bloomington for the rehearsal dinner, etc, since I could probably finish it by then. This is still a choice- I'm only just up to the lifeline point, and therefore can decide either way without ripping back any rows. There is a part of me, however, that wants to do this mystery thing right and actually do what it says. A knitted wing- why not? It would be pretty stellar to wear at a certain holiday party for knitters later this year. But I have to think about this some more.
Anyways, once I get over the stellar excitement of knitting the gray-green lace and cable alpaca silk blob (mm alpaca SHEDS, and yet I love it extremely)... I am ready for something new and exciting. I want some toe-up socks. I haven't knit a pair of toe-ups yet, though I believe someone in the Sock It To Me group in Bloomington showed me how to cast on using the figure-8 magic loop cast-on. Then Wendy pointed out this nifty site, and I decided it's worth a try: Judy's Magic Cast On. See, I have this leftover yarn, Schaefer Anne, in a random and impossible colorway that looks like Flames:
And I suspect that although it may not be enough for two full socks, I could at the minimum get ankle socks out of it. So how would one go about that- knitting socks without dangerously running out of yarn, since it's stash yarn leftover from a pair of men's mittens and there is no more to be found... oh yes!
Toe up socks. Both knit at once. Using the magic loop method, with this Magic cast on. Voila- a star is born. I think I'm going to make up the pattern, too. Can our intrepid knitter actually manage this? Will the socks ever be completed? We'll see... I'm envisioning wearing them with my clogs all fall...
I'm also supposed to be quilting. Somehow that project got out of circulation. Here's hoping for a productive week ahead, hmm?
My stash doesn't seem so daunting compared to some I've seen on there- though I must note that so far only my sock yarns and laceweight yarns have been fully documented. Looking at those, even as a fraction of my total yarn, has very much inspired me to GET RID OF IT. And by get rid of, I mean knit things. Not give away, that's cheating.
Currently, I'm completely obsessed with the Empire Cardigan from Debbie Bliss. No recent pictures, so no visual representation here. Let's just say I'm already past the armholes on the back, with a nice straight easy section ahead of me. I hope to complete the back this week. The only difficulty with that is that I'm also still on Clue 4 for MS3- which makes me a week behind!
Ah, MS3. The theme has been revealed- as Swan Lake. Frankly, that's what I figured from the beginning. I'm less than keen about the idea of knitting a wing, however. The last time I wore wings, they were part of my cosplay costume and I was accosted in Baltimore by someone who decided they would like the pretty wings and tried to forcibly remove them from my body. Not the greatest experience. I realize this is altogether different- one wing, and more an impression of a wing to boot. But I'm feeling that if I just knit the symmetrical stole, it would be something I'd be much more likely to wear. To bring to work, and throw around my shoulders, and wear with pretty garments and even in Bloomington for the rehearsal dinner, etc, since I could probably finish it by then. This is still a choice- I'm only just up to the lifeline point, and therefore can decide either way without ripping back any rows. There is a part of me, however, that wants to do this mystery thing right and actually do what it says. A knitted wing- why not? It would be pretty stellar to wear at a certain holiday party for knitters later this year. But I have to think about this some more.
Anyways, once I get over the stellar excitement of knitting the gray-green lace and cable alpaca silk blob (mm alpaca SHEDS, and yet I love it extremely)... I am ready for something new and exciting. I want some toe-up socks. I haven't knit a pair of toe-ups yet, though I believe someone in the Sock It To Me group in Bloomington showed me how to cast on using the figure-8 magic loop cast-on. Then Wendy pointed out this nifty site, and I decided it's worth a try: Judy's Magic Cast On. See, I have this leftover yarn, Schaefer Anne, in a random and impossible colorway that looks like Flames:
And I suspect that although it may not be enough for two full socks, I could at the minimum get ankle socks out of it. So how would one go about that- knitting socks without dangerously running out of yarn, since it's stash yarn leftover from a pair of men's mittens and there is no more to be found... oh yes!
Toe up socks. Both knit at once. Using the magic loop method, with this Magic cast on. Voila- a star is born. I think I'm going to make up the pattern, too. Can our intrepid knitter actually manage this? Will the socks ever be completed? We'll see... I'm envisioning wearing them with my clogs all fall...
I'm also supposed to be quilting. Somehow that project got out of circulation. Here's hoping for a productive week ahead, hmm?
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
Stash of Doom
I knew my stash was getting out of hand. I could feel it creeping out of its cubby holes and baskets and into the fabric of my life. And not just in the form of UFO's, oh no! So I went on a photo tour today. It was terrifying. I'm starting to put stuff up on Ravelry, but in the meantime, here's a taste of the "before photos" and why I need to seriously finish some things!
First up is the Wall of Stash:
Sure, this may not look so bad. There are books in there! There are cubes of fabric, and even a cube of toiletries chilling out there because there isn't room in the bathroom. But consider the layers of yarn in each cubicle. Consider the massive amounts of it hidden in nooks and crannies. Imagine turning around and seeing a lot more of it.
(it looks innocuous from the bed, until you sneak a peek beneath the quilts and pillows and reveal another huge stash pile!)
For shame, it's taking up random floor space at the foot of my bed (disregard the fact that obviously yarn clutter isn't my only issue right now):
Oops, other side, too (quilting crap AND lots of yarn and random projects, oh boy!):
It's amazing I ever find what I need.
Now imagine taking a tour of the living room, and finding yet another big basket (all fair isle!) and 3 small ones. Oh jeez. I didn't tackle it completely, but I did pull out most of the UFOs that are not currently in my project bag:
Funny thing- that pile of white yarny things is 32 out of 61 hexagons for an afghan I was going to make for charity. I think I used some of the yarn for other things (teaching, most likely), but I should probably finish the thing and give it away. I was working on it in Rockville, and would love to get it out of my life before I move again. Whenever that is. For that matter, I would like to get rid of a good percentage of this yarn before I move again- I may need to destash. More likely, I need to finish projects. Yay.
And I reorganized the baskets. Slightly less gorgeous sock yarn is in a plastic bag in the cubicles, but the pretty stuff and all the lace got basket space:
That's definitely enough for tonight. My goals??
- finish MS3 Clue 4 (probably could do it Wednesday night, in preparation for the clue Friday)
- work on the cardigan (because I know darn well I'm going to whether it's on the list or not- that alpaca silk is like crack!)
- do at least 2 baby blanket squares... and another 2 on Saturday!! Zoom zoom!
- give the crocheted baby blanket away, to get it out of the house. Also because the baby is due soon. Hurray!
- finish the first Pink Broadripple sock- I have visions of wearing them this fall with my clogs and want them DONE.
- clean my room (well, obviously- you've seen the evidence)
Hopefully I'll get to Clue 5 this weekend, but I'm ok if I can't because I'm finishing the back of the sweater. Can I really get that far this weekend?? Anything is possible, I don't have much in the way of plans...
EDIT:: Roommate wants me to note that in fact, there are 3 baskets in the living room. They're inside the coffee table. So mostly hidden in plain sight... I'm all over it, Martha! In fact, Roommate pointed out that I could have had a perfectly lovely Ethan Allen coffee table, with two matching couchside tables, but I turned them down. Because I would have to give up my storage cubbies in the cheap Ikea table. Dumdeedum!
First up is the Wall of Stash:
Sure, this may not look so bad. There are books in there! There are cubes of fabric, and even a cube of toiletries chilling out there because there isn't room in the bathroom. But consider the layers of yarn in each cubicle. Consider the massive amounts of it hidden in nooks and crannies. Imagine turning around and seeing a lot more of it.
(it looks innocuous from the bed, until you sneak a peek beneath the quilts and pillows and reveal another huge stash pile!)
For shame, it's taking up random floor space at the foot of my bed (disregard the fact that obviously yarn clutter isn't my only issue right now):
Oops, other side, too (quilting crap AND lots of yarn and random projects, oh boy!):
It's amazing I ever find what I need.
Now imagine taking a tour of the living room, and finding yet another big basket (all fair isle!) and 3 small ones. Oh jeez. I didn't tackle it completely, but I did pull out most of the UFOs that are not currently in my project bag:
Funny thing- that pile of white yarny things is 32 out of 61 hexagons for an afghan I was going to make for charity. I think I used some of the yarn for other things (teaching, most likely), but I should probably finish the thing and give it away. I was working on it in Rockville, and would love to get it out of my life before I move again. Whenever that is. For that matter, I would like to get rid of a good percentage of this yarn before I move again- I may need to destash. More likely, I need to finish projects. Yay.
And I reorganized the baskets. Slightly less gorgeous sock yarn is in a plastic bag in the cubicles, but the pretty stuff and all the lace got basket space:
That's definitely enough for tonight. My goals??
- finish MS3 Clue 4 (probably could do it Wednesday night, in preparation for the clue Friday)
- work on the cardigan (because I know darn well I'm going to whether it's on the list or not- that alpaca silk is like crack!)
- do at least 2 baby blanket squares... and another 2 on Saturday!! Zoom zoom!
- give the crocheted baby blanket away, to get it out of the house. Also because the baby is due soon. Hurray!
- finish the first Pink Broadripple sock- I have visions of wearing them this fall with my clogs and want them DONE.
- clean my room (well, obviously- you've seen the evidence)
Hopefully I'll get to Clue 5 this weekend, but I'm ok if I can't because I'm finishing the back of the sweater. Can I really get that far this weekend?? Anything is possible, I don't have much in the way of plans...
EDIT:: Roommate wants me to note that in fact, there are 3 baskets in the living room. They're inside the coffee table. So mostly hidden in plain sight... I'm all over it, Martha! In fact, Roommate pointed out that I could have had a perfectly lovely Ethan Allen coffee table, with two matching couchside tables, but I turned them down. Because I would have to give up my storage cubbies in the cheap Ikea table. Dumdeedum!
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Wacky Week
I have not accomplished much crafting lately. This is for a few reasons- mostly I've been working like crazy, and in the evenings I've been a busy busy bee. Here's a taste:
Saturday night to Sunday afternoon: Harry Potter, of course.
Sunday evening: Cooked dinner for Mom and Roommate.
Monday evening: Finished the crocheted baby blanket (OK, so I did a little crafting).
Tuesday evening: Bethesda Restaurant Week- I went with a group to Rock Creek, which was delicious.
Wednesday evening: Went to a signing by Jasper Fforde, who is amazing and funny and he stamped as well as signed my copy of "Thursday Next, First Among Sequels"
And coming up?
Thursday evening: Transformers with a fellow UMBC alum.
Friday evening: Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, at Woolly Mammoth (I couldn't resist the cheap Goldstar tickets).
Saturday evening: Gallathea (really?? Gallathea on-stage? So excited).
If you extend it out a bit further, my Crafts Cluster is meeting Sunday afternoon in Virginia, and I'm going to see a sneak preview of The Ten on Monday night. Whew!
That's a total of two fancy dinners, one book signing, two Fringe Festival plays, and a pop culture movie. Not bad! On the craft front, however, there has been slow progress. I really have been working on the MS3- I am about a quarter of the way through Clue 4 (so halfway through the first chart). That's slow going since I can't knit it on the metro. Then I did finish the crocheted Victory V baby blanket:
The edge, which shows off the Victory V's:
I'd love to say I used a pattern, but it's crochet. Easy peasy. This is TLC Baby, so a sport weight yarn- I crocheted a chain that was something long. And then I did the V stitch. And when it was about square in size (it's actually pretty ginormous, in the end), I did one round of double crochet in blue. I tried single crochet and two rounds of double, and double then single- I liked the cleanness of this version best. I rather miss crocheting- it's so quick, satisfying, and eminently easy. I have to pay attention when I knit. Well, I tend to knit lace and cables and things that require counting. It was a real treat to just zoom through an easy stitch pattern that required no counting and no real effort. It was perfect for watching more interesting TV- Roommate and I are watching Lost, and there's no way I can knit MS3 while watching that!
Ahem. I also cast on for a new sweater. I am knitting it as pictured, right down to the Alpaca Silk DK and the colorway. Because I love it.
A key feature is that you run the empire-waist creating ribbon below the bust, through the eyelets of the lace pattern. This means that I can make an empire waisted top without having to worry about altering, modification, etc. I think it will be quite flattering, and completely appropriate for work. It will also be warm, which is key in my overly-A/Ced environment. Only one small issue- alpaca sheds like crazy. Aaah well.
As if that weren't enough, when you add in slogging on the baby afghan for mid-August, I also have been doing some socks. Here's one, now ready for me to turn the heel on the metro:
The yarn is Cascade Fixation, and I'm knitting the Broadripple Socks again. Note the fantastic Lantern Moon tiny DPNs- they make me much faster. Not as fast as Magic Loop, but sometimes you don't feel like playing with Addis.
Saturday night to Sunday afternoon: Harry Potter, of course.
Sunday evening: Cooked dinner for Mom and Roommate.
Monday evening: Finished the crocheted baby blanket (OK, so I did a little crafting).
Tuesday evening: Bethesda Restaurant Week- I went with a group to Rock Creek, which was delicious.
Wednesday evening: Went to a signing by Jasper Fforde, who is amazing and funny and he stamped as well as signed my copy of "Thursday Next, First Among Sequels"
And coming up?
Thursday evening: Transformers with a fellow UMBC alum.
Friday evening: Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind, at Woolly Mammoth (I couldn't resist the cheap Goldstar tickets).
Saturday evening: Gallathea (really?? Gallathea on-stage? So excited).
If you extend it out a bit further, my Crafts Cluster is meeting Sunday afternoon in Virginia, and I'm going to see a sneak preview of The Ten on Monday night. Whew!
That's a total of two fancy dinners, one book signing, two Fringe Festival plays, and a pop culture movie. Not bad! On the craft front, however, there has been slow progress. I really have been working on the MS3- I am about a quarter of the way through Clue 4 (so halfway through the first chart). That's slow going since I can't knit it on the metro. Then I did finish the crocheted Victory V baby blanket:
The edge, which shows off the Victory V's:
I'd love to say I used a pattern, but it's crochet. Easy peasy. This is TLC Baby, so a sport weight yarn- I crocheted a chain that was something long. And then I did the V stitch. And when it was about square in size (it's actually pretty ginormous, in the end), I did one round of double crochet in blue. I tried single crochet and two rounds of double, and double then single- I liked the cleanness of this version best. I rather miss crocheting- it's so quick, satisfying, and eminently easy. I have to pay attention when I knit. Well, I tend to knit lace and cables and things that require counting. It was a real treat to just zoom through an easy stitch pattern that required no counting and no real effort. It was perfect for watching more interesting TV- Roommate and I are watching Lost, and there's no way I can knit MS3 while watching that!
Ahem. I also cast on for a new sweater. I am knitting it as pictured, right down to the Alpaca Silk DK and the colorway. Because I love it.
A key feature is that you run the empire-waist creating ribbon below the bust, through the eyelets of the lace pattern. This means that I can make an empire waisted top without having to worry about altering, modification, etc. I think it will be quite flattering, and completely appropriate for work. It will also be warm, which is key in my overly-A/Ced environment. Only one small issue- alpaca sheds like crazy. Aaah well.
As if that weren't enough, when you add in slogging on the baby afghan for mid-August, I also have been doing some socks. Here's one, now ready for me to turn the heel on the metro:
The yarn is Cascade Fixation, and I'm knitting the Broadripple Socks again. Note the fantastic Lantern Moon tiny DPNs- they make me much faster. Not as fast as Magic Loop, but sometimes you don't feel like playing with Addis.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Time's fun when you're eating flies
So, this Mystery Stole. I'm getting a bit worried. I finished Clue 3 last night (horror of horrors, it took me more than just the weekend). I blame this on the obsessive kitty hat making, but I did get seven of the little suckers off to Gaia to sell at Otakon. She had three already, so ten total isn't quite such a sad inventory. I need to try selling them on Etsy, but only after my hands recover from all the acrylic.
So I finished the third clue last night, well maybe 12:30 this morning. Tuesday night... that's a new low. Most of the knitting was done at Columbia Mall before the Decemberists show at Merriweather- I scared a few of the kids hanging out by the "water feature" I think. The rest of it was on the couch while watching America's Got Talent. I hate to say it America, but I'm not so sure about that Talent label.
I probably would have completed it faster, except for the baby blankets I'm working on. Funny how I continue along with my knitting life, completely blase, until the moment I realize I have less than a month to finish two blankets that I started ... 3-6 months ago. I anticipate that the crocheted blanket will be 100 (long) rows, and I'm on 64 as of this morning. Amazing how much you can complete while waiting for the cable guy to show up. The knitted baby blanket will probably be 30 squares, and I've completed 10. So that's some progress, at least.
I'm scared about the next clue for the stole. Instead of 50 rows, we have well over 100. Also, Melanie suggests strongly that we use a lifeline in Row 287. I hate lifelines. They offend me. But if the designer is telling us to suck it up and use one, in this particular row, so be it. I have this sinking feeling this is going all multi-directional or something. I have trust in her that it will come out lovely, but I admit that I'm less in love with it after 1/3 of the stole than I was in the first clue. I still love the intricate border, though, so maybe I'll be able to regain my initial admiration somewhere in Clue 4 or 5...
So I finished the third clue last night, well maybe 12:30 this morning. Tuesday night... that's a new low. Most of the knitting was done at Columbia Mall before the Decemberists show at Merriweather- I scared a few of the kids hanging out by the "water feature" I think. The rest of it was on the couch while watching America's Got Talent. I hate to say it America, but I'm not so sure about that Talent label.
I probably would have completed it faster, except for the baby blankets I'm working on. Funny how I continue along with my knitting life, completely blase, until the moment I realize I have less than a month to finish two blankets that I started ... 3-6 months ago. I anticipate that the crocheted blanket will be 100 (long) rows, and I'm on 64 as of this morning. Amazing how much you can complete while waiting for the cable guy to show up. The knitted baby blanket will probably be 30 squares, and I've completed 10. So that's some progress, at least.
I'm scared about the next clue for the stole. Instead of 50 rows, we have well over 100. Also, Melanie suggests strongly that we use a lifeline in Row 287. I hate lifelines. They offend me. But if the designer is telling us to suck it up and use one, in this particular row, so be it. I have this sinking feeling this is going all multi-directional or something. I have trust in her that it will come out lovely, but I admit that I'm less in love with it after 1/3 of the stole than I was in the first clue. I still love the intricate border, though, so maybe I'll be able to regain my initial admiration somewhere in Clue 4 or 5...
Monday, July 09, 2007
What I did over my summer vacation...
A little trip in pictures. If you will recall, we last left our intrepid knitter just home from Mom and Dad's. Forget R&R, this was a working break! Here's the evidence:
Posing with a work in progress:
Pieced apples:
Messy work in progress (I love my mother's sewing table. Oh yes I do):
Finished but for the quilting:
I also received my snazzy bag from the Craft Exchange right before I left. The outside:
And print interior/alternate exterior:
And not to be biased, but my favorite project of all?? The Mystery Stole 3, Clue 2 completed about a half hour ago:
Hurray for pretty projects. Did I mention the four kitty hats that need ears? And the charity scarf that needs to be completely redone by Saturday? I'm getting there. I would have been significantly more productive if I hadn't had a stomach bug today, but that didn't keep me from knitting this week's MS3 clue. I did have to rip out three rows, however, since I evidently lost my place while losing my cookies. I'm not sure which bothered me more.
Next post: I take on quilting, the actual hand quilting part, and see how many kitty hats I can knock out in short order. Here's my first kitty hat, back in Bloomington, when I decided it was almost as fun to leave the ends out and go Fraggle Rock:
(Care of Yahoo Photos, which has conveniently sent all sorts of old photos I'd forgotten about into my Flickr account!)
Posing with a work in progress:
Pieced apples:
Messy work in progress (I love my mother's sewing table. Oh yes I do):
Finished but for the quilting:
I also received my snazzy bag from the Craft Exchange right before I left. The outside:
And print interior/alternate exterior:
And not to be biased, but my favorite project of all?? The Mystery Stole 3, Clue 2 completed about a half hour ago:
Hurray for pretty projects. Did I mention the four kitty hats that need ears? And the charity scarf that needs to be completely redone by Saturday? I'm getting there. I would have been significantly more productive if I hadn't had a stomach bug today, but that didn't keep me from knitting this week's MS3 clue. I did have to rip out three rows, however, since I evidently lost my place while losing my cookies. I'm not sure which bothered me more.
Next post: I take on quilting, the actual hand quilting part, and see how many kitty hats I can knock out in short order. Here's my first kitty hat, back in Bloomington, when I decided it was almost as fun to leave the ends out and go Fraggle Rock:
(Care of Yahoo Photos, which has conveniently sent all sorts of old photos I'd forgotten about into my Flickr account!)
Sunday, July 08, 2007
Quilting Lessons
I took a very long bridge-the-gap weekend. Wednesday I had off for the fourth, and by taking Th/Fri off I get a 5 day weekend. Nice! I spent the majority of it learning how to quilt and making a wall hanging.
Yes, there will be pictures. But not quite yet.
This weekend I knit 4 kitty hats (rather, four bases, but not the ears yet). Also 6 or 7 rows of the Mystery Stole, which is a piddly number but I have a whole day tomorrow to work on them. I also knit another bit of a square for the baby afghan.
Much more importantly, I finished a wall hanging to give as a wedding present to a very old friend of mine getting married in two weeks. By finished, I mean I completed the piecing, got the backing on, and my mom was sweet enough to baste it and add the binding. All that's left is to quilt the sucker! Mom taught me the basics, and my stitches were looking almost acceptable on our practice placemat after a few hours, so hopefully another couple hours to practice and I'll be able to whip through and mail the finished project off. I also learned some neat tricks for making squares of two fabrics on the diagonal, without cutting triangles. I hate cutting triangles, so that was a godsend. This got put into use for another quilt project, which is super secret for now.
I also received my craft exchange project from Dallas's exchange group- crafted by the ever amazing and talented Dallas herself. Again, I have pictures to post later, but it is the cutest thing ever! Adorable bag, exactly the perfect shape to use as a purse and stick a small knitting project inside. It fits exactly under my arm, so I don't need to worry about things falling out. It has a cute little rosette flower attached (in hot pink, of course). Best of all? The whole thing is reversible!! I can do sophistocated black, or an amazingly cute and bright swirly print, a bit Pucci-esque. I love it! In fact, I'm already using it as my purse. I went with black for my night on the town tonight, but I suspect that print is going to get a fair bit of use this summer.
One more day of freedom. By next weekend I hope to have a bunch of kitty hats done, and to have completed the second MS3 clue. Here's hoping! Otakon is almost here... so I definitely need to get cracking on those hats, if I ever want to make back the yarn costs...
Yes, there will be pictures. But not quite yet.
This weekend I knit 4 kitty hats (rather, four bases, but not the ears yet). Also 6 or 7 rows of the Mystery Stole, which is a piddly number but I have a whole day tomorrow to work on them. I also knit another bit of a square for the baby afghan.
Much more importantly, I finished a wall hanging to give as a wedding present to a very old friend of mine getting married in two weeks. By finished, I mean I completed the piecing, got the backing on, and my mom was sweet enough to baste it and add the binding. All that's left is to quilt the sucker! Mom taught me the basics, and my stitches were looking almost acceptable on our practice placemat after a few hours, so hopefully another couple hours to practice and I'll be able to whip through and mail the finished project off. I also learned some neat tricks for making squares of two fabrics on the diagonal, without cutting triangles. I hate cutting triangles, so that was a godsend. This got put into use for another quilt project, which is super secret for now.
I also received my craft exchange project from Dallas's exchange group- crafted by the ever amazing and talented Dallas herself. Again, I have pictures to post later, but it is the cutest thing ever! Adorable bag, exactly the perfect shape to use as a purse and stick a small knitting project inside. It fits exactly under my arm, so I don't need to worry about things falling out. It has a cute little rosette flower attached (in hot pink, of course). Best of all? The whole thing is reversible!! I can do sophistocated black, or an amazingly cute and bright swirly print, a bit Pucci-esque. I love it! In fact, I'm already using it as my purse. I went with black for my night on the town tonight, but I suspect that print is going to get a fair bit of use this summer.
One more day of freedom. By next weekend I hope to have a bunch of kitty hats done, and to have completed the second MS3 clue. Here's hoping! Otakon is almost here... so I definitely need to get cracking on those hats, if I ever want to make back the yarn costs...
Monday, July 02, 2007
Mystery Stole 1: some progress!
I managed to take pictures along the way this weekend.
This is Mystery Stole 3 (hereafter MS3) at 3:30am Saturday morning when I completed Chart A (ie, 3 hours after casting on... including the first 15 rows which I had to rip out and redo):
I was already loving the border swirls and points.
I completed the rest of it over the weekend, and this is what it looked like at 8 Sunday evening (2 days for 100 rows! I'll take it):
A detail of the edging (Wow do I love this border):
And the inset at the center (this one actually shows the beads- they're the bright shiny things peeking out at you):
This was really a record knitting weekend. 100 rows of lace, a few inches of the baby owl sweater front, and 3 or 4 squares for my cousin's baby blanket (they're all repeats at this point, so not much point in showing pictures until I get farther along). I also did another few rows of the crocheted baby blanket. I need to be more active tomorrow!
I also picked up my HDTV... finally joined the 21st century. It looks SO GOOD. Best of all, I can move Buffy episodes back up in my Netflix queue! On my old tv, it was virtually impossible to watch- everything looked pitch black. Hurray for contrast and brightness!
This week I'm taking a mini vacation. Two more days of work, then I am heading up to Baltimore for a quilting lesson and fireworks watching with Mom. I'll be home Friday to start working on MS3 Clue 2!
EDIT:: I should note one thing. I had to rip out about half a row twice (in rows 95 and 97 I think) because I wasn't paying attention. It cost me a total of five minutes, I think. Otherwise, this stole has been incredibly easy to work on!! I found Hanami to be much more difficult to follow; this pattern is logical and beautiful to work with. I just thought that I should add that tidbit! I've been thinking I should run a lifeline through- everyone else seems to. Seeing as I haven't had any real issues so far though, I am not terribly worried. I also haven't found it necessary to use stitch markers, but I might later on depending on the pattern.
This is Mystery Stole 3 (hereafter MS3) at 3:30am Saturday morning when I completed Chart A (ie, 3 hours after casting on... including the first 15 rows which I had to rip out and redo):
I was already loving the border swirls and points.
I completed the rest of it over the weekend, and this is what it looked like at 8 Sunday evening (2 days for 100 rows! I'll take it):
A detail of the edging (Wow do I love this border):
And the inset at the center (this one actually shows the beads- they're the bright shiny things peeking out at you):
This was really a record knitting weekend. 100 rows of lace, a few inches of the baby owl sweater front, and 3 or 4 squares for my cousin's baby blanket (they're all repeats at this point, so not much point in showing pictures until I get farther along). I also did another few rows of the crocheted baby blanket. I need to be more active tomorrow!
I also picked up my HDTV... finally joined the 21st century. It looks SO GOOD. Best of all, I can move Buffy episodes back up in my Netflix queue! On my old tv, it was virtually impossible to watch- everything looked pitch black. Hurray for contrast and brightness!
This week I'm taking a mini vacation. Two more days of work, then I am heading up to Baltimore for a quilting lesson and fireworks watching with Mom. I'll be home Friday to start working on MS3 Clue 2!
EDIT:: I should note one thing. I had to rip out about half a row twice (in rows 95 and 97 I think) because I wasn't paying attention. It cost me a total of five minutes, I think. Otherwise, this stole has been incredibly easy to work on!! I found Hanami to be much more difficult to follow; this pattern is logical and beautiful to work with. I just thought that I should add that tidbit! I've been thinking I should run a lifeline through- everyone else seems to. Seeing as I haven't had any real issues so far though, I am not terribly worried. I also haven't found it necessary to use stitch markers, but I might later on depending on the pattern.
Saturday, June 30, 2007
MS3 begins...
Oh dear is it late. I cast on for Mystery Stole 3 at 11:30 or so this evening and completed a good 15 rows before I realized that I was adding beads in the center of every row by mistake- those blocks weren't "gray bead blocks" but merely "center blocks" which appeared gray. If only I had access to a color printer, I'd have avoided a fair bit of ripping back!
On the plus side I finally got a good system going for working in the beads without frizzing the yarn loops. So that's positive. And I have now completed Chart A. Chart B will take a lot longer (4 stitch row is a lot less than constantly working towards 99!), but I imagine I can knock that out before the next clue, if not within the weekend.
I feel awful. I haven't stayed up this late knitting in some time. Reading, talking to friends.. sure. But I can't believe I was knitting lace after 2:30! I did start making a mistake in the very last row of the chart (49), but immediately realized the error. Evidently working on the Adamas shawls and the Hanami were good preparation.
On that note, tomorrow I will post pretty pictures. I'm really enjoying the knitting- nothing makes me happier than little bitty cables or intricate lace. The pattern thus far is quite intricate, and therefore very pleasing! The KnitPicks Bare is a bit rough on my hands, but I've been working with CashSoft for days and there is simply no comparison between laceweight merino and a cashmere blend. I also am trying out the Addi Turbo Lace needles (like half the world it seems). Here's my thoughts:
OH YES.
They are grippy but smooth. The cord is perfect. They can't loosen up on me and drop my stitches. After the first 4 rows, I never had a problem with the stitches falling off unintentionally. They are pretty, and nice and pointy for pulling in the lace, and I am absolutely in love. I have heard in a couple reviews that the metal is an alloy that can be affected by skin pH, which worries me- there is a reason I can't wear earrings or most rings and necklaces! But maybe I'll be lucky and won't react too badly to them (and conversely, I hope I don't wear away the finish!).
Bedtime for bonzos. But I finished Chart A!! And it was easy peasy! I never got lost reading the chart because of the nifty KnitPicks chart holder (sadly too small for the next charts, I fear. And it was even fun to do the beads! So far it's just ducky.
On the plus side I finally got a good system going for working in the beads without frizzing the yarn loops. So that's positive. And I have now completed Chart A. Chart B will take a lot longer (4 stitch row is a lot less than constantly working towards 99!), but I imagine I can knock that out before the next clue, if not within the weekend.
I feel awful. I haven't stayed up this late knitting in some time. Reading, talking to friends.. sure. But I can't believe I was knitting lace after 2:30! I did start making a mistake in the very last row of the chart (49), but immediately realized the error. Evidently working on the Adamas shawls and the Hanami were good preparation.
On that note, tomorrow I will post pretty pictures. I'm really enjoying the knitting- nothing makes me happier than little bitty cables or intricate lace. The pattern thus far is quite intricate, and therefore very pleasing! The KnitPicks Bare is a bit rough on my hands, but I've been working with CashSoft for days and there is simply no comparison between laceweight merino and a cashmere blend. I also am trying out the Addi Turbo Lace needles (like half the world it seems). Here's my thoughts:
OH YES.
They are grippy but smooth. The cord is perfect. They can't loosen up on me and drop my stitches. After the first 4 rows, I never had a problem with the stitches falling off unintentionally. They are pretty, and nice and pointy for pulling in the lace, and I am absolutely in love. I have heard in a couple reviews that the metal is an alloy that can be affected by skin pH, which worries me- there is a reason I can't wear earrings or most rings and necklaces! But maybe I'll be lucky and won't react too badly to them (and conversely, I hope I don't wear away the finish!).
Bedtime for bonzos. But I finished Chart A!! And it was easy peasy! I never got lost reading the chart because of the nifty KnitPicks chart holder (sadly too small for the next charts, I fear. And it was even fun to do the beads! So far it's just ducky.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
