Crash Test Dummies

Tricote en Bresse

2009-07-28T18:23:00.001-07:00

I'd write this post in French except it would be a disgrace to the language. I can barely get by in English most of the time so pushing my piddling high school French would only make you shudder. Lots of knitting going on here (see? Fragmentation - tres mal!), but only on simple things. I've dropped the sweaters for now, my brain is rebelling against Gull stitch, and I've picked up a pair of languishing socks. Knit with bamboo/Merino Opal and a vanilla sock pattern - memorized, of course - they're a joy to knit. Waiting for the bus, riding the bus, during my breaks and lunch at work, while watching The Office (my manager lent me the DVD - total addict!) - perfect knitting anytime. Despite my recent addiction to anthropology (specifically paleo-), I'm still reading some of my favorites: Terry Pratchett as always and a book I purcased last week by Peter Mayle. French Lessons, one of his books I hadn't delved into, is a delightful exploration into the French culture. Poulet appellation, the Provencal locals, and Bugandy galore. Always a pleasure.
I'm over whatever little sniffle I had. My illnesses never last long although I try to make a big deal of them. People know me too well: "She'll be back on her feet tomorrow. Don't worry." The sympathy I receive is overwhelming. At least Mutti made me some soup. What are mothers for except to coddle their chicks, no matter how old they are.

I finished my gigantic garter stitch kerchief. I used two skeins of Manos del Uruguay. The skeins were purchased impulsively last year (autumn, I think) purely for their color: bright, joyful, distinctly not flowing with the weather at the time. Now that it's done it reminds me of something a Punjabi grandmother would wear in a Washington winter. A bright flash of color in an otherwise grey environment. It's too hot to model now, but come fall I'll have plenty of pictures for you. By the way, that's Mutti's Homemade Chicken Soup in the background. It's all gone now, but you can drink in a smidgen with your eyes. Favorite tapestry needle given to my by my sister - excellent for bulky yarns.

The best things for sickos

2009-07-22T18:57:00.000-07:00

Blueberry lemon corn muffins are now in the number two spot on my list of The Best Things to Eat/Drink When You Are Sick. Number one has always been and will still be occupied by Tea with Honey and Lemon. Nothing finer. These muffins come close though. Real close. The recipe was sent to me by DJ a few months ago. I just made them today and I regret not making them sooner. Blueberries, lemon zest, and cornmeal are a match made in Muffin Heaven. I'd post the recipe, but I'd be breaking copyright law, I'm sure. Just take a basic muffin recipe and add the best bits. Voila. You'll probably get it right after the first few tries.
I also made Mushroom Soup, take two. The first time I fell in love with it and, as it turns out, that was not just beginners luck because this time it's just as good. Every time I make it I get further away from the original recipe, but who cares! That's what recipes are for: not following. I haven't found a way to successfully photograph mushroom soup in order to make it look appetizing. You'll just have to take my word for it. Delish.
Mutti made spectacular chicken noodle soup - number three on the list. Homemade stock, roasted chicken, lovingly sauteed onions, various herbs... as the Campbell's kids would say: MmmMmm. I've been living on soup and muffins and tea. Plenty of sleep as well.
There has been knitting! I'm working on a boring hand spun scarf (how can it be!? Boring? Hand spun? Can the two ever be found together? YES.), and monstrous Manos garter stitch scarf, and my FLS. The body is done - phew - and most of the first sleeve is knitted. I still haven't decided if I want 3/4-length sleeves or full length sleeves. I'm really sick of the gull stitch pattern. Really. Sick. Of. It. It's wearing on me like size 7 stilettos on a size 10 foot. Like cheap pine by heavy duty sand paper. Like the yappy dog next door who decides 3 am really is a good time to let you know who's boss. Not fun. I really just want to finish this. Quickly. Painlessly.

So, in order to make things better, I started another one. This one's for DJ's baby-to-be. Granted it is knit with cotton instead of wool and the color is a vast improvement, but surprise, surprise, it's still causing me grief. The body is almost done and I'm afraid that's as far as I can push it. Let us pray that I never have to give birth.Say good-bye to my wheel! It's going to a new home next week and I wish it the best of luck. I'm getting a Majacraft Rose and I really don't think I'll miss my Ashford at all after the Rose arrives. What Ashford? Did I have one? Really? Right now I'm just finishing up a three ply to clear off the bobbins and then it's Sayonara, good riddance, don't let the door hit your treadle on the way out.

Maybe that's a bit cruel.

Okay, we had some good times. That merino/silk was great, but I don't think it's going to work out. It's not you, it's me.

In good company

2009-07-15T12:38:00.000-07:00

We are finally moved and quite happy. The apartment is roomy and fits all of our possessions, the neighbors are friendly, but not nosy, and everything is falling nicely into place. I'm still working and Mutti is looking for work. The kittehs could care less about all the unpacking and organizing business, and I am thinking about getting a puppy. Just thought I'd throw that last bit out there for comments and suggestions.
Mutti and I recently visited Alisha's home where we met her two daughters, Aubrey and Jade (Aubrey is the Victorian-looking blonde, and Jade is the one who could be a beat poet); her husband, Jim; her son, Tanner; and her puppikins, Sweetie. We had the most wonderful time just sitting, knitting, chatting, drinking tea or in my hungover case - coffee, and nibbling breakfast fodder. Her home is so relaxed and charming that I should be using phrases like "the most delightful occasion" and "nary a worry aside from the disreputable neighbors" except I'm afraid a Jane Austen book will come thundering down from nowhere onto my head. Ker-thunk.
Anyway, we had a splendid (there I go again) time and I really hated to leave. Damn work.
Last week we celebrated Teener's sixty-fourth (64) birthday. I almost bought her an over-the-hill card, but I realized I was 14 years too late. Happy Birthday again, Teener! Mutti made her a delicious cake (surprise!) and she showed off the bracelet her grandson made for her. A very classy piece, Mother of Pearl buttons and all. She had us over the next day for wine and nibblies and knitting. Lots of fun.
I meant to share my bread making with you, but this was around the last of the month and I wasn't posting. I switched our bread recipe from all white wheat to half white wheat/ half whole wheat. It makes the bread yummy, light, and healthy. A nice change. Mutti was convinced she wouldn't like it, but of course she loves it. Silly.
My schedule is being switched around a bit at work which means that I now have Monday afternoons off which means I can go to Monday night knitting. It's usually held in the dining area in Bayview Thriftway downtown unless the space is otherwise occupied. This week we'll be at Marathon Park soaking up the sun.

I have been knitting, really. Julep is done done done and I've even worn it a few times. Just haven't managed to take pictures. The body of FLS is done and I'm almost done with the first sleeve. The lace pattern is kind of wearing me down a bit (sandpaper, grand rapids, screaming children might be better) so I had to put it down for a bit. I picked up a hand spun scarf and just last night I knit a few rows on my Selbu Mittens. Color work is in the air.

We bees moving

2009-06-24T19:59:00.000-07:00

This is the scene in our house this week. Mutti and I are moving to an apartment down the street. Our rental house costs too much and they don't do a lick of work around the place. Pooh-pooh to them. The apartment is very nice; three bedrooms and two bathrooms. An open kitchen (none of that awful galley business), and the typical closet set-up for washer and dryer. I'll post pictures when we move in, of course. One of the managers who works at the apartment complex is a crochetting Irish Bostonian. We were sold. Or rented, at least.
There has been knitting, but not a lot. I'm mainly working on Julep and FLS. The body of the FLS is almost done. Julep would be done if I can ever get a minute to sit down and finish the sideways garter stitch collar - 4 sts, back and forth, knitted on. Mindless, all-time consuming. Did I mention that we were watching Toby this month? My sister and BIL are busy getting their house fixed up so they, too, can move. Instead of down the street they're moving to Colorado. Much sadness, but it'll give me a reason to travel.
I'm exhausted right now so I'll distract you with some bee pictures while I slip away to pack boxes/ have a cup of tea/ sneak outside to knit. This bee was on our Salvia last week being as busy as a you-know-what. She even climbed on our hands. Very contented. She must have been receiving the bee love we were sending her. Bzzz!
If you want more bee love go see Pinneguri's Socks Bumblebee. Sweet!

Yorkshire Yarns Grand Re-Opening and Monday Night Knitting at Bayview Thriftway

2009-06-16T21:38:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry to say that I completely forgot to take pictures of Sonya's new shop. Yes. Crap, indeed. I did, however, take pictures of the lovely lovely yarn that I bought there. Pictured above is one divine ball of Yarn Place Graceful Lace. Gorgeous stuff. I can't wait to knit it and, knowing me, I probably won't wait. I also bought

3 skeins of Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool for mittens (what else with those obnoxious new colors?),
a skein of Hazel Knits Artisan Sock for Mutti,

and a skein of Cobblestone by Fibra Natura. I love this yarn. It's looks like hand spun, it feels like hand spun, but it isn't.

Her new shop is so much larger than the old place. She moved from 900 sq. ft. to 3000 sq. ft. Woo! And guess what? She's going to start carrying spinning supplies! Swoon!! That'll give me two brick and mortar places to buy wool from: YY and The Allyn Knit and Spin Shop. The new Yorkshire Yarns is located on 100th St in Lakewood. If you're coming from Olympia you can take I-5 to exit 124 to Gravelly Lane (drive? rd? Gravelly something.). Keep right and follow that past Clover Park HS and the Shibori Dragon Shop. It's right near the Ram restaurant. Easy to find. Plenty of parking, too. She has comfy seating, great lighting, and good music. Not to mention spectacular yarn! Congrats, Sonya!

***

While I was at YY I saw Margit and David from Monday Night Knitting at Canvas Works. They told me that the usual group was meeting at Bayview Thriftway so of course I went. Margit is a kick in the pants, as well as an excellent knitter and figure skater. That's her pictured above, being scary for the camera.
It was great to see all the knitters I haven't seen for a while. This is Jack helping Marianne with a baby hat. Sitting next to him is his wife, Pam. I've been trying to save up for a new wheel so I can sell my Ashford to Pam, but there are lots of factors working against me. Mainly, the government, but not in a conspiracy, cover-it-up sort of way. Mainly in a must-pay-my-bills way.

And this is Angela, Soap-maker Extraordinaire, IT Guru, and one of my favoritest peoples. She's going to trade me soap for yarn. Yay! Hopefully we'll get together to make soap again soon.

As well as finishing some knitting and spindling at Bayview, I also finished a delicious ice cream cone. They have the best ice cream there. Go try it. Yum!!

One more thing: I'm sure I told you that DJ is pregnant, but I didn't realize how far along she was. 23 weeks! I have to start knitting baby stuff right now.

And with that, I leave you with this view from Percival Landing. Goodnight!

p.s. I only have the second sleeve and the collar to knit on Julep. I'll be wearing it by Friday.

Knit in Public: If you've got it, flaunt it.

2009-06-14T12:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday definitely qualified as fun in the sun. It was so great to be around people who didn't look at me as though I belonged in a loony bin when I talked about smelling wool. There were door prizes, or rather, gazebo prizes, vendors, classes, and many wonderful knitters. Mah knitties!

I was kept very entertained between taking pictures of Tina,

meeting knitters,

learning about art felt (although I admitted that I'd use the pencil roving for spinning instead),

seeing Sonya again (she's re-opening her shop tomorrow!),

listening to Lois of Allyn Knit Shop announce numbers for the prizes with plenty of encouragement from knitters all around,

and watching lots of knitters do their thing - knit, talk, laugh.

I taught Mom how to start socks from the toe up using the Figure 8 cast on, but she was too tired to start them even though she thought the cast on was fun.

I bought some wool, of course. I don't know why I always end up buying roving instead of yarn at knitterly get-togethers. Maybe to make it last longer?

8 delicious ounces of Targhee by Mountain Colors. Lovely wool that reminds me of Cormo with just the right amount of lanolin left in. I'm thinking cabled vest. Also, 100g of Zitron pencil roving (rainbow) and Skacel Schoppel Wolle (brown) for sock yarn! I've been wanting to try this pencil roving for a while and I finally caved. It wasn't really caving. Completely voluntary on my part. No pushing needed.
I can't wait until tomorrow: we're going up to Lakewood to visit Sonya in her new shop. More yarn to come!

As happens at these knitting deals, not much progress was made on my knitting. I did finish the body edging on Julep and knit a repeat on my FLS. I'm going to try and finish one of the sleeves for Julep on the bus today.

Cashmere included

2009-06-11T13:41:00.000-07:00

I've mainly been working on two knitting projects (although that's going to change soon): Julep and the February Lady Sweater. The body of Julep is almost done. I'm just knitting the sideways garter stitch edge which is taking much longer than anticipated. Great bus knitting. I've had the lace pattern for the FLS memorized for a while now. Also great bus knitting. Wonder why I'm only working on these two projects? Yup.

***

In payment for machine washing my not machine washable socks Mutti has given me a skein of Jade Sapphire Cashmere. She is now forbidden to wash my clothes which I'm not really sure why she was washing in the first place because I'm pretty capable of doing my own laundry. Hm. Anyway, I'm now the happy owner of a yummy skein of cashmere. I dyed it a subtly variegated green and I'm going to use it to knit a smaller version of the Bleeding Hearts Stole by Anne Hanson. Yes, another lace project. They'll all get done, eventually.

Say hello to my new flash drive. It's the one Adrian posted a little while ago. It was such a yoink jerk move, but I had to have it. Now it holds all my pictures and a back up of my music. Now that I've deleted my thousands of photos the computer runs much faster.

Plus, you have to love how it looks like it's getting it's brains sucked out when plugged in.

Noms and knitting

2009-05-29T16:22:00.000-07:00

Finally! Pictures of my February Lady Sweater. I started it on the 22nd and I'm speeding my way down the body. What quick and fun knitting! The pattern is a breeze - complicated enough to keep me entertained and easy enough that I don't need a pattern or a bottle of ~~aspirin~~ vodka. I couldn't help but combine pictures of the raspberry cake I made today with the sweater. What a match they make. The yarn is Knit Picks Wool of the Andes that I dyed a few months ago.
The recipe is from the latest issue of Gourmet - one of their quick recipes that I love so much. MMMM - it's so good. Go get an issue and make it. NOM! Took me about 10 minutes to throw together and half an hour to bake. Voila!

Jealous yet?

Mmmmmmmmmm.

In other news: spinning!

Fiber: BMFA Jabberwocky Mulberry Silk and Superwash Merino
Single spun striped and navajo plied
light fingering weight
377 yds/ 1.8 oz/ 49 g
...and I still have a few ounces to spin - yay!

This definitely qualifies as comfort spinning. I love silk and merino blends. They're heaven on the hands. The colors in the roving look very jewel-toned, but when you see the yarn from a distance it looks like autumnal colors. Wonderful either way.

The sweet peas we planted last year decided to grow this year. There are two that are growing quite fast. I borrowed a bird feeder used for peanuts to stop the peas from growing in between the siding on the house and it seems to be working. I hope the squirrels and birds don't want their peanuts any time soon.

Sometimes my life is a joke, but at least I have socks!

2009-05-22T17:31:00.000-07:00

Things that have happened this month:

- While trying to re-learn how to ride a bike a shrub jumped out in front of me. Apparently it's not just like riding a bike.

-I hit on and asked out a married man who I did not know was married. Surprise! He said no, for the record. And thus his loyalty was tested. That was the point of me asking, or at least, that's my excuse.

-We got some guy to mow our lawn so we don't have to. Hooray! Except last week he mutilated some of the iris leaves with the weed whacker.

-I was supposed to meet up with some of my co-workers to go walking around Capitol Lake yesterday except one of them fell off the face of the earth (and won't empty her phone's mailbox) and I begged off from the other one because I think he'll ask me out if he gets me alone. Runaway!
I have finished socks!

Pattern: Laeticia
Needles: US1.5/3.00mm
Yarn: Pagewood Farm Denali Hand dyed Sock Yarn

I was having a biiig knitting rut for a while and these socks dragged me right out of it. Lots of fun to knit. The traveling illusion cable impresses lots of people - especially non-knitters. And damn! It's nice to have new hand knit socks on my feets!

Exhibit A: sock-making love

Mutti's latest art project - and my favorite:
Her class was asked to draw a memory and this was hers. She remembers sitting under a pear tree as a child. Isn't it beauteous? It's a mix of crayon, pastel, and watercolor. She's really getting fancy with the media.

Psst... I'm still working on Julep, but the miles of stockinette for the body are driving me a little batty so I'm starting a February Lady Sweater with the Wool of the Andes that I dyed and was originally using for the Bog Jacket which I ripped since my attention span won't allow me to knit that much garter stitch. I cannot tell you the number of times people have asked me if I'm pregnant. Is the mint green really that much of a baby color?

Where mah knitties at?

2009-05-07T22:14:00.001-07:00

At knit night tonight I realized that I didn't really have any pictures of my knitties. Unfortunately I thought of this after the majority of them had gone home for the evening. There's about nine of us that meet on a regular basis.

This is Paulette of the subtle wit. Sock knitter extraordinaire.

Happy Patti! Always makes me laugh.

Mutti (of course) and Tina - or Teener, as I call her. She has Norwegian rats invading her yard. No joke.

Me! I don't think I've made an appearance on the blog for a long time so I guess I'm overdue. Knitting on Julep which doesn't look like much since it's a 36" tee shirt on 24" needles. Blob.

Next Thursday I'll take pictures of the rest of the knitties. Not pictured: Kay, Shirl, Sue, and Alisha.

Handcarding

2009-04-30T12:28:00.001-07:00

***

CMF Superwash Merino Lucy In The Sky separated and carded for Navajo plied striped sock yarn. Fun muffins!

I'm chugging along on Laeticia. This one-project-at-a-time thing isn't so bad after all!

I have to buy new shoes this weekend. The sneakers I have now are basically flip flops with uppers. I walk a lot so I'm thinking of buying something akin to Seven-League Boots. Any durable and fun suggestions?

Back from beyond*

2009-04-28T09:46:00.000-07:00

Spring has inspired me to pick up my camera again. Tulips, pastels, socks the color of new leaves - you name it, I've photographed it. My renewed interest in photography may be due to the fact that I've been moved to the photo department at work. My manager and I both agreed that cosmetics didn't give me enough of a challenge. I love keeping busy and photo does just that. It's amazing how much shoddy photography there is out there! To console myself, I'm trying to improve my own photography skills.
Someone else has picked something back up: Mutti is drawing again (rejoice!). She hasn't started water color painting again, but I have no doubt that she'll get that back, too. There's a drawing class at the community college that she enrolled in and she's enjoying it immensely. She's mainly using pastels and charcoal right now, but I'm sure there will be other things in the mix. She's inspiring me to draw again and I'm even having fun with the pastels.
On Friday we went to the Yashiro Japanese Garden here in Olympia. That's where we shot the photos of my Swallowtail Shawl. I took a bunch of flora-filled photographs and Mutti got her sketch on. The light was absolutely perfect that day. Mutti and I ran out of the house to make it to the garden before the light changed or it did something predictable, like rain (which it did later). I took about 150 photographs of which I only kept about 50. I'm very finicky (who knew?) so I only keep the good ones. I'm thinking about buying a flash drive to store my photographs on since they're taking up so much room on the computer.
That Friday was also the day I made homemade mushroom soup from a recipe that DJ sent me (along with a boxful of goodies including a one-month sonogram of her baby-to-be!). Before I wax lyrical about mushroom soup, I should tell you something. I hate mushroom soup. Or, rather, I used to hate mushroom soup. This soup cured my hate-hate relationship with mushroom soup. Mushroom soup therapy. First of all, it's homemade and I'm sure that makes a world of difference. The only thing that canned mushroom soup is good on is green bean casserole. Second of all, ... I'm not sure there was a second-of-all, but let's make one up. Second of all, I used fresh and dried mushrooms. Fresh mushrooms add the texture bit and dried mushrooms add so much flavor. Flavorful is not an adjective I associate with mushrooms and if I do it never has pleasant connotations. I live near the mushroom farm, after all. Smell that puppy on a misty-moisty day - yech. I'd share the recipe with you, but I don't know where it's from and don't want to break copyright. I'll just say this: fresh and dried mushrooms, chicken broth, whole milk, sauteed onions, paprika. Leave out the dill and tamari, top with a dollop of sour cream. Nom.
I was letting Kami outside for a while. As long as I was outside as well, I wasn't worried about her. Our yard is fenced in, but she recently found a space under the fence that allowed her to crawl into the neighbors yard where she became lost and alone. Imagine the yowling. Although I enjoyed seeing her romp through the grass and sunbathe on the deck, she is no longer allowed outside. She may not get to eye the birds close up, but I'm sure she doesn't miss the peppermint baths.
The best for last! There has been knitting. I haven't been working on a lot of projects because I'm trying to do the one-project-at-a-time thing. It's working out well so far. I finished a scarf for Mutti's birthday. A simple diagonal garter stitch scarf using Sublime Organic Merino DK. Gorgeous yarn in a pale pink that's perfect for The Pink Lady. She wears it every time she needs a scarf. Isn't it nice when someone loves your knitting?
DJ bought me the pattern for Laeticia and I cast on right away! I started them April 10th and I have one sock and the cuff of the second done. Not bad considering my usual slow as a snail knitting pace. I'm using the Pagewood Farms Denali that I've had for a long time. Susanne's 8" Rosewood dpns make this a very enjoyable project. The needles say 2.5mm, but they're more like a 2.75, which is fine considering the twisted stitch cuff. I was in a bit of a knitting slump for a few weeks and this has dragged me right out. I think I was knitting too many things with a low challenge level: plain socks, Mutti's plain scarf, plain plain plain. Need something engaging! Twisted stitches! Lace! Traveling illusory cables! Hooray!

Let's calm down a bit. Here are more photographs from The Yashiro Japanese Garden, plus a photo of one of our Lemon-scented Geraniums on the porch. Blooming at last.

*Do most of my post titles lately seem to be "Back from somewhere" titles? Definitely a sign that I need to post more often. Will do.

Knitting for strangers

2009-03-24T18:30:00.000-07:00

wheat grass in the windowsill - just a hint of spring

A woman in a German deli I went to today was admiring my shawl and asked if I would knit her one. I explained to her that it would take me a while to finish it and I didn't think she'd be willing to pay the price. She asked how much and I quoted "Um, $300, $400?"

"Okay."

Meringue for hot toddy cake. Thank you Gourmet magazine!

A second woman came up and said "Make me one in brown. I can afford it."

from organic pink lady apples...

First woman: "I want mine in green."

...to homemade apple and cheese pie with custard filling

Woman behind the counter: "You should start a business. You could really make some money."

undyed Wool of the Andes...

Me: "Apparently so."

...dyed fire engine red for a Bog Jacket

First woman: "Here's my card. Call me."

"Circusiana" 400 yds fingering wt. handspun felted tweed

Mutti and I turn to leave with our purchase (braunschweiger), "Brown! Tschus."

Return of the Fiber Fiend

2009-02-17T11:37:00.000-08:00

For the past two weeks I've been spinning like a madwoman. I've finished 4 oz of Shetland: 725 yds, light fingering wt, Navajo plied, color: Rapunzel (fairy tale name to be explained later). It's for a 2-color vest I'm planning. The main color is a teal/vandyke brown variegated. The gold is finished, but I have yet to start the main color because.....

...I went to the Madrona Fiber Festival on Sunday. Dangerous dangerous! The fiber you see above is 8 oz of superwash Merino from Crown Mountain Farms, color: Wild Horses. You want more?

Crown Mountain Farms

8 oz superwash Merino

color: Lucy In The Sky

Crown Mountain Farms
4 oz baby camel & tussah silk (you can moan if you want) Blue Moon Fiber Arts
4.5 oz mulberry silk & superwash merino
color: Jabberwocky
Rainy Days & Wooly Dogs
4 oz Rambouillet
color: Contretemps

Chameleon Colorworks
4 oz Optim
color: Ophelia

Oh yeah, I got some yarn, too. BMFA STR lightweight, color: Shaun of Braun. Isn't it wonderfully obnoxious?

That's all for today. I'm spinning Wild Horses into a 3 ply - no, a REAL 3 ply. Y'know, the kind that uses 4 bobbins. No Navajo for that beauty. Two bobbins full and a third one almost full. Work is really cutting into my spinning time.

Other quick news:

-I'm going to get a Majacraft Rose. I've wanted one for a long time and damnit, I'm done wanting. It shall be mine. Once I get it I'm going to sell my Ashford Traveler to a friend of mine who wants to spin, wants a wheel, but can't quite afford one. So, she'll be getting a new-ish wheel for $150. Yes, she's excited. So am I.

- I've been knitting here and there. Mostly on my 3 and 1. The body is almost done. Almost. I may have to pick up a skein or two more for the sleeves.

Knitting for me and by me

2009-02-03T12:17:00.000-08:00

Vortex!

On the morning of the 28th I bought two skeins of Noro (greens and naturals) and by that same afternoon I had my new favorite hat. I don't have any modeled pictures because I'm too busy wearing it. Does that make sense or what? There are more pictures up on Ravelry.

My socks are coming along. I have two vanilla pairs going on now. One pair toe-up and one pair cuff-down. Cascade Sassy Stripes is the green/yellow/orange/blue and the red/orange/white/brown is Opal wool and bamboo. Pretty sure it's Opal. Both socks will have afterthought heels so the stripe pattern stays pristine.
One Delft mitten is almost done. Just have to finish the thumb and I'll have to cast on for the second. I kinda made the chart up as I went along, but it's been fun to knit. See the palm here.
I've been knitting a few rows on my 3 and 1 sweater here and there. Right now it hits me at mid-waist. I'll start increasing for hips soon. I will definitely have to buy more yarn for the sleeves. Can't wait for this to be done so I can wear it, but by the time I finish it I doubt I'll need a sweater. I have a good idea for a sweater on paper, or rather, going on paper. Tank top, linen or silk, lace, interesting construction. Lots of fun and not taking up any knitting time at all, nope.

Smitten by a mitten

2009-01-22T10:49:00.000-08:00

What other projects?

A new spin on the same projects

2009-01-20T12:10:00.000-08:00

Although I'm going to start a new spinning project this morning, I haven't made much progress on anything else. Maybe I should be spinning the last two skeins for my Toxic Mittens, but when spinning and knitting is your relaxation there's nothing you "should" do. I dyed this roving a while ago and it's been sitting in the living room for a while. I dyed it in three long sections: undyed, pink, and chestnut - Neapolitan! Just about every spinner dyes or spins something in Neapolitan colors at least once in their life, probably more. Chawne has her Ice Cream yarn, MyYarns Handspun Neapolitan, and Spindelicious' Parisian Candy. What is it that's so attractive about this colorway? I'm not particularly fond of ice cream so it must be something else. The bright pink or the warm variegated tones of brown. Something. This yarn will be a heavy DK or a worsted weight self striping for mittens. I'm not sure who they'll be for, but I do know that I plan on embellishing them with embroidery or buttons. Maybe both.
More goodness: I received my Knit Picks order in the mail a few days ago! Twenty-four balls of Wool of the Andes in white for Heroine. I'm not even going to buy the needles for this project yet. If I do, I'll start it. I already have one sweater otn. No more than that. I even re-taped the box to avoid temptation.

My Spice Scarf is coming along. The stitches in socks are too small for me to look at on the bus (nausea-inducing) so I started this bus knitting project instead. I finished the first ball of Manos and have just started the second. Should make a cozy wraparound shawl. I get lots of odd looks on the bus. O well. Just keep knitting.
The Delft Mittens are coming along slowly. I only work on them in the morning because the colors don't have a lot of contrast and I don't want to screw up the pattern. My sister claimed these during lunch one day. I didn't put up much of a fight since they weren't for me and didn't have an owner yet. These aren't really my colors. I just put them together because they worked. A very spontaneous project.
The palm pattern is a little difficult to keep track of. It starts out being a 2x1 pattern, but then there's a 3 in there because of the diamonds. Pay attention! I'm going into uncharted territory soon. I charted the gusset a little too short so I'm ditching the chart I made and I'm just going to use my brain for the rest. I won't be posting this pattern as these are one-of-a-kind mittens for my sister. No replicas allowed.

Off to spin!

Color kittens unite!

2009-01-13T12:48:00.000-08:00

Cristi left a comment on my last post which was exactly right. I have been bitten by the color bug. Lately I've been choosing yarn and fiber based solely on it's color. For example, I recently bought two skeins of Manos del Uruguay in this spicy colorway. I'm not usually a Manos fan, but these colors call to me. They've been calling to me, from that same shelf in Canvas Works, for about two years. Every time I walked into Canvas Works I'd be drawn to this shelf, pick up the skeins, and hold them for a few moments. I finally caved and bought them. I'm not knitting anything fancy; just a triangular one-row scarf. CO 3 sts, sl the 1st st, k to the last st, k1 in the front and back. Repeat this row every row until the scarf is as large as you desire. Perfect mindless knitting. Worked on US 10.5 needles.

I haven't picked up any project that has a dull color. As a matter of fact, I don't think I even have anything dull on the needles. Maybe it's because winter is still clinging (although the weather is considerably warmer) and the sky is still grey.

Kami also enjoys bright colors. I bought her two toys from Mud Bay Granary (a granola-y pet supply shop). One is a not-so-bright teal and one is bright pink. Guess which one she likes better?

Absolutely.

My posts may be shorter than usual, but I will try to post more often. I've made a little progress on my Delft mitten, but don't want to take another picture until I have more of the palm done.

I almost forgot- I got 24 balls of Knit Picks Wool of the Andes in White for Heroine. I'll be knitting the sweater, dyeing it, then fulling it. Should be interesting. Not sure how I feel about knitting with US 13 needles though.

Back from la-la-land

2009-01-11T20:08:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. Have a flower.

I've been spinning. This is 4 oz of Shetland wool dyed and spun for a pair of mittens. Probably Fiddleheads. Maybe. I have one more ounce of color to spin: pink. Like bubblegum. Or pepto bismol.

These Selbu mittens have gone through two more transformations and have moved from Mutti's WIP pile to mine. The image near the live stitches is a spinning wheel. Fitting, no? See that little braid right after the cuff? That's a kihnu vits from Nancy Bush's book Estonian Knitting. I'm in love with braids and twists on mittens.

DJ sent me a skein of Blue Sky Alpacas Suri Merino. Love it. I'm turning it into a cowl with a traveling leaf pattern from Barbara Walker's first treasury.

I started another pair of mittens. Yes. I have a problem. This is a pattern I designed and have decided to call Delft mainly because whenever I think of Delft I think of water and the colors in this yarn remind me of the shadows on water and riverbank mud. Slap me if I get too poetic. More braids to come on this mitten.

I'll elaborate more later. Goodnight, for now.

No wonder this time of year has the highest suicide rate

2008-11-27T10:39:00.000-08:00

It's that time of year again. I pull out skein after skein of yarn and cast on tons of projects for gifts. Christmas is trying to sneak up on me and it's winning. I thought I had the advantage after starting my Christmas knitting in June, but it appears that I was wrong. Why?

1. Knitting gorgeous color work mittens for your Mom's gift and giving them to her when they're done with the phrase "I'm taking these back before Christmas so I can wrap them." really doesn't make an exciting gift. I want to knit her another pair, but I despair of ever having time to cast them on, much less knit them.

2. My knitting group has decided (in November - thank you!) that we should have a gift exchange. There's seven of them, not counting Mutti and I. I've decided to knit fingerless mitts for everyone using my leftover bits of yarn - a quick project, right? Much more reasonable than scarves or hats. I have one pair done and am halfway done with the first mitt of a second pair. Hmm... will I make it?

3. For some reason my sister is getting two pairs of mittens. Two pairs. A color work pair and a more rough and tumble pair with thrums for keeping her hands warm while she walks the dog. The thrummed Dog-walking Mittens are done (whew), but I just finished the cuff of the second Shining Star. Will someone hold my hand? Metaphorically, of course, otherwise I wouldn't get any knitting done. Before someone asks, I will be posting the chart in the near future (so, sometime in the next millennium, if you know my definition of 'in the near future'). Be warned though, my sister has long, slender hands and I've made this mitten chart long and slender. Plus, the mittens are knit with alpaca, which stretches with wear, so I've made them snug. I'll post the chart I have aaaannnd.... if you ask nicely I'll make a wider and shorter version. I need to screw around with the thumb gusset, too, because I really don't like it NotThatIWouldEVERTellMySisterThat.

Shining Star Mitten - fancy

Dog-walking mittens - rough and tumble and warm

4. I almost forgot that my Aunt Marge needs a gift so I cast on for thrummed mittens for her. I always knit warm things for her because she lives in western New York near Lake Erie where the winter doesn't play around. These are knit using alpaca with Cheviot x Dorset thrums. Instead of leaving long thrummy ends, I carry the roving along like it's for stranding. Much neater -looking insides. I have the second mitten knit to just inside the gusset. These shouldn't take me long, if I can persuade myself to put down the mitts for my knitting group.

5. Mutti has unwisely requested mitts to wear in her keyboarding class. Not unwise for any other reason than she knows that Christmas is next month and I'll be torturing myself enough with all the Christmas knitting. This makes me think - is this fun for her? Haha, twist the knife? Anyway, her hands get really cold in an air-conditioned class (and no one has bothered to ask why is the class air-conditioned in the middle of winter?) and she can't type with cold hands. Thus: keyboarding mitts. I'm knitting a keyboard pattern into the back of the hand and (madnessmadnessmadness) I will be embroidering the letters in after. Have not even started the second one because the needles I need are being used for Di's Shining Star Mittens. See my problem(s)? This may turn into a, er, New Year's gift. Also, I really hate knitting fingers. This is why you've never (okay, only once) seen me knit gloves. Never again. I swear it.6. Someway, somehow I'm still finding time for spinning. Earlier this month I didn't quite finish some DK wt yarn for a pair of mittens I'm laughably planning for myself using some DK wt dark brown yarn for my own interpretation of this pattern. Don't even ask me about yardage and such. It's Shetland wool, dyed by me, Navajo plied. If I get up from the computer to check the yardage I won't finish this post because I'll be sidetracked by the yarn strewn across my desk (complete mess... don't even get me started on that). It's enough for one mitten. I still have to spin another bobbin. Next year perhaps. I'm calling the colorway November. *
7. As if that wasn't enough: after the first of the year I'll be teaching a spinning class. Drop spindle and wheel. It's strictly BYOW^. Since I'll be teaching drop spindle as well (not everyone can afford a wheel) I've picked up my own spindle to get my spin back in. It's just like... well, I won't use the phrase riding a bike after my nasty accident in Virginia, but it's just like... um... eating pie. Just comes naturally. I'm spinning Burning Sensation for a friend on my favorite Spindlewood Co. Bubinga and Heartwood spindle (how I love thee...). DK wt, probably. If you want to learn and you live in Olympia or the Olympia area (Tumwater, Lacey...) post a reply in the South Puget Sound Ravelers Group thread Spinners?. Note: this isn't going to be a free class.
I'm off to work on my sister's mittens. They're the kind of mitten I can only work on in the morning: aluminum needles and slippery alpaca color work. Welcome to the Northwest Inquistion. Enjoy your stay, try the salmon.
^Bring Your Own Wheel
* Oh, nevermind. There's 126 yds. Gosh, isn't Ravelry handy? Big smooch to Ravelry.

Vote for Leethal!

2008-11-04T10:09:00.001-08:00

If you voted, please go to Leethal's blog and check out the neat pdf she's offering to voters. I'm sending you over there rather than just telling you what to do so you can admire the offerings and get her blog readership up even more (like it needs help...). There's homemade mac and cheese. How much more incentive do you need?

Don't lie about whether or not you voted. Don't be a creep.

2008-10-27T10:53:00.000-07:00

It's about time for a knitting post isn't it? This post contains nothing but knitting. No food. No leaves. No cats.

I've been working on my Fair Isle cardigan here and there. Hope to have it done by December, at least. It fits great. I absolutely love the set-in sleeve from the top-down. There's no bagging around the under arms or the boobs. The 3-and-1 pattern repeat from The Opinionated Knitter is fun and easy. You can knit it in any color combination and it'll look just as good. The wrong side of the sweater (because I know you like it):
Laminaria is done. Laminaria has been done. I swear that I'll get around to taking some modeled pictures. Until then, please be satisfied with the old over-the-chair photos on Ravelry. It's big and warm and green. What more could I want from a shawl?
I've been spinning a little. I'm going to try spinning a cabled yarn which I've wanted to do for a while, but never really got around to until now. I have one bobbin full of singles and as soon as I fill another bobbin, I'm going to ply them together and get started on another bobbin of singles and so on and so forth. Hopefully, at the end of all this I'll have a 6 ply cabled yarn. I still love spinning Shetland wool.
I started yet another pair of mittens for my sister. At this rate I still won't have another pair of mittens for myself. These are thrummed mittens knit using Sleeping Dragon Sock Yarn and a thin piece of Shetland wool roving. Instead of making lots of thrums I'm using a strand of thin roving to carry along like fluffier stranded knitting. I'm very happy with the results so far and I think Di will love them. The thumbs will be topless (woo-woo!) and the mittens will be fingerless with a mitten flap so she can manhandle dog poop into bags. Every knitters dream: to have their knitting come into close proximity with crap. Yum. These are moving along quickly and I'd like to think I'll have them done soon-ish.
Remember this scarf? Of course you do. The Nightmare Before Christmas scarf (nothing to do with the movie) a.k.a. The Scarf That Never Ends. This sucker is long and I thank the knitting goddess that I'm finally on the last two balls of red and white yarn. So. Close.
The Sweet Lime sock has been seeing a little action. I finished turning the heel and started on the cabled/lace/ribbed part of the leg. May or may not write up a pattern. I might just throw all the charts I used on here and let you figure it out for yourself. Aren't I nice? Looking forward to having these done, but I know that's not going to happen this year.
On a non-knitting note (oh no!), I've been walking at least five miles every day. Today is an exception because I feel a little under the weather, but I'll get over it. The point of this non-knitting note? I got new walking shoes. Hooray!

Out walking

2008-10-20T11:07:00.000-07:00

In a rut

2008-10-13T10:47:00.001-07:00

As I'm sure you've noticed, there has been little or no knitting content in the last two posts. I've been working pretty exclusively on three projects: Laminaria, squares for a friend to sew into a baby blanket (a knitting group project), and hats for unfortunate children in Mongolia. I may do a separate post about the hat thing.
If you can believe it, I'm on the last row of Laminaria. THE LAST ROW!! Can you see my tears of joy? After this row all I have to do is bind off 629 sts. Oh joy.
Other than that, there's been no knitting. What have I been doing?

Baking apple tart (lemme know when you get sick of the food photos),

Nom
finding massive spider webs covered in dew that remind me a little bit of lace,

and spinning... a little bit. I have maybe half a bobbin of single spun. I'm going to try spinning a cabled yarn. No navajo plying this time. It's about 7 oz of Shetland wool that I'm calling Wintersmith. Yes, I read too much Terry Pratchett.
That's all.

Food with smatterings of knitting, yarn, and intrigue

2008-10-02T11:00:00.000-07:00

The last of the tomatoes are ripening up. They're deliciously ripe and, if we didn't have an excess of fresh veggies in the house, I'd eat one all by itself. Perhaps a bit of pepper.

On Monday night I made Leftovers Stew (a frequent visitor to the table) and Cheese and Onion biscuits. The recipe is a basic biscuit recipe from James Beard with sharp cheddar cheese and sauteed onions added.

These chocolate mushrooms from Paldo World disappeared pretty fast. Rest assured, they're not the poisonous kind.

Hot tea in a cheery cup for a sick knitter. I have a fever and have been spending my time indoors, under covers, with my knitting. I specifically started a comfort knitting project to keep me company on the couch:
A scarf knit using my hand spun cashmere/merino/angora tweed (2ply, lace weight). I'm using my favorite pair of circular Susanne's rosewood needles -US4- and it's a fine match. It's knitting up into a soft fabric with wonderful drape. There's nothing worse than a scarf that makes you feel like you're wearing a collar. The main stitch is garter stitch, but I'm throwing in some stitch patterns that I like or haven't tried yet. Not too much lace. Mainly embossed stitch patterns. Barbara Walker and I have been spending many moments together. You can't really see the patterns, but it gives the scarf interesting texture and keeps me entertained.
Yesterday I cast on for Through The Loops' Mystery Sock. The cuff was pretty basic and I think I'll knit both socks at the same time so I have a pair (instead of the usual single sock) at the end of October.

I finished Mutti's Bahama Mama Sock Yarn:
fiber: Blue-faced Leicester from Hello Yarn (purchased undyed)
yds: 624.94
details: navajo plied as usual, about 28 wpi, spun into ombre stripes

Just the ticket for autumn knitting.

We rogues of wool

2008-09-27T11:21:00.000-07:00

I have knitting progress, but it looks the same as it did last time I posted it so it's no use posting a new picture. To keep you occupied until a new FO shows up, click on the picture.

What's new in my knitting world:
-I'm knitting the last Blossom chart repeat of Laminaria. I hope to finish the chart today and start knitting the first edge chart.

-I finished the thumb gusset of the first Shining Star mitten and I'm working my way up the hand. I've been knitting at least ten rows every morning, just to keep myself on track. I may actually finish Christmas knitting in time for Christmas. I think I feel faint.

-I'm going to start a sweater. Oh, shut up. Don't give me that look. I know the last few times I've stated that I was starting a sweater, nothing came of it (we shall not mention the sock yarn sweater), but this time I'm really going to do it. I'm using Brown Sheep Nature Spun Sport wt in various colors. I have 8 skeins and I'm headed down to my lys to pick up three more skeins. I found a color pattern that I love in The Opinionated Knitter. I'm thinking cardigan, which means I'm thinking steeks. It makes sense now that the work 'steek' contains the word 'eek'.

Oh yeah, I finished a hat. Nothing too exciting. Just something to keep my head warm when the cold weather shows up. I said, when the cold weather shows up.

Hello?

You like me! You really like me!

2008-09-23T12:10:00.000-07:00

Allison gave me an award today. There were no flowers attached, but I understand that it can be a little hard to order flowers, wrestle a three year old (is she three? or two? crap, I can't remember. A toddler), wrestle a toddler, and post an award. This time I'll forgive her. Next time I won't be so lenient. Not that there will be a next time. I'm supposed to nominate, uh, 4 other bloggers. What? At least four? Nominate more? I'm sticking to four. I don't really like that many people.

1. Suse. Because I love soup, Australians, Tim-tams, and hand knitted wash cloths.

2. Chris. Because she has kitties.

3. Christie. Because she has kitties.

4. The Yarn Harlot. Oh, come on. You knew it was coming. I'm such a stalker.

Moving on....

I've been working on my Shining Star mittens for about an hour every morning. I was halfway through the star motif before the screwy, messed up thumb gusset got to me. I ripped back to the first hand row and it's going to stay there until I figure out a way to make the thumb gusset flow seamlessly into the rest of the hand. Rip, Stir, Let simmer for three days.

This is not the way I want the thumb gusset to look.

Neither is this.

I remembered to take a picture of the mitten before I frogged. See? I'm happy with it, aside from the gusset. Just a minor detail... we shall not be informing my sister that I just ripped back half her Xmas mitten.
If you feel like stealing the pattern from the picture, go ahead. Or you could just wait until I post it. You may not have that amount of time though.

Sorry you have to wait. Have some gratuitous pussy:

Ten dolla make ya holla!

Oh, and look! I got new galoshes from infinityshoes.com. Aren't they the best? Now I just need some damn rain. Let's all do a rain dance.

Yep, that's Sophie in the background. Eating the box. She's the Paper Cat.

Arrr!

2008-09-19T13:37:00.000-07:00

Belated FO(s)

2008-09-15T15:11:00.000-07:00

Yes! The mittens are done. They have been done for a couple of days. Mutti loves them, I love them, everyone loves them. The stitches looked a little wonky when they first came off the needles, but a strict blocking took care of that. I don't think I'll knit another pair of these simply because that would be a little too repetitious. Let's see how many times I can knit the same mitten before I go mad!

Stats:
Pattern: NHM #10 from Selbuvotter by Terri Shea
Yarn: Red is Louet Gems Fingering Wt., White is Gjestal Silja Sock Yarn
Needles: US 1/ 2.25 mm
Started: August 13 2008
Finished: September 9 2008

These were my second color work project (here's my first) and I like them much better - no offense, Adrian. I just didn't like carrying three colors along; two is much easier and more comfortable seeing as I only have two hands. I'm sure I could carry two colors in one hand, but I'm not really interested in trying that ~~yet~~ again. I love the patterning on these mittens. The palm changes about a third of the way up which is just enough to keep you interested.
I really loved knitting the check pattern. It was a nice rhythm: complicated back of hand, simple palm - really keeps things moving along. I was surprised at how quickly I finished them. The second mitten only lagged a bit at the end because I had to pick up and knit the thumb. I get sidetracked easily. The only mods I made were using a larger needle and changing the date and initials*. I couldn't see Mutti wearing a pair of mittens with someone else's initials on them. On the other hand, everyone knows how old she is now (not that old).

old enough for glasses

Speaking of mittens, I've finished another project: a tea mitten! It was a very quick knit and a very enjoyable one. It's based on this pattern, but since I didn't actually use the pattern I'm not handing out any credit. I just made it up as I went along and, if I may say so, it fits very well. The button band was a bit snug, but I only used a single yo for each buttonhole so the buttons aren't going anywhere. I've had the yarn for a year or so and didn't know what to do with it. Alpaca always scratches me so I couldn't use it for a garment... at least, not a garment for me. It is a lovely yarn to work with though. Very silky. And I love the color. I'm not normally a lover of yellow, but this color just sings to me. More pictures here.

Stats:
Yarn: Honey Lane Farms 100% Alpaca, color: lemon chiffon
Needles: Us 4/ 3.5 mm
Started: September 3
Finished: September 4
See? Pretty quick.

Other things you missed since the last post:

homemade bread

lawn mowing (ooo...)

finished hand spun yarn

Stats:
Undyed Shetland Wool from Hello Yarn, dyed by me. I'm calling this Arctic Spring
Spun into a fine single then navajo plied.
Total yards/ounces: 479.23yds/ 2.8oz

I'm becoming much happier with my hand spun. I've been getting anywhere from 160-170 yards per ounce without the finished yarn looking unknittably thin. I'm far from being a spinning expert, but I think I'm beginning to spin more woolen than before. It helps that this yarn bloomed a little bit with the washing. It will knit up nicely on US 1/ 2.25mm needles. I'm thinking about gifting this. Not sure though.

the stormy seas of hand spun

This yarn has been given the Sheep of Approval.

*If anyone is knitting these mittens and would like to use the J or the B (or needs the 5 or the 7) send me and email and I'll send you the charts I created.

Paldo World

2008-09-07T17:50:00.001-07:00

Mutti, Di, and I went up to Tacoma and visited Paldo World today. Paldo World is a gigantic Asian market. Huge. It's like the equivalent of one of those Super Wal-Marts. I finally got some red and white miso and some good tofu (also, four bunches of green onions for 99 cents. Not 99 cents each; 99 cents for four). My favorite section was the kitchen section where Di and I found these:

miso bowls!

Aren't they cute?

If you live in the Olympia/Tacoma/Lakewood/Bellevue area I highly recommend that you go. Preferably with an Asian guide. In the grocery isles you can find such delicacies as Bean Crud, Cuppy Powder, and Silkworm Pupa, among other things. Lots of fun and a Korean dinner with kimchi, bibimbap, garlbi, and a bubble tea later - I'm tired.

In the knitting world: Mutti's mittens are almost done. I just have to pick up the thumb stitches, knit the thumb on her second mitten, wash them, block them and they'll be done.

So close.

Like a bandit

2008-08-28T11:07:00.000-07:00

dahlias and carnations from my sister

Prepare yourself for the longest, most picture-filled post on this blog. I would cut this into two posts (birthday post then knitting post), but I've already uploaded all the pictures. And anyway, the birthday post would still be long because I really did make out like a bandit. This was a great birthday.

The actual day of my birthday was kinda crappy because I was in a bitchy mood. USPS hadn't delivered my KnitPicks package and when I called the post office the guy who answered the phone didn't have enough brains to fill an egg cup. Most unhelpful. Something that also ticked me off: my aunt kept calling. Calling and calling and calling. Talking about the most unimportant things for hours on end..... Very annoying. I do love her, but she does talk too much. In the end we just stopped answering the phone. We do have an answering machine. Anyway, on to the good part.

My sister wasn't able to come over earlier in the day because she had to work. She had planned on having a b-day party for me at her house (so Charles could be there - he's allergic to our kittehs), but a ~~stupid GD @%!!*@!~~ intern decided to quit last-minute and Di ended up working on the most important day of the year. She came over at 8:30 instead, which is just in time for a late cocktail hour. We had a simple dinner with lots of friendly martinis and a slice of the Boston Trifle that Mutti made. Then: presents!
Di got me bath things which are always welcome. Face masks, soap, and ...okay, those little Raffaello candies aren't bath things, but they can certainly be eaten in a bath! I wasn't sure about the Honey Mask because it has methylparaben in it and I'm turning into an organic freak, but I looked it up on safecosmetics.com and it's not too bad (a 2, I think).

The present I was really looking forward to:

BLOCKING WIRES!!!!

I died and went to heaven. Do I even have to tell you how much I wanted these? I really wanted them! If I had only got these for my birthday I would still be a happy camper. I'm going to wash and block my Swallowtail shawl again just so I can use them.
Mutti also got me this little frog from KnitPicks. I love these notions containers. Very cute.

raspberry-cranberry vodka martini - mmmm...

After talking for a little bit and giving me a tranquilizer to calm me down after getting the blocking wires out, Di left. I had one more martini, worked on my sock a little, and headed off to bed.

Little did I know what was to come tomorrow morning. (wow, that sounds ominous. It isn't, really).

Sooo, yesterday morning I wake up, do my morning ablutions, make a cuppa tea, and hop online to do my usual email/Ravelry checking and Zoom! the mailman drives by. WTF? I'm thinking. It's 10:30! (yeah, I wake up that late) The mailman never drives by until at least 4pm. Well, whatever. Maybe I annoyed the post office guy so much he sent my mailman out early. I grab the mailbox key and hurry myself down to check for my KnitPicks order. Lo and behold! It has arrived! But wait. There's another box beneath the KnitPicks box. Oh, I think to myself, it must be for someone else. I go to close the mailbox and then I see the name on the box: DJ. Oh, you evil girl. I thought she might send me something because a couple weeks ago she asked my what kind of fiber I liked, what my favorite color was (subtle) and so on. Then, just a couple of days ago she was talking to Mutti who goes outside on the deck and shuts the glass door (in 80 degree weather - subtle). Then, DJ asks me for my address (subtle). After all that, I still wasn't expecting anything from her. It's a good thing I'm so thick or the surprise might have been ruined.

Her presents gave me warm fuzzy feelings and had me bouncing around all day. Here's what was in the box:
A gorgeous, hand made by DJ, cotton canvas in my favorite colors, perfect-sized, many-pocketed (with room for pens & pencils), French seamed, light-weight bag. I love it! She sewed it with her new sewing machine and she was having fun with the embroidery stitches, as you can see:
I was just about screaming with happiness when I saw it. The pockets on the outside really make me happy. Now my tissues won't molest my keys and my dpns won't poke holes in my maxi pads. Is that happiness or what?

She even filled the pockets with stuff. Chocolate from Trader Joe's;

nom nom nom

Jasmine-Chamomile Tea. (I'm not normally a fan of chamomile, but this tea is great. Very nummy. I could inhale it all day. Smells and tastes divine.);
and yarn. Not just any yarn. BMFA Socks That Rock in Mossay. When I looked at this color online I didn't really like it (too dark), but I love it in my hand. Yarn in the hand is great. The color is very beautiful.

It's already being turned into these mittens

which means that I have this magazine (got it last week at Border's).

I was so happy to get DJ's present. I'm trying not to shove Mutti's mittens on the sideline, but it's so very hard. It's a good thing that I got my KnitPicks order too:

Hurrah! This is the Chart Holder from KnitPicks. It rocks. I'm using it to hold the chart for NHM #10 and the Green Autumn mitten chart. I was surprised at the great quality of it. Nice fabric, magnetic snaps, a shiny little KnitPicks label, and four strong magnets. Nice.

Ohh, that was a tiring post. Are you tired? I am. I'll finish up quickly.

Aside from all those wonderful gifts I also got: a $75 gift certificate to LUSH, a subscription to Cook's Illustrated, and a $40 gift certificate to Border's from my dad (still guilty I see...). Di and Charles got me a subscription to Cook's, too, so now I have a longer subscription (2 years - yay!). My aunt gave me money (always welcome) with which I bought 4 lbs. of white Shetland wool from Hello Yarn. It arrived two weeks ago and I dyed 2.5 lbs. already. You can see what I dyed here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here. Whew.

See? Bandit-like.

Last week I caved and bought two skeins of Jamieson's Simply Shetland Silk and Wool. It's great yarn and I'm planning on knitting something like this. Right now it's living on my desk, giving me smoldering looks every time I walk by. By the way, that's a puffin on the label, not a penguin. I would like it to be a penguin.

you know you want me... touch me... tooouuchh meee...

I haven't been completely possessed by color work (only mostly). I've been working on my Shetland Tea Shawl and Laminaria, too. I'm on the 4th repeat of the Horseshoe lace on the Shetland Tea Shawl and I'm halfway through the 4th repeat of the Blossom chart on Laminaria. I think I'll have to add another pattern section or two to the Shetland Tea Shawl. I'm using US 2/ 2.75mm needles instead of US3/ 3.25mm needles like the pattern suggests and it's turning out much smaller than I thought it would.

Mutti is coming along nicely on my mittens. I made up my own mitten chart by combining patterns from Annemor #1, Annemor #15, and Annemor #13. It took me all day to make the chart perfect (anal-retentive!!) and I can't wait to show you the finished mitts. Here's most of the cuff. This is from 2 days ago so the cuff is finished now, but I'm not taking another picture.

Mutti's mitten (NHM #10 - round 2) is almost finished. I'm going to start the second one right after I finish the first one. No second mitten syndrome for me.

I'm going to spin some yarn.

Gimme Some Sugar

2008-08-26T21:26:00.001-07:00

Mutti, Di, and I went to Marshall's today looking for a tea kettle. We didn't find one, but we did find this wonderful sugar bowl. I love it. One spoonful or two?

***

Tomorrow is my birthday. I'll be 22. Don't call me 'fresh'; I'm not a potato. If I hear one more person say "Oh, you're so fresh!" I will commit bloody murder.

Isn't this sugar bowl lovely?

Please Print

2008-08-19T10:59:00.000-07:00

This is not knitting. I thought I'd spice up the blog and take a detour from the yarn thing. Yesterday I had a card making morning and popped out about eight cards (what a record!). What can I say, I was feeling inspired. Mutti and I have a lot of stamps, ink, pens/markers, and other such stuff. Real art pharts. I made four cards using one of my favorite stamps:

india ink on smooth card stock

Last time Di came over she said she loved this card so I made two more like this and two that have 'Black Ink' stamped and the bottle done in flocking. Not real flocking. I cheat by stamping on the back of a sheet of velvet, cutting it out with an exacto knife, and gluing it on. It looks just like flocking and it will last longer. Flocking tends to rub off after a little while. Two or three of these cards will supplement her birthday gift (hat, possibly matching mitts).

And my stationery box is almost full.

Mutti got the yarn for my mittens yesterday. Didn't I tell you? Since I'm knitting her pretty Selbu mittens she wants to knit me a pair. Last week we ordered three skeins of Shetland Tweed from Harrisville Designs. Two skeins in White and one in Spruce. I was a little afraid that the white would be stark white, but it's not. It's a perfect creamy white and it looks great with the Spruce. Oh, how I love thee Shetland Tweed. Mutti is finishing a sock to free up the needles she needs and then she'll start my mittens. This will be her first color work project so everyone needs to cheer her on. She sees how much fun I have knitting her mitts and how quickly they're going so I have no doubt that she'll do wonderfully, but still.

Already wound and ready to be knit. The Spruce is split into two smaller balls for easier mitten knitting.

Speaking of how quickly her mitts are going...
I'm going to rip hers out. Yes, I know: GASP! I'm knitting these on single aughts as recommended by the author (twice*), but it's coming out much too small. I guess we have larger hands in my family. Mutti said she didn't care if one was smaller, but I care. And that's what matters around here, folks**. Here's a picture of the mitten before I rip it. I'm not very sad about it because, as I said before, I love knitting these. Plus, I want to make a small change to the five so I don't have to duplicate stitch over it (I didn't do it in this picture. I just photoshopped it so it looks like a five instead of a six) and I forgot two little thingamabobs on the 'B' to make it look more like the font I used.
I started a sock yesterday with some old yarn I've been dying to use: Austermann Step. I forget the colorway number, but it should really be called Desert Bloom. The pink spots along the sock kind of make it look like I stepped in something, but I love the other colors and the feel of the yarn so much I don't care. It's a toe-up sock knit on two US 1 circs mimicking this pattern. For the price, it's a really soft sock yarn. Must be the aloe. I would gladly work with this again.

armadillos

I'm off to make a late breakfast.

more cat pictures

*Once in the book and once on a Ravlery thread. I did use the cuff as a swatch -as recommended- and it fit fine, but once I got to the gusset/mid-hand area it got a leetle snug.

**Sorry for calling you 'folks'. It won't happen again.

Say it with parentheses: I'm sorry to say

2008-08-17T06:25:00.000-07:00

that I have no knitting pictures. It's much too early, I didn't sleep well, and I forgot to take pictures yesterday (or the day before, et cetera). I'll do my best.

I've really only been working on two projects.

The first one (or second?) is a hat for my sister. She's getting a Hydrangea Hat for her birthday in October, which, I feel, is a good month to wear a hat in. It's knit with Jo Sharp Silkroad Tweed DK and it's turning out very loverly. She says she's sensitive to wool (first she said she was allergic, but then I threatened her on pain of death - what the hell is that supposed to mean anyway? Pain of death? Isn't death sort of painless? Am I even saying that right? Someone with an ejamakayshun correct me- anyway, pain of death, she changed her mind, you know the rest), but this yarn is so soft. I should know, right? I have an entire sweater knit out of this yarn. While my Hydrangea Hat looks like this:

Hers looks like this:

She's getting a Dead Hydrangea Hat. That's how much I love her*.

My other knitting project is much more exciting. I'm knitting NHM #10 for Mutti. I'm using cherry red Louet sock yarn and white Silja. Good combination: itchy, soft. Itch me, soothe me, itch me, soothe me. I'm trying to find a mitten that looks like mine, but I sincerely doubt that I'll find one with the same initials and year. ...
I take it back. Mine look like this. Or will look like this once I finish them. I changed the initials to JB and the year to 1957. Actually, it looks like 1967 (made Mutti 10 years younger - I don't hear her complaining!), but I'll fix it with duplicate stitch. I'm using single aught needles and they're a bit snug. I'm going to switch to US 1 needles for the 2nd mitten. Mutti says she doesn't care if one is bigger.
I brought them to Di's yesterday (Ahhhh, air conditioning!) and she said "Where's mine?" She's not demanding. I guess I'll finally get to use that blue and white alpaca...

While we were at my sister's house she showed us her behemoth tomato. This tomato is huge. It makes a watermelon look like a pine nut. It's so big it needs a support system just to keep it from falling off the stem, which looks quite strained. All the other tomatoes on this plant are really small which makes me think that this tomato is sucking the life from them. The Giant Vampire Tomato. It bites back.
She has some great-looking Gladiolas. And they're all over her garden. This is me being jealous. See how gorgeous they are? She has the biggest bees floating around her garden, too. Maybe they were bitten by the tomato. It could happen. Sorry, no bee pictures. I couldn't get close enough without being attacked by giant bees with 2 inch long legs and big, pointy teeth.
I lied (what else is new?); I do have knitting pictures. Just found them on my camera. My photographer wasn't having a camera-friendly day so I took the pictures with Sophie as my model. Plus, I know she hasn't been hanging around here much and you probably miss her. She wouldn't let me put the hat on her head.

Orange isn't really my color. Halloween is SO tacky.

Is that someone at the door? The UPS man? Ohmigod Ohmigod! Quick! Put the hat away! Don't you dare post these pictures on the internet!**

You wanted to know what the hat was? Geez... talk about demanding. Fine. It's Zeebee, but I think I'll call this one Tang. It's knit with this yarn - the color of which is not represented very well in these photos. Bad lighting. My art director dumped me. He works for Brooklyn Tweed now, the cheating bastard. Not linking out of bitterness.

As to my alcohol-laden post on the 12th: it wasn't really that bad, but it was a complete waste of time (even though I finished a sock and Zeebee while I waited) and I felt like a complete asshole. It involved the DMV. We need not discuss it. Thanks for everyone (insert hollow laughing) for your kind comments.

Allison said:
Ah yes, I'm familiar with *that* kind of day. I hope things look up soon, and may I recommend some chocolate?

You may.

*Not true at all. I really do love her. Otherwise I wouldn't be knitting her anything.
**She's such a Valley Cat. And, yes. I totally stole this from Chris.

2008-08-12T17:59:00.001-07:00

It's been that kind of day.

Knit List: meme!

2008-08-08T01:17:00.000-07:00

Let's have a meme to celebrate my healed wrist and elbow! I can finally spin! I found this over on hamadryad knits and thought I'd pass it on. I haven't ever seen this meme before- yay for new-ish memes.

Not a to-do list, more of a “what have you done” list…

Bold the things you have ever knit
Italics the ones you plan to do sometime
Leave the rest

Afghan
I-cord
Garter stitch
Shawl
Knitting with metal wire
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Drop stitch patterns
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fibre yarn
Domino Knitting (modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Baby items
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publish a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dyeing with plant colours
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cosies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items)
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
Knitting with dpns
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Knitting art
Knitting two socks on two circulars simultaneously
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Entrelac
Long Tail CO
Knitting and purling backwards
Machine knitting
Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegating yarn
Stuffed Toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
Jewelry
Knitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mitts/armwarmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

If you read this consider yourself tagged.

ETA: Let me know how the font looks. Something's screwy with the font sizing. Mayhaps the reason for the outage today?

A martyr to my muscles

2008-08-06T11:39:00.001-07:00

There will be no spinning or knitting for me until Friday. I spun so much yesterday (no breaks) that I aggravated my carpal tunnel. Ouch. I'm typing one-handed. Last night I had to try and fall asleep with a bag of ice on my wrist. Not easy.
I dyed Mutti's 2 lbs. of Blue-faced Leicester on Monday. She decided that after her February Lady Sweater she never wants to knit another sweater. The fiber that she bought from Hello Yarn and Little Barn will now be used for socks, mittens, and a scarf. I'm calling the color Bahama Mama after a drink that we (me, my sister, and Mutti) favor. Very summery stuff. I've spun almost an entire bobbin of fine singles for Navajo plied sock yarn.

I love how it's turning out. Hopefully it will be just as Mutti wants it: wide stripes of obnoxious colors. Pretty good so far, I'd say.

I finished some sock yarn on Sunday. It's more Crown Mountain Farms Corriedale in the Watermelon Tourmaline colorway. There were only 2.5 oz left, but I managed to squeeze 364 yds out of it. (145.6 yards per ounce - not bad...). It's a lightweight Navajo plied sock yarn for me. It's not my favorite color, but I always need socks so I won't complain.

Yarn Pr0n:

I changed the blog colors. Believe it or not, the green was starting to wear on me a little. Time for a nice, fresh blue. I'll blog again it a couple of days when my wrist feels better. This one-handed typing thing isn't fun.

Miss Lucy - a beautiful double lily that smells like a funeral parlor

Tomato Collective

2008-08-02T11:18:00.000-07:00

Tomato pictures -as promised. These little ones are Blondkopfchen (Little Blond Head) tomatoes. I've never tried them before so I'm anxious for them to ripen. These tomato plants get so big and they have hundreds of flowers on them. They're very bushy, too.
Here's one of our Heirlooms. It's shorter than the other tomatoes, but it has the largest tomatoes growing. I'm a little worried about the tomatoes on this one because they're growing right between the two stalks. Might get a little snug once the other ones get as large as the tomato on the left.
This is the other Heirloom tomato. When I planted it I kept pulling off the lower leaves and small branches to make it grow taller. I made it grow so tall it now resembles a tomato tree. The tomatoes on this one just started growing two weeks ago. It's definitely a different variety than our other Heirloom, but we're not sure which. Any tomato experts?

Last, but not least, our Roma tomato. There aren't very many tomatoes on this one. Maybe because I planted it in the ground a little later than the others. We got this one from our friend, Angela, who's starting her own garden with raised beds and all that fun stuff. Sadly, we're not that fancy. "Just stick it in the ground somewhere!"

I can't wait until we get some ripe tomatoes. I love them in soups, salads, and sandwiches, but mainly just by themselves. Is there anything better than freshly picked tomatoes? Aside from knitting, of course...
Speaking of knitting, I cast on for another Hydrangea Hat. I'm using a ball of Jo Sharp Silkroad Tweed DK and US 6/ 4mm needles. This one is for my sister. I'm almost done with the ribbing and should have it finished by tomorrow or the day after. I'm so proud of myself - starting my Christmas knits early. If I'm in a writing sort of mood I'll write down the instructions for the decreasing... even though I said I wouldn't. I have guilt.
I finished one of Josh's socks yesterday and I will start the second one today. There's no SSS allowed with Vanilla socks. I really love this colorway, which just goes to show that I've been working with solid colored yarn too much.

I've been spinning a bit, too. My fiber stash is getting so dangerously low there should be flashing red lights somewhere. This is about 4 oz leftover Crown Mountain Farms Corriedale in the Watermelon Tourmaline colorway. I spun a very fine single to use for sock yarn - my favorite spinning project. I may gift this... not sure yet.

MezzoDiva is asking for sponsorship for The Weekend to End Breast Cancer. It's a 60km walk to raise money and support to help breast cancer patients get the care they need. The money raised funds advanced research to overcome breast cancer. Donate here! If you'd like to register for the walk, you may do so here.

Before I sign off, has anyone missed the premiere of Twist Collective? If so, go take a long look. Great stuff. I love Adrian's Faux Bois mittens and scarf; Bonnie by Fiona Ellis, goddess of all things cabled; and Little Birds by Ysolda Teague. The leaf motif on Little Birds may be just the thing for a pair of mittens I'm dreaming up. Even if you don't buy any patterns (you really should buy some) it's great for inspiration.

Hydrangea Hat

2008-07-31T09:26:00.000-07:00

Here it is. The hat really only took me one day, but the first day I knit the ribbing and was deciding which stitch pattern I liked better - this one or the one I used (Herringbone Lace from the first BW Treasury). I don't think I did anything but knit this hat yesterday. When I finished I debated writing the pattern down row by row, but decided not to because I'm lazy like that. I did, however, make notes which I hope will be some help.

Pattern: Hydrangea Hat by me
Yarn: Dream In Color Classy, color: Some Summer Sky
Needles: US 6/ 4mm
Gauge: 6 sts & 7 rows = 1"
Size: 21 - 22" This hat would probably fit up to a 24 - 25" head. It's really stretchy.
Started and finished: July 30 2008

Pattern notes:

CO 124 sts. Work 2x2 rib in the rnd for 2" (or less if you like a shorter hat). On the last rib rnd inc 2 sts (126 sts). Work herringbone chart twice. Right leaning slants are k2tog, left leaning are ssk, circles are yo, blank squares are knit sts. Notes about the st pattern: the chart moves over one st every half rep so when you get to row 2 or row 8 look at your knitting and make sure the your zig is zagging or vice versa.

Decreasing notes:
I decreased every third rep, then moved onto the decrease to the left of that and so on. It gives the top a staggered look. Decrease 1 st on each plain rnd along the same line as the decreases in the pattern. Depending on which part of the pattern rep you're knitting, you'll decrease one half of the rep, then the other half. When you dec the first half only dec to the yo. Don't dec the yo because the pattern will look really wonky (ask me how I know). To dec the other half, simply change the direction of the dec until you get to the next yo. When you have one stitch of the pattern repeat left btw two yos, sl 2 kwise, k1, psso.

Repeat this decrease pattern until you have 7 sts left (last decrease/ top of hat) then k1, k2tog around (4 sts). Work I-cord for 4 rows, cut yarn - leaving a tail, and pull through rem sts. Weave in all your ends.
You don't have to knit the little I-cord at the top, but I think it looks cute. If you don't want to knit it, just cut the yarn and pull through the last 7 sts.

I'm going to knit two more of these hats- one for my sister and one for my Aunt. I might tweak the pattern a little bit so it has a defined line of sts running into the decreases. I'm using two strands of Jo Sharp Silkroad Tweed DK held together for Di's hat. I'll post a picture ofit when it's finished. If you have any questions about the hat or the pattern you can send me an email as long as the questions isn't: "Will you write this pattern out ~~spoonful by spoonful~~ line by line?" because the answer is "No."

Enjoy.

Christmas In July

2008-07-30T12:19:00.000-07:00

I know, I barely made it. Another day and it'd be Christmas in August. Doesn't have the same ring to it. My knitting list this year is much shorter than last year. Much much shorter. What the hell was wrong with me last year? The Knitting Goddess has bashed my ambitions. Thanks. Reality check!
I'm knitting the usual socks for Kris and Josh, our friends on Anderson Is. They're not knitters, but they love hand knit socks and they take such good care of them that I promised them each a pair of socks every year until I die or get Alzheimer's and forget. These blue/tan ones are for Josh (ONline Supersock). I thought the color was appropriate since he lives on an island and owns a sailboat. I'm working my way up the cuff and should have it done soon*. The socks below are for Kris. As you can see, they don't fit on my 10" sock blockers very well. The yarn is ONline Supersock. Both socks worked on US1/ 2.25mm.
Here's a little finished object. It took me a little longer than it should have because working with non-elastic silk hurts my hands and I have much more demanding wips. I love it though. I started this after knitting Quant-ish and decided that maybe a wool headband isn't a good idea for summer.

Yarn: Hand dyed hand spun Bombyx Silk, 198 yds, sport wt.
Needles: US 4/ 3.5mm
Pattern: Dream Swatch by Wendy Bernard
Started: May 22 2008
Finished: July 28 2008

When I got near the end of the swatch I changed it to a seamless headband. I didn't want to fuss with buttons and a long tie like the original would annoy me. I picked out the CO edge and two garter bumps, placed the sts back on a needle and grafted the ends together. Much nicer. It was a little snug at first, but it stretched out a bit and it fits perfectly now.

Wow - just noticed that my hair looks really red in that picture. Wish it looked like that all the time...

I don't think I'd knit this again simply because I already have one and how many do you need, really? Plus, the edge rolls a little bit, even with a firm blocking. I have a lot of the silk leftover so maybe I'll knit another head band using the Mermaid Mesh pattern. I've always loved that stitch.You know you want me.

Speaking of sharing projects, here's one you haven't seen. I started and finished this sweater last year, but never posted it because I was too busy wearing it. It's my favorite (oh, and only) hand knit sweater.

Yarn: Rowan Felted Tweed in plum and Jo Sharp Silkroad DK Tweed in cocoa
Needles: US 6/ 4mm
Pattern: Brooks Sweater by EZ from The Opinionated Knitter
Started: Dec 2007
Finished: Dec 2007

I don't remember the exact dates for starting and finishing, but it only took me a month which is saying something considering my usual knitting timetable. I especially loved working the shoulder shaping. It was so much fun not seaming. I love working with this yarn, too. I splurged early last year and bought a bunch of the Jo Sharp and three or four balls of the Rowan. It's beautiful yarn and the price is almost decent when you consider some of the other tweeds available. I have enough leftover that I can make a hat and mitten set for my sister for Xmas. See? And you thought I forgot this post was about Xmas knitting. Psshh...

I'm working on a surprise project^ for Mutti, but I'm not going to post about it since she reads my blog. I'll just say this: it's going to be gorgeous and Mutti-worthy and I'm not posting it until after Christmas - almost 5 months away. Are you squirming yet?

I think my Aunt Marge and my sister are going to get matching hats and maybe mitts. Definite maybe on the mitts. I just made up a new hat pattern that I love so of course I want to knit ten more. I'll probably crap out after two more, but since that's the right number I won't fuss.
As for the hat pattern, I might post it. I don't have it written down line by stinkin' spoon-fed line, but I made notes. I think the stitch pattern I used would look nice on the mitts. I'll have to try a pair out. I'll force Mutti to take some pictures of the hat when it's dry and I'll post them along with a scanned photo of my notes. Hope you can read my handwriting.... ('cause I can't). ;)

The weather has been great over here; warm and rainy on and off. The plants are loving it. My California Poppies have finally given up the ghost for this year, but at least I know they made it and will come back next year if I ask nicely. We got five tomato plants (three from friends, two grown from seed- woo!): two Blondkopfchens, one Roma, and the two that were grown from seeds by me were mislabeled as Agastache, but we think they're heirloom tomatoes. All have tomatoes on them. One of the Blondkopfchens didn't have any for a while, but I just checked this morning and there's a few teeny tomatoes starting. Remind me to take pictures of the thriving tomatoes on our supposed heirloom tomatoes.

I noticed that there's a lot of Queen Anne's Lace blooming. It's one of my favorite wild flowers, mainly because it hails the coming of August and I am an August baby (27th- and don't you forget it). They reminded me that I want to knit this shawl. No casting on for new shawls until I finish the two I have going though. No, no, no! At least I can admire it until then.

*Please make note of this last sentence in case of procrastination.

^What... you thought I was actually going to link to the project after I told you it's a surprise? Please, people...

FO: Swallowtail Shawl

2008-07-28T10:44:00.000-07:00

It's almost like this photo shoot was meant to be. A day after I finished my first lace weight shawl for me (not my first first, just first for me - I'm selfless like that) we went to the Olympian Japanese Garden. We've never been there before although we've lived in Olympia for 8 years. It's just one of those places you drive by and say "We should go there sometime." This time was that sometime. Turned out to be a perfect place to take photos of my shawl, too. Kismet.

Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn A. Clark from Interweave Knits Fall 2006
Yarn: Misti International Misti Alpaca Lace
Needles: US 4/ 3.5mm

Measurements: 52.5" wingspan, 22.5" from center back to tip
Started: January 9 2008
Finished: July 11 2008

I haven't knitted a lot of lace, but this shawl has always been one of my favorites. It's definitely one of the Classics. It's a bit small to be cozy, but it works well as a shoulder and neck warmer on a cool afternoon. You'd think the smaller size would have made it a quick knit, but I didn't work on it consistently. Almost 7 months! It was worth it though. Definitely. Is any lace not worth it? Don't answer that.

***

I made a couple of modifications, but nothing that interrupted the shape or design of the shawl. After seeing DJ's finished Swallowtail I decided to add 7 repeats to the bud lace pattern to make my shawl larger. I debated over adding another repeat of the Lily of the Valley lace, but once I got to that point I was so excited about having a shawl for myself I just zoomed through that part. Project trumped process.

I also changed the nupps. Nupps remind me of bobbles, which I dislike. They're not really a pain to knit, I just don't like the bobbly look. Unfortunately, on this particular shawl, they work. There's no way to knit a Lily of the Valley lace pattern without nupps (I tried). The pattern instructs the knitter to yo 5 times on the RS row then, when you get to the 5 yos on the WS, purl them together. This is not as easy as it sounds. I'd like to send them a short note that says "Try doing it with slippery alpaca." Instead of gritting my teeth and tearing my knitting to shreds, I purled the five yos, slipped them back to the left needle, purled 2 together, slipped that back to the left needle, then passed the last three sts over. Much better and makes nary a difference in the size or appearance unless you inspect it with an inch of it's stitches.

I'm not very keen on the edging either (just picking it apart, aren't I?), but that's not to say I despise it. I just wouldn't do it again. For some reason it reminds me of pine cones. Pine cones + Swallowtail = ? It works well with the pattern. I mean, what else would you put between those peaks? Yup, pine cones.

All in all, it makes me happy. I wear it often, even when it's too hot for a shawl. I had to over-dye it when I finished knitting because the original color of the yarn was hideous. Sort of a mauve/khaki color. Interestingly enough, some of the color washed out in tiny spots so the shawl looks like antique denim. It gives the shawl a very casual chic sort of look. The indigo really pops in the right light. Very eye-catching. It may be my new favorite color. It is my new favorite shawl.

What, this old thing?

Lately

2008-07-25T12:48:00.000-07:00

If I try really hard someone might think I'm Kauni

Look what you missed out on! It's not your fault. I guess I was depriving you. A thousand apologies. This is last month's spinning. 2 oz of BFL dyed in a progressive rainbow shades. I'll probably knit it into a Morning Surf Stole or scarf, but I haven't worked my needles into in yet.I still have a few more ounces of this to spin. Maybe 4 or 5. This ball is 195 yds of bouncy and fluffy DK wt (navajo plied) yarn. I want to finish some projects before I start a new project (HAHAHAH!) so I can linger over this yarn.

More of ~~last month's~~ May's spinning:

430 yds of fluffy (what's with the fluffiness around here?) 2 ply DK/light worsted wt superwash merino yarn from this roving. Turned into this scarf. Made it up as I went along plying with ribbing. It's very cozy and when cold weather rolls around again, I'll be wearing it often.

I finished Swallowtail (a shawl that deserves it's own FO post) and started a new shawl.

No, Laminaria still isn't done. Don't change the subject.

It's the Shetland Tea Shawl from A Gathering of Lace. I'm using a couple thousand yds from the two lbs. of Fiddlehead Zephyr Wool-Silk that I bought two or three years ago. Very pretty stuff in the lilac colorway. Heaven to work with, too. SO soft and smooth. A nice change from slippery alpaca. I'm using a 2.75mm/ US 2 needle which is one size smaller than the pattern calls for, but I think it creates a nicer fabric. I'm also ditching the Madeira Diamond pattern and using something else - not sure what yet- and the edging. I may use the Godmother's Edging or something similar.

Look, a fern!

Mettez la chaux sur le pied*

I picked up my Sweet Lime sock on wednesday and cranked out a few more inches. I can't wait to get to the heel. Damn my 10" feet! I love knitting this pattern. The yarn (claudia's handpainted) makes it even more enjoyable. I have about three more inches to go before I start the heel and then - much excitement. I love making up my own socks. I don't think I've knitted a really lacey sock before, except Pomatomus. I might have one of these done quite soon depending on my knitting mood. I make no promises, as usual.

On to something new!

Mrooo! ...I don't know what sound mammoths make either

What were you expecting? Something... orange, perhaps? I do have something going with that, but since it's such a tiny project I'll only post it when it's finished. So there. This, ifImaygetbacktotheknittingathand-thankyouverymuch, is the woolly mammoth tea cozy from Spin to Knit. I'm not thrilled with the book, but I do love this pattern. Needs a little tweaking here and there (like the part where they completely screw up double knitting - slip the stitch with the yarn in the front!) , but it should be fun once it's felted and I make some tusks. Stay tuned for tea.

I've been sewing a little bit, too. This is an old doll pattern from Coats & Clark. They're not normally patchwork, but I decided to have a little fun. Her head is sewed on now, but I haven't bothered to take a picture. I think she needs some hair and maybe a sweater to cover her buttons. Socks, too.

Breaking news! Mutti is finally knitting her first sweater! Woo!! It's a heavily modified version of the Feb. Lady Sweater from Ravelry. She loved the pattern when I showed it to her, but was unhappy with a few things: the sizes go from 41" to 44" (uh...what happened to 42 & 43?), the lace pattern, the eyelets around the chest, the shapeless sleeves, um... yeah, that's it. So I re-wrote the entire pattern removing the eyelets and buttonholes (she wants clasps), changed the lace pattern from gull to vine lace, shaped the sleeves, nixed the garter stitch on the bottom of the sleeves and sweater, and changed the size to 42". Can I call it mine now?
She's using Cascade 220 is a sage color that we can't agree on - she loves it; me: not so much. Thankfully, her first sweater will fit her and she'll love it, which is more than I can say for my first sweater. No pictures, please.

Swallowtail Shawl post soon...

*and shake it all up...

Back with quack

2008-07-22T22:00:00.001-07:00

Quack.

I'm baaack! Took a nice break from the blog and didn't even get a yarn shop for my troubles (details at 11). Instead, how 'bout a new pattern? Click on the duck - you know you want to. I'll post some more FOs tomorrow.

Things I finished while I was away:
Swallowtail Shawl
2 pairs of Vanilla Socks
A Scarf
and a duck

Things I started:
A scarf (see above)
3 pairs of not-so-vanilla socks
a hat
a shawl
and a duck (see above)

Pitiful.

We interrupt your usual broadcast for...

2008-06-01T13:18:00.000-07:00

...a game and a break.

Seen at Pea Soup.

The concept:

a. Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.

b. Using only the first page, pick an image.

c. Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd's mosaic maker.

The Questions:

1. What is your first name?

2. What is your favorite food?

3. What high school did you go to?

4. What is your favorite color?

5. Who is your celebrity crush?

6. Favorite drink?

7. Dream vacation?

8. Favorite dessert?

9. What you want to be when you grow up?

10. What do you love most in life?

11. One Word to describe you.

12. Your flickr name

Play!

As for the break:

I'll be taking a little blogging break to work on some knitting projects and a much larger project. When I come back I should have a ton of FOs and a yarn shop. Wish me luck!

Up a creek

2008-05-20T12:43:00.000-07:00

Mutti ordered some fiber for a handspun sweater on May 8th. She ordered 2 lbs of Blue-faced Leicester from Hello Yarn and 8 oz of a Merino/Angora blend from Little Barn. She received the Hello Yarn order in less than a week. Twelve days later, there's still no sign of the Little Barn package. We like to give fiber and yarn companies the benefit of the doubt so we hold our calls and emails. We figure that they're being bombarded by orders and busy with fiber festivals and the last thing they need is some crabass calling to complain about her order.

I thought twelve days without confirmation was going a bit far so I told Mutti to give them a call. She did and got this story:

They're located in a rural Alabama and their local post office is somewhat lacking in quality. Apparently one of their delivery men had a hot date with his girlfriend and didn't want to waste precious time by delivering all of the packages so he did what any sensible horny postman would do: he dumped them in the creek. A woman walking her dog near the creek spotted the packages and gave Little Barn a call.

So there's the reason for the wait. It didn't have anything to do with needing a rest after a festival. Just a needy postman.

Unbelievable.

FO: Quant-ish

2008-05-19T13:05:00.000-07:00

Knitting is a mean tease. Months can pass without any sign of a finished project then all of a sudden 3 or 4 finished projects jump out. Finished in bundles. First it my aunt's socks, now Quant, next will be BSJ #3. Why is that? Maybe it's because we knitters have bouts of start-itis and begin many projects at the same time. I didn't start any of these projects at the same time though. I think I just spent more time working on the simple projects. Kind of like getting the simple chores finished first so you can spend more time and effort on the difficult chores. Not that knitting is a chore. Quite the opposite. Anti-chores.

I finished Quant ~~last night~~ this morning at 2:30am. I was going to turn in and finish it after a good nights sleep, but I only had one tier, the top triangles, and the decreasing to knit so I plowed through. One thing led to another and I found myself washing and blocking, too. I stopped myself before I pulled out the buttons. That's definitely a daylight job.

Specs:

Pattern: Quant by Star Athena

Yarn: Noro Kureyon Sock, colorway: 182

Needles: US 2 (3.00mm)

Start date: April 12 2008

Finished: May 18 2008

Pattern modifications: Ditched the I-cord tie and knit a buttonhole on one side. I had a feeling the tie tickling the back of my neck would drive me nuts. Also fiddled with the st count and the width of the squares.

I'm really really happy with it. I knit it smaller than the circumference of my head by quite a bit so it will stay put while I headbang. My head circumference is 21" and the length of Quant is 13 or 14". Entrelac is pretty stretchy so it's not cutting off any circulation (not that you'd notice). The squares are 8 sts wide and the headband is 3 squares wide, plus side triangles (call it four). If I knit another one, which I might, I'll knit it two squares wide. This one is great for holding hair back and when winter rolls around again it will more than cover my ears. Maybe I'll use it to knit a feather and fan scarf like the one I saw at Linda's Knit & Stitch.
I was very surprised at how little yarn it used. It took less than a third of a ball of Noro Sock. Less than a third! Madness! Mutti said she wants to learn how to knit entrelac so I was going to give the leftover ball to her, but she won't take it because she says I'll regret giving it away. She may be onto something there. I'd hate to be an indian giver. More headband pr0n:

and pose... and pose...

I found a very appropriate button this morning. A lock. Entrelac. Get it? Har har har. I just crack myself up.

Yarn Crawl - Day 2

2008-05-18T10:57:00.000-07:00

Let's start out with some yarn pr0n. I assume that's why you're here anyway so I may as well give you what you came for. Pictured above is my haul from yesterday. Not really a haul, but good enough for me. It's sock yarn, of course! Do I buy anything else? The blue is Dream In Color Smooshy Sock in the colorway Some Summer Sky. I had to get it. We had a heatwave yesterday and it was so perfect that I found a colorway called Some Summer Sky. Plus, Mutti's been getting me hooked on blue. It's contagious. The acid green is Claudia Hand painted Yarn in the colorway Limeade. It's scorching! We watched The Darjeeling Limited last night which, while not a spectacular movie, gave me inspiration for a sock pattern: Sweet Lime Socks. I won't be starting them for awhile, but I have the idea written down and have already picked the stitch patterns. Mutti bought herself some yarn, too, which is unlike her. It was due to a delicate combination of yarn fumes and peer pressure. She's always saying she has too much sock yarn when she really doesn't. Not compared to me anyway. She got one skein of Opal (her Opal love affair continues...) in the Neon colorway and a skein of Blue Heron Yarn Rayon/Metallic in the colorway Curry for a tank top. It's kind of ironic that she got this colorway because she hates curry and can't eat anything spicy because it sends her into a coughing fit. The color looks great on her though and I think she'll enjoy knitting it. Sue, one of the ladies we went on the Crawl with, bought the same yarn in a beautiful bright blue that makes her eyes pop (she's blonde-haired with blue eyes). Mutti and Sue bought the yarn together as a "I'll buy it if you buy it" deal. Goofballs. I don't need to be persuaded to get yarn. "Do I want yarn? What a silly question."

Alright, yarn shops:

Amanda's Art Yarn

Our first stop on Saturday was Amanda's Art Yarn in Poulsbo. The shop is located on the second floor on Main St. The Yarn Crawl is held on the same weekend that Poulsbo has it's Viking Festival so the streets were crammed with tourists and girls in bunads. It's not a large shop, but it's packed with yarn and there's even some spinning wheels and a couple shelves of fiber in the back. Alas, no AC here! We got our stamps, wandered around a little and headed out. We're on a time schedule after all.

Linda's Knit & Stitch

Our next stop was at Linda's Knit & Stitch in Silverdale. I love this yarn shop. They have a wide selection of yarn; everything from neon orange nylon yarn to Noro (ooh, the Noro wall!) to fine Jade Sapphire lambswool lace weight and hand spun tencel Tanglewood Fiber Creations. Hand painted Trekking sock yarn! Schaeffer Anne! Elizabeth Lavold! As I walked in the front door I looked at the projects hanging up on the wall and what did I see? A feather and fan scarf knitted out of Noro sock in the same colorway I'm using for Quant. It looks gorgeous in lace. We definitely have to visit this shop again. Preferably sometime in summer when the rose garden is in full bloom.

Yarn Garden

Next up: The Yarn garden in Gig Harbor. A yarn shop with beautiful waterfront views and AC! Whew. Very fun yarny people here and a knitting employee with the cutest lime green shoes. Mutti and Sue bought their Blue Heron Yarn here and I got the Claudia Handpainted. Lots of luxury and novelty yarn with some tweed and acrylic blends thrown in. There was one skein of Tilli Thomas wound with thread that was hung with beautiful aquamarine glass. See that tank top hanging to the left of the purple cardigan on the model? That's the tank top knitted with The Blue Heron Yarn that Mutti and Sue are going to knit. Mainly St. st. interspersed with purl sts.

Spin Alpaca

After The Yarn Garden we headed out (and further out) to Spin Alpaca in rural Auburn which is not so much a yarn shop as a farm with some baskets of yarn and fiber. There was a lot of Misti Alpaca yarn and a few baskets of alpaca roving. The couple who own the farm were in the process of building their house and Eva was sitting on the porch oiling her gorgeous Canadian spinning wheel. We saw a few alpacas, but no crias although she mentioned that she had a pregnant female on the farm. Patti bought some worsted wt Misti Alpaca and we headed out.

Lamb's Ear

The drive to Tacoma wasn't too bad. I think the extreme heat was keeping people home. We found parking in the back and crawled in to the shop. We were all pretty beat by this time and we didn't want to linger since it was about 4pm and we had to get to the next shop before 5. I got a skein of Dream In Color and Paulette picked up some more sock yarn. I wasn't really impressed with this shop. She had a little fiber, but I'm not sure if it was for sale or if someone just brought it in to work on. There was a very nice sale however. The usual 10% along with 40% off on Opal sock yarn and a 50% sale wall. Mutti got her Opal here.

Shibori Dragon

We were in this shop in Lakewood for an even shorter amount of time than Lamb's Ear. They have a lot of novelty yarn which I'm not keen on. I didn't see anything I liked, but Paulette bought some Elizabeth Lavold ribbon yarn for $5 a ball. The main thing I was interested in here was their couch which was soft and cool. I could've taken a nap. I did find that felted clog pattern that I've seen all over the internet from Fiber Trends though. We scooted out of here and went to the last (and my favorite) shop on the passport. I know this is a long post, but I hope you made it this far. Keep going just a little bit so you don't miss out on the best yarn shop of the bunch.

Yorkshire Yarns

We left this shop for last since Sonya was staying open until 8. It was so nice to go into a shop and not run out after 10 minutes. She had a comfy couch (Thank You!) and a superb yarn selection. I envy the knitters who said Yorkshire Yarns is their "home turf". Lucky, lucky knitters. She has Kauni. I had a major yarngasm. It's so beautiful. Mm-mm. She also has some gorgeous ombre laceweight which I'll apologize for not remembering the name of. We couldn't stay as long as we wanted to ('til closing) because Patti had to pick up her daughter. We will be returning to this shop very soon. How could we stay away? Sonya is a blast and so is everyone who works at the shop.

I really have to thank Patti, our chauffeur for the day. She drove us everywhere and didn't complain once. That's a lot of driving people. I'm knitting her a pair of socks as a big thank you. I'm using Lorna's Laces in the colorways China Blue, Carrot, Sunshine, and Berry.

There will be a spinning post soon. Corriedale and some superwash merino.

Yarn Crawl - Day 1

2008-05-16T17:40:00.000-07:00

First stop: 10:00-10:45 am. Canvas Works in downtown Olympia. That's Nancy, one of the owners, on the right. Mutti bought three skeins of A-MAIZing for washcloths. We saw Patti and DJ. We're meeting up with Patti and a few other knitting girls tomorrow and Sunday for the rest of the shops.Second stop: 11:00-11:20. Fancy Image Yarn in Shelton. Didn't get anything here even though she had a 10% discount. I was interested in some fingering wt. merino/tencel put up in 1600 yd bundles, but quickly lost interest after I saw the $66 price tag. You'll have to take off more than six and a half dollars for me to buy that.
Third and last stop for the day: 11:45-12:54. Allyn Knit & Spin. That's Lois, the owner (and knitter and spinner and barber). I love this shop. She carries wonderful yarn like Monarch and fiber:

The fiber corner. Louet, Ashland Bay, and Lois' hand-dyed.

I got 6.35 oz of superwash merino kool-aid dyed by Lois. It's so bright and happy. Perfect spinning for the scorcher we're having today. What Corriedale? I'm spinning a fingering weight single for a two ply yarn. Yes, I'm feeling fine. I said a 2 ply yarn. I want to get a little more yardage out of it for a side-to-side shrug.

I also got this book. Selbuvotter. *swoon* I've wanted this book for a long time and now it's mine! All Mine! It's taking a lot of restraint not to grab some yarn and cast on for mittens. Must finish a project.

More yarn shops tomorrow! My wheel is calling me...

Crawling towards the sock yarn in the Twilight Zone

2008-05-15T12:54:00.000-07:00

The weather in Olympia has turned gorgeous! It's 64F (17C) outside right now. This will be a short post since I'm headed outside to knit beneath the cherry tree.
I'm trying to finish up the Corriedale sock yarn before I start my next spinning project. I've spun three skeins and 633 yds so far. Either I've entered the Twilight Zone or I'm getting really good at this spinning thing. I weighed each skein only to find that each skein weighs exactly the same amount to the gram. I didn't even measure the roving beforehand. I just spin with the whole skein of pencil roving on my lap since it doesn't need to be pre-drafted. Each skein weighs 2 ounces so I've only got two more to spin. I had to stop yesterday because I had an ache in my shoulder, but I'll try again today. I love the color of this roving. My sister gave it to me last year and it's definitely not a color I would have chosen for myself. I really prefer dyeing my own, but I've been thinking about spinning other people's colors. Branching out of my comfort zone. I'm giving two skeins of the sock yarn to DJ for her birthday. I hope it'll motivate her to start spinning. She has some fiber already, but I don't think she's spun anything yet. I was going to let her borrow my wheel for a couple of weeks, but she declined saying that if she borrowed it, I'd never get it back. Not likely, DJ. I know where you live.
I've started a sweater. I'm using Bollicine Holiday on US6 needles. I'm sort of basing it on the Kangaroo Pouch Sweater from The Opinionated Knitter, but I've made lots of modifications. Body shaping, for one. I'm also putting in bust darts. They are such a bitch to figure out. I envy flat-chested people. I bought the yarn on sale last year and it was one of those sale moments. I've grown to like the yarn even though it's 70 Merino/ 30 acrylic. Gosh, I'm a fiber snob. I was looking forward to having a machine-washable sweater, but as it turns out, I'll have to hand wash it. Pooh. There's only about an inch knitted. I'm trying to finish a few small projects before I really jump in. We shall not mention the sock yarn sweater.
The spinning project I'm really looking forward to is for Mutti. She's going to make a cardigan! She ordered 2 lbs. of blue-faced leicester from Hello Yarn and 8 oz. merino/angora from Little Barn. She wants to dye it an obnoxious red/magenta. I'll be spinning it into a DK wt. 2 ply yarn. What!? No navajo plying? I can't wait to get my hands on this stuff. It's luscious.

I'm going on the South Sound Yarn Crawl this weekend with a bunch of ladies from Knit Night. I can't wait to go the the Spin and Knit Shop in Allyn. Fiber! We're going friday, saturday, and sunday. I'll be sure to post pictures of every day for you. Three posts in three days. Very unlike me.

Almost forgot: I started knitting Onerva yesterday. It's a beautimus pattern. I'm using BMFA Seduction (colorway: Lucy) which seducted at me all the way through it's plastic bag and 1 ft. of stash. Pretty seducting I'd say.

Cormo pr0n!

2008-05-05T11:03:00.000-07:00

Stats:

Cormo wool, spun from dyed locks

224 yds, 10 wpi, worsted weight

I can't weigh it because my scale needs a new battery, but I'd say it weighs about 4 - 4.5 ounces. I lost some fiber from carding. The yarn is very very very soft. Definitely going to be a neckwarmer.

More yarn pr0n:

***

I finished my aunt's socks friday night. I can't believe I actually finished a project in time for a birthday. Woo! Her birthday is on the 18th so I'll be sending these out very soon. She lives in NY and packages take about a week to get there so that's plenty of time. I knit these out of Dream In Color Gaia Sock on US 1 dpns using my Vanilla Sock pattern. It's going to be a real wrench giving these up; they're so soft and comfy and they fit me just right. Please admire my sock label and awesome sock stamp. You can see the socks laid out on Ravelry.

Since I finished these I've been working on these Toe-Up Vanilla Socks for me using my hand-dyed Silja sock yarn (turning the heel) and Quant-ish (halfway done!). I'd work on Swallowtail and Laminaria, but the weather has been Gorgeous and it's hard to knit lace in direct sunlight.
I ripped out Ganomy because it was way too tight. I'm going to re-knit it with the yarn doubled on larger needles. I may just follow the pattern this time around - what a thought!

Weekend dyeing

2008-04-29T11:29:00.000-07:00

Mutti and I dyed Silja sock yarn this weekend. We couldn't pass up the gorgeous weather - must've been at least 65. We switched favorite colors for the day. I used blazing pink and brown.
She used various shades of green.This was only her second time dyeing. She might not be a spinner, but she loves dyeing. the aftermath

Another dye post tomorrow. Cormo!

Lambs driving big cars into trees while eating cupcakes

2008-04-23T13:34:00.000-07:00

Do you like chickens? Do you like cupcakes? Of course you do. Cupcake from Wagner's: the best bakery in Olympia. Aside from our house.
Now you see me...

...now you don't.

Would you like a tree? How 'bout a lamb with your tree? Buy two trees, get one lamb free! Git your lambs and trees here, folks! I love reading The Olympian.

Why, yes, this was a mindless post. I have been knitting, but I'm knitting the same things I was knitting last week and nothing exciting has happened since then. I think I've completed about 4 rows on Laminaria, three tiers of Quant-ish, and a bunch of rows on some other stuff. The sock yarn sweater is c-r-a-w-l-i-n-g along.

Other things that happened that are slightly more exciting than my knitting:

-DJ visited yesterday and brought rhubarb pie for dessert.

-My aunt got rammed by an asshole driving an SUV. She's fine, but has contusions on her ribs. Big cars make people drive like JERKS.

-I got 4 ounces of Cormo locks in the mail and I'm waiting for the last ounce. I'm thinking scarf.

The letter of the day is O.

2008-04-20T10:54:00.000-07:00

O is for orange

I cast on for a Ganomy (not an O) last week using my Orange hand spun. I've been wanting to knit with it for quite a while, but I couldn't find the perfect project. Since the pattern calls for heavier yarn and thicker needles I had to re-work the pattern and it was then that I noticed how well my pencil and notebook matched the yarn. I don't know how I do it. Sometimes I do the same with my clothes: unwittingly wear a t-shirt that matches the color of my current project. Anyone else do that?

It is a bit nerdy.

O is for Olympian, organic cereal, organic milk, and organic strawberries - YUM!

Project Specs:

Yarn: Orange Merino hand spun, sport wt (about 14 wpi), 3 ply

Needles: US 2

Pattern: Ganomy by EZ (Knitter's Almanac)

Orange graffiti. See? I told you there'd be more. Not the most spectacular one, by far.

In today's Olympian

2008-04-13T14:25:00.001-07:00

These two things are certain

2008-04-11T18:15:00.000-07:00

from top to bottom, left to right: Arucania Ranco, multy; Fancy Image Yarn, olive; Fancy Image Yarn, pinky; Pagewood Farms Denali, greens; Dream in Color, cool fire; Fancy Image Yarn, poiple

Anti-wip reduction resumed yesterday when I cast on for a new sweater. I'm using 5 skeins of lovely sock yarn, plus one medium-sized ball of leftover Dream In Color. Needle size: US 2. Gauge: 8 spi. Yep, I'm a nutter. Even the ladies at knit night think so. I've already cast on and finished the hem, but it's not much to look at yet. Pictures when I finish a little more. It will be a very nice sweater when it's finished. When it gets finished. If it gets finished. (It will).

Pagewood Denali, greens; FIY, poiple

I thought about using Grumperina's swirl idea, but it's a little too much with 8 different yarns. Good theory though. I chose a pattern from the Random Stripe Generator and I'm sort of going with that. I can't help it if I get a little lost on the way down the list and end up winging it instead, can I? This makes for very nice knitting since I just go with what color looks best next to the stripe I just finished. It promises to be mindless knitting, until I get to the armholes. The pattern is based on EZ's kangaroo pouch sweater from The Opinionated Knitter. Am I obsessed? Yes!! What could be better than an EZ sweater knit with lovely sock yarn and teeny Crystal Palace needles? It was being knit on 2 20" circs, but that's a little maddening when you have 8 strands of yarn to boot. 35" circs are on their way from Jimmy Bean's Wool along with a skein of LL's Shepherd Sock. Couldn't resist. Free shipping!

Don't worry, I haven't forgotten about the Baby Surprise Jacket. Also mindless knitting (I seem to have a lot of that lately). Every time I pick this up I fall in love with the yarn again. It's my first hand spun sock yarn and, while it's far from perfect, it's very homey and comforting to knit with. I could spend hours gazing fondly at each garter bump. Perfect knitting for tax time.

Fine Arts

2008-04-08T14:45:00.000-07:00

See The Other Chris' Graffiti

FO: Pomatomus

2008-04-03T12:17:00.000-07:00

Project: Pomatomus Socks by Cookie A.

Yarn: Shelridge Farm Soft Touch Ultra, color: Bubblegum, 2 skeins

Needles: US 2

Started: Oct. 25, 2007

Finished: Apr. 2, 2008

I can't believe it! They're finally done! A weight has been lifted, a deadline ~~reached~~ passed by without a second glance. These socks were for Mutti's birthday, but I finished them 2 days after. Oh well. At least she got them the week of her birthday, right? Could have been worse. I really loved knitting these socks even though they started to annoy me after awhile. I think the only reason they annoyed me was because I had a deadline and because they weren't for me. The pattern is lots of fun to knit and, although I had to keep the chart in front of me to keep track of the rows, the pattern isn't too hard.

I'm moving on to my aunt's socks next. I have half of one sock done and hopefully I can have them completely finished by her birthday in May (HA!). After that I move on to my sister's socks. When will I get a pair of hand knit socks? I need some hand knit sock love. Someone knit me some socks!

I planted our bulbs and various other neglected plants on Tuesday. The gardens (and I use the term "gardens" very loosely) are really overgrown and a large space is being taken over by ferns and just recently, scotch broom. I'll be pulling that sucker out of there today. Evil scotch broom. There are two hydrangea shrubs though and I can't wait to see what color they are. I pruned the more-accessible one yesterday and found this extremely decomposed bloom. It's a hydrangea skeleton. The petals remind me of (dare I say it on a knitting blog?) moth wings. Plug your ears! Hide your yarn!

If you're interested, I'm over on Ravelry now. If you're not- sorry. It sucks to click on a link and not be able to see what the linker is linking to. It's really addicting, however. Even if you don't participate or post your projects I still recommend you join up, if only for the looking (your eyes will fall out of your head). I still love my Knitty, but with all Ravelry's patterns, yarn, and people... how can one resist?

I'm off to work on a hat.

Happy Birthday Mutti!

2008-03-31T11:47:00.000-07:00

***

The Atheist's Easter and a bacon sandwich

2008-03-24T12:01:00.000-07:00

This is the first time I've worked on Mutti's sock in 5 days. I thought I should post some evidence that I am indeed working on it. It needs to be finished (along with the other sock) in 7 days. I've even asked her if she would mind working on it a little here and there just to help with the load. That didn't go over well. I still have no idea how I managed to trick myself into thinking the sock was done with only 6.5" knit on the foot. Was I planning on binding her feet?
There has been spinning. I finished the last of the awful wool last week. I bought about 8 lbs of this undyed crap when I first began spinning... and I thought it was a great deal. Harumph. It'll make good mittens though; very hard-wearing. Thankfully, I have a lovely dusty brown merino/cashmere/angora blend that I reclaimed from a Goodwill sweater. It'll match the contrast color that I'll be using along with the orange/red/white. Pattern is yet to be revealed.

I also did a test spin of some undyed llama fiber from Cindy. I can't say I think much of it. The fiber feels okay, but the yarn is scratch-o-rama. It may become another cat bed for Kami seeing as she likes it so much. Cute kitty picture included.

Mutti and I went to Di's house for easter yesterday. I only celebrate easter for one reason: the chocolate. By some stroke of menstrual luck my period always arrives on or around easter so I crave chocolate like some crazy Willy Wonka stalker. She gave Mutti and I two of these cute little sheep by Lindt. Mmm.... mmm... mutton. We force-fed them jellybeans to make the meat sweeter. The bows might look cute, but they're really so they can't escape the meat factory of DOOM! Sorry, am I getting carried away? Baa-aa!

I found an ... interesting article concerning easter and atheists (two of the most compatible subjects I know of). Operation Easter Sanity? This is the kind of thing I love to read about religious fanatics, even if they're anti-religious religious fanatics. Honestly? Atheists who plan everything around 666? These are the kind of people I'd like to sit down and explain Atheism to. It's the disbelief in any deity. ANY deity, that goes for El Diablo as well, folks. If there's one thing I dislike more than bible thumpers, it's atheists who try to spread their disbelief, or in this case, their misplaced, not-so-dis disbelief. I don't believe in any god and you won't find me pushing my non-belief on someone else. Why can't everyone respect an individuals' right to believe in whatever they want to believe in? Why can't we all be happy? Why can't we all just get along?

Can we settle this over a bacon sandwich?

Edited to add disclaimer: I'd like to apologize ahead of time if I offended anyone. That isn't the aim of my rant. I hope anyone who reads this respects my right to not believe in a god just like I would respect their right to believe/not believe in a god. I even understand that there are people out there who are going to hope I burn in hell for even writing about not believing in a god and that's okay, too. Feel free to mentally burn me in hell all you want, but remember, I'm free to do the same. I'll write what I want to write on my blog, you can do the same on yours, happy day. R-E-S-P-E-C-T, people. If any Muslims read this, I apologize for offering you a bacon sandwich. We can have lamb instead (chocolate ones). Feel free to leave religiously based comments. Discussion is always fun.

Spring Goals

2008-03-19T12:25:00.001-07:00

I know.

A post entitled "Spring Goals" with a picture of a plate of truffles does not bode well for my exersize plan. I needed something to tempt you into reading this post. It worked, didn't it? Never underestimate the power of chocolate*.

Onto the real subject matter of this post: Spring Knitting Goals. Ali at Skeins Her Way is having a contest. I clicked over there via Stumbling Over Chaos . I do love a contest. Especially if the prizes include yarn/chocolate/fiber. Here we go, my Spring Goals (capitalization is a must when you're talking about important things like Goals - and Chocolate).

I desperately want to finish Mutti's Pomatomus socks. They were supposed to be for her birthday, which is in 12 days (March 31). I really don't think I'll be able to rush-express them from the needles to her feets. I love the pattern and the yarn (and the Mutti), but ....I'm working on the Laminaria shawl. Maybe I can force myself to put down the green lace and pick up the pink lace. I've already ripped out the too short toe, but I haven't re-knit it yet. There's three more pattern repeats to knit for the second leg, too. Do you think I can do it if I knit day and night? I knit day and night anyway, but I'm saying if I knit day and night on these socks alone. Maybe I can make it. It'll be like the time I knit the Icarus Shawl for my sister's wedding and finished it the night before the ceremony. Not that Mutti's getting a ceremony for her birthday - although she deserves it- but you get the picture. Wish me luck on these.

This isn't a knitting project, per se, but it does have to do with knitting. This is Cindy. She's the llama lady, master gardener, would-be could-be super knitter and also a very good friend of mine. Before I start, do you see the scarf she's wearing? She knit that with my handspun BFL (this stuff). Isn't it beautimus? It's enough to make a spinner cry.

Anyway, Cindy began knitting a couple of years ago, but her knitting teacher sort of left her hanging, which is where I came in. Cindy already knew the basics, although they needed some refining so I taught her how to knit socks. From there she moved onto a hat, a felted bag, and her scarf. She has a couple of projects going now and they just keep getting more complicated. I may have, in my excitement, recommended Cat Bordhi's second book and Cindy bought it. She knit the first practice sock with only a little hiccup which was only an imaginary hiccup and now she's knitting the second practice sock (that is, the second First Practice Sock, not the first Second Practice Sock. Are you confused yet? Good.).

Moving on... last month she started the Clementine Shawl. I thought I acidentally pushed her into knitting this (yeah, that's right! I'm a pusher, damnit!), but she says I didn't, so technically I'm cleared of all charges. It's not her first lace project, mind you. Her first lace project was the magnificent scarf. She chose a beautiful merino/silk blend in a deep purple for Clementine, which, now that my powers of hindsight are oiled and running at full speed, was probably not the best choice. I should have recommended something lighter. She knit the little tassel jobby at the end with no problem and only a couple of questions which I sorted out right away. Then she got to the increases. She must have knit and ripped out the increase section about 5 or 6 times, and that's only the official count. I gave her all the help I could and wracked my brain trying to find new ways to explain the techniques. Finally, and with only a minimal amount of mistakes (which aren't visible thanks to the dark yarn) she got to the pattern repeat section. I haven't heard any complaints yet so she must be managing. My goals (yes, there is a point) are to get her smoothly through the shawl and increase her knitting confidence which is growing, but sometimes gets shattered by a sneaky stitch or tricky technique (double points for alliteration). Thankfully, Cindy has a great sense of humor and doesn't give up easily. Praise be to the knitting gods.

Those are my Knitting Goals. Not many, but certainly tenacious. Happy almost-Easter. Have a flower.

*By the way, those truffles are from Boehm's Chocolates in Poulsbo. The website says Issaquah, so they must be expanding. I'm not quite sure why you'd expand from the Seattle area to Poulsbo...

Laminaria: Day 3

2008-03-16T11:22:00.000-07:00

On the 4th chart repeat.

Can't. Stop.

Must. Knit.

New Project

2008-03-15T11:26:00.001-07:00

I cast on for Laminaria last night. I couldn't resist it any longer. It didn't help that I printed the pattern and dug the the yarn for it out of my stash to tempt myself. I'm almost done with the first star chart repeat. It's a very basic chart once you read the symbol descriptions. I can't wait to get to the Blossom Chart - my favorite part.

I'm making a note of the start date: March 14, 2008. Remember that. The yarn is 2000+ yds of 100% Merino laceweight from the Loom Room in CA. I bought it at the Blacksheep Festival in 2006 and dyed it a deep emerald green (the picture's fairly accurate). It's been in my stash ever since. Almost forgot to mention: I'm making the shawl size. Must have something lacy to wrap up in.

I know the shawl design is based on kelp, but the star pattern reminds me of these little plants that I saw on my walk yesterday. I'm sure I'll change my mind once I start the other charts.

Onto other things...

I updated my wip pile page yesterday. You can see it here. I'm going to try to keep it updated a little more often, depending on how much progress I make, of course.

I've been walking and working out (hooray!). I walk 7 miles every other day and on the off days I walk 3 miles. After my walks I do sit-ups and crunches, push-ups, leg-lifts, and stretches. I've only been walking and exersizing for a week so I'm not noticing a huge difference, but I do feel energized. I walked a little later in the afternoon yesterday so that by the time I turned around the sun was setting. There's a small lake I walk past and the Swallows were out in droves, dipping and swooping around me. I took a video of it, but it needs a little editing. I'll post it next time.

That's all for me. Please enjoy this lovely sunset.

Clementine Shawlette

2008-03-13T15:21:00.000-07:00

Pattern: Clementine Shawlette from Spring 2007 IK

Yarn: Sublime Merino/Silk/Cashmere (6 balls)

Needles: US 7 circs

Time frame: Started Spring 07, finished Feb. 08

I really enjoyed knitting this. The yarn and the pattern were a perfect match. I only used the chart for the increasing section, but after that it was a breeze. An easy four row repeat for 16", knit two pieces, and graft them together in the middle. I didn't enjoy grafting lace however. Does anyone know of an easier way to graft lace or make it look a little more seamless?

This stole/scarf is the pride of our coatrack and I wear it often. Because of the wise color choice it goes with everything. And to think I almost chose grey! Ack! Not a good idea when you live in Washington. 'How To Match The Scenery'. My sister was ready to claim it for her own, but she got my last lace project (Icarus) so I stood up for myself and ~~beat her over the head~~ politely declined.
Zoom.

I almost finished one Feather and Fan sock, but I effed up the foot and have to rip back and inch or two. Thankfully, I wrote the pattern down as I went along so re-knitting shouldn't take too long. Expect the pattern up next month.

WIP pile status report

2008-02-13T15:51:00.000-08:00

My WIP pile is shrinking.

It hasn't done that for 3 years. It's amazing!I finished some things that I can't remember right now because I'm trying to type this post in a hurry since I only have 00:06:50 minutes left. I resisted the leafy green shawl in the new IK (what the hell is it called!?) and I ripped back the shadow knitting sock even though I'm going to reknit it smaller and with fewer mistakes. I almost finished a felted bag. I just have to cut and sew a lining and dig up a zipper somewhere.

Donnie Joe (Can We just call You D? Really, all this name changing business.. pick one!), can you bring your hat that you knit with Fancy Image yarn to the next knit night? I want to take a picture of the color or write down the colors because I really love it. I must dye some fiber that color. It's all I can think about... okay, not entirely true, but I did think about it more often than, say, your shawl which does not smell in any way.

Oh, big news: Mutti finally started a patterned sock. It's from the first Charlene Schurch book, looks sort of like the Pomatomus socks I'm knitting for her, but it's not a twisted stich pattern. And guess what!? They're for me. Someone's finally knitting me socks. Admittedly, they're out of my yarn, but that's okay.

Did I make your day?

2008-01-30T13:12:00.000-08:00

Allison gave me this award for making her day! Hurray! The fact that I managed to post it here is worth a hurray, too, since I didn't think I'd be able to post pictures on a library computer. Thanks, Allison!

Guess who I met at Monday Night Knitting this week? A blog stalker! I've never met anyone who's read my blog before. She recognized me from my tiny little profile picture, too! Hi DJ! I hope I see you next week. Sorry I didn't get to say good-bye before you left. I got sucked up by the Noro sock yarn.

I just saw the new patterns on Knitty. A Blood Stupid Johnson hat! I need to give Sarah Lily a "You Made My Day" button. That's just great. I must knit it.

I've been itching to knit some lace for awhile so I cast on for the Swallowtail Shawl with some hand dyed Misti Alpaca Laceweight. The bud pattern is really easy, but it's been set aside while I knit a hat for my aunt and finish some socks for the general population. I've been planning my next 50 lace projects because I found a bunch of gorgeous lace patterns hiding in my pattern notebooks. Surprise!

I haven't been spinning a lot, but I did start a new project: 3 oz. soy silk/cashmere dyed a pretty raspberry color. I love it, it's wonderfully soft, it catches the light like nothing else... it's a pain in the ass to spin! The staple is about 1" long and both the fibers are slippery. I'm going for a two ply lace weight, if I don't go crazy first.

Speaking of crazy, I have to go because there's a crazy old man sitting next to me. Run away!

Yoo-hoo!

2008-01-09T16:40:00.000-08:00

Hey, remember me? I'm still here... well, not in the same here. We moved back to Olympia -hurrah!

We left the computer in hopes of buying a better, less crowded, more modern version so I've been using the computers at our local library (people are probably wondering who the nutter printing out all the knitting patterns is).

I wasn't able to finish any Christmas presents due to the move. Well, not entirely true. I finished a pair of pink socks for Kris, but I couldn't send them out without finishing the socks for her hubby which still aren't done. I'm having serious SSS with his socks, so much that I organized all my wips and pulled out some of the older ones to work on. The good news is that I've finished the increases on the second half of the Clementine Shawlette. I live in mortal fear of having Clementine abducted by my sister. She really really wants it. How many shawls do I have to knit for her?

I'm spinning up 5 oz of variegated pink (think strawberries and cream) Colonial wool into a DK wt 3 ply sock yarn for Mutti. She'll be getting it for Valentine's Day. Remember the purple angora/merino I had lying around? I spun that up for my sister (same weight and ply as Muttis). I'll be knitting it into the Huckleberry Ascot from Holiday Knits. She's been wanting a scarf for a month or so now, but right before Christmas she had the nerve to tell me that she thought she was allergic to wool! Hah! I told her she wasn't allowed to be allergic and she probably wasn't allergic anyway, just sensitive - hence the angora, which she bought for me last year, btw.

Allison, how are you and the family doing? I hope you stop by to see if I'm still alive!

I'm running out of time here, just wanted to stop in and see how the bloggy world was doing. Are there any Olympia knitters going to Monday Night Knitting at Canvas Works? Mutti and I will be going there pretty regularly from now on. Must. Knit. With. Other. People.

Keep Knitting! Toodle-oo!

Knitting my fingers to the bone and playing with parentheses

2007-11-08T15:47:00.000-08:00

I'm still here and still working on Christmas knitting. Since my last post I have completed one pink sock for Kris (it looks really cool - I can't wait to show you the completed pair) and am working my way down the cuff of the second one. Josh's socks are next. I only have time to eat and sleep between knitting. There is nothing else. Laundry? Ha! I scoff in your general direction (until I have no clean underwear, in which case we make temporary amends).

I have many pictures to post, but I can't since our home internet connection is non-existent. I'm using a computer at the office for the purposes of email and Knittyboard checking.

Don't be surprised if you don't here from me again until after the holidays. I'll post a picture of me with a big drink. I'll need one since we have relatives coming for Xmas. Should be fun.

See you!

Christmas knitting and a sock meme

2007-10-29T20:16:00.000-07:00

First of all, I would like to celebrate the purchase of a new teapot. Hooray! It's not overly heavy or tacky, it's just right. It holds about 4 cups which is perfect since Mutti and I each drink two cups of tea in the am. We bought it at Gretchen's in Mt. Vernon. If you live in the area or are travelling there I highly recommend stopping in to check out the kitchenware. Very nice shop.

It's that time of year again! I started Xmas knitting a little later than usual, but since I'm only working on Xmas gifts I think I'll make it. Here's the list so far:

-Pink Pomatomus (see above) for Mutti: I'm ready to start the heel flap on the first sock. These are going pretty quickly.

-Handyed handspun feather and fan socks for Di: I'm turning the heel. I have to figure out the gusset because I'm not doing the same old-same old k2tog, knit across instep, ssk deal.

-Scarf for Charles: This was garter stitch, but I got really sick of it so it's been ripped out and I'm knitting a k2, p2 rib all the way. I have about 6".

-Cabled headband for Di: To match a pair of cabled mittens I knit her a few years ago. Apparently a cabled hat wasn't enough. I have a headband cast on, but I don't think I like the pattern I'm trying. I'm going to make another one up.

-Socks for Kris and Josh: Every year our friends Kris and Josh get a pair of socks. Last year it was plain St.st. This year it's going to be Retro Rib. Kris socks will be knit with pink Dream In Color, Josh's: green Silja.

-Aunt Marge: Cabled mittens and a knitted heart (she just had an angiogram).

I haven't decided what to knit for Cindy. I'm racking my brain. There's another person on my list, but I can't post their gift because they read my blog.

I'm also doing some Christmas spinning. I'm finishing the angora for my sister and I'm spinning some jade corriedale for someone else.

I finally got the alpaca fleece from Canada! Woo! I only have two more "batches" to wash and then I'll post a little more about it. It's very dirty. I ordered a set of Ashford fine tooth handcarders from Knot Just Yarn. Can't wait to start carding. I'm thinking about carding it together with 2 lbs. of llama fiber so I have enough for a sweater. Thoughts?

Sock Meme!

Since I'm knitting so many socks for Christmas I thought I'd post a sock meme.

1. What's your favorite sock yarn? (please note that the word 'yarn' is singular. Just pick one. I know it's hard.)

BMFA Socks That Rock. Sometimes I don't like how the colors pool, but the yarn is lovely to knit with and really durable.

2. What's your favorite type and brand of sock needle?

Crystal Palace bamboo 6" dpns. No matter how much I extoll the greatness of two circs I always go back to dpns. I can't help myself.

3. Do you knit your socks toe up, cuff down, or sideways?

Usually cuff down, but I just started a pair toe up. Sideways is in the future.

4. Do you knit both socks at once or just one at a time?

One at a time. Getting over SSS builds character and increases stamina. Like viagra.

5. What's your favorite toe and why?

Short row. It's fun to knit and can be used as a heel and a toe.

6. Favorite heel?

Short row.

7. Do you prefer plain or patterned socks?

It depends on the yarn. Plain socks for handpaints, patterned socks for solids.

8. Who do you knit the most socks for?

Me!

9. Do you darn your socks? If not, what do you do with them?

I darn them, of course.

10. Do you only wear handknit socks?

Yes. Pamper thy feet.

Bonus question: What pattern, if any, is your basic "I-just-need-a-pair-of-socks" sock pattern based on? Do you keep it written down or memorized?

It used to be Ann Norling's Wide Wale socks pattern, but it's evolved from there. I keep it memorized.

I'm tagging Allison and Cristi. Don't wiggle your way out of this one!

Look what came in the mail!

2007-10-17T16:22:00.001-07:00

I know! Two posts in one day is really unlike me, but after I finished posting I went to get the mail and lo and behold!: A box from Allison! !!!
I walked semi-patiently home. I would have run, but it's really wet and mucky out and I didn't want to slip, fall, and get mud on the box or the hat I was working on. Please forgive me for the following slightly blurry photos. I blame it on the happy buzz.

Inside the box there are two containers full of yummy homemade chocolate chip cookies with nuts in (yum!). Walnuts, I believe. In my happy yarn and baked good delirium I can't be sure. After I finish this post I'm off to make a cup of tea, and sit down with knitting, cookies, and purple yarn. Drink, knit, eat, pet.

There's also six skeins of grape-colored Rowanspun 4 ply (which looks like 2 ply to me, but it's lovely yarn and I'm not going to fuss over 2 plies). It's my favorite kind of Rowan which is sort of felty, very soft, and tweedy. The color is Turkish. There are 162 yds per skein... 6 skeins... so *scribble scribble quick math* ...972 yds. Could be a tweedy shawl, a hat-mitten-sock set, a scarf. One thing I know for sure: whatever I knit; it'll be for moi. Sometimes it's good to be selfish.

Isn't it lovely?

Allison, you're the best! Thank you thank you! I'll have to send something wonderful your way in thanks for the two great packages I've received this year.

Thanks!

Finally, a post that isn't about spinning!

2007-10-17T15:03:00.000-07:00

This week I've been knitting more than I've been spinning which is a change. After I finished the rainbow BFL I had to wind it into a ball and cast on for a hat. I couldn't help myself. It's a simple hat worked on US 2 dpns with a 2" 2x2 rib cuff and 12 row garter bumps alternating with 6 row St.st. stripes. It's mathy hat. A soft mathy hat, no less.

***

I started my Christmas knitting, too. These are socks for my sister. They're knit on US 1 dpns, with 80 sts around. The front 40 sts are a feather and fan panel bordered by two waving mock cables. The back 40 sts are 2x2 rib (gotta love the 2x2). The mock cable wasn't easy to photograph, but you can see it. They're fun to knit and mindess enough that I can take them with me on walks or in the car.

This will be the second pair of purple socks I've knit for her. Remember the first pair? She loves them, but doesn't wear them as often as I want her to. She's afraid of wearing holes in them. Mutti is knitting her another pair of purpley socks using Mountain Colors Bearfoot in the color Steelhead.

***

Last, but not least: another garter stitch scarf. Knit on US 4 circs using Fleece Artist Merino DK in the Nova Scotia colorway. This scarf is for Charles for Christmas. He doesn't wear the two pairs of socks or the hat I knit for him so I'm switching to simple manly things knit with lovely soft yarn. If he doesn't wear this one, I'm going to strangle him with it.

I was going to do a herringbone stitch pattern, but... I don't like knitting herringbone. Tough noogies.

***

I started spinning the angora, but I haven't worked on it for two days and there's a pitiful amount on the bobbin. Not worth showing off yet.

I'm patiently (okay, not really) waiting for three boxes: the alpaca from Canada (Still. Give it up already, Customs!), a package from my friend Cindy, and my yarny and baked good prize from Allison for ~~forcing~~ suggesting the Tussie-Mussie cardigan. Yay, goodies!

Spinning Spree

2007-10-14T19:11:00.000-07:00

318 yds fingering wt. BFL

navajo plied

spun from 3 oz.
198 yds sport wt. bombyx silk

navajo plied

spun from 2 oz.

597 yds fingering wt. BFL

navajo plied

spun from 5 oz.

Next spinning project: angora

Happiness is...

2007-09-29T14:16:00.000-07:00

...knitting my first BSJ out of my handdyed handspun yarn,

a simple handspun merino/yak scarf,

my David Howard dahlia in full bloom,

spinning fingering weight BFL for a gift for my sister,

two new books to read,

and

waiting to receive 700g of white suri alpaca from a Knitty in Canada.

All this while anticipating our first snowfall at 3000 ft on friday.

Stalker Prize

2007-09-16T11:06:00.000-07:00

The Stalker Prize went to Adrienne!

She won 85 yds of hand dyed hand spun merino art yarn, a tub of Sweet Spa Instant Manicure Sugar Rub (lovely stuff), and a set of stitch markers (which I forgot to photograph). She refused to be called a stalker and she's really not, but that's okay. She just participated to give a little more competition.

Day Trip - Anacortes

2007-09-15T20:38:00.001-07:00

Mutti and I took a trip to Anacortes today. It's only about an hour drive, but I got quite a bit of knitting done. I finished the toe of my horny half-breed socks and knit another inch on my Tangled Yoke Cardigan. Yes -another wip... sort of. It's really a re-wip. I ripped out the back and partial sleeve of the V-neck sweater. (*gasp*) The horror! I decided I really didn't want to seam - can you blame me? Plus, I was reading The Opinionated Knitter. 'Nuff said. Oh and, plus, Eunny Jang is a genius.

Anyway - while we were in Anacortes we stopped at a lovely bakery called La Vie en Rose. I had a seafood pot pie (minza-manza) and a piece of baklava (yum!!) with coffee. Mutti had a chicken pot pie and joined me in some baklava and coffee. We needed warm food as it was a bit nippy. For those of you who don't know the geography - Anacortes is right near the Puget Sound so the town gets those cool water breezes. While at the bakery I completely finished my socks and slipped them on my cold tootsies. Ah... warmth!

After that we walked down to...

Ana-Cross Stitch!

Two weeks ago the store got a new owner and as you can probably guess she's changed it quite a bit. The name sounds like it would be a cross stitch shop, but it's mainly a yarn shop. It could be that or maybe it's just that yarn takes up more room than embroidery floss. While there I did what any self-respecting knitter would do when they found themselves in a new yarn shop: I sniffed up all the yarn fumes I could and I bought some yarn (duh.) After wandering around for a couple of hours I made my (wise, I think) selections:

One skein of Alpaca with a Twist by Fino which is Alpaca/Silk lace weight. It's a little more vibrant green than in this photo. Night time photos suck. This stuff is heavenly! It's so yummy, if it was human I'd do naughty things to it. Rrrooowwwll...

*ahem* The skein has 875 yards and for only $21 I think that's quite a steal.

Two balls of Maggi Knits Irish linen/Cotton blend. While in the shop all the cotton and linen was calling to me so I picked up these two lovely little balls. There was a great selection of colors for this yarn. At other yarn shops that I won't name they only have the neutral colors. Not this shop! She has bright blazing blue, honeydew green, bright pink, and some nifty variegated colors including one that I can only describe as tropical punch. She has some neutral colors, too, but I appreciate that she carries the brighter side of linen. I'm thinking of knitting these pretty girls into a Rabbit-Proof Fence scarf from the Morehouse Merino book.

Last, but not least, some New England Shetland Wool. The brown is called Sandalwood, the yellow is called Gold (a little less orange than in the picture - it's a little more dandelion-colored), and the green is called Hemlock. This stuff is scrumptious. I won't lie and say it's soft (it's not), but it's got great scrunch. A very crisp hand. Mm - lovely stuff. I'm awful at matching colors for color work so one of the girls who worked there (Diane - I remembered!) helped me choose. The green and the brown were made for each other and the yellow really brings out the yellow in the green. I'm thinking color work mittens with the brown as a background, the green as leaves, and the yellow as forsythia-shaped blooms.

I also bought nine oyster buttons for my Tangled Yoke. You can see them in this post. I browsed through the buttons for about an hour. It was a tough decision. There were quite a few candidates.

I also got some porcelain earrings in the shape of sunflowers at the Anacortes farmer's market. We stopped there briefly in the morning. I'll take a picture of them tomorrow when the light is better and when I'm wearing them. The sunflowers are about 1" in diameter. They're very bright. The woman who sold me the earrings had the cutest puppy - her name was Tilly :D . She was a bit shy, but I won her over.

After the yarn shop we went out to eat at a place called Charlie's. It was alright. The burger I had there was really good, but I may have just been so starving I'd eat anything. I knitted just about the entire time. I'm lucky it was just Mutti and I - she doesn't mind me knitting at the table. Look, Allison! I'm wearing my shrug again. I love it!

Doesn't Mutti take good pictures? She's getting much better with the camera.

I sent the winner of the Stalker Contest her prize and she received it this week. I'll post about that tomorrow.