Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Happy Birthday Sarah
So, my sister's birthday is today, and I'm not done with her present. I'd originally hoped to have it done and in the mail so that she would get it today, but that clearly is no longer a possibility. Still, I want her to have something on her birthday. So I give her (and you) a photo essay:
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Sunday Travel Section
I really wanted to be able to blog about Print O' the Wave was coming along beautifully, or how I'd started new socks, or how I'd pulled the knitted corset out of my WIP collection and made some nice progress there, but the demands of school and life would have it otherwise - I spent nearly all weekend doing homework. I think the sum total of my knitting for the weekend was two rows on the stole. (By the way, Lorraine, the Kidsilk Haze is shade #633; I think it's called Violetta.)
Now, under normal, non-school-dominated conditions, I really like Sundays. Since Saturdays are for chores, Sundays are for reflection, relaxing, and appreciating the world I live in. I'd like to share that aspect of Sundays with all of you - photographically. So Sundays will be for mini-vacations.
This Sunday, we travel to the Benedictine Abbey in Admont, Austria.
Now, under normal, non-school-dominated conditions, I really like Sundays. Since Saturdays are for chores, Sundays are for reflection, relaxing, and appreciating the world I live in. I'd like to share that aspect of Sundays with all of you - photographically. So Sundays will be for mini-vacations.
This Sunday, we travel to the Benedictine Abbey in Admont, Austria.
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Are you there?
I know I sort of fell off the planet, blog-wise, the past couple weeks. I'm sorry. School's been picking up, so I've been a bit busier, and the weather last weekend was completely lovely, so I spent all weekend outside, instead of blogging.
Let's see, where did I leave off? Oh, yes, I was working on the black ribbed scarf.
I got it finished and wove in all the ends. It's a wonderfully soft scarf in colors I love, but I won't be keeping it. I started it before I knew I had any preferences in scarf thickness and width, and it's rather wider than I'd like to wear. So I'll most likely be donating it this winter.
Nearly two weeks ago, when I went down to D.C., I did make it to a yarn shop. I bought some Addi Natura needles (for lace knitting) and two balls of Mission Falls 1824 wool in a purple that, ironically, is very nearly the same shade as my luggage. On the drive back up from D.C. I started squares for a mitered blanket.
The garter stitch is fantastically mindless, and the squares are delightfully soft and scrunchy. Each square takes maybe three-quarters of a ball, and I've got four of five balls on hand, so I should be okay for a little while. I've got color cards coming in the mail so that I can make some real color choices (instead of buying the only two balls that weren't cream or gray).
In the meantime (and in a minor fit of startitis), I've also cast on this:
It's the Print O' the Wave stole in Kidsilk Haze. So far, I'm enjoying the challenge of knitting lace in actual lace weight. It was also good fun to learn the provisional cast on (a new technique for me).
I'm still planning to start some more socks in the near future. I've still been plugging away (slowly) at the Bayerische Socken, but I want to work on something brighter - springier even. Perhaps next time there'll be new socks on the needles to introduce to the blog...
Let's see, where did I leave off? Oh, yes, I was working on the black ribbed scarf.
I got it finished and wove in all the ends. It's a wonderfully soft scarf in colors I love, but I won't be keeping it. I started it before I knew I had any preferences in scarf thickness and width, and it's rather wider than I'd like to wear. So I'll most likely be donating it this winter.
Nearly two weeks ago, when I went down to D.C., I did make it to a yarn shop. I bought some Addi Natura needles (for lace knitting) and two balls of Mission Falls 1824 wool in a purple that, ironically, is very nearly the same shade as my luggage. On the drive back up from D.C. I started squares for a mitered blanket.
The garter stitch is fantastically mindless, and the squares are delightfully soft and scrunchy. Each square takes maybe three-quarters of a ball, and I've got four of five balls on hand, so I should be okay for a little while. I've got color cards coming in the mail so that I can make some real color choices (instead of buying the only two balls that weren't cream or gray).
In the meantime (and in a minor fit of startitis), I've also cast on this:
It's the Print O' the Wave stole in Kidsilk Haze. So far, I'm enjoying the challenge of knitting lace in actual lace weight. It was also good fun to learn the provisional cast on (a new technique for me).
I'm still planning to start some more socks in the near future. I've still been plugging away (slowly) at the Bayerische Socken, but I want to work on something brighter - springier even. Perhaps next time there'll be new socks on the needles to introduce to the blog...
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Blah...
That's pretty much how I feel about just about everything right now. The weather? Rainy and cold = blah. Pittsburgh? Hilly and no sidewalks, plus blah weather = more blah. School? Blah, but at least class is some good knitting time.
My knitting? Pretty much blah. I've been knitting a round or two a night on the Bayerische sock, and while I really do like it very much, I really want to work on something faster, less complex, and easier on the hands (the combination of pointy needles and tight stitches leaves my fingers aching after a few rounds). The scarf to match the mittenettes is no longer my class time knitting - there was too much cabling and turning to really be knittable in any class with note taking, and it was getting to be awkwardly long for knitting in class - it kept falling out of my lap. I'll finish it eventually, probably in the next month (or three, let's be realistic). My opinion of my current class knitting? Blah. It's blah for a number of reasons - color, the fact that I had to frog it once, the fact that my test bit for gauge lied to me (what did I expect?), and it turns out that I screw up a lot more when I'm knitting little yarn without looking at it than when I'm knitting big yarn without looking at it.
Ironically, the only piece of knitting I don't feel blah about is definitely my blahest:
The black ribbed scarf is coming along quite nicely, especially considering that I've only been working on it while reading for class. I really like how quickly it's going (gotta love the size 9 needles), and I really, really love the yarn. I'm using Mission Falls 1824 Wool, which is soft, smooth, and delightfully sproingy. Sometimes, instead of knitting on the scarf, I just sit and squeeze it and appreciate the lovely bounce in the yarn.
The blahness, though, has spread even to my consideration of what to cast on next. I got some Kidsilk Haze for Easter, that's destined to become a Print o' the Wave shawl. I've got some Kidsilk Night and some general shawl plans for it. I've got some really nice Artyarns Ultramerino to become a sweater, and some fun looking sock yarns that want to become fun looking socks. The problem though is that I don't feel like knitting anything complicated or doing and design work right now, and all of the above involve one or both. The solution? Garter stitch. Specifically, a blanket of garter stitch miters out of 1824 wool. I did some online shopping, and in a fit of reason, decided not to order several hundred dollars of yarn without knowing what the colors actually looked like, and only ordered color cards (I ordered the one for 1824 Cotton while I was at it). I've been planning to go by a yarn store this weekend in search of needles (for knitting the Kidsilk), though, so I'll probably see if I can pick up some 1824 wool while I'm at it...
My knitting? Pretty much blah. I've been knitting a round or two a night on the Bayerische sock, and while I really do like it very much, I really want to work on something faster, less complex, and easier on the hands (the combination of pointy needles and tight stitches leaves my fingers aching after a few rounds). The scarf to match the mittenettes is no longer my class time knitting - there was too much cabling and turning to really be knittable in any class with note taking, and it was getting to be awkwardly long for knitting in class - it kept falling out of my lap. I'll finish it eventually, probably in the next month (or three, let's be realistic). My opinion of my current class knitting? Blah. It's blah for a number of reasons - color, the fact that I had to frog it once, the fact that my test bit for gauge lied to me (what did I expect?), and it turns out that I screw up a lot more when I'm knitting little yarn without looking at it than when I'm knitting big yarn without looking at it.
Ironically, the only piece of knitting I don't feel blah about is definitely my blahest:
The black ribbed scarf is coming along quite nicely, especially considering that I've only been working on it while reading for class. I really like how quickly it's going (gotta love the size 9 needles), and I really, really love the yarn. I'm using Mission Falls 1824 Wool, which is soft, smooth, and delightfully sproingy. Sometimes, instead of knitting on the scarf, I just sit and squeeze it and appreciate the lovely bounce in the yarn.
The blahness, though, has spread even to my consideration of what to cast on next. I got some Kidsilk Haze for Easter, that's destined to become a Print o' the Wave shawl. I've got some Kidsilk Night and some general shawl plans for it. I've got some really nice Artyarns Ultramerino to become a sweater, and some fun looking sock yarns that want to become fun looking socks. The problem though is that I don't feel like knitting anything complicated or doing and design work right now, and all of the above involve one or both. The solution? Garter stitch. Specifically, a blanket of garter stitch miters out of 1824 wool. I did some online shopping, and in a fit of reason, decided not to order several hundred dollars of yarn without knowing what the colors actually looked like, and only ordered color cards (I ordered the one for 1824 Cotton while I was at it). I've been planning to go by a yarn store this weekend in search of needles (for knitting the Kidsilk), though, so I'll probably see if I can pick up some 1824 wool while I'm at it...
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Sunday, April 08, 2007
Triumph
The grey sweater is finished, and best of all, it fits!
(Sorry about the lousy picture: self-photography is hard)
It doesn't fit perfectly - it could use a little bit more ease across the back, a touch less ease across the front, and the arms could stand to have a slightly bigger circumference. But despite that, it fits well enough. I wore it all day Thursday (it did snow), and I'm pleased with both its warmth and comfort.
The yoke pattern is No. 10 from Lett-Lopi No. 16, and it looks almost as good from the reverse as it does from the right side.
I didn't follow the pattern at all for shaping the body and sleeves. I winged it with the help of Elizabeth Zimmermann's seamless sweater guidelines. The challenging aspect of this was completely unexpected. Before I started, I swatched on both size 6 and size 7 needles so I could pick which fabric I liked better. I preferred the fabric knit on size 7 needles (it was a little lighter, and less stiff), so I went to the store and bought size 7 circulars in varying lengths. Or at least I thought I did. As I was finishing the body, I started trying it on the check the length and noticed that it seemed tighter than it ought. Perplexed, I checked the gauge of the sweater and discovered that it was the same as the swatch I'd done on size 6 needles. This seemed odd to me, so I got out my needle size checker and discovered that I'd been knitting on size 6 needles! There was no possibility of mix-up on my end (I simply don't own enough needles), since these had gone straight from the store's package labeled size 7 to my knitting. At that point, I wasn't willing to frog the body, so I adjusted the number of stitches to account for it all being on size 6s and went with it. The lesson? Always double check your needles, even when they're fresh from the store.
There's so much I like about this sweater - I love the dark blue with the grey. I really like the pattern of the yoke. I like the way it fits. I like the blue on the cuffs and hem. The technical detail I'm proudest of, though? The underarm grafts:
When I introduced the sweater to the blog, I mentioned that it was my Knitting Olympics project. Despite my late finish, I think I could have done the sweater in two weeks had I not severely underestimated the amount of time school was going to take. Still, I think I'm at least as happy with it now as I would be had I finished it during the Olympics.
(Sorry about the lousy picture: self-photography is hard)The yoke pattern is No. 10 from Lett-Lopi No. 16, and it looks almost as good from the reverse as it does from the right side.
I didn't follow the pattern at all for shaping the body and sleeves. I winged it with the help of Elizabeth Zimmermann's seamless sweater guidelines. The challenging aspect of this was completely unexpected. Before I started, I swatched on both size 6 and size 7 needles so I could pick which fabric I liked better. I preferred the fabric knit on size 7 needles (it was a little lighter, and less stiff), so I went to the store and bought size 7 circulars in varying lengths. Or at least I thought I did. As I was finishing the body, I started trying it on the check the length and noticed that it seemed tighter than it ought. Perplexed, I checked the gauge of the sweater and discovered that it was the same as the swatch I'd done on size 6 needles. This seemed odd to me, so I got out my needle size checker and discovered that I'd been knitting on size 6 needles! There was no possibility of mix-up on my end (I simply don't own enough needles), since these had gone straight from the store's package labeled size 7 to my knitting. At that point, I wasn't willing to frog the body, so I adjusted the number of stitches to account for it all being on size 6s and went with it. The lesson? Always double check your needles, even when they're fresh from the store.
There's so much I like about this sweater - I love the dark blue with the grey. I really like the pattern of the yoke. I like the way it fits. I like the blue on the cuffs and hem. The technical detail I'm proudest of, though? The underarm grafts:
When I introduced the sweater to the blog, I mentioned that it was my Knitting Olympics project. Despite my late finish, I think I could have done the sweater in two weeks had I not severely underestimated the amount of time school was going to take. Still, I think I'm at least as happy with it now as I would be had I finished it during the Olympics.
Happy Easter!
May you all have a wonderful, blessed Easter! Even if you aren't Christian, take a moment to appreciate the wonder of the new life coming into the world (if you can see it under the snow). And everyone can appreciate the gift-giving rabbit...
Hiding yarn is way better than hiding eggs!
Hiding yarn is way better than hiding eggs!Tuesday, April 03, 2007
Wet wool...
... smells remarkably like wet dog. Except cleaner.
My Lopi sweater is blocking. My process? I gave it a bath in cold water with Woolite (it's what I've got), and rinsed it well - I was really surprised at how dirty the wash water was. Maybe it's related to the rather high vegetative content of Lopi... After rinsing it, I folded the sweater up in a towel and walked on it until the towel was as wet as the sweater. Then I carefully laid the sweater out on a different towel and left it to dry. Despite the lack of steam and pins, the blocking has been remarkably successful in removing the imperfections.
I'll post a finished object series of pictures later this week. It's supposed to get cold and maybe snow Thursday and Friday, so I think I'll actually get to wear the sweater. :-)
Now that I'm done with the sweater, I'm trying to decide what to knit next. I really like the Cable-Down Raglan from the spring IK. I also kind of like the Green Tea Raglan - except that I'd knit it in purple. Or maybe I should knit socks... I was thinking of using the Trekking XXL I got to make a variation of these. I've got some Baby Ull I could turn into Jaywalkers... Or maybe lace is really what I want to do next. I've got some black Kidsilk Night and some ideas for a pattern...
Of course, as I'm pondering these possibilities, there are other voices crying for my attention. My collection of WIPs can be pretty vocal when it wants to be. A few weeks ago when I was weighing my stash, I came across my longest neglected WIP - a scarf that I must have started about four years ago. It didn't even have needles stuck in it any more, but its yarn is Mission Falls 1824, a delightfully soft, squishy wool.
I'm still planning to cast on something new this weekend - any recommendations? But in the meantime, I stuck needles back into the neglected scarf and have been working on it as reading knitting (something I can knit while reading). I've also been making pretty good progress on my class knitting - the cabled scarf that matches the mittenettes.
Don't tell the scarf (since I really do like it), but I'm starting to get a little bored with it. It'll be lovely when it's done, but right now I want some excitement in my knitting...
My Lopi sweater is blocking. My process? I gave it a bath in cold water with Woolite (it's what I've got), and rinsed it well - I was really surprised at how dirty the wash water was. Maybe it's related to the rather high vegetative content of Lopi... After rinsing it, I folded the sweater up in a towel and walked on it until the towel was as wet as the sweater. Then I carefully laid the sweater out on a different towel and left it to dry. Despite the lack of steam and pins, the blocking has been remarkably successful in removing the imperfections.
I'll post a finished object series of pictures later this week. It's supposed to get cold and maybe snow Thursday and Friday, so I think I'll actually get to wear the sweater. :-)
Now that I'm done with the sweater, I'm trying to decide what to knit next. I really like the Cable-Down Raglan from the spring IK. I also kind of like the Green Tea Raglan - except that I'd knit it in purple. Or maybe I should knit socks... I was thinking of using the Trekking XXL I got to make a variation of these. I've got some Baby Ull I could turn into Jaywalkers... Or maybe lace is really what I want to do next. I've got some black Kidsilk Night and some ideas for a pattern...
Of course, as I'm pondering these possibilities, there are other voices crying for my attention. My collection of WIPs can be pretty vocal when it wants to be. A few weeks ago when I was weighing my stash, I came across my longest neglected WIP - a scarf that I must have started about four years ago. It didn't even have needles stuck in it any more, but its yarn is Mission Falls 1824, a delightfully soft, squishy wool.
I'm still planning to cast on something new this weekend - any recommendations? But in the meantime, I stuck needles back into the neglected scarf and have been working on it as reading knitting (something I can knit while reading). I've also been making pretty good progress on my class knitting - the cabled scarf that matches the mittenettes.
Don't tell the scarf (since I really do like it), but I'm starting to get a little bored with it. It'll be lovely when it's done, but right now I want some excitement in my knitting...
Sunday, April 01, 2007
Yarnharlotry
I can't think of a better way to end a week than last Friday evening. The week was a bit rough - more homework than I would have liked and a less-than-fun test Friday morning. Friday evening, though, one of my roommates was throwing a birthday part for my other roommate, but I skipped out on it. Why?
To see Yarnharlot! Stephanie was giving a talk and signing here in Pittsburgh, and it was a fantastic evening. I got to chat with a bunch of other nice knitters before the talk. I worked on my grey sweater and my Bayerische sock. I loved Stephanie's talk - it was thoughtful and hilarious. After the talk, I milled around the bookstore working on my sock until it was my turn to stand in line, and then, after about a half hour in line, I got to meet Stephanie! I took her some chocolate, showed her my sweater and sock, and I got to hold her sock! It was like touching the Shroud of Turin...
The sock and the sweater thoroughly enjoyed the night, and the sock felt honored to be held by Stephanie. In fact, it's still giddy.
The sweater is coming along nicely. I've got just a few more rows of the neckband to knit, the underarms to graft, the ends to weave in, and then blocking. In fact, it should be finished some time early this week; it'll depend on the school work.
Thanks for all the nice comments here and on Stephanie's page about my sock. It's coming along quite nicely, although there's not really been any noticeable change since the last time I posted pictures.
To see Yarnharlot! Stephanie was giving a talk and signing here in Pittsburgh, and it was a fantastic evening. I got to chat with a bunch of other nice knitters before the talk. I worked on my grey sweater and my Bayerische sock. I loved Stephanie's talk - it was thoughtful and hilarious. After the talk, I milled around the bookstore working on my sock until it was my turn to stand in line, and then, after about a half hour in line, I got to meet Stephanie! I took her some chocolate, showed her my sweater and sock, and I got to hold her sock! It was like touching the Shroud of Turin...
The sock and the sweater thoroughly enjoyed the night, and the sock felt honored to be held by Stephanie. In fact, it's still giddy.
The sweater is coming along nicely. I've got just a few more rows of the neckband to knit, the underarms to graft, the ends to weave in, and then blocking. In fact, it should be finished some time early this week; it'll depend on the school work.
Thanks for all the nice comments here and on Stephanie's page about my sock. It's coming along quite nicely, although there's not really been any noticeable change since the last time I posted pictures.
Sunday, March 25, 2007
OCONUS Stash
Well, formerly OCONUS (meaning "outside the contiguous US"). Yesterday I got a box in the mail from my mom. She sent me (at my request, for a statistics project) the portion of my stash that I'd left there, in Anchorage. It consisted of a bunch of purple Lopi-Lite, some purple regular Lopi, several balls of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran, some purple Nature Spun, and a bonus of two hanks of linen.
Also in the box was an even better bonus - two skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Black Purl, and one ball of Trekking XXL in a purply-pinky-bluish sort of colorway.
In term of actual knitting, the CM scarf is coming along - I'm almost done with the second of three balls of yarn. The grey Lopi sweater is coming along too. I'm back to knitting the yoke, and I think it will fit much better this time, with an extra repeat included. The only frustration is that there's a bit of a line where I ripped back to in the body. (I tried and failed to get an adequate picture.) I'm sure it will block out fine, but right now I'm not such a fan.
Also in the box was an even better bonus - two skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Black Purl, and one ball of Trekking XXL in a purply-pinky-bluish sort of colorway.
In term of actual knitting, the CM scarf is coming along - I'm almost done with the second of three balls of yarn. The grey Lopi sweater is coming along too. I'm back to knitting the yoke, and I think it will fit much better this time, with an extra repeat included. The only frustration is that there's a bit of a line where I ripped back to in the body. (I tried and failed to get an adequate picture.) I'm sure it will block out fine, but right now I'm not such a fan.
Sunday, March 18, 2007
Negative Progress
This is the current state of the Lopi sweater:
Yes, there did use to be a yoke on it. In fact, the yoke had been coming along nicely. I'd finally gotten to the point where the floats were short enough I could just hold one color in each hand without having to pause to twist them. I was really enjoying the knitting, and I was loving the way the dark blue looked against the grey.
Then I tried it on and discovered that it didn't so much fit:
The picture doesn't do justice to the not-fitting of the sweater. The yoke was really much too tight, the body was stretching more across the bust than I would have liked, and the sleeves were each about an inch too short. So I frogged. I'm going to add an inch to each sleeve, as well as two stitches. For the body, I'm going to add one to two inches length-wise, and enough stitches for another patter repeat. So, hopefully within the next day or so, I'll be back to putting the pieces together again. And with better fitting this time around.
Yes, there did use to be a yoke on it. In fact, the yoke had been coming along nicely. I'd finally gotten to the point where the floats were short enough I could just hold one color in each hand without having to pause to twist them. I was really enjoying the knitting, and I was loving the way the dark blue looked against the grey.
Then I tried it on and discovered that it didn't so much fit:
The picture doesn't do justice to the not-fitting of the sweater. The yoke was really much too tight, the body was stretching more across the bust than I would have liked, and the sleeves were each about an inch too short. So I frogged. I'm going to add an inch to each sleeve, as well as two stitches. For the body, I'm going to add one to two inches length-wise, and enough stitches for another patter repeat. So, hopefully within the next day or so, I'll be back to putting the pieces together again. And with better fitting this time around.
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Happy Pi Day!
Today is Pi Day (3/14). I guess if you write dates the European way, Pi Day would be July 22 (22/7). At any rate, in honor of Pi Day, I had pie, and (because my knitting hasn't progressed in any interesting fashion) I'm giving you a few links about Pi and knitting ;-)
Pi Shawl - designed by Elizabeth Zimmermann, knit by Wendy Johnson
More about the Pi shawl (you'll have to scroll down)
Another Pi shawl
Knitted Pie
More knitted pie - this time it's blueberry
Pi - the Wikipedia article
The official website for Pi Day
Pi Guy wishes you a happy Pi Day!
Pi Shawl - designed by Elizabeth Zimmermann, knit by Wendy Johnson
More about the Pi shawl (you'll have to scroll down)
Another Pi shawl
Knitted Pie
More knitted pie - this time it's blueberry
Pi - the Wikipedia article
The official website for Pi Day
Pi Guy wishes you a happy Pi Day!Saturday, March 10, 2007
Not "other work"
This week was my first week of classes. In the first two days, the instructors must have told us a dozen times that we aren't to do "other work" during lecture. Fortunately, it turns out that knitting doesn't count as "other work." I've knit in every class except the first one (the amount of knitting is inversely proportional to the amount of note-taking required), and I was a little worried that it would bother the instructors. I do sit in the first row, and I'm not exactly clandestine about my knitting. On Friday, though, the head of the school (who often sits in on our classes) told me that the concurrence among the instructors is that "knitting doesn't count as doing other work."
Thursday evening I finished the second grey sleeve while reading for class, so I had to come up with something else to knit in class. I needed something small, chart-free, and simple, so that I could do most of the knitting without actually needing to look at it. The solution?
A scarf to match the Cable Mittenettes!
Thursday evening I finished the second grey sleeve while reading for class, so I had to come up with something else to knit in class. I needed something small, chart-free, and simple, so that I could do most of the knitting without actually needing to look at it. The solution?
A scarf to match the Cable Mittenettes!The cables are simple, so no chart is required, and there's only cabling every fourth row, so I mostly don't have to look at it. Also, I don't use a cable needle, so that helps minimize the conspicuousness of knitting in the front row.
You'll be happy to know that the grey Lopi sweater hasn't been neglected just because it isn't my class knitting any more. I attached the arms to the body and knit several rows of the yoke. The yoke puckers a little bit, I think because the floats are so long. It isn't bad, though, and I think it will block out nicely.
You'll be happy to know that the grey Lopi sweater hasn't been neglected just because it isn't my class knitting any more. I attached the arms to the body and knit several rows of the yoke. The yoke puckers a little bit, I think because the floats are so long. It isn't bad, though, and I think it will block out nicely.
Wednesday, March 07, 2007
So much better
Today has been as much better on the technology front as could possibly be wished. I fixed my laptop keyboard; its screen's backlight decided to work again (it had been on the fritz); and best of all, I got a wireless card and very nice new speakers for my desktop. In the computer realm, I am totally in business. I even got some knitting done (in class, but none of the teachers seem to mind). In fact, I'm making good progress on the second sleeve. I think I might even get it done this week, and that's without doing any knitting outside of class.
(The sleeve is basking in the sound of my new speakers.)
I know I've been promising the pattern for the Cable Mittenettes, but that's going to have to wait another post. I have a bit of homework to do tonight, so I need to keep this relatively short, and writing out pattern instructions in a nice, usable form is going to take more time than I have to spend tonight. So instead, I'll answer a few questions:
DPNs or two circulars for sleeves? I've never knit a sleeve on DPNs. In fact, this is only the second sleeve I've ever knit. I'm using two circulars because that's what I had handy when I started. I generally like DPNs, but I find that the large-ish metal ones are too heavy to handle easily, and I didn't have any wood ones around when I needed them. The other thing is that I like short-ish DPNs, and the sleeve gets to a circumference that wouldn't work on a four-needle set, although it might be ok on a five-needle set. On the other hand, I'm not entirely enamored of the two circular method, either. I really think I need to knit more sleeves before I can offer anything resembling an informed opinion on the matter.
So, you just moved. Have you found the LYS yet? Well, sort of. Google told me where it is (the nearest is pretty close to where I live), but I haven't been there yet. I'm sort of wondering why I need to check out the LYS during Lent when I gave up buying yarn... Of course, I do need needle for some of the lace knitting I have planned.
That Ostrich thing in some of your pictures - what is it? I'd like to tell you it's a disk filled with good knitting karma, or something to that effect, but that would be wholly untrue, although possibly more interesting than what it really is. The Ostrich was the airplane that was my senior design project. The team I was on had a deep appreciation for irony (our second choice for a name was Icarus). The Ostrich could fly 10L of water, and was the only plane in the competition (scroll down for 2005-06) to be able to fly so much. The Ostrich fuselage was rack for soda bottles, and the disk is a water-jet cutout from one of the openings. Several of us kept one as a souvenir, and I use mine as a coaster.
What do you do with those washcloths that you knit, anyway? I give them away. A few have been gifts for family, but the bulk of them I've given to the Missionaries of Charity in Washington D.C., who run a shelter for single mothers and mothers-to-be.
(The sleeve is basking in the sound of my new speakers.)I know I've been promising the pattern for the Cable Mittenettes, but that's going to have to wait another post. I have a bit of homework to do tonight, so I need to keep this relatively short, and writing out pattern instructions in a nice, usable form is going to take more time than I have to spend tonight. So instead, I'll answer a few questions:
DPNs or two circulars for sleeves? I've never knit a sleeve on DPNs. In fact, this is only the second sleeve I've ever knit. I'm using two circulars because that's what I had handy when I started. I generally like DPNs, but I find that the large-ish metal ones are too heavy to handle easily, and I didn't have any wood ones around when I needed them. The other thing is that I like short-ish DPNs, and the sleeve gets to a circumference that wouldn't work on a four-needle set, although it might be ok on a five-needle set. On the other hand, I'm not entirely enamored of the two circular method, either. I really think I need to knit more sleeves before I can offer anything resembling an informed opinion on the matter.
So, you just moved. Have you found the LYS yet? Well, sort of. Google told me where it is (the nearest is pretty close to where I live), but I haven't been there yet. I'm sort of wondering why I need to check out the LYS during Lent when I gave up buying yarn... Of course, I do need needle for some of the lace knitting I have planned.
That Ostrich thing in some of your pictures - what is it? I'd like to tell you it's a disk filled with good knitting karma, or something to that effect, but that would be wholly untrue, although possibly more interesting than what it really is. The Ostrich was the airplane that was my senior design project. The team I was on had a deep appreciation for irony (our second choice for a name was Icarus). The Ostrich could fly 10L of water, and was the only plane in the competition (scroll down for 2005-06) to be able to fly so much. The Ostrich fuselage was rack for soda bottles, and the disk is a water-jet cutout from one of the openings. Several of us kept one as a souvenir, and I use mine as a coaster.
What do you do with those washcloths that you knit, anyway? I give them away. A few have been gifts for family, but the bulk of them I've given to the Missionaries of Charity in Washington D.C., who run a shelter for single mothers and mothers-to-be.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Piece of crap...
That would be my computer, not my knitting. I was going to give you a nice post with the pattern for the Cable Mittenettes, but then the g, h, and backspace keys on my laptop quit working and my evening was instead spent fighting with the stupid computer. grrr...
I have done some knitting, though. I started the second sleeve for my grey Lopi sweater. I would have gotten a lot further along, but I did the wrong number of rows between increase rows and had to frog about 30 rows.
I really hope tomorrow is better, at least on the technology front...
I have done some knitting, though. I started the second sleeve for my grey Lopi sweater. I would have gotten a lot further along, but I did the wrong number of rows between increase rows and had to frog about 30 rows.
I really hope tomorrow is better, at least on the technology front...
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Craziness
I feel like I've been going non-stop since my last post. Last I wrote, I was anticipating the movers' arrival to pack up my stuff. Well, they came, they packed, they took, and I slept on the floor for several nights. In the interim, I also got some hands-on experience with car audio components (I had a good time soldering), and saw the Bolshoi Ballet's production of Cinderella (which was even more fun than soldering). Over the weekend, it snowed, rather a lot for Arlington. I was worried that I was going to be in for a completely miserable drive to Pittsburgh (my car really doesn't get on well with wet/snowy/icy/anything other than dry roads). Fortunately, on Monday it was warm, the snow mostly melted, and I was able to load up my car and drive to Pittsburgh without incident. Tuesday, the movers came to unload and unpack my stuff, which was still mostly, but not entirely, in the same number of pieces that it had been in when they packed it. Today was exciting because I started exploring, and made it to the grocery store and back without getting lost. Also, today, the cable guy came and hooked up the internet! Yay for the internet!
On the knitting front, not so much has gotten done. I've hardly knit at all on the Bayerische sock, and I didn't start the second sleeve of the grey Lopi sweater like I'd intended to. I did finish the Cable Mittenettes, though:
Yarn: Ram Wools Inca Silk
Pattern: my own (coming soon)
One of the cool things about these is that the pair took only ball of yarn. This is how much was left when I was done (miscellaneous knitting tools included for scale):
Now that I'm done with the craziness of moving, I should have time to knit again. :) I've got great plans for a lace stole...
On the knitting front, not so much has gotten done. I've hardly knit at all on the Bayerische sock, and I didn't start the second sleeve of the grey Lopi sweater like I'd intended to. I did finish the Cable Mittenettes, though:
Yarn: Ram Wools Inca Silk
Pattern: my own (coming soon)
One of the cool things about these is that the pair took only ball of yarn. This is how much was left when I was done (miscellaneous knitting tools included for scale):
Now that I'm done with the craziness of moving, I should have time to knit again. :) I've got great plans for a lace stole...
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Moving
I'm moving to Pittsburgh at the end of the month. On Wednesday, the movers are coming to pack up my apartment. Though I have little to pack, I feel like I have a mountain to go through in figuring out what needs to be thrown away and what I need to keep with me instead of sending with the movers. In general, I hate the process, and until yesterday, the only part of Pittsburgh I was looking forward to was being settled and not having to move for another six months. Yesterday, though, I discovered that Yarnharlot is going to be in Pittsburgh at the end of March. Since I've been trying for well over a year to see Yarnharlot, and been betrayed by the universe on every previous occasion, I'm simply ecstatic that I'll be able to see her in Pittsburgh. Now, I have something to really look forward to.
In other news, the knitting has progress apace. I finished the Argosy washcloth:
The Bayerische sock is coming along, too. I'm rather pleased with the progress, since this has been my metro, lunch-time, and waiting-in-line knitting and has not received any of my evening knitting time. It's beginning to look remarkably sock-like, as opposed to a beautiful, intricate, but misshapen tube. (My apologies for the awkwardness of the photos. It turns out that one's own feet are not much easier to photograph than the back of one's own head.)
My evening knitting time has been spent working on a pair of fingerless mitts. On Tuesday, I found myself tossing the stash, looking for something new, and not too large to work on. I came upon the Ram Wools Inca Silk that I got for Christmas and was caught by the softness of the alpaca and the soft sheen of the silk. I wanted to knit something besides just a scarf (nothing against scarves, but I wanted something a little more complex), and was struck by the thought that it could make a lovely pair of fingerless mitts. The practical application, however, got off to a rough start. Two pages of scribbled math and scribbled charts, three swatches, and four false starts later, I am happy to present the cuff of my cable mittenette.
In other news, the knitting has progress apace. I finished the Argosy washcloth:
The Bayerische sock is coming along, too. I'm rather pleased with the progress, since this has been my metro, lunch-time, and waiting-in-line knitting and has not received any of my evening knitting time. It's beginning to look remarkably sock-like, as opposed to a beautiful, intricate, but misshapen tube. (My apologies for the awkwardness of the photos. It turns out that one's own feet are not much easier to photograph than the back of one's own head.)
My evening knitting time has been spent working on a pair of fingerless mitts. On Tuesday, I found myself tossing the stash, looking for something new, and not too large to work on. I came upon the Ram Wools Inca Silk that I got for Christmas and was caught by the softness of the alpaca and the soft sheen of the silk. I wanted to knit something besides just a scarf (nothing against scarves, but I wanted something a little more complex), and was struck by the thought that it could make a lovely pair of fingerless mitts. The practical application, however, got off to a rough start. Two pages of scribbled math and scribbled charts, three swatches, and four false starts later, I am happy to present the cuff of my cable mittenette.
Sunday, February 11, 2007
Six wee socks
I finished the baby socks - three pairs: one navy and grey, one blue and white, one red and black. I even got them done in time to give them at the shower. I did not get them done before the shower - I showed up and hid in the hostess's craft room to finish weaving in the last three ends. Unfortunately, I didn't take my camera with me, so I don't have any pictures of the finished socks. All I have to offer in way of proof is this picture of ends (I'm sorry).
Despite loving Baby Ull and being thrilled with how the socks came out (the mom-to-be liked them, too), I'm so excited to not be knitting with a deadline for a while. Argosy's coming along - I still don't know if I'll have enough green to finish.
And the bayerische sock is doing all right, too. I'm especially excited to going back to working on it, since I've neglected it since last weekend in favor of turning out baby socks.
Despite loving Baby Ull and being thrilled with how the socks came out (the mom-to-be liked them, too), I'm so excited to not be knitting with a deadline for a while. Argosy's coming along - I still don't know if I'll have enough green to finish.
And the bayerische sock is doing all right, too. I'm especially excited to going back to working on it, since I've neglected it since last weekend in favor of turning out baby socks.
Friday, February 09, 2007
Long time, no internet
The internet in my apartment isn't working. It hasn't been working since some time Tuesday night. I have no real reason to hope that it will be working when I get home this evening or at any point this weekend.
It's slowly driving me crazy. There have been several humorous moments that were great blog fodder, but their hopes to shine in their very own posts have been dashed by the lack of internet. The best, though, is still worth relating: I was knitting on one of the baby socks on the Metro home yesterday. Standing on the platform, waiting for the train, the woman next to me is watching and says, "Those look like tooth picks!" I just smiled and agreed that they were small needles.
There's been knitting. I think I'm even going to make the three pairs of socks by Sunday goal. The green washcloth I'm not so enamored with, and I'm not quite sure if I'll actually have enough green yarn. I'm even less sure what I'm going to do about it if I'm short. I suppose I'll find out when I get there...
It's slowly driving me crazy. There have been several humorous moments that were great blog fodder, but their hopes to shine in their very own posts have been dashed by the lack of internet. The best, though, is still worth relating: I was knitting on one of the baby socks on the Metro home yesterday. Standing on the platform, waiting for the train, the woman next to me is watching and says, "Those look like tooth picks!" I just smiled and agreed that they were small needles.
There's been knitting. I think I'm even going to make the three pairs of socks by Sunday goal. The green washcloth I'm not so enamored with, and I'm not quite sure if I'll actually have enough green yarn. I'm even less sure what I'm going to do about it if I'm short. I suppose I'll find out when I get there...
Sunday, February 04, 2007
You remind me of a man...
What man?
A man with a power.
What power?
The power of hoodoo.
Hoodoo?
You do.
Do what?
Remind me of a man...
If you haven't seen The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer, you ought to. It's just so funny. Plus it's Cary Grant, so you really can't go wrong there. Another good movie? My Favorite Wife. And now you know about the interesting, non-knitting part of my weekend. I won't bore you with the uninteresting non-knitting. Unfortunately, I'm not at all sure that any or all of the knitting is particularly interesting, either, but you get it any way.
I finished the purple washcloth (Manos cotton, size 6 needles, 1 skein). I *almost* finished a pair of baby socks - I just have to weave in ends on one of them. I don't like weaving in ends, so I'm putting it off, in hopes that the deadline will inspire me to go on an end-weaving frenzy next weekend before the shower. I'm still hoping to have three pairs, but we'll see how that goes....
And I made some nice progress on the Bayerische sock. In fact, I got further than that picture suggests - I knit the heel flap, turned the heel and started on the gussets. Unfortunately, it isn't in a very photogenic state right now, so this is the only picture you get. I really love the patterns, and the way the split nicely around the leg and flow down the foot. Eunny did a really great job with this. And it would be even better if I carefully read the charts... But it's further credit to the pattern that small goofs don't show up easily, so I don't feel the need to fix them.
I also started another wash cloth. This one's out of a dark mossy/olivey green Manos cotton. The pattern is a variant of Argosy.
Finally, I had a realization this week. I don't knit nearly quickly enough to post every day about knitting. At least not with interesting, useful things to say, and to do otherwise would be insulting to you, the reader. So, I'm going to do my level best to post twice a week with interesting or entertaining bits about knitting. Anything more than that is a bonus.
A man with a power.
What power?
The power of hoodoo.
Hoodoo?
You do.
Do what?
Remind me of a man...
If you haven't seen The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer, you ought to. It's just so funny. Plus it's Cary Grant, so you really can't go wrong there. Another good movie? My Favorite Wife. And now you know about the interesting, non-knitting part of my weekend. I won't bore you with the uninteresting non-knitting. Unfortunately, I'm not at all sure that any or all of the knitting is particularly interesting, either, but you get it any way.
I finished the purple washcloth (Manos cotton, size 6 needles, 1 skein). I *almost* finished a pair of baby socks - I just have to weave in ends on one of them. I don't like weaving in ends, so I'm putting it off, in hopes that the deadline will inspire me to go on an end-weaving frenzy next weekend before the shower. I'm still hoping to have three pairs, but we'll see how that goes....
And I made some nice progress on the Bayerische sock. In fact, I got further than that picture suggests - I knit the heel flap, turned the heel and started on the gussets. Unfortunately, it isn't in a very photogenic state right now, so this is the only picture you get. I really love the patterns, and the way the split nicely around the leg and flow down the foot. Eunny did a really great job with this. And it would be even better if I carefully read the charts... But it's further credit to the pattern that small goofs don't show up easily, so I don't feel the need to fix them.
I also started another wash cloth. This one's out of a dark mossy/olivey green Manos cotton. The pattern is a variant of Argosy.
Finally, I had a realization this week. I don't knit nearly quickly enough to post every day about knitting. At least not with interesting, useful things to say, and to do otherwise would be insulting to you, the reader. So, I'm going to do my level best to post twice a week with interesting or entertaining bits about knitting. Anything more than that is a bonus.
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