Knitting Tracker

Soliciting ideas

2010-11-12T14:22:00.001-05:00

Wedding knitting - I'm think a wrap or stole
Time table: I can pretty much pull anything off at this point
Style: something classic and modern
Yarn: something special

Go.

MSWF

2010-05-31T19:07:00.002-04:00

MSWF Report.

much fun had by all STOP many cute sheep STOP shearing was 'specially good STOP won three ribbons at the Skein and Garment Competition STOP two 1st place and (ready?) BEST SKEIN of the WHOLE FESTIVAL STOP

BUT could not STOP missing you both STOP

and now, definitely, stop

(more details and pictures about the socks and the yarn at Ravelry! I couldn't get photos to load here and am tired of trying:)

SPOILER ALERT: A.L.M. DO NOT LOOK AT THIS POST!!

2010-05-16T13:27:00.003-04:00

I'm talking to you my sister. Stop looking.

Serious Ang, avert your eyes.

Is she gone?

I think so...

Made with KnitPicks Comfy Sport. If I had to do it again, I'd go down a needle size or two.

Also, jeekeehoo...I hear you have some big news from MDSW???? Spill!

Olympic knitting

2010-03-02T21:26:00.003-05:00

GOLD! I finished the baby blanket project I cast on for the Knitting Olympics. It was a really easy project but I'm not a fast knitter so it did push me to focus. There were other personal challenges as well but I made it. Cast off as the torch went out and even won a gift certificate and chocolate bar at the Cloverhill party! I did a little victory lap with the blanket draped around my shoulders. Seemed appropriate:)

AND I finally got around to taking pictures of the new green sweater. I'd enjoy the whole process so much more if I could get just one single picture where I didn't look like an idiot:) But there's a HUGE wheel in the background. That ought to make up for something.

second storm, second sock!

2010-02-10T16:02:00.003-05:00

It came alright.

So, we've gotten another, what? 15-20 inches today!! BLIZZARD warning extended until 10pm because the storm has just stalled off the coast.

And me? Knitting like a fiend. I've never done a sock in one day, NEVER. Even when I've had lots of knitting time. I think the primitive instinct for survival has unconsciously kicked in. (must. knit. need. warmth. live. live.)

It's coming for you, Jen

2010-02-09T12:59:00.001-05:00

SNOW!!

2010-02-06T09:33:00.003-05:00

I've got finished objects to show but what could compare to this...

Right, right, it's a knitting blog...

see? aren't those boring!

Unblocked Flower Child

2010-01-26T21:56:00.003-05:00

The pictures didn't turn out great, but here it is! This is Norah Gaughn's Flower Child. An interesting knit - I am not a fan of seaming so if I knit this again I would probably do the brain work to make it in the round instead of as written. Hopefully I will see my mom this weekend and she'll let me do a photo shoot.

new year, old knits

2010-01-15T08:22:00.005-05:00

So these were the toys I made the nephews for Christmas, an alien and a dinosaur (that's the toys not the nephews!). I also finished a pair of brown socks (which I've totally failed to get pictures of) and have all the pieces to a sweater (but the sleeves aren't playing nicely with the arm holes so it's in timeout until I feel like wrestling with it).

We were snowed-in in WV for more days than we had planned on being gone and I had just run out of clean socks when I finished the brown ones. I literally took them off the needles, sowed in the ends, and put them directly on my feet. If I hadn't finished them I'd have been barefoot inside those snow boots!!

I did a spinning demonstration for 1-3 grade yesterday. Favorite question (besides the apparently standard "can you spin squirrel fur?" which I seem to get every time): "Does that take batteries?" pointing to the wheel after I had just explained to them all how it works!

Ahh Grad school

2010-01-08T12:51:00.002-05:00

From cast on to complete in 2 days! Having class only 3 days per week is great. Right? I'm using my time wisely here. In my defense, this was supposed to be a Christmas present.

From Cbus

2010-01-06T12:55:00.002-05:00

I visited Wonder Knits the other day - they have a good selection of organic yarns, but no Debbie Bliss Cashmerino (that's what I really wanted). Instead I got this, which is dyed by the shop:

Thanks to Jen & Mark for the GC - the woman who rang me up remembered talking to Jen because she is from the DC area.
More on the new digs later. I have to brave the 9 degree temps and walk to class! Good thing I have lots of wooooool!!

it just ain't the same

2009-11-23T22:50:00.006-05:00

Wanna take a yarn crawl?
yes. yes I do.

Off to The Mannings in PA. (SORRY! Total lack of picture taking brought on by a dozen spinning wheels to play with all in one room.)

Lunch at a great BBQ joint.
You mean I can have mac-and-cheese AND chili mixed together?!
yes. yes you can.

Can Woolstock still out sparkle Liberachi with its novelty yarn collection?
yes. yes it can.

Can you make three garden slugs in a single day if you're high on yarn fumes?

yes. yes you can.

Are yarn crawls the same without Brandy?!!

NO. NO they aren't.

Small consolation...I did finally get my Nantucket Jacket done in time to wear on the trip. Still would have been better with you there!!

Hamburger Dress

2009-11-15T20:49:00.002-05:00

Oh my goodness. Check out this dress. Abby, you should totally do this next Halloween.

Haute Coffee

2009-11-03T14:11:00.004-05:00

Another excellent pattern found on Ravelry. This one was free. The yarn is Paton's Organic Cotton. The cheap price (less than $6 at Michaels) makes me disinclined to believe the organic claim, but the cotton really is super sofffft. I like it and I imagine I'll make a few more as gifts.

The cup in this picture is from our favorite local coffee shop and their cups don't really need to be insulated, but who cares...it's fun!

****
p.s. If I make any more I might adapt the pattern to be done on dpn's to avoid a seam.

Cable Jumper Part 2

2009-11-01T22:04:00.005-05:00

This was a fun project. Just the right level of difficulty for me. The Debbie Bliss Fair Trade Organic cotton was a little bit splitty but usually only after being excessively handled (ie ripped out/tinked). There really is a mistake in the pattern though. When you bind off for the neck the number of stitches she says are left on the straps doesn't add up. But it was fine. Cabling on the straps was difficult too because you don't have enough stitches left to do the full cable pattern. But I improvised. The armholes are a bit big but she will wear a shirt under it during the winter anyway.

The project took about two months. In the back of my mind I thought it would be neat to give to her for her birthday but I didn't pressure myself. I did finish it a few days before and wrapped it for her (even though she had already tried it on). I'm planning on doing her 3 year pics in it.

Cable Jumper

2009-10-22T23:31:00.002-04:00

Okay, better pictures in better light when she wears it this Sunday. But for now, here she is wearing it after I gave it to her tonight. And, after ice cream sundaes, birthday cake, and an afternoon with friends, which explains the frantic behavior and funny talking. For the record she does say it's a wedding dress and it's sooo cute.

Spinning and Dyeing

2009-09-26T18:15:00.002-04:00

The Mind Eraser

2009-09-13T23:06:00.003-04:00

I spent the day at Six Flags getting beat up by rollercoasters. The wooden ones were especially rough, but the worst was the Mind Eraser. It was like being in a boxing match against Centripetal Force. I was completely exhausted until I got into bed (strange how that happens sometimes). Blogging is a great way to encourage sleep, so I give you: progress.

This awesome, fall-inspired yarn was purchased almost one year ago at Rhinebeck. The foliage was spectacular and it definitely influenced this choice. I'm making the Pimlico Shrug from Knit 2 Together because these aren't colors I will wear all the time, and a shrug is definitely something I only wear occasionally. Since I took this photo, I've added about 5 inches. Only 29 to go for the body, then I have to do sleeves and an edging that I don't quite understand. And there is some seaming involved. Complex piece of knittery, this. You can see (if you click on the photo for more detail) some of the other patterns I considered before choosing the shrug.

Next, I give you the remnants of the Sublime after I finished my little cardigan.

See that long piece? That's for the button. Now to find a button...

I tried to take a photo of me wearing it, but it just ended being a lot of camera flash and a little bit of the bottom edge of the cardigan. Perhaps some action shots will come once I find that button. I'm thinking big, black, and shiny. Who wants to go button shopping?

to twist or not to twist?

2009-08-27T09:45:00.004-04:00

Gosh I'm so behind. I shouldn't even try to catch up but here goes...

I've some spinning to show. First, the light green, a three ply light fingering. I had to drop down to a zero needle for the socks I'm making and it could probably take a 00 but I don't have any. They'll just have to be delicate little socks. The purple, green, blue is a two ply lace weight. More pics at ravelry, including the socks wip.

Then, from the "they made me do it" department, a somewhat bulky single. Single?! Yes, single! What in the world!?! There is NO SUCH thing as a "stable" single. What will become of all that lovely twist energy in there just waiting to spring?! OK,OK, I understand there are "usable" singles and I did my best! This was a project for my spinning group and it really was a VERY good learning experience for me. My motto is always that the only right way to spin is the way that gets you the yarn you want, and there is a time to have a lofty usable single yarn. Got. it.

AND, duh duh duuuuh! The shawl that never ends continues to never end. So I decided to dye the thing, assuming that it would instantly dissolve in the dye bath or turn out splotchy all over. IT DIDN'T. But it also isn't completely black. At least Mark says it's blue. I'm convinced on the black but I think it's wishful thinking. Regardless of color, I just love what lace does when you block it. Couldn't believe how big this became (that's the entire length of our KING size bed and my blocking board) and how lovely the pattern. Also couldn't believe how many pins it took!! Too big for Lily Chin's Blocking Wires!! Here you go...

AND! To twist or not to twist? That is no longer the question! You can do both.
(insert cheesy late night infomercial announcer here)
Don't you hate that second sock syndrome? Hate trying to remember what you made up for that first sock or glove? Now, with the revolutionary new method of "who cares,make it up again" you too can avoid that unpleasant sensation. The freedom! The whimsy! All yours for only $19.99.

I've also made another Russell the Sheep for a new baby cousin AND my brother and his wife had their second baby a few weeks ago. I made that little guy a sweater and a little elephant but totally failed to get pictures of the projects or of him. I'm going home this weekend and will try to rectify that and with the way I post, you'll see those pics around Thanksgiving!!

Next thing you know she'll be asking Santa for yarn...

2009-07-15T21:30:00.003-04:00

Right at this very moment, girls, Ellery is lying on the floor kicking and crying, "I want my knitting noodles, I want my knitting noodles!" What she is actually referring to is her Lace and Trace animals. But still, it's important progress I think.

And to answer your previous question, the baby vest was made of mercerized cotton by Plymouth Yarn. I think it was the only non-wool yarn in the store.

Lady Sheldon

2009-07-09T08:11:00.003-04:00

It's a bit bigger than the green one, but it's for a bigger size child so I think it's ok. Hopefully the recipient will love it!

Baby V-neck Sweater

2009-06-24T16:33:00.005-04:00

Here is the sweater I gave as a gift last month. All of it was fun to knit except the teeny tiny armhole ribbing. I don't knit a lot with dpns so I am sure that was part of it. As a reminder, this is the one that Ellery removed all the needles from one day.

I finished it the night before the shower and still wanted to block it. The yarn (which I bought in Seattle) says you can machine dry on low. I didn't want to go that far, but I did decide I could dry it about half way. As luck would have it, my dad had been over earlier in the day fixing my broken dryer. (Caleb was in England remember.) Except he didn't fix it. We just thought he did. So here I was with a sopping wet sweater and a shower in about 14 hours. I used a fan, a blow dryer, and an iron and had it mostly dry when I wrapped it. If you knew to look for it, you would have noticed it was still a little damp when Jenny opened it. But I don't think anyone noticed it.

It was a hit at the shower and although she received several handknitted/crocheted gifts there wasn't anything like this. So all in all, I think it was a success.

(the pic was taken with my cell phone since Caleb had the camera)

Where did I get this?

2009-06-09T19:36:00.003-04:00

Sorry for the poor quality, but I am tooooo lazy to go get my camera, and then find the cord...you know how it goes.
Jen, I swear you were making socks with a similar pattern! Am I completely making that up? Was it Rose? Was it someone else? The yarn is Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Maple Grove (the actual colors are browns, corals, and pinks...LOOOOVE it!) and I used a GC from my brother and his wife to purchase it at Knit Wits in Salem, OH. The sock might actually end up being too wide for my foot, so they might end up being a Christmas present...you know, assuming I get them done before Christmas.

The suspense.

2009-05-26T21:17:00.003-04:00

I'm just going to post one picture. It will show you the current progress of my sweater and the amount of yarn I have left to complete said sweater. Just a couple of notes: I actually planned the sleeves to be about the length they are now...they may end up becoming cap sleeves instead. The back is about the same length as the front panels. The length from the top of the collar to the (current) bottom of the back is about 11.5 inches. Go ahead...grab a ruler and put one end at the base of your neck. Feel free to weigh in, but every stitch I complete feels like one step closer to ultimate failure.

socks

2009-05-24T18:38:00.004-04:00

Don't know why I tend to finish lovely warm socks in May but...
And this time they happen to be the tallest socks I've ever knit. These are also my own handspun from C*EYE*ber Fiber. Love them. (might have won something at MDSW with them too:)

These little green socks below have been completed since Sheep and Wool which is amazingly quick sock knitting for me, especially since, after the heel, these were not movie knitting. Although I don't really care about being fast, this MIGHT have something to do with the needles. I MIGHT have fallen down in front of the Signature needles booth and to help revive me they MIGHT have let me buy a set of sock needles. AND I MIGHT someday stop feeling guilty about it. (When I think about how many pairs of socks I'll knit on these in my life time, it almost seems worth it...almost.)

I still haven't shown a MDSW haul...maybe soon!

Crisis Averted

2009-05-08T16:01:00.002-04:00

I don't even know how to explain what just happened. The other day, Ellery found one of my dpn's and took it to Caleb. He told her thank you for giving it to him and returned it to me.

So today while she was at Mother's Day Out I worked on a little sweater vest I am making as a baby gift for a shower in a week. All I have left is to pick up and knit the side ribbing on the two armholes. But between now and then I have 30 hours of scoring and Caleb will be out of town the entire time.

The project has been going so smoothly thus far. But the picking up and knitting is a bit of a challenge because the decreases happened on those edges. I spent an hour today just getting the new stitches picked up and correctly spaced on the dpns. I did just a little bit of the ribbing pattern before I had to leave.

I forgot to put my work away when I went to pick Ellery up.

We had been home like five minutes and I was straightening up the house. I realized that I had left my knitting out and went over to pick it up...All 4 needles are gone. Just gone! I asked Ellery, "did you touch my needles?" She responds, "yeah I put them over there..." By over there, she meant on the side table. Poor thing, I think she was just trying to move them and follow Daddy's direction. I didn't yell at her or anything, but she could tell by the look on my face that this was not a good thing. She started rubbing my back and saying "It's okay Mommy. It's okay. I love you." And she kept kissing me. I have never seen her act like this before. Really, it was sweet.

Anyway, so I picked up my knitting and attempted to get it back on my needles. I figured I should just rip it out and start over but it was so darn hard to get those stitches picked up. So I thought I would try fixing things first. Would you believe that after about 5 minutes of putting stitches back on I counted and every single stitch was there, totally unharmed? Even the ribbing stitches are there. And now, I made sure to get the number of stitches on the needles a little more even too.

I have no idea how she managed to get those needles out of the very tight stitches without totally destroying the work!

Cable 8 Top

2009-04-15T17:35:00.004-04:00

The cable 8 top. I finished it right after I got back from Baltimore and have worn it several times, including on Go Texan day with blue jeans and boots. I really like it! In the picture it looks like the bottom is slanted but I promise it is not. Ellery insisted on getting in the picture with me and standing the same way.

Unfortunately the pictures of the my other to FO's are also on Caleb's computer but he only sent me this one. I'll put up pics of the baby hat and not-quite-super-long wrap soon.

I am working on a baby gift. I dug around and found a pattern for a little boy's sweater vest that is knitted in the round. I found some yarn that I like for it in Seattle. I checked and double checked that my gauge was correct but now that I am almost finished on the body of it I think it is going to be huge! I checked my gauge again and it is right. I guess this is just the risk entertained when knitting something for the first time as a gift. As long as the neck and armholes are proportionate I don't mind giving them something that fits a 2-year-old. I mean, toddlers need clothes too. I just don't understand what I've done wrong.

spring cleaning

2009-04-09T08:52:00.003-04:00

Cleaning out the knitting basket! Done stuff that needs posted. Isn't it funny, projects don't feel done anymore until I've posted here!

DONE: hat

DONE: sweater

DONE: hat and sweater!

DONE: felted bag

DONE: the cherry blossom mitts!! so they were a Christmas present, so sue me

Obsession...

2009-03-29T14:54:00.004-04:00

...thy name is skein winder...

found this at a little local antique shop for next to nothing (they tried to give me nothing but I said, "no, that thing beside it please")

I just want to sit and look at it all the time!! I keep telling myself if I'll go spin, I can actually use it to wind yarn instead of just look at it but I'm too obsessed to leave it.

on a roll!!

2009-02-25T20:38:00.003-05:00

The new sweater!! I had all the pieces done last spring/summer but it wasn't the weather for finishing a wool sweater:) Plus I've been daunted by the idea of a zipper. Wasn't sure my sewing machine could handle it and actually, an hour, a whole spool of thread and one bent needle later, I WAS SURE it couldn't handle it. In the hands of a more experienced sewer it might have worked. I mostly spent time trying to get the tension right on the machine, which wouldn't have taken so long with more familiarity with my machine. But even after the tension was right, I still couldn't keep it straight. All of that is really ironic of course because I thought the problem would be snagging the knitting but even after a dozen tries (really) the sweater itself showed no signs. Wool is the coolest stuff ever!!! "Want to put a machine driven needle through me a hundred times...no sweat baby"

Crazy for my new sweater!!

Before another month goes by...

2009-02-21T08:54:00.007-05:00

I keep thinking, I'll finish this one more project and then I'll post them all, which is such a stupid thought in so many ways, not the least of which is I hate posting multiple items because it takes so long to up load them. It was just a creative procrastination technique obviously.

So, without further project completion (although, really, a zipper and a sleeve and there's two new sweaters to show!! ok ok, I'm posting, I'm posting).

The wedding gift blanket. It's ok that I finished it in October and didn't post it until 4 months later because giving it to them in October was 4 months later than the wedding. So at least I'm consistently untimely.

Christmas presents!!! Only two this year: Pierce's Sheldon and my cousin Natalie's Anemoi mittens. Nothing very exciting but you've got to admit, Sheldon's got the Snoopy dance goin' on!!!

I did design and knit a fingerless mitt/mitten combo for her too but only one is done. Of course, I think you've both seen it. I've been working on it so long that Abby had time to move back and Brandy's been to visit. Sheesh.

Weird Math

2009-01-09T20:36:00.004-05:00

This is the eyelet edge baby blanket I knitted for our new niece Abigail. It was finished one week early. But Abigail came three weeks early, which makes the blanket two weeks late. Oh well. It was fun to knit though by the time I got to the very middle the rows were so long I only did a one or two in a sitting.

I got in trouble this morning.

2008-11-07T12:48:00.002-05:00

On Fridays Ellery goes to Mother's Day Out. Today in an effort to squeeze as much joy into the few hours as possible (not that it isn't a joy to be with her, but you know what I mean) I went to the coffee shop before the yarn shop so that I could enjoy my drink while browsing. In Denver this would have been even easier since the coffee shop WAS the yarn shop. Anyway, I was looking for yarn for a blanket for Caleb's sister's little girl who is due to arrive in January. I found some great Mission Falls 1824 cotton for a little eyelet blanket. As we were counting out the balls, I said, "here let me set my drink over here." And she responded, "actually why don't I put it on the table? I'm really not comfortable with you having it in here." And suddenly I was back in kindergarten when that kid with the wart asked if he could borrow my blue crayon and I responded that he could but that it wasn't sharp and then Mrs. Lipsey yelled at me for talking! I felt awful. I apologized and she said "oh don't worry about it, it's okay" which was nice of her, but also not really true because if if really was okay she wouldn't have said anything. Anyway, I was really embarrassed but not angry because I totally understand where she is coming from. And to make up for it, I bought the book with the pattern in it too. I never do that; I always check them out from the library. I'm tempted to never show my face in there again but she really is a very helpful lady. Without Jen to ask my simple questions it's important that I feel like I can talk to the owner.

I need to get started on the blanket. I doubt it will be ready in time for whatever shower she has. I am just hoping it will make it there in time for the birth. And I've got two months. It's not like we're approaching a busy time of the year or anything.

done. finished. over.

2008-10-07T19:01:00.013-04:00

FINALLY, some FOs for your perusal. Obviously, I had too many things going at once (like that's anything new) and thus had trouble getting any of them done.

This sweater was done Sept. 2 for Pierce's birthday party but I didn't have time to post about it because I was too busy finishing knitting projects. Did this at Mark's hospital bedside which kept me sane and the nurses entertained. Before I left the night of the birthday party, Pierce had already knocked the head off one of the little dalmation buttons (it was a dalmation themed birthday, more pictures at Ravelry if you want close-ups of the truck or buttons)!!

Most of the other knitting was for my friend Robin's baby shower, which took place this past weekend. Some of this was finished in advance but that blanket was finished at 3am the morning I left for NC!! Oh well, it all got done!

This is the surprise baby jacket from EZ!! I finally did one. It's tiny tiny tiny because I used sock yarn and didn't pay attention to gauge. I just wanted to see how it worked...and WOW! I've been knitting a long time but this one stumped me completely. So cool!!

These are my own design and I spun the wool also. The colors kind of come through in the close-up. There were lots of reds and blues and greens and golds in the roving that give it kind of a heathery look. Her nursery theme is giraffes, hence the button.

Also, this giraffe blanket! (I know, I know, two intarsia patterns in one summer, hot on the heels of the poodle bag last summer, I really do hate intarsia, really, it just keeps getting in there somehow, if I make a move toward intarsia next summer, shoot me)

And no jeekeehoo loved baby can be without a Russell!!

Then just when you're sitting back feelin' really good about your little knitting self, you look over and see this in your knitting basket, 48 (real, known number) 48 thousand (perceived number) squares to be sewn together!!

AAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chesapeake City and update

2008-09-30T13:18:00.002-04:00

Jen and I met up in Chesapeake City, MD and it was a beautiful day! Not only was the weather nice, but the yarn was alllll on sale. Woo! We sat by the canal and watched passing boats while we knitted. Glorious.

I brought some yarns home with me. The purple on the left is supposed to be made into a little sweater of my own design and the oddly coordinating (not done purposely) sock yarn is for...socks.

And, just in case you didn't notice I was wearing it in the above photo, Hey Teach is done. Buttons and all. It was quick, easy, and fun. Cute to wear, too.

Linen Camisole

2008-08-03T16:05:00.002-04:00

More photos available on Ravelry. I decided I should probably finish this sucker before summer was over - I wore it to brunch today and it is a nice, light tank top that doesn't stick to my skin like non-natural fibers. Lovely.

Knit Much? I don't.

2008-07-25T11:19:00.003-04:00

And here's why:

sheep and stuff

2008-06-27T11:30:00.010-04:00

See I actually DID go to MDSW even if you can't tell it from the blog. I make my amends by displaying the cute sheep pictures I took.

So in knitting news, and despite the total lack of posts I have been knitting, here's my yoga bag which I did back in the early early spring. Notice the color matching to the actual yoga mat. This does all kinds of wonderful to my centerednes during yoga I must tell you! Although I'm afraid it also means I'm possibly shallow which rather flies in the face of the whole yoga process of becoming peaceful and above such things!

Here's the sweater for Jennifer (Rick and Patsy's daughter) and Dave's baby girl, Catriona. It doesn't show the color well. It was a lovely dull pink going toward palest orangey. The design didn't work out like I thought it would but I bought the yarn on Monday, designed and knitted the whole thing by the shower on the next Sunday. I was sewing buttons on 30 minutes before church! So we shall forgive a little wonkiness.

Finally, here's the coolest story. So the shawl that never ends still isn't ending. I was looking for yarn and thought I'll price cashmere, just for the lark, just for the laugh, knowing I couldn't possibly afford it. The cheapest I found it at my normal yarn sites was $45 a ball and I needed five balls--yeah, I know.

So I googled "cashmere yarn" or something one final time just to see what came up and I found a blog entry entitled "cashmere cheaper than wool." I'm interested yeah? So I go and this woman and her friend have both claimed to have gotten lovely cashmere for dirt cheap. I check out the website. It's a funny little stripped down site, just cashmere and a few weird things, and they claim to be in Inner Mongolia selling cashmere direct. And I quote: "We have established direct connection with yarn factory to provide you with unbeatable." No labeling, no middlemen, so "Thus saves cost dramatically for you." Now, how could you resist that?!

I could get all the cashmere I need for the shawl for $35, less than for one ball from anywhere else!!! AND shipping is a flat $4.99 no matter what you order. COME ON!! What was there to loose? I happily placed my order thinking I'd never see the yarn or my forty bucks again. Then, five weeks later, this arrived. (it's worth clicking to enlarge, the stamps are gorgeous).

And inside...well I can't prove it's cashmere unless I find someone with a diagnostic lab they're not using, but, baby, it's cashmere to me!!

Trouble

2008-06-25T20:26:00.003-04:00

According to Google maps, it is 1.4 miles from my house to the oldest running knit shop in Houston. And would you believe I didn't even know that when we bought the house? I just discovered it yesterday.

The View From Where I Sit

2008-06-14T12:52:00.005-04:00

Welcome to my new house. My new house? No. Someone else's house that I'm staying in for the summer. This is the view out my bedroom window. The pool is on its way to being ready, not quite there yet. I LOVE the pool house. LOVE. On mild nights, I might just sleep out there.

My fireplace, which is what I'm facing while I lay in bed. I wasn't too enthusiastic about the empty brick hole all summer, so I planted some flowers in it. The mirror is not mine (it came with the house) but I love it as well. Not as much as the pool house, but almost. The mirror also needs to be hung...I'll get to that eventually. Other great things about my house: comes with 2 awesome dogs, cable tv, air conditioning, and privacy. I might just get the fiddle out this summer, because noone will be able to hear the horrible sounds that I produce with it.

And, a knitting spoiler/teaser: Angela (my little sis) is getting married this summer so I'm making her a wedding gift that is low budget yet still special. Her favorite color is red, she picked the colors.

Sorry for the long hiatus, it's been sort of busy with moving, traveling, and starting new jobs. I'm assisting a curator on an exhibit and working nights as a hostess at a local "upscale casual" Italian restaurant. When I asked what the dress code was for hostesses, they told me "Dress like a whore in church." Have fun imagining that.

technology, making our lives better

2008-05-25T20:43:00.002-04:00

Ever heard of Jott? Super fun software that lets you call and leave a voice message that will be transcribed into an email and sent to you.

So, there was a pattern in a knitting book for an afghan I liked but I didn't want to pay the $25. Thinking I could find it at a library, Mark called Jott and left the book's publication info. This is what was emailed!

Sent with my voice via Jott:
ISPN 1579903533. This is most of title, gorgeous medic Afghans by [Language not supported] gorgeous knitted Afghan 33 great designs for creative knickers. The year is 2004.

Doesn't 'creative knickers' just bring all kinds of fun images to mind.

Knitting pictures soon. I really do have FOs!

So, Abby, the clock is ticking! May 31st is right around the bend:-) How goes it?

Status Update

2008-05-02T14:15:00.004-04:00

One finished object:
Drops Jacket in black.

I don't have buttons on it yet, but I might just get a pin of some sort instead. I'm not sure that buttons will give me the kind of closure I want. Also, sorry for the bad pic, hopefully I'll have something better after this weekend (jacket gets debuted on Sunday at Point to Point).

I also have made some progress on the linen camisole I started a few weeks ago.
I didn't take any full object shots because it's looking sort of pathetic in its current state (and is on circular and straight needles plus one stitch holder). I love the colors of it though, and I can't wait for it to soften as it ages.
I frogged a hat because the yarn was sun bleached and something in the dye was turning my skin black when I knit. Metal morden perhaps? I washed the yarn, and am now considering my overdying options (I'll deal with that some time this summer).
I haven't touched anything else on the list...it's not going so well. I started rock climbing again and that makes my fingers tired.

Impossible?

2008-04-13T14:08:00.003-04:00

I just counted, and I have eight projects on the needles:
2 socks
1 lace stole
1 lace scarf
1 regular scarf
1 cardigan/jacket
1 tank top
1 bag/random felting project

Who thinks I can complete all those projects before I move? May 31. I think I can complete everything except the stole, lace scarf, and bag/random felting project (it will probably get frogged). Opinions?

Superlong Wrap

2008-03-27T11:48:00.003-04:00

This is a pattern from the Knitting on the Go series Caleb's grandmother gave me. The wrap is supposed to be "just the thing for those ever-so-slightly chilly summer nights." Translation for those of us moving to Houston: "just the thing for the coldest January morning." This is going to sound so silly, but to me it looked like something the wife of a Rice professor would wear. We are really hoping we will have more of an opportunity to enjoy the arts once we move because 1) the free babysitting will allow us to spend money on tickets and 2) the university itself has some terrific programs. So that is when I envision using this.

The finished dimensions are supposed to be 16 by 84 inches. But it says a possible adaptation is to make it just 68 inches long. I chose this option not just because it meant I just had to buy one ball of yarn but because honestly the original size seems so big for someone my height.

I really like knitting it. I have already ripped out once. I went several rows without making the selvedge edge (purling instead of knitting) and even though my Knit Fix book made it clear I could fix it, everything got messed up. Plus the pattern called for size 10 needles. The only pair I had were stinky metal ones so I used them. But my gauge ended up being a little small so ripping gave me an excuse to switch to my size 11 bamboo needles. Ahhhhh sweet relief.

It is going to need some serious blocking when I finish. And also, it has a slant to it that doesn't show up in the pattern. I imagine blocking will fix that too, right?

Oh, FYI I am using the yarn the pattern calls for and I really like it: Cascade Yarns Ecological Wool.

*****
To answer your question Jen, I keep trying to come up with a way for me to get to MDSW festival. But I'm not having much luck. The next few months has quite a bit going on and a lot up in the air too, what with the going back and forth to Houston to try to find a place to live. I haven't given up hope yet but you probably should.

Yarn injury

2008-03-27T11:42:00.004-04:00

A few weeks ago Caleb took Ellery to the park. She was wearing the hat that Jen knitted her. Well she fell flat on her face at the playground and you can see the results on her forehead. The individual stitches of the hat left polka-dot marks on her skin. Isn't that funny? (Okay, well it was sad when she cried but we can laugh now because there are no long term scars.)

I've been called out

2008-03-10T17:18:00.004-04:00

So here it is, all finished and what not. I wore it to the museum today and got many compliments. I had to modify the pattern a little - for some reason the sleeves were waaay too small as written so I left out the decreasing in the patterned stitches. And I have pretty small arms, so I'm not sure what was going on with that.
Just a random life update (because I know you're on the edges of your seats...): so far, it's looking like I will not be going on to a PhD program next year. I still have one school to hear from, but in all other cases it was flat out bad news. So, I'm probably taking a year off to regroup and reconfigure. I'm applying for jobs in the Wilmington area because I have a great living arrangement worked out for the summer and I need to stay here for that. So that's the report. I wish I had better news, but like I said...I'm trying to view this as an opportunity to explore some things. So we'll see. I really just need a job that has benefits and pays enough so that I can buy yarn. Should be possible...right?

this is the shawl that never ends...

2008-03-09T18:38:00.006-04:00

it just goes on and on my friends, I started knitting it not knowing what it was, and I will keep on knitting it forever just because this is the shawl that never ends...

Talking lace weight, size 3 needles, and multiply this patch (which takes me 45 minutes cause I'm SLOW) by 108 times and that's without the borders...someday, someday

In the meantime, lovely llama scarf for a cousin who sent me a lovely wooden bowl he had made.

And don't forget the spinnin' y'all. I couldn't quite capture the beautiful colors of this. My friend Erin dyed the roving and it's full of burgundy and light green and brown and gold and pinky-red. LOVE IT! Hard to tell but this is sock weight and probably my most even yet!

Sent in my registration form for a MDSW class. Oh yes, the time is nigh! Any plans, either of you, to come?!

Speaking of MDSW, Abby, your Ravelry pics of the fitted knit tunic sweater with MDSW festival yarn looked suspiciously finished? Did I miss an entry? Something you're not telling us? Anything you'd like to share with the group?

Ravelry Casualty

2008-02-29T00:09:00.002-05:00

I've had my first Ravelry meltdown - and it feels so good. I was just browsing. What I was really, honestly doing is searching for a pattern for some yarn I already have in my stash. Then I saw this jacket which I liked but knew it would not work with the stash yarn. But, I thought it wouldn't hurt to see what types of yarns others had used. And of course, I found a version of the jacket in Elsebeth Lavold Classic AL (you can buy it at WEBS online). So I thought, well it can't hurt to see how much it costs at WEBS. What do you know? It was on closeout - half price! I think we all know what happened next. I'll be happily knitting my new jacket in just a few days.

thought I was kidding, didn't ya!

2008-02-24T12:39:00.004-05:00

So I really did knit two sweaters, a scarf, two hats, a pair of mittens AND slippers this week...so I didn't mention they were all for four inch high wooden toy mice!!

Meet Basil and Lily, two little mice my Aunt Rhonda ordered from a German company. They are adorable and she's making them a house that is just as adorable. She's making it as if the little mice would have "found" the items. So there is a little vanity table for Lily made out of a sardines can. Their little bed is a cigar box. Think old old Warner or Disney cartoon ideas. I'll try to get some pictures of it when she's done. Lily also happens to be a spinner and knitter, so really she knit these!!

Last night "she" also finished a little vest for Basil to wear when he's feeling especially spiffy. You can see the slippers a little too. If you want to see all the shots from the fashion shoot, check out ravelry!!

I don't want Abby to think she's the only one knitting.

2008-02-18T21:35:00.005-05:00

So we got back from the Christmas holidays and started to catch up. Then Caleb and Ellery got the flu. Then they got better and Caleb went out of town. Then Caleb got the offer from Rice and we walked around in a daze. And then Ellery got a cold. It's been an odd few weeks.

Anyway, in the midst of the flu misery I managed to get to Michaels and buy some organic cotton for a baby shower that was four days away. I couldn't find a pattern I liked so I had to wing it. This is the result. It was done on time and I think the recipient liked it though I had to miss the shower itself to take care of my two patients.

Kitchner Stitchner

2008-02-16T12:37:00.002-05:00

I made a sock, and when I gave it to the recipient to try on (because there's no sense in making 2 socks that don't fit), found that it was about 5 rounds too big in the instep. Well shoot. That meant I'd have to tear out the cuff and heel. Or did it? I could tear out the toe and pull out the rounds on that end...but then I'd have to KITCHNER. I've done the Kitchner before and let me tell you, it wasn't pretty. I was working off some written instructions and things just didn't turn out. What should have been an invisible seam was actually a very visible, very large-and-in-charge mountain of a seam. I have no idea what I did wrong. But, thanks to Knitty and the wonderful illustrations they provided, I made something wonderful. This is the best I have ever made a Kitchner seam look. And, instead of giving the sock away, I'm thinking of framing it.

Oh, and what's that under the sock? That's right...thesis draft. Written words. Please don't read them though. Wow, how many things does that photo reveal about me?

A solution to 2 problems

2008-02-12T16:22:00.000-05:00

Grad school induces poverty and thesising induces the need to finish SOMETHING: one page, one chapter, one paragraph even (it's problematic). I have discovered a solution to both these problems, though it is not novel nor is it exciting.

Well, the way the colors arranged themselves on the green one is kind of exciting...

Ballband dishcloths saved my life. Well, they saved my weekend. I can make one of these in approximately 4 hours. Perhaps less than that now that I don't need the pattern anymore. The best part is that I bought yarn for 4 dishcloths and it cost less than $10! I think there are a lot of dishcloths in my future, and if you're someone who might be getting a gift from me in the next few months, one might be in your future, too. Just let me know what colors you want.

My first Etsy purchase!

2008-02-01T12:52:00.001-05:00

Ok, it's an awful picture, but you can tell there are two tiny sheep kissing each other, right? How CUTE is that? They are so perfect. As soon as I saw them (the shop is jelby.etsy.com) I knew they would be mine. And the very nice crafter threw in one extra one that has a tiny heart on it (not shown in pic). Tiny little felted balls of joy. My week is made! Which is funny, considering that I was so sick Monday and Tuesday and JUST FOUND OUT that I have...MONO!!! Ugh! I thought that was something you got in high school or college? Lucky me... I'm down to 10 hrs of sleep a day instead of 20, so improvement is in the air. Bon weekend!

4 years ago, cool things happened

2008-01-24T15:30:00.000-05:00

You probably caught wind that the Yarn Harlot celebrated her 4 year blogiversary. Well, 4 years ago something momentous happened to me, too. My roommate, Lexi, taught me how to knit.

We lived in the dorms together, and she watched me produce crocheted afghans in my spare time. One day, she got out the aluminum needles that her grandmother had given her and showed me how to cast on, knit and purl. Well Lex, you really started something, didn't you?
So how did I celebrate this anniversary?

I crocheted myself a bracelet out of Jen's homespun. Sorry Jen, I had just enough left. Hehe.

and there was knitting, just not much

2008-01-16T21:01:00.000-05:00

I really have been doing the handcraft thing you just can't tell from this blog. I have a major time-sucking project that still is only half completed so I haven't much to show for myself otherwise. Also, I chose not to knit much for Christmas. I just did two projects for little nephew Pierce and one for my sis-in-law. I'm not a mommy and thus have no free pass to show innumerable shots of the kid but I shall rely on the time-tested excuse that there are knitted objects in the pictures!! Finally, I did some other knitting for a gift exchange and totally failed to take pictures. They were felted hot pads and I liked the way they turned out but you'll never know!!

So, here's Pierce loving the football I knit.

He's such a funny little guy though. He'll love on you one second and the next he's all little boy action! So here's him throwing the ball immediately. The kid's got quite an arm too!

My favorite was that he put the little football in his new car and drove around with it!

I also made him a little Estonian sheep puppet.

Apparently, they know the ways of the Snoopy Christmas dance in Estonia as evidenced by this photo.

My sis-in-law with her wrist warmers. Alpaca we love thee. They were supposed to be 'Fetching' from knitty.com but I didn't have internet access at Mark's parents so I made them up!

And a little winter tatting to distract you from the fact that this is really very little knitting output for me!

I'd planned a very long post where I went back to my new year's resolution post from last January and did some soul searching about how I'd done on that...but my new resolution is never to look at old resolutions. Perhaps I'll show you an in-progress picture of the all-consuming shawl sometime.

What I got for Christmas!

2008-01-06T21:18:00.001-05:00

It needs "some work" and I'm not sure how I will accomplish/pay someone to do that...but I'll be spinning soon-ish. I hope. Thanks, Sam, for the present/curse.

For your viewing pleasure:

2007-12-20T23:22:00.001-05:00

I present the entrelac head wrap, also known as Quant. The yarn is something I picked up (for free!) at the first ever Winterthur S&B. It's made of soy. I love the colors, but I think I may have a slight soy allergy. I felt kind of weird every time I worked on this project. I have yet to wear it in the great outdoors, so can't make any comments on its actual utility. Perhaps tomorrow I will sport it while I journey to Philadelphia.
And the really exciting thing:
Interestingly, another object made of completely free (to me) yarn. The green is the yarn I received from Jen for my birthday last year. Her own homespun, made of...? Do you recall, Jen? I sure don't. It was great to knit with! It did make me a little nostalgic though. I kept thinking of all the times we used to knit at your house back in Bmore. The grey is from Knitpicks. One time, I ordered some yarn and needles from them and they sent me two of everything, even though I only paid for one. And they let me keep the extra stuff! I even called and tried to send it back to them. So thank you Jen and Knitpicks for providing me with the materials to create this awesomely warm cowel that will keep me comfortable in the library. I'm looking forward to next semester so that I can use it...

Proof that knitters have infiltrated the government

2007-12-09T21:32:00.000-05:00

A newbie

2007-12-09T16:16:00.000-05:00

Yes, Sam is now a knitter. Here she is, balling her first skein of yarn. Don't you just want to pinch her cheek?

Her first project is not a dish towel. It is Calorimetry, which does in fact require the use of short rows. Sam did wonderfully on that aspect, it was gauge that got her. Version 1, which I do not have a photo of, was...large. Way bigger than any head on earth. So she tore it out, took out 12 stitches (based on my precise measurements) and...still too big. Closer, but not functional. Photos are forthcoming, though I'm unsure if Sam will actually let me take a pic of her wearing it. I might have to step in as a model.
On my needles? Quant. In a wholly different colorway. Will be done with that soon.

Pillows and an Improved Yarn Balance

2007-11-01T09:59:00.000-04:00

I started these pillows a really, really long time ago. I was attracted to them because of their colors and because they looked challenging.

Critical miscalculations on my part: The yarn I bought, Knitpicks, was not the yarn used in the pattern. Thus, not the same colors. Whereas the pattern looked like something that would be mellow, almost rustic, mine came out "circus like" and "bold."

See how the back of the one pillow is all vertical stripes? Yeah, that's about 12 inches of intarsia using something like 25 different strands. Challenging? More like heavy, frustrating, and not something you want to pick up to work on for "a few minutes." I could have made it easier on myself by using fewer bobbins and just carrying the yarn more, but I wanted to do it "right." Pff.

Buttons. They cost money. Wasn't really a problem when I started the pillows and had this great job where I could just show up, do easy work, and earn the little extra money I needed. I bought these buttons in Portland, ME while on a research trip for my Master's thesis. If that doesn't say poor, I don't know what does. The buttons are my only souvenir from the trip. I guess that's one reason to keep the pillows around.
One really valuable thing came out of these pillows, besides learning that I shouldn't do vertical intarsia stripes: I learned that I was mounting my purl stitches backwards somewhere in the middle of the first pillow. You can totally see the line where I went from improper purls to proper. Long lasting evidence of my folly.

And, on the lighter side, one night I was balling some sock yarn and I was like, "Huh, how will I know if these two halves of this hank are close in weight?" Sam came to the rescue with her ingenious handkerchief/hanger balance scale. And no, she did not dress as Justice for Halloween.

Jen's hat

2007-10-27T15:57:00.000-04:00

SO CUTE!
I would have loved to pose for a cute picture in the snow but it's quite warm and I wanted to get one up before we leave on Tuesday.

If you missed the first year slideshow, by the way, here it is:

Brrr...

2007-10-21T23:17:00.000-04:00

It's time for the winter knits. We had snow and thunder today. It was a big wet pretty snow. I got out my boucle scarf and Ellery wore the sweater Jen knitted.

Also, last week I helped host a shower for a friend that is expecting twin boys. I got out the ol' Debbie Bliss seed stich hat pattern.

One more thing: Jen, I know you aren't much of a tv watcher. But I'm wondering if anyone saw last week's episode of Pushing Up Daisies. Knitting played a big part.

Help me remember

2007-10-09T11:45:00.001-04:00

Ok, I have a project in mind, but I can't for the life of me remember where I saw it. Knits is the likely source, but I don't have the magazines with me at the moment. I want to make a wrap/cowel thing that goes around the shoulders in a continuous circle. The front is sort of like a knot, but it is knitted that way. It's possible that this pattern is in a book dedicated to wraps/cowels. Anyone know what I'm talking about? I think the one in the pattern is a dark red color.

Aha! I found it! The thing I was thinking of, or at least a close approximation of it, is in Wrap Style, Published by Interweave Press Anyone have a copy I can borrow?

what's with all the variegated?

2007-09-30T14:56:00.000-04:00

Remember this?

Now it's these!

Remember these?

Now they are this!

Can I say how much I love my new sweater?

This!

Yarn.

2007-09-27T18:02:00.001-04:00

There you go, the yarn haul from Portland. The light green in the hank and on the needles is the Peace Fleece. The other ball is sock yarn made by...Schaefer Yarns (Anne). (had to go look at the tag). I'm knitting up the Peace Fleece into Henry. I'm thinking of it as the boyfriend scarf redux. If the scarf doesn't scare him off, the socks might. It's sort of like a 1 - 2 punch. Freaked out by the scarf? Bam! Have a pair of socks that are so amazing they make you want to cuddle something that belongs on your feet. I guess time will tell how this pans out. Let's keep in mind, though, that this is the guy who held my yarn a mere 6 weeks into our relationship.

Note: After reading over the post, I realized that it sort of sounds like I'm knitting this lucky man beautiful things in order to scare him off. Of course, that's not the case. I mean, he did hold my yarn! I'd like to keep him around. However, we all know about the taboo knitting-for-the-boy and its typical results. Here's hoping I can dodge the bullet!

Caved.

2007-09-16T17:38:00.000-04:00

oops. I wasn't supposed to buy any yarn...but I did. I'm not proud of me, but it was so pretty and so soft. And it smelled good (did not taste it). My only redemption is that, a) I did NOT buy that $25 hank of luxuriously purple lace weight alpaca and, b) everything I purchased will be used for gifts. I mean, I had to buy the boyfriend something for Christmas and his birthday (which is only a few days before Christmas) eventually. Better I buy it now so I have time to knit it into something, right? RIGHT! Ok, so I'm already feeling better about this illicit yarn purchase. So much better, in fact, that I've already balled one hank of Peace Fleece.
(PS I would totally post pics but stupid Photo Booth is stuck and won't open or close. Guess you'll have to wait...)

Portland

2007-09-14T16:45:00.000-04:00

I'm in Portland (for research at the Maine Historical Society).
They have yarn stores.
I will visit these stores, however purchase of yarn is unlikely (given the financial situation brought about by said research trip).
I can still touch, see, and smell the yarn. Maybe I'll try a taste while I'm at it. One of the yarn stores does have a cafe...
(No pics yet, will have some upon return to Delaware)

2007-09-09T08:08:00.000-04:00

There must be a horrible lack of knitting activity since we've stooped to cartoons and pictures of adorable babies to entertain each other.

I actually fell so hard Tuesday and skinned both hands so badly I haven't knitted since!! I haven't fallen like that since I was 10. I'd post the wounds and bruises but they really don't entertain in the same way babies do! The non-knitting is starting to make me twitch...

Introducing...

2007-08-30T20:09:00.001-04:00

Milam

In yesterday's paper

2007-08-30T13:39:00.001-04:00

If there was a team category we'd totally win.

Speaking of Intarsia...

2007-08-26T19:57:00.000-04:00

Remember those pillow cases I started years ago (really, it has been THAT long)? I finished knitting them. And I only show these pictures as evidence. They are not done...but the intarsia part is. I have embroidery to do on the yellow flower case and then seaming. I finished the embroidery on the other case and thought I had finished the seams...
Notice that the back of the second case is a little...screwed up.
Well, I sewed both seams together, flipped the case right side out and realized I'd put it together all wrong. So this is the pillow case seamed properly on one side and improperly on the other. I still have to buy some buttons for these things. I can feel it...Soon I will have 2 pillows!

I'm also working the Mystery Shawl:
Not sure how I feel about the "wing" so I haven't worked on it for a while. This is it unblocked and barely worked into clue 2. Oh, and someone was wondering where I've been. I just got back from a week long traipse through New England with my class and 3 others. We went to many, many museums. Most notably the Peabody Essex Museum, the Yale Art Museum, and the RISD Museum. I think I saw something like 10 historic houses in addition to those. It was rigorous but amazing. I didn't take many pics, but if anyone else posts theirs online I'll send you guys a link.

What do you do...

2007-08-26T19:43:00.000-04:00

What do you do when you have a bunch of warshrags to knit up for a wedding present and only a day to do it? You try a completely new technique that you've never tried before of course!!

I give you the entrelac "dish cloth." (If you use a schmancy technique like entrelac it suddenly becomes a "dish cloth." The pattern actually called it garterlac since it doesn't use stockinette.) It was really fun to try something new knowing that if you messed up, it wouldn't matter since the recipient was simply going to scrub holes in it anyway. I understand entrelac better now but I also understand why it is often referred to as annoying. It looks cool in sugar 'n creme but truly what doesn't look cool in sugar 'n creme. LOVE the kitchen cotton baby!!

It only needs a baby

2007-08-24T22:08:00.000-04:00

Ta-Da! The blanket is finished, one day past my sister's due date. It was totally worth ripping out I think. Now if that little boy would just make an appearance.

Carolyn, aka poodle queen

2007-08-20T21:57:00.000-04:00

Couldn't show this one in progress cause my sis-in-law comes here sometimes (Hi Carolyn) but the cat is out of the bag now or should I say the poodle is on the bag...

This was a request from her. She found an image on line and I tried to copy it. Here's the image she sent so I think it's pretty close!

I've also finished Pierce's birthday sweater and even though I haven't given it to him yet, since he's only turning one, he doesn't come here sometimes...

p.s. If you want to see more of the poodle bag (and why wouldn't you!) you can check it out on my flickr page, search for jeekeehoo to get to the page and then click Carolyn's bag. You can see the other side which is the reverse color and the lining, which I think is cute.

If only all FOs could be like this.

2007-08-04T21:14:00.000-04:00

So, this project was just a vague idea in my head yesterday morning. Went and got the ball of yarn, cast on last night, finished tonight. Really, I can't say more...I wouldn't want the blog entry to take longer than the FO.

A little hat and thumbless mittens of my own designe for a new couple at church who just had a baby last week.

...and there's even been some knitting.

2007-07-27T15:22:00.000-04:00

It was supposed to be a relatively quite little summer, a time to be contemplative and get loads done. Instead, it seems to be flying by! Anyway, I have tried to get some knitting in there too.

Most recent FO, just off the needles today in fact. File under strangest looking knitted object when not on.

What is it you say? Could it be some newly discovered sea creature washed up into the harbor of Baltimore City? You thought I was knitting a mushroom cloud? Silly.

It looks better on, though not much better since it's ON ME.

Max likes it though and these shots on the dark blue more truly represent the color. (Of course you two saw the color directly)

I don't know why all my recent knitting looks deformed when not on me. The sock actually fits wonderfully!! It's Trekking yarn and I can't wait to finish the second one.

These are my own handspun and my attempt to make something like Trekking. I shouldn't say it but I really love them, maybe more than the Trekking. I just keep expecting my handspun to disintegrate in my hands. I couldn't really have spun SOCK YARN!! The picture is a blurry but I really love the texture of the pattern too. It seems to work with the color changes.

Here we have one of the banes of my summer existence. Remember the cream cardigan...you would if you were me. Nothing but trouble, the black hole of knitting, only to discover that due to some wild cruel turn of fate (or perhaps the fact that I didn't really do gauge properly, take your pick) the shoulders would fit a football player...in pads. Oh, well, it's going in the cedar chest for a while...I can't face it anymore.

There's a few other things on the needles at the moment, but I'm simply not patient enough to keep loading pictures!!

Turning back time

2007-07-24T21:26:00.000-04:00

Well when I did the math it still wasn't going to work out. Unless I bought a lot more yarn it was going to be very rectangular, and I wasn't sure that would work with the stripe pattern. So, here we are.

Actually it has advanced from this state. I ripped out and then immediately cast on again, but a couple inches less stitches. I'm doing a different pattern this time. It will be 4 squares with the same color on the diagonals. I knit Friday night and Saturday morning and then went and got my Harry Potter book, so all knitting stopped.

Let me know when you finish the book, Jen, and we'll discuss.

Stuck

2007-07-18T12:07:00.000-04:00

When I bought the yarn for Baby Brother's (as he is called) blanket a nice lady at the LYS used some chart to help me figure out how much yarn I should buy. Well the chart was wrong people. Very wrong. A few weeks ago I was happily knitting along when I realized I was at the end of my ball of yarn. This was not good because I only had two more balls of the dark blue stuff left and was nowhere near one-third of the way through the blanket.

So yesterday I headed back to the LYS and explained the situation. I gently mentioned that someone there had helped me with the calculations, not because I wanted them to feel bad but because I didn't want them to think I was stupid. They were most apologetic and tried their best to help me. Anyway, there was not anymore of the yarn from that dye lot. Stinky huh? So now I have the blanket with uneven sides that I decided to go on with, but now I can't go on. (Is any of this making sense? I had lots of coffee at bunco night last night and didn't sleep till about 2am.)

I went ahead and bought two more balls of the gray yarn since they did have the right dye lot for that. So I am thinking my options are some kind of stripe, or maybe just a gray box in the middle. Ideas? Opinions?

Here is a picture so far. I am not quite through half of the blue yarn.

And here is a not-to-scale diagram of what I think my options are should I choose to continue with the blanket. I like #2 best though I haven't done color like that before and am a little squeamish about adding another variable to the project. Other options would be ripping and starting over completely or making a hat.

The apple doesn't fall far

2007-07-10T23:28:00.000-04:00

Ellery is crawling now. The world is hers! Where would she like to go?

Fitted Knits

2007-06-22T10:27:00.001-04:00

This has been done for a while, but I've been too busy, then out of town, then sick, then just lazy, to post. It knitted up really quickly (once I figured out the errors in the pattern) and I'm still wrestling with the strap idea. And no, I have not worn it out of the apartment yet.

I'm not sure if you can tell in the pics, but the colors in the hanks were slightly different so that the bottom half is more green than the top half. Luckily, I blended the hanks over 10 rounds so it's not a drastic change, but I can see it in the finished piece and it sort of irks me. I'm trying to think of it as a cool color grade that I never could have done on purpose...

Here's another fitted knit, made of that beautiful yarn I bought at Sheep and Wool. Remember, after I bought it I was skipping? Yeah, this picture does not do the yarn or the sweater justice. When I knit this in public, I literally have to stop every 10 minutes to talk to someone who is commenting on the color or the yarn or the pattern. I love this sweater already. Come on winter! (Just kidding...I can wait.)

These are the socks I took with me on my trip South (we went to VA, NC, SC, and GA visiting historic houses and other historic sites all along the way). The grey sock is nothing special, it's waiting for me to kitchner stitch the toe closed. The pink/tan sock IS special. It's another Sheep and Wool purchase. Silk and Merino blend. I can't even describe how good this feels on my foot. The pattern I got from Knitty, but I revised it to make a toe up sock (my first ever attempt at this type of sock making). I like the toe up method. I'm not at all worried about whether I'll have enough yarn to make the toe...because it's already there! Amazing.

Finally, our house guest. Meet Thurston. Sam's mom's dog (i.e. Sam's brother). He's staying with us while his mommy is traveling the world. Sam is traveling next week too, so Thurston and I will be holding down the fort. He's pretty cool: sleeps, eats, goes out twice a day, and likes to play with the b-a-l-l (apparently he recognizes the word thus spelling it is necessary). I discovered yesterday that it only takes about 15 minutes of ball chasing before he gets tired. Perfect.

Tatting Tracker?

2007-06-17T22:10:00.000-04:00

So, absoooolutely no knitting to report. The cream cardigan is completely out of control. The mushroom cloud, little fitted knit vest has a snag--I can't decide what the directions are trying to say. I have two pairs of socks on the needles but I'm too lazy to take in process pictures even though I'm really excited about the one because it's my most recent handspun. So I will distract you with tatting...

...and ELEPHANTS!!!

does PETA monitor knitting weblogs I wonder? I guess we'll wait and see how many angry comments we get...these big guys we saw yesterday seemed very happy and healthy to us!! I've always wanted to run away and join the circus. Does the circus need knitters? I could make all the dogs in the dog and pony show little outfits. And really, the camel looked cold. I have some camel wool I could spin and knit something...see, you didn't think I could make the circus relate to fiber arts but I did!!

To rip or not to rip?

2007-06-13T11:27:00.000-04:00

Our roses are blooming too but I am not allowed to walk on the grass so you will have to settle for a picture on the kitchen table. I did play around with the gauge when I started the blanket but I still missed it by a little. The border on the sides is wider than the border on the bottom. Although on the picture it doesn't look so bad. I haaaaatte ripping out. Who doesn't? And I feel like the yarn is never the same after that for some reason. But I have to decide if I am going to be compulsively preoccupied by the inaccuracy or not. Any opinions?

This and that

2007-06-09T17:16:00.001-04:00

Ellery will no longer be hijacking this blog. She has her OWN site now. Check it out when you get a chance (and scroll down for an update on her modeling career).

I finished the belt awhile back and just need to take a picture. I had no problem finding the d-rings at Michaels. The only problem is that I only sewed one of the rings in and of course that won't work -- you have to have two. I knew that, just had a lapse of thinking.

I have also cast on the blanket for my nephew. I think it is going to look really nice. The garter stitch might get a little boring but right now it is a great project.

I could quit anytime. Really.

2007-06-01T12:47:00.000-04:00

Colorado's version of sheep and wool is in June. It's at Estes Park and the article in the Denver Post last week made it sound like lots of fun. Unfortunately we have a birthday party that Saturday and Father's Day is Sunday. And as supportive of it all as Caleb is, I just don't think that would be his dream day.

BUT I loved this quote at the very end of the article:

"But by the time we had met all the sheep and talked to lots of friendly people, we had only half an hour before the sales floor closed. This was a huge relief to Doug, who believes that yarn stores are slightly more civilized crack dens."

Moses supposes his toeses are...

2007-05-19T10:01:00.000-04:00

ROSES!! (ok, so I hope you know your Singing in the Rain songs or that makes no sense)

I felt really sorry about my comment about abandoning the little black socks. I really didn't, you know!! So here they are done in time for the springing of the roses (like I need black socks for June)...and in the middle of finals week too (ya gotta do something while they write:-)!

I've even completed some spinning (grading, schmading). I won't go so far as to say this is nice yarn but I will say it is "not nasty". This was the horrific pink intestine roving that I over-dyed at the class back in Feb. As I say, anything is better than pink intestines.

And here is the progress on the Fitted Knit.

It's really going incredibly fast considering how little time I give it. Perhaps I don't work on it as much as other projects because at this point, it tends to take on a rather disconcerting shape as it rests in your lap and I'm afraid it will only get worse. It is no longer my Fitted Knit Project and has become the Manhattan Project!! Los Alamos here I come...

WOOLVERINE

2007-05-17T11:29:00.000-04:00

I know I already described to you guys, but it's really worth actually seeing. And since we are here, on the 2nd day of the world without Gilmore Girls, there might be someone who needs a smile.

Consolation Prizes

2007-05-11T19:12:00.000-04:00

What to do when your friends are far away at MDSW without you? Go on your own yarn adventure of course. Saturday I attended a baby shower way out in the suburbs. Before I went out there I looked up a yarn shop not far from the hostess's house (thank you Google Maps!). I wished I had my camera when I got there because it is in a strip center with a big sign that just says YARN really big. They didn't have anything I liked for the baby blanket but they did have this VARIGATED mercenized cotton. So I think I will make another attempt at the linen weave belt later.

Then, as if missing MDSW wasn't bad enough, on Monday I find out that Gilmore Girls has been cancelled! Okay, I know it was time as the show was going downhill, but since they didn't make the decision until after the last episode was filmed I know it is going to have one of those no-closure post-modern type endings I hate. So, to cheer myself up I headed out to the Lamb Shoppe (thank you Dad the Babysitter!). They were most helpful and though I did not find a "print" to use as the contrasting yarn, I'm hoping the ends will be easier when I'm doing garter stitch instead of seed. Besides I just looooved the feel of this baby alpaca. I hope it wears well.

Let the photo speak for itself...

2007-05-10T22:42:00.000-04:00

Even the crankiest can't avoid it

2007-05-10T12:06:00.000-04:00

The actual message of this cartoon has nothing to do with yarn, obviously. But look what ol' Crankshaft is doing!

MDSW

2007-05-07T21:11:00.000-04:00

Lovely, overwhelming, beautiful, inspiring.
I enjoyed MDSW more than ever this year. Every year just seems to get better. You'd think winning a ribbon and taking a class with Judith Mackenzie McCuin last year would have cinched it as "BEST YEAR EVER" but no. I think it's because MDSW is very much about just being there and experiencing the whole idea, so that the specific details of the years don't really define it for me. Although speaking of specifics, I will say that it was terribly sad not to have the third member of the trio there...

The purchases were perfect this year I must say. I went with specific wants, got everything I hoped for exactly, didn't spend more than my budget, and never once felt completely overwhelmed to do something foolish (although I did seriously start to take that gorgeous, huge, $90 corriedale fleece out of the fleece sale, yeah that was a bit close). I did buy some fiber, but only things I really wanted and that I know exactly what I want to do with. I'm mostly struck by how different the three fiber purchases are. The first is a wildly orange/red cormo roving which is really not conveyed in the photo although I'm getting better with the color thing. The next is a lovely rare breed called Manx Loghtan mixed with angora -so soft, calm and yummy. The last is a classy little lilac tencel/merino top which feels it a bit beneath her dignity to be seen with that rather common cormo.

The most exciting thing was getting a drop spindle. I don't know if it's an especially good one, but it was funny how quickly I became incredibly attached to it, defending it from the smug looks the splashy Golding spindles gave it. I can spin on it so I guess as a new spindler that's all that really matters. The most surprising thing is that I wasn't really prepared for how satisfying it is. I love the thought that I'm connecting to the earliest spinners, the ones that pre-date man's telling of our spinning story, the spinners that began the story.

Perhaps the most triumphant aspect though is that I was thinking about a bobbin winder. "Thinking" because this would truly be a luxury purchase, not something I need and that I will only use occasionally. Of course, the one I liked best at the festival was also the most expensive and by expensive I'm talkin' the corriedale fleece and substantial change! So I left it there...and then came home and won an ebay auction last night for the very same winder for HALF the price, HALF!! My first ever ebay auction and not only did I win it, I won it even though someone tried to snipe me right in the last two minutes. Very exciting and did I mention I got it for HALF the price of the one at sheep and wool. Of course the seller hasn't contacted me yet and it will probably arrive with some problem, but the picture looks good and the seller had great recommendations! I'll let you know if it ever finds it's way from Sweden!!

And to top it all off, I finished my socks from my own handspun last night waiting on the auction, probably the best handspun/knitting project to date. I love them...and so does Max.

cast on and on and on

2007-05-01T19:08:00.000-04:00

So in addition to all having the exact same lunch order, Abby and I also bought the same book AND both started a new project from the book immediately!

But for me this was merely the continuation of my new found cast-on rampage. It all started...

Once again, the lure of the homespun calls me and I can not refuse!!

So the little black socks are left in the dust but it doesn't stop there. I also started a "reknit" project. (Did you really think the ripping would stop? But I did decide to spare you the carnage of the ripped yarn and just show the rebirth. This was that little tank top from two summers ago. You probably don't remember it because I rarely wore it! Much too big for me.)

AND cast on a surprise project that will not be revealed at this stage (since actually the appropriate term is really "potential project" not so much a surprise. In fact the surprise will be if it ever becomes a real project!!)

Reunited and it feels soooo good!

2007-04-30T19:16:00.000-04:00

What a great day! It's been several months (almost a year!) since we've all been together and we've had an addition since then. It was awesome to be together again and to meet Ellery! I held her and she didn't cry, that makes her good in my book (she was good before, but she's really cemented in there now). Had a great lunch and then hpped into Vulcan's Rest where I bought:

Yeah, I've been fasting for a while so I went a little crazy. The book is fabulous, I want to make a good number of the things within. The yarn I bought is cotton, made in Chile. I'm making a tube top from the book (don't worry..I'll put straps on it). Also got some pretty stitch markers because they make knitting just a little more fancy.

Are bluebonnets a fiber?

2007-04-13T12:39:00.000-04:00

I mean, they're the state flower and all...

Actually I can work a little craft talk in here. We have a lot of blankets for Ellery. And most of them are ones that special people made. We try to rotate them out frequently but really there are many more than we can ever use. The one she is sitting on in this picture (see! a connection! yay for me!) is actually a sheet. My sister's best friend that goes with us every July 4th made it out of really light material. I never realized how handy it would be. Babies do not need heavy blankets every minute. I mean, here we are in Texas springtime. Carting around a bulky blanket in her bag is useless but this lightweight one takes up no room and still serves the purpose of something for her to sit on, cover up for nursing, wrap her for a nap in the stroller, etc. These are the things you don't know until you actually have a baby.

In other news, I had decided to make my sister's new baby due in August a hat like Ellery's. I was planning on this because 1) see above note on blankets 2) it was fun to knit and 3) it doesn't take a long time. Then I got an email from my sister that said

message from the new baby: Aunt Brandy, will you please knit me a BLUE blanket?

Now this was actually my sister's way of telling me she is having a boy! (Another one! They will be almost exactly two years apart. Start praying for her now.) But of course the note also made me wonder if maybe she wants a blanket. Then, when I was in Texas last week she told me how she puts the one I made Magnus in his crib every night.

So I'll be looking for a quick blanket pattern I think.

happiness

2007-04-05T16:42:00.000-04:00

The excuse for getting to post this here is that I made the little white sweater Pierce is wearing, but the real reason is that I've never seen my brother happier. never.

The Yarn Harlot came, and I missed her.

2007-04-04T16:18:00.000-04:00

It was a sad story, let me tell you. She was in Pittsburgh AND Cleveland while I was at home and I failed to see her in either place because I was too busy. Shame on me. I did get some knitting done while at home though:
Sheldon Deux. A friend from elementary/middle/high school is having a baby soon so I whipped up a little turtle. You were right Brandy, I:turtle::Jen:sheep. Eat that, SATs. The baby should be coming soon, it's supposed to be a boy and his parents are very nervous/excited/sick of being pregnant. It's their first.
I meant to email you guys a family update but never got around to it so here's something brief: Mom is coming home from rehab today (!) and will be home until she is cleared to put more weight on her pelvis. When that happens, she might go back to the rehab center or she might get to stay home. Everyone else is doing fine, especially me since (thanks to you guys and the church) I don't have to worry about how to pay for all my travel I've been doing lately.
I'm coming down to Bmore for alumni weekend (April 20-22) and will be at church that Sunday.

The Yarn Harlot is Coming

2007-04-01T19:53:00.000-04:00

Here!

To Denver!

....But I won't be here. We're flying to Houston Thursday morning, then driving to San Antonio. Then driving back to Houston on Saturday. Caleb flies back on Sunday and I fly back (by myself with Ellery) on Thursday.

I hope to give you more details on the belt this week. I want to scan in the picture of the pattern for you. Not making promises though.

Spring Break (and other forces of nature)

2007-04-01T19:42:00.000-04:00

So this is how our Spring Break started...or rather didn't start. We decided to delay departure for a day because while Baltimore was getting two inches of this nasty ice pellet stuff, the mountains between here and home were getting six inches of honest to goodness snow. SNOW!!! IN MARCH!! It's SPRING people! Not that I was bitter about loosing a day at home or anything...and ok, so the drive on Saturday was beautiful and maybe it gave me a chance to grade a bunch of midterms that I didn't have to take home but...still, SPRING break.

I have terrible news to report. Not only did I engage in little to no knitting over break, I actually performed major unknitting that brought my total for the week to well below "no knitting" and into "subtotal knitting." And this, dear friends, leads me to an announcement. I give on the New Year's resolution. MUST. CAST. ON.

Before thou doest shame me, consider...I've finished all but three of the projects. One of the projects now looks like this because it sucked. That was the unknitting from break. We'll just sit on that a while. So no project here.

So, now I've finished all but two of the projects. TWO projects, that's as near to nothing as makes no odds in the world of knitting. Plus the orange thing has hit a point where I'm not sure what I want. Long sleeves, no sleeves, short sleeves...and I don't think the answer is coming anytime soon.

So, that just leaves the creamy cardi. It's done to the arm holes with a sleeve started and while I love it, it. is. like. dragging. through. mud. to. knit.

Thus, I now conclude the resolution DONE. I've learned my lesson about having a zillion things on needles and wasn't that the point. Don't we all feel better about ourselves, group hug! Thus, I'm casting on like a crazy woman - just watch me. Already finished a sock this week, next one cast on too. The picture makes it look a lot like the pheonix sock but it is different, really!

And the spinning...ah, I love spinning. No resolutions in sight!

St. Pat's Purchases

2007-03-20T12:05:00.000-04:00

Now that the weather is better we are out and about all the time. I've been itching to get to the LYS and use my gift certificate. Then I got an email from them that on St. Paddy's day all yarn with green in it was 15% off. That was all the push I needed. I don't think I've knitted with green yarn before.

I made these purchases (in addition to size 2 needles I forgot to include in the photo). The "apple" yarn is a cotton I am using for a belt. The pattern has some new stitches I haven't done but is obviously just the same thing repeated, so I figured it is the perfect project for me right now. The green yarn I will use for a basic scarf; I don't have a pattern yet but it just looked fun to work with.

And now you are thinking, "What? an entire post without pictures of Ellery?!?" Well, I wouldn't want to disappoint. So here is Ellery with her Dad at the LYS.

What Ellery thinks of the LEvilYS

2007-03-15T22:04:00.000-04:00

Colonial Williamsburg

2007-03-15T10:30:00.000-04:00

Ok, I have lots of great pics from this trip but Blogger isn't cooperating and I don't have time to mess with it. Click on this picture and it should take you to Picasa.

Colonial Williamsburg

The trip was awesome. We, being the special people that we are, got to actually do lots of colonial crafts, not just watch them like everyone else. We made bucket staves, silver rings, iron S hooks, thimbles for gun barrels, cast pewter spoons, and put an iron ring on a wagon wheel. It was so much fun! I looked for "Ye olde yarn shoppe" but alas, no luck there. The only yarn I found was weaving quality and I wasn't about to drop $22 for coarse, yellow yarn.
The weather has been amazing the last few days! Too bad it's supposed to rain buckets and buckets tonight :-(