Perfection on Sticks

Sweater!

2012-01-30T13:05:00.004-05:00

Here is my finished alpaca sweater:

Yarn: Henry's Attic Prime Alpaca , 665 yd/227 g, 2 skeins, colorway Charcoal. It was a bit of a pain to work with--splitty and with no give in that alpaca way--but the resulting fabric is divine and the sweater is soft, warm, and lightweight.

Pattern: Of my own devising, based on measurements from the The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns. (It's a set-in sleeve, adapted V-neck cardigan. If that helps.) I added some details like the slight bell sleeve and the cross-over front. I'm particularly fond of the absolutely luscious buttons:

They're a modern rework of a 1930s vintage design. *loves*

And here it is on:

The fit is better than that pattern would have you believe. The shoulders are perfect, which is a big improvement from the Boyfriend Sweater debacle.

Here is me being silly, but you can really see how the buttons extend around the side:

And this one is pure silliness.

All in all, I'm really happy with how this turned out. I barely took it off for a week after I'd finished it. (I'd still be wearing it if it weren't, like, 60 degrees here. Stupid Maryland.)

Zig Zag Socks

2012-01-13T00:03:00.002-05:00

Finally, I got a picture of the Irishman wearing his Zig Zag socks. Yarn is the wonderful Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock, which I'm confident will hold up to his prolonged abuses.

I completed a total of six pairs of socks in 2011--not as many as the 11 I'd hoped for, but half a loaf is better than none, eh? And maybe this year I'll set my goal at 12 . . .

Flotsam and Jetsam

2011-12-17T14:43:00.000-05:00

I have been knitting much, contrary to the evidence of the blog. I started a Maplewing in my beautiful Silk Shimmer Lace. (Which she doesn't seem to be dying anymore? A pity. She HAS, however, greatly improved the photography on her website. Kudos!)

And as always, there are Mindless Socks in the works. Here is number one:

And I finished the Irishman's big zig-zag socks, but need to sew elastic in the tops and get some modeled shots before I hand them over:

And of course I have not yet blocked the big purple thing. There will still be entertainment to come.

Finally, a Finished Object

2011-12-12T12:06:00.004-05:00

These have been done for MONTHS . . . I just now got around to taking pictures:

Pattern: Bougainvillea, by Anne Hanson.

Yarn: Malabrigo Sock, colorway "Velvet Grapes."

Needles: US 00/1.75mm. (Malabrigo is so soft and I knit so loosely that I usually use a very small needle to prevent wear.)

I am very pleased with these--the pattern is harder to see on camera than in real life, and I love how the little vines twine around everything.

P.S. This makes number five for Year of the Sock. I may not make it to twelve, but I'll definitely get to seven. That's not so bad, right?

Things on my Rav page

2011-11-30T01:17:00.004-05:00

Things on my Rav page listed as WIPs despite being complete and just needing washing/blocking/photography: 2

Things on my Rav page listed as WIPs that, despite being active projects that I've worked on within the past week, have no photograph: 2

Things on my Rav page with pictures that reflect the status of the project approximately one year ago: 2

Things on my Rav page that are actually 100% complete except for a wash and yet have never had a photograph taken of them: 1

Conclusion: I would look like a much more productive knitter if I ever took a freakin' picture.

(Incidentally, I chose the sweater for TV knitting, and have finished a sleeve, the back, and one front. The other front is nearly done, which means that I have only to knit a sleeve and then I can start putting it together. Yay.)

What to knit in front of the telly?

2011-10-10T12:41:00.000-04:00

So I finished the big purple thing, which had been my TV knitting for the summer, and now I find myself at loose ends. On the needles I have a pair of mindless socks and a pair of quite complicated socks. In hibernation I have a few lace shawls and the back to a sweater.

So what do I take downstairs to work on while watching? Nothing is really singing to me at the moment.

Mmmmm, Pi

2011-10-04T00:41:00.003-04:00

It is not yet blocked, but I have finished the Birthday Pi. Here is a terrible photo:

In my defense, I finished it at about 10PM. Here is another bad photo with a close up of the center pattern:

Catchin' Up

2011-07-25T17:11:00.000-04:00

It has been so long, my lovelies! I have been knitting mostly in dribs and drabs, but lately have been seized by startitis.

While the Birthday Pi is on hiatus (awaiting more yarn), I've also started another Mawelucky shawl, Dorothy:

Because I'm a madwoman, I'm knitting it in Jojoland Harmony, otherwise known as the world's thinnest laceweight. I am so envious of Aspen's beautiful Gail, however, that I'm willing to give it a go.

I also restarted the Irishman's Sweet Georgia socks, this time toe-up in a little lace pattern of my own devising. Quite fetching, eh?

And I also cast on a pair of Anne Hanson's Bougainvillea socks, but a picture for those will have to wait until next time.

I am trying very hard to be faithful to these projects, but I have so much else I want to knit. My alpaca sweater! My Maplewing! A Rose of England!

Less blogging, more knitting.

Kreuzstichstickerein!

2011-07-20T10:11:00.000-04:00

I finished my dad's socks!

Pattern: Graphic from Toe-Up 2-at-a-Time Socks

Yarn: ZAUBERBALL (75/25 wool/nylon).

And here he models them for all of us! I made a lot of mods to the pattern, because I am never ever satisfied with things as written. But that's not the fault of said pattern, which is very nice indeed. Since the Zauberball's a singles, it is prone to misbehavior, but it gives a nice sturdy sock. Overall, I'm very pleased.

For those playing along at home, this leaves me at four pairs of socks for the year. But I persevere! That means I only have seven more to go!

Green Is Happening

2011-07-18T15:08:00.000-04:00

Pattern: Mystery KAL from my LYS

Yarn: Knit Picks Shimmer (70/30 baby alpaca/silk), 440 yds/50g skein, colorway "Shallows."

Needles: US 5/3.75mm.

Modifications: Two extra repeats of clues 4 and 5, shortened the smocked mesh section and went directly to the picot bind-off instead of working the ruffled hem.

Model: one of my obliging housemates. They're very used to my oddities by now.

How's Tricks?

2011-07-16T17:08:00.003-04:00

Just popping in to say howdy and show off a FO:

This is for an afghan my LYS is putting together--each employee was asked to design and knit a square. Since the theme was "Nature," my square, of course, features DNA.

Warm Fuzzies

2011-05-17T12:01:00.003-04:00

Sometimes, the universe reminds you that people are wonderful.

As you all know, I've been knitting the Birthday Pi--it still looks pretty much like this, for a given level of blobbyness:

I've become a bit concerned that I'll run out of yarn. I have about 50 rows left on the body, and then the edging to do, and I've used more than half my skein.

Running out would be especially problematic as not only is Arabella discontinued anyway, but when Tony at Posh dyes, he dyes in small batches and doesn't repeat dye combinations. Which means that the only other yarn in the world that matches this one would be a skein dyed at the same time, more than two years ago. Eep.

I'd thought of a couple workarounds, but last night I thought, "first things first," and decided to check Ravelry stashes to see if anyone had Arabella in this or a coordinating colorway. (I'm reasonably sure I can get to the end of the body, at least . . .) Lo and behold, I found someone right away with the exact same yarn. And, although she didn't have it listed for sale or trade, when I pm'd to ask, she responded right away, saying she'd be happy to send it along if I need it, but assuring me that I won't run out!

This sort of thing gives me such warm fuzzies. The knitting community is full of such kind, generous people, and it makes me happy to know that I'm connected to them. <3

Year of the Sock: April in Retrospect

2011-05-09T14:15:00.004-04:00

Well. I'm a little behind. But I have been knitting some.

This is the first sock of a pair of Graphics from Melissa Morgan-Oaks's Toe-Up 2-at-a-Time Socks. Fabulous book, by the way.

I'm knitting these out of ZAUBERBALL in "Chocolate Cream"--don't you love it?

These are for my dad; for Christmas I gave him a "coupon" for a pair of socks in any color or style he fancies. He checked "surprise me!" so I went with the Zauberball. I'm hoping the cables will add warmth and stability so he can wear them with his boots.

I was also knitting the Irishman some socks in that lovely Sweet Georgia yarn, but I frogged 'em Wednesday night. The calf was coming out way too big (even for him). I think I just need to knit all his socks toe-up.

But that does put me seriously behind. I'm trying to have the Zauberball socks done in time for Father's Day, although that still leaves me down a pair for the year.

I've just felt blah about knitting lately--everything seems uninspired and limp. Maybe once I've finished the albatross cross-stitch my mojo will return. (It's almost finished! I'm literally on the last color of the back-stitching!)

Sheep and Wool!

2011-05-09T13:53:00.003-04:00

This last weekend was the Maryland Sheep and Wool Festival, and oh, how much fun it was! I went yesterday and wandered all around and saw the sheeps and every little thing.

And of course I indulged in a little stash enhancement.

First, this pretty from Spirit Trail Fiberworks. I've heard and seen nothing but good things about Jen's yarns, so of course I had to stop by. And this is the result:

It's Clotho, a 100% merino laceweight, colorway "Sapphire." Looooooove.

And then this, from Maple Creek Farm:

Oh, how I wish y'all could touch this; the picture can't possibly do it justice--it's her "Portland" 50/50 silk/merino. Last year, I stopped by this booth and wanted something (I forget what, exactly) but moved on as I was only looking. When I got back it was gone, horrors. So this year, I was determined to get what I wanted from this, and this was it. I'm not usually such a BLUE blue person, but the Portland caught my eye when I wandered by the booth the first time, and I thought about it all day. So after lunch, I went back and snapped it up!

As always, a wonderful time at Sheep and Wool . . . I'm not crazy about Maryland in some ways, but I love living so close to the festival!

Still Alive

2011-04-14T12:22:00.003-04:00

Just don't have much to show for it. Still knitting the Birthday Pi, which grows ever-larger. Still knitting socks (although I suspect I will be behind for April). Still sleepy, even at 12:23 PM. You know, the usual.

Year of the Sock: March

2011-04-01T16:00:00.002-04:00

Well, I'm technically a day behind, but that's not bad at all. At lunch today (after the menus and before the food), I finished the second Twisted Angles sock.

Yarn: Malabrigo Sock (440 yds/100g, 100% superwash merino), colorway "Archangel."

I made several alterations to the pattern. I felt the Malabrigo was so soft and loosely plied that it needed to be knit at a very tight gauge. Since I'm a loose knitter, this mean size US00/1.75mm needles. For the same reason, I substituted a slip-stitch heel for the regular garter-bordered heel written in the pattern.

Since the feet were biasing so badly, I used a French toe. It alleviates the problem by dividing the foot stitches into thirds instead of halves.

And a fabulous pair of socks. Happy birthday to their lucky recipient . . . who shall remain nameless for now!

Rare Meta Non-Knitting Post

2011-03-31T22:17:00.002-04:00

This is just to say
I have started a new blog
which you probably won't be reading

Forgive me
books are interesting
So sweet
and so full of tasty info nuggets.

William Carlos Williams was SUCH a better poet than I am.

Anyway, 'tis true, I am now blogging about books and feminism at The Feminist Book Project. Do come visit.

Whole Lotta Nappin' Goin' On

2011-03-29T13:59:00.003-04:00

Not much to report here lately. I've passed the gusset on the second Twisted Angles sock, so with luck I'll have that done by the end of the week.

I also put in some work on the back of the alpaca sweater when we went to the theater a few weekends ago, so it is almost ready to start the armhole shaping.

That's been postponed, however, in favor of the Birthday Pi. I'm about halfway through Clue 3, so I won't be winning any speed prizes. (From the sound of it, though, I may still distinguish myself in the KAL; the other participants are also taking a leisurely tack.)

The only novelty to report is that I did cast on a new pair of socks for the Irishman, though it's far too early to tell that they'll be Sailor's Delight. He's had his eye on this Tough Love Sock ever since I brought it back from New York last summer. It's really quite cute how he thought he was being all crafty when picking it out.

Year of the Sock: Still in It to Win It*

2011-03-24T15:23:00.000-04:00

I managed to finish the Big Black Socks just under the wire for February--I bound them off while watching Maryland lose to UNC on the 27th (go Terps!)

Yarn: Cascade Pima Tencel (50/50 cotton/lyocel), color 7779. Pattern: Mindless Socks. US 2.5/3.0mm needles.

As well as finishing those, I've actually finished the first of the Twisted Angles. Check out the absolute gorgeousness of the gusset:

I felt like the Malabrigo needed a very tight gauge to be at all wearable, so these are quite small socks. Fortunately, I had a perfect model handy:

This is our patient and long-suffering fake foot. She is currently modeling a plain Zauberballe Crazy sock, but graciously agreed to help me out for a few shots.

The lace pattern biased very badly on the foot, but a French toe helped with that.

And I'm on track for March; I'm alllllllmost to the heel flap, which I should have done plus gusset by the end of the weekend. This Year of the Sock thing is working out!

*Unlike my bracket. You have betrayed me, Syracuse!

The Manly Möbius

2011-03-18T16:56:00.009-04:00

My friend Brandon and I were browsing a clothing store when he said—fondling a machine-made horror—“I should buy a scarf!” I said (the refrain of knitters everywhere), “Don't buy that; I can knit you one!” It had to be a möbius, since Brandon is a theoretical physicist, and it's snug and warm to keep his neck cozy while he bikes to and from campus.

YARN: For Brandon's möbius, I used Zhonghua Wool, a gift from a thoughtful friend who was living in China. Any heavy aran or light bulky-weight wool would do nicely for this pattern. (Or cast on more stitches to use worsted weight.) I suggest Mission Falls 1824, Lamb's Pride Bulky, or Malabrigo Twist.

SIZE: One size, approximately 6.5 inches long and 12.5 inches wide (doubled) when washed.

Thanks to Brandon, my möbius inspiration and model, and to SQ for the beautiful yarn!

This pattern is available for $4 USD through Ravelry.

Birthday Pi!

2011-03-17T12:04:00.003-04:00

Jane of the Mawelucky Love Rav group is giving us all a treat--a surprise birthday pi shawl. The first clue was released on Pi Day (of course), the second on Tuesday, and the third is due today.

I'm using this beautiful Posh:

This photo is rather dark, but it's a mix of pretty purples with a grey/purple streak thrown in.

Here is a bad picture partway through Clue 1 (I'm slow):

I've never knit a circular shawl before, but I'm up for a challenge as always. You should come knit along with us!

Sweaters Take a Very Long Time to Knit

2011-03-13T18:08:00.002-04:00

There is rather a lot of knitting news to report, but I don't have pictures of any of it. So in lieu, you get this picture of a half-done sleeve.

It is very soft and cozy and warm. Just in time for spring! By which I mean, I will not be wearing it this season.

Hi, My Name Is Mary

2011-03-10T17:31:00.000-05:00

And I have a problem. A problem with sock yarn. "It's just sock yarn," I say. "I knit socks all the time. It'll be in and out of the stash before I know it." I buy more and more--just one skein! A souvenir! A new brand.

I've never knit with Austermann Step before, so when my LYS picked up the Zodiac line, of course I had to try it out.

This is Pisces--not my sign, but I couldn't resist the blue-purple yumminess.

But this is only one skein, you say. How does this indicate a problem?

Well, while digging around in the stash, I found this (Cherry Tree Hill Supersock Select in "Peacock"):

And this (Cherry Tree Hill Sockittome in "Java"):

And this is but the tip of the iceberg, my friends.

There's a reason I'm calling this the Year of the Sock.

You'll be relieved to know that the Irishman has claimed this

for his next pair. He's had his greedy eyes on it ever since I brought it back from New York.

Happy (belated) birthday to me!

2011-03-03T09:00:00.000-05:00

Actually, my birthday was back in October. But I did get myself a present. Sweater yarn!

This is . . . shall we say, rather a lot of Madelinetosh Tosh Dk, more than enough for two sweaters.

One in Fathom (the color is more accurate here) :

And one in Logwood:

Now what on earth do I make with 'em?

Sweater Frustrations

2011-03-01T15:04:00.001-05:00

I'm trying to knit myself a sweater. And it is not going well.

You may remember the beautiful alpaca I obtained in Kansas. There should be more than enough to knit myself a nice cardigan. If I can EVER get mother-loving GAUGE.

Gauge is one of the more frustrating parts of knitting for me. I'm a very loose knitter (here I must pause to say "hur hur" because the Irishman isn't here), so there's never any point in following indicated needle sizes. On a side note, is it just me, or are ball band instructions frequently from some other reality? I would never knit dk weight on a size 7 needle unless I was making lace.

Anyway, this poses a problem when it comes to knitting fitted garments, especially ones for myself. As I've mentioned from time to time, I'm a big girl. While I'm personally comfortable with my ample proportions, it does make knitting sweaters for myself a much more time-consuming task than knitting them for babies or skinnier friends (SQ I am looking at you!) I've only ever knit one sweater for myself (the Boyfriend Sweater from Hip to Knit).

So it's very frustrating to be putting all this time into knitting a single freakin' sleeve. First there was the gauge thing. I finally got a gauge I could live with, put together a nice little design, and started knitting a sleeve. I was probably six or seven inches along. Then, one night as I was drifting off to sleep, I had a vision.

And that vision said "garter stitch!" So I ripped the damn thing out AGAIN. Argh.

But now it is humming along. For the moment, at least.

(Incidentally, my vision lied. It meant to say "seed stitch!")

sigh

2011-02-27T10:06:00.000-05:00

So I frequent a forum on Ravelry devoted to the work of a certain designer. (I.e., nothing to do with food, politics, dieting, fat, or various other potential minefields.) Everyone there is very nice and funny, and I love reading it--it's one of the highlights of my day.

But.

People never ever EVER stop talking smack about their bodies. Either it's "I've lost so much weight and I'm so pleased," or it's "I'm [insert fat euphemism here] so I won't do the waist-shaping on this sweater." (And don't even get me started on how wrong that last one is.)

It gets me down. I feel judged for not constantly apologizing for weighing too much, and I feel bad for not caring about what other people consider an accomplishment (because, seriously, diet talk is just plain boring). And I feel bad for women who feel like they need to disguise their ugly, ugly fat so thoroughly that they won't even consider waist shaping in a sweater.

What does the peanut gallery think? Should I ask the mods to ask the group to axe the diet talk? On the one hand, I don't want to ruin anyone's fun. On the other, I don't want my own ruined.

Seaweed Shawl

2011-02-24T14:09:00.004-05:00

A rather long time ago, my boss decided to do a mystery project KAL. I thought this was a fabulous idea, but of course I didn't get around to knitting the project while it was either a) a mystery or b) a KAL. I did knit it eventually, though:

Blobby!

The shawlette is designed for DK weight, and, wouldn't you know, I somehow managed not to have enough of any one DK in my stash to make it happen. Ridiculous, right? But what I DO have is laceweight, tons and tons of it.

This is Knit Picks Shimmer, colorway Shallows. This is my first time knitting with this yarn, and I'm very pleased--it has a lovely hand that's (frankly) as good as many luxury yarns I've used. Much more impressive than their all-wool laceweight.

I altered the pattern further after substituting the yarn weights. As it was going to come out much smaller in the lace yarn, I did two extra repeats of clues 4 and 5. (You can't see it in this picture, of course, but it'll be evident in the finished piece.) And since I'm not wild about ruffles--and since I was running a little low on yarn--I shortened the smocked mesh section and went straight to the picot bind-off rather than continue to the ruffled hem.

I'll block it sometime this week, then put a formal FO post.

I seem to be constitutionally incapable of knitting a pattern as written.

Year of the Sock: February

2011-02-22T13:53:00.001-05:00

So far so good! I finished the second of the Faux Fair socks:

Then proceeded to wear them away from the photo shoot, as they are comfy and awesome.

I've made substantial progress on the second Big Black sock:

But knitting it is boring, so it's been superseded in entertainment terms by this:

Which is a Twisted Angle sock. This pattern was designed by a friend from my hometown, who gave me a copy and said "knit this and tell me what you think." So I am and I will!

I do need to get cracking so that I have two socks to show for February. I'm thinking the "pair a month" thing doesn't work so well, since I tend to have so many pairs going at once. Then again, maybe it's just the tedium of the Big Black sock that is wearing on me. The Yarn Harlot makes it seem so easy.

Rainbow!

2011-02-20T13:45:00.002-05:00

Here is a little hat, knitted to teach beginners. (Noticing a theme, anyone?) It's Malabrigo something-or-other that I grabbed from our leftovers bin. I think it's destined for a young cousin of mine--the only person I know with the proper-sized head!

Year of the Sock: Update

2011-01-31T13:54:00.008-05:00

I am declaring the first month of Year of the Sock a success!

See above the first two completed socks of the year. Okay, granted, they aren't part of a pair, but that's just a technicality. The first of both the Big Black Socks and the Faux Fair socks are complete. One is obviously sized to fit me, the other is . . . obviously not.

So on to February! I plan to get the mates to these finished up, and then it's Malabrigo time.

Year of the Sock

2011-01-16T16:51:00.003-05:00

I have declared 2011 to be the Year of the Sock! I plan to knit 11 pairs this year. Totally doable, right?

I mean, just for starters I'm almost done with the first of the Big Black Socks:

All this needs is another inch or so of ribbing before I bind off.

And since I took this picture, I turned the heel on the first Faux Fair sock:

So it needs another few inches and it, too, will be ready to go.

Then I'm going to cast on a test knit in this:

So that's three pairs sussed out, and January's not even over.

Aside from these, I also owe my dad a pair (promised for Christmas), and I . . . somehow . . . may not have anything appropriate in the stash. I also have in mind to knit the Irishman another pair of socks for Valentine's Day; the socks I knit for him last year are wearing out a bit on the soles. (My fault for knitting them in something without added strength--he's hard on them.)

Quick and dirty

2011-01-12T11:17:00.000-05:00

Complete: one hat, size enormous.

Aside from its use as a teaching tool, this hat went to our charity knitting bin to keep someone warm this winter.

(Someone with a large head. I have gauge issues.)

Pattern: Most Basic Hat from Hip To Knit.

Yarn: Cascade 220 (100% wool, 220 yds per 100g skein), colorway . . . green. 8893, probably. Needles: size 8/5mm.

And isn't the Irishman cute as a button?

Shrug (as a Bug in a Rug)

2011-01-10T13:13:00.001-05:00

I knit a thing! It is a Knitting Pure and Simple shrug in Rowan Drift (100% merino, 87 yds/100g skein), colorway 905 "Plantation." I used three skeins for the 36" size, but a normal person would probably need four. (The pattern called for 10.5 and 10 needles; I used 10 and 9 for gauge.)

Yay shrug.

Hello, my yarny friends

2011-01-07T11:18:00.001-05:00

My, it's been a while, hasn't it?

Between holiday knitting, traveling, and work (nonstop since I returned!), there just hasn't been time to post. I've gotten a few things off the needles, which with luck I will be showing you toot sweet.

In the meantime, I'm going to knit my plain-jane faux Fair Isle sock and chill.

Lost my mojo

2010-12-06T13:22:00.003-05:00

After working so hard to get Papyrus released last week, I find myself in a bit of a knitting slump. Neither the sweater nor the shawl I'm designing are working well, so they're both in time out.

Otherwise, I had only mindless socks on the needles . . . boring! I cast on for a garter stitch scarf in a yarn with a nifty texture so at least I had something to do with my hands while I was thinking.

And that's pretty much it. I'm working on a shop sample, so perhaps pictures of that later? I really should get cracking on some Christmas knitting--I think I'll make a dramatic scarf for the gift exchange at work . . .

What do you do when you've lost your mojo? (Knitting or various.)

Papyrus

2010-12-01T19:00:00.001-05:00

I'm pleased to announce the release of a long-delayed but much loved pattern: Papyrus.

I can watch a pond for hours, fascinated by the ripples. There's always something surprising in living water, whether it be fish or flowers. This shawl was inspired by water and the things that dwell within—fishtails (do you see the koi?) dive below the stems of the lacy papyrus blossoms that trail away into nothing.

A top-down, triangle shawl knit in one piece, Papyrus is suitable for the advanced lace knitter and features patterned knitting on both sides. It is available via Ravelry for $7 (USD).

Papyrus requires approximately 600 yards of any laceweight or 950 yards of any fingering weight. The blue laceweight example shown used Knitpicks Shadow, colorways Jazz and Snorkel. The fingering weight example used Handmaiden Sea Silk, colorway Ivory.

Many thanks to Aspen, who not only took most of the pictures, but test-knit the pattern, creating the beautiful ivory shawl seen here.

Watch this space . . .

2010-11-30T08:08:00.000-05:00

for a special announcement, coming tomorrow.

Intrigued?

You know you are.

Glee!

2010-11-29T10:49:00.006-05:00

Allégresse is complete!

I blocked it on one of my new boards. The whole process was a breeze this way.

It dried quickly overnight, which was great--I was able to present it to the recipient in the morning.

Jane is camera-shy, but agreed to a few shots nonetheless:

Pattern: Allégresse.

Yarn: Malabrigo Lace (100% baby merino, 470 yd per 50g skein), colorway "Brisa." I think this is five repeats on size 3.75mm needles, and I used almost all the yarn.

A fast and enjoyable knit--gleeful indeed!

More Malabrigo

2010-11-28T19:09:00.000-05:00

I just have a weakness for it; what can I say? We got a new shipment of Malabrigo Sock in at the store, and I had to snap some up before other people got it. I have this problem where I growl at people who try to buy yarn that I want, which is rather bad for business.

Result--Archangel:

And Indiecita:

It's funny--there are tons of scarves and shawlettes designed for sock yarn, but I don't think of those when I buy it. I think "socks!" But looking at these, they'd be fantastic for lace--just imagine the colors. And it would remove the worry of accidental felting. Perhaps I should look into this. Rosemary's patterns call . . .

My mom is the greatest

2010-11-27T17:51:00.000-05:00

And why's that, you may ask?

A while ago we were talking on the phone, and she mentioned that an older lady at her church had died recently. She'd been an avid knitter, and her husband wanted to donate her stash to the church rummage sale, profits to be given to the local knitting guild. Said Mom: "I told him I'd look at it . . . I figured it would mostly be old-lady yarns. And ohhhhhh, Lanafactrix . . . she had the most beautiful things."

Mom went on to describe the stash--fun ribbon yarns, some good basic wools, and lots of other nice things that would sell well at the rummage sale. "And there was this lovely blue-green stuff, a whole bag of it--I kept that for you."

Oooh! What is it, Mom?

"Well, it's . . . 'Merino Stripes' . . . says it's 90% merino wool, 10% acrylic . . ."

And what's the brand?

"Crystal Palace Yarns. Is that good?"

And then, a few weeks later, I get this in the mail:

Oh, Mama--you have no idea how good!

Oh my GAWD

2010-11-26T23:02:00.000-05:00

So I've mentioned that the Irishman, despite having enormous boat feet, is a pretty swell guy. Several weeks ago, for our anniversary, he removed all doubt.

Apparently, months and months ago (probably while blocking something big on the living room floor), I mentioned that I'd really like a proper blocking board.

He remembered this.

Fast-forward to when I opened my present and found this:

We have a policy of being strictly honest about gifts (mostly because both of us are incredibly bad liars), so I said something like "oh, honey, it's perfect! But a little small for what I normally knit . . ."

Whereupon he got a MASSIVE grin on his face, said "too small, eh?" and hauled a enormous package out from behind the bookcase. That package held this:

Yes, that's a piano in the background. And yes, he got me not one but TWO blocking boards, small and large. He said he figured I could put them together if I needed to, or use them separately for smaller things.

He totally won our anniversary.

I'm excited about finally blocking something this weekend--Allégresse is almost complete. Weeeeeee!

Happy Thanksgiving!

2010-11-25T12:26:00.000-05:00

I hope your day is full of warmth, cheer, and yarn. Especially yarn.

I plan to spend the day knitting this . . .

What about you?

We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Blog

2010-11-22T16:35:00.008-05:00

I usually steer clear of day-to-day non-knitting things here (mostly because anyone who cares about how many hours I worked yesterday has already heard about it. In detail. With gestures.)

But today my mind wandered this direction. I didn't have to go to work today, so I spent the day getting Stuff Done. I cleaned the bathroom, the kitchen, and the living room. Including vacuuming, which I hate with a fiery passion. I sorted all the laundry; a few loads are already done, and the rest will work their way through tonight. I took some pictures so there can be some later bloggy goodness. I made the crust for Thursday's pies. And last--but far from least--I put a pot of soup on the stove. In about ten minutes, I'll add the potatoes and a few more cups of water, and then it'll just sit and cook until we're ready to eat.

"Goodness me," you may say. "You certainly were busy today . . . but what does this have to do with knitting?"

It doesn't, really, but it got me thinking about hard work and creativity and why I do what I do. When I first learned to knit, it was with the goal of knitting socks for a friend. I did so, and I knit off and on throughout college, but I wouldn't say I was passionate about it. That turning point came when I picked it up again in graduate school, again to knit a pair of socks for a friend. This time, knitting turned my brain and it was all I could think about.

I think the reason was that at the time I was desperately searching for a way to produce something meaningful. I'd lost interest in research and didn't know what I wanted to do with my life. (Still don't. If you have any ideas, please get in touch!)

I think it's dangerous to live your life for others, in the sense that denying your own needs and desires doesn't do anybody any good. But I don't think that living to serve--if that's your calling--is a bad thing, either. I did what I did today because it needed to be done, because some of it would cost me if I didn't (either monetarily through fines for not doing my chores or socially because I stink if I don't wash my clothes) and some of it pleases me to do regardless. But in the back of my head, I'm thinking "R3 will like it that the living room is clean, and the Irishman will be thrilled that I did the laundry."

I feel more motivated and gratified if someone else is going to benefit from what I do, whether it's designing a scarf that people knit for their loved ones or making pie crust in a craptastic food processor . . . or writing a blog post that rambles a bit.

We're not in Kansas anymore

2010-11-21T18:32:00.001-05:00

Awww, missed a day. Oh well, I'm not perfect.

Anyway, back in April, I went to Kansas for a family wedding. Of course I had to check out the Yarn Barn. I was absolutely blown away by the size of the store and the variety of materials offered. The knitting yarn selection is staggering, but they also have huge sections devoted to weaving and spinning, which you just don't find in your average fiber store.

Their prices were fantastic, their staff was super-friendly, and overall it was tons of fun. I recommend it without reservation. (And they do online and catalogue orders . . . just sayin'.)

And did I get yarn? Of course I got yarn. How could I not?

First I got some more Blue Ridge Yarns silk laceweight, because this stuff is like crack to me. The pictures don't do it justice in any meaningful way; you just have to see it in person.

Order a couple so you can roll around in them.

And then there's this:

Three half-pound skeins of DK alpaca--enough for a sweater! (*squee*) The colors are gorgeous, and the prices are unbelievably good.

All in all, it was a fantastic visit, and I'd love to go back. I keep telling the Irishman that he needs to get a post-doc in Kansas. I don't think he believes me . . .

Not-So-Magical Möbius

2010-11-19T16:41:00.000-05:00

I don't know if this happens to other knitters, but I'm perpetually promising knitwear to people in order to prevent them from making bad decisions. Me and my housemate were at a chain clothing store when he fingered a machine-knit monstrosity and said, thoughtfully, "I should buy a scarf." I hastily promised him a scarf just to keep this from happening . . . which of course meant that I then had to make one, really and for true.

The wool he chose was this (on the right), a gift from SQ back when she was living in China. (Incidentally, yarn gifts are always welcome, but they will be hoarded for years until I judge them sufficiently mature. I can't just KNIT yarn that I'm given, that would be wasteful. Somehow. In my head. I guess.) It's very nice stuff. But there isn't a ton of it, and I knew I couldn't get anymore.

Because said housemate is a theoretical physicist, I of course had to knit him a möbius. I mean, duh. But traditional möbius construction just wouldn't work for this scarf. Not enough yarn! So I had to cheat and graft the ends together. It makes me a little sad. Maybe I should knit another möbius the real way, just for the hell of it.

On the other hand, I like the look of this one, don't you?

The pattern is coming very soon, but in the meantime . . .

Yarn: Zhonghua Wool (60/40 wool/acrylic . . . we think, 100g/skein), probably about 150 yards. Needles: US size 8/5.00.

What Makes a UFO?

2010-11-18T17:16:00.000-05:00

What I'm thinking about today is UFOs versus WIPs and how one moves to the other. If you look at my Ravelry page (Please do! Friend me! I'm so lonely!), I have comparatively few WIPs. Right now, it lists six of them, but this is misleading--both the mobius and the papyrus shawl are actually complete, but waiting on pictures/pattern release to move to finished. So I only have four other projects going, and they all serve specific purposes.

The Irishman's Big Black Socks are portable knitting for the metro or the movies--something I can do a row or two on without having to think. Ditto the Faux Fair Isle socks, which aren't seeing a lot of love because the Big Black Socks are currently filling their conceptual niche.

I have mentioned before that I work at a yarn store (best job EVER). In the downtime, we are allowed--nay, encouraged!--to knit. It seems gauche to knit yarn I purchased elsewhere, so I always have a project in a yarn available there devoted to yarn store time. That project is currently Allégresse.

It's simple enough that I can knit it while talking, and I like the results.

My last WIP is a hat I'm knitting along with my beginning knitting class. I'm following a simple pattern from Hip to Knit. (And no, I'm NOT distributing photocopies. Don't do that, wouldn't do it.)

Being hopelessly kinesthetic, there's no way I could teach anyone unless I was doing the exact same thing. So . . . hat!

There you have it, four WIPs . . . and not one a UFO.

I couldn't tell you why, but it's very rare for me to leave something inactive for a long period of time. Maybe it's just what little Type A is in my personality, but I hate having unfinished knitting. I don't see how other knitters cheerfully leave projects undone for months, even years at a time.

Knitting Is the Same in French

2010-11-17T11:49:00.000-05:00

Remember the Lily-of-the-Valley Scarf from way back when?

I frogged it.

What can I say, I just wasn't feeling it. The nupps weren't showing properly, the yarn was too busy for the pattern, it just wasn't gelling.

So rather than knit something I wasn't going to be happy with, I ripped it and cast on this:

It is an Allégresse, and I am very pleased so far.

If you follow the link, you may note that the pattern is available only in French. You may consequently be thinking "what the poop?!" I actually do read French (very, very poorly), but in this case I don't need to read it at all.

"Hold the phone," you're thinking. "How do you knit LACE without reading the pattern?" Why, with a chart, of course! I love charts. They are universal, simple, portable, and simplify even the most complex of patterns.

The next time someone tells you they could never knit from a chart, you have a new carrot to dangle in front of them--bilingual knitting!

Always with the socks

2010-11-16T11:16:00.005-05:00

Since it's November, in honor of NaNoWiMo and its various counterparts, I'm going to try to post every day. Think I can do it?

I don't promise pictures, and I don't promise real content . . . but I bet I can come up with something every day.

So here's today's.

I get this thing when it gets cold outside where I want to knit socks. Since I always want to knit socks anyway, that means a veritable explosion of sock knitting lately.

I finished the Be Mine socks, of course. Here's another gratuitous picture, because they're so very pretty:

There's the Irishman's Big Black Socks, which continue to be big and black:

I'd gotten this one almost to the heel turn before but had to rip back to the increases because it was actually TOO big. (I blame the inelastic yarn for this. Somehow.) Knitting socks for him is truly a labor of love, what with the ENORMOUS FEET. Yet I persevere.

And then there are these little beauties:

They're Mindless Socks pattern--the Irishman's are on larger needles, of course (US 2.5/3.0mm), while the Regia are on 0/2.00mms. I've never worked with the latter yarn, but I think it's going to wear beautifully, especially at such a tight gauge.

You will be seeing these socks again as they crawl glacially toward completion. I've gotta develop a more zen attitude toward plain sock knitting.

Technical Stuffs

2010-11-16T00:01:00.002-05:00

All my patterns are now linked in the sidebar (should you be filled with the burning desire to knit Mindless Socks. Or, come to think of it, just to read the patterns. Maybe I'm strange, but I like reading a well-written pattern, almost as much as I like knitting it. But anyway.)

(I use too many parentheses.)

For the present, I only offer automatic downloads via Ravelry, but if you'd like to purchase or obtain a pattern otherwise, just drop me an email at lanafactrix at gmail dot com. Each blog post contains info on pattern costs.

Solutions for Sock Snafus

2010-11-14T15:54:00.002-05:00

I finished the Be Mine socks--aren't they gorgeous?

I'm quite a loose knitter, and I never swatch for socks. I mean, they're socks. By the time you've knit a swatch, you've knit half a sock anyway. This means, though, that my socks come out a little larger than the pattern would predict. That's actually pretty handy; I have big feet, so if I knit the women's medium, they're usually perfect for my high insteps. This can lead to issues with row gauge, however, and such was the case here.

I didn't care how long the calves turned out (after all, high socks aren't a bad thing), but I was faced with a problem when it came to the feet. I knew that two heart cable repeats would be too short, but three repeats plus the toe as written would be too long for me. (And by extension, the friend whose Christmas present these are. We have near-identical feet.) The solution?

A French toe! I love French toes. They're the best way to make sure you can squeeze in an extra pattern repeat, yet still make socks that fit. I especially liked how they looked with this pattern--see how neat and swirly? If I were to do things over, the only thing I'd change would be to continue purling between the front decreases all the way up to the end of the toe, which would have been some awesome design congruence. But they look quite fetching anyway, I think!

Yarn: knitswithsticks Wullenstudio (75/25 wool/nylon, 450 yd/skein). Size 2/2.75 mm needles.

Pattern: "Be Mine" socks from 2-at-a-Time Socks by Melissa Morgan-Oakes. Modifications: on feet, worked three cable repeats plus a French toe (from Knitting Vintage Socks by Nancy Bush.)

It is so hard to take pictures of one's own feet. I enlisted the Irishman for the effort. He can't take a picture to save his life (I honestly don't know how; my camera is as basic as it can possibly be), but he does do his best. I love him anyway.

Guh

2010-11-12T17:03:00.001-05:00

I know, it's been forever. I've been busy. I quit a job recently, though, which should leave me with more time for knitting.

Speaking of which, this moebius for my housemate isn't going to knit itself . . .

Tudor Grace

2010-10-10T22:29:00.000-04:00

Blocking shot:

Yarn: Blue Ridge Yarns Bambi (65/35 superwash merino/bamboo)

Pattern: Tudor Grace, by Anne Hanson. Needles: US 3/3.25 mm.

Model: my friend Allison, who graciously agreed to put on the scarf so I could get some good shots.

We got some nice photos that really show off the scarf:

And some not so serious ones . . .

swoon

2010-10-04T12:34:00.000-04:00

So I finally started the Be Mine socks . . . and I luff them. I luff them so!

First, I'm in total swoony love with the yarn (knitswithsticks Wüllenstudio). The color is absolutely gorgeous--a perfect purple shading here and there into a pretty pink. It also feels divine and knits like a dream. It's a wee bit splitty, but I chalk that up to my propensity for the sharpest of sharply pointed needles.

Second, isn't the pattern cute? (The color is most accurate in the first photo--the others were taken on a gloomy, gloomy day.)

I'm not knitting the socks two at a time because--as I have previously noted--circular needles are the devil's handiwork and I honestly like DPNs. But I ADORE working with two-at-a-time instructions (or magic loop, for that matter). Why? Because they don't rely on needle numbers. Since I'm such a loose knitter, I have to shift my stitches every few rows to avoid laddering. With traditional sock patterns, this often means multiple stitch markers or an annoying amount of counting. On the other hand, since there are no needle changes with this kind of pattern, none of the irritating stuff is there. Makes it much easier on me.

As you can see, I'm past the heel turn and gussets on the first sock, so all I need is a bit of a push to finish the foot. If only I had time to knit . . .

Did you guess?

2010-09-23T12:22:00.004-04:00

Did you guess what the teaser was?

If you guessed Anne Hanson's Tudor Grace, you're right!

This lace scarf is one of Anne's Little Nothings series, and I'm loving it. Super-simple pattern (I didn't bother to memorize it, but I think I have anyway) and crystal-clear instructions--as always with Anne.

I'm knitting it in Blue Ridge Yarns Bambi (65/35 superwash merino/bamboo, 400 yds/skein), colorway "Waterfall." The yarn is interesting--the bamboo makes it crunchy (for lack of a better word) and, I think, less floppy than superwash often is. I think it would make really good socks. And how gorgeous is this?

I can't wait to see it blocked.

The really exciting thing about this project is that, come November, I'll be teaching it as a class at my yarn store! My boss Doesn't Do Lace, so she invited me to teach this. *squee*

Sockses!

2010-09-18T20:00:00.000-04:00

Another pair of Mindless Socks, in Regia Silk(55/20/25 wool/silk/nylon), of course!

These are 52 stitches for the foot (48 for the ankle) on 2.5mm needles. I think I still prefer working this yarn on 2mms, but this fabric is pretty nice regardless.

And of course I cast on another pair, this time in Pima Tencel (50/50 pima cotton/tencel), color 7779. I knit a pair of socks for my friend Rachel in this yarn ages ago, and they turned out well. These are for the Irishman (which is why they are ENORMOUS).

That's all the progress on the sock front--the Be Mine socks languish unstarted. But as soon as I'm done with some of this lace, those babies are next in the queue!

Blog? What blog?

2010-09-15T16:49:00.005-04:00

Why yes, I DO have a blog. And here 'tis!

Not much exciting going on lately. The Papyrus shawl has achieved big blue blob status, although the blue has been joined by green:

The yarn (Knitpicks Shadow Lace) is really quite nice--the heathering is lovely.

And the colors are good, too.

I've put a few more inches on the Lily-of-the-Valley scarf, which I'm liking more and more. Malabrigo is so scrumptious.

Here's a close-up so you can see the nupps!

I do have other things in the works, but for now I'll leave you with a teaser. Can you guess what it is?

Ravin' Ravens

2010-08-31T21:14:00.008-04:00

Irtfa'a is done!

First, blocking shots and then the reveal below.

This thing is huge. I haven't measured it, but it's definitely larger than my wingspan (which is probably 5'--I have short arms for my height).

Blocking it was quite an undertaking; as you can see in the full shot, I ran out of room on the sheet and had to add an emergency pillowcase. My housemates were very impressed.

And here it is: the main event.

Pattern: Irtfa'a by Anne Hanson, who kicks seventeen kinds of major ass.

Yarn: Posh Yarn Cecilia in "Onyx" (50/50 cashmere/silk, sadly discontinued). This is my favorite shot, which coincidentally mimics Anne's cover photo.

And I think this is my new ravatar.

This was such a huge undertaking, but it was completely worth it. Now I think I'm going to knit something a little smaller.

Quickie

2010-08-19T12:26:00.002-04:00

Okay, first of all, Irtfa'a is DONE. Off the needles, blocked, clipped, the whole shebang. I just need to take pictures, and then I swear I will post them.

That means the knitting focus for the moment is my Papyrus shawl. I think I'm going to try to release it under the Knit Picks Independent Designer Program, as it was designed with a Knit Picks yarn. The greater visibility does come with a slight financial hit, but if no one's buying your patterns, you're not making any money anyway, right?

And last but not least: I got a job at a yarn store! The LYS I frequent recently changed management, and when I inquired, the new owner was looking for someone--and that someone was me. It won't replace my old job, but it'll be a fantastic addition. Much yarn awaits . . .

Herne is here

2010-08-13T20:55:00.007-04:00

I'm proud to announce (finally!) the release of Herne!

Herne is named for a rabbit who belonged to dear friends--he probably wouldn’t have found much interest in the twiggy stems of the scarf, but he’d definitely have appreciated the leafy fronds that grow out of them.

Lacy, airy, and delicate, Herne is a quick and enjoyable knit. The pattern features both charts and written instructions. The scarf is worked in two halves and grafted. It is available for $5 (USD).

Thanks to the marvelous Nyx, I had way too many photos to include in the pattern. Some are up on Ravelry, and here are some of my favorites.

The Rav page linked above has the download link. Eeee!

Startitis, I has it

2010-08-07T16:27:00.000-04:00

And in a big way. For so long I've been looking at the same two things--the stripey scarf and Irtfa'a, with a little sock and baby sweater knitting now and then. Now the stripey scarf is done, the baby sweater is done, Irtfa'a nears completion, and, sister, I am starting like crazy.

The first thing I started is a Lily of the Valley scarf from Knitted Lace of Estonia, in some of the Malabrigo Lace from a few weeks back. It is very soft and purty.

I'm concerned that the lace won't open up enough at this gauge, though. I went down two needles sizes from the pattern to account for using laceweight instead of fingering. Thoughts?

I also dragged my Papyrus shawl out of hibernation--I'm determined to finish the test knit and get the pattern out there. (I find it amusing that when I put it away I was so convinced I'd be going right back to it that I put it away complete with needles and row counter. I crack me up. On the other hand, it does save me the trouble of figuring out which needles I used and which row I was on.)

For now, I've managed to confine my actual starting of projects to just the lily scarf and the resurrected shawl. In terms of preparation, though, I've gone a bit off the rails.

This J. Knits* alpaca lace came to me already wound, a gift from Nyx, and I paired it with Fernfrost by Anne Hanson. I also strung some of the beads, as you see--they were also a gift from Nyx, who is determined to make me love beading.

I'm thinking the beads will go between the yarnovers in each fern; any suggestions?

Finally, I wound this knitswithsticks yarn, like, forever ago, with the intention of making socks for my friend Jennifer. And I've found the perfect (or so ~I~ think) pattern--the Be Mine socks from 2-at-a-Time Socks by Melissa Morgan-Oakes. It has cabled hearts!

For the moment, I'm (mostly) still knitting Irtfa'a. But as soon as that's done--baby, I'm going to TOWN.

*Their website is apparently undergoing a redesign?

New York, New York

2010-08-03T17:31:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, I went to New York City for the first time ever. This probably wouldn't be so odd if I hadn't LIVED in New York for three years. (I lived upstate. It's far away from NYC.)

But anyway, of course I had to go check out Manhattan's best yarn store, Knitty City. And oh boy, did I get some pretties.

I have to say, when I first walked into the store, I wasn't super-impressed. The yarn is organized by weight (more or less), but multiple brands are shoved together on the same shelf, and the place is full to bursting. I really had to do some digging--although I was richly rewarded. And though several staff members were present in the shop (albeit I think they were taking a break from a class, maybe?), no one greeted or even acknowledged me until I spoke directly to them.
After that, though, I did have a nice conversation with one employee, who was very helpful, and I think the store's owner herself rang me up. And SHE was super--she complimented me on my taste in yarn, pointed out a few accessories that were fun, and showed every indication of being willing to talk to me all day; I didn't feel at all hurried. So although the beginning of my visit wasn't great, overall I was left with a good impression and would definitely go back.

And what did I buy, you ask? I bought yarn!

First is a skein of Sweet Georgia Tough Love Sock (80/20 superwash merino/nylon) in colorway "Nightshade." Just LOOK at that color saturation. When the Irishman saw this, he started muttering about socks. Maybe I can convince him he'd like to learn to knit . . .

And then . . . Sea Silk! I saw Sea Silk described on Rav once as "the Cadillac of lace yarns," and ain't it the truth. I've never knit with it before--I am SO excited! The picture doesn't do it justice, of course. I think the colorway is Nova Scotia, but it's hard to tell. (Incidentally, I kind of like it that Handmaiden doesn't label her skeins--it makes it more fun that way.)

So yes indeed--I had fun in New York . . . and I have the yarn to prove it.

Here There Be Dwagons

2010-07-31T13:17:00.000-04:00

The baby sweater is finished! Here it is, blocking. (Complete with the Irishman's toes.)

And here is the finished product:

Yarn: Dale of Norway Baby Ull, about 1.5 skeins 8523 (green) and 0.5 skein 0090 (black). This color of green has been discontinued, unfortunately.

Pattern: "Baby's First Tattoo" from Stitch 'n Bitch Nation, size 3 months, 3/3.25mm needles.

Once again, I used intarsia for the motifs rather than embroidering them afterwards. Here's a closeup shot of the adorable dragon.

There was a moment of extreme panic when I realized I was going to run out of green halfway through the second front. (And I'd already finished the damn sleeves, too.) Fortunately, a Ravelry hunt came up a partial stashed skein, and the very nice owner traded it to me for some of my leftovers. Even better, although the dyelots were different, it's impossible to tell which is which.

Once again, I found the pattern frustrating--even more so than last time, honestly--and I'll definitely never knit it again. (Especially because I'm finally out of the black Baby Ull.)

Candy cane

2010-07-27T14:20:00.000-04:00

We've had some excitement around here lately. Remember the big storm that knocked out power to much of the DC area? We had power, fortunately, but we were without internet until this morning. Ah, sweet, sweet internet, how I have missed you.

And I have things to share. Among them, the candy cane scarf is finished!

Yarn is Venezia Worsted (70/30 merino/silk) in colorways 101 (white) and 104. This yarn is just a dream to work with (although somewhat splitty, especially if used with pointy needles.)

Pattern: my own, based on the Fleck Stitch from Knit and Purl.

Remember how I was going for 60"? Uh, try about 75. This is me, demonstrating the finished product. I may have overshot the mark a ~tad~. But no worries--I think it's very nice anyway, and it will keep someone nice and warm. (Isn't my pineapple shirt cute?)

Now on to scarf number four, and I'm not sure what I'll do. I'll have to go stash-diving and see what's appropriate. And I don't know if I'll just do my thing or seek out a pattern that someone, y'know, actually wrote down. So many options . . .

Also, it is the Irishman's birthday. Happy birthday to my main squeeze!

Old Navy scarf

2010-07-23T12:23:00.000-04:00

See, it's blue, and I've had it for so long . . .

No?

Anyway, this is the second scarf for the Red Scarf KAL.

Yarn is one skein of good old Cascade 220, colorway absolutely unknown. The cable is the Large Woven Cable from Cables & Arans.

And yes, the coffee table IS sitting on the loveseat in that picture. It says something about my house that when I asked a housemate why this was so, he replied "jumping jacks." Of course, I then decided to use the table to model knitwear . . .

Those of you keeping count may have noticed that while I pledged 12 scarves for the effort, I'm only done with two and a half. I think I may try for six, which is more reasonable given my schedule.

Bits and Pieces

2010-07-21T15:12:00.003-04:00

Pretty much same old same old here. Irtfa'a looks pretty much the same as last time. I've done about 20 edging repeats, so it is still stuck in big black blobdom. I've at least gotten into a rhythm with it, so I can do a couple repeats every time I watch TV or whatever. (The Irishman and I are watching Studio 60--he's a big Aaron Sorkin fan, and we've already gone through Sports Night.)

The baby sweater is getting closer to completion--both sleeves are done, and the first front is alllllmost finished. It'll be done today, and I can at least get the second started. Then comes some blocking! The dragon is adorable, by the way.

And the cross-stitch continues.

I've finished a couple of things, but I think I'll leave those for future posts. I'm so ready to move on to new and exciting knitting--I've already got a few things lined up. (As in, balls wound, patterns copied, the whole nine yards.)

Too Hot for Knit

2010-07-06T12:24:00.001-04:00

Too hot for proper grammar, either!

I'm just blah these days--it's hot, and all my knitting is stuck at either super-complex bits or bits that are boringly easy.

Maybe if it cools off at some point . . .

Let's Talk Lace

2010-07-02T12:10:00.002-04:00

Now, it may not show too much on the blog, but I am obsessed with lace. I consume Anne and Alison's blogs like they are sweet, sweet, lacy crack. I cruise patterns on Ravelry and elsewhere, favorite other people's shawls, and buy more laceweight than I can possibly knit. I've even published a lace pattern and have written several more that are in various stages of development.

So it probably comes as no surprise to anyone that I have quite a few books devoted to lace on my shelves. I thought today I'd discuss my most recent acquisitions, which promise to become favorites.

First is Nancy Bush's Knitted Lace of Estonia.

I have occasionally had--shall we say, issues--with Nancy Bush's patterns. (No way you got that gauge, lady!) But she's a wonderful writer, a wonderful knitter, and the flaws are really mine, not hers.

Knitted Lace of Estonia is a treasure for the serious lace knitter. It begins with a fascinating history of Estonian lace and knitting, then delves right into some Serious Knitting. The technique section alone is worth the price of the book; I've found myself consulting it for advice on other people's patterns!

I haven't knit anything from the book itself yet, but one of the things I love about Ms. Bush's books is that she assumes (nay, encourages!) that knitters will be consulting her work for ideas and influences for their own designs. To that end, she includes an Estonian stitch dictionary--with charts! (Seriously, written instructions just aren't the way to do lace.) In conclusion, A+, would buy again.

The second book I'd like to talk about is also lace, but completely different lace: Alison Jeppson Hyde's Wrapped in Comfort.

Rather than a history of knitting, Wrapped in Comfort is a personal history--a series of vignettes explaining the origin of each lace shawl (or scarf) and giving the reader a glimpse into Alison's life, complete with friends, family, and birds.

There's a handy intro to lace knitting, and the patterns are beautiful, but I confess, I probably won't be knitting them. (Well, maybe. I love the Ann Arbor shawl, and the Redwood Burl shawl is really pretty, and, um, I'm rethinking this.) The point of this book, really, is that reading it--and, unlike many knitting volumes, this book is meant to be read--is like sitting down with a old friend over coffee.

Alison's style is breezy, cheery, and funny as hell. Wrapped in Comfort is like reading a whole lot of her blog entries at once--and I mean that as a compliment. Incidentally, kudos to her editor for leaving her voice intact; it's so rare to find a pattern book that reads as if a real person wrote it.

As I said above, I don't know if I'll ever knit anything from this book, but I'm sure glad to have it and read it whenever I need a little cheer. (And you know, Michelle's shawl would look super in Malabrigo . . .)

Baby's Second Tattoo

2010-06-29T20:59:00.000-04:00

Yes, that's right--after all the whining I did last time, I'm knitting another Baby's First Tattoo (from Stitch 'n Bitch Nation). I know, I swore I wouldn't do it, but it's soooooo cute. And a really easy knit.

I mean, look, here's a back and most of a sleeve already:

Also, this sort of thing would be quicker and easier if I didn't get these bees in my bonnet. This sweater is for my newest little cousin, Sophie, who was born a week ago today. Her father's brother's daughter (how's that for complicated?) got the orange version of the sweater, so I thought it would be nice to make this one in a different color and with a new motif on the front. Her parents aren't really skull and crossbones people, and I didn't like the other pre-charted motifs, so . . . I made my own!

If you can't tell, it's a little Chinese dragon, and I think it'll be absolutely adorable. Now I just need to knit it . . .

A Dreamy Day of Daydreaming of You

2010-06-27T22:42:00.000-04:00

Okay, so Of Montreal probably weren't talking about knitting, but . . . isn't this dreamy?

This is my completed Dreams of Madeira scarf. The pattern is free, and a quick and beautiful knit. Needles: size three (3.25 mm).

The yarn is Jojoland Harmony (100% wool); I think colorway HC07. Ball band is not handy. This yarn is a good value for the money (800 yds for about 10 USD per skein). It's not incredibly soft, which is a quality I find many cobweb-weight yarns have; something about the proportionally higher twist, I think? Knit up and washed, however, it's softer and very warm and light. It's a separately-dyed two-ply, which gives it the beautiful color changes.

The model is the long-suffering Irishman, who--unfortunately for him--happened to be wearing a black shirt the day I decided to take pictures. But doesn't he look adorable?

The scarf, which is really more of a stole, is a gift for my friend (and new housemate!), Jennifer. I mention the stole thing because it came as a bit of a surprise to me. Not at all a bad thing, just if you're looking for something long and skinny, this isn't it.

Anyway, I am very pleased, and I even have yarn leftover!

Malabrigo nom nom nom

2010-06-25T20:31:00.000-04:00

This time, just a little yarn pr0n. Because yarn takes the edge off, y'know?

I try very hard to avoid buying much yarn, because I don't have much space, and I already have more yarn than I could reasonably knit in a year, even if civilization were to collapse and take away my access to Posh Yarn.

On the other hand, if civilization were to collapse I could totally stop going to work, so maybe I should buy more yarn.

Anyhoodle, my Achilles' heel is weekly knit night at WoolWinders, where I'm regularly exposed to wool fumes. I'm reasonably resistant . . . but not to Malabrigo. To be fair, I'm not sure anyone is truly immune to Malabrigo. I mean, look at it:

And by "it" I of course mean "the laceweight I may or may not have purchased two skeins of because LOOK IT'S GREEN."

And then there's this:

Now, you've got to understand. I'm not really a pink person. (Well, in my dye preference. In my actual skin, I am an extremely pink person.) I'm definitely not a pastel person. But look at this. It looks like cotton candy threw up a cloud. And I am helpless before it.

I should knit this stuff quick to get it out of the stash before it breeds.

Really, that long?

2010-06-23T17:07:00.005-04:00

Yeah, I know. But moving is haaaaaaaaaaaaaard. First, you have to pack up all your yarn. And then move it. And then unpack it. And you never know where you've put anything.

Well, at least, I never know. Maybe it's different for those of you who are "organized." Do let me know what it's like sometime.

Anyway, on the knitting front I have managed to accomplish a few things. Thus, it is time for a (*announcer voice*)

Work in Progress: Update (update update)

First and foremost, Irtfa'a. When last seen, it looked like this:

(Incidentally, why do so many knitters describe their knitting--particularly shawls and sweaters--as she? My knitting is genderqueer.)

Now it looks like this:

Yes indeed, Big Black Blob status has been achieved. I'm 2/3 done with the quill and feathers section, allllllllmost ready to start the edging. So close, and yet so far!

Next is the (sadly misnamed) March scarf. When last seen, it looked like this:

Now, it looks like this:

I estimate that it's about half-done. I have an issue with scarves where I stop knitting when I get bored, not when the scarf should actually be stopped. So they tend to be kind of short. I myself like a short scarf, but apparently other people don't? Or something crazy like that, anyway. So this time I am going with the POWER of MATHEMATICS to achieve a 60" scarf.

Also, maybe I'll change the name so it's less depressing. My friend Stephanie from knit night calls it my "candy cane." Much more friendly, eh?

So you see, lots of progress on the primary WIPs. Ravelry informs me that I have several FOs and new WIPs to discuss, but I think I'll leave those for next time. Au revoir, mes amies!*

*I don't actually speak French. I just think it's classy.

So . . .

2010-05-27T22:02:00.003-04:00

Here's the deal. I'm moving next week. It's just a local move, but that still means packing. I have like three FOs that need to be washed and blocked, progress on old stuff, and new things to show you. But all of these will have to wait until I have moved! Alas.

Still stitching

2010-04-20T15:16:00.005-04:00

I'm still working away on both the cross-stitch and my Irtfa'a--I swear I'll get updated pictures of the latter sometime soon. Maybe after this weekend--I'm headed to the Midwest for a wedding, and the cross-stitch isn't very portable, so Irtfa'a will be my traveling companion. (And no, it's not the wedding for which the cross-stitch is intended, thank heavens. That's not for a few more weeks. It's just wedding season, I guess!)

Meanwhile, I've been making progress on a few other things. This is the latest scarf for the Red Scarf Project KAL:The yarn is Cascade Venezia Worsted (70/30 merino/silk) in colorways 101 (white) and 104. Venezia is one of my favorite yarns--I designed the Manly Scarf out of it, and it's wonderful to work with. The pattern is my own--it's the Fleck Stitch from Knit and Purl. I like the look, and it's simple to knit.

I've also started another pair of Mindless Socks, once again in my beloved Regia Silk. This is the last I have(/cry), so I'm making the most of it.

That's all for the moment--stay tuned for book reviews and Malabrigo pictures. (Now you're intrigued, eh?)

Stashy goodness

2010-04-08T16:04:00.001-04:00

I realized when I was writing the post showing off my Frederick yarns that I'd neglected to display some stash accumulation of the past few months. (The astute playing along at home will note that I obtain far more yarn than I will ever knit. I am strangely okay with this.)

First, and by far most important, a pretty from Nyx:

This is 100% kid mohair in a laceweight. I brightened up the picture a bit, but I couldn't get the exact hue of the green. It's a little warmer than this--reminds me of seafoam. Must find something sea-like to knit with it. She also sent beads and beautiful stitch markers, currently in use on my Irtfa'a. Yay Nyx!

Then there are these, my first ever order from the Loopy Ewe:

This is Dream in Color Smooshy (100% merino) in "November Muse." I've heard very good things about DIC, but I've never had the opportunity to knit with it.

And this is Schoppel-Wolle's Zauberball in "Cranberries." (Click through for a picture of the yarn as it knits up--seriously cool.) I have another Zauberball in my stash, but I haven't knit with it yet. I really should . . .

These are both efforts to get some more guy-friendly colors into my yarn stash. They're both colors I'd happily wear, of course, but it never hurts to have sock yarns that men won't turn up their picky noses at.

Otherwise, I'm trudging along on both the cross-stitch and Irtfa'a, which is actually considerably more advanced than that picture shows. I should get more recent ones . . .

Discontent

2010-03-30T17:07:00.006-04:00

I am currently disgruntled. Long-time readers may remember a series of posts from last year in which I noted that I used to do a lot of cross-stitch, was possessed of the desire to pick it up again, and rediscovered that cross-stitch can be kind of boring.
I did continue to cross-stitch, however, mostly due to it being Really Freakin' Hot outside and not very suitable for knitting. I noted as much here, complete with a picture of my work. Then, it looked like this:

I put aside the project in the fall, secure in the knowledge that, although it was not nearly complete, I didn't have a deadline. After all, the friend who was engaged hadn't even set a date yet.

Fast forward to last month, when I got an invitation in the mail. For MAY. This is the current status of the cross-stitch:

It has advanced considerably, true, but it is still not done. So for the foreseeable future, all my knitting time is devoted to cross-stitch. Argh! My travel projects are still knitting, of course--cross-stitch doesn't travel well, owing to the need for complicated charts and lots of thread. But I haven't been putting in the work I usually do, and I'm really feeling it. At this point, I'd abandon the cross-stitch and knit something for the happy couple if it weren't for a few factors. Aside from being half-done with the damn thing, I don't know the woman getting married well at all (I'm quite good friends with her fiance), and I hesitate to knit something for someone I don't know well. Cross-stitch seems safer.

But I miss knitting, she whines.

Olympics Wrap-Up

2010-03-02T16:19:00.001-05:00

So the Olympics are over . . . and this is my Irtfa'a:

It's a little further advanced than when I took this picture, but not by a whole lot.

What did I learn from this year's Olympics? My limiting factor isn't skill but time. Nothing in this shawl so far has thrown me--not even the provisional cast-on. Of course, probably a lot of that is Anne's crystal-clear instructions, but still. I'm no slouch!

So next year, the trick is going to be finding something I'll have time to complete in two weeks. Lots of hats, maybe?

Speaking of Anne, I had the opportunity to meet her weekend before last at Eleganza Yarns' Indie Artist Celebration. In addition to Anne's trunk show (which is amaaaazing), the shindig included the work of all sorts of local spinners, dyers, and fiber types. And I may or may not have purchased a few things.

First, a few skeins of Mid Valley Fibers handspun. Linda was so nice (and the prices so incredible) that I had to get some. I'm always drawn to this kind of slubby yarn, even though I never know what to knit with it. I'm thinking a scarf, maybe? (100% wool, a sort of DK weight.)

Then there's this beauty, courtesy of Blue Ridge Yarns--100% silk laceweight in "Dragon's Breath."
This picture doesn't do it near justice, nor do the pictures on their website. (Which is probably a good thing for all of your credit cards.) I confess, I had to call the Irishman for a fiber intervention at this table--I had about four skeins in my hands before I got talked down. If I ever win the lottery, I'm totally cleaning them out.

And the best part of the day, of course, was meeting Anne! Not only is she as funny and gracious in real life as she is on her blog, she knew who I was. *squee* I have such a huge designer crush on Anne, and it was so much fun to meet her and see all her knits in person.

So that was two weekends ago, and I'm still recovering. (As is my credit card, *ahem*.) Now time to go get some more done on the Irishman's socks. Oh yes, you remember the big blue things from last time? They're NOT BIG ENOUGH. So I need to finish unpicking the bind-offs and knit a few more inches onto the cuffs. Curses!

Olympics, Day Hey Look Over There

2010-02-25T17:55:00.000-05:00

To distract from my lack of exciting Ravelympic progress, here are some more finished objects. Not really so recent anymore . . .

First, some Mindless Socks:

Once again in my beloved (and discontinued, /cry) Regia Silk. And once again too small for me. I haven't gifted these to anyone--the last, similar pair went to my mother for her birthday. I'll keep 'em on my shelf until I find the right recipient.

Then, continuing in the sock vein, yet more Mindless Socks for my boyfriend, the Irishman:

The astute observer will note that dude has ENORMOUS feet. Just trying to get one to a size that would fit took me six weeks! The second, however, was a much quicker knit once I knew the proportions I was looking for. It's really quite incredible, though; I'll have to get a comparison shot at some point. I have big feet myself, but this is ridiculous.

On the other hand, I don't have much leftover yarn hanging around. So there's that.

My Ravelympic shawl is progressing very slowly, and I'm quite sure I won't finish it time to medal. Boo. But it is a lovely knit, just as Anne Hanson is a lovely person. (And omg I MET HER LAST WEEK!!1111ELEVENTY! Details of which to come.)

Olympics, Day 4

2010-02-15T14:12:00.005-05:00

Well, I got off to a blazing start by . . . forgetting the needles I needed to cast on and therefore not casting on until Saturday.

Whoops!

But Irtfa'a is safely on the needles now. The provisional cast-on gave me a bit of trouble, as I'd never done one before, but I think i figured it out . . . Anyway, I finished the opening edging section, and I'm now working on the shoulder shaping. I only have 15 rows of that knit, but it's been getting faster all the time. My hope is that I can really fly once the increases are finished!

Meanwhile, here's something I finished a while ago:

This is a plain scarf for the Red Scarf Project, which, basically, gives care packages to young people with no families. These kids (I say kids, but they're not much younger than I am) are making their way with virtually no support networks. My family has been very supportive of me, especially in the past year, financially, emotionally, spiritually, and in generally making my life easier, and I can't imagine living without them. So this is definitely a very, very worthy project, and I encourage any of you reading to check it out.

I'm part of a 2010 KAL for the Red Scarf Project running through the #1 Knitspot Fan group on Ravelry, so I hope to knit 12 scarves to donate this year. As well as being lots of fun, it's a good way to give back with my knitting.

Knitting Olympics!

2010-02-11T20:00:00.002-05:00

*squeeeeeeeee*

I'm participating in the Lace Luge and the Short Track Shawls events with an Irtfa'a, and I am SO EXCITED!

I'm part of Team Mawelucky, and I made this to use as a ravatar during the games:

I am such a nerd. But I have fun doing it!

Whoops

2010-01-25T23:37:00.002-05:00

I am so sorry I disappeared on all two of you who read this. Long story short, my desktop is busted, and that's where I keep all my photos and whatnot. Between the desktop and work, I haven't been able to get things together long enough to blog. But I promise, I swear, that I'll be back for the Ravelympics and after.

In the meantime, more comics:

marriedtothesea.com

Merry Christmas!

2009-12-25T15:21:00.005-05:00

I hope you are all spending it the same way I am. That is, at home in your pajama bottoms with nothing compelling you to go outside. Other celebratory details optional.

It's been quite the year for me on many fronts, but it's been eventful in terms of knitting, too. I was inspired to pick up the needles again about year and a half ago by the guy I was dating at the time. (I told him if he picked out the yarn I'd knit him a pair of socks.) What had been a pleasant hobby in college quickly grew into a consuming passion--especially when I got onto Ravelry.

Now, I'm living in a new place, pursuing a different career, dating a different fellow, and have actually published knitting patterns that people want to knit. Seems kind of crazy, but there you have it.

I have lots of thoughts on how knitting builds community and can make life more fulfilling and blah blah blah, but you know what? In lieu of a boring meta-post, I'm going to go knit.

Merry Christmas.

This Married to the Sea cartoon is for Jane. She knows why.

squee

2009-12-21T21:40:00.004-05:00

So a few months back I designed a scarf for my brother's birthday. I wrote up the pattern all pretty-like, and today I put it up on Ravelry. Since I put a lot of effort into it, I decided to offer it for sale rather than for free.

And people have actually BOUGHT IT. Thrilling! I may never realize this whole yarn store/designing for a living thing, but this is one tiny step closer.

In case you're interested, the pattern is up on Rav as The Manly Scarf.

(Oh, just so you know--the pictures are of my long-suffering friend R3. He's a good egg.)

Awesome hat

2009-12-20T14:21:00.003-05:00

I designed and knit this hat over the Thanksgiving holiday. It's based on one sold at Old Navy; I reverse-engineered that hat, but didn't have quite enough yarn to make an identical version. I improvised, and I think it worked out very well.

The yarn was a gift from Superquail when she was living in China; it's 100% acryllic in a super-bulky-weight. Beyond that, I know nothing. I ran short on that, so I rummaged in the stash and came up with leftovers from a hat I made for Aspen a long time ago. I remember that it was 100% wool (very similar to Lambs Pride in the way it knits up) and handpainted, but I got nothing else. I finished the top of the hat in that and then Swiss-embroidered it over all the knit stitches in one row to make it look like I'd done it all on purpose. Here's a shot of the hat in use:

I'm quite pleased with myself. Now to decide whether I want to give it away or wear it myself . . .

Bad blogger, no cookie

2009-12-17T17:30:00.003-05:00

I've been terribly busy lately, and in consequence I've neglected not only this blog but the knitting blogosphere in general. With the holidays coming up, however, I should have more time to blog. And I've been knitting! Lots of things! Really I have!

Actually, I've been knitting a lot but I haven't felt that I've gotten much done, which is such a frustrating feeling. So a good part of my holiday relaxing is going to be devoted to finishing up various WIPs and planning knitting to come. Meanwhile, I give you this picture of a kitty:

He loves yarn too!

Shamefully tardy

2009-11-04T13:51:00.003-05:00

So I got a new job recently, and it's been kicking my butt in terms of knitting. First, I don't have as much time, and second, I'm often too tired to knit. (Horror!)

I am working on a few things, though--I had a major breakthrough on a scarf project that I should be able to show you soon.

In the meantime, here's a mindless sock. Enjoy.

Birthday loots!

2009-10-23T16:30:00.004-04:00

It was my birthday, and I gots presents!

The book, 2-at-a-time Socks, was a gift from my mother. She doesn't knit, but she very much appreciates it that I do. I sense that this is a hint! Since I'm a die-hard DPN fan, I probably won't use the two-at-a-time method, but the patterns are really cute.

The other gifts are from the wonderful Aspen. I've already stowed all my notions in the bag (which is AWESOME), and a beautiful beaded stitch marker (not pictured) is on my latest Mindless Sock. The yarn is a breathtaking silk laceweight from Redfish. (And a little sample skein of sock yarn from Miss Babs *Squee*

Yay birthdays!

Holiday knitting inc

2009-10-20T14:40:00.000-04:00

For those of you who don't game, "inc!" is short for "monsters incoming . . . and they don't look friendly." So holiday knitting is definitely inc around here.

Here's the current list, just to keep myself organized:

1) A birthday present for a friend--this is already late. I just hope it's worth it.
2) Socks for my newest cousin (recipient of the Baby's First Tattoo)--and her older brother, of course, so he won't feel left out.
3) Socks for R3's girlfriend, J. I have just the yarn picked out . . .
4) A scarf for R3--he's such a good sport to tolerate my knitting whims, he deserves something in return.
5) Scarves for my housemates. All of them will have to be suitably masculine.

And this is for starters . . . I'm sure I'll think of more.

Socks: final destination

2009-10-16T23:03:00.000-04:00

Here are the hibiscus socks, complete at last.

Pattern: Embossed Leaves Socks from Favorite Socks

Yarn: Great Adirondack Yarn Company Silky Sock (70/20/10 merino/silk/nylon), colorway Hibiscus. Size 0/2mm needles (down from the 2/2.75mm called for in the pattern).

These are now on their way to celebrate a dear friend's birthday--many more, Ms. Wiz!

I have to say, although it made pretty socks, I was disappointed in this yarn. There were tons of silk slubs and those little whatchamacallits where extraneous fibers get wrapped around the strand and have to be cut off--not the quality I expect for the price I paid. I also didn't much care for the way the colors fell against one another in the plain stockinette portions. Fortunately, the leaves broke them up really beautifully--a reason I like lace patterns for some variegated yarns. On the positive side, I think the socks will wear very well, between the fiber content and the really high twist of the yarn.

Thoughts on the pattern: as always with Interweave, the directions were crystal-clear and well-formatted. I always like a nice alternative toe, too. Maybe it's just my crankiness coming out, but I hate fussy cuffs. Twisted rib looks nice, but it doesn't look nice enough to justify how slow and tedious it is to knit, in my humble opinion. (Also, I think the cast-on was stupid. But I think every cast-on besides long-tail is stupid, so I probably shouldn't be listened to on that front.)

I am such a dork

2009-10-10T19:58:00.002-04:00

I literally just announced to myself, as I sat down at my computer: "let's knit it ON."

Will the sock madness never stop?

2009-10-10T13:29:00.000-04:00

The answer is no.

Here are the latest Mindless Socks.

Yarn: Regia Silk (55/25/20 merino/polyamide/silk--unfortunately discontinued), colorways Nairobi and, um, plain white? The number is something boring like 0002.

Pattern is mindless socks, of course, done with 52 stitches on size 1/2.25mm needles. That creates a very fine, thin sock that could easily be worn with everyday shoes.

I really like this combination of yarns--it satisfies both my frugality and my aesthetics. You'll be seeing similar socks as I work through the remainders of previous projects. I'm also on a yarn diet, so I can't buy any new sock materials for the foreseeable future. *sadface*

Blood, sweater, and tears

2009-10-07T17:30:00.000-04:00

The Endless Sweater is complete! *tah-dah* (Please ignore how awful I look in this photo. This was the best picture of the sweater. See how I suffer for my art.)

Pattern: Boyfriend Sweater from Hip to Knit (52" size). Yarn: Bemidji Woolen Mills Original Homespun (225 yds/skein), 4.75 skeins oatmeal heather, 0.5 skein natural, for about 1150 yards total. (Way less than the estimated 1500, by the way; I have two full skeins of the oatmeal leftover.)

These pictures were taken by my friend R3, who was getting a little revenge for the time I forced him to model a scarf. That's sparkling cider, not champagne. That didn't stop us, of course.

Modifications: I moved the cables seven stitches in toward the neck on both sides. They'd have been in my armpits if I'd knit them as written--as it is, I could have moved them a little further still. I omitted the patch pockets over the cables and instead left gaps in the side seams for pockets there.

Here's a close-up I took of the buttons, which are incredible handmade glass I got at my LYS. They remind me of dried apricots, only less edible and more beautiful.

Notes on the pattern: it was a relatively quick and easy knit. Most of the measurements were accurate (I got stitch gauge but not row gauge); however, the sleeves were far too long at the 21" called for. I removed the cuffs, ripped some, and knit shorter cuffs. The sleeves are still a bit oversized, exactly what I wanted.

All in all, a very satisfactory knit. I've been wearing it around all week, and it's just perfect for early fall.

squee

2009-10-04T16:19:00.000-04:00

So I got a very nice thing in the mail the other day:

The lovely Nyx sent me some beads, some chocolate, a little J. Knits Lace-a-licious (in "Boston") . . . and some of her very own handpainted laceweight.

Seriously, this stuff is so gorgeous. The picture can't do it justice; it's much more subtle and purpley in person. Right now it's on the corner of my desk so I can pet it as desired--I don't remember the fiber content off the top of my head, but I think there's some cashmere in there. Whatever it is, it's wonderful. <3 Nyx.

Erm . . .

2009-10-03T22:48:00.003-04:00

So, here's the deal. The sweater was done, complete, finis. And then I decided the sleeves were too long.

I realize that I perhaps should have paid attention to this before I finished knitting them, or before I sewed them into the sweater. But anyway.

This meant I had to remove the cuffs, ravel a few inches of sleeve, and reknit to my satisfaction. I did this, but the doing of this meant that I couldn't get any pictures taken. Furthermore, I haven't been knitting much else because, sweater.

I promise the next post will have not only more content but be substantially more interesting.

Are you bored of socks yet?

2009-09-27T16:33:00.000-04:00

I do apologize if so.

The latest plain sock is done:

I'd plotted to keep these for myself, but unfortunately, this one was too short for my ginormafoot. So it'll have to go to someone for Christmas or a birthday--I can hear the wailing and gnashing of teeth from here.

The first Hibiscus Sock is also finished:

And its mate is well under way.

Otherwise, the sweater is DONE (!!!). Pictures will be forthcoming when it's all dry and I can finish the seaming and put the buttons on.

I have to get knitting on something else. Maybe a scarf? Or a hat, I haven't knit a hat in awhile. What I really want is to knit another sweater, but unfortunately that's beyond the budget at the moment . . .

Sock it to me

2009-09-21T13:28:00.000-04:00

Bad blogger is bad. I've mostly been working on the Endless Sweater this past week, but there's been a fair amount happening on the sock front as well. The first Hibiscus sock is past the heel turn:

It doesn't look like much without a foot inside, but I think it'll be very pretty. This pattern has some odd things happening in the shaping--you break the yarn to start the gussets, which I've never seen before. It works out, though, so I suppose it's just another method to add to the mental list. This shot really shows off the silk in this yarn--see the sheen?

I've also worked some more on the latest Mindless Sock:

I really like the combination of the self-striping yarn with the plain white. I can't wait to wear these. They're so soft.

In other news, the Endless Sweater nears completion. The whole thing is knit and pieced, and I'm on the buttonbands/collar. Anything more will have to wait until Thursday's knit night, though--I want to pick out some buttons before I make the buttonholes! In the meantime, you may visualize a giant blob of oatmeal-covered yarn. (It looked pretty sharp and much less blobby until I picked up all the collar stitches.) And in the meantime, I'm going to knit some more socks.

Sweater thoughts

2009-09-16T12:53:00.006-04:00

The cardigan progresses apace--the first sleeve is done (pictured below), and I'm about halfway through the second. Sleeves? Are really boring to knit.

This leads to some thoughts I've been having lately, about sweater design in particular. This is the first sweater I've ever knit for myself. As you may have gathered, I'm a big girl. Sleeves for big-girl sweaters are bigger than sleeves for other people, making them 2485 times more boring to knit. (Scientific measurement.) But you know . . . they don't have to be.

In Borders the other day I was paging through a book of sweaters designed for, shall we say, ladies of size.* I asked my companion (my friend R3, an occasional knitter himself) to tell me what the patterns had in common. When he admitted he couldn't see it, I pointed out that all of the sweaters were shapeless. Baggy. Boring.

Now, there are certainly women (and men) in the world who look good in shapeless, baggy, boring sweaters. Some of these women are even plus-sized. But LOTS of us, if not most, look a thousand times better in something fitted. Whether or not you have curves to flaunt, odds are good you still look better in something that doesn't do its best to drown you. Also, can we talk color for a moment? News flash, my designing friends: FAT PEOPLE CAN LOOK GOOD IN RED. Astonishing, inorite?

So I decided to do something about it. Pictured above along with the sleeve is what came for me in the mail today--The Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns.

I have this vision in my head, you see--of a close-fitting, V-neck, fine-gauge sweater (very like one I already own), in a sophisticated black . . . or maybe a bright crimson. And since it doesn't seem to be out there already--I'll have to design it.

*Note: this is not the famous Big Girl Knits, which features very shapely, fitted (and, not coincidentally, beautiful) sweaters. I've been waiting on the softcover edition and am SO EXCITED you have no idea omg.

A few new things

2009-09-11T13:35:00.000-04:00

The cardigan is still on Sleeve Island--but at least progressing, however slowly. Maybe by next week I'll have the sleeves done so I can block everything and start putting it together? A girl can dream. (Note: sleeve one is not yet done. This is perhaps an unrealistic goal.)

Meanwhile, I've cast on some new stuff that will probably move at a snail's pace while I continue to focus on the sweater.

First, the beginning of a Dreams of Madeira scarf in JoJoLand Harmony. (I think it's colorway HC02; I don't have the ball band handy.)

Although the yarn is very, very fine and a little tricky to work with, it's absolutely gorgeous. Aspen knit a beautiful Gail from the same stuff in colorway HC08--go check it out.

That's going to be my knit night project for the near future--the lace pattern (thus far) isn't complicated, so it's a good choice for sitting around gossiping.

I also began (of course) a new pair of Mindless Socks with some Regia leftovers. (Oh, by the way, the pattern is now available as a Rav download.) My hope is to use up all the stripey stuff on heels, toes, and cuffs so I can get three or four pairs out of the white. We'll see.

Anyway, time's a-wastin'--and this sleeve won't knit itself.

Sockses

2009-09-08T14:10:00.000-04:00

Once again, I'm rather boring--still plugging away at the cardigan. I finished the other front and I'm now firmly on Sleeve Island. On the bright side, I seem to be looking good gauge-wise, and when I took my first sleeve off the needles to check fit, it was fine. Something I found interesting , too: based on the pattern info, it was going to take about eight skeins of the homespun to make the sweater (seven of the main color, one of contrast). I'm about halfway through the ball of contrast, so that should work perfectly with one more cuff and the neck and front edges to knit. Of the main color, though, I'm only on the fourth skein. Unless the sleeves somehow take twice the yarn the fronts did, I expect I'll have about 450 yards leftover--more than two skeins. Maybe I'll knit a matching scarf.

Otherwise, I've been plotting out Christmas knitting--there are lots of men in my life who'll be needing scarves, I think, and some other folks who rate socks. I don't knit socks for just anyone. Glad I'm getting the jump on it now, though; I think I have rather a lot to do . . .

I did finish these:

Another pair of Mindless Socks, in SWTC's Tofutsies, 50/25/22.5/2.5 wool/soysilk/cotton/chitin, size 0/2mm needles. This is the leftover yarn from the Waving Lace socks I knit for myself last year.

I mentioned it back then, but it's worth mentioning again--I love this yarn. It can be a little awkward to work with, but it knits up beautifully. It's also a great value--$16.50 or so for a 100g skein. This is less than you'd pay for the same yardage of many sock yarns, and I got not one but two pairs out of this skein, making it even more economical. And it's cute!

Said completed socks are now wending their way to a friend who lives far away. I hope she likes them.

I hate to leaf you hanging

2009-09-05T16:11:00.001-04:00

I don't have much to show for myself lately. I spent most of the last week immersed in a Sekret Projekt (oooh, exciting) or, failing that, in the Endless Sweater. Which is kind of big and tan and boring, given that the bits all look more or less alike.

I have put in a little work on this, though:

This is the beginning of an Embossed Leaves sock from Favorite Socks in Great Adirondack Yarn Company Silky Sock (70/20/10 merino/silk/nylon), colorway Hibiscus. Yes, the colors really ARE that bright.

And . . . that's all I got. Stayed tuned 'til next time, when I demonstrate that big, tan, boring cardigans continue to be big, tan, and boring.

Almost forgot!

2009-09-02T00:39:00.003-04:00

I neglected to mention--I put up the pattern for this little scarf the other day. It can be found as a Ravelry download here. (Those without Ravelry accounts can email me if interested.)

Perfection on Sticks

Sweater!

Zig Zag Socks

Flotsam and Jetsam

Finally, a Finished Object

Things on my Rav page

What to knit in front of the telly?

Mmmmm, Pi

Catchin' Up

Kreuzstichstickerein!

Green Is Happening

How's Tricks?

Warm Fuzzies

Year of the Sock: April in Retrospect

Sheep and Wool!

Still Alive

Year of the Sock: March

Rare Meta Non-Knitting Post

Whole Lotta Nappin' Goin' On

Year of the Sock: Still in It to Win It*

The Manly Möbius

Birthday Pi!

Sweaters Take a Very Long Time to Knit

Hi, My Name Is Mary

Happy (belated) birthday to me!

Sweater Frustrations

*sigh*

Seaweed Shawl

Year of the Sock: February

Rainbow!

Year of the Sock: Update

Year of the Sock

Quick and dirty

Shrug (as a Bug in a Rug)

Hello, my yarny friends

Lost my mojo

Papyrus

Watch this space . . .

Glee!

More Malabrigo

My mom is the greatest

Oh my GAWD

Happy Thanksgiving!

We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Blog

We're not in Kansas anymore

Not-So-Magical Möbius

What Makes a UFO?

Knitting Is the Same in French

Always with the socks

Technical Stuffs

Solutions for Sock Snafus

Guh

Tudor Grace

*swoon*

Did you guess?

Sockses!

Blog? What blog?

Ravin' Ravens

Quickie

Herne is here

Startitis, I has it

New York, New York

Here There Be Dwagons

Candy cane

Old Navy scarf

Bits and Pieces

Too Hot for Knit

Let's Talk Lace

Baby's Second Tattoo

A Dreamy Day of Daydreaming of You

Malabrigo nom nom nom

Really, that long?

So . . .

Still stitching

Stashy goodness

Discontent

Olympics Wrap-Up

Olympics, Day Hey Look Over There

Olympics, Day 4

Knitting Olympics!

sigh

swoon

squee

squee