The promised update.

Well, the new blogger is up and running. My issues with it aren't that I couldn't get certain functions to work, it is that I liked "old blogger", and had no real desire to switch to "new blogger". eh. It just took forever. Two easy steps my ass.

anyway, enough grouching. on to the knitting!

The February Socks

Knit for Socktopia, these socks represent the Laissez les bon temps rouler!(Let the Good Times Roll) theme. I chose this theme because I love "Fat Tuesday", also known as Mardi Gras, and known where I grew up as "Fausnaught Day". The PA Dutch celebrate the day by making little fried doughnuts and passing them out to others. The idea is that you get back ten fold what you give away, and giving away fat and sugar in the middle of winter reminds you of sacrifice. Mardi Gras is like the exact opposite celebration to kick off the Easter season - Party Down 'cause you ain't doin' it again for 6 weeks!

A little about the socks:

Name: Bourbon Street Socks

Pattern: my own toe up, short row heel pattern, knit over 64 stitches.

Needles: Knit Picks classic circs - size 0

Yarn: Lorna's Laces "Mardi Gras" colorway, one skein.

Notes: I used a lace "bead stitch" around the toe and on the cuff of the socks, to represent the obligatory beads thrown on Bourbon St during Mardi Gras. Obviously the colors are the official colors of the event, and I like that the pattern is obscured my the colors. Normally, that is not a desired effect, but since mardi gras is such an assault to the senses, I decided to carry it over into my socks.

In FPS world, I decided to work on my socks, and mostly put off the stole until last night.

(as a side note, I have to say that I love getting design work. It is what I went to school for, but I hate giving up time right at the beginning of a project to doing actual work. This makes me a bad person, I know.)

This is my progress:

That wad is me finished with one rectangle on one tier. well, at least I got the bottom border, the set up triangles, the first side triangle, and one rectangle finished. When you put it like that it seams like a lot.....

Like I said yesterday, I went on a bit of a yarn crawl on Sunday. Every store was having a Super Bowl Sale. I'm am SO down with that. I set my limit at $60, and decided to only get sock yarn, as I have a few holes in my color selection, as well as ideas for a few pairs that I don't have yarn for.

I started at "the Yarn Garden" in Meriden. In this store all yarn was 41% off. Sweet. I only bought one pair worth though. I should have gotten more, but I didn't want to buy tons in the first store, then be sad when I got to the last store and fell in love with ten things I couldn't afford. So I just bought two skeins of Regia Silk in a gorgeous butter cream color.

I've been interested in this yarn for awhile, and am so happy to have it in my collection. I have stopped myself from getting it a few times because of the cost (!) and the fact that I always come across dark colors. I love dark colors, but I wanted some lighter colored yarns for more variety in my knitting choices.

Next up was umm.... the store I call Wallingford Yarn. I can't remember the real name. well, it's the only one in Wallingford, CT, so it should be easy to find if anyone is so inclined. I like this store, although I don't go very often. It is open on Sunday, which I love. It is also pretty spacious, as yarn stores go. They have a lot of novelty, but they carry a really good selection of basics and luxury as well. I decided to stop when DH pointed out that we were going to go past it on the way to the next store. I said that I wasn't sure they were open on Sundays anymore, but why not stop? They were open, and I did shop!

Four skeins of Gems Opal. I love this yarn. It makes me happy. It is soft and shiny, and machine washable and dryable. sweet.

Lastly, I made my way to the Yarn Barn in Woodbridge. This sale was the one that EVERYBODY was going to. Honestly, I wasn't too impressed with the sale. Lots of stuff was on sale, but of course not any sock yarn. They were doing a "pick a slip of paper to see how much you get off of non-sale yarn". I got 15% off my yarn. ok, but not great. It was a madhouse! i was there about 10 minutes after they opened, and it was already super full. Holy Crap. I waited for 30min!! in line to buy my three skeins of yarn. They only have one cash register, and it is a slow process. There were only 3 people in front of me, but when I got done paying the line had to be 40 people long. I love my yarn, but I really don't like this store. I have a less than stellar experience each time I go. I could go on and on about it, but I'll stop. I did get good yarn, though!

The regia nations stripe is for a pair for my brother. His school colors and Red White and Blue. He'll love them. the other skein is Tofutsies! I have been coveting this for months. I keep putting it in my shopping cart on line, then taking it back out. I just wasn't sure I wanted to get it, or maybe it cost too much.... I saw it, and HAD to get it.

wow. Long post! Maybe tomorrow I will have more progress to show about my FPS!

grrr.

I haven't posted in a while.

Bad me.

But, to be a little kid, "I wasn't my fault!"

I HAD to switch to the new blogger. Piss and Hell. They woiuldn't let me ot of a stupid loop until I did it. Craptacular. Not that it really matters. I just hate farting around with things that are working just fine.
I sound like an old lady.

So, I have no time to write, since playing with this stupid problem has taken all of my time.

Tomorrow February Socks, FPS stole update, and yarn porn from my weekend yarn crawl!!

It 's here! It's here!

February 1st is here!

My FPS KAL starts today, AND my February Socktopia socks start today!
SO much to start!
SO much still OTN......

The February themes for Socktopia are:
Life is like a box of chocolates
Forever in my heart
Bed of Roses
Short and Sweet
Laissez les bon temps rouler!(Let the Good Times Roll)
I had a hard time picking one this time. I have ideas for all of them. I came down to the yarn choices. I want to knit from my stash as much as possible, so I just had to see what I have floating around. I have tons of good choices, but not really any great ones for most of my ideas. I settled on this yarn:

I think you can guess my theme. I am making the pattern myself, and am pretty happy with it so far. I am just about ready to turn the heel. (I had a lot of time in the car today) Pictures when I'm done! Maybe Monday, if I put off the FPS.

Speaking of FPS, I really don't want to put it off. I am going nuts to start it! We'll see which wins out.

I've still not frogged the DISASTER sleeves. I know how I will fix them. I just don't feel like doing it yet. I've got the stupid project blues.

Then what, you ask, have I been working on for the last few days? Well, I have been readying my FPS pattern, I've wound my February Sock yarn, and my School Products yarn, I wrote the February Sock Pattern, and I worked on a "Slingshot" for my friend from work. I've been kind of busy in my non-knitting life, as I have another design coming up in March, and I am opening two shows before that. Not so big of a deal, but the one show is "Man of La Mancha". The show in March is a huge one. I find out how huge on Monday. At least I have all weekend to knit away, and not worry about it too much.
I really want to hit a yarn sale or two this sunday. It seems like every store is having a Super Bowl Sunday sale, or a going out of business sale. If I go to all of the ones I really want to go to, I will attend 4 slaes this weekend. The number of sales doesn't bother me, but if I do it, I will get very little knitting done. and it is, of course, also rent week. Poo. I wasn't going to go crazy at the yarn store, I just want to check it out. I probably *will* buy sock yarn if I go to any of these sales. no... I will. No "probably" invloved.

well 'till tomorrow!

DISASTER!

I have had a knitting DISASTER!

The armseyes of my sleeves for DH's sweater are a million inches too big!

ok. I'm exagerating. They are about 6" too big. That's still freakin' HUGE!

So I have to decided what to do.
I can frog and reknit them a size smaller, using my patterning skills as a guide - as opposed to blindly following the pattern as I did before.
I can do major sewing surgery - this is a tad scary, and not high on the list.
I can say "screw it!" "I'm makin' a sweater vest."

I am leaning towards re-knit. Blech. I wanna be done with it.

stupid sweater.

I couldn't even look at it on Sunday Night. For fun I inserted the sleeve, as is. It is really REALLY stupid looking. Like a leg o' mutton sleeve. Actually kinda funny, if you think about it.

SO, since I didn't feel like working on the sweater since the disaster, I decided to reswatch for my FPS. I didn't take a picture. It looks like the last swatch, except I used different needles. My KP size 3's came. What a difference!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE them. I got the DPNs too, in case I want to use them to work the entrelac bits. We'll see once I get going.
Funny thing about the DPN's. DH had to dumpster dive to retrieve them. Yep. I threw them away by accident. Thank god we threw our garbage out after the truck came in the morning. Talk about pissed off!!
I also found out the themes for February for Socktopia! I'll post more about them tomorrow.
Lastly, I made a trip to NYC for work on Friday. Coldest dang day of the winter so far- (woo hoo) and I got to trapse around Manhatten in it. Of course I had a subway line problem, and had to walk 8 blocks in -15F (with windchill) to get to my meet up point with my assistant. I was walking and grumbling, when I came across... SCHOOL PRODUCTS! It is an awsome NYC yarn store that all the NY knitty's talk about. I went it. In my frozen haze I bought this:


I am going to make gloves to go with my 1960's coat. It is absolutely perfect for it. It looks a bit blue in the picture, but it is really black and brown. I've been putting off the glove project for lack of a good yarn choice. I found one! Of course, I found one when I have another pair of socks to start, a big KAL to do, and a sweater to finish.

Tonight will be about the frog. And the sock planning. Maybe a little actual knitting - if I stop typing and go home.

Project anticipation

I am at that place in my sweater project where I can FEEL the end. I am so onto the next project, I can taste it! alas, I am still only half way done with my sleeves. I have a 4 hour train experience tomorrow. (CT to NY and back) I wish my sleeves weren't so... cumbersome. I haven't decided if I'l take them or not. It seems like a giant waste to spend 4 hrs on something else, when I am trying to finish this sweater before Thursday. I just don't know.

The next official project is the FPS, and a pair of socks (shock) for Socktopia. I don't know what those are yet, because the themes aren't released until Feb. 1. I am DYING to knit some socks right now. Anything with lace or pattern to it.

I got my KP order yesterday. No yarn, but I did get some more cables and a set of classic circs in size 3. I will reswatch this weekend for the FPS. I think I will try the seed stitch again. I don't mind doing it, I just am not particularly fond of the end product. We'll see. This time I might like it better, since I won't be fighting my needles.

Today I got a package in the mail from my Mom. She sent me two gorgeous vintage purses, both in need of repair, but very easy to fix.

I love vintage things, and my Mom knows me best!
I also found.... YARN!

Vangie, who bought me yarn for Christmas, and who is a knitter herself, was on the recieving end of my Kiri Shawl. After she opened her gift, she declared that I couldn't possibly use only two balls of the Fusion yarn. She was going to go get me more. I didn't really expect her to, but she did! 4 more balls! I now have 6 balls of pink and purple fuzzy that needs to have a project! I think I might mave enough for a lacy sweater.........

from my MP3 player

I am moving along on the sleeves, and to keep myself entertained trough the Stockingette, I have been listening to my MP3 player a bit. I have set it to shuffle, which means, for those of you without one of these handy dandy gadets, that it plays all of my music randomly - with out regard to style, artist, or whathaveyou.

Last night I heard these tunes back to back. I have put brief excerpts for your entertainment.

Kid Rock - Heaven
If heaven ain't a lot like Detroit, I don't want to go
If heaven ain't a lot like Detroit, I'd just as soon stay home
If they ain't got no 8 mile, like they do up in the "D"
Just send me to Hell, or Salt Lake City, it'd be about the same to me
It'd be about the same to me.

Hank Willims, Sr.- Hey Good Lookin'
I got a hot rod Ford and a two dollar bill,
and I know a spot right over the hill
there's soda pop and a dancin' spree
so if ya' wanna' have fun come along with me!

Nickleback - Learn the Hard Way
Hey there little darling, where'd the old man gone?
Why don't we get out of town and do it all night long?
We can lie out in the field til the morning light
Then me and your old man are gonna have to fight
Oh, no, gotta learn this someday
why, I, gotta learn the hard way?

I kinda' have a medly of these songs in my head today. As if people need more reasons to think I'm odd.

Progress amidst doubts

I am moving along nicely with the Rust Sweater for DH. The body is done, and ready to block. Now I am in sleeve land. I am knitting them at the same time, circular - no seams for me! So I am Magic Looping two sleeves. It isn't hard, as I am a MLer all the way, but it is a bit fiddly with the two balls of yarn, and the counting. Why are arms shaped? Why can't they just be cylinders?

my progress thus far:


The little white marker is just to show me where the beginning of the round is. So there is none of that , "what sleeve am I on?" "where am I?" nonsense.









If I can keep knitting at the rate I am currently knitting, I should be able to break the Feb. 1st deadline! keep your fingers crossed for me!

Red Scarf Project Update!

I am prepping the box to send off to the Orphan Society "Red Scarf Project" this morning. I am waiting to send it for a few more days because I have one more scarf trying to make it into the box, so if you are reading this, and are still trying to get your scarf into my box, you'd better stop reading and start knitting!!

The total, as of this morning is...... 18!! we collected 18 scarves for a wonderful purpose!

The pile:


These are the first names of the wonderful kintters and crocheters from LWT, and a friend from SnB!
Alice
Lesley
Denise
Sara
Caroline and her Mom
Amy
Danny
Sam
Christina and her Grandmother
Amanda
Phoebe
and Me and my Mom
Good job everyone!

and as promised,
pictures of my three scarves:

The one on the left is Woolease. The middle one is Lambs Prise Worsted. The Right hand one is Encore worsted.

The entrelac one was knitted to learn entrelac. Since I have had FPS on my to knit list for a while, I decided it was time to learn the technique. What better way than a scarf? All in all, pretty easy, and quite impressive looking.


Thanks again to all who participated!!

Forest Path Stole update

Wanna see my pretty pretty yarn?

I knew you did!


AHH oooo! Isn't it shiny?! and fuzzy!
It is the highly acclaimed Zephyr, in "Basil" colorway. Frankly, it is divine!

WOW! Look at all the exclamation points!

Seriously, I see what the hubbub is about this yarn. It is gorgeous even before it is washed and blocked. I did one swatch of it with my Susan Bates' that I used for my Mystery Stole this summer. The problem is - Knitpicks has ruined me! It was like wrestling a garden hose! Where is my flexibility? Where is my slippery? Where is the love?! I was becoming a cranky pants really quickly. Oh, and my size 3dpns are all bamboo. blech.

So I just ordered #3 classic circulars and #3 DPN's from KP. When they get here, I suppose I will be reswatching. I must say though, I hate seed stitch. I am considering changing the seed stitch bits to garter. Maybe not. I don't know. All I know is, I NEED my KP fix!

Progress

I like progress. It shows that you are actually accomplishing something! I suppose that is the definition of progress....
I am obviously not very eloquent today.

SO let's skip the gibber jabber and show some pictures!

I am about 14" into the body of DH's sweater. I have officially reached "cruise" stage. I am just knitting with out paying attention. I created one of those fancy dancy row counter/ stitch marker jobbies. It is awsome. Check it out!

Suddenly, it is very easy to tell when I am to cable! I just slip the next ring down easch time I pass the marker, until I am on the last ring - then I cable. AH ah! Movie knitting is easy! As a matter of fact, I knit the whole way through a movie on Saturday. I don't usually do that. I like to really watch a movie if I'm going to pay for it. I am SO glad I had this sweater along. The movie was the most boring movie I've ever seen. Dear God.

I swatched for my FPS along last night. (Pictures tomorrow) I think I'm gonna like it! More about that later!!

Oh, and I never did start another project. well, I tried, but I wasn't feeling the love. I decided to focus my energies on the sweater.

If I knit two inches a day

I can have the Rust sweater finished in.... two years.
Just kidding. Probably by February 5th. The way I figure it, I knit two inches a day around the body of the sweater, up to the armpits. Then 4" a day working back and forth across the front or back after I split for the armholes. Also, 4" a day on the sleeves, or 2" a day if i knit them at the same time.
I might be having wishful thoughts.
But, I am making progress! I have joined the front and back hems together! I have done 1 cable! I will have more progress to show for it on monday.

I think I have decided to stave the bordom by knitting some fingerless mitts. I am going to use the left over yarn from my celebration socks I think. It's all fuzzy and stuff.

I suck. No pictures again today. hmmm. Maybe I'll just put in a past picture.
Tada! Branching Out table runner in Farmhouse Yarns "Summer Spun".
See ya'll on Tuesday!

A companion project

I need another project, cause ya' know, a giant men's sweater is not enough. Actually, I need a not stockingette thing to work on. hmm.

It has to be a small project, since it has to be done by Feb. 1 for the FPS KAL. I'd like it to not be mostly SS. Well duh. I'd like it to be useful - meaning not a toy or some such. I have a few things in my mental list o' projects that I want to do. Elbow gloves for me. A new winter hat to match my scarf. fingerless mitts for work. I could start on end of the year gifts for my staff, but I don't know what those are yet. I am in a bordom lull.

I will swatch for FPS this weekend. I don't really need to, but it gives me something to do.

I have some Silk Garden for the mitts. I have yarn for the hat, but I don't know what I want to make yet. If I figure out what to make for end of the year gifts for the staff, I could at least look for yarn or that project.

blech.

In Dh- sweater -that -has- no -name news, I have finished the back hem, and have started on the front hem. It doesn't sound like much, but it is. You just have to trust me.

Maybe I'll be inspired tonight after SnB. I'll have a "ta da" moment, and have a more interesting project to post about...

The next big thing.

I was never one to follow fads until I started knitting. I never have made a clapotis, but that it probably the exception. ( I Have the yarn. I'm waiting for it to go out of style I think.) Seriously. I never wanted My Little Ponies, or Cabbage Patch Dolls. I wanted art supplies. When everyone else was making friendshi[p bracelets, I did cross stitch. bedazzle a sweatshirt, no thanks. I'll make a sweatshirt. I was a strange child. But, I absolutely cannot resist the call of a KAL. I have joined another one! I am now part of http://forestpathkal.blogspot.com/. The linky is in the side bar too. The Forest Path Stole KAL. I am such a sheep.

A little about the Forest Path Stole:
I fell in love with this pattern the minute I saw it. It is from the summer 2003 IK. I bought the magazine just for this pattern the one time I was at WEBS. Never mind that I didn't know how to do entrelac. Never mind that I had no idea when I would have time to knit such a glorius thing. Never mind that I had never knit a large lace garment at that point. i HAD to have it.
It takes 2625 yards of Laceweight yarn (!) and most of it is knit on size 3 (!) dpns. A mess of different Lace patterns! In entrelac!
Well, I have mastered lace. I understand entrelac. I have printed the errata. I am ready to knit this shawl.
The KAL starts on Feb. 1, so I have time to work on getting yarn and swatching before then. AWSOME!

In other knitting news, I have started on my sweater for DH. He is not a small man. He is very broad and long. (Get your mind out of the gutter!) I have consulted my Ann Budd Handy Book of Sweater Patterns. I decided to knit it in the round until the armholes. Easy ok.
Nope. I cast on the nearly 300 stitches, making sure to not twist. I decided to knit a hemmed edge, as DH looks good in that type of hem. Knit knit knit. hmm. something looks odd. CRAP!!! I twisted the cast on! (Insert swearing here) for those of you counting, I knit approx. 3,000 stitches before I realized it.
So I ripped. and ripped.

oh. and that was CO #2. Let's not even talk about #1.

So, CO #3. I decided to make it easier on myself. I am kntting the back hem up until the join of the folded up bit, then co the front hem, and do the same. Then I will join the two together, in effect, making a vent in the side seam about 1.5" long. A nice detail I think. (even if it was out of frustrated desperation.)

A picture of the new back hem. I just knit the turning row. Only miles of SS to go!

My mom controls the weather

In case you were wondering, my Mom controls the weather. She just concentrates, and moves the snow away, or holds off a thunderstorm until after the wedding. I know this because she has been able to do it all my life.

Evidently, she has done it again. It has been 70f in CT recently! A high of 72 on Saturday!! In January! I like it warm. My mom knows that. But she must have also known that I wanted to wear my completed "Emerald" today, because it is 30F outside right now. Tomorrow she can jack it back up to 70F. (please.)

Wait! What was that? You finished your sweater?! Where are the pictures?!

They're coming... be patient...
tap tap tap

ok. Here they are. Sheesh!

This sweater is hard to get a full front picture of, and not get lots of backround crap in the way!

On to the details!!
Pattern: "Emerald" from the Winter 06 Knitty
Yarn: Cervinia Londra, Charcoal Heather Colorway
Needles, KP options size 10
Started: 12/28/06
Finished: 1/7/06
Changes: I knit this sweater with out a button and button hole because I look down right awful with a button closure located where the pattern calls for the button to be. I considered placing more than one button, or lowering the button. I thought about snaps, or hook and eyes. I finally settled on no closure. I rarely wear my sweater closed anyway. I took a bit of a hiatis from this project while I decided on closure-ing, well, and to finish my Socktopia socks for January. The only other changes I made were to make the sleeves longer (I have long arms for my height), and to make the collar and button band wider. I wanted more coverage in the front than the picture in the pattern, and I wanted the front edge to hang straight. The ribbing at the hem pulls the sweater in a bit, and I wanted to counter that.

Overall, a very fast knit, well written, and very easy to wear. I've recieved lots of compliments today on my sweater, and even a good one that the person who said it didn't think was good. My one coworker said, "Oh it's finished! I love it!" to which the other coworker, whom I was just speaking with, spun around and said, "Oh my Gosh! I didn't even realise you were wearing your new knit! It looks so much like what you always wear!" Then she got all back peddely, and said that she meant that it looked store bought... I knew what she meant. I think that that is a great compliment.

I've made you wait long enough. Here is the obligitory blurry picture in the mirror shot. Heaven help us all.

it is so hard to take picuresof yourself! The collar is all turned weird, the hem looks uneven. trust me, it's a lot cuter in person. and less blurry.'

btw,
To explain the Mom and the weather thing:
Growing up, my brothers and I never watched the news, like most kids. We would bemoan going to school, and wish for snow days. My mom would say things like, "sorry, you'll have to get up, I'm not letting it snow tonight. " or "You look tired, I'll give us a delay tomorrow" Over the years, you actually started to believe that she could control it. She was never wrong! Also, the weather guy was an idiot. He was not from the area, and would predict snow from the west, and we never got snow whaen it came from the west. We were in a valley, and the snow would hit the mountains, then peter out before it got to us. She would know when to contradict the weather guy, so it always seemed that she was in charge!
Now it's a big joke. I call her and tell her to stop sending rain, or whatever, and she aways says, "I'll work on it."

Celebration Socks

I have finished my first pair of Socktopia socks! Yay go me! I am in absolute LOVE with this yarn! It is so soft and so pretty. I'm all gushy.


The details:
Name: Celebration Socks
Socktopia Theme: January; "Celebrate good times"
Yarn: Mountain Colors Bearfoot, in Mountain Tango Colorway
Needles: KP size 1's
Pattern: my own toe up, over 60 stitches using a "traveling vine" lace pattern
Started: 1/2
Finished: 1/6

The Inspiration: 5 years ago I went on a cruise with my family in JANUARY, on the cruise ship CELEBRATION. We toured many beautiful places in the Caribbean, including Puerto Rico. When we docked at San Juan we decided to go on a tour of the rain forest. I chose my yarn because the colors remind me of the lush greenery of that day, and my lace pattern brings to mind the gorgeous exotic plants. I have many souvenirs from that trip, but the memories, and the constant loop repeat of the song "CELEBRATE" by Kool and the Gang on the ship, will be forever present in my mind to serve as reminder of my awesome trip to the Caribbean!

On the blockers.

A close up of the halo.

The vine Pattern.

Workin' for the weekend

Every once in a while I think to myself, "Yay! It's thursday! One day until the weekend!" Then I remember that I have tech this weekend. Poo. I shouldn't be unhappy about having Dress rehearsals this weekend, as I got to knit all of last weekend. Still, I like to be selfish every now and again. I do get to do an amount of knitting while I am in Tech, but it has to be easy-ish knitting that I can do in complete darkness - not the big challenging brain busting type of knitting.

Very unsatisfing.

I did have a bit of satisfication last night! I finished my Emerald Sweater up to the Neck Line.

I steamed the front edges today to make it easier to pick up the button band and collar. I am goign to work on it tonight at Sn'B. I have a BUTT LOAD of ends to weave in. I might work on that a bit this afternoon while I am waiting for return phone calls. Exciting, I know. But it must be done. Might as well do two uninteresting projects at the same time.

I am cranking away on my Socktopia socks. I'm almost finished with the ribbing on sock #1. I might get sock #2 cast on tonight. I can probably have my pair done for next Sunday or Tuesday. (Not Monday. No computer access that day.) I certainly won't be the first finisher for January, but I really like my socks. Hopefully so will others!

Well, tata! I probably won't be around for a few days. Tech can be hectic as hell, and I might not have time to update. (It can also be BORING as hell, and I'll be able to write a novel.)

I love a new KAL!

But you knew that, didn't you.
No, I haven't joined yet another one. I am just newly busy with Socktopia! I picked a theme, the yarn, the needles, and created pattern last night. I'm not going to give too much away, but I will tell you a few things...
The yarn is from my stash.

It is the first time I'm using this brand of yarn.
I'm using size 1 needles.

I'm working toe up.

That's it! (at least until I can't wait to tell someone something!)

In addition to all of the sock planning, I managed to get a few rows done on emerald. I hope to spend some quality time with her tonight. I want to get it to a place that I can try it on! I get so nervous about things fitting!

I also managed to do some work for the Red Scarf Project.
**reminder**
Anyone kntting for the project has until the end of this month to finish them and send them in!

Later Gator!

24!!!!! and most of a sweater!

I did it! I did it!! I finished 24 pairs in 1 year! I even took a picture of my watch to prove it.

As DH pointed out, my watch doesn't have a date on it, and for that matter, I could reset it, BUT... you'll have to trust me. I did it!!!!

The details:
Name: Seascape Twist socks
Stitch pattern: Melanie's twist
Yarn: Lorna's Laces in Seaside, 1 ball ( I have small feet people)
Needles: KP Classic Circs, size 0

I also made huge headway on Emerald. I am up to the raglan decreases!
It was like a knitting factory this weekend. I went cruising through both projects, saw a movie, watch a lot of tv, slept in everyday, and still managed to make it to WEBS! Aw yea. Knitting mecca.

Let's take a looky at what I got.

Yarn for a sweater for DH. It is called Knittaly by Colorado Yarns, and is Superwash. I got 15 balls of rust colored yarnyness awaiting a simple pattern - maybe with a vertical center motif.

Yarn for another sweater for DH. 15 balls of Arucana Nature Wool Chunky, for a sweater with a cabled yoke. I decided that if he doesn't like the yarn once I start knitting it up, it might be for me. hehe.

I also got two books. I am a book crazy person. If you saw my house you'd understand. DH and I have more books than any sane person should have. Yet, I keep getting more....
Anywho, I got Traditional Knitted Lace Shawls, a book I have wanted for some time, and an impulse book - Naughty Needles. DH likes Naughty Needles. He wants to know what I am going to make first. (grin)

Socktopia has officially started! Whoot! I got the challenge for January. There are three choices: "Celebrate Good Times", "Blue Monday", and "Snowflakes and Stary Skies". I have to pick one theme, or more I suppose, and knit a pair of socks by the end of the month. I am going to look at my stash tonight and see what I can come up with. I think I plan to post updates about my socks for this year long KAL, but not pictures until I have finished product. Kind of like a mystery.

That's it for now. See ya'll tomorrow!

Ready for 2007...almost

The end of the year always makes me introspective. I think it does to a lot of people. I think about the things I've accomplished, the things I didn't. People I've met. Places I've been. It's nice to do that.
This year I learned a lot of things- both knitting and non knitting. I knit my first sweater, used two colors, conquered lace, completely conquered socks, learned ML, had the lightbulb go on about entrelac, and that I LOVE alpaca. I also learned about the history of aviation through war, how rope is made, how ships are maintained, the history of Connecticut, more geneology than you can imagine, and how to work an Mp3 player.
I've met a lot of people. In my business it's a given, but the highlight was probably either Susan Sarandon or Olympia Dukakis.
I've been to many new places, mostly in my new state - from cities to one stop sign towns, and Rhode Island.
Next year I hope to meet more new people ( a given), go new places - maybe Vermont, and keep learning new things. I want to really master color work - specifically fair isle, but also insertia, continue on the lace quest - doing hard things involving grafting and fancy mitered edges, and finally conquering the scarf for DH. (I will do it!!) I'd also like to take a class about wig building and attend USITT.
2007 will bring my 10th Anniversary, a milestone birthday, and the demise of a credit card bill that has been looing forever.
Bring it on!
Now to the knitting:
It seems odd to me that I am knitting a sweater named "Emerald" in grey. Emeralds come in many colors - not just green - but none in grey that I know of. hmm. Just continuing on my "grey phase" I suppose. I made incredible progress on it last night at SnB. I told myself that I would knit one ball of yarn, then put it away until I finished my second Seascape Twist sock. yeh right. I finished the first ball with ONE ROW of ribbing left to go. Poo. I HATE leaving things "almost" at a good stopping point. It would have been perfect to run out at the end of the ribbing. I could have put the sweater down for WEEKS with out having an itch to continue on. Of course I was at SnB, so I didn't have more yarn with me. I could also have unraveled the swatch, but I didn't want to do that. SO, I knit the toe of Seascape #2.

Fast forward to getting home.

I am now at home, and have the dreaded unfinished ribbing loomimg in the project bag. ok. I'll just knit the one row of ribbing. A new ball will be added and I'll be able to pick it up again as soon as the sock is done, ready to go.

I'll wait for you to stop laughing.

My thought process went like this:
ok. well, I'll knit the first stockingette row so I can have the markers placed. er. I don't like to leave my knitting on a purl row. I like to end on the right side. one more row. well crap. now I'm too tired to work on the fiddly bit of my sock, and I am part way into a new ball and a new section. I don't want to leave it like this! I'll knit until the waist decreases start. It's only about 18 more rows.

Thank goodness I didn't run out of yarn again. I could still be doing this. I managed to finish the section before the waist shaping, and leave only about 6 yards of yarn at the end. Ready for a new ball, at a logical stopping spot, and NOT looming at me. it I would have attached another ball I might be in trouble. Sure I'd have a sweater by next Friday, but I'd never finish my 24th pair of socks.

I think I might need help.

I can report that I love my new needles. AWSOME! SLippery, lighter than you'd think, flexible cord, and SHINY. I think they were half the reason I kept working on the sweater.

As I said before, I am officially half done, plus a little, with the Seascape Twist Socks. A picture:

The pattern doesn't show up as well as it would with a lighter, less boldly varigated yarn. I originally didin't like them much, and considered ripping them out. BUT - isn't there always a but - I like them now. The pattern reminds me of waves hitting the beach. I like it moocho mucho. Subtle waves, for a subtle beach theme. I like to think of the warm beach in the winter. If you put the Beach Boys on, crank the heat, and smell salt water....

The beginnings of an Emerald

I am still working on my Seascape Twist socks, and am almost finished with the first one. I could have finished last night, but I decided to swatch for my new sweater.

I like the yarn a lot, and I'm using my new needles! The yarn is Lane Cervinia Londra in color #20. Pretty, slightly varigated greys that I can wear with almost anything. The pattern is http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEwinter06/PATTemerald.html from knitty.com. I decided to move this project to the front of the line because I want to actually wear it while it is still cold.
I want to get started tonight, but I'll probably work mostly on my socks over the next few days. I am trying to finish this pair before the end of the year. I want to complete 24 pairs. I did remember a pair of slippers I didn't have on my list from a few posts ago, but I don't think they count. They were not constructed like socks. I could cheat and say they count, but it wouldn't feel right.
In the upcoming year I am participating in the "Socktopia" KAL. A whole year of sock making fun. There will be themed socks to complete each month for prizes. I want to be fresh and ready for the KAL on the first!
I am still working on the entrlac scarf for the Red Scarf Project. I should work on IT, instead of starting something new, but I don't care. Ok I do. I will finish it before January 19th, but I want to work on something else right now. I am about half way done. I have a few ends to weave in, and I don't feel like weaving ends right now. I like the knitting part, but the finishing part SUCKS. ugg. Hopefully, I will be inspired to complete it when I am finished with my Seascape Twist socks. When I start wrapping up projects I get on a roll.

Finally, just because I can, I took a picture of my Christmas Yarn to share with y'all.

Cheers!

when Christmas goes right

I love it when a person opens a gift and the look of happiness crosses thier face. I get all glowy and happy inside. Knowing you made or purchased the "perfect" item for a loved one is amazing.
I also love the super confused look that crosses a loved one's face when they open the "weird" thing. You know... the gag gift. The pause. The puzzlement. Then the big grin and laugh when they finally "get" it!

I think DH and I succeeded this year, with flying colors.

First off, lets give props to the DH! He did fabulous this year. I got many of the items on my wishlist, including: KnitPicks options Needles, "Victorian Lace Today", a subscription to IK, and the cd's I wanted. He also filled my Stocking with Chocolate(!!), and got me an MP3 player! WHoo! Very cool.

He loved the gifts I gave him. I'm very good a Christmas.

We also recieved many fablous presents from my mom, dad, and brothers. DH got a leather coat (very sexy), and a few small things. I got a new longerberger basket (I love baskets! Actually, I love containers, but I have a specail place for Longerberger baskets), and some pretty jewelry, among other things. The big gift we got was a navigation systerm!! You know those in the car ones that talk to you. It is awsome! We are known for getting a tad lost at times, and with all of the travelling we have been doing for geneology, it is good to have a map system in the car. It also gives GPS coordinates, so we can mark grave sites for other researchers if we want to. If that wasn't enough, Dad got a new tv for Christmas. We got the old one. Man it is great. Our old one was on the blink, and we thought that we would have to spend some $$ on a new one. But, we didn't want to until after we moved this summer. Problem overted. sweet.

I gave my Mom the Icarus shawl I made in June, two bags of Dean's Beans Coffee, a greek dictionary (so she can talk to her best friend, Vangie, in Greek), and the manicure mitts and pedicure socks I made in November.

My Dad recieved a wool hat that he wanted - it is boiled wool, and fits under a hard hat. He had one from , like 1960, that he can't find. I told him that if anyone could find it, it would be me. I'm not being pretentious - it's what I do for a living. I found it too. He LOVED it. I also gave him easy crosswords - it's a joke, a book about VIrginia in the civil war, with geneology research about our family in the Civil War, a PBS DVD called "Warplanes", and a bag of "Blackberries and Raspberries" candy.

My older brother got welding sleeves, a "Super Duper Weenie" shirt, a vintage Coors Belt Buckle, and a belt buckle I made him. He loves belt buckles, the bigger the better. I joke that he could use them a dinner plates. So, I made him dinner plate belt buckle. I has a knife and fork on the side. He wore it around all day. I never thought he would actually wear it, but he did! He said his friends will be soooo jeleous. He is in college to be an electrician, which he loves, but it means he has very little $. SO, for a gift he fixed our car. My mom bought the parts, but my brother did all the labor. He changed the brakes, fixed the bumper, changed the headlights, changed the oil, and repaired the motor on the driver's window! I told him that it was an awsome gift!


The younger brother was the recipient of the Firefight of the Year award last year, so I got him Firefighter things. I framed a vintage firetruck photograph, and got him a cast iron reproduction firetruck, that frankly, looks very simlilar to the one ion the photo. This is the brother that also likes to impersinate Elvis. So I made him an Elvis Wig. We were laughing so hard at him that we almost peed our pants.

I ended up giving my Grandmas' pointsettas. I kNOW I said I was going to make her something. I changed my mind. I didn't have enough time to make her someting that I was proud of, so I gave her someting I know she would like. SHe loves plants, and she really doesn't ant "things". The other Grandma is even harder to buy for, so she got a pointsetta too. They liked them, and the day got to be about visiting instead of gifts. I also visited my 'extra' Grandmas - my Great Aunt Helen, who has no kids of her own, and my "Mom mom", aka Lillian. Lillian was my next door neighbor when I was a baby, and used to babysit for me when my Mom and Dad wanted to go out. I have stayed close to her, and it is always nice to see her. She is 90 now (!) and still going strong. Aunt Helen and Uncle Jalke were so happy to see DH and I. Aunt Helen is the family Geneologist, and her and DH always share and compare notes. they are working on a book. I like to look at her quilts. SHe is a rabid quilter. She does everything by hand, and they are spectaular. Everyone gets one for a wedding present, and they are adored family wide. I think Aunt Helen will get one of the next lace projects. Hand crafters know the work that goes into something intricate - even if it is not their craft of choice.

We also visited with George and Vangie - my Mom and Dad's friends. They are very cool people. I made Vangie the Kiri shawl in September. She knows I'm a knitter, and so is she. She bought me YARN for Christmas! Two skeins of Laceweight mohair, two skeins of Lite Lopi, and one skein of Circus! I have a feeliong she is going to send me a box of yarn "just beacause". She said that she felt as though I gave her such a nice gift, I should have more yarn to make a bigger project for me. we'll see!

It was very nice to have everything appreciated and loved. it makes me smile.

On a knitting note, I am cruising long on my current socks. I cannot wait to start someting with my new needle set!! I am actually itching to start!!!! I can't even decide what to start on!!!!! i think my next sweater. I was going to start a lace project, but if I do the sweater now, I might have time to wear it this year before it warms up.
OMG. I cannot Wait for SnB tomorrow. It has been two weeks. I'm going through withdrawl.

The mall

I hate doing modern dress shows around Christmas. Blech. Shopping a the Mall 5 days before Christmas both sucks and blows. I am so tired, I could sleep for a week. err.

I have fittings tommorow for previously mentioned show, so I am not sure if I will blog before I leave for Christmas, or not. If not, I'll be back on the 27th with lots o' pictures and bragging about my gifts, both recieved and given.

Till then!

Rememebr to put a carrot on the roof for Rudolph.

"Another pair of finished socks"; or "Brown is in ,man"

Since I can remember, I have liked Rocky and Bullwinkle. I don't know if you recall, but the titles for the stories always have two names. Usually the meaning of the second name was revealed later in the episode. I like that about the show.
I find myself double titling things a lot. I do it to reports a work. For example: "show budget estimate", or "why it costs so much to produce a two person show".
I think it at the mall. "Longest line ever!" or "Why I hate the Mall!!"
I could go on. I'm slightly insane.

I had a fairly productive weekend. I opened my new show on Friday night. I finished my Falling Leaves Socks, I made a list of all of the things I need to finish before Thursday night (ha), I wrapped some gifts, I decorated just in time to undecorate, and discovered that I don't have a gift for my Grandma for Christmas. I had an idea a long time ago, I just never actually did it!
So now I am busting my butt to make her a lacy scarf - ala the airy scarf in Last Minute Knitted Gifts (cause this IS). The worst part of it is, I have to be prepared for the usual outcome. It is the outcome for every gift she is given, no matter what the gift is.
It goes like this... "Oh, insert name. I don't need another insert gift. Here, you take it."
or it can go like this... "Oh insert name. This insert gift is too big/small. "
once in a awhile it goes... "Oh insert name. This insert gift is too complicated/ what would I need this for?"

NOW HEAR THIS: I love my Grandma. She is my favorite Grandma, but she is really hard to buy gifts for. In the last few years, she has become very... lets say "honest". She'll tell you what she thinks of you, and doesn't care how you feel about it. I love her for it - mostly because I find it entertaining at parties - but it makes it VERY HARD to give a gift. DH said to me last night, "you are going to make her something?" I said I was. He then commented that I should be prepared when I give it to her. I said, "You mean for the 'I don't need this' comment?" He shook his head. I said that I knew, and was prepared for the let down. Hence the 4 hour scarf.

Still, I know you knitters out there are thinking that I shouldn't even waste 4 hours - especially when I have one more pair of socks to do before January 1. I could go buy her something. I could. But she's still my Grandma.

So here are a few pictures of my finished Fallling Leaves socks! Please excuse the poor pictures. We just don't have any natural light to speak of, and probably won't for a while.


The details:
Pattern: Falling Leaves Socks from Knitty
Yarn: Trekking ProNatura
Needles: KP classic circs, size 0
Comments: Fun to knit, Easy to memorize. I didn't change anything about the pattern, but to fit my 6.5 foot, I knit 4 repeats of the lace patttern in the foot section, and 5 in the leg. This yarn is pretty! I still haven't seen anyone else's FO's with it! Very nice varigated, and a blend of wool and bamboo! A tad splitty, especially in the dark, but overall, something I'd work with again.

Well, must go. I have to finish at work... so that I can ..work ..at home.

My box of Red Scarves is growing

I am getting such an awsome response from my friends at work! We already have 9 complete, and 3 more in the works! Yay go team!

I am working on my third scarf. I haven't been posting pictures of the scarves, because I want to do a big scarf pile reveal at the end, so I am not going to post a picture of the beginning of the one I am working on now. I am making an entrelac scarf in Lambs pride worsted, using two colors. It will have a lot of ends to weave in, but I think it will be worth it. I am trying to weave in as I go, as to not make the finishing torturous.

This is my first foray into entrlac, and I can see the appeal. Lots of bang for the buck. It looks terribly difficult, but is actually quite easy. I think that if I made another scarf like this, or a blanket, I'd work with two balls of each color. In theory it should work, leaving hardly any ends to weave in. hmmm. I feel an experiment coming on.

The whole reason to knit this scarf was to learn the entrelac technique. I want to knit the Forest Path Stole from IK. It is soooo pretty, and done in... you guessed it! Entrelac! Lots of rectangles, all with , like 6, different lace motifs in alternating patterns. Pretty and complicated! ok. That's only kinda true. The process is easy. The lace bits have the potential to be easy or hard - depends on the motif. Keeping straight which rectangle is next could be a bear. The end result will be stunning. I can't wait to start.

(people who know me IRL are laughing right now. There is so much on my "want to knit" list. Who knows when I might actually get to it.)

My show opens tomorrow! I can't wait for Saturday. Time to get down to some knitting business. oh. and maybe decorate for Christmas. and do some laundry.