Some Friday Yarn Porn

I recently have aquired some new yarn. surprise. (haha)
Just becuase I can, and my projects are still in the state of boring, I give to you, some new stash excitement!


3 skeins of Knitpicks gossamer in "blue Jeans". Much "blue-er than the picture suggests. I want to knit a candleflame stole from this.


4 skeins of Knitpicks shadow in "jewels". Tis is destined to be a circular shawl from "A Gathering of Lace". I'm not sure which one, but I am leaning towards shetland...


My newest find... Cervina Londra - 30skeins for $30! It is so soft! I think this will be a sweater for DH. (It is heavy worsted weight).


Lastly, in honor of Socktoberfest, I have a new Ball of Trekking! It is a blue and grey. This will probably end up as a pair of socks for a guy - a brother maybe? Or DH?

Wow. That's a lot of blue! I seem to be exiting my purple phase and entering a blue/grey phase. Interesting....

Socktoberfest Questions

When did you start making socks? Did you teach yourself or were you taught by a friend or relative? or in a class?

I started knitting socks last November - almost a year ago! I taught myself using a magazine and the knittinghelp.com video. Frankly, I learned to knit socks to "show up" a person at work. He is always making such a big deal about his fun fur scarves, I had to shut him down. How better than to make - what I thought was - the "most complicated knitted object ever"!

ps... it worked. Shut him up but good.


What was your first pair? How have they "held up" over time?

My first pair was a woolease sport weight ribbed cuff, top down, reinforced heel, rounded toe sock. I ave them to my Dad for Christmas. I don't know how they hae held up. My Mom says he never wants to wear them, as I made them, and he doesn't wantto ruin them. aww.

What would you have done differently?

Made them from fingering yarn. I think they are too heavy.


What yarns have you particularly enjoyed?

hmm. KPM - drool. I used it for a pair of socks for my mom. CTH - so soft, so pretty. I could be biased, as I just had my newest pair on my feet hot off the blockers. i enjoy petting my Schaefer Anne everytime I open the basket, and I am sure I will enjoy kntting it. Actually, there is only one sock yarn I have HATED thus far - Silja. Blech.


Do you like to crochet your socks? or knit them on DPNs, 2 circulars, or using the Magic Loop method?

I like DPN and ML. DOn't like 2 circs. Too many ends. I use ML the most, but not always.



Which kind of heel do you prefer? (flap? or short-row?)

I like both! The short row fits my foot best, but flaps just look so cool.


How many pairs have you made?

um... 18? I think?
1. Dad's - woolease
2. dh's - regia
3. my regia
4. sara's - sockotta
5.carol's - sockotta
6. rebecca's - sockotta
7. denise's - sockotta
8. joy's - sockotta
9. leah's - sockotta
10. DH's SU socks - local handpaints
11. my Child's First Socks - KP essential
12. Mom's CFS - KPM
13. my Multiringel's
14. my Mystery Socks - Viv's Lacey Socks in Wildfoote
15. Nate's Birthday socks - sockotta
16. Mystery Socks #2 - smocked socks - Gedifra Fashion Trend
17. Socktoberfest -CTH Elfine socks
18. My Ripple socks in Fable - I forgot these earlier. They should be around #5
*19. Socktoberfest RPM's in regia - in progress
I feel as though I am forgetting a few pairs.

When I finish the pair OTN, I will have 18 pairs this year, and counting. maybe my goal should be 24? 2 a month? Maybe. I'd have to do two pairs of anklets to make that happen I think. we'll see.

two days in a row

All bow down to me! I am posting two days in a row!

Last night I work two repeats on my Glascow Lace sweater, and it is making up nicely.

The intention was to knit a little bit on the sweater, then to work on the RPM socks. yeah. I fell asleep. So, no progress past where I was yesterday.

I am one repeat into the leg on the second sock, but I thought I'd show off the pics of the first sock. I like the way the stripes are obscured by the spiraling purls. QUite cool.

Well, off to actually work at work!

Socktoberfest is here!

Amid all of the crazy things going on in my life, I actually managed to complete my first pair of Socktoberfest Socks!

The details:
Pattern: Elfine socks
Yarn: CTH supersock in Tropical Storm colorway
Needles: knitpicks size 0 circulars
Changes: I knit a ribbed cuff instead of the very delicate and, frankly, perfect garter cuff called for. The socks were just a **we** bit big for my leg, so a ribbed cuff made them stay in place better.

I started these so long ago, it's almost embarrassing.

My next Socktoberfest adventure is "RPM's" from Knitty.com. These are in honor of CBGB's. RIP. The list of bands that played there is like reading my list of vinyl. so sad. I am knitting them on size 1 needles, and with regia self "fair isle"ing yarn. SO far so good! One socky is finished... pics to come.

Lastly, I have a sweater OTN. Glascow Lace from the Fall '06 Interweave knits. I am kntting it out of a very grey purple alpaca yarn. For those of you who know this pattern, or have the inclination to look it up in the magazine, it looks quite awful on the model. It is either too short or too long. Either way, it hits her at a very bad spot. But, the length on me will be perfect, as I am short waisted. I started this last night at, like 11:30. SO I am only just past the edging, which I must add is very pretty. A bitch to knit, but pretty.

That is all for now. Everyone hug your socks!

The Bat Scarf

Pictures of the next Christmas gift! Stand in amazement everyone!

Presenting the world's crappiest pictures of "The Bat Scarf"

It is knit in Classic Silk - black, on size 6 needles. I used Barbara Walker's CHart from her third book of patterns.

Basically, I CO 39 stiches, k 5 rows. Keep 3 stitches in Garter as edges.
Follow chart for bat.
Knit "spacer lace" 7 times. (row 1: K6, (ssk, yo, k1, yo, K2tog, k3) 3 times, k3. row 2: purl)
Follow CHart for Bat
Knit spacer lace 15 times
Follow Chart for Bat
Knit spacer lace forever - about 50 times
knit 10 rows in stockingette
knit spacer lace 25 times
knit 7 rows of stockingette - end with a knit row - do not BO, break yarn

CO 39 stitches, k 5 rows
keeping selvedges, follow chart for bat
knit 7 reps of spacer lace
knit 10 rows of stockingette
knit 15 rows of spacer lace
knit 1 row - do not BO!! Kitcher the two sides together.

Tada!

I'm a joiner

Ha! That's funny. Ok maybe not to those whodon't know what a "joiner" is. Go look up the traditional occupation of a "joiner" if you don't know. I suppose it's not funny if ou don't know me well either. oh well.

I am a blog joiner though! I'm now officially a member of Socktoberfest. I wasn't going to join, but then thought - "What the hell." I'll do it. I'm not going to get many done this month, but that is ok. My goal is to knit a few pattterns that have been calling to me - mostly lace ones. I'm almost finished with the Elfine's I started EON'S ago. I just have been super crazy with work. Too much to do! I am modifing the cuff from a garterstitch to a ribbed, but overall, I've knit pretty much what is written.

On the work front - I am doing my normal job, hectic enough, but I've also taken on a few design jobs - kewl - extra money. The bad thing is that they are all on top of each other. The one performs at the end of October, the next in the beginning of December, the last is the end of December. Not bad, but very little time for knitting!! I'm going through withdrawl!
I was goig to say that I should be able to crank through the cuff of the second Elfine tonight - but that is so not going to happen. I have to pattern and cut two 1770's French gowns tonight. err. Crap. That means that I will be building tommorrow night. Thursday is SnB - good built in knitting time. Unfortunately, I end up helping others and really don't get much knitting done. Friday is fittings in the evening. Saturday I'm headed into the city for shopping and maybe a fitting for my lead actor.
Maybe I need to get up an hour early to get my "fix". Like that'll happen.

On the plus side, I finished anoter christmas gift on SUnday night. It is blocking now, but I hope to take photos this afternoon. go me! Only 2 more to go!

for fun and profit

My standard answer to any question that begins, "Why do you do......" is "for fun and profit." Take for instance, my DH asked me why I'm so sexy. I answered "for fun and profit."
"Why do you always say 'for fun and profit'?"
"for fun and profit."

As you can imagine, this stock answer can often times be construed as "dirty". I don't care - as I am often dirty. (wink) However, I have to get better at filtering when I should say my catch phrase - maybe not at work. Like when the $$ guy askes why I need more Petty Cash, and I say "for fun and profit" - well you can imagine the looks and reaction. $$ guys do not have the sense of humor you'd expect.

But, "why do I knit Lace?"

"FOr fun and Profit."

Ok I don't really profit from it, although I suppose I could if I tried, or desired too. But is most definately fun!

I finished Kiri last night, and she is blocking as we ....read?

I knit this with 1.25 balls of Misti Alpaca laceweight, in a lovely Celedon colorway (oddly MA calls this "maize". I don't know, it's not yellow at all. It's green.) I used us 5 needles, and the stitch markers from my SP7. I only used markers on the edges and center stitch. (I'm too damn lazy to move makers every ten rows.) All in all, I did 12 body repeats, and the edging chart. The finished size is 66"across the top, and 33" long Center Back. I could probably get a few more width inches if I wanted too, but I like the look of the lace at this blocking tension.

I *will* take a picture after it is unpinned - I promise. I'm so notorious for not taking the arty "look at my handwork" pictures. Sue me.

Also just taking a bath is my Brothers "new" hat. He thoght the one I made him last year was too "girly", as it was light blue and drk blue marl. Umm... more manly than blue? Well, yes. He thinks light blue is "girly". SO a new hat it is. This is the most basic of hats. No pattern really.
I knit it with two strands together, size 4 needles, k2P2, ribbing, blah blah.

Boring I know, but the yarn is divine! It is from Hopyarn Spinnery / farmhouse yarns, midnight blue Autumn Spun. It is silk/wool/cotton blend - probably sport weight. I love HopYard! I use so much of Carol's yarn, andshe is a local - to me- company, so even better! SOft, warm, and frankly, if b#2 doesn't like it, I'll give it to someone else. It is elegant and cozy all at once. My picture really doesn't do it justice. When it dries I will take a picture on my head.

My lone project OTN is my Elfine Socks. I promised pics yesterday, so here they are. I find it hard to take pictures of my feet. Obviously.

That is all for now. Tonight I drink like it's my job. Tomorrow I doubt I will have had any rpogress on my socks. If I do, I will be, most likely, frogging back. I have learned that drunk lace knitting is not good.

what I have been doing....

It has been 11 days since my last confession, er... I mean post. I have been off the charts busy! I am nearly finished with my Kiri. I am not going to [post any more pictres f the green blob until I am blocking the thing. seriously. it looks likea blob. Kiri has been slow going, as of late. I have been in Tech rehearsals, and frankly, lace in the dark is hard. Instead I made this scarf - for a Christmas present.

The specs:
Pattern of my own "design". It is a slanted rib pattern, that initially was supposed to just slant in one direction. I got bored and decided to slant the other direction - by doing an extra purl row. Esy peasy. Then I decided counting my rows was too much work, and I should just change directions when the mood struck. I did that for a little, then I decided to change directions when the Stage Manager called for break. It is the funkiest randomest way to knit. But it was super fun, and I have several people willing to take it off my hands.

The yarn is from handpaintedyarn.com, and is called Novelty butone wool, in colorway fiesta. http://handpaintedyarn.com/product_info.php?cPath=56&products_id=544

I knit it on #8 Susan Bates quicksilvers.
Over all a just interesting enough project to do in the dark with out going bored.

I also knit a dark blue watch cap for my brother. I need to wash it..then you get a picture. Eventually...

Now on the needles, and with a picture tomorrow, is my pair of "Elfine's socks". I am using Cherry Tree Hill Sock yarn in "Tropical storm" colorway. They are looking pretty cool!

Other than work, I also went to NYC this weekend. On Saturday I spent the day with my Mom and my two ...Aunts? My Dad's cousin's wives. easier just to say Aunts. Anywho, we spent the day buying bags in Chinatown. Love Chinatown! I got three bags (from my mom) and free lunch( from Tina), and free dinner (from Marion)! I spent my train fare, and that was it! They wouldn't let my buy anything for myself...not that I'm complaining.

On SUnday I went to the NYC Knit Out! It rocked! I met tons of Knitty Heads including my SP! Hi Weaselrina! Three of us are working on Kiri right now! How cool is that?! I'm so lame. I got so exscited by the knitting and the people, I only took 2 pictures. These are of the Knitty Heads meeting up outside b &n's.


I would tell you all of the names, but I'll get some wrong, and I don't want to do that. SO I won't even try. I am so bad with names.
I also hooked up with my friend Nate after the kintting festivites and we chowed down on Chinese Food and Wine. He just moved to NYC - actually Jamaica in Queens, and was feeling a bit lonely. It was so good to see him! everybody send good vibes to my friend Nate that he will continue to love his new adventure in life!

Tommorow - more pictures of FO'S!

what's on my lap this week?

I have had so much to do at work this week, I am kind on going insane. My one person was out - she was honeymooning, so we have split her usual duties between myself and my assistant. It is all going fine, we just have been really busy. Hopefully all will be good going into dress tomorrow....

I did have time to block my Sock's for my Mom's birthday, and my 2nd Mystery Socks. I got two piar of nifty vintage blockers off of e-bay. Blocked Socks make me happy.

My 2nd Mystery Socks, also known as "the socks I am trading for hand forged needles for Celtic Swan Forge", or as "smocked socks". Three people tried to claim these while I was working on them. I guess they are a hit.




ok- the smocking is really hard to photograph. Trust me, it is cool.

My Mom's socks have been finished for quite a while. I just now blocked them, so here they are all pretty and ready to gift. They are my second pair of "Child's first Socks" from Knitting Vintage Socks. It is hard not to keep these for me - as they are KPPM.


Lastly, what's on my lap this week?
Kiri in Misti Alpaca, that's what! SO pretty. This shawl is also a Christmas gift - for my"third mom" Vangi. It is a really quick and uncomplicated knit. I like that. Good knitting after work project.


I didn't intentionally pick a color that looked like the color of the yarn in the pattern sample. Actually, I printed Kiri out a long time ago, and just recently pulled it out. I bought the yarn because I knew that Vangie would love it, and I picked Kiri beacuse I had the right amount of yarn. Then, I went back and looked at the pattern on line again - and the exact same color. Serendipity, I suppose.

Hopefuly things will calm down next week, and I will have the pieces of my Elvis Wig sewn together. That should be a treat to see.

I WON!!!! and I finished TWO christmas presents!!!

I won the Great Canadian Pie Off!! WHoHoo!

I suppose I should explain. Every year, my place of Employment has a season kick off party around this time of year. The highlight of the event - other than the drinking (smile), is the Pie COntest. It is called the "Great Canadian Pie Off" because our former Managing Director was Canadian and loved pie. The award for first place is braging rights for the year, a small trophy and a big cooking item of some sort. I got third two years ago ( a candle and a pie server), honorable mention last year ( I would have had first, except I DROPPED my PIE! at least according to the judges), and I nailed it this year!!

I made my own recipe:
Apple Raspberry Pie

Crust - make your own, enough for two crusts

Mix together: 1 1/3 cups sugar, 1/3 cup flour, 1 tsp cinnamon, 5 cups of peeled sliced tart apples, 2 cups red raspberries.

Place filling in unbaked crust. Squirt in about 1 Tbl of Lemon Juice. Dust top of filling with more flour. Dot with 2Tbls of Butter.

Cover with second crust, cut slits to vent steam. Wet top and sprinkle with sugar. Cover edges with foil. Bake at 425 f for 50min. Remove foil when 15min left to bake.

On judge hates raspberries and couldn't stop eating. Just saying.

Here are my awards:

7 piece baking set. Kick ass!

The coveted Golden server - just for display, not for use. DH hung it above my kitchen door.

So now I get to brag all year, and judge the pie contest next year. sweet.

I also found time to knit, even while staring at my "major award" and giving interviews. (ha)

I got two Christmas Presents finished!

The First is Dayflower Lace Scarf, knit in Classic Elite, Montera ( I think) This was stash yarn that I wound a long time ago. It is so pretty and soft. I know it has mostly alpaca in it.

Shiny.


I have no idea what size needles I used. I actually finished knitting this in April (?) I just NOW blocked it. But that counts as finishing!!

Second is Leisel, knit in SWTC soysilk. Another stash yarn. The color # is blacked out, along with the yarn name. It looks like Oasis to me. This was knit with size 5 inox needles.
When I put it in to soak, the water turned PURPLE. I couldn't even see the scarf through the dye. I hope it is finished leaking dye...


Both of these scarves were fun to knit, but neither had true "rest rows". Dayflower has two rows that require you to "think" on the purl back row, and Leisel has knitting and purling combinations on the returns. Neither are hard, they just require more attention. The end results are worth it.

Tonight's SnB. I hope to get a few repeats into the second leg of the socks I've been working on. I won't get much knitting done this weekend. I have TWO weddings to attend. Both are all day style functions. The second goes from Sunday into Monday. I think I will need monday to recover from the sheer amount of liquer I will consume...

I got another SP Gift!!

Neener neener! My SP is the best! Check out all of my goodies!

My Little sheepy card is on the left! CUteness!
Let's look closer...

Mary Schiffman's Lace knitting book - has been on my wish list for a long time.



Check out the little punk in front! He is named Sid - as in Vicious. He has a yarn ball head, an earring, a pocket chain, and a red mohawk! He is keeping me company at my desk.
Two skein of beeautiful Blue Catalina! That's alpaca and silk lovelyness for all of you who have never felt it. This is the kind of yarn you want to create a ball pit out of. *roll, roll, roll*

Lastly, 9 balls of a new yarn, to me - but with which I am already anamored - Fare Baruffa, Peru. It is a mushroom/tan tweedy color. EEE!


If I was a poet, I'd write an "Ode to my Secret Pal". I'm not. SO I'll just have to say thank you!

Half of Mystery Sock, Pair #2!

I finished the first sock I am knitting in exchange for hand forged needles from Celtic Swan Forge. I used to knitting long footed socks for DH, but not such long cuffs.
http://www.woolworks.org/patterns/ruthsocks.txt

These are Ruth Gerstner's Smocked socks. (Although she calls them the "sock pattern, sort of") I have decided that since she recommends choosing your favorite foot, heel, and toe method, that I would choose toe up. The recipient of these lovelies want them as long as possible, so toe up is the way to go! I am using Addi size 2 needles, and Gedifra Fashion Trend Sportivo, color 5769. It is a varigated yarn that has two khaki strands twisted with a varigated strand that goes from blue to green to grey, to purple - very slowly. It's like a "fade in and out" - as my husband said.

The Mystery Socks are a mystery no more!

I seem to be on a roll this week! I finished yet another UFO! Granted, I only started these socks a few weeks ago, but usually work pretty solid on a project before I start another. It feels so good to have these completed!

Stats: Viv's Lacey Socks from Knitlist
Knit for the Mystery Sock KAL
Wildefoot yarn, Addi size 1 needles.
Size 6.5 us foot - 25 repeats of the lace pattern from cuff to toe - 12 on leg, 13 on foot.

Wow. My pictures of the first sock are better than these. oh well. Overcast day and quick pics before a meeting get you crappy photos.

These were a lot of fun to knit. I think I might do another Mystery Pair before the KAL is over!

Next on the needles:
Finish up my Soy silk scarf - Christmas present, 3/4 finished
Socks for the lovely woman at Celtic Swan Forge - which I am trading her for some hand forged sock needles.
The Elvis Wig!!!
A Shawl for Vangi - maybe Kiri?

swallowtail pictures!

Yea! I go the pics to load!
Without further ado..... Rebecca's Wedding Swallowtail!
Designed by Evellyn Clark
Pattern found in Interweave Knits Fall '06
Yarn is Knitpicks Bare, lace weight Merino
Needles are knitpicks Options, size us4

blocking...
Detail of the main body
Detail of the Lilly of the Valley border and Peaked edging. Those nups are a little PITA.
And finally, the Bride at her dress fitting. Not the est pic of the shawl, but she was trying to see the total effect, while we were holding the bodice together. It was like a circus.

Hopefully tomorrow the Mystery socks will be complete!

Mystery Stole and Swallowtail are complete!

I was a knitting machine this weekend! I finished Swallowtail - the main goal. I snagged a few pictures after I set it out to block. I hope to grab a picture of the bride with it at her fitting this afternoon.

I also finally finished the last little bit of my Mystery Stole 2 - now named "Scherazade" I know I am spelling it incorrectly - I just don't feel like looking it uip right now. I am currently blocking it also. I don't know how the other MS2's are getting pics of the whole stole all at once. I had no luck at that what so ever. SO my pics are in pieces.
The edging.I tried to get up high enough to take a picture of the whole thing....
My table wasn't long enought either. I used my sleeve board to Jerry rig an extension. Ghetto, I know.

I think I will use this when I go to Frank's wedding in two weeks. A fitting debut!

Last, but not least, I cast on for my second Mystery Sock. I went to the beach on Saturday with Lesley. I didn't want to get the Swallowtail sandy, and the MS2 is too big for the beach. So Mystery Sock to the rescue. I didn't even bother with the picture. I am still on the ribbing. Quite frankly, I was talking more than I was knitting. Surprise.

Saturday was a crazy day. Lesley was staying at my place for the weekend. (There is a whole subletting from a crazy person story there, but we won't go into that. ) So we went to the beach, dyed streaks in our hair fire engine red, went out for tai food, went to the bar, then went Dancing until 3am. We drank "red deaths" in honor of our new hair, and picked up boys - which is funny because we went to the gay bar. So, as you can guess, we didn't do much of anything on Sunday. We watched 3 bad movies and ate pizza. Hence the great amount of knitting on my part. Next weekend will be much the same - as we are taking rebecca out for a bachlorette drunken dance fest. Fun with booze.