funsize first

Todo Mundo con la Lengua Fuera

2011-05-11T09:03:00.000-07:00

I've been watching a little too much Mun2 tv.... (channel 603, you know you want to).

Non sequitor:

Aaaaand I'm spent.

Dedication (?)

2011-05-03T11:02:00.000-07:00

A friend commented the other day that I was so dedicated to the craft, after browsing my blog. I kinda laugh-snorted because I think its been a few weeks since I've made anything up here, and I was even contemplating giving it up, as I am not horribly dedicated to it.

In any case, here are some photos.

Feel free to fill in your own captions.

Some things

2011-03-29T10:13:00.000-07:00

I have already succeeded in my quest to knit 11 objects in 2011. Since it went so quickly, I think I will go for 22! Sorry for the long pause, there was studying, then a test, and then a bunch of other excuses! I'll try to make up for it with lots of photos. I seem to be in a green phase lately.

Ready for a button band

That soccer thing

New pattern I wrote almost ready for publication. This had is the small version.

Spinning with dirty fingers.

The result was poorly carded and over-plied so I gave it to Lisa.

Today I'm off work, so I plan to do all the things. And buy buttons.

Another FO

2011-03-03T10:25:00.001-08:00

(My eighth of the year, wahoo!)

Also

Should be a wee bit longer, but I love it anyway. Berocco Ultra Alpaca fine on 2's! It was a bit slow for a hat but worth it.

Feel Like Makin Gloves

2011-02-27T21:27:00.000-08:00

Glove, glove me do

You know I glove you,

I'll always be true,

So please . . . glove me do! (It happened again, I made new handwear and I'm head over heels) Don't mind me, I'll just be over here, having warm fingers.

Before and after

2011-02-20T09:52:00.000-08:00

Before:

After:

Ingredients: one unraveled 100% cashmere sweater, a large pot (lager than I used...there was some splashing), one bottle of green food coloring, and a generous splash of vinegar. I am so happy with my dyeing experiment!

The sweater is ready to be blocked, I started a hat in sock weight, and the Alice Starmore gloves got picked up again. Hello, productivity! let's hope my recent mysterious shoulder injury doesn't hamper progress!

Insert title here

2011-02-08T13:40:00.000-08:00

A swatch! (I even washed it!)

I figured out my new sewing machine, and am actually applying it to a knitting project which I can't show you yet. Its working though, I was afraid things would all go splodey on me.

New convertible cowl out of the last of the angora/wool. This is incredibly snuggly and the buttons are perfect for it! I spent more on buttons that I did on the whole sweater to make this and the other projects. But they are perfect!

Accomplishments

2011-02-04T13:40:00.000-08:00

So, I'm pretty sure that since my beginnings as a spinner I have held the goals of "spin with intent to knit" and "spin a sweater's lot". Well, I hope to have safely proven those skills to be in hand! I spun my first sweater's lot (a pound of wool!!!)in thick-and-thin yarn that was supposed to be thick and thin!

Eleven skeins in all, however, this yarn is not for me! This is for a non-spinning friend. She bought the wool when she got the bug, and then decided she'd rather be a knitter. So, Traveler and I made some yarn together.

It was a little bit difficult to get the drafting down, but once I did it wasn't too hard. The hardest part was having to wind on a lot of the yarn by hand, since most of the slubs were so large they wouldn't fit through the orifice on their own. I've already given this yarn to its recipient, who is intent on dyeing it before it becomes the thick and thin cardigan coat from Fitted Knits. Onward, little yarn!

Tuesday updates

2011-02-01T13:26:00.000-08:00

First off, WIPs:

This is sock number two, at this moment I have just turned the heel.

And some eye-candy glove progress photos:

They make me sooo happy. (Along with Despicable Me, which I saw last night. SO CUTE!)

And then I had a birthday party, and there was some knitting.

And some sangria. It was fun.

Extra-curricular

2011-01-24T19:51:00.000-08:00

Here's something I've been working on at work. Remember that white angora slouchy hat? Well, its going to be published and sold at the LYS.

Its finished now, and I have to print off a fresh copy of the pattern and have it edited, but you can pick up a copy for a few bucks or call and have one sent to ya! I just have to pimp it out, since I'm proud of it. (Also, Barbara Walker, since she was the inspiration).

Its made with 2 balls Classic Elite Lush, shown here in Blueberry. Yum. One coworker did hers in Tahki Coast (which is awesome, btw) and one friend did her test version in Rustic Tweed from Queensland. There are two lengths, one is more like a cap and the other more like a slouchy tam or hat.

Something something something knitting.

2011-01-18T14:28:00.000-08:00

Boneyard Shawl

Bar art

Who, me, work?

1/11/2011

2011-01-11T10:43:00.001-08:00

Its always good to know something you've made is well-appreciated. I made a pair of mittens from 2 skeins of Naturally Karamea (wool, alpaca, and possum!) for the boy. And he's hardly taken them off since!

I've learned a new spinning technique. Still haven't mastered it, but I've made a thick and thin (or "slub") yarn for a friend. I've been having issues getting the thick parts through the orifice, because they are so large! The wool has a bit of a long staple so I was having a time of the drafting.

In Seattle news, against all odds the Seahawks made it to the playoffs and won their first game! I have a hard time cheering for Pete Carrol (BOOO USC BOOO) but there are a lot of former Cal players on the team, so it evens out.

They have to play the Chicago Bears next, which doesn't look good, but who knows! Any given Sunday.

AAAND its January.

2011-01-04T20:50:00.001-08:00

Another conspicuous absence, I hope you'll forgive. I have been house-sitting, same place as in June. Its always surreal, being in the house where my Great Grandmother used to live, and having new experiences on top of the memories I have from before. Its nice to be over in Seattle (Ballard, specifically) since I live in Sammamish now and can't always get over here easily. One local things I love:

This sign has me in stitches EVERY DAY. The weather has been amazingly cold and clear, and I wish I could have gotten more handknits into rotation, but again, I am in a different town than my closet. Examples of the pretty:

This one has snow that is several days old because it never got above freezing:

Oh and look! a pretty new cowl!

I would have liked it to be taller, but after ripping once, I was content to leave it. I can't get it as tight, as therefore it is not as warm, but is quite pretty and a good intermediate level for warmth. Its my handspun from the Traveler, and what I thought was Ashland Bay, but may contain silk so now I'm not sure. I love the color, and I think my spinning is getting better and better.

Other projects include these socks, which I dubbed "The sea in my shoes" because of the lovely, delicious color. I got them in a raffle, from Gaiety Girl on etsy. The yarn is beautiful, but the socks were giving me a bit of a sad since they were small. I kept adding stitches, and STILL SMALL. Then I measured. Eleven stitches to the inch on a zero. I....might be crazy. I had no idea I was capable of that tension!

Here's some yarn I bought in our sale:

Its got NZ possum fur in it, and is absolutely delicious to play with. B is getting some driving gloves from these!

And last but not least, my furry little charge, Annabel:

She's adorable and much more lovey than last time I watched her. Also, she's snuggling on my coat!

This post brought to you by sick day.

2010-12-21T11:46:00.000-08:00

Sick day has brought exposure to natural light (gasp!) so I can show you some WIP/FO photos! here's the ashland bay merino that I spun, and you can see how truly subtle and beautiful the colors are:

And here with a bit of flash:

Also I was able to felt the rug! I haven't measured it yet, as its still drying, but it didn't appear to get terribly smaller, just very lovely and fuzzy. I am still so happy with it!

Since I had to cannibalize the needles from this project to make the handspun project above (its going to be a fully reversible cowl), the Boneyard Shawl is on some waste yarn and you can see its shape! It will be about twice this large, or however long I have yarn for.

Beautiful! now if I could only kick the sniffles and fever.

Shopping in my Stash

2010-12-18T14:31:00.000-08:00

The Hufflepuff socks are done! I thought I took a picture but apparently it did not turn out, so stay tuned for sock FO pictures.

I'm trying to save money, so here are some projects from the stash. You know those projects that just latch on to you, that are so exciting and a perfect match of yarn and pattern? The Boneyard Shawl has been like that for me. A free Ravelry download by Stephen West, its a simpple stockinette shawl with garter ridges, and I'm using a heathery slate blue recycled yarn held triple and a US 7.

It is much more blue in person. Unfortunately my 7's are 24" long and I need a longer one to continue, but here is what I'm working on in the meantime.

Another triple-stranded project, this is made with one strand of the Beast handspun that I did (a naturally-colored marl) and two strands of leftover Shetland that I'm changing as I go. Its making me really happy! (Later I'm gonna felt it all up, we'll see how that goes...)

Whee!

Holiday Happenings

2010-12-07T13:16:00.000-08:00

There are a lot of things I dislike about the Christmas season (AHEM all Jewelry companies' commercials everywhere...) but there are a lot of things I like too! I like wrapping presents, especially when I get to be creative.

Decorating is fun, especially when it involves knitting. I knit Jesus (hay-seuss, we're pretending he's a Mexican fir) a teeny hat. Its a bad photo but exceedingly cute.

Here he is pre-decorating. We're gonna plant him in the park after the holiday.

(also notice the snowflakes in the background).

Yesterday I made cookies, not of the Xmas variety, just chocolate chip oatmeal walnut, but tasty of course. I also love SATSUMAS! And snow, we need some more of that. This weekend I'm going to see a Christmas play with the whole gang. And because this is about knitting:

One of these socks (left one) is on waste yarn under my pants because it's not finished yet!

Notable absence

2010-12-01T20:52:00.000-08:00

I have been here, mostly Power Knitting(tm). We had some snow, which was beautiful and disastrous for Seattle, since our drivers are so....poor. I enjoyed my Thanksgiving, and engaged in some serious Power Knitting(tm). The first law of physics says that anything fun costs at least $8, so we went to the Harry Potter Exhibition and the Seahawks game.

I'm sure Bear is glad he's inside, here.

I had so much fun tailgating before the game. Everyone loved my Seattle hat, and B's was pretty cute too.

I got distracted...

a beautiful sight....

Sadly, we lost.

Something we saw on the way:

For non-locals, Dave was a Mariner's broadcaster for years, literally the voice of the team. Seeing this made me happy.

More distractions, this was seen at my local pizza joint:

My classmate's FC Dallas Jersey from the MLS championship. Even though he's not a Sounder we're still proud of him!

I got three bobbins done before the Power Knitting (tm) set in.

Here's one sock. I think I made it in like 4 or 5 days.

The second one is taking longer:

So hopefully that makes up for the conspicuous absence! Happy knitting, everyone.

Recent Haps

2010-11-20T17:20:00.000-08:00

Today I've been power knitting with breaks for hula hoop action and tea.

Here's some recent knitting:

Extreme local traffic caused this to be knit on in the car. There was rage.

This cancels the rage though, its very cute and vintagey, Seahawks-inspired hat. Because I realized I had nothing that wasn't extremely Sounders-oriented for the game next weekend.

A pretty (cold) lunch at Greenlake:

Some shetland I scored at a going-out-of-business sale:

(It will become mittens, of course. Who do you think I am?)

Sorry I'm not particularly interesting, I'll post power-knitting results as soon as I have some!

Check it out!

2010-11-13T10:07:00.000-08:00

First wheelspun yarn! Its the Ashland Bay Merino, same as I used for the brown handspun pop top mittens. I figured it would be easiest to learn from something commercially prepared. And its lovely!

The light is poor, but its a beautiful silvery green. I haven't figured the yardage yet, and its not been washed. It looks like a sport or DK weight, but we'll see how it fluffs out after washing.

Here's a hat I made that I dearly love, and it turns out other people like it too! I wrote it up, and hopefully there are no errors, so I can post it here!

We had a great time with the huskies at the Dog park yesterday, and it was a beautiful fall day.

Is it possible

2010-11-09T20:58:00.000-08:00

To have too many socks?

Thats about 80% capacity.

Also, in other extremely exciting news, I bought a spinning wheel! Its a used Ashford Traveler, exactly the one I wanted, in a matte dark finish, with tons of extras. I have been spindling for about two years, but this is my first real wheel experience, and I'm totally loving it. Here's the baby:

I love November

2010-11-08T20:21:00.000-08:00

The Japanese Feathers lace from Barbara Walkers second treasury made this pretty hat. Its rather slouchy. I cast on 108, increased to 132, and did 2 repeats. I made myself a decrease chart, and then proceeded not to follow it. Its so cute I haven't taken it off!

Here's a FO shot of the lined mittens!

And with the liners out:

I love November:

New Digs!

2010-11-04T22:00:00.000-07:00

Some preliminary photos from our new apartment! Here's the view (not quite a lake view yet, some leaves still need to fall) out our windows:

All the adjoining lots are wooded:

Things are way more put away now than they are in these photos:

More to come! and now for something completely different! (Not really) Knitting!
Two layer mittens (now finished) with a wool outer layer and a wool/angora blend inner layer:

I ripped and re-knit the Star Lace Tam, making it taller and less wide, and adding the snazzy angora trim. It matches the mittens and is super soft and warm, although it does make my hair static-y!

This is the one I made for my Aunt. I haven't been able to get a good photo on me, but its too late now. I already gave it to mom to be sent out to Spokane.

Exciting times! I'm loving the angora blend so much, I'm going to keep knitting with it! Another winter set, but this time a fully lace beret with matching cowl and possibly mitts. Thank you, Barbara Walker!

Holding pattern

2010-11-01T22:25:00.000-07:00

Nothing to see here, except piles of boxes. In the meantime, look at the shiny jingling keys:

These were for my Halloween costume which didn't really get off the ground, but I still have it. Mighty Mitten girl went to work for me, but we switched back again for the Sounders game (grrr stupid David Beckham). The logo below will go on a cape, when I sew one.

I know I told you about the two hats, I still need to take pictures. The mittens to match are coming along, but they are too short. So when I rip and reknit, I'm considering the possibility of flip top again. But who knows! I also finished the machine sewing part of my tshirt blanket and have begun handquilting, although that will be a process all to itself.

Pics soon I promise!

Stasis

2010-10-28T21:55:00.000-07:00

I'm moving this weekend, so things are up in the air. I have two or three FOs that await photography (one is still drying, its so thick). My grey socks are still in progress, and the queue is ever-growing.

In the meantime here are some photos from my vacation:

All the small things

2010-10-17T09:26:00.000-07:00

I made this very special little blanket for an upcoming baby. Here it is in the form of a crepe:

Its three strands of a mystery brushed acrylic (supposedly from italy) held together on size 13's, knit in garter stitch on the bias. Keeps it simple while not totally murdering me from boredom. Also for this special baby:

And again (I can't get enough of it)

Here's something that isn't small, but is made up of many small pieces (poorly, and without any organization or planning. I keep telling myself that when I wonder why the seams are all wobbly).

T shirt blanket!!

More cool Sounders stuff too, but I won't bore you. Suffice to say I got my photo with DREW CAREY! It was amazing.

Movin' and Shakin'

2010-10-13T19:58:00.000-07:00

As always, there are many knitting projects moving around my day to day life, but I've got some better news: I'm finally moving out! I have been waiting for this opportunity to do what feels like it amounts to actually starting my life.

But, yous guys are here for knitting, and here it is:

Flip-top mittens in my handspun (Ashland Bay Merino in Sandalwood). I was too in love with the spinning to even make notes on what I did. S? Z? who knows. Its beautiful.

The Mallard V neck is finally finished. Well, its been done for a while. But finished photos were lacking. If knitting is accomplished and there's no one to take a picture, does it really exist? Very yes. And it looks good on me too.

I also went to a very pretty place. Thats the Bowl and Pitcher rapids in the Riverside State Park outside of Spokane. There is also a feature called the Devil's Toenail. I was confused, I though the devil had hooves!

Other things moving (cause triple stranding goes fast!):

Soccer and sweaters

2010-10-08T14:36:00.001-07:00

Sweater is finished, just need final photos. It looks GREAT and I am so proud of it. My dad even thought I had bought it in a store! I have, of course, started new projects and am trucking along. This weekend I'll be in Spokane for a wedding, so hopefully lots of knitting time.

Here's another creative pursuit I did recently, for my beloved Sounders! (most especially for Blaise Nkufo, who is on fire lately)

We brought that to the Sounders victorious Open Cup final, where I was interviewed for the team site: article here. Stay tuned, more fun things to come!

Almost there

2010-10-03T20:02:00.000-07:00

Check out the sweater progress! One sleeve remains, some ends to weave in, and the collar to fix. Almost there!

Also, new yarn. The whole affair was a whirlwind, we got the fiber in my store (Ashland bay Merino), and I took four ounces home the same day. By the next day it was all spun, two days, plied. Now its ready to knit, if I'm able to finish that sleeve first. Knitting is so exciting!!

Better photos to come soon!

Discernible progress

2010-09-26T18:35:00.000-07:00

Just started in to my 4th ball of Ultra Alpaca. Also both sleeves are underway and the ribbing on the collar has been completed. Not a lot else going on!

Sorry, my interwebs were down

2010-09-18T12:49:00.000-07:00

I've been around, but not able to access the net for a few days. I guess with bundled deals that put tv and internet together, when you unplug one (say, to put new tile in the basement) then the other ceases to work. I may have a little internet dependency problem so that was sort of interesting.

Here's whats been up:

A little stranded cuff to whet my appetite between full-on selbuvotter binges. Its been a while, should be time for some more mittens soon.

Sock progress:

These little guys are deceptive. You are knitting along on zeros, thinking, man, this is never going to end!"" and suddenly you've knit four inches. Whee!

Here's the speedy two-day gift scarf. It's going to the baby shower today. Why? Well a few years ago I got sent some yarn from Germany from Melissa. Eyelash yarn. I bet you can see where this is going:

That got made, and I didn't like a minute of it. That was about...three or four years ago? I hated it so much I never sent it off, didn't want her thinking it was representative of my knitting. So then I made this,

and put them together in a box,

and today they will go live with her! (We will also get to see how the handknits for baby are received. I didn't go all out on this, so hopefully no one one-ups me. I have a reputation, damnit!)

I have also been plugging away on the ultra alpaca sweater, and its a few inches away from needing to be placketed, armholed, and bust-shaped. And all that is going to require some cogitation and advice, so it should be interesting.

I won ribbons!

2010-09-11T21:45:00.000-07:00

That basically sums up my experience at the Puyallup fair today, it was as awesome as going to a fair with one's parents can be. We had to compromise on what to see, but daddy bought me ice cream. SCORE.

I have fleeting fantasies about what it would be like to live the farm life. Then I remember I am not as strong as I pretend.

:Gasp: Now you know what my real name is! MMG is going to be compromised! (Well, since no-one knows who she is, it shouldn't be that big of a deal)

Ever since I was a kid I wanted to have some kind of entry, and now I have honorable mentions! Imagine what I could do if I were making things just to enter!

And also second place! Although that is not my name. I had to talk to whos-in-charge to get that little bit cleared up. I hope Jean Whoever-You-Are is not too disappointed.

The horticulture people have a sense of humor, and a 650 year old Bonsai tree. Damn.

Doesn't get any better.

Drive-by-Hi

2010-09-05T18:24:00.000-07:00

My title bar prompted me this title, meaning I have used it before. It is what it is, meaning I'm gonna pop in and out again. Too much going on! hopefully this week I will have some downtime (I get a nice break from work, one regular day off plus Labor Day) and lots of knitting will follow.

Baby things have been made, since showers are upcoming:

To match:

Also, this is a long dormant project (with good reason, linen stitch is boring as hell) that I recently picked back up.

The gauge is great, looks nice (save the mistakes), but man its taking forever!

Day Trippers

2010-08-29T09:48:00.001-07:00

Got on the road on Friday for a nice little jaunt down to Puyallup. And any local knows what's going on down there next month. The Fair!!! We used to go every year when I was little, and I loved it, and missed it when I was California. I loved the food, the rides, the animals, and of course, the crafts.

Well, after all these years, I finally submitted to the fair! I brought a few items for a few different categories. The impetus, however, was my beautiful annemor #8 mittens in purple and white. They are my pride and joy!

Of course there was knitting, and delicious lunch at the powerhouse brewpub. High recommendations from both of us:

Then on Saturday (after a day of work, grumble grumble), I went here and saw this:

(this is a pregame shot, which is why the stands are so empty)

and we beat the Chicago Fire, which was delicious because Freddie Ljungberg was there, being his usual whiny self. Go Sounders!

Other things I've been up to

2010-08-24T15:55:00.000-07:00

The other week when I went to Joann's for BUTTONS ONLY I came home with other stuff. One such stuff item was this adorable polar fleece. I cut pieces and doubled them (unthinkingly too, this one is actually inside out, see the words are backwards?) and stitched them together. The blanket stitch is decorative.

Things I learned: Do not cut fleece over carpet. This makes the swearing. Also, you need a really freaking sharp needle that gets wider at the eye, not just to admit the yarn (I have needle threading superior skills) but to allow the doubled yarn to fit through the fleece! I actually broke one needle with my bare hands.

Here's something I was working on earlier this summer. I was able to continue because I got a new t-shaped connector piece of PVC to fix my niddy-noddy, which was fading fast. This sweater was the 100% cashmere one. I'm gonna overdye....possibly red?

Here's the rest. It doesn't look like much, but is very fine and lightweight.

I love baby knits

2010-08-22T10:12:00.000-07:00

Even incomplete, they are so stinkin cute. These teeny toes are a present for someone expecting. I'm calling it "Ursa minor", I bet you can guess why.

Its a lot of fun to work on, and makes me smile!

Photo op

2010-08-19T10:23:00.000-07:00

Here's an FO for you, my Carraigín. It means "Moss" in Irish, but literally means "little rocks". As a field of seed stitch in muted colors, I think this name is appropriate, especially as the yarn came from Mark in Ireland. Here's the wiki link for Irish moss, in case you feel biologically oriented today.

The purples look very blue in this light.

I love these colors.

Thank you, Mark and Mark's mum, for the wool.

And now for something completely different: lace. This piece didn't get its proper photoshoot either, so I've got a few new views of it. This is the Classic Elite free pattern for their Silky Alpaca Lace, I did 7 repeats in Malabrigo sock.

Looking good!

Some progress

2010-08-13T10:36:00.000-07:00

The tweed scarf is moving marvelously along. Its one of those delightful combinations of simple pattern, beautiful yarn, beautiful result that keeps me entranced. Unfortunately it also hurts my arms, so I work on the forever socks.

Love these colors.

Slowly but surely!

"Now, Skeeter, they aren't hurtin' nobody"

Vintage Lace

2010-08-10T10:13:00.000-07:00

A little tidbit about me: I am interested in genealogy. Specifically, my own, then again, I don't know many people who research other people's families. Recently I was watching my grandma's cats and I had an opportunity to do a bit of exploring. What I found was amazing and exciting! I had an ancestor who made lace!

She was probably my grandfather's mother, but I have to make sure. I can't tell if all of these are handmade (some look good enough to be commercial) but there is a mix of crochet, filet crochet, tatting, and possibly also some bobbin lace but again, I'm not sure.

I oughta give Piecework magazine a call and see if they can help identify some!

And look! Really old DMC!

Such an amazing discovery! However, I think this was an even greater discovery and validation of my obsession with fiber arts:

She's knitting!! I haven't identified this relative yet, but check out those DPNs!! It truly must be in my blood.

Seafair knitting

2010-08-08T09:36:00.001-07:00

In true Seattle fashion, it rained for Seafair. This was my first attempt to go watch the races and the air show (at least that I remember). However, I did get a lot of knitting done.

Sock toe (second sock)

Since these will be above-the-knee socks, I am doing the feet first so I can make them more easily identical. I don't know about you, but after a whole sock leg, sometimes I forget what I did on the toe.

So right now I almost have two finished feet!

Also coming off the needles is that lace project I was working on. Its finished blocking, and looks really nice! The colors in the kettle dyed yarn are so beautiful, neither striping nor pooling, and they don't take away from the lace. (Go Malabrigo sock!)

Its a bit blurry, the flash really distorts the color, and I'm not great with the camera anyway.

Since I'll be knitting these socks forever, I hope to spice things up by having other projects going at the same time. The tweed scarf is beautiful, but hurts my arms so it will be going in small segments only. Its raining out again today, perfect weather for knitting.

Down, not out

2010-08-06T20:18:00.001-07:00

I have been away from the internet lately, but not knitting (housesitting will do that. I know you are asking, WHO doesn't have internet? My grandmother). I worked on the tweed scarf until my arms hurt, switched to socks. Finished my lace. Of course photos of all these things to come. But right now I want to sleep forever, so it will have to wait.

I'm in the mood for tweed

2010-07-30T12:05:00.000-07:00

Simply because you're near me.

This is the yarn that I was sent from Ireland, and its colors I LOVE. Something about the rustic texture just makes me think of fall, and I'm very excited to begin knitting it. I'm thinking irregular stripes in seed stitch. Maybe Fibonacci stripes? Something that appears to be a little bit random.

Mmmm tweed.

So Stinkin Cute!

2010-07-29T22:10:00.000-07:00

What do you get when you mix four balls of Takhi "Jeans" yarn with a US size 9, seven adorable pewter buttons made to look like teeny nickels and an appliqué of an eagle?

As per my usual style, this thing is mostly made up on the fly with gauge info (4.5 to the inch) and the measurements for a one year old. My size reference was Debbie Bliss' "Design it, Knit it Workshop" which has some great size charts in the back, for all you aspiring designers out there.

I also used some golden embroidery floss for the contrasting stitching, its hard to see in these photos.

And a little celebration of another kind: Sounders victory over Isidrio Metapan 1-0.

Come back Tuesday

2010-07-26T22:58:00.000-07:00

Boring, no photos, I know, feel free to skip. More are on their way though, as I am off work tomorrow I will have some. I've mostly been working on a baby jacket that's so adorable I want to buy a 6-9 mo sized motorcycle for the future baby badass ;) I just wish I could find a teeny "born to ride" sticker. I'm having fun with this whole denim theme, although its fairly hard to embroider on a loose knit, just so you Hell's Angels know.

Lace progress is non-existent due to above jacket. More baby knits (possibly commissioned) on the way as well.

Also I got an exciting package from the Emerald Isle...containing yarn!!! It turns out the very snorkel-forward Mawk and his mum were thinking of me from abroad. I love getting mail, especially wooly mail! the colors are great too, I'll have photos of those too. Man, it feels like I'm running a peep show around here.

Remember those moths?

2010-07-21T19:11:00.000-07:00

Well I went through all my stuff. Most is being frozen, or in the queue. One sweater had a teeny hole, but I'd had it since high school so I don't know if it was bug related or just teenager related. In order to prevent further bug encroachments, I made some lavender sachets. (It helps that Stephanie Japel just blogged about making some, although hers are much prettier)

There they are in progress. I made about 5 skinny long ones with ribbon loops to hang from hangers. The rest are small and can be tucked in wherever. I got the dried lavender buds at Zenith, which is a shop on Roosevelt (I guess you call that a holistic store or naturopathic? I don't know because I so rarely go) and they had pretty decent prices.

I never used to like the smell of lavender, but as long as it smells like NO MOTHS I'm pleased as punch!

Hopefully I won't get sued

2010-07-19T22:20:00.000-07:00

For knitting a pro sports team logo!!

Also, lace progress:

We've had sun! I went outside in it to the Bite of Seattle, and ate lots of awesome things including this delicious strawberry kebab.

Eek! I saw a moth

2010-07-14T22:50:00.000-07:00

I have heard too many bad stories about moths. Last night I saw one in my room.

I don't have that much yarn or knitted things, and many are in ziplock bags or rubbermaid totes, but I'm still so worried! Today the yarn went in mom's big freezer. (some didn't but it still needs to be washed from goodwill, it will go in later). I'll have to air out garments and maybe send them through as well.

Hopefully this is nothing, just a moth passing through since we've had doors open as its been warm, but a knitter never can be too careful.

Fingers crossed!

Knit Lag

2010-07-13T22:48:00.000-07:00

Brian says watching knitting is like watching a picture load over dial-up internet. (He stole this from Homer Simpson, but nevertheless.) But it certainly feels like that around here, with molasses knitting progress.

(Malabrigo Sock yarn in Archangel, free lace chart from CEY. This yarn makes me bouncingly happy)

Work is partly to blame, I'm a big softie and took on more hours than I wanted. Yeah, I know, its more money, but its less knitting time!

The Wicked Witch socks are finished and I absolutely love them, but its TOO HOT for wool socks. Seattle has been sweltering in lovely summer weather (for once, cough cough). I have been enjoying my scant free hours outside, often with yarn in tow.

The Sounders have like eight games slated for this month: regular season MLS games, Open Cup games, and CONCACAF games, and I am loving it!

Opposite of the slow loading picture is the quickly proceeding screen-wipe: (ok, bad computer analogy) otherwise known as more recycled yarn.

This one is 100% cashmere. Not my favorite color (it might hit the dyepot) but so soft. However, its proving difficult to unravel as there are two strands going at once in each piece! The small skein was the collar.

Hope to have more to show for the sunny days soon!

Finds

2010-07-09T23:43:00.001-07:00

Only knitters would appreciate this find spotted in the halls of the local Goodwill shop:

Handmade!!

Brian wants me to title this post "Unravelry"

2010-07-05T23:27:00.001-07:00

Have been going on many adventures lately in Seattle; watching soccer in different pubs, exploring new parks and places, and reliving former fixations. Went to Goodwill, picked up some sweaters, you can guess where that lead!

The suspects:

An Eddie Bauer 100% wool crew neck. I hit this one first, and forgot how to best pick out seams. There are...quite a few knots.

50 Wool 50 Angora, a small size but for the price? Totally worth it. Began to figure out how to pick out seams properly, but with so much Angora it was mostly hopeless, and I ended up snipping the seams straight across.

This is the one I'm working on, a 100% wool Banana Republic turtleneck....extra large.

Progres:

Lots of other stuff going on, mostly neglecting knitting for this lovely unravelry I'm currently obsessed with. More to come, as always. Oh, and when you unpick seams? If its not going well, try heading the other direction, it helps a lot. I wish I had remembered that two days ago!

Hero of Canton

2010-06-29T22:31:00.001-07:00

The man they call Jayne!

They still need pompoms, but the hats are finito. Here's a side-by side of the hats initial completion. I bet you can guess which one got ripped and reknit:

I knit all the earflaps first, from the Icord up, and then cast on across the forehead and back of head. For the first hat I used the knitted cast on, but loosely because it can be very firm, but it flipped up. Elastic didn't help. The backwards loop cast on, did, however.

Before:

After:

Pretty things:

Notice the Spanish soccer team member in the background. It was a fairly good game.

New yarn shop, means sampling a new yarn. I always try to buy new sock yarns each time, ones I have never used before. But this might just be too pretty for socks....Malabrigo sock in "Archangel". It looks like the inside of roses to me.

Slow

2010-06-26T17:30:00.000-07:00

Knitting has only been in moderation because of happenstance. Mostly World Cup, which has been robbing me of sleep and exercise time for two weeks now. The USA is out, sadly, but I will still enjoy the coming matches.

George and Dragon Crowd

We also, miraculously, got summer in Seattle (Gosh! Finally!) While mourning for our Americans, B decided to take a swim in the ship canal:

Not the best idea ever.

Slow sock progress due to some issues with the jogless stripe. I adjusted my method to a jogless stripe that changes color in a spiral (recommended by TechKnitter as well as real life knitters) but apparently it doesn't work for tight gauges like sock gauge:

The jog was just as obvious as before, but now travelling across the front of the sock. I hated it so I tore it out. Finished (first) sock looks decidedly witchy:

Also other tri-color knitting in Cascade 220 going on, photos to come.

Just keep talking happy sock....

2010-06-20T18:20:00.001-07:00

Homage to the South Pacific tune in the title there, because these socks make me happy. See why?

Hooray socks!

On Deck:

2010-06-16T19:37:00.000-07:00

Two-tone monster socks in purple and green.

The yarn in question is Prism's Merino Mia, a squishy, luxe, (expensive), fabulously dyed sock yarn. And I lurves it. Colors are Alpine and 801. The toes are gonna be green, possibly the heels too, and I'm gonna make them as tall as I have yarn for. They just scream Halloween to me!

Summer may just be the perfect time for socks, but I have a full slate of gift hats as well as a lace itch.

Last post explained

2010-06-14T19:26:00.001-07:00

The first photo is the George and Dragon pub in Seattle; recently renowned as one of the US's primer soccer bars. I go there from time to time, and the US v. England match on the opening day of World Cup promised to be a crazy time. It was blazing sun, thank god for the Sunscreen Fairy who was in attendance. A one-one tie (although it was heralded as a win for the US because we were not expected to beat England) was a lot of fun, with equal parts Brit and Yank fans representing.

Afterwards I ate some awesome street tacos (love you, taco truck!!) by the ship canal, and we saw these adorable baby geese. Fluffy!

Third photo is a plain vanilla hat in my usual idiom, perched atop a local yarn shop sign. I have made a few plain and striped hats lately to use up yarn scraps.

The last is another photo of my hand spun basketweave stitch scarf made from 100% alpaca. I needed some pics without a human model in them for the Hand spun Ravelry group where I like to show off my handmade yarn.

Of course it's not sunny anymore, but hopefully this means that summer has finally come to the Pacific Northwest. As much as I like rain, it would be nice to stop being pasty.

A full day of sun

2010-06-13T20:46:00.000-07:00

Sunshine is a rare thing around here.

Nostalgia

2010-06-09T08:32:00.000-07:00

I was skimming through some old posts looking to date a specific picture so I could find it on my flickr (really, that stuff should be organized better) and realized I actually used to write, here. Instead of just posting pictures. Whether or not anyone read it was beside the point. Then again, I think I did a lot of things then that I don't anymore, and I'm still trying to wrap my head around the why of it.

I write in journals still, and read over them occasionally, which can be rather enlightening. Mostly I discover I'm actually funny. Much of the inhibition for adding more personal detail to a blog would be the potential that it would be misused (or maybe these are just flashbacks from my LiveJournal days).(Thank god those are over).

Interestingly, this recollection coincides with a somewhat significant date. This week, I will have been back in Shoreline for a year. I miss California sometimes, mostly people and specific food-related memories, but I also realize that most of them people I knew when living there have all moved on to other places or things.

I would like a way to make nostalgia useful, because on its own its not, particularly. But this is what happens!

Here: a knitting related picture for you. This is a hanging circular needle case that I sewed.

Yarn that makes me happy

2010-06-07T19:19:00.000-07:00

Noro Kureyon Sock in S180.

Hand-spun chocolate brown alpaca yarn.

This is all that is really going on at this moment, yarn-wise, but I have a LOT of crushes waiting in the wings, all ready to jump at the opportunity to make me happy. Yarn is pretty awesome that way.

Decreases II

2010-06-04T09:46:00.000-07:00

Oh boy, oh boy. In my quest for a simple and more elegant replacement for SSK I may have struck gold. Check out the example:

(plain hat made from scraps of ultra alpaca).

That lovely decrease mimicking the K2tog? Slip one knitwise, slip on purlwise, knit two together through the back loop. PEASY. Not easy to abbreviate though. Its a great little decrease and I did a happy dance when I saw how nicely it lay and how closely it resembled the K2tog.

Shazam!

2010-05-31T16:23:00.000-07:00

Two loves converge: Sounders and Selbuvotter. I am LOVING these mittens, which went to live at B's house.

He chose the colors, cuff and palm pattern. I designed the back of the hand, and added initials and date to the thumb.

Used: trusty 2.5 mm Harmony DPNs and Rauma's Finullgarn, which I heartily recommend. More to come ;)

Drive-by updates

2010-05-25T08:55:00.000-07:00

Not as in a drive-by accident, merely updating from the hip, as it were.

I made a hat, wore it to the game, lost it, FOUND IT again, after the game, on a little girls head. Offered to make her a new one. That was a roller coaster day (almost as bad as when I lost the purple mitten!)

Also new Sounders gear in the works, check out my Sounders Selbuvotter:

Fierce!

Decreases

2010-05-18T12:27:00.000-07:00

I make quite a few hats, they are a great simple project to embellish and give as gifts. My go-to hat pattern is basically the same as Jared Flood's Turn a Square hat. Basically ribbed brim hat in the round with four decrease points with paired decreases every other round.

This brings me to the decreases. When I was a baby knitter, I didn't know about leaning decreases. For some reason I knew about making stitches with directionality (M1R and M1L I did know about) but I had no idea SSK or its ilk existed, so I just did K2tog on either side of the marker. This is not the prettiest decrease, so imagine my joy when I discovered SSK.

This hat, which I wear often, uses K2tog and SSK. Looks nice, but note how the right-leaning decreases blend more into the fabric.

These days I look at the decreases on the hats and scratch my head, looking for a better solution to this decrease issue. Since I don't want to reinvent the wheel I look to TechKnitting for help. Here is an article on right decreases, and one on left-leaners. The decreases suggested at SSK and PSSO, neither of which I fancy very much.

So I did some experimenting and came up with a way that I liked better (and yes, tech knitter did cover this and many others that I look forward to experimenting with in the future). Its a little goofy, but essentially you are slipping both stitches knitwise, swapping the stitches in order as if to do a Left-crossed cable, and knitting through the back loop. A little slow, but much prettier. (Broken down: Slip both stitches as if to knit, put back on left hand needle, bring left hand stitch to right hand needle (in front) and vice versa, knit them together through the back loop)

Here's the experiment hat:

The first four left-leaning decreases are SSKs on this hat, you can see the right hand stitch where its pulled across the decrease. The 5th decrease I did something different, I forget what, but it looks the same (I think it was K2togtbl, and didn't look any different), but after that I tried re-arranging the stitches. TechKnitter has two different methods for this, mine was closest to the second one, although I did Ktbl instead of plain knit.

Its not a perfect decrease, but executing the stitch this way makes it slightly more mirrored. Re-arranging the stitches is not hard at all, especially since I do most of my cabling without a cable needle anyway. I'm learning new things every day!

Rally hat!

2010-05-16T09:09:00.000-07:00

We won yesterday, a much needed win for the Sounders on the road against the Red Bulls (and I saw my friend Jaya on TV! so cool!). Freddy Montero got the last-minute goal, and the second half was fun to watch, despite the questionable quality of MLS refs.

However. I am pumped because I have a rally hat now for good luck! Check out what I was working on during the game:

Plain hat with a duplicate stitch pattern on it. I made a chart by hand by gridding a photo I printed off the internet. It could be done for any skyline or really any pattern. I'm loving this hat, even if its a teensy bit too big. Better photos to come, I just couldn't wait to show it off.

Amusing Pairs

2010-05-12T19:44:00.000-07:00

(baby sock/boot pattern, Kureyon sock, and Siamese bagel)

Fiber Odyssey

2010-05-09T19:04:00.000-07:00

These braids of Blue Faced Leicester came home with me for my birthday, about 8oz total. Here is their journey!

Singles action (z-spun)

The finished 3-ply in the skein (about 360 yd total):

In the cake, for an alternate view of the colors:

And the finished object! This is the St Augustine shrug, from Knitting in the Sun by Kristi Porter. I've made one of these before, but I like this green one much better. (This time I made the small instead of medium)

From the back:

I'm loving it! I've already worn it twice :)

Handspun Dilemma

2010-05-07T12:53:00.000-07:00

So that lovely alpaca I spun, remember her? So soft and pretty. Well, the end goal was a scarf in a nice manly pattern. I selected a series of stockinette-and-reverse-stockinette zig zags, which was reversible, a great quality in a scarf.

Well, see my dilemma?

You can't see the pattern at all. Do I forge on and hope it smooths out in blocking? Do I select a simpler pattern? The recipient is going to be the ultimate judge here. If he selects "new pattern" I think I'm going with basketweave or 1x1 rib. Something clear. Mind-numblingly boringly clear, but clear nonetheless.

Tra-la, its May!

2010-05-03T19:18:00.000-07:00

The lusty month of May! (No, seriously, go watch Camelot, they sing that song!)

So I have some finished alpaca handspun, and I am super proud of it. The problem with the singles not being thick enough wasn't a problem at all, because they fattened up nicely upon plying. I ended up with 210 yd, which was 4.5 oz, meaning I didn't lose any in the spinning process! I'm getting better :)

I mentioned before that the fiber had a waxy texture. Well, it was so water-repellent that even after holding it under water and letting it soak for hours, it still wasn't saturated. This is great stuff! It was interesting getting to learn about a new fiber from a hands-on perspective (even if its not really 'new' to me).

Its sport-ish worsted-ish. I should really be taking WPI on these yarns, for comparison purposes. Speaking of handspun, another St Augustine is in the works, this time with my 3 ply green BFL yarn. Progress:

I'm loving the fabric so far! The drafting method I used really helped keep the yarn from striping, and leaves this wonderful watercolor type variation among the different shades of green. One more thing just for you! Gratuitous Sounders shot:

Loving it!

Como se llama su alpaca?

2010-04-30T15:56:00.001-07:00

Mine is named Sabella!

Just kidding, she's not mine, just the one I got fiber from on my recent visit to the alpaca farm. I bought about 4 ounces of Huacaya alpaca fiber, which is the more downy variant, and behaves a lot more like wool. Suri is more like silk, and I didn't like the feel of it as much.

So far, I am loving spinning this stuff. It feels like butter, and so soft, and spins relatively easily, somewhat like fine Merino. There is a slightly waxy residue to it which comes off on my hands, but isn't terribly irritating. I'm making z-twist singles and plan on making a 2 ply since I have a limited amount.

At first I wanted a thicker single for a silky appearance, but I was having a really hard time getting it to be the thickness I wanted. I tried a short draw which, aside from being hard on my hands, didn't work too well, and later had more success with a longer combination draw. Eventually I gave up on trying to make it thicker and just tried to spin for consistency. That didn't really work either, but I'm still loving the feel of it.

Hope to begin plying tonight!

Backlog of Awesome

2010-04-27T10:00:00.000-07:00

This weekend was full of cool things, waaaay too many for one post. Friday I went to the Skagit Valley to see the Tulips; and while the season was fairly early this year and we only caught the tail end of it, it was still really cool!

A few shots:

View the whole set over at flickr!

Another awesome part of Friday was going to see the Alpacas at Country Time Alpacas in Sedro Wooley. AWESOME. Alpacas are like the cute friendly companion animals of the fiber world. I learned a lot about them, for instance they apparently answer to their own names, which is pretty cool. And of course I bought fiber!

That pretty dark brown girl in the first picture is Sabella, and she's the one my fiber came from. Its Huacaya alpaca and fluffy, and spins like fine Merino. I'll write more about the spinning of it soon!

too pretty for socks?

2010-04-20T12:08:00.000-07:00

This is the Berocco Ultra Alpaca Fine, which I have worked with before. Usually I compel myself to try new sock yarns, but this may be too pretty for socks. A pair of fine gloves, perhaps? I'm in love with the color:

I'm working on the second sock of the striped pair, and they are acceptable. The stripes make it go faster (in my mind, as each stripe is a mini accomplishment and benchmark), but not as pretty as the purple and blue striped socks are.

Its starting to get warm in the Pacific Northwest, but this will not deter me. I am even considering knitting with my nemesis, cotton, just to try it out. (We aren't really enemies. I just prefer wool. I'll have an open mind, I promise!) I'm also feeling the strong pull of lace.

Best summer knitting? What to you think?

Waste not

2010-04-16T10:48:00.000-07:00

My maternal grandparents grew up during the Great Depression, and the tactics they used to survive and cope during that time definitely rubbed off on their children, including my mom, and therefore, ME. Some of these traits are great; thriftiness, desire to save rather than spend, and little tricks to keep things useful. Some are not though, like hoarding. Its not like you see on the TV show, but we do tease my mom when she occasionally throws out a Better Homes and Gardens from 1993 (or something).

The point of this: I save my sock yarn scraps. And then make striped socks!

There they are at the Mariners game (3-0 over the A's, but I'm happy no matter who wins when the M's and the A's face off. It was weird having such mixed loyalty!), being knit out of Dream in Color Smooshy (forest) and Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock (Golden Hill).

More baseball:

It wasn't very full. Did you know the Stitch and Pitch phenomenon started with the Mariners? Go M's!

Stash Overview

2010-04-14T19:29:00.001-07:00

Ok Knitters, you're gonna hate me....but I have a tiny stash. The entire thing fits in one old-fashioned apple basket. I totally knit from it, and in an effort to get some of this stuff out and used, I cataloged it today!

Here are a few entries:

This is the mystery laceweight that was given to me by a customer:

Here's the recent handspun BFL from Dragonfibers.

This is my collection of shetland (and two balls of Rauma) arranged in some nice color progressions. A transitional set of mittens, perhaps?

This is leftover recycled yarn from a sweater I reclaimed and dyed back in college. You might recognize the purple from my little sock monkey!

This is the alpaca I bought at stitches:

And here's a collection of sock yarn scraps ready to be made into stripers as soon as they meet another yarn of similar weight.

This is the one sweater lot I have on hand right now, Ultra alpaca (and one is a different dye lot! SHHH!!)

This is a graduated handspun I made from some roving I got on etsy. Its gonna be a Juno Regina.

All together, I took photos of about 17 "things" in my stash, counting a bag of spinning scraps as one, a bag of sock yarn scraps as one, and a sweater lot or lot of like yarn as one. Really, not a lot all told.

Funsize is on F-I-R-E she's hot!

2010-04-12T19:53:00.001-07:00

Guess what soccer fans, my needles are burning up!

There's the back, and the front:

Its 2 colors of Cascade 220 (Chartreuse and Stratosphere), on US 6. I did the charts out on paper, just doodles, and the verdict is, I don't like colorwork on this large of a scale. It looks pixelated, and not as nice as on a finer gauge. I think the recipient will enjoy it though!

Drive-by-Hi

2010-04-09T18:11:00.000-07:00

Just some things I've been up to:

This design is getting popular, I made a chart for it.

This is my last Ravalympics WIP...seriously, I'm almost finished with my spinning.

Some nicer photos of the most recent mittens.

Thin purple line

2010-04-05T20:02:00.000-07:00

I got a wonderful gift of mystery yarn at the store the other day, and I know nothing about it other than it came off a cone. Its about 78 grams and absolutely beautiful!

I know I want to make a rectangular stole/shawl, with a smooth border and intricate center section. I just love this color!

I don't have a McMorran balance, but my guess puts the yarn somewhere around 1000 yards. Any pattern ideas?

Finally, photos

2010-04-02T10:33:00.000-07:00

I got a moment of cooperation with the weather, my schedule, and my friend who helps with pictures to snap some of my finished St Augustine!

I made a medium size, in retrospect due to issues of gauge with the thick and thin-ness of the handspun, I would make a small. The yarn worked up much better than I expected, and while its a very open knit at this gauge, I like the hand. Its also super cute, if it would stay up. (I used smaller needles for the arm ribbing but not the border ribbing, and I should have. Lesson learned)

I am totally going to make one of these for every summer dress.

Let's go through the process, shall we Vanna?

There's the virgin yarn, purchased from Article Pract in Oakland. It's Lorna's Laces wool top in "Black purl". Their rovings come in the same colorways as their yarns!

There is a shot of the roving all laid out in the sun. The colors are awesome, although I prefer non-striping yarns, there was no way to avoid it here.

There is a single on my very high-tech bobbin.

This shot is of the finished plied yarns, I can't tell if its been washed already in this pic or not.

And you've seen what it turned into! Knitting with handspun is a fun experience, very rewarding. Also, can you tell I love purple?

Hope everyone has an awesome weekend, GO SOUNDERS!

That was fast

2010-03-30T15:45:00.000-07:00

They're finished! I started these bad boys on Thursday night, and now they are blocking.

The photo shows them missing one thumb, but it has since been made. They are NHM #3 with the cuff from Annemor #6, knit in Rauma's Filullgarn, the gray is #403 and the red #435 I believe. Could be wrong. I elongated the thumb gusset, but if these had been for me I would also have moved it closer to the side of the hand. Since they are for grandma, I think she will be ok with the thumb placement. Love love love these guys!

One love

2010-03-25T20:57:00.000-07:00

Alternatively titled "isn't it good, Norwegian Wool" to the tune of the Beatles beat. You can tell I'm in love again, can't you.

The wool is the Finullgarn from Dale of Norway, and so far I LOVE it, and am slightly amused by the Canadian-ness of the colors (403 and 435).

Below are some (bad) photos of my finished socks with the Little Red Bicycle "Cupcake sock" yarn. I'm thinking they look like tortoiseshell, and also a bit like their namesake "delicious stout". Mmm socks.

They are just plain stockinette, but because they are a bit thicker than the sock yarn I normally use, I only increased to 56 stitches around instead of 60. I really like the fit of the heel.

The shrug out of handspun is finished but in need of blocking and also natural lighting and the presence of my photographer to get properly documented. I have some very poor, flourescently-lit, on my bedroom floor shots, but I'll spare you for now.

(Oh...and Go Sounders :) they set a league attendance record on their opener tonight with 36,200 fans!)

More Wips

2010-03-19T10:54:00.000-07:00

My desire to knit from the stash includes knitting up the handspun I have made since I learned to spin. This is an earlier attempt and not a very good yarn (based on what I was going for, its ok on its own). Its from the Lorna's Laces wool top in the colorway "Black Purl" which is beautiful on its own, but makes a very stripey marled type yarn which I tend to dislike.

The shrug is "St Augustine" from Knitting in the Sun by Kristin Porter, I bought it this week because there are at least 5 things in there I would make. Or, one or two that I would make at least five times!

Since I'm using handspun, the amount is not exact so I'm going to work the whole body, then divide what's left and do the sleeves so they can be exact. And hopefully it won't look ugly when its finished!

Yarn is taking over

2010-03-18T09:07:00.001-07:00

The other evening at dinner, my Dad saw what he thought was a fly on the table, and smashed it with a quick motion.

It turned out it was yarn, and I said to him, "Pops, I think thats a bit of wool"

"At any rate, its dead" he said, quite seriously.

I'm proud of my yarn for venturing so far!

Long term

2010-03-16T12:26:00.000-07:00

Last time I swore I knit other things besides Selbuvotter. Well, I also spin other things. Here's a long-term spinning enterprise. I wanted it to be a WIP for finishing in my Ravelympics charge, but it didn't get finished, although some progress was made.

Its more BFL from Dragon Fibers, this time I bought two braids so when I make a 3-ply I'll hopefully have a more substantial amount.

I think I've mentioned this before, but I picked apart the roving into tufts and am spinning them from the cloud so as to avoid striping. Its making the spinning a bit more of a woolen spinning process, and it will be interesting to see how this affects the finished yarn compared to the other BFL I spun! I have about 2 oz of fiber still to go.

More Mitten Drama

2010-03-11T20:59:00.001-08:00

Lord, you'd swear this mitten was a real boy the way I've been carrying on. Imagine the scene:

ACT I. Scene 1.

I bring my mittens to work to show off to everyone who I can force to look at them. This works for a while.

Scene 2. I leave work, making sure to tuck my mittens into my purse.

Scene 3. I get home, to discover ONLY ONE MITTEN. Much wailing and gnashing of teeth. I frantically call the shop and leave a message, actually drive back there and peer under cars looking for it, all to no avail. I think I cry a little.

Scene 4. convinced mitten is gone for good, I go to work. I get lunch beforehand, and upon getting out of the car, see mister delinquent mitten under my drivers seat. How did he get there? No idea. But he's safe with me now, and we'll never be parted ever again. Mitten forever!!

Anyway, I swear I knit other stuff, guys.

My citron at work.

A brand-new sock from my Little Red Bicycle yarn.

New convertible cowl in action.

And more! (the mitten photos are all pre-blocking. They are going for a soak now)

Dear Mitten:

2010-03-06T11:23:00.000-08:00

Dear Annemor #8;

I'm sorry I said those things about you. I know its not your fault if I can't find a matching yarn, and I went to many new and wonderful yarn shops in Seattle trying to find it. I begged the knitters on Ravelry to help me. Of course, this was all for naught, as your beautiful heathery purple appears to be enough for the other mitten.

We spent the day together, at the park flying kites. It also came to poker with me.

You can tell its going to be a beautiful thing, can't you?

I love you, Mitten.

March?

2010-03-05T09:05:00.000-08:00

I hate that an acceptable topic of small talk is "how fast the time is getting away from us". This assumes several things. I cross out the days on my calendar as they elapse, counting down to who knows what. I guess its a symptom of my generation's ills.

ANYWAY pensive thing.

Newest fix on the old Selbu-ddiction, white and heathered purple. Annemor #8. Gonna run out of yarn. Subsequent pouting/tantruming last night. I totally flounced from knitting and went to bed.

Another Convertible Cowl, this one in Berocco Jasper (2 balls).Its amazing how, even with the same knitter, same pattern, same gauge, the fabric can be so different. I like the buttons, even if they are a little my-little-ponyish.

Happy March, all ye knitters. Beware the middle parts and all that et tu ceasar stuff.

Whirlwind tour

2010-02-28T19:40:00.000-08:00

Of Stitches west. I'll have a major photo dump post later, but for now:

Citron on the plane. I finished the damn thing, just not blocked it yet. Photo shoot to come!

SO much yarn!!

Everyone and their brother

2010-02-24T19:36:00.001-08:00

Is knitting a Citron. I'm on the fourth chart repeat. I want this thing done so I can wear it!!

pics to come.

Lace Ribbon

2010-02-20T15:33:00.001-08:00

Another WIP zapped in the name of finishing and Ravalympics.

It's the Lace Ribbon Scarf by Veronik Avery from Knitty.com. I used a 16" US 3 circ, and almost the entire skein of A Verb For Keeping Warm's alpaca/silk blend in "cosmos", which is indigo dyed. Its a beautiful, soft yarn in wonderful colors, and it works well with the pattern.

The yarn is really grabby when knitting, so I would recommend against a center-pull ball. I also had to give this yarn a really good soak to get out excess dye.

Happy to have another finished object that will work great for spring.

From the shores of the River Lee

2010-02-19T20:09:00.000-08:00

To my local beach on the Puget Sound, here is a sweater of which I am terribly proud.

I started this project quite a few months back, shortly after returning from the Emerald Isle (coming back to the Emerald city, hmm? sorry, just had to add that). As per my style, I couldn't find a pattern that had what I want, so I took my measurements, swatched, and away we went. In the past this has not worked so well, see "Adventure Sweater" for further information. But I'd say this time, it was a success.

The yarn is an unadorned cream Irish wool, the ball band saying nothing more than the weight in grams and that it had been spun in Ireland. I bought two balls, hoping there would be enough for a garment. I used US 8 circular and double pointed needles for the whole garment, including edgings which are worked in garter. In order to make sure it fit, I chose top down raglan construction. For the most part, it worked well. I had to rip out most of the body because of the dreaded flying-squirrel armpit problem, but it looked much better. I also ripped back part of the sleeves to make them thinner and longer. Working with a limited amount of yarn meant I had to initially make the sleeves on the short side, but later I was able to add on with some leftovers, and blocking helped as well.

A useful tip I gleaned along the way was to put the piece on two circulars and work in that manner; it made periodic fittings of the garment SO much easier. I didn't drop stitches, or have to put them on a holder each time, and it was simpler than trying to cram so many stitches on to one circular.

This has definitely whet my appetite for sweaters. Especially ones I can do myself! I am hugely proud of this sweater, and hope it will wear for a long time. (Based on the hand of the wool, I'd say it will) No matter where I wear it, I'll remember my time in Ireland fondly.

Nordic Heritage Museum #2

2010-02-16T09:55:00.000-08:00

These are my second pair of Selbuvotter, or as I lovingly refer to them "the second coolest mittens in the known universe". Also, I think I am addicted to these amazing little guys.

Recap: I used gifted MacAuslan Shetland yarn and my ever-present size 1 KP Harmonies to whip these bad boys up. The colors were "Islay" and "Mairi", which worked out to be a light blue and a marled, tweedy navy blue. This pair is slightly longer than my first pair, which is good, because eventually I'd like to be able to make some for people who have hand sizes other than "elfin".

I used the chart as written from Terri Shea's book with a few exceptions. For the cuff, I used the cuff charts from Annemor #1, specifically, charts A and B. I didn't use chart C, instead repeating the zig zag from A. I only had to toggle a few stitches around to get the stitch count needed to make the hand section. (This is something I really like about this book, the relative ease of mixing and matching!)

As for the hand pattern, I know I've waxed somewhat eloquent about the errors I made. Well, how about the ones I made on purpose? On the thumb there are 3 diamond patterns used. I chose to just repeat the first of the three, made it easier to memorize and looked less busy. I still screwed this up, but oh well.

I didn't change the back of the hand or palm pattern on purpose in any way, but when it came time to do the decreases for the tips of the fingers it seemed to work out slightly different each time. But you know what? thats ok with me. Its not so glaring that I'm going to be staring at it each time I wear them. The only staring I do is to gloat at how awesome they are and how proud I am that I made them!

RAValympics!

2010-02-15T19:47:00.001-08:00

I love the knitting/ravalympics (and yes, I know they are two different things), its such a fun idea to challenge yourself and participate in a competition! I usually compete in the finishing-of-WIPs department, and these were my goals!

-Finish the Irish sweater. Guess what? I did it! all I had to do was borders, seaming, and blocking, which I have yet to do.

-Lace Ribbon Scarf. I've got about 20 grams left to knit.

-Citron shawl. I've done maybe one repeat.

-And in the spinning department, 6.9 oz of BFL roving in green. I'm about a third done with the singles.

Making some progress! I'm excited to get these things done so I can wear them, and so I can knit other things.

Duplicate

2010-02-08T22:14:00.000-08:00

This messy-looking little scrap is the inside of my latest cap. Its got the Sounders logo on it! Those of you who are playing the home game know I love me some soccer. It doesn't mirror the logo perfectly, but its pretty cute. I gave it to the recipient without taking a photo, but he's promised me some post-haste.

Here's the hat pre-embroidery. Its a plain vanilla cap for a 23" head with my normal Jared Flood-inspired decreases out of Berocco Ultra Alpaca in "Pea soup mix". I love this yarn, I have lots of good things to say about it! Even if Mother thought the color looked like barf...no soccer cap for her!

Playing tourist in my own city (and knitting)

2010-02-07T19:15:00.000-08:00

I love playing Tourist in Seattle. Even though I have lived near to here (as we say, "Round to the nearest big city" lol) almost all my life, there are so many things I have never seen! This was taken on the street just below Pike Place, and I had heard about it but NEVER been there! amazing, and kinda icky!

Here I am at a cafe called Local Color, after having thrown the gauntlet, literally. The second mitten pissed me right off and so it went into time out. The triangle pattern on the edges of the back of the hand are 6 sts tall on one mitt...and five on the other. DOH. You can hardly tell, but imagine my surprise as I started the decreases that I had been making this mistake throughout the entire mitten!

I went to a new pub, the Owl and Thistle (and had to recite "The Owl and the Pussycat" as a result) and got lucky enough to see the Seattle Firefighters pipe and drum corps come through! Mmmm men in kilts! Plus the food and beverage provided by this little locale were tasty indeed. I love bars, you guys know that, so its always great to go to a new one. (Last night I went to the George and Dragon....sensing a footie theme yet? lol)

This is just a little shop project I got to work on, using "Solo" yarn. Its a tape yarn made of a thin strip of machine knitted fabric. You poke the needle into the yarn and draw the other piece through...its a tad bit fiddly but looks so cool!

I'm getting excited for Ravelympics so I can whip some of these WIPs into shape!

Too many WIPs!

2010-02-03T19:05:00.000-08:00

In age order:

1. Irish sweater.

2. Lace ribbon

3. Cirton

4. Selbuvotter

5. Sooper seekrit.

6. Lots of other ideas that I have forced myself not to cast on for yet.

Yanno? thats not as bad as I previously thought. Its clear I don't have a problem yet. Off to start something else!

See you in Santa Clara....

2010-01-29T10:53:00.001-08:00

I'm going to Stitches West! I bought my tickets today! We'll be in the market on Friday for sure.

Guard the spindles, I'm coming!

Oh Dear...

2010-01-25T20:05:00.000-08:00

Houston, we might have a bit of a situation on our hands. I think I am addicted to Fair Isle. It reminds me of when the Yarn Harlot gets into these pattern fixations and makes seventeen of something, I'm starting to get twitchy. I was looking at these yarns and pouring over my Selbuvotter trying to decide which mittens to make as if my life depended on it. I make my poor LYS patrons look at my knitting, "SEE?! Look! feel how awesome they are!" and the poor customers just want to shop. Sorry, I'll shut up now, and give you what you really want: crappy progress shots.

See you when I come up for air.

Things in the works

2010-01-24T17:41:00.000-08:00

I am THEES close to being finished with charity knitting, but you'd never know because I already cast on like four things. Well, if I haven't, I will soon.

Pendiente: Citron from Knitty in Malabrigo lace "Verde Esperanza" aka green hope. I love their colorway names.

Tambien: Another selbuvotter mitten pattern. I haven't decided yet, but am leaning towards some of the NHM versions (7,6,4,3) with the cuff from Annemor #7. Yarn chosen is more MacAuslan shetland I was given, in the colors Islay and Mairi.

Continuando: The lace ribbon scarf from many knitty's ago. It lives in my purse, which means its there for emergencies and grows slowly. Also, the never-ending Irish sweater which is no longer in time out, but only holds my attention for very short periods of time.

Considerando: Another of my Convertible Cowls since we are selling them like crazy at the shop (but none uploaded to Ravelry yet? Someone needs to make a pretty one so it can have a picture!)

Y ya! Spanish brought to you by my scatterbrained self, free of charge.

After-dinner mints, or Easter eggs....

2010-01-22T13:17:00.000-08:00

Either way I'm sick of hats. These are for the Union Gospel mission. They are mostly child-and-young-adult sized. I don't know my motivation for this, maybe because they are smaller and go faster, or because I really wanted to do something nice for a young person who might not know what their family is going through if they are receiving donations.

These are absolutely delicious, but I am ready to knit something for myself. Citron from Knitty is ubiquitous, I think that is next up along with some more Selbuvotter. That knit is my crack, yo.

Ta-Da!

2010-01-16T10:53:00.000-08:00

Colorwork finished, VERY excited about these pretty mittens. I've been forcing unwitting passers-by to admire my fair isle prowess. They really aren't that well made, since it was my first try and all, but I loves them just the same.

Most excellent. Although that double-thick yarn takes FOREVER to dry when blocking, just for the record. Other FO's I have marauding around my desk include some charity projects for the Union Gospel Mission. Mom's church asked me to participate, and it will be good for stash-busting as well.

This one just makes me want to eat it right up!

Can't blog, colorwork.

2010-01-13T20:30:00.000-08:00

Coolest mittens in the known universe. Note how Cartman is also digging on my Fair Isle prowess. Second mitten got knit in under 24 hrs minus the thumb. I am still waiting on the thumb.

Stars

2010-01-08T12:43:00.001-08:00

I love heathered yarns.

A new finished object from yours truly. This is another shop pattern, written by one of my dear co-workers. The yarn I chose, from my Ireland purchases, doesn't show the beautiful decreases as well as a smoother yarn might, but I do quite love the tam. She's done a great job!

Snippets

2010-01-05T16:29:00.000-08:00

Lots of things flying around right now, projects and the like, social engagements, appointments, etc. I have even been suffering a bit for knitting time, surprisingly.

This mitten is in progress, made from one of my Xmas gifts, Selbuvotter by Terry Shea. I freaking love this book. The poor little mitten suffered a major rip back recently, and is marinating until I can get back to it. Right now I resurrected the cream Irish sweater from time-out to finish it up. I have a lot of WIPs languishing, but I don't mind. In fact, I want to cast on more.

This pretty bamboo from China was a late gift from a friend. Its a really pretty kelly green, and I want to make a neckercheif-type little lazy shawlette like the cowl I've been wearing. (BTW? that Convertible Cowl pattern I wrote? Its going gangbusters at the shop, everyone wants a cute little thing to wear!)

Someone at the pro shop had a sense of humor. This was taken during out first day on the mountain this season, which was more of a comedy of errors than a ski trip. But it was quite fun.

Also quite beautiful. I am hoping to go back again soon.