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Sunday, August 31, 2003
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Progress is being made!
Ma-in-law's vest. This is about 3/4 of the right side.
Even more Pussy Galore! I'm almost done - 8 inches or so left.
Pussy Galore is still so much fun. I'm getting speedy, as well, so the end is coming very quickly (maybe even today!). The blanket vest is going okay; I'm getting the hang of stranding and there's minimal puckering (nothing that won't relax during blocking, je pense). I ended up screwing up the armhole increase by forgetting to work ten rows plain before increasing, so yesterday I ripped out everything I had accomplished the night before and began anew. I'm getting there! I hope to finish the right front by the end of the weekend.
I'm getting quite a rush from finishing so much. Part of what's cheering me on is the yarn I've purchased lately. I'd been so good! My badness has yielded me 5 balls of Rowan Cork for a cabled scarf (purchased at a discount - no, not on sale... the yarn store owner dealt with me. Hint: pouting will lead to discounts.), some cotton/acrylic blend - terribly soft and terribly pink - made by Sirdar that was on sale and probably destined to be a shell, grey alpaca and 10 skeins of Crystal Palace Breeze off of eBay (just because it was all a good deal), and two balls of Trendsetter Charm (pink/blue/orange) and a ball of Kidsilk Haze (magenta!) to make a scarf. This was in addition to the Fall 2002 Interweave Knits that Michelle turned me onto. I absolutely love it and there are several things that I NEED to make.
The funny thing about the Charm/Haze is that I promised myself I wouldn't make it. I even found another gift project to do instead. However, I conveniently forgot about this conversation with myself once I set foot in the store.
And I'm proud to report that I've filled up one yarn store punch card! Thank goodness you don't get them on the 'net, because then we'd have an idea of how much dough I've dropped.
I interviewed for a job on Wednesday. I'm very excited about it and hope with every fiber of my being that I'm chosen. Y'all have no idea how fabulous of a job I would do. Only part of my excitement is because I promised myself I would make the Koigu Alligator Wrap when I was finally fully employed. This is the wrap that my favorite yarn store has displayed; I've got the pattern on order. It's so gorgeous, comfortable, and warm. It's very wearable, as well - the fabric is sturdy and you don't feel as if you need to handle it with kid gloves.
I have big dreams these days! My recurring one is to finish some UFO's. They're haunting me!
Tipper @ 6:41 AM * link
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Monday, August 25, 2003
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My knitting obsession began last October; before that I had a quilting obsession (though it was more like a buy-fabric-and-plan-to-make-quilts-but-never-do-it obsession), so my attention was drawn to the quilts at last year's Minnesota State Fair and the knitting was bypassed. This year my state fair experience had to include two things: many things on sticks and an extensive visit to the creative activities building to see the knitted items.
The first objective wasn't met to my satisfaction. The only thing-on-a-stick I consumed was a deep-fried Twinkie that was entirely ridiculous. It tasted exactly what you'd think a deep-fried Twinkie would taste like (a doughnut, more or less) and was lukewarm, since they weren't selling like deep-fried-creme-filled-hot-cakes. I wasn't in the mood for eating much, anyway. Crazy, I know.
As for the second thing, I have one thing to say: "Eh." Nothing remarkable. I was horrified to see that someone made an Einstein coat and got a second place ribbon. There were socks made of Opal, garter stitch scarves made of eyelash, and lots of boring arans. There were some moderately impressive items, but I was really hoping to see more striking things such as complicated fair isles or Alice Starmore and Kaffe Fassett stuff. The shawl that one The Yarnery shawl prize was okay, as far as I could tell, but it didn't even look blocked, for crying out loud. It looked like it won on the basis of having lots of stuff going on, rather than being a fine piece of work overall. I was going to submit the Snowdrift Stole this year, but I would have only had a month and a half to do it. That would mean doing two rows of tiny entrelac squares a day and then doing the border as quickly as possible. Next year, however, I will submit a huge amount of stuff and win everything, mark my words!
I watched someone making bobbin lace and talked to her briefly. It's fascinating to me, though it looks so complicated and far too exact for me. I'd like to try it someday, but right now I'm not into such fussy things. Beautiful stuff, though.
Today's my day of decadence and relaxation, which means I'm eating a lot of leftover party food and knitting. I've got another inch of the ma-in-law's vest done, and I'm starting to enjoy it more. Even if it's not pretty colorwork, it's still colorwork and it's really fun to watch it emerge. It's knit in two pieces from the center of the back; I'm just starting the right back and hope to be at the armhole decreases by the end of the day. If I really plug away, this really shouldn't take me long. Thank goodness ma-in-law is a tiny thing.
Tipper @ 11:38 AM * link
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Saturday, August 23, 2003
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Not much new to report on the knitting front. On Monday I made the aforementioned wrap skirt and it turned out quite well, but the rest of my week has been consumed by canning and party planning.
I started my ma-in-law's Yuletide vest this week. It's the Dineh Blanket Vest from Folk Vests (I book I like a surprising amount) in Jamieson Shetland DK (colors Sunset, Grouse, and Blue Lovat). She goes nuts for anything Native American, so she'll love it, though I'm not so far. Granted, I'm an inch into it and I've messed up a bit, which has soured me on it, but I'm not that keen on it in the first place. I'd rather make something pretty! It took me several tries on my current row to figure out that the repeat starts on the second stitch, not the first one; I probably wouldn't have noticed it right away unless I had thought to drag out a ruler and make a straight line from the arrow to the chart, but who thinks of that? Ah, well, another learning experience.
The yarn.
I miss my knitting. I haven't had the time or energy to do it at length lately.
Tipper @ 11:10 AM * link
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Monday, August 18, 2003
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I tried to spend lots of time knitting this weekend, I really did! Naps and socialization were too seductive. A yarn store was visited - on my birthday, no less - but I resisted the lure. On my birthday! I had an excuse to buy yarn, and I didn't! Do I get my membership card taken away? I actually used the phrase, "I already have too many projects..."
This morning before brunch I finished the Felted Fizz scarf, though it hasn't been felted and may never be since I've had several people express that it's damn cute how it is. I'm torn. On the one hand, i don't want to risk making it too short; it's the perfect length right now. On the other hand, it's a little too wide and not totally dense (although it's still quite warm).
I'd like to make a wrap out of Koigu like the one on display at Needlwork Unlimited. It's simply a rectangle of probably 300+ stitches with fabulously gradient colors and lots of fringe. I'll bet it takes 10 skeins or better; I was thinking of buying them gradually (like one stripe at a time) so instead of shelling out $100 at once, it's $20 each time. I wish I had a pattern (if anyone knows what it might be - I've looked on the Koigu site but haven't asked the folks at the store - let me know) but as I told the husband, "A wrap is basically a wide scarf." HIs response was, "So if you try to make a wrap, you'll end up with a blanket!" Cheeky bastard.
Ms. Pussy Galore was knitted upon tonight. I finally discovered that writing down each line of the lace pattern on a seperate page of a tiny notebook makes for very easy following along. It took me long enough!
A benefit of having friends that don't knit: they want things knitted FOR them. Huzzah, for I now have excuses to knit cute little scarves! I'm getting into a carry-along yarn mode, as I felt I've had a eureka moment. I love the trendy little novelty yarns, but I think scarves are silly if they're not substantial (especially given that I live in Minnesota, where scarves are feasible to wear 75% of the year). Why didn't I figure this out before? I've absolutely no idea, cause yarn stores have been shoving such things in my face for ages. I feel like a whole new world has opened up to me... A scarf in Rowan Kidsilk Haze + Trendsetter Charm is particularily on my mind.
Other fiber fun was had since I last updated. I have a weakness for fabric and patterns so, of course, when I stopped at Hancock Fabrics to pick up bias tape and elastic to finish Cleo (which is almost done, though needs some ripping, as I ran out of yarn), I was followed home by:
Some 40% off tropical border print stuff for a wrap skirt and...
more 40% off tropical fabric for the strapped dress.
Before embarking on a sewing adventure I will need to clear all the yarn off of my sewing/craft table. It's like it has a mind of its own, slowly taking over ever nook and cranny in the house.
P.S. Dogs like catnip mice, too. Lola, who is an 80-pound lab/boxer cross, has been doing a dead-on impression of a cat lately, the little mouse dangling from her big, droopy jowls.
Tipper @ 1:09 AM * link
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Wednesday, August 13, 2003
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The mouses! They've invaded!
Today I knit my first Mouse-a-thon mouse. I used the lanolin-y wool (Bartlett Yarn fisherman wool) that my Emma cat likes. This, coupled with the allure of catnip, has made the cats absolutely, positively insane. I haven't seen them this active in ages.
The offending mouse.
Feeding the mouse to the lions:
Notice the blurry action photography! I caught Ms. Emma in mid-shake.
Charlie Bucket will not rest until the mouse is destroyed!
This is certainly well worth the hour or so it took to make the thing, just for the resultant entertainment value. I'm pleasantly surprised that catnip isn't all over the place yet, even though my seed stitch was a little loose.
I'm also almost done with my Felted Fizz scarf. I definitely made it too wide. What is it with me and too-wide scarves? It must be my cross to bear...
Tipper @ 2:04 PM * link
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Tuesday, August 12, 2003
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Mmmm... mindless. The only trouble with picking something mindless up to give yourself a break from more complicated projects is that you can get a little carried away.
See? I'm half finished already, and I just started yesterday!
A closeup of the fabric.
This is so soft and cuddly! I keep stopping to rub it against my face. Who it's for I do not know; I might keep it for myself, as it's very me, or I might bestow it upon my cousin. I hope it ends up long enough. As I am wont to do, I made it a little too wide (28 stitches on 10.5's) and might just have to buy another ball of Fizz (which is extremely cute, by the way!) to ensure that it's very nice and long. I think I might be able to stretch it after lightly felting it; it's very stretchy now and just might hold its shape if I convince it to.
I need more big-needle projects. Virtually everything I have planned is to be done on size 6's. I need variety!
I emailed Jill from Just One More Row and mentioned my troubles. She responded really quickly, offering to let me return the pattern and yarn or, alternatively, she can send me a different pattern for something I might like more. I think I'll go with the second option, since it's more than generous. Talk about fabulous customer service!
Tipper @ 7:47 AM * link
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Sunday, August 10, 2003
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Alas, this has hardly been daily so far! What can I say? I was knocked off my arse by The Goo From Hell, which really put a damper on my knitting. Last week I worked 32 hours instead of 16 (I know, I'm so overworked!!), and got a glimpse of what real people experience everyday (that is, not having time to do anything but work). I admit, also, that I didn't want to post again until I got commenting working; I want feedback! I want audience! I tried setting up my own CGI commenting system, but since we have a Windows server in the basement, it's a little too tricky for me. Instead, I decided to go with a widely-used host and after wrassling with it for awhile got it working how I wanted it.
I have been plugging away at my knitting here and there, though. My latest victim has been a Yuletide scarf for my sister-in-law which I've affectionately nicknamed Pussy Galore. Take a look at the closeup and you might be able to see what I mean, should your mind be sufficiently dirty. I've completed a good amount thus far - a bit over a foot and on size 6's. I'm using Fairy Hare yarn in crepe blue. It's the softest, most gorgeous merino/angora blend yarn; I lucked out by finding a not-quite-perfect skein of it for $12 instead of $20. The pattern is from The Knitter's Stash book - the Heavenly Camisole/Scarf - and the lace pattern is the exact leafy lace for which I was searching.
While I was gripped by the grippe, I started on the Magical Mitered Vest (in deep purple) for my Great-Aunt Blanche. A size extra-small should fit her. But I have one word for this project: BLECH. The yarn is kind of nubby totally un-stretchy cotton, which makes picking up gazillions of stitches a LOT of fun, let me tell you. I'm tempted to throw the darn thing in the garbage, and I've barely started. It totally isn't worth the cash. The pattern's written well and I bet it'd be a nice vest made in some other yarn; this yarn, however, wasn't a good selection at all.
My husband reeks of fabulousness. Today we took a trip to Needlework Unlimited on our way back to visiting the zoo with his sister's family. They recently moved to a new location so they've added a lot of new stuff, which means lots of trips are in order to check out the newness. The husband even fronted me the money to purchase yummy Noro Kureyon to make Booga J's felted bag and Crystal Palace Fizz which will be combined with some Paton's Classic Wool from - *gasp!* - my stash! to make the felted Fizz scarf Rob pointed out. The pattern is here.
Now, I shall post this and go eat a meal of leftovers and sweet corn picked right from the garden.
But wait! I wouldn't be a true knitting blogger if I didn't leave you with a picture of my darling Emma cat, would I? She was supervising my afternoon picture-taking.
Tipper @ 6:14 PM * link
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