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Monday, September 22, 2003
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Tonight I have two things to confess.
#1 - I should be writing a 1-2 page autobiographical fiction thingy right now. It's due tomorrow, 1pm. I've procrastinated all week. Am I writing it? Pas du tout! I am going to write about yarn. I have absolutely no ideas.
#2 - I broke my promise. Already. Why? Blame KnitPicks. See, they have some Skacel Merino Lace for 25% off. I got this color:
It's the "Ocean" color. I'd really love to make a complicated lace shawl with lots of different patterns. Any suggestions?
And THEN they had the yarn I've been lusting over for WELL over four months also on sale for 25% off:
Cherry Tree Hill Suri Lace in "Birches". I wonder if this would be yummy for the Wave and Shell Shawl that I've been hearing so much about.
I determined that the pain of not buying this stuff on sale far outweighs the pain of breaking my promise. I forgave myself for breaking my promise to me right away. I'm very forgiving.
And, now, we wait. And when it comes, we shall cuddle it for days on end.
In other news: I'm zipping away on my cardigan, over half done with the left front. Considering I haven't gotten much straight knitting in, it's an accomplishment. Otherwise, not much, though I NEED to finish the ma-in-law's vest ASAP. I don't want to have to finish that at the last minute.
Tipper @ 10:29 PM * link
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Friday, September 19, 2003
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A close up of Pussy Galore, just for Ryan:
And cause Michelle asked, it's the Heavenly Scarf pattern from The Knitter's Stash, which looks very much like this baby blanket.
I finished the back of my cabled cardigan. I'll take and post pictures after it's blocked.
And while I'm at it...
On Tuesday Ellie and the lovely Laura went to our very first Minnesota Knitters' Guild meeting. Holy tamoley, was that inspiring! Not only were we surrounded by a bunch of people enthusiastically knitting away on all sorts of projects for two hours straight, but everyone was happy to see us newbies AND we got to see and hear about people's state fair entries. The judges' comments were particularily interesting, not to mention the judges' ineptitude. There are so many talented knitters out and about! I was particularily stunned by a couple of Alice Starmore designs someone did (and a Starmore-esque fair isle she designed herself); I'd never seen them in person before, but now I'm in love. I also need to get a copy of Tudor Roses, as there's a vest pattern in there that I need to do (which I also met in person, made by someone else).
And then we had pie. What can possibly top that?
Tipper @ 12:37 PM * link
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Monday, September 15, 2003
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I'm always eager to see the new Knitty. The last issue definitely didn't row my boat; everything was so simplistic and small and there were so many kids items. Blech. This issue, though not as hip as usual, is definitely better.
I will say that "Beach" horrified me. It's just a simple little sweater that's half varigated! I don't care if Amy's the editor of Knitty; she should hold herself to high standards as well.
I'm actually quite digging some stuff. What, you ask? This:
Rosedale - that Indigirl is clever.
Saity - the back detail THRILLS me
Tilt - I really like the construction, but it's not very "me", so I'm sure it won't get knitted. I bet my mom would dig it, though she lives in Arizona and wool blends aren't going to make her a happy lady.
Sonnet - it's cute, but maybe too simple. I get bored easily.
Villa - how could I not like it? Esprit is just tasty, too.
I 'specially want to do Rosedale. I certainly won't be doing it, however, unless I snag a deal on eBay. Which I've sworn off of (for the time being).
Damn me and my attempts to save money!!!!!!!!! Damn Knitty for coming out NOW!!!!
Tipper @ 9:07 PM * link
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Sunday, September 14, 2003
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It's been one of those weeks. It's been a bad week, but also a good one, as all I've wanted to do is knit. Therefore, I've made a nice bit of progress.
Of course, wanting to knit doesn't mean I actually do so. I could've accomplished a lot more if I wouldn't fall asleep two rows into anything.
First of all, the finished Pussy Galore:
Blocking is awesome (and really simple with Fairy Hare). She got nice and wide and the lace pattern opened up beautifully. This is a gorgeous scarf, if I may say so myself. It feels like a cloud!
I finished the first half of the ma-in-law's blanket vest. After weaving in the ends and blocking, it actually started to look like a vest, which encourages me to continue.
Monday was the day the Curry Cable Cardigan was born. I should call it the "Clay Cable Cardigan", actually. The yarn I chose was serendipitous. It's Misty Nevada that I bought from Elann ages ago. 20 balls for $18 or something. Knitting two strands together gives me exact gauge, and I have just a bit over the necessary yardage. Even better, it feels and looks very much like angora, and it's acrylic/nylon! It's a dream to knit with, and the finished project is going to be a little thicker and plushier than the magazine one, but, damn, it'll be awesome.
Anyone familiar with the pattern will be able to tell that I messed up the pattern. I tell you, I feel incredibly dumb messing up such a simple cable pattern, but it's not cause I'm stupid, just lazy. It still looks good, though.
From time to time I've been working on the New England sock from Knitting on the Road. I'm using some Schoelingasdfweeiwer-Esslingeadkfjlasjer (why don't they give things EASY names?) cotton that I got on clearance.
I'm at the heel. I started out doing the sl1, k1 thing, but a short-row heel (which I've never done) would look much better, so I ripped it out. I've yet to comprehend the short-row heel, however.
The grand finale!!! This is the lineup for my Alligator Wrap. Mine will be 6 skeins wide instead of 10, and much-much-much prettier than the one Koigu shows in the pattern.
I'm in love with Koigu.
And there you have it - lots of pictures of lots of progress. I'm in knit-heaven!
However, I have put a self-imposed moratorium on yarn and other knitting-related purchases. See, I'm bad at spending money, especially on yarn. Sale? I MUST HAVE IT! Really neat thing I see in a blog? I MUST HAVE IT! I'm sure y'all understand. Well, I have the opportunity to work days instead of nights now, which means more money (and less time to shop in yarn stores), and I've also got a nice big loan check that I'm going to put towards my very high credit card. This means I will be able to save up some money for a trip to Arizona we'll be taking to see my mommy in a couple months. I figure that if I don't buy any yarn until then, I can buy as much as I want on the trip (which will probably include a trip to San Diego and Mexico) and not feel guilty. And, besides, I have more potential projects than I know what to do with right now.
So, that's that.
P.S. Thanks for your suggestions on how to spend my windfall! I ended up buying two skeins of Koigu for a scarf and two Addi Turbos (which I didn't necessarily want - I'd prefer $28 of yarn - but needed), which used up almost all my money. The remainder was spent on a really cute shirt from Target and an insulated mug for morning tea. After I got my hours switched to days, I was just going to spend it all on clothes, but I couldn't find anything good.
Tipper @ 8:47 AM * link
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Sunday, September 07, 2003
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A query:
Suppose your daddy gave you $75 as a belated birthday gift (an attempt, of course, to buy your love). He tells you that you should buy something that you really want (and, of course, the first thing that springs to mind is YARN). If you had an unexpected $75 windfall, what knitting/spinning related thing would YOU buy?
I need ideas. For once, I have none!
Tipper @ 11:20 PM * link
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Friday, September 05, 2003
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I know. Blogs aren't fun without pictures. You'll live.
Today I went to Needlework Unlimited (now officially my favorite yarn store) and picked up my Koigu Alligator Wrap pattern (a total waste of money at $5.25 for one side of one page, but I special ordered it so I couldn't really not buy it) and six skeins of Koigu from which to knit it (it will be narrower than in the pattern, wider than the example I adore). I'm so deliriously in love with this yarn it isn't funny. I am, however, nervous to start it, as I want it to be perfect. I'm particularily nervous about the fringe, as I've never done it before. I'd like it to be thick and luxurious like the store's example; the pattern fringe seems sparse. It looks to me like the example's fringe is loose edge bits knotted, but I have no idea how to get that effect.
I finished Ms. Pussy Galore, and after blocking, she's spectacular.
The Dineh blanket vest is coming, though it's still ugly. I think it'll fit my ma-in-law just fine, thankfully. I've yet to finish the right front, as I avoid it as much as possible.
After months and months, I picked up my New England sock (from the Knitting on the Road book) and I'm zipping along. It's demonstrated to me one of my favorite things about knitting: you learn so much just by doing. When I started this sock, it was difficult for me to follow the chart and I was moving along slowly. Now, I'm more sure of things and even able to drop and knit back up the lace parts. It's such a fantastic feeling to be learning stuff as if by osmosis.
Too much yarn has been purchased lately. The Charm/Haze stuff was returned today, as it was totally unecessary, and with my punch card that I earned from spending far too much money on yarn, I was able to get my Koigu stuff for $17.17. My ebay stuff arrived yesterday, and the seller included five skeins of the Lana D'oro instead of the three listed. I'm certainly not complaining! Emma cat adores the stuff; she very rarely cares about yarn, or anything else, but if she finds some good-smelling wool, she wants to suck on it til the cows come home. Yes, I took it away from her.
I also purchased a knitting bag (the type with a wood frame) through eBay. It came with a size 17 circular needle (I don't have one, so I might as well get one!) and some nasty light aqua acrylic and the beginnings of a blanket. The seller didn't bother mentioning that it reeked of smoke. The yarn is just getting tossed or given away and the bag - which is very 70s and matches my color scheme (orange, green, turquoise, red, etc.) exactly - is airing out outside.
Oh, and I had forgotten about an Extra Super Secret Purchase, The Purchase That Cannot Be Named. Suffice it to say that it was a significant price and will go to a very significant person when completed. It will also be significantly beautiful.
Bless you, stash. You saved me from a yarn purchase this morning. I have a bunch of Nevada Misty from elann.com. I think I'm going to make the curry cable cardigan (from the Fall 2002 IK) with it. It's not tweedy, but it's fuzzy, and the colors are earthy. I don't have any other plans for it, so I might as well.
Pictures soon. Promise.
Tipper @ 11:35 PM * link
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