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Tuesday, November 28, 2006
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I'd post but...
...I'm too busy gestating.
That's right, I finally have a legitimate excuse to knit this Debbie Bliss Alphabet Blanket.
That is, if I can stay awake long enough.
Tipper @ 8:29 PM * link
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Thursday, November 16, 2006
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If there's a bandwagon, I'm on it, albeit a bit late.
I had a sudden craving to knit the Icarus and Swallowtail shawls. Don't ask me what happened. The former will be made from this long-ago-secret-pal yarn, the latter from chocolate brown Misti Lace Alpaca. The pink might be a little loud, but I need to use that yarn sometime, and since I only have one ball... I just had a thought. The yardage is a little short on that by 50 yards. I noticed that at least one person was almost short of yarn for this shawl, but I do not know their beginning yardage. Can anyone who has knit this tell me if you use every last inch of the 875 yards, or will I be safe? (I'm going to guess... not.) Oh, why didn't I think of this while I was fonding some pretty laceweight in a more appropriate color last night?
I am very close to finishing Wyvern sock #1 and have promised to cast on for #2 (though not necessarily knit it) immediately after finishing. I have a few inches of ribbing to go; watch me lose a needle on the bus, or forget my entire bookbag.
Next week I am planning an exciting excursion to the wilds of St. Cloud. On my way back from picking up a turkey at Jack's Apple Farm, I am going to stop at Bonnie's Spinning Wheel. I've never been to either. In fact, I've never been to St. Cloud, only passed through it. Any suggestions on a nice lunch spot (with vegetarian food selections) and any other shops of note would be appreciated.
And now I shall go to work, where I will spend all day wishing I could be at home rolling in my yarn (and knitting with it).
Tipper @ 4:44 AM * link
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Tuesday, November 14, 2006
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Does freeze drying work as a blocking method?
If it gets any colder in the bedroom where Forecast is napping, I'll be able to report on that. I tell you, blocking never ceases to amaze me. Since I didn't wash a swatch before making the whole sweater, I had no idea that the Debbie Bliss Merino DK gets so darn soft after washing. Before, it was stiff and almost acrylic-like, and it's turning into something drapey and cuddly. Jury is out on whether it'll fit or not, as it seems like some of the sproing has been knocked out of the ribbing.
I am tempting fate by bringing a sock onto the bus with me. Matthew's Wyvern sock, to be exact. I purchased new size 1 needles the other day, and I figure that as long as those stay in the bag, untouched, I will not lose the needles I am currently using. If I were using the brand new needles with none on hand to replace one (or more), I would most certainly lose one (or more). Amazing Threads had a skein of Bearfoot very close to the one I'm currently knitting from, perfect for this very expensive pair of socks.
I also picked up the new Interweave Knits since I'm too lazy to fill out a subscription form (let alone mail it in). The Nantucket Jacket and Venezia Pullover are the only patterns that really caught my eye. Rambling Rose would be nice in a not-so-loud color combination.
And that's all I have to say about that.
Tipper @ 8:17 PM * link
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Monday, November 13, 2006
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The forecast is wet.
Sleeping for four hours this evening due to general uckiness left me with enough energy (or, at least, enough wakefulness) to finish Forecast. It is now taking a bath.
I am left with a few scant yards of yarn. Therefore, no crocheted edges. I'll have to slap on a zipper and hope for the best, unless someone happens to have a little Debbie Bliss Merino DK in color 225502 laying about.
Tipper @ 12:40 AM * link
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Friday, November 10, 2006
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Bring on the snow!
Tiny flakes of snow have been floating down to Minneapolis this morning. "Bring it on!" I say.
No, I'm not done with Forecast yet, but I will be very soon, if only because it is a possibility that I will not have enough yarn to finish the button bands. I will have enough yarn to finish the second sleeve, and that's all I need. If I run short of yarn for button bands, I'll crochet an edge onto the front cables and maybe even stick a zipper in.
I finally joined Zimmermania. I'll be ordering The Knitter's Almanac soon, and I think that just leaves The Opinionated Knitter to complete my collection, thanks to Matthew's late grandma. For those of you familiar with EZ's work: What are your favorite patterns and/or ideas? I'll have so many books to choose from I don't know where to start. I definitely want to make a ganomey hat and the Norwegian mittens.
Did you know that Lion Brand Cotton Ease is coming back? Here's proof! Thanks to Jessica for this information. (P.S. I really like your monthly goals list and I think I'm going to start doing something similar.)
Help to warm up America
On Sunday, November 12 from 1-5 p.m. at Michels in Crystal (Bass Lake Road and Broadway Avenue), we'll be sewing together squares for Warm Up America. If you'd like to contribute squares, they should be 7 x 9 inches and made out of washable material; squares can be knit or crocheted in any pattern.
Tipper @ 7:06 AM * link
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Monday, November 06, 2006
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No need to adjust your monitor.
This is, in fact, a (blurry) Forecast sleeve:
One down, another to go. It would have gone a lot more quickly if I didn't need to rip out the sleeve partway a second time because more decreases were needed, and if I wouldn't insist upon spending Sunday in its almost-entirety cooking (my stomach is cool with that, though).
Really, it could use even more decreasing. Maybe I'm totally off my rocker and had far too many stitches to begin with, but I suspect not. The garter stitch stretches like crazy and despite aggressive decreasing, there is more bagginess than I like.
Speaking of forecasts and sweaters: I bought a few sweaters on Saturday and whaddya know, the forecast for Minneapolis is sunny and 60 until Saturday. (It most certainly is not sunny and 60 today, however.)
One thing I love about knitting: I can go shopping for sweaters and identify the stitch patterns. I got a nice chocolate brown cardigan at Ann Taylor (on clearance, of course) and it's done up in frost flowers.
There's a new Knit.1 magazine on the shelves and it only has a few interesting things. I didn't buy it, but I'm borrowing the idea to make tall cabled legwarmers out of ivory Wool-Ease Chunky. I want to wear a lot of skirts this winter, and I'm very into ivory and cables, so they seem to be the obvious choice. I'm going to do a medallion-type cable instead of yet another staghorn.
Tipper @ 6:39 PM * link
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