I apologize

{ 12 November 2009 @ 5:12 pm } · { knit }
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I know. I’ve been a slacker, but I swear it’s only in the blogging department that I’ve been lagging. The biggest drain on my time has been… you guessed it… knitting. I’m working hard to finish the knitting that’s destined for Wisconsin before Christmas, and I think that if I can keep focused and not be distracted by every sweater, mitten, and yes, I admit it, scarf that I see in a book or being worn by someone, I might just make my November 28th deadline. As it stands right this minute, I have 3 socks left to knit, and one of them is already cast on.

This is the first Fascine Braid sock, done in Jitterbug sock yarn, colorway “Vincent’s Apron”. Doesn’t it look like a sock that Midas got hold of? I originally did this pattern using white malabrigo, but the yarn was too thin for the size 2 needles I had available, so that yarn has been set aside for some as yet undetermined project (although it won’t be started until I’m done with the rest of my Christmas knitting).

Here are the little boy (he’s actually 9, and may actually object to being referred to as a “little boy”) socks I’ve alluded to. The blue-green (Jitterbug “Jay”, I think) pair is based on the YarnHarlot’s plain sock recipe, with the stitch count adjusted to accommodate a smaller leg. The red (Jitterbug “Mardi Gras”) pair is based on the same pattern, but with ribs, and a funky no-cable-needle, knit through back loop, twisty thing going on with the knit ribs.

I’ve gotta tell you, I love Jitterbug for its squishy softness. I do not, however, like Jitterbug very much for the frustratingly inconsistent dye job. The skeins are significantly duller at one end than the other, guaranteeing not-even-close-to-matching socks.

After the Wisconsin knitting is done, I have a whole herd of projects that I’m looking forward to doing. Some I’ve played with a bit already, some I’ve just been eyeing from afar. The thing is, after Christmas the birthday season begins, so I’m going to need to keep my eye on those dates as well. Plus, I still owe my mom her birthday/Christmas present, which I now fear will have to be combined with Valentine’s Day and possibly Mother’s Day as well.

But mom, I promise, it’s really cool, and you’ll totally appreciate the delay once it’s done. I swear.

Christmas Knitting Update

{ 1 November 2009 @ 7:54 pm } · { knit }
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Here’s the latest tally on my Christmas knitting.

The first pair of little socks is done. The second sock of the second pair is started, and I’m about halfway down the leg. That leaves me with 4.5 socks left to do before November 30th (my self-imposed “Mail Gifts to Wisconsin” date). I figure that it will take me about a week to do each of the big socks that are left, which works out just about perfectly. I have about a week of fudge time, just in case, but I’m hoping not to need it.

I’ll post a photo of the socks that are finished as soon as I find where Sami has put my camera.

Let us Celebrate

{ 26 October 2009 @ 8:35 pm } · { knit }
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Two days, two scarves.

I won’t mention how long it took me to finish the Irish Hiking scarf (I started it in August), nor the fact that, even though I measured it and double checked with my mom how long I was supposed to make it (in her opinion, which I trust implicitly, it isn’t really a scarf unless it’s about 7′ long), I bound-off this really lovely, squishy scarf this evening, thus making two Christmas scarves done in two days.

Alas, when I measured it again (after binding off and cutting the yarn), it is only 6′ long. I’m hoping that, like Willoughby, it will stretch when I block it. But since I’m hoping for that, it will almost surely measure only 5′ after blocking. I still think it’s a great scarf, and a really cool pattern.

This scarf is especially cool because it’s reversible, thanks to the folks at Knitting Daily. In one of their e-mails at the end of July, they explained how to make the cables look good from both sides (psst… do them in k1p1 ribbing, rather than straight knit, and double the number of stitches for the cable). This, combined with the Irish Hiking Scarf pattern, made for a really cool, really warm wrap.

Irish Hiking Scarf, in Wool of the Andes (Cranberry) from Knit Picks, on size 8 needles

Now, keep in mind, if you do the reversible version, you’ll need more yarn than the pattern calls for. I honestly don’t remember how many skeins I used. I think it was about 7. I also used the “spit  splice” method of keeping my sanity after I’d finished, leaving me only two ends to weave in (one at the beginning and one at the end).

I only have 4 projects left to do before mailing all the gifts off to Wisconsin, and one of them is half done already.

60 days..

4 projects..

O crap! I’d better get knitting!  Bye!

No more scarves!

{ 25 October 2009 @ 5:43 pm } · { knit }
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You know, it’s not like it’s anyone’s fault but my own. I keep starting scarves, hoping that this time I’ll be able to knit fast enough to finish before my interest does.

I apologize for not letting anyone else in on this, but I’ve been on “Blog Restriction” – I didn’t allow myself to write anything here until I finished Willoughby, and got my act together a bit in regards to the atrocious state of my house. Well, yesterday my lovely husband looked under our bed to find some missing socks, and was shocked to find socks, shoes, toys, and a LOT of dust. So I offered to clean our room (even under the bed) if he’d do  Max’s (not as much dust, but way more toys). We finished in no time, and I was inspired to do the same (finish, not dust) with Willoughby.

This morning Max, as is his habit on days that I don’t need to be awake, got up at 5:30 and quite refused to go back to sleep. I got up with him, fixed him a cup of milk and a plate of sliced bananas and myself a cup of coffee, and we settled on to the couch to watch some Disney. After a while, I got up (feeling a bit guilty about the still messy state of the house) to wash the dishes from last night’s coffee/snack binge. When I returned to the living room a few minutes later, Max was nowhere to be found! I peeked into his room – no Max. I looked behind the couch and rocking chair – no Max. I looked into our bedroom…and there I saw two heads of black hair resting on my husband’s pillow. One was snoring, the other making little “coo” noises. Apparently, I was the only problem with Max’s sleeping situation.

I quietly closed the door, and pulled out my knitting bag. At last count, I had two more pattern repeats to do, which would take me only about 40 minutes. Well, I put a movie in the DVD (Greenfingers, with Clive Owen – I highly recommend it), and commenced to knitting. At the end of the movie (which took a great deal longer than 40 minutes, I assure you), I’d finished one repeat. I knocked the second one out in no time (by turning the TV off), and I counted the little bobble-clusters on each side of the scarf, to ensure I’d made it even. I’m sure you won’t be surprised to learn that I had one more additional (I know it’s redundant, but I want to make sure you know how ticked off I was) repeat to knit.

I did it, then I counted again (I can’t begin to describe how mad I would have been if I now had one repeat too many), then finished the scarf off with the bottom border. I eventually distracted Max with lunch, and was able to weave the ends in. And now, without further ado, I give you…

Willoughby, by Jared Flood (brooklyntweed), Berroco Ultra Alpaca Light (4.5 skeins), size 9 needles
dimensions: 17″x104″ (oops, I made it a bit long!)

As it is pictured here, the scarf is folded in half because my bed is not long enough to accommodate it’s great length. It ended up being a full 34 inches longer than the directions indicated. I know that this could be because I used larger needles, or because I did 25 repeats on each side (rather than 20). But I find it odd that I still have a skein and a half of yarn left over. O well. Maybe she’ll get some mittens to go with!

Still Half Done

{ 13 October 2009 @ 12:11 pm } · { Uncategorized }
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I’ve been working, although not as diligently as I meant to, on Willoughby, but had to rip back the 3 pattern repeats I’d done on the second half yesterday. Something was terribly wrong – nothing was lining up as it should have been. I didn’t have the pattern with me, but luckily – after doing the same thing so many times on the first half – I have this pattern memorized, and was able to start over without it.

I also had a bad day with a sock I made for my nephew. It’s far too short… like by inches… and I’m considering just setting it aside and using the yarn to make socks for Max and just starting fresh with Devon’s socks (as opposed to ripping it back to before I did the toe decreases, and adding another length of yarn on to make up the difference). I have plenty of yarn left to make this work. It was just depressing to realize I’d stopped knitting too soon, and had wasted all that time.

Oh well. No biggie.

Halfway There

{ 7 October 2009 @ 10:55 am } · { knit }
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Willoughby has officially reached the halfway mark. Last night at Knit Night, I finished the bottom edge of the first half, and this morning I carefully removed the blue yarn that was holding my provisional cast-on and started the second half.  Unblocked, including the bottom border, it measures 40″ at this point. Which will result (theoretically) in an 80″ scarf. It will be interesting to see how long it is after it’s blocked. I’m betting close to 8 feet.

Willoughby, half done.

On Friday, whilst Max and I were doing the Tour de Yarn Stores, I picked up some rosewood DPNs by Lantern Moon. I used to love using DPNs, and hated the circulars. Now, I find that I’d rather use circulars than even straight needles. I think it’s because there’s no way I’ll lose one of my needles in the middle of a project.

Anyway, I bought these DPNs because a) they’re really pretty; and b) because I thought maybe the reason I’d moved on to circulars was because I was constantly bending my DPNs. These are far sturdier than the bamboo needles I’d purchased in the past. I made a small something, just to test them out. They were lovely to work with, and didn’t bend at all.

a new sock for Max (I’ll do the other one today), and my new DPNs

Today is overcast and chilly at my house, and Max had the right idea. This

turned into this

and so now I’m going to do some of this

before he turns back into this

Have a good Wednesday!

Knitting Chest Complete!

{ 3 October 2009 @ 11:35 pm } · { knit }
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I finally  attached the lining to the inside of the wicker trunk we bought to corral my wool and other knitting supplies.

I got the chest from Ikea for about $55.

I used “Industrial Strength Velcro” (that’s actually what it says on the box) to attach the lining to the trunk, but I’m not sure I’m happy with the results. You can see the velcro when you look into the chest from above, and I was hoping for something a little more finished and elegant. For now, however, this will do. The laundry basket from the corner of my bedroom has been returned to the laundry room where it belongs.

I have one more piece to add to my chest, but it’s not quite done. Eventually, there will be a piece of fabric attached to the lid, and it will have pockets for my needles and stuff. For now, I’m considering using one of my green Mason jars to hold them.

Aside from a bit of spinning and a single row of my handspun scarf, this is the only fiber related activity I did on Saturday. Oh, well. I had a nice day anyhow.

My Goals for Saturday

{ 3 October 2009 @ 6:00 am } · { Uncategorized }
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Today (Saturday), Alex and his mom & sisters and some others and Max are going to go see the air show at MCAS Miramar. They’re planning to leave at 7:45 (which translates to sometime around 8:30 or 9:00) in the morning, and if it’s anything like last year, they’ll be gone until well into the evening. Jojo and Sami are at their dad’s house this weekend. This means that I have my annual “Day Alone,” and if I don’t have a plan, I know I won’t get anything done.

Edited:

Ok, I was just sitting on the couch, basking in the near-cleanliness of my home, when I realized what a crap post this was. So, I’m coming back to tell you something interesting, rather than how I’m going to do my housework.

I went to see “The Invention of Lying” this afternoon. What a great movie! I haven’t been to a movie at the theater in a very long time, and so I’m particularly glad I chose to see this one.

I’ve done a bit of spinning. I had to toss a sizable chunk of it into the trash because I was spinning thread rather than yarn. But my spindle is nearly full, and aside from the little hairs all over me, I’m really enjoying working with the baby alpaca.

Yesterday, I purchased 8 oz of wool… although to be honest, I don’t know what kind, or whether it’s top or sliver. But it is a very beautiful creamy-white, and ever so soft, and it only cost around $13 (with tax). Quite a bargain!!

I’m rather chagrined to admit that the only actual knitting I’ve done is on a scarf I’m making with the two skeins of handspun that I featured yesterday (not the gray; the darker stuff). I’m knitting it lengthwise, and doing one row with one skein, then a row with the other. I’m cutting the yarn at the end of each row and tying knots to make fringe. This way I don’t have to purl. It’s making a rather lumpy fabric, but I like the colors. There isn’t much yarn, so it will likely be a long, skinny scarf – not good for anything more than decoration, really.

Right this minute, I’m going to go get that velcro so I can finish my yarn chest. I’ll post a photo of it tomorrow.

Hooooooray for Friday!

{ 2 October 2009 @ 8:43 am } · { knit, spinning }
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It’s 8:30, and although I’ve been up for several hours, I’m still in my jammies. This is partially because none of the places I need to go today are open yet, and mostly because my hair is being so evil I can’t imagine actually going anywhere.

So instead, I’ve been taking glamour shots of my yarn & knitting. My artistic director is Max. He was jumping on the bed (where I normally take my pictures) in order to encourage me to take advantage of the much better light  (and the cleared-off table) in the kitchen. I whipped the boy up some pancakes and raspberry jam, and Bob’s your uncle, here I am.

First up, I plied the singles I showed you in Monday’s post and this is what I got:

And here is the recently spun skein along side the one I spun right after I received my wheel, with some baby alpaca on top for decoration.

And finally, I have for you the Willoughby Scarf, posing seductively in the big red bowl (this bowl has a story; anyone wanna hear it?).

I love this scarf. The bobbles are a little frustrating (I’m beginning to have strong negative feelings for rows 5 and 7), but there are only three per pattern repeat, so I just suck it up when I get to them. They’re not hard… I think the issue I have is with turning my work back and forth in the middle of a row. In this photo, I’ve finished 18 pattern repeats, and the scarf is a little more than two feet in length. I’m only half way thru the second ball of yarn, and I’ve allocated 3 balls to each half. I’m going to finish this ball, then switch to the other side (where the blue yarn is now; this scarf is knit from the middle) and do two balls of yarn. Once I reach that point, I’ll measure and decide how to proceed.

On Making Yarn

{ 28 September 2009 @ 6:32 pm } · { spinning }
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Saturday I went to visit the lovely Lila in San Marcos for a spinning lesson. When I called her initially to arrange the lesson, I couldn’t help but think she sounded just like Double-G (that’s Great-Grandma – my grandmother, my mom’s mom), and wondered what she would look like.

Well, she looks just like Double-G. Short and grandma-shaped, with white hair, the only real difference I noticed was that Lila is slightly deaf (Double-G may be slightly deaf too, but I don’t remember). She was very lovely, and after correcting some of my form issues, and showing me how to check my spinning & plying as I go along, proclaimed that I didn’t need further lessons, but I did need to work on my patience.

Just before I left, she showed me some yarns which she’d dyed with plant material: eucalyptus bark, olive tree leaves, black walnut shells… I don’t know if I’m ready to get into the dye pot just yet, but I’m sure it’s coming soon.

Yesterday, in an effort to improve my patience, I spun about 52 yards of baby alpaca. I don’t have it here with me right now, but as soon as I get home, I’ll post the details.

ETA:

It took me a while, but here are pictures of the wool I spun with Lila

and this is the baby alpaca that I spun when I got home

and finally, here is some of that lovely batt from Grafton Fibers.

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