Stick a Fork in It

Monday, October 27, 2008

The joy is immense.



Pattern: Swan Lake/ 2007 Mystery Stole by Pink Lemon Twist (Melanie Gibbons)
Yarn: Knitpicks Alpaca Cloud
Needles: US 2 circs
Mods: Knit two of Clues 1-4 and then grafted them together to make a symmetrical stole instead of the asymmetrical version with the wing. Except for a little blurp in the twisted edge lace pattern, the grafting isn't even noticeable. Hooray me!

Like my rigged up blocking "wires"? I figured cotton yarn was almost like wire. I'm obviously too cheap to buy wire and do it right even though my friend Susanna had the great idea of going to a hardware-type store and getting some - much less expensive than buying actual blocking wires. The cotton seems to be working though and, honestly, I hate this thing so it's all it gets.

Maybe I should explain? I don't hate the pattern, the pattern is beautiful and lovely and I'm sure many lace knitters will be very pleased with it. The asymmetrical version is not my thing though it is sort of lovely in it's own way... it looks pretty draped over shoulders, for example, like it's supposed to be worn. No, the problem with me and the Mystery Stole is the laceweight yarn. I actually don't even mind knitting lace, as can be seen by the few pairs of lacy socks I've made. It's just that ridiculously thin, easy to lose your grip on, lace yarn. We will not work together again, me and the laceweight.

Anyone want a skein of Knitpicks Alpaca Cloud? Beautiful heathered lavender color!

*sigh*

Sunday, October 26, 2008

It's a terrible picture of a lumpy, unblocked, scraggly piece of lace but I had to share this moment. My 2007 Mystery Stole, Swan Lake without the wing, is finished. Complete.

Now it just needs a swift beating, er, blocking and to be wrapped and then, come Saturday, it will be out of my life forever. FOREVER.

I can't tell you how happy that makes me.

Bonjour!

Sunday, October 19, 2008

I've been knitting. A little.



I still hate this thing.

My mom is having her 60th birthday on November 1st though so it seems the perfect opportunity to finish it up and finally give it to her. She's only been waiting (lukewarmly, I might add...) for over a year. I say lukewarmly because she's not sure she'll like it. She doesn't think it will be warm. Well, it's thin and lacey but it's made out of alpaca so I sure hope it will be at least a little warm. And since I don't know of anyone else who would like it, and she would be hurt if I gave it to someone else even though she feels lukewarmly about it, it will be hers.



I love this thing already even though it's knit so far on size ONE needles. It goes up to threes for the colorwork and it's going to be lovely, I just know it.

I also have a second sock for Kurt and a pair of socks to make for a friend. Not sure everything will be done by the time I'd like them to be...

Also, I just wanted to let you all know that I am still reading your blogs! I'm just too busy to post on my own or comment much on yours.

Schooling

Saturday, October 04, 2008

Well, I'm back at it. I'm just about to the middle of the semester already. Want to take a guess at how much knitting I've gotten done so far?



Yep, that's pretty much it. Of course, you have to picture me knitting this sock down to the heel, realizing it didn't fit and re-knitting it, then re-knitting the toe because it wasn't quite long enough. That boy's got giant feet!

I also cast on for my Little Birds sweater this week. Started on Thursday while watching the Vice Presidential debates with my friend Susanna who recently moved here from New York. Finished the cast on last night which is when I realized this sweater is knit on US 1's, not US 3's. Whoa. This sucker is going to take me FORever. But it will be worth it. The colors are just gorgeous and I love the pattern. I would show you pictures but it's already pretty dark out and the pictures I took yesterday with my phone look like total crap. Next time!