A Little Knitting

Sunday, March 30, 2008

For some reason the pictures of my Kona yarn and the resulting socks look sort of brown. The yarn is actually a very deep and beautiful green.

Pattern: Japanese Feather Socks
Yarn: RIT-dyed Kona Superwash, 0.5 skeins
Needles: US 2 DPNs
Notes: I love this pattern! I could knit it over and over and over again and never get bored, I think. It's simple but looks so damn beautiful. I also love this yarn, it's nice and thick and I only had to cast on 52 stitches to get a sock that fits me so they knit up super quick.

My friend Jenna bought me some Socks That Rock for my birthday.


It's so soft and squishy! I can see why half the knitters in the blogging world are in love with this stuff. I started out with the Embossed Leaves pattern from the book Favorite Socks but didn't get gauge - even after my (flat) gauge swatch told me I would - and also remembered that US 1's don't agree with my wrist. Every time I think it's going to be different. Isn't that the definition of something? Hmm...

So I pulled out my More Sensational Knitted Socks book that I haven't looked at since I bought it and chose the Leafy Lace Socks. First, I swatched... in the round this time.

After determining gauge and adding some negative ease for nice cozy socks, I cast on 50 stitches, did a picot edge and started the pattern.

There's a lot more twisted rib in the pattern than I thought there would be, which also hurts the wrist but since I'm on US2's it seems to be going alright so far.

Whew, that was a long post. The only other thing to say is that I quit with the mittens for Kurt. It's been a lot warmer here lately and they were too big anyway. Maybe next year he'll get some new ones.

A Much Needed Breather is Here

Sunday, March 02, 2008

Midterms and a birthday celebration have gotten in the way of my posting but I'm on Spring Break and ready to share some pics with you.


Here is my Scoop Neck Vest Sweater! It is fantastic and beautiful and I love every little stitch of it. There were a few issues the night I wore it for my birthday: namely the shoulders kept sliding down and showing a little bra strap. A better blocking will take care of it though, I'm sure.


Here is some Kona Superwash I dyed a couple of weeks ago with RIT dye. I had been hoping to make it a very lightly variegated green but that RIT boy, whew, as soon as I put the yarn in the bath it immediately sucked up all the green and there was no changing it. Then the rinsing... holy shit, people, the amount of rinsing was insane! Not my favorite way to dye, that is for sure. But I like it and think it will make a nice cozy pair of socks.

If you remember last time I used Kona, I ended up getting two full pairs of socks from one skein. So I bought two skeins this time and wound them into four smaller skeins for four pairs of socks (with Jenna's help and ball winder). I'm going to let Kurt dye one of them and I'm going to dye the other two. We might even do Kurt's later today. He's using Kool-aid and going for a bright red. I have no idea what my others will be yet.

I also finished my cabled hat which you can see on my Ravelry page. I don't like it so I'm not even going to bother to post pics here. It ended up too short and I ran out of yarn so I couldn't make ear flaps on it. Boo. I think I'll get some more Wool of the Andes in that colorway and make a better one next winter.

Last night I started some mittens for Kurt since one of his other pairs, the ones he actually never looses, started falling apart. They're just simple mittens in Wool-ease because I'm sure they'll end up getting misplaced pretty quickly. I'd just buy him more but the silly stores seem to have gotten rid of winter gear already. Don't they realize we live in North Dakota??

Hopefully I'll post again before my Spring Break is over next week!

I always dress this way

Sunday, February 10, 2008

Except for the too shortness of the sleeve, my virtual double chin, and the fuzziness from taking the picture in a dim room, I'd say this is a success so far!


I'm already past the ribbing on the second sleeve (I know you can't see where it ends in the picture... just pretend you can see that the ribbing on the sleeve ends in the same place where it ends on the body) and am hoping to have this baby finished and blocked by my birthday party on the 22nd. I shall be 30 and I'd like to have a hot, freshly knitted sweater to wear to celebrate the occasion. :)

Also, and update on the felted slippers: I immediately sewed the cut out piece back in using the same yarn and didn't even felt it because it's barely noticeable. The right one is my Frankenslipper and it's pretty happy being different. Oh, and keeping my toesies cozy.

I was also given a "You Make My Day" and a "You Make Me Smile" award by Big Geek Beth and thought I'd award them as well. So here are the (knitting) peeps that make my day and make me smile:

Jenna
Beth, of course!
Gena
Cathi, aka Mrs. Pink
Marisa
Cathy
Ellie

Thanks for making my days brighter everyone!

A List

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

2007 Knits

• Kurt's hand-dyed kool-aid socks
• Japanese Feather Socks (love, love, love them)
• Simple Cable Socks (with the leftover Kona superwash from the Japanese Feather's, also much love.)
• Argyle Socks (UFO banished to the yarn drawer)
• Bearfoot Socks (barely wearable because they've felted so much from being washed on delicate IN A LINGERIE BAG. I am not pleased.)
• Not-so-Puff-Sleeved Feminine Cardigan
• Emily's Striped Socks (Christmas gift)
• Taylor's Striped Socks (Christmas gift, ankle socks with leftovers from Emmie's socks)
• Blue Leftover's Socks (Dudes, only fit for like a month. This kid is growing like a weed. At Christmas he was still shorter than my aunt, today he was at least a full inch taller than her.)
• Mystery Stole (half done, UFO banished to the yarn drawer. Sorry, no Swan love here.)
• Grandma's Christmas Monkey Socks (slippers)
• Wildflower Cardigan (marinating in my yarn bag)
• Harlot's Cable Socks (Christmas present for Matt)
• Simple Manly Socks (almost done, late Christmas present for my Dad)

Real Time Blogging

Monday, January 21, 2008

Shoot. I just cut the first hole out of my slippers to make them all Mary Jane-ish and I don't like it. At first I didn't even think it was cute but now that I see them in pictures I do like the way the Mary Jane one looks and can see that it would look even better with a little contrast outline around the opening and the faux strap but....


Do you see how that sucker pooches out on the sides? I can't believe the draft! I've been wearing these slippers around the house for days and have remarked to anyone who'll listen that they're the warmest slippers I've ever had. Now, the right one is not. It's cold. Boo.

My plan is to sew the opening back in using the same yarn and felt it into place. I don't know if it'll work since the patch will probably just felt and shrink more in the process but I know I can't have the cute Mary Jane slippers I've been dreaming of. I'd rather have toasty warm toes!

In the meantime, I'll continue flying along on my Scoop Neck Vest (which I'd like to put sleeves on but am not sure if I will yet).


That's the front and more than half of the back. This is a quickie knit! I started on Friday night.

Sasquatch

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

For some reason I kept thinking of sasquatches while I knit brown swatches this weekend. It's just a fun word to say, I think. This post might not be fun to read, however, because it's just a bunch of swatch talk. If you want to get to the point of the post, just read the last few paragraphs!

Swatches for the Snow White sweater. I don't like how I had to stretch the ribbing waaaay out to get gauge - I had cast on enough stitches for a 6x4 inch swatch. The stockinette one was very close to gauge but you can see the edges of the 4x4 paper beneath peeking out which tells you that it had to be stretched a bit to get there. (Recommended gauges: St st 18 sts, 26 rows, ribbing 16 sts, 28 rows.)

On a side note, I love this way of measuring gauge swatches! I used to always knit a bigger swatch than 4x4 and measure in several places. Probably more accurate but the 4x4 paper is so much easier! You can tell which ones I knit first and last by that.


This is an example of what happens when you don't label your swatches right away... you end up making another swatch with the same size needles. At least I'm fairly consistent (if you can't see the little tags, the gauge on one is 20 sts, 29 rows and the other is 21 sts, 32 rows). These were for the Elizabeth Bennett Cardigan. (Recommended gauge 22 sts, 30 rows.)



And the winner is... the Scoop Neck Vest! (Ravelry link because I think the picture is better than the actual pattern link, even though that one sports a sexy librarian type. Great job Mrs. Pink!) Gauge is spot-on at 18 sts and 24 rows. Unfortunately, this pattern isn't available as an instant gratification .pdf file like Snow White so I'm patiently awaiting it's arrival in the mail.

In the meantime, I've begun a quick and easy project for some instant FO gratification: Felted Beaded Mary Jane Slippers, sans beading.

I Just Want to Knit a Damn Sweater!!

Saturday, January 12, 2008

The angora content in the Angora Extra is too much for my poor Wildflower Cardigan. The ribbing doesn't really rib which is needed for the waist shaping. I could just decrease more but then what is the point of keeping the ribbing for the waist which is a design feature of the sweater? I'm beginning to think this poor sweater is doomed. It's now hibernating
and probably sobbing quietly.

I did learn an AWEsome new technique though in this whole process. You know how my favoritist cast-on of all time is the Tubular Cast-on, which I usually do with a provisional cast-on? Well, the awesomeness that is Ravelry showed me the Italian Tubular Cast-on and then the Long-Tail Tubular Cast-on. The Long-Tail Tubular Cast-on is my new love. Just look at it's beauty (and ignore the little bit of wonkiness as this was only my second try):

Ah tubularness.

So, since I decided to quit on the Wildflower I was in need of another sweater project. I decided on Snow White (Ravelry link). However, even though I got gauge in my swatch last night I don't really like the way the yarn looks at that gauge. *sigh* So now I'm thinking about trying the Elizabeth Bennett Cardigan (also a Ravelry link) with the brown yarn I originally was using for my Wildflower and which, incidentally, I originally bought with the EB in mind (before I become obsessed with the idea of angora).

Whew. If I'm not able to finish a sweater soon I think I may have to give up knitting altogether. (Just kidding, of course!)

In the meantime, I did finish this hat for Kurt. My first hat that actually fits it's recipient (even if the top does look a bit nipple-ish.)

Hmm, well then.

Monday, January 07, 2008

Here I am, at the end of my winter break already. It went by so fast and yet I'm so satisfied with everything I accomplished. From simply hanging out with Kurt and with friends, watching movies, cooking, working, and, well, a tiny bit of knitting. My house projects definitely took precedence over my knitting, especially when things started to go to hell.

The Wildflower Cardigan was flying along for awhile until I took it off the needles and realized it was too big... and that the ribbing at the waist in this heavy worsted weight yarn sort of made me look like I had a tire around my waist. Tonight, inspiration finally hit: I've re-written the pattern for the boatload of Angora Extra I bought right before the semester ended. It will be a very thin, airy cardigan which is actually much more like the inspiration, which itself is an angora blend. We'll see how it goes anyway. I'm excited to get started! Luckily, or unluckily depending on how you look at it, there is always a ton of reading at the start of the semester so I should have time to knit away on it while I read.

My dad's socks also flew along until I got sidetracked, and then fell out of love with, the Wildflower Cardigan. I've finished the first and am just about to the heel flap on the second. The Mystic Alpaca I'm knitting them with is slightly scratchy knit up, which was really surprising to me for how soft it was in the ball. I don't think it'll be too bad though. It's like the slight scratchiness of my old Knitpicks socks: you notice when you put them on and then after five minutes you don't.

So that's what's going on here. I'm not sure why I didn't think of the switch with the yarn before now. I think I was just so set on making the Elizabeth Bennet Cardigan from the Angora Extra - no matter how much it didn't want to cooperate (and it really didn't want to... the only way I got a decent fabric was if I doubled it). I actually wouldn't be surprised if the brown 10 ply I WAS using for the WC would be perfect for the EB. Isn't that just the way things go?

I hope everyone's holidays were good and that your year is off to a great start!

Is Everything Blurry or Is It Just Me?

Thursday, December 20, 2007

Countless hours have been spent (wasted) this week trying to change my blog. I found a really cool template that I revised a little bit and wanted to figure out how to use on my blog. Well, what I really wanted to do was start using my own webspace (that's it linked up there) for my knit blog. I wanted to use that template and just embed my blog in the middle of that white area. I had a lot of other dreams for it that crashed and burned this week too. It's alright though, I think I can handle this one for awhile. And I have a vague idea of how to edit my template for use later on if I decide to. And I really do like Blogger, hence why I was just going to embed the post part on my webspace.

Oh well, I'm rambling. I've got some knitting done this week but no pictures yet so... how do you like my new digs? Is it really hard to read? Is it pretty?

I'm free!

Saturday, December 15, 2007

This semester is finally over. Now that I had a little time on my hands, can you guess one of the first things I did? Jumped on Ravelry, of course!

Remember those socks that ended up really wide? I was worried they were going to be too wide for my Dad's narrow feet but Ravelry has saved the day! I checked on my brother-in-law, Matt's, queued socks and it turns out he has 10.5 wide feet. Hurrah! The green Earl Greys are now his. I shall try to whip out a pair of socks for my dad with the Mystic Alpaca sock yarn I picked up on clearance a couple of weeks ago. Can I knit a pair of socks in about a week? We shall soon find out.

Success

Monday, November 19, 2007

Let's not even talk about all those silly mistakes in the last swatch... like putting the SSKs and K2TOGs on the WRONG SIDES! No wonder they looked so crappy...

Tell me what you think. I'm pretty sure this is the one. :) The only change will be the top YOs, I tried something funky with them and I don't like the way it turned out.

Shoot.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

There are still some problems with that swatch so expect a new one soon.

This post at TECHknitting is amazing. Expect to find this stitch in the cardigan.

Tata!

Where did our love go?

Hmm, I swore I posted here last week but it seems I just took pictures and they didn't magically upload themselves to the website. Darn.

Well, here they are then:


My dad's first Earl Grey Christmas sock. Yes, it looks huge and wrinkly on my poor narrow feet. Unfortunately, it also seemed a little big on Jenna's foot, which is wider than mine and probably more like my dad's in that respect. Now I'm all disillusioned and worried they will be too big and of course I want them to be perfect for my dad so... I can't decide what to do. I've started the second, we'll see if I finish it before Christmas.


Here is where I was on my cardigan when I thought the pictures could upload themselves. After a long drive to Minneapolis with my sisters and a knit night with the girls it's a little farther along. But first, the cable swatch.

The bottom is the cable pattern that makes up the first half of a cable on the actual sweater. I wasn't pleased with it (click and look down at the first few rows - especially the initial cross) and knew there was a better way to do things. So last night I sat down and knit up this swatch and figured some stuff out. I love what I came up with! I'm still not sure it's perfect but it's loads better than it was and will probably suffice. I think I'll make the SSK's (left side, inside cable piece, next to YO) into S1, K1, PSSO's though. Those SSK's are kind of nasty-looking. On the bottom half I used slip one as if to knit, slip one as if to purl, then knit and on the top I did the standard SSKs and neither are really doing it for me.

And now for the sweater as it sits right now in my knitting bag waiting for me to get some damn homework done and pick it back up.

Sorry for the slight blurriness. I'm still trying to figure out this new digital camera. Kind of hard since it didn't come with a manual (long story). The color is actually pretty accurate even though it's really overcast today. Neato!

Anyway, I'm done with the waist ribbing and ready to start the other half of that bottom cable. Pretty soon here I'm going to have to look up some patterns that have set-in shoulders and figure that out since I've never done it before.

That's it for my really long catch-up post. See ya!

Cabledy Cables

Tuesday, October 30, 2007

I have cracked the code on the cable panel for the Wildflower Cardigan! I can't wait to knit up a swatch to see if it's right.

Of course I couldn't wait to start the cardigan itself so after some rough sketches and gauge-number crunching, I cast on for the ribbing (which I lengthened from the original cardigan) this weekend. I'm now two rows into the stockinette. I made some changes about where the cable panel starts too. Actually, I made changes all over the place for this thing...

Unfortunately, my design skills aren't too polished. Only after knitting like ten rows of ribbing that I should have had an uneven number of stitches in order to end up with the stockinette part of the ribbing next to the buttonband on both sides. Oh well, live and learn, I guess. I'll deal with it later, I think. I'd just frog it, but I used the absolutely awesome tubular cast-on and that's a lot of freaking work for a sweater-sized cast-on!

My dad's socks are also trucking along: I'm at the toe on the first one.

Please Forgive Me

Saturday, October 20, 2007

I really had planned to post pictures of my new sweater way back when but then when I blocked it, it was a little small so I had to reblock it. In the meantime, I had tons of homework and tests and was a little worried that even if I blocked it bigger it wouldn't fit and I would be sad. So I put it off. Then once it was blocked and I knew that it fit we kept making plans to do a photo shoot and kept forgetting. So one day last week I just grabbed Kurt's camera (it's sad that my son has a nice digital camera and all I have is a nice camera phone) and took a few pics.



D'ya like that shot of my arm? And my extremely messy desk in the background? Homework, homework, homework, it never ends this semester.

Since the sweater has been finished I've started a couple of new projects. I'm knitting the Harlot's Earl Grey socks for my Dad for Christmas with the green Jawoll I bought a couple months ago.

My other project is a little... ambitious, but I'm very excited about it. I'm planning a version of the Wildflower Cardigan from Anthropologie. It will be in brown with yarn I got just recently at ANOTHER going out of business sale - this time Ben Franklin Crafts right here in my town. I'm going to do the flower stem in green and the flowers in white. Zooming in on the photo shows some interesting details. It looks like the buttonband is actually crocheted and the little ruffle made just by increasing in single crochet rows. I could be wrong though, I haven't really studied this thing too much.

I've never designed a yarn from scratch before and I've certainly never tried to knock-off a sweater before. I have mixed feelings about it. I love a challenge but I feel bad that I'm sort of cheating and not just buying it. But at the same time, who would want such a beautiful sweater that has nylon in it? 100% wool is the way I'm going. Yummy warmth. Not to mention that I can't justify $128 on a sweater but can totally justify $70 on yarn to make a sweater. (Not that that is a good reason to knock-off a sweater, but it is one of my reasons.)

So yeah, that's what's going on here. Today I'm going to the gym, doing much homework and studying for a test next Friday, and then hopefully finding some time to vacuum the house, knit a little, and finish reading a book. Hope everyone that's at Rhineback right now had a grand time!!

Friday, September 14, 2007

Monkeys! For my Grandma for Christmas. Tell me: how bad of a grand-daughter am I if she asked for pink and mauve variegated socks and I saw this, thought of her, and bought it? It's definitely more brown/ lavender/ purple than any sort of hint of pink at all. Would it help if I bought a pink and mauve variegated before Christmas to show her and have her approve of for next year's socks? If so, does anyone know of any brands that carry a nice pink and mauve variegated?

The Not-so-Puffy sweater has finished blocking and seems to fit, I'm just waiting on the buttons now. They should be here in a few days. I'm so excited! Even though it's too cold here this week to even think about wearing a short-sleeved cardigan.

Blocking....

Monday, September 10, 2007

Well, here it is, blocking: the Heavily Modified Puff-Sleeved Feminine Cardigan.



Horrible picture, I know, but it's cloudy and rainy here today and I was too excited to show you a picture while it was on the blocking "board". I just cut a chunk off of the box from the laundry sink I installed a few weeks ago. (I actually kept it around just for that purpose). Worked great!

I'll get a picture up this week of it actually on me with all of the specs and mods. Hopefully it will fit once it's blocked! The below-the-waist bit was pretty tight pre-blocking. So much for fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants increases. Oh and I have to find some buttons. So far, these are my favorite and, coincidentally, the least expensive I've found. Anyone have any good button buying sites to tell me about?

Laboring

Monday, September 03, 2007

So much homework this weekend. Some of it I stressed over way too much, like my first pre-lab for Organic Chemistry... this is the first class where we actually have to have handwritten, carbon-paper lab-books. I feel like I put in way too much detail but I was afraid of leaving something critical out. Also, Physics sucks. I think I've now said that on every single website I use. Makes me feel a little better.

But you're here for the knitting.... and there WAS knitting this weekend! I finished the decreases, knit even until the purly detail and started the very-modified peplum of my sweater. I'm so close to finishing the body! And the sleeves will be done in a jiffy because I'm shortening them and they're short to begin with. Then the button bands, which I hope I'll improve upon since my last cardigan. I should be better, I've been knitting for almost three years since then.

I also got the okay from my Grandma to knit her Christmas socks with the handwash only yarn if I want to. She figures since she's only going to wear them as slippers around the house anyway, they won't need to be washed as much as if they were used as true socks. I guess that makes sense. I've been warned about the yarn's likelihood of pilling though so I'm still a tiny bit conflicted. I think I'll knit up a swatch (gasp!) and see how it seems.

That's my quick update. Sorry for not having pictures but the sun went down so fast tonight! I'll have some soon.

Hope everyone's Labor Day weekends were great!

Puffy little shoes, er, sweater

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Anyone else a Presidents of the United States of America fan? The band? Kurt used to love the Puffy Little Shoes song when he was younger. He would want to listen to it over and over and over.

Classes started last week and I was feeling pretty good about everything until about yesterday. Now I feel behind in a couple of classes and am hoping the long weekend will help me catch up, even though I made too many plans for it. I don't have tests for quite awhile though so I should be fine.

The puffy sleeved cardigan is going pretty well. My gauge was off a little so I just ended up not doing as many increases. I was definitely cool with that. Then I got all excited when the directions said to start the shaping decreases that I didn't actually try it on and think about it first before I jumped headlong into them... and, of course, they were way too high. Pretty much right under my bust. I waited until one of my knitty friends came over last night to rip it. Now I'm back on track to start the decreases again, in the RIGHT place this time. I'm also lengthening the cardigan so that makes a difference too.



Anyway, here it is before all the decreasing drama started. It looks kind of funny because it still has the needles in and can't curve to fit right but you get the idea. It's going to be so cute!

I also finished the other Stripey socks with the leftover Opal from my sister's socks. They ended up being anklets with a couple of their own issues but they're cute and they're done and that's what matters. I'm thinking my next socks might be my dad's or brother-in-law's. Hopefully I'll find time to cast on for those this weekend so I can put them in my backpack for knitting on in between classes next week.

Okay, that's my quickie update. I'll post again next week for sure. Maybe even with pictures of the new Stripey socks.

Meeeeeme

Friday, August 17, 2007

Since most of this week was spent in cars and hospitals (my mom had a procedure, she's fine) and then at a daytime baseball game I had a lot of knitting time. I ended up finishing a whole sock! In one week! I haven't taken a picture yet but it looks just like my last Stripey Sock, so it's nothing really new. I also got a few more rows in on the puff-sleeved cardigan. It's excruciating to just knit 300+ stitches in one row though so it's going very slowly.

Luckily for me, I've been tagged for a meme by Gena so I have some blog fodder for a Friday afternoon.

I think I've probably done this one in the past but I don't remember answering all these questions so I'll do it again anyway.

Four jobs I have had:

1. Record store clerk. Yes, I was one of the snobby ones. I tried to be nice but when people would come in and want to know what CD that song was from, you know, on the radio? It goes like this? And the video has these birds in it and a guy dancing on a thing? I just couldn’t help but get a little annoyed.

2. Assistant librarian. That’s actually a glorified title. I loved working in the library though.

3. Lab technician – QA for McDonald’s French fries. Talk about a yummy job. I actually really enjoyed this job. It was interesting if a little monotonous and since we had to run tests every half hour, I was always busy and the nights went fast.

4. Americorps VISTA. This one is actually cheating a little bit. I WAS a VISTA but I did my service here where I live and didn’t travel off to some other part of the country. I did basically the same job I do now – they hired me after my service was done.

Four places I have lived:

1. Tiny town about an hour north of where I live now.

2. I spent about four years growing up, ages 7-11, I think, in Rosamond, CA. I liked it there but was okay with moving back to North Dakota as well.

3. My formative years (junior high and high school) were spent in a slightly larger town than my hometown – about 5,000 people. I hated it there and I hate going back to visit but it’s where I’m from.

4. Now I live in a small city of about 50-65,000 people. Just my size. I’ve moved away once as an adult, to Washington state, and loved it there but ended up back here and I’m totally cool with that.

Favorite Food:

1. My homemade Phad Thai. It isn’t authentic but it is freaking delicious.

2. Chocolate. Depending on my mood of the day it could be candy chocolate (PB Twix), ice cream chocolate (Ben and Jerry’s Half Baked), or good old chocolate cake with chocolate fudge frosting.

3. Homemade bread. Yum. Especially just from the oven with some butter or toasted for breakfast.

4. Pasta. Particularly homemade pasta (is there a theme running through my list?) with a garlic cream sauce.

I would rather be:

1. At my dad’s farm, just hanging out.

2. Sitting on my porch, drinking beer and knitting.

3. In Italy! Where I’ve never been but have always wanted to go.

4. Anywhere but here, and on vacation.

I can't think of who to tag because everyone I think of I kind of think has done it already. Jenna? Big Geek Beth? Cathi Pink?

Have great weekends everyone!