Tukats

Shedir

I have to say I totally enjoyed knitting Shedir, except for Row 54, where I had to seek advice from the Knitty Coffeeshop, which was very helpful.  Obviously I was NOT the only one to have a problem with that row! I knit it without using a cable needle, except on Row 54.  Once I learned how to do it, I really love that technique, although I do have to brush up on how to do it every time I begin a new project.  I do think the pattern is well written, and I commend Jenna Wilson for all the hard work she put into designing it and then offering it for free.  It's a fast knit that keeps your interest. 

Personally, I don't wear hats too much, even in the torridly hot frosty winters of Southern California, but I'd like to make another just because I enjoyed it so much.  It took me approximately 1 1/2 balls of Rowan Calmer to finish, and I did frog back and take out one of the main repeats only because the cap was just too long.  If I made it for myself, I might even take out another repeat, but that's just a personal preference.

Once again, I've been lurking over on Ravelry way too much.  There's so much to see.  I found it very helpful for my next project, another stash buster (yes, more cotton).  I was searching through my patterns, and then I thought, let's see what Ravelry has.  You click on Tanks/Camis, then it comes up with the 20 most popular, with the gauge right below.  So it gave me a couple more options I hadn't thought about.  Now the hard part is making a decision.  Eenie, meenie, miney, moe...

Isn't it funny how, when you begin a new project and are collecting all the necessary tools, you never seem to have the right needles?  Now, I've been knitting for probably 30 years-plus, and I thought I had multiples of every needle, but on the last two projects I've started, I'm digging through the needle bags, and nope,  don't have that US3 16" circ.  Huh?  Nope, don't have that US5 24" circ.   Whaa?  It seems to me to be the same phenomenon as losing a sock in the dryer.  Where do they go?

Ahem.  I finally was invited to Ravelry.  I swear I did a happy dance right then and there.  It is so totally cool just to see what other people are working on, what yarns they use, and on and on.  There's a lot to explore on that site.  It did take a while, though, for the invite.  I think I applied in May and here it is July, so just be patient if you're waiting.

I've been knitting with some stash yarns as of late.  I'm making Shedir for a friend of mine who is going through chemo.  Sometimes you just don't know what to do or say when cancer strikes, and you want to do something, so with every stitch I'm thinking of my friend and putting a whole lotta love into that little cap.  I love the pattern, even though  on about Row 57, I realized I wasn't doing one of the cables properly, but since it's consistent and not noticeable to a nonknitter, I'm leaving it.  It just makes the cap look a little more rustic, I think, but because of that, I want to make another correctly.  I'm using the suggested Rowan Calmer, but it's taking at least a ball and a half for me to finish, hopefully by the end of this weekend. 

Also on the needles and out of the stash is a shrug that I'm not so sure about, but I figure I'll give it a chance and it just might surprise me.  I'm using some Crystal Palace Waikiki that I had bought for a tank, but when I knit the swatch, well, it was just too sheer, I'm talking see-through naked here, even going down a needle size.  This shrug is really a toss-up, because I don't know if I have enough yarn.  I'm working from the top down, so there is some leeway in what I do with it.  I'm designing as I go.  I guess time will tell.

I haven't been blogging as much because I'm finally focused on my summer knitting and excited about using up some of my stash yarn.  I've got a few other stash projects for summer lined up in the brain queue after these.  I'm not a great fan of cotton yarns, but I'm finally figuring out that I need more negative ease in a top due to cotton stretching widthwise,  and also lengthening what I knit due to cotton shrinking lengthwise, so the tops are coming out with more success.

Off to watch the British Open.  Go Tiger!

Wicked It Was

This was knit up so fast, it wasn't hardly detected on the radar.  This is Wicked knit up with Misti Cotton in the eggplant colorway using US 7s.  I had a great time until I got to the sleeve ribbing, and then I sounded like a longshoreman in a bar fight.  I used the two-circ method and MUST have been doing it wrong.  I found it very difficult, what with circs snapping up in my face, twisting up on themselves and being generally unruly, but we came to a truce and it's done.  I promised to not cut them up in tiny pieces and they promised never to volunteer for sleeves again.

I do like the pattern and next time would use the US7 dpns for the sleeves.  I'm tall, so I made it a tad longer and I didn't increase for the hips.  I find that cotton in a larger gauge tends to stretch a bit, so I was counting on negative ease to get me where I wanted.  Also,  Chauntel told me that the Misti cotton tends to shrink a bit in length, so I took that advice to heart.

BFF Socks Are Done!

At long last, the socks, they are a done.  Once the Fabulous Cookie A. corrected the pattern for the large size, they were a breeze.  The Vesper yarn is soft and wonderful to work with, and I still love the colors in the Knit and Tonic colorway.  I do think I need to go down a size, though.  Seems most of my socks so far are a little loose, but that's easy enough to correct.  Although I knit these on 2.75 instead of 2.25, but I did have gauge, so maybe going down to US 1 or US 1.5 would do the trick.

Also, you remember that blink of an eye when ponchos (sorry, La) were in fashion?  Well, I knit myself up one in some Fiesta Rayon Boucle, I think in the Safari colorway, which I also love, bought some rustic Russan and African beads for adornment, and I was right in there with the Saks Fifth Avenue crowd, baby.  Now, I haven't worn the darn thing for who knows how long, but it keeps catching my eye in the closet.  I was thinking of putting it in the give-away bag, but I really do love this yarn, so I'm going to recycle it into some kind of scarf/shawl thingy.  Just got to find the ends to start the unraveling process.

Ravelry Envy

I have to be honest, I am so Jonesing for a Ravelry invite I can hardly stand it.  I'm trying to be patient, but I'm checking my email at least 12 three times a day to see if I've been admitted entrance.   A lot of blogs I'm reading have already gotten admitted, which makes it even harder for me to be patient, but, of course, I will.   I think this is such a good idea, I'm really giving cudos to the developers.

Also, I recently received my Sundara silk lace weight in the Black Over Violet colorway.  Unbelievably soft and the color saturation is exquisite.  The photo just doesn't pick up the richness of the colors.  They're much more dark and rich, but I hope you get the idea.  I really do need a new camera. 

I'm deciding on which shawl/stole to knit it up in.  Right now, it's between two.  I'm considering the Icarus shawl from IK a couple issues back, using US1 circs as Claudia did here.   I like it because it's not as deep a V as the larger needles, but I'm thinking, US1s?  Teeny tiny for a loooong time. 

The other contender is Eunny Jang's Print O' The Wave stole.  I really love it, but I have heard there are some hair-tearing-out problems with the edging.  This is one in my Line Up that doesn't have the edging and is beautiful.  I just can't remember right now  who to give credit to.  Please let me know if it's you.   You're on my  Bloglines at work and I'm home right now.

So today I hope to continue on the BFF sock and finish that up soon.  I'm getting my summer knitting lineup in order and hope to show you more soon.

Back To The Drawing Board

Sometimes distance brings clarity.  Such is the case with Rustic Vest, my own attempt at designing something for myself.  It has been langouring for a while now in it's own cozy knitting bag.  I had an inkling as I was knitting it that it wasn't right, but could only face the realization after time away from it.  One, it's just too small.  Even with multiple swatches, it came out differently.  So I've measured the gauge as knit and marked it down for a future attempt.  Two,  after I began, I could see that I needed to tweak the pattern design a bit.  Three, I didn't have a clear idea of how to accomplish what's in my head, so I need to solidify things like length of V neck I want, how wide to make the shoulders, etc.  So I still love the yarn and the idea I have, but it will have to wait until probably the early fall.  After all, summer yarn is out there waiting for me!

I have finished the body and sleeve pieces on Katie from Rowan's A Season's Tale.  They need to be blocked and assembled.  I'll see if I can accomplish that soon.

This is a photo of one of the "critters" that frequent our back deck for food around dusk.  My husband is a softie and can't bear to not feed them.  This guy/girl (don't know for sure) will lay down right on our sliding glass door, looking in, until we give in.  We willingly oblige.

Coming Up For Air

I remember when I was a kid, I used to like to swim along the bottom of the pool as long as I could, stroking through the cool resistance, only coming up at the last minute, gasping for air.  These days, work has been a little bit like that.  Ascending from the depths of work, breaking through to the bright day, lungs gulping in air, I'm  looking forward to getting back to knitting!  I've missed posting on my blog, and have only had time to briefly scan blogs of others, leaving an occasional comment here and there.  I will tell you, though, that there's always a little time for shopping.

First up is Mason-Dixon's book.  Still somewhat hesitant to buy it, it nevertheless was calling to me, and with a $25 order you get free shipping, so with an "Oh, what the heck" attitude, it was on my way from Borders along with a couple others.  I don't know what it is about that book, but it's got me looking for Peaches N Cream cotton yarn and thinking about knitting...yeah, you got it...dishclothes and hand towels of all things!  What's with that? I don't like to think of myself as a knitting snob, but in the past, I've turned a wary eye at knitting such creations, mainly because my time is limited and I'd rather be getting to all that knitting on my to-do list.  No more!  These ladies, as you probably already know, are seriously funny, and they'd have to be my best friends if they lived in my town.  I totally dig what they're doing.  The book reaches me on some homey, comfort level that's as satisfying as chicken fried steak and mashed potatoes.

Next up is Claudia's Handpainted sock yarn in Chocolate Cherry, acquired at our very local Knit and Pearl.  I was talking to the owner, Julie, and almost went into a trance when I eyed it.  I think I stopped in mid sentence and just walked towards the Chocolate Cherry light.   I've been wanting that colorway for a loooong time, and now it's mine, all mine.

Let's see....there is more to show, but I think I'll sparse it over into the next blog.  In closing, I will show you my Misti Cotton that I'm planning on making Wicked with.  Chauntel of Firebrunette , one of my hometown girls, was also in Knit and Pearl wearing the Wicked she had made out of Misti Cotton and it looked amazing.  I think I worship her.  Check out her blog if you get a chance.  She's a fantastic, prolific knitter with a forward eye and great ideas. 

This Knowledge Will Get You Nowhere, You Know

Okay,  inquiring minds wanted to know, actually got down on their knees and begged me (not!), actually, it was Jacquelyn, so here are my seven very random facts:

1. Your wealth means nothing to me, unless I'm in your will.

2. If there was a baby and a kitten in the same room, I'd go immediately to the kitten.

3.  I collect vintage Mexican silver bracelets and first-edition books.

4. I detest oblivious strolling people who take up the whole sidewalk or grocery aisle and won't let you pass, even when they hear you two steps behind them.

5. I have a Guardian Angel who has saved my bacon more than once.

6. I prefer small towns and the country to large cities.

7. I' m pretty quiet and shy, but you probably wouldn't guess it if I'm on a topic I'm passionate about.

I am hesitant to name seven others to pass this mission onto.  Some accept it happily, and others, I can hear the groan from here (and you know who you are -- or was that me?).  Also, just about every blog I read has already beat me to it, so I'm leaving it up to you.  If you're willing, you can say I memed you.  Yeah, I know, it's a copout, but better than rejection, no?

Winnie's heard it all before.

How Do They Know?

I found this link over on Horse Hound Knit Spin's blog.  Funny, here I thought I was pulling the wool over everyone's eyes.  Seems I'm a little transparent, hmm?  Give it a try, see how you do!

Read my VisualDNA™     Get your own VisualDNA™

I've got nothing here, people, on knitting, and you can thank work for that.  My knitting time over the next couple of months will be sparse and limited due to transcript deadlines, thousands and thousands of pages of transcript, (Why couldn't it be yarn?) but I hope to sneak just a wee bit in.  I will pass on this funny forward I received in my email that makes me laugh everytime I read it:

The Diary of a Dog

8:00am Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30am A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40am A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30am Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00pm Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00pm Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00pm Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00pm Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00pm Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00pm Wow! Watched TV with my family! My favorite thing!
11:00pm Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!

The Diary of a Cat

It is day 683 of my captivity: My captors continue to taunt me with
bizarre dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the
other inmates and myself are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets.
Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I
nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The
only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to
disgust them, I vomit on the floor.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their
feet.  I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it
clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made
condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am. The
audacity! There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices
tonight. I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the
event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I
overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I
must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my
tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try
this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs.

I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and
snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly
released --and seems to be more than willing to return. He is
obviously retarded!

The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with
the guards regularly. I am certain that he reports my every move. The
captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell,
so he is safe....... for now.