tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82880022024-03-07T19:39:53.520-08:00Adventures in Sock KnittingSocks, Yarn, and Rock 'n' Roll, Baby!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261748017545683598noreply@blogger.comBlogger624125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288002.post-4246708988231914432013-11-11T14:35:00.002-08:002013-11-11T14:36:41.043-08:00Rastita Design Challenge Part 3: Call for test knitters<span style="background-color: black;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hi all! Just a quick reminder that my new blog is over at <a href="http://starielknits.com/">http://starielknits.com</a> - you should go there to read all blog posts from now on, or subscribe to that RSS feed. But since this post is important and I don't want you to miss it, I'm posting it here as well.</span></span></span><br />
<br />
Cory's call for test knitters <a href="http://blog.indieknits.com/2013/11/rastita-design-challenge-part-iii-call.html">here</a>.<br />
<br />
I mentioned in my previous Design Challenge post that test knitters are a really important part of getting a clear and correct pattern. Well, it's about that time!<br />
<br />
I'm looking for a few test knitters for my as-yet-unnamed cowl. In fact, if you have any ideas for a name I'd love suggestions for that too.<br />
<br />
<b>Skills needed:</b><br />
<br />
It's a relatively simple project, but you will need to know how to knit, purl, increase & decrease, and pick up stitches, as well as working with two colors of yarn.<br />
<br />
<b>Supplies needed:</b><br />
<br />
size US 7 needles, or size needed to obtain gauge<br />
buttons (3-5 depending on button size)<br />
two colors of DK weight yarn (I used Malabrigo Rastita)<br />
<br />
As far as yarn amount goes, if you don't mind a short cowl then 50g of each would probably be sufficient. I had 100g of each and was able to make a fairly long cowl with a bit of yarn left over.<br />
<br />
<b>Deadline:</b><br />
<br />
I'll send the pattern to all test knitters by Friday 11/15, the test knit needs to be finished by Sunday 12/15.<br />
<br />
In return, you'll get a copy of the final eBook with both my pattern and Cory's Folded Lotus pattern.<br />
<br />
I don't have any awesome modeled pictures of my cowl yet, but you can get a pretty good idea from the sneak peeks in the previous posts. I'll try to update this post with a better picture soon.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/9605936051/" title="IMG_1491 by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1491" height="374" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3731/9605936051_c7e02cbfc5.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
If you're interested in test knitting my cowl pattern, please email me at starielknits at gmail dot com.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261748017545683598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288002.post-60561294542179018752013-08-27T08:39:00.002-07:002013-08-27T08:45:58.332-07:00Rastita Design Challenge Part 1: Design ProcessCheck out Cory's post on her design process <a href="http://blog.indieknits.com/2013/08/rastita-design-challenge-part-i.html">here</a>!<br />
<br />
I think my design process is much different than that of most other designers I know. First of all, I don't have a ton of ideas just waiting in the wings until I write the pattern. Mostly I have an idea and I either write the pattern right away, or I have to figure out a way to get my idea into a knitable and wearable item and that takes a while. My <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/diverged">Diverged</a> socks, for example, were an idea for quite a long time before they became a reality.<br />
<br />
The other major difference is that I don't sketch my ideas. I'm not really a drawing kind of person. And, probably because I mainly design socks, I already have an idea of the shape of the item I'm going to end up with. I also don't usually swatch unless I'm coming up with a stitch pattern where I'm not sure how it will turn out. I did quite a bit of swatching for the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/falling-up">Falling Up</a> socks when I designed them because I really wanted strong vertical lines and wasn't sure what decrease would give me the look I wanted. Also, I originally wanted to work the pattern cuff down as I do with most my socks, and I couldn't find a way to make the stitch pattern look similar in that direction. I never did, which is why I ended up designing them as toe-up socks.<br />
<br />
Since I don't sketch and don't usually swatch, where do I start?
Well, first I chart. Charts do for me what sketches do for most others - help me plan where certain textures or stitch patterns will end up on the finished item and what the placement will be. If the pattern is one that doesn't need to be charted, I figure out the math and then get knitting. If it doesn't come out the way I like, well then I'll start over.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/9605936051/" title="IMG_1491 by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1491" height="374" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3731/9605936051_c7e02cbfc5.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
Often my designs start with an idea for a small feature or detail that I
want in the finished project. In this case, buttons. There have been a
few times when I found buttons that I just couldn't resist. The buttons
had to be mine, because they were really pretty and had stars on them.
But I don't usually knit things that require buttons. I have put them on
socks once, but it's not something I really care for. So, in comes the
idea for a cowl. A cowl, with really awesome star buttons. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261748017545683598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288002.post-46947476200360061932013-08-25T19:37:00.001-07:002013-08-25T22:03:36.752-07:00Moving!Well, I've finally taken the next step with my blog after all these years, and it's moving over to <a href="http://starielknits.com/">starielknits.com</a>!
I'll still post here for the next little bit, but if you subscribe through a feed reader update that to the new site as well as your bookmarks, etc. I'm so excited to continue on my new pretty site, which also has a cool section with my designs and more interesting capabilities.
Hope to see you all over there!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261748017545683598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288002.post-34080548866734040482013-07-16T08:27:00.001-07:002013-07-16T08:32:02.626-07:00Design ChallengeA few weeks ago, Cory came into the yarn store where I work and was looking at the Malabrigo Rastita. I told her that I really wanted to knit something with it, but I wasn't sure what. She said that she also kept looking at it, but wasn't sure to knit. And so... we decided to do a design challenge.<br />
<br />
We each have 2 colors of Rastita to work with, and we're each going to design a project with it. But the exciting part is that we're going to blog about our design process and pattern writing along the way.<br />
<br />
You can read Cory's side of the story over at her blog, <a href="http://blog.indieknits.com/">indie.knits</a>, and of course you can read my part right here! I hope you'll join us in our journey as we design and knit our projects.<br />
<br />
Saturday we met up to discuss our plans, and I snapped a quick picture of my yarns by Cory's swatch. (Already she has a sketch and a swatch, and is way ahead of me!)<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/9279677769/" title="IMG_1422 by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="IMG_1422" src="http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5549/9279677769_86012f31cd.jpg" height="500" width="374" /></a>
We'll be posting for the next few weeks about our designs, and at the end we'll each give away a kit for our design, so stay tuned!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261748017545683598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288002.post-27887686839023666772013-07-10T00:17:00.003-07:002013-07-10T00:17:52.183-07:00Big news - I have a podcast!So, one of the many things that's been keeping me away from this poor neglected blog is....<br />
<br />
My new podcast!<br />
<br />
Yep, my awesome knitting BFF <a href="http://www.exartstudent.net/">MJ</a> and I have started a podcast, <a href="http://www.starjayknits.com/">Starjay Knits</a>! We've put out three episodes so far, and we're having a great time! (You should totally check out our website, because MJ made it really awesome. We also have a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/starjay-knits-podcast">ravelry group</a> for the podcast.)<br />
<br />
Anyway, if you want to hear about what we're knitting and our opinions on knitting related stuff, give us a listen!<br />
<br />
Our latest episode was about twin socks.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261748017545683598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288002.post-639745599228767382013-04-03T22:16:00.001-07:002013-04-03T22:16:52.581-07:00Mystery Socks and Vogue Knitting Live!There has been a lot of secret knitting going on lately around here, so the blog has been very quiet. But there are a couple exciting things coming right up that I'd like to share. :D<br />
<br />
First off, I'm hosting a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/discuss/3-fates-yarns/2518939">Mystery Sock KAL</a> with my friend Stephania of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ThreeFatesKnitting">Three Fates Yarns</a>! It will start on my birthday next week, April 11. The link will take you to the sign up post in the Three Fates Ravelry group. The KAL is free and you're not required to knit with Three Fates Yarns (though if you do you'll be eligible for extra prize entries.)<br />
<br />
Please come and join us, it should be lots of fun!<br />
<br />
The second exciting thing is that I'll be at Vogue Knitting Live Seattle this weekend, hanging out at the Cooperative Press and Three Fates Yarns booths. If you'll be there, come and say hi!<br />
If not, I'll try my very best to actually remember to take some pictures so I can post about it next week.<br />
<br />
Oh, and one more exciting thing... at the end of next week I'll be traveling to Wisconsin to visit my best online friend ever, <a href="http://www.exartstudent.net/">MJ</a>! It looks like she's abandoned knitting for cooking, but I'll try to remedy that situation. ;)<br />
<br />
And last, but not least, here's one of the few non-secret things I've knit lately - a Wingspan shawlette out of some very old stash.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/8518235909/" title="Wingspan by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="Wingspan" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8090/8518235909_8a65e156e1.jpg" width="400" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261748017545683598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288002.post-86610486995735929372012-12-08T22:31:00.006-08:002012-12-08T22:33:13.224-08:00Sock Parade!I've been slacking a little on posting my No Repeat December socks, so here are several:<br />
<br />
Day 3:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/8242967345/" title="Day 3: Dye Dreams yarn I bought, Blackhearted knit by Cathy, felted so they fit me! #norepeatdec by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="Day 3: Dye Dreams yarn I bought, Blackhearted knit by Cathy, felted so they fit me! #norepeatdec" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8483/8242967345_56b9030795.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
I bought this yarn for my friend Cathy for her birthday when we were at SPA in Maine. She knit my (Black)hearted pattern, but after an unfortunate felting incident the socks didn't fit her... but they fit me, so they've come full circle.<br />
<br />
Day 4:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/8244273643/" title="Day 4: Swap socks! Probably Sockotta, not sure what pattern. #norepeatdec by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="Day 4: Swap socks! Probably Sockotta, not sure what pattern. #norepeatdec" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8347/8244273643_8b8dfeec07.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
I got these in a swap, the yarn is Sockotta and the pattern was designed by my swap partner, she called it Jersey Riptide.<br />
<br />
Day 5:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/8246783609/" title="#norepeatdec Day 5: plain socks in Mini Mochi - the stripes started out the same, but yarn weirdness means they don't match by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="#norepeatdec Day 5: plain socks in Mini Mochi - the stripes started out the same, but yarn weirdness means they don't match" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8477/8246783609_c71e2a2a63.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Hey, socks I actually knit! Plain ones in Mini Mochi.<br />
<br />
Day 6:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/8249533319/" title="By request, red socks! #norepeatdec Day 6: the sample for my pattern Garnish in Yarntini. by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="By request, red socks! #norepeatdec Day 6: the sample for my pattern Garnish in Yarntini." src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8488/8249533319_8f7257d811.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Cara was making fun of all my blue-ish socks, and she requested red ones. These are the pattern sample for my free pattern, Garnish!<br />
<br />
Day 7:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/8251933373/" title="#norepeatdec Day 7: plain socks knit from my first skein of Trekking XXL, a gift from my mom by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="#norepeatdec Day 7: plain socks knit from my first skein of Trekking XXL, a gift from my mom" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8485/8251933373_78bbd140b4.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
A plain pair in my very first skein of Trekking XXL, a gift from my mom. (I knit a pair in Trekking before this, but that was from someone else's yarn, and made for that person.)<br />
<br />
Day 8:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/8255876726/" title="#norepeatdec Day 8: Regia Nation Color rainbow socks! by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="#norepeatdec Day 8: Regia Nation Color rainbow socks!" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8213/8255876726_a7ed868d31.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
And today, my Regia Nation Color rainbow socks. Yes, I should have broken these out Thursday for the first official day of marriage equality in WA, but they were drying after I did sock laundry. Oh well, I am all for rainbows (and marriage equality) every day!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261748017545683598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288002.post-63756673075955612522012-12-02T23:14:00.001-08:002012-12-02T23:14:53.709-08:00BlockingToday, I wore a pair of plain ol' stripey socks:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/8237752863/" title="Day 2: plain socks in Vesper #norepeatdec by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="Day 2: plain socks in Vesper #norepeatdec" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8064/8237752863_022a467c48.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
These Vesper socks were the project I worked on in 2008 while moving cross-country from Boston to Seattle <a href="http://stariel.blogspot.com/2008/09/whew-in-seattle.html">in a UHaul</a>, and were finished <a href="http://stariel.blogspot.com/2008/09/road-trip-socks.html">shortly after arriving.</a> They've held up pretty well!<br />
<br />
I also finally got around to a task I had been putting off - I finished my Zauberball shawl while at Rhinebeck - and even wore it in its unblocked unsightly state! Upon arriving home I planned to block it, but couldn't find my blocking pins, the consequences of moving. Eventually I gave up and bought some more.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/8239850413/" title="PC020003 by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="PC020003" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8490/8239850413_890ed70a8d.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
I think it's going to look much better when it's nicely blocked. :)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261748017545683598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288002.post-59376570504758859842012-12-01T11:51:00.003-08:002012-12-01T11:52:44.028-08:00No Repeat DecemberThis month, I'll be trying to wear and photograph a different pair of handknit socks each day. The idea is from my friend, and fellow Purlygirl, Jessica of <a href="http://www.rose-kim.com/">Rose-Kim Knits</a>.<br />
<br />
Today we'll start off with a lovely pair of Conwy socks in J Knits yarn, knit for me by my lovely friend Cathy <a href="http://stariel.blogspot.com/2009/02/my-friends-are-awesome.html">back in 2009</a>! I thought this was part of the BFF sock swap, but now that I check the historical record (aka blog) I see that she just sent me these socks because she's really nice, I guess!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/8235935372/" title="#norepeatdec Day 1: Conwy socks in Jknits yarn, knit for me by my friend Cathy by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="#norepeatdec Day 1: Conwy socks in Jknits yarn, knit for me by my friend Cathy" height="400" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8208/8235935372_ed416cfc83.jpg"" /></a><br />
<br />
Nice socks, huh?<br />
<br />
So, I'm thinking about posting these each day along with any sharable news about my knitting. With so much secret knitting going on I haven't had much to post lately. What do you think?Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261748017545683598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288002.post-59479715042404807932012-11-18T12:24:00.001-08:002012-11-18T12:24:47.948-08:00Knitting everywhere!In the past few months while I've been neglecting my blog, I moved to a new apartment. I've also been knitting all over!<br />
<br />
I went on vacation for just over 2 weeks - the longest since I started at my job nearly 4 years ago! - in Boston and NYC, and to Rhinebeck. It was great to see some of my Boston knitting friends, including attending the wedding of one of them. I got to visit Gather Here, a new knitting and sewing shop in Cambridge MA, and a bunch of NYC yarn stores. And, of course, there's Rhinebeck!<br />
<br />
I was really bad at remembering to take pictures, but here are a few highlights:<br />
<br />
I visited the Statue of Liberty! <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/8083391168/" title="This time from Liberty Island! by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="This time from Liberty Island!" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8187/8083391168_155c92ea7e.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
I went to Brooklyn General - my new favorite NYC yarn store - and <span class="st">La Casita, where I was advised to go to the Brooklyn Farmacy and try an egg cream, so I did.</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/8095039521/" title="At the Brooklyn Farmacy drinking an egg cream as instructed. :) by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="At the Brooklyn Farmacy drinking an egg cream as instructed. :)" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8187/8095039521_ebc6d51d6f.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">I finished the lovely Rikke hat in DIC Everlasting DK:</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/8100369255/" title="Untitled by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8326/8100369255_a92bae3338.jpg" width="350" /></a></span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/8100370119/" title="Untitled by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="Untitled" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8055/8100370119_23fc59a7e5.jpg" width="350" /></a></span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">After a few days in NYC I headed to Rhinebeck, where I ate yummy creme brulee in a restaurant named Arielle!</span><br />
<br />
<span class="st"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/8103365327/" title="Eating creme brûlée at a restaurant named after me! by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="Eating creme brûlée at a restaurant named after me!" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8465/8103365327_873d5518c7.jpg" width="400" /></a></span><br />
<br />
<span class="st">I saw lots of yarn and sheep at Rhinebeck, though I didn't take pictures. I also watched the Leaping Llamas competition! And I managed to finish a shawl I've been working on (or not really working on) for a long time. But it still needs to be blocked, so you can see it next time.</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>
<span class="st">Also next time, the story of how I went to Knit Fit here in Seattle and didn't take even one picture.</span><br />
<span class="st"><br /></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261748017545683598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288002.post-29866170871924103992012-08-28T23:06:00.001-07:002012-08-28T23:06:27.794-07:00Exterminate!<br />
<br />
The past week has held a lot of finishing!<br />
<br />
First, I quickly knit a Dalek for my coworker:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/7885466704/" title="exterminate by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="exterminate" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8460/7885466704_fc2a0d8bbf.jpg" width="350" /></a><br />
<br />
Pattern: EXTERMIKNIT!<br />
Yarn: Cascade Heathers in 2453 and 4002<br />
Started: 8/12/12<br />
Finished: 8/22/12<br />
<br />
Then I put the finishing touches on these socks, which I started far too long ago!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/7860135140/" title="P8250002 by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="P8250002" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8448/7860135140_63bc8d4fd6.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Pattern: (Black)hearted by me!<br />
Yarn: Shibui Knits Sock in Blossom<br />
Started: 2/18/12<br />
Finished: 8/24/12<br />
<br />
And, of course, I had to finish my cowl for the Purlygirls Cowl Swap!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/7875983230/" title="P8270002 by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="P8270002" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7276/7875983230_04098d790d.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Pattern: Modish Cowl<br />
Yarn: Ultra Alpaca<br />
Started: 7/12/12<br />
Finished: 8/26/12<br />
<br />
Plus I squeezed in a little bit of time to work with my CSM. I did some fiddling to get the ribber to work (had to adjust the height and timing) and made a scrap tube with one purled stitch. Since I didn't feel quite ready to make ribbing on my first socks, I decided to do a hem top, since hanging a hem seemed pretty easy, and it was!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/7860140474/" title="Very First CSM Sock!!! by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="Very First CSM Sock!!!" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8443/7860140474_5ce4df021c.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<br />
It was a little more tricky to switch from the finished toe back to waste yarn, and for some reason I dropped several stitches trying. But I was able to do a couple quick cranks with waste yarn, and then pick the stitches up while getting ready to graft on knitting needles. And so I completed my very first sock successfully! Unfortunately I think the 72 stitch cylinder is going to be too large to make socks for me. I'll grab some of my slightly heavier yarn and try the 54 stitch cylinder next time!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261748017545683598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288002.post-71399223016737718432012-08-13T11:08:00.002-07:002012-08-13T11:08:44.489-07:00Big Pink SocksA while back my friend Monica was talking about how she had a bunch of shawlettes she didn't wear. She has quite a few, and these were just not quite what she wanted for various reasons. One of them was a lovely Akimbo in colors I quite liked:<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/29455596@N03/4495686595/" title="IMG_0976 by kirby_moni26, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.staticflickr.com/2678/4495686595_27332f8ea8.jpg" width="400" /></a>
\<br />
(That's her picture.)<br />
<br />
So we arranged a little trade. She would give me her lovely shawlette, and I would knit her some socks. Like most people I know, Monica has bigger feet than I do, but <i>not</i> like most people she wears a size 12. She's tall, it makes sense. But it meant that I was knitting probably my biggest pair of socks ever.<br />
<br />
The socks went with me on many outings and adventures.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/7502796208/" title="Still Life of Knitting with Cupcake by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="Still Life of Knitting with Cupcake" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8291/7502796208_361e601bc0.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
They went on a cupcake and coffee date with a friend, and on another coffee and knitting date with some other friends where we were all knitting pink things!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/7516805646/" title="Only pink knitting allowed! by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="Only pink knitting allowed!" height="400" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7139/7516805646_ec04f89a9d.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
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They went to Stitch & Pitch!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/7653992984/" title="Stitch & Pitch! by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="Stitch & Pitch!" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8003/7653992984_26c99953a2.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
They went to the Skacel party, which was really awesome, and Monica and I took a picture of us being Addi needles with the socks:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/7663263418/" title="Monica and I are Addis! by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="Monica and I are Addis!" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8003/7663263418_fcd9f26df8.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
And then, finally, they were done!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/7759996288/" title="P8110001 by stariel, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8300/7759996288_21efb326b8.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Pattern: Monkey by Cookie A<br />
Yarn: Yarntini in Flirtini<br />
Started: 5/19/12<br />
Finished: 8/11/12Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261748017545683598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288002.post-43988359115142632542012-07-07T20:53:00.000-07:002012-07-07T20:53:07.965-07:00My new obsession... shawlettesThe Doubleknit Finish, Frog, or Slog Along has been motivating me to get some of my WIPs back in action and into the FO pile. This lead to my Hitchhiker being finished a few days shy of its 1 year WIP birthday.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/7524567098/" title="Hitchhiker by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="Hitchhiker" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8006/7524567098_139b638d66.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Pattern: Hitchhiker<br />
Yarn: Rainy Days & Wooly Dogs (aka Gothsocks) Belladonna in Tainted Love<br />
Started: 7/7/11<br />
Finished: 7/4/12<br />
<br />
I've been on a big shawlette kick lately, so when I heard about the Abstract Fiber Arts club at Madrona and saw that the first pattern was a beautiful shawl / shawlette, I was tempted. It's a 1 or 2 skein club, so there are larger or smaller options for the patterns. But I have a problem with yarn clubs where I don't know exactly what yarn base I'll be receiving. I don't use silk, and it seems like lately it's been in more and more yarns, a few percent here and there - especially with lace yarns, but that's enough to stop me.<br />
<br />
So I asked Karen if it would be possible to do the club, but not get any yarns with silk. It's a weird request, and I totally wasn't expecting her to say yes. That means that she has to dye a different skein of yarn than everyone else's every time there's silk (and there's a lot of silk!)<br />
<br />
But after talking with her for a few minutes about how the yarn isn't necessarily going to look exactly the same (different fiber contents will affect the color) and how they wouldn't always be able to get an exact gauge / yardage match for the patterns, she agreed. I'm a pretty experienced knitter, so I can adjust the patterns to fit the yarn they send, or at least realize what potential problems there might be.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/7524734010/" title="P7070001 by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="Abstract Club Yarn" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7127/7524734010_c457b0920b.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
So here's the yarn I've gotten so far: Temptation (for O'Keefe), Matisse (for Lima), and Calder (for Rothko). So far I've yet to get the same yarn as the rest of the group, but that's ok! Once I get the book socks done, I'm looking forward to knitting some of the club patterns. So far it's two shawls and a mitt & scarf combo.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261748017545683598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288002.post-1774398371747035692012-07-05T00:23:00.000-07:002012-07-05T00:23:07.264-07:00Just a quick introductionI'll post more soon, but I just wanted to introduce you to the newest member of my fiber arts family.<br />
<br />
On Monday I got a heavy box full of irregular shapes wrapped in bubble wrap.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/7489743680/" title="Yay, my CSM is here!! by stariel, on Flickr"><img ="" alt="Yay, my CSM is here!!" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7110/7489743680_2271b16707.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
I started opening it, and realized pretty quickly that this was going to be complicated.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/7489837070/" title="This might be complicated... by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="This might be complicated..." src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8023/7489837070_8ebf80efb0.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<i>I feel so steampunk, except these gears are actually useful!</i><br />
<br />
After an interlude of knitting with the Purlygirls, I came back and put the Circular Sock Machine together!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/7492599236/" title="I made knitting! by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="I made knitting!" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7260/7492599236_ae10a13b24.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
<b>And I made knitting!!!</b> The next step was to attempt a heel - this is one of the trickier parts. I tried last night, but even though I was using some fork weights, the stitches were still riding up the needles and popping off.<br />
<br />
But today I managed to come up with inspiration* on what to use for weights and turn my first heel on the CSM. (You can't see it here, but it went OK. Probably not wearable quite yet as I had some tension issues, but it's getting there.)<br />
<br />
<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/7506395800/" title="IMG_0952 by stariel, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7258/7506395800_6b6550b314.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<br />
*The inspiration came when I recalled that one time when I was moving in Boston. A friend was in the bathroom helping to pack up some of the last bits when I heard a confused voice:<br />
<br />
Her: "Ummm... Why is there a can of vegetable soup under your bathroom sink?"<br />
<br />
Me: "My mom bought it when she was here and left it, but it has beef broth so I can't eat it. So I'm using it to weight my handspun."<br />
<br />
Her: "How did I know this had something to do with knitting?"<br />
<br />
Luckily this came back to me today, and a couple cans of coconut milk later... A sock heel!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261748017545683598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288002.post-646235129330440252012-06-21T22:33:00.001-07:002012-06-21T22:34:43.061-07:00Not for lack of contentI have been sorely neglecting my blogging duties. In fact, there are a few things I meant to blog about but haven't managed to get around to yet. But since it's now officially summer, I think I shall make a summer resolution to blog more regularly.<br />
<br />
But first, let's get caught up!<br />
<br />
A few weeks back, I saw that the lovely Sarah of Cephalopod Yarns was offering <a 6051006-afghans-for-afghans-or-how-to-score-free-yarn"="" blogs="" cephalopodyarns.com="" href="http://www.blogger.com/%3Ca%20href=" http:="" news="">free yarn</a> in exchange for knitted items to be donated to Afghans for Afghans. This just happened to coincide with the Puget Sound LYS Tour, which meant I needed some simple car knitting. So I grabbed a couple random skeins of worsted weight yarn and cast on for some hats!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/7295439698/" title="P5290001 by stariel, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8025/7295439698_aa4c3be466.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />
<br />
Charity Hat #1<br />
Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted in Purple Club <br />
Started: 5/19/12<br />
Finished: 5/28/12 <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/7289779286/" title="P5280002 by stariel, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7225/7289779286_6279fb471c.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Charity Hat #2<br />
Yarn: Elann Peruvian Highland Wool in 0790
<br />
Started: 5/20/12<br />
Finished: 5/27/12<br />
<br />
This year I teamed up with my knitting buddy Monica and we did the full LYS tour, going to each and every one of the 21 stores in just 2 and a little bit days. We hit a few of the most local stores on Friday evening after work, and did the majority on Saturday and Sunday. It was quite a bit of fun, and this year there were even commemorative stitch markers!<br />
<br />
Since dashing off a couple of hats, I've finished two pairs of socks! The first are from a skein of self-striping yarn that I dyed in a class by my friend Stephania of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/ThreeFatesKnitting">Three Fates Yarns</a> <br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/7371999712/" title="P6140002 by stariel, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8147/7371999712_f7877658b6.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Stripe Class Socks #1<br />
Pattern: my plain ol' socks<br />
Yarn: self-striping BFL High Twist dyed by me!<br />
Started: 3/16/12<br />
Finished: 6/11/12<br />
<br />
I've also finished a secret pair of socks which I can't show you, so I'll recycle the picture from my last secret socks.<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/6183862679/" title="P9250007 by stariel, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6179/6183862679_148d33ba15.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<br />
Instead of dark sock-shaped blobs under the tissue, just imagine that they're more golden in color. ;)<br />
<br />
Pattern: "S"<br />
Yarn: MacKintosh Yarns Celtic Sock in Coreopsis<br />
Started: 8/7/11<br />
Finished: 6/14/12<br />
<br />
These socks took nearly forever, but they're pretty complicated. I had to figure out the trick to knitting with big charts... audiobooks. Now that I've got a dedicated sock-knitting audiobook to listen to at all times, I hope to get through some of my more complex socks a bit faster.<br />
<br />
Well, I think that's enough for today. Stay tuned for more in the upcoming weeks!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261748017545683598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288002.post-22931752633949131012012-05-08T21:23:00.000-07:002012-05-08T21:23:55.128-07:00Boston and Fuzzy MathLast week I went to Boston for the wedding of one of my knitting friends there, and had a lovely few days visiting with friends, knitting, and eating wedding cupcakes.<br />
<br />
On Sunday I even got to visit the yarn store where I used to work, A Good Yarn, and attend my old knitting group, the Knitsmiths!<br />
<br />
On the way there, Alexis and I ran into a group of goslings!<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/7162623524/" title="P5060028 by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="P5060028" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7076/7162623524_fc9cd04371.jpg" width="400" /></a> <br />
<br />
On the trip I brought along my long-languishing Hitchhiker, which I shoved in a bag at the tiny size of 5 teeth and abandoned for months. After some knitting at Knitsmiths and on the plane home, it now looks like this:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/7162621332/" title="P5080001 by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="P5080001" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8019/7162621332_41e1a42afc.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<br />
The marker (which I borrowed from Alexis and accidentally brought home - sorry!) is a few rows beyond where I started knitting at Knitsmiths.<br />
<br />
Now here comes the fuzzy math... The pattern suggests that 42 "teeth" would be an appropriate number (anyone who has read Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which the shawl is named after, will know why.) So counting up my teeth, I see that I have 14, which would put me at about 1/3 of the way done! Of course if you look at the picture you'll realize that the shawl started out extremely narrow and is getting wider on each row, so this math is obviously not accurate. I know that, but I'm going to pretend. ;)<br />
<br />
Also, since my last post, I've completed the Goth Limenade socks I posted about last. The past couple of months have been crazy! In March I went to visit a friend in Atlanta and saw Georgia and Tennessee for the first time, went to a work conference, and went on a retreat with my knitting group to Port Townsend where I managed not to buy any yarn. In April I had a big birthday and went to the Oregon coast for a lovely knitting weekend with a couple of friends. Then it was back to Seattle to have a weekend or two off before my trip to Boston. Now I'm planning to stay home for a good while!<br />
<br />
Anyway, the socks:<br />
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<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/7022840299/" title="P3270006 by stariel, on Flickr"><img alt="P3270006" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6051/7022840299_c408a9e625.jpg" width="400" /></a>
<br />
<br />
Yarn: Sweet Sheep in Limenade, overdyed into black stripes by me<br />
Pattern: plain ol' socks <br />
Started: 1/20/12<br />
Finished: 3/16/12Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261748017545683598noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288002.post-42290795013942082582012-02-25T23:40:00.004-08:002012-02-25T23:54:49.535-08:00More finishing alongLast week I went to Madrona. which gave me a great opportunity to stock up on some Goth Socks and get quite a bit of knitting done!<br /><br />First I worked on the socks that my mom abandoned, mentioned a couple posts before this one. Although my mom gave them back to me because she didn't like the color, I got tons of compliments while wandering around Madrona and knitting them. And it wasn't long before they were finished!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/6906303557/" title="P2190004 by stariel, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7063/6906303557_6b748b6215.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Yarn: Four Seasons Gründl Hot Socks, color 933<br />Started: ? Fall 2008<br />Finished: 2/17/2012<br /><br />Then I pulled out another longstanding WIP, my Herbivore. After checking the pattern to see where I had left off, I realized that I only had a few more rows to knit if I wanted it to be the length specified in the pattern. Because I had quite a bit of yarn left, I did a few extra repeats.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/6784592082/" title="P2250005 by stariel, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7176/6784592082_05e5e9cc87.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Pattern: Herbivore by Stephen West<br />Yarn: Tosh Merino Light in Baltic<br />Started: 2/20/2011<br />Finished: 2/20/2012<br /><br />Coincidentally I finished it exactly one year after I started. I bought the yarn last year either from the Fiber Gallery Madrona booth, or immediately after coming home.<br /><br />I also made quite a bit of progress on some plain socks from yarn I dyed in <a href="http://threefates.wordpress.com/">Stephania's</a> class in December:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/6927747977/" title="Stripy Socks by stariel, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7192/6927747977_07bd658910.jpg" width="400" /></a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261748017545683598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288002.post-10633402424958030072012-02-12T15:37:00.000-08:002012-02-12T15:44:17.425-08:00TruffleJust in time for Valentine's Day...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/6794119159/" title="P1300002 by stariel, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7033/6794119159_3c99423550.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />The Truffle Mitts!<br /><br />Pattern: Truffle by Samantha Roshak<br />Yarn: Hazel Knits Artisan Sock in Chocoberry<br />Started: 12/30/11<br />Finished: 1/30/12<br /><br />I got this kit in October 2010 at the Hazel Knits trunk show at The Fiber Gallery. I was drawn to the color, even though it's not really my typical favorite. (I think everyone loves this color!)<br /><br />I finally got around to knitting them after wishing I had something to keep my hands warm but leave my fingertips free for iPhone swiping. I modified the pattern a bit to have the full cable section at the top of the hand (instead of the truncated version specified on the pattern), which also increased the length a bit. Other than that, I knit it as written.<br /><br />Next time I think I'd make the palms in stockinette, both because I'm not so fond of ribbing and also because they're a little snug.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261748017545683598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288002.post-87063454296714302872012-01-23T21:25:00.000-08:002012-01-23T21:47:36.948-08:00A little mystery...So, I have this yarn...<br /><br />See, usually I'm very organized and I put all of my stash into Ravelry and keep ball bands and all that jazz, but this yarn has a story.<br /><br />I acquired it sometime before October 11, 2006 when it first appeared in a picture of my sock stash for Socktoberfest.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/6753281987/" title="old yarn by stariel, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7019/6753281987_06a82ba08b.jpg" alt="old yarn" height="334" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Then it marinated for a while until I got into Ravelry and put it in my Ravelry stash, strangely using a different Flickr account than my normal one, on June 28, 2007. Apparently I created a second Flickr account in June of 2007, uploaded stash pics over a couple weeks, and completely forgot about it.*<br /><br />*until tonight when I was going crazy trying to figure out the details of this yarn!<br /><br />In the fall of 2008, I gave the yarn to my mom to start her second pair of socks and deleted it from my Ravelry stash.<br /><br />Fast forward to December 2011, when my mom declares that she should knit a second pair of socks and I remind her that I gave her yarn and needles. She can't recall, and goes and finds the barely-started socks in a drawer. (Minus the ball band and any identifying yarn information, of course.)<br /><br />She declares that she doesn't like the way they look and is going to go buy some other yarn, so I pull the socks-in-progress off the needles - of course she wanted to keep the needles! - and take them home to knit for myself.<br /><br />This is all well and good, except for the fact that I have absolutely no idea what the yarn is. And, being me, this starts making me crazy when I try to put the project into Ravelry. So I spent several hours last night going through my blog archives and trying to find where I posted about the yarn, since I seem to recall that it was a gift. I never posted. But I did find the stash pic above which gave me a clue about when I got it.<br /><br />Then while falling asleep I think that I wouldn't have deleted the stash pics from my Flickr. It popped into my head at knitting group, so tonight when I got home I went back through my Flickr archives trying to find the time when I was photographing my stash in the summer of 2007 shortly after getting into Ravelry... but I couldn't find it.<br /><br />In fact, I came and started this blog post thinking I would beg for the help of the internet in identifying the yarn from that first crummy photo, when I suddenly thought "Hey, didn't I have a different Flickr name once?" and found it.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/6753298835/" title="Hot Socks by stariel, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7141/6753298835_1376ba256a.jpg" alt="Hot Socks" width="400" /></a><br /><br />And those are the lengths I'll go to to solve yarn mysteries... knitting is so relaxing. ;)Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261748017545683598noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288002.post-50618431348078751132012-01-22T20:55:00.000-08:002012-01-22T21:03:35.889-08:00FinishingMy knitting group companions Erin and Jessica of the <a href="http://www.doubleknit.net/">Doubleknit Podcast</a> have decided that 2012 is the year of FFS - the Finish, Frog, and Slog along.<br /><br />As someone with far too many WIPs, I think this is a splendid idea. So here's my first finish:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/6746484549/" title="P1220003 by stariel, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7142/6746484549_67eb981dc5.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />I started these plain socks for Halloween, but as you can see it took me a while to get to them. I like wearing plain stockinette socks, and I have a lot of variegated yarn, so I try to keep some going most of the time.<br /><br />Started: 10/6/11<br />Finished: 1/19/12<br />Yarn: Crash Into Ewe in Monster Mash<br /><br />So, after finishing these plain socks, I started another pair in the yarn I dyed at Stephania's class. It started off like this:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/3367049210/" title="sweetsock by stariel, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3229/3367049210_b25f7a7f4a.jpg" alt="sweetsock" width="400" /></a><br /><br />And changed to this:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/6734271697/" title="limenade by stariel, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7159/6734271697_228146e95b.jpg" alt="limenade" width="400" /></a><br /><br />And is making some interesting striping socks, which I'll show you in a bit!<br /><br />I've also been putting in some time on some languishing non-sock projects, but more on that later.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261748017545683598noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288002.post-39742090709891821672011-12-26T23:14:00.000-08:002011-12-26T23:29:56.362-08:00A couple more FOsI went to a holiday party for my knitting group, and a couple of things happened.<br /><br />We have a gift exchange, and I got this lovely yarn spun by smallsmallfaery:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/6533234681/" title="PC180003 by stariel, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7035/6533234681_a188798361.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />It's about 130 yards of Romney, and although it says 11wpi, which is a worsted / aran weight so it will be perfect for my big Chevron blanket*.<br /><br />And I was thoroughly embarrassed that nearly everyone was wearing a Noro Striped Scarf, and mine (which I started ages and ages ago) was still a WIP. So I got motivated:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/6541008009/" title="Noro Striped Scarf by stariel, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7026/6541008009_7600db24d6.jpg" alt="Noro Striped Scarf" width="375" /></a><br /><br />Pattern: Noro Striped Scarf<br />Yarn: Noro Kureyon in colors 40 and 233, 2 skeins each<br />Started: 1/18/2009<br />Finished: 12/18/2011<br /><br />So, just shy of 3 years later I have finally finished my scarf! I feel pretty silly admitting that, but I just don't often get into the mood of knitting something in 1x1 rib. Now that it's done I've been wearing it most days!<br /><br />Then while traveling for the holidaze, I finished a must more recent project, Melanie's 2011 Birthday Socks.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/6572752819/" title="IMG_0663 by stariel, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7001/6572752819_c58f284b7d.jpg" width="375" /></a><br /><br />Yarn: Sophie's Toes in Grandma's Blueberry Pie<br />Started: 11/6/11<br />Finished: 12/24/11<br /><br />Melanie modeled them and had the idea of posing with the lights leading from the tree to the plug, so we did.<br /><br /><br />*another WIP I really should put some stitches onAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261748017545683598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288002.post-32965152289594175832011-12-18T19:37:00.000-08:002011-12-18T19:51:30.576-08:00ShawlettesIn September of last year, I knit the Milkweed shawlette, and I found a new love. This knitting craving goes well with my fingering weight stash, and the end result is a little touch of girly without being a full on shawl. Best of all, it's faster than a pair of socks and makes a great gift!<br /><br />Which is why I've knitted a couple of shawlettes lately. First off, Damson:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/6350055181/" title="P1010001 by stariel, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6099/6350055181_7d01f978cf.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Pattern: Damson by Ysolda Teague<br />Yarn: Zen Yarn Garden Serenity Sock in Gold Dynasty<br />Started: 10/17/11<br />Finished: 11/6/11<br /><br />I've had this yarn hanging around from the Woolgirl sock club for a while, and when I decided to knit a shawlette for someone who loves fall colors I figured this was the right yarn.<br /><br />Unfortunately, for some reason I ran out of yarn quite a bit before the end. I checked and double-checked my gauge, but I'm really not sure why. (I also foolishly ignored the comments of another Raveler who had run out of yarn using this same kind.) Luckily I was rescued by someone else with the same yarn and was able to finish the shawl! I've already picked out yarn for my Damson, one with lots of yardage. ;)<br /><br />Then I knit Multnomah as yet another gift shawlette:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/6458229679/" title="PC040002 by stariel, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7018/6458229679_6d21070831.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Pattern: Multnomah by Kate Elsa<br />Yarn: Yarn Daze Sock in Snoopy Pirate<br />Started: 11/20/11<br />Finished: 12/4/11<br /><br />I have a couple more on the needles for me, but first I feel the need to knit some socks...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261748017545683598noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288002.post-13697036047823656632011-12-06T23:03:00.000-08:002011-12-06T23:30:27.037-08:00Running In CirclesThis blog has been rather neglected of late while I've been doing a lot of secret knitting. A few things (gifts) have recently become un-secret, so I'll show them soon. But first I have something else to share.<br /><br />I spent a good part of tonight pacing back and forth across my living room and down the hallway. Why?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/6458167205/" title="Drying striping yarn by stariel, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7154/6458167205_21e96386e1.jpg" alt="Drying striping yarn" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Over the weekend I attended a dyeing class for striping sock yarn with my friend Stephania of <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/threefatesknitting">Three Fates Yarns</a>. I've actually dyed stripey yarn before, way back in 2006 I did a stripey yarn dyeing class with Dani of <a href="http://sunshineyarns.com/">Sunshine Yarns</a> which for some strange reason didn't make it to the blog. Anyway...<br /><br />In case you didn't know, dyeing self-striping yarns is lots of work. You have to re-skein the blank yarn into extremely long skeins - this weekend ours ranged from 30-45 feet around - in order to get long enough sections to form a stripe. I always remember this when I see people complaining about the price of hand dyed self-striping yarn. They probably don't realize how much work goes into it!<br /><br />After running in circles around Stephania's basement, we put on the dye. I dyed three skeins - two and three color striped skeins with equal stripes, a three color that has long blue/short grey/long purple/short grey, and dyed half of an existing skein of yarn black to make it into a striping skein. Then we rinsed the yarn and hung it to dry.<br /><br />Since I had to bring mine back home, it's been hanging from the backs of two chairs across my living room and down the hallway since Sunday night.<br /><br />Tonight it was really and truly dry (yes, Seattle is a fairly moist climate) so I wound it up. This required running in circles once again, this time with my ball winder. But the end result is lovely!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/6470312767/" title="PC060002 by stariel, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7014/6470312767_16a16f6e10.jpg" alt="PC060002" width="400" /></a><br /><br />I have decided yet if I'm going to reskein it or not. Now that it's all wound it balls it seems kind of silly, but if I'm going to be storing it a while, it might not be a bad idea.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261748017545683598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288002.post-8284487315552746852011-10-10T20:43:00.001-07:002011-10-10T21:01:14.440-07:00OK Cat Bordhi, you were right!At Madrona last February, I saw Cat Bordhi and she told me she had come up with a brand new kind of heel, and that she thought I would like it. I asked her some questions, and she told me it was a variation on a short row heel, and I was skeptical to say the least.<br /><br />See, I hate short row heels. I hate the little holes, and I know there are ways to get rid of them, but it's not worth it because the second thing I hate about them is that they don't fit my feet well at all.<br /><br />I have rather odd feet. They're very small - by length I should wear a US size 5.5 to 6 shoe, but I usually end up going a bit bigger because my feet are also tall. Not wide, if I try on a shoe like a Mary Jane or similar style that doesn't go over the top of my foot, I can fit into a 6 no problem - it's just that I can't close the straps. (You can ask <a href="http://www.knitgrrl.com/">Shannon</a>, we went to the Fluevog store after Sock Summit and she watched me try on 3 pairs of shoes that fit great if I left the straps hanging wide open.) Perhaps because of this tallness, or perhaps for other reasons, the distance diagonally from the back of my heel around the front of my foot is very large compared to the circumference of my foot (12" compared to 8") - thus short row heels are not a good option.<br /><br />But enough about me. I saw Cat again at Sock Summit, after she had released her <a href="http://catbordhi.com/books/cats-sweet-tomato-heel-socks-3/">Cat's Sweet Tomato Heel Socks</a> ebook. She told me about the heel again, and I decided to try it.<br /><br />Why? Well, Cat is a genius of crazy sock construction, and she looked at my feet and told me she thought it would work, and promised me that there would be no holes. Plus, because I am an *ahem* rather experienced sock knitter, she said I would probably be able to figure it out just from the YouTube Video.<br /><br />And so... I did. Really, what did I have to lose?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/6216673222/" title="PA050008 by stariel, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6165/6216673222_70db0da741.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Pattern: my plain sock recipe with Cat's Sweet Tomato Heel<br />Yarn: Patons Stretch Socks in Cherry Sours<br />Started: 8/7/11<br />Finished: 10/5/11<br /><br />I cast on shortly after Sock Summit and carried them around in my bag for in between knitting, so it took quite a while to finish them. Plus I couldn't tell you all about them until I wore them!<br /><br />So here's the verdict. There are a couple little issues:<br /><br />1. The back of the ankle is slightly baggy, but nothing to interfere with wear, and I know Cat has many variations and tweaks in her book, which I didn't use because I just made the most basic version. This is really a very minor issue.<br /><br />2. The foot is slightly too long, but that is completely my error as I wasn't sure where to measure from to figure out when to start the toe, and I didn't try them on. (bad knitter!)<br /><br />3. Though the first pick ups of the wraps look beautiful, somehow I didn't do them quite the same the second time around and they look slightly less beautiful (also completely a user error), but they're still much better than those awful short row holes!<br /><br />Overall, they fit very well and I think they'd be an excellent option for me if I ever knit toe-up socks again. ;)<br /><br />And a little about the yarn, since I hadn't used it before. It's a nice cotton/wool blend and though it was a little splitty, it wasn't bad to work with. The finished feel is really nice! Also it was dirt cheap - I threw it in my cart when ordering my rotary mat from Joann's because it bumped me over the limit and was cheaper than paying shipping.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261748017545683598noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8288002.post-85240102262026270742011-10-02T14:32:00.000-07:002011-10-02T14:53:19.693-07:00Socks and ShawlsThe knitting around here has been mostly secret, but I did manage to finish up a couple of public things...<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/6183862863/" title="P9250008 by stariel, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6157/6183862863_474cfea866.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Greek Isles Handspun Socks<br />Started: 7/27/2011<br />Finished: 9/25/2011<br />Yarn: Handspun sock yarn in Greek Isles superwash merino roving (Pigeonroof Studios?)<br /><br />Unfortunately one of my larger sock blockers is hiding. I'm sure it's around here somewhere. I finished spinning the yarn during Tour de Fleece this year. The tag on the roving didn't say where it was from, but some Googling has lead me to believe that it was Pigeonroof Studios. I must have bought it in person or got it as a gift, though.<br /><br />The other project is a little shawlette:<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/starielknits/6205037908/" title="PA020009 by stariel, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6159/6205037908_07090d8b6e.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><br />Pattern: Traveling Woman<br />Yarn: Stitchjones Glam Sock in Marine<br />Started: 9/10/11<br />Finished: 10/1/11<br /><br />As you can see it's currently blocking. :) It's a very easy pattern, and a pretty quick knit too!<br /><br />In other knitting news, yesterday I went to my LYS in search of a crochet hook for beading. I have some pretty little ones that I've used before, but this time my size 10 crochet hook (it looks like size varies between companies, but between 1 and 1.3mm) was just not small enough. Unfortunately, that's the smallest size they carry.<br /><br />So after calling JoAnn's (no, they didn't have it either) I ordered sizes 13 and 14 online. (0.85mm and 0.75mm respectively). Hopefully these will be small enough. I honestly can't imagine how much of a hook they can really have at that size!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02261748017545683598noreply@blogger.com1