Thursday, November 30, 2006

Egeria Rocks!

A fellow member of the Knittyboard sent me this lovely package. It's a combination of a RA(o)K and a make-up package for a SP snafu.



First I saw this adorable card which gives a new meaning to Cat in the Hat, and my beautifully wrapped presents. She said the package had some Irish things (she's in Ireland), some yarn-y things, and some starry things, and she wasn't lying!

Here's the first round of goodies - yummy strawberry candies, a cute little Irish sheep, tea, beautiful star stitch markers she made for me, star erasers, and a little glass charm with a shamrock.



Look at the stitch markers!



The next picture contains the yarny goodness - blue silk to spin, Lorna's Laces sock yarn in Watercolor, and enough chocolate to keep me happy for a while. :) I also got a book called Little Miss Star - I'd better go read it - and some weird looking Irish candies which I'm sure will be yummy, and a beautiful star ornament.



Thank you Egeria for totally making my day!

Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Feather and Fan Socks

I knit these as a favor for Amanda. She got into a little pickle and needed socks for 3 people for the holidays and didn't have quite enough time to knit them, so I knit these:



Pattern: Feather and Fan stitch pattern on some standard socks
Yarn: Cascade Fixation
Started: I'm really not sure. Perhaps 11/24?
Finished: 11/29

Socks #40 of 2006, #46 ever. :)

Sunday, November 26, 2006

Bad Kitty! (now with socks)

There's another little story about Thanksgiving that I meant to tell you, and it kind of involves knitting. As I mentioned in the previous entry we were doing a lot of baking. In between steps I went out to the couch to sit down for a minute and started knitting on my socks. My friend was talking to her cousin on the phone. Moments later I heard a huge crash.

Turns out that Java had jumped up on the hood of the fish tank, as she does occasionally, and somehow caused the whole hood - including the light - to fall into the tank. I looked up to see a wet cat rocketing out of the fish tank and the light on underwater. I flung my knitting aside, pulled all the plugs out of the wall, and proceeded to pull the dripping wet light fixture out of the tank. There was water splashed halfway up my living room wall.

The mug shot:



Don't be fooled by those innocent eyes.

In other news... Socks #39 this year (#45 ever) have been finished! These are the socks from the story above as well.



Yarn: Austermann Step (with jojoba and aloe!)
Started: 11/13/06
Finished: 11/25/06

The yarn itself reminds me a bit of Regia or Opal, but there is definitely a different feeling from the aloe and jojoba. I told some friends it felt a little slimy, although I'm not sure that's the right word. More like you just put lotion on. I'm excited to wear them and see how they feel on my feet!

In other sock news, after one wear (during which it turned the inside of my shoes slightly green) and wash the Fearless Fibers yarn is quite fuzzy. Those socks look almost the same as a pair in Patons Kroy that's a year old. Too bad, because I really like some of the colors.

Saturday, November 25, 2006

Knitting over Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving I had a non-knitting friend visiting - my college roommate, actually. We spent most of Thanksgiving Day baking and went to the home of one of my knitting friends and had a lovely time for dinner. I made pumpkin pie, rolls, and cookies. :)

The day after Thanksgiving I dragged the poor non-knitter along on a knitting adventure! We went out to Walpole, MA (I'm really not sure where that is still) and went to a shop called Dee's Nimble Needles. She carried JKnits, but didn't have any colors that I wanted. I was, however, tempted by some Collinette Jitterbug.

After the yarn store we went to Starbucks and sat for a while knitting, chatting, and drinking coffee.



From left to right: Rae, me, Tania, and Cathy

Those are my socks in the center of the table. ;)

Speaking of socks, I have two more pairs done!

#38 was a test knit so I can't show you any pictures yet

#39 is the socks seen above. I finished them tonight but I won't take a picture until tomorrow when there's light.

Sunday, November 19, 2006

It's been a while, but there's lots to tell

First off, I received a prize from Lacevember - a skein of Anne



It's from Simply Sock Yarn . Now for a closeup!




I also finished the bottom lace on my Hush Hush



And on Friday I did stenciling!

my shirt



Catherine's shirt - removing the stencil



And finished!



I'll post a finished picture of mine soon.

Tuesday, November 14, 2006

Up close and personal with yarn and my November calendar

There's a contest here to show your November Calendar page.

Here's mine:



Also I had a little stash enhancement last week - Almost Sock Hop yarn!



It's sort of like Sock Hop seconds - some of the newer spinners made some skiens that were a little different. This one was a little heavier weight than normal. I got three skeins and I'll be making knee highs. :)



I'm very excited. :D

Monday, November 13, 2006

Finally, November socks!

It's been a while since I finished a pair of socks.

#37 of 2006



And a close up of the stitch pattern:



Pattern: Scales Skin Socks from the Six Sock Knitalong on Yahoo
Yarn: Fearless Fibers in Mermaid
Started: 10/31/06
Finished: 11/13/06

The colors of this yarn are gorgeous, and it's really soft. I also have almost 75g left after knitting a pair, so I'll probably make another pair of socks toe-up with the leftovers.

Sunday, November 12, 2006

Hippy Crunchy!

The first sock is finished!



Yarn: Socks that Rock in Peaseblossom
Pattern: Hippy Crunchy (mods below)

I'll be doing the second sock soon. I did this one along on magic loop because the beginning of the round changes, which is tough when doing two socks at once. I wanted to post it now so anyone is interested can see the modifications to the pattern.

The pattern mods:

I decided to do the chart without the 4 edge stitches on the round section. Because of this the beginning of round changes sometimes. The BOR is moved one stitch earlier (right) on rounds 6, 10, and 14. On round 20 the BOR is one stich later (left).

I also inserted a decrease round. After the round where you k2tog each cast on stitch with one of the stitches, knit 1 round. On the next round *k3, k2tog* around. For the sock with a 60 stitch hem, 48 stitches (or 4 lace repeats) remain. I worked 3 repeats of the chart as directed and then started a heel flap on 1/2 the stitches (24).

After picking up gusset stitches I moved 2 stitches from each side of the gusset to the instep to make a total of 28 instep stitches (for 2 repeats of the chart plus the edge stitches). I decreased down to 30 stitches for the sole.

Friday, November 10, 2006

More lace and an old FO

Today's Lacevember question is:

What are your ideal lace making conditions?

Well, that depends on the lace. If it's not too complicated then I can knit lace at one of my knitting groups, but not while watching TV. If it's more difficult I usually do it while listening to music or podcasts, with a cup of tea, on my couch or my desk chair with the chart in front of me and ample post-it notes.

And now an old FO to spruce up this entry:




These are some Pretty Comfy Socks warning - site has pop-ups! that I made way back when. I used Knit Picks Sock Garden in Iris. Somehow I never got a FO pic of these, so the last time I washed them I put them on blockers and here's your picture. :)

Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Contests and progress

People sometimes comment that I win a lot of contests, which I guess is kind of true. However, you can't fault me for this one which I didn't even know was a contest.

Here's my prize:



It's Spunky Eclectic superwash merino roving in Delphinium.

I also got some stich markers from Sachi's contest



(my macro is pretty good, huh?)

And this is what's currently on the wheel:



The roving is from Aija.

Wow, I guess I'm very connected to other knitters today. ;)

As for knitting, I've been plugging away at my lace. I usually have lots of things on the needles, which would make you think that I wouldn't finish stuff often, but I still do. The mystery is solved when you realize that I usually have a lot of stuff "on deck" and only work on one or two things. All this knitting on my lace projects has slowed down the other stuff.

But it does feel good to be making progress on the lace. I'm a little over half done with the lace section on Hush Hush and I'm turning the heel on Hippy Crunchy #1. Not bad. I'll also be adding another lace sock that I'm going to test knit, probably starting it later today.

Monday, November 06, 2006

Lacevember

I have a plan for Lacevember. I will complete one lace repeat on both my Hippy Crunchy sock and Hush Hush each day. That's 20 rows on the sock and 4 on Hush Hush (but boy are those long rows!)



Hush Hush probably has less repeats before I get to the stockinette at which point it becomes TV knitting and will actually maybe get done someday.

And then I shall work on my Elizabeth 1 scarf.


Lacevember questions:

The knitting questions, or the usual suspects

How long have you been knitting?
I learned to knit long ago but didn't knit much. I picked it up again just over two years ago.

How did you learn to knit?
My mom taught me the basics when I was 6, the rest of the stuff I taught myself.

Favorite thing about knitting?
Socks! Just kidding. Knitting has become a social thing for me, so I guess the best part is spending time with my friends.

How long have you been knitting lace?
I actually don't knit a lot of lace. I've knit a few pairs of lace socks. My first "serious" lace was started for the Amazing Lace and Lacevember will help me finish it.

Favorite thing about knitting lace.
The finished product!

The yarn questions, or flash your stash

Favorite lace yarn?
So far most of my lace has been on socks. I have some Knitpicks Shadow so I guess that would have to be it since it's the only laceweight I've worked with.

variegated or solids for shawls?
Dunno, I've never knit a shawl. I kind of want to knit one of the crazy complicated ones, but I would never wear it.

Favorite lace color?
black

Technique, or show us your skillz

Circs or straights?
Circs!

Favorite lace knitting trick?
Um... sticky notes on the chart?

Lifelines? If so with what?
Haven't used one yet, my lace has been simple. I did help a friend do a lifeline with dental floss...

Fancy blocking wires, or just sewing pins stuck in your carpet?
pins

Pattern, or can you follow directions

shawls or lacey items?
Lacey items

triangle, rectangle, or circular shawls?
None of the above, but probably triangle or rectangle.

Charts or printed instructions?
charts!

Favorite lace you've knit?
Hedera or Elfine Socks probably.

Favorite lace you want to knit?
Syvsternen

Just Fun, yup that's right, just for fun

Favorite jelly belly flavor?
Coconut

Tell me everything you know about Eric the Red.....
Who?

Coke, classic or with lime?
Dr. Pepper?

Holiday carols, sing along, or wish they would be banned from all public airwaves?
I think they should only be allowed for 1 week.

What is the definition of irony?
Incongruity between what might be expected and what actually occurs

How many licks does it take to get to the center of a tootsie roll pop?
367

Why is my cat always puking in front of my son's bedroom door?
Because he/she can't open the door and puke inside.

What is your superhero power?
Knitting Fairies

If the laundry is 9 foot by 11 foot (just dreaming, that's a big laundry room), and the walls are 8 feet tall, and you are going to tile the entire room in tiles that are 3 inches by 5 inches, what color should those tiles be?
blue

What's for dinner tonight?
curried cauliflower and potatoes

What is clogging my children's bathtub drain?
little plastic toys

Saturday, November 04, 2006

Knits well with others!

Recently I've been getting the urge to knit with others.

I joined Lacevember to motivate me to finish up some lace. I decided to rip out the Hippy Crunchy socks and start the lace with fewer stitches but they seem to be going well now. I think my goal will be to get one lace repeat done on my Hippy Crunchy and one on my Hush Hush every day. We'll see if I can make it. ;)

In addition I've been trying to convince Bryghtrose and Amanda to knit the Snowflake Socks with me.

Then I got this great idea to make Catherine and Amanda to knit awesome Norwegian mittens with me!

Then I gave Amanda a skein of Bearfoot in Winter Sky, because I had two. But I decided we should knit matching socks with that. I mean, we already have the same yarn, why not knit the same socks?

And then there's the Broad Street Mitten knitalong with another knitting group...

Friday, November 03, 2006

My Spooky SP Package arrived!



Today I got my Spooky SP package, and found out that my pal was Noodles!

I got 3oz of purple and green roving from Hello Yarn, a skein of Cascade Lana D'oro, Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, spooky Halloween garlands, little foam candy corn dudes (you can see one on the far right in the picture), and spooky stickers!

Thursday, November 02, 2006

My first Lacevember project!

I was just planning to finish the bottom lace on Hush Hush (which will make it a TV knitting project) and try to finish my Elizabeth 1 scarf, but then yesterday the sock fairies made me cast on for Hippy Crunchy. The pattern and yarn are from the 3rd Rockin' Sock Club kit, the yarn is Peaseblossom.



Because I'm a little bit of a perfectionist about my knitting (ok, a lot bit) I didn't like the seam stitches. Kris and I discussed it at Knitsmiths and came up with some modifications to the pattern. First we're removing the seam stitches. This makes the sock look nicer IMO, but means you have to move the beginning of round sometimes (hence the single sock on magic loop). I'm also going to knit a heel flap and continue only 2 repeats of the lace pattern onto the foot instead of three - adding the seam stitches back in at that point.

So I begin knitting this sock and quickly realize that the lace is REALLY stretchy. I'm knitting 60 stitches on size 0 and it is waaaay to big. The turned stockinette hem (done on 1s with 60 stitches) is fine, and it holds the sock up on my foot, but I'm worried that the lace is going to make it waaaaay too big. Maybe it's better to decrease after the turned hem to 48 stitches and knit it on my 2.5mm needles?

Thoughts? Help?

N is for Nostalgia



I started wearing Sambas in middle school and I've had at least one pair ever since. I love them, they're my kicking around sneakers and I wear them almost every day.

So many of my memories of high school and college (and hey, even last week) involve the Sambas. I had them signed by Days of the New and Black Lab (does anyone even remember thsoe bands?) at a free show at Tower Records in Seattle. Some of the band members wore Sambas too.

I decorated my second pair with gel pens one day at Hazen with my friend Kelly. We drew different colors of stars all along the white stripes and wrote my initials on them.

After coming to Boston I even played indoor soccer in Sambas - the purpose they were originally intended for!

Well, another pair bites the dust.

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Flash Your Fiber Stash 2006

You will soon see that my fiber stash is nothing compared to my sock stash. ;)



Most of this is from my Spinning SP with a bit of Rhinebeck thrown in.



The rest of the lot is from various sources: gifts, Rhinebeck, stuff I bought, and on the top (the whitish one with flecks) my very first roving ever that came with my spinning wheel.

What, you want more? That's all there is!



This alpaca is a RAK I received - unprocessed natural yummy alpaca.



This is some gorgeous hand dyed BFL I bought at Rhinebeck. Mmm... makes me want to go spin right now.

Sock Yarn

    A quest to use sock yarns:

    Yarns I've had:
    * means I really liked it

    4-ply Soft
    A Piece of Vermont*
    Alpafina
    Artsygal*
    Artyarns Supermerino*
    Austermann Step
    BMFA Sock Candy*
    Black Bunny Fibers*
    Brown Sheep Naturespun Sport
    Chinese Mystery sock yarn
    Claudia's Handpaints
    Conjoined Creations Flat Feet
    Crystal Palace Maizy
    CTH Supersock
    Dicentra Designs
    Dorchester Farms
    Fabel
    Fearless Fibers
    Fixation*
    Gloss (KP)
    handspun
    Inspinknity*
    Interlacements Beibi Seda
    Interlacements Tiny Toes
    Interlacements Toasty Toes
    Jarbo Raggi
    JKnits*
    Jojoland Melody
    Koigu*
    Kona Superwash
    KP Essential
    KP Merino
    KP Palette
    Limbo
    Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock*
    Macek Designs
    Madelinetosh
    Magic Stripes
    Mega Boots Stretch
    Microspun
    Nature's Palette
    Noro Kureyon Sock
    Opal
    Panda Cotton
    Paton's Kroy*
    Peru DK
    Peruvian Quechua
    Regia Bamboo*
    Regia Cotton
    Regia Strato*
    Ruby Sapphire
    Sockotta
    Socks That Rock*
    Star (Classic Elite)
    Stitch Jones
    Sunshine Yarns*
    Three Fates Cauldron Sock*
    TOFUtsies
    Trekking*
    Wick
    Wildfoote*
    Wollmeise*
    Wool Ease
    Yarn Pirate*

    In Progress:

    Perchance to Knit
    Regia
    Vesper
    Yarns in the stash:

    All Things Heather
    Ancient Threads
    Apple Laine
    Araucania Ranco
    Artyarns Ultramerino
    Autumn House Farm
    Baby Ull
    Ball and Skein
    Baywood Yarns
    Bearfoot (Mountain Colors)
    Briar Rose Fibers
    Brooklyn Handspun
    Cavyshops Handpaint
    C*eye*ber Fiber
    Cervinia Calzetteria
    CTH Superglitz
    Chasing Rainbows Dyeworks
    Chewy Spaghetti
    Classic Elite Alpaca Sox
    Colinette Cadenza
    Colinette Jitterbug
    Country Classic Yarn for Sox
    Crash Into Ewe
    Crown Mountain Farms Sock Hop
    Curious Yarns
    Done Roving
    Dream in Color
    Duet (A Swell Yarn Shop)
    Dye Dreams
    Ellen's Half Pint Farm
    End of the World Farm
    Fashion Trend Sportivo
    The Fiber Denn
    Fleece Artist
    The Flock Bransonas
    Fortissima
    French Hill Farm
    Froehlich Blauband
    Fyberspates
    geeyouknit!
    Gjestal Silja
    Great Adirondack Soxie
    Greenwood Fiberworks
    Jaeger Matchmaker
    Jarbo Mini Raggi
    Jawoll
    Jawoll Cotton
    Just Our Yarn
    Knit Purl Natural Collection
    Kona Superwash
    KP Dancing
    KP Essential Tweed
    Lime & Violet
    Lisa Souza
    Louet Gems Pearl
    Luxe
    Mama Llama
    Merlin the Cat
    Meilenweit Cotton
    Meilenweit Trend
    Mind's Eye Merino/Tencel
    Mirasol Hacho
    Misty Mountain Farm
    The Natural Dye Studio
    Neighborhood Fiber Company
    Over the Rainbow Twinkletoes
    Peterle
    Pigeon Roof Studios
    Pine Woods
    Posh Yarn Lucia
    Prism Saki
    Pucker Brush Farm
    Regia Surf
    Reynolds Swizzle
    Reynolds Soft Sea Wool
    Rio De La Plata
    Royale Hare
    Roz Houseknecht
    Schaefer Anne
    Scout's Swag
    Sheep Shop Wensleydale
    Shelridge Farm
    ShibuiKnits
    Sockenwolle Unipo
    Spirit Trail Fiberworks
    Spunky Eclectic
    Steinbach Wolle Sockenwolle
    Sundara Yarn
    Sweetgeorgia
    Tess Designer Yarns
    Twisted
    The Unique Sheep
    Universal Ditto
    Valley Yarns Franklin
    vanCalcar Acres
    White Oak Studio tvyarn
    Wisdom Yarns Marathon
    Wool in the Woods
    The Woolen Rabbit
    Yarn Botanika Radiance
    Yarntini
    Ysolda Yarn
    Zen Yarn Garden


    To check out:

    Pippikneesocks
    Sophie's Toes
    The Spinning Bunny Yarns BFL

WIPs and FOs