Knitting Obsessions

The Natural

2010-04-04T10:16:00.000-07:00

I have a friend who is a ridiculously Good Person. Always thinking about how to do good, be good, give good works to the universe.

Among many, many good things he spends his limited spare time teaching disabled kids and adults how to ski. He could be shooshing down the best slopes in the world, but he chooses to help disabled folks. Seriously.

The man deserves a hat. So I made him one- seriously stepping outside the "if it ain't for me, it's for family" rule that I've got going. But I digress.

I made a bunch of mods because I used DK weight yarn instead of worsted. Here are the mods:

gauge at US#7 = 5.5/in vs 5/1in
CO 112 and add one purl between each cable twist
Row 1-15 k2, p2, k3,*P2*, k3, p2
Row 16 k2, p2, c8b, p2
(C8B= sl3 to Cn, hld in back. k3,*P2* then k3 from CN)
Row 17-24 as for row 1-15
Repeat sequence for 4 cable twists

Crown Shaping:
k2 ,p2, k3, p2tog, k3, p2 (decrease purl between cables)
k2, p2, k3, p1, k3, p2
ktog, p2,k3,p1,k3,p2 (decrease k2 rib to k1)
p3,k3,p1,k3,p2 (convert k1 rib to p- now it is cable sequence +p5)
p2, ssk, k2,p1,k2, k2tog, p3 (end on a p1) (decrease p5 to p3)
even
p2,k1,k2tog,p1,ssk,k1,p1 (decrease cable ribs from k3 to k2)
p2, c5b, p1
even
p2tog, k2,p1,k2,p1 (decrease purl from p3 to p2)
even
p2tog, k2,p1,k2 (decrease purl from p2 to p1)
even
p1, k2tog
even
p1, c3b
even
tie off

Basically I added a decrease round at the start to get rid of the extra purl and then I drecreases for the c5b 2 rounds early so I could c5b at the 8th row.

Keeping Track of those Darn Decreases

2009-12-13T07:51:00.000-08:00

Behold, my current obsession. The Folded Mini Dress.

This is an incredible pattern found in Lynne Barr's new book, Reversible Knitting: 50 Brand-New, Groundbreaking Stitch Patterns. This was instant love and I am shocked that there isn't a million people stitching this right up. I am one of 2 projects on ravelry. huh. I'm usually such a lemming with my project choices. But I digress.

The point of this post is to tell you about a technique for keeping track of increases and decreases that I learned from Susan of the rainey sisters. It is simply brilliant.

Lynne' direction for the bodice of the dress are typical and straight forward. Split at the center front neckline and then do armhole decreases on either side and do neckline decreases on either side. This means you need to track 4 decreases on every row. Hard enough. HOWEVER, the neck and arm decreases happen at different rates AND the arm decreases change row count half way through. yikes. AND I am using dark yarn. DOUBLE yikes. (dark yarn makes it really hard to "read" your previous stitches)

I am a bear of little brain. How can I possible keep all of this straight? Enter, the Dental Floss Solution.

Every time you make a decrease stitch lay a length of dental floss between the just completed decrease stitch and the next. When you come back around to make the next decrease, bring that same length of floss back over between the newly completed decrease and the next stitch.

As you can see in this picture I have 4 lengths of floss for each set of decreases I am tracking. I can easily see how many decreases I've done and what row I decreased. it is also easy to see if I MISS a decrease.

Obviously, this works just as well for increases. Brilliant.

Just thought I'd share.

I want to wear this for Christmas and I have many gifties to finish as well. Will I make it??

And for the last few months...

2009-06-28T20:16:00.000-07:00

Let's do a little catch up, shall we?

First up is a lovely Cami that is knit form a souvenier skein(s) from my trip to Tuscan, AZ. My Mother's family is from there and I went there for my first time as an adult.

I went to a delightful knit shop near the University (of Arizona?) called Kiwi Knits. They have divided thier shop into rooms; animal room, vegetable room, sock room, etc. to organize the amazingly diverse election of yarn. Considering the desert (read: warm) location, the vegetable room was amazing. Cotton, silk, hemp, bamboo, linen and- get this- sugar cane. (Sing with me... C&H....pure can sugar... from Hawaii...) Seriously! Yes. I *might* have licked a strand. I won't tell. But If I did lick a strand I could tell you it is not sweet at all.

It is, however, sweet to work with. Smooth and slickery, though a tiny bit splity. I decided to make the Honeymoon Cami. This is a well written pattern and the only mod was to raise the neckline a bit. The yarn pooled a whole bunch but I decided to think of it as interesting raher than distracting.

I really like this whole "souvenier skein" concept. Now, whenever I wear this cami I will think of my time in Tuscan and the connections I made there. Better than a dust collector, "fer sher".

Next up is Hey Teach. This is a super popular pattern on Ravelry with over 1200 versions knit so far. Here's mine:

I had some trouble with the button bands- like always. Seriously, what is the secret to bands that lie flat and don't gap unattractively over the girls? I knit positive ease into the garmet, tried to get a button at the point of maximum (erm) stress, knit and then reknit again to get the ratio of picked up stitches correct... sigh. All in all it's isn't too bad.

I love the way it fits and it is knit with Blue Skys Skinny Dyed Cotton ( I **LOVE** this yarn). This is the perfect summer sweater.

I managed to get my Tigger Sweater done just before this last cold snap, so I've worn this quite a lot already! It is the perfect comfy super soft sweater. Nearly as good as an old sweat shirt. And the color!!! OIY! Just the perfect thing to draw me out of mt shy, bashful, timid, meek and mild shell.

This is a terrible shot- I am really not that fat! This is the hourglass Sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts. I used Malabrigo- natch.

Lastly (for now), I completed the first of the stash busting felted bags. I've been knitting long enough to have an annoying amount of left overs- too much to toss, not enough to make a whole project. I have everything sorted into color ways and I hope to bust out enough of these to give to nieces for Christmas. I'm sure they would rather have money... but I just have to be the oddball aunt who gives the unusual. Aileen, if you're reading, mums the word! I might not get past this one bag!!! And yes, I'll think of something cool for Nephew. He's special. He's the only one.

Whew! I really ought to do this more often. Then I can have nice, short, reasonable posts like everyone else.

Toodles!

Sipalu is Finished!

2009-04-26T11:26:00.000-07:00

Finally finished. Finally. This is the most detailed bit of knitting to date and I am quite proud of myself. There are flaws, certainly. My next Fair Isle will be much better, certainly. But this will always be the first!!

The first thing I have to tell you is that this bag is BIG. I thought it would be this cute little side bag, but it is a full on purse. Here is a perspective shot:

The other thing is the structure. This is my first knitted purse and I'm not sure how I feel about the slouchiness of it all. In these shots I stuffed it with newspaper, but in real life the weight of my necessities makes the bag do all sorts of unpleasant things. I might rip out the lining and put in an interface or plastic side inserts. Maybe this will just be a museum piece.. I dunno.

I also knit the i-cord strap extra long so can wear it cross body, messenger bag style. Afterall, this is a rather bo-ho sort of design.

In the end I might have more of a show stopper than something practical, but that ain't bad, eh? It was a very interesting knit and a great first fair isle project. My ultimate goal is Venezia or Autumn Rose.

2009-04-25T16:56:00.000-07:00

This is the story of Elsa, the Elefante. Elsa was born into the world on a cold spring day and she shivered and shivered.

But soon she eyed a delelctably warm thing off in the distance. It looked so beautiful, and, somehow, so familiar. Elsa thought it looked like her Mom...

Elsa decided to get a closer look and maybe even a sniff. Yes! This warm comfy thing was as familiar as her own skin! She had to try it on...

Well, it is a little big. But Elsa is happy. And warm. Do I have to tell her the sweater is for a human baby, or will you?

2009-02-01T20:44:00.000-08:00

I am making great progress on the Sipalu Bag. This is easily the most spectacular project to date, but it is not as hard as you might think! I keep finding that in knitting, as in life, things are much harder and scarier in the contemplation, not so much in the doing.

This project had a 2 month time out while I completed scads of holiday gift knitting. Or - I was suffering from second side syndrome. Could be either one. Once I picked it back up, though two amazing things happened. One, my tension got way better and there is considerably less puckering on the second side and, two, my continental knitting improved a whole lot.

Just a final welt, i-cord strap and lining to go.

Today I went to the Unwind Superbowl Party with 2 knitting/Realtor friends, Paula Walker and Diana Walker (no relationship). See how happy we are to buy yarn?

Good or bad, there is nothing like a good stash enhancement. I exercised considerable restraint- and then immediately rewarded myself with 2 skeins of the most yummy grey/taupe/mushroom seasilk. I've been reading about this extraordinary yarn for years (all 2 of my knitting years) and now it is my turn.

Any ideas on what sort of special pattern is worthy of this yarn?

One other project worth noting - Nob Hill. Love the project, but I'm too cheap to drop that much on the recommended yarn. I used Lion Brand Wool-Ease Think and Quick and it turned out just fine. I don't like the acrylic feel - but I maybe paid $5 for the yarn. I'll deal. Here's the pics

I Just Completed 2 Years

2008-11-02T15:59:00.000-08:00

Hi, my name is Kendyl. I am a fiber-holic. I've been proudly obsessed with knitting for two complete years.

I just remembered that I first picked up the needles sometime in late October of 2006 so today is around my 2nd knitaversary. Yea me. In those 2 years I've churned out some 70 projects, learned cables, lace, felting, fair isle and entrelac, dyed some yarn and designed a few tops. My motto has been, "Bring it On! It's just string, after all!"

Learned so much, yet everyday I am completely humbled by the true artists and technicians that I see on Ravelry and the blog-o-sphere. I love that there are always new mountains to climb.

Speaking of which, here is my current challenge, my personal mountain. This what I refer to (in my own mind) as "true" fair isle. This is the sort of color work that makes my heart sing. Someday, when I am a true Knitter (with a capital K) I will knit the Venezia Sweater by Eunny Jang. Dudes, this sweater is a work of art and unless I move somewhere drastic (like a place that actually gets cold) art is all this will ever be. When I knit it I'm thinking I'll have it framed in some Plexiglas box and hang it on the friggen' wall.

But I digress.

Here is Sipalu, my color work trial.

This is a kit, available from Knit Picks and it is a thing of utter beauty. It is also a major bargain. I got 17 full balls of Palette yarn along with this pattern. They say you make 2 or 3 purses from all this yarn!

I started out trying to knit with 2 hands, background color in my right hand, design color in my left. I thought this would force me to learn to knit Continental, and knit it well. Wrong-o! The tragedy is that I am reasonably ambidextrous and it annoys me to no end that I can't master Continental. I just now switched to dropping and picking up the colors with my right and I am going much faster, now. **sigh**

This project is completely consuming and I need mindless knitting to switch it up. That's where Cobblestone comes in.

I did the sleeves first and I am nearly done with the body. My honey is going to look stunning and oh, so manly, in this sweater. Yum!

Just a catch up note, I finally got around to finishing my Lombardy Socks.

Knit with Shi Bu knits yarn, the socks are lovely and I loved doing the picot edge. Apparently everyone, but me, knows that ShiBu pools horribly on socks. Fortunately you can't really tell on this dark blue color unless you look closely. Dudes, if anyone other than my honey is that close to my feet I got other problems, ya know?!

Knitting Happens, Blogging Doesn't

2008-10-12T17:27:00.000-07:00

1. Lace Ribon Scarf, 2. Turn A Square, 3. Porcupine Cowl, 4. Porcupine Cowl, 5. Boy VEst, 6. Boy Vest, 7. IMG_1949, 8. IMG_1954, 9. IMG_1952, 10. IMG_1951, 11. IMG_1939, 12. IMG_1940

Well, I'm back. For those of you who still have me tagged somewhere - I'm here, I'm alive and, natch, I'm knitting.

Most of my knitting notes are on my Ravelry project pages, but not all are members!

So, from the top, then, shall we?

Lace Ribbon scarf is a Christmas present for a much loved aunt. I must love her! This the second scarf (she felted the first one and then lost it) and it is a bit of a dozy for the small yarn and the small needles - size #3. She only wears tan and white. Won't this look great as a subtle accent? Oh, it is also superwash - no felting possible!

The beenie is for LB (little boy) That kid just loves orange! The brighter the better. The pattern is from the amazing brooklytweed. Only a knitter would get completely jazzed by the fact that the stripes start off round, but then turn into squares. Fortunately, LB is a knitter. Sort of. He knits when there isn't anything else to distract a curious, active, nearly 12 year old. Ok, he almost never knits. But he knows how!!!

The cowl is a clever Mobieus Cowl named Prickle. The lace stitch is named the Porcupine stitch - I'm really at a loss as to why. The Mobieus is very cool because it drapes just perfectly to cover your decollete, yet does not fall off. Then you can pull it up like a hood and look incredibly demure and ladylike. Those of you who know me in the physical world should kindly stop laughing now. Thank you.

The Boy Vest happened before the Mobieus Cowl. I scored several balls of Mission Falls 1824 Wool from the sale bin at Compattos (this is now my fav yarn store). I knew that straight up stockinette was the way to show off this yarn - but what to do? A combo of Ann Budd's Sweater Pattern Book and Leftovers from Knitty was just the ticket. I really feel like this was me, knitting fearlessly. All I had was a swatch, a picture in my head and some technique guidance. The waist shaping, arm scythe, and neck/armbands was pretty much impromptu. I am VERY happy with the result.

Ok, the tank that matches the Collared shrug is very cute. It is also very short! Move just so and the belly button is out for all to see. This is fine for a 15 year old. Not so much for a 45 year old. But, damn it all to bloody hell! I knit the thing, it is way cute and I wear it, BB and all. Deal.

The collared tank is nearly a knitting no-no. I haven't had many of these in my knitting career, so I guess it is ok. It is wearable, after all. It is possible the pattern is great and I am just not "getting it", but in the picture the points of the collar are perky and pointing toward the tops of the shoulders. I fiddled and finagled the finishing every way I could and, brother, that is just not possible with the pieces as knit. I was so put out, I contacted the publishers of KnitScene, because the designer is nowhere on the net. No. Where. They helped by telling me the pattern is right. Yeah.

The first two pics are how the shrug is supposed to lay - still not like the model, but somewhat close. I'd have to stay completely immobile for this to stay. The third pic is how the thing actually wears - not hideous, but not sophisticated. Since I held the cotton double, I may frog this someday and make a better fitting garment -right after I knit through the rest of my stash.

Last, but certainly not least, is Ariann. This sweater was wicked hard for me. I still don't have the hang of increasing and decreasing while maintaining a lace pattern, in the round. I kept winding up with the wrong number of stitches.

I wanted to make this for myself, being the narcissist that I am, but Momma wanted a sweater. "But Momma", I say, don't you want a scarf or slippers or something fast?" No, she wants to brag to her mah jong cronies that her daughter knit her a WHOLE sweater. "But Momma", I say, "Why do you want me to start now? I'll finish in the middle of August, not exactly wool sweater wearing sweater in LA, you know". "Daughter", she says, "I'm not going to be around forever!!"

True, that. Here's your sweater, Mom. Stick around for a while, will ya?

Just For Fun

2008-06-28T07:51:00.000-07:00

I saw this meme over at tentenknits blog and gave it a whirl. What fun! Flickr has some amazing people contributing amazing photos.

Here are the directions!
- Type your answer to each of the questions below into Flickr Search.
- Using only the first page, pick an image.
- Copy and paste each of the URLs for the images into fd’s mosaic maker.

The Questions:
1. What is your first name? Kendyl
2. What is your favorite food? dim sum
3. What high school did you go to? Marshall High, LA
4. What is your favorite color? green
5. Who is your celebrity crush? Will Smith
6. Favorite drink? Scotch
7. Dream vacation? Tuscany
8. Favorite dessert? Apple Pie a La Mode
9. What you want to be when you grow up? Old
10. What do you love most in life? Life Itself!
11. One Word to describe you? Joyful
12. Your flickr name? happy2knit or kendylyoung

Credits:
1. Lincoln Continental III, 2. siu mai spoon, 3. hello ol' friend, 4. :P, 5. willsmith, 6. Scotch on the Rocks, 7. Tuscany Afternoon, Florence, 8. Please Pass The Pie, 9. an old lady with an umbrella in Ravangla market!, 10. I Love New York, 11. IMG_8118, 12. DSC_0106

Works in Progress

2008-06-17T21:47:00.000-07:00

We are just about caught up here, at Chez Kendyl. After several really big projects my head is a little fried. I'm going after a few little lovelies that are easy to tote, easy to knit and have actual, tested PATTERNS that I know I will only have to knit once.

First up is the Lombard Street Socks from the now defunct Magknits. The pattern is now available here. This is my second pair of socks and, while I remain skeptical of the usefulness of hand knit wool socks in So Cal, there is a certain charm to the rhythm and ease of transport that a knit sock project brings. I was gifted 2 delicious skeins of Shibu Knits sock yarn and it was time to knit it up. Lovely, isn't it? The actual color is deeper and richer in person, but the stitch definition really popped with the flash.

The second is technically finished, but I'm working on a set of these. The Diagonal Ripple Dishcloth caught my eye on a friend's queue on Ravelry, but the kicker was a conversation with a" domestic diva" friend of mine. She swears that her hand crochet cloths are the very best at washing dishes and pans. Eh, I'll take that one on faith, but what the heck? Each one of these babys only takes 3-4 hours. I think I'll make a set of 2, but now I've queued up 10 more dishcloth patterns. This might turn into a horrible trend... I might have to use one these things!

Ocean Waves Tank

2008-06-15T21:09:00.000-07:00

We are getting better at this whole design thing! This my second from my head and the first with nothing to base it upon.

Pattern - My own
Yarn - Karabella Mako Cotton Yarn
Needles - US 10.5 and US 11 Knit Picks Harmony

The Inspiration.
I knew this yarn was destined to be a tank and envisioned a lacy light stitch to offset the bulky nature of the yarn. The water inspired colors reminded me of waves of water lapping at my feet... well, you can see where the rest of this is going, can't you? Construction of the top is pretty simple, knit a skirt with feather and fan, then a stockinette bodice. Easy Squeezy! Yeah, not so much.

The Journey
For the life of me I could not figure out how to decrease feather and fan in the round. it should be simple - make sure the subtracted stitch has a matching subtraction in the YO's - but it wouldn't work. Graphs, tick marks, test swatches, online searches, pleading with the gals in SnB to help me figure it out. Nada. Finally, Donna (a knitter of decades long experience) says, why don't you go down a needle size? That's it? It's that simple? Seriously?! GAH!!!!

Next was the math. Always, the math. Trust me when I say that knitting math is no brain surgery. Subtract. Divide. Count the stitches. This is what I got.

The top is at least 4 inches too big! Instead of being a cute flirty top it was a big fugly tent. Not good. Not good at all. See - even without pulling the fabric out you can see how it bunches up under the arms and is just unattractive. I reknit the bodice 3 seperate times. Not portions of the bodice - the whole shooting match. Yikes! But I got it right in the end and, as a committed process knitter, that's the whole point (without being stupid. c'mon - I want to wear it at some point!)

Side by side comparison!

This is my first written pattern, so take that under advisement if you want to knit it yourself! Enjoy!

Hot Fun in the Summertime

2008-06-13T17:26:00.000-07:00

Much knitting, very little time to blog about it! I have been consumed with a new internet project, a micro social network www.kendylsopenhouse.ning.com. This is a site that tries to tie all the disparate parts of my life together for the common good. Click on in and take a look around!

On to the knitting. On my last post, about a million and a half years ago I mentioned that I was going after one of my "fearless knitting" projects, the Fialti Summertime. The knitting went really fast - it was fun and not hard at all. I reveal... My Best Sweater to Date.

Pattern - Filati Summertime, from Lana Grossa
Yarn - SWTC Bamboo Yarn, color Sahara
Needles - US #7, Knitpicks Harmony (LOVE these needles)
Time to knit - about a month

This is very PERFECT summer sweater. The neutral color goes with everything and this sweater actually fits. Actually. Fits. Don't that just beat all? I must have spent one entire week making people look at my sleeves and how they are the appropriate length. Freakin' miracle that is!! It is the right weight and style for everything from a dressy summer party in the evening to a business outfit (or what passes as business outfit for me. I hate suits. Hate. Suits.) to a cute top over jeans. Perfect.

No real mods to speak of. All measurements on the schematic were in metric, so I had some fun puzzling over that one. I know. There's metric on the back of the measuring tape. It just didn't help my confusion. I'm slow that way. (if you are laughing right now, Shirley, I'm coming over there to mess you up)

I'm so happy I'm doing the happy swirly dance. Yipee!

Filati Summertime Tunic

2008-05-04T15:38:00.000-07:00

A long, long, time ago, back when knitting was a new skill to learn and not an entire lifestyle, I saw this picture.I thought to myself, "Self, if you could knit that cardigan you would be a super star!" I filed it away under wishful thinking and that was that.

But did any of you out there in Knitting Land buy those lovely bags of SWTC Bamboo from the Discounted Yarn people? I did, and brother, that is a whole lot of yarn! While my Textured Tank languished in it's time out I cast on, using the Sahara color.

Almost a dead ringer for the color, isn't it? I am having such fun! Beyond all expectation I have turned into a lace knitter. Just a few months ago I saw Heather at SNB knitting the Mystery Shawl and thinking that was darn near impossible. Now I'm making garments out of the stuff. Amazing.

I am starting on the 2nd sleeve and should start assembly by next week. Cool!

Finished, The Textured Tank

2008-05-04T15:09:00.000-07:00

The Textured Tank is Born!

Yarn: Elle Rae Shibu, Silk with a little Viscose for shimmer
6 Balls
Needle: #7
Pattern... MINE!!!

A million years ago (it seems) I started this little passion project to design a top all my own. Well, sort of. As it turns out, the finished project is nothing like the inspiration piece so I claim this as a Kendyl Original!

My plan had been to make the back a plunging V... but it looked better the other way 'round.

A lovely lavender cami and a sharp pair of silk slacks... Tres Elegante!

Some of you might remember that I was going to write this up. I did, right up to the point that I discovered that the armholes were way too deep and I put the whole project on a time out for 3 weeks.

When it came back out, I unpicked the shoulder seems, frogged back 2 inches and re knit it using a simple boat neck instead of the fancy-schmancy short row shaping for the front ( that is now the back). I did not take notes on this last bit - I just wanted the damn thing done, ya know?

SO, if you want what I did write, I'll send it along - read and/or knit at your own risk!

Looking Better...

2008-04-05T14:22:00.000-07:00

After all this thinking and designing I needed something simple and brainless. So... Tah Dah!!

The Ridiculously Simple PonchoPaton's Candadiana Boucle
US #15
47 stitches gartered for about 37 inches and then sewn end to side. Toss over head and look really hot.

Here is the re-knit front of my Textured Tank. The last version had more deeply scooped armholes and much more of a slope to the neckline. I wanted a gentle slope, more like a boat neck. After ripping back to the armholes, I only did 2 decreases for the arms and used short rows to shape the neck. Worked like a charm!

I am now 1/2 way through the back scoop and should be ready for the finishing next week.

As anticipated, I am learning loads about knitting and shaping techniques. There is a vast amount of difference between just (blindly) following a pattern and having to think about what will get the desired result.

The surprise is the process of actually writing the pattern. It is said that the best way to learn is to teach. The process of thinking about what I did and how to express it clearly and efficiently is very interesting. I saw that tentenknits is also designing her first top... she writes about making designs knittable for others. I take that to mean, designing something that is easy to tell others how to knit!

I didn't think about the knittable for others part when i dreamed up this top....

Good or Great?

2008-03-31T15:27:00.000-07:00

***Warning- Philosophical Ramblings Ahead***

So I was listening to NPR (pretty much the only station I listen to) and I heard this question...

"What do you value and why?"

Such an important question and I had not really given it much consideration! I've asked myself "what do I want?" and "what do I believe?" and "what do I want to eat now?", but this question of value seems so basic and so important.

I think I could write a whole essay on this subject, but this is a knitting journal - I will explore the question in relationship to knitting. I bet I'll find that it all relates to life in general!

So, what do I value? To answer that question I think you should see the progress I've made on the Textured Tank.
On first glance I think it is turning out quite well. I've tried it on numerous times and it fits, but, brother, you don't want to see me in this thing with out the proper undergarments!!!!

On closer look, however, there is a big problem. You see, since I am designing this tank, essentially from scratch, I want this to turn out the way I want it to turn out. The armholes scoop in too much, which means the boat neck will not be as wide as I wanted. (And I spent all that time on the math. grrrr).

So here is where the question of value comes up. What do I value about my knitting? Is it the end product? Is it the experience? Is it the kudos of fellow knitters and friends? Do I value the time invested vs other things I could be doing? How about the time invested vs actual output? In other words, should I frog back to the armhole bind off (about 8 hrs of work) and make it right or should I leave it be? It's pretty nice the way it is!

On reflection, I think I value the experience of knitting. Not the individual stitches but the learning that comes with the combination of those stitches. This is why I love to fix mistakes and why I choose patterns based on what I can learn from them (Venezia? That's right. I'm talkin' 'bout you, girl). I believe, though, that this is a surface answer. I think what I really love is the reality that I can be truly great at this craft. I think it is authentic to believe in my potential. (Getting there is a whole 'nuther essay. One thing at a time!). If I am truly great, or striving for greatness, then the answer is clear- rippit, rippet, rippet!

Why do I value being great? Ah, this is the meat and potato of the question. Why, indeed? Virginia Wolfe once said that every person (she might have actually said every woman) secretly harbors the belief that she is special. Many are desperate for others to recognize this specialness and remark upon it, but are too hung up or insecure to shout it out to the world. I, on the other hand, take to heart the words of another great woman, Marianne Williamson.

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you NOT to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us, it is in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.

Marianne Williamson

Right ON!! Why do I want to be great? Because I honestly don't know how else to be. Don't get me wrong, I suck at most everything. But I am really good at a few things. I could just accept good - I get lots of kudos for good, but this is essentially hollow. I want to be great and that means being bold in my choices of projects, ceaseless persuit of great results (not perfect - that's crazy making and impossible) and a constant eye toward hallmarks of greatness in knitting (Eunny? Jared? I'm looking at you right now!).

The value in these musings is that I think, as usual, that this is an apt metaphor for the rest of my life. As much as I would find it easy to just be good, great is where life actually happens.

My First Student

2008-03-27T21:12:00.000-07:00

Look, y'all! I have a student! Valerie asked me to teach her to knit... and I am. Here she is saying, "what the heck did I do to this stitch? Fix it!"

So, far so good. I do believe I've inducted another member of the obsession. Taking over the world, one stitch at a time.

Chuggin' Along

2008-03-22T22:30:00.000-07:00

This is a nice bit of instant gratification and a head start on the gift giving season!

Yarn- Gedifra Scarlet Super Bulky Wool and Acrylic, 4 balls
Pattern - White Night Scarf By J. Sun
Needle - Knit Picks Harmony US#15

I knit this one until it was mid thigh on me - and then did a nice fringe. I have about 3/4 of the 4th ball left. What can I do with that?

This puppy is long enough to wrap twice or do the New York Braid (this is what you do in a really cold place, I'm told. )

I am chuggin' along on my "design". I had a devil of a time with the cast on. It tried 2 different tubular cast ons, then did a regular long tail w/2x2 rib for an inch. I loved the clean hem look of the original, but still not sure how she did it. Maybe a provisional? Well, I got impatient and did something I know.

I got all the way through the waist decreases before remembering how messy the column of stitches that borders a drop stitch gets. The solution is to knit that stitch through the back loop, so that's what I had to do.

Following is possibly the most boring blog post ever. Feel free to close this now. I won't know, so you won't hurt my feelings!

Here is the piece before I messed with it. If you click on it, you'll go to my Flickr page where you can see a big enough picture to get the detail. Why would you do this? 'Cuz you're a bigger knitting nerd than I be.

So, I dropped the stitch column that borders the drop stitch bordering the cable...

Then I used my trusty crochet hook to knit everything back up, twisting each stitch as I went.

It was a lot of fun in that sick, "look I can control the universe" sort of way.

A "Design"

2008-03-16T19:52:00.000-07:00

In the "Year of Knitting Fearlessly" I wanted to design a garment from scratch. My first step is to copy something from a picture. Here's what I want to copy:

Ok, there are a few close up pictures on Eunny's old blog. I have the yarn.... let's give it a whirl!

Pattern - out of my behind
Yarn - Elle Rae, Shibu
Needle - Knitpicks Harmony, #7

Here's the first swatch:I don't think you can see this, but the cable - a tight braid from the "Harmony Guide" doesn't fare well with this yarn. There isn't much definition. It's worth noting that I actually tried to parse out the cable she used here. Downloaded her tutorial on untangling cables, pulled out the graph paper and colored pencils and all. Yeah. There's a long dark night I'll never get back ;-)

Here's what I settled on (after 4 more swatches that didn't survive):

The single twist has way more definition and balances the rather soft texture of the pie crust basket weave. Should I make the left and right cables twist opposite each other?

The cast on was another journey! I tried a couple of different tubular cast ons because that is what I think I saw in the picture. **Note to self. If you're going to try to copy someone, try someone who isn't such a freakin' expert** Both attempts were a failure. Too loose and the basket weave was too soft to pull it all together. frog frog frog.

I am now going for a straight 2x2 rib and hoping to get (finally) started with the knitting!

This is fully engaging process, and y'all know how I am about the process. On the other hand, this is NOT good for my anal-retentive-control-freaky-let's-get-it-done-now side. That side can't believe how much perfectly good knitting time is irrevocably LOST to all this trial and error.

I'll keep you posted!

Oblique

2008-03-16T12:45:00.000-07:00

Finally. It took me almost 3 months to complete this sweater - my largest project to date. I am reasonably pleased, and I learned so much!

Pattern - Oblique, Veronik Avery, Knitty Fall '07, size 43
Yarn - Cascade Superwash color 862
Needle - Knitpicks Harmony, US# 7

This is a great knit. My only beef is that Veronik assumes a level of experience that I didn't have (well, it was rated piquant, after all) and I didn't know, for example, that I should keep the raglan decrease stitches in stockinette instead of trying to maintain the moss stitch on the wrong side. I admit to a few Harlot style conversations with Veronik - but really, these issues are so minor!

The lace patterns fit together really well and after 2 sleeves and most of the back I think I had it memorized ;-) I am a bit sick in that I love the challange of trying to stay in the pattern, decrease or increase as indicated, but still wind up with right number of stitches in the end. The first sleeve, with raglan decreases on each side taught me a lot. I had to redo it after I did the second one (correctly) and realized the consequences of, "Hmm. I'm off by a stitch. Oh well. I'll just throw in an extra K2tog right here"

Cascade Superwash is really nice to work with. It is soft, forgiving and holds the stitch definition so well!

I had the gorilla arm experience again. I was, I admit, a little freaked out after the first sweater bath. Everything got 2-4 inches longer! I was seeking out advice on Ravelry on the whole slice off the ends and knit up the cuffs when someone suggested tossing the thing in the dryer. Dudes, I washed it in the machine, but isn't the whole dryer concept a bit much for wool? Apparently not. Tossed, tumbled and the sweater went back to where my swatch said it would.

I think, now that I've worn this a few times, that I am more of a fitted sweater kind of gal, but I really like this for what it is. Comfortable, casual and the perfect thing to wear on a day when, say, the carbs and sugar have taken over your life.

Some Baby Gear

2008-03-02T17:51:00.001-08:00

Honestly - I really have no idea how these regular knitting blog posters post regularly. Honestly. Do they sit around all day, eat bon bons and knit? (apologies to all who read this and do post every day/week. I'm just jealous ;-))

I have been knitting my little heart out the last few weeks, but I had nothing blog worthy to show for it. BSJ is uber lovely, but took a couple of weeks and then the rest of the set... well, I am ahead of myself.

Here is the Baby Surprise Jacket by Elizabeth Zimmerman. Yarn is Schaefer Farms Heather in Merino, Nylon and silk. The trim is Knit One Crochet Two's Ambrosia in Marino, Silk and Cashmere. Yes, I know I might have been smoking the knitters equivalent to crack when I made my yarn choice. Yes, I am completely aware that this will be covered in smelly baby spit up in nothing flat. I have had two of those fluid producing machines of my own, thank you very much. But hear me out, there is logic 0 for me, at least.

If I were to go out and buy a baby presetn I would have spent as much or more than the yarn that I purchased at Unwind's Superbowl Sale. I got to work with this divine stuff, hear all the lovely compliments from my knitterly friends as I knit it (as well as the giggles that I would do such a silly thing) and I will have the pleasure of the Mom's pleased surprise at such an extravegant gift. (Reality will set in shortly, but that's not my problem, it's hers!). In the end it is all about the process, and I enjoyed every moment of this process!

I added i-cord to the trim and neck. The ambrosia is really floppy at this gauge, so I think the i-cord really helped give structure.

I had lots of yarn left so I made this beanie.

I needed the perfect unfussy hat to match my BSJ, but I guess my needs were too simple for a pattern! Searched high and low and, in the end, just wung it.

60 stitches on double circ, 2 rows CC, knit 4 inch straight in garter. Dec round = (k8, k2tog) then purl round and continue, decreasing 1 stitch between k2tog for each dec round and alt dec knit round w/ straight purl round until 6 stitch remain. Thread needle through remaining stitches, pull tight and fasten off inside hat.

But there was still more yarn. So I made Saartje's Booties using #2 and all the same yarn. Too cute, no? Actually, these are my second try. The first were knit with a #4 and are humongous - see?

I'm going to give them both to the mother. The great thing about babies is that they grow!!
Lastly, I am still sloggin away at Oblique. I am totally enjoying this, but, MAN! a huge slouchy sweater on #7's is not a quick knit. I have 1/2 of a front to go and them it is time to pick up stitches for the collar. At this rate I should finish this just in time for the 90' weather.

Woo Hoo!!!

2008-02-09T16:25:00.001-08:00

I give you... Gretel.
Here are the details: Jo Sharp Silk Road Aran all but 10 feet of 2 balls. #5 and #7 needles, started with 16" circulars, then switched to 24" and then, finally, to double circular for the decreases.
I'm so-so about this one. I finished it just in time for the tail end of our cold weather, so I did get some wear. And it is cute. I'm just not sure that it was worth the pain. Nearly 200 aran weight stitches on a 16" circular is painful! If I was smart, I would have switched to the 24" a lot sooner. I made the slouchiest version and I am well satisfied with the shape and size. I used the stockinette tubular cast on... what fun!!! I spent a lot of time admiring the beauty of the cast on edge. Ysolda thinks this cast on is not stretchy enough, but I like the firmness of the edge. It helps to keep a slouchy beret in place

Oblique is swimming along. It is hard to think that a post about paint drying is even remotely interesting, but here we are.

This is just about the must fun I've had since Ene's Scarf. I must be a lace knitter. I am totally taken with the stitch pattern and the challenge of keeping the shaping and the stitch pattern together.

This about 1/4 of the back. I've already completed the sleeves, so I guess we are getting close to half done. Cascade 220 Superwash is the easiest yarn I've worked with. Love it, no wonder it is a staple in everyone's stash.

Finally, the Beautiful Baby Surprise is coming out just as imagined. I am completely mesmerized by the color shifts. I am hoping that there is enough for a pair of Saartje's Booties to match. Won't that be precious?

The Yarn (Image Heavy)

2008-02-09T15:38:00.000-08:00

Last week I joined a hoard of knitters for the Super Bowl Unwind Sale. I was there for just one thing - lovely hand painted yarn for a BSJ for a friend. You know, of course, that isn't practical. Kendyl, at a sale, is the very definition of buy buy buy!

First up, some lovely chunky yarn, Gedifra Scarlet. This is my first Christmas project, for an as yet undetermined recipient!

I think I will make this:The White Night Scarf

Next up is some seriously lovely Shibu from Ella Rae. Almost all silk with just a tiny thread of viscose to lend a little shimmer. I can't stop touching this stuff.

Ever since I saw this post in Eunny's old blog, I've wanted to knit this top. Do you remember it?
Sheer brilliance. Her top was knit with Hempathy and I even have some in my stash, just waiting for me to sum up my "designing" courage. Designing as in, copy a masterwork. Here's a link to her posts.

Ok, this yarn is begging to turn into this top! I've started swatching cable patterns and texture stitches for the background. Stay tuned, for this is my version of knitting fearlessly!

Finally, this is the yarn I come for! OMG this is the loveliest yarn I think I've ever seen! Completely extravagant for a baby sweater, even on sale... but really. I would totally spend this much on some store bought goods. And I get the enjoyment of working with this nothing less than magical yarn! Scheafer Yarn Heather, Merino, Silk and Cashmere. OMG - again.

I am making Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Surprise Jacket and I intend to knit the button bands and hem in this royal purple. OUTSTANDING! Even if the mother hates it, (which I doubt) I will have so much fun seeing this project come to life. I can't wait.

Rhoda, You Made My Day!!

2008-02-02T08:49:00.002-08:00

I'm so excited! My very first blog award! Thank you Rhoda!

The "Make My Day" award has been bouncing around a lot lately, but I never thought I would get one. Here's the deal - nominate 10 blogs that really make your day. Let each person you nominate know that you have done so and they, in turn, nominate their Top 10. In this way we all get to know a few more interesting bloggers.

Here is my list:

Make My Day Blog

brooklyntweed - If there is a knitting muse, Jared is it. I am incredibly inspired by his photography, his choice of projects, his yarn and, lately, his hand spun. His blog encourages me to further my craft and for this, I am blessed!
harlot - Stephanie was my first exposure to the knit blog world. I'm lucky, huh? She is so funny and engaging. Although there is no doubt that she is an expert knitter, she makes everything seem so doable and reasonable. I heart the Harlot.
sknitty Wow. Jillian is an amazing blogger. I love her taste in projects and yarn. She never fails to enlighten me as to what is out there on the wide, wide net and I have learned much because of her.
tentenknits This is new blog, for me. I am inspired by her photography and her attitude toward knitting. I am inspired to consider the Venezia sweater because of her.
the rainey sisters These gals are true "experts" I am in awe of most everything they knit.
superstarra Christie has impeccable taste and a wonderful chatty style. Reading her blog is like sharing coffee with a good friend.
knitaly Great pictures, some excellent how to's and an occasional internet gem (check out this post)
Half Asses Knit Blog Cyn is just real good time. She is one crazy-ass knitter and designer. She has an odd habit of believing that inanimate objects are out to get her... but, that's just part of the crazy.

Warning!! Philosophical Ramblings Ahead!

2008-01-27T14:58:00.000-08:00

When I started knitting there was a serious and passionate discussion going on in the blogosphere - are you a process knitter or a product knitter?

A product knitter is in it to get the goods. Knitting is certainly enjoyable, but the juice is in the finishing, in the having, in the kudos from others as they ogle the beauteous art that leaps from your (far more clever than theirs) hands. For a product knitter the point of the endeavor is in the end result and the process is just something you need to get through.

A process knitter, on the other hand, lives for the process of knitting and the end product is almost an afterthought. The juice is in the planning, the actual stitching, the magic of progress. A process knitter certainly enjoys the end product, (who wouldn't?), but the bulk of her energy, attention and pleasure is found in the stitches.

I think that you can tell who you are in your attitude toward mistakes. I don't mean crazy making catastrophes like the unraveling of the Harlot's leaf last week. I mean normal mistakes that require re knitting a row or even a whole section of a project.

Do you want to tear your hair out and put your knitting in a time out for a week - or a year? Probably a product knitter. Do you relish the chance to figure out just went wrong and when you do, you dance the dance of joy and then rip it all out to make it right? Probably a process knitter.

A process knitter finds incredible opportunity to learn and refine her craft in every mistake. A product knitter only experiences the frustration of defeat. Which one do you want to be?

I've been musing this question a lot as I continue to have significant challenges with sleeves (more on that in another post). I must be more process oriented, because I've had a high time with making these darn things right. It is all very thrilling. And that got me to thinking, isn't this a whole lot like life?

In life, what is the juice for you? Is it the product - the end game, the lotto ticket, retirement, Prince Charming and Happily Ever After, or is it the process of living? When you hit a curve ball in life, do you want to tear your hair out and take a time out with a substance of your choice? Or, do you relish the chance to figure out what went wrong and then try something else based on what you learned?

What kind of life do you lead? Process or Product?

One last thought. The process, by definition, is on going, ever changing, ever renewing. The product is an endgame. And what is the endgame of life? Right. Death.

When are you expert?

2008-01-19T12:50:00.000-08:00

This is the saga of the ever changing sweater. Here is the information: Pattern: Leavened Raglan from IK Fall '07 (what a great issue!) Yarn: Lamb's Pride Bulky in Silver Silver, Needles: 17 US.

First, I knit the pieces and all was good. Then I washed and blocked the pieces. The sleeves seemed to grow, but I blocked them to measurements. After I seamed everything up, this is what I got...

See the arms? How freakishly long the are? In fact, the stitch marker is where the arms should have been. We are, like, 8 inches too long! Gah!

This is how the sweater makes me feel...

Like a freakin' Gorilla. Ooh, ooh, ooh, ooh...

I have read, in that annoyingly casual tone that expert knitters often adopt, that you can just snip off the offending rows, pick up the live stitches and knit a new sleeve cuff. ARE YOU INSANE???!!! Won't the sleeve, I don't know, disintegrated instantly into a pile of grey kinky wool mess?

Apparently not. I tried it out on the swatch I had knit and darn it all if it not only worked, but now I could see the reason for the casual tone. It really is that easy. So, here's me about to snip off the offending rows...

See how I placed a smaller needle into the stitches just below the row I am snipping? Thank God mohair sticks to itself like a super strength magnet. I still can't get the hang of consistently finding the right stitch to catch up. Anyway, place the needle into the row below and snip the stitch. I choose to unravel the row stitch by stitch. The sometimes annoying experts just snip the whole row. You now have a row of live stitches on the small needle and the offending part just falls away. Magic!

Newly altered sweater and me, the now annoyingly casual expert knitter, looking quite smug.

***Epilogue***

Niece was at my house for dinner and a game of Nertz (some call it Demon. Never tried it? Oh, we are talking good times, people). She saw the un-seemed sweater and a picture from IK and said, "oh, I would totally wear something like this". Say no more, niece!!! You can use a humongous wooly sweater in Boston way more than I can in So. Cal!

Here is Happy Niece.

She got this today for her 21st B-Day. Isn't it cool? But.... do you see what I see? Is her right sleeve shorter than the left?......... GAH!!!!!!!!!

I take back the expert knitter comment. I sooooo take it back. ;-)

Let's Hear it For Instant Gratification!

2008-01-05T15:22:00.000-08:00

I've been humming along on Oblique and Leavened Raglan, but yesterday I cast on for a more instant project - Last Minute Purled Beret from Wendy Bernard.

Mom took a tumble the other night and put dent in her head. The doctor declared her just fine.... but he had to take a chunk of her already not so full hair to do it. She needed a hat and she needed it quick!

A little stash diving turned up some Noro Kochoran that I had been saving for a special project. Guess this is it, as my Mom won't wear just any fiber on her head. 12 hours later I have a pretty stylish head covering! Here's a slightly battered Mom wearing said hat...

So cute that Little Girl wants one too. Guess the sweaters are gonna have to wait for a bit. Keep this up and I might have to give up on the Narcissistic Knitter title...

Best of 2007

2007-12-31T19:10:00.001-08:00

Happy New Year!! I'm happily ensconced in front of my TV, watching the Rose Parade and generally feeling great about the year just past and the year yet to unfold. Following in knitlit's lead, here are the highlights of 2007 for me.

1. your best FO of the year
This is a hard one! Each project has so much of me in it that they are all my favorites. I have different favs for different reasons- Tangled Yoke for it's classic and classy look, the Baby Surprise for the fascinating construction, the Herringbone Tank for my shot at design, U-Neck Vest for amazing fit and comfort. But the best of '07 goes to Ene's Scarf!

In a year of never ending firsts, this is my first lace, my first handpainted yarn and my first shawl. It never fails to impress the pants off of knitters and non-knitters alike.

2. best FO of the year made by a blog you link to
That has to be oneof the many eyepopping projects from brooklyntweed! I think the winner for me is the Adult Totem Jacket , although, did you see his latest post? Big Blue is pretty amazing...

3. best yarn you tried
Oh, Malabrigo. Yum. so soft, so beautiful, so decadent!

4. best new book/mag/pattern of 2007
Fitted Knits by Stephanie Japel! I knit 5 projects from that book already.

5. best new knitting technique or gadget you tried in 2007
Cabling without a cable needle is revolutionary. I felt like I was pulling a magic trick every time I did it. Knitting backward (useful for entrelac) was a close second, though.

6. top 5 inspirations--what five things inspired you the most over the past year?

Ravelry. The sheer elegance of this site is breathtaking. I am inspired by the dream of Jess and Casey and I am inspired by the community that has sprung up around them. This is taking Web 2.0 and putting it to it's best use. I feel like Ravelry is nothing short of a window to a new world order...
brooklyntweed - Jared inspires me with his knitting, design, handspun and photography. I "get" that we are involved in a pursuit of art and craft when I see his creations.
The Knitting BlogosphereWOW. You bloggers out there are an amazing group of people. You write so eloquently, you photograph so inspirationally, you create, you design, you teach but most of all you share. You share yourselves and you share your love of the craft. You are all my inspiration.
New techniques. Since I am a relatively new knitter, everything is new to me. Each project inspires me with a new method of construction (BSJ?! Yoke sweater construction?!) a new cable or stitch, a new object (mittens). Every new experience makes me believe that someday I will designs items of my own!
My blog. It is a way to hold myself accountable to finishing projects, a reason to raise my photography skills and a validation from people who know (other knitters) that my obsession is normal. At least to them. And, because I want to contribute to this community, I have aspirations of adding designs, tutorials and great links. This means I have to constantly improve my skill set to get there!

7. designer who most amazed & inspired you throughout the year
That would also have to be brooklyntweed.

8. knitting resolutions for 2008--what's next for you and your blog?
I want to design a top for myself from scratch. I want to knit a bag and another lace scarf. Maybe I might like to experiment with yarn dying. I really want to do a fair isle project with steeking, but I don't now if I am committed to that this year. We'll see. As for my blog - I keep threatening to move it to wordpress and create it's own domain. This would mean that I am committed to blogging - and making something of it. Am I that committed?

There you go. 2007 in a nutshell. For those who surf on by once in a while or more, thank you. The validation that I get from your comments means the world to me. Non-knitters can say lovely things about my work, but you guys truly appreciate what I am doing. Thank you for your comments and compliments and I look forward to much more of the same in 2008!

Casting On for the New Year

2007-12-31T14:25:00.001-08:00

We couldn't start the new year without a project on the needles, now could we?

Right after the last gift was wrapped I cast on for the long anticipated Oblique by Veronik. This is the lovely Superwash Cascade 220 that was waiting to be something else. I love this yarn. It is the perfect neutral taupe-ish brown that will go with everything. And, baby, if this sucker takes as long as I think it will, I want to wear the living daylights out of it.

Here is my progress after 5 days of vacation knitting. VACATION knitting folks. What progress shall be made after I return to my normal working life? However, she is lovely, no? I don't have a name for her yet. Super- slouchy- going -to -live- in -this- "jin-jin" (chinese for baby blankee) -ultimate- comfort -sweater is just too difficult for a name. Did Linus have a name for his blanket? Maybe I will name her Linus.

Meanwhile, I had to cast on for something with more instant gratification! Here we are with iwriteplay's Leavened Raglan from Interweave Knits Fall '07. Her version was so lovely and the yarn was such a good deal (Lamb's Pride Bulky in Silver silver from the DBNY). It's so funny how a project will look dreadful in one color and fantastic in another.

Ok, here's a shot of the progress so far. We had to go all the way up to a 17 needle to get gauge. I'm pretty concerned that my swatch is a lying piece of &*(%*, since I never have to go up 2 sizes on a given project, but so far, so good. At least, until you look closely...

Can you see it? A mistake!!! (**GASP**) Yep, I had already frogged 7 rows to get rid of another mistake when I realized, **doh** if you decrease in a lace pattern, you have to adjust the next row or the whole dogged thing will be off. As I progress in my knitterly skills, I am also getting better at letting go of perfection. If it was perfect, it might as well be $19.95 at Old Navy - right?

Well, the back is identical to the front, so you can bet this guy is now designated the back. By the time I finish we might have some reasonable January weather again.

Mittens - Beyond Theory

2007-12-23T20:44:00.000-08:00

Here in So Cal, mittens are little more than theory. In theory, you place woolen coverings on your hands and they will not freeze off your arms, leaving you with ugly stumps and no ability to play the piano. That's the theory.

The reason we never test this out is that our idea of a really cold day is standing in the freezer section of a grocery store in winter (anyone know why it is colder there in the winter? I seriously think they lower the temp in the stores when it is cold outside!) In LA you can pretty much take care of cold hands by pulling your sleeves over your fingertips.

But I am going to Modesto for Christmas. Time to get practical, baby! It gets down to 40 (F) at night in that town. (Don't laugh, Adriana. Our suffering is all relative) So - in the interest of knitting things I've never knit, I tackle mittens. I decide, based on a comment on Cyn's blog, to combine Plaid Mittens and Peek A Boo Mittens on Magknits. This would have gone so much smoother if I had any experience with mittens - but, as I said, mittens are purely theoretical for me. I had no way of knowing, as I knit them, if my mods were working or not. I used the double circ method and I didn't have 2 10.5 needles, so I made do with a pair of 10's after knitting almost a whole mitten with 11's. I think I knit enough stitches for 3 or 4 pair! Too long, too short, too wide and how the heck do you pick up 2 stitches for the thumb??!! If I made another pair (and I might) I would make them a smidge longer and I would make the slot narrower.

This is how I felt when a 3 hour project turns into a 2 day project:

But, in the end I did prevail! I vastly preferred the shape of the Plaid mitten deceases and I had the Paton's Shetland Chunky in stash. The functionality of the Peekaboo, however, was too much to resist.
How about that, eh? An honest to God, real life mitten. Hot diggity! (and there's another one too!)

Tomorrow is Christmas Eve and that is the big shindig for my side here in LA. I'll be cooking for my 5 brothers and their broods - 26 peeps in all. This sounds like a lot, but I cooked for the family growing up and this is how we always roll. No biggie and everyone pitches in. Christmas Day I'm off to Modesto - 5 hours up the 5 freeway and we do it all again, but smaller. And with warm hands.

Be safe, be healthy and be joyous in what ever you do this holiday season. May all your hand knit gifts be greeted with paroxysms of joy and may your loved ones contribute to your stash with well chosen luxury yarn.

See you in 2008!!

What I'm Gonna Wear for Christmas

2007-12-23T20:19:00.000-08:00

I am so happy to finish this in time for Christmas! It is my best fitting project so far. See how happy I am? Happy happy happy. I'm happy that I don't look like a fattened Christmas Goose in this picture. THAT, my friends, is something to be happy about.

Here's the deets. *edit* Forgot to tell you the pattern! **doh** This is the Back to school u-neck vest from Stephanie Japel's Fitted Knits. I love this book and I've knit 6 projects from it. Yarn is Malabrigo worsted in Velvet Grapes. I used most of 3 skeins on size 7 Addi turbos. I cast on 11/19, but got way side tracked but gift knitting. I guesstimate maybe 1.5 week project? I knit for 37" bust and I am a 40" bust. Love that negative ease.

See the tangerine tree in the background? Yeah, I live in So Cal. I'm guessing that a vest is the maximum amount of coverage I can stand from Malabrigo. That is some warm and yummy stuff! I had planned to make the Textured Tunic from Fitted knits in an insanely beautiful yellow/orange color way of Malabrigo, but I think this vest might dissuade me from that plan. I'd hate to knit something I can only wear twice a year.

I made some mistakes along the way, but the Malabrigo did a great job of covering them up. I love that I am getting knowledgeable enough to know what is a fatal mistake that must be ripped from a mistake that can either be fixed, fudged or ignored. On this project I did much of all three! The awesome thing is that even I can't tell where these things happened.

Doesn't the garment look funny all by itself? It looks like a purple sausage casing just waiting to be stuffed. Oiy! And I was just beginning to feel skinny!!!

The String Blocking Thang...

2007-12-23T20:00:00.001-08:00

This is my third Wisp. Third. One. I seem to do that at Christmas. Last holiday, my first as a knitter, I did three bears and three Swell hats. This year it's three lace scarves.

This lovely green one is destined for my other SIL (on that side). Since I have nothing more to say about this easy pattern, I thought I would talk about the blocking method that I used.

Some time back the Harlot blogged about using string to block lace, rather than blocking wires or massive numbers of pins. This technique is especially useful for an all straight sided project like Wisp!

Here she is with the strings all in place, waiting for her bath:
Post bath, Wisp is on the blocking board. I tied a knot in the string to get better traction for the foundation pins at the corners. Pull the strings as tight as you dare and only a few pins are needed along the edge. Voila!

It's not Koolhaas - It's Kool-Hawt!

2007-12-12T18:11:00.000-08:00

Let's catch up on th Christmas FO's, shall we? I call this hat Kool - Hawt, because my DH looks so hawt wearing it! (for a definition of hawt, read Trent over at Pink is the New Blog - hi-larious guy). This hat was actually made for my cousin, who is an internationally known glass artist. He is married to an internationally known quilter. The bar is set pretty darn high, to say the least. Lucky for me, they are the nicest people in the world and I know he will appreciate the fact that it is hand made and not store bought.
Shhhh. don't tell DH, but he looked so cute modeling this hat, I made him one, too. The Koolhaas is some of the best fun I've had knitting since... well, since the Ene's Scarf! I used Cascade Superwash and the recommended needles. Row gauge was waaaay off, so the hat is taller than it should be. No worries - just flip up the edge, et, voila!

Next up is a So Called Scarf. This is my first entry into the insanity of the skilled knitter. It goes like this - Friday I find out the we are having a going away party for a beloved manager the following Tuesday. Friday night I think, "a hand knitted gift is the perfect way to express gratitude! Sure, I can knit a whole freakin' scarf in 3 days, no problem!!!" I had 2 skeins of SWS in Natural Earth on hand and My So Called Scarf in the Ravelry queue. From cast on to bind off - 48 hrs. Woo-Hoo!

DH thought the colorway might not be manly enough - but he is gamely modeling it. I think it is quite manly, don't you?

Now, all the effort and time put into these gifts deserves an appropriately dramatic presentation. I want the recipient to feel the thrill of anticipation that this gift might be special. This is red tissue paper wrapped in a kraft paper sleeve with raffia tie. Festive, isn't it?

We are 27 rows away from finished with Christmas knitting! Will I return to purely narcissistic knitting and finish my U-Neck School vest? Or, will I add last minute gifts to the list of holiday activities? Stay tuned...

Which Wife are You?

2007-12-10T22:50:00.000-08:00

Ha Ha! I found this on Jollyewe's blog. Funny and accurate! I am Anna, Henry's 4th wife. Who are you?

Which of Henry VIII's wives are you?
this quiz was made by Lori Fury

Holy Sheep, Batman!

2007-12-10T16:56:00.001-08:00

Holy Sheep, batman! Has it really been three weeks since my last post? Pardon moi, mes enfants! No wonder the stuff has been piling up!

First and most important - I won this amazing sock yarn from the wonderful Melanie of Lotus Yarns in her comment contest. This is Aura in the color Walking with a Ghost. It is a lovely grey and pearl grey with fine silver threads woven throughout. I am so excited and can't wait to cast on. Socks are still an "event" for me, so this is pretty damn special. Thank you Melanie!

I am consumed with gift knitting like everyone else. I've accomplished quite a lot these past weeks, so I will break this post up into bite sized pieces for easy digestion.

First up is my second Wisp. This is for a dear friend and my very first non-family knitting - heck, I'm barely out of the narcissistic phase! I got this mohair from a Suss clearance sale and I'm not sure who made it. It was really nice to work with, though. Isn't the color dreamy? I'm pretty proud of it.

I also **finally** felted my MIL's slippers. The pattern is from Tracy and Mel's Knit2Together. This is a pretty easy pattern, but I sure hate picking up stitches. I made a pair last fall and I thought my inexperience was the problem. Maybe so, but it is a bitch to get the **right** number of stitches evenly. Oh, but aren't they lovely? I call them Cabernet Clouds because they are so soft.

That's it for tonight! More to come later.

Almost Caught Up

2007-11-18T14:50:00.001-08:00

For my few ardent readers, remember the Wisp Shawl/capelet/cowl that I was knitting on the Great Wall of China? I'm done. It's really hard to photog yourself wearing a scarf. Really. Hard. Anyway, I haven't put on the shell buttons yet to make it truly finished. As it is now, there is no sexy caplet and no terminally cute hood. By the way, am I the only one who noticed the ridiculous High School Senior Photo quality of this scarf when worn as a capelet? Especially in that light blue on the Knitty model? I know my SIL will wear it as a cowl.

The pattern is easy and quick. It is easier if you knit it as written, but I had to cut out a row of garter stitch because I had just one ball of Kidsilk Haze. I also had to cut out one fishnet pattern. When she says 1-2 balls, she means 1 ball plus 3 feet of the second ball. I find that rather rude, but I think the size is just fine without the called for repeats.

Here is a shot of the whole scarf. I'll take more pics when I finally get the buttons on. I have 2 more of these to make. Thankfully, they go fast.

On the needles, besides another Wisp, is the U-Neck Back to School Vest from Fitted Knits. I must be getting better at ribbing, because this is flying off the needles. The yarn is Malabrigo and the color is Velvet Grape. I LOVE this color.

That's it for now. I think I'm all caught up with the knitting that happen while I was incognito.

Toodles!

Petals on the Earth

2007-11-15T18:44:00.000-08:00

A while back I took a really neat yarn dying class (here's the post) and produced my very first skein of lace weight yarn. I called it Petals on the Earth and I was in love. How could I produce such a lovely on my very first try? (hint - it helps if you have an expert helping you. Thank you, Charles)

Ok, so lace weight yarn dictates that I knit, well, lace...no? Ok, I admit I have been more adventurous than the average rookie, but c'mon! Those lace stoles and shawls look so delicate and complicated and HARD! But I have the Scarf Style book and I see the Ene's Scarf pattern and I think "what the heck! It's just knit and purl. How hard can it be?"

As it turns out, not hard at all. I present to you, Petals on the Earth.

I used, and I'm only guessing, about 700 of the 880 yards on the skein. I wish I knew what to do with the left over yarn. What are other uses for lace weight yarn? A small hat, perhaps? Could I get fingerless mitts out of it?

I really enjoyed this process of lace knitting. I mean it was serious fun. This is a problem as I am about as lacy as a mack truck - but I might have to change my fashion sensibility to match my knitting. I can't be the first knitter to do this.

Next up are more Christmas gifts, wisp scarves for my amazing SILs, finally felt those house slippers from my MIL and a U-Neck vest for me. Yipee!

Tangled Fields of Glory

2007-11-12T17:20:00.000-08:00

I can't begin to tell you how Cheshire Cat satisfied I am. This is a helluva way to mark my one year knitting anniversary! Here are the details: Pattern, as if you didn't know - Tangled Yoke Cardigan from Interweave Knits Fall '07. Yarn - Elsebeth Lavold Silky Wool color 44 from Webs, 6 balls and a smidgen of the 7th. Needle, #8 Addi Turbo. Size 38 and I am a 40 bust (no one ever tells you that. I sure wish people told you that so you could see if you like the fit compared to your own bod. I am "strong woman to pull plow". You can plainly see that. Why hide it?).

Here's me looking all satisfied. By the way, how'd you like the high art fashion shoot that I opened the post with? DH is getting more creative with the camera...

I love the way the yoke looks and how it goes all the way around. Some people have posted of problems in keeping track of their place in this loooooong cable. I did this by using stitch markers when possible (not always practical due to the K2togs) and really knowing my stitch structure one row down. Not a blip on this cable - but I didn't go fast, either.

Garter ribbing on the sleeves and the waist - looks really nice, but is almost the opposite of pulling in for shaping. It actually flares out at the ends, giving a bit of a bell shape to the sleeves and a flare at the waist. I think it looks nice, but was certainly unexpected.

Here's the folded over neckline and button band detail. I love the delicate way the neck presents and the folding over gives heft and structure. I almost wonder if you couldn't do the same thing for the button band. A little heft would help it from pooching out between the buttons...

The folded neckline was bound off using the 3 needle bind off method. I felt like a true professional with such an elegant finishing.

Cute buttons, eh? I only had 6 but figured I would never button the top anyway. I'm rather surprised the the control freaky type A monster in me is ok with this, but I ain't gonna question it.

Now we're back. What should I knit?

2007-11-11T17:27:00.000-08:00

I am finally getting back into the rhythm of my life. International travel is incredibly disruptive for anyone - doubly so for the uninitiated.

My rhythm includes writing - lots of writing. I wrote quite a lot while in China - lots of facts, figures, history, anecdotes about my travel mates and impressions of a strange land. Maybe I will share some of this as we go along.

Most of my stuff is done or near done. What shall I do next? How about the U-Neck School Vest from Stephanie Japel's Fitted Knits?

I have this wonderful birthday yarn from my assistant. Malabrigo, yum!
I've knit my swatch and hit gauge right away. Must be a sign!

Now, I have a new delima. I bought some lovely Cascade 220 Super wash in a taupe brown ages ago. It was meant for this:

The Pimlico Shawl. Remember that one? I obsessed over this sweater. I had to have it. I bought a bag of Noro from Little Knits and knit away - only to learn how yarn and projects need to match up! I even trekked over to Wild Fiber and tried on the sample. But, by the time I got the right yarn, other projects had jumped the queue and the yarn sat and sat. I actually had plans to cast on as soon as I got back from China and then THIS happened -

Oblique by Veronik Avery. Be still my heart! The perfect slouchy comfy sweater pattern. So classic! So gorgeous! I am in love! AND.... I have the yarn. Bye-Bye Pimlico. You were always a little too fashion forward for this Ann Taylor inspired heart. (But then... I still have the pattern. Who knows if the shawl will re enter the queue?)

It's been so long...

2007-11-10T11:50:00.001-08:00

I've been away. Far, far away. I've been to China and back and I mean that literally! Here's proof:

I'm knitting Wisp as a Christmas present for my sister-in-law. Won't it be cool to tell her this puppy was knitted on the Great Wall of China?!

I met 2 other knitters, Charlotte from Omaha and Linda from Maine. Linda thought it would be cool to knit something for myself, as a remembrance of China. Great idea, Linda! So, here I am, cruising down the Lessor Gorges of the Yangtze River, knitting my own hand dyed yarn into Ene's Scarf.

I saw many great things in China. I expected, frankly, that reality could never match up to the fantasy, but I was wrong. China is mind blowingly beautiful, dramatic, history infused and DENSE. There are so many people - can you wrap your head around 1.3 billion people in one country? A medium sized city has 7 million people in it. SEVEN million! That's outrageous, but reality. I spent many moments thanking my ancient ancestors for having the courage to leave China for the US back in the 1800's. Otherwise I would think squatty hole toilets were perfectly normal (eew).

Many of the very chic young women wear very cute knitted hats. these hats are brimmed but have no top - a perfect place for the ever present glossy black pony tail to poke through.

In Beijing, where it is colder, I saw several slouchy hats like this one:

Room for piling the glossy black hair in the hat or open it up and letting the pony tail poke through. I'll have to try my hand at designing something like these hats. Afterall, I have the glossy brownish, reddish blackish pony tail!

I have much knitting to blog about, but I don't want to overload. Here's a link to my Picasa Web Album, should you care to look. If you get the chance to go, do it. It was an amazing experience.

China Favorites

My other life...

2007-10-06T16:30:00.000-07:00

I have a new obsession. Shh, don't tell.

In my other life I am a Realtor. Not a "boring, dry as toast, manipulate every conversation for my own monetary gain while shedding dandruff all over the table" sort of Realtor (ewe, I just grossed myself out), but a I do make a living outside the fiber arts.

This blogging thing is very cool, so I thought - "How can I be amusing and still make money?" Bingo - start a Real Estate blog. I had Jon Symons of Ninja Blog set me up - (www.ninjablogsetup.com - he does an amazing wordpress set up for FREE!!!) and I was off and running. Take a look! www.KendylsOpenHouse.com. Anyway, that has consumed most of my blogging time.

So, let's catch up. First - and arguably most important - I finally got a swift! Why, oh why did I wait so long? This is just about the coolest toy ever. Here's a pic of a very happy me winding yet another hank of Silky wool. Since I can't stay away from all the cool yarn on the web, I needed one of these puppies. I just didn't expect it to be so humongous (the swift, silly. Not the web).

So, what is all that luscious Silky Wool for? Ah, the Tangled Fields of Gold aka Tangled Yoke Cardigan by Eunny Jang. I am in total lust with this yarn. The color, the texture, the smooth way it knits up. Pure. Love.

However, the pattern is a bit problematic for the novice. I feel somewhat sacrilegious in criticizing Eunny - but there is an error in the increase section for the body and the directions for joining the sleeves are less than clear. And then there are the 2 completely useless markers one stitch from each edge. Huh? Isn't there enough to worry about without messing with a stitch marker flopping about and threatening to fall off each row turn? Those little ##$@^$^ fell off one to many times and I got rid of them. So there.

Erm... I must be close to that time of the month. Except - I don't do that anymore! Guess I'm just a bitch.

But... isn't she lovely? I am 20 rows away from the yoke. I can't wait, but I am a tad fearful. Will Eunny flummox me again? we shall see....

Next up is Ene's scarf. This is what the hand dyed yarn I made is turning into. It might have wanted to be a Muir, but I wanted a triangle, so there. I was a little concerned when an experienced knitter (you know who you are, girl) said - ooh, I'm scared of that pattern. Crikey! What's going to happen to me? I'll tell you what, first there is blissful arrogance at how easy this is and then **Whamo** Chart 3 kicks in. I am making slow progress to be sure. I am loving every moment of this tangled puzzle (where I seriously question my ability to count past 100 and consider hiring a 3 year old to count for me) and I now understand the allure of knitting lace.

Last up is my MIL's Christmas present - sh, don't tell, again! These lovelies are made with the ridiculously luxurious Fiesta Kokopelli and Water mark. With mohair and wool these puppies will be like wearing clouds. Warm clouds. Since she is Sainted MIL, the luxury is well worth it! After I felt them I think I will do a simple embellishment with a geometric embroidery. Or not.

The Lady, She is DONE!

2007-09-22T21:10:00.000-07:00

Oh, Happy Day! While I enjoyed every moment with my Lady Eleanor Shawl (from Interweave Press, "Scarf Style"), I am so happy to have her to wear and to hold and to fondle. She is everything I had hoped for - dramatic, classy, warm, soft and a true statement piece. That statement is, "I have arrived and I am a knitter - got a problem with that, punk?"

The fringe is outta control cool. The diamonds that the knots form, perfectly echos the diamonds created by the entrelac pattern. Whoever dreamed up this pattern is absolutely brilliant. The book suggests thick tassels as an alternative to the fringe. I think that idea is hogwash and should be ignored completely. The ache in my back from hunching over these endless knots was totally worth it!

I think I should get some outrageous fused glass shawl pin - wouldn't that be glamorous? Or maybe too much.... hum.

This is me trying on my best cool and glamorous expression. I plan to adopt this facial expression when I, someday, travel to New York wearing this shawl. Can't you see me as the hip urbanite having an espresso at a sidewalk cafe or some such?

Stats: Noro #243, 10 skeins plus just a few yards extra. #10.5 Denise needles. Started in June and finished in September (My longest knit, ever!)

The Lady E has consumed most of my knitting time the last week and half or so. I have made a bit of progress on the Tangled Fields of Gold, though. The garter ribbing was a bit tricksy for me. I kept making mistakes and froggin back half rows and even an occasional whole row. We are at the stockinette/increase portion now and things are going smoothly and a lot faster. I can't wait for the joining of the sleeves (already done, yea!) and all that fascinating new stuff (new for me, anyway). I've been reading ahead in the pattern and there are quite a few things I can't visualize. I am trusting that all will become clear when I get there.

A little Hand Dyed Fun

2007-09-15T16:39:00.000-07:00

While the entire knitting population of Southern California converged upon the Yarn Harlot at the LA Central Library - I was forging my own path. (Sorry, Steph. Crowds and I just don't mix. I know you had so many neat and wonderful people to talk to that you didn't even miss me. Besides, what are the chances that you even had enough sleep last night to notice if I wasn't there?)

Little Boy and I went to Hissy Knits to dye yarn with Charles Lee. Since y'all were at the aforementioned event, we had the dyes all to ourselves and had a total blast! We used Knit Picks Bare and acid dyes to hand paint the yarn. With a plastic table cover, latex gloves and good brushes, this process wasn't messy at all.

Little Boy made 2 hanks of worsted in a camoflauge and an orange mix

And I tried to do and "over-dye" with Cherry, tourquise and orange with brown around and a little over on a hank of lace weight and orange, yellow and brown in a dk weight.

I have to say that we were a bit skeptical when our hanks were done. They seemed a bit garish and not like the beautiful hanks we've seen in stores. I mean, we think we are going to get professional results with our very first try, right? (Ai-yah...). BUT here's how they wound up on a ball...

Camo

Cirque du Soliel

Candy Corn

Petals on the earth

I have plans for the lace weight. I think it wants to be Muir

We shall see.

Going from Process to Project

2007-09-11T18:02:00.001-07:00

Ah, my Lady E. So lovely, so luxurious, so delectable, so.... long.

I have never been a process knitter, per se. I want the product and I want to acquire the skill, but the actual knitting is mostly a pleasant byproduct, not the point.

Until the Lady E. Oh, the colors, the texture, the constant surprise of the unfolding mosaic. 7 stitches forward, 7 stitches backward, 7 times. The symmetry is poetic, the rhythm is tranquility itself. This is a process to be savoured.
(By the way, knitting backward on this project is must. Here's a tutorial How To Knit Backward)

But lately there has been a teasing chill to the air. A hint that My Lady could be worn, and impart just a touch of stylish warmth. I want her to be done.

I return as a product knitter. Hear me purrr.

It's My Birthday!

2007-09-08T17:07:00.000-07:00

Just a quick little post to say Happy Birthday to me, yea!

I can honestly say that I am very happy with my age - and there aren't too many mid 40's women who will say that. But I know these are the power years, baby!

Gratuitous pic- Some birthday yarn that will someday become a U-Neck School Vest (Thanks, Liza!) And we got the sleeves done on the Tangled Fields of Gold

I'm off to dinner at Canele's in Atwater. That place is off the hook!

Canale Review

Ciao or Chow!

2 Sleeves or Socks at once on Magic Loop

2007-09-07T20:32:00.001-07:00

As a fairly new knitter I read all sorts of brilliant ideas out there in blog-land and think "that's a good idea!" Trouble is, it's an idea - not a darn tutorial. Someone out there said, "I knit both sleeves at once on a Magic Loop so my mistakes will be symmetrical." Brilliant! A method for planning for mistakes!

I'm thinking my LYS goddesses will teach me. Not only had they never heard of such a thing, they thought I was nuts. They are no longer goddesses. The 'net also failed. One lone spot discussed cuff down 2 socks on a single circ, but there were assumptions that I knew way more than I did.

I duked it out with my two balls of yarn and one circular needle and voila - here is my tutorial for novices!

1. Using a long tail cast on, cast on half the total stitches needed for the first sleeve. Make sure your tail is long enough for the TOTAL number of stitches for each sleeve.

2. Starting from the same end of the needle and from a second ball of yarn, cast on ALL of the stitches needed for the second sleeve

3. Divide 2nd sleeve stitches in half and pull out a loop of cable between them.

4. Cast on the second half of the stitches for sleeve one. Make sure the first stitch you cast on here is snug up against the last one from the first half

5. Now you have all of your stitches cast on for both sleeves and you are ready to join in the round

6. Join and knit sleeve #1 (green). You are only going to knit one side of the round - as you are knitting your stitches in exactly the order in which you cast them on.

7. After knitting side one of sleeve #1, be careful to switch balls of yarn and you move on to sleeve #2 and knit one full round on that sleeve

8. Finally, you come to the second half of sleeve. Switch balls of yarn once more and finish the round.

Remember, the order of stitches is
1. Sleeve #1, first half
2. Sleeve #2 whole thing
3. Sleeve #1, second half.
Don't forget to switch balls each time time you switch sleeve #'s

The Silver Slink

2007-09-01T16:34:00.000-07:00

A while back I went to my first major yarn sale. Suss Design in LA was moving and liquidating. I can honestly say that I did not have a "stash" before this time. A few piles of yarn that were for projects yet unmade - but not a stash.

Oh the siren call of beautiful yummy yarn that is ridiculously cheap! I bought hand dyed cotton and a cotton tape that reminds me of the ocean, Koigu and mohair and hemp. I have plans for none of it and dreams for all of it.

Amongst the yarns were 7 hanks of the softest, slinkiest, vaguely shimmery soft grey bamboo yarn. Like silk, but better.

What to do? I want something drapey with great shape but a simple stitch. It needs to be elegant. It needs to be.... Coachella.

After reading some great posts about Coachella experiences, most notably randomcyn's blog http://www.cyn.ca/knit/tags/projects/coachella/, I cast on for the 29" when I have a 40" bust. The knit was quick and easy with the DK weight yarn held double on #9 Audi Naturals.

In the morning this little top was sexy but not outrageous. By the afternoon the yarn had stretched and I had a binder clip holding the front together so as not to display the girls to the general public! Yikes!

A quick trip to Nordstroms and I am now good to go. I present to you the Silver Slink!

Fairly incendiary, no? For those of you on the WestCoast, I got the halter Cami from the Brass Plum section at Nordstroms.

We spent this week on the Tangled Field of Gold - Eunny's Tangled Yoke Cardigan. I saw on knitting spaz's blog that she did both sleeves at once and I thought that was revolutionary. I read somewhere else that they did the sleeves FIRST and that sounded great too! I love the idea of having the sleeves ready to roll as soon as the body is done. This will mean that all the amazing, magic stuff, like joining the sleeves and knitting the yoke and then those yummy cables, will all happen right away in one huge reward.

Anyway, I have about 3.5 inches so far. I am way too excited about the fact that I have two sleeves that will be done at once. I used the tutorial I found here: http://www.tostetoes.com/twosocksoneneedle.htm I had to fiddle with the cast on of the second half of the first sleeve - she takes no pics of this cast on and takes it for granted that I would know how to do it. If I'm not the only dummy I will try to recreate and document. Of course, it also means that I double my mistakes (already made one, but too far back from me to care) I have high hopes for this one...

My First True Blog Post

2007-08-25T17:11:00.000-07:00

I am never one to turn away from the tide of the lemmings. I delude myself, now and again, into believing that I am independent thinker, forging a new and exciting direction that will lead to no less than peace and prosperity in the Middle East.... and then I knit a caliometry - just because everyone else is doing one.

I create this blog because is efficient - record it once, document it once, link to it a thousand times. (linking to a thousand boards - no wonder I knit so slow!) I like to write and I think it might be instructive to refer back to where I have been.

Eh, voila! This is what I am thinking and knitting right now.

First, I received my very first shipment from WEBS. I have so much guilt over not getting more wool from my LYS - but who can turn down Silky Wool at these prices? I admit it. I am a yarn whore. Or very Chinesey, take your pick. So, this gorgeous stuff:

will someday be this:

On the lemmings note I am knitting coachella from knitty. In my defense, I had this amazing Bamboo from Suss that was begging for a project just like this - flowing, drapey and a tad incendiary. I name this the Silver Slink. This is going like crazy on my #9 Audi Naturals. Here where we are on day 3

I am holding a double strand of this shimmery dk weight stuff together. I got stitch gauge, but not row gauge, so I am trying to be mindful of these consequences. So far, so good. I am knitting size small that should fit to a 36 and I am a 40, due to many suggestions out in web land. When I tried it on it seems to fit great - just a smidge too low, but I think I can live with it.

Last, I got some work done on my beloved Lady E. (Lady Eleanore from Scarf Style) She is slow going, but steady. I love the colors, the texture, the mindfulness of the small squares and the constant surprise of the next color. What a wonderful mosaic is unfolding! Lady E is my meditation and my calm. She is the project I can go to for instant gratification of a small square done and the never ending wonderment that an object so beautiful and artful can come from my
fingers.