tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49802665458150227282023-11-15T10:45:56.181-08:00inkysticksthe ramblings of an amateurSandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10685677516504683859noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980266545815022728.post-22156443194683823542011-04-19T16:49:00.000-07:002011-04-19T16:49:29.012-07:00new siteHi readers! If you've wondered whether I was still around, I'm here to say, yes, I am! I lost my blogging mojo which was created in part by the loss of my knitting mojo. I have way too many WiPs going, very unlike me! But I'm here to announce that if you'd like to continue following my knitting adventures, or misadventures as the case may be!, you'll find me over at <a href="http://sheepandink.com">SheepandInk.com</a>. It's the new knitting blog two of my friends and I have finally gotten off the ground. It took many months of planning and work, but we're finally live! So, continue to follow me there if you like. I won't be updating over here anymore.<br />
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Hope to see you at Sheep and Ink!Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10685677516504683859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980266545815022728.post-89286902712952037522010-10-24T20:12:00.000-07:002010-10-24T20:12:34.502-07:00FrankensocksThis month I've been participating in the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/frankensocks">Frankensocks KAL</a> on Ravelry. The idea: use up some scrap stash yarn and knit yourself some socks! And, if you're into Mary Shelley, read-along in her <a target="_blank" href="http://www.amazon.com/Frankenstein-Modern-Prometheus-Oxford-Classics/dp/0199537151?ie=UTF8&tag=sandraalagons-20&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969">Frankenstein</a><img src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=sandraalagons-20&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0199537151" width="1" height="1" border="0" alt="" style="border:none !important; margin:0px !important; padding: 0px !important" />. Now, for someone who enjoys knitting socks, I don't seem to knit very many of them despite the fact that I have a seemingly endless stash of sock yarn, so this KAL instantly appealed to me. Reading a little Shelley was just a plus. Admittedly, I've completely slacked on reading the novel. There's no excuse. It's right up my street century-wise, and is a very good and interesting read. I just never got around to downloading the <a href="http://librivox.org/frankenstein-or-modern-prometheus-by-mary-w-shelley/">Librivox audiobook</a> and couldn't motivate myself to dig out my copy. Some of this has to do with a conference paper I wrote some years ago on an alternate point-of-view novel that was really quite bad (the novel, not my paper, lol), and the rest was being busy with other things. But I had time to knit!<br />
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I chose the <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEfall09/PATThatheel.php">Hat-heel socks</a> from the Fall 2009 Knitty since I've been wanting to try this construction out and I figured I could use up quite a few of my leftovers in the process.<br />
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<center><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4153/5109441468_fe8f052016.jpg" width="400" height="275"></center><br />
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I used up nearly all of the Patons Kroy sock yarn I still had left in the heels, as well as the Four Seasons Gründl Hot Socks Othello I have in that blue-green jaquard colorway for the foot and leg. The toe and tip of the cuff I knit in Bernat Sox Multi and still have a bunch leftover.<br />
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At first I thought the heel and gusset flaps/hat flaps would look funky in the finished sock, and, admittedly, they did take a bit of getting used to. The heel, though, is very comfortable and form fitting. I wish I'd taken a picture of the little basket of heel and flaps grafted together, but I forgot--it's really cute! My only annoyance with this pattern is the amount of ends I had to weave in, what with all the breaking and rejoining yarn on the heel, leg, and gussets. Of course, I had a few more ends than normal with the different yarns used, but still, many more ends to weave in than I tend to like for socks. That doesn't mean I won't use this pattern again, and I'm going to see if I can find a way to remedy all that end weaving, but otherwise, this is a very nifty way to make socks. I even learned the figure-8 cast on for the heel, though I think I'll see how the magic cast on works out on this heel next time. Might be less fiddly.<br />
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Next on the knitting agenda is to finish sewing the sleeves in the Point Gammon (at least I finished knitting those sleeves!), and to get cracking on the baby gifts for my SIL since her baby shower has just been announced .... and I've got til just after Thanksgiving to knock out a baby blanket and hoodie cardy. To keep me sane in all that baby knitting, I'm going to take part in another KAL, this time Woolly Wormhead's <a href="http://www.woollywormhead.com/blog/2010/10/20/mystery-kal-2010.html">Mystery KAL</a>. I've always wanted to do one of these!Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10685677516504683859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980266545815022728.post-71183969577827676862010-10-06T19:51:00.000-07:002010-10-07T17:56:43.755-07:00soldier on, dear knitterKnits, purls, and cable crosses continue here in inkystick land. I'm happy to report that I did figure out the lace decreases on the Leaf Top Kimono with a little help from some scrap yarn and finished the back. But, now it's hibernating again as I try to finish the Point Gammon Pullover which is beginning to feel like The Sleeves That Never End. <br />
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I started the first sleeve three times because I, as usual, knit while paying attention to something on TV. First, I knit the pattern repeat incorrectly, then I knit the increases out of pattern, but finally, I got it right and the first sleeve is DONE. Now I'm working on the second sleeve and am really making myself stick with it. The idea is to finish the sweater so it can wing its way to my cousin at the end of October, but now the sweater messenger may not be traveling so I may need to hold on to this til I can travel myself. Unfortch, postal service is out of the question because of the very strange Customs laws in Argentina (recipients have been charged import fees on gifts before, and, from what I can tell from the swaps some Argentine knitters have been involved in on Ravelry, customs officials can be pretty anal about handknits). Still, if I keep at it, I should have the sleeve done by the weekend and can start blocking this bad boy. I am ITCHING to start my scrap yarn Hat Heel socks for the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/groups/frankensocks">Frankensocks</a> KAL!Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10685677516504683859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980266545815022728.post-58402458260485014782010-09-16T17:25:00.000-07:002010-09-16T17:25:13.804-07:00murphy's lawI suppose it was inevitable that the day after I posted about my Fabulous Knitting Lessons Learned, that I got horribly stuck on one of my latest WIPs. <br />
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The culprit: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/leaf-kimono-top">Leaf Kimono Top</a> from the summer 2008 IK. <br />
The problem: lace decreases<br />
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In my defense, I think my brain is still on hiatus. You know, it hasn't had to really think in a fair few months. Sure, it figured out how to purl correctly and cable without a needle, but teasing out how these decreases work and stay in pattern from written instructions seems to be too much for it right now. Kinda like those word problems in math. <br />
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So, what happened? I decided to frog. I didn't do it immediately because I couldn't believe I'd been defeated by lace. So I just took the needles off the cable, and started searching Ravelry for help. And I did find some in an old KAL thread where the designer came in and explained how these worked (good to know I wasn't the only one completely thrown by the decreases!). But still it made no sense, so I just put everything away.<br />
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Of course, bad knitting dreams followed. But I woke up, thought about it some more and decided to tink back the decrease rows I've done (thankfully, not many), and practice the decreases on some scrap yarn. Sounds like a plan, no? Haven't done it yet, but at least I changed the project status from the hasty and angry 'FROGGED!' to 'hibernating' on Rav. <br />
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In the meantime, I'll just keep at the Point Gammon Pullover, but more on that in another post ....Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10685677516504683859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980266545815022728.post-69729891078680849782010-09-13T19:39:00.000-07:002010-09-13T20:28:26.664-07:00lessons learned over a long vacationI can't believe it's been six months since I last updated. A LOT has happened in that time. I successfully defended my dissertation, graduated, and racked up an insane amount of frequent flier miles! First I took myself off to Massachusetts for a conference, popped down to New York for a lightning fast visit to family and a trip to Citi Field to catch a Mets game (they lost, shocking I know, lol), then I had a relaxing three weeks in Hawaii (hey, I deserved some sun and sand!), and finally ended up in Argentina for several months. And I've done a far amount of knitting too!<br />
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Maybe it's because I didn't have my head so consumed by writing and research I've been able to learn a lot of things about my knitting. <br />
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1) Lace blocking wires are good for blocking non-lace projects too!<br />
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<center><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2722/4484975301_8deb5d832a.jpg"></center><br />
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I really like how they help straighten out the edges on scarves. I'd used them on the Blooming Cotton Scarf at the beginning of the year to help even out the stockinette, but I <i>really</i> like how they helped the garter stitch edging in the A's Manly Scarf too (and since it was for my dissertation supervisor, I really wanted to make it as perfect as possible). They help straighten out funky joins and any general unevenness in the knitting nicely.<br />
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2) (and this is probably the most important thing I learned) I've been purling wrong for the past 4 years! Now, I knit Continental, and I know that when I first learned with the fabulous videos at knittinghelp.com, I <i>was</i> purling correctly when knitting flat, but somewhere along the line, I started wrapping the yarn around the needle around the back of it and over before pulling it off the left needle. The result, one row twisted, one row not!<br />
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<center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3340/4631391758_8e13dd53b9.jpg"></center><br />
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Ergo the "texture" in my fabric. I'd noticed something was wrong with my knitting before, especially when I had to seam garments (I'd grab the floats in the V's of one row and then couldn't on the next). Ironically, I finally figured out what I was doing when I was knitting the gargantuan hood in the Heather Hoodie Vest (which I deliberately made smaller after seeing so many comments about its hugeness on Ravelry)! I finished the hood the wrong way and then used some of my many in-flight hours to practice purling correctly.<br />
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3) Yoked sweaters are pretty fun to make! Unfortunately, I'm not so sure about the finished product around the neck area.<br />
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<center><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4152/4988006293_4b07790369.jpg" width="375" height="400"></center><br />
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Now, the boat neck style in the Wheat-Ear Cable Yoke Pullover masks it some, but there seems to be a definite tendency to funnel up at the top that I'm not sure I'm digging. But check out the nice and smooth, textureless stockinette! I'm purling now, baby! What's more ....<br />
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4) I'm finally cabling without a needle! That project helped me finally figure this out in a way I'm comfortable with. It also helped that I didn't have my full arsenal of needles with me while traveling, just my Knit Picks Options set and a stitch holder. I figured out that the whole pinch the base of the stitches and flip 'em around thing? yeah, not for me thanks. Me, I drop the working yarn so I don't add tension and unravel my stitches, slide the stitches off the needle, and pick up the ones to be held in front or in back as called for with the left, pick the others up with the right and then transfer the ones on the right back to the left and then knit them up. I know, it probably sounds more complicated than it is, but it works!<br />
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5) Buying yarn by weight as opposed to yardage/meterage is not fun, but it does make you learn about yarn weights and put up! I also got to see a lot of neat yarns in Argentina, though I didn't get to hang out much in the yarn district in Buenos Aires (yes, there is a yarn district, with one LYS next to another, next to brand distribution shops and everything!).<br />
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6) Wool can shrink and felt in cold water! I don't think I showed off my Circle Socks over here:<br />
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<center><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2715/4335887371_f584b3ba9b.jpg"></center><br />
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Unfortunately, I can no longer wear these beauties. :( But after all that work, there was no way I was going to throw them out! So, what better than to turn them into fingerless mitts?!<br />
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<center><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4121/4922796438_bfd0d9c60d.jpg"></center><br />
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(That's me with the fabulous sea lion, Juan Carlos.) Close-up:<br />
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<center><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/4988865232_d28e164bf6.jpg"></center><br />
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I did save the toe bits so I may eventually turn these into convertible mitts.<br />
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So, I guess you could say I had a pretty eventful summer of knitting! Bring on the fall!Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10685677516504683859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980266545815022728.post-86426767155801668972010-03-11T18:17:00.000-08:002010-03-11T18:17:33.673-08:00overdue updateSo much has been going on since I last posted. Apart from Ravelympics happening last month, I was working furiously to revise and get my dissertation defense draft finished (all done! defense at the end of the month!). I planned two projects for Ravelympics to help me through the writing --knitting helps my sanity (or what's left of it!)--so this seemed like a good idea. I finished one project (Star-Crossed Slouchy Beret) and got about half way through the second one (Blooming Cotton Scarf).<br />
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<center><img src="http://images4.ravelry.com/uploads/inkysticks/22818387/DSCN3468_medium.JPG" /></center><br />
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The hat was knit in Garnstudio DROPS Paris and the scarf is being worked in KnitPicks Comfy Sport. I like the way the hat turned out but, despite my love of hats, I don't think these slouchy ones suit me well. This one's going to a cousin for her 18th birthday--she's hip enough to pull the slouchy look off I think. I LOVE the way the scarf's turning out! Can't wait to finish it and start wearing it.<br />
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Also on the needles is the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/heather-hoodie-vest">Heather Hoodie Vest</a> but, since I'm still working on the scarf, it's hibernating at the mo. Once this scarf's done--which should be in the next few days since I'm not writing!--I'm going to start working on a thank you gift for my dissertation advisor, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/as-manly-scarf">A's Manly Scarf</a> which I'm planning to make in Cascade's Eco Wool. I think the Blooming Cotton Scarf is actually somewhat good practice for this since they're both knit lengthwise. Here's an early project pic for you:<br />
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<center><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4008/4380436953_77af6098b8.jpg"></center><br />
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I thought the colorwork on this would be harder, but since you only work one color at a time, it's not that bad! The only annoyance is having to unwrap whatever color's being worked from the other yarns being carried whenever I need it again. Being a colorwork newbie, I'm sure this is probably wrong, but since I didn't want to cut and rejoin whenever the color was needed again, I decided to carry up at the beginning of the round. I figured this would be ok since that's where the knitting will be cut to unravel and create the fringe. *shrug* So far so good though!Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10685677516504683859noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980266545815022728.post-78902901136323180632010-01-17T23:32:00.000-08:002010-01-18T00:10:17.093-08:00the long and windy yarn!In my rambly zeal yesterday, I forgot to mention an exciting piece of knitterly news! I am now the proud owner of this:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.stanwoodimports.com/catalog/YarnWinder.jpg"><img style="float:center; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 325px; height: 390px;" src="http://www.stanwoodimports.com/catalog/YarnWinder.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I am very excited! It's a medium sized bamboo swift and I got it on ebay so it hasn't arrived yet. I've purchased from this seller (bambooimporter) before though and have been quite happy with their products. I ended up paying less than what Knit Picks charges for theirs, BUT, of course, with shipping it came out to almost as much as Knit Picks charges. I still paid a little less though. I'll let you know what I think of it once it arrives.<br /><br />The Circle Socks continue to come along. I'm on the leg of the first sock and am, once again, finding purling on small needles a pain. Having several slipped stitches continually slipped for several rounds is also making life interesting. It makes for a visually interesting leg, and I have a feeling they'll help keep the leg of the sock from slouching down when worn, but it makes things tight and fiddly as I knit. Oh well, I think it'll be worth it in the end.Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10685677516504683859noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980266545815022728.post-85937122655769808372010-01-16T21:46:00.000-08:002010-01-16T22:55:24.051-08:00Roll on 2010Happy New Year (16 days late)! How have you all been? I made it through to the other side of Christmas Knitting with another Rusted Root top finished just in time for gifting. This went to my SIL since top-down, no seams trumps seaming every time, imo. In any case, I've started this year on another small projects kick. I've finished the toe socks I'd started before the holidays and replaced my sleeping cap with a new one. And now I'm working on <a href="http://jfcampbell.us/anne/patterns/circle_socks.pdf">Circle Socks</a>, only I'm working them toe-up and with a short-row heel. <br /><br />Once again, this year I'm aiming to shop the stash first for yarn, which, considering the number of projects I've already got queued and planned with stash yarn, shouldn't be too hard. I'm starting to get a little over zealous about my knitting though. I've got these socks on the needles and I already want to start swatching for KD's <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/heather-hoodie-vest">Heather Hoodie Vest</a> KAL. Not only that, I've signed up for two teams for Ravelympics next month and I plan on making the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/star-crossed-slouchy-beret">Star Crossed Slouchy Beret</a> and (finally!!) the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/blooming-cotton-scarf">Blooming Cotton Scarf</a>. I'm triply excited cuz these will all use stashed yarn--nearly 2400 yards of it actually! I can't wait! And I'm finishing my dissertation this semester! I'm so giddy I can't stand it! *g*<br /><br />Well, I'm starting to ramble now so I think I'd best take my grasshopping ways off to my knitting. TTFN!Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10685677516504683859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980266545815022728.post-9368820940854580452009-11-28T20:54:00.000-08:002009-11-28T21:36:34.439-08:00Progress!A few weeks ago I received the first advertising email for a craft fair being held at one of the colleges in my university's consortium. This is an annual thing and last year I was so bummed out that I couldn't take part since I was in England at the time. I filed it away under 'to be remembered' and, naturally, I forgot about it. My thinking then was that taking part would be a cool way to offset some of the costs my favorite book club's site incurs since it's an all-volunteer outfit that has server space that needs to be paid for. I know there are many worthy charities in the world, but the gift of literacy and reading, to me, is very worthy. So this year when I got the email I went into action and put a call out for crafty donations. With any luck, the webmaster won't have to pay for the server out of her own pocket for at least half a year. :)<br /><br />So, what have I done to add to the donation pile? I've finally (!!!!) finished my stash busting throw blanket, that's what!<br /><br /><center><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2720/4126605765_6d18f3cbf1.jpg"></center><br /><br />I used every bit of Lion Brand Homespun I had, working two strands at a time on US15 needles. I made the pattern up as I went alternating garter and stockinette. Easy peasy snoozy knitting. But it was good for pretty mindless TV watching knitting. I kept the first and last eight stitches in garter for a border. The blanket is so warm! I hope it goes to a good home.<br /><br />In other news, I still haven't started any Christmas knitting and may not get any in. *sigh* Life will be so much easier when I finish this dissertation--I'm on the last 15pp of the final chapter! My SIL, however, will probably be getting a Rusted Root top of her own instead of the Soap Bubble Wrap since, 1) she liked my mom's, 2) I'm running out of time, and 3) top-down construction = seamless = faster = LOVE! We'll see how that goes!Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10685677516504683859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980266545815022728.post-51453432223335944532009-11-05T12:25:00.000-08:002009-11-05T13:03:30.961-08:00cold, cold, please stay!Wow, it seems like an eternity since I last posted, amazed that October had arrived. Now it's November and I'm sitting here begging the weather gods to let the temps in SoCal stay cool. We've just come off of another freak heatwave--it got up to about 90 yesterday! It's November, for crimoney's sake! And today we're in the mid 70s. I guess the good thing is that our desert designed house retains the cold. At any rate, I'm glad November is here. October proved to be a bear of a month for me. I started sending out job applications and that affected my writing progress AND my knitting progress! Seriously, though I finally finished my mom's Rusted Root (which she's been able to wear thanks to our strange weather),<br /><br /><center><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2468/4061298890_fa319f5791.jpg"></center><br /><br />I've had <span style="font-weight:bold;">one sock</span> languishing on my needles. Unreal. By the time I'd be done working, my October days saw me too pooped to even hold up one needle let alone two. Pathetic. Things started improving once I started putting <a href="http://www.online-stopwatch.com/">the timer</a> on my job apps. Course, why it took me until the end of the month practically for that light bulb to turn on is mind boggling. I guess my brain was too tired to remember the obvious. <br /><br />At least I was able to knit up a gauge swatch for the <a href="http://www.interweaveknits.com/galleries/bonus/spiring-2009/Soap-Bubble-Wrap.asp">Soap Bubble Wrap</a> I've got planned for my SIL. This was supposed to be her bday present but considering it's the 5th and her birthday is the 22nd, I'm thinking this is going to be her Christmas gift. I'm using Lion Brand's Cotton Bamboo in Chocolate Dahlia:<br /><br /><center><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2675/4054004156_350a3e8b83.jpg"></center><br /><br />The knitted swatch reminded me somewhat of nylon stockings which, I suppose, sort of makes sense since they're using rayon from bamboo. But it looked nice and felt soft which satisfies my yarn scrumminess criteria.<br /><br />So hopefully November will continue to be more settled than last month and I can seriously get back to my writing and my knitting!Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10685677516504683859noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980266545815022728.post-4197528446500875242009-10-02T17:05:00.000-07:002009-10-02T17:31:05.345-07:00it's October already?I can't believe it, but autumn is finally rolling into SoCal. Or at least it's trying to. The temperatures are starting to drop (hurray!) and I'm finally into the writing of my final content chapter. As usual, building momentum through writing angst has been a bit of a challenge, but it's starting to feel a little better. I'll spend this weekend at a dissertation bootcamp, writing among fellow dissertators so I hope to make better progress on that, and maybe finish the chapter intro by the end of Sunday.<br /><br />Knitting-wise, about a week or so ago I finished my first toe socks!<br /><br /><center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3534/3938265846_40cf05a2d5_m.jpg"></center><br /><b>Pattern:</b> Toe Socks by Sandi Rosner (with modified toe construction)<br /><b>Needle:</b> US2.5 (3.0mm)<br /><b>Yarn:</b> Four Seasons Grundl Marathon Miro in colorway 607 <br /><br />I changed the toe construction by not casting on extra stitches at the between toe gaps since they ended up looking huge and sloppy. Instead I worked with the existing stitch count and worked the toes that way. They're snug, but considering the need for negative ease in socks, I'm hoping this will work. A fellow toe-sock loving friend saw these on Flickr and fell in love with them, so I'm going to make her her own pair in Knit Picks Felici as part of Socktoberfest. Since she likes bright, happy colors and works at an aquarium, I chose the Aquarium colorway naturally. This time though I'm going to follow the toe construction instructions in <a href="http://loumms.wordpress.com/2009/08/12/sherbert-toe-socks-lyos-august-2009/">Sherbert Toe Socks</a> and see how I like that. I think that picking up and knitting 2sts in the toe gaps rather than casting on four might work better. I'm hoping anyway!<br /><br />In the meantime, I'm about midway through my mom's Rusted Root top, just before the waist shaping. So far so good! I'm making her the L size.<br /><br />Well, it's back to Napoleon for me. Toodle-oo!Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10685677516504683859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980266545815022728.post-44226103621949733432009-09-11T21:59:00.001-07:002009-09-11T22:18:00.085-07:00of socks and sizesI submitted my 3rd content chapter yesterday so took the day off today. :) What better way to pass the afternoon watching a little baseball but to knit? I'm working on the first of the toe socks and as I started knitting the foot, it hit me that this is the first pair of socks that I'm making where I don't have the person they're for at hand to make sure the socks fit well. So, I went off in search of a handy chart and I came across <a href="http://www.knittinganyway.com/socks/sizechart.htm">this one</a> by Catherine Goodwin of Knitting Anyway. It looks very useful. But it occurred to me to ask if any of you have a favorite way of sizing socks for absent feet. Feel free to share!Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10685677516504683859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980266545815022728.post-2181981635805977342009-09-04T14:41:00.000-07:002009-09-04T15:36:11.072-07:00momentumI seem to be feeding off the writing momentum I'm building. The chapter is in the final example of the final section, I'm waiting to hear back from my advisor on submitting my intent to receive my degree form this semester, and I'm knitting. lol, ok, so I'm never not knitting lately and that's a good thing I think. I've finished the baby blanket I was working on--I love knitting on big needles; it makes everything go so much faster, even with DK weight yarn, which is what I used.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2485/3885197052_4023d2c9df.jpg"></center><br /><b>Pattern:</b> Soft and Sweet by Evelyn A. Clark in So Sweet Baby Afghans from Leisure Arts (#75015)<br /><b>Yarn:</b> Bernat Softee Baby in Pale Blue and White<br /><b>Needles:</b> US13 (9.00mm) & US15 (10.00mm) <br /><br />This is a really fast knit and the drape of the blanket makes it snuggly and soft. There is an error in the pattern I have. It begins with 89 sts and then omits a YO on the final repeating lace row. So, I left it off and, before the second repeat (and subsequent repeats), increased a stitch two rows before the lace row to get it ending with a k2tog instead of a YO right before the side border. Then I increased again two rows before switching back to the smaller needles to finish off with the top seed stitch border. This is the second time I knit this but I didn't leave myself any notes last time! (I'd knit it when I was still a knitting noobie, just a few months into knowing how.) Have fixed that now since I'm sure I'll be knitting one of these again.<br /><br />So, since I still haven't placed my Knit Picks order (the one with the yarn for my mom's Rusted Root, and my Blooming Cotton Scarf), I've moved on to the <a href="http://www.unicornbooks.com/pattern_MWtoesocks-SQL3.asp">toe socks</a> I promised the fabulous housekeeper at Chawton House Cottage (where I stayed on my research fellowship last year). I love the yarn the designer used, but it's discontinued and I am trying to destash! So, I rooted out some Marathon Miró from Four Seasons Gründl.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2660/3885196720_0223ffae06.jpg"></center><br /><br />It's going ok so far; am on the leg of the first sock now. Oh, and speaking of yarn, KP is E.Vil! They've got their lace yarn on sale for a week! I think I may take advantage and get the yarn for the Celeste long cardigan from French Girl Knits and the yarn for the <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring09/PATTshipwreck.php">Shipwreck Shawl</a> I want to make in honor of finishing my dissertation and Margaret Fuller (who died in a shipwreck). The only thing is that I'd like to make it in a colorway that's greyish/blue/black like the color the designer ended up with, but I don't have the patience or inclination to dye my own yarn. So I was thinking of either (from L to R) Shadow Kettle Dyed in Soot, Gloss in Cypress, or Shadow in Midnight Heather: <br /><br /><center><img src="http://www.knitpicks.com/kpimages/regular/24515.png"> <img src="http://www.knitpicks.com/kpimages/regular/24185.png"> <img src="http://www.knitpicks.com/kpimages/regular/24190.png"></center><br /><br />From the projects and stash pics I've seen on Rav, the Soot looks like it's more black or more grey, depending on the dye lot and lighting, and the Cypress has a bit too much green in it for my taste (I know! I'm poo-pooing green!) The Midnight Heather might work because it's blue/black, and the designer said she used a mix of Sapphire and Black dye to get that color. What do you think, dear readers?Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10685677516504683859noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980266545815022728.post-75989600344345842852009-08-26T22:22:00.000-07:002009-08-26T22:51:28.284-07:00Rusted RootIt's done!<br /><br /><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2511/3859157287_f1528e2214.jpg"><br /><br /><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3498/3859157661_0c663d6292.jpg"><br /><b>Pattern:</b> Rusted Root by Zephyr Style<br /><b>Yarn:</b> Knit Picks Comfy in Sea Foam<br /><b>Needles:</b> US7 (4.5mm) and US6 (4.0mm)<br /><br />I'm pretty pleased with it. When the yarn arrived a few months ago I was annoyed to see that KP had sent me yarn from two different dye lots, but when I inspected them in good light, they looked identical so I thought all would be well. And from these pics, I don't think you can notice any difference. But when I wet blocked it (couldn't find my spritz bottle) HOLY COW! I had wide horizontal stripes! Now, if I'd meant to do that, it would've been perfect, but as I didn't I was really afraid I'd have to toss the whole thing once dry. <br /><br /><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3505/3859943782_477f6be1af.jpg"><br /><br />You can kinda see them in this pic, though since it was dry, they'd practically faded. But I was really annoyed with myself for not knitting the same dye lot balls in order. Ah well, knit and learn.<br /><br />Overall, this is a really cute pattern, and I really liked working with Comfy--it's a much softer cotton/acrylic blend and is pleasant to work with, holding up nicely to ripping out, and isn't splitty at all. I'll definitely be using it again (and making sure I let KP know to PLEASE send me balls from the same lots!)<br /><br />I'm now working on a baby blanket for another of my friends who's adding to her family (a growing trend among my friends, no pun intended!).Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10685677516504683859noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980266545815022728.post-27491114320380326892009-08-21T21:20:00.000-07:002009-08-21T21:51:49.600-07:00interruptions and progressThat's how it's seemed this month over here -- lots of things interrupting my writing progress and me taking out my frustrations by knitting (but still only at night before bed). What's really going on is that I've been fighting off diss fatigue, and when I'm ready to go, a ton of things suddenly appear that compete for my attention (as happened again today). The result is that though I have a good base to work from, three weeks into the month, I've written about 15pp in my third content chapter. A major PITA. I think I need to go back to my strategy of saying no to everyone and everything and hole up to finish this chapter, which I still think I can finish by the end of this month--like I said, I have a solid base of notes and free writes to work with.<br /><br />On the bright side, I'm making progress on my Rusted Root:<br /><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3500/3844628920_64883b9168.jpg"><br /><br />Lace detail:<br /><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3477/3843839193_897eaeaa54.jpg"><br /><br />The color is way off in these and I was too lazy to fix it, and they were taken with natural indoor light. Ah well. The colorway is Sea Foam so it's actually much more aqua-blue than this; the pics make it look like Rowan's Cashcotton in Clear. Anywho, I'm quite pleased with this so far and am about an inch from starting the hem, then it's sleeves and neckline and voila! Top-down construction rocks. Mom has now requested one of her own, hee!<br /><br />Since I had my camera out I decided it was time to finally get some pics of the Yaquina Bay cardy:<br /><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3451/3844628588_132d38f479.jpg"><br /><br />I knit it top down, left out the waist shaping, changed the ribbing at the cuffs and hem to 1x1, and added pockets as well as my color windows and racing stripes (as I call them). I probably should've gone with slightly wider pockets but these are good for those pocket pack tissues and my cell phone, and a little dosh(!), which is probably what'll go in them, though they are actually big enough for me to get my ridiculously thin hands into them comfortably, lol. Obviously, I still need to weave in the ends but I did at least get the zipper for it finally! It's very snuggly; I can't wait to get some use out of it this fall/winter.<br /><br />Well, I'm off to work on the Rusted Root again. I'll definitely be holing up this weekend to write!Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10685677516504683859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980266545815022728.post-12746932183101817942009-08-12T16:49:00.000-07:002009-08-12T17:30:09.068-07:00an update with more happylol, I know. I've been such a slacker updating over here. But I have a good reason and that is that I've been diligently working on my dissertation. Two content chapters drafts have been turned in and I'm working on the third. The last content chapter is also partially written thanks to a conference presentation that earned me a lot of compliments and praise, and my intro and conclusion are also starting to take shape. It's been a busy four months. My knitting has continued and I've been good at sticking to my stash as well. I'll be adding to it for three specific projects soon though (two more gifts!), but overall, I'm pleased that I've been sticking with my destashing resolution.<br /><br />I'm currently working on <a href="http://www.zephyrstyle.com/catalog/item.cfm/2367447/3289215">Rusted Root</a> by Zephyr Style in Knit Picks Comfy in Sea Foam. It's a nice aqua blue color and the yarn itself is so soft. It's quickly become one of my favorite yarns. I had to start over and cast on for the next size up, though, since it was fitting a little too snuggly. <br /><br />Speaking of KP, I'm sure you've seen the new Zephyr acrylic needles they've come out with. I've been debating whether or not to try them since I've become such a fan of their Harmony needle tips (I barely use my nickle plated Options anymore). I started poking around the Ravelry forums and found out that KP is sponsoring a giveaway of an entire Zephyr Options set! <a href="http://thingsmomslike.com/2009/07/30/knitpicks-zephyr-knitting-needle-set-giveaway-821/">Click here for the details and to enter yourself</a>!<br /><br />Off for more writing! Will update with pics soon. And I need to finish weaving in the loose ends on the Yaquina Bay that's been done forever and get that zipper in! Summer heat has not helped my finishing that off unfortch.Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10685677516504683859noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980266545815022728.post-16091918048424580982009-03-14T15:57:00.001-07:002009-03-14T17:03:48.566-07:00things that make me happy<li> feeling good about what I write<br /><li> finishing a project (in anything)<br /><li> scrummy yarn<br /><li> the sound of rain or the ocean<br /><li> sunny days<br /><br />and my newest one:<br /><br /><li> blocking mats!<br /><br />Ok, so obviously this isn't a complete list or anything, but hey, this isn't the place to write a book, right?<br /><br />Blocking mats. Thank you KnitPicks! I'm also the proud new owner of a KP yarn ball winder. Seriously, at that price, why wouldn't I get one?? The mats are also well priced and they interlock nicely. I've got some of them in use right now with the Not Quite Straight Scarf.<br /><br /><center><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3248/3354251493_4bf80023c4_m.jpg"></center><br /><br />I think the blocking should help with the length of it--it was rather on the short side since I used only one skein of Medicolor (sock yarn). But, it's a spring scarf to be worn in SoCal; who'd want something bulky? I've got it blocked out to about 5 feet long and 5 1/4 inches wide. Even better? Yet more stash yarn used. Woot! I must admit I do like using it up. What's even better is that I have projects planned for a goodly portion of the stash, which should keep me busy for most of the year. Of course, that doesn't mean I don't look. Or haven't bought more. But anything I have bought has been for a specific project (like the <a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3475/3355125848_a9b58451fc_m.jpg">Knit Picks Comfy</a> I just got for the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/rusted-root">Rusted Root</a> top) and not because I've given in to Yarn Temptation. This is good!<br /><br />I may, however, be revisiting some of my old FOs and reclaiming the yarn. The <a href="http://inkysticks.blogspot.com/2007/11/lo-and-it-was-finished.html">shrug</a> I made for my brother's wedding (very pretty but will probably never wear it again) and my <a href="http://inkysticks.blogspot.com/2007/10/autumn-snuggles.html">cabled hug</a>, which I love!, need attention. I used Debbie Bliss Cashmerino Aran on the wedding shrug and it feels like such a waste to leave that nice yarn in something I won't use again. And the cabled hug. Ugh. I tried to fix the fit of it a few weeks ago and completely made it worse. So, I think I'll tear it apart and reknit it. That is something I wear, and would wear even more if I was happier with the fit. Luckily, it's a fast knit and I have a new shiny yarn winder I can use. Mweheee!<br /><br />Incidentally, I'm sure you've all seen the new Knitty by now. <a href="http://knitty.com/ISSUEspring09/PATTshipwreck.php">Shipwreck</a>? I think I may just possibly be using this as a prize for finishing my dissertation. So, I shall be saving my yarn pennies and ogling the carrot/pattern for now. Aside from the pattern itself, the name appealed to me. Total nerd connection--Margaret Fuller died in a shipwreck--makes it more appropriate for a dissertation prize then, doncha think? *g*<br /><br />Next up? More socks and probably the Leaf Top Kimono. I've also got to shop the stash for some yarn for the Half-Blood Prince KAL! Yaquina Bay is also coming along nicely. I'm knitting it top down with some color pops thrown in for interest. Now if only I could be happier with my <s>non</s>colorwork skillz.Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10685677516504683859noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980266545815022728.post-77465396888527234892009-02-17T12:14:00.000-08:002009-02-17T12:32:27.398-08:00getting ready for the '09 seasonBaseball!! I'm so happy baseball's starting again. Stitch 'n' Pitch ahoy! Of course, the story right now is about A-Rod and his testing positive for steroids back in 2003. While I'm very much in favor of cleaning up the game, the reaction of the New York media continues to frustrate and annoy me. Not that I should be surprised by much of their tabloid-esque, ridiculous scrutiny. They complain when Alex plays well, they complain when he admits to using steroids, and they complain when he says it was a stupid mistake. Alex said again today that he was young and immature when he was with the Texas Rangers, and that he regrets not having gone to college grow up. You know what? I believe his 'young and stupid' excuse. Why? I've known too many athletes, even those who've gone to college, who aren't the sharpest tacks in the toolbox and who don't ask questions when someone they trust comes along and says, here, do this or do that. And what about the legal ramifications of this story? There's talk now that he'll be charged with something, so could he truly give a 100% full response today if he's going to be called to court or before Congress? It's not like when Andy Pettitte had his HGH conference last year <b>after</b> he'd testified before Congress.<br /><br />Ah, sports media. I hope this story doesn't have legs for too much longer. I'm ready for some baseball.Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10685677516504683859noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980266545815022728.post-66334633580973315822009-02-06T21:19:00.000-08:002009-02-06T22:22:54.443-08:00waiting for Henry to stewI'm stuck in the middle of a paragraph discussing Henry Tilney's use of the phrase "voluntary spies" in <i>Northanger Abbey</i> so I'm updating here while my brain works it out. Funny how multi-tasking has been helping me write this week. I feel like I've spent more time writing about knitting this week (via email with TheBlackSheep) than I have on my actual chapter but I know that's because I've had about three different ideas spilling out of my head simultaneously making things go slower than normal. Today, after some driving and yarn shopping (more on that in a sec), everything fell into place. The section that had been bugging me all week finally smacked me and it's been moved down a few pages, showing up in a much more natural spot, no longer interrupting its old paragraph. Huzzah!<br /><br />Sock knitting's been on hold this week after I spent three nights last week working the short row heel on the first <a href="http://froggy-knits.livejournal.com/68715.html">On the Fly</a> sock (I call mine Flitter Toes). Note, this is my first toe up sock. The pattern is fabbity; not too tricky and interesting enough to keep you going. But Ugh. That heel drove me a little batty. I like the ease of the short rows but I first tried Priscilla Wild's 'no wrap' method which isn't supposed to leave holes. Yeah. I had a holey heel. I think it may've been because of my yarn (cotton blend), so I ended up ripping it all out and using <a href="http://misocrafty.squarespace.com/journal/2006/9/21/short-row-heel-tutorial.html">misocrafty's pass-the-wraps-over</a> method. It got a little tricky on my tiny needles, but the result is fab!<br /><br />Ta-da!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanspen/3244391587/" title="Heel, left side by sans_pen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3361/3244391587_071dda862d_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Heel, left side" /></a> <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanspen/3245219404/" title="Heel, right side by sans_pen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3426/3245219404_42beb738d3_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Heel, right side" /></a><br /><br />No holes!! Not bad, eh? I'm quite happy considering this is my first try at short row heels. The first sock's done (after fighting my yarn to make the loose cast off loose enough!), and I've already cast on the second and finished the toe increases, but I'm taking a break from it. In the meantime I cast on the <a href="http://allbuttonedup.wordpress.com/2006/07/14/freebie-knit-your-own-scarf/">Not Quite Straight Scarf</a> as part of a KAL. Easy pattern. This is one of three gifts I need to finish by April. The other two are a pair of socklettes in pink (I have no pink yarn!) and a felted bag in green. Hence my yarn shopping today. I got some Paton's Classic Merino in Leaf Green for the bag but struck out on pink sock yarn. Will have to keep looking. I also got some storage drawers at Big Lots! for $11!! That beat JoAnn's 40% off clearance price! So, this weekend I plan on getting control of my sprawling stash and reclaiming space in my small room. Oh, and also swatching and casting on for the Yaquina Bay cardigan FINALLY! I used my gift certificates and got some Patons Merino in Cognac Heather and Dark Grey so I'll get to finish off the rest of the grey sitting in my stash as well. So what brought on this cardigan decision, you ask? My office happens to be in the coldest room in the house--great in the blistering SoCal heat, but not so good in winter. I tend to be cold regardless of the season and the significant difference in temperature between the great outdoors and my office (20 degrees F easily) is killing me. I've had to dig out the space heater plus bundle up in cardies, gloves, and blanket. It's pretty ridiculous. I'm hoping a wool cardigan (instead of my standard cotton ones) will help.<br /><br />I think Henry's percolating so off I go!Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10685677516504683859noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980266545815022728.post-16874506367824824872009-01-24T18:31:00.000-08:002009-01-24T18:58:49.896-08:00Good grief, it's time for an update!It's 2009! I can't believe I haven't posted here since last August. Life with the dissertation has been going full throttle since then. Of course, this doesn't mean I haven't picked up the sticks, but I've been sticking mostly to small projects since I knit Hey, Teach! Seems I haven't been able to muster the concentration or willpower necessary to tackle another big project. Even my throw blanket is languishing in the UFO pile. Ah well. I am now the proud owner of 12 hanks of Rowan Summer Tweed in Smoulder! Isn't that a great name?<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanspen/3148840448/" title="Rowan Summer Tweed by sans_pen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3092/3148840448_6775fd98f4_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Rowan Summer Tweed" /></a><br /><br />I picked it up at my old LYS in England when I was there in November/December for my research fellowship. Initially I thought I'd FINALLY knit the replacement for my tired but comfy blue cardy, but I've changed my mind yet again. <span style="font-weight:bold;">*shock*</span> Strangely enough, I'd planned on canceling my subscription to Interweave Knits after the holidays. Now I'm not so sure. I wasn't all that impressed with the preview galleries for the Winter '08 issue, but when I saw the <a href="http://www.interweaveknits.com/galleries/bonus/winter-2008/Blooming-Cardigan.asp">Blooming Cardigan</a>, it started calling to me. SO, I think I may just use my smoulder for it. It deserves something where it can show off. I think I'll nix the belt though.<br /><br />Other than that, my knitting resolution for 2009 is to stash bust. I know, I know. I said that last year. I'm planning on sticking with it this year, despite having a gift certificate for my local craft store (hurray for Christmas!). I found two groups on Ravelry to help keep me motivated: Stash Knit Down 2009 and The Great Sock Off of 2009! So far so good! I've knocked out a couple hats, a scarf, and a pair of socks. Huzzah! Now if only I could get myself a ball winder for my myriad hanks. Shall keep you posted! Hope you're all doing well!Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10685677516504683859noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980266545815022728.post-18013146721372644072008-08-13T16:27:00.000-07:002008-08-13T16:50:49.034-07:00Happy Birthday to me!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3256/2761363356_ea8e0a0418_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3256/2761363356_ea8e0a0418_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><b>Pattern:</b> <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer08/PATTheyteach.html">Hey, Teach!</a> by Hélène Rush<br /><b>Source:</b> Knitty.com<br /><b>Yarn:</b> Cotton Ease by Lion Brand in Almond<br /><b>Needles:</b> US 9<br /><br />Sunday afternoon, I decided I wanted to finish Hey, Teach! so I could wear it tonight to my birthday dinner. So, I cast on for the left front panel, finished it Sunday night, cast on and started the right front panel that night, finished it and the sleeves the next day! Yesterday, I knit up the neckline and button bands and sewed up the whole thing. I fell into my bed finally at 3.30 this morning. *falls over* But it's finished! And just as I was about to sit down to sew on the buttons, mom took pity on me (I'm the birthday girl!) and beat me to it. All I had to do was steam blocke and model. *g* I think I may finally turn into a gauge touter because my gauge was so spot on, I didn't need to block any of the pieces to stretch them to their proper size! I'm quite proud of that. Ooh, and check out the fantab buttons I got! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/2760518771_bc3c50ba17_b.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3293/2760518771_bc3c50ba17_b.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />All in all, I love this cardy, and I am very happy with this yarn. I think if I had it to knit again, I'd try a DK weight yarn in a larger size to dress the sweater up a bit more. As it is, I may do just that at some point as I'm always looking for elegant, classy looking sweaters. And this pattern is definitely that.Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10685677516504683859noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980266545815022728.post-57815172558865253282008-08-05T14:57:00.000-07:002008-08-05T15:27:42.382-07:00WIPs<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3133/2732572027_2e24fe351c_o.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3133/2732572027_2e24fe351c_o.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />I spent the weekend working on the back panel of Hey, Teach! after fixing my SIL's Little Lace Shrug (from Pam Allen's <a href="http://images3.ravelry.com/gallery/lace-style/500/ec1.images-amazon.com-f6ac828fd7a03bb786911110.L.jpg">Little Silk Shrug</a> pattern). This was actually helpful in that both use cotton yarns. I added a bit of length to the shrug which allowed me to incorporate the decreases in the edging that the pattern calls for, but I can't say I'm particularly pleased with it. I should've used a stretchier bind off and perhaps omitted the final decreases in the bind off row itself. The opening is tighter than I'd like, and I have a narrower back than SIL does. I think I'll talk to her and see if she can bring it by again this weekend so I can fix that row.<br /><br />I've learned quite a bit about the inelasticity and drape of cotton with these two pojects which is quite useful. I seem to need to see these things in practice rather than read about it in a book or magazine. I swatched for Hey, Teach and got gauge on size 9/5.5mm. In the stockinette this looks fine, but the knit stitches open on the 1x1 rib, which is slightly annoying (you can see this in the pic if you click on it--it'll give you the larger size). I'm hoping a bit of blocking will help this, but perhaps going with a size 8/5mm needle and working a larger pattern size would've helped with this? I'm not sure. The same thing happened with the cotton blend yarn I used on the Columbine Peaks socks, again in the rib portion. Has this happened to anyone else?Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10685677516504683859noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980266545815022728.post-61404684547002014922008-07-30T21:04:00.000-07:002008-10-03T13:16:15.429-07:00cookies for me!Finally! Eris is officially finished and at it's new home!!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanspen/2704515737/" title="Eris on display by sans_pen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3190/2704515737_c0d2d94d91_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Eris on display" /></a><br /><br />After blocking and getting the zipper in professionally (I know, I'm a cheater; what do you want? my sewing machine protested strenuously and would not cooperate!), I'm finally seeing the back of this project. Don't get me wrong. I'm thrilled with how it turned out; I'm just glad I don't have to look at it and feel guilty about not having it done. *g*<br /><br />In the meantime, I've gone back to the Charm Wrap for myself since I'll definitely be needing it come November. I finished the left front panel last weekend and I cast on the right front panel last week. It's coming along. I need to take some progress pics. As a treat to myself for finishing the indexing of my Jane Austen notes, I'm also going to cast on Knitty's <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer08/PATTheyteach.html">Hey, Teach!</a> tonight. I went and returned the unused skeins from Eris and got store credit, so I picked up some Cotton Ease in Almond--a very pretty pale yellow. Gauge swatching will commence momentarily! Hmm, I seem to be on a cardigan kick. I can't help it. If this knits up quickly I may just start on that Yaquina Bay cardigan I've been meaning to get to for months now.<br /><br />Woohoo! I'm so excited! I get back to my writing tomorrow! .... Indulge me, I'm sure I'll be tearing my hair out in a week, lol.Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10685677516504683859noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980266545815022728.post-91143416244142530962008-06-29T18:51:00.000-07:002008-06-29T18:57:09.036-07:00an FO and a holy cow!Columbines are DONE! I took the Subway series weekend opportunity to finish that second sock. <br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanspen/2622321417/" title="The modeling shot by sans_pen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3009/2622321417_746d1466a2_m.jpg" width="180" height="240" alt="The modeling shot" /></a></center><br /><br />Oh, and please to note today's temperature.<br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/sanspen/2622321259/" title="Note the current temperature by sans_pen, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3084/2622321259_72b2bc61b3_m.jpg" width="240" height="180" alt="Note the current temperature" /></a></center><br /><br />And I got the visiting fellowship to England! *does funky chicken* Guess I better finish Charm Wrap. :DSandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10685677516504683859noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4980266545815022728.post-53531548071393662022008-06-23T14:17:00.000-07:002008-06-23T14:58:54.737-07:00heat waveIt's summer. All past mini heat waves tried to warn us. Now, there's no going back. Last week and over the weekend we averaged at 107 Fahrenheit. That's about 43 Celsius. Gorgeous clear, blue skies, beautiful sunshine, and <span style="font-weight: bold;">baking</span> heat. Somehow, I don't think this should be allowed. How can you enjoy summer weather when it's this baking? Today, we're at a cool 98 degrees. Excuse me while I adjust the fan.<br /><br />All this means that progress on Eris has halted. I did finally rip out the cuff on the first sleeve last week (at night, thankyouverymuch!) and added another two inches to the sleeve, and reknit the cuff over the weekend (again, at night, and with the A/C running). All that's left is closing the cuff, knitting the entire second sleeve, a bit of pseudo-blocking (acrylic, you do what you can), and the zipper (which looks closer to being sent out to be put in that sewing it in myself). I'd really like to be done with this already so I may suck it up and work on it this week. Maybe.<br /><br />Last week I went to Angels Stadium to catch my NY Mets vs the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim .... excuse me while I roll my eyes yet again at that unnecessarily long team name, we'll just call them what they really are, the Anaheim Angels, yes?<br /><br /><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3240/2594475286_22d13e758c_m.jpg" /><br /><br />We had pretty good seats--I could ogle David Wright to my hearts' content--and I even took some knitting with me for a little Stitch and Pitch action. Of course, without the play-by-play from the announcers, I found concentrating on the game absolutely necessary. The poor second Columbine sock stayed in my little green knitting bag, still unfinished. It was a compelling game!! The Mets had the lead through the 5th until Oliver Perez decided to pull an Oliver Perez and gave it back and the go ahead run. It stayed 4-3 until the top of the 9th when D. Wright came through (and made me love him more!) by smacking a base hit that brought Jose Reyes home to tie it up. Damion Easley won it for us with a solo homerun in the 10th. Game over. Gripping baseball, I tell ya!<br /><br />On the way out of the stadium, we saw this:<br /><br /><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3109/2593795065_c726c65ff4_m.jpg" /><br /><br />The Angels' 2002 World Series trophy. Ain't it purty? I'd never seen the WS trophy this close-up. It was pretty thrilling. I rooted my heart out for this team in the 2002 series, Rally Monkey and all. <span style="font-size:78%;">Please to ignore the fact that I'm a die-hard Mets fan; I'm a transplant, I have my California teams too.</span><br /><br />So, knitting has mostly become focused on small, light projects that do not smother me in heat adding yarns. Like the Lace Ribbon Scarf which is coming along nicely.<br /><br /><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3183/2604882585_72ffe34fe5_m.jpg"><br /><br />Pretty, no? I'm happy with it so far. And considering I've still got about 3/4 of that sock yarn skein left, I'm going to be at it for some time still. And I'll be casting on the Luna Moth and Seascape shawls soon too.<br /><br />For now, though, it's back to <span style="font-style:italic;">Emma</span> and the dissertation. And staying cool.Sandrahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10685677516504683859noreply@blogger.com0