The Yarn Princess

Bryant Park: A non-knitting post

2008-05-13T14:26:00.002-04:00

A few pictures from my stroll down sixth avenue this morning.

The magnificent Empire State Building

The Maju Tank Top -- a perfect fit!

2008-05-12T12:35:00.003-04:00

I finished Mom's tank top in plenty of time for Mother's Day and gave it to her yesterday. She was *so* excited about it. I made her try it on right away and it was a perfect fit.
Not too much more to say about it... I'm just glad that I didn't have to rip it!

Finished with Law School

2008-05-09T13:19:00.002-04:00

Three years. Gone. Done. I don't know how I feel about it yet. But it is what it is. And I'm going to go with that for a while...

Patricia's Yarns in Hoboken

2008-05-03T21:00:00.004-04:00

This afternoon, I went to Patricia's Yarns in Hoboken (Fourth Street & Washington for anyone who wants to visit). I've been there before, but just to buy yarn a few times. When I went in, there were a bunch of people in the store, just hanging out, knitting. It was fantastic. Patricia herself was out of town this weekend, but her husband Adam and their dog Riley were manning the store. Margaux helped me find the perfect yarn for the tank top that I wanted to make for my mom. It's blue sky alpaca yarn in the thistle color. I love it. Look how inviting it looks in the adorable (and environmentally-friendly-because-it-is-so-strong) Patricia's Yarns bag:

And how gorgeous is the yarn itself???

Here's a closeup:
At Margaux's suggestion, I did a gauge swatch. It's a good thing, too, because the yarn I originally chose would have been much too small. Apparently, I am a very tight knitter. The pattern called for size 8 needles and the thinner yarn. I wound up working on size 9 needles and this much thicker yarn.

I'm excited about the tank top! The yarn is so soft and fabulous to work with!

2008-04-26T21:18:00.001-04:00

Yes. It's Saturday night. It's 9:20 pm. Do you know where your yarn princess is?? Yes. That's right -- in the library. Boy oh boy do I love finals...

The Times Square Shuffle Revisited

2008-04-22T13:26:00.002-04:00

For those of you who thought I was kidding:

A Change of Plans

2008-04-17T20:55:00.006-04:00

I decided that I am not going to be able to finish the Asherton purple scarf by Monday afternoon, both due to all of the studying that I have to do this weekend and due to the fact that it is Passover this weekend and my time will really not be much my own. So I picked up another ball of the lilac color and started to make just a 2x2 rib on size 5 needles. I figure I can sort of fly through that a little bit. I think I will be able to finish it by Monday. And then I can always give her the other one later if I finish it. I think the Asherton scarf really is so pretty, and would hate the work I have done on it to go to waste, but I just don't think it's going to be finished by Monday. Maybe if it weren't finals time...

This morning, I also made sugar cookies because a few of us were all going to have our last day of work. The cookies were because my one friend wanted "Last Day of Work Cake." I didn't have all of the ingredients in the house for a cake, but I did have the ingredients for these cookies. They are quite possibly the easiest cookies I've ever made and I just love the way they all crinkled. They're crispy on the outside and nice and smushy in the middle. And everyone who tasted them loved them. Not what I should have been doing this morning, but it worked out.

Hugs on the 2 Train

2008-04-15T17:40:00.000-04:00

I got my Smile Cards in the mail on Thursday of last week. There were ten of them. In much the same way that my mom always used to say my brother’s birthday money would be “burning a hole in his pocket,” the Smile Cards were truly burning a hole in my pocket. I found myself thinking about them – to whom would I give them, what would I say, would I have to create a reason, or would one present itself? As of yesterday, I still hadn’t given even one Smile Card away. It was frustrating me, and I was thinking that I might just not be looking hard enough for the right SO (Smile Opportunity). Then yesterday, when I went into the post office to mail my taxes (I’d only been carrying them around with me for 10 days…) the woman working there, finding herself confronted with a long line of people, was, well, not her usual bubbly self. I handed her one and said, “I know people must be driving you crazy this time of year – whenever they do, you can look at this and it can help make you feel better.” I felt okay about that SO, but it wasn’t phenomenal. I was wondering if maybe I wasn’t doing something right.

But then, this morning happened. I entered the 2 train at 72^nd Street, and grabbed onto the middle pole. The train was crowded, with many people standing, but it wasn’t packed, certainly no one was squished into the car or holding a flat palm against the ceiling in the hopes of anchoring themselves. A woman got on and was holding onto the pole near the seats and a man got on behind her. There was plenty of room for him to hold onto that pole, or the pole to which I was attached, or the pole to the left of him. For whatever reason, though, he thought this woman should have moved so he could get further into the train and could hold onto a pole on the opposite side of the car. He was curmudgeon-y (though not all that old) and kept mumble-yelling at her. I couldn’t hear what he actually said. She was able to move and he pushed through, knocking her into the walls of the train car and he moved through and away. Another young man and I tried to chuckle with her and roll our eyes at the nerve of people on the subway to kind of make it all better. “It’s just been that kind of morning,” the woman said. “Well,” I said, reaching into my bag and pulling out a Smile Card, “maybe this can help make it a little better.” The woman was visibly moved. She showed it to the man, and I reached in and grabbed one for him as well. He said he was going to get some to give to all of his friends. She said she was going to buy them right away. They were both so excited about helpothers.org. “I can’t tell you how much this means to me,” she said, and she hugged me. A random person hugged me. On the 2 train. In New York City. I didn’t pay her bills or give her food or shelter or clothing. I didn’t do anything to change the problems in her life, or eliminate them in any way. And yet, she told me it made her day. Which of course, made mine.

I'm bored with my blog

2008-04-13T22:19:00.002-04:00

I'm not bored with the content of my blog, though I feel now like I have been working on this purple scarf for a while and because it's a scarf you can't really tell too much about the progress. As a result, I feel like it isn't really worth taking new pictures of it and posting them. But maybe I'll take some later. The real boredom with the site, though, seems to be the design. I feel like I need to shake it up a little bit -- maybe even just change the color scheme. But maybe later. I guess this is me just feeling antsy before finals... Two weeks left of classes (officially 14 classes left in my law school career) and then it's finals, and the bar. But you know, one step at a time.

And, randomly, I'm craving milk.

Knit Your Own Karma

2008-04-12T12:49:00.002-04:00

I was poking around on IMDB and eventually found myself on a page for a movie called "Knit Your Own Karma." It doesn't appear to be anything like what I would think it would be for that title. Apparently, it's something more like a bleak future world. But I liked the title. It seems to go much more with the Smile Cards that I got in the mail yesterday.

I ordered the Smile Cards after seeing the post on Steph's blog, "Girl Meets Yarn" http://theadventuresofknitpearl.blogspot.com/ about her random acts of kindness. I guess I was sort of on the lookout for good things to be able to do. Wednesday morning, my friend said she wasn't feeling well. She had been sick since the weekend, and was really feeling terrible. When she went into her office, one of her co-workers said, "You don't look that bad." What she wanted was sympathy, she said. What she wanted was for someone to offer to get her chicken soup. So I called a local deli near her office and had them send her chicken noodle soup, a sandwich and a soda. She was very excited about it.

What's your good deed of the day?

Humbling Knitting: It Helps to Read the WHOLE Pattern

2008-04-10T01:15:00.005-04:00

Yeah. So I'm an idiot. The reason that my version of the scarf didn't work was that I had apparently only written down half of the pattern. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with it and why my pattern didn't look the way the original one did. Yeah. This would be why. D'oh!

Before I figured it out, though, I tried it on size 4 needles, thinking maybe that would make the difference. I then realized that I had done it wrong, and ultimately decided to do it on the size 8s once I did it the right way. I liked it on the 4s, but the needles are *really* small if I want to be able to finish it in time to give it to my friend before the end of finals (and actually study for my finals, too...)

This is the pattern on the size 4s:
Ironically, I guess because of the way the photographs are, I don't know that you can actually tell the difference between the size four needles (above) and the size 8s (below).

This is what the pattern is supposed to look like. I like it a lot more now that I did it the right way...
Also, I still think this pattern really deserves a darker color. Someday, maybe if I ever make anything for myself... A nice solid dark in a bamboo, cotton or silk would be nice, on small needles. But I think when I do really spend the money and make something for myself, it should be more than a scarf.

The Times Square Shuffle

2008-04-08T15:09:00.006-04:00

So I was in the city the other day and I saw a sign that said, "Seventh Avenue flyover not in operation -- use the Times Square Shuffle." And I thought it was a misprint -- that it was supposed to be the Times Square Shuttle (which isn't really a shuttle, but there's a shuttle (the gray 'S' train) that goes between Times Square and Grand Central). But apparently, no, there is a new traffic pattern that the city is calling the "Times Square Shuffle." Next time I'm there, I'm taking a picture of the sign.

I still think it sounds like the name of a band...

http://www.nyc.gov/html/dot/downloads/pdf/timessquare.pdf

Up Close & Personal

2008-04-07T01:07:00.004-04:00

I feel like I need a macro lens to accurately take pictures of my knitting. I don't know why I can capture a hummingbird sucking the nectar out of a bird of paradise but I can't seem to accurately convey the detail of the knitting.

This scarf, like so much that I have been doing recently, comes from SMarieKnits. Surprise, surprise -- most of the patterns I have been doing lately have been hers. They're fantastic. Easy patterns that look complex and fancy, but that I can actually manage to work my way through.

This is the Asherton Scarf. http://smariek.blogspot.com/2006/09/asherton-reversible-scarf.html
However, it doesn't look anything like hers. :( I know that's not a prerequisite in a scarf, but I chose the Asherton because I liked the way it looks. I wonder if mine might look more like the prototype if it were done on smaller needles. The problem isn't so much that it needs to look like the original as that I don't know if I like it the way it is. And so I ask your opinions:

1. Should this be on smaller needles?
2. Should this be narrower (it's nearly 6.5" wide now, which would probably be helped by smaller needles.
3. Is this the right pattern for this color (the color requested by my friend) or does this pattern look too much like a baby blanket in this light lilac)?
4. If not this pattern, any suggestions for a free, easy-ish pattern like this one?

Big Blue Wrecking Crew

2008-04-05T15:18:00.004-04:00

Firstly, I think that someone far more talented than I should create a crew-neck sweater and call it "Big Blue Wrecking Crew." The extent of the title's relevance to me, though, is just a scarf.

Andrew had originally asked for a scarf in "Giant's Blue." He then changed his mind and decided that he needed more of a tannish mustardy color because then he could wear it all the time. But I decided that he shouldn't be deprived of having a scarf for during the football season, too. So I made him this, in Giant's Blue (also known as "Red Head Blue" or alternatively "Olympic Blue" in other earlier posts). It's just a five by five waffle knit, and I'm almost done with it. It's been a nice easy fast knit. I'm debating whether or not to block and iron it. I like the bumps of the waffle knit itself but I don't necessarily love the way the edges look. They're a little un-finished looking. Granted, I don't know if they'll be any better if I do block it.

And then I'll find more black yarn in my stash and get to finishing Matt's Rutgers scarf. After the bar, I'll think about making something more complex. But not until then. Until then, I may or may not make anything, but if I do, certainly nothing more complex than like a 2x2 rib scarf...

Comments

2008-03-24T01:44:00.000-04:00

By the way -- does anyone know how I can reply to people who leave me comments? If nothing else, I wanted to be able to say "Thank you!" but there doesn't seem to be a way to e-mail the people who leave me comments on the blog. So a big "thank you!" to those of you who have commented so far (and anyone who comments in the future). If I can figure out how to contact you directly, I will do my best to do so, though probably not too frequently between now and the end of July when I take the bar.

The Hat was a Hit

2008-03-23T19:48:00.001-04:00

Yeah. Garrett loved his hat. Everyone else did, too. :)

Under the Gun

2008-03-21T12:38:00.003-04:00

Suddenly, all of my projects are time-sensitive. I decided that I think I want to wear the dress from my brother's wedding for our ball next week. The only problem with it is that the shawl for it didn't match the material of the dress. Which I don't get, because it was from the dressmaker. So I want to make myself a new shawl. I started making this pattern, but I don't know if I made it too long. Wide, that is. I always have a problem with shawls not being big enough to hang comfortably on my shoulders and wrap well.

This is what it looks like so far (I've layered it a few times around)...

Kitsch Completed

2008-03-21T01:21:00.004-04:00

The hat is completed... It doesn't look anything like the one on the Stitchy McYarnPants website, but I still like it. I didn't think I would like it as I was doing the brim, but now I am totally in love with it.

The Definition of Kitsch

2008-03-20T13:25:00.002-04:00

I also started a hat for Garrett's birthday, but it is entirely different. I am making him this: http://www.stitchymcyarnpants.com/tincan/beercan.html and I am so excited about it. I'm excited because he's having a party on Friday at a place in the city and he will *so* wear it there. If anyone would wear this hat, it is Garrett. My roommate was kind enough to drink the cans of beer I needed for the hat. He did make fun of the safety goggles and protective gloves that I got to be safe while cutting the aluminum cans, though. Which is understandable. I must have looked ridiculous. Cutting the cans was definitely the most difficult part. I didn't want to be crocheting and worrying about cutting myself on the cut sides of the cans, so I got this tape for the edges.
I put it around the edges (it does make it a little more difficult to punch the holes in it) and then punched holes and crocheted around the edges. I just have to find out from Garrett what size hat he wears because I don't know if six panels around will be too big. I feel like it will be. I asked him what size hat he wears, but he hasn't gotten back to me yet. As soon as he does, I can finish it. All in all, it wasn't too difficult, it was lots of fun, Matt got to drink lots of beer, and it helped me work on knitting down my stash.

This is a sample square:

And this is a sample semicircle for the brim:

A Finished Hat

2008-03-17T15:37:00.007-04:00

I finished the hat for Jeanna, and went to her birthday party. At one point we were talking about knitting something and Jeanna said that I was a great knitter and that I made them all scarves. I was excited that she mentioned it -- I love when people appreciate the stuff that I make, and I haven't actually ever seen Jeanna wearing the scarf that I made her. This is the same color as the scarf, and she was excited that they would match.

This is Jeanna wearing the hat that I made for her:

Cabled Hat, or "I Am an Idiot."

2008-03-14T11:11:00.001-04:00

So I started this cabled hat for Jeanna for her birthday tomorrow. I like it. I am a little enamored of cables these days, the hat goes very quickly, and I love working on double-pointed needles. I like double pointed needles for many reasons, and I will admit that part of it is how absolutely floored everyone is when they see you using dpns, despite all protestations that they are really no more difficult than straight needles once you get the hang of them.

I have sets of five dpns, so I can work around in a square. I was sitting on my couch, working around in my little square, and all of a sudden, I had FOUR needles. Not five. Just four. I cannot find the other one. I have looked under the couch, behind the couch, in my room, in the kitchen, under the cushions. I have NO idea where it went. It has truly vanished into thin air. Unbelievable. I thought I was going to have to go to the yarn store and get another set, which didn't bother me, except that I was worried that I was going to go in and buy more yarn. But then I spied another set. So I worked on four wooden and one metal size 8 dpns. It worked out.
And now the hat is done, and I just need to figure out how to block a hat.

A Little Lovin'

2008-03-12T22:17:00.003-04:00

Melanie loves her scarf! I gave it to her yesterday and she *skipped* to get to me. I haven't seen her without it around her neck since. Score one for me. Yay.

Mother-Frogger

2008-03-10T22:50:00.005-04:00

So I generally had a good knitting weekend, but I also had a tough knitting weekend. I had made this shawl for my mother, and it took me forever. It's lace and beads and you put the beads on with a 1 mm crochet hook. But apparently, the gauge piece that I made wasn't really as accurate as I thought it was. The shawl came out barely large enough to drape over the shoulders. It really and truly took me forever but if she isn't going to wear it, it's not worth having. So this weekend, I ripped it. If she won't wear it, it's not worth having. No matter *how* much work it was to do it.

This is the shawl, pre-pond (frog pond, that is...)

As upset as I was to have to frog it, there are places you can see that I messed up, so I'm happy to have an opportunity to fix it the second time around. No guarantee that it will be any better, but at least I'll have a second chance for the same initial price layout of yarn!

Blockhead

2008-03-09T13:28:00.004-04:00

First, I found a new knitting store on Saturday. It's called The Skein Attraction and it's on Cedar Lane in Teaneck, NJ. Not far from my parents' house. Looks like I may be visiting home more often... The ladies there were lovely, familial, and helpful. Shaina, Adina, and Julie Friedman own the shop -- I think they were all there when I went in. Everyone was very helpful and kind, whether working in the store or sitting and knitting. I went in primarily to ask how to block. I needed to block Melanie's scarf. I had no idea it was so easy! I went in, and the ladies there helped me out, no problem. Sunday, I blocked, tonight fringe, and tomorrow, the presentment.

Here are some pictures of the blocked scarf:

(on the ironing board)

(and on Mom, in her library, her favorite room of the house)

Of course, I bought something from the Friedmans, one skein of Ritratto in a beautiful plum and orange color. I am going to try to make myself a shawl to wear with the dress from my brother's wedding. I wanted to take it to really look at it next to the dress in different lights and to ask my mother's opinion. $13 a skein is a bit much for me (I am used to using cheap acrylics, remember) but I thought I would splurge. So Tuesday when they open, I will be calling for the remaining 3 balls in the same dye lot. I don't think I can knit enough to be ready to wear it on the 29th, even if I knit, didn't go to school, and didn't sleep until then. But I may very well try. I also didn't want to just go in and ask for advice on how to block without first establishing a relationship, and well, also, I'm sort of a sucker, despite the goal of working down my stash.

In addition to my yarn, they gave me this:

How freakin' cute is he? He's a sheep, and he's smushy and he has their name and phone number on his back.

Tonight, I start the Swirled Pearl Shawlette (minus the pearls) to make for myself. I don't think I will finish it by Barrister's Ball on the 29th, but that doesn't mean I'm not going to try...

Almost finished

2008-03-05T14:26:00.003-05:00

I am almost finished with Melanie's scarf. The only thing left to do is to block it and put fringe on it, if Melanie wants fringe. I haven't decided if either she is a fringe person or if the scarf needs it. I think I am going to have to block it first, make a decision and then, if it doesn't require fringe, ask her if she wants to have fringe. It wound up being a little more than one skein to knit, so I have the extra yarn. I'm feeling like for length purposes alone, a little fringe might be useful.

Carolyn's fiancé Andrew requested a scarf in Giant's blue, so I sent him a bunch of patterns to look at and he chose the Miranda http://smariek.blogspot.com/2007/06/miranda-scarf.html. I had told Carolyn I thought she needed a cabled scarf, and sher chose the same one. She said, "We are clearly meant to be together because we chose the same pattern." She's thinking a burgundy for her and he wants this color:

Yes. He found the color on the internet and sent it to me. I told him that he has to come to the yarn store with us because I don't think that I will be able to match it from the internet to the store. I'm happy to have the fun projects.