Knit Masala

Socktoberfest!

2007-10-25T20:02:00.000-06:00

Hello!!!! Feels weird to write a new blog post, it's been so long! Partly the lack of posting can be blamed on Ravelry, but partly on my computer. See, a whole 1 year and 1 month after I bought my laptop (so out of manufacturer's warranty), my laptop video card went bad. And apparently this is not a good thing for laptops (not so much an issue for desktops). Anway, the fix was going to be so expensive that it made more sense to just get a new computer. But this meant, in the meantime, that I couldn't upload pictures. SOOOO, I've finally gotten around to doing so.

But this doesn't mean that I haven't been the busy little knitter. I'm happy to report that I finally blocked all my completed pieces. I've also completed a bunch of new projects. This post, though, will focus on footwear.

First up - Saartje's booties:

A work colleague just welcomed a new baby into the family. I'd been wanting a reason to try this pattern, and I have so many random leftovers in the stash. So I dug through them and came up with this. The problem is that I don't have the ballband and so don't have any idea what yarn this is. It's some cotton or cotton blend - that's about all I know. But the pattern is SOOO easy and SOOO quick - each booty represents one evening's work. I think the booties are a little big, which is good because that means the kid might actually have a chance to wear them someday. Or they'll make a great accessory for a doll.

Next up - cabled footies:

The pattern is from One Skein. I made these for my mom and plan to give them to her for her birthday next month. I used Lorna's Laces Shepherd Worsted in Cranberry (incidentally, the exact yarn and color called for in the pattern). The only pattern modification I made was to use a smaller needle (I think the pattern calls for size 8 and I used size 6) because my mom has tiny feet. This also meant that I had a fair amount of the skein leftover.

And lastly - Jaywalkers:

Ok, so I only have 1 sock completed, but it still counts, right? The yarn is Knitpicks Memories in Cape Cod. I don't think Knitpicks sells this line of sock yarn anymore (probably not as popular since it is not machine washable). I was not initially thrilled by this colorway, but I'm actually very pleased with how it knit up. There's more green in it than I thought and than what you can see in the picture. Apparently people have had issues with the sizing of the pattern (I made the smaller size), and while it is a bit snug getting it on, it feels perfectly lovely on. I haven't cast on for the second sock yet but plan to soon.

Block par-tay

2007-09-10T07:52:00.000-06:00

My completed knit pieces finally started calling out, "Block me. Block me." So I had to oblige. Above you see the aborted Mystery Stole 3 (which I'm going to give to the kiddo to include in her dress-up bin), the Branching Out scarf, and the Bobble Blue scarf. I knit Branching Out with 2 balls of Knitpicks Elegance in Grass. The yarn was lovely to knit with and turned out soooooo soft. I knit Bobble Blue with 2 balls of Knitpicks Wool of the Andes in Blueberry. This yarn is not so soft initially, but blocking seems to have softened it up quite a bit. Hopefully it will stay this soft when it's completely dry.

When these are dry, I just have to block the Clapotis and Clementine Shawlette and I'll be up to date.

I'm in!!!!!

2007-09-04T14:26:00.000-06:00

Finally, after months of waiting, I got my invite for Ravelry this morning! The story is actually kinda funny - I got an e-mail from Knit Mongrel on Saturday saying that she looked me up on the wait list, and it said that 0 people were ahead of me. I did a double take and checked myself and discovered that she was right! But I hadn't gotten my invite. We figured that I would be the 1st person on the invite list when they started sending out invites again. But I also realized that, being a holiday weekend, I would have to wait until Tuesday to get the invite. ARGHHH! But I was patient (what choice did I have?), checked my e-mail as soon as I could this morning, and soon after got my invite! I've already been spending way too much time on it, considering that I should be working today. But I can't help it! I've uploaded pictures of my stash and will hopefully, later this week, have a chance to put in some projects and such. And, of course, look at what other people are doing!

If you're in Ravelry, I'm knitmasala, and I want to be your friend! Let me know your name, or just add me to your friends list. Woohoo!

Showing off the WIPs

2007-08-29T18:40:00.000-06:00

Well, I don't have any FOs to show, but I figured I'd show off some WIPs. I actually only have three active WIPs on the needles. First up, Odessa:

This is my second Odessa, the first having been gifted to my mother. My sister really liked it and requested one of her, and since a request for services is a knitter's joy (or, at least, this knitter's joy) I'm happy to oblige. I'm using the same yarn (the one called for in the pattern), just in a different color. I still enjoy this pattern a lot; it is so simple to do (especially when you leave out the beads, as I am) but looks lovely.

Next up:

Can you guess what this amoeba is? Hmm, I think by calling it an "amoeba" I probably gave it away, since that is how it is so often described. Well, anyway, it is the beginnings of my first Baby Surprise Jacket. The pattern, of course, is genius. The yarn, well.... I'm using Patons SWS in Natural Plum. I love the color and the way the striping is going. But the yarn itself is very...un-yarnlike. It's what I imagine roving to be like - there is no definitive plying or "ropiness" (for lack of a better description) to the yarn. It's just really fuzzy. It isn't horrible to knit with, and the finished object will probably be pretty soft, but I'm not loving it. Unfortunately, I'm not sure that I'll have enough of it to finish this, so I may end up having to buy more.

And, finally, we have the Clementine Shawlette from the Spring 2007 IK:

The pattern calls for you to knit 2 identical pieces, which are then grafted together. So this is the completed first piece (I've started on the 2nd piece but am not that far on it, so it wasn't worth photographing). I really like this pattern. It's incredibly simple to understand and memorize, and the way it is set up there really is no need to count stitches - it is very intuitive where you are supposed to do the increases and decreases. Again, my issue with this project....the yarn. I'm using KnitPicks Andean Silk in Orange. For the first time, I'm a little disappointed in the offering of my beloved KnitPicks. This yarn, while soft, has a lot of, uh, stuff coming off of it. I'm not wise enough in the ways of yarn to explain what is happening, but there are little strings that come off the yarn, making it fuzz. So, for example, if I'm wearing black when I'm knitting this, I end up with little bits of orange all over me. I'm hoping that when I wash and block that it'll somewhat alleviate the problem. When completed, if I'm satisfied with the finished product, it will be a Christmas gift for my sister.

So, that's what I'm knitting. I have 3 inactive WIPs (Norberta, the dreaded Tie-Cropped Cardigan, and a pair of basic house booties). I think I'm going to officially take Norberta and the cardigan off the list - I'm just never going to finish them. The cardigan - well, we won't talk about that. And while I think Norberta is cute, I just was not having fun knitting it. I may decide to complete the booties someday (they would just be for me), but I kinda screwed up on the first one, so I'd have to frog it and re-knit.

Also, I officially did give up on MS3. I saw some of the final projects, and while I appreciate the detail and the intricacy of the pattern, it just isn't for me. So I bound off what I had and will eventually block it and give it to my daughter for her dress-up bin. Someone might as well enjoy it!

FO machine

2007-08-17T15:36:00.001-06:00

That's how I feel right now - like an FO machine! I have yet another project off the needles:

Pattern: Bobble Blue Scarf from Yarn is My Metier

Yarn: 2 balls KnitPicks Wool of the Andes in Blueberry

Needles: US 10.5 straights

Modifications: Since the pattern calls for a chunky weight yarn, and I was using worsted, I had smaller bobbles. And while I didn't cast on any more stitches than called for, I did knit more pattern repeats (11 for Piece A instead of 9, and 10 for Piece B). Basically I just knit each piece until I finished up a ball.

This really is a great pattern. So quick to knit and with results that look more complicated than they actually are - thus, a great gift! And this will be gifted to my mother-in-law at Christmas. I think she'll like the color, and because I knit it with bigger needles, it'll be a little airier (she lives in Santa Fe and thus doesn't need the warmest scarf).

Now, I haven't yet blocked the scarf, so it will actually be a bit longer and wider than what it is now. Which leads me to a problem. I have 3 scarves that I've gotten off the needles recently but have yet to block (this one, my Clapotis, and the Branching Out scarf that I finished ages ago). I don't know why I am so slow to block - maybe because I don't have the greatest blocking space? Or maybe because I'm lazy? Ah, who knows. One of these days, I'll have a blocking extravaganza. I'm just happy to be starting another project - I actually only have one thing on the needles now (an Odessa hat for my sister). The horror! Must start additional project...

Clapotis finished

2007-08-13T11:48:00.001-06:00

Pattern: Clapotis from Knitty

Yarn: Hill Country Yarns Merino Silk in Indian Summer (3 full skeins and just the tiniest bit of a 4th)

Needles: Size 8 KnitPicks 32" circulars

While I originally bought this yarn to make the Clap for myself, since I was so kindly gifted one from Knit Mongrel, this one is going to be gifted (a Christmas gift for my mom). And since I have so much of the yarn left over (practically an entire skein), I'm also going to make the Clapotis hat.

I really enjoyed knitting this. It took me a while, since I was knitting many other things in the meantime (namely, the now defunct mystery stole 3), but when I was knitting, it went by pretty quickly. And the yarn is truly a joy to work with. My mom really like the Clap that Knit Mongrel made for me, so I think she'll be happy with this. I'm not entirely sure what she'll think of the colors, but I think if I give her the hat to go with it, she might be more inclined to wear it. And the colors are rather like sari colors, so I think she'll like that, too.

Oh, and by the way, I went to Stitches Midwest on Saturday (with Knit Mongrel and Knitdds) - holy schmoley, the yarn! And I am amazed to say that I walked away with none of it (as did Knit Mongrel - Knitdds was not so restrained, but she got some beauties that were definitely worth it). The really fascinating thing is that there was also a comic book convention or some such at the Rosemont Center, and as we were driving in, we saw a Boba Fett and Darth Maul. Crazy. Although certainly crazier would have been Darth Maul knitting himself a light saber cozy. Now that would've been a sight to behold!

I knew I married him for a reason!

2007-08-09T15:04:00.000-06:00

My husband has often teased me for my knitting habit, calling me grandma when he sees me curled up on the couch watching TV with my knitting on my lap. He has rolled his eyes with other knitter spouses when my knitting pals and I have gone on endlessly about fibers and patterns.

But although he may not understand my knitting/fiber addiction, he apparently is willing to feed it. He was in Santa Fe over the weekend visiting his mother, and he actually made a trip to a yarn store. And not only did he get me yarn (oh, boy, did he get me yarn!), but he got me the most gorgeous yarn ever! Stuff I would have drooled over but probably not actually purchased.

He's a good man.

Let me show you what I got!

This is Sirino from The Great Adirondack Yarn Company (which is somewhere between lace and fingering weight) in Black Violet. It is 50% silk/50% merino, and there are 675 yards of it! The picture doesn't capture the color well; it's a great mixture of black and a beautiful purple (my favorite!).

Then we have this:

This is Boomerang by Fiesta, which is a worsted weight, 100% extrafine superwash merino, in Abalone. He got me 2 skeins of this, at 320 yards/skein.

Finally, there's this:

This is Kiki, also from the Great Adirondack Yarn Company, and it is a worsted weight 50% alpaca/30% silk/20% merino. The colorway is Trillium. I have 4 skeins of this, at 250 yards/skein. I can't even begin to describe to you how buttery soft this yarn is. Ooh la la!

And here I thought I'd do a little yarn freeze until I had knitted up some of the many projects on my list! But if I'm going to melt a yarn freeze, might as well be will some of the nicest yarn I've ever owned! Since my wonderful, thoughtful husband gifted this to me, I am determined to make sure that whatever I knit with this stays mine! So now the question is - what do I knit with this?

I'd like to do a lace stole/shawl with the Sirino, but I need something that won't get lost with a multi-colored yarn. Knit Mongrel, didn't I see some time ago that you were doing the Baltic Sea Stole? Do you like the pattern? Of course, I have no idea how much yarn that pattern calls for, but I feel like I can do something pretty respectable with 675 yards. I, of course, also have Victorian Lace Today to look through, but since almost all of those are pictures in solid colors, it's hard to tell if a variegated yarn will work well with the patterns.

I have plenty of the Kiki to knit another Clapotis, this one for myself. Of course, I already have a lovely Clapotis gifted from Knit Mongrel, so I don't really need another one. And I have absolutely no idea what to do with the Boomerang. So, people, any suggestions you might have for projects will be greatly appreciated!

Man, it's times like this when I really wish I had my Ravelry invite.

And so it goes

2007-08-06T21:05:00.000-06:00

Well, as anyone who's doing the MS3 knitalong knows, the theme was revealed last week to be a Swan Lake thing. So the finished stole is supposed to be asymmetrical, to be in the form of a wing. My first reaction when I read the theme and saw the rough design of the finished project was, uh, pretty much that I didn't like it. The designer did give an option to make the stole symmetrical, but because I opted to do a shorter version of the stole (since I had to frog the whole thing a couple of weeks ago), following the instructions for a symmetrical stole would result in the world's shortest stole. And while I could probably figure out how to add some length to it, I'm not sure that it's worth it. I'm just setting the project aside for now, figuring I can always go back to it later if I want. But at this point, I'm more inclined to just call it a day and use the remaining yarn for something else (I don't think I can salvage and reuse what I've already knit, since the bamboo yarn I'm using is so splitty). Like I said, I'll let it sit for a while before I make any drastic decisions. In the meantime, I certainly have enough other projects on the needles.

For example, I have my Clapotis. I'm almost finished with the straight row section and am about to start the decreases. I'm so sorry I haven't posted any pictures of it, but the yarn colors are difficult to photograph well (particularly when your photography skills are menah menah). I also started an Odessa for my sister, but this is my train knitting project so it's going slowly (since I only need to take the train to work once a week - yeah, I have a really good part-time setup). Then this weekend I just cast on for a Bobble Blue Scarf. I'm enjoying this pattern so far, and it's a really quick knit so it shouldn't take me too long to complete (although I think I'm going to try to finish the Clap first, since that's been on my needles longer).

All of the above WIPs are projected Christmas presents. Yes, I'm planning my Christmas knitting this far in advance. There's no way I'd come even close to completing the gifts I want to make if I hadn't already started. Plus, I'm not much in for summer knitting, since summer knitting for the most part appears to be garments, like summer sweaters and tanks. And my experience thus far with these types of projects has not been productive. So for now, I'll stick to scarves and socks and hats.

What have I been up to?

2007-07-31T10:22:00.000-06:00

Well, let's see. Since my last post, I went to Boston for a few days. Of knit-worthy note, I completed the Branching Out scarf. I used just under 2 balls of KP Elegance (70% Baby Alpaca/30% Silk) in Grass, which I think gave me something like 31 pattern repeats. I don't have pictures yet because I still have to block the scarf.

Speaking of which, I was driving on the north side of Chicago yesterday and passed a dry cleaner (I think). This would usually go unnoticed by me, except that there was a large green sign on the window stating "Knits blocked!" What a temptation! I don't know why, but I really hate blocking. I think it's because once I've finished the creative part of the knitting, I feel like my job should be done. Plus I don't really have a good space for blocking. Currently, I use the bed in our guest room. Which creates problems when we have guests.

While in Boston, I also visited Windsor Button (acclaimed by both Grumperina and Knit Mongrel). The sheer volume of yarn and other crafting supplies is quite impressive. I am quite proud of myself, though, that I didn't succumb to the pressure - I actually just browsed a while, petted some yarn, and then walked out without making a purchase. The will power amazed even myself. But I currently have more yarn than I know what to do with, so that helped me refrain from purchasing. Well, I actually know what I am going to do with most of the yarn I have. It is finding the time to actually do what I plan to do that is causing me grief. Yeesh.

Hmm, what else? I've been knitting along quite diligently at the Mystery Stole 3. Here's what I have so far (I'm about 20 rows from completing the 4th clue):

All right, so I need to 'fess up something on this. I actually had knitted halfway through Clue #3 when I noticed a (to me) rather large screw up in the knitting. I had dropped or added stitched at some point, and I thought I had adequately fixed the mistakes, but I didn't. And because I had been rather cavalier about the placement of lifelines, it wasn't something I could easily fix. So (take a deep breath), I frogged the whole thing and started over. I figured, since we had 2 weeks for Clue #4, that now was the time to do it. So I very diligently knit and knit and am caught up again. But man, I definitely learned my lesson and am placing frequent lifelines!

Other than that, in the knitting world, I'm still plugging away at my Clapotis. I also started an Odessa for my sister. MS3 has kinda taken over my knitting life, so I haven't had much time for anything else. But I try to get bits in on my other WIPs when I can.

And I had to take a bit of a break from knitting last weekend to join the hordes in reading the final installment of Harry Potter. Don't worry, there will be no spoilers here for anyone who hasn't finished it. I will say, though, that I was not completely satisfied with how Ms. Rowling wrapped up the saga.

Happy knitting, everyone!

2007-07-10T08:52:00.000-06:00

I received the most wonderful gift from my Secret Pal yesterday - my own copy of Victorian Lace Today! Every time I go to the bookstore, I thumb through this book, but I've always refrained from purchasing it. And now, I don't have to! This book is so unbelievably gorgeous, and I'm already making mental notes of the patterns I want to try out. My Secret Pal also revealed herself as Alexis of The Longest Yarn. Alexis, I have been so spoiled by you, and I've loved every bit of it! Thanks so much!!!

Alexis's gift couldn't have come at a better time, too, since I've become SOOO into lace knitting. I'm enjoying the Mystery Stole 3 KAL a lot more than I thought I would. Since I'm going to be out of town for the rest of the week and didn't really want to travel with a cone of laceweight yarn at my side, I worked overtime on MS3 over the weekend and got through the second clue. Here's how it looks:

I was so worried when I joined the KAL that I wouldn't be able to hack the lace knitting. And I don't necessarily expect to stay this on top of the clues as the KAL progresses. But I find that I really enjoy the challenge of lace. And I love how it is turning out. So I definitely see more lace in my future. And now, I have an excellent source for patterns and ideas!

It's been a while...

2007-07-06T08:58:00.000-06:00

...since I've had any yarn pr0n to show off. Not that I haven't had the pr0n, and with the recent increases I've made to my stash, I should have lots to show of for some time to come. But my camera doesn't take the best pictures, or I'm just not the best photographer, so getting good pr0n shots can be a bit tough. But I got some decent pictures of one of my more recent acquisitions.

This is Dream in Color superwash merino, worsted weight, in the Dusky Aurora colorway. I saw this at my LYS and fell in love with the colors. One skein will probably be booties that will be gifted for Christmas, but I don't know what the other skein will be. Maybe booties for me?

I've used Dream in Color yarn before, and it knits up really nicely. The only thing about it is that the dye from the yarn rubbed off on my bamboo needles. Not that I really care, but I just have never had that happen with yarn before. Maybe because it's hand painted (as opposed to hand-dyed? I don't fully grasp the difference).

I must be crazy

2007-07-03T14:25:00.000-06:00

Because I signed up for Mystery Stole 3 last week. I fully blame Knit Mongrel for my dementia. I originally figured it wouldn't be such a big deal for me to join, since I already had enough lace weight yarn and Bryspun needles, which are supposedly great for lace knitting. But I discovered that my lace weight is more like cobweb weight (I'm not sure if that's a technical term, but I think I've read that term online, and it seems to accurately describe the stuff I was using) and I didn't like how it was knitting up at all. And I wasn't digging on my Bryspun. Well, to make a long story not terribly longer, I settled on some beautiful 100% bamboo yarn (Silk City Yarns Bambu 7, to be specific) in my favorite color, purple (to ensure that I keep this knitted item for myself - more on that later) and size 2 Inox circulars. I couldn't actually pick up the required amount of yarn until yesterday afternoon, so I only cast on last night (although the first clue was posted on Friday). But I'm about halfway through the first chart. Wanna see?

The color in this picture isn't entirely accurate - it's much more of a royal purple than blue. Doesn't look like much yet, but I love it! I really like how the bamboo feels. It's really splitty, which can be a pain, but overall, I haven't had too many problems with it.

The MS3 designer recommended a black or white yarn for this project, and I could've purchased some black bamboo for this. But Knit Mongrel and my LYS owner both said that knitting with black yarn is not so much fun. Plus I kinda figured that I'd be more inclined to gift the stole if I knit it in black. And that's a problem because in a year and a half of knitting, which includes a number of FOs, I HAVE NEVER KNIT ANYTHING FOR MYSELF!!! That's so wrong, isn't it? I mean, I love to knit for others, but I think it's about time I make something for moi. So, since I don't know anyone who loves purple as I do, I figured if I got the purple bamboo, I'd be more likely to keep it than find a reason to gift it.

A girl could get used to this

2007-06-23T14:41:00.000-06:00

"This" being finding skeins of yarn magically in one's mailbox. Yesterday, I got this little gem:

It is 360 yards of hand-dyed superwash merino wool sock yarn from Cherry Blossom Fibers in the "90s Youth" colorway. Gorgeous! I absolutely adore all the colors in this skein! Thanks again, Secret Pal! I cannot wait to figure out what this will become!

I didn't order this...

2007-06-20T17:59:00.000-06:00

...but I am certainly happy to receive it! I returned home from work today, checked the mail, saw the package of KnitPicks yarn I had ordered (hey, they were having a sale), and then saw another package. It was from Elann.com, a site I had visited but from which I had never ordered. Intrigued, I opened it up to find this:

600 yards (!) of 50% alpaca/50% fine merino laceweight in the loveliest plum-y shade! I can only assume that I have my generous Secret Pal to thank for this! I am so excited to use this - I'm always seeing these lovely lace shawls that I'd love to knit, so I'm eager to browse through some lace patterns to find the perfect one for this. Thanks so much, SP!

An FO a long time the making

2007-06-14T13:00:00.000-06:00

I FINALLY finished knitting hubby's Shifting Sands scarf last week! I still need to block it, but I figured I could show off some pictures anyway.

I used under 2 skeins of Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport in Cedar for this. Unblocked, it's about 55 inches long. Here's a closer shot of the many, many, MANY cables in this scarf.

Truly, though, the cables were not so difficult to do, following Grumperina's instructions on how to make cables without a cable needle. It's really a great pattern because it isn't too boring, but it also is not so complicated that it requires focused attention. And I truly think this is one of the more beautiful items I've ever knit. I hope lucky hubby appreciates this! I think he does, see that it took me, oh, 6 months to knit this! Not dedicated knitting, of course, and many other projects were begun and completed in the interim. But still, 6 months!

Another gift

2007-06-07T20:05:00.001-06:00

As promised, I need to show off another gift I recently received. But a bit of set up first. If you read Knit Mongrel's blog (which you should if you don't), you're probably aware that she recently completed a Clapotis. This Clapotis was actually her second one, since, heartbreakingly, she had lost the first one she knit some time ago. Boo. However, in the course of cleaning her place in preparation of an imminent move, she found Clap the First. In response to her blog post about it, I jokingly told her that this meant she could give one Clap to me. Well, little did I know that before I had even posted that response, Mrs. Mongrel had already wrapped up Clap the First for me! I was (and am) so excited! It's gorgeous. See:

I absolutely love it! It was actually a bit chilly in Chicago yesterday, and I was thrilled because it meant I had a reason to wear my Clap! Thanks so much, Knit Mongrel!

In other news, I finally finished hubby's Shifting Sands scarf. No photos yet, since I haven't yet had a chance to block it (seeing as my blocking room aka our guest room is occupied at the moment with my in-laws). But I'm very happy with how it turned out. I still can't believe I actually did all of those cables. An entire scarf's worth. With sock yarn. Yowza.

Periodically, I go through organizational phases. I've cleaned out my closet (mostly - I have a lot of crap to go through still) as well as the kitchen pantry. So I decided to put my organization craze to some real use and organize the stash and my WIPs. Now, my stash is modest compared to some, so I have all my yarn stored in just a few plastic Container Store-type drawers. But the coup de grace of my anal retentiveness was the creation of an Excel spreadsheet, listing out my needles, WIPS, future projects for which I have yarn in my stash, future projects for which I need yarn, and extra yarn in the stash. I roll my own eyes at my nerdiness sometimes.

But this means it's quite easy for me to tell you what I currently have on my needles. I have a pair of house socks that I'm knitting for my mother-in-law for Christmas (yes, I'm slowly starting my Christmas knitting already - I refuse to be caught at the last minute as was the case last year). I am in the middle of a Branching Out, which will probably also be a Christmas gift. I just the other day cast on for a Monica for my daughter. And last, but not least (well, maybe least), I have a Norberta. Now, technically, Norberta is not on my needles, being something that's knit in pieces and seamed together. And you all know my history with seaming. So I've knit some of the pieces, but we'll see if I ever finish it. But since I'll probably never have another use for the yarn I purchased for it, I guess I might as well keep it in the WIPs list as a possibility. I know my daughter would love it, so in the end, that may be the incentive I need to finish it.

Bad, bad blogger...

2007-05-24T12:49:00.001-06:00

...and bad, bad gift recipient. See, I've been lucky enough to have received a couple of wonderful gifts over the last few weeks, but I haven't yet acknowledged the generosity on this blog. So time to rectify the oversight! Each gift is so wonderful that each should gets its own blog post. So we'll start with the one I got first, which was another package from my Secret Pal:

I got 3 balls of Patons SWS in Natural Plum. This is 70% wool and 30% soy - love the fibers created from non-traditional sources! And the colors really are wonderful. SP also sent me a pattern for "My So-Called Scarf" to make with this, which I think will look totally fabulous! I also got some Life Saver candies and a yarn cutter pendant. I also got some chocolates that have (ahem) somehow (uh) just, uh, well, I guess they just aren't around any more. :)

But my favorite item in this package is the little dandy on the left. Let's see it close up, shall we?

This is sock yarn that my lovely SP hand-dyed just for me! She calls the color "Blurple," which describes it perfectly. I love it! I've never had personally hand-dyed yarn before, so I'm so thrilled to have gotten this. They are definitely going to end up as socks for me!

Thanks again, SP, and please accept my humblest apologies for not posting this sooner.

Though I haven't been blogging, there's actually been quite a bit of knitting going on. I'm still plugging away at the hubby's Shifting Sands scarf. Yikes, I know, this was supposed to be a birthday present for him (and his birthday was in March). But I figure he doesn't need it until at least the fall now, so it's been easy to put it to the side. But I've recently needed some mindless knitting, so I've made some good progress on it and probably only need another 4 or 5 inches on it before I can bind off. I really love the way the scarf looks and can't wait to post the final product.

I've also been knitting many baby things - some for Knitdds, whose little squeaker (as she so affectionately dubbed him) made an early arrival, so I had to finish up a hat (the pattern is from the One Skein book) and some little baby socks (the pattern for which I found somewhere on the Interweave web site). I had also made a baby blanket (a pretty simple basket weave pattern with garter stitch border). Of course, I forgot to take pictures of all these things before giving them to her. Oops.

Well, I'm off to exciting Louisville, KY to attend a cousin's wedding extravaganza. And I mean extravaganza, as there are 3 days of festivities planned. I'll post my other awesome knitted gift when I return!

Yarn Pr0n!

2007-04-27T07:58:00.000-06:00

Today's Yarn Pr0n Friday is brought to you by our friends at Rowan. More specifically, Rowan Tapestry in Color 177 (Lead Mine).

This is a blend of 70% wool and 30% soybean protein fiber. How is yarn spun from soybean fiber? Beats me. But I was interested in testing it out. I think I'll probably turn these into some fingerless gloves at some point.

A very blueberry T

2007-04-24T11:38:00.000-06:00

I'm amazed at how quickly I finished this!

Pattern: Very Berry T from March 2007 MagKnits

Yarn: Crystal Palace Bamboozle Yarn in Blueberries-Grapes colorway

Needles: Size 7 Addi Turbos (16") for body and size 7 bamboo dpns for sleeves

This FO is definitely not perfect. I made a very visible error in one row of the lace pattern but didn't really notice it until I was way past it and too lazy to go back and try to correct it. I also had some trial and error going on when I was attaching the sleeves to the body, which resulted in some gaps. But luckily, they are at the underarm and I was able to kinda fudge them closed.

I'm concerned that this is going to be way to small for my daughter. I made the 4 year old size (my daughter is a petite 3 year old, but I figured I'd still err on the side of being too big), but I'm not sure it will fit her. I have yet to block it, so maybe I can get some size out of it that way. I probably won't get a chance to block until this weekend, so if all goes well, I can post a picture of the kid wearing it! Otherwise, I'll have to find some other lucky little girl to be the recipient of this.

This edition of YPF is brought to you by...

2007-04-19T15:51:00.000-06:00

...my most awesome Secret Pal! I know, I know, it's only Thursday, but I was so excited to get this that I had to get a jump start. I went as normal to check the mail today to find my usual bills, junk mail, etc. And a package. Hmmm....let's see what was inside, shall we?

Just this!

OK, see that on the left? Those are Knitpicks color cards! Oh, SP, you know me and my addiction to Knitpicks so well. I mean, come on, I love that! And it will be ever so useful to me. Then there's also some Tofutsies yarn:

It's sock yarn made of 50% superwash wool, 25% soysilk, 22.5% cotton, and 2.5% chitin. That's chitin, as in fiber made from shrimp and crab shells, which is naturally antibacterial. I love that she sent me this! In addition to really liking the colors (you know how I loves me some purple), I love that it's such an unusual yarn. Then, there's this:

That would be 2 balls of Berroco Gem in Sphalerite. So sparkly and pretty - I'm thinking a little wrap perhaps?

Do you think I'm finished yet? Oh, no, not by a long shot. Sit back and relax, my friends. Let me show you some more:

That would be a knitted cupcake. With beads for sprinkles. This might possibly be one of the cutest things I've ever seen. Then there are these:

Some oh-so-pretty stitch markers. I've never had pretty stitch markers before, just the boring blue and pink rings. So me likey.

And last, but in no way least, are 2 bars of the yummiest milk chocolate (yes, I already tore into one to try :). Ahh, how could I not love a woman who sends me chocolate in the mail?

Well, I feel sufficiently spoiled! And to my wonderful Secret Pal, my sincerest thank you! You definitely made my day!

Warm feet

2007-04-17T08:26:00.000-06:00

After what seems like many, many months, I finally have these to show off:

Pattern: Baby Cable Rib socks from Sensational Knitted Socks

Yarn: Knitpicks Gloss in Woodland Sage (less than 1 skein for each sock)

Needles: Size 2 Knitpicks dpns

While it did take me a long time to finish these (I finished the first one way back in January), it is only because I was knitting many other things in the meantime. But I kept occasionally plugging away at these, and I'm so happy that they are finished! And I'm already trying to decide which pattern to go with for my next pair of socks. I love knitting socks!

I'm also really rocking on the Very Berry T for the kid. I didn't take a progress picture, but I'll try to post one soon. I love how it's turning out and how quickly the knitting is going. I'm feeling quite productive lately!

In other knitting news, I'm happy to report that I've finally visited the acclaimed Arcadia Knitting! I just loved walking in to the skeins and skeins of yarn, all organized by color. I went with Knit Mongrel and Karen from Yarn is My Metier, whom I met for the first time yesterday. We met, along with KnitDDS and her mom, at an Indian restaurant for some authentic South Indian cuisine (mmmm....masala dosais). I've been reading Karen's blog for a while, so it was really nice to finally meet her! And she made KnitDDS the most amazing baby blanket (and even gave her more yarn to continue knitting it herself). I totally envy this woman's skills with needle and yarn! Anyway, afterwards, I had some time to kill (since my in-laws are in town and had the kid for the afternoon), so I convinced Karen and Knit Mongrel to join me in my virgin visit to Arcadia. We had a lovely time, and I left with some yarn to make my sister an Odessa (she saw the one I made for my mom and requested one for herself) and some fabulous yarn for my secret pal. What a day!

Yarn Pr0n Friday!

2007-04-13T15:20:00.000-06:00

For today's pr0nny goodness, I give you:

This is Bamboozle from Crystal Palace Yarns in the Blueberries-Grapes colorway. It is 55% bamboo, 24% cotton, and 21% elastic nylon. I've never worked with a bamboo yarn before, but I read about them in the latest IK and was intrigued.

My main criticism of this yarn is that it comes un-plied (is that a word?) relatively easily. It unravelled pretty much immediately when I started casting on, making knitting that first row with my Addi Turbos (aka Blunty Stumpos) a little tricky. But I haven't really had a problem since then. It's otherwise a pretty nice yarn to knit with. And it's really stretchy.

I've already started the project I have lined up for this yarn - the Very Berry T from Magknits. See my progress:

I know, it isn't much. But it didn't take me too long to get to this point, so I'm optimistic that I may be able to get this finished in time for my daughter to be able to wear it this summer!

FO for a very good friend

2007-04-11T18:57:00.000-06:00

My friend Susie very kindly stayed at our house during our 2 recent trips to watch our dog, Homer, and keep him company. Homer was a very happy and contented boy when we returned, so we know she did her job well. Some time ago, on this blog, when she saw my first attempt at a Calorimetry, she expressed her desire to have one. Well, if that isn't a call to a knitter! I love it when people actually request my talents! So I took her to an LYS and she chose some lovely yarn. I had way more than necessary for a Calorimetry, so I also made her a scarf. Following Jessica's suggestion, I made a Short Row Rib Scarf. Check it out:

I was pretty pleased at how everything turned out. I was a little worried that I wasn't going to have enough yarn in the skein left over to make a decent sized scarf, but through the miracle of blocking, it all worked out fine. And the yarn ended up being really soft, especially after a washing. I liked how it all turned out, and I think Susie did, too (or, at least, that's what she told me :)

The Return of Yarn Pr0n Friday!

2007-04-06T07:52:00.000-06:00

Hi, folks!

It's been a long time since I've posted any pr0n. But this is such lovely pr0n, that I think it was well worth the wait!

This is the much-praised HandMaiden Sea Silk. And from what I see so far, this deserves all the praise it has received!

This is some wonderfully soft yarn, and if Grumperina is to be believed (which I think is a good bet), it knits up very nicely. I don't know what color this is, since I can't find a color on the label. But judging by the colors (or should I say colours) on the HandMaiden site, I'd guess it is Sangria. Or perhaps Origin. The colors are so incredibly beautiful, and my pictures definitely don't do it justice! This is a lace weight yarn, so I'll have to find a worthy lace project for it (that my skills are up to, of course). If anyone has any ideas, throw them my way!

In other news, I don't have the very special FO that I had promised. I'm lame. And I'm not going to drag out the suspense - I decided that I was not going to be undone by the sweater, and started seaming it. But it looks terrible, so I'm going to have to rip it out and try again. This time with the help of Knit Mongrel, I hope (to whom I have promised a dinner in exchange for a seaming lesson - hopefully, she's still up for it!). ARGGHHHHH!!!!!

But let's get back to happy thoughts - mmmm, Sea Silk. I think I need to go fondle the yarn. That'll cheer me up!

And.....we're back!

2007-04-02T13:24:00.000-06:00

We returned late, late Saturday night from our Colorado ski trip, which was a lot of fun. The snow was only so-so this year, and I'm not sure my skiing improved all that much, but it was a good time. And the kid seemed to really love being on skis (at least by the end of the week :)

I don't know if it was just the post-skiing exhaustion each day, but I didn't do nearly the amount of knitting I thought I would. I fully intended to finish the other baby cable rib sock, and while I made some progress, I didn't finish it. But the trip was not a complete knitting bust - I found a lovely LYS in Steamboat (The Fiber Exchange) and splurged on a completely luxurious, completely unnecessary, and completely beautiful skein. I'll save pictures and more details for Friday.

And I'm still working on the WIP I teased about in my last post. It's coming along slowly but surely. Hopefully I'll have pics for you by the end of the week!