*
*
*
I mean it!
I'm using OnLine Supersocke Cotton in Summer Colour 1043. I really like this yarn and recently finished a pair for myself! Hopefully I'll finish this one tomorrow and start its mate!
Saturday, September 27, 2008
The Christmas Rush Begins!
Christmas project #1: (Those who think they may be receiving my fabulous knit gifts should avert their eyes now!)
*
*
*
I mean it!
I'm using OnLine Supersocke Cotton in Summer Colour 1043. I really like this yarn and recently finished a pair for myself! Hopefully I'll finish this one tomorrow and start its mate!
*
*
*
I mean it!
I'm using OnLine Supersocke Cotton in Summer Colour 1043. I really like this yarn and recently finished a pair for myself! Hopefully I'll finish this one tomorrow and start its mate!
Gack!
Only 87 days until Christmas Eve! Maybe I've started in time.
Let's see...
- 8 pairs of socks
- 2 lace scarves (remembering what I've said about lace in the past)
- several baby sweaters
- anything else I've forgotten about
Friday, September 26, 2008
Knitting Night - September 24 2008
Knitting Night again! Woohoo! What fun to hang out with the ladies, knit, chat and eat treats.
Of course, not everyone is knitting!
I was spinning while Miss Maisy inspected my work.
Ms. K decided that she didn't care for the fabulous art of knitting and instead has chosen a rug hooking project. Of course she's been working on it for awhile. Quite labour intensive, I must say!
Ms. D continued with her lovely socks.
My sister Ms. DC continued with her (nasty) acrylic Rider mitts. Coming along nicely!
My other sister, Ms. DV, continued with a really cute cardi that she started as a complement to her wedding dress....however, the wedding was in July.
*tsk tsk*
Later on, Ms. DV decided to knit a nice little mousie toy for Miss Maisy!
Then it was time for Dilly Bars! Yummy!
Great night ladies!
Of course, not everyone is knitting!
I was spinning while Miss Maisy inspected my work.
Ms. K decided that she didn't care for the fabulous art of knitting and instead has chosen a rug hooking project. Of course she's been working on it for awhile. Quite labour intensive, I must say!
Ms. D continued with her lovely socks.
My sister Ms. DC continued with her (nasty) acrylic Rider mitts. Coming along nicely!
My other sister, Ms. DV, continued with a really cute cardi that she started as a complement to her wedding dress....however, the wedding was in July.
*tsk tsk*
Later on, Ms. DV decided to knit a nice little mousie toy for Miss Maisy!
Then it was time for Dilly Bars! Yummy!
Great night ladies!
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Baby Sweater
I love it when I send someone a knit gift and I get a photo in return!
My friend had a baby a couple of weeks ago. I even managed to send a gift before the kid was born! Yeah me!
Sweater & Booties
Socks
Hat
And here's a photo of the little muffin wearing his sweater! Complete with bunny buttons!
I love this sweater pattern. I've made it several times and people seem to like receiving it. It's roomy and easy to put on a baby, it's cute and it quick to knit! Even better, it's a free pattern that can be found at Quanah's Web Site.
My friend had a baby a couple of weeks ago. I even managed to send a gift before the kid was born! Yeah me!
Sweater & Booties
Socks
Hat
And here's a photo of the little muffin wearing his sweater! Complete with bunny buttons!
I love this sweater pattern. I've made it several times and people seem to like receiving it. It's roomy and easy to put on a baby, it's cute and it quick to knit! Even better, it's a free pattern that can be found at Quanah's Web Site.
Saturday, September 13, 2008
I suck at lace...
It's sad, I know. I've tried and tried but I just can't seem to knit lace! I mentioned my current project, the Surplice Camisole, in a previous post. It's pretty. It's easy. The lace portion has a two row repeat. "No problem" I think. " Even I can knit two rows!"
Wrong!
After picking up 90 stitches, working the foundation row where I increase one stitch to 91, I start. I complete one two row repeat and I now have 88 stitches. What? 88? Impossible. I know I have a short attention span, but how can I lose 3 stitches in 2 rows? Ahhhhhh!
So I "unknit" stitch by stitch for 2 rows. Nope did everything correctly, I think. But now I've managed to drop several more stitches. @#$$%%$#%^! I can't take it! I ripped everything out and stuffed the project back in my knitting bag.
I've been knitting for over 10 years...I can complete a pair of socks in 2 days (when I put my mind to it). I can do intarsia (albeit slowly and with much swearing) and complicated aran patterns (without a cable needle! Not that I'm bragging). What's so different about lace?
Maybe it IS my limited attention span. Maybe it's because I'm used to knitting in front of tv and movies. I don't usually have to watch what I'm doing. Maybe I need to lock myself in another room and try to concentrate for more than 30 seconds.
So here I am again, relegated to "practicing" a pattern before I put it into the actual project. Granted, I've ended up with some pretty nice scarves as gifts from this practice, but really! Some days I feel like I've had a stroke!
Here's my Practice Project. I'm trying to work with lace weight alpaca. It's beautiful, soft stuff (I looooooove alpaca), but it's like anything with the word "lace" attached freaks me out. Maybe I need a valium and a therapist!
Last night, after several attempts, I managed to finish 2 rows.
*sigh*
Wrong!
After picking up 90 stitches, working the foundation row where I increase one stitch to 91, I start. I complete one two row repeat and I now have 88 stitches. What? 88? Impossible. I know I have a short attention span, but how can I lose 3 stitches in 2 rows? Ahhhhhh!
So I "unknit" stitch by stitch for 2 rows. Nope did everything correctly, I think. But now I've managed to drop several more stitches. @#$$%%$#%^! I can't take it! I ripped everything out and stuffed the project back in my knitting bag.
I've been knitting for over 10 years...I can complete a pair of socks in 2 days (when I put my mind to it). I can do intarsia (albeit slowly and with much swearing) and complicated aran patterns (without a cable needle! Not that I'm bragging). What's so different about lace?
Maybe it IS my limited attention span. Maybe it's because I'm used to knitting in front of tv and movies. I don't usually have to watch what I'm doing. Maybe I need to lock myself in another room and try to concentrate for more than 30 seconds.
So here I am again, relegated to "practicing" a pattern before I put it into the actual project. Granted, I've ended up with some pretty nice scarves as gifts from this practice, but really! Some days I feel like I've had a stroke!
Here's my Practice Project. I'm trying to work with lace weight alpaca. It's beautiful, soft stuff (I looooooove alpaca), but it's like anything with the word "lace" attached freaks me out. Maybe I need a valium and a therapist!
Last night, after several attempts, I managed to finish 2 rows.
*sigh*
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Knitting Night
Tonight was the first official Knitting Night of the season! It's always so much fun to hang out with the girls and talk about yarn and patterns! Love it!
I'm very proud of one of the ladies. She learned to knit socks over the summer! She's an excellent knitter, so I knew it wouldn't be a challenge for her...but she knit a mitered heel on her first try! I feel like a proud mother! *sniff*
However, I did have one moment of shock and despair. My sister reaches into her knitting bag and pulls out..... (wait for it)....a giant ball of acrylic! Gak! Have I taught you nothing? "What. Is. That?" I asked. "That's an abomination!"
Well, she's knitting a pair of mitts for football games in the local team colours and decided she didn't want to spend money on decent yarn. So she's knitting away and suddenly (and loudly) proclaims "Acrylic sucks!". Hah! Didn't I tell you? Some people just never learn. Hope she enjoys those scratchy, stiff, nasty things at the next game. For godsake, don't come in contact with an open flame! Even funnier, her boyfriend is allergic to polyester! I wonder if that includes any fibres extruded from vat of petroleum by-products? Sounds fun.
I'm very proud of one of the ladies. She learned to knit socks over the summer! She's an excellent knitter, so I knew it wouldn't be a challenge for her...but she knit a mitered heel on her first try! I feel like a proud mother! *sniff*
However, I did have one moment of shock and despair. My sister reaches into her knitting bag and pulls out..... (wait for it)....a giant ball of acrylic! Gak! Have I taught you nothing? "What. Is. That?" I asked. "That's an abomination!"
Well, she's knitting a pair of mitts for football games in the local team colours and decided she didn't want to spend money on decent yarn. So she's knitting away and suddenly (and loudly) proclaims "Acrylic sucks!". Hah! Didn't I tell you? Some people just never learn. Hope she enjoys those scratchy, stiff, nasty things at the next game. For godsake, don't come in contact with an open flame! Even funnier, her boyfriend is allergic to polyester! I wonder if that includes any fibres extruded from vat of petroleum by-products? Sounds fun.
Monday, September 8, 2008
Socks
I started knitting socks about six years ago. Up until that time, I only knit with chunky yarn and swore I'd never knit with anything else! Then I saw an ad for Fortissima Socka Colori in a magazine an thought "WOW! That's the coolest thing ever!"
"Self patterning yarn? That's the coolest thing I've ever seen! Gimme some of that!" I said and immediately ran out and bought some. Only problem was, I didn't have a pattern. I know I found several patterns on the web, but for the life of me I can't remember where. I eventually bought a sock pattern booklet and began fighting with double pointed needles, which I'd never used before.
The part I remember best, is trying to Kitchener stitch the toe! Holy hell! I thought I'd had a stroke! Here I was...so close to finishing my first sock...and I can't...figure out...this...*bleeping *...Kitchener stitch! Aaaahhhhhhh! I'd stitch a few, then rip it out, then yell at Hubbo, then try again and repeat. After about six panic attacks and a near divorce, I finally locked myself in a bedroom and figured it out and I didn't look back.
That summer, I knit 18 pairs...but not a single pair for me. Over the past six years, I can't count the number of socks I've knit, but I've only managed to keep 2 pairs for myself. Well last night I finished pair #3! (for me!) While it's not really too exciting that I finished a pair of socks, it is exciting that I got to where a pair of my own to work today! Yeah!
"Self patterning yarn? That's the coolest thing I've ever seen! Gimme some of that!" I said and immediately ran out and bought some. Only problem was, I didn't have a pattern. I know I found several patterns on the web, but for the life of me I can't remember where. I eventually bought a sock pattern booklet and began fighting with double pointed needles, which I'd never used before.
The part I remember best, is trying to Kitchener stitch the toe! Holy hell! I thought I'd had a stroke! Here I was...so close to finishing my first sock...and I can't...figure out...this...*bleeping *...Kitchener stitch! Aaaahhhhhhh! I'd stitch a few, then rip it out, then yell at Hubbo, then try again and repeat. After about six panic attacks and a near divorce, I finally locked myself in a bedroom and figured it out and I didn't look back.
That summer, I knit 18 pairs...but not a single pair for me. Over the past six years, I can't count the number of socks I've knit, but I've only managed to keep 2 pairs for myself. Well last night I finished pair #3! (for me!) While it's not really too exciting that I finished a pair of socks, it is exciting that I got to where a pair of my own to work today! Yeah!
Saturday, September 6, 2008
Stash Containment - Part II
Yeah!!
Project Stash Containment is almost complete! All of my yarn is safely stashed in one location, easily accessible and readily viewable! For me, storage is all about visibility. "Out of sight, out of mind" is my constant battle cry! (Well...at least one of them, anyway.)
All of my UFOs are at the top, all of my sock yarn is in two bins at the bottom, everything else is in between and nicely labeled. I've also added a large basket for roving and handspun.
Stash sorting is quite dangerous, I've found. "Ooooh! I forgot I had that! It's so pretty! That would make a great....." You see where I'm going with this. I already have 15-17 projects on needles (fewer than I thought), so I certainly don't need anymore. My New Year's resolution for 2007 was to get everything off needles. That was more than a year and a half ago. Pretty sure I've added projects, not completed any. Oh well... one battle at a time.
*Yeah!*
Everything has a home!
Now I need to sew something to hold all of my needles, especially circular. Maybe I'll get to that tomorrow.
Project Stash Containment is almost complete! All of my yarn is safely stashed in one location, easily accessible and readily viewable! For me, storage is all about visibility. "Out of sight, out of mind" is my constant battle cry! (Well...at least one of them, anyway.)
All of my UFOs are at the top, all of my sock yarn is in two bins at the bottom, everything else is in between and nicely labeled. I've also added a large basket for roving and handspun.
Stash sorting is quite dangerous, I've found. "Ooooh! I forgot I had that! It's so pretty! That would make a great....." You see where I'm going with this. I already have 15-17 projects on needles (fewer than I thought), so I certainly don't need anymore. My New Year's resolution for 2007 was to get everything off needles. That was more than a year and a half ago. Pretty sure I've added projects, not completed any. Oh well... one battle at a time.
*Yeah!*
Everything has a home!
Now I need to sew something to hold all of my needles, especially circular. Maybe I'll get to that tomorrow.
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Realizations...
Between working on Project: Stash Containment and wandering around Ravelry, I realized a few things:
It's an easy pattern but I keep getting distracted by other unfinished objects: socks still on needles, friends having rugrats, sweaters on needles, cute cat toys, etc.
I'd really, really like to just finish this little sweater, get it blocked and wear it at least once before my boobs start dragging on the ground. Sounds like a lot to ask.
*sigh*
- I always knit for other people.
- I'm a very slow knitter.
- I have a very short attention span.
- I hate knitting necklines.
- I hate seaming.
It's an easy pattern but I keep getting distracted by other unfinished objects: socks still on needles, friends having rugrats, sweaters on needles, cute cat toys, etc.
I'd really, really like to just finish this little sweater, get it blocked and wear it at least once before my boobs start dragging on the ground. Sounds like a lot to ask.
*sigh*
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Monday, September 1, 2008
Stash Containment - Part I
In wandering around the main floor of my house, I found the following:
Now, this is just the main floor, mind you. I have an spare bedroom upstairs that I've claimed as an "office" but contains...you guessed it! Then there's the basement...
I think I need to go and take more photos. Then I need to have a frank discussion with myself regarding my addiction. Is there a 12 step program for knitters?
*sigh*
Now, this is just the main floor, mind you. I have an spare bedroom upstairs that I've claimed as an "office" but contains...you guessed it! Then there's the basement...
I think I need to go and take more photos. Then I need to have a frank discussion with myself regarding my addiction. Is there a 12 step program for knitters?
*sigh*
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