Sunday, November 27, 2005

Needles, hats, and a new book

Yesterday I stopped by at my LYS, Principessa had some business to take care off, and of course I stayed for a couple of hours. The way it goes usually, Paperino goes to the huge box of toys and park himself there, Principessa looks at yarns, and I just sit on the sofa and knit. Before leaving the house I told myself I need to remember to buy some US #6 dpn's - I did found the wrist warmers I am making, and then I remembered why I lost them. I was using some ugly plastic dpn's that made knitting with silk and wool not fun.
So I bought dpn's #7 and a book:

Knitting from the Top

Why did I buy #7 when I needed #6? Beats me. Why have I been wanting a book called "Knitting from the top" forever when I loathe knitting from the top? Again, I have no answer for you, my friends. It's kind of like when I decided to knit socks on two circulars since I do not like circular needles. Maybe I just want to be proved wrong.

I read the book anyway, and it is interesting. Still do not buy into the "knitting from the top is easy because you can try things as you go and there is no math involved". Unless Barbara Walker and I live in two different universes with very different laws of physic, I do not understand why she thinks I can't try things on while I am knitting from the bottom. And there is quite some math in her patterns. I was puzzled, but intrigued by the set-in-sleeves from the top, until I read I need to pick up stitches. No, thanks, I'll take seams over picking stitches every day of the week. And yes, there is another version with no picking up involved, but it is the one with a third of that, a sixth of this, if seems to me that the regular set-in sleeves are way simpler. But maybe it is just me. And I'll try everything once, even two circulars.

As for the dpn's #6, I love them, my favorite, Brittany, I am making mittens so that I can get rid of the almost a ball of Cascade 220 Superwash in red I have left from this:

Striped Pullover

The pattern is from Classic Elite Yarns, and be warned, my mom, who actually knitted the sweater, said that it is quite wrong. I thought it was because she does not read English, but then, after ripping out the collar twice today, I remembered that mom is always right. And I told Principessa too.

Oh, I said hats? Yes, the hats for the Preemie Project:

Preemie Project Hats

Thursday, November 24, 2005

Cables and socks

So, it looks like I almost like stripes and I definitely like cables again. Last time I made something with cables was, well, a long time ago. Done, lots of them, been there, boring. Or maybe not?

Little Cable Socks

Little cables on my mom's socks, due tomorrow and finished yesterday. I am so good.

And I survived Thanksgiving, with turkey, cranberry sauce, and gravy. Ok, I bought the cranberry sauce, but the turkey was all me, stuffing and all.

Wednesday, November 23, 2005

Tuesday was knit-along day

sockitalong
Finally something new to report in the socks department, socks for me and socks for my mom; the first sock was supposed to be for my mom, but then I tried on and it fits! My mom has smaller feet than me, so I casted on another pair for her.

pink
The MagKnits submission is pink!

scarfstylekal
I started Ruffles - 1/3 done.

Baby-KAL
Started a pullover for my new nephew, with Lana Grossa Lambwool.

FBBLogo
The bag with Heilo and Plassard Laine de Pays is done and felted, photo soon.

hopeful
I am past the armholes!

Peaceful Palms Knit Along
Now that I have joined this knit-along, I'll maybe finish my handwarmers? Maybe, if I can find them! UPDATE: I did find them.

Stashbusters
Augh, I haven't worked on my November stashbuster project in ages!

knituntoothersbutton
I sent the afghan to the Children's Village, the hat is going to Anne soon.

Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Two new knit-alongs

I joined two more knit-alongs:

Sexyknitters4

knituntoothersbutton

We are still deciding which pattern to knit first at the Sexy Knitters Club, while Knit Unto Others is a 2 week knit along for the charity of our choice (November 16th-30th, 2005).
Joining got me motivated to do the making of this, put it in a box, forget to take a photo before sealing the box, and ship it to the Children's Village. This hat is going to Anne.

On other knitting news, I have been working on my MagKnit submission (and I am very proud of myself for not mentioning it every day several times a day, well, at least not here, home is another story) and it is done. Kind of, I saw some very cute buttons at Full Thread Ahead last night and I think I'll trade ties for buttons. Need to get Pricipessa's approval first, she is very opinionated about what she will or will not model. So, Thursday morning, while the turkey is in the oven, I'll shoot the photos in the back yarn. Is it not going to rain, right?
The other pressing project are the socks for my mom, one is done, I finished the toe of the second one last night, they are due on Friday, I am golden.

Monday, November 21, 2005

Pie anyone?

You Are Lemon Meringue Pie

You're the perfect combo of sassy and sweet
Those who like you have well refined tastes

Friday, November 18, 2005

18 is not enough

Jessica is reporting that only 18 people responded to her plea for Earthquake Donations.
18?
Can't we do better, pretty please?
Peopel will die, people who survived the earthquake, will die.
The situation in Pakistan is worsening by the day.

bbcchildpicturesm

Wednesday, November 16, 2005

Yarn coming out

When He Who Makes Espresso is not here, this thing happens: yarn starts coming out of the cherry chest, the closet, and few other places. Don't know how it happens, I may give in to the theory that yarn has some cognitive capability and
1. It knows that I am lonely and wants to warm me;
2. It knows that HWME does not like yarn that much, so it stays away when he is around.
I wonder if computer parts, CPUs, and cables (the computer kind) start coming out of his closets and the garage when I am away.

So I am without caffeine again. This morning I gave up and I stopped at Peet's coming to work. And no, I won't use the espresso machine we have at home. HWME does not touch my stash, I don't touch la Pavoni - we have deal.

So, among the yarn that is coming out, Karabella Aurora 8 is particularly aggressive. She is right in my face, saying: “Knit me now! I know you want to, and you know what. I am going to be Almost Stripes and Pearl Buttons Cardi”.

Pearl Buttons Cardi really surprised me, she thought of that all by herself, I swear. Almost Stripes is me, I told her a while ago, you are going to be this and showed her the sketch, but no, Grape Aurora keeps saying: “Pearl Buttons Cardi, I say, start sketching!” Freaky. I am kind of glad HWME comes home soon, so I can shove her back in the cherry chest.

The problem is, I have a schedule and deadlines. And as much as I never follow a plan and I ignore deadlines, sometime a girl has to what a girl has to do, right? My nephew’s birthday was at the beginning of October, and I going to see him this weekend, so his sweater better be ready, right? Done, last night, finished, check. Need to sew the underarms, weave ends in, buttons, that’s it.

My MagKnits submission needs to be by Friday 25th, but that is Thanksgiving week, so I really want to finish this week and take the photos this weekend. I need to knit the sleeves and I am done. And on that subject, thank you so much for all the kind comments and congratulations. The December issue is going to be a kids issue, and my pattern is a girl cardi – not saying more.

My mom’s birthday is in less than 10 days, and I am making her socks with this. Well, maybe one and she gets the second for Christmas, what about that? She is mom, she will understand if I tell her that it is Ruffles' fault, right?

You would think that a yarn called “lily” would be shy and polite. No, Lily was the first one jumping out of the chest as soon as HWME was out the door.

Tuesday, November 15, 2005

Aftershock In Pakistan

Five weeks ago, an earthquake struck Pakistan, and then the event seemed to disappear. It disappeared from our newspapers, from our television screens and from our minds. Perhaps it was just one natural disaster too many this year. But here’s the aftershock: the situation in Pakistan is worsening by the day. The death toll continues to rise and is now close to 90,000.

Keep reading ......

bbcchildpicturesm

Monday, November 14, 2005

Scarf Me!

Look what Becky sent me for the Scarf Me! exchange:

Scarf me!

Isn't it beautiful?

Friday, November 11, 2005

When I do not know what to do

When I do not know what to do, I knit a hat:

Hat

Not that I do not have plenty to do, but you know, the satisfaction of a quick project. No socks for me, those are two, I need to do it twice, and I am never fumbling with two circulars ever in my life, so they do not qualify for instant gratification project.

Still de-stashing.

Wednesday, November 09, 2005

Thank you, secret pal!

flowers

Tuesday, November 08, 2005

Accepted

One of my pattern has been accepted for the December issue of MagKnits - I am so excited I can hardly sit still, or work (shhh, don't say that).
I need to knit up the thing in 10 days, but who cares? I am happy.

Even if I'll have to leave my scarf alone for a while, but let me tell you, if you happen to see some Schaefer "Helene" at your LYS - I got mine at Full Thread Ahead - just buy it. Do not pay any attention to the price, don't listen to that voice that says, "you do not need it", just get it, you won't regret it.
I can't show you what I am doing with it because I made up the pattern for the scarf - and that reminds me, I frogged the damn thing ten times until I got the stitch to look exactly I wanted it and the yarn look like it was not even wound, this stuff is magic - and so I have plans for it. But I love it so much.

But I love being published even more.

EDITED TO ADD: Can this day get any better? My SP6 sent me some beautiful flowers. I am going with the theory she is psychic and knew about the pattern being accepted. I'll try and remember to bring my camera to the office tomorrow so I'll take a photo of the flowers - I get all my packages delivered to work, and that's just perfect because it is where I spent my day. Now with beautiful flowers to cheer me up!

Monday, November 07, 2005

Some time you think it is fate?

Elann is offering Rowan Chunky Cotton Chenille 505 off and Stephanie is coming out with a new pattern for a shawl that calls for that type of yarn.
The problem is, I do not like chenille. Need.To.Remember.That.
Otherwise it is going to be like the two-socks-on-two-circular thing - why on earth did I think that since I do not like one circular I would like two? The technique is simple and fool-proof, but listen to me: leave it alone if you do not like circular needles. So I frogged them, I am going to make Elfine's Socks and I am not using the magic loop.

Big bag alert: I felted it, and it is huge:


Slide the mouse over to see pre-felting pic.

White Buffalo Unspun and KnitPicks Wool of the Andes - 11x12 inches

Project tote? Big project tote?

Earthquake in South Asia Relief

bbcchildpicturesm

Click on the photo.

Saturday, November 05, 2005

How do you knit faster?

You get mom to knit:

Gramma

My mom is visiting, and when she is here, the house is spotless, the dinner is always ready when I get home, the laundry is done and everything is ironed, even the children's t-shirt. And then she needs something else to do, so she pokes around my knitting baskets. She does not like circular needles or dpns, so I casted a new project for her (she does not read English instructions, not that she needs to), the Striped Pullover for my nephew. Can I still say it is my x-mas gift when all I did was buy the yarn and cast on?

Something

Principessa finished the "thing" this week - I suspect Gramma's involvement as well. This needs to be felted, and Principessa has not decided if it is a bag or a bowl yet.

My felting project:

Big Bag

27x21 inches pre-felting, knitted on needles #17, White Buffalo Unspun and Knit Picks Wool of the Andes, can't wait to felt this (big) baby!

Wednesday, November 02, 2005

There is knitting going on

There is knitting going, just no photos because it is now dark when I get home from work. Don't get me wrong, I do love have an extra hour of sleep in the morning, and I am totally adjusted to it. No, let's be frank, I never adjust to have one hour less, so I am glad we are back to normal, even if I would not call "normal" having to get up in the morning. Mornings are for sleep.

I think everybody knows that yesterday post was a space filler, so what did I do since Friday?

I was at Full Thread Ahead both Saturday and Sunday, helping Hollis get the store ready. If you visit, and you should go, the store is beautiful and the yarns are amazing, please admire the DK section. Then I went back on Monday night for knit night, and more yarn petting.
Knitting news?
As I said, no photos, but I finished my White Buffalo felted bag - knitting goes really fast when you are using US #17 needles. I need to sew it up and then throw it in the washer. That will happen on Saturday so I can take the customary before and after photos.
I finished the back of my Debbie Bliss Simple Jacket with Collar and I started the fronts last night, already at the waist. I determined to finish this quickly because I really need a sweater and I want to move on to Jo Sharp. Still undecided between a solid color Sesame and Twist.
What else have I been doing?
I finished the toes of my two socks on two circular, I started the second sleeve my nephew's pullover (just occurred to me that he is coming on Saturday, I really should work on that), I frogged the sheep scarf, hid the Berbero, and I am strongly denying to everybody who asks that I have owned that yarn, I am pondering over the Tiger Eye Lace Scarf with Twinkletoes Socks Yarn (that yarn is way too scratchy to put on feet, I do not know who would do that, so I am making a scarf out of it, makes perfect sense, right?). As for Hopeful, Nothing But a T-shirt, and the Branching Out Handwarmers, I take the 5th. But I better finish Hopeful, Principessa has moved from "We can knit this together" to "Have you ever going to finish it?".

Tuesday, November 01, 2005

I am fire!

Your Element is Fire

Your power color: red

Your energy: hot

Your season: spring

Like a fire, you are full of power and light.
A born leader, you easily draw people toward you.
You are full of courage and usually up for anything dangerous.
You have a huge ego and love to be the center of attention.


But I hate spring. Seriously, it means no wool