Playing around

I'm not sure if this will work, but I'll give it a whirl. I'm trying to fix oh so many things here, and if it fails miserably, well, at least I tried.

Problems solved...almost

Here were the problems I was facing:

1. Large quantity of mohair (in a mauvy color); had originally been knit into a sweater, but was itchy and required another top underneath (it was hot enough on it's own, not to mention the shedding).

2. Bag of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino; had been bought for a wide neck sweater; however, it was discovered that this style didn't work well for me.

3. 3 skeins of eyelash yarn

4. 3 more skeins of mohair (cream and peach varigated)

Here are the solutions I have come up with:

1. New sweater, combining with lovely shade of brown wool (Wool of the Andes in Maple Syrup from Knit Picks). Possible Grecian Plait pattern for mohair; or combine yarns for entire sweater. Haven't completed all the details yet.

2. Since I doubt I can get the same dye lot in the same color, I decided to mix it with some other colors, and make an argyle sweater. I think with color 601 from Debbie Bliss, I can either go with spring colors or fall colors. I was first thinking about using Asparagus, Honey, and Petal from Knit Picks Merino Style to go with it, but now I'm thinking perhaps Moss, Butternut and Maple Leaf.

3. I still have no idea what to do with these 3 skeins. I have thought about combining them as well with something else, but what I have no idea.

4. I was originally going to make some Moebius scarves with them, but I've been considering combining them with something else as well.

I guess it looks like an advertisement for Knit Picks around here, doesn't it?! I guess since I'm on a budget, I'd like to get good quality at a good price. As nice as it would be to afford more expensive brands, I just don't have the budget for it. I figure I should get the biggest bang for my buck, and most other yarn suppliers just aren't that great of a deal. I know Knit Picks' quality is good (at least what I've seen and used) and they are cheap. They allow me to be a yarn snob without the budget. =0) Score one for the champagne tastes on a beer budget.

If anyone has any suggestions at all for anything, please leave a comment! I can always use an opinion!

Friday the 13th

Most people are superstitious when it comes to a Friday that's the 13th. I say, bring it on. Granted, I'm saying that as I have to constantly move my neck that's sore and stiff from knitting on the couch while watching the tube. At least that's what I think it's from.

I decided not to knit last night, since after cleaning the kitchen my neck started cramping. Of course, had it not hurt so terribly bad I probably could have convinced myself to knit anyway, as it would HELP my neck (there's a sucker born every minute, and it's sad when you consider yourself one). It's no worse than it was yesterday, but no better either. I can keep moving it and stretching it, and that makes it a little better. It's when I stop moving it that it gets stiff and really hurts when I try to move it. I'm sure people at work think I'm suffering from some weird affliction since I'm typing and wobbling my head around.

I'm still a little upset about my sock. I hate that I had to frog almost 4 inches worth of good quality work. But, maybe I can work on it some during lunch. I know, with a stiff neck? Sure, why not? It'll help it. =0)

Sock Issues

I thought I was almost done with sock number 1, only to discover after a stitch count that I hadn't decreased enough. Perfectionism set in (it is after all my first pair...they should be good, especially since they're one of the few projects for myself) and I took out about 4 inches worth! I did read my pattern and realized where I went wrong, and got ahead of myself. I had about 6 stitches too many, and I can fix that in another 6 rows. Maybe I'll finish this sock and the next one before March, but I wouldn't count on it. I do'nt know why it seems that I'm so slow with these. The Cigar gloves I knit for my brother seemed to go faster. Of course, I also worked longer on them in a sitting I think. I did spend a good bit of time knitting on the sock on Saturday. I think I'm going to sit down and read a little tonight, and then get cracking on the sock. I'm reading one of my Christmas gifts:

I love his work. I also received Son of a Witch, by Gregory Maguire. I need to finish Wicked before starting that though. I'm massively behind where I'd like to be in reading and in knitting, but I'll catch up. My goal this year is to finish stuff I've started. If I can just finish things (like a sock and a book) then I'll make progress and be moving forward. I guess that's really my goal...to move forward. I could say I'd like to lose weight, knit more, read more, blog more, but what it really all comes down to is moving forward.

I'm already moving forward by finishing this book (a week or so ago):

I love the series Outlander. There are lots of books to read at home, and being a bibliophile means there will always be another purchase. Of course, since my hubby is a bibliophile as well, we have a HUGE library. And it continues to grow. Hubby was working on the card catalog (not through the Dewey Decimal system, just by author) and it has expanded to three boxes, and it looks like we need another one.

I taught my brother to knit late last year (in October I think) and he's doing well. He's bought some really nice yarn (much nicer than what's in my stash) and some really nice knitting accessories, like this. It must be nice...but I have a hubby to support. In any case, he wants to start on some sweaters and socks this year, one of which being a cardigan from My Fair Lady. In case you haven't seen the movie (what's wrong with you?!), rent it and it's the cardigan Higgins wears after Eliza leaves. It's a camel color, and there's no band at the bottom. My brother has specifically bought the movie for this purpose...to deconstruct the sweater and replicate it with my help. Being the wonderful brother that he is, and having few financial responsibilities, he paid for my attendance to a class in March with...Annie Modesitt! It's very exciting, since I made the Backyard Leaves scarf from Scarf Style that was designed by her.

More good news...my computer is now connected to the internet at home! Woot! Maybe I can find a port on the back and connect my digital camera up, and then take pictures! That would definitely be exciting. Now, where did I put that camera?

Issues with set-up

I am having a few issues with some of my settings. I need to find the right links for the icons for Southern Knit Bloggers and for Knitting Blogs. For some reason, the links in the code don't work. Go figure. That requires MUCH more Html code than I know...which is none. I guess I should mess with it more and see what happens, but I'm at work, and that could get ugly. Although, I don't really think they care what I do just as long as everything gets done timely. It's now into my monthly lull, where I have virtually nothing to do unless they give me a special project.

On the knitting front, I can see my sock almost finished. I have about half of the foot knit, so it's just to complete the foot and then do the toe, bind off, and I will have finished my first sock (and it's about bloody time too). Then I just have to do it all over again. Maybe the second one will go faster, since I know more of what to expect. That's my hope anyways.

I have decided to try and find either a matching color or complementary color for the mohair. It's an odd shade of mauve that's near impossible to match, but I figure if all else fails, I can use a cream color to soften it. There's going to be a BIG order placed when I get to that stage. I still have to decide if I want to attempt the Lacy Mohair sweater from the Knit Simple magazine or not.

I'm coordinating a Secret Pal exchange on the Ample Knitters' list with at least one other person. That should be fun...as long as we can get stuff together. I hope that by the end of the week we'll have all the details ironed out about the exact method of operation and I can email the AK list. Once that's done, I hope within another week to have people paired off and get started. It sounds like a lot of work, but I'm not doing much around here, and I should have something to fill my time.

Socks, socks and more socks!

Well, I'm not done with them, but I've made good progress on one. I spent most of the weekend knitting the one unfinished lone sock I have. It fits too. I know that statement sounds odd, but I was at first afraid if I followed the pattern that they would be too small (I have large feet - we're talking a size 10-11 here people) and so I increased the size according to the gauge and prayed they would fit. Now that I've completed the heel (and a lovely heel it is too, if I do say so myself) and I'm working on the actual foot part, I decided on Saturday to try it on (provided that I wouldn't lose any stitches off the needles). I did, and oh, was it ever comfy! I can't wait to wear my crazy stripe socks.

I finished frogging the lovely purple sweater. Not the mohair, but the other one. It's sitting waiting on me to cast on and start a new lovely sweater with it. I think I've decided on a pattern; it will be one of my own creation, and it will look good on me. I will most definitely write it down as I go, and perhaps even submit it to a magazine somewhere. I also have to frog the mohair sweater and I'm going to attempt a pattern in the new Knit Simple magazine. I have to upsize it first, and then I have to consider my options for the other yarns, if I decide to go that route. I might use something else to soften it, and make it more substantial (so I don't have to wear something under it).

Over the New Year holiday, I knit up this. I used some leftover Wool of the Andes from KnitPicks, in Evergreen. It's a great way to use up leftovers. There's more planning, and hopefully once we stop having computer issues at home (power supplies seem to be hte main culprit) I can post some pictures.

Brilliant Ideas

I have just had two major break-throughs in knitwear design.

First, a sweater gone wrong...I tried to wear the Soft Focus sweater from an old book, and it just wasn't working for me. I made the sweater by the pattern (a first for me, since I always wind up modifying it for some reason or another) and it worked, but it wasn't the best style for me. Since I made it, and it wasn't very flattering (note to self: boatneck sweaters don't look good on EVERYONE), I decided I could modify the neckline slightly, so it wouldn't be so open and causing bra-strap issues. Once I did that, the neckline then proceeded to thank me by strangling me. It was not happy. It is now in the frog pond. Luckily, my crafty brain refused to give up on the warm and soft sweater...and now, after it is frogged (frogging still not complete), it will have new life as a lovely sweater with a crew neck (more flattering to me, although V-neck would be best...the details of the sweater haven't been fully decided yet).

Second, TONS of leftover yarn from various and sundry projects. I will make an afghan; one to use in the living room with the couch that should be replaced this year (hopefully). I think I'm going to go with a miter-square pattern for it, and then sew the squares together. Either that, or I'll be doing just a striped pattern. I'm leaning mroe towards the mitered square concept.

Third problem without a solution currently: the mohair sweater. I haven't figured out yet what to do with this, but it needs to be frogged and possibly worked into something like the lacy pullover in the Knit Simple magazine. It looks lovely, and simple, but it will give all that yarn something to do.

Fourth problem: Debbie Bliss Cashmerino bag. I have approximately 10 lovely skeins, and I was going to do a sweater, one with a boat neck, but after the Soft Focus fiasco, it would be better served doing something else. I haven't quite thought of what yet, but there's still time.

I have other small stash yarns, and most of those will get used up in lovely scarves, shawls, or wraps. I also think I might have solved my problem of the 3 eyelash skeins! A swatch is needed to determine if the solution will truly work.

Oh, more big news! I finally have a computer that can handle the software for the digital camera, and the software and correct cord for said camera is now in my possession. Hopefully, this will mean pictures soon! I know...I keep promising, but hey, I can only do so much, because believe it or not, I AM only human!

I love this time of year

New Years are great. It's a time for a fresh start, a new beginning. This promises to be a great year.

This year will be a great year for knitting. There are already some projects forming in my head, and hopefully I can put them into action before the year gets too far gone. I'm planning to use up my stash and replace it with yummy stuff (KnitPicks here I come!).

I have to buy some yarn for a friend...she's having a boy, who undoubtedly needs his own blanket, since I made one for his sister. I'm trying to decide between green and blue, and I'm thinking green, just simply because blue is so overly done on little boys. His sister got a really cool afghan, the Baby I.Q. afghan. Sure, it's crocheted, but it was cool to do, and easy. Of course, doing 16 granny squares does kind of wear you out a little, and you get tired of doing them, but it was really cool once it was all put together. I think her little brother needs an elephant, and maybe a cool sweater as well. However, she STILL can't fit into hers, and I used the 12 month size. She'll be 2 in April. Oh well...I guess the pattern was a little big. At least she can wear it later.

Cool reads

I went to Borders yesterday, and picked up a couple of knitting magazines. I could have spent a fortune just on those, but hey, I had other things to buy. I picked up this one, since it was the men's issue and my brother is into knitting now too. The articles were interesting, and I liked some of the designs for the sweaters. Most of it was men's wear, but that's ok...what woman doesn't like curling up in an oversized sweater on a cold day?! Sometimes having something huge makes you feel amazing. I liked some of the ideas as well. I think it has good potential for future work.

Then I was looking through the rack and saw this new one and there was an article about knits for plus sizes. That definitely caught my eye. I picked it up and flipped through it quickly, and just bought it. I'm hoping to write the editors and let them know WHY I purchased it, and perhaps they can do something about the lack of plus sized patterns in the knitting magazines. It might only be one voice, but better one than none. Who knows what might happen? They might do a spin off and make all the patterns in it for plus sizes. One can always hope.

I guess I'm gearing up for the new year. Last night we saw this:

It was good...really good. It was a good re-make, and although I haven't seen the original, I really did enjoy it. It was like a cross between the squeaky-clean movies of the 1930's and Journey to the Center of the Earth. The only drawback was there was someone who added some ambience through smell. Smell-o-vision would be great for cooking shows, but not for gorilla movies.

Woot for Christmas!

Well, Christmas was nice. I didn't get everything done that I wanted to, but Christmas still turned out nicely. I am hoping to knit more this year, and make presents for everyone for Christmas. I like doing handmade gifts, if for no other reasons than 1) they are generally cheaper and 2) they are more personal. I have some really hard people to buy gifts for...what do you get a retired person who has everything they need and most of what they want? For some people, the gifts are easy...sometimes they even provide a list.

This next year, my goals are going to be to reduce my stash and get through at least level one of the master hand knitter's course. There are some things I'd love to make just for Christmas, and hopefully I will make those as well. Then there are projects that are stacking up faster than I can knit them. I'm hoping that one of these days I'll have a good balance between stash and projects. Right now, all the projects I'd like to do I don't have the yarn for, and what I do have the yarn for I don't really want to do. Sad, isn't it?! Maybe I can fix that this year, and focus on what I have, find projects for that, and then the projects that I'd like to do slowly work towards getting the yarn for that. At some point, I need to see what projects I have started and where they need to go (finish them or frog pond?). There are also things in the frog pond that need frogging...maybe this week I can frog stuff. Keep your fingers crossed.

Time is all I need...

Just time. I wish I had more...I wanted to make some Christmas gifts. Oh well...I'll plan for next year. Maybe everyone will get socks. Everyone wears socks. Handmade socks all around...just what next year's Christmas ordered. Of course, that would mean I'd have to do at least one pair a month, and I haven't even finished the first one of mine yet! Oh well...maybe 2 at a time? I'm hoping to get some needles so I can do 2 socks on 2 circulars. Then we'll see how fast they go.

Patterns, patterns, everywhere...

So, I've been cleaning. I obviously have been doing something else, since I haven't been posting. Work's been a little more hectic, since it's the end of the quarter, but it hasn't been too terrible. I found patterns upon patterns upon patterns. I have 2 boxes stuffed full of patterns. I still have more left. I'm sure there are duplicates, and they're not organized, but at least they are all together. That's a step in the right direction. I have more organization to do, but we're sticking to cleaning for the time being, since Christmas is right around the corner.

I need to get my secret pal something. She's so sweet, and after having to put up with me all year, she deserves to get something nice. I'll have to see what I can find for her. Tis the season after all. =0)

Slow socks

That's what I'm going to title these things. They are SLOW. On the bright side, it gives me something to do while watching TV. I'm almost at the point of finishing the gusset of my socks, and then it will really be mindless knitting.

Good news...I finally moved almost all my yarn into the study. The bad news is that it doesn't currently have enough space, but that should hopefully be fixed tonight. I have 2 shelves to clean out of the Yaffa blocks (from my college days, but good for storing yarn) and fill them in with the rest of the yarn. That should be enough space, but I wouldn't hold my breath. I still have to figure out what to do with all my other craft stuff. I have cross stitch, crochet, tatting, and who knows what else lurking for storage. In my head, I think I've solved some of the storage problem, but the space problem is now before me. I might have an answer for that as well, depending on how I work things. Some measurements are going to be required. I am hoping in just 2 short weeks to be ready to start sewing on the stockings I want to make for Christmas. I have the felt (easy sewing) and my machine is all hooked up. All I need to do now is cut them out and sew them up.

Woot!

Woot! is all I have to say. My first sock is coming along nicely, although I have to admit that I am slightly worried that it's going to be too big. Oh well, if they are, all the more comfy.

I have to clean out my room tonight. I have TONS of yarn sitting in there. It all needs to join the rest of its family (Stash, Yarn Stash) in the study. It should be really nice and I should be able to divide and conquer a little at a time. I've been doing a lot of knitting, since my sinuses have decided to revolt against my throat, and now apparently my ear as well (it started hurting a little this afternoon). Oh well, more knitting time means socks sooner. I keep wanting those socks so badly...I can just imagine curled up on the sofa with those multicolored socks warming my feet. =0)

Sock Progress

Well, I finished the first pair of Cigar gloves for my brother. The second pair will come once I get some other projects done.

I turned the heel on my first sock! Woot! It's very exciting. I'm working on the gusset now. Oh, and more good news, I got the cable for the digital camera, so hopefully I can post pictures soon! It's been a long-time coming, I know.

The Georgia/Georgia Tech game was Saturday, and that provided good knitting time, with the exception of not having my pattern handy. So, I had to spend most of the third quarter writing it down. It was a sad game, since Tech didn't win. They should have won. It was a very football holiday weekend for me. I think I watched about 3 games total, with hubby watching at least 4 football games and catching pieces of college basketball games. Some days I just can't win for losing.

Progress

Well, I finished pair 1 of Cigar gloves. Woot! I have started the heel of sock #1. Woot! I'm hoping to finish sock #1 over Thanksgiving, and Friday I can get all my patterns organized. Hmm...it's time to start thinking how best to organize them. Any thoughts?

I also have to bake shortbread and a pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving. I thought about making a homemade apple pie as well, but since there will be a sweet potato pie there too, it might be a little overkill on the desserts.

Tomorrow is hubby's birthday, and we're headed to see this movie:





There's another Woot! I uploaded a pic with no problems (I hope). It's the first of many (I hope) on here. I'll take some pics this weekend and hopefully get a cable to the digital camera and post them (cross your fingers that I can find it).

Cool Thing I found while reading blogs...

Your Birthdate: March 23

You're not good at any one thing, and that's the problem.You're good at so much - you never know what to do.Change is in your blood, and you don't stick to much for long.You are destined for a life of travel and fun. Your strength: Your likeability Your weakness: You never feel satisfied Your power color: Bright yellow Your power symbol: Asterisk Your power month: May

What Does Your Birth Date Mean?

Wow...I'm bored at work.

Well, I'm bored at work. I have a ton of text to enter, and it's boring. It's mind-numbingly boring. So, I'm blogging. It's nice to be bored at work, for once. I have enough to keep me busy, but not enough to stress me out. I love a good balance.

So, I did actually finish the purple sweater, and I hated it. So, it's now in the frogging pond as well. I didn't work much on Cigar gloves, but today at lunch, I did finish the pinky of the second glove. That means only the thumb left, and then weaving in ends. Woot! It's close to being done. I think I found a pattern for the lovely mohair. A lovely lady from one of the lists I'm a member of sent me this link for a suggestion. Well, it was the only suggestion I got, but I think it would do WONDERFULLY for that yarn. I might even make 2, and give one to a friend. I also have another mohair blend that would look stunning in that. It might get made 3 times.

I think I'm going to try my hand at designing a sweater out of the purple stuff. I was at one point thinking of doing this sweater, but it needs to be up-sized for me. I'm just not sure that it should be all one color. I already emailed the designer and she was most encouraging about up-sizing it. I haven't decided if I'll do that one, or create my own, or a little of both.

Am I the only one who finds they always modify patterns? I think maybe it's because I'm just never content with how something looks on me, or perhaps it's just that I try to do stuff that's too small. Or maybe I just like to work on my math skills. I should keep a notebook on stuff like that. The calculations and whatnot of patterns I mean. Perhaps there's a perfectly logical mathematical formula for all of it. Ok, that was scary...I just sounded like a mathematician. I guess I am a mathematician for the business world.

I have also realized that in oh-so-many ways I'm WAY too practical. I'm trying to not be so practical for some things, and I think I need to extend that into my knitting. I need to go for what I like, whether or not it's practical. Who cares about practicality?! You only live once, and you should do as much as you can in this life. I'm not promoting insanity, but having fun. We all could use more fun in our lives. Who ever laid on their deathbed and said "I wish I didn't have as much fun in my life"? If someone has, I've never heard of it. Let's be thankful for what we have this week, and work hard on the knitting and have some fun with it! I might just free-form knit with the purple stuff. =0)

I'm trying!

I'm really trying to blog more! Look here...two posts in one week! Ok, so here's the progress. I have about 4 rows left on my purple sweater, so hopefully it'll be done this weekend and ready for wear come Monday. That will be nice, since it's started getting cold here. It got down into the 20s last night. That's cold, even by northern standards. *grins* I am working on the pinky of my brother's Cigar gloves. That should also hopefully be completed this weekend.

The next project is to take out my mohair sweater. I just don't like it. It's too big and clunky (if a sweater can be clunky). I've decided it's in the frogging pond and will be frogged soon. I think it will be a beautiful wrap instead. I think mohair works better for a wrap than for a sweater anyway.

Ack! I almost forgot about my socks! I have one pair on the needles (I'm close to starting the heel for the first sock) and another one waiting in the wings. I also have some sock yarn for a child's pair of socks. Those might wait a couple more months, like during summer. That would be a good light project that I could do easily and quickly (I hope).

I am also trying to budget for a Master Hand Knitter's Certification. We'll see how that turns out. I'm thinking sometime (like my birthday) I might buy myself the membership and the first level. That one should be easy to complete. I saw the requirements for it, and it doesn't look like the first level is too difficult or all that time consuming (also another good project for the summer - swatches). The second requires more thought, but I'm kind of disappointed in the paper requirements. It's a one-pager. What did I take all those English courses for?! I LOVE writing papers about things I'm passionate about. They might get more than they bargained for with the papers. *smirk*

Man, I almost forgot about some of the other projects that are in hiding. I have another pair of the Cigar gloves to do, Marvin the Paranoid Android to finish (I'm in the process of making and re-working some of the original designs - not that they're bad, but for me they're more of a starting point). I also have a felting project to try (lovely shades of Cascade to knit into a bag and felt), and lots of yarn for various and sundry other projects. I'm trying to be REALLY good and not buy more yarn (but gifts are ok *big grin*) and use what I have up.

I was going to make a tri-colored sweater, but now I can't find the pattern! I know it's around there somewhere, and perhaps when I get organized I'll find it. I thought it was in a magazine, but I've looked in all the magazines I thought I had at that time and can't find it. Perhaps I'm just wrong and I made it all up. Then again, perhaps this is a dream and in reality I've already completed it. If only...*sighs*

Once again...

I am falling behind on blogging. Oh well, at least it's for a different reason. This time I've been busy with cleaning and getting my life off of hold and started again. I'm doing a fair job of it. I love that I don't take work home with me. I love that I can leave on time without an excuse. So, what have I been doing on the knitting front? Well, I'm about 10 rows shy of finishing my purple sweater (again-the neck was too wide and needed modifying). I'm almost done with one set of the Cigar gloves my brother wants, and I'm part-way through a sock. I had problems finding a sock pattern I like with self-striping yarn. I didn't want any patterns in the sock, since I thought it would be too busy-looking with the stripes. I want to finish both pair of socks (there's another one waiting to be started) by Christmas. We'll see if that's going to really be possible. I know I'll have time to knit over Thanksgiving, and maybe I can get 2 circular needles going on the second pair, and do both socks at once. I have a dilemma...the purple mohair sweater I finished I just don't love. I need to do something else with it. So, it's to the frogging pond for it. I'm thinking a lovely lace shawl would work wonders for it. I'm hoping I'll be able to find something that I absolutely LOVE for it...this one needs a lovely pattern. I'm actually thinking of doing what David did with the other part of this yarn.

Ok, here's the story. A friend of mine had two colors of mohair, the mauvy pink and a lovely turquoise. The turquoise went to David, a friend of hers who knits. The rest went to me, because I also knit. David made a lovely wrap with his, in a leaf pattern. I'm thinking of doing the same thing, and then I can wear it with many different things, and it won't itch like crazy. I did wash the sweater, and I'm still just not crazy about it. It's definitely in the frogging pond.