Change of Schedule Already

Oh boy! The Lizard Ridge afghan is definitely not going to be a commuter project. Having to constantly turn the work to do the short rows means I won't able to stop wherever I am in the work then easily resume knitting - I forget where I was! It doesn't help that the wrapped stitches are hard to see, so I have to count them. Also, having to alternate working with the yarn from the outside then from the center of the ball every six rows causes what Aija calls "yarn burp." You should have seen the tangled mess I had last night! I was so frustrated that I didn't think to take a picture. The yarn is rough, the tangled mess started to felt together while I attempted to detangle it (bad sign!), then I discovered this while I was in the middle of a row:


Frayed yarn is manageable, but on top of everything thing else I've recounted... Why do people love this yarn so much? Maybe I should consult with my LYS about the yarn substitutions as i said I was going to. Looks like My So Called Scarf or the Anastasia socks, both of which have deceptively easy and memorizable patterns, will become commuter projects. OK, enough whining.

Made good progress on the Michael Kors Cardi. The first sleeve is half done:


I'm using Filatura di Crosa Zara Plus and it's a dream to knit (got it for nothing at Elann two years ago). Maybe when both are done I'll have the courage to face the rest of the project.

OK, I've joined the Leapin' Lizards KAL too.

I really like the new Lizard Ridge afghan on Knitty. I'm looking for a good project for my commute and this looks like a good bet. I forgot that I have one skein of Kureyon, so I can start with that. Now I'll be keeping an eye out for sales. The prices on eBay are no bargain because buyers are really bidding it up to retail and because, IMO, you really have to get lucky to find a bargain on eBay these days. The ads say it's a good felting yarn. Can you avoid felting by washing in cold water?

I bought a new Addi 16" US 1 at Aylin's Woolgatherer today. Now I can finish the Anastasia's in time for Socktoberfest. For you DC dwellers, Aylin's is in Loehman's Plaza. The mall's under construction, but she's still open. Aylin's having a sale until September 30th, by the way. I got some Manos del Uruguay on sale there to make My So Called Scarf. Got a few rows of it done while sitting in traffic today:

I started the Grey's Jaywalkers Thursday night. See?

Got a lot of work done on it. At this rate, I'll get to the STRs soon.

I'm going to have to allocate projects to days of the week. Grey's Jaywalkers on Thursday night, Orangina, Anastasia, and Broadripple every other night, Lizard Ridge everyday on the bus and metro, and the Michael Kors Cable Cardi on the weekend. Don't hold me to this schedule!

Good thing none of these KALs have a deadline.

Nothing bores me more than rib knitting. Orangina's a top down knit, ending with 3x3 rib. Bleh. It's about 16 inches long and hits me right at the waist, so I'm on the home stretch. I've changed the pattern a bit, making the lace section a bit shorter, and adding more ribbing so that it's more form-fitting. Got the idea from Cmeknit at So Much Yarn, So Little Time! I love her version.

I made the small size instead of the usual large because the Rowan Linen Drape I'm using stretches a lot. I figure I've knit in 4 inches of negative ease. I hope this puppy fits. I've tried it on, but you never really know until you've seamed it.

I joined the Fall Cable KAL 2006 in order to jumpstart the MK Cable Cardi. The back is finished; the front left section is 3/4 finished, but I can't tell where I left off in the rather elaborate instructions for shaping the shawl collar and sleeve simultaneously. I'm sure I had some momentum going and some understanding of the instructions at the time, because the front/left section corresponds to the back, and what there is of the collar falls properly, but two years later the instructions look like a foreign language. I will try to figure it out one weekend, but I think it will probably have to be frogged. I don't have the stomach to tackle it yet, so I'm going to begin again with the sleeves.

Here's the bracelet I made. (Blogger was uncooperative for hours yesterday before Google took it down.) It only took about 20 minutes to make. Now I'm intrigued with the possibilities. I've seen lots of beautiful jewelry I'd like to make, particularly bracelets. I'd like to make rings too, but I've seen fewer of those.

I've got some necklaces I'd like to re-string too. A colleague and I went to Beaddazzled's sale at lunch time last week and went wild. Also got some fixings at A.C. Moore, who by the way, is having a sale on some its beads and related merchandise through Sept. 26th. It's whole new world.

So Many KALs, So Little Time

I joined the Grey's Anatomy KAL and Socktoberfest yesterday. I always have a pair of socks on needles, so why not? I have some grey self-patterning yarn with which I will probably knit Jaywalkers for the Grey's Anatomy KAL (you don't actually have to knit anything grey) I should join the Fall Cable KAL 2006 as a prod to finish my Michael Kors Cable Cardi, but I'm afraid to commit myself. To the KAL at least. Did you know that there's also an Intolerable Cruelty Skirt KAL ? I would love to make this skirt, but I'm overcommitted. And a Leapin' Lizards KAL for the new Lizard Ridge afghan on Knitty. Maybe this will become a commuting project whenever Noro Kureyon goes on sale.

Sock update: P-socks are finally kitchenered, but there's no sunlight for good pix. I don't like the effect of a camera flash. It might be time to buy an OTT light. I have to buy a new Addi for the Anastasias. I'm knitting a pair of Broadripples in white for Mom for Christmas. Don't ask me when I'll get to the new STR project that just arrived:






I like this colorway better than the others so I might actually get around to knitting these. There are two patterns; I think I'll knit this one by Cookie A., designer of Pomatomus.

I got hooked on beading while on vacation. I'll post a picture as soon as Blogger cooperates. So I joined Beads Forever yesterday too. Someone had a great pictoral on how to attach beads to knitting projects with a needle threader but I can't find it now. If any of you know where it is, please let me know. Thanks!

I'm Back

Lost a few pounds, I don't know how much, but my jeans are much looser. The best part was being fed delicious, nutritious food, waited on, and hanging out with friends every evening. The same group of women go Canyon Ranch every Labor Day weekend, so though I had not been there since 2001, it was like old home week. Made some new friends too. And it was great being back in the desert. If you like the desert, Tucson is beautiful. Here's a shot flying in:

and here are some of the grounds of the resort:








I finished one sock of my pair of Anastasias on the flight to Dallas, then a lost one of my new Addis at the airport there. So there's another good reason to pack two projects! I just hope another knitter found it. I made good progress on Orangina, in fact it's almost done. Pix later.

I maintained my good eating habits until today, when I discovered a new Taco Bell around the corner. Uh oh!

The Problem with Setting Up for Vacation...

...is that I just keep going! I'm knitting Anastasia from Pepperknit and it's so much fun. I love watching the colors change in the Cherry Tree Hill colorway I'm using, and the lace design adds a little something.

It's hard to see the design here. I cast on 52 stitches to create some negative ease so that you can see the lacy holes when they're worn.

I'd forgotten all about this short row heel:

The Schachenmayr Nomatta pattern books call it the short row and double stitch heel. Lana Grossa calls it the Jojo-Heel. You can find the instructions on the Lana Grossa website. It knits up with fewer holes than with any other instructions I've followed. Just make sure you pull the stitches really tight as instructed. I think mine will be tighter as I make more.

I'm knitting them on US1 Addis. They're taking some getting used to. They're slick and hard to grip. I love the joins, which are better than any other circs I've ever used.

Now I have to leave some work for the flight tomorrow. And maybe download some Audiobooks.

Preparing for Vacation

I'm joining friends in Tucson Thursday. I cannot wait. I bought a new camera, a Canon Power Shot A620, that I think I know how to use now. I'm taking two knitting projects, Orangina, and a pair of socks I spontaneously cast on this afternoon though I haven't yet finished the Pomatomi. (I'm avoiding kitchenering.) I just like to get started on projects I plan to take with me before I hit the road. I don't remember what the yarn is, it's something I bought from someone on Destash - Cash for Your Cash!


I think it's Cherry Tree Hill. I did my favorite Turkish Cast On, then improvised the increases - I have an innate aversion to following instructions. It looks kind of funky, but it will stretch over my toes, which will be in my shoes, so no one will see them. I probably don't need to take two projects with me but you know how it is.

I haven't started packing yet. My carry on will be full of electronics: computer and cords, iPod and cords, camera and cords, and a cell phone charger. I'm not even a geek. And no, I don't want to be away from all. Well, actually I will be away from it all most of the time: I'm going to a spa, so I will be working out, taking yoga classes and cooking and nutrition classes, getting massages and treatments, and spending the evenings with friends. (Cell phones are not allowed, but I'll bet with the advent of vibrating phones, someone will have one.) But it will be nice to check my e-mail and upload my pix (maybe) in I get back to my room. If my luggage is lost or if I'm delayed overnight in Dallas, I'll also have a clean t-shirt, change of lingerie, solid ivory soap, and solid deodorant, and red lipstick and sunglasses (an old French trick). Did I forget anything? Oh and a hat. Let's hope I can buy toothpaste somewhere. And I'll have my knitting of course.

One Pomatomus

Click on the pix for a closer view.

One done, one more to go.

Pomatomus, Finally!

What took me so long? I love knitting Pomatomus, the "P" sock. I'm using Hawaii Joy from Brooklyn Handspun. It fits over my foot, so with luck it will fit over the rest of my foot. The pooling is strange, but beautiful. They may become my favorite socks.

Pulling yarn from the center of the ball was very messy.

The yarn became tangled and knotted when I got the middle of the sock and I had to rewind. I'm pulling it from the outside now, but the skein is still incredibly messy. Center pull skeins are overrated, in my opinion.

And here's another submission for Project Spectrum, August.

Regia Patch Antik Socks, Project Spectrum, August

Yarn: Regia Patch Antik (discontinued)

Pattern: Generic Top Down, Afterthought Heel

Started: May 2005

Finished: August 2006

Unfinished Objects

Here are two:

There are several others, but I'm too lazy to pull them all out. The Shapely Tank is at the top. Back and front are done and the shoulders ready for a three-needle bind off. The bottom cabled pieces are the Michael Kors cardi (VK Fall 2004) I've been working on for 2 years. The back (right) is finished. The right front (left) is still on needles and I don't know where I left off. I'll have to frog it. I'm not in the mood right now, so I'll start on the left front to get the mojo going. It will look like this when I'm done, though I hope not as tight:

And there's Orangina. I lost count of how many times I've started this thing over. First, I kept making lace pattern mistakes, then discovered that it really stretches and had to start a smaller size. It's that ease thing. I've build in 2 inches of ease this time. I think I've got it down now and think I will save it for my vacation project.
I bought yarn for a lace shawl, which given my experience with the lace pattern repeats in Orangina, I realize now will be long term project.

What else do I have on needles? Hanne Falkenberg's Mermaid cardi, numerous socks, washcloths, MDK face cloths, a red wool turtleneck that I started last year, and the Filatura di Crosa shrug that I don't think I will ever finish because I don't like it anymore.

Apropos to nothing, all the yarn I'm working with, save sock yarn, is splitty.

Finished Object for Project Spectrum, August

Rowan "Flame" Tank, for Project Spectrum, August

Pattern: "Flame," Rowan Knitting Magazine, Number 31

Yarn: Rowan Linen Drape (discontinued)

Started: May 2005

Finished: July 2006

I actually finished knitting this last year, and sewed the seams last month. I don't know why I avoided seaming it because it only took 10 minutes. It's hard to tell from this photo but the color is grayish beige, a neutral for August Project Spectrum.

Calvin Klein Ad, French Vogue, August

I like the cardigan on the center model. It's a simple garter stitch. Looks like leg warmers are back again (model on the right).

Need Camera Advice

I'm ready to graduate from my current camera. What camera do you use? What kind should I buy that takes really good close-ups?

One More Summer Top

I'm tackling one more summer sweater before the fall. I'm going to knit Orangina in some Rowan Linen Drape that's in my stash. You can't tell from this picture, but it is the palest yellow.

I was setting it up for vacation knitting, but now that I've started, I'm afraid I'll lose the momentum of the lace pattern. Maybe I'll just take socks. I've only made one pair this year.

This picture from the August French Vogue has put me in the mood for fall and for shawls in particular. I love the way this one is draped on the handbag.

There were lots of interesting knits in this issue. I'll post them later. One day I'll learn how to enlarge and crop photos so you can see the detail. Click on the picture to see it better.

July Project Spectrum, et. al.

The MDK baby kimono, bib, and burp cloth are not quite finished, but I wanted to post a picture for July Project Spectrum. They'll be done in time for the baby's arrival.

MDK Purple Baby Gifts, for Project Spectrum, July

Marce asked if I'd made anything with the yarn I bought in New York, so I've posted a picture of my progress on the Shapely Tank, which is knit from a pale olive green cashmere blend that I bought at School Products. This is the front and I've done as much work on the back.

I completely frogged my first attempt at the front because I sloppily made adjustments without annotation and knew that I could not make the back match. And by the time I got to the bustline I had 15 or so stitches too many. I don't know how that happened. ACK! I discovered a neat trick - for me, at least - I slipped on a stitch marker every 20 stitches when I cast on. Makes it easier to count stitches later on. I hope it fits or I'll have to frog it again. Actually, I think it will fit, but it may be looser than Soleil.

If I do have to frog, I'll have to put it away for a while and work on simpler projects. I'm up to my ears in MDK dishcloths - I haven't even bothered to take photos of all of them. I got these skeins of Elann Canapone (hemp) today to make washcloths. The two skeins in front are a beautiful dark brown that I'd like to buy more of for Glampyre's Orangina if I can get gauge, the middle two are white, and last two are black.

I'll be swatching tonight.

STR and Shapely Tank

The new Socks That Rock arrived yesterday. I like the color and the pattern, but I wish there was more than 360 yards in the hank because I like longer socks.


The pattern is called "Hippy Crunchy," and is described as a "mesh" pattern.


I don't know when I'll get to them as I am in the midst of knitting the Shapely Tank. (And I'd better lay off those M-D Ballband washcloths!) Though my swatch gauge was spot on with the recommended 6s, when I begin knitting the tank it was too large. I frogged and used some old Susan Bates 5s and it seems to be OK now. The old Susan Bates have a better join, by the way. The short rows worked out OK, though I'm concerned that they may function as darts instead of creating the drape effect intended.

The yarn has little give and purling in particular is hard on my hands. Maybe the first attempt larger because I purled looser to compensate. Who knows?

The Key West Suite

Purple WIPS, Project Spectrum, July

StitchDC cancelled the Shapely Tank class because I was the only registrant. But it works out well for me: the two hours can be devoted to my two prime issues: negative ease and finishing. I worked one inch of negative ease into Soleil and it fit, but I feel like I just got lucky. I can devote one of classes to negative ease and the other to finishing. I can use some instruction on finishing, not one of my favorite things to do, nor one that I'm good at. Is it synchronicity?

Signed up for StitchDC's Shapely Tank class. I'm going to use the pale olive silk that I bought at School Products in New York. Here's the swatch:

The gauge is perfect. Too bad I'm using shitty Susan Bates circs, but they are the only US 6s I have. I'm afraid the rough joins will damage the yarn. I may buy KnitPicks new circs that everyone's talking about and switch mid-project. Hope that won't mess up the gauge. Any comments about changing needles mid-project?

In the meantime, I'm knitting a baby kimono, burp cloth, and bib from Mason-Dixon Knitting for a colleague. Pictures will follow. The baby is due in September. I'm pleased that I will have finished knitted gifts before the baby is born, for once.

I'm thinking about about buying this unit for yarn storage from Grandin Road.

It's black, and most of my furniture is cherry, but I may buy a section or two anyway.

Thank you all for your kind comments about Soleil!

Soleil is Done!

Blue Soleil, for Project Spectrum

And it fits! It's form-fitting but not too tight, and the armholes are perfect. I tried it on before blocking and it's not too short. This is my first attempt at blocking. It's hard to see the pins in the photo. It looks a little wonky, but it's still wet, so I may re-shape it later. I spun it out in the washer and it does not look as smooth as I'd like. Will it look better when it dries? It's knit with Elann Sonata. Does anyone have any advice?

Soleil Update

I'll probably get this done by the end of the month for Project Spectrum, but I think it's going to be too short. As you can see, the back is finished and the front left side is almost done. The right front is on waste yarn. I added a few rows at the bust line in an attempt to lengthen it, but should have added some at the waist and perhaps a couple of extra rows of the lace pattern at the bottom. (The bottom half inch is curled, and not truncated as it appears in the photo.) Otherwise, it's a perfect fit: the extra inch of negative ease was right on target. Other knitters have made the armhole higher - I decided to knit them the size of another tank that fits me well. Knitting it in the round has been fun and fast and will happily reduce the amount of seaming necessary. I also enjoyed watching the tank become a shapely object while working in the "darts." I will probably frog this in the end, but at least it's a fast knit.

Fall?

After all my bleating yesterday* about being behind, I got my s___ together and started Soleil. I forgot that the yarn I chose is blue, the color for Project Spectrum this month. DUH! Here's my progress:

Of course I haven't cleaned or done laundry or anything else since I started it yesterday. I'm building in one inch of negative ease, but forgot to lengthen it as per Heather's instructions. Heather says she tries her projects on often, but I'm knitting Soleil in the round on a 29 or 30 inch circ, so there's no way I can try it on until I get to the straps. If I have to frog it won't be the first time.

I was going to make a felted M-D Buttonhole bag for Project Spectrum this month, but my felted swatch looks like a dog bed.

(*I read Erica's blog yesterday in which she writes about knitting for the fall. PANIC! I have to face the fact that I can't keep up with Project Spectrum, at least in terms of projects. I haven't made any of the summer tanks I wanted. I've swatched and washed, but haven't started them yet. Socks are stalled. Haven't touched the Habu yarn. Haven't even swatched for the corset tank or the Socks that Rock. Mermaid is progressing nicely, the body is nearly done but I discovered a dropped stitch so will have to rip back six rows or so. Seriously thinking of putting it aside for awhile to knit the summer projects. Work and life interfere too much. I really admire those of you who have finished summer tops in a week or two. How do you do it? Baby projects are the newest projects I've taken up. A work colleague is due in August and I'd like to give her a few knitted gifts, so I'm making a few things from Mason-Dixon Knitting. They are purple so maybe I will meet next month's Project Spectrum goals after all.)

Not much to report except some stash enhancement: I bought most of this at Yarns International in Bethesda, Maryland.




The brick and mortar is closing, but not the online presence. Everything in the store is 30 percent off. By the time I got there Saturday morning, most of the Koigu, the small-sized Addis, and sock yarn were gone. I bought two skeins of Meilenweit Mega Boots Stretch, a hank of purple Koigu, Nashua Creative Focus Cotton in yellow, some t-pins for blocking, a pair of Addi Naturas, and some back issues of Interweave Knits. I was particularly pleased to find the books. While I was there, a buzz went through the store that Eunny Jang might be in the store. Don't know if she was actually present while I was there or if someone simply noticed that she'd signed up for the store's e-mail list. The store staff rather excitedly said that she had been a customer all that time and that they didn't know it! Eunny the StealthKnitter! Too late! You're already famous!

I swatched Adrienne Vittadini and Elan Sonata for Soleil on my commute, now I have to wash and block them. I started a M-D facecloth in allhemp3, but I'm not sure I like this yarn for this facecloth because the pattern is ill-defined. Maybe I should have used a smaller needle. Too bad that didn't occur to before I was halfway finished. I'm just maintaining this week. Anyway, I bought two hanks to make the facecloth and haven't begun to use the second one yet, so maybe I'll cast it on with smaller needles to see if I like it better and if it significantly reduces in dimension.

Haven't worked on the Filatura di Crosa shrug for a couple of weeks. I'm definitely a novice crocheter: the squares aren't consistent in size and I'm afraid it's going to look "homemade" rather than chic like the pattern book model. So before I use up all my beautiful Zara, I'm going to sew together and block the squares I've crocheted so far to see how it looks. If it looks OK, I will continue, if not, it's off to the frog pond.

It's getting late in the month, but I may try to make an M-D felted handbag for Project Spectrum. I had not been drawn to felted bags until I saw these on the M-D KAL. They are so cute!

Late breaking: I've been accepted into the Knitting Blogs Ring! Yea, me!