You Know I Can't...

...just work on one thing...

First, some scribble lace! This is Rowan Kidsilk Haze and Berroco Hip Hop, worked on sz 17 needles.




Next, the start of my own Gryffindor scarf! I'm doing the 1x1 rib version with SWTC Pure Soysilk on sz 6 needles. The actual colors are a shade darker. In real life, the gold isn't bright at all.


Finally, I scrapped!!

Oh dear. What have I done?

Pardon me while I brag a bit. I don't do it often - or at least I try not to...but I'm quite pleased with myself right now. Rosemary recently decided to take on a stranded/Fair Isle (which is it??) Dale of Norway sweater and well...blame the Borg...resistance was futile and I endeavored to do the same. Thanks to Caryn's suggestions about good beginner stranding/Fair Isle projects (she suggested that it may be helpful to start with something that only uses 2 colors), I decided to tackle "Fana" from Dale of Norway. I am doing the pullover version, in the pattern's smallest child size.

I really had no idea what to expect or how many tries it might take to get the hang of using two colors simultaneously, but honestly, the biggest hurdle was simply figuring out how best to hold the yarn. I tried all the options, but being a continental knitter, I just couldn't have a yarn in my right hand. It wasn't right! So I put both in my left hand and off I went! I started early Saturday afternoon and as of 8:30 this morning, I am almost through the chest motif.





I think the inside looks quite nice, too, don't you?

Where has all the knitting gone?

I *have* been knitting...really, I have! Here's proof...my first-ever completed sweater! As you can see, Natalie was totally thrilled to be modeling her new cardigan - and pay no attention to Ethan in his jammies...







The pattern is an Ann Norling pattern for a simple, bottom-up kid's raglan sweater, with several options for gauge and style. The yarn is Araucania Nature Cotton that I rescued from Cookie A's stash! The buttons are La Mode, from JoAnn's, and I love them. The sweater did turn out a bit bigger than I anticipated, but I'm glad. I had hoped that Natalie would be able to wear it next year, too, and clearly, that will be possible.

I haven't done any sock knitting lately, but I did decide to try out Cara's idea of the log cabin using a random number generator instead of an actual pattern. Natalie has been asking for a blanket and while these colors would not be MY first choice, they are right up her alley. Since this will be an everyday, drag around the house sort of blanket, I went with Caron Simply Soft. Acrylic, yes, but should last forever.

The faces I love

Greg got a new computer (MacBook Pro) this weekend, so he and the kids decided to try out the iSight camera. Aren't they cute??

Bags!

I finally decided what to do for my KSKS pal's bag...the Tiny Happy Shoulder Bag. I love it! The pattern is easy to follow and easy to make and in fact, I've already made another bag!





Now I have almost everything for my pal...I have the bag (along with a little project bag, too), yarn, a pattern, more yarn (not sock yarn, but it's from my stash) and a little spiral-bound index card book in a plastic case (great for writing patterns in and putting in your knitting bag or purse). I have some knitting needles coming and still need to get some snack goodies.

Meet Ginny

I'd like you to meet Ginny, my new sock. I liked Rosemary's broken rib pattern so much that I decided to take the idea and run with it. Mine was modified to a long/short broken rib and I added a rolled cuff. Worked toe-up on sz 1 Addi Turbos (which are really a US 1.5). The broken rib is 12 rows of k2p2, then 4 rows of p2k2, repeated. The yarn is from the Monsoon Winds Etsy Shop. I have to say this is the best-fitting sock that I've made yet.









In other finished-object news...I give you a finished Illini Jaywalker!



I also decided to delve into my fabric stash yesterday and try out a little project bag. I received one from a fellow knitter recently and love it...simple enough to figure out the pattern, so here is mine. It's about 8.5" square - this one has a ball of kitchen cotton, the start of a dishcloth and two needles inside...just for reference.

Plugging Along

No FO's since my last entry, but I'm plugging along on several things. I started a new sock, actually, and I'm sort of making up my own pattern. I used Rosemary's Gilderoy sock as a basic concept and went from there. Mine is broken rib, too, but a bit different. Pics soon! It's a toe-up sock and I've just started into the cuff.

I realized as I listened to the new episode of CraftBorg that there are a few things that have not received any attention this week...Ribby Cardi, my new Tiger Eye shawl and Wobbly Circles. The only excuse for not touching Ribby is the aformentioned new sock that I've been distracted with. The Tiger Eye shawl is lace and therefore, tricky. I can't work on it when the kids are around - it takes too much concentration. Wobbly Circles...well...no excuse there, either. Must pick it up again this week.

I've also been putting more rounds on the first Illini Jaywalker and it's close to being ready to start the toe.

I'm trying to figure out what to do for my KSKS pal. I know what yarn I'll be giving her - it's one I have in my stash. I love it, but when am I really going to wear pastel socks? This is what I'll be sending my pal. Now the question is, what else?? I don't feel like I have any sort of grasp on what she would like in a sock bag or what her style is. Maybe I need to look at her questionnaire again...

Another FO

It took a while, but here is my first sock named Fawkes. The pattern is River Rapids, by SockBug. The first picture shows the color more accurately. I'm not sure when sock number 2 will come along...by fall, I think. Right now, I've been working on getting some things out of the WIP basket!

Amazing Lace Challenge: Poetry

For my Amazing Lace Challenge entry, I have chosen to do haiku. A trio, if you will.

baby alpaca
you want to become my lace
I must knit you now
----------
tricksey lace knitting
charts and notes so confusing
I need chocolate
----------
needles not pointy
pushing knitter over edge
why do we knit lace?

Picture Time!

Time to share some pics of what I did while I was out of town last week. In no particular order, you will see the start of the Wobbly Circles Tote (to be felted), the start of ChicKnits' Ribby Cardi (my first sweater), the Illini Jaywalker-in-progress, the start of a Mock Croc Sock, a completed Chameleon sock and the finished Moderne Baby Blanket.

















I'll provide more details on all of these, but for now I wanted to get the pictures up.

KSKS Questionnaire

What are your favorite colors? I like most colors, actually! I'm not a big pastel person, though. I gravitate toward autumnal shades, but I'm open to just about anything.

Are you a new sock knitter? How long have you been knitting socks? I'm not really a new sock knitter - I tackled socks fairly soon after I learned to knit. That being said, I've only been knitting for less than a year.

Do you prefer solid or multicolored yarn? I like both. I only have one solid (orange), everything else I've bought is multi/variegated - so I'm open to whatever you'd like to send!

What fibers do you prefer in sock yarn? wool - superwash is great, but not a requirement

Where do you usually knit socks? everywhere

How do you usually carry/store small projects? Ziploc bags

What are your favorite sock knitting patterns? Jaywalker, Pomatomus, the Sock Bug patterns...so hard to pick!

What are your favorite sock knitting techniques? not sure...I like top-down, toe-up, using dpn's, using magic loop...

What new techniques would you like to try? don't know

Do you prefer circulars or dpns for sock knitting? I like them both!

What are some of your favorite yarns? I'm not that picky, LOL! I DO NOT like Sockotta and I'm not all that excited about Cascade Fixation either.

What yarn do you totally covet? Socks That Rock and Lorna's Laces

Any pattern you would love to make if money and time were no object? doesn't really apply...if I want to do it badly enough, I'd do it!

Favorite kind of needles (brand, materials, straights or circs, etc)? I do love Addi Turbos (already have sz 1 and 2). Most of my dpns are Clover brand, which is fine, but I do have some Inox dpns and the short Bryspuns. I'd love to have some Lantern Moon needles!

If you were a specific kind of yarn, which brand and kind of yarn would you be? I'd most likely be Socks That Rock.

Do you have a favorite candy or mail-able snack? I love chocolate, but it's not great for mailing in the summer! I do love Starbursts. Surprise me! Just no coconut, please!

What’s your favorite animal? I love most animals - no particular favorites!

Do you have pets? What are their species/names/ages? I have a dog, Maggie. She's a Schipperke mix, age: almost 8.

If you were a color what color would you be? orange! if not orange, then green.

Describe your favorite shirt (yours or someone else’s).. ???

What is your most inspiring image, flower, or object in nature? the Calla lily

Tell me the best quote you’ve ever heard or read. "There is some crap, up with which, I will not put."

Do you have a wishlist? only a mental one, not one that's recorded anywhere

Anything else you’d like to share with the group today? nope! but feel free to ask questions if you have any!

I'm Still Here

I really am still here...just haven't posted this week. Still knitting. Almost finished with the Moderne Baby Blanket from Mason-Dixon Knitting. Good pattern, great gift, just wish I hadn't messed up (interpreted "garter ridges" as rows, so blanket isn't as big as it should be)...it's fine, though. I'm picking up stitches for the final "block" and then I just have a small border to do. I was hoping to be finished with it before I leave town, but I'm not sure that will happen since I do need to clean and pack and stuff.

Yes, leaving town...the kids and I are going to visit my parents for just over a week! Should be fun. Not terribly relaxing for me since my parents can't be total grandparents (they are raising twin girls, age 6, my cousin's children...very long story), but it will be good. I really need a change of scenery right now and this will be just the thing!

Of course the biggest dilemma now is what knitting to take. This is a new problem for me since I was still a very new knitter the last time I traveled (at Christmas). I know the Pinwheel Shawl will be coming, as well as some socks...but what else?? I'm thinking it's time for the Wobbly Circles Tote. It's a good chunk of yarn to bring along, though. But wouldn't it be great if I could do it start-to-finish next week?? Hmm...so many choices. The good news is that since my parents are coming to get us (and bring us back - we only have one working vehicle right now), I should have plenty of knitting time in the car since it's a 6-hour drive from door to door.

So yeah...I'm open to suggestion on what to take knitting-wise. Like I said, Pinwheel and socks definitely. Other options would be stuff for more mitered squares...cotton for dishcloths...more sock yarn to play with designing my own pattern...oh yeah, and the Wobbly Tote.

Thoughts?

Weekend Knitting

I spent most of the weekend doing some "just for fun" knitting. Here's the evidence:

A cotton dishcloth/hot-pad for my sister, the Illini (Univ. of IL basketball) fan:







The Baby Kimono from Mason-Dixon Knitting...used Caron Simply Soft in Papaya:







And finally, the first two squares for a new baby blanket - for a friend who recently had her second son...yarn is Plymouth Encore:

The Twins

If you wondered what that faint sound in the background might be, it's probably the trumpets blasting and the angels singing Hallelujah. Why, you ask? Because these lace baby blankets are FINISHED!!! And not only are they finished, they are also in the mail, on the way to their new home!!! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it! On one hand, I never want to see them again (because of all the work and all the trouble I had with them)...and on the other, I hated to mail them off (because they were such an accomplishment). But there are two sweet baby girls who will arrive soon and will desperately need some soft, pretty blankies.

Big thanks to Lorraine, from Two Waters Fiberworks for her beautiful yarn and her willingness to work with me on a custom order. Lorraine's the best!!

And so now, I present you with two shots of blanket 2, the Chevron Lace Baby Blanket from Vogue Knitting: Baby Blankets, and a close-up of the "twins" together.

New Hair and New Yarn

I got my hair cut yesterday. Back to short hair. It's very similar to what I used to have, but I do like it and it's easy to deal with. Now I need to re-color it.


I also dyed some yarn today! The first skein was done with Kool-Aid...the orange side was 2 packs of Orange and most of one pack of Black Cherry. The blue side was 2 packs of Berry Blue and a pack of Grape. Then I left two sections white to allow for possible bleeding. (I hoped some would stay white and much of it did, so it's good.) I applied this to dry yarn, then wrapped it in saran wrap and microwaved it.





The second skein was done with Wilton's Icing Dyes. I love how it turned out, but must confess that I'm befuddled. After hearing Roberta talk about applying the icing dye like fingerpaints to dry yarn and then overdyeing it, I decided to try it for myself. Now if I looked at this yarn without knowing what I'd done, I would assume I had used many different colors. Not so. With a foam brush, I applied Copper (which is technically supposed to be a flesh tone for icing) and Brown, plus a few streaks of Royal Blue. (this was on dry yarn) Then I prepared an immersion dye with a very small amount of Royal Blue (probably 1/4 tsp) in water and vinegar...and THIS is what I got?!?!? I just don't get it! Like I said, I love the yarn, but??? Oh, and the picture of it all skeined up is actually rather washed out. In person, it's much darker, like the picture of it spread out to dry.

Amazing Lace Team Intro

Name: Julie
Age: 32
City: Nashville, TN
Likes: sunsets, long walks on the beach...oh wait, wrong list of likes. How about...lace, pretty colorways, nice yarn, cooperative needles, lifelines
Dislikes: circular needles that catch at the joins, blunt ends, splitty yarn
Strengths: determination, a fascination with long and tedious things
Weaknesses: a wandering eye when it comes to new projects




Name: Pinwheel Shawl
Age: new
City: Nashville, TN
Likes: smooth needles, a good blocking, a gentle rinse
Dislikes: hot water, dryers, moths
Strengths: a good pattern, easy to follow
Weaknesses: well, it is lace, after all...

Dye-O-Rama Meme

OK, so I'm a little behind the times...but just in case my swap pal is reading...

Questions specific to this swap:

Your favorite colors? green, autumnal colors, orange - pretty much anything

Preferred yarn weight (Fingering, Sport, DK, maybe even Worsted)? fingering

Do you prefer solid or multicolored yarn? both, but I'm a sucker for multicolored

If your buddy is able to do so, would you like a variegated, self-striping, or self-patterning yarn? sure! whatever!

Would you be interested in a wool blend sock yarn (nylon, tencel, silk, acrylic, alpaca, etc.)? sure! whatever!

Imagine the perfect colorway. What would you name it? "It Goes to 11"

What was the biggest appeal to you for joining this dye-along? I've been wanting to try dyeing for a while and this seemed like the perfect opportunity.



General yarn/fiber questions:

Have you dyed yarn/fiber before? Not prior to signing up for the swap

If so, what’s your favorite dye and method? So far I've only tried Kool-Aid and Wilton's Icing Dyes.

Do you spin? No, but I wouldn't put it past me one day

Have you knit socks before? Yes

Do you use sock yarn for just socks or in other patterns too? I'll use it wherever I can!

What are some of your favorite yarns? BMFA Socks That Rock, several sellers on Etsy.com

What yarn do you totally covet? BMFA Socks That Rock, of course

Favorite patterns? you know, the standards...Jaywalker, Pomatomus, Elfine...I also really like lace

Any pattern you would love to make if money and time were no object? yeah, too many to list

Favorite kind of needles (brand, materials, straights or circs, etc)? Addi Turbos and Naturas, love the look of Brittany and Lantern Moon...I use a little of everything, though: Addi, Clover, Bryspun, straight, circular, dpn

If you were a specific kind of yarn, which brand and kind of yarn would you be? I would likely be sock yarn, most likely Socks That Rock or something similar.


Nothing to do with knitting/yarn/fiber in any way but seemed kinda fun:

Do you have a favorite candy or mail-able snack? Chocolate all the way

What’s your favorite animal? I like most animals

Do you have pets? What are their species/names/ages? Yes, a dog, Maggie, a 7 yr old Schipperke mix

If you were a color what color would you be? I would be green

Describe your favorite shirt (yours or someone else’s).. right now I'd have to say my orange Illinois Basketball hoodie sweatshirt (because it's comfy)

What is your most inspiring image, flower, or object in nature? just one?? probably the sea

Tell me the best quote you’ve ever heard or read. one of my faves, "I'm not a box. I don't have sides." -by Meryl Streep's character in Postcards from the Edge

Do you have a wishlist? I do, but it's not written down anywhere

Anything else you’d like to share with the group today? Nope!

Blanket 1 Finished

Blanket 1 is now finished and blocked! Blocking truly is a miraculous thing. It just changes the item so much! So here is baby blanket number 1...my own pattern, fingering weight yarn, size 6 needles.



Blanket 2 is now well underway - no new pictures yet. The bad Chevron Lace mojo seems to be lifted, so it's full steam ahead with that pattern. Amazing to see how much of a difference one's needle choice can make...when I originally started it, I was using Clover bamboo needles but have now switched to Addi Turbos. Soooo much easier.

In other news, I signed up for the Amazing Lace Knit-Along. Call me a lemming. Or perhaps it's just the Borg influence? Anyhoo, once I finish Blanket 2, I'll be starting on my lace project!

Socks!!

My Sockapaloooza socks arrived!! And I LOVE them!!! My pal didn't mention what the pattern was, but I love it. The yarn is Bearfoot, which I didn't know had some mohair in it...as a result, I really want to just sit around petting my socks. I love the colorway, too! I'm very, VERY pleased! And even better, my pal included chocolate!! Thanks so much, Carry - you did great!




In other news, I dyed some more yarn. It didn't go well. This time I used Wilton's icing dyes, which work very well for yarn dyeing. However, I think there is some level of skill involved in mixing colors because it didn't go AT ALL the way I intended. I ended up with a very ugly skein of yarn and then decided to give it an all-over dye the next day. The result is still not what I'd call pretty, but it might appeal to someone. I think it looks very rainforest-y. Or perhaps Oscar the Grouch. In real life, it's darker than this picture appears...the actual colors are accurate - just a bit darker. So hey, if you love it, let me know...I'd probably send it your way! (440 yds fingering weight merino sock yarn)

New Episode

For those who may be interested...Episode 2 of the CraftBorg podcast is now online. Check it out here.

Progress Report

Today is the day to mail the SockapalOOOza socks! Can't wait to see what I receive!

Here are two progress report pictures for you - my first mitered square, done in KnitPicks Shine on size 7 needles, unblocked...obviously...and also a picture of the first of the two lacey baby blankets. The pattern is my own, but the lacey stitch is called Pillar Openwork. The blanket is just about at the halfway mark, which is great...I'm just ready to be finished so I can get it in the mail and start the second one.






We got our Dye-O-Rama swap assignments yesterday, so I am eager to dye my second skein of yarn. I have a good idea of what I would like to do for my pal, but of course being a novice, I have no idea if it will turn out the way I want it to! So be on the lookout for pictures of that little experiment in the days to come...