Wondering where I've been? Well, inspired by others in the blogosphere, I've gone blogger-free.
Come check me out here: www.twin-knit.com
Hurrah!
12 February 2007
06 February 2007
One
If there was ever any doubt, it has now been confirmed that I suffer from second-sock-itis. I just can't seem to get excited about finishing any of these. It's not that I don't want the FO, because i do (especially now that Minty has stolen my mojo... I just need an FO to get it back. Just. one. F.O!). I just feel... well, bored while knitting them. And this photo doesn't even count the in-progress socks (my Hawaii socks and Melissa's Christmas socks). All of these socks have an in-progress mate:
New England sock, on hold for months now.
Sara's socks.
and the all-familiar Pomatomus (sorry about the uninspiring photography and weird angles. It was cold out).With the last two socks, I even cast on for the second immediately after finishing the first, which usually prevents the horror that was the New England sock's second-sock-itis (remember when I finished the first one? Yep. Back in June). I know I've got to plug along and finish -- especially the New England, which is on my list of UFOs for the UFO Challenge. But I can't get motivated. The upside? You can see the photos that it is snowing here. We're actually supposed to get 3-5 inches, which might not be alot for many parts of the world, but here 3-5 inches makes it a challenge to get around (especially now that the 4-wheel drive on my car is broken. Another story for another time). I was supposed to go to KY tonight, but it's looking like I'll get to stay in. The downside (at least in terms of second-sock-itis)? Last night, I cast on this:
(Yep, that's Misti Alpaca worsted. I'm loving Misti Alpaca right now) Yummy. Those socks might be single a while longer...
04 February 2007
Rambling
Thank you all for your lovely comments on my last post. Some of them made me tear up a little (but maybe I'm just feeling a little emotional these days).
This weekend took me across the central mountains on some before-I-leave-Appalachia adventures. On Friday, I headed out to the Hindman Settlement School in Hindman, Kentucky for a meeting of the Mountain Music Teachers Association. Although I'm not really a member, it was interesting for fieldwork and, more importantly (to some), there was a good jam that night.
When my fingers crapped out on me (I'm not used to playing guitar -- man, it kills your fingers if you don't have the right calluses! And I'm a wickedly bad fiddle player, so...), I knit. Pomatomus #2 also enjoyed the music (that's my friend James on the fiddle. I put his picture here because he laughed when I told him I had a knitting blog. Little does he know...).
And (for those of you who lamented the loss of beautiful mountain scenery that will be caused by my northern migration) when I woke up in Hindman in the morning, there was a lovely coating of sparkling snow.
Later Saturday afternoon, my friends Julie, Bethany, and James all headed down to North Carolina to hear the Red Stick Ramblers play at the Boone Saloon. A very, very good time was had by all, although I two-stepped so much that last night my knees were cracking like an old lady's and this morning my body hurt so much I could barely get up. A lot of time in the car, but well worth the drive. More knitting tomorrow.
This weekend took me across the central mountains on some before-I-leave-Appalachia adventures. On Friday, I headed out to the Hindman Settlement School in Hindman, Kentucky for a meeting of the Mountain Music Teachers Association. Although I'm not really a member, it was interesting for fieldwork and, more importantly (to some), there was a good jam that night.
When my fingers crapped out on me (I'm not used to playing guitar -- man, it kills your fingers if you don't have the right calluses! And I'm a wickedly bad fiddle player, so...), I knit. Pomatomus #2 also enjoyed the music (that's my friend James on the fiddle. I put his picture here because he laughed when I told him I had a knitting blog. Little does he know...).
And (for those of you who lamented the loss of beautiful mountain scenery that will be caused by my northern migration) when I woke up in Hindman in the morning, there was a lovely coating of sparkling snow.
Later Saturday afternoon, my friends Julie, Bethany, and James all headed down to North Carolina to hear the Red Stick Ramblers play at the Boone Saloon. A very, very good time was had by all, although I two-stepped so much that last night my knees were cracking like an old lady's and this morning my body hurt so much I could barely get up. A lot of time in the car, but well worth the drive. More knitting tomorrow.
01 February 2007
Absence makes the heart...
Sometimes, there's so much to say I don't want to say anything at all. That pretty much sums up the month of January -- posting irratically, going weeks without saying anything at all, not mentioning important things, missing anniversaries (my blogiversary was the 24th). But it's a new month, and I'm tired of putting off blogging because I have too much to write. So I'll begin with the news I've not been writing for the last two months.
I'm moving back to Philly.
This probably doesn't come as much of a surprise, given the number of trips I've made up there recently, although those trips have very little to do with my ultimate decision. This was an incredibly difficult decision for me to make, and one that even after I made it, I still didn't tell people about for months. I was ready to stay down here in the mountains for the long haul (y'all might remember), but the inherent isolation of dissertation-writing, combined with my physical isolation from friends and family, really took its toll this winter. Add to all of that the difficulty of writing what is turning out to be a fairly theory-heavy dissertation while three hours from a major research library, and... well... it's a recipe for slow writing. I'm ready to finish my dissertation and I'm ready to get on with my life. I love living here, and the thought of moving away makes me want to sit down and cry. But at the same time, I know now is the time to go. I've got to go back to Philly, a city I once loved with all my being, and face the ghosts that remain there. I've got amazing friends up there, a wonderful community, and now a terrific apartment waiting for me. It's just time. And if I wait until spring? Well, I'll never be able to go. It's just too damn pretty here in the spring. So... that's my news.
Despite not blogging, I've been knitting quite a bit. I have lots to post. First, and most proud, I learned to darn. Remember these?
I returned them to my mom looking like this:
Not beautiful, but wearable. And I felt so old timey and resourceful while doing it. The first new skill of 2007... Thanks Theresa for your tutorial!
In other knitting news, I'm on the toe of the first pomatomus (please note gratuitous photos), I'm almost done with the first "batman sock," and while in Philly, I broke my no-yarn rule (hey, I was depressed from the apartment hunt -- I deserved it!) and bought myself some beautiful Cascade 220 for an Elizabeth Zimmerman seamless hyrbid (that I think I'm gonna steek into a cardigan... we'll see if I have the guts to do it). I'm already through the waist decreases for that. But, my patient friend Shane asked ages ago for a pair of "manly mitts" and mentioned recently (in woeful tones) that he's seen no progress pictures on the blog and did I forget about him? So Shane, this is for you (just a hint, and the shade of green is sooo much nicer than I could capture here):
27 January 2007
Dum dee dum dee dum...
I swear, I haven't dropped off the face of the planet. I'm in Philly. Again. I feel like I've been out of town more than in town these last few months, and it's led to some erratic blogging. But -- there will be knitting, news, and photos when I return to the mountains this coming week. Your pomatomus sock questions will be answered (although they are not yet finished), hopefully there will be some endpaper mitts to display, and a new project to show off. See you soon!
17 January 2007
Pomotamus revived
I would like to say, for the record, that ripping back an inch of the foot of the Pomotamus was the most hair-raising, terrifying experience of my brief knitting career. I hope never to have to rip something like that again. All I can say is THANK GOD for that US 000 needles. They were a life saver.
Now off to the knit-night I've organized with some friends in Kentucky (where I will be working on a much more soothing project!)
Now off to the knit-night I've organized with some friends in Kentucky (where I will be working on a much more soothing project!)
16 January 2007
Check it!
Oh yeah!
So I treated myself to knitting on Pomotamus while watching Fog of War, which I netflixed ages ago and never had a chance to watch (can I interrupt myself to note that "to netflix" now seems like a completely acceptable verb? My how things have changed!). I was all set to post about the P-sock tonight -- how I first knit one a year ago, how hard it seemed, how I couldn't follow the pattern and how badly the sock turned out (so badly I actually didn't knit the second. This rarely happens). This time around, I flew through the first chart, all the way down the ankle, and turned the heel without even a second thought. It was, to me, a testament to how much I've grown as a knitter in the last year. I had all of these back-patting thoughts planned for my post -- introspective musings about the measuring of progress, adult learning curves and such. But alas! It seems I don't always learn as fast as I think. Because half way through (of so I thought) the second foot chart, I take a moment to actually consult the chart. And lo! I effed up. Damn. I effed up in a way that can't be easily fixed. I was so frustrated, I had to set it aside. I'll figure out how to rip back a sock full of twisted stitches tomorrow.
But I'm worried... could this be a sign of the times to come? So far, everything I've knit in 2007 has had to be at least partially frogged. Like the Spindle-socks-that-aren't. Or the Endpaper mitt disaster, where I repeated two extra rows of the chart, but didn't realize until I was well on my way up the thumb, had to add an after-thought lifeline, rip back and knit again. Sheesh.
Here's to hoping for either more brain power or fewer mistakes the rest of the year! And now, back to the endpaper...
So I treated myself to knitting on Pomotamus while watching Fog of War, which I netflixed ages ago and never had a chance to watch (can I interrupt myself to note that "to netflix" now seems like a completely acceptable verb? My how things have changed!). I was all set to post about the P-sock tonight -- how I first knit one a year ago, how hard it seemed, how I couldn't follow the pattern and how badly the sock turned out (so badly I actually didn't knit the second. This rarely happens). This time around, I flew through the first chart, all the way down the ankle, and turned the heel without even a second thought. It was, to me, a testament to how much I've grown as a knitter in the last year. I had all of these back-patting thoughts planned for my post -- introspective musings about the measuring of progress, adult learning curves and such. But alas! It seems I don't always learn as fast as I think. Because half way through (of so I thought) the second foot chart, I take a moment to actually consult the chart. And lo! I effed up. Damn. I effed up in a way that can't be easily fixed. I was so frustrated, I had to set it aside. I'll figure out how to rip back a sock full of twisted stitches tomorrow.
But I'm worried... could this be a sign of the times to come? So far, everything I've knit in 2007 has had to be at least partially frogged. Like the Spindle-socks-that-aren't. Or the Endpaper mitt disaster, where I repeated two extra rows of the chart, but didn't realize until I was well on my way up the thumb, had to add an after-thought lifeline, rip back and knit again. Sheesh.
Here's to hoping for either more brain power or fewer mistakes the rest of the year! And now, back to the endpaper...
15 January 2007
In other news...
I'm plugging along on the Pomotamus sock. More information soon...
In other news, I'm so close to being done with this grant, I can taste it. This has nudged a little into my knitting time, but when I'm done, I should have a good thirty pages of a chapter finished, and that's uplifting.
Recently, I've noticed that some folks have been posting about creative interests beyond knitting (too many to link to here, but seriously -- everyone's button collections make me want to start collecting buttons. I've got a weakness for collecting). I find it inspiring to see what catches other peoples fancies. So I thought I'd let you guys in on my dirty little secret. I collect saucers.
I love them -- their usefulness, versatility, tiny beauty. It's so much fun to dig through junk shops and antique stores looking for beauties that meet the rules (yes, as with most collections, there are rules -- Well, one rule really -- each saucer in my collection is an "orphan." That is, it doesn't have an accompanying cup, nor did I find it in a store with others like it. They must be lonely saucers, in search of a good home. This keeps me from bringing home every beautiful saucer I see). The above photo is a selection of my current favs from my collection. There is the saucer that inspired the saucer obsession:
A little wedgewood number that I snagged at an antique store in Staunton, Virginia. I love it.
Then there is this puppy:
I got this one in Memphis when I visited last February. It's a store sample, and the little polka dots make even the dullest day chipper.
And this one? Well, the reason why I love it should be obvious :)
You'll notice that my idea of saucer does not necessarily mean that it once had a corresponding tea cup (which, coincidentally, I'd also collect if I weren't, as my dad constantly reminds me, mobile. I'd collect tea pots too... god, I can't wait until I have my own home!). I've included small plates in my "saucer" collection. Like the blue depression glass -- That plate is also the only plate that has violated the "orphan" rule. But I maintain that it was, indeed, technically orphaned, since Jenfee bought all the others and it would have been orhpaned if I hadn't lovingly bought it. So there.
What do you all collect?
In other news, I'm so close to being done with this grant, I can taste it. This has nudged a little into my knitting time, but when I'm done, I should have a good thirty pages of a chapter finished, and that's uplifting.
Recently, I've noticed that some folks have been posting about creative interests beyond knitting (too many to link to here, but seriously -- everyone's button collections make me want to start collecting buttons. I've got a weakness for collecting). I find it inspiring to see what catches other peoples fancies. So I thought I'd let you guys in on my dirty little secret. I collect saucers.
I love them -- their usefulness, versatility, tiny beauty. It's so much fun to dig through junk shops and antique stores looking for beauties that meet the rules (yes, as with most collections, there are rules -- Well, one rule really -- each saucer in my collection is an "orphan." That is, it doesn't have an accompanying cup, nor did I find it in a store with others like it. They must be lonely saucers, in search of a good home. This keeps me from bringing home every beautiful saucer I see). The above photo is a selection of my current favs from my collection. There is the saucer that inspired the saucer obsession:
A little wedgewood number that I snagged at an antique store in Staunton, Virginia. I love it.
Then there is this puppy:
I got this one in Memphis when I visited last February. It's a store sample, and the little polka dots make even the dullest day chipper.
And this one? Well, the reason why I love it should be obvious :)
You'll notice that my idea of saucer does not necessarily mean that it once had a corresponding tea cup (which, coincidentally, I'd also collect if I weren't, as my dad constantly reminds me, mobile. I'd collect tea pots too... god, I can't wait until I have my own home!). I've included small plates in my "saucer" collection. Like the blue depression glass -- That plate is also the only plate that has violated the "orphan" rule. But I maintain that it was, indeed, technically orphaned, since Jenfee bought all the others and it would have been orhpaned if I hadn't lovingly bought it. So there.
What do you all collect?
13 January 2007
Hip-Hop-Happening Saturday Night
I realized today that I haven't left my house (other than to walk up the lane to the mailbox and back) in a week. No wonder I'm depressed. But I'm almost -- ALMOST -- done with my last major grant (three more days. Just three more days and I'm done).
My Saturday night?
[that would be a copy of my dissertation half-chapter that needs revision and the in progress ankle of an all-too-famous sock pattern. More on that tomorrow]
My hot date?
Oh yeah. That's right folks. It's either a sign that I'm a grown up or a hopeless dork, but this baby was one of my favorite Christmas presents. Cat hair dust bunnies don't stand a chance in the presence of the Turquoise Wonder. Ha HA!
Have a good weekend, all!
My Saturday night?
[that would be a copy of my dissertation half-chapter that needs revision and the in progress ankle of an all-too-famous sock pattern. More on that tomorrow]
My hot date?
Oh yeah. That's right folks. It's either a sign that I'm a grown up or a hopeless dork, but this baby was one of my favorite Christmas presents. Cat hair dust bunnies don't stand a chance in the presence of the Turquoise Wonder. Ha HA!
Have a good weekend, all!
11 January 2007
More things to cure all ills
Thanks for all of your comments on the Swallowtail! I'm so pleased with how it turned out, and I think it's made me a lace convert -- I keep finding all these new patterns I want to make. So get ready for more lace to come.
So here and there over the last few days, I've been working on small new projects. I'm in the throes of my last major grant application and have had to lay down the law when it comes to knitting (something, I suppose, I should do more often) -- no knitting until I've written at least three pages (or whatever my daily goal happens to be. Today, for example, it is to finish the nasty draft of this proposal). So in the evenings, while trying to think of how to say something, or deciding where I want to go next in this chapter, or generally giving my brain a break, I've been craving small things to knit -- things that can be knit in pieces (and, of course, from the stash, since I'm dead-set on not buying yarn until March). This little guy is a product of this craving. [This picture does him no justice...]
Pattern: Elephant loveable toy, from Last Minute Knitted Gifts
Yarn: less than 1 skein of Malabrigo (Frost Gray), Misti Alpaca Worsted (in pink) for the nose, scraps of Knitpicks Gloss for the eyes, and Sundara Merino Sport for the snazzy Kerchief.
Needles: Clover bamboo dpns, 4.25 mm US 6
Modifications: Well, other than yarn selection, I knit the whole thing on dpns -- The pattern calls for this very complicated process of knitting from the legs up the body on two circulars. Bah! I knit the legs flat, and then rearranged them on dpns with half the leg stitches on each of four dpns. Worked fine. If I had it to do again, I'd knit the arms on slightly smaller needles. My gauge knitting in the round is considerably tighter than it is knitting/purling stocking flat (knitting socks is beginning to take it's toll... my purl tension is considerably looser than my knit. doh!) and it's noticeable. I sewed the ears on a little wonky, but i think that's part of the little elephant's charm. I stuffed him with yarn scraps, so not a thing was wasted in the process. What a fun and rewarding (and adorable!) knit. Any name ideas?
I just finished brewing coffee. This will be the first cup of coffee I've had in almost a week. I decided to cut back this year, after I found myself going through almost a pot a day in November. Coffee is my treat to myself today.
[and for those of you who think I seem to be churning out a lot of projects these days (Minty), I don't really knit that fast. I've had a lot of things languishing around, half finished, that I've suddenly motivated to complete. Also, keep in mind I live in a town of 78, about three hours from a reasonable sized city (and movie theaters. and restaurants. and FRIENDS) and I have no day job. Things can get pretty dull chez Twinknit in the winter, and knitting has proven to be an excellent way to pass my evenings).
So here and there over the last few days, I've been working on small new projects. I'm in the throes of my last major grant application and have had to lay down the law when it comes to knitting (something, I suppose, I should do more often) -- no knitting until I've written at least three pages (or whatever my daily goal happens to be. Today, for example, it is to finish the nasty draft of this proposal). So in the evenings, while trying to think of how to say something, or deciding where I want to go next in this chapter, or generally giving my brain a break, I've been craving small things to knit -- things that can be knit in pieces (and, of course, from the stash, since I'm dead-set on not buying yarn until March). This little guy is a product of this craving. [This picture does him no justice...]
Pattern: Elephant loveable toy, from Last Minute Knitted Gifts
Yarn: less than 1 skein of Malabrigo (Frost Gray), Misti Alpaca Worsted (in pink) for the nose, scraps of Knitpicks Gloss for the eyes, and Sundara Merino Sport for the snazzy Kerchief.
Needles: Clover bamboo dpns, 4.25 mm US 6
Modifications: Well, other than yarn selection, I knit the whole thing on dpns -- The pattern calls for this very complicated process of knitting from the legs up the body on two circulars. Bah! I knit the legs flat, and then rearranged them on dpns with half the leg stitches on each of four dpns. Worked fine. If I had it to do again, I'd knit the arms on slightly smaller needles. My gauge knitting in the round is considerably tighter than it is knitting/purling stocking flat (knitting socks is beginning to take it's toll... my purl tension is considerably looser than my knit. doh!) and it's noticeable. I sewed the ears on a little wonky, but i think that's part of the little elephant's charm. I stuffed him with yarn scraps, so not a thing was wasted in the process. What a fun and rewarding (and adorable!) knit. Any name ideas?
I just finished brewing coffee. This will be the first cup of coffee I've had in almost a week. I decided to cut back this year, after I found myself going through almost a pot a day in November. Coffee is my treat to myself today.
[and for those of you who think I seem to be churning out a lot of projects these days (Minty), I don't really knit that fast. I've had a lot of things languishing around, half finished, that I've suddenly motivated to complete. Also, keep in mind I live in a town of 78, about three hours from a reasonable sized city (and movie theaters. and restaurants. and FRIENDS) and I have no day job. Things can get pretty dull chez Twinknit in the winter, and knitting has proven to be an excellent way to pass my evenings).
09 January 2007
Cure All
I was having a really down day. That is, until I unpinned this:
Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl, from Interweave Fall 2006
Yarn: Drops Alpaca 2 skeins (plus some Misti Alpaca laceweight in black...I ran out of yarn)
Needles: Addi Natura circulars, 4.5 mm, US 7
Thoughts: There are no words for the joy this shawl makes me feel. This is my first completed and blocked lace, and I'm hooked. I ran out of yarn at the end which was frustrating, but in the end, I just decided to use black for the last border, just like the tail of the Swallow bird:
(I didn't really put that much thought into it at the time, but I like the argument).
I'm wearing it now... maybe it will help me write this grant application quicker. If not, then at least it made me feel better! Lace and fresh bread will cure al ills...
Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl, from Interweave Fall 2006
Yarn: Drops Alpaca 2 skeins (plus some Misti Alpaca laceweight in black...I ran out of yarn)
Needles: Addi Natura circulars, 4.5 mm, US 7
Thoughts: There are no words for the joy this shawl makes me feel. This is my first completed and blocked lace, and I'm hooked. I ran out of yarn at the end which was frustrating, but in the end, I just decided to use black for the last border, just like the tail of the Swallow bird:
(I didn't really put that much thought into it at the time, but I like the argument).
I'm wearing it now... maybe it will help me write this grant application quicker. If not, then at least it made me feel better! Lace and fresh bread will cure al ills...
08 January 2007
Plays well with others, but...
Cannot follow directions. Case in point -- my first FO of 2007 (Let's home this isn't a sign of things to come!)
Pattern: Well, it was supposed to be the Spindle Socks, but I can't follow directions, so I guess it's really my own.
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, 2 skeins, in color #340002 (a beautiful pale green)
Needles: Clover bamboo dpns, 2.75 mm (US 2)
Thoughts/Modifications: Well, like I said, I can't follow directions. I misread the pattern and didn't notice that there was a 2 purl column between each set of three cables (when the cable change direction). I didn't notice this until I'd done all the ribbing and started the first set of cables. But I was on a time constraint (I was desperately trying to finish socks for my girlfriends from college before we all met up in Boston. I didn't succeed. But I'm much farther along than last year, when I finished the last pair in July!). So I fudged the pattern a little and got it to work out so there were still six cables (three in each direction) across the front. It wasn't until I reached the toe of the first sock that I noticed this:
See it? When I picked up stitches along the heel flap and began knitting in the round again, I inadvertently switched the direction of the cables. All of them. Again, no time to rip back. So I just repeated all of my mistakes on the second sock. Oh well. They are still delicious socks -- great color (can you tell I'm craving spring?), I love this cable, and the cashermino is so squishy and decadent on the feet. Anna's pattern is wonderful too -- very easy to cable with out a cable needle (thanks to the slipped stitches in those cables) and knits up quickly. They're blocking now, and then they're off in the mail to Mel. I might have to make myself a pair (following the directions, of course).
In other news, I joined the 2007 UFO Resurrection. I'm gonna get my WIPs under control (this is one of my New Years Yarn Resolutions -- along with only knitting from stash for the months of January and February... possibly even March!). My list of UFOs so far (and I know there'll be more)?
1. Swallowtail shawl
2. New England Socks
3. TSALP (still)
4. Mom's Faroese shawl (frog pond)
5. Union Square Market (frog pond)
6. Spitey's Sweater (frog pond, when I feel capable)
7. Kitty Pi
8. Anthropologie Sweater (frog pond, I think...)
9. Orangina
I've gotten a head start on #1 (and, indirectly, #5)... I put it down months ago when I realized I was going to run out of yarn. I couldn't find more on my last trip to Philly and the poor thing has been sitting around 15 rows from completion. So this weekend, I finally picked it back up and re-evaluated the yarn situation. I thought that perhaps the yarn still attached to my unfrogged beginning of the Union Market Sweater might do the trick. So I painstakingly ripped it out (and believe me, this was no fun -- alpaca is sticky!),
rewound it, and am now plugging away (after doing my very first spit-felted join... I'm never weaving in ends again!). I hope to have the thing blocking by midweek. Hurrah!
Pattern: Well, it was supposed to be the Spindle Socks, but I can't follow directions, so I guess it's really my own.
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, 2 skeins, in color #340002 (a beautiful pale green)
Needles: Clover bamboo dpns, 2.75 mm (US 2)
Thoughts/Modifications: Well, like I said, I can't follow directions. I misread the pattern and didn't notice that there was a 2 purl column between each set of three cables (when the cable change direction). I didn't notice this until I'd done all the ribbing and started the first set of cables. But I was on a time constraint (I was desperately trying to finish socks for my girlfriends from college before we all met up in Boston. I didn't succeed. But I'm much farther along than last year, when I finished the last pair in July!). So I fudged the pattern a little and got it to work out so there were still six cables (three in each direction) across the front. It wasn't until I reached the toe of the first sock that I noticed this:
See it? When I picked up stitches along the heel flap and began knitting in the round again, I inadvertently switched the direction of the cables. All of them. Again, no time to rip back. So I just repeated all of my mistakes on the second sock. Oh well. They are still delicious socks -- great color (can you tell I'm craving spring?), I love this cable, and the cashermino is so squishy and decadent on the feet. Anna's pattern is wonderful too -- very easy to cable with out a cable needle (thanks to the slipped stitches in those cables) and knits up quickly. They're blocking now, and then they're off in the mail to Mel. I might have to make myself a pair (following the directions, of course).
In other news, I joined the 2007 UFO Resurrection. I'm gonna get my WIPs under control (this is one of my New Years Yarn Resolutions -- along with only knitting from stash for the months of January and February... possibly even March!). My list of UFOs so far (and I know there'll be more)?
1. Swallowtail shawl
2. New England Socks
3. TSALP (still)
4. Mom's Faroese shawl (frog pond)
5. Union Square Market (frog pond)
6. Spitey's Sweater (frog pond, when I feel capable)
7. Kitty Pi
8. Anthropologie Sweater (frog pond, I think...)
9. Orangina
I've gotten a head start on #1 (and, indirectly, #5)... I put it down months ago when I realized I was going to run out of yarn. I couldn't find more on my last trip to Philly and the poor thing has been sitting around 15 rows from completion. So this weekend, I finally picked it back up and re-evaluated the yarn situation. I thought that perhaps the yarn still attached to my unfrogged beginning of the Union Market Sweater might do the trick. So I painstakingly ripped it out (and believe me, this was no fun -- alpaca is sticky!),
rewound it, and am now plugging away (after doing my very first spit-felted join... I'm never weaving in ends again!). I hope to have the thing blocking by midweek. Hurrah!
07 January 2007
2006 in Review
I'm back from my east coast rambles and cozily, if sleepily, installed back in my little mountain home. I'm still in the process of catching up on my blog reading, but it seems as though everyone had lovely holidays. I have a lot to post about, but I'm going to follow Rachel's lead, and stagger my posts. This saves y'all from a monster post and gives me fodder for posting all week while I try and pull together a grant application (nothing like starting a new year with grant writing. Woo hoo!).
I had a plan to post pictures -- like my last FO of 2006, etc. But I woke up this morning and, well, it's "froggy". See?
Bad light for new-photo-taking. So instead, I present you (a little belatedly) with 2006 in Review. It's been a big year. According to my files, in 2006, I knit:
1 sweater
1 shrug
13 pairs of socks
8 pairs of fingerless gloves
2 hats
1 scarf
1 pair of mittens
5 miscellaneous
Of these, 9 were for me (the shrug, 3 pairs of socks, 1 pair of fingerless gloves, the mittens, the hat, and the wrist rest) and the rest were gifts of "commissions" (i.e. "Hey, can you make me one of those?").
I still have 9 projects OTN, incomplete.
My goal for the beginning of 2007? To start getting some of these off the needle. Then I can make room for some new projects! More on my Knitting resolutions tomorrow!
I had a plan to post pictures -- like my last FO of 2006, etc. But I woke up this morning and, well, it's "froggy". See?
Bad light for new-photo-taking. So instead, I present you (a little belatedly) with 2006 in Review. It's been a big year. According to my files, in 2006, I knit:
1 sweater
1 shrug
13 pairs of socks
8 pairs of fingerless gloves
2 hats
1 scarf
1 pair of mittens
5 miscellaneous
Of these, 9 were for me (the shrug, 3 pairs of socks, 1 pair of fingerless gloves, the mittens, the hat, and the wrist rest) and the rest were gifts of "commissions" (i.e. "Hey, can you make me one of those?").
I still have 9 projects OTN, incomplete.
My goal for the beginning of 2007? To start getting some of these off the needle. Then I can make room for some new projects! More on my Knitting resolutions tomorrow!
29 December 2006
HOliday
Back again...
First, and most importantly, thank you all for your kind words re: my knitting and (more importantly) the mid-winter blues. I know there's lots of 'debate' out there about the line between knitting and the personal, and I appreciate all your support. It's nice being home and tomorrow, I head to Boston for my annual new-years-meet-up with my five best gal-pals from college. I think that will do wonders to refresh my spirit. The last few weeks have caused me to think, quite a bit, and for now I'll say that the new year promises some substantial changes. More on that as things settle themselves.
In the meantime, my holiday knitting is still slowly finding its way to recipients.
I knit this scarf for my brother (who, to my amazement, patiently posed for pictures on Christmas night).
Pattern: My own (sand stitch with a slip-stitch border -- it looks so tidy!)
Yarn: Knit picks Merino Style in "Nutmeg" (or, as Theresa says, whatever they're calling beige these days)
Needles: Lantern Moon, US 8 straights
And speaking of holiday knits, when we were babies, my mom knit these (monster) stockings for us. Santa still struggles to fill them every year (lots of underwear, oranges, and toothpaste over the years!).
More knitting to come as gifts are given... I hope you all had wonderful holidays and, if you don't hear from me before then, a wonderful New Year!
First, and most importantly, thank you all for your kind words re: my knitting and (more importantly) the mid-winter blues. I know there's lots of 'debate' out there about the line between knitting and the personal, and I appreciate all your support. It's nice being home and tomorrow, I head to Boston for my annual new-years-meet-up with my five best gal-pals from college. I think that will do wonders to refresh my spirit. The last few weeks have caused me to think, quite a bit, and for now I'll say that the new year promises some substantial changes. More on that as things settle themselves.
In the meantime, my holiday knitting is still slowly finding its way to recipients.
I knit this scarf for my brother (who, to my amazement, patiently posed for pictures on Christmas night).
Pattern: My own (sand stitch with a slip-stitch border -- it looks so tidy!)Yarn: Knit picks Merino Style in "Nutmeg" (or, as Theresa says, whatever they're calling beige these days)
Needles: Lantern Moon, US 8 straights
And speaking of holiday knits, when we were babies, my mom knit these (monster) stockings for us. Santa still struggles to fill them every year (lots of underwear, oranges, and toothpaste over the years!).
More knitting to come as gifts are given... I hope you all had wonderful holidays and, if you don't hear from me before then, a wonderful New Year!
22 December 2006
Radio Silence
Sorry for the long absence. Thanks all for your suggestions on the posting problem. I haven't remedied it, although I think I'm gonna follow Meg's example and switch over to haloscan for my comments. I'm starting to think the new year might bring a blogger-free blog... but let's not get ahead of ourselves here.
LOOK! I knit something!
One Endpaper Mitt, at long last (sorry about the flashiness of this photo... nighttime pics suck).
The outside looks depressingly amateurish, pre-blocking. But the inside? I love the inside.
I also love the way you can see where I switched which color I held in my left hand (I knit continental).
Other things to love? Tubular cast on. HUGE pain in the ass to do, but damn, it looks good. And so stretchy.
In life, there are things that make me wonder -- like those mushrooms that will kill you if you cook them for 30 minutes, but won't if you cook them for 45. Or those fish that are part poisonous and part edible. After these mushrooms and fish killed one person, who decided to try again, but cook it longer? And coconuts. Who was the first person who tried to get into a coconut to see if there was something worth eating in there? I feel the same way about the tubular bind off. What sick mind thought that trying that combination of weaving and stitching might turn into a good bind off? It mystifies me. But I love it, despite its finicky-ness. It looks pretty.
So, moral of the story -- the first mit is... well... a bit of an ugly duckling. But I learned a bit. And maybe blocking will help. And perhaps, just perhaps, the second will be lovelier.
I also frogged the fingerless mitts from the last post and reknit them. They were gifted today, along with the "hippie hat" I knit over the summer, and were well received. I forgot my camera, but Julie promised me a photoshoot after the holidays.
On a more personal note, thanks for your patience with the sporadic blogging and e-mail-returning. I've been having a rough go of it this winter and my enthusiasm for knitting (and, right now, everything else) is waning (the lack of knitting mojo isn't helping). I'm facing the reality of another dark winter alone here. I didn't mind so much last year -- I was distracted by a heartwrenching breakup, a need for serious life re-evaluation, and a new place. But this year... I guess this year, it's getting to me. And dissertation writing is a hard thing to do when your closest support network is an hour's drive away. I've got some decisions to make, and I'm finding it a bit rough at the moment. I usually love this time of year and the mid-winter blues don't normally set in until the end of January. Apparently, my blues are a bit precocious this year. I'm trying to knit through it and am teasing myself with a sweater's worth of malabrigo that I bought a few months ago and will turn into a cozy sweater for me (once I've finished my gift knitting). Going home for Christmas (tomorrow) should help too.
I close with a photo from the hike I took last week. I've got to enjoy this 60 degree weather while it lasts!
LOOK! I knit something!
One Endpaper Mitt, at long last (sorry about the flashiness of this photo... nighttime pics suck).
The outside looks depressingly amateurish, pre-blocking. But the inside? I love the inside.
I also love the way you can see where I switched which color I held in my left hand (I knit continental).
Other things to love? Tubular cast on. HUGE pain in the ass to do, but damn, it looks good. And so stretchy.
In life, there are things that make me wonder -- like those mushrooms that will kill you if you cook them for 30 minutes, but won't if you cook them for 45. Or those fish that are part poisonous and part edible. After these mushrooms and fish killed one person, who decided to try again, but cook it longer? And coconuts. Who was the first person who tried to get into a coconut to see if there was something worth eating in there? I feel the same way about the tubular bind off. What sick mind thought that trying that combination of weaving and stitching might turn into a good bind off? It mystifies me. But I love it, despite its finicky-ness. It looks pretty.
So, moral of the story -- the first mit is... well... a bit of an ugly duckling. But I learned a bit. And maybe blocking will help. And perhaps, just perhaps, the second will be lovelier.
I also frogged the fingerless mitts from the last post and reknit them. They were gifted today, along with the "hippie hat" I knit over the summer, and were well received. I forgot my camera, but Julie promised me a photoshoot after the holidays.
On a more personal note, thanks for your patience with the sporadic blogging and e-mail-returning. I've been having a rough go of it this winter and my enthusiasm for knitting (and, right now, everything else) is waning (the lack of knitting mojo isn't helping). I'm facing the reality of another dark winter alone here. I didn't mind so much last year -- I was distracted by a heartwrenching breakup, a need for serious life re-evaluation, and a new place. But this year... I guess this year, it's getting to me. And dissertation writing is a hard thing to do when your closest support network is an hour's drive away. I've got some decisions to make, and I'm finding it a bit rough at the moment. I usually love this time of year and the mid-winter blues don't normally set in until the end of January. Apparently, my blues are a bit precocious this year. I'm trying to knit through it and am teasing myself with a sweater's worth of malabrigo that I bought a few months ago and will turn into a cozy sweater for me (once I've finished my gift knitting). Going home for Christmas (tomorrow) should help too.
I close with a photo from the hike I took last week. I've got to enjoy this 60 degree weather while it lasts!
18 December 2006
Blogger Question
I've got a question for those of you out there still using Blogger. I switched this weekend to Beta-Blogger. I've been having a few problems with it. The biggest and most annoying is the comments -- I have comments forwarded to my e-mail so that I can respond to you lovely people. For some reason, now that I've switched over, for the life of me, I can't figure out how to get e-mails ATTATCHED to comments... they always come up as no-comment@blogger.com, even if you're signed into a blogger account. I like being able to reply to people's comments... it makes me feel in touch. Does anyone know how to fix this (other than finally getting off my butt and switching from blogger... just can't do that right now)?
Thanks! Knitting to come. And hopefully a pattern for the blue socks.
Thanks! Knitting to come. And hopefully a pattern for the blue socks.
16 December 2006
Searching for Mojo...
It's not that I haven't been knitting, or even having some FOs. It's just that I'm not excited about the quality of my knitting. My mojo? It's gone. For example, my Koigu Monkey socks. Gauge off, recently frogged. Or these:
Fingerless gloves for a friend. I ran out of yarn. Again. I just don't have the strength to frog two things in one day.
You'd think an FO would make me feel better.
Pattern: My own (losely based on Minty's Anastasia socks)
Yarn: Knitpicks Gloss in "dusk"
Needles: Inox US 1.5 (2.5 mm) dpns
Thoughts: Well... I love the idea of these socks. I'm not loving the Gloss so much right now. It shows every. single. mistake. Really. It makes me feel like I can't knit to save my life. (see the uneveness below? Yeah. That's on the TOP of one foot. After blocking. Ugh).
But the pattern? I knit the first of these on the flight to Hawaii. Despite a minor setback, I finished the second several days ago. I love that the mirror each other. I love the continuation of the eyelet spiral onto the heel flap (this was Jenfee's suggestion... she's smart). I think they're sexy (well, sexy as far as handknit socks go).
Here's to hoping my mojo comes back soon. I've got a week to get a lot of Christmas knitting done. Not to mention that thing they call a dissertation...
Fingerless gloves for a friend. I ran out of yarn. Again. I just don't have the strength to frog two things in one day.
You'd think an FO would make me feel better.
Pattern: My own (losely based on Minty's Anastasia socks)
Yarn: Knitpicks Gloss in "dusk"
Needles: Inox US 1.5 (2.5 mm) dpns
Thoughts: Well... I love the idea of these socks. I'm not loving the Gloss so much right now. It shows every. single. mistake. Really. It makes me feel like I can't knit to save my life. (see the uneveness below? Yeah. That's on the TOP of one foot. After blocking. Ugh).
But the pattern? I knit the first of these on the flight to Hawaii. Despite a minor setback, I finished the second several days ago. I love that the mirror each other. I love the continuation of the eyelet spiral onto the heel flap (this was Jenfee's suggestion... she's smart). I think they're sexy (well, sexy as far as handknit socks go).
Here's to hoping my mojo comes back soon. I've got a week to get a lot of Christmas knitting done. Not to mention that thing they call a dissertation...
15 December 2006
Frustration and Beauty
Frustration: a sock that is too big.
No matter how I try to talk myself out of it, I'm acknowledging that this sock is just too big -- I took gauge again and again and again, and I was spot on. And now that I've turned the heel and tried it on, it's too big and suddenly I'm getting 7 st/in instead of 8. Grrrr... I can't believe I have to rip it out, but I do. sigh.
Beauty: Koigu. This is my first Koigu experience. I may never knit with another sock yarn again. It's so silky. It flows through my fingers. And the colors? There's no sunlight today to do the subtle variation, the flecks of color, justice.
Frustration: At times like this, when I go on large shopping adventures and suddenly become a consumer for the sake of perfect gift giving, I am always reminded of the people who don't have this luxury. This has particularly been an issue the last two holiday seasons, as I live in a very economically depressed region. Reading the Yarn Harlot today (and I know most of us do, so pardon me if I'm being redundant), I was further reminded how even the most disadvantaged Americans (and Canadians) are often so much better off than those who live elsewhere... it's sobering.
Beauty: Yet another lovely thing that comes from Canada (like Koigu, that is), Harlot has put out a challenge to the knitting community -- her goal? To double the amount donated to Doctors Without Borders by the knitting community. She expresses this goal in ways infinitely more articulate than my own. If you've not been over there to read her blog entry for today, you should. And then donate. I did. I'll be buying no yarn in the month of January (goodness knows, I've got enough) and donated what I spend the average month. It's just a good thing to do.
No matter how I try to talk myself out of it, I'm acknowledging that this sock is just too big -- I took gauge again and again and again, and I was spot on. And now that I've turned the heel and tried it on, it's too big and suddenly I'm getting 7 st/in instead of 8. Grrrr... I can't believe I have to rip it out, but I do. sigh.
Beauty: Koigu. This is my first Koigu experience. I may never knit with another sock yarn again. It's so silky. It flows through my fingers. And the colors? There's no sunlight today to do the subtle variation, the flecks of color, justice.
Frustration: At times like this, when I go on large shopping adventures and suddenly become a consumer for the sake of perfect gift giving, I am always reminded of the people who don't have this luxury. This has particularly been an issue the last two holiday seasons, as I live in a very economically depressed region. Reading the Yarn Harlot today (and I know most of us do, so pardon me if I'm being redundant), I was further reminded how even the most disadvantaged Americans (and Canadians) are often so much better off than those who live elsewhere... it's sobering.
Beauty: Yet another lovely thing that comes from Canada (like Koigu, that is), Harlot has put out a challenge to the knitting community -- her goal? To double the amount donated to Doctors Without Borders by the knitting community. She expresses this goal in ways infinitely more articulate than my own. If you've not been over there to read her blog entry for today, you should. And then donate. I did. I'll be buying no yarn in the month of January (goodness knows, I've got enough) and donated what I spend the average month. It's just a good thing to do.
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