Yarny Goodness!

Moved!!

2007-05-20T20:11:00.001-04:00

Well, google accounts went and screwed up my blogger account, so I decided to take my toys and go home. well, wordpress anyway:

yarny.wordpress.com

Update your links!

Sheep! And Wool! And Wool! And Sheep!

2007-05-06T12:31:00.000-04:00

Maryland Sheep and Wool 2007 rocked! No migraine and no sunburn this year! (Alas, no lamburger, which was sad.)

There were sheep.

Rams(?)

Even the sheep think they're tastey!

Goats!

The Haul:

Spinning Flock Farm (Woodbine, MD)
50/50 Merino/Tussah Silk in Charcoal and Pale Lavender for Deep V Argyle Vest

The Flock Bransonas
75/25 Wool/nylon sock yarn in "Rhapsody"

More Flock Bransonas Sock
"Esmerelda"

The Mannings
Koigu, #305

More Mannings
Koigu, # 1008

While at the Mannings booth there was a woman standing next to me, and someone went pushing behind us, and pushed the woman into the big wall of koigu. She made a "hrmph" noise and glared at the pusher (because really, it's MDS&W, there's no call for shoving!) and I said "Well, there are worse things to be shoved into, I suppose." The woman stepped back, and realized she'd been pushed into a big wall of koigu and agreed it could be worse.

I got a little light headed at the Mannings
"Gossamer Webs" - History and Construction of Orenburg Lace

Carodan Farm, Stanardsville, VA
Opal Rainforest Collection in Fish & Flamingo

Shelridge Farms, Durham, Canada
6 balls of W4 in silver. Incidentally, all of my friends got some too, after I raved about it so much.

Tess' Designer Yarns
Super Sock? Pewter perhaps? Mine didn't have a label.

FO: Pomatomus

2007-05-01T15:17:00.000-04:00

Photo by Jess at Stitch DC!

Pattern: Pomatomus by Cookie A, via Knitty
Yarn: Koigu KPPPM (color 200, I think, but the ball band has been lost to time)
Needles: Size 0. Two circulars for the leg and the foot, double points for the gusset (it was so pretty, I couldn't not do the heel flap, even though I normally sub in a short row heel).
Mods: Only did two leg repeats – the koigu has less yardage than the Shelridge, and since I couldn't remember which color it was, I didn't want to risk running out.
Notes: Love, love, love these! (Incidentally, check out Tristan Prettyman's song "Love, Love, Love" (third song on the list)). I totally disregarded the weather forecast today (80 degrees), and wore them anyway. And during the photo shoot, Maggie Sefton of the Knitting Mysteries Series popped in, and she loved them too! So much so, that she said she was going to call Knitty and find out about possibly including them in her next book!

Super big detail shot

Next up: I'm going to start the second yarrow rib sock. And next Thursday, I'm totally starting the entrelac socks. I found some great Claudia Handpaint in "Just Plum" that I'm going to use instead of "Pink Posey." They're going to be my end-of-finals treat. Along with another Ribbi Cardi.

Boy, I'm talkative lately!

OMG! New Magknits!

2007-05-01T08:55:00.000-04:00

Ada June - Cute. I hope magknits is still running if/when my friends have babies, so I can make this hat for them. (Print it out now? Feh!)

Brigid - I wish there were more views. But it looks like a good way to cut your teeth on some lace, if you don't want to do a boring old rectangle.

Diamond Girl - Normally I'm not a fan of things that bisect my chest. But I inexplicably love this. I'm definitely going to de-puff the sleeves, and probably use ribbon instead of icord. Maybe have the quilting come down a touch more?

Friday - You know, the purl side is really pretty! I see myself with one of these (made longer) this winter. I love the little knubs!

Rivendell - I must have this hat! Did you see the picture of the top? What a perfect crown! Although, I might throw in a rib in those big sections of reverse stockinette, just to give it a bit more grip. Maybe.

Reduce Reuse Recycle - I've always wondered what the sag factor on a plastic-plastic bag would be. But cute still. [One time, I saw someone who was looking for places to buy colorful plastic bags, so she could cut them up and turn them into a 'recycled' plastic bag. And did not see how this was an afront to the idea of the knit plastic bag as a way to reuse the bags.]

Zoe - Huh, that looks a lot smaller than the dimensions given. I'm not a purse user, and the I think the ruffle needs twice as many ruffles (making it look fuller. And to point down a little more.

Overall, I think this is one of the better issues they've had in a while!

Just in the nick of time!

2007-04-30T21:41:00.000-04:00

So I got my sock pal info today and while thinking about what yarn to use I remembered that the wee tiny start up Neighborhood Fiber Company had the most perfect colorway (named "Brookland") - I ordered it just in time, too. To prep for festivals, they're (actually, I think it's just "She's...") closing down orders for a month, starting this Friday (but yay for being popular).

Now, to find the right pattern!

Interweave preview!

2007-04-29T15:29:00.000-04:00

Summer 07 Interweave preview and yardage requirements are online!
http://www.interweaveknits.com/preview/2007_summer.asp

I think I'm loving the boot socks and the hats are the only things I'm really excited about from the preview, but maybe something else will be cooler in the big pictures...

almostivoli

2007-04-28T15:30:00.000-04:00

I went on something of an interstate yarn hunt this morning. With a mere 15 rows left on my Picovoli sleeves, I ran out of yarn. So I called Stitch DC. Apparently I cleaned them out of cream color Cathay last year. [Back in the day when all this Cathay was going to be Spring Fling]). So I called Knit Happens. And bless the yarn gods, they had it! So off I went.

I almost never go to KH because I get lost and I can't parallel park. So I park in garages. But, bless the parking gods, there was an unmetered space right at the end of a block that I could just pull into!

So I went, I had a celebratory sandwich at Cosi [in honor of finding yarn and a parking space. The sandwich was very bad, by "Could I have a tiny bit more honey mustard" I did not actually mean "Could you put a big glob of honey mustard right in the middle, and not spread it out on the bread at all"], I got my ball (same dye lot!), I knit my 15 rows, and I bound off and I skipped back to my car.

I outsourced the sewing down of the picot hem to my mom (in exchange for a nice steak), and it still really, really needs a wash and block, in the worst way. I'm also considering dying it. Now that I have a whole extra ball to make swatches with, I'll have to read up on what (if anything) will dye Cotton/Silk/Microfiber. Let there be something, cream does not match my skin very well.

Can there be too many Ribbi Cardis?

2007-04-23T11:26:00.000-04:00

I spent most of the weekend knitting (Picovoli - it's divided into such great chunks. You can sit there and think "Well, I'll just finish the yoke. It's only 33 rows! Okay, I'll do the bust too, that's only 40 rows. Well, why not finish the waist decreases since I'm at it – only 27 rows. And then how can I not do the straight part of the waist? That's just 13 rows. Heck, why not do the hip increases – only 18 rows." My elbow cramped before I finished the last 10 rows and picot hem. So the body will probably be done tonight. Other scary things - the amount of cleaning I got done this weekend. Was there a time warp or soemthing?) But when I wasn't knitting, there was some stash assessment (I'm considering thinning the herd before MDS&W). I've been wondering for a while what to do with...

Cotton Ease. Original recipe.

I have two balls of purple – the oldest yarn in my stash! (Well, oldest yarn I bought. Inherited yarn from grandma doesn't count). And four (five?) balls in black. While browsing the internet this late last week, I saw a Ribbi Cardi done with 6 balls of Cotton Ease. I love my Shelridge Ribbi to death, so would a second one be so bad? (This was going to be a Tricot until I noticed the Tricot gauge - 4 st/inch! I can't get 4 st/inch with Cotton Ease!)

What about a third one?

I have four more balls of blue (I admit it, I bought out a Ben Franklin Crafts Cotton Ease stock one day) left over from my Sitcom Chic. Blue body + white sleeves (or white and light blue stripes). My mom likes my Ribbi, and she liked the color of my Sitcom Chic. (And she is making me a quilt, and has unwittingly agreed to making me a couple of skirts... I'm phasing her into handknits, as long as she promises to wear them. So far she has a sweater, a hat, and a crocheted scarf.)

I wonder if I'd be all Ribbied out by the time I got around to #3. That's a lot of Ribbi. I wouldn't do them in a row, but still. So a question for my readers (I'm up to 9 on bloglines! And I know there are others!)--

How many times have you made the same pattern (which pattern?), and how did that go for you?

Another new start: Picovoli

2007-04-18T08:55:00.000-04:00

Last night I was lamenting the fact that I had no yarn for the project I wanted to make right away (I caved in and bought the Simple Knitted Bodice - I tried with the specs I'd written down for my own knockoff version, and that failed, and I was clearly having a dim moment when I last measured my swatch - I wrote down 4.5spi on the tag, and when I remeasured last night, it was 5.5 spi. So woe, no yarn. Guess I'll add that to the list to take to MDS&W). And while lamenting I made a list of sweaters in various states of disarray (Samus, Rogue, Top-Down Lace Sleeve) and things I had swatches for, but had size/gauge issues still (Tricot, Kimono, Lucy in the Sky) and I almost added Picovoli to the latter list, until I found my swatch, measured, and realized, it was just right. No gauge-math needed!

Of course, I fall right in the middle of the sizes (at least for suggested ease of -2"). But you know, I think zero inches of ease will probably be just fine.

Of course, there are no pictures. Take my word for it that the picots look great (I did the provisional cast on, and after the yo-row I did two rows plain, then joined by unzipping my cast-on and putting the stitches on another needle, and then knitting one stitch from each needle together (much as one would do a three needle bind off, but without the bind off part). Terribly awkward to execute, but it looks really good - and with one less step in finishing later.

Finally!

2007-04-13T09:43:00.000-04:00

The cough medicine is wearing off and I'm having clear thoughts again!

It just occured to me that if I make Tricot as a cardigan (I like the half zip, but I'm not a half zip wearer. I'm a cardi wearer.) then I can do the body in one piece with no seams. (Well, no seams except for the sleeves - like I said, I'm off cough syrup and not having crazy thoughts like "I can do intarsia in the round with no problem!")

Yay for no seams.

Also: My Pomatomus is almost done. But it's Sock 1, not 2. (If you want to be technical, it's 2.1. With Sock 1.1, I got through the first repeat, and then stopped decreasing for like 4 rounds. Wasn't a good look. With all the twists and yarn overs, it wasn't good. And they were in Lorna's Laces, which was just too thin for the pattern. Sock 2.1 is koigu, and looks and feels much better.)

Let's pull out the Freud

2007-04-10T10:17:00.000-04:00

Last night I had a dream that I dropped Samus off at the the tailor for a zipper, and she charged me $700 for it.

Sadly still not a dream: The day I thought it would be easier to do a provisional cast-on and then graft the top of Samus to the saxon braid edge, rather than pick up 160 stitches over 240 rows (I tried twice - I kept picking up 50 stitches over the first 100 rows. Not easier, in case you were wondering. I grafted the first twenty stitches to the edge, and it looks like crap. Now I'm thinking I'll go back, pick up those 160 stitches, knit one row, plus knit one row from my provisional edge, and try grafting those together. Unless someone has a better idea.

Happy Easter!

2007-04-08T13:55:00.000-04:00

Foreground: Roza's Socks
Background: Nazareth

This has the potential to be very bad...

2007-04-03T15:02:00.000-04:00

So, some people having been telling about how great and wonderful is to spin your own yarn. And I've been resisting. First, because I don't really need so much more yarn, and second because the only local place that offers lessons (Springwater Fiber Workshop) has only offered spinning class on nights when I'm off learning about statistics. (Or when I'm on the other side of the world.)

So when they put up the summerish schedule, and the spinning class was on Saturday, Sunday, and Tuesday... I couldn't really use reason #2. And although reason #1 is still perfectly valid, the fact that I don't need more yarn has never stopped me from buying it, so it may as well not stop me from learning to make it.

Still, it's a shame that the class isn't being offered before MDS&W. Then I could buy fluff. But if I buy fluff at MDS&W, and then it turns out I don't like spinning, then I'll have a bunch of fluff (and fluff takes up so much more space than yarn!)

FO: The Shawl Collar Jacket

2007-04-02T14:00:00.000-04:00

Pattern: Shawl Collar Jacket by Alexandra Virgiel

Yarn: Kathmandu Aran Tweed (Discontinued), Color 120. (85% merino, 10% silk, 5% cashmere) I think I used 10 and the tiniest bit of ball #11 out of the 14 balls I picked up at Richmond's Lettuce Knit. It isn't particularly "jackety" – much more traditional cardigan. But I used a lighter-than-called-for yarn, and if you used a chunky yarn, it would make a great early fall/spring jacket.

Time to knit: Two weeks! (February 2 – 15). Time spent sitting on the couch: One month. Time at tailor for the zipper: One week.

Mods: I knit the body in one piece (no side seams). After reading this post where Cara said that Nona suggested that sewing the sleeve into a tube before sewing to the body was easier, I tried it that way. Now, I've only done set in sleeves with the body in two (three, for cardi) parts before, so I don't know if the tube-to-tube was easier than flat sleeve-to-tube body, but it wasn't particularly hard, so I'm going to stay with the tube-to-tube camp. I also picked up stitches for the shawl collar part, rather than knitting the shawl collar separately, and then sewing it on.

Other thoughts: This is the greatest sweater ever. It fits like a dream, it's warm and squishy, and pretty much perfect in every way.

This is my 3rd finished sweater this year (but only the 2nd one to get a blog entry). I've also finished my top-down deep v-neck 3/4 length sleeve blue sweater, but it needs to be washed before it gets a blog post.

Planning for Another Sweater

2007-03-31T19:00:00.000-04:00

I haven't updated about knitting in ages. You see, I got a little sick while on vacation. Tomorrow will be two weeks of being sick, so yesterday I went to the doctor. He confirmed that I have a cold. A bad cold, but just a cold.

In knitting news: I just got my copy of Elizabeth Zimmermann's "Knitting Around" in the mail. Must. Make. Everything!

First. I have to have The Bog Jacket like, right now. I saw this one online some time ago, and it really caught my eye. I want mine to have be multi-color though (like the one here, on the lower left). At first I wasn't sure about garter stitch (it's so ... gartery), but then I thought "Hey, the Mermaid jacket is garter stitch, but really pretty." Of course, the Mermaid Jacket is knit at 7-8 stitches per inch. Which is pretty small (let's see, 39" at 7.5 st/inch is 293 stitches. And that means something a little shy of 600 rows. That's a lot of garter stitch). Sure, I could go with dk or worsted weight (5.5 st/in - 215 st, and 4.5 st/in is 176), but then it looks so gartery looking.

Okay, so sizing issues aside, colors! I love the gray-white-black one (cited above). But how? I know EZ is pithy and all, but would it kill her to include some specs on making ones just like the pictures? (So some fun with a sketchpad later, I think I'd knit 5" plain, a row or two in black, and then about 10 inches in my contrast color. Or maybe 6.5" plain and 7" in contrast. So confusing!)

Other considerations. So I know I need to shorten it up (my longer sweaters are about 15" from armpit to hem), and lengthen the sleeve (although, I don't see why she says to use "about 12%" more stitches. (For me) underarm to wrist is 18". As written, it would measure 10" so I need 8 more inches. (Or 7 and then do 1" of garter in the reverse direction.) So I'd add X st/inch x 8 inches (which is about 20%). The waist shaping is easy enough to add (love(!) the faux seam), the shoulder short rows confuse me just a bit. Maybe they'll make more sense as they're being knit?

And so many yarn options. I have O-Wool (earmarked for the Top Down Raglan Along, but I like it, and could get more). Stitch DC is also now stocking Ella Rae Classic (100% wool - 220 yards for $7) - and they have Mission Falls. All lovely worsted options. For something lighter... maybe knitpicks' Telemark? I haven't worked with that before, and usually I prefer merino, but I like the colors. If I got really wild and crazy with the fingering weight I could try knitpicks' Gloss (or the Bare Merino/Silk - still fingering weight, but 440 yards (for $6.60, compared to Gloss 220 yards/$4) - and then I could dye it myself so I could have something pastel-y). I could do a lilac body with white stripe and dark purple accents.

Or, I could be smart and tell myself that I won't get to this sweater until at least May - so I should wait and pick something up at Maryland Sheep and Wool - only a month away!

(Oh, and the second must have: Seamless Yoke with Henley collar, then some mittens, and maybe a pi are square shawl.)

Israeli Alpaca farm

2007-03-15T15:44:00.000-04:00

Llamas rock:

but alpacas bite!

Spring 2007 Knitty

2007-03-07T21:29:00.001-05:00

Bmp - I didn't have video games growing up, so the retro thing doesn't make me all nostalgic. It seems a lot of other people like them, so that's cool.

Carolyn - I read something once about always picking your buttons after you finish the sweater, because the button can make or break the whole thing. Here's a fun example of breaking. Also - I think I want to say what the hell is going on with that collar, but I'm not sure since her hair is in the way. I'm also curious why it's so baggy in weird places (check out the back shot). Is it just too long for her? (I refuse to believe it has waist shaping!)

Tahoe - I was going to say that I think I'd love this sweater with some waist shaping tossed in. Then I looked at the schematic and realized that would defeat the purpose of the sweater! Now, I like Cathay and I like Koigu, however, wouldn't knitting at a gauge looser than the ball band suggests give you a fabric that is fluid and drapey for one day, and pilly and worn looking for the rest of the days?

Ribena - I like this. No weird arm warmers for me (but possibly longer sleeves). I love the shape of the ribs, and how they extend up. I think I'd want to drop the neckline a bit to. After making Durrow, however, I'm worried about my ability to seam a saddle shoulder correctly.

Torque - I like the idea of the asymmetrical cable, and love how it splits into the collar (okay, I know, I love it when cables flow into/out of other parts of the pattern in general). But that sweater looks like it's going to eat those girls!

Isabella - You know what would have been fun? Consistent lighting in this photoshoot. Also, a clear, head on shot so I can see the whole thing. I wish the leaf thing continued all the way around the neck. Also, remember that old pattern Soliel? A lot of people had a hard time because the arm hole was so wide, and it was like peak-a-boob if you lifted your arm. The armholes on this sweater look exactly the same. If the armhole was just a little smaller, it would be awesome to wear under a blazer to work, and then ditch the blazer in the car and head immediately out for a night out with friends.

Ester - I know you're sad that your friend died and all, but I'm sure she'd still want you to get some natural sunlight. And to smile if you're going to be out on the internet! [Amber's Handbasket Tours to Hell leave every hour on the hour. Reserve your space now!] Now, I love deconstructing things that are, or could be, hand knit. However, I prefer my clothes fit properly and are flattering. So I'll stick with 2x2 ribbing that flows into 4 stitch cables and back into 2x2 ribbing, seed stitch that comes out of increases, and that sort of thing.

More Stripes - It amazes me that things can be ribbed, yet not the least bit fitted. I think I'd have the V stop in the middle of my bust - not below. It sort of makes her look like she knit the vest for someone taller and heavier - but that the friend wouldn't be the model.

Monica - That poor little girl looks so unhappy in the first photo. I wasn't the kind of little girl who liked this sort of thing, and neither were my friends, but I suppose there are little girls out there who like wearing the super frilly stuff.

Briar Rose - If I knew a little girl, I would totally make her this sweater (in one color). I might even take the cables and put on a sweater for me!

Hey Mickey - I admit - I look at the pictures first, and read the copy second. I thought the pattern was for the socks. I hated skirts as a kid, and I hate knitted skirts now, but I suppose if you've got a little girl who likes skirts in your life now, it would be fun to make. But why would you knit an acrylic skirt? At least give it some potential to bounce back after the first wearing.

Vestee - < Amber is a terrible person alert > I'm so glad I had hair when I was little, and there are no pictures of me being all hairless with a funny shaped head when I was a toddler. < /Bad person. > I see the short sleeves/t-shirt. I see the long sleeve/sweater. I see the hood, and the shawl collar. I see no vest anywhere as any part of this sweater. But I suppose Sweateree didn't have the same ring.

Palette - Pretty. Really, really pretty. But I wonder - are you supposed to block with points (the way the waves face), or are you supposed to block the sides square, and the knitter just did a half assed job?

Dashing - I like the way the cables cross, but having knit fingerless mittens like this before, I can tell just by looking that the bind off pictured is way, way to tight to be functional. Substitute a stretchy bind off (like if you were doing a toe-up sock), and you'll actually be able to USE your hands.

Paperbag - I LOVE the idea of a bag made of paper yarn, and calling it Paperbag. But I don't like this paperbag. I can't put my finger on why, though. Probably the bobbles. Little warts of knitting.

Bauble - Cute. Not something I'd wear, but cute and innovative.

Queen of Cups - Considering MOST socks are written top down, I don't see why the designer makes a point of noting how she's obsessed with top down socks. That's like saying you're obsessed with sweater knit in 4 (or 5 if a cardi) pieces, from the waist to the shoulder. Regardless, I love the socks, and I'm wondering if I should make them with gray Koigu or purple Rowan Cashsoft 4ply.

Quill Lace - If you make a point of saying that the pattern uses the eye of partridge heel, why not photograph the eye of partridge heel? Also, I wonder if the lace is stretchy enough to keep them up without ribbing. They look awfully loose...

Clessidra - Must have! Right now! Must have! Not a huge fan of all that seed stitch, so I might try the front panel in stockinette instead. Not sure yet. But I'm totally ordering yarn for this project when I get back from Israel.

So that's 3, maybe 5 things I'd knit from this issue. Considering I liked over half the things in Winter Knitty, and made a grand total of ZERO of them (so far!) that isn't so bad.

Milestone post, and knitgoals of the month

2007-03-02T10:23:00.000-05:00

Happy 100th post to me! I've been holding off on posting because I wanted to have a picture extravaganza for Post 100. But then I really wanted to talk about myself, so I'll just make sure I'm prepared for Post 200.

My February Goals Recap:

Finish Falling Leaves Socks - Done! Still picture-less. They're a little odd - the pattern doesn't cling much, so they're loose around my ankles, and tight around my calf. In a do-over, I'd only do 7 pattern repeats on the leg, and then add more ribbing at the top.

Start another pair of socks for hallway knitting - Done! I started Pomatomus. Although their appropriateness for hallway knitting (when I'm a little early for class) is dubious - you really have to think about them!

Finish Kersti Glottens - Not done. I couldn't get excited about the thumb gusset.

Finish body of Lace Sleeve Raglan - Not done. But I did knit and assemble an entirely different sweater - the Shawl Collar Cardigan and I finished the body of Rogue (and discovered I don't have enough yarn for the hood, called the store, and found they don't have any more. Now I have to re-engineer the top of the body to look cool and be hoodless).

Order Super Secret Yarn - Done! Bwhahahaha!

For March:
March is going to be a light knitting month. I have two midterms and a 10 day trip to Israel! Why knit when there's falafel? And olives. And hummus. And wine. And falafel.

Finish Pomatomus (keep your fingers crossed I get a nice airport screener who lets me keep my needles!).

Figure out specs for Project Top Down Raglan. Cast on. Or possibly, knit one sleeve from my Old Blue Top Down Raglan. Sleeves are good too.

Progress!

2007-02-15T20:59:00.000-05:00

What happens when you have consecutive sick days and snow (ice) days?

Oy with the blurry! But hey, I was excited. I had to share with my friends in the computer!

Saturday / Sunday : Knit shawl collar. Much with the short rows.
Monday: Sew sleeves in place.
Tuesday: Drop off at tailor to have zipper installed!
...Thursday? Friday?: Pick up, and skip about and wait to be showered in compliments about my sweater so that I can say Thank you! I made it!

A complaint; A WIP, and some musing

2007-02-11T13:00:00.000-05:00

NEW BLOGGER JUST ATE MY POST! This is why I didn't want to use new blogger. I was happily typing away and then whoosh! the post was gone.

Blogger forced me to convert today. I didn't want to use new blogger. Old blogger was just find and this sucks!

Stupid new blogger. Stupid stupid stupid.

As best as I can recreate all my witty quips.

I've been working away on the Shawl Collar Cardigan. I finished the sleeves last week, and now I'm on to the body. The body was written to be worked in three pieces (back, L-front, R-front), but since I can't seem to seam straight, I decided to work it as one piece. So far, so good (except the fact that it's nearly 200 st/row!). Earlier today I realized I'd made a mistake as I worked - for my size you're supposed to decrease 1 st every 10 rows. I've been working decreases every 8 rows. I'm trying to convince myself it will be okay, since I want my sweater to be a little shorter anyway (14.5 inches long instead of 15). No one tell me otherwise!

I took Shawl Collar outside to take pictures - and ran into some of my neighbors while I was out. And then I had to explain why I was photographing stuff on the bench.

It is 31 degrees outside! You should all feel very special that I braved the cold so you could have a clear, color-accurate shot of the sweater. Feel special? Good!

The yarn, in case my babbling doesn't track, is Kathmandu Aran Tweed. I'm sad it's been discontinued - it's such nice yarn. I'll have to try and get my hands on some Silkroad Aran that replaced it.

I've also decided to take the Eyelet Rib Bandeau from the most recent Interweave and add sleeves and make a cute cardi. That stitch pattern caught my eye in the Barbara Walker treasury, but I wasn't sure the best way to use it. And I love the little picot trim! Some changes, of course: I'm going to knit the button band in with the sweater (I considered adding it in after the rest was done - like a traditional button band - and working it sideways, so that the picots could run up the sides and around the neck, not just at the bottom hem and the hem of the sleeve. But that's a lot of picot-hem to tack down); and I'm going to knit it straight, rather than decrease around the bust (since there will be sleeves I don't have to shape the garment to keep it from falling down). Of course, I have lots of other sweaters to finish first, but that isn't stopping me from looking for a yarn to use. The ebay seller I got all the All Seasons Cotton from has a bag of Rowanspun (dk weight) available. In pink! I wish there was somewhere around here I could get my hands on some Rowanspun first, to see if I like it and if I think it would make a good sweater. I like the Cashsoft DK (called for in the pattern), but I wonder if that wouldn't be too warm? I'd like something in a cotton-blend so I could wear it during the summer and not be too hot if I wore it while I ran out for a cup of coffee or something. There's also Elizabeth Lavold Silky Wool, but I feel like I should branch out a little. Thoughts?

Story Time with Auntie Amber!

2007-02-09T17:01:00.000-05:00

I'm going to try very very hard not to make my quarterly Interweave review too snarky. This is hard, since I think it was a waste of paper and ink.

Entrelac Socks - Before now, I've never had any desire to do entrelac, but now, I want to at once! I will have to find the perfect skirt/shoe pattern to showcase the tassel. The tassel rocks, and must be shown off. But I'm not a skirt or boot-wearer. I guess I'll have to buy new clothes to match my socks!

Lace and Ribs Tank - I know I usually profess my love for Jodi Green in an inappropriate way, but I'm not feeling the love this time. I don't need to air condition my midriff, something that long wouldn't be flattering on me, and while I find the shaping clever, I don't want my breasts highlighted like that.

Green Tea Raglan - First, I'm going to pretend that belt doesn't exist. Why would you want a belt? Elsewhere, that's a lot of seed stitch.

Dollar and a Half Cardigan - I preferred the preview picture where it looked like it was a plain simple brown cardigan. The random bits of different stitch patterns are weird.

Bonsai Tunic - That's a really ugly vest. I appreciate the fact that the patterning is reversed (scallops point toward each other at the bottom, away from the neck at the top). But it looks like the seam on the upper part is strange, like they were seaming that part from the inside.

Swan Lake Cardigan - Reverse stockinette isn't my thing. Also not my thing: puffy sleeves. I kind of like the tulle at the edges.

Slanted Neck Pullover - I do not need help making my chest look lopsided. Thanks, though!

Indigo Ripples - I like the ruffle-y bit at the hem, but hatred of knit skirts wins out.

Rose Halter Top - ... That's a really phenomenal waste of yarn.

Clementine Shawlette - I considered figuring out how to make it so that it was only 3 repeats wide (not 5) and longer, to use as a scarf. Then I read that it was worked in two pieces and grafted together. Which really, really sounds like a horrible pain.

Eyelet Rib Bandeau - Okay, work this in the round and attach a cute shrug-style top (a la Tubey) and I think this would be really cute. As it is? Not so much. But good for parents who want to knit for their tweens who want to emulate girls like Micha Barton/Paris Hilton/et al.

Cable Down Raglan - I think I might be the only person on the internet who doesn't like this one. I like top down raglans, but this one is too busy for me.

Ruffled Surplice - Normally I love ruffles. But I can't decide if I do or don't like this pattern. The ambivalence is overwhelming. I think it would probably make my ass look big.

Keyhole Top - Originally I thought I might like this one. Had the possibility of drawing attention to the midriff, but it does have nice shaping. Things it doesn't have: A back. Sorry, but I don't want to go out and buy a special bra, just for the one sweater (even if I am willing to buy special shoes and skirts to highlight certain socks). A special bra seems like so much more effort!

Cocktail Capelet - You know how I said Rose Halter was a waste of yarn. I should have read ahead. I'm trying to think of a way in which this could be more useful, but I'm not finding it.

Angela's Apron - Okay, if you're going to make a knit apron, do you really want to use $22 yarn? No. Again, I see this as good for parents of tweens. If nothing else, parents who hate their tween dressing like the latest party girl could make this and teen rebellion will automatically kick in - they'll hate anything that comes in a knitting pattern magazine and declare it uncool, and find a new party good to fixate on.

Petunia Tote - Calls for cotton. Cotton stretches. Putting anything of real weight in there will cause it to sag down past your knees. How is that a useful tote?

Bauhaus Fair Isle - Not a fan of the all over pattern, but I could see myself using that motif in another sweater...

Merry Maiden's Dress - Essential for princess. Active princess? Not so much. Also, that looks saggy and stretched out in the photos. No wonder the main photos are all "active" (blurry) shots.

Roza's Socks - I like these. I see myself making them in the near future.

Florentine Pillow - Cute. Not something I'd make, but I like the design.

Camisole #1 - Show of hands, who really wants a column of eyelets right over their nipple? Even if it bedroom wear?

Ann Budd's Socks - I like these. I also see myself making them in the near future.

Knit Thong - The world did not need another one!

Shrug - Cute, with the sleeves a bit longer I could see it paired with a cute camisole.

Knit Bra - More things that shouldn't be. I don't care how novelty it is! And a crochet chain for the straps? Ouch! I just see that digging into the back of your neck.

Camisole #2 - This one looks like she ran out of time and didn't get to finish. If I were making this, I'd raise the armpits to a normal level, and pick up around the neckline and do a lace pattern of some sort to fill it in, either in a different color or a different yarn all together. As it is – camisole over camisole just makes it look too small.

New Sweater (plans)!

2007-02-02T10:33:00.000-05:00

Shawl Collar Jacket

FOUR stitches per inch. Four! You know what gets 4st/in? Kathmandu Aran Tweed. Do you know how much Kathmandu is in my living room? 1248 yards. Do you know how much I need for this sweater? 975-1050 yards (there's some math to be done).

This is going to be the best replacement for my polartec sweatshirt EVER!

Something that went well

2007-01-31T11:09:00.000-05:00

January

Start Lots of Sweaters - Done! I started Rogue with my Baltimore yarn, and the lace sleeve raglan with the Karabella. Rogue is somewhere along the lines of 1/3 done (two sleeves and a good part of the body) and the lace sleeve raglan is also about 1/3 (past the yoke, about 1/3 of the body).

Start at least two projects with the one-off balls of yarn in the closet - Done! I made a Fake Isle hat (magknits; no photo), a Triada scarf (although that technically wasn't yarn from the closet), I started my second falling leaf sock, and I started another pair of Glottens with some Koigu Kersti I bought in NY back in July.

(And in Old Goals: I finally seamed my Durrow sweater. No photos, yet. Must find right shirt to go with it.)

New for February

Finish Falling Leaves Socks (I'm halfway through the heel)
Start another pair of socks for hallway knitting
Finish Kersti Glottens (make notes on number of rounds used for fingers, so that fingers are same length!) (I have 1" more ribbing to go on #1 before really starting)
Finish body of Lace Sleeve Raglan
Order Super Secret Yarn (I love these covert knitting missions!)

ETA - Blogger has gone psycho! It's now emailing me Judy's comments (with some "no reply" email address), and not mailing me Amber's comments. Complete reversal!

Anyway, there will be no Durrow on Thursday, I don't have the right shirt, and even if I did, it wouldn't photograph well in the dark. I mean, I can bring it if you want to see the weird thing going on with the neck on the size small, but otherwise I was going to leave it at home.

FO: Triada (variations on a color theme)

2007-01-28T12:02:00.000-05:00

Pattern: Triada, Summer 2005 Interweave Knits
Yarn: Fiesta La Boheme (1 strand 100% rayon, 1 strand kid mohair/wool/nylon)
Color: Abalone (pink and purple)
Mods: Cast on 50, not 30, used a size 15 needle, not a 17
Notes: The first few rounds were a bit tricky (knitting/purling to stich below for fisherman's rib pattern, plus using such absurdly large needles). But once I got the hang of it, it was really fun, and really, really fast. I got the yarn on Friday and started working on it Saturday afternoon (after I seamed and blocked a sweater!) And it's so shiny! The perfect pick me up for cold rainy winter days.

Bat cave, how I loathe your lack of light.
I'll try and attack someone at work tomorrow to take a picture in natural light. If there is any natural light tomorrow

I knew I wasn't going to wear it as a shoulder wrap/poncho, which is part of the reason I cast on 50 stitches instead of 30 - I wanted it to have a larger circumfrance, so I could double it around my neck, like in this photo. So sparkly.

Hey, is that what I think it is?

2007-01-26T13:20:00.000-05:00

I just had my first knitty-on-the-street sighting! I was headed back to work after browsing the Stitch DC sale (Marie was there with Cole. Very cute.) and I saw a woman walking down the street wearing a Calorimetry. I almost stopped to ask what she used (it was black with flecks of jewel colors), but it was cold out and I wanted to get my lunch.

From the sale (I love sales!): I now have 9 balls of mission falls in nice oatmeal colored wool for a fairisley pullover with some christmas yarn, and one ball of Fiesta La Boheme in "Abalone" to make ~~this scarfywrap thing~~ Triada from the summer 05 interweave.

ETA: Pardon me while I grump out for a minute. This pattern calls for size 17 circular needles (16" or 24"). 17s! 12.75 mm! I wish there was a needle exchange program - I don't want to buy 17s for a single project. I don't even own 15s! It isn't like I use needles like this all that often. I think a size 8 is a huge needle! Does anyone have a 17 I could borrow for the week? Please? With a cherry on top?