Black Sheep

So close…..

Damn. I am sooooo close to finishing Gail’s pink clapotis, but I ran out of yarn . How frustrating is that? I ordered some more from Hello Knitty and hopefully will get it soon so I can finish. I was hoping to get this to Gail next week. She is in the hospital for another round of chemo for a week and was hoping to bring it to her to cheer her up a little. She is actually doing really well….Actually, I should say, the chemo is working (going through chemo is NOT a cakewalk). The last time I was there the doctor came in and told her that she thought she was in remission, but wanted to do some test first to make sure. Good news! Thanks for all of your positive vibes .

Whilst online, ordering my Sierra Quatro at Hello Knitty, I also ordered a couple of balls of yarn for the project I’m going to do for the Peace is Patriotic along. I am going to try something I’ve never tried before. And that’s all I’m gonna say about that.

Taking Lolly’s comments into consideration, I have decided that the best course of action for Big Bad Baby Blanket is to use a machine washable/dryable yarn. It’s just better that way. The new mother is not a knitter and will not appreciate having to take extra care with baby garments. At least in my mind. So I went to my LYS and saw that they has some Plymouth Encore Colorspun. Hey, if my LYS carries it, it’s good enough for me. So I bought some and casted on for BBBB. And you know, it’s not such a bad yarn. Actually, I’m kind of impressed with it, being that it’s an acrylic blend and all.

While at the LYS I bought the Noro book that has the pattern for Butterfly in it. Sigh. There are some lovely patterns in that book. I still want to knit Butterfly. I am restraining myself from buying the yarn (not having the money for it right now is a good deterrent). I also really love Gloria. I am seriously thinking about frogging the blue cardi and using the yarn for this pattern.

This brings me to some interesting posts I’ve read lately about knits that didn’t work. Or as Alison called it, her knitting sh*t list. Well, since last year was the year that I got back into knitting, and really tried to push myself into trying new things, there are some knits that made my own list. The Blue Cardi is one of them. It is an all around mess. The biggest problem being that it doesn’t fit. So, I think I will put it out of it’s misery and use the yarn for, hopefully, better things.

3 comments January 30th, 2005

Quick post

Nothing really new to show you. Just wanted to check in. I am still working on Clapotis and hopefully will have that done this week sometime. I’m feeling selfish and and anxious to start some things for me me me!

I joined my very first knit-along yesterday. Marnie Maclean is hosting it. It’s called Peace is Patriotic. I love the graphic that she made for it:

Basically, we are all going to come up with a knitting project that incorporates the “Peace is Patriotic” message. I have no friggen idea what I’m going to make…Any ideas would be welcome. It will be fun to see what the other ladies in the group make.

Also, I was avoiding work yesterday, surfing the net and lusting after Noro yarn when I happened upon this website ( Wool Needlework Discounters). Check out thier prices for Kureyon. Oh. My. God. I am freaking out over here. I mean, the website looks hella cheesy and sketchy, but those prices! I searched around a little bit and found some knit bloggers who said good things about them. Have any of you ordered from them? What is your experience?

I may just have to order some for Butterfly. I know, I know. I have enough on my plate and I told myself I was on a yarn diet. But I love her and want to knit her….

Another project I’ve been thinking about is the Big Bad Baby Blanket from Stich-n-Bitch 1, for my new neice or nephew who will be born sometime in August. The koigu that the suggest is too rich for my blood (also, I want to choose something washable. I’m sorry, but handwashing a baby blanket? I don’t think so). I’m thinking that, perhaps Artyarns supermerino would be a good choice. We’ll see. Any ideas would be much appreciated.

7 comments January 26th, 2005

ClapAction

We now return back to our regularly scheduled knitting blog. If your political persuasion is different from mine, I hope you are not offended in any way.

Here is Clapotis, part two. I am just ready to start the straight rows, the ones where you drop the stitches. Fun! This yarn is lovely for this project. It’s a cotton/wool blend. Mostly cotton. It’s really soft, and the wool gives just the right amount of structure. I like the colors, too. So far, so good .

I recieved some knitilicious goodies in the mail! The first of said goodies is the blue alpaca yarn that I got from Elann. I can’t believe how quickly that got here! What great service! I love the newsletter that they send with thier packages that include little samples of the yarn. I am going to use this to make some opera length fingerless gloves (I was inspired by Becky). Here is the pattern. It calls for Mikado ribbon yarn by Crystal Palace, but I wanted them to be a little bit warmer so I will be knitting them in alpaca.

The other box of goodies are these knitting books. I’ve been wanting Scarf Style forever and haven’t been able to find it in any local bookstores. I do love the scarf patterns in here. They are wonderful, just as everyone has said. I’m really excited, though, about “Knitting with Beads.” I’ve really been interested in doing just that, knitting with beads. Some of the patterns in this book are scrumptious! I can’t wait to try some of them out. The knitters Bible I saw at a book store and almost got it because it has lots of good info about stitches, finishing techniques, etc. An all around good “how-to” book. I really needed one of those for knitting. I got all of these books via a bookclub that I just joined called Crafters Choice. I have always been a sucker for book clubs. What can I say, I love books. I got these and I will get a fourth one, for $16.00, basically the price of shipping for each book (I think). A pretty good deal, considering the Knitters Bible alone costs $25 at the book store.

Well, that’s all from this corner! Take care, guys, and have a wonderful weekend!

3 comments January 22nd, 2005

In Protest

Image created by Joe at American Leftist.
See also The Faces of the Fallen.

This post in peaceful protest, with other kntters in the knitblog world, to Bush’s inauguration today.

January 20th, 2005

LTKAction

I spent the weekend, whilst waiting for yarn to arrive, working on LTKA. I finished the lace square that had been languishing in my basket for months, and then I whipped up a couple more squares. I don’t want this thing to be never-ending. I want to get it done at some point. So without further blathering, here are the three squares:

The one on the left is square #4, “Lattice with seed stitch.” The one in the middle is square #5, “Diagonal Ribbing.” The square on the right is square 52, “Lace Diamonds.” There. Done with that for awhile. I still have a ways to go on this, but I’m just that much closer now .

I spent some time blocking the squares that I have finished as per the instructions in the book. You use the first square, the garter stitch square, as the “mold” for the rest of them. I pinned some bright pink yarn around square #1 to the fabric of my ironing board. This will be used as a guide for the rest of them to steam block into shape. I have to say that this steam blocking thing works like magic! It’s like the yarn morphed into shape… It really made a huge difference on the lace pieces. So I highly recommend, of you are doing this project, to block.

I got my Sierra Quatro today from Hello Knitty! Wow! I think it’s really a pretty yarn. It’s also really soft. I guess this means I will begin Gail’s Clapotis tonight. So stay tuned for some more Clap action!

Oh, and one more thing…My husband’s brother called last night to tell us that he and his wife are having a baby! I am so incredibly happy for them! So this means that there will be some baby things added to my upcoming knits . I’ve had a hankering to knit baby things so this will be fun.

3 comments January 18th, 2005