Archive for September, 2006
Did I tell you that I was planning on taking a yarn spinning class at Holy Threads? I didn’t? I guess it kind of slipped my mind. Guess what? I learned how to spin yarn! Actually, I re-learned how to spin yarn! To tell you the truth, I learned how to spin yarn way back in 2004 and then never picked it up again. I would try to practice on my own and get frustrated because I just wasn’t getting it.
Well. I finally get it! I was able to take this class and this is exactly what I needed. I needed an intructor to show me in person how to do it and how to do it proper. And she also explained what to do with the yarn when it’s all spun up on the bobbin and she explained what plying was and how to do it. It was fantastic! I feel like a whole new world has been opened up to me! Of course my yarn looks god awful but oh well. I’ll keep practicing and it will look better.
In knitting news…I decided that I needed to cast on for my mom’s Christmas gift. Let me just say that I hate knitting lace. I’m sorry. But that’s how I feel about it after this past week. I was trying this gorgeous lace stole pattern from, I think, this past issue of Interweave knits and it was going along swimmingly when all of a sudden the pattern tells me to Knit 7 together. Excuse me? Not only was I supposed to knit 7 figgen stitches together but I was supposed to keep them on the needles, yarn over, knit 7 together again, keep them on the needles, yarn over, and then stitch 7 together again, this time lettign them drop. I tried this and was successful for a few tries but then I kept losing stitches. It’s just not relaxing, either! I mean, if I am knitting lace anywhere around my husband and he talks to me I have to shush him. Poor guy! The only time I can knit lace is when I can have complete and total concentration which is never. Maybe, if I’m lucky, very early in the morning. So the pretty lace stole project that I worked on all of this week has been nixed. And I’m sorry there are no pictures of it. Instead, I’m knitting something else. And I can’t believe I’m knitting it AGAIN but what can I say. I just am. Sigh.
I’ve also been plugging away on Loll. Here’ s a boring progress shot of the back:
Oh, and my friend Judy sent me some lovely stitch markers!
Thanks Judy! I love them.
September 26th, 2006
I just want to say a big THANK YOU to Jenny from High Energy Knits for figuring out the gigantic mistake in the Loll pattern and putting it up on her website. I knitted up the left front with the new and improved waist shaping and decided that I couldn’t leave the right side looking the way it was. So I frogged down to the end of the fringe (thank god I don’t have to reknit that friggen fringe) and reknit the waist shaping. I’m going to do that with the back, too. I want this to turn out just right. The ribbing actually goes pretty quickly, at least when you compare it with the fringe.
I’m really enjoying this pattern so far, though. It’s really fun to knit up!
Here is that Blue Sky Alpaca Cotton sweater that I am knitting up in the round. So far so good! I love this stitch pattern! And the yarn is soooo soft and nice.
I’ve joined a couple of KALs.
And
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For socktoberfest I have some socks that I need to knit the mates to so I will do that, but I also think I will knit up the Rib and Cable pattern for IK fall 2005, thus, killing two birds with one stone (that’s really a horrible saying, isn’t it?). I am also really into vests lately and want to knit one. So I am thinking along the lines of Boogie or Veste Evereste (from the same issue of IK). We’ll see if I will get around to that. I really, really want to start getting on top of my gift knitting.
September 18th, 2006
She is blocked into submission and ready for wearing. This fall, anyway.
Pattern: Butterfly from Noro Knits. Designed by Jane Ellison.
Yarn:Noro Kureyon in the colorway 55 (I think).
Started: Feb. 27th, 2006
Finished: Sept. 5th, 2006
The sleeves are still a bit long but I think they are supposed to be like that. Otherwise, it’s a great fit! I ended up knitting up the small. Definately going to be a nice fall cardi to throw on in the chilly weather coming up soon.
I’ve been continuing work on Loll. Sorry no pictures of that at the moment. Next week.
I’ve also been obsessing over making a sweater out of Blue Sky Alpaca Cotton yarn. Thinking about wearing a sweater made out of this yarn has literally helped lull me to sleep! Weird, I know. I knitted the Cheveron Rib Tank awhile ago out of this yarn and I never wear it. I hate the way the front point hangs way down to my nether-regions. It’s such a waste of yarn. But I do love the Garter Rib stitch pattern on the back of the tank. I think I’m going to make a nice comfy no-seam sweater in Garter Rib with it and some leftover hanks that I have.
Finally, I just want to take a moment to remember those that died horribly five years ago today. Not much else to say about that. Just remembering.
September 11th, 2006
Melissa was right, I did finish Butterfly over my vacation. It took about eight hours each way of driving to the coast and I made myself knit the whole way. I also knit quite a lot while we were camping. We had a fantastic time, by the way! Pictures are on my Flickr page if you would like to see them. I wish I was still there. sigh. Since I’ve been back I’ve been thinking about how I can open a yarn store in Long Beach. I miss the ocean!
Anyway. Back to Butterfly. Here she is draped over my old rocking chair in it’s pre-blocking state. It needs some serious blocking, doesn’t it? That collar is totally out of control. I will have an official finished shot for you later this week or next weekend. It’s still hot here in Spokane and I’m not so sure I want to put it on in 95 degree heat (did I say I miss the ocean and it’s mild temperatures? I did? oh. okay.).
So Project Spectrum is over. Since everyone else is doing it I am going to totally jump on the bandwagon and do a collage of my PS photos over the months. Sans knitting and coloring projects.
Okay. That took forever and I messed it up! grrr.
Have a good day!
September 5th, 2006
When you read this I will be playing on Long Beach, or perhaps, visiting my old friend Jake at Marsh’s Free Museum. But, thanks to good ‘ol technology, I can write this now (tuesday) and post later.
So with out further blathering, I present my finished Purl Scarf.
Pattern: The Purl Scarf from the book, “Last Minute Knitted Gifts” by Joelle Haverson.
Yarn: Steadfast fibers Wonderful Wool in the colorway Columbine (1 hank). 1 ball of Kidsilk Haze in white, and one ball of Bollicine in color 550 (light purple).
Needles: size 13 Crystal Palace bamboo.
Started: August 24th, 2006
Finished: August 29th, 2006
Modifications: I used the Steadfast Fibers yarn instead of the Manos that the pattern calls for. Since the Wonderful Wool is more of a heavy worsted weight, I used smaller needles and cast on 20 stitches instead of 15. Also, I didin’t knit it as ridiculously long as the pattern says. Mine is 75 inches. The one in the pattern is 104″ long! Mine hits me at my waist when it’s wrapped around my neck a few times and that’s just long enough for me.
I love this scarf. All of the yarns used are very soft but the Kidsilk Haze really ups the softness factor a lot. I will probably keep it for myself since it goes with both of my winter coats. Plus, since I only used one ball of the steadfast fibers and the Bollicine mohair yarns I have enough (if I buy another ball of kidsilk haze) to make a whole other one for someone else! yay!
Hope you all have a fantabulous memorial day weekend! I will catch up with you on Tuesday.
September 1st, 2006
