Black Sheep

BBBB=Done

We have another FO, folks! Woot!
Pattern: Big Bad Baby Blanket from Stitch-n-Bitch, the knitter’s Handbook by Debbie Stoller. Designer, Lisa Shobhana Mason.
Yarn: Plymouth Encore Colorspun. About 2.5 balls.
Needles: Denise interchangables size 8
Finished: April 28, 2005

I’m so glad to be done with this blanket! It got a little bit dull toward the end. The baby shower is a week from tommorrow. I hope my SIL likes it.

Now it’s on to other things. For some reason, I felt I needed to dig what was left of Earl out of it’s grave. So I spent some time unraveling and pretty much frogged the whole thing. As I mentioned in my last post, I am going to knit the recyled silk with what I have left of the mohair from my last project. I decided that I am going to make a recycled silk throw. I don’t know what else to do with it. I have mixed feelings about this yarn. I like how colorful it is. And, depending on the brand you get, it can be really soft. But the two hanks I got at stitches have bits of metal and wood in them, making them impossible for garments. Plus, I don’t like the garments I’ve seen made with this stuff, personally. But I think a throw would work for me because, in home decor, I am drawn to these really bright colors. Knitting it up with the Wool in the Woods mohair makes the fabric really nice and cuddly soft, so I think it’s going to be a keeper. Plus I can just buy the recycled silk as I run out and not worry about dye lots and whatnot. The “charm” of this yarn is that no two hanks are alike. (apologies for the horrible picture)

Yesterday I received my order of Endless Summer Collection Sonata from Elann. I am going to use it to knit the Vintage Camisole pattern you see in the picture. I decided that I had to have one of these after seeing Lauren’s cute version! I love it! I can’t believe how inexpensive this yarn was! I heart Elann. I WILL NOT start this until I finish Lucky Clover AND/OR my Chai pullover, which I casted on for this morning. I took a pic but the picture is far too crappy to post, so next time.

I’m feeling really weird today. I had a really difficult time getting out of bed this morning, first of all. That’s never good. Then I went out to go for my run, was a couple of blocks into it, and decided I didn’t feel like running today so I turned around and went back home. I was running and just felt like my body hurt, you know? Like I needed a day to rest..I’ve been kind of crabby all morning. I can’t even stand being around *myself*. Don’t you hate that? Even pulling out of my driveway was this big ordeal. I almost hit a runner who was crossing my path and then this car just stops in the middle of the road , thinking I’m going to pull out in front of him. I didn’t, and I wasn’t going to, you see. The way my driveway is set up, you cant see anything unless you pull up really close to the road. So this driver is stopped there, and we are looking at each other, and he is in his car yelling something for, like, at least a minute. I’m just sitting there staring at him with this dumbfounded look on my face because I can’t figure out why in the hell he stopped and why he isn’t just continuing on his way since it’s obvious I’m not pulling out in front of him. He finally went on his way after chewing me out (thank goddesss I couldn’t hear him because It probably would have pissed me off, whatever he said).

So that’s kind of how my day has been so far. Hmmm, maybe I need to go on a yarn run durning lunch? I hear ComuKNITy is opening it’s doors today….I think that might just do the trick.

update:I went to Communknity at lunch an lookie at what I gottie:

We got here a couple o hanks of Artyarns Supermerino in a pink and green colorway and a ball of crystal palace kid merino. I’m so glad I went over there! If any of you come to San Jose, you have got to go to this shop. I swear to God, I think it’s the most gorgeous yarn store I’ve ever been in. The decor is so beautiful! And the yarn selection is really good, too.

Now, what do I do with 2 skiens of supermerino? I’m tempted to buy 3 more skeins and make this. hmmmm.

9 comments April 29th, 2005

Some things

There isn’t a whole lotta knitting going on around here. There’s some, but my energy is being spent on updating my other blog at the moment. Been doing some virtual housecleaning. I’ve been trying to get something done on both Lucky clover and BBBB. Here is a pic of BBBB, taken with my crappy Zire 71 camera. I can’t wait to get this done so I can start on some projects waiting in the wings. Stephanie has been tempting me with her Chai flower basket shawl, both of which I have waiting for me. That is, some beautiful Chai yarn for a pullover, and lace weight alpaca for the flower basket shawl (remember the widow’s shawl? that’s gonna be the FBS.) I also want to start on some summery projects soon. I really want to do the Chevron Rib tank from IK.

I’ve discovered KnitCast. Have you heard of this? If not, you should check it out! Marie Irshad interviews knitters from blogland, or whatever. The last interview was with Clara Parkes of Knitters Review, the week before that she interviewed Stafanie Japel of Glampyre, and the week before that she interviewed Wendy of WendyKnits fame. It’s really cool! If you have an iPod it gets better. You can download iPodder, subscribe to Knitcast, and iPodder will automatically update iTunes for you so you can take Knitcast on the road with you. I feel like I sound like a commercial…Anyway, I’m really excited about this new discovery. Actually, podcasting in general is awesome. Now I can download Majority Report and take it on the road with me, too. Hey, a Santa Cruz girl has to keep up with the liberal news, right? I think it’s in the SC ordinance or something .

Anyhoo, hope you all are having a good week. It’s almost Friday! w00t!

6 comments April 7th, 2005

Earl is dead

Isn’t that a Dixie Chicks song? Hmm. Well, I wanted to get Earl done this weekend and was nearly there. I was seaming it up, and not liking it the closer and closer I got to being finished. As I was sewing the handle on I just realized that this was not meant to be. This is not the right yarn for this project. The bag would have ended up too flippy-floppy and I don’t like that at all. I began unraveling it and ran into all sorts of trouble. Recycled silk doesn’t like being unraveled. So, in a fit of frustration, I shoved it in the stash drawer. Ironically, it is sitting next to another yarn that I used for a bag gone bust, Bertie. Maybe I just should not knit bags. Anyway, I will put this away for awhile. I’m done with it.

In the meantime, I finished the right-front of Lucky Clover. Here’s a pic of it blocking. I haven’t casted on yet for the left front but will soon. I don’t know if I am going to spend a whole lot of time knitting it, though, because I have to get some baby things knitted up for my SIL’s baby shower in May. It’s exactly a month away and I am pretty behind.

I got kind of alot done on BBBB over the weekend. So that’s good. I also want to get some more of this Encore in a pink (I just found out she is having a girl ) and knit this baby pullover from CTH II. Isn’t that baby soooo adorable? I think I will also knit some matching booties.

Okay, that’s all I’ve got for now. Hope you are all having a nice weekend! I, on the other hand have to work today (reference desk duties). I only get a one-day weekend. Bummer.

3 comments April 3rd, 2005

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