The first Fuzzy Foot is knit! It looks awfully cool. I can't wait to finish the second and felt/full them. I like this project. I really wanted another FO for me! I finished a pair of baby socks that I mailed off, and Nick's Squid Hat, but nothing that's sticking around.

links
* glampyre's knitting blog

* glow in the dark yarn

* anatomy of a sock

Very little knitting today. Up to gusset decreases on FF#1. Instead, mostly due to wrist pain, I have been reading.

The Lovely Bones is beautiful, and incredibly sad. I am eating it up, and sneaking paragraphs at work when no one is looking. I had forgotten what it was to be so absorbed in a story.

non-knitting links from knitting people:

potpie recipe from knitting park

make your own wrestler/superhero courtesy of Bonne Marie

My comments are broken. Appears to be a server issue at enetation.co.uk - too bad! I really like having comments! However, it is a free system, and the forums say that they are working on it, so I will be patient. After all, I'm sure I could learn to code a comments window if I wanted - I have to pay for my laziness!

I have finally started the fuzzy feet, and boy, am I thrilled. I cast on at work, and it keeps staring at me, daring me to work on it. I decided to go w/ the Fizz at the cuff, even though it does seem to affect how tightly it felts. Though, this looks HUGE on a 16" circ, so I think I should be just fine. Matt was impressed at the felting process this morning...I told him it was SCIENCE to get his interest. I was trying to describe what I felt the Fizz looked like...he came up with the adjective, "mossy," which is just about perfect!

I think I may make a second pair out of my fisherman's wool/kool-aid dye experiments, and send them to a friend to felt to size. Or maybe I'll just have two. Or maybe I'll knit and felt a mat for the cat...he does like to lay on blankets all over the house. I can see how felting could become addicting.

Links

Looks crochet to me, but I could be wrong. Link thanks to dangerous chunky.

wooly board instrucstions thanks to kathy.

sock ideas

future page features, I hope
Recently Finished
Works in Progress
At the back of my mind (and closet)
Up Next
Someday, Maybe

Well, this weekend was full of yarn-y, knitt-y goodness. First, both my yarn orders came. Only two things were back-ordered from Patternworks, and one of them came on the same day in a separate envelope. Thank goodness I have everything I need for the Fuzzy Feet, and I can finally start them, almost a week late. I even swatched for the fuzzy feet! Take a look:

pre-felting

post-felting

I also finished the mystery tentacle project - it was a purple hat for my friend Nick. It was a purple squid hat, complete with arms and tentacles. I only got a little bit of a picture, and as soon as I scan it, I will post it. Considering that I don't have a scanner, that may take a while.

And while I'm on a picture roll, here are the mini-gifts that I made for my friend Kris's birthday:

I got the new Interweave Knits in the mail - aside from the fact that it reminds me of the very tired phrase "Knitting, not just for grandmother's anymore!", I enjoyed it. Not sure how many things I will make from it, but I do adore the Raccoon Coat, the Corset Sweater, and the diamond shawl.

Tudor Roses is everything I hoped it would be. Now I just need to learn how to be a really great knitter, so I can make things from it.

Not a whole lot of knitting today. Got some work done on the tentacle thing before work, but not much since then. Still waiting on my yarn from Patternworks...I'm starting to get that feeling of dread that I've had the last few times I ordered from them. I don' t like this new policy of "This is the last communication you will have from us until your order arrives," bit at the checkout. It used to be that they sent an email when items shipped, and I really like to know when things are shipped. I live in an apartment building where I don't really know my neighbors - I want to know when I should be on the lookout for packages.

knit links
* http://home.att.net/~stringbyte/
* turkish stockings. link thanks to Color Joy!
* Joslyn's Fiber Farm
* Wendy's generic toe-up sock pattern

Yarn for fuzzy feet is not yet here, but I'm casting on in spirit!

I realized that even if I'm over my yarn budget well into March, that's okay. Because when my yarn finally arrives, I'll have yarn for two sweaters, 6 pairs of socks, and two whole baby layettes. Oh, and a Lion brand homespun shawl. Not to mention all my WIP's. And I'm excited about all those projects! Or at least I am right now...we'll see how long it takes for me to lust after a new project.

links to blogs I read today
http://mimoknits.blogspot.com/
http://cyndilou.blogspot.com/
http://www.starlust.org/knitting/
http://www.girlreaction.prettyposies.com/knittin.html

and one nalbinding link

http://www.geocities.com/sigridkitty/

After making the rounds through the knitting blogs today, I feel energized and inspired to work on some knitting! However, job induced weirdness has caused me to have a horrible pain in my right forearm, close to the elbow. I get this alot when I knit too tightly, or type too much on non-ergonomic keyboards. Yipe! The pain is spreading to my wrist now! All I want to do is go home and bust through the garter stitch baby sweater...but I might be stuck in I-cord tentacle mode.

links

* pattern for fixation socks

First....I am saddened by the loss of the astronauts on the Columbia. I am saddened by the loss of anyone who dies in the service of knowledge, and exploration.

Knitting news - Placed two huge orders, one w/ Patternworks and one w/ KnitPicks. As soon as my yarn comes in, I will start my Fuzzy Feet! I blew my yarn budget for both February AND March, but I will have enough projects to keep me busy for a while. Obligatory knitting for the week - almost half-way done with Baby Sweater #2, and only 6 more tentacles and some ear flaps to go on one birthday present. I will explain more about that once it's given to the recipient, and I have photos.

Thank you to everyone who has left comments for me. It's great to know that I'm not knitting/blogging into a void!

links

a season's tale

the fibonacci sequence - math and knitting, thanks to fuzzy galore

At work today, I think I'm going to work on some I-cord trim I need for one piece. It may be easiest to do some spool knitting, but sadly, I still haven't really figured it out.

Spool Knitting links:

http://www.sweaterscapes.com/spool.htm

http://www.pellatuliptime.com/lessons/straw/strwcork.html

http://www.quincrafts.com/pdf/IN_SK.pdf

I'm putting my possible shopping list for Valentine's day here, because Matt won't think to look here. So far I'm considering:

Raziel action figures - here,
here, and here.

AND

transformers - season two, part one.


I don't think I'm going to get to any yarn stores in time for the felt along, so I think I'll order and start late. I was thinking about getting some Encore for a layette set I was going to work on, too. My cousins are both having babies this summer, and I have 2 kits for a layette (sale!!) that has some wool-ease. The wool-ease is in a gorgeous lavender, which I love, but just isn't unisex enough. I'm thinking teal, turquoise, lime...something summery (2 summer babies) and all-purpose. Though sage might work, too. So...since I'm ordering from Patterworks anyway, I can pick up some wool for the felt along. I believe the pattern calls for Lamb's Pride?

Whoa...I just realized that Bella uses Lush, and since I was going to order from KnitPicks for some other things...I can't believe it's the first few days of February and I'm already considering blowing my February yarn budget. Not that I really have a yarn budget, but I fully intend to by the end of this week, which is when I'm going to magically study my finances and create a budget plan.

I have a dreadful secret. Well, it's not so dreadful, but it is kind of a secret. I hate the baby sweater. I know! I've gotten it all done but the sleeves! I even seamed it up to show that I can do it! I've figured out (I think) the button band! But I hate it. And...I've started a second baby sweater. One that I intend to finish and mail out within the next 10 business days. Because I don't want to be an Auntie (or Tia) who breaks promises - but I also don't want to be ugly-sweater-making-auntie either.

Whew. I feel better. I'm going to make the Lion Brand one stitch baby sweater in Lavender Wool-Ease. I figure I can manage garter stitch at work as I walk people through the Windows XP Internet Connection Wizard and Outlook Express 6 set up. "Select blah, click next. In lowercase letters type blah, click next..."

In other news...I desperately want to joing the Fuzzy Feet felt-along. My big concern right now is...how do I get the yarn? I don't think the boy will encorage it...he's not incredibly amused by my knitting so much. Or my multiple projects. And I don't have any 10.5 needles, though I do have plenty of 11's. So really, I guess I just need to figure out the yarn angle. Maybe I can pick some up this weekend.

So Heather, what do you think? Are you up for trying to make your first pair of socks on big needles with wool, and then felt away the mistakes? It might be a good way to dip your toe into the sock-making pool...

Not So Confidential Note To Heather:

Don't be intimidated by socks! Really, the turning of the heel is not that complicated...for me, it's the picking up of stitches that sucks. Oh, and of course, Kitchener. Though, you can always practice picking up stitches, and you can try a 3 needle bind off instead of Kitchenering the toe. Let me break down sock making for you (and any one else intimidated by socks):

Part 1: The Cast On

This part can be tricky. If you are a tight knitter, the cast on needs to be especially flexible. I find that casting on over two needles held together, or a needle 2 sizes up is helpful. The particular cast on should be a flexible one, too. The long-tail cast on works well for me, and I think the knitted cast on is a good idea, too. Don't try to cast on your stitches on separate needles, you'll drive yourself nuts! Cast the stitches onto one needle, then separate them out onto 3dpns (or 4 if you're doing it that way). I like using 2 circular needles, but I find my cast on gets too tight that way. I usually cast on to 3 needles, work a few rows, then switch to 2 circs.

Part 2: The Cuff/Leg

This is the fun, easy part. Which isn't to say that it was easy the first time. The cuff of my first sock is very sad indeed. I started it inside out somehow (purl'd every row instead of knit, because it sat funny on the needles) with twisted stitches and horrible laddering (loose spots in the knitting where the dpn's meet). Matt's mother set me straight in approximately 2 minutes. "What on earth are you doing here? Oh, you're backwards and twisted. Just do this, this and this....there you go!" She is very amazing.

Most patterns call for a ribbed cuff, so that it is flexible to fit around a calf comfortably, and so that you can easily pull the sock over your heel. Sometimes the leg portion of the sock is referred to as the cuff in the pattern, but in my head there is the ribbed cuff, then the leg part of the sock that goes from cuff to heel, and most frequently has some sort of plain stockinette or pattern stitch.

Part 3: The Heel Flap

I love making heel flaps. Really. After working on your tube for several inches, you re-arrange your stitches into two groups, the top of the foot (top of the instep) and the heel flap. The heel is then worked back and forth, knit and purl. There are a number of different heel stitches, designed for durability and decoration, and fit. Most patterns will tell you which one to use, but the important thing is that you slip the first stitch of every row. This will form a nice chain, which makes it easier to tell where to pick up the stitches.

Part 4: Turning the Heel

Not only do I love making heel flaps, I love turning the heel. I love that my strategic decreases makes an architectural difference in the finished project. One of the first things I made that was similar to turning the heel was a pair of Debbie Bliss booties that used strategic decreases to make the bootie toe shaping. So when I encountered the same technique on my first pair of socks, I was pleased. Working back and forth and turning the work is also a nice change of pace before the continued tube that is the instep of the foot.

Part 5: Picking up Gusset Stitches

This, to me, is the trickiest part. When done nicely, it really enhances the look of the sock. When done poorly, it makes something look, well, handmade, and not in the good sense. In the "Oh, you made those yourself, didn't you?" way, not the "Oh my god, you did NOT make those!" way. I just saw a hint online about using a crochet hook to pick up stitches, which is a good idea. This is also where having a set of 5 dpns rather than a set of 4 comes in very handy, and the first time I did it I really wished I had someone to watch. After the gusset stitches are picked up, then you have some decreases. I like this part - I like the structural quality of the decrease lines. Just another wacky aesthetic quality I enjoy.

(Incidentally, all these heel and gusset steps are a little different if you make a short row heel. I don't really have any experience with that, except for the notorious pair of Circus socks, which I'll link to later.)

Part 6: Instep

The instep. You've made it to the home stretch! This is like the cuff/leg for me. Just knit and knit and knit. Many people continue the pattern from the cuff/leg onto the top of the instep. Aside from being tricky through the heel, doing patterns on the bottom of the foot can feel strange in shoes. I noticed from looking at Matt's socks (he gets tons of hiking/wool blend socks for Christmas each year) that a lot of ribbed socks (a 2 by 2 or 2 by 1) continue the cuff ribbing down to the instep. There is more flexibilty that way in terms of sizing, and it looks nice.

Part 7: Toe

Now you've reached the toe decreases. Another fun part, because your almost done. This is pretty simple, and like the gusset decreases, I really love the way it looks.

Part 8: Finishing

Finishing, for the most part, equals Kitchenering the toe. I have kitchenered with limited success until recently, and had a kitchener epiphany. I don't know how I had it...I just followed instructions, the same way I do every time...and it just WORKED. I've also had pretty good success with a 3 needle bind-off, also. Some people (with sensitive skin/feet) may notice the toe seam, but honestly, its not much worse then commercial socks.

So, there it is. My sock knitting experiences.
Here are some links to much more articulate sock instructions. I'm not trying to really teach anything with my descriptions, just give some fellow knitters my perspective on knitting socks.

REAL sock links:

* from The Complete Knitting Collection

* decisive links and photos here

* and of course, Socknitters

I have some more links in the archives for sock patterns, lessons, and pattern generators. I will try to get them all in place, soon.

olive bobble hat

patter for lace moebius scarf

Finished two mini-gifts for a friend, which I'll try to post later. A miniature Harry Potter scarf, house Slytherin colors. I will try to finish the full sized version by the time book 5 comes out! And a swatch of a sweater pattern I said I'd help her with. She wants a sweater for a Doctor Who costume. I forget which Doctor it is (only seen the show a few times) but he's the one w/ the celery. Goal for this week: finish the sleeves and ribbing on the damn baby sweater. Then the groundhog day scarf. Hoo boy, I'm a busy little bee, let me tell you.

Started a 3rd silk garden hat, colorway 53 - or maybe 53 was the first one...I've gotten all the ball bands confused at thsi point. I think the 2nd one was colorway 50. Hope I can get a snug fit with this one that covers my ears totally. If it's too snug, I can give it to someone with a smaller head (mine is a little big) and I'll just suffer through the intense floppiness of the one I finished last week. Though, I still am holding one skein of silk garden in reserve...

LINKS

Noro yarn. lots of it.

personalthreads.com

article about knitting - in MA!

charitablecrafters.org

Local to me...

Chicopee
Textile Traditions, Inc.
165 Front St., Chicopee, MA 01013, 413.557.1505, tex.trad@the-spa.com

Amherst
The Creative Needle
233 North Pleasant St., Amherst, MA 01002, 413.549.6106
(I love this place, I'll have to write about it later)


Northampton
Northampton Wools
Linda Daniels, 11 Pleasant St., Northampton, MA 01060, 413.586.4331
(this is what I think of when I think of LYS)

Sojourner Sheep
Diane Roeder, 502 North Farms Rd., Northampton, MA 01062, 413.586.4822, droeder@javanet.com, Icelandic, Icelandic/FinnXs

Webs/Valley Fibers Corp.
Arthur Elkins, 75 Service Center Rd., PO Box 147, Northampton, MA 01060, 413.584.2225
(the fabled Webs, right in my backyard)

Textile Image Knittery Inc
41 Russell Street, Hadley, MA 01035
(413) 585-9665

I want to be working on so many things! I am never going to finish this silly scarf for my friend. Who thought a 6 foot long tube of stockinette on size 6 needles was a great idea?! If I had a knitting machine, probably the only thing I'd make on it would be scarves, but damn, I wish I had one now to just finish this up.

Screwed up increases on my toe up sock. Rather than frog, I am attempting to finagle a correction, decreasing the extra increases, but over a few more rows. I have really wide feet anyway, and this pair of socks is so bizarre. I keep wondering if I'm going to reach the mythical point where I think it's okay to rip, rather than try to work around my mistakes.

culled from this harry potter site:

"Hogwarts scarves have twenty-one stripes: eleven dark stripes and ten light ones, and they begin and end in a dark stripe. Each end has eleven bunches of fringe: six dark and five light, again with dark fringe on both edges."

This is particularly funny in regards to threads on both the knitlist and the knitflame list. I agree 1000% (not a typo, really one thousand percent) with one person who posted to their blog (or maybe it was in a comment, I don't remember now) who said that she wished people would try google before they posted to the knitlist. personally, I am so incredibly tired of this leftie/righty knitting thread that I switched to digest and am half a step away from getting off the knitlist altogether. I think I've absorbed all the usefullness I'm going to get from it.

to learn for sweater:
mattress stitch
(note: my previous seaming attempts have been so very awful, I've been scared to do anything w/ seams since. nothing ruins even, gorgeous knitting like a crappy seam)


book lust of the day:
Folk Shawls

current yarn lust:
the sale portrait
(I don't know why I don't just order it already! Oh wait, I do. Already blown my January yarn budget...)

ongoing project wishful thinking:
Irish Mist

more list and links

cute sock and hat set. ooh, and cascade fixation yarn and patterns - here.

Schoeller Esslinger Vulcano

size 0 bamboo dpn's

patterns arranged by needle size

phew. i haven't really made a serious update in a while. it's funny, i finally am starting to acquire the tools i need to make a nice (and serious) website, but now i no longer have a job that gives me the time and flexibility to do it. oh well.

my friend jenn hurt herself the other day, so i gave her a surprise knitted gift earlier than i planned. i made a one skein silk garden hat (mentioned in this entry, and found on this page). i had planned to make a few and offer her first choice, but she saw the one i finished, and as i was opening my mouth to say "do you want one?" she was opening her mouth to say, "can i comission one?". so i told her if she liked that one, she could have it...and she did, so she does!

i also spoke to my mom today, and she LOVES the socks i gave her for christmas. i still cannot find the original pair (completed in, like, OCTOBER), but sent her the replacement pair. i made them to fit me, but smidge tight/short. she says they fit her like a glove, or, she said, "like they were custom made!" which they were!

also, in more knitting ego-stroking, matt's mom was here for lunch before work, and i showed her how to make 2 socks at once on 2 circular needles. this is my first pair, and i'm still on the cuff, but she was blown away. first, at the thought that someone thought of how to do it; and second, that i grasped how to do it and was zipping right along (as fast as you can "zip" on size 1's and 9 spi). so that was very gratifying. i have to say that i've learned a lot from matt's mom, at least as far as socks go. she helped me turn my first sock right-side-to, and helped me learn how to un-twist all my stitches. i would like to knit her something some time, but i'm a little intimidated. she's soooo good! it would be like knitting my nana something, though i think nana would love anything, and she'd be proud because she's the one who taught me in the first place!

phew. i think this is the longest i've written in a while, which is too bad. i really do intend to make this a much more comprehensive, fully functional knitblog, but i have experienced many set backs. maybe now that the yarn/computer room is almost clean, i will be able to focus more...i really, really, really want to do something for the fantastic fiber voyage but i also need to get my comments working, and a gallery page up. oh well, i'll figure out something.

just one crafty link today:
* Mendel's

Virgil says hi. In this picture he is taking a break from eating circular needles to just look cute.

He's just jealous that I ooh and ah over every Izzy picture.

Crazy, crazy knitting. Crazy, crazy job. Will post seriously, soon.

shopping
* WNW Discounter
* Needle Arts Book Shop
* Lion Brand
* KnitPicks

hooo-wee! I think my new seat at work is directly under a vent. I spent most of today freezing and thinking about knitting wrist warmers and shawls.


LINKS (mostly curried from knitlist and blog-hopping)

shawl page - insipiring!

Whippoorwill Hill Socks

the infamous (and ubiquitous) knitting mary

heels by number

cotton twist top

Even though holiday knitting is technically over, I still seem to have tons of projects w/ deadlines. The slytherin scarf is NOT getting done, because I'm working on my mom's replacement socks, and the baby sweater.

current wish list (the short one)

* Knit it! (both this year and last year's)

* knitpicks - more aspen, tudor roses, size 1's??, portrait

links

simple toe-up socks

historical knitting, sort of

Working on the Groundhog Day gift for Matt. Goal: one pattern repeat of 12 rows per day. So far, so good. Also, working on baby hat attempt #2 for Madison, and a sweater for Madison. Need to add crap-loads of I-cord to the PSH for a February birthday, and get going on the Sytherin Scarf for a January birthday. Other than that...I'm dying to make the Silk Garden hat below, and actually cast on for my first grown up sweater (for me). I think I'm going to use all that sale Aspen that I got, with the simple raglan pattern from an old issue of Interweave Knits.

LINKS:

Not knitting, but still cool - sewbaby.com

I wish I got DIYnet. Cool knitting stuff!

Edit Eig hat on DIYnet - pattern here

Designed by Edith Eig; copyright 2002 by Edith Eig.

I want Tudor Roses. Controversy and skill level aside...I want to own the book to look through it, every day if I want to! I just might have to place another knitpicks order to get more aspen and more mohair, too. Oh, and My Little Sock Book - I wonder if you can get it there? Ooh, and some of that raibow-y Koigu PPPM...is that #122? Some of that baby yarn...maybe I'll need to place a few orders...

Knitting Resolutions for 2003:

1. Teach (help) at least one person. I know that Heather had a few sock questions, and my sister needs a brush-up. I could try to help them.

2. Finish most of the UFO's, but don't be afraid to frog stuff back to just yarn when a project isn't working.

3. Make some big projects.

4. Stop being scared of Cabling, lace-knitting, and sweaters in general.

In the vein of #4...here's some Aran inspiration:

aran newsletter

beginner Aran knitting

Pieces of String

knitting in canadian living - including this aran pillow

story of Aran

... and now for something completely different - MamaKate's lacy sweater

I googled "hippygoth" this morning. I am incredibly pleased to note that out of the 4 or so pages of repsonses, I'd say 60% of them were me. Way to corner a market! I also found a few links to this blog, which ROCKS, considering I haven't put up pictures, a commenting system, or even joined the knitting bloggers webring. My goal is to get all of that done by the end of my weekend (Jan 3 and 4) so that I can start making myself a real quality web presence. How's that for a new year's resolution!

Oh yeah - I completely, totally, 100% lost my mom's socks. I knit them for her in SEPTEMBER and then lost them before I could give them to her for Christmas.

crazy quilt socks

the yarn barn

aran knit list

Lamb's Ear Farm

london beanie pattern

knitting pattern from Victoria magazine

another knitblog...

I dreamt about blocking a not-yet-knit (not even cast on) sweater last night. I think I have a problem. *grin*

one piece garter stitch baby sweater

another mohair/worsted shawl

another shawl link

Simple Mohair Shawl:
(Cast on 1 st... *inc, knit across* each row till 6 yards are left and then bind off) on size 13 needles... 5 foot wingspan... 3 feet deep.

Today was an amazing yarn day. My order came from KnitPicks, and my back order from patternworks (the one they said wouldn't ship until December 31st) came too. Wahoo! Now I need to start Matt's groundhog day present (scarf) and swatch for his Wildfoote socks. It sounds funny to swatch for socks, but I'm going to be doing a pattern generator thing, and I want to get it just right. I want these to be perfect socks.

Finished a hat for my sister yesterday, and also swatched for the Slytherin Birthday Scarf. I wasn't sure if it would fit on a 16" circ w/ the number of stitches I cast on, so I increased a few rather than frog and try to cast on and count onto the circ again. Lazy, lazy. I hope it doesn't interfere too much w/ the finished product. I can always turn that row in if it looks too weird.

I also figured out how I want to do the baby's hat...start w/ 70 stitches. I cast on w/ red and am adding in a few green stripes. So cute! I can see why people like stripes. I hate the ends, but it is fun to keep working on it. Just a few more rows to finish this stripe...now I want to start the next one...well, might as well finish it...just flying off the needles!

Oh, and I finished a random sock yesterday, and NAILED the kitchener. I guess all the research paid off! That and the diagram in the Vogue Knitting on the Go: Mittens and Gloves instructions. Not sure why it helped, but it did.

shortrow wrap
Deb's Socks
Here is my dream project - as a kit! - Irish Mist
sock links
knitting links
lots of great knitting stuff
sock tips from about.com - pop-up heavy, but helpful nonetheless
sock pattern

opal free patterns

Marr Haven Wool Farm

the naked sheep

not knitting, but costume how-to's

yarn bags - I can't decide whether I like them or not

ruffled mitts

knitting links

www.purpletree.com

http://www.lisaknit.com - with henry's attic yarn!

heels and toes gazette

llama yarn

brown sheep yarn

the knitter

Getting burned out. Will talk about it later.

quick links:

applehollow.com

cheap regia yarn

sock links yanked from the knitlist/socklist


a generic sock pattern

Generic toe up sock pattern based on the "You're putting me on" toe up sock pattern by Judy Gibson

A chart for making socks based on number of cast on stitches

another sock calculator

www.fourseasonknitting.com

baby socks and more baby socks

Popcorn Top Kilt Hose (with photo) - Joanne Hinmon

american girl socks!

knitters-underground.com

note to self: garter stitch heel

kitchener - I still don't seem to be able to get it :(

stuff with garter stitch heel and lots more online

craploads of links i need to make clickable:

http://www.afghansforAfghans.org

http://www.fncyarn.com/

http://www.homestead.com/knittingfun/

http://www.littleredhenyarns.com/pages/1/index.htm

doll shawl

http://www.cs.oswego.edu/~ebozak/knit/ck-patterns/wee.aran/index.html

http://www.strickwear.com/yarns.shtml

http://www.heartstringsfiberarts.com/a37.htm

http://www.eweknitkits.com/

http://www.heartstringsfiberarts.com/tsc03kits.htm

http://lambsearfarm.com/

http://www.dawnbrocco.com/ArttoWearSocks.html

http://www.straw.com/cpy/cpyyarns.html

http://www.homestead.com/knittingfun/files/scarf1002.htm

http://www.homestead.com/knittingfun/lacepatterns.html

Just so you all know, I LOOOOOVE Knitters Review. I LOOOVE reading yarn reviews. Don't know why, I just do.

doll sweater pattern!

kool-aid dyeing

I want oodles of this yarn - merino

note to self: Jamieson's Shetland Knitting Book, vol. 1.


lots of yarn-ish links:

http://www.ellenshalfpintfarm.com/default.htm

http://www.simplyknit.com/

http://www.eknitting.com/

http://www.handworksgallery.com/

http://www.carodanfarm.com/

Finished one green sock for bob, and yesterday finished a green regia stripe for Julie. Thank God .

math and knitting - two great tastes that taste great together

I love love love the movie Rob Roy, and I'm on a major Scottish kick right now...how great would it be to knit the Rob Roy shawl!

Finished object! I finished a pair of socks for my stepsister Julie! Only a tiny bit of grafting on the second sock, and they are ready to go! What a huge relief. After I savored that moment, I cast on the next (and last) pair of Christmas socks!

kitchener!

"Traditional Knitted Lace Shawls" by Martha Waternman

rob roy shawl pattern, version 1 and version 2.

ooooh...sock chart

blackberry ridge knitting

Joslyn's Fiber Farm

possible clear boots shop

knitting pattern - nordic sweater in canadian living

dishcloth boutique

Measure Matt's Hands for Gloves!


I want to make Suki, and I need:

MATERIALS

[MC] Brown Sheep Co. Naturespun worsted weight [100% wool, 245 yds per 100 g skein], color: Spring Green; 2 skeins
[CC1] Schachenmayr Salsa [100% polyester, 65yds per 50g ball], color: Farbe 21; 1 ball
[CC2] Naturespun, color: Bougainvillea; 2 skeins
[CC3] Naturespun, color: Cherry Delight; 2 skeins

1 set of US #11/8mm double-point needles
1 32-inch US #11/8mm circular needle

To Do List:

by December 20th:
- Maddy's Sweater
- Present for Amy
- Julie's Socks

by December 25th:
- block Mom's socks
- Start and finish Bob's green socks
- something for Matt prolly socks
- Nicole's matching hat (w/ earflaps, but not ties, I think)

by late January:
- slytherin house scarf for Kris
- a working pattern for the Dr. Who (I forget which Dr.) sweater for Kris

by mid February:
- scarf for Matt
- scarf/stole for Jenn
- purple squid hat for Nick
- possible socks for the guys?

My god! That list is positively terrifying! And in there I want to knit myself some socks and gloves (maybe a scarf) from my tiny, yet tempting, Koigu stash. And I definitely want to make myself a sweater, but I don't really know where to start! Prolly w/ some Homespun and a Lion Brand Pattern...I would hate to make a lot of mistakes on a $8/100g yarn!

Nothing but a ton of links tonight. Hoping to finish the green socks for Julie this weekend, and make headway on a scarf for Amy. Should swatch up the sock yarn for Matt, and the hat for Nicole. Going to Northampton tomorrow, and will probably hit Northampton Wools - more sock yarn for Matt's socks, and 2 addi turbo circs. Possibly some yarn and needles for Nicole's Christmas present....

Oh yeah, and I subscribed to a TON of knitlists today. Let's see if I get any cooler :).

Today's Links:

maddy booties? or maybe a maddy haiku? what about this soft sweater? I've never made a sweater, but I've got to start somewhere...

baby socks

print these cable socks from home

aran?

baby sweater

craploads of Kitchner trivia

double toe-up socks and regia socks

sweater for me?

Oh my. I have a bad case of startitis. Good thing it's not fatal, eh? I started two scarves this week, just randomly. Question is...will they get done in time for Christmas? I haven't even cast on Bob's new socks, after I scrapped the grey ones (scrapped them for Bob, they will still be made, and probably given to Mom) - I think I'll make him some green ones.

knitting advent calendary

sock demo, and more sock stuff, and sock form - get Matt's measurements!

I kinda want these wristies, though my inner monlogue is sure I could knit them myself...

nice hat by mamakate

nordic fiber arts eye candy

oh yeah - knitting needles

Have re-evaluated a few knitting projects; mostly socks. I think the ones that I started for Bob are going to be too small, so I think Mom will get two pairs of socks this Christmas. Also moving along really well on the Purple Squid Hat. The recipient accidentally saw the yarn, but I had about 80 other projects lying around, so I'm sure he has no idea what it is or who its for. I need to swatch tonight; to get numbers to punch into the Harry Potter scarf thing from the Girl From Auntie (link below) and I need to swatch the Circus yarn and work out a hat pattern. I want to knit something for my niece, and didn't know what to do - then I realized that I have baby sock patterns somewhere, and now that I kind of know what I'm doing, I should (stress on "should") be able to make some baby socks. Also, need to block some socks and Kai's hat. I think the bottom will need to be stretched over something, or with clothespins or something.

Working up the courage to post this site on the Knit Bloggers ring. I want to get some pics and a comment bit up first.

harry potter scarf

needle case pattern

men's socks patterns

I desperately want this calendar/project book - the sock calendar

wildfoote socks, w/ pine tree cuff

knitting, pure and simple

ENORMOUS POST

historical costuming, more historical costuming, oh, and more Historical Costuming

scottish dress history

tons of knitting links

I want this sewing pattern - "historical" dress. Oh, and this one of sewing accessories. And think of how bad it would be if I could make my own bags!

knit blog templates

sock patterns - ample knitters, braided socks, the ample listers not for skinny legs socks, spinderella's free patterns, and the ubiquitous blueberry waffle socks.

american doll dress, and links.

historical knitting patterns

twisted german cast-on

Knitter's Magazine #54, Spring 1999 - get it!

http://www.pellatuliptime.com/lessons/straw/strwcork.html

http://www.knittersreview.com/article_how_to.asp?article=/review/profile/021121_b.asp

The �Sleeves in your Pi� shawl was designed by Gayle Roehm and featured in Knitter's Magazine, #61, Winter 2000.

I think my issue is that the only project I'm working on for ME right now is a pair of socks that I've dubbed the "ugly toe-up socks." They are made out of the ugly Sockotta yarn. The yarn itself makes a LOVELY fabric, I just got a truly ugly color of it. I did have a break through looking through the ample knitters gallery; I can switch to size 2's for the cuff. Since it's 2x2 ribbing, the size change won't be noticable, and then the cuff won't stretch unattractively. And I can whiz through the cuff on size 2s; my brittany size 1s are upset at the amount of stress I'm putting on them, and I'm unhappy that they don't have a nice smooth surface. How do my clover needles seem sticky but smooth at the same time? I don't know, but that's why I love bamboo for socks.

I got the GORGEOUS koigu pppm this week. I had forgotten the color, and that there were 4 whole skeins! I think that I will make myself a scarf AND socks, if I can stretch it. Maybe a small pair of lace cuff socks. I still want to make a scarf out of the autumnal koigu, but it might have to wait. Ooh, or maybe I'll make gloves and socks, or gloves and a scarf...or use the autumn for gloves...I'm just so excited, but I CAN'T start anything yet!

I want to finish up Nicole's tank top, too. I don't know if it will get done in time for Christmas, but I will need to work on finishing, and I think a tank top is a good practice. I want to make the shapely tank for myself, and maybe a striped sweater for my Molly 18" doll. I really want to get into full-sized projects, rather than scarves and socks, but I'm scared. I think if I make a sweater for Molly, I can practice construction, and make something nice. Or I can give it to my sister for her doll.

Here are my wish list projects:

from Interweave Knits, Fall or Autumn 2001:

* the possum yarn Irish Mist set
* the gathering bag
* the caramel/denim toddler sweater

Funny how that one magazine has so many amazing projects! I just look through it over and over again. And I read the instructions for the Irish Mist set over and over - I think that when I do get around to knitting it, it will come out perfect! I'm tempted to order a couple skeins and knit the scarf part, just for practice, mind you!

* shetland lace shawls, particularly this one


how do I drop the yarn overs? I will have to experiment. I hear another koigu swatch calling...

Incidentally, I flipped through the Knitter's gallery online...and I will probably buy it, for one reason and one reason only - I am an advanced beginner without the confidence to design a scarf on my own. Otherwise...I wouldn't bother.

rats. My schedule this morning was so messed up that I left my knitting stuff at home. I have a project in my drawer at work, (actually, technically 3 - 2 socks and a scarf) but I left the sock instructions at home. I'm at the turning the heel/picking up stitches bit, and I'm not yet confident enough to do that on my own! But I can work on the scarf a bit, and that will be a nice change of pace.

heels turned on Julie's green socks. Web's tomorrow?

knitting wish list for tomorrow

size 11 circ

10,9,10.5 dpn

vogue knitting on the go, gloves and mittens

web's for k.secret.s.s.
(jamieson's shetland wool looks good - maybe gch aspen?)

new Knitters

1 skein apart to go w/ my Koigu for the Rockstar scarf.

wizard scarf

knitted stockings - for under a kilt, perhaps?

I will finish the Thursday Thumb Twiddler later, I promise!

cat toy swirl ball


The Thursday Thumb-Twiddler

1. Would it disturb you much if, upon your death, your body were simply thrown into the woods and left to rot? Why?

Hmmm. I don't know. Maybe if it was for a good cause, like the body farm or something. I'm pretty into cremation, I don't want to rot in a casket. Rotting in the woods is fine, I just don't want to be a box full of mush.

2. The head of the Postal Service calls you up and tells you that you've been chosen at random to create a postage stamp with anyone or anything on it. What would you choose?

3. What's the longest line you've ever stood in?

Not a whole lot to report, knitting-wise. Did 14 rows of sock yesterday during a boring re-training at work. Started casting on Bob's Grey Christmas Woolease socks. Am contemplating making hat for my sister out of the leftover circus to match her socks...

knitting article

knitted cat toy

trinity stitch shawl pattern

"troop" knitting

And here's the friday five, a few days late.

The Friday Five - late, again.

1. Did you vote in your last elections?

Yes, I did. I did a lot of research before I voted, too. Was still a little stumped on Massachusetts ballot questions 3.

2. Do you know who your elected representatives are?

Um, most of them, yes. State representatives, and reps to congress.

3. Have you ever contacted an elected representative? If so, what was it about?

When I was in high school I used to send/sign a lot of letters about environmental causes in Upstate NY. I've participated in a few other letter/email campaigns since then.

4. Have you ever participated in a demonstration?

Not exactly, but I did do some lobbying on Earth Day in Albany. It was really cool to have face time with some state reps and let them know how serious we were, and even though most of us were too young to vote (this was high school), we could still make our opinions known.

5. Have you ever volunteered in an election? What was the result?

No, I haven't volunteered in an election.

This entry was SUPPOSED to be posted on Thursday, but I didn't have time to do anything other than email it to myself....

Knitting news...well, I finished Mom's red socks. I haven't grafted the toe yet, because I hate it, but I will get to it. I think the problem is that I haven't managed to successfully do it once. I think it is one of those things that I really need to watch someone do it. Maybe there is a clip out there online somewhere that shows toe-grafting. [note - since I wrote this, I sat down w/ the step-by-step directions in Interweave Knits, and made a nicer toe than I'd ever managed - still not perfect, but I'm starting to understand the concept.]

Got my Pony Pearls size 3 dpns today, which was great, but the invoice said that my other yarn (more Koigu pppm and Noro Kureyon) and my Koigu scarf booklet won't be sent out until NOVEMBER 21st! Yipe. I kind of wanted to get a scarf done by Christmas for Matt, and I don't know if one month will be long enough. I'm making pretty rapid progress on all my other Christmas projects, so it might be okay, but still. And still no sign of the 3 month old Mary Maxim order that I was assured would be sent out Monday. That pair of socks is supposed to be for my sister, and it would be nice to start working on that. [note again - I was surprised on Friday to receive both the Koigu pattern booklet and the very very very late sock yarn from Mary Maxim!]

I really like the afghan I started for Madison, big and cushy, and hopefully will use up a lot of the extra acrylic yarn I have lying around. If I can get the acrylic stash WAAAAY down, then maybe I can start working through the nice stuff I've picked up randomly. Projects, projects everywhere! I should probably start w/ the S.S. for K, and bring the PSH for N with me this weekend. I'm going east for my grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary. Someday, if I'm really brave, I might post the pictures from the 40th anniversary. Pretty painful.

The Thursday Thumb Twiddler

1. If you could change anything about the way you were raised, what would it be?

I think I would have wished that my mom was a little more vocal about the junk I was eating in Junior High...but she was so depressed then, and didn't have a lot of energy. I don't think that I would wish that my parents didn't get divorced, but I do wish that my dad was more involved with my life.

2. Have you ever displayed in your home a hated, ugly, and useless gift, just because the donor happened to be paying you a visit?

No, not really, but I wore some pretty awful clothes that relatives bought me.

3. If you were writing a new children's book, what might you choose for the setting, and who might the main character be?

I used to tell a story to a little girl I baby sat about a cow and a girl farmer. I liked that story alot.

intensely cute baby bootie pattern and of course socks, socks, and more socks.

Yarn should get here soon...I hope.

I just realized that while I am supposed to have a lot of back ordered yarn coming in the mail, I've been pretty good about not buying yarn these past few weeks. I did buy 4 skeins 2 weeks ago, but that was to finish some already started works in progress. I also realized that I have not been finishing this this week as well as I have been the last 2 weeks. I blame it on my shortage of #3 dpns. I did start yet another new project...but it is a stash buster! I'm using lots of leftover acrylic baby yarn to make Madison an afghan.

I'm a little excited. The rest of my Patterworks order (including Matt's scarf yarn) was supposed to ship on Friday, and the Opal sock yarn from Mary Maxim that I've been waiting for FOREVER is supposed to ship tomorrow. Both very exciting. I gave my sister the blue circus socks early, since she was having a bad week and came out to visit this weekend. I also got to go to Webs, the legendary yarn store. I loved it. I could easily spend a million bucks there. I got the new Vogue Knitting, and the new Interweave Knits, another set of size 2 dpns, and two size 1 twenty-something inch circulars for socks. I have to agree with the general consensus about Vogue Knitting this time. Except for that cover hat, I'm not really interested in the patterns.

A few in Interweave caught my eye, particularly the Golden Ruching Shawl, and the Dotty Drape Shell. I also really like the Leaf Cravat...I had been considering ordering some stuff from Loop-d-Loop, and now I can try this first to see if I'm up to the patterns. I really liked the Impressionist Cardigan, but I'm depressed at all the Jazz/Portrait combos I've been seeing lately. I just can't even remotely afford it!! My sister was wearing a sweater this weekend that she got at Gap/Old Navy that is EXACTLY like the Lacy Bell Pullover, which I thought was pretty darn cool.

sock pattern for regia yarn, and a sock pattern for that Tabby-colored yarn I have. Might need another skein, though.

I'm a little late on the Friday Five, but I really wanted to answer them. Plus, well, I have a few other projects going on, so I don't think I'll be updating any online journals as frequently as I may have in the past. So I'd like to at least stay on top of things with the Friday Five and the Thursday Thumb Twiddler.

Friday Five:

1. Were you raised in a particular religious faith?

Um, definitely Protestant. My Mom's family church was a Congregationalist church, and I liked that alot. My Dad's church was a Methodist church, and that was pretty good too.

2. Do you still practice that faith? Why or why not?

I still have faith, and I'm still spiritual, but I do not often attend church, and when I do, it is usually Catholic services w/ my boyfriend's family. I don't very much like Catholic church. I think I would like to find a nice Congregationalist/Presbytarian, Methodist church, and go sometimes when I want to be quiet and listen to happy hymns. Catholics don't seem to have any happy songs.

3. What do you think happens after death?

This changes frequently. I think I have it narrowed down to two. Either Heaven/Hell or Reincarnation. I can't decide. I like the idea of Heaven, and eventually ending up somewhere good, but then I like the reincarnation idea that you have a few different tries to get there.

4. What is your favorite religious ritual (participating in or just observing)?

I've always been a huge fan of Easter. I should have been Catholic, I swear. They take that whole crucifiction thing VERY seriously. But then again, my favorite part of Easter is the joy of Resurrection. I love Easter services where you sing all the happy, joyful hymns. The miraculous ones. My second favorite hymn is an Easter hymn. The one that goes:

Up from the grave he arose (he arose)

With a mighty triumph o'er his foes

He arose a victor from the dark domain

And He'll live forever with the saints to reign...

5. Do you believe people are basically good?

I wish I did. I think people are born good, but some people's family's ruin them.

I'm kinda dressed up today. I'm wearing fuzzy slippers, and the bear hat that was SUPPOSED to be for the nephew, but is way too big. I also knit myself some "bear cuffs" to cover my wrists and knuckles, which match the hat. They are pretty warm. I think I should knit a less bulky version to wear at work anyway.

I'm almost done w/ my sister's circus socks. I definitely needed the second skein. I'm hoping to make a pair of short socks out of the skein that is left over. I think I might give Nicole her socks this weekend, seeing as she's had such a crappy week.

Need to do serious work on the second red sock, Jenn's scarf, and the second pair of Regia socks.

socks and more socks

Ah, the Thursday Thumb Twiddler

1. Would you prefer to have had more or fewer sexual partners in your life?

Hmm. I can think of one specific person I would rather have not slept with. And a few who I wish I did. So I guess that averages out to more.

2. You accidentally come across your teenager's diary. If you choose to, you can read it without anyone ever knowing. Do you? What if it were your spouse's?

I like to think I wouldn't read my child's diary. But, to be brutally honest with myself, I probably would. As for spouse, again, probably. I am always dying to know if more is going on his head then he lets on...

3. You work for an ad agency, and the assignment is to come up with a slogan to get people to eat more fish. What would you suggest?

Fish - It's not just for food poisoning any more!

two socks on two circ's...i think i need two longer 2's...here's one for toe-up...

Yesterday the car broke down, which was bad, but I got craploads of knitting in, which was good. Finished Mom's Red Sock, and the pair of bearcuffs.


a knit/fiber blog

easy sleeveless sweater

sock heel info

Don't feel like knitting today, too hung over. I missed the Friday Five, too. But I got a lot done on Mom's red sock, and found a link for 2 circular needle socks.

one hour scarf, and the ribbon shawl

I [heart] the sock yarn palette [/heart]. Especially considering that I love socks at the moment. I haven't really failed a sock yet, even though I'm only one pair, one singleton, and one half-new sock into sock knitting. I think its the dpn's, and the complete lack of seaming (grafting sucks, but doesn't really count). I'm in love with the toe-up pattern I chose, but w/ tiny yarn...72 stitches on size 1 needles actually hurts my wrists after a while. It makes the 48 stitches on size 3's seem like a breeze, and the 24 stitches on size 11's are a joke! Isn't it nice to have so much variety!

My current most desperate project is the bear cuffs to match the failed bear hat. Those + improvised brown pants = Work Safe Halloween Costume. It will be a little cutesy, but warm.

I'm working on Mom's Red Wool-Ease socks at work, and they are coming along swimmingly on the Swallow size 3 dpn's. It's a free pattern I got at Michaels, and I hated the garter check at first, but now that I have several rows done it looks pretty good. And I have TONS of Wool-Ease in Cranberry, so I can make them a little longer than the Regia socks. I do so love how soft those socks are getting! Even Matt thinks they are really soft, to the point where I said, "So, do you want a pair?" he said, "Well, maybe."

Phew. This is going to be a long entry today, because I am not tired of writing about knitting/yarn yet.

I think the major problem w/ the toe-ups is that I hate, hate, hate the yarn. I hate it in the lace scarf, and I hate it on the sock. Plus, size 2's seem like they would be too big, but 1's are splitting the yarn. Could be that the Brittanys, though. Bought the set before I heard all those scathing remarks about Brittany size 1 dpns. I do like the fabric that is being created, and I might even buy more Sockotta yarn someday...but never in this color. So much uglier than I ever thought possible. Maybe some blues.

I'm strongly considering ripping the baby afghan I started for Madison and completely starting over. I desperately want to make her one, but I keep sucking at it. Maybe if I just do a simple something w/ two yarns held together? I just don't know.

I guess that's enough for now. I've gotten it out of my system. :)

Thursday Thumb Twiddler

1. If you were able to take a one-month trip anywhere in the world, with money and vacation time no object, where would you go and what would you do?

This is one of my favorite questions! I have a pat and perfected answer here, but here is the quick and dirty: I would go to Brazil and work with the children and mothers there. Educate the mothers about breastfeeding and water boiling, and help the children any way I can. Either that, or go and work in an inner city day care, HeadStart, or after school program. How about a knitting program afterschool? Or dancing and stretching?

2. How do you react to people who talk loudly while the movie is playing?

Sigh loudly, and hope they'll get the point. Maybe hiss "sshhh!" if I'm heartily annoyed.

3. What meal do you look forward to the most?

I like the meal/snack at the end of my work week, when I get home, and curl up on the couch with something tasty, and know that I don't have to go to work the next day.

Just a bunch of links...

tips on wrapping heels

knitting geek's socks and shawls...

sock pattern

oz yarn has free patterns


I started Mom's red socks w/ grey heels and toes. I'm not sure I like the wool-ease free pattern. It has garter stich checks, and while I think they will be fine for Mom, Bob's socks w/ be plain. I think I'm in love with socks. And scarves. My Koigu came today. Well, I think its mine. It might end up being Matt's...I got about 60% of my Patternworks order. Unfortunately, all the stuff that's back ordered is the stuff I wanted to work on right away...

I want to make a cardigan for Madison for Christmas. Maybe I'll try the pattern from domesticsphere.blogspot.com. Either that or the one in the old Interweave Knits that I have. I'm thinking of using Kool Wool, perhaps in Melon. Will have to see what I can find...

Very little actual knitting content today. We got a fabulous new cat from the shelter. His name is Virgil, and he's wonderful. I started the second Circus sock, and finished the second horn on the devil hat. That's about it for knitting. Oh, and I unravelled and hid Jenn's scarf - I think I'll wait for the size 13's to come, and try knitting it in a stockinette with the occaisional purl line for contrast.


1. How many TVs do you have in your home?

one plugged in, one unplugged

2. On average, how much TV do you watch in a week?

ooh, tricky question. I probably actively watch about, oh, 10 hours a week? But I frequently have the tv on BBC America or TLC for background noise while I knit or read. I think I would do that less if our stereo actually worked.

3. Do you feel that television is bad for young children?

I feel that too much television is definitely a bad thing. Having worked in Day Care, and as a nanny, I can also say that there are times when it is ESSENTIAL for you (and the kids) to be able to turn on the tv or put in a tape for half an hour until you all can deal with each other again. I don't like it when kids know the channel line-up, and what shows are on when, but knowing that Friday night is movie night, or if Mom needs quiet time, 'tubbies go on, that's okay.

4. What TV shows do you absolutely HAVE to watch, and if you miss them, you're heartbroken?

Hmm. I used to have a few shows, like Sunday night Fox that I just loved watching. Then we had no cable and only got ABC and PBS. We watched "Three guys, a girl, and a Pizza place," later known as "Three Guys and a Girl" religiously for two seasons. We also watched that other show that I can't remember, Will and Grace, Dharma and Greg....and then we got cable, and it was all Law & Order, all the time. I guess right now I would say that I love Trading Spaces, The Dead Zone, and I could very possibly fall in love with Birds of Prey.

5. If you had the power to create your own television network, what would your line-up look like?

Dinosaur shows, horse movies, foreign/indie movies, Trading Spaces/Changing Rooms, A Baby Story, Forensic Science, and a few guilty pleasesures like Three Guys and a Girl, Birds of Prey, and maybe the occaisional Wonder Years or Sister, Sister.

Wow. It's been a few days, huh? I have recovered (mostly) from the failed-bear-hat-for-kai trauma, with the help of the little demon hat. I only have one horn left to go, and it *should* fit, provided that the rim stretches a little bit more. I also finished a Circus sock, but think that I made the calf bit a little too long, and the second one is going to come up short. That's the problem with sock patterns that are one skein, when you only bought one skein...I wish I knew a good adaptable toe-up method. This and this might help. I'm also wondering if the socks might be happy with a little fulling, or if that will even work with that yarn. Oh well. They might just end up being my socks, after that horrible holey heel incident. I have plans to make cute socks for Mom and Bob, matching ones. I wanted the Circus socks to go to Nicole or Mom...maybe Nicole because they match that tank top that I keep forgetting about. Well, forgetting on purpose. I don't know how I'll ever knit a whole sweater if I get bored just doing rows of stockinette on this tank top!

I ended up missing the deadline on the Michaels contest, which makes me a little sad, but was my own fault entirely. I started a new project, a lace scarf from the Sockotta pattern. I love the pattern, and I like the feel of the yarn, but I hate (*HATE*) the colors of the yarn. It is a red/green/gold/brown ombre/space-dyed with very short even repeats, and a white binder. It looked MUCH better skeined up online. It's the first time I've ever been really disappointed by ordering yarn online. Oh well. You live, you learn, right? I would love to just finish it and dye the whole thing deep brown, but I'm not really sure how that would work, and besides, I think I'll just give it to someone I only kind of like, but want to be impressed with my work.

I ordered yarn for Kris's project, but I can even let that wait. I told her already that she's not getting a present in December for Christmas, she gets a combined present for her birthday in January. So I have a little bit of time on that. As for Nick, I finally, finally FINALLY found the perfect project for him. Now I just have to design it! I also ordered yarn for Matt's present. If I'm running late, it can always be for Valentine's day. I'll be using Kureyon for it, and I'm kind of excited. I have a skein of Silk Garden that is waiting for me to perfect feathers and fans, then be knit into a scarf.

Just found this about grafting. Why couldn't I have found this days ago?!

note to self...oh, and I do love this bag. Too bad I need another ball of DecoRibbon...

Thursday Thumb Twiddler

1. You're at a friend's house for Thanksgiving dinner. You find a dead cockroach in your salad. What do you do?

I would put the salad to the side, and try not to gag. No, I probably would not mention it to anyone.

2. What particular historical document (or portion thereof) do you think every person (or at least every citizen of your country) should know by heart?

Tough question. I have such a hard time memorizing things. I think the Miranda Rights are important to know, even though its not a historical document. I think that the Declaration of Independence, while stirring, is not necessary. Maybe the Bill of Rights, or perhaps the constitutional amendments. I had a great history professor in high school who had wonderful mnemonics for the amendments. I can remember that the 17th amendment is the one that proposes term limits for senators (sev-en-teen, sen-a-tor).

3. A follow-on to last week: what five TV series have or had the best theme song with lyrics?

* Cheers (it's obligatory, but good)
* Myster Science Theatre 3000
*
*
*

I finished the socks...finally! Not really happy with the finishing of the toes. I followed the steps for weaving the toes, but it just doesn't seem strong enough. Oh well, next pair should be better, right? And of course, after I attached the ears to Kai's hat...I just looked at it. It fits me. I have a new hat. I guess I will be making a second attempt, but not from that pattern! Though that gives me an idea for Nick...he liked the Lizard hat...



***************

The Friday five are very hard this week, and I'm not done with them yet.

The Friday five!

1. If you could only choose 1 cd to ever listen to again, what would it be?

Tom Waits, beautiful Maladies (the island years)

2. If you could only choose 2 movies to watch ever again, what would they be?

Dirty Dancing, The City of Lost Children

3. If you could only choose 3 books to read ever again, what would they be?

many waters, by madeline l'engle;


4. If you could only choose 4 things to eat or drink ever again, what would they be?

water, tortilla chips, salsa,


5. If you could only choose 5 people to ever be/talk/associate/whatever with ever again, who would they be?

* matt (obligatory, but true)
* mom
* oscar wilde
*
*

My office is so cold. I am wearing fleece socks, a wool hat, a t-shirt, jeans, a long duster/dress, and a wool shawl (made by the S.O.'s mom for a wedding). My fingers are still practically numb. I'm drinking coffee just to keep warm, and my little clover size 2's keep falling out of my freezing fingers.

Do you feel sorry for me yet? No? Here's the next sad story:

I got cocky. I finally finished a project...but wait, there's more...I finally finished a project that a) looked like it was supposed to, b) fit the way it was supposed to, and c) looked good. That was my Regia sock #1. Then...I picked up Kai's hat to finish it. I love how fuzzy the purl side (which, it looks like from the picturs is the RS) and it's still soft after being worked for so long. It looked fine until I sewed the seam, and then Matt said, "Uh, he's not a conehead. And that's way too big." And he was right. It just looks funny. So now I have a dilemma. I'm afraid Matt's mom and Grandmother will see it at the birthday party and tell me how wrong it is. And I'm a little embarassed that it came out wonky. I followed the pattern religiously, used the right yarn and needles (its amazing how long it took me to learn that) and it just looks funny.

sigh. Two year olds hate hats anyway, right? I was hoping he'd like this one because it is very soft, and has bear ears. He could pretend while he wore it. Matt suggested that I slip it to Heidi on the way out. The other idea is that I can "forget it" at home, and mail it to Heidi and Kai later, with the disclaimer, "It came out funny and big, and he never has to wear it, but I wanted you guys to know that I really wanted to make Kai something all by myself." Which also sounds kind of lame. I am just a big knitting lame-o right now.

But on the other hand, tomorrow is looking to be good, but busy. In the morning Matt and I need to register to vote, so that we can vote against Mitt Romney (its a moral imperative) for state governer (MA). Then, we need to go to the UPS main office so that I can pick up my package from One Fine Yarn that I have been longing for. After that, I need to have a lunch ready for my crafting circle friends. So far it looks like one sewer, a knitter (me), two crocheters on for tomorrow. Later I hope to have a Saturday afternoon as well, where I'll lose a crocheter, but gain another one, and a random crafter...she has Modge Podge, and knows how to use it. After lunch and a sewing machine examination, I hope to finish my poor remaining Regia sock, so I at least have ONE finished project to show off on Saturday. Then Matt and I are off to the mall to pick up a toy for Kai's birthday, to go with the hat (maybe) and the Pooh CD we picked up in Florida.


Time for Thumb-Twiddling Thursday:

1. Does not having done something before make it more appealing, or less?

More appealing...I like new things, I like doing new things, watching new things, hearing new things, trying new things. Just not always a huge fan of eating new things, though I will eat new things if there are no fish or mushrooms involved.

2. If you could have a large stain-glass window in your house, what would you want it to depict?

Something Epic. Angels or Jesus. Angels and Jesus. Or dinosaurs.

3. A change of pace. What five TV series have or had the best instrumental theme song?

Funny you should mention that - Vegan Nick and I were discussing instrumental theme songs just yesterday. My favorites are:

* X-Files
* Magnum P.I.
* Scarecrow and Mrs. King
* I Dream of Jeannie
* Bewitched

http://yarnxpress.safeshopper.com/133/cat133.htm?532

knitting goals for today/tonight specifically:

* unravel the 5 yr old scarf (done, with thanks to Nick)
* finish the body on the Regia sock (done, and then some...8 rows of heel are done, too)
* finish crown shaping on Kai's hat

I started photographing my WIP's with the hopes of putting them up as inspiration. I have to say that I really don't like the Cro-Knit afghan anymore...I just have to make myself finish it. I wish I had started another afghan...maybe something out of Sirdar Snowflake. Oh well. I'm hoping that a border will make it somewhat nicer. I could try a nice edged border, from the Debbie Bliss book.

Good news. Almost finished with Kai's hat. I'm at the shaping and ear-knitting stage. The Circus sock is coming right along also. It's going to be so hard to go back to that slow tank top after all these zippy little projects! I cannot wait to get my new yarn to start with socks and scarves for everyone. I definitely want to make a scarf/stole out of Eros for someone. I think if I cast it on the long way, it might go fast enough to not drive me crazy. I think that sale yarn that I picked up from Ames could probably be used instead of Homespun...I wonder if I can find a short project for it? Maybe this hat. Or this scarf.

knitting goals for the week:

By Saturday the 12th, I would like to have:

* finished the circus socks
* finished the second regia sock
* and I better have finished Kai's hat, as his party is Saturday.

Note about my Regia socks: I deliberately did not start them at the same pattern point, so that they'll be slightly different. I think it should look cool...we'll see how that works out.

I don't think I'd ever have the patience to do a whole sweater on size 3 needles! It is gorgeous, though.

nice shawl pattern for microspun...and one for some really thick socks

ooh...the tubular cast on. I need to learn it. neat hat from the same page...with additional free patterns

The Friday Five, ladies and gentlemen.


1. What size shoe do you wear?

Womens 8 1/2 wide, which works out exactly to a comfortable Men's 6, 61/2.

2. How many pairs of shoes do you own?

More than I wear...probably 15? But I rotate through the same 7 pairs or so.

3. What type of shoe do you prefer (boots, sneakers, pumps, etc.)?

Sneakers. Definitely sneakers and boots, though right now I'm feeling pretty emotional about mary jane style sneakers.

4. Describe your favorite pair of shoes. Why are they your favorite?

I have a few pairs. I love my old boots. I wanted a pair of Doc Martens so bad when I was in high school, but they were far too expensive. I got a pair of black work boots instead that were about $30 less, and so much more hard core. After a few years, I touched them up with a few spots of glitter nail polish. They are still around and kick ass.

I also *heart* my red platform sneakers that I got at the salvation army for $5.

5. What's the most you've spent on one pair of shoes?

Probably about $45 for the last pair of sneakers I bought. I have shoes that probably cost more, but I got them as gifts.

I can't believe that I didn't knit at all yesterday. Hopefully I'll make up for it tonight. Gotta get those pictures up. Tomorrow I'll have a lot of free time...I should register some domain names and get some webhosting. But tonight...Circus Sock, here I come!

fuzzy galore

alternative toe finish - from the sock guy

resources

Joy of joy of joys...I finished the first sock. The first sock ever.
I better cast the next one on right away, before I lose momentum.
I also managed to check off #2 on the morning's list...I'm onto the face decreases on Kai's hat, and #3, cast on the circus sock as well. It's kind of tricky right now, I'm trying not to do it backwards.

goals for the morning (knitting related):

* finish and photograph that one regia sock

* get past the ribbing and start the stockinette on kai's bear hat

* cast on the circus sock

* pack skein of yarn to start second regia sock @ work

* find some yogic stretches to get this horrible kink/stiffness out of my neck/shoulder/upper back

http://craftydiva.blogspot.com/
http://www.harrumph.com/rabbit/
http://www.knitjapan.co.uk/fushino.htm
http://www.shemadethis.com/main.htm

I should get around to the friday five some time
knitting contest at michaels.com

jamie's knitblog

http://www.knitpicks.com/

http://www.knitzme.com/

mama kate's knitblog

what i ordered from one fine yarn:

IV_SUM02 Interweave knits summer 2002 1

IV_win0102 Interweave knits winter 2001/2002 1

IV_FALL01 Interweave Knits fall 2001 1

PY_S089 Plymouth Sockotta pattern - lacy scarf and socks 1

SOCKOTTA05 Plymouth Sockotta 05 summer 3

SG_31 Noro Silk Garden 31 1

ADR_FLAKE_40 Adriafil Flake 40 pastels 4

Shipping: USPS Priority or UPS ground: $5.50
Sales Tax: $0.00
Total: $75.31

I should not have worn a skirt today. I'm freezing. Bored, too. I'm resisting the urge to start the new pair of socks in Circus. They should be lightning fast to knit, but I am making myself finish my first pair of socks, and also Kai's hat before I start anything new. I think that I'm going to make a lot of Christmas presents this year. This will be the year of the Knit-Gifts! I have a few scarves in mind to make, and I wonder who will be the lucky recipients...I'm also thinking of making some slippers/socks. Don't think that Nick will end up with pirate slippers. I just can't find a pattern I can modify enough. I need a pattern that has a section on the top of the slipper in stockinette, so I can either chart or stitch over a skull and crossbones pattern. Hmm...What I like best is the Debbie Bliss booties I knit for Madison that ended up WAY too big. But I'm not sure. I might just make a pair of socks with skull and crossbone detail...

On a separate crafty note...those flat pants on Domestic Sphere look like a cute, non threatening gift for Kai...I need to get that kid's measurements!

sweater pattern I might ACTUALLY be able to make for myself

kool-aid dyeing

No Idle Hands: The Social History of American Knitting, by Anne L. Macdonald

I want this knit sack.

tonight's yarn lust topic - looks like similar palette and composition to Circus....

legwarmer pattern

another knit blog, or two...ok, three

Oh yay!! Knitty.com is FINALLY up!!!

another crafty blog, with tons of links

handworksgallery.com...they have some nice kits. Expensive, but nice.

OMG. The perfect pattern for Matt. Too bad it's extra-spicy.

one more knitting blog link. promise. (i think this one is a duplicate anyway.)

Finished Projects of 2002:

scarf for nicole, started in fall 2001 as a xmas gift that ended up being a birthday present. the scarf was striped w/ 2 colors of chenille yarn. one color was a burgundy, and one color was a dark blue w/ burgandy flecks. i knit it on my size 10 bamboo needles, which i love. added some fringe. this yarn shed a lot, and i probably wouldn't use it again if i knew the name, which i don't since i got the yarn out of the bargain bin at my LYS. Sadly, I mailed this off to my sister before i took a picture. Or i took a picture on the digital camera i got for christmas, and then erased it accidentally.

assorted baby projects for my niece madison. finished two pairs of cro-hook booties, one HUGE pair of booties that will prolly fit her as slippers when she's 4 from debbie bliss, a small hat from debbie bliss, and one more pair of booties in that supersoft plymouth baby dk w/ microfiber.

Viking Patterns for Knitting

toe-up sock info

sockguy's other talents

I'm such a knitting geek. I stayed up last night working on the sock...I just HAD to see how the heel turned out. I was thrown off a little by what I think (hope) is a mis-typed number, so had to see if it was going to be okay. I really think it is. I was also feeling guilty about delaying Kai's hat...but I think I have time to finish this sock first and then get back to the bear hat. I've got at least two weeks. I need to prioritize my projects. I think the slippers are going to take just too damn long. Maybe a pirate Christmas stocking? Actually, that idea has a ton of merit...I'll get back to it later. The tank top has ceased to be interesting, but at least it's fast. And of course, the baby blanket. I want to make a scarf for Matt, but need to settle on a pattern and order some yarn.

Got a huge bag of yarn from the yarn fairy. I need to find out where she got it from, and whether she wants the granny squares back. If not, then I think I'll need to make some plain crochet or knitted squares to finish off the afghan, and then either return it to her, or donate it to charity. Some of the yarn I'm going to donate to Day for learning and the kids, and some of it, well, most, I'm going to keep!

Matt said he wouldn't wear anything handknit, and I rebut him by saying that he wears the scarf that his ex made him.

ooooh...michaels contest

and a yarn/knitting book

berroco skirt pattern - and a turtleneck shell pattern

cool sweater pattern from rebecca-online

I've started Kai's hat, and also a sock. Deco-ribbon scarf, too, but I'm not sure I like how its coming out. I don't want to rip it again because the yarn is all crinkled now. Maybe I'll pick up another ball and just make a really, really, really, LOOOOONG scarf. And another ball of fizz to make a fizz striped scarf. I do love how soft it is. Maybe a hat? So many projects, so little time. I need to take some pictures and put them up. Maybe actually seeing only 20% of my sister's tank done will motivate me....and the 30% completed baby blanket....and the 10% complete slippers...and so on....