tee hee

Permanent linky http://kscakes.com/LolCats/Detail.aspx/im-in-ur-houze-rockin-ur-wurld/

Magic 28 is a go!

Since I joined the Magic 28 webring, I figured I'd better commence to knitting some Magic 28 socks already. Well, I think the other socks I've made sorta count, but this is the first using the "official pattern", which I have to say I like.
Cute little sock, works up quickly, and I should have an easier time of making the 2nd since I'm following a pattern and not winging it. I like the heel flap also, not boring like my usual stockinette but not as fusty as the LB magic stripe pattern (what with all the slipping and picking up). Also, it helps that I love the yarn-- Patons Classic in Regency. I'm using what's left from the other pair I made.

I will be sending this to Dulaan. I really, really want to knit a sweater for them, or at least a vest, but I have to realistically assess whether I have the time to swing it. It seems like everyone does hats, so they probably don't need any more. Maybe I'll do some mittens? I have a whole month to decide! what luxury!

Returning to my First Love-- Hooking

Tee hee. I like crochet a lot, and get a kick out of doing it on occasion. It was the first craft thing I ever did for reals as a kid-- when I was 10, my dad's girlfriend taught me how, to keep me out of her hair, probably (she was a wicked fast crocheter, Lily Chin fast, afghan in a weekend fast.) It wasn't a first love, so much as a gateway drug to the craft world. So it holds a special place in my heart.

After spending a whole post whinging about all the unfinished/unstarted projects I have piled up to do, NATURALLY I spend a couple of days goofing around, crocheting doll clothes for my "grandkids".

Crochet is so versatile, it's a lot easier to wing it and make odd shaped stuff. The moose is wearing Hammer Pants (overestimated his waist size--the waistband cinches to compensate.) The doll is in a long sleeved grey dress, and holding her alternative outfit, purple top/green skirt. All colors chosen by the kids, from my acrylic stash. Specs? Don't need no stinkin' specs! Completely winged it. (Which explains the Hammer Pants?)

Latest Dulaan socks, almost done. See, I ain't completely a slacker.

Also....

I went back to the LYS & was naughty. But it's sock yarn & that's not supposed to count towards the stash, right? Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock yarn, Funky Stripe colorway. I had to buy two skeins for a pair & the yarn store rolled it into a center-pull ball while I waited. This will be fun to do but I need to swatch... Good times ahead.

What am I thinking?

As I write, I'm printing out a sweater and a vest pattern. I think I am crazy enough to try one or the other for my Dulaan knitting. They're kids sizes, so they won't take long???

What am I thinking? Should I not knit something for myself? I'm always thinking I'll do that when the charity knitting is done, but it's never done. So I need to step back from it, I think.

Lemme see, my WIPs:

Slytherin scarf (1.5 yrs)
Socks (for Dulaan)
Baby blankie (for friend)
Various dishrags (for ??)

OK the WIPs aren't that many. It's the projects I'm planning that eff it up:

Crochet bag (for coworker)
Sweater or two (for Dulaan)
Socks (for friend)
Gajillion socks (for charity)

Way down on the list, projects for me:

Sweater
Socks
oh, I guess Slytherin scarf should go here, but it is started
Roll brim hat
Furry purse

Why do I feel the need to stack the projects on 10 thick? WTF? I need to relax. To quote MST3K's Riding with Death: "Mell, Ow, OUT!" (accompanied by punches)

hooray, my cord came today!

Hot damn, I'm a postin' fool now. A picture of the Paton's Merino Harvest socks (just the two, grrrr...)

These are off to Afghans for Afghans, along with the toddler socks, Lion Brand wool socks, a spare red hat and a random pair of mittens. That ought to hold 'em for a while, until the next special project. Everything from now until the end of May will be for Dulaan.

I was so excited to send off the package for AforA, that I cast on for a new pair socks in the Paton's Regency colorway. What you see is what I've done in about 3 hrs. tonight. It's really pretty in red, russet, orange and pink. I put it on the latest dishrags I've been doing at bowling. Oooh, now that bowling is over for the year, I guess I won't have that time to do them. I think I'll take the skein to work and leave it there for to do at lunchtimes.

I think my next project, after the baby blankie, will be for myself. There's a pair of socks I've been dying to work on in purple....

testing, testing

trying an experiment!!

Daily Kos

hmmm?

Crapdamnula

I apparently had a major brain fade last week. I thought I'd ordered that new power cord for my Dell last week. I just checked the Dell website earlier to find out when it will arrive, and surprise! no record of the order exists. But I printed the order, you say? Psyche! I had apparently only printed a preliminary page, because when I looked at it again, there weren't no order # anywheres to be found. Uhm, duh.

I placed the order (again!) and theoretically the shizzle will arrive by the end of the week, if I didn't funk it up again. Meanwhile, I must post picturelessly from my hubbie's computer. Oh, the agony.

My current progress: I'm about a foot into the baby blankie, and it's very pretty. The yarn is super soft and glides off the needles. I think that was the problem with the hubby afghan from before-- it didn't slide off the needles, so you could only ever knit like 5 stitches before you had to jam things up or down. This one, you squish the stitches up on the left needle, you can knit near on 30 or so before resquishing. Also, the stitches pop themselves down the right needle pretty easy; hubby afghan needed manual squishing on that side also. All that made my hands hurt, whereas this baby blankie doesn't. It's just flowing, yay.

I finished my 3 sock pair, and a couple of dishcloths too. Those are really what I want to post pix of. They're in the camera.... maybe I should take it to work. I think I will send 3 pairs of socks (and one hat) this week to Afghans for Afghans, and every thing else in the stash is heading for Dulaan. I've got to locate my safety pins, though! Can't send the socks without pinning them together. I bought like a million safety pins and I'm constantly forgetting where I put the snerking things.

One is the loneliest number

that you'll ever dooooooooo..... (gawd, save me from lame ass AM radio hitz)

So I meant to have a picture of my sad, lonely solo sock with this post, but wouldn't you know it, my computer at home is having a problem. A cord problem. In that the power cord done busted, from being left on the living room floor once too often, plugged into the back of the laptop. Any time I slid the computer out of the way (5X a day) the cord was bent to hell and has finally, irrevocably, broken. waahh for me. A new one is winging its way to Ohio from the friendly folks at the Dell corporation, but will not arrive until Friday or possibly Monday, so I am forced to illicitly post from work. Heh.

The POINT is, I went back to the movie theater Monday for "Hot Fuzz" (excellent film, btw) and enquired about my missing sock. The chickie went to the back to check the lost - n - found and after 5ish minutes, came back and declared she couldn't find any sock. DAMMIT.

I did not describe the sock before she went away, because I presumed that if it was there, surely it would be the only one. I mean, who loses a frikkin' sock at the movies? Hats, gloves, coats, watches, cell phones (I wish), shoes, money, pens, keys, viriginity-- these are what one expects to lose at the theater; socks are generally left on (knocking one's socks off is never literal, they are too hard to remove, especially when damp from Foot Sweat.) I really wanted to go back into the specific theater in which I presumably left the thing, until I realized there was probably a movie going on, and ranging around under the seats, especially when folks are sitting in them, is frowned upon even when the lights are on, if you know what I'm saying.

So I came close to finishing the 2nd (now presumptive 1st) sock during the movie, duly photographed it, then finished the toe shaping at home. 3rd (now 2nd) has been started. I should have plenty of yarn to finish #3 but I'm peeved (kin ya tell, much?) to be doing it. Good thing it's a simple fast knit. I've got to get it in the mail next week.

Pictures may be forthcoming, if I remember to bring the camera AND the cord to work. Or not.

OMG, I think I lost a sock

I was knitting at the movies yesterday-- I had a freebie ticket which I used for "Blades of Glory"-- worth a free ticket, I'd say. I was knitting on my Paton's Classic Merino Harvest socks during the movie, which I'd started at the film festival last week.

I had the finished sock on my lap to compare, since I was knitting by feel, and I could swear I put the finished sock away before leaving but oops! I checked the bag in preparation for going to the movies tonight (gonna see "Hot Fuzz", can't wait) and that finished sock was not there.

Good thing I'm going to the same theater tonight! I'll be checking the lost 'n' found first thing. "Scuse me, did someone turn in a sock last night, that looks remarkably like this here half-done one, excepting it's a whole sock? thanx a mil!!"

I guess it's no biggie if it's completely missing; I've got enough yarn left in the skein to get off another sock if it comes to that, plus another ball of that color which will do in a pinch. I'm just disappointed because
a.) It was a dumbass thing to do and
b.) I was really hoping to do a pair of toddler socks with my leftovers, and that's right out if I have to do sock one over again.

Let's hope it's there tonight! (the ushers wouldn't have thrown it away, would they????!!??)

wip it, wip it good

The new baby blankie-- so pretty! The screen doesn't do the color justice. And, thank goodness, the pattern seems like I'll get the hang of it pretty quickly, so I won't need to drag the pattern book around after a while. Man, it is nice to knit with soft baby yarn after that rough Pound O' Yarn. TLC just flows off the needles. ETA June, I hope.

Some finished projects

Blogger was acting wanky with pictures last night, so I'm uploading from work today:

Adorable toddler socks, from the same yarn as my 'terrible tension' socks in the previous post (Paton's Classic Merino, Retro colorway-- I finished those others, by the bye.) These are much cuter & were accomplished in the dark--literally, I knit them both at the Sci Fi Marathon last weekend. They worked up very quickly on 5 dps, they are 24 sts around with 2x2 ribbing on the cuffs. I did the toes with even-around decreases to a point, like I do mittens and hats-- I ain't trying to Kitchener a toe in the dark, people.

I think I'll make lots more of these, especially to use up small amounts of wool from all those varigated Paton's I bought. I can get a pair of youth & a pair of toddler socks from every ball, and the stripes look good on both. Keep... knitting! Keep... knitting! [/finding nemo]


Lurve this little bag. I used the Lion Brand pattern for their simple crocheted hobo bag, but instead of Lion Cotton I used Sugar 'n' Cream "Hot Green", 2 supersize skeins (used 1.5 total.) The color is much brighter in person, btw. Hooked up on an H hook in nothing flat! I modified the pattern a wee bit, adding 2 extra rows on the body and both sides of the handles. If I do it again (and I plan to, as a gift) I'd go ahead and add many more rows to make it a little more practial. And a loop and button on top, to make it closeable. And some decorative flowers, to hide the chain joins up the one side. Otherwise, it's perfect [smirk].

A Tale of Two Tensions

ooops....

I never thought I had a problem with gauge. I always knit to gauge; I mean, I know knitting experts laugh at people who say that and it comes back to bite them in the butt, but seriously, I've never had a problem. Until now... (see above for the sad truth. Lefty sock is 2.75" whilst its righty brother is a full 3". That's a good .5" around! Zoiks!)

The difference between sock #1 and sock #2 was so dramatic, I thought I had put the wrong number of stitches on the needles! I had apparently done the gaps between needles on sock #2 extra tight, and forgotten to release that tightness on the stitches in the interim. Stheriousthly, deewwwd, I needed to mellow out. I frogged the second sock and tried again in a less uptight frame of mind, and it came out a little more like the first. It is a smidge longer than the 1st, which happened with the last pair also, but that's what I get for eyeballing it, I err on the side of adding a little too much.

it's done!!!!!!!! w00t!!11!

Almost there...
Just the edging left now...

Done and done!!!! and installed on hubby's "Daddy chair"!

Lordy, what a slog that was. We're talking 50"X50" of knitted bliss, achieved on a now dead set of sz 8 29" circs (After 2 blankets, I'm retiring them. oo, I should post pix of how I wore them out!) It took 2 skeins of Caron One Pounders, Midnight Blue colorway. And I mean exactly two. I modified the pattern to have 2 extra diamond motifs across, and one extra heightwise. I'd wanted 2 extra, but when I did the first extra, it sure looked like my yarn would give out, so I started the edging.

I put a single crocheted border around, then a 4 st scalloped edge. And didn't I run out of yarn with four more scallops to go!!!! Fortunately, I had some long-ass strands left from where I'd joined the second skein (the plan was to have 4 ends to weave: start, join/join, finish.) So I clipped about 18", and used it to finish the edge. Well, it was a little short, so I frogged a few scallops, and with some creative skipping and fudging it was "just enough". Seriously, I'd challenge anyone to tell which is the fudged corner. Ends were woven and I called it a day!!! I will launder it though, to even up the stitches and get rid of the fuzzies it picked up from being worked on since last frikkin' summer.

Also, here's a bonus pic of Nick, sporting his matching blankie:

It's a little smaller and a prettier cranberry color. When he saw Daddy's blankie finished, he expressed a desire to have me make one for him, too... I had to remind him he already had one. So he played with it for a while and he didn't ask again (whew!) I still have to do one for Margo, but she doesn't seem to care one way or the other what it will look like. I got her to pick out a yarn, at least, and since it's varigated (or is it ombre?) I believe I will crochet it.

Next up: baby blankie!!!

I'm trying to be better

and blog more often, so I don't have to load 87 pictures with each post.

Behold my latest dishcloth, which I am both happy and unhappy about:

I was reluctant to try the dropped stitch washcloth from my "Dishcloths by the Dozen" book, since dropping the stitches makes me nervous, but the pattern turned out well. It's got a great texture for scrubbing. I did have to frog it once, but that was because I lost track of the stitch count in a YO row.

I loved the color, BUUUUUUTTT.....

the m#$% f#$%ing dye rubbed off on my fingers (no biggie) and my FAVORITEST BAMBOO NEEDLES (not cool!) My 8's are ruined, as you can see from the photo, they are much bluer than the 7's below them. I had to go get new 8's this weekend, thank goodness for the Joann's coupon this week. This does not bode well for the dishrag's colorfastness, when it starts getting used. I was going to give it to my purple 'n green loving friend, but I shouldn't give it to anyone. Or use it, apparently; maybe I'll just keep it for decorative purposes. 'Cause those colors are still gorgeous, even if they're not going to last.

Hubby Afghan update: I should be finishing diamond motif #15 this weekend. Only 2, or 4, to go!!!

Lucius Malfoy

uhm, drool much? Set your calendars, people, July 14th, for HP&tOOtP.

FP, stash, and projects in the pipeline

My red watch cap, done at last. I bought the yarn on our trip to Evanston at the end of January, and it took me a month to cast on, and another month to finish. Well, it's for me, so I kept putting it on the back burner. It turned out very nice, and soft! Cashmerino rocks. Specs: red DY Cashmerino Aran, red (duh) 2X2 ribbing on sz 8 circs. Easy Peasa, as Miss Margo would say.

WOW can you believe I have this much baby yarn! Some of it is leftover from old projects, and some was given to me by a friend. I could probably do about 7-8 sweaters with what I've got here. I wanted to look at my stash because I've been commissioned by that same friend to make a blankie for her future niece/nephew, and we had to see if I had anything to hand that would work. Sort of, I did, because one of the yarns in the tub there was something she liked. But since I only had one skein of it, we had to go shopping (HAD to, I tells ya...) thus we ended up with this:

TLC Baby in Mint Sparkle colorway. The picture doesn't show it, but it's a beautiful minty green with tweedy flecks of blue, pink, and yellow. She also bought the pattern book and sz 6 circs, which I get to keep. I think I will start on this one as soon as I'm done with Hubby's afghan, which is about 70% done. Fun spring ahead!

Sock notes to self, again

On my current socks: try to remember to start with 36 sts, heel flap 18 X 18, turn heel @ st 11 (dec 2, k1, 5 sts left) and also to pick up 12 sts on the instep. Dec to 40 sts for foot!! 40!!!!

I'll try to post a pic of this mysterious sock when it's closer to being done.

Also, I did a little stash cleanup to see what I've got available to use for making baby blankets. Goodness, I've got a lot of baby yarn! It's filling a 54 qt storage tub. I'll have more details later.

Bored, bored, bored

I'm at work and the one frikkin' computer application I use for every last thing I do is not working. And the boss won't phone in the problem, so I'm stuck counting my eyelashes and trying to stay awake. So I'm playing the iPod shuffle (only, with my Samsung YP-T7J). Here's the next 10 songs in the queue:

U2 - "Stuck in a Moment You Can't Get Out Of" (how appropriate...)
Ani DiFranco - "Wishin' and Hopin'" (that the computer gets fixed)
Tag Team "Whoomp! (There It Is)" (yeah, I'd like to whoomp that computer)
Alanis Morissette - "Not the Doctor" (computer needs a doctor)
U2 - "Discotheque" (dunno how to do the accent grave!)
The Rembrandts - "I'll Be There for You (Theme from Friends (duh))" (computer not there for me... sad face)
U2 - "I Will Follow" (I walk away, walk away, walk away walkaway... well, I wish I could)
Collective Soul - "Shine" (computer = shine-ola)
Dwight Yoakam - "Don't Need it Done" (good thing, 'cuz the computer's broken, dwight)
Julie London - "I'm in the Mood for Love" (gahhh!!!!!! julie, not now...)

oh lordy, can I go home yet?

Hubby Afghan Progress and Lots of Pix

First, a little green for St. Patrick's Day: a washrag!

It's an awesome alien pattern I cribbed from the web. It's done in lime color from Sugar 'n Cream, which is totally appropriate to the subject. Hee hee. And it looks good on the reverse (or what they say is the reverse... could be the front, for how it looks):

Su-weet, it's a keeper.

Also up is my progress report on Hubby Afghan Project. First, a reminder of what it looked like in August of last year:

As of tonight, after I added Pounder skein #2:

It's over halfway done! I'm on diamond pattern 11, I think. Thanks to Pringle for providing perspective in both photos. Now that I'm really giving it attention, it's coming along almost maybe sorta quickly. All the progress you see is what I've done since the beginning of February. This puppy is going to be huge, by the bye. I can't properly spread it out to show, but it's way wide. I want to add at least 2 extra diamond patterns to the top, for 19 repeats (pattern calls for 17.) We'll see how the yarn holds out, and how long it's looking, and how ready I am to finish it off.

I have more incentive to finish, also: not only do I want to make a blankie for Margo before summer, I've also promised to crochet a baby blankie for a friend who is expecting a niece or nephew in the fall. So I need to clear the decks so I can work on that over the summer. Of course I'll still chip away at the charity work, and MAYBE I'll finish that darn red hat. Busy, busy, bizzy beezie, that's me.

whew

got a whole pair of socks from the 2.5 oz skein (one's a scosh bit smaller than the other, but never mind)


because this is what's left of the skein:

whew. Lion Brand, I love ya, but your yardage su-u-u-cks.

I hope to report on the Hubby Afghan or Bust project by the weekend. Progress has been made and I want to keep pushing on for a bit before I snap a pic.

Making my dreams come true (sorta)

After my sock dream, I felt the need to start on another pair for charity. That, and I was going to the movies today, and socks with no fancy stitches are the easiest thing to take along. Who needs to see to knit an endless tube? I did the leg during 300, turned the heel at home, and about half the foot during Miss Potter. A day spent in a couple of dark theaters with my favorite Scotsmen... what's nae to love?

These are Lion Brand wool "perfect for felting", Majestic Mountain colorway (kinda pretty, I think.) I did them on 3 dpns to make for a tight fabric. The sock is a little smaller than I wanted (kids shoe size 1 or 2, maybe), but about halfway through it sure looked like I might not have enough yarn to make 2 socks. So I didn't make the foot as long as I was going to. When I used Patons, their 3.5 oz ball made 2 socks with tons left over; Lion Brand skimps and gives you 2.5 oz, plus there's more stitches/in. on these socks. Curse you, Lion Brand.

Oh well, worse comes to worse, I can start sock #2 and if I run out of yarn, go buy some more of this color. If they don't match perfectly it's OK. However, this IS a recipe for me never starting the 2nd sock, in order to avoid having to decide what to do.

Dang it, I should do like the Knit Bit said, and weigh the sock and the yarn left. Then I'd know. I've been meaning to buy a digital scale, dang it! and I am feeling the lack of it now. I'm going to leave the toe ungrafted until I decide if I'm going to 1.) buy a scale, 2.) buy more yarn, or 3.) rip out the whole thing and do it over. My current inclination: just start sock #2 and apply point 2 if needed. I won't cut the yarn 'til tomorrow.

Specs, as a note to myself, assuming I don't frog:

40 sts. on 3 dpns
1x1 rib cuff 1.5"
divide for heel @ 5"
20 sts slip 1st st @ row 1
turn heel, 12 sts
do the funky thing I f'd up
8 sts left on heel
divide 4 needles 16,10,10,16
dec until 10 back on each needle
toe shape @ 6"
dec to 20 sts total

I dream of socks

Had a funky dream last night, no doubt fueled by my inability to clear my head of snot before I go to bed. I kept dreaming that I was buying sock yarn (the good stuff, in hanks) and piling up the projects, never starting any. I'd wake up, then fall back asleep and see a new skein. What does it all mean?
1. I'm buying too much yarn.
2. I'm thinking of splurging on expensive sock yarn, and I shouldn't, really. I only have so many people I can give socks to.
3. I'm piling up too many projects. Thinking about it, I've got about 10 lined up to do, and apparently they're weighing on my snot-filled mind.
4. I love to start, hate to finish? But in the dream, I don't actually start the socks.
5. Colors are pretty, even in dreams.
I need a yarn whisperer, to walk me through this one.

Meantime, I'm going to hanker down on the Hubby Afghan, since I think it's about halfway done. Also, I've decided no new projects on the needles until I finish the red cashmerino hat.

Oh, I resolved my "exsistential dilemma" about that. The problem was, it looked like it was too narrow. It's 2x2 rib (ribbing is a yarn hog), which is very stretchy, but unstretched it's 6-7" across (ie. 12-14" around) which seems like it's too tight, even though I want it to fit a little snug. Well, I've stuck it on my head, and it seems to fit comfortably. I'll be turning up the cuff, so I need it to be between 9-10" long after shaping, because the cuff will be near on 3". I've resolved to just keep on a knittin' the way it's been going. After 1 50g ball, the hat measured 5", so there should be enough for a 10" hat since the top will be shaped, thus using less yarn.

I do hate to dither. Moving forward is best. So I added ball #2 and off we go. I plan to knit that one during lunches and maybe at the movies on Saturday. We're going to see 300... mmm, hunky men w/no shirts.... works for me.

Ca-Razy Pinko scarf

Did I write about this in the last post? I'm too lazy to look it up. I knit this for a friend in Paton's Twister yarn, which is a strand of chenille wrapped with an eyelash yarn. She loves pink and this was the pinkest! I need to weave the ends before I hand it over; it's been done for 4 days and I just can't get up the gumption to do it. I want to get it to her before it gets too much warmer. The chenille makes it pretty warm-- warmer than those Fancy Fur cute-but-useless scarfie thingies.

Some more FPs

I'm done with the charity socks. They turned out pretty well. I wasn't going to post the pictures, but hey, it ain't like it's hard. Here's a sock in action... can you tell I hadn't woven in the ends yet, by Pringle's keen interest in the dangly bit?

Here they are in a more traditional pose, finished and ready to send to San Fran:

They actually fit me, albeit a squidge tight, so I'd estimate them @ boy's size 3ish since I wear a boys 4. Very, very happy with how they turned out & I plan more socks for charity in the future. Oh yeah, the specs: Patons Classic Merino in Denim Marl, done on size 5 dpns in order to make a tighter fabric, without a real pattern just using basic sock techniques. I rambled on about it several posts back. Thanx Yarn Harlot, I love ya!

For my non-charity stuff, I'm kind of at a crossroads. I'm working steady on Hubby's afghan (finally), and making steady progress, but it seems like a knitting black hole. Lotsa work, little to show for it. Curse me for making it much wider than the pattern called for, and for "jazzing it up" with seed stitch in the diamonds. Makes it unnecessarily complicated. But I've got to finish, Margo wants a blankie too and I just can't even think about it 'till Hubby's is done.

I'm also having an existential problem with my cashmerino aran hat, for myself. I'll wait to wax philosophical on that until I've got photos to illustrate my difficulties. I've got to make some decisions regarding that hat & I just don't feel like it yet. I have purchased more yarn for as-yet undetermined projects (more than what I've mentioned below, heh) so I have decisions to make about that as well.

I have to sort out my thinking and post more later. Maybe I'll whip out some dishcloths, to reset my mind, all Zen-like, heh.

More notes to myself!

I finished the wool sock. Well, I finished the knitting, I have to close the toe still. I hate doing toe grafting but it leaves no seam, and looks great to boot, so I'm stuck doing it. My notes to myself: start toe shaping @ 7" or so from back of heel, finish with 16 sts. total. Ooh, I should go back and update my previous sock post so it's all in one spot, when I get around to doing sock #2.

Oh, and I accidentally lied about working on Hubby's afghan-- I started a Fancy Fur scarf for Margo. She's stolen my purple one, so I thought I could trade with her for colors she would prefer (pinks and blues), but I forgot she told me purple is her new favorite color, plus she's 4 and logic does not apply.

I'm being good (and bad)

See, I'm being good! I'm knitting away on my Afghans for Afghans sock, as mentioned a few days ago on the blog. It's pretty close to being done. I've got a second one to do still, but hey, this is great progress, right? Looks good in the Paton's Merino Denim Marl, right? Pringle is looking on in approval, so all's right with the world, right?

And I'm being a good Mommy, by finishing the scarf Nick requested to go with his bulky hat. It matches perfectly, since it's the exact same yarn and all. He loves it and it turned out nice... it was fun to do cables again.

And I'm being extra goody-good goodsky, knitting and finishing a wool hat for Afghans for Afghans. They had a call out for hats in bright primary colors, and I found this Lion Brand wool "goldenrod". I'll mail it after the holiday today.

I needed all this goodness banked up, because I went shopping. And.....

Michael's was having a President's day Sale. Fancy Fur was still on sale (how could I say no?) and I Reeealllyy Needed some off-white wool. And I lost my stinkin' cable needle doing Nick's scarf. And I used my 50% off coupon for the wool, so it wasn't too bad, right? But then...

JoAnn's. My downfall. I always get suckered in by the 10% off the total purchase. It's never worth it, financially, I spent $28 and only saved $2.90 total (I saved $2.50 at Michael's, and only spent $8 something.) And I bought way too much, considering how much I ranted about stash the other day. But lookie! pretty lime cotton that will become a bag! and gorgeous wool yarn for something or another (socks yeah socks that's the ticket)! and basic black!

The black Red Heart, Fancy Fur (from above) and the bamboo handles will be a funky glam bag like I saw on Knitty Gritty. I have no explanation for the crochet hook, except it was on sale and a pretty color, and you can't have too many G hooks; and the sz 10 circulars, they were clearanced @ $.97. A bulky hat may live in my future! (More YARN!)

I'm bad. So bad. I will knit on my hubby's afghan for the next week as pennance.

Stash Notes

Another rambling post ahead...

So I'm reading a bunch of knit blogs these days. Sometimes these gals(guys) refer to their "stash" and I sometimes wonder if it means what I think it means. People describe large containers, closets, drawers, and roomsfull of yarn. They speak of buying yarn just to buy it, because they like it. They get possessed by the beauty of the fiber or colors or the smell or something and zippity-do! it "follows them home". I... don't get it.

I've NEVER bought any yarn without having a purpose for it. I have, on occasion, admired the yarn IN a specific project; generally, though, I can admire a yarn without buying. Notable exception-- some hand dyed sock yarn I recently bought on Etsy, a gorgeous purple colorway. But, you know, I'm going to make it into socks, so I don't think that counts as a yarn-based decision.

I would say it hearkens back to the type of knitter I am, but it's more basic than that. It's the type of person I am: linear-thinking, literal, and judgemental (in the sense that there is a black/white, yes/no answer for everything, and I don't dither or look back once I make a decision.) I don't make shit up, I follow patterns to the letter, I always knit for gague on the first try. I feel like a freakin' genius when I started that wool sock using only sock principles, not a pattern.

This makes me a very practically oriented knitter, because to me, it's about the finished product. I do enjoy the actual knitting, but to me, why would you do it if you didn't want something to use when you're done? I'm prolific, because I pick LOTS of small projects, and I'm watching 3 hrs of TV a night, so I'd feel lazy if I wasn't also producing something (multitasking taken to new neurotic heights!) The sight of empty yarn labels makes me happy.

I have, therefore, always purchased acrylic yarns. When you're pumping out the sheer numbers of FP's I do, you can't afford $10 for a freakin' 50 g skein. Gimme an acrylic Pounder @ $4.99 on sale, and I'm happy. I did just recently spring for some cashmerino aran @ $8.99 (and that sock yarn! $14! wow!) but I wouldn't be caught dead shelling out $100+ for sweater yarn. And I can't afford (financially or mentally) to buy stuff I might not use. Not enough closure, you know.

This goes towards explaining my stash, and why it bothers me to have one, even though it seems sad and inadequate compared to other knitters out there. It's currently way bigger than I want. My stash consists of the following types (hey, I'm a cataloger, you know I was going there):

1. leftovers. scraps, partial skeins, full skeins. crud that my frugalness has forbidden me to let go just yet. in my defense, my scraps are fewer than they were; I'm more willing to toss a couple of leftover yards than I used to be. this is my biggest pile.

2. things that are going to be knit. there are plans in the pipeline, patterns copied, it's just a matter of when. I would count my recent expensive purchases here, because I bought them with concrete plans to knit them up in the near future. this is a large pile at the moment because I've got a lotta plans, baby.

3. crap people have given me, because "we know you knit so we figured you can use this." the ONLY things I have ever knit from this type of yarn is baby stuff, because I needed some gifts and who wants to go shopping when there's something good enough sitting in the closet? I hate the stuff in this pile because I'll never use it. it's too big at the moment.

4. stuff bought on spec, ie., what most people are talking about when they talk about stash. for me, this consists of 6 balls of Lion Brand Magic Stripe sock yarn I got when Meijer was clearancing them-- regularly $7.99/ball, on clearance for $2-- and when I walked into the store that day I was handed a coupon for 40% off any craft clearance. it was Meant To Be. I only classify them here because it is entirely possible I will not make them into socks.

So there's my definition of stash. "Stuff I'm going to use."

Note to self!

I did it... hehe hehe hehe... I actually am "winging it" on a pair of socks! I sorta cheated in that I've been referring to several patterns, but thanks to the Yarn Harlot & her awesome "Knitting Rules" book, I had the confidence to try an improvised sock for Afghans for Afghans.

Notes to myself, for the 2nd sock, before I forget what I did and the 2nd looks 8 sizes too big:

Cast on 36 sts
Rib = 1 in.
Leg = 5 in. total from begining
Heel flap = 18 sts in stockinette, sl 1st st
Turn heel on row 18, 10 sts
10 sts left on heel
Gussett, pick up 12 sts each side
(on 3 needles: 17, 18, 17 sts)
Dec each side until 9 sts left (=36 sts total); redistribute on needles to 12 sts ea.

This is where I stopped for the night. I plan to finish up the sock @ 7 in. from the heel, shape toe over 12 rows (dec 4 sts at each side of toe, every other row) which should leave me with 12 total sts for grafting. I hope! It should be about a kid's size 2. I'll post pix IF they turn out, if not, no one will know! hehheheheh, i'm mad, i tells ya!

UPDATE, 02/20/07: Start toe shaping at just past 7" from heel, double dec. to end up with 16 sts. That's 16! Graft toe closed!

More finished items

Completed: three squares for the DIY Superbowl knit-in. The bottom two are 7"X9" double crochet squares; the top is (well, it wasn't done in this picture, but it is now) also 7"x9" done in a 5x5 basket stitch knit. At last, a use for my leftover Red Heart Mexican! I don't remember what kind of yarn the red one is; probably Red Heart also, I have like 5 partial skeins laying around and I love a reason to get of it. I can't remember the specific charity DIY is collecting these squares for, but they're planning to sew a bunch together for women's shelters and such. I'm going to make a few more and send them in later in the month. I've got a new knitting stitch directory and this will be a great way to try some of them out.

My Fancy Fur scarf, in Purple Passion. This Fancy Fur is starting to grow on me (not literally!) because it has those soft puffy nobules, which means you don't need to strand it with some other yarn to give it substance. Fun Fur is, well, fun, but it's only good for accents. This scarf will actually work for nippy days. If only we could get back up to where it's only nippy! Currently it's 15 degrees...

The scarf is in garter stitch, 12 sts. across on 15's. I used 2 balls. I've got 2 more colors to try out (Northern Nights and Rainbow Red) and I'll probably give them to the kids to play with. Purple Passion is just for me, though!

Dulaan charity hat #1. It's actually done now. I made it up as I went along; the top turned out flatter than I wanted, but the ribbing at the bottom is long enough you can turn it up. It's 94 sts. stockinette, done on circular needles. I am now an unabashed fan of circulars! I always figured, what's the point of running out to buy all new needles, when dpns do the job, plus you always have to switch to dpns as you shape the top anyways? Color me wrong-- there's no "laddering" between the needles on circs, and you can go lightning fast when you don't have to switch needles. I lurve them and will make at least 2 more hats in the next month or so.

knit bloggin' for the kids

Miss Margo's scarf, in WoolEase Rose Heather, done on 7's with a diamond stitch. It curls like a mo-fo, since it's mostly stockinette, but it's still very cute. She picked the yarn and the stitch, so she loves it (guaranteed to be worn every day, then.)

Nick's bulky hat, done with Red Heart heather grey, on 9's with 2 strands held together (sucker is REALLY BULKY.) I made the small women's size, because...

....when I made this one for Margo, it seemed to run small, so I bumped Nick's up a size. It fits him well. This one is done in LB Blush Heather, also with 2 strands, on 9's. I barely had enough to finish this had. These bulky things take lotsa yarn! Makes 'em really warm, though.

more pix, coming soon

I've finished a few projects, and will post pictures soon. I've already got a few things on the needles: Fancy Fur scarf, Dulaan hat, poor hubbie's afghan I started six months ago (oops). I'm off to the craft store tonight, to acquire more Fancy Fur if they've still got it @ $1, and yarn for a sweater for myself. I'm going to whip off a cardigan, maybe in red, or purple,(or green?) it all depends on the colors of Wool Ease they have on hand. It will be nice to do something for myself, after all the charity knitting and projects for my kids.

Another red scarf

I don't have a finished picture of this yet, but it's my 2nd Red Heart Scarf Project scarf. Specs: Lion Wool Ease Red Sprinkles, done on straight 7's, using the "quilted diamond" stitch from my stitch pattern book. I wish I hadn't picked that stitch; I wanted a reversible stitch, but it totally kicked my butt. I screwed it up like 12 times and had to rip back, ugh. And it squinched up, like ribbing. It's supposed to be 8 ins. across but it looks more like 4. Oh well, it's off in the mail this week and not my problem any more!


I've got an extra ball of Red Sprinkle... think I'll make a hat for Dulaan with it. The idea has the Pringle Paw of Approval(tm).

More finished items

I finally finished my hubby's Jayne Cobb hat. He condescended to model the finished product for me (even knowing I planned to post it!) Man walks around with a hat like that, you know he's not afraid of anything...



Specs: Red Heart Sport, in retinal-scorching yellow, orange and red. I held two strands together & knit on 10.5 dpns in the round. I knit the earflaps seperately and sewed them on after the fact. Note the ratty strings at the end-- had to make it authentic, yeh know. He has a HUGE head so I cast on 88 sts for the hat itself, so it's about 24 ins. unstretched. I put it on my head and I could rattle around in it. It's super-spongey and warm, though. And cunning! Did I mention it's a cunning hat?

Here's my latest charity work, a red scarf for the Red Scarf Project:


It's Homespun Candy Apple Red, done on 10.5 straights. It's all garter stitch with increases and decreases to make the zigzag. It's pretty soft and I love the color. It's been sent off already and I'm working on another one, pix of which I will post very soon.

my new hat

So I wanted a nice hat for myself, right? I saw this awesome yarn on someone's blog; it's TLC Essentials (I think) possibly called Surf n Turf? A pretty brown, tan, turquoise varigated. I decided I wanted crochet, so I found a pattern for a cloche:

Kinda... blech. Too stiff, and the color pooling stinks. So I frogged that puppy and cast on for a generic knitted hat:



Gorgeous! Natural stripes! Soft and stretchy! I think I will add a pompom, because I made it sorta, uhm, tall? and it sticks up off the head, so a pompom will balance it out. Vast improvement, oui?

WIPs and FPs, on a Christmas Eve

So many projects completed over the last month... most of which I failed to get photos of before they were given away! I completed 3 pairs of mittens for my son's Mitten Tree at school... did I take any pictures of them? Naw. I also made a pair for each of my kids, so maybe I'll post those later.



A couple of completed washcloths, to be given to my mother in law.



These are a couple of scarves I am giving to my friend. The purple/blue/green fuzzy muppet scarf is sort of for jokey, since I don't think she'll wear it for real, but she can give it to her niece and nephew for playtime. The gray scarf is going to have pockets at the end.