WIPs, finally

The baby blankie is scheduled for delivery this weekend! Hallelujah. On to projects for myself, with a small detour:

Behold my Pomatomus sock, in uhm, Brown Sheep Wildfoote, Pine Tree coloway? i think? It's a wool/nylon blend. I'm about to start the heel flap. I like the scaly look & the plain yarn really brings it out. I had taken this project with me to Baltimore, but I sure didn't get much work done on in. I mean, sure, I was busy touristing and all, but the semi-complicated pattern prevented my working on in much. Mostly in the car down to the Eastern Shore, and the plane flights there and back. I'm going to give them to the friend I visited there.

Also on the needles, my long-delayed Lion Brand Oh-So-Easy Cardigan



Oooo, 2 whole pockets! Step back! w00t!!1! I cast on for the body also, but my stoopid sad-assed camera is threatening to die on me, so I could only get off 2 pix of anything before it gave me the digital finger and crapped out.

Screw it, I'll get a new camera, that isn't so BULKY and tempermental. Seriously, for the cost of new memory, IF we could find it, I can get a swanky new camera that's twice as good/powerful as this old clunker.

As Promised

The baby blankie, in progress:




Pringle, inspecting my tassel work (she approved)

Hanging on my shower curtain to dry

Whew!!!

Almost done! The knitting is done, just the sewing in of the ends remains. I'd have posted pix but wouldn't you know it, I'm having MORE computer problems. This time, it's my wireless card. I'm not surprised, with as much as I kick the thing around on the floor-- it's external, and the plastic cover's been broken off for a year. My hubby thinks I should get a new computer, of course. Uh, No-oo-oo (singsong).

Anyhoo, I did take a picture right before I started the end rows, but forgot to bring the camera to load it here at work. So, picture it: a complete blankie with lots of trailing ends along one side, fringeless. Also, imagine a cat on top of it, if you want to be realistic. I finished it using the Lily Chin method of crocheting the stitches off the needle-- since I was binding off purlwise, it went a lot faster than the traditional 2-needle bindoff. Yarn in front=pain in butt to pick stitches off the right-hand needle. Plus, circulars with a heavy blanket on them don't help the speediness, either.

I should have it completely done before I leave for Baltimore Wednesday morning. Pix soon iswear!

pant, pant

37...gasp...inches...! Whew! Off to knit more... Reporting in tomorrow.

More blankie, mule!

I had started on my Lorna's laces socks a couple of weeks ago. I was debating what to do, to keep it as stockinette (not sure if I like the pooling) or put it in a pattern; and is it too wide? For me it is, maybe, but they're not for me. I dithered and knit, but it was all shoved by the wayside...



in favor of BLANKETMANIA 2007!!

Here it is @ 24" or so. It's currently @ 31", or 32" if I stretch it creatively. Work more! more! more! No socks for you!!!

Xtreme CloseUp of lovely pattern and yarn!

back to work... more posting when I hit the required 41" to start the end rows? Look for me after the weekend & before my Baltimore trip. Maybe. I've got to decide what projects to take on my trip (green socks? in Pomatomus?) aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!

workin' like a dawg

ack ack just promised my friend i would finish the baby blanket by the 30th ack i thought i had till the fall ack! her brother and s-i-l are coming then & she wants to present it then! i just spent most of the week/weekend on it; started with 21" ended with 30" for a rate of 9" on the week. it has to be 41"+3", fringe notwithstanding, so can i finish in 20 days, keeping in mind that i will be in Baltimore from June 20-25 and cannot work on it????

irony of ironies, i just found out saturday was "knit in public day." well i sure did--all freakin' day @ the campsite! we went camping, btw!

so much for the sweater for myself, sigh. i got as far as half a pocket before this latest development. dammit, july is MINE for ME.

$8.95!!!

To mail a 13 oz. box o'knitting from Columbus, OH to Flagstaff, AZ. Yowitch! They said it would arrive Monday or Tuesday. I sure hope they find the inventory sheet in the envelope I used as a mailing label... I sure forgot to put one inside the box. Godspeed, knitwear!

A Box for Dulaan

As promised, a picture of the quickie vest, with finished Magic 28(32) socks for comparison:

The vest worked up in a weekend, and the socks took about 3 days. Easy peasa! Specs for vest: Patons Classic Merino in Taupe and Wedgewood. (I used 2 colors because I wasn't sure if 1 ball would do the trick; after doing it, I think 1 ball will be OK.) Done on sz 10 16" circs, using 10 straights as stitch holders when you divide for the armholes. Basically, you cast on 84 sts, do an inch of rib, then stockinette up 9"; divide for the front, adding a few sts for the arm band and decreases for the neck vee. The back is the same, except you don't do the vee thing. with a 3-needle bindoff for the shoulder, the only sewing is the bottom of the armband, and weaving ends. I might do a few more of these for other charities.

Sock specs: the usual, following the Magic 28 recipe, using 32 sts and Wedgewood yarn. Done on sz 5 dpns, with 2x2 rib on the top. It turned out very stripey!

Behold my Dulaan box. Pringle WILL NOT be included:

Includes 2 vests, 3 hats, 4 pair socks. Sizes? who knows. That's one of the things I'm going to work on tonight as I get it ready for mailing off tomorrow. I'm going to make my best guesses as to sizes--I'm armed with tape measure, foot size charts, old patterns, and small children to use as dressmaker dummies.

I wish I had done more; I still have a bit of time to do so, but I'd really like to get this in the mail before too much longer. Oh well. I look at it this way: I pledged to make 5 items, and I did. 4 of these things I had made a long time ago, so they're the above-and-beyond portion, right?

After these wing away, I am promising myself 2 items for me. Hmmm, what to do? That burgundy sweater, I think. I'll decide item #2 after that's done. Busy, busy summer.

Magic 28 FP, Pseudo Magic 28, and a Bag

It's not a big whooperdoodle, but I finished the Lion Brand hobo bag, commissioned by a friend. I used (shocker) Lion Brand Cotton, in the Fern Green colorway. I was going to use Sugar 'n' Cream, but they didn't have the type of colors she seemed to want (dark). So I spaycially ordered something from, uhm, joann.com? i think? whatevs. It's done yay for me. Supposedly she's paying me for the yarn, but I'm almost too nervous to ask for it, because it took me so long to finish it (oops.) Eh, we'll see in a few days.

Lion Brand Cotton is teh awesome, by-the-bye. It's, I dunno, smoother than S'n'C? not as rough? dunno how to explain it. So expensive, though, and there are only ever 5 colors to choose from in the store. I'll have to special order some more, for my own nefarious purposes (evil cackle)

Also, I finished my Magic 28 red socks, and immediately cast on for another Magic 28 (well 32, truth be told) using the leftovers from the kid's vest I made. (ooh, I forgot to take a picture of that! and it turned out so well, too... I'd better snap a photo before I mail it off to Dulaan.)

I really like this colorway, Paton's Classic Wedgewood. It's browns/grey/blues, looks very stripey in the sock but better on the vest. too BAD i DOn't have PIX [/sarcasm]. I should get the other sock done soon, this one only took a day or so.

I splurged on some brown wool for another vest...can I get it done before June 15th or so?

Knitting Meme

Hee hee, I totally cribbed this off someone's knitting website. Feel free to steal it as well, assuming you're not me talking to myself. You're meant to list the things you've done in bold, what you want/plan to do in italics, and stuff you're not interested in left plain. And it makes for a nice long post (I swear I'll post some FP pix soon...)

Afghan/Blanket (baby)
I-cord
Garter stitch
Knitting with metal wire
Shawl (wrap?)
Stockinette stitch
Socks: top-down
Socks: toe-up
Knitting with camel yarn
Mittens: Cuff-up
Mittens: Tip-down
Hat
Knitting with silk
Moebius band knitting
Participating in a KAL
Sweater
Drop stitch patterns
Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn
Slip stitch patterns
Knitting with banana fiber yarn
Domino knitting (modular knitting)
Twisted stitch patterns
Knitting with bamboo yarn
Two end knitting
Charity knitting
Knitting with soy yarn
Cardigan
Toy/doll clothing
Knitting with circular needles
Knitting with your own handspun yarn
Slippers
Graffiti knitting (knitting items on, or to be left on the street)
Continental knitting
Designing knitted garments
Cable stitch patterns (incl. Aran)
Lace patterns
Publishing a knitting book
Scarf
Teaching a child to knit
American/English knitting (as opposed to continental)
Knitting to make money (I've knit for compensation ie. free yarn)
Button holes
Knitting with alpaca
Fair Isle knitting
Norwegian knitting
Dying with plant colors
Knitting items for a wedding
Household items (dishcloths, washcloths, tea cozies…)
Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars
Olympic knitting
Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
Knitting with DPNs
Holiday related knitting
Teaching a male how to knit
Bobbles
Knitting for a living
Knitting with cotton
Knitting smocking
Dying yarn
Steeks
Knitting art
Fulling/felting
Knitting with wool
Textured knitting
Kitchener BO
Purses/bags
Knitting with beads
Swatching
Long Tail CO
Entrelac
Knitting and purling backward
Machine knitting
Knitting with self-patterning/self-striping/variegating yarn
Stuffed toys
Baby items
Knitting with cashmere
Darning
JewelryKnitting with synthetic yarn
Writing a pattern
Gloves
Intarsia
Knitting with linen
Knitting for preemies
Tubular CO
Freeform knitting
Short rows
Cuffs/fingerless mitts/arm warmers
Pillows
Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine
Rug
Knitting on a loom
Thrummed knitting
Knitting a gift
Knitting for pets
Shrug/bolero/poncho
Knitting with dog/cat hair
Hair accessories
Knitting in public

Gee, I've done more than I thought. Some of the stuff under the "wanna do" category are things I have actual plans for; most of them are just gee-wouldn't-be-nice. Like 2-circ socks. No hurry on that, I assure you.

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.