Yay!
I have finished the baby vest and it is SO CUTE. In fact, I even took pictures last night, but I haven't gotten the chance to download them yet. I am hoping that by the end of the weekend I will have them all up.
I have started a new project from the Debbie Bliss Essentials book, the Shawl Collar Sweater. Knitpicks was awesome in sending me replacement yarn for the project, and now I can get started immediately. The project is on size 8 needles though, so I am going through yarn really fast. I am honestly a little concerned about sizing (the gauge swatch says 'slightly stretched' so I am at a loss as to what that means) but since it knits so quickly, I figure it won't kill me if I have to rip it out and start again.
I also finally purchased the buttons for the Monster Hat, but they haven't been glued on yet - so STILL not finished there, but closer. Honestly, going into Walmart at 7pm on a Monday night was WAY better than, say, Saturday morning/afternoon.
So, look forward to pics soon...
Friday, March 21, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Not much knitting...
But I thought I'd at least stop by and leave a post.
I'd say I'm still working on the baby vest, but that would imply that I have picked up the needles in the last week. I have spent quite a bit of time browsing the knitting blog-o-sphere and pining over beautiful garments that make no sense to knit for myself because I don't even know what size I'll be in 6 months to a year.
For now, I knit things for others. Like the baby.
I do however have to offer a shout out to the customer service staff at Knitpicks. I had sent them an email about a week ago letting them know about a small bug I found in their website which affected an order of mine. I didn't ask for anything, I just wanted to bring the problem to their attention. A few days ago, I got an email not only acknowledging my suggestion and thanking me for pointing out the problem, but they gave me a $10 credit to my account to say thanks *and* offered to send me replacement yarn for the misordered yarn for free. I have to say I have yet to be dissappointed in the service or quality of items from Knitpicks. While they may be a 'big box' equivalent to the independent yarn stores, they make knitting anything other than acrylic affordable for me, and they do it without losing anything in the way of service.
Ok, enough shameless doting on a company just because they gave me free yarn.
This week is looking super busy too, but I am going to make a concerted effort to pick up the needles this week and get the back of that baby vest done. I want to see it all done. (Who am I kidding, I want to start another project and I promised myself that I couldn't until I finished at least one that was on the needles.)
I'd say I'm still working on the baby vest, but that would imply that I have picked up the needles in the last week. I have spent quite a bit of time browsing the knitting blog-o-sphere and pining over beautiful garments that make no sense to knit for myself because I don't even know what size I'll be in 6 months to a year.
For now, I knit things for others. Like the baby.
I do however have to offer a shout out to the customer service staff at Knitpicks. I had sent them an email about a week ago letting them know about a small bug I found in their website which affected an order of mine. I didn't ask for anything, I just wanted to bring the problem to their attention. A few days ago, I got an email not only acknowledging my suggestion and thanking me for pointing out the problem, but they gave me a $10 credit to my account to say thanks *and* offered to send me replacement yarn for the misordered yarn for free. I have to say I have yet to be dissappointed in the service or quality of items from Knitpicks. While they may be a 'big box' equivalent to the independent yarn stores, they make knitting anything other than acrylic affordable for me, and they do it without losing anything in the way of service.
Ok, enough shameless doting on a company just because they gave me free yarn.
This week is looking super busy too, but I am going to make a concerted effort to pick up the needles this week and get the back of that baby vest done. I want to see it all done. (Who am I kidding, I want to start another project and I promised myself that I couldn't until I finished at least one that was on the needles.)
Saturday, February 9, 2008
On Tension.
Having a baby on the way is an excellent motivator for knitting, I must say. Eeensy Weensy baby knits are such instant gratification objects, and it makes me happy to sit and knit for the little boy to be in my universe.
To that end, as soon as I knew it was a boy, I started planning projects and making knitting purchases accordingly.
My first project for the little one will be (or is) the baby vest from Debbie Bliss' Essential Baby, in KnitPicks shine sport (willow). I have been slightly delayed in posting about these arrivals in my mailbox mostly because I have been knitting them instead. I finished the back last Saturday.
And started the front on Sunday. Here is where I am now.
Now last Sunday was nearly the perfect day for knitting, as it was SUPER BOWL SUNDAY. For those that aren't enormous (American) football fans, this is a day which means a lot of sitting around in front of the TV watching the talking heads banter about the histories and glories and challenges of each team. All of this, of course, can be knit through since you don't really have to be looking at the talking heads.
Later in day it means sitting in front of the TV watching the game, and knitting during the (copious) commercial breaks (While much of this country may give a rat's left whisker about Justin Timberlake shilling for Pepsi, I'd rather be watching the football, thank you very much.)
Problem is, I'm a Pats fan. So I cared. A. LOT. About who won the game. So, despite the fact that I had carefully swatched (exact gauge, YAY!) and counted the number of rows on the back carefully to make sure when I knit the front with the distraction of the game it would come out exactly the same, the sides don't match. See?
Can we say TENSION? A quarter of an inch almost, because the game was so darned close.
I was so tense during the game, I managed to imperceptibly change my gauge just the slightest bit. After twenty-some-odd rows, it changes the dimensions.
Argh.
Let this be a lesson to me. No knitting during ballgames I care about. and ESPECIALLY no knitting during the Superbowl if my team's in it. (Talking heads are still good knitting time either way.) Should anyone ever say, 'tension doesn't matter' send them straight to me, I'll set them straight...
In any event, it's a small enough difference that blocking should fix it, and the stitches should line up nicely when I seam the sides together, so for the time being I am hoping for the best. But it is an amusing reminder to try and relax while knitting, at least if the size matters. At least, *I* laughed pretty hard when I realized this morning what had happened.
To that end, as soon as I knew it was a boy, I started planning projects and making knitting purchases accordingly. My first project for the little one will be (or is) the baby vest from Debbie Bliss' Essential Baby, in KnitPicks shine sport (willow). I have been slightly delayed in posting about these arrivals in my mailbox mostly because I have been knitting them instead. I finished the back last Saturday.
And started the front on Sunday. Here is where I am now.
Now last Sunday was nearly the perfect day for knitting, as it was SUPER BOWL SUNDAY. For those that aren't enormous (American) football fans, this is a day which means a lot of sitting around in front of the TV watching the talking heads banter about the histories and glories and challenges of each team. All of this, of course, can be knit through since you don't really have to be looking at the talking heads.
Later in day it means sitting in front of the TV watching the game, and knitting during the (copious) commercial breaks (While much of this country may give a rat's left whisker about Justin Timberlake shilling for Pepsi, I'd rather be watching the football, thank you very much.)
Problem is, I'm a Pats fan. So I cared. A. LOT. About who won the game. So, despite the fact that I had carefully swatched (exact gauge, YAY!) and counted the number of rows on the back carefully to make sure when I knit the front with the distraction of the game it would come out exactly the same, the sides don't match. See?
Can we say TENSION? A quarter of an inch almost, because the game was so darned close.
I was so tense during the game, I managed to imperceptibly change my gauge just the slightest bit. After twenty-some-odd rows, it changes the dimensions.
Argh.
Let this be a lesson to me. No knitting during ballgames I care about. and ESPECIALLY no knitting during the Superbowl if my team's in it. (Talking heads are still good knitting time either way.) Should anyone ever say, 'tension doesn't matter' send them straight to me, I'll set them straight...
In any event, it's a small enough difference that blocking should fix it, and the stitches should line up nicely when I seam the sides together, so for the time being I am hoping for the best. But it is an amusing reminder to try and relax while knitting, at least if the size matters. At least, *I* laughed pretty hard when I realized this morning what had happened.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
The best of the rest.
January catch up post: final installment.
Here's everything else I've been working on since September. Knitting-wise anyway.
I have completely knit
Brainmonster, from Half-Assed Patterns in good old Red Heart Acrylic. (Incidentally, Cyn's blog is probably my favorite blog ever, the perfect blend of sarcastic and knitting.) Unfortunately, The Brainmonster is still missing eyes. In order to finish it, I'll have to brave that bastion of evil corporate America, Wal-mart, for buttons and I just haven't managed to bring myself to do so. The good news is, I still have a soul.
And I finished Caroline, from Berroco. I had completely forgotten that this was finished somewhere in the shuffle. It turned out wonderfully, and I really love it. It’s knit from Berroco zen colors, the colorway is discontinued (So I guess the fact that I can't remember which it is can be considered irrelevant). Ribbon yarn is so interesting, and feels unlike anything else, and this makes a great summer sweater. It also worked really well as an introduction to 'real' cabling.
I’m getting better at my finishing techniques, if I do say so myself, and I think this should hold together fairly well. Now if only I could get better at taking attractive pictures of my knitting for public consumption.
I think that’s it for catching up with my current projects. Of course, I could be wrong. Inevitably, I'll find something in the bottom of my knitting bag I had forgotten completely about.
So what am I working on now? Oh, you mean now, now?
Well, my good news is that I have an impending bundle of joy due in June, and we just found out last week that it’s a boy! So now I have baby knitting fever, and Debbie Bliss’s Essential Baby and some Knitpicks Shine Sport in willow came in Tuesday night. In addition, I have ordered the yarn to knit the cargo baby pants from Knitty summer 2005. So, I foresee more startitis in my future… in fact, I knit the gauge swatch for the Debbie Bliss baby vest just last night. Pictures to come, so stay tuned. I promise more frequent posting...
...seriously.
Here's everything else I've been working on since September. Knitting-wise anyway.
I have completely knit
Brainmonster, from Half-Assed Patterns in good old Red Heart Acrylic. (Incidentally, Cyn's blog is probably my favorite blog ever, the perfect blend of sarcastic and knitting.) Unfortunately, The Brainmonster is still missing eyes. In order to finish it, I'll have to brave that bastion of evil corporate America, Wal-mart, for buttons and I just haven't managed to bring myself to do so. The good news is, I still have a soul.
And I finished Caroline, from Berroco. I had completely forgotten that this was finished somewhere in the shuffle. It turned out wonderfully, and I really love it. It’s knit from Berroco zen colors, the colorway is discontinued (So I guess the fact that I can't remember which it is can be considered irrelevant). Ribbon yarn is so interesting, and feels unlike anything else, and this makes a great summer sweater. It also worked really well as an introduction to 'real' cabling.
I’m getting better at my finishing techniques, if I do say so myself, and I think this should hold together fairly well. Now if only I could get better at taking attractive pictures of my knitting for public consumption.I think that’s it for catching up with my current projects. Of course, I could be wrong. Inevitably, I'll find something in the bottom of my knitting bag I had forgotten completely about.
So what am I working on now? Oh, you mean now, now?
Well, my good news is that I have an impending bundle of joy due in June, and we just found out last week that it’s a boy! So now I have baby knitting fever, and Debbie Bliss’s Essential Baby and some Knitpicks Shine Sport in willow came in Tuesday night. In addition, I have ordered the yarn to knit the cargo baby pants from Knitty summer 2005. So, I foresee more startitis in my future… in fact, I knit the gauge swatch for the Debbie Bliss baby vest just last night. Pictures to come, so stay tuned. I promise more frequent posting...
...seriously.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
The socks.
Catch up post installment #2:
More objects on (or off) of my needles since September. Somewhere in here, I learned how much I like to have a pair of socks in progress at all times. Of course, that does turn into more than one.
My first attempts at a pair of socks for me.
In a fit of "I want to cast on NOW!"
I decided to use leftovers from the baby blanket. These are made from LionBrand babysoft in Pink Lemonade and Lavender, actually finished the one in August. The other is still in progress. I used the universal toe up sock pattern from Knitty Summer 06.
Since then, I've purchased both real sock yarn and Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch...and I don't know if I'll ever finish these, now that I know the joys of real yarn and sockweight socks. But at the same time, I can't bring myself to take them off the needles and frog them quite yet.
These are the second pair of socks I started, and in this case, I actually finished them!
Occasionally, I do have a FO!!! Openwork Rib socks, also from Sensational Knitted Socks, yarn is mystery yarn inherited from my grandmother. These are my favorite socks ever, so far. (OK they are also my only hand knit socks, so far, but I digress.) The yarn however was so old, that the two skeins didn’t match (despite being the same dye lot) so there is a subtle color change in one sock. I love these anyway.
With such success from Sensational knitted socks, I started the Garter Rib socks from Sensational Knitted Socks, in Austermann Step, for my WH.
Because the yarn is so fine, and his feet are so big…it’s taking a while. But, progress is being made, and I have gotten most of the way down the heel flap of the first sock. They are top down socks, which makes me a little nervous that I am going to run out of yarn before I finish 2. What's the worst that can happen? I might have to buy another ball of the yarn in a different dye lot? I have a pair of socks with a slight color variation in the toe, he can too.
That's all of the socks since September - look for our next and final installment of catch-up, "All the other stuff" coming soon to a blog near you.
More objects on (or off) of my needles since September. Somewhere in here, I learned how much I like to have a pair of socks in progress at all times. Of course, that does turn into more than one.
My first attempts at a pair of socks for me.
In a fit of "I want to cast on NOW!"
I decided to use leftovers from the baby blanket. These are made from LionBrand babysoft in Pink Lemonade and Lavender, actually finished the one in August. The other is still in progress. I used the universal toe up sock pattern from Knitty Summer 06.
Since then, I've purchased both real sock yarn and Sensational Knitted Socks by Charlene Schurch...and I don't know if I'll ever finish these, now that I know the joys of real yarn and sockweight socks. But at the same time, I can't bring myself to take them off the needles and frog them quite yet.
These are the second pair of socks I started, and in this case, I actually finished them!
Occasionally, I do have a FO!!! Openwork Rib socks, also from Sensational Knitted Socks, yarn is mystery yarn inherited from my grandmother. These are my favorite socks ever, so far. (OK they are also my only hand knit socks, so far, but I digress.) The yarn however was so old, that the two skeins didn’t match (despite being the same dye lot) so there is a subtle color change in one sock. I love these anyway.
With such success from Sensational knitted socks, I started the Garter Rib socks from Sensational Knitted Socks, in Austermann Step, for my WH.
Because the yarn is so fine, and his feet are so big…it’s taking a while. But, progress is being made, and I have gotten most of the way down the heel flap of the first sock. They are top down socks, which makes me a little nervous that I am going to run out of yarn before I finish 2. What's the worst that can happen? I might have to buy another ball of the yarn in a different dye lot? I have a pair of socks with a slight color variation in the toe, he can too.
That's all of the socks since September - look for our next and final installment of catch-up, "All the other stuff" coming soon to a blog near you.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Yeah, um, been a while hasn't it?
OK, so I haven't been as good as I thought I would be with this whole blogging thing. I am going to give it another go.
What have I been making with pointy sticks since September? Honestly, not a lot that's gotten finished. I do have a great number of UFOs on the needles, or in various stages of disarray. So, consider this installment 1 of the great January 08 catch-up-post.
That scarf I had planned to give my dad for xmas. No picture, because I am still working on it...and just in case he happens upon this blog…
About two weeks before xmas I decided that it was a great pattern, but that so many color changes (and so many places to makes mistakes) made it evil...I forced it into a time out until I hate it a little less.
So instead…I started the PI shawl from EZ's knitter's almanac. I am making it out of Knitpicks Alpaca Cloud in iris heather. I've never tried lace before; so of course I decided to do the more complex version. I may have to start it over, but so far it's pretty, and I don’t hate it yet.
Coming up next post, adventures in socks. Stay tuned.
What have I been making with pointy sticks since September? Honestly, not a lot that's gotten finished. I do have a great number of UFOs on the needles, or in various stages of disarray. So, consider this installment 1 of the great January 08 catch-up-post.
That scarf I had planned to give my dad for xmas. No picture, because I am still working on it...and just in case he happens upon this blog…
About two weeks before xmas I decided that it was a great pattern, but that so many color changes (and so many places to makes mistakes) made it evil...I forced it into a time out until I hate it a little less.
So instead…I started the PI shawl from EZ's knitter's almanac. I am making it out of Knitpicks Alpaca Cloud in iris heather. I've never tried lace before; so of course I decided to do the more complex version. I may have to start it over, but so far it's pretty, and I don’t hate it yet.
Coming up next post, adventures in socks. Stay tuned.
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