Sunday, January 29, 2006

A quick update

Well, I finished the bottom of one sleeve for my sweater. This is really going slowly, I know, but I'm so busy with school that I have little time for knitting, sadly. It looks nice, though, if I may say so myself. I'm very pleased with how it's coming along; more so than I thought I'd be after looking at the beginnings of this sleeve. I can't wait to see how the rest goes along. I'm still unsure what to do with the upper sleeves, but I've got a couple of ideas. Just a FYI, I did go back down to 9 repeats for the cabled band, and I am happy with the fit that way. I then picked up 36 stitches for my lower sleeve.

There are now two issues of Interweave Knits I'd love - Spring 2005, as I previously stated, and Fall 2004. I definitely want to make that Sideways Spencer someday, and the mag is hard to find. I can't find any site that sells it! So if you've got an extra copy of either, please let me know! :-)

Nothing else new here...

Thursday, January 26, 2006

Can anyone guess what this is?

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Yes, that's right! It's the Delphine sleeve. It's coming along rather well!

Monday, January 23, 2006

One down, one to go.

The cabled armbands, that is. I did "finish" one (in quotations because I've gotten it to the length I think I want it, although I may have made it a little long). I went ahead and did 10 repeats and have about 10", which is really almost an inch too long, so I may end up ripping about an inch out. I haven't have time to start on the second yet, and am really not sure when I will. One good thing though, now that the band is long enough to reach around my arm, I put it on a stitch holder and wrapped it around my arm, and it hasn't made me itch yet at all. So I may take back what I said about the WotA being itchy against the skin.

Still no luck finding the size 2 dpns around here for those Pomatomus socks. :-(

Friday, January 20, 2006

A little about the De sweater, and a lil rambling about random knitting stuff.

I tried to post this last night, but it didn't work, so I'm trying again.

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I wish there was something interesting and exciting to post today, but there is not.

I did, however, work my armband today long enough to get it to about 5". I can do cables quite easily (most are of the opinion that they are not hard, and I agree), but I'm pretty slow with them, partially because I have to watch my stitches all the time, to avoid dropping any, since I'm working on Al needles. For cabling, I'd prefer to have bamboo, but my inventory of bamboo needles is quite limited, and so are my funds. Therefore, I am cabling with cheapo Al needles that I actually like for nearly any other purpose. I'm generally a rather tight knitter, so with simple stockinette, I actually like the slipperyness of the metal.

Anyway, the cabled armband, knit rather tightly on size 6s, looks nice so far. There is one spot where I apparently twisted a stitch, and didn't notice it until a couple of repeats later, but since it will be on the inside of the sleeve (not inside the sleeve, but you know what I mean), I didn't worry about it. I am very pleased with the color I chose. Hopefully, I wear gray rather well (at least this pale one), and the color doesn't really look gray to me, anyway. Plus, it's going to be beautiful with my wonderful sequined shoes! Also, from knitting, I've found that if you stare at a very light color for a very long time, it begins to appear white until you actually look at something white.

I also finished my grandma's hat in time to hand it over to mom. I wanted to do more with it (like add a little star), but I didn't know when I'd be back in Monroe, and if I'd waited much longer, she'd have no need for it. We don't keep cold weather long; another reason my newfound love for knitting sweaters kinda stinks. Not that knitting beautiful sweaters stinks, just that rarely being able to wear them does. Ah well, why complain? It's not as if I don't love spring, and even our overly hot summers.

I've decided that with the purple sock yarn, I am going to make Pomatomus socks from knitty.com. Since I've never knit socks or lace-type patterns before, it may be quite a challenge, but the only reason I'm knitting a pair of socks is for the challenge anyway; may as well make it a good one. I can buy a whole pack of functional socks for cheaper than making this one pair, but I just want to make some. Plus, these are the neatest socks I've ever seen. They are seriously Awesome. Yes, with a capital A. Who could resist? I've got to find a set of size 2 double point needles first; something neither Wal-mart nor Michael's carries. It sucks, not having a real LYS. I think all the online stores I've searched thus far would be pretty expensive for one set of dpns, since they charge full retail price and standard shipping! How insane! Then again, I haven't checked Knitpicks yet... oh, no, I sense an addiction!

The hyacinth WotA has decided it wants to become a cute little cropped sweater from the Spring/Summer '05 Knit.1. I've heard bad reviews about this mag, and I will admit, there are things in there that I would never knit or wear, but there are also some gorgeous things that aren't too expensive to make, and I still have at least 3 things I want to make from the book, excluding the cropped sweater. I haven't subscribed, but I may someday. Then again, there are already so many free patterns (or cheap single patterns) I have found and want to make, that I probably wouldn't get around to doing any of them, and there are lots of free tips on the web. With great resources like knitters' blogs, the Livejournal knitting community, and knit related websites (such as stitchguide.com, a site from which I learned much), I'm not sure that I need to splurge on mag subscriptions, as much as I'd love to. I would, however, love to buy a book or two full of cables and lace patterns, and one of those books that pretty much covers everything. I haven't messed with lace yet, but I love knitting cables. It's just crazy, how something so simple can look so complicated. Well, following a chart is simple... designing my own is definitely a different story.

After knitting with the WofA, I've decided it may end up being a little itchy. I'm not too worried about it; I figure either hair conditioner or fabric softener should remedy this. When it comes closer to time, I'll probably post a question in LJ knitting about which is better for wool. I know if Downy could make that Red Heart not only wearable, but actually cuddley, it should work wonders for this, too!

This isn't about knitting, but oh my goodness, I figured out my Genetics homework on my own today! Go me. I should give the DNA scarf some time in honor of that, right? It won't be tonight though, because I have been typing, waiting to go out with my boyfriend. That should be fun! :-)

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Yay! New yarn!

I am in love with Knitpicks now. Their colors are pretty much exactly what was pictured on my monitor. The hyacinth WotA is a beautiful deep blue-purple, exactly the color I've wanted. The fog for my Delphine sweater is a pale, beautiful silvery gray. The lilac sock yarn is gorgeous as well. I need to get Kool-Aid for dying the natural yarn.

I started on the cable for the armband of my sweater today, using the cable Cookie posted yesterday. I only have a small bit of it done, because I had to learn a provisional cast-on, but it looks nice! It's too wide on the size 8s, so I may need to go down a needle size or two. If that doesn't fix it, I may have to undo it and knit only the cable panel and seveldge stitches, without the extra 6 stitches of stockinette. I'd hate to do that, because I like the way the cable looks with the stockinette. So first, I am definitely trying smaller needles. Removing the stockinette will be my last resort.

Wednesday, January 18, 2006

Whoops, posted twice! How do you delete a post on here?

An introduction and some piccies!

Well, basically I am just copying previous posts from my crafting livejournal account. I discovered I couldn't use the cute lil progress bars on there, and I can on here (mind you, I don't actually know how to put them in yet).

Most importantly though, I got this blog to participate in the Delphine Wilson knit along. I'm excited because this will be the most difficult thing I've ever attempted, and I have never done a KAL (that's shorthand for knit along) before. The people are so nice and have already been tons of help! Although the Delphine sweater still looks daunting, it now seems very possible.

My yarn for the sweater came in a couple of days ago, and since I have to go to Monroe tomorrow anyway for a dr. appt., and since I have some crap I need to take to mom's anyway, I can pick it up then. I'll be using Wool of the Andes, from Knitpicks, in the color Fog. I hope it is as light gray as it appears; the photo on my monitor looks almost silver. I didn't want to use white because I can't stand dingy white, and I couldn't imagine trying to bleach this; I'm pretty sure that would have bad results! This is my first Knitpicks' order and I am pleased with their fast shipping. Their site says 5-14 days, but it was definitely closer to 5 than 14. I didn't count, but I'd say 6 at the most. I also got some lilac sock yarn (I've never tried socks before!), and some yarn to dye using Kool-Aid (that will be fun!). Oh, and I also got some WotA in their Hyceanth (or however you spell that) color. I'm not normally a fan of really dark colors, but on the webpage, this deep blue appears to have a strong purplish tint to it, and it reminds me of the beautiful blue-purple color used in What Dreams May Come. I've wanted something in that color since I saw that movie. I can't believe how cheap their yarn is! I'm also excited because it will be the first 100% wool yarn I've worked with, I think. I've mostly messed with acrylics, cotton, and acrylic/wool blends.

Ok, so now from the LJ.

WIPS
Ella Scarf - crochet, using Lily's Sugar and Cream (~ 40% complete)
Americana hat - crochet using Red Heart Worsted, to match the scarf I made my grandma for Christmas (she loves the patriotic things)(~20% complete)
A hat for me - crochet, using Lion Brand Homespun, Red Heart Light and Lofty, Red Heart Worsted, and crochet thread (~80% complete)
DNA scarf - knit, in Caron's Simply Soft (no dye lot, because I want it to be longer than pictured, and don't know how much extra I will need) (~ 10% complete)
Small flower - crochet, in crochet thread (~ 70% complete)
Fabric-knit purse - knit (~10% completed)
Delphine sweater - knit, in Knitpicks' Wool of the Andes. Currently, I am only working on constructing the pattern for this sweater. Don't expect this to be finished any time soon, it is the most complicated project I've worked on. Yay!

To-do list (someday)
Soon - Hat for my nephew Dustin - knit, Red Heart Worsted?
This silk corset top - knit, in Knitpicks' Shine? I'd love to do it in silk, but it will only cost about $25 to make it in Shine, double-stranded. No one has told me how this would work for this top though.
Something for my boyfriend's mother, she is so sweet! I saw a clapotis knit in beautiful recycled sari silk, and I think that might be a wonderful choice for Mrs. Nancy.
Something pretty and lacy for my elementary G/T teacher, Mrs. Knight... she was such a great teacher.
A sweater for my mom
A knitting bag, - knit, felted or cotton with fabric lining
A knitting needle case - knit, felted
A felted cloche like Ann Darrow wears in King Kong, if I can ever find or design the perfect pattern
A fish bag from Folk Bags
Kimono Sweater from Knitpicks
The Lion Brand Incredible ribbon shrug and camisole in the Spring/Summer '05 issue of Knit.1
This wrap from the same mag.
The ballet wrap from Interweave Knits Spring 2005. If anyone has a copy of this issue he/she would like to get rid of, please let me know! I think it's still available from the site, though.
The beautiful butterfly jacket from Noro Knits. I don't have this book yet either, so again, if you have knitted everything from it you want, and want to get rid of it, contact me. Right now, I'm planning on buying it from the linked site, but if you know of a cheaper place, tell me. :-)

There are tons of other stuff I've found and love, but those are things I will definitely make eventually. I have a lot of schoolwork on my plate though, so I won't be diving into any new projects soon. I also have some scrapbooking pages to complete.

Some completed projects

Crocheted hat made of Moda-Dea Dream and edged with Lion Brand Trellis, plus a flower pin of crochet thread and scarf made of Berroco's Medley. The flower is not supposed to be in the middle, but I didn't check it before taking this pic.
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One button cardigan from Spring/Summer '05 Knit.1, in Lion Brand Homespun Coral Gables
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Hat I made for my nephew Jeremy, my first 2 color work, in Red Heart, modeled by my sweet, handsome, and silly boyfriend Dusty
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Short row scarf made for mom as a Christmas gift, Red Heart in Farmland colorway
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Slightly modified Candy cardigan from Knitty.com, in Moda-Dea Dream
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Here is my first "knitting mistake." Actually, it's crochet, and it's a hat. I saw this beautiful hat made of yellow, white, and pink/coral bulky handspun yarn, with a huge flower on it. Then I lost the link to it, and couldn't find it again, but thought ok... I can crochet, too, so I will just replicate it. So, in order to get the unique look of the yarn, I used yellow Red Heart Light and Lofty in the Citrus Shades colorway, Lion Brand Homespun in Coral Gables, Red Heart worsted in white, and a really pretty sparkley white crochet thread. Well, the results were nowhere near as pretty as the original hat, and I actually think it looks pretty horrible. But anyway, here it is.
hat gone wrong

From the side
horrible hat

Ok, here is a hat I whipped up in just a couple of hours. It's knit, made in Lion Brand Homespun, Mardi Gras color.
colorful hat

Some of the flowers for the Ella scarf
Ella flowers

Some little flower pins I whipped up. These are really easy and quick, and if any of my friends would like one, I don't mind making them.
flower pins

Not a finished object, but I just love this yarn. It's Moda-dea Cache, and I believe it wants to be wristwarmers, since I only picked up one skein. It's so beautiful!
pretty yarn

Here is the first thing I ever completed, another hat crocheted in the Dream yarn.
green hat

Here is a closeup of the purple hat I mentioned in my last post.
purple hat

And here are more flower pins
flower pins 2

I made this over MLK weekend.
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I got the pattern from bhg.com. This one is really small, but I am going to make a large one soon. I think it turned out so well!! :-D

Today, I finished all of the flowers for the Ella scarf. Now I just have to crochet the borders and join them together. Yay!

I've almost finished my grandmother's hat. I may not have it done tomorrow, but I'm hoping to, so I can leave it with mom, who can give it to grandma.

Other artwork can be viewed by clicking on this link

Monday, January 16, 2006

First post

Hi, I'm just checking to see whether this worked. Check back later!