Around and Around.

Here is the Mondo as of a couple of days ago.  I have since divided for the sleeves.   Should be a downhill slide from here!

The Dream in Color Classy colorway is Gothic Rose.   Please allow me to gush for a moment.  I love this yarn.  I love the Smooshy sock yarn, and I love this worsted weight.  It’s thick and springy and feels wonderful in my hands.   Such a treat after the flat, scratchy lopi!

I’ve also got a sock stuck somewhere in the depths of my bag. 

Aha – here it is.  This is the Artichoke Sock, in Lorna’s Laces Shepherd Sock Huron colorway.   I like this yarn although I’m not sure it’s worth some of the mouth-frothing over it.  The colors are beautiful, no doubt.  It is a little pricey given that you can’t get a pair of socks out of one skein.  I purchased three skeins, thinking of making a shawl, but then I wasn’t sure I wanted a shawl in these colors.  Fickle, I know.

What are you knitting?

FO: Gaelic Mist Cardigan

Thanks for hanging in there with me on this project.  I know it was painful. 

This is Gaelic Mist, from A Fine Fleece by Lisa Lloyd, knit in Reynold’s Lite Lopi on US 7 circular needles.  I can’t find the color number right now, but it’s a rust-ish shade with browns and blacks.  It’s snowing outside, or I’d get you a truer picture of the color and cable definition.

The notes from my Ravelry project page are as follows:

I’m very happy with the result and have a wonderful, wearable garment, but I do have some thoughts to share with those thinking of knitting this sweater:

1. The modeled sweaters in the book are WAY too large for the models, making it appear that the finished product should be somewhat oversized. I knit the smallest size (38), which is the proper size for me – as you can see, the sweater fits me very well with a couple of inches of ease and is certainly not oversized. Choose your size carefully depending on the look you want.
2. I used the Lite Lopi specified in the pattern. Interesting yarn, not very fun to knit with but it does result in a lovely fabric and definitely contributes to the character of the finished product.  I wet-blocked the cabled portion of the bodice before continuing to the reverse stockinette to be certain it would create a decent sweater fabric, since the cables knit up like armor.  They softened very nicely with a soak.
3. I wet blocked all pieces before seaming, and steam blocked the bands and seams upon completion.
4. I have no idea why, but the project took much, much less yarn than called for in the pattern. My gauge was correct, so I have no clue what’s up with that.
5. The only modifications I made were (1) picking up far fewer stitches than indicated for the button bands, because the specified number seemed alarmingly excessive; and (2) knitting one additional row on the band. It just seemed too insubstantial without that extra row – and it saved having to bind off purlwise.

Lessons learned: 

1. Patience, grasshopper. 
2.  Setting in sleeves is definitely not my favorite thing. 
3.  Falling in love with a picture of a sweater is risky.  I’m getting a little smarter about how photos are        styled and how certain problems can be masked by clever poses.  I came out OK on this one, but I certainly do  not look like the girls in the photo!

Knitting Discipline.

Another reflection on my knitting personality…

I finally started the Mondo Cable Pulli, and the knitting is everything I’d hoped it would be.  I knew I had to make this ever since Joan started hers.  (Well, OK, since she started and finished hers in the space of a few days, as is her extremely talented wont.)  

I had to impose some strict self-discipline to stop myself from simply diving in.   I had Gaelic Mist sitting around in its not-even-half-finished state, staring at me.  I had a single sock mocking me.  I had a charity knitting commitment.  Oh, and I seem to have knit a vest and a couple of gifts and a hat and…  Yeah, OK.  I slowly worked my way through the UFOs.  Saturday morning, I finally finished the second Gaelic Mist sleeve, and threw all the pieces in for a bath.  After – and only after – the pieces were pinned out to dry per the schematic, did I allow myself to obtain the Mondo Cable pattern.

I did have yarn wound and ready to go.   I’ll show you what I chose when I can actually get some photos.  I had my usual good intentions and even some OK light yesterday, but I was too infatuated with my new project to take any photos of it.   At this writing, predawn, any attempt at photography would be futile given the color.

I’ll have to take a break from the Mondo to finish Gaelic Mist.  It will be dry by tonight, but it’s unclear when I’ll have sufficient uninterrupted time to seam and set in the sleeves. 

Why am I so anal about “I must finish x before I can start y,” and why all the guilt associated with my unfinished knitting?   Part of it, I suppose, is just my nature.  I tend to be fairly structured and I like things to be reasonably organized.   I temper my description a bit because ya’ll know that I’m not particularly constrained by Rules – I’ll break them, or do my own thing when that seems to be right for me.  But I have little tolerance for chaos – I at least have to have things in squared-off mental piles. 

Because my knitting time is limited, I also have to keep the lid on the number of things I Must Start Now, or I’d quickly become overwhelmed.  I love the rush I get from a finished project.  I also love having the finished garment or accessory. 

And, OK, I’m frugal.  I think long and hard about what I want to knit, matching yarn to pattern, examining all the examples on Ravelry, and deliberating at length in the hope that it will work out as planned, because knitting busts are expensive as well as disappointing.   As in other areas of life, it’s not necessarily “cool” to be so careful about how my knitting dollars are spent, but it is necessary.   Alas, I’m no cooler as a knitter as I am in any other aspect of life, and I can only be true to myself!

That’s Monday, my friends!  Tell me, what are you knitting?

A Little of This and That.

…  It has been a warmish (meaning, temperatures in double digits most of the time) January in these parts so far.  This has meant that I’ve been able to run outdoors somewhat regularly.   I can’t tell you what a difference that makes to my overall sense of well-being.

… On that topic (well-being), I was struggling for a month or more with feeling exhausted almost all the time.  It was as though I just could not sleep enough.  I wasn’t liking that at all.  My sleep was rarely refreshing – I would be up for a few hours and feel like I wanted a nap again.  I felt fine otherwise.  I pondered what in the world could be going on.   I acknowledged that I had been letting little things slip.  Things I didn’t think could really make a difference.  Having a white flour bagel for breakfast instead of oatmeal, for example.  Ignoring my multi-vitamin because I don’t really like swallowing a big pill.   Snitching candy from the ubiquitous bowls at work and blowing off the apple sitting on my desk.   Not really paying attention to how many servings of fruits and vegetables I was getting.  Figuring it couldn’t hurt, I launched a little experiment.   I started bringing a tad of mindfulness to what I was doing meal to meal, snack to snack.  One choice at a time, no judgment if I snarf a few JoJos, but still really thinking about how I’m taking care of myself.  Call it a placebo effect, call it whatever you want, but you know what?  I feel much better after a week of healthy breakfasts, vegetable-heavy lunches, and snacks of almonds or fruit.  And taking my vitamins.    I’m not groggy all day, my thinking is more focused, and I’m not feeling like I need to sleep around the clock. 

… Knitting?  I’m on the final stretch of that Second Sleeve.  As a reward, I chose yarn for my next sweater project – that’s all for another post, hopefully quite soon.  However, something else I’m quite excited about is my recent acquisition of Wendy Bernard’s Custom Knits. 

I had been looking at it for some time, and I purchased it with a gift card received for the holidays.  It’s a wonderful resource for custom, seamless sweater knitting in addition to featuring a plethora of really attractive designs. 

… Oh, and I’m waaayyyy past the point where anyone remembers or cares, but I did intend to post some photos of our recent trip to the Bay Area.  My Road to Hell has been paved with a few more good intentions, but I’ll leave you with this evidence that we actually did leave Wisconsin.

That is all.  Happy Tuesday, everyone!

FO: Star Crossed Beret

I have a sweater to finish, so naturally, I spent my weekend knitting time whipping up a hat. 

What?

Please meet my Star Crossed Slouchy Beret.   It worked up in a snap on size 10 needles in the Cascade Eco + left over from my Heather Hoodie.   It was entertaining, with enough going on in the pattern to keep me engaged, yet very simple.   Watching the irregular cables emerge was sort of fun.  As an added bonus, it fits!  I blocked it on a pie plate, misting it in situ instead of soaking.  I wore it yesterday and felt a smidge like Mary Tyler Moore.  I did manage to refrain from throwing the hat into the air. 

I think the hat might just be the perfect instant gratification project.   They seem to fly off the needles.  And you only have to knit one, so when you’re done, you’re done. 

Now, please excuse me.   I need to go see about finishing a second sleeve.

I Don’t Do Resolutions.

I am, however, all for periodically refining my philosophy of living, and reflecting on where I am and where I need to go.  Coincidentally, I just stumbled upon this quotation, and it seems to say everything that needs to be said:

To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to study hard, think quietly, talk gently, act frankly; to listen to the stars and birds, to babes and sages, with open heart; to bear on cheerfully, do all bravely, awaiting occasions, worry never; in a word to, like the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common.    –  William Henry Channing

I may, as I think of it, reflect a bit on the individual  elements Mr. Channing includes in his recipe for living as the year goes on. 

Here’s hoping the road ahead is paved and mostly downhill…

Happy Monday all!

 

 

Socks and Whatnot.

Happy New Year, all!  I sort of missed the end of the year blogging rites, but I’ll jump right in with a FO and a little dose of reflection.

These are the Spring Forward socks from Knitty, knit in Cascade Heritage yarn on size US2 DPNs.  These took forever and several more days to knit, mostly because I got bored about halfway down the cuff of the first sock.   Not sure why – the pattern is entertaining enough, on its face.   I do like the finished product, which is comfy, cute, and fun to wear. 

If you look closely out the car window to the right in my photo, you’ll see grapevines.  My vehicular photo shoot took place while riding south on Highway 29 in the Napa Valley last week.  I’ll have a bit of additional evidence of travel to post later in the week.  I have to save something, after all.

As to the reflection, I was thinking of knitting skills I picked up in 2009.   The list isn’t all that impressive, but I did learn a few things, including how to do a three-needle bindoff, how to read a cable chart, how to do a crochet edging, how to knit in the round on two circular needles, how to do those really scary-looking holes in the flower and bindoff of the Hemlock Ring, and how to be a much better and more patient judge of what yarn will work best with a pattern.  Not bad for someone who averages about one FO per month. 

In continuing my pursuit of the sticks and string habit, I also came to some conclusions about who I am as a knitter, and who I am not:

• I’ve discovered that I knit mostly to quiet my mind, center my focus, tune out things that I find annoying, and pass otherwise idle time.  I’m less inclined to want to knit as a social activity because I’ve learned that I get really quiet when I knit – it’s a meditative time for me.   
• I’m comfortable not joining in on activities like NaKniSweMoDo or the Ravelympics, since it’s unlikely I could ever meet goals like that with my meager knitting time.  I love seeing what other people achieve in those arenas, but I’m happy just to cheer them on.
• I’m OK with not trying out every hot trend or new technique.  I’m not moved to knit socks through new pathways or innovative means – not that there’s anything wrong with that, I just find comfort in the traditional methods.
• I’m not OK with being uninformed.  I like having a strong knitting vocabulary and a decent arsenal of techniques, and I like staying up-to-date on the latest books and popular patterns.
• Even though I’m not ready yet to devote time and energy to spinning, I’m happy to be following my friends as they learn to spin, and to inform myself about some of the basic vocabulary and concepts involved in the creation of yarn.  Understanding the properties of different fibers and how those fibers are spun and plied helps me to be a better knitter, because I can more accurately select the proper yarns for my projects.

As to what’s up for 2010, who knows!  Hope everyone is staying warm and enjoying the first week of the year.

FO’s: Thorpe, and a Cowl.

Hello all!  I hope everyone is enjoying the holiday season!  Sorry I’ve been somewhat more absent than usual, but we’ve got lots going on and I’m blogging from a remote location at the moment while on a little family excursion.

I wanted to show you a couple of finished objects that were (literally)  under wraps until now. 

First, we have Thorpe.  

This is  a seriouslyquick, fun top-down hat pattern, knit for a special young friend’s 13th birthday.  I used less than a skein of Lamb’s Pride bulky and 10.5 DPNs for the whole thing  (I was too lazy to switch to a circ but it all worked out fine).  I learned the double half crochet  stitch (I think that’s what it’s called)  for the edging – the innernets came through again.  I’ve got at least one request for another one of these, and I happen to have yarn for it.  Sweet!

Next, we have another one-skein project, a modified Crofter’s Cowl.

More seriously terrible photography – so sorry, but the light this time of year is just not cooperating.  Anyhoo, this was knit of one skein of Berroco Pleasure* (sadly discontinued – it’s a lovely aran weight angora blend) on US 9 circs.  This pattern directs you to knit three repeats of the horseshoe lace in two separate halves and then graft in the center.  I didn’t have enough yarn (or patience) for that, so I simply held my breath and knit as fast as I could to ensure that I’d get four full repeats out of the skein.  It wound up a perfect size, with just a bit of the yarn left over.  Whew!  This was a gift for a non-knitting friend who truly enjoys hand-knit items (or if she doesn’t, she fakes it really, really well — she’s one of the few non-infant humans I’ll knit for).

Next post, I’m hoping for a photo shoot of the pair of socks I FINALLY finished (seriously, I may have set a new record in ridiculousness).  Stay tuned! 

*Thanks, Squish!

FO: Bella’s Mittens.

At long last, Bella’s Mittens are off the needles.   (Our skies are gray again, so decent photos are but a dream.)

Knit in Reynolds Lopi, Color 10, on US 8 DPNs.   It was torture to knit the cables at that gauge, but these mittens are the warmest thing going, and they’ll wear like iron.   

Very well-written pattern.  The second mitten took me only about a day to knit.  I knit the first one last winter/spring, and then lost interest when the weather warmed up.   I got psyched again when New Moon was released. 

Unfortunately, temps were in the single digits earlier this week when the mittens were drying from their soak.  As soon as they were dry, we suddenly got a warm snap and hit the 30s.  Karma?

Some folks have asked me about the Lopi yarn, since this is the second of two projects I’ve used it on (my Gaelic Mist is in Lite Lopi, which is called for in that pattern).  It’s definitely not for everyone.  Right off the skein, it knits up like armor and has the feel of steel wool.  Perversely, because the yarn is very lightly spun (really, it’s almost as though it’s just been drafted rather evenly but not spun at all in spots), it can be weak - it broke on me when I was knitting a thumb. 

 The mitten cuff, which is about 7 inches long, stood straight out when I held the mitten horizontally before soaking.  A bath works wonders, though, and after a soak the fabric drapes more and develops a lovely halo.  I am not bothered by wool next to my skin (although I can’t wear angora or mohair without a buffer), so I will get a lot of wear out of these mittens, and I think Lopi is a very good choice for folks who want to knit for warmth and practicality. 

Happy Friday, all.  Stay warm!

Monday Melange.

I’ve got this and that to share.

1.  My Wii Fit age is 67.   Sixty-seven.  Two years past eligibility for Social Security!  Twenty-two years older than my actual age!  Well, this 67-year-old can still go out and run 5 miles without a problem, so I guess I’m a pretty fit senior citizen!  Damn machine.  Before anyone starts talking smack, I think one’s age is calculated by one’s ability to stand on the balance board, keeping weight distributed within a few jots of 50% per foot.  It’s not as easy as it sounds.  

2.  PSA!  For some time I’ve  been admiring the Vera Bradley bags that are the rage, but I’ve balked at the prices.  Well.    Who knew that they sell off the bags in discontinued fabrics at substantial discount?   I didn’t,  anyway.   I obtained some gifts for certain Young Ladies, and got myself a capacious tote, for a relative song, and I got free shipping.

   

This would be my Capacious Tote, also known as the Vera bag, in Peacock.  Which is, by the way, the fabric I would have chosen regardless of the sale!*

3.  I’ve been engaged in what can only be called Power Knitting.  No, not on  my Gaelic Mist – that’s resting a bit while I manage a few other matters of greater urgency.  I had to get a tiny spot of gift knitting squared away – and there may be just a bit more to handle in that department.  I also finally had to clear the psychic static emitting from one or two projects that have been languishing for months.  I’ll display the fruits of my labors in good time.  I’m curious, though.  Do you ever get that niggling feeling that you simply MUST finish a certain UFO before it drives you batty?   I do.  I think this might be related to the fact that I am a process knitter only to a point – that point is when I become bored with the process.  Then, I just want the damn finished product, already, because when I choose a project it’s always because I actually want the resulting item.  Besides that, my frugal nature rather quails at the idea of not turning my yarn into useful or beautiful items. 

Thoughts?  Discussion?  Objections?

Happy Monday all!

*Unfortunately, I do not have a deal with Vera Bradley or any other vendor to hawk their wares.  If you’re from the FTC, you can relax now.