and knitting

Buffalo Gals, won't you come out tonight

It's been too long since you've seen actual knitting on this supposed knitting blog. The truth is, life has been rough and I gave up both knitting and blogging for awhile. That changed recently when my sister let me tag along with her to Crafty Planet, and I fell in love with this giant hank of pink yarn. It's practically identical in color to the yarn I used for my very first knitting project four years ago.

I never bothered to knit a pattern with cables and thought this yarn might be good to use for my first attempt. The simplicity of the Irish Hiking Scarf appealed to me, so I'm giving it a go. Who knew cabling was so easy peasy (probably every knitter but me)? Now that I'm less intimidated, I can move on to Olga's Cabled Cowl, or the DNA Scarf that's been on my wish list since I first saw it.

Pictured with my knitting, is my favorite new gadget that has been distracting me from my projects. I just love my iphone! The wee image you see on the screen is the stage for Little House on the Prairie at the Guthrie Theater. I'm sure I've posted in the past about my love for Laura Ingalls Wilder's books. It was bizarre, but fun, to see a variation of her stories acted out on the stage. What made it even wackier is that Melissa Gilbert, the Laura from the TV show, is portraying Ma.

Hopefully I can put the iphone down and get back to knitting this scarf soon!

The Project: Irish Hiking Scarf
The Yarn: Cascade Eco + purchased from Crafty Planet
The Needles: 4mm Crystal Palace Bamboo (my favorite needles)
Started: July 2008

Now with even more cosy! New Project #45: Yet Another Mock Brioche Neck Cosy

No, it's not a big knitting project gone horribly awry. I was just knitting another neck cosy and realized that I was wussing out on the width and needed to make it bigger. Three strands of this pixie dusted yarn held together are doing the trick. Triple stranding it means I'll easily finish the cosy in a sitting or two. I love finer gauge projects, but right now chunky, fast knitting is working best for me. I'm sure there will be a finished project post soon.

My recent aptitude for chunky knitting is why I ordered Wenlan Chia's newest book, Twinkle's Weekend Knits. I've been a Twinkle fangirl for quite some time, and this latest collection of patterns didn't disappoint. If you are familiar with Big City Knits, then you know the sort of patterns to expect. The photos and styling are wonderful. My favorite is the meridian tunic. It's probably a bit ill-advised for my figure, but the stripes are calling my name. The lilac mist throw and sand dune hanger covers are also lovely. [thanks to the Ravelry Twinkle Knitters member, lingy, who was kind enough to post those photos]

As its title suggests, all of the projects in Weekend Knits are meant to knit up quickly. That means there are quite a few wraps and scarves. These sorts of project appeal to me, though I know some look on them as filler. If you want a preview, you can get a free pattern for one them, the Riverbed Shawl, in this PDF on the publisher's website.

There have been a few less than sparkling reviews of the book. In part that's due to the scarf issue and also because the Twinkle style is now such familiar territory. Wenlan Chia has a third book on the way this fall, Twinkle's Town & Country Knits: 30 Designs for Sumptuous Living. From the name I am guessing that the book will focus on something new -- knits for the home. Blankets and pillows aren't my thing, but I'm sure it will be fun to look at. The word in the twinkle knitters group on ravelry is that Wenlan Chia also has a mohair-only booklet coming out soon. Hopefully somewhere in there, she'll publish patterns for some of the pieces from her fall 2008 show. Stylepoints' Sara Glassman has posted a few photos from the show on her blog, and you can find more on the Fashion Week site.

The Project:Yet Another Mock Brioche Neck Cosy
The Yarn: Nashua Handknits Ivy purchased at Clickety Sticks' liquidation sale - triple stranded
The Needles: 5.0mm
Started: February 2008

New Project / Finished Project #44: Mock Brioche Neck Cosy

My bigger projects weren't been going so well, so I turned to something quick and easy. This sparkly pink handspun by Aisha Celia Designs has been in my stash for a couple of years. A neck cosy seemed like the perfect project for the amount of yarn. The soft and squishy mock brioche stitch showed off the yarn to its best advantage.

The buttons were purchased at my new favorite local yarn store, bella lana. It's a gorgeous, little shop lit with dozens of white paper lanterns. With its white painted walls, fixtures and floors, this gives everything a lovely glow.

It was a fun project, and knit up in a sitting or two, so I'll probably make another one soon.

The Project: Mock Brioche Neck Cosy
The Yarn: sparkly pink Aisha Celia Designs Handspun purchased at No Coast Craft-O-Rama
The Needles: 4.5mm
Started and Finished: December 2007

Various and Sundry Links - January 26 2008

- I've spent many a church service admiring the crafty worship banners. Here's an especially inspiring example made from a cheap Mona Lisa blanket.

- Hand made "bare skin rug" found in dumpster.

- It's Mickey Mouse's 80th birthday this year and, to celebrate it, his consort Minnie is finally getting a few new outfits. I'm partial to the grey knit ensembles.

- This thoroughly and completely grossed me out and now I'm going to share it with you!

Listen to the flowers, they will tell you sweet secrets. Project #43: ill fated Juliet

Happy New Year!

I obviously haven't been posting about it here, but I started and finished Juliet quite some time back. This is one of those cases where I really should have been paying more attention to the nagging voice in the back of my head that told me this pattern wasn't going to work for me. It also would have been smart to sit back for a bit and see how the pattern worked for other people. More than a few have mentioned that they had trouble with the sizing. I suffered the same, and that, along with the unflattering empire silhouette, made for a gigantic disaster of a knit. As you can see from the photo below, it's so large that I could use it as a tree skirt if I wanted to (I didn't).

Despite the bad finish, I did enjoy knitting Juliet. It reminded how much I really do enjoy knitting. Hopefully 2008 will bring more success knitting-wise!

p.s. I also want to apologize for neglecting my blog comments. I shuffled things around in my gmail and somehow lost track of the messages that were being forwarded to me.

The Project: Juliet from Zephyr Style
The Yarn: Laines Du Nord Korall purchased from pureknits
The Needles: 4.50mm Knit Picks Harmony Options (I'll have to review these in a separate post)
Started: October 2007
Finished and Rejected: November 2007

My Autumn's Done Come - New Project #42: diamond scarf

At the start of the year I had the best of intentions. This summer was going to be productive. I was finally going to dig into that bamboo and cotton stash and do some warm weather knitting. I'm sad to say that it just didn't happen. Instead, here I am, many weeks in between blog posts, knitting a giant squishy scarf on big ass plastic needles. The yarn lured me in and it seemed like the right sort of project to work on when cozying up to my netflix queue. However, I'll admit that those gigantic needles take a bit more effort to manipulate than I'd expect. At least it's so chunky that it goes by quickly!

The Project: diamond scarf from twinkle's big city knits
The Yarn: twinkle handknits soft chunky in pink - purchased from Needlework Unlimited
The Needles: 35US - 19mm
Started: July 2007

Various and Sundry Links - August 6 2007

- Recent tragic events put it into perspective, but at first, KG's trade to Boston nearly broke my heart. However, one thing I've learned from the Wolves debacle is to never ever trust a man with awful taste in knitwear.

- More sad news -- Lee Hazelwood passed away this week.

- I guarantee this video will haunt your dreams.

- It seems the geniuses at the MPAA are taking some lessons from the RIAA [via Musematic]. Maybe your movie money would be better spent sponsoring the costs of digitizing an interesting old film [via boing boing].

- Enterprise 5 Year Mission Goals
* Explore strange new worlds
* See out new life & civilizations
* Go where no man has gone before (boldly)
An analysis of the Red-Shirt Phenomenon [via mental floss]

- This reminds me of Microserfs.

- Skirts and bows turn your little girl into a beautiful lady.

Poor Nameless Slob Cardigan - New Project #41

This project has been on the needles for a few weeks, so I suppose it has aged enough for me to get around to posting it. It's another top-down raglan -- this time in cardigan form. I had seen a lovely knit jacket by bi la li and fell in love with its chunky ribbed collar. I decided to take it as inspiration and make my own version. The yarn is a yummy, dark chocolate-colored merino I purchased from Yahaira's shop using a Christmas gift certificate. Thank you Kim and André!

The project is going well, but I have to admit to being a bit intimidated by the finishing. I decided to do turned over button bands which, when finished, will be fastened with hook and eye tape. I'm not exactly a sewer, so that may be a bit of tricky business!

The Project: Poor Nameless Slob Cardigan
The Yarn: Dolly Maxi by Laines Du Nord - Purchased from pureknits
The Needles: US7 and US6
Started: January 2007

Various and Sundry Links - February 12 2007

- ...the terrorists are clearly kicking our national asses -- Wil Wheaton

- When Harry Met Betty - The true life story of Betty Crocker's chiffon cake.

- Bringing New Life to Boarded Up Homes

- The Design Process - Melissa's new series on the inspiration and execution of her designs.

- The much hyped eagerly anticipated Proenza Schouler collection now available at your favorite local underarm deodorant and toilet paper peddler, but Irene has a contrarian view. I have to say I wasn't that impressed. The striped jacket is pretty cute, but you just know that every other girl you see this spring will have on the same thing.

- More fashion road kill. I am a terrible, terrible person and you should not read any further because I am sure you are far too decent a person to sully yourself with any further association with me.

- Delete! Delettering the Public Space [via]

- Don't ask employees to be passionate about the company! ...support people in doing what they're trying to do, and stay the hell out of their way

- I think I need this t-shirt.

- Creepy...

- DIY: Louis Vuitton Spring Necklace

- The natto diet may be bunk, but I know I would totally lose weight if I was forced to eat that stuff.

New Project / Finished Project #40: Easy Peasy II

Happy New Year!

I'll spare you the excuses for why I've been so absent from this blog and from commenting on others.

At least I can start 2007 off right by posting a finished project.

They don't come much simpler than this. It's just a simple, garter stitch on the bias scarf, with a row or two or three of eyelets thrown in here and there. I had tried using this yarn for the Lost in Translation scarf from Mother of Purl. The yarn had a bit too much going on for that pattern and I decided to rip it out. The sparkle factor of the yarn was calling to me this Christmas season so I decided to go with a simple on the bias pattern I had used before. It's not the sort of knitting project that you can find much to post about, but I like how it turned out.

To make the project more interesting here are a few self propagated rumors about why I used the Self-Conscious Mysterious Face Finished Project Photo (shown above).

1. I am practicing to become a 14-year-old YouTube girl.
2. I have a lazy eye like Paris Hilton.
3. I am the Phantom of the Opera.
4. I am curious (yellow).
5. Blog absence was necessary due to Extreme Makeover gone awry.

The Project: Easy Peasy II
The Yarn: Karabella Gossamer in Olive with Copper purchased from KPixie
The Needles: US7 Brittany
Started: December ? 2006
Finished: January 2 2007

I finished the scarf this morning while watching the amazing documentary, Why We Fight. It was a somewhat disheartening way to start off the year, but I highly recommend watching this film. If you are so inclined, you can even view it right now via Google Video.

No various and sundry links today. I've been marking all of my bloglines subs as read for the past few weeks. I'm so behind that I might post a link to something shamefully 2006 and I can't have that!

Hello sailor! New Project / Finished Project #39: Watch Cap

I'm not so good at keeping secrets, so a Certain Special Someone has long known I was knitting him this project. He had feigned interest quite some time ago while I babbled about this Teflon coated yarn from Dale, so I decided to use it to knit him a cap.

Those clever Norwegians -- making wool even more sensible for outdoor gear! It's not the softest yarn in the world, but I wouldn't say it's disagreeably scratchy. I'm sure it will get even softer once I wash it. It seems like it will make a great cap to wear on a wet winter's day. Of course I don't think everyone was as enamored with this idea as I am, because I believe the yarn is now discontinued.

The pattern I used is a WWII-era pattern from the American Red Cross. I enjoyed knitting from a pattern that hundreds of women and men had used before. I changed it up a bit and added some decreases, because the first time I finished it, the pleated effect was more of a popover effect.

It turned out pretty well (better in real life than in the photo below). I hope my fella likes it!

The Project: Watch Cap (U.S. Navy) - WWII pattern from the American Red Cross (with some minor modifications)
The Yarn: Dalegarn Hauk Teflon Treated Yarn purchased from Spin Blessing
The Needles: US4 circular and DPNs
Started: ?
Finished: December 4 2006

Socktoberfest 2006! New project #38 - Playing for England Socks

My radiators are making that, ever so delightful, clank, clunk, hiss sound that indicates Autumn is nearly over and winter is on its way. Fall is my favorite season, and it's killing me that my stupid broken foot has made me miss it! I do believe a little feelling sorry for myself is in order. You would think I would get loads of knitting done during this enforced sloth, but I have not.

Perhaps Socktoberfest will get me going again. I'll skip the interesting sock knitting history questions, because, well, I've only knit one pair of socks, and it wouldn't exactly be enlightening to anyone.

Yes, Socktoberfest is nearly over. And, likely as not, I will not finish them in time, but I've started a new pair. This time I'm using the Team England* colorway from Lana Grossa's World Cup collection. I'm not exactly stretching my skills by going with another simple ribbed sock pattern, but I think the bright red and blue would be a lot too much with anything else (not that I'm likely to wear these outside the house anyway).

If you haven't knit socks yet, but want to learn, do get the Knitting Vintage Socks book. I was really worried that the turning of the heel and all of that would be horribly confusing, but there was never a moment of befuddlement while knitting my first pair. Nancy Bush's directions are clear and concise. I'm sure I'll have a similar experience with these.

*I'm not sure why the colors are red and blue, rather than red and white, but I like them. Here is the part where I'm supposed to issue all sorts of disclaimers about my feelings about the English Football team. I'll admit that I'm not exactly a supporter, but I'm also not a hater. Yes, they did rather poorly in the World Cup, and, yes I'm not supposed to like both Scotland and England, but I do. Perhaps this affinity has been brought on by my sad fractured metatarsal, but shockingly enough, I don't even hate David Beckham. So there.

The Project: Playing for England (En-ger-land) - Madder Ribbed Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks
The Yarn: Lana Grossa Meilenweit Teamcolor - England colorway. Purchased from Janette's Rare Yarns
The Needles: Crystal Palance 2.5mm DPNs
Started: October 14 2006

Various and Sundry Links - October 16 2006

- 268 knitters worked to knit ethnographic mittens as souvenirs for NATO 2006 Summit delegations and media representatives (no swastikas allowed).

- The Edelman/Wal-Marting Across America scandal is all over the blog world right now. What a sleazy affair. I have often wondered if any pay per post-type things are going on in the knit blogs. Anyone have any gossip? Please? (Not that I want to encourage the undercurrent of bitchiness that seems to lurk beneath the shiny, we all love each other, veneer that surfaces the knitting world)

- Cardboard Art

- Why Robots Are the Best Employees [via]

- Pulling Up the Ladder [via]

- Tales from the Palaces was on last night. There was a great bit with the costume curators from Kensington Palace. I love fashion and textiles exhibitions. It's not as good as visiting in person, but I'm happy the web gives us online resources to view these collections. Here are a few I've enjoyed recently.
Dress for the Occasion [via A Dress A Day]
The A. & L. Tirocci Dressmakers Project [via]
Sixties Fashion at the V&A - I like the site, but I absolutely have to find a way to get to London to see this one in person before it closes!

- Project Runway's Laura Bennett is one of those women who is going to age into an excellent broad (a high compliment from me). I just love her. Her clothes are pretty too, and you may be able to make your own at home, if her comments from a Q&A with Bravo's Andy comes true.
[...]I'm even thinking I should offer women patterns, so that even if they can't afford to sort of upgrade their life through their clothing and their personal appearance in the time that they take to care for themselves that there are other ways to do it, there are patterns available and maybe you can make your own dresses like I did.

- Also, Uli revealed that our nation's greatest secret weapon is Miami Vice

- MerriMail - the first creative living publication that includes a delightful gift and thoughtful ideas in each issue. Cute!

- Pole dancing. Cuter!

- Kids at the swimming class. Cuterest!

project #37: blame it on the bossa nova socks

I have now learned that it is best not to make vows about my knitting. At one point I made a solemn promise that I would never, ever, be one of those people that knit socks. Somehow I've gone back on my word. Yahaira's persistent ways began to weaken my resolve, but it was the special World Cup-themed sock yarn that finally did it.

Yes, I'm now a sock knitter.

It's going fine, but of course, I haven't got to the complicated part. A bit of handholding may be required when I need to start the heel.

They were not my favorite team, but I'm using some crazy, obnoxious Team Brazil yarn for this first pair. The colors are truly wacky, so I'm quite sure they won't be worn out of the house. Lest my Brazilian-themed photo shoot ideas get out of control, I decided to take an in-progress shot of my new socks in their native habitat, a soccer pitch.

The Project: Blame it on the Bossa Nova Socks - Lichen Ribbed Sock from Knitting Vintage Socks
The Yarn: Lana Grossa Meilenweit Teamcolor purchased from Janette's Rare Yarns
The Needles: ChiaoGoo 2.25mm DPNs purchased from pureknits
Started: August 5 2006

Various and Sundry Links - August 10 2006 - Special, abbreviated, I lost track of time and am now totally late for work edition!

- Knitting and public politics

- Inside a Nuclear Bunker - I love the president's living room. [via I like]

- Some people are trying to make a giant robotic squid [via Bruce Schneier]. I hope they take Hoboken's giant robot mishap to heart.