2008, Looking Back

35 projects completed, mostly small, especially towards the end of the year. I really like small projects, I think: socks, bookmarks, dishtowels, bags… My favorite FO made for me has to be the Valentine Socks (variegated pink with brown heels and toes). The bags, cloths, and bookmarks are the most handy, though. They get daily use, as do the cat toys and their bed, both of which really need replacement, though. Cats are not gentle with their toys or sleepy places!

I’ve been thinking maybe with the new year, it’s time to toss my queue and start over. It’s a mess. A 15 page mess. That’s 450ish projects! Yikes. And, well, lots of fun to be had.

I’m excited to see what comes off the needles in 2009.

I have not really been knitting.

That’s a duh, I suppose.

Things have been hectic, and then during the move I sprained my hand, which is still recovering. So my knitting has been a row here, a row there, and not a lot of progress. I’ve kept to mostly knitting dishcloths – we need them and they’re small enough that a couple rows is both progress and not so much I hurt myself.

After the holidays I really want to get all my WIPs off the needles so I can start something new and cool. And maybe actually get holiday gifts done by the holidays they are meant to be done for. I am taking a semester or two off school to save up for the next batch of classes, so I should have plenty(ish) of time.

One of these years I will actually knit a sweater.

Enh…

I think I’m skipping trying for another pair or two for SOS. It’s a bit disappointing that I only got three pairs done when I was hoping for six, but I’m kinda sick of just knitting socks, and I seem to get more done when I have a variety of projects going on. Plus I’d like to get some of the things on the needles off of them before we move.

Summer of Socks (08) #2 & 3

Started 7/14, finished 8/7
Pattern: Spring Forward by Linda Welch
Yarn: Latte colorway of Elann Sock It to Me 4 Ply
Needles: KP Harmony dpns, 2.5
Cuff: 5.5 inches

Notes: This yarn sucks.

Started 7/2, finished 8/15
Pattern: Basic Sock Recipe by Stephanie Pearl-McPhee
Yarns: Valentine colorway of Yarn Love Elizabeth Bennet and Latte colorway of Elann Sock It to Me 4 Ply
Needles: KP Harmony dpns, 2.5
Cuff: 2 inches

New Skills: Eye of Partridge heel

Notes: The feet fit perfect. The cuff is too short and too small around. Still trying for that perfect sock….

Hoping to get one (maybe 2, but doubt it) more pair done before the end of SoS! I had hoped to do one colorwork and one toe up but I think I’m just going to do a pair of Brigid (maybe, I don’t have any sport weight, so…) and one more basic sock, then go back to the tank top languishing on the needles.

Yes, I’m indecisive.

Summer of Socks (08) #1

Started 6/21, finished 7/2
Pattern: Nutkin by Beth Lapensee
Yarn: Castagna colorway of Colinette Jitterbug
Needles: KP Harmony dpns, 2.5mm (1.5 US)
Cuff: 2.25 inches

New Skills: Short row heel/toe, 3-needle bind off, hemmed cuff.

Notes: These will end up being a gift since they just fit my foot weird. Also, were I to knit these again, I’d totally do heel flap and a “normal” toe, even if it meant losing the 3-needle bind off embellishment, I’d go up to a size 2 needle, and I’d keep the purls together to avoid where my purls aren’t tight enough and look silly. And here I thought I was “beyond” ladders. Hmpf.

Busy, busy.

Things here have been busy lately. First, Stitch n’ Pitch:

The game was okay. Most of the people I recognized from Ravelry were on the far end of the section from me, so no real socializing. Just ooing and trying to peek at what everyone was working on without appearing obnoxiously nosy. And the goody bags. Free loot! Mostly Shawn watched the game and I got the cuff done on my first Nutkin (anklet sized), which is now done:

My goal for Summer of Socks is one sock a week, so I’m ahead of schedule. Yay!

Then there was Convergence. There were three knitting-focused booths, and even if one of those was a little under half weaving yarn. But still, for fiber addicts, a mecca. For those who like taking pictures of fiber, not so much. I was asked to turn off my camera shortly after being there — I guess there was something in the packet of information for non-day goers that specified no photography. But I did get a few pictures, including one this lovely fiber:

I was alone and not feeling well, so that made it less fun, but I did pick up goodies.

Some Soak:

And this neat Kumihimo (Japanese braiding) loom/kit:

And my best deal of the day, 6,300 yards of a light fingering weight cotton (6/2 in weaving terms) — a mill end from Webs, and under $20, in my favorite green:

I also got some J-Knits sock yarn and some Araucania Ulmo (cotton) Multy from Knit ‘n Knibble’s booth, and some gorgeous superwash/bamboo sock yarn from FiberLady. I really, really wanted to get something from Knitting Notions — they had some amazing stuff, but I was so overwhelmed by all the gorgeousness I couldn’t pick anything (well, other than really wanting a swift that I couldn’t afford and have no where to store). I came back three times, and still… overwhelmed, so since I knew they had an online store, I figured I’d put them on the top of my mental list (and knitting store bookmarks) for when I am ready to buy a swift, and the next time I have a yarn need they can fill.

Other than that, my Ribs and Lace tank is hibernating until the end of SoS, but it’s getting close to done. All that’s left is lots and lots of ribbing (and shaping). Shawn’s socks are very close to halfway done, but those are hibernating, too.

As a side note on Foody Friday, I haven’t been baking. First when the summer semester started I was just overwhelmed, and then I found out that I’m likely gluten intolerant (plus lactose intolerant and fructose malaborbant until my body heals from the gluten/autoimmune damage), so I’ve been eating gluten free since the 7th. Which means I’m going to have to learn a whole new way of baking (and buy all new supplies), which is probably a ways off (GF crap is expensive). For a silver lining I am seeing improvement already (hair not coming out by the literal fistful = very, very good), so I’m not minding it so much. Less time baking = more time knitting, and for now, that works for me.

One of these days I’ll have a real, live FO to share. Really.

Um, yeah. I can no haz more yarn. Srsly.

I’m just back from Convergence. With.. oh.. around 7.5k yards of yarn.

Happy several-month-early birthday to me.

I think the only other yarn I will be buying this year (as in, up until next March) will be a sweater’s worth for NaKniSweMo and some gift stuff, maybe.

Pictures in a bit. What I could get, anyway, before I was told pics were off-limits.

Note to self:

Color cards.

Sewing & School (aka: Where did all my knitting time go?)

For those who don’t read my other blog (I say that as if anyone is reading this one, either ), I am back in school. Again. Whee! And omg, I’m old. It is taking so much time to keep up with these two classes. I have to read everything twice and sometimes I feel like I’m still in over my head.

Anyway, between that and the new sewing machine, my knitting time has been shrinking. Even though I’ve only sewn two things (sock knitting bags):

But I did manage to start my tank!

I ended up tinking like 1382 stitches because I missed a yarn over, but I’m back to just after where I realized I was missing a stitch. If I could just find the time to get through the rest of this lace pattern the rest should zoom by.

Oh, and I did end up making a little bag with some scrap yarn.

Basically, I needed something to work on while reading textbooks, so I started just knitting garter stitch, and from there I decided to make another market bag, only stockinette in the round on giganto needles vs. the openwork patterns of the patterns I’d knit before. I made it just long enough that I thought I’d be able to finish the handles, yet still have room for dinner supplies, but I ran out of yarn before the end… so I hid it with a bow.

What I ended up doing:

CO 45 on size 5 circs in dishcloth cotton, work back and forth in garter for 25 rows.

Then to switch to knitting in the round for the sides — pick up 12 stitches on one side, 45 along the back, and 12 more to meet back in the beginning. Knit all the way around.

Then, switch to size 13 needles, do a round of k2tog all the way around. From there just knit (stockinette in the round) until the bag is as long as you want it. It’s stretchy, but not nearly as stretchy as a lace pattern, so don’t make it uber short expecting it to grow.

From there, switch to size 3 dpns, do an applied i-cord across 22 stitches, continuing around for the length of handles you want, and then kitchener together (I picked up this way of handles from Elisa’s Nest Tote, which is way cooler, but not something I could do while reading).

For the bow I used this tutorial, using the same dpns as the i-cord, and six stitches across, rather than 12, working 6 rows in stockinette before the decreases, and doing k2tog and ssks for decreasing rather than binding off. So, yeah:

Row 1: sl1, k5
Row 2: s1, p5
Row 3: s1, k1, (yo, k1)
Row 4-10: stockinette
Row 11: ssk, k to last 2 stitches, k2tog
Row 12: p across
Repeat 11 & 12 until 2 sts remain on RS
WS: s1, k1
RS: k2tog, cut yarn, pull through, and weave in.

I used the beginning tail of each half of the bow to cinch the bottom of the bow and then attach it to the other half and the bag.

Just big enough to hold pasta, sauce, and salad:

I guess I’m bag obsessed right now. Maybe it’s only having three purses in 10 years finally catching up to me.

WIPs, FOs, & Plans.

It was inadvertently brought to my attention last night that I haven’t really been blogging about my WIPs or FOs. Partly this is because I’m scatterbrained lately, and partly that I haven’t been working on anything worth yapping about. Last month I did a couple Christmas presents, and have the rest somewhat sorted out in my head, though most of them require yarn I don’t have. Other than that I made snuggles. I’m still making snuggles. I’m on the 5th, and I think the last I’ll do for a little bit, since I’m out of charity yarn after this one. I’m finding that the Cat Mat (Rav link) pattern by Kris Percival from Speed Knitting is a really nice snuggle pattern. It’s interesting to look at, quick, requires enough attention that it doesn’t lead to deadly boredom, but not so distracting that I can’t knit it while reading.

For a non-secret FO, I finished the million-triangle kitty crescent. Which the cats actually use, amazingly. At first Vree would just lay next to it, but after a week I’ve seen both snuggled up sleeping away on it. Of course, the camera is never handy at the time, so maybe this falls under “screenshot or it didn’t happen.” Either way, it completely emptied my scrap bags — both the “for stuffing” bag and the “maybe big enough for something itty” ball bag. I also chopped up the horrid Lion Homespun I’ve had up on Ravelry for trade since I’ve been there and used that to complete the stuffing. All the yarn scraps are wrapped up in one of Shawn’s old, stained t-shirts so the little yarn bits don’t escape.

This past week, though, I’ve mostly been knitting away at grocery bags. I’ve knit two different patterns so far, and have several left to try, before I pick out the elements I prefer.

Also on the needles right now are my Wicked Spirogyra for the WoW Knitters KAL. I picked up the yarn (Cascade Sassy Stripes, which so far is really nice to work with, if not as mindblowingly pretty as handpainted stuff) for these at Sip ‘N Knit in Maitland after seeing Wicked. Everything about them is about friendship.

And there’s Shawn’s (Easter – snort) socks that I’m only working on when I’m out, which isn’t often enough to make any great progress. I’m finally to the heel flap of the first one. I bet it’ll be until Summer of Socks starts that I really settle in and finish them.

So that’s 3 things on the needles (4 if you count the Pi that is still in need-yarn limbo), one that I’ll finish today or tomorrow (the snuggle), and two that have specific times dedicated to working on them. Next thing up is finally, finally starting the Ribs and Lace Tank (Rav link) with my KP Shine Worsted, hopefully to be finished in time, and come out well enough, to wear it to the Stitch ‘N Pitch.

Maybe I’ll even remember to blog about it.

For now I’m going to go find a skein of sock yarn to buy with our incentive check.

Just one.

I swear.

(Wish me luck.)