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tuesdays are for spinning
Posted on | March 9, 2010 | 12 Comments
Well. First let me say thanks for all the comments on my Olympic project! I can only imagine what I could accomplish in life if I were that disciplined all the time. But, it’s not my nature, so once every four years will have to suffice!
Last week I was felled by a horrible sinus infection/bug/dreaded illness, and spent several days sacked out on the couch – didn’t touch anything fibery but did discover BBC America, which is my new favorite channel. Even the NEWS is better with a British accent!
Saturday I felt a bit better and finished up the camel/silk I’d started before the Olympics:
Not as thin as I’d thought, it plumped up quite a bit in the wash. Still, 400 yards of loveliness that will live in the stash until the right project calls.
After finishing this, I cast on for my next knitting project – Kerrera by Gudrun Johnston. I thought it would be perfect for Office Air Conditioning Season, which will start soon in this part of the country. My gauge swatch lied, which I finally admitted after knitting 20 rows, including 15 rows of double garter stitch. The body of the sweater is knit in one piece from the bottom up and once I finally measured it – it was 20″ bigger than it was supposed to be! TWENTY INCHES TOO BIG! I can’t believe I knit on it most of Saturday and wasted all that time.
So now it’s back to the beginning. The yarn is Misti Alpaca Pima Cotton Silk, which is on sale at Webs for $4.99 for a 195 yard skein – quite the bargain. I think it will be reincarnated as a blanket, as the more I look at it, the more I don’t really think it’s my color.
With my ego bruised, I went to my fiber closet and pulled out a treat.
These wonderful batts were sent to me by Lynn in Tuscon last summer when I was going through a rough patch. It’s Brown Sheep Sock Blend from the Sheep Shed that she put through the carder with nylon, and it is scrumptious to spin. I finished the first bobbin last night and can’t even think about knitting right now!
(that’s not really true – I’m already thinking about what kind of blanket/throw to knit with the cotton/silk!)
Lastly, kind Robyn awarded me this honor:
Thanks Robyn! I’m supposed to pass this on to 7 bloggers, but I hate putting anyone under pressure, so here is my list and they can play if they like: Bee House Hives, The Catorialist, Beauty Knitter, Rows Red, Sel and Poivre, These Times We Are Living In, and Wollhuhn.
I’m also supposed to list 7 interesting things about myself, but that’s even harder. Perhaps I’ll do a random post soon and sneak a few bits in (once I’ve had a chance to think about it)!
Olympic gold
Posted on | March 1, 2010 | 34 Comments
What to say? The past 16 days have been a whirlwind.
Friday night I finished the second sleeve and seamed the shoulders. I tried it on and knew what I’ve known since I started knitting – this is not my sweater. No, this sweater is meant for my daughter. Even my son commented last weekend “that looks like something A would wear!”
And since my daughter loves hoodies, that meant I had a hood to knit.
I started the hood Friday night and finished on Saturday.
Yesterday morning I started the hood and neckline facing.
I seamed the sleeves yesterday afternoon.
I wove in the many, many ends during the USA v. Canada hockey game.
Then I gave it a good soak and let it dry flat overnight. The vertical lines completely disappeared!
Words can’t express how pleased I am.
It came out just as I planned – I love Veronik Avery’s patterns! I consider myself lucky that my gauge was quite a bit larger than the pattern specified, as I was able to follow the size small instructions, for a size large sweater!
My favorite part has to be the small touches of red.
I hope my daughter loves it as much as I loved knitting it.
Today … I’m kind of overwhelmed. A bit lost, without a specified goal to strive towards. Never fear – I’ve already decided what my next project will be (and ordered the yarn for it last week!), but for a few days, I’m going to bask in the glory of accomplishment. And spin. I’ve really missed spinning.
I’m so glad I decided to participate in the Knitting Olympics. This has shown me what I’m capable of, or rather, what project monogamy can do! Although this is the only project I worked on for the past 16 days (I started a day late), I remained a participate in Life as Usual during that time – I went to work each day, I drove two hours to spend the afternoon with my daughter one Sunday, I read a 480 page book, I cleaned my house (I was forced to – we had guests) and went to a concert. I didn’t cook as much as I would’ve liked, or played as many Canasta games as I might have, and I have to give a big salute and thank you to SB for eating cheese pizza without complaint and being so supportive. I thank everyone who left me encouraging comments and had faith that I could do this. THANK YOU!!! We are all Olympians!
memory jog
Posted on | February 25, 2010 | 8 Comments
I was just reading a new-to-me blog, Rurality (anyone who blogs Cat Parables is immediately added to my bloglines!), and her post today about a boat in the woods stirred a memory that I thought I’d share.
When my son was little, maybe three, we arrived coming home from a long day at work and daycare, and he said he wanted to build a boat in the front yard. Tired and frustrated and wanting to go inside and start dinner, I told him we couldn’t build a boat, we didn’t have nearly enough wood, not to mention I didn’t know HOW to build a boat, it was going to be dark soon, etc. Ever the voice of reason, practicality and – unintentionally – discouragement.
My then-teenage daughter stepped in and said “I’ll build a boat with you!” She and my son gathered sticks, sat on the grass and made the outline of a boat around them. He was delighted, and I was reminded how wonderful imagination can be.
Boats are pretty wonderful too.
analyze this, Bob
Posted on | February 23, 2010 | 16 Comments
The Olympic sweater is rocking along! As you can see, the body is finished, and I finished the first sleeve this morning. I am definitely enjoying this challenge, particularly watching the Olympic events (the men’s aerials last night were fabulous!) while working on my own challenge.
I debated blocking the body and letting it dry while I knit the sleeves, but decided against it. If I have to seam the sleeves to the body unblocked (and I will, there will be no time to block them), then I might as well wait to block the whole sweater when it’s seamed and finished. I’ve also been debating on the hood – whether I want to knit it at all, or just knit a ribbed collar. Since I’m making pretty good time, I’m leaning towards knitting the hood, although I know that hoods can be deceptive. They take longer to knit than you might think.
But, that’s what makes this a challenge, right? Not taking the easy road, accepting obstacles and difficulties as a matter of course and working to overcome them. Not that I’ve had many obstacles (so far, knock on wood), other than ripping back a row or two several times when I got confused. Let’s hope it stays that way and I bring home the gold! SIX MORE DAYS!!!!
(And yes, I do still have a few latent Christmas decorations hanging around my house. In February. As long as they’re not there in July, it’s okay!)
olympic report
Posted on | February 17, 2010 | 16 Comments
Hi there! Well, I wanted to cast on during the opening ceremonies – specifically, when the torch was lit (I figured if that was when Stephanie was starting, then that was when I would start!) – but I just couldn’t stay awake! I fell asleep on the couch and did wake up to see the torch being lit (after 11 pm), but knew that casting on then would be courting disaster.
So, I got up at 6:30 am Saturday and hit the ground running! I knit Saturday, I knit Sunday, but I also soaked in the hot tub, played multiple games of Canasta (it was a draw) and made lasagna for Valentine’s dinner, so knitting wasn’t the ONLY thing I accomplished.
Still, I made really good progress! This picture was taken Monday morning and last night I divided the front and back and started the larger colorwork pattern on the back.
Several people have been interested in my thoughts on the yarn (Knit Picks Telemark). I’m going to reserve judgment until I’ve blocked the sweater. As you can see from the picture, it needs a good blocking. The yarn has a good bit of twist in it, which creates vertical “lines” in the knitting, if you know what I mean. There is a good Knitty article about yarn and twist and how the way the yarn is plied affects the look of the knit fabric, and I can definitely see this happening:
“When knitted up, these yarns have their own unique look. The right side of each stitch is nearly twice as wide as the left side, and tilted at a different angle. It almost looks like the left sides of the stitches are forming one continuous vertical column.”
I’m hoping this will be resolved with blocking and in the meantime, I’m soldiering on! Citius, Alitius, Fortius!
1824 Blouson
Posted on | February 15, 2010 | 19 Comments
Or, as I like to call it, my Knit Sweatshirt.
How lucky that it snowed Friday afternoon! 
I can’t believe I was able to have snow as a backdrop for my last two sweaters!
I really love this sweater, too. It’s soft, it’s comfy, it has just enough detail to make it not-boring.
The cuff pleats weren’t difficult at all. Following Ravelry advice, I used a crochet hook to pull the yarn through the three layers of knit fabric and it was easy-peasy.
Pattern: 1824 Blouson from IK’s Summer 2007 issue, size 40.5 (about 3″ of negative ease at the bust)
Yarn: Queensland Kathmandu Tweed DK, color 406, sadly discontinued. I used 7 1/2 balls, roughly 1100 yards.
Needles: US 6s, except for the bottom hem bindoff – there I went up to an 8.
Modifications: I skipped the pleats at the bottom of the sweater. Two reasons: (1) this is an A-line sweater and my hips are wider than my bust, so I didn’t have a lot of extra fabric to make pleats out of, and (2) I didn’t feel like my hips needed the extra bulk. I considered leaving the bottom unfinished but ended up doing a turned hem that matched the cuffs and collar and I’m glad I did – it pulled the whole sweater together.
Thoughts: Again – Love it! I’m planning to knit another one out of Rowan Denim for summer!
Olympic news – Let me just say, I am kicking butt on my Olympic sweater! I’ll have pics and a full report in a day or two!
friday funny
Posted on | February 12, 2010 | 12 Comments
That’s about the only way we’ll see 20 inches of snow in Alabama!
Have a great weekend!
olympic dreams
Posted on | February 10, 2010 | 20 Comments
Since I started knitting four years ago and began reading knit blogs, I’ve looked forward to the next winter Olympics so I could participate. It sounds like so much fun – the challenge of selecting a project and race to finish, going for the gold, and all the while watching winter Olympic sports – which I love! It makes me feel athletic just seeing those skiers and skaters in action! Nevermind that I’m sitting on the couch in pajamas.
Last month I even decided on a project and ordered the yarn for it.
Graphic Hoodie by Veronik Avery in Knitting Classic Style. The pattern calls for Dale’s Heilo, which at $5.60/ball, the 19 balls needed put that yarn right out of my budget. Lucky for me, Knit Picks’ Telemark is virtually identical in weight and only $1.99/ball.
The box of yarn sat on my desk, unopened, until yesterday. I couldn’t decide if I wanted to compete, since the one resolution I made this year was not to knit on a deadline. But, I usually throw my resolutions out of the window by February, so why should this be any different?!?
In order to compete with a clear conscious, I need to finish a couple of things up first.
The seaming on my 1824 Blouson is finished! People are not kidding when they say the finishing is a bitch. The knitting was completed in 8 days – the pleats, cuffs and seaming took another 10. Of course, it wasn’t the only thing I worked on during that time, but still. If I say so myself, it’s pretty cute on! I’m weaving in the ends tonight and planning to wear it tomorrow.
One of my distractions was this silk/camel blend. It’s luscious. I’ve spun 1 oz. and have 1 oz. to go – it’ll be my “need a break” project during the Olympics.
Now I just need to finish my BIL’s second Xmas sock (started it yesterday!) and knit a gauge swatch for the Graphic Hoodie and I’ll be ready for the Opening Ceremonies! In, um, two days. Yes, I’m praying for a snowstorm!
Are you competing? If so, what’re you making?
what better way
Posted on | February 5, 2010 | 14 Comments
to combat rainy skies than with cheerful flowers?
late-blooming amaryllis to brighten your Friday ~ have a great weekend!
LOST – my crackpot theory
Posted on | February 3, 2010 | 7 Comments
Yes, I’ve become one of those who blog about a TV show. If you don’t watch Lost, or if you haven’t seen last night’s season premiere, you might want to skip this post entirely.
For the most part, I watched last night’s episode thoroughly confused. I was confused when I went to bed and confused when I woke up. Just where are they going with this? Then when I was putting on my makeup, it came to me.
This entire season is going to be one of split universes/alternate realities. I’ll call them the Island and Reality. We’re going to follow the Losties throughout the season in both. The Island Losties will partake in the ultimate battle between good and evil (the Man in Black v. Jacob reincarnated as Sayid (maybe?) It seemed like they were going there). The Reality Losties will continue on as we saw them, but their lives (as we have already seen) will be different than what we might have anticipated. For one, Boone’s sister, Shannon, wasn’t on the plane with him. I didn’t see Walt or Michael either, but I’m betting they’ll show up later. I’m guessing this is because, in this universe, the Island was blown up in the 70s and that DID change the course of events in small, seemingly inconsequential, ways. The Losties in Reality are already showing signs of being drawn towards one another; I think their destinies are inextricably interwoven – no matter where they land.
Locke will contact Jack and Jack will operate on Locke. Sun and Jin will go about their “business” and unhappy marriage. Rose will die from cancer. Sawyer will continue his con game and Kate will always be on the run. Claire will give up her baby. I think the series will culminate with the Losties having to choose the universe in which they wish to exist – the Island where they’ve suffered greatly and lost many people they loved, but also where they discovered freedom, found love, struggled with and conquered their demons v. Reality, which also offers love (Sayid and Nadia will surely reunite) and untold possibilities, but the demons that haunt our Losties are still waiting to be dealt with.
I’m not sure how this choice will come about (Desmond surely has a role in there somewhere) but already Jack is showing signs of recognition and, as I said earlier, the Losties are being drawn together. I think they will have to make a conscious choice which universe to inhabit… and I think that’s where the series will end. I’m betting the producers will pull a Sopranos ending and leave the audience to guess which choice was made.
The Losties’ struggle is representative of the struggle we all face between doing what is easy and adequate (Reality) and doing what is right and should be done for the betterment of all (the Island).
As my husband says, I think too much.
And I could be completely wrong.
Thoughts?