7.31.2007

I thought it could not happen to me

Startitis - Genus: Caston, Species: multitudinus. Symptoms of infection: The overwhelming impulse to cast on knitting projects regardless of the number of projects already started or the shortage of knitting needles.

I thought I was immune.

I thought I had sufficient self-imposed rules in place to inoculate me.
Rule #1 - Only one large project and one small project on the needles at any given time.
Rule #2 - No more scarves or other items that are seldom used.
Rule #3 - When on a deadline focus solely on the deadline project.
These rules make sense to me and keep me from the frustration of too many WIPs.

Somehow I became infected by a virulent strain of startitis.

I have had one small outbreak so far - a Noro scarf. I started this last night while trying to focus on work.


Oh, and I want to start Clapotis - I already have the yarn.

And of course there is the Bee Fields shawl that I am going to start as soon as I get the proper needles.

And before too long I need to start Thermal.

Oh, and there is that sweater (Notre Dame) from Interweave Knits that I want to be able to wear this winter.

Not to mention the garter stitch vest I want to knit (no pattern) out of the Yorkshire Tweed leftovers.

This may seem minor, but it only takes one small step and then it is a slippery slope down the road of 'too many WIPs to finish in my lifetime'. I mean, I have the Rogue sweater that has to be finished in less than a month!!

Now having said all that, I am enjoying this Noro project immensely. I cast on 31 stitches, 1x1 rib, alternate colorways every 2 rows. There is a beautiful example of it here and here.

7.29.2007

Bee Field Shawl

It arrived! The Bee Field shawl!

Pattern: Bee Fields by Anne at Knitspot.
Yarn: Wooly Wonka Fibers, Buckwheat Honey
colorway, Laceweight 100% merino, 1200 yards.
Needles: Hopefully, Jenkins circular size 5 US


I saw the swatches Anne from Knitspot posted when she began to knit and design this shawl and I was hooked. I have had Bee Field fever ever since. I have never bought a 'kit' before. I usually buy the pattern and then keep an eye out for just the right yarn, which can take months. This time, I liked the yarn and I felt the kit was a good buy. Wooly Wonka Fibers did a good job. I want to buy a Jenkins circular needle for this; I know they have good points for lace knitting and the wood will keep the stitches from jumping off the needles at inopportune moments.

7.24.2007

Rogue and the wonky stitch

I have reached the armholes and started knitting back and forth on the back of the sweater. I noticed a wonky stitch about 20 rows back, and for the next several rows tried to tell myself I could live with it - NOT. So I dropped back to it. It ended up being a dropped stitch somehow attached to its big loopy neighbor. You can see the wonky stitch at the bottom of that vertical drop.




(The camera was too tired to focus twice.) I don't know if it is visible in this blurry photo, but now I have a vertical row of tight stitches. The fix may be worse than the wonky stitch. I am going to continue on and close my eyes to it. I will pretend it is not there. I do not see it. *sigh*

Wasn't it Elizabeth Zimmerman who talked about how these kinds of things eventually even out with wear and washing? That is my hope, that with blocking and wearing it will even out a little more.

Okay, no more whining. Onward!

7.17.2007

Sock Monkey gone wild

This little bag is so fun. I ordered this from the Knitting Ewe.

It is reversible, and of course I have to show both sides and the bottom. Have to cuz I want to.




It is nicely made and has plenty of room for yarn, needles, and project. (Reasonably priced, too)

Progress on the Rogue...

Oops. The director had to inspect the shot. Thanx Pansy!

Sorry about the lack of focus (camera insisted on focusing on the background). The red cotton yarn is the crochet chain that I used for my provisional cast on and will be removed when I fold up the hem. The hem facing is in a gray/green heathered color. There is a purl row for the turning row, and the English Fern green is the body of the sweater. Soon I will fold up the hem and do the 3-needle thingy to knit the hem facing to the body, and then continue up the body.

Okay, back to work.

7.15.2007

Wooly Sunday

I am having fun with this OnLine sock yarn. The colors remind me of Pendleton Wool shirts and jackets from my childhood. I found a stitch pattern that gives it a bit of a woven look.


The Woolies going for a bath. I am a little behind on washing the woolies and storing them properly. I made this picture my desktop background image.

The mosaic is going so s-s-l-o-o-o-w. I wanted to have it done by now, but I lost some of my confidence and now I am dragging. Fortunately, I was able to locate some Shetland DK weight yarn for securing the rest of the steeks. It may have to step aside for a project that is on a time schedule....


The Rogue hoodie is for my daughter. She leaves for college the end of August. I will have to work fast and furious to get this done in time. Ready, set, swatch!

7.11.2007

Rip and tweak

Spiral scarf from Knitting Nature. Mmmmm, not so much. I like the feel of the Noro Silk Garden and I think it will be soft enough for around my neck. Needs tweaking. Maybe smaller needles and fewer stitches cast on. Or...maybe a completely different scarf.

I needed a distraction: OnLine sock yarn. I am going to swatch a stitch pattern from "365 Stitches a Year". *sigh* nothing like socks to take the edge off.

7.09.2007

Sock Hopping

Finished socks:


Yarn: Crown Mountain Farm Sock Hop handspun yarn, My Boyfriend's Back colorway
Needles: KnitPicks circular 3 mm, Magic Loop style.
Pattern: No pattern, basic recipe. I played with the ribbing so that there would be a few knit stitches together and then 1x1 rib for an 8-stitch pattern. I also carried the ribbing down onto the instep stitches a little ways to meet the top of the shoe/clog, then kept the rest of the foot in stockinet stitch.

I did not mix the two hanks of yarn while I knit because I wanted fraternal socks instead of identical socks. I wanted to see how the yarn would behave. This was my first experience knitting with handspun yarn.

7.08.2007

My first lace shawl


Pattern: Sun Ray Shawl
Yarn: Peru Luxury DK, 6 balls
Needles: KnitPicks size 10

7.04.2007

Blocking weather

My first lace shawl had its bath and is being blocked. It seemed like good weather for it - hot. It will dry by bedtime.

I could not find stainless blocking wires at the hardware stores, so I had to improvise. I used 1/8 - inch wood rods ($3 total). My cat, Pansy, supervised and approved. She said they taste just fine.

7.03.2007

Knitting buddy, I'll miss you

Saturday around the table knitting and chatting

knit knit purl

Sitting needle to needle sharing ideas

knit knit purl

Talking of sweaters, vests, and scarves

knit knit purl
knit knit purl


You asked me questions and sincerely listened

knit 2 together

Sharing about families, motherhood, and felting adventures

knit 2 together

Sharing about Jesus, joy in the midst of pain, and socks

knit 2 together

Friendship knitted with golden fibers

knit 2 together
knit 2 together


Chapters end and new ones begin

yarnover

Your new home a half-continent away

yarnover

Not good-bye, just see you later

knit 2 together
knit 2 together

7.02.2007

My First Blogiversary

I started out being a little unsure about this whole blog thing but I decided to give it a try. Now a year later, I find that my knitting experience is much richer because of this wonderful fiber arts community where so much sharing takes place. I have been encouraged, inspired, surprised, and humbled. I have experienced joy, compassion, excitement, and laughter. You have stretched the horizons of my knitting experience and you have warmed my heart.

Thank you so much. This blog would not mean so much to me if it weren't for those of you who drop in and coment or wave 'hello' as you go by.

See ya in the blogosphere! I am going to knit a bit.

7.01.2007

Hello July

I am starting a sock using Crown Mountain Farm handspun sock yarn in the 'My Boyfriend's Back' colorway. It took 4 swatches to finally get to this point. I started with Racine braid, but it just looked like hamburger. I also tried Puff Rib, but it began to look like the chunky socks that were popular in the 80's. Then I was going to knit it in the broadripple pattern, but I kept thinking that I liked the way the yarn looked in the 1x1 rib I had used for the cuff. I realized that this yarn was different than a mild-mannered, hand-dyed, machine-spun yarn. This yarn did not need to do calisthenics to show off its colorway. This yarn was bold and could speak for itself. So I played with the rib pattern. I am using 3 knit stitches, then 1x1 rib for 5 stitches, which is an 8 stitch pattern.


This plant is considered a weed by most people. I tend to see things differently than most. This plant greets me with a multitude of these pretty blue flowers first thing every morning, then by mid day they are all gone. The next morning, I find a new batch of pretty blue flowers for the new day. This goes on all summer. I like it.