tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-11142802310261679492024-02-06T20:21:47.694-08:00Bulky Blue Woolknitting away as I ignore my ever-increasing pile of homeworkMargaritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572570912551422923noreply@blogger.comBlogger67125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114280231026167949.post-82323533923449442922009-01-14T13:23:00.000-08:002009-01-14T13:30:35.867-08:00Hooray!Awesome things:<br /><br />1) I am back at school, but it is the first week back so there is no way I am doing any work this week. February Lady Sweater, here I come! (Almost finished with the body and then it's on to the sleeves. Assuming I can find my size 8 DPNs, which is by no means a sure thing).<br /><br />2) While I knit, I have a new episode of <a href="http://www.stashandburn.com/">Stash and Burn</a> to listen to! FINALLY.<br /><br />3) <a href="http://www.smh.com.au/news/entertainment/arts/guerilla-knitters/2009/01/13/1231608708374.html">Guerilla Knitters</a>. Doesn't it look like at least some of the yarn she's using in the picture is Noro Kureyon?<br /><br />That reminds me, actually--in class yesterday I was sitting right behind a guy wearing a handknit sweater! He said that his grandmother made it for him, which is incredibly cute. It was a great sweater, sort of Aran with lots of cables and seed-stitch panels (I know this because I stared at it throughout the entire class). After feeling the sleeve (trying and probably failing not to seem like a total freak) I'm pretty sure it was Malabrigo.<br /><br />I am SUCH A DORK.Margaritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572570912551422923noreply@blogger.com56tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114280231026167949.post-75750275280222807522009-01-08T17:32:00.000-08:002009-01-08T17:41:59.283-08:00An Easier KnitRemember <a href="http://bulkybluewool.blogspot.com/search/label/gretel">Gretel</a>? Remember how I screwed up a million times and tore my hair out and that stupid hat took WAY longer than it should have and it was really hard?<br /><br />Yeah, this was nothing like that.<br /><br />I came. I knit. I finished. And it was awesome.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNM9B8iliMRmBx8ckAa_vlBN_Pb9yV_N653oWdZG5GmtVzqzW3pEqP6hO2O2ozai6bzOk7gCYSJP4B-LXuglj5Qznb3z53O972o0_MnoWKD7zXAq8Shh87MFFbyq2Roqzxr2GNAN-05WKF/s1600-h/Picture+001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNM9B8iliMRmBx8ckAa_vlBN_Pb9yV_N653oWdZG5GmtVzqzW3pEqP6hO2O2ozai6bzOk7gCYSJP4B-LXuglj5Qznb3z53O972o0_MnoWKD7zXAq8Shh87MFFbyq2Roqzxr2GNAN-05WKF/s320/Picture+001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289101575393344962" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Q9aYRWH9Mss06DBJYJChr5I1SExkcVUMX4PmanV31XpXxgFNM5tXo3ca14Fs3rAMFoQnbLnETqccZFF2WmXYFUKM38nNCrUl3isXaH78JHXpGFtsNIaFi2G_7lXaHs1PH2P0y_K3my6A/s1600-h/Picture+004.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Q9aYRWH9Mss06DBJYJChr5I1SExkcVUMX4PmanV31XpXxgFNM5tXo3ca14Fs3rAMFoQnbLnETqccZFF2WmXYFUKM38nNCrUl3isXaH78JHXpGFtsNIaFi2G_7lXaHs1PH2P0y_K3my6A/s320/Picture+004.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289101536038944338" /></a><br /><br />Pattern: <a href="http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/2008/09/habitat-pattern-available-for-download.html">Habitat</a>, by Jared Flood. Amazing. This pattern is so cool, and do you know why? Because it's <i>unexpected</i>. It starts out like a regular old cabled hat, but then it's not! The cables behave in unexpected ways! They entwine and split off to form new cables! I know, I shouldn't be assigning anthropomorphic qualities to little loops of wool! And I'm using a lot of exclamation points! But it's just so cool!<br /><br />Yeah, so thumbs up on the pattern then. Also thumbs up on the yarn, Malabrigo Merino Worsted in "Surf." (I think. Lost the tag, of course). Oh man so soft. Oh man. I just want to bury my face in it and snuggle. <br /><br />Also, supercute on the recipient; much better than it looked on me, it must be said, which made it easier to give away. I looked like a cancer patient and she looks adorable. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLwscZJU0zjAwVREf2m_5Z4NpvISxGSWdYsNknOT_l95yl_1oof6tsb5QG43Wgen27ZmAxoQ9738w_5l8d5jcHkAXHoJytKvE4PCU5fM3teuWXVQfVWfqMLTjNh_XHBHQEtgLP72JgYnG/s1600-h/Picture+003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 240px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKLwscZJU0zjAwVREf2m_5Z4NpvISxGSWdYsNknOT_l95yl_1oof6tsb5QG43Wgen27ZmAxoQ9738w_5l8d5jcHkAXHoJytKvE4PCU5fM3teuWXVQfVWfqMLTjNh_XHBHQEtgLP72JgYnG/s320/Picture+003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289101555732789106" /></a>Margaritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572570912551422923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114280231026167949.post-90925123762965102882009-01-08T16:51:00.000-08:002009-01-08T17:31:57.233-08:00The Gretel SagaThis was not supposed to be this hard. Of course, it was never going to be as easy as I thought (remember when I thought I would finish this hat and wear it in England! Hah! Haahaha!) But I did not help myself much.<br /><br />First, I ignored the instructions, and it looked like this:<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVdUZrBL4C_6tfqzvYutTZzhxB3P35yHRBlzWhx8jPoB6I1que85jqvEHMscnu2ChUKIQ2ITK8q85ZIUa-EuARg134USNp9ntfa4geX8OVRbaw5yQFVN0f4Mw3QBZ6SXwCmTuf2hQffV3/s1600-h/PC280189.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289094781264191682" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNVdUZrBL4C_6tfqzvYutTZzhxB3P35yHRBlzWhx8jPoB6I1que85jqvEHMscnu2ChUKIQ2ITK8q85ZIUa-EuARg134USNp9ntfa4geX8OVRbaw5yQFVN0f4Mw3QBZ6SXwCmTuf2hQffV3/s320/PC280189.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Lesson learned: smaller needles for the band are your friend.<br /><br />Plus, when I finished it was way too big. Not just the band; the whole thing. It looked like I should be stuffing my dreadlooks in it and singing "Buffalo Soldier." Not cool. (Also not pictured, so use your imagination).<br /><br />Sooo...I did a little surgery.<br /><br />Hold your breath; are you ready to see the carnage?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssrvl0SSUnzO1N5TIi7HQcT6HnrOn7h-DPtvreJmkjsejCIAPd4rtnfdCMpAkMNI1yzp3Bp5C3FdLK2LonZvrzXrMqsAVZoprN48Z3YTVQZTUq33F_dScWm2SepMfF9l807oa5q6RZYtO/s1600-h/Picture+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289094797119177042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgssrvl0SSUnzO1N5TIi7HQcT6HnrOn7h-DPtvreJmkjsejCIAPd4rtnfdCMpAkMNI1yzp3Bp5C3FdLK2LonZvrzXrMqsAVZoprN48Z3YTVQZTUq33F_dScWm2SepMfF9l807oa5q6RZYtO/s320/Picture+006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yeah, I chopped that up. It was drastic, I know, but there was no #$%!ing way I was going to pick out every single insidious little stitch if I ripped back from the cast-on edge, and also no way I was going to rip and reknit, so chop chop. I cut off a good two inches, including the accursed band, and then picked out the bits of fluff and picked up the resulting live stitches (hooray for extremely sticky, fuzzy wool yarn). A little messy and there were a few stray ends, but I just tacked them down and you can't tell the difference. Hah!<br /><br />I knit a couple of rounds to get myself settled, decreasing rapidly as I did so--except not quite rapidly enough because when I finished the ribbed band v2.0 (on the proper size of needles this time!), the hat fit...but the band was still too loose.<br /><br />(At this point, fed up with the whole thing, I wore the hat for a couple of days and attempted to convince myself that it fit just fine, and that the band wasn't too loose, and it was SUPPOSED to slip off my ears like that. My mother, fed up with my constantly debating out loud, made the decision for me. "If it's going to bug you that much, just fix it!")<br /><br />Enter the elastic (gold because it's all I had, not because I like the bling. Well, kind of that too).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlqyi7Lpu2xU4qnkUrEHXMcXWLuD7krQhSUoU6AcF4mFc7C06dbqssSq6ZSN2c9CjLN_MZ1iMKvat3GwCwPjFqS1NkpAM8cMoauIJ8bMBtTQhBrpCEOUYOgMTilH9bIPDb00LDuu-LTnB/s1600-h/Picture+010.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289094804454966386" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdlqyi7Lpu2xU4qnkUrEHXMcXWLuD7krQhSUoU6AcF4mFc7C06dbqssSq6ZSN2c9CjLN_MZ1iMKvat3GwCwPjFqS1NkpAM8cMoauIJ8bMBtTQhBrpCEOUYOgMTilH9bIPDb00LDuu-LTnB/s320/Picture+010.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Which was fine for about fifteen minutes, after which I decided it bugged me, and since I had some yarn left I should go ahead and knit a facing for it (next on the slate for Skills to Learn: Quitting While You're Ahead).<br /><br />So I picked up stitches around the bottom of the ribbing, knit in stockinette for an inch, cast off, sewed the facing down, and because the cast-off was so tight I couldn't get it over my head. (No pictures here either, because I was too busy screaming into a pillow to go find my camera).<br /><br />But after awhile, I picked myself up off the couch, gritted my teeth, picked out the $&%^#@!!! seam, picked out the cast-on, sewed the resulting live stitches to the inside of the hat (yeaaaah, sticky yarn!) and...<br /><br />I have a hat.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFacVvx6UF9cuongF-iewZi9NmIBQLXmxYKrxaq3pVRllXat-ychEdyGS1h8XC57zBzrFCEyFJhg0gSUmRdzK7mHr7fmT2qd-kqDi1D5gzAHYJj4Jk2aP9I3KahKrWnX6FunV-iFzosjfl/s1600-h/Picture+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289094812989355378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFacVvx6UF9cuongF-iewZi9NmIBQLXmxYKrxaq3pVRllXat-ychEdyGS1h8XC57zBzrFCEyFJhg0gSUmRdzK7mHr7fmT2qd-kqDi1D5gzAHYJj4Jk2aP9I3KahKrWnX6FunV-iFzosjfl/s320/Picture+016.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It caused me no end of (entirely self-inflicted) grief, it took about twice as long as it should have, and if I am entirely honest it's actually a little tight around the ears, but I'm ignoring that.<br /><br />But I think it's a cute hat.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AcBESWxqpwFvOkNAWIhOw2KphTUxXVLhXiopQ9LKiXAu54vKyTJy7JTmdIlF4VR_rxJ2SPm5X6OnGZhIQdeOPhugZztp4po4w7fU7sVL9tnJo0mnbOwHXLACtpFUO84Uot6jc1zprHc1/s1600-h/Picture+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5289094816114468034" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5AcBESWxqpwFvOkNAWIhOw2KphTUxXVLhXiopQ9LKiXAu54vKyTJy7JTmdIlF4VR_rxJ2SPm5X6OnGZhIQdeOPhugZztp4po4w7fU7sVL9tnJo0mnbOwHXLACtpFUO84Uot6jc1zprHc1/s320/Picture+018.jpg" border="0" /></a> <br /><br />Final verdict:<br /><a href="http://ysolda.com/store/hats/gretel/">Pattern</a>: two thumbs up.<br />Yarn (Noro Cash Iroha): One and a half thumbs up; gains points for great color, shine, and and refusal to drop live stitches. Loses points for extreme thick-and-thinness in places that made cabling a wee bit tricky.<br />Knitter: TWO THUMBS DOWN.<br /><br />But I have a cute hat!Margaritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572570912551422923noreply@blogger.com307tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114280231026167949.post-6386701509939206152009-01-07T16:17:00.000-08:002009-01-07T16:19:10.038-08:00AUGHFirst I made Gretel.<br /><br />Then it was too big.<br /><br />Then I did surgery, and after a lot of cutting (gulp), picking up stitches, and reknitting, it was smaller.<br /><br />But then the band was too loose.<br /><br />So I sewed in some elastic.<br /><br />But then I didn't like the way it looked.<br /><br />So I picked up stitches and knit a facing.<br /><br />But I cast that off too tightly.<br /><br />And now I can't get it over my head.<br /><br />AUGH.Margaritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572570912551422923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114280231026167949.post-50236440058117503682008-12-31T10:43:00.000-08:002008-12-31T11:30:16.843-08:00What Santa BroughtWell, OK, half the time Santa was me. But still. Souvenir yarn from my trip and some lovely Christmas presents made for some very good stash-enhancing indeed!<br /><br />Souvenir yarn #1: From <a href="http://www.k1yarns.com/">K1 Yarns</a> in Edinburgh, one skein of <a href="http://www.orkneyangora.co.uk/yarn.html">Orkney Angora 4-Ply</a>, 400 yards of angora fuzzy deliciousness. This was exactly, exactly what I wanted in souvenir yarn: unique and beautiful, Scottish, and also laceweight and so easy to carry around. It came with a beautiful free pattern for a shawl, too, just a really simple lace pattern. I can't wait to make it; they had a store sample and it was like a cloud of angora heaven. Oh man.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWy0SCbK5yVJipLoOzYW9jl4vgOE5yK7KIwRq5nzRvpCz6CuHpAt7dLzWTV4OSrzC44v8MKOB8KuoiK1tF57_YOOv29XMeLb_AjT3hEJT38fORICRxm1H_LNAhbj535N4W6u21Jq5vWXn/s1600-h/PC280181.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286028697654796578" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggWy0SCbK5yVJipLoOzYW9jl4vgOE5yK7KIwRq5nzRvpCz6CuHpAt7dLzWTV4OSrzC44v8MKOB8KuoiK1tF57_YOOv29XMeLb_AjT3hEJT38fORICRxm1H_LNAhbj535N4W6u21Jq5vWXn/s320/PC280181.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Look how fuzzy!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpD6xT48AAyuh00aQ2QgqRVcnsvM9FM4YA1R-BVedoTJMN0hyphenhyphenrsiPojfvIcagEw4Ry88G1g3_jEW6hwFukjlZfUsc0gv62VSZ6mLX6bxZ1o85CuRNKAcWP0zUpqQ5MnQ2M0QgINamCl-j/s1600-h/PC280184.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286028693199167490" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXpD6xT48AAyuh00aQ2QgqRVcnsvM9FM4YA1R-BVedoTJMN0hyphenhyphenrsiPojfvIcagEw4Ry88G1g3_jEW6hwFukjlZfUsc0gv62VSZ6mLX6bxZ1o85CuRNKAcWP0zUpqQ5MnQ2M0QgINamCl-j/s320/PC280184.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Next up: Brigantia Luxury Double Knit, 200m of natural, undyed wool. Again, perfect souvenir yarn! I bought it at a yarn store (whose name is now lost to me) in York; the label says it was made in Yorkshire, so I'll associate it with all the sheep I saw. <br /><br />I really debated buying two skeins; I have so many single skeins already and I feel like one can only make so many hats, you know? But I needed to save money for other things (food, etc) and space was limited, so I just got the one. Don't know yet what it'll be...gloves?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsGuhDBcxVNO4dJuox7AQe5YwUoJ4LjaxoTaIHUGKrV9kvE1jTZjDOKFMQQUzgh0brPxubFKGcaGlGH4ZcxUM_fk2XHbTmal75sA40JknEOffjZ5x9PRlItbmQEVhiFQUDU_tIkNYDK1O/s1600-h/PC280185.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286028689704610850" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvsGuhDBcxVNO4dJuox7AQe5YwUoJ4LjaxoTaIHUGKrV9kvE1jTZjDOKFMQQUzgh0brPxubFKGcaGlGH4ZcxUM_fk2XHbTmal75sA40JknEOffjZ5x9PRlItbmQEVhiFQUDU_tIkNYDK1O/s320/PC280185.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />(The drive from Edinburgh to York was great fun, by the way. It went like this:<br />"Hey Lacey look, there's SHEEP! Oh, look at the little sheepies! Look at their little black faces! Sheep!" Pause. "Oh look, there's MORE sheep!"<br />For four hours.)<br /><br />Next on the stash-addition list, six skeins of Galway Highland Heather in the poetically named "749." I'm not sure these pictures do it justice; it's this amazing heathered purpley magenta with flecks of blue, and in the right light it just GLOWS.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPF8P2GhEZ47AP67DY9AetxMEmNySfIa0VgaMahz8JJ6l0B4x0aUVRtI5PHDjAXhBQwEDL9fx_yBatBL3QhKars7pleVlh2DqQAQa5s52Z0g7UdBuBRwJWUsBg8lbpWFtoQZZuvCsLzWX/s1600-h/PC280190.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286028686393936354" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRPF8P2GhEZ47AP67DY9AetxMEmNySfIa0VgaMahz8JJ6l0B4x0aUVRtI5PHDjAXhBQwEDL9fx_yBatBL3QhKars7pleVlh2DqQAQa5s52Z0g7UdBuBRwJWUsBg8lbpWFtoQZZuvCsLzWX/s320/PC280190.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />You might think, from the name, that it was also purchased in Britain, it was actually:<br />a) purchased at my <a href="http://www.woolybullyyarns.com/">hometown yarn store</a>, and <br />b) made in Peru. Go figure.<br /><br />I've only just started a <a href="http://www.flintknits.com/blog/?p=151">February Lady Sweater</a> (I know, original, right?) which I have the perhaps overly-ambitious goal of finishing by the time I go back to school next week. You laugh, but keep in mind that I'm on vacation and knitting time is abundant. We'll see. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrfMQEnV1RKPOwYSulV9_TX11_PQQKTBoXsd17TMuvb3W7D5CyMDJHvhyphenhypheng6tsXiP3MtlM33qihZHfimaPLK7qSPo36scF0oiVC0xNpTnHQTKCmEGE4vQ033pjAW-fLfFKXSF77lnjluDZ/s1600-h/PC280195.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286028679372093794" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrfMQEnV1RKPOwYSulV9_TX11_PQQKTBoXsd17TMuvb3W7D5CyMDJHvhyphenhypheng6tsXiP3MtlM33qihZHfimaPLK7qSPo36scF0oiVC0xNpTnHQTKCmEGE4vQ033pjAW-fLfFKXSF77lnjluDZ/s320/PC280195.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Right now I'm just about through with the raglan increases, and let me tell you it is dragging on. Not surprising, seeing as the rows just keep getting longer. I'm hoping the body will be faster. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYBQiXEf3VJXtPfqYcAvCkf4889u8_Z7_DaPjfQ7Kv0vMODQtzZ-i9-4CjIQrl8J_R8ZX6r2FdQ_-Z-C3qdfQ2BEdEqikujrQk3larla8gVrxOSkiLQirbqKaoB2ggHBjoI_Vrn2F8y-2/s1600-h/PC280197.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286027963304039442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtYBQiXEf3VJXtPfqYcAvCkf4889u8_Z7_DaPjfQ7Kv0vMODQtzZ-i9-4CjIQrl8J_R8ZX6r2FdQ_-Z-C3qdfQ2BEdEqikujrQk3larla8gVrxOSkiLQirbqKaoB2ggHBjoI_Vrn2F8y-2/s320/PC280197.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Also on the needles: another <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/habitat">Habitat</a>, in Malabrigo, for my friend and traveling companion Lacey. She was good enough to put up with my general excitedness when it came to wool AND be dragged into a remarkable amount of yarn stores for a non-knitter, so for Christmas I gave her a skein of Malabrigo in a shade I knew she'd like, with promises to knit it into a hat of her choice.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6JIsT2f8WsoTOB4buat1GHgVkNfN_zoiWNjcixszgmRh0gepjundrANrv72u_buXZCcNsA_sZYfW5rK54xKDOXwQStpdd-pP22fBrjhz6gKj1FqO8fgAmJovZy5ECof-Ud2JHriclRWIo/s1600-h/PC290198.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286027951828584642" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6JIsT2f8WsoTOB4buat1GHgVkNfN_zoiWNjcixszgmRh0gepjundrANrv72u_buXZCcNsA_sZYfW5rK54xKDOXwQStpdd-pP22fBrjhz6gKj1FqO8fgAmJovZy5ECof-Ud2JHriclRWIo/s320/PC290198.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Wait, what's that, buying yarn that I really want to knit with and then knitting it into a pattern that I love isn't exactly generous gift-giving? Shut up. She chose the pattern! (OK, after I showed it to her). But seriously, I'm loving how it's turning out; the Malbrigo is soft, soft, soft like a buttered baby's but, and it shows off the cables much better than the tweed I used for my <a href ="http://bulkybluewool.blogspot.com/2008/12/i-love-this-hat.html">last Habitat</a>. (Which I finished, by the way, I just never got around to photographing it.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjISOEvoGy9ZxwBu4Ln8dfal9IERZoYz_z1hPyr4dsAOzgUFX8qIiC1NFnI2T4-tYekjinQS5kgK5gzG_Ot7JliZeUlaBrlmcBgkY7T-Y__RIKXh-OgnO1vifoSeyiMDmuB6szPXfWGV-3/s1600-h/PC290200.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286027904620774802" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjISOEvoGy9ZxwBu4Ln8dfal9IERZoYz_z1hPyr4dsAOzgUFX8qIiC1NFnI2T4-tYekjinQS5kgK5gzG_Ot7JliZeUlaBrlmcBgkY7T-Y__RIKXh-OgnO1vifoSeyiMDmuB6szPXfWGV-3/s320/PC290200.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On the subject of this particular hat, I can't think of another time when I've finished a project and then cast on for the same thing virtually right away. I just love this pattern! I'm way farther along than these pictures, actually--I should have FO photos soon. <br /><br />Finally, two more presents--both from Lacey, purchased while she was in Northern Ireland!<br /><br />Debbie Bliss Donegal Aran Tweed:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cs1UI_PKFm2XaRgHoQl4JjSQE1IdjSLAVEOmW_Ol1DlZdBbXsK3VGu77zPwdEfsLzwQ-bzr2FL5WrjtfmCyiIaUySguy4ZKDsEraCp7iMHYbjmnmOu_4YTD8opqCMcQQVKLeUgQSt8oE/s1600-h/PC290202.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286027901092824946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2cs1UI_PKFm2XaRgHoQl4JjSQE1IdjSLAVEOmW_Ol1DlZdBbXsK3VGu77zPwdEfsLzwQ-bzr2FL5WrjtfmCyiIaUySguy4ZKDsEraCp7iMHYbjmnmOu_4YTD8opqCMcQQVKLeUgQSt8oE/s320/PC290202.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />It's the funniest thing, but I'm 95% sure that this is the exact same yarn I made Ben's Habitat out of! Remember, that yarn was mystery garage-sale yarn, but this stuff seems pretty identical. So now I have more! I love that it was made in Ireland, too.<br /><br />And finally, "Freedom Spirit" wool--about 300 yards. I've never heard of the brand, and it says "made in England." It's single-ply and SO soft. I'm not sure, but it looks like it might stripe.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbwpGaEvXC8KUrpSwPL8hgrAeE_7l21DEojac06Ik5-KU78gvYgdHKp1QlQk7Ib3mkLvx7HB-Bcx4ADHL2WHYIWShFxe9cgkdTdBnpp11WCWUvW6gnUFZY_PnC7qEsVK1-AVVrr1SSOLv/s1600-h/PC290206.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5286027892104938546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCbwpGaEvXC8KUrpSwPL8hgrAeE_7l21DEojac06Ik5-KU78gvYgdHKp1QlQk7Ib3mkLvx7HB-Bcx4ADHL2WHYIWShFxe9cgkdTdBnpp11WCWUvW6gnUFZY_PnC7qEsVK1-AVVrr1SSOLv/s320/PC290206.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Isn't it pretty? Good haul, all around.Margaritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572570912551422923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114280231026167949.post-50840272268690150852008-12-28T11:09:00.001-08:002008-12-28T11:26:11.488-08:00Gretel Goes to the British Isles...and she still isn't even finished yet. Oh well.<br /><br />Edinburgh was beautiful:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeZ39cLNHkDM4bSQpY5ZFTO1JXp2308XTb5mgc3BjvXcESs5Ym1EEVSdy96GXPVkPITTKbamFwoZw-1SH19RnIFQzGzoZAyZAMEqsZJueNK9IqqEaop8zsGszyr8gcEI5QrpaXhAgVJIz/s1600-h/PC160061.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284920973140459442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeZ39cLNHkDM4bSQpY5ZFTO1JXp2308XTb5mgc3BjvXcESs5Ym1EEVSdy96GXPVkPITTKbamFwoZw-1SH19RnIFQzGzoZAyZAMEqsZJueNK9IqqEaop8zsGszyr8gcEI5QrpaXhAgVJIz/s320/PC160061.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I managed to visit a yarn store or two...(more on my souvenir yarn later).<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJOfIU8V3V8pn9mzmdaui8dTjrCuHsR5BM2JQerEIIGJIUgnn04HE37CI5V3267gTlwCw3Yj7JFv1x7767K-JKG0so6Xvcc9oeLL3WIhyphenhyphenlL35Q2xf33oa0IccHlemTbmZS4lRfk2vbI2v/s1600-h/PC150037.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284920980461621730" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFJOfIU8V3V8pn9mzmdaui8dTjrCuHsR5BM2JQerEIIGJIUgnn04HE37CI5V3267gTlwCw3Yj7JFv1x7767K-JKG0so6Xvcc9oeLL3WIhyphenhyphenlL35Q2xf33oa0IccHlemTbmZS4lRfk2vbI2v/s320/PC150037.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And sampled some local treats (here in York):<br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCS8zqEDEpBGz1Q1RysIGzJu_m2gSN78C1rL-UR2S4VOale8giItaR7r1a_9znvi051W7k_riXlU5pIBkXkrXDOSQ6h-77Rz1kWx4H_mtB-syxwqWmEDUUx-pKmCbI44vR1dMycT_XMosT/s1600-h/PC180084.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284920998011072098" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCS8zqEDEpBGz1Q1RysIGzJu_m2gSN78C1rL-UR2S4VOale8giItaR7r1a_9znvi051W7k_riXlU5pIBkXkrXDOSQ6h-77Rz1kWx4H_mtB-syxwqWmEDUUx-pKmCbI44vR1dMycT_XMosT/s320/PC180084.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />Me: "I'm so glad we found this great tea shop!" Lacey: "And I'm glad your stomach is a bottomless pit."<br /><br />Of course, all the sightseeing and eating didn't leave much time for actually knitting, so my dreams of finishing Gretel and wearing her all around Britain came to nothing; right now, she looks like this (I could have finished on the plane home, but am dimmer than Iceland in January and so left my extra ball of yarn in my checked bag. ARGH).<br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1SonKewRf4pOxf6KcivXLfQDK4Ad-B9oEv2hLwkBM6IrdMtdNkxe6tbZy6q8ahCkvhKHjZzR3WLf3KvRtxKMU1azYt9_5VDuFb9OUzJNoYVtpGrOk0sMThM3YXs6OtkZoVAIckzLFtZS/s1600-h/PC280186.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284921001883342946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd1SonKewRf4pOxf6KcivXLfQDK4Ad-B9oEv2hLwkBM6IrdMtdNkxe6tbZy6q8ahCkvhKHjZzR3WLf3KvRtxKMU1azYt9_5VDuFb9OUzJNoYVtpGrOk0sMThM3YXs6OtkZoVAIckzLFtZS/s320/PC280186.JPG" border="0" /></a> </div></div><br /><br />I do love the cables, though!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSS6CAgOJH5mFdGfwABv_I2_KWntA7YoFmYQDH8cM6Sm1wItZwslSIdvK82LaAofSu9iAE1doak-jKoxEQSDpbwJeS8OounCyMVAZPOSyklmbtXpqjHYt67yW-Ag7UcxTqJEjfunm2CHD/s1600-h/PC280187.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284921014630599218" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibSS6CAgOJH5mFdGfwABv_I2_KWntA7YoFmYQDH8cM6Sm1wItZwslSIdvK82LaAofSu9iAE1doak-jKoxEQSDpbwJeS8OounCyMVAZPOSyklmbtXpqjHYt67yW-Ag7UcxTqJEjfunm2CHD/s320/PC280187.JPG" border="0" /></a><br />The Cash Iroha is a nice match for this pattern, I think; it's springy enough to show off the cables nicely, but the silk gives it a nice drape. I like the slightly thick-and-thin, handspun quality. The color is a little more of an intense emerald than my winter-sunlight photos show. <br /><br />The only slight mishap with this hat is due entirely to user error and is no reflection at all on Ysolda's beautiful pattern (seriously, so clever and well-written. And easy to memorize! I think it looks much more complicated than it is). Evidently, when she says to knit the ribbed band on needles two sizes smaller...she <i>means</i> it. I know, I know, this should be obvious but I'm lazy and I don't read directions properly and plus I didn't HAVE needles that size and I was too cheap to buy them, and anyway, how much of a difference can it make, really?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkZBI0x-PmbPM15l7fK0djKO1mupY9R8fEj7Eatx1LnKC8LAhK26g4h7Rg8tQ_n5dVWrkxu5pqiYAJiEIaGJbkIJTCrLyh9w2j8wHlDxk9U7alsF7RYd3ZObcpKQzRnzilMKQLmx0vbOP/s1600-h/PC280189.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5284923210023734690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkZBI0x-PmbPM15l7fK0djKO1mupY9R8fEj7Eatx1LnKC8LAhK26g4h7Rg8tQ_n5dVWrkxu5pqiYAJiEIaGJbkIJTCrLyh9w2j8wHlDxk9U7alsF7RYd3ZObcpKQzRnzilMKQLmx0vbOP/s320/PC280189.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Oh.<br /><br />Rip rip, reknit reknit, dammit dammit. You'd think I'd have learned by now.Margaritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572570912551422923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114280231026167949.post-39186033861975083592008-12-09T10:45:00.000-08:002008-12-09T10:52:24.508-08:00I love this hatI really do. It's so awesome. I love the intricate cables and the way they don't behave the way you expect them to--I'm easily amused by this, because I just follow the chart line-by-line and then I'm pleasantly surprised when I take a look at what I've done and hey look at that, how clever! I am a simple child. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKTBgD7dYaCnt78C7Ts1yqlM12_QITjGBYlA5Q2ooV3oPrKTzG4w7s0DUx6pw7J_limGmgYvT89BRvDDmlYMxqR4tFs5fnOQdgRD2gtcrhN9T3BH-ZqVgTVzUAWGADa2F3ZU4MLyTpLe7/s1600-h/habitat+002.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwKTBgD7dYaCnt78C7Ts1yqlM12_QITjGBYlA5Q2ooV3oPrKTzG4w7s0DUx6pw7J_limGmgYvT89BRvDDmlYMxqR4tFs5fnOQdgRD2gtcrhN9T3BH-ZqVgTVzUAWGADa2F3ZU4MLyTpLe7/s320/habitat+002.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277863623052794978" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I've tried it on and it looks like it'll fit me great and be really warm and comfy; too bad it's not for me, but the recipient (just like me) has an enormous head, so it should fit him fine. <br /><br />I do not love the pictures I've managed to take of it, but hey you know what we don't have a lot of in December in the Northeast? NATURAL SUNLIGHT. So I do what I can. <br /><br />Look at those cables!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7tABFjWX2_-UsUq3v7Tk1VzMkTBfYO8qGtCuMvWJJITg2XmDyr08Objf13MCMHWK4m_qTD9DMF5ysx2T_xk88EZXUc4k3DAospNhnKZpX1KRdnMqrAysTL5HiKc8fpXcaRAYtj5mfbGY/s1600-h/habitat+011.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh7tABFjWX2_-UsUq3v7Tk1VzMkTBfYO8qGtCuMvWJJITg2XmDyr08Objf13MCMHWK4m_qTD9DMF5ysx2T_xk88EZXUc4k3DAospNhnKZpX1KRdnMqrAysTL5HiKc8fpXcaRAYtj5mfbGY/s320/habitat+011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5277863632192463170" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I love the hat, but it's in time-out right now because of a Cabling Accident (read: user error) that has to be tinked. I'll go have a chat with it right now.Margaritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572570912551422923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114280231026167949.post-13417611800821808552008-12-01T11:48:00.000-08:002008-12-01T12:32:23.453-08:00Cable cable cableHi. OK. So remember <a href="http://bulkybluewool.blogspot.com/2007/11/break-time-knitting-time.html">last Thanksgiving break</a>, when I did all that knitting and dying? Well, not so much this time. This time I was mostly writing a paper (boo), but also eating pecan pie (yum). I did get a bit done on the plane, though.<br /><br /><a href="http://brooklyntweed.blogspot.com/2008/09/habitat-pattern-available-for-download.html">Habitat</a>, in mystery yard sale yarn that I'm almost sure is Donegal Tweed. Love the pattern, love the yarn, but...I'm just not so sure about the two of them together. I think the tweed is obscuring the cables. I don't think the recipient will mind too much (and, truthfully, he was the one who chose the yarn and the pattern, so hopefully he'll be happy) but in future I think I would choose a solid yarn. Actually, I really really like this pattern, so I think I'll do it again sometime anyway. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKI-QCJuiMTQ8qmMZ7hOcY_TI513GA789WFZ9QCeOr_7PnhcWz1YMz1yEJJ3YujnZtscVn7-IGgxBeuVSVKsxAcGfKlTkkAjEuyvQpO2Z5O9UInDs2GRXr6PIvOPhAYHYcNeyXEhrJHWk/s1600-h/PC010006.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpKI-QCJuiMTQ8qmMZ7hOcY_TI513GA789WFZ9QCeOr_7PnhcWz1YMz1yEJJ3YujnZtscVn7-IGgxBeuVSVKsxAcGfKlTkkAjEuyvQpO2Z5O9UInDs2GRXr6PIvOPhAYHYcNeyXEhrJHWk/s320/PC010006.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274912334322118802" /></a><br /><br /><br />I do like the tweed though. And I'm getting a lot better at cabling without a cable needle! Essential for traveling.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-H2nsXpd_oOG1HmXuQHxqrUAAxSmLzoNH9_pQAAYvPlIMU_G-KS0isI3VqVdA8ZpAwcw40T9SXdylK0GVMU1oRtjzVneZkoWdAZUR2Znse7GTQWUQqLmvLoHkNHvmR2C1imqOAjryWDA7/s1600-h/PC010011.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-H2nsXpd_oOG1HmXuQHxqrUAAxSmLzoNH9_pQAAYvPlIMU_G-KS0isI3VqVdA8ZpAwcw40T9SXdylK0GVMU1oRtjzVneZkoWdAZUR2Znse7GTQWUQqLmvLoHkNHvmR2C1imqOAjryWDA7/s320/PC010011.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274912339411484738" /></a><br /><br />Of course, in a fit of optimism, I decided to bring not one but TWO cabled hat projects home with me. The second one, which I LOVE LOVE LOVE and am SO EXCITED TO WEAR, is Ysolda's beautiful <a href="http://ysolda.com/store/hats/gretel/">Gretel</a>. I may have to wait awhile to wear it, though, because it still looks like this: <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjbS0XMp35hyphenhypheniGgghjMtt7pY6VRUGPBotyg7HBNvfdHitG5_qSX69RkRFxPQVyVQfvZkD4ZpkG4RpugvyD_cLwf62bocLGGlEPgUcecivH6HV41jTGfeTv8RMEzwIyUkvPVMHuCZfVwG-/s1600-h/PC010013.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjbS0XMp35hyphenhypheniGgghjMtt7pY6VRUGPBotyg7HBNvfdHitG5_qSX69RkRFxPQVyVQfvZkD4ZpkG4RpugvyD_cLwf62bocLGGlEPgUcecivH6HV41jTGfeTv8RMEzwIyUkvPVMHuCZfVwG-/s320/PC010013.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274912345819752450" /></a><br /><br />That's cool, though, I'll just bring it with me to England and Scotland! Where I'm going in two weeks! I'm so, so excited, although I have to admit the prospect is slightly alarming right now, because I have SO MUCH TO DO before I leave, but I'm super pumped.<br /><br />In other news: has anyone else noticed the phenomenon where you're drawn to buy things that look like they could be handknit? Case in point: my new sweater. It's machine-knit, but it's really woolly and sheepy and totally looks like I could have made it. I'm definitely much more sensitive to fiber since I've started knitting, too--I really wanted a wool sweater, not a synthetic one, and five years ago I wouldn't have given fiber content a thought. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqEP5CgRJflaLLpVQXRA_pN16pj9nCR57gYSP31C_W-20sfsGQLG5VWXGqu6pqdW5wos6yNWb85ydru7z4n80JzIxJTq2xOETaGAgfDIIPFv5FS2XXl_NHxR7JgQJwq2UsO-pzachOtjZ/s1600-h/octnov+163.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIqEP5CgRJflaLLpVQXRA_pN16pj9nCR57gYSP31C_W-20sfsGQLG5VWXGqu6pqdW5wos6yNWb85ydru7z4n80JzIxJTq2xOETaGAgfDIIPFv5FS2XXl_NHxR7JgQJwq2UsO-pzachOtjZ/s320/octnov+163.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274912355069899202" /></a><br />(Toby likes my sweater too.)<br /><br />Which brings me to my final thought of the day, brought to you by an advertisement in Old Navy:<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKxvxK_tTsINClwJB66q9MXWgytSNnrDqcQtCN-b5Pfx0Xy_nsfvZJK25UVEep5smdqQfAkwWjkEwaHfAcB8cUV8jIWhFp06MLL-H-HK7eayQCAHVrJMuAbZl_3xHV8eyoVMia1WfX0I1/s1600-h/octnov+151.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmKxvxK_tTsINClwJB66q9MXWgytSNnrDqcQtCN-b5Pfx0Xy_nsfvZJK25UVEep5smdqQfAkwWjkEwaHfAcB8cUV8jIWhFp06MLL-H-HK7eayQCAHVrJMuAbZl_3xHV8eyoVMia1WfX0I1/s320/octnov+151.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5274912354104604930" /></a><br /><br />I beg to differ.Margaritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572570912551422923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114280231026167949.post-16777842273047971052008-11-07T09:38:00.000-08:002008-11-07T09:49:08.380-08:00Knitting, what knitting?Hi! I'm still around, all evidently all I do these days is fondle yarn and dream of knitting it, instead of actually making anything. Such is life.<br /><br />A couple of weeks ago, I took a trip to the <a href="http://www.cityseed.org/">New Haven Farmer's Market</a>. It was such a beautiful day for the market!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3A5_trDsH3ltdUm7HtqI8Eb6GSEgv2Yaz6aVYCDfkvUi56Y0To5_rvYwtapjU6nXmErX_czwtce0clVYR0TJUZsriSydfgIGTUK1Mr7TJn1-IedSGLMbJ0TLM3MCHBDKCYr95Begimlv6/s1600-h/october+041.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3A5_trDsH3ltdUm7HtqI8Eb6GSEgv2Yaz6aVYCDfkvUi56Y0To5_rvYwtapjU6nXmErX_czwtce0clVYR0TJUZsriSydfgIGTUK1Mr7TJn1-IedSGLMbJ0TLM3MCHBDKCYr95Begimlv6/s320/october+041.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265971670845162930" border="0" /></a><br /><br />I saw lots of beautiful things.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCTPHJ_NLP-vtHS-sQevGSWxu5ZKCydnQLdIAKIemRe2RUR8b2116CQL1BSwofrJC-5ZL3zYyeCDLKEMVfUmYmnSkjT8M33CHd7entJH9KpDl0x2qxf0PC33pRzAPg6WlG0dmWyfOHoik/s1600-h/october+038.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBCTPHJ_NLP-vtHS-sQevGSWxu5ZKCydnQLdIAKIemRe2RUR8b2116CQL1BSwofrJC-5ZL3zYyeCDLKEMVfUmYmnSkjT8M33CHd7entJH9KpDl0x2qxf0PC33pRzAPg6WlG0dmWyfOHoik/s320/october+038.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265971674557523490" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Including yarn!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-M_3viaoBoQNgvzaCFnHPJEvYC2MbVqyMqqBencSjQVSkXH9zFv-lMOl8pPfIERauyS1nXgog-wNmT2Eh2R80hsgN1wPjVjldHG8iCRfQf4PD8rfw24rNI2AnvYbfsW1hYBI_Al8Zkye7/s1600-h/october+032.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-M_3viaoBoQNgvzaCFnHPJEvYC2MbVqyMqqBencSjQVSkXH9zFv-lMOl8pPfIERauyS1nXgog-wNmT2Eh2R80hsgN1wPjVjldHG8iCRfQf4PD8rfw24rNI2AnvYbfsW1hYBI_Al8Zkye7/s320/october+032.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265971684466964098" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This booth was selling goat and sheep cheese, as well as handspun yarn (presumably from the very same sheep). Just think, you could be wearing AND eating products of the same animal! Farming is cool.<br /><br /><br />Also pricey. The 200-yard skeins (I'd estimate DK-weight or so) were $15. And this sweater, although you can't see the price tag, is <b>$150.</b> Of course, this is absolutely worth it, and really probably a pretty good deal given the amount of labor going into a handspun, handknit sweater. I realize that, but I hope enough other people do and buy these beautiful sweaters!<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMSzCmSRnbyoorV1W4UvbpKpZ0GExU7vb97LQ74-MbLUPzmUOq_4pmk5M73PPt6phHg70fuyvuZyKM1ZBe8e9Zc4-u_euhEaKyR1OO6l_G3K_6QehPDCF_PL0qmbpWJemnX0dAQ1TpPKEq/s1600-h/october+036.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMSzCmSRnbyoorV1W4UvbpKpZ0GExU7vb97LQ74-MbLUPzmUOq_4pmk5M73PPt6phHg70fuyvuZyKM1ZBe8e9Zc4-u_euhEaKyR1OO6l_G3K_6QehPDCF_PL0qmbpWJemnX0dAQ1TpPKEq/s320/october+036.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265971695626444082" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Mmmm, yarn. One of these days I will have pictures of actual knitting progress to show, including a brief attempt at a patriotic scarf. This was typical Rita--I started it Tuesday afternoon, thinking I would knit it as I watched the election results came in, and then have it forever as a memento of the most important election of my lifetime. Of course, what I actually did was knit seven inches spend the rest of the time drinking champagne and shouting gleefully at the TV. Now I'm remembering that I hate scarves and wondering if there's such a thing as a patriotically-colored potholder in mistake rib. <br /><br />Anyway. Yarn! <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwveAFFuSANoe24-d-T9x6dA4NqTTQE1jomMjHR3Mxs-naMvqu4x2fpR-atCs2vcVSzndqW3oPub6awCPw4Zbn_MbkY2TNFdiXsd8gahyphenhyphenetFoai3EdmK-OG5L9h5JLLbmPtMSQxpq8lIO/s1600-h/october+033.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwveAFFuSANoe24-d-T9x6dA4NqTTQE1jomMjHR3Mxs-naMvqu4x2fpR-atCs2vcVSzndqW3oPub6awCPw4Zbn_MbkY2TNFdiXsd8gahyphenhyphenetFoai3EdmK-OG5L9h5JLLbmPtMSQxpq8lIO/s320/october+033.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5265971686131610978" border="0" /></a>Margaritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572570912551422923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114280231026167949.post-70488497422155630952008-10-03T08:43:00.000-07:002008-10-03T11:38:40.840-07:00Lori the Llama, or why procrastination is badHi internet! I'm still alive, just at school and really busy (classes, activities, worrying about what to do with my life, etc) so not knitting so much. <br /><br />Although I did make a sweater. <br /><br />OK, it was for a llama. <br /><br />What happened was this. The first home football game of the fall, a big event for the marching band, would take place this year on Sept. 20. Also occurring on Sept. 20 was the birthday of my dear friend <a href="http://research.yale.edu/yaleband/ypmb/leaders/dm.htm">Rosa</a>, who is the drum major of the band, and as such wears a sweater kind of like <a href="http://research.yale.edu/yaleband/ypmb/dmajors/index.html">this</a> for games. Rosa is also obsessed with llamas. (Do you see where this is going now?) <br /><br />Anyway, so I hatched my clever clever plan in about June, congratulated myself on my cleverness, and then spent the rest of the summer knitting other things and doing nothing to actually accomplish said plan. <br /><br />All of a sudden, it was Sept. 19 and I had the following:<br /><br />One stuffed llama<br />One front for a llama sweater<br />One "pattern" (some scribbles in the back of a notebook)<br /><br />My Big Plan was to finish the sweater, put it on the llama, wrap it up, and leave it in the band room for Rosa that evening, nice and relaxed and in plenty of time for rehearsal at 7. <br /><br />What actually happened was this: <br /><br />4:30 Having finished the front and back of the sweater, I reach for my yarn needles to sew it up and embroider the front. Cannot find needles. Realize that I've lent them to my friend Sasha. No worries, I have plenty of time. I'll find them.<br /><br />4:45 Actually, maybe I'll just call Sasha. In the meantime, I block the pieces I have. Now all I have to do is pick up stitches to knit ribbing for the legs, sew up one side of the sweater, embroider the YALE on the front, put it on the llama and finish sewing. Oh, and weave in the ends. Huh. <br /><br />5:00 Maybe I'll just call Sasha again. Still nothing. Begin to feel the first little fingers of creeping panic. <br /><br />5:05 Call all the other knitters I know. No one has a yarn needle.<br /><br />5:10 Ah-hah! I'll just go buy one!<br /><br />5:15 Yarn store closed at five. HELP. <br /><br />5:19 Keep making phone calls. Finally locate a needle, but she can't bring it until 6:30. OK, fine, I'll just sew fast. <br /><br />5:30 Pick up stitches to knit ribbing for legs. Knit faster, knit faster. Call Sasha again just for kicks. Nothing.<br /><br />5:45 My friend Sarah comes in. <br />Me: SARAH HAVE YOU SEEN SASHA?!<br />Sarah: Um, no...actually, I just came in to see if you wanted to--um...why are you sewing a sweater for a horse?<br />Me: GET OUT OF MY ROOM. <br /><br />6:15 Legs finished. Where are my needles?!<br /><br />6:30 In the band room, hiding from Rosa in a back room and embroidering the letters. <br /><br />6:45 Finish the embroidery. Sew seams faster than I have ever sewed in my life.<br /><br />7:15 Finish sweater, wrap it very sophisticatedly in white copy paper and Scotch tape. Make a birthday card with a sharpie. It looks like a six-year-old made it. I don't care. Stash the oddly-shaped package (it looks kind of a sarcophagus) for Rosa to find. <br /><br />7:20 Take my seat in rehearsal. Heart pounding oddly fast. Why do I always do this to myself?! <br /><br />So, lessons learned:<br />1) Do. Not. Put off the execution of your brilliant ideas until the last minute.<br />2) Make sure Sasha has her own needles next time<br />3) If I put as much effort into my schoolwork as I do into silly presents, I would be...well, probably still unemployable, actually, so never mind. <br /><br />But the result? <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Yl0ASr_6d2VHOJXgPBG4w4V2nKsemQ5fQXUl8eS06e0d5GpJPp9B36TvMEDhIAxFn1wRwDPthuZqg7iWBoMmrxFpCx_hoSE8mpia31b5T20UV3MciVdiwJAUj_QI1Hn30yJxRrflxXKi/s1600-h/Lori.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Yl0ASr_6d2VHOJXgPBG4w4V2nKsemQ5fQXUl8eS06e0d5GpJPp9B36TvMEDhIAxFn1wRwDPthuZqg7iWBoMmrxFpCx_hoSE8mpia31b5T20UV3MciVdiwJAUj_QI1Hn30yJxRrflxXKi/s320/Lori.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5252997969796659090" /></a><br /><br />So cute! I think it actually looks like a drum major sweater, and it fits the llama pretty well. And it all ended well: Rosa was happy, the game the next day went great, and I learned my lesson.<br /><br />Maybe.Margaritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572570912551422923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114280231026167949.post-2718603770614731652008-09-10T07:53:00.000-07:002008-09-10T08:11:44.414-07:00Still alive!Still alive, just a delinquent blogger as always. Oh well. I'm back at my <a href="http://www.yale.edu/td/">second home</a> now, and somehow in all the moving and unpacking and catching up with friends, the knitblogging appears to have slipped. Let's see what I can remember...<br /><br />Once upon a time, I did finish a baby set!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6QrQWkvfOP2oy5tI2B7GMrpqleYR1jyWLXmctm7qBZCjm3HpMcVflmMRQAmAtYuHNHQIVFn_CqVGKAXV7izh-cjjdyxIFUoQHVAlqYg_zdNDnY2Lu2YgbQrQYmkBg77i_6RbHYvyZkDhn/s1600-h/august+002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6QrQWkvfOP2oy5tI2B7GMrpqleYR1jyWLXmctm7qBZCjm3HpMcVflmMRQAmAtYuHNHQIVFn_CqVGKAXV7izh-cjjdyxIFUoQHVAlqYg_zdNDnY2Lu2YgbQrQYmkBg77i_6RbHYvyZkDhn/s320/august+002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244406676403202162" /></a><br /><br />I love those little silver buttons!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRdKssRutb66K3YQhFFJqtTPLvleoqNrpRK_zI6tJ0bxx1_Q6GFjMUmlaZDnnpMasFbCxTj1p1-VlqkkNTXCXhpnVzFQFuwdLdi0ieMxuehQB9TU2P4uHNDLVFEgBkwMVoaJdLlNDo2Nf/s1600-h/august+004.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHRdKssRutb66K3YQhFFJqtTPLvleoqNrpRK_zI6tJ0bxx1_Q6GFjMUmlaZDnnpMasFbCxTj1p1-VlqkkNTXCXhpnVzFQFuwdLdi0ieMxuehQB9TU2P4uHNDLVFEgBkwMVoaJdLlNDo2Nf/s320/august+004.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244406680783378306" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsvqnSzwJivh5qKQzu-wmKENYBz4o3irFqfuoJLiBNjKGDwg7VH4Mi1OMLi86UnrbaeyMPZR6715EZkgPzXfv2AkmfZusFXu54dOBq4csoVfbW0ugnbFc1Az5ZvhB0I3DLo6E1jmZWXbj/s1600-h/august+009.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMsvqnSzwJivh5qKQzu-wmKENYBz4o3irFqfuoJLiBNjKGDwg7VH4Mi1OMLi86UnrbaeyMPZR6715EZkgPzXfv2AkmfZusFXu54dOBq4csoVfbW0ugnbFc1Az5ZvhB0I3DLo6E1jmZWXbj/s320/august+009.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244406683456996722" /></a><br /><br /><b>Patterns:</b> February Baby Sweater, by Elizabeth Zimmerman, from <i>Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitter's Almanac</i>, and <a href="http://members.home.nl/tdpj/Patronen/Bootees/Saartjes%20bootees.pdf">Saartje's Booties</a>. <br /><b>Yarn:</b> Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport in "Denim," leftovers from my <a href="http://bulkybluewool.blogspot.com/2008/07/this-is-my-gathered-pullover.html">Gathered Pullover</a>. Overdyed with purple and pink McCormick food coloring by yours truly. About 1.5 skeins, I think, for booties and sweater.<br /><b>Needles:</b> Clover bamboo size 4 circular for the sweater, Susan Bates size 3 straights for the booties.<br /><b>Modifications:</b> I didn't get gauge for the booties, so I knit the size small and got a larger bootie. Whatever, booties are stretchy and babies grow. <br />Also, I wasn't happy with the button holes I made, so I sewed those closed when I was sewing on the buttons and then made crocheted loops. I think it worked quite well. <br /><b>Verdict:</b> I was so happy with this project! I really love the color of the yarn, and the sweater and booties are supercute. No, I am not exactly cool, but there's a reason these patterns are so popular. The sweater was easy except for where I screwed up the lace, but I managed to fudge the numbers a little and it came out all right, and I don't think anyone but me would notice. The booties took like two hours to make, total. I would absolutely make these two again, for whatever unsuspecting friend or relative reproduces next. <br /><br />And I just can't get over the color of the yarn--I wonder if I'd be able to do that again? <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzC2u5fcVnEWcYLsi43CFncrYnWKAcGESxixBI30mFlSz4d2-XL6MDPtlrULzC2a1k3d5LC3CldqBl5Dh6QVx2JInqNEv_5YpaXFWlJy5QwSFI7qONr3J9n8ftkhU7DMamTgvh261gzO4/s1600-h/august+013.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgzC2u5fcVnEWcYLsi43CFncrYnWKAcGESxixBI30mFlSz4d2-XL6MDPtlrULzC2a1k3d5LC3CldqBl5Dh6QVx2JInqNEv_5YpaXFWlJy5QwSFI7qONr3J9n8ftkhU7DMamTgvh261gzO4/s320/august+013.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244406687245329234" /></a><br /><br />Anyway. Back at school now, so the knitting (and blogging) might be a little more sporadic. <br /><br />I miss summer already. Especially summer food. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKz8tvq2qV4GKNK13hzlCbU2C4Oh_r3SWnzx0pKUtMdqfLL8PZpAN0lt2ecKdO7WiOlikCRYvYbqy47-1ntXmSwfs_orqVAMGkYsgkoiLT1EAJ0EaF_0JVzZKHufovblbmWbQkvOshTB2U/s1600-h/august+019.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKz8tvq2qV4GKNK13hzlCbU2C4Oh_r3SWnzx0pKUtMdqfLL8PZpAN0lt2ecKdO7WiOlikCRYvYbqy47-1ntXmSwfs_orqVAMGkYsgkoiLT1EAJ0EaF_0JVzZKHufovblbmWbQkvOshTB2U/s320/august+019.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244406693228044354" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTvy3e2LnzxGz_qh5-AUiIM59FidysubFr_pP7wgZzCX2PGUrzIPOXrRsNcjmiqPCAtmbwqzFtztlS7VCg-F2Yuh3QvjPtpFKMa2EwmnpCf61ohVlnVahdTa6xMUU7y_mnKJFA1Bkqb6i/s1600-h/august+020.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTvy3e2LnzxGz_qh5-AUiIM59FidysubFr_pP7wgZzCX2PGUrzIPOXrRsNcjmiqPCAtmbwqzFtztlS7VCg-F2Yuh3QvjPtpFKMa2EwmnpCf61ohVlnVahdTa6xMUU7y_mnKJFA1Bkqb6i/s320/august+020.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5244406789325567058" /></a><br /><em></em><br /><br />Sigh.Margaritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572570912551422923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114280231026167949.post-5935799518070920422008-08-22T15:21:00.000-07:002008-08-22T15:30:55.140-07:00Fridays are for purpleFebruary baby sweater: Finished!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKT8S3a2yKzJ66XAc68vzGR5f4tIVCb1ERWHdE7YNJlx2UkE1iYvZB0UMozhuZH4535_BqANKJX7iHSbS4C5BAOYGyGiNrwcB0ew3G9ZhdHrxBnezvHLHf_U8XZ9gqu8Fs1HxEAklejy_/s1600-h/fbs+042.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237471514020548306" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKT8S3a2yKzJ66XAc68vzGR5f4tIVCb1ERWHdE7YNJlx2UkE1iYvZB0UMozhuZH4535_BqANKJX7iHSbS4C5BAOYGyGiNrwcB0ew3G9ZhdHrxBnezvHLHf_U8XZ9gqu8Fs1HxEAklejy_/s320/fbs+042.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />(Almost...still awaiting blocking and buttons)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPev7UtEjMS9oY_6VdykYV2_w-4wm3-pt_G7b_Y_DTGL-KjFn6yE-A1MWUZu6xs5Nc2nyuUXHoS7dfoC802FyzZrxg4mXzp69ntKVPzNjhx8zRnAGeoviPDK8LupuUzhXqCubBUOGcE_jb/s1600-h/fbs+044.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237471515010895746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPev7UtEjMS9oY_6VdykYV2_w-4wm3-pt_G7b_Y_DTGL-KjFn6yE-A1MWUZu6xs5Nc2nyuUXHoS7dfoC802FyzZrxg4mXzp69ntKVPzNjhx8zRnAGeoviPDK8LupuUzhXqCubBUOGcE_jb/s320/fbs+044.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Oh man, do I love this color! I can say that completely unabashedly because, while I did dye it myself, I had no clue whatsoever what I was doing. <p>Oh, and I chose buttons:<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCtVFCOWI3ni29UfoxHpMaC1f-emX6U4TJWV4QZIIOXZRUJFl7p1o1MOibcr0cU89cvhzFsvV-MGrAW9XZf-8b2Mg0Tj7PoM3Fkq9331SvQ3i1e7p3tErNUb4D_zknMdbCZsXG06Um5CP/s1600-h/fbs+047.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237471519301619346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCCtVFCOWI3ni29UfoxHpMaC1f-emX6U4TJWV4QZIIOXZRUJFl7p1o1MOibcr0cU89cvhzFsvV-MGrAW9XZf-8b2Mg0Tj7PoM3Fkq9331SvQ3i1e7p3tErNUb4D_zknMdbCZsXG06Um5CP/s320/fbs+047.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p>I still need to sew them on and then crochet some button loops. I did make buttonholes while I was knitting, but they're too small and too far in and they just look goofy--so I'm going to sew the buttons onto the side that had the holes, and in doing so close up and camoflage the old holes, see? And then crochet little loops to go over them. It's not perfect, but it'll work.<br /><br />A better solution might have been to make the buttonholes right the first time around, but what can you do.<br /><br />One bootie, kind of finished but awaiting buttons, blocking, and sewing up:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9kLOXqZH1jXUV8BU5iMsD_6BlHhpz6tgN9LuQnZSkQxaONtPegcfrwY_L7cPUCIkPLXArMLbEZPaHdGYrZDRdWCCr2YN4FJHYXtrisWLuXytijiwVMsP64rZRxS0gibp3WF1Ad_V8eaU/s1600-h/fbs+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237471521896452370" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9kLOXqZH1jXUV8BU5iMsD_6BlHhpz6tgN9LuQnZSkQxaONtPegcfrwY_L7cPUCIkPLXArMLbEZPaHdGYrZDRdWCCr2YN4FJHYXtrisWLuXytijiwVMsP64rZRxS0gibp3WF1Ad_V8eaU/s320/fbs+014.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Super cute, and super easy and super fast--maybe an hour and a half for this bootie last night? And so CUTE! I can't get over how little it is. I did modify the pattern a little, unsurprisingly--details later. <br /><br />And big-girl booties (not really): flats for me.<br /><br />Purple purple purple. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwc-HpjLTeEP3_-juUjqls7FTKwZM9WKVB2JGNlhRfQXgiRi9ltX1D4s5Yr4q98j2e7LI5njOX_SqKOOspiXF3FVvnGapO3Aj7is1YwX3jP66uqLNqEr9i1rPyCIiPJvsPanPIHWfDWJ0R/s1600-h/fbs+050.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5237471519863238050" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwc-HpjLTeEP3_-juUjqls7FTKwZM9WKVB2JGNlhRfQXgiRi9ltX1D4s5Yr4q98j2e7LI5njOX_SqKOOspiXF3FVvnGapO3Aj7is1YwX3jP66uqLNqEr9i1rPyCIiPJvsPanPIHWfDWJ0R/s320/fbs+050.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p><br /><br />Mmmm, purple.Margaritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572570912551422923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114280231026167949.post-54775488629711502422008-08-15T17:32:00.001-07:002008-08-15T17:40:11.099-07:00Knit faster, knit fasterIt is one million (numbers are approximate) degrees outside today, so naturally I am knitting a wool sweater.<br /><br />Naturally.<br /><br />Although, truth be told, I am actually somewhat concerned because the baby shower is in oh let's see eight days, and so far the sweater looks like this:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTF0rZ0XbolFLJ6IH9jgOa1jhYhdRx3cKANcW91LfrkKmfF4cmXBtURYkARBha5fV1SP4o0B8kv6uWX1Ukni4P_znNKa96FO3dNxuHZ6CcklXQyQad0eW9FAnUbzhO6vX4g8LzpqGgSJfM/s1600-h/P8150019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234907348226943618" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTF0rZ0XbolFLJ6IH9jgOa1jhYhdRx3cKANcW91LfrkKmfF4cmXBtURYkARBha5fV1SP4o0B8kv6uWX1Ukni4P_znNKa96FO3dNxuHZ6CcklXQyQad0eW9FAnUbzhO6vX4g8LzpqGgSJfM/s320/P8150019.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yeah, um, CONCERN. I'm not really in big trouble just yet, but I might be if I don't get cracking. What do you think my friends will say to this: "Sorry guys, I can't go to the movies/bar/park/hiking--I have to stay home and knit." I mean, they already knew I was a huge loser but that is pushing it even for me. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbNSO9HitfSLCEaHD9KpU5azwYGdDWZt-ELzGamC8WD8_W7JcqG9F9HBsbtF3Cv3aBL4XeBU55ye0JEGsW69NDh8xuuj-tuIl4J7R_GSCxMSuhVz0zw8i1jKDf8yjFv8zA8EmdEkMtmVP/s1600-h/P8150020.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234907352214173586" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTbNSO9HitfSLCEaHD9KpU5azwYGdDWZt-ELzGamC8WD8_W7JcqG9F9HBsbtF3Cv3aBL4XeBU55ye0JEGsW69NDh8xuuj-tuIl4J7R_GSCxMSuhVz0zw8i1jKDf8yjFv8zA8EmdEkMtmVP/s320/P8150020.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Oh well. In the meantime I will knit normally, taking time out to hike/bike/swim/lie in the shade waiting for my impending death from heatstroke due to the preceding three activities and the fact that it is, at 5:37 p.m., 97 DEGREES OUT. <br /><br />I'm not in trouble.<br /><br />Yet.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ljO1pODGM02AvQ9QjgzNoEYarQqghDzwJOA77k_ayWi96JsuDFdeaFSf8vUAwHE2eBwijq_qcYHAOAf9ikoPoOgZ_hpRJ2IgUeb85WkXioLlBhHaKMRh8KqfSAlHlTt5hjKv6ifknk2W/s1600-h/P8150022.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234907359574213026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8ljO1pODGM02AvQ9QjgzNoEYarQqghDzwJOA77k_ayWi96JsuDFdeaFSf8vUAwHE2eBwijq_qcYHAOAf9ikoPoOgZ_hpRJ2IgUeb85WkXioLlBhHaKMRh8KqfSAlHlTt5hjKv6ifknk2W/s320/P8150022.JPG" border="0" /></a><br /><br />(I do like how my <a href="http://bulkybluewool.blogspot.com/2008/08/curl-up-and-dye.html">hand-dyed yarn</a> is knitting up, though!)Margaritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572570912551422923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114280231026167949.post-89431942648478444782008-08-13T11:57:00.000-07:002008-08-20T15:53:57.041-07:00One-woman sweatshop<div>Cranking out the baby clothes around here.<br /><br />My high school band director had a baby last week, so I took a break from knitting my still-embryonic (heh) <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-sweater-on-two-needles-february">February Baby Sweater</a> to make her a little hat:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Ehmme6e7Vv7jn2crRYgpWoRz0CJDLgPUL8gpIE854pBXTHcqpOPNAyihk-QEHBNMRl8KuGcPDlwJd40My5E40LAfNc_6unfEfeHeZbpOpassFV86MBehORVszDXwKct3MRzHW_W44QF4/s1600-h/flamingo+scarf+086.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234079774793464562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Ehmme6e7Vv7jn2crRYgpWoRz0CJDLgPUL8gpIE854pBXTHcqpOPNAyihk-QEHBNMRl8KuGcPDlwJd40My5E40LAfNc_6unfEfeHeZbpOpassFV86MBehORVszDXwKct3MRzHW_W44QF4/s320/flamingo+scarf+086.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Pattern: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/umbilical-cord-hat">Umbilical Cord Hat</a>, by Jennifer L. Jones. Kinda. I didn't really read the pattern, just made a little baby hat and then added a little i-cord knot on the top. I think it makes the hat look a little Dr. Seuss, but I like it.<br />Yarn: Debbie Bliss Cotton Angora, only a bit of a skein of each. What perfect baby yarn! I don't know if it's still being made; I bought this yarn a few years ago and haven't seen any in stores for awhile. But oh, so soft!<br /><br />Reggie is not moved, softness or no.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNaJo7gfI02s2FAOF966Dufe63w0E57hH5Y4OMIYPB9i-i_vjbNlGwe0I4bByk59-f4Md2-AhKNXGZw4z0LvTTVp5iFZOxi3vvKTP6Jugud3bF790KUeg6qHKnFeSfPUmpxIfTaCk9j4G/s1600-h/flamingo+scarf+083.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234079775063762690" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDNaJo7gfI02s2FAOF966Dufe63w0E57hH5Y4OMIYPB9i-i_vjbNlGwe0I4bByk59-f4Md2-AhKNXGZw4z0LvTTVp5iFZOxi3vvKTP6Jugud3bF790KUeg6qHKnFeSfPUmpxIfTaCk9j4G/s320/flamingo+scarf+083.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div></div></div>Margaritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572570912551422923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114280231026167949.post-38045045041584874602008-08-13T11:36:00.000-07:002008-08-13T11:57:38.967-07:00Curl Up and DyeHands down my favorite salon name EVER.<br /><br />Anyway. Yarn. I had quite a bit leftover from my <a href="http://bulkybluewool.blogspot.com/2008/07/this-is-my-gathered-pullover.html">Gathered Pullover</a>--more than enough for a little baby sweater. But the baby in question is a girl--not that baby girls can't wear blue! I would have been happy to make her a little blue sweater, actually, and take THAT, gender-normativity, but after knitting an entire adult sweater out of this yarn I could not stare at that ocean of blue (heh) any longer.<br /><br />So bust out the food coloring and vinegar, and MY NAME IS INIGO MONTOYA, YOU KILLED MY FATHER, PREPARE TO DYE! (hahahaha)(shut up.)<br /><br />Ahem. Before:<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwm8dn8vsRujs9dhQqwMzExZuhfB-a6YaKNXZxhw4i77gXKPoMvbRshY0SmFoptPHW2JlTxxj034CKOCym115IhkI1dso7-toWhFuaKmC42JAo-hnB5vMNSt1S2hHHT2P4jTOhpQEl58XF/s1600-h/flamingo+scarf+043.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234073608500845522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwm8dn8vsRujs9dhQqwMzExZuhfB-a6YaKNXZxhw4i77gXKPoMvbRshY0SmFoptPHW2JlTxxj034CKOCym115IhkI1dso7-toWhFuaKmC42JAo-hnB5vMNSt1S2hHHT2P4jTOhpQEl58XF/s320/flamingo+scarf+043.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport in "Denim," 2 + a little bit skeins.<br /><br />Two teeny samples, microwaved:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibK2h5zEchh0FADGaAXc1ushrPNNaSKwD72Yal0NM-PUv6HXFAxO9EWPer2XPBMW8owXMio5PVxzV9C_NFZfpx4AuqA4vOWHTZm3ORwVaUboyknaBRaE2qZ45yINWZN7rskIQzCKxwVyGK/s1600-h/flamingo+scarf+045.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234075050994297186" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibK2h5zEchh0FADGaAXc1ushrPNNaSKwD72Yal0NM-PUv6HXFAxO9EWPer2XPBMW8owXMio5PVxzV9C_NFZfpx4AuqA4vOWHTZm3ORwVaUboyknaBRaE2qZ45yINWZN7rskIQzCKxwVyGK/s320/flamingo+scarf+045.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />On the left: purple McCormick food coloring over blue; on the right, pink. I like the purple much better. </p><p>Drying in the sun after "kettle-dying" (which sounds quite fancy and artisan-dyer esque, but really means I stirred up some food coloring, vinegar, and water, heated it up, and added the yarn. Somewhere along the line I managed to dye my foot pink. You know.)<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsU9LFjuynOUzRTNdH02hiaXIO4DZ4bqwZAkrOg80k9AVxrusr7uMTsRcnBoRVOPYcqCEB_SqeJSiu2TjjMRRilUoLBPpk2pbHGsyBO9pzOW6RzNXneAgENIB2c-59cRf1xato55qLMFw3/s1600-h/flamingo+scarf+060.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234073608255217346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsU9LFjuynOUzRTNdH02hiaXIO4DZ4bqwZAkrOg80k9AVxrusr7uMTsRcnBoRVOPYcqCEB_SqeJSiu2TjjMRRilUoLBPpk2pbHGsyBO9pzOW6RzNXneAgENIB2c-59cRf1xato55qLMFw3/s320/flamingo+scarf+060.jpg" border="0" /></a> Aaaand finished product!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOv8IbCssO7CJCTx4fAbuil7KNEAPIa-6IBvj0zYGHDonqh_cn485VbHw4qgsspamgGhiq3MRAcjeoQlh4Bex2xwLxjGaZuinq-aeSq3osAEwZnPA2VXnSeGNVhrxisdYlDp6WEhVeAun/s1600-h/flamingo+scarf+068.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234073620123623874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOv8IbCssO7CJCTx4fAbuil7KNEAPIa-6IBvj0zYGHDonqh_cn485VbHw4qgsspamgGhiq3MRAcjeoQlh4Bex2xwLxjGaZuinq-aeSq3osAEwZnPA2VXnSeGNVhrxisdYlDp6WEhVeAun/s320/flamingo+scarf+068.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p>I love it! It's much more variegated than I had intended--some spots stayed pretty blue, and then I tried to overdye those and only got some of them and so now some spots are pretty red, but I think it'll look nice knit up. So a success! </p><p>Except, except...oh, I don't want to talk about it. It's too painful.<br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILTbmjgDBTbSKrNGRFqyMVjWWeblgrLLB5N0HdVb5hjDApuYuohOgiZhEsJNS5d1d7fCd54kTwav0zZoK-VHXNbjap6WS21phJHS8C67y9VYoYfV0H30NkqbzJwY7MDPIYEJXcQgBGf2-/s1600-h/flamingo+scarf+071.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234073620692130562" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjILTbmjgDBTbSKrNGRFqyMVjWWeblgrLLB5N0HdVb5hjDApuYuohOgiZhEsJNS5d1d7fCd54kTwav0zZoK-VHXNbjap6WS21phJHS8C67y9VYoYfV0H30NkqbzJwY7MDPIYEJXcQgBGf2-/s320/flamingo+scarf+071.jpg" border="0" /></a> It's...I...I can't even talk about it. There was a funny smell, and then there was yarn on fire, and then there was burned wool, and breaking, and...aaaaugh.</p><p>And really it's not too bad, actually; it only burned through about ten strands, all close together, so most of the skein is intact. I saved these little bits and I'll use them for seaming or edges or something. It's just...augh. </p><p>But I did make pretty yarn! </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBSRFvY62dNIOMXT5UHX2ByX5Vki304zi6dWafBem2dTUJevfMqdhIbRLM2M-X2kL55SIDPeVPsgQE5vbeDqqUxMsLzzMHN45l0dPHXY9nUaLRCakwcVm6B7wK5WFAy0f12AJfYbeN2yc/s1600-h/flamingo+scarf+070.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5234073624706866930" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBSRFvY62dNIOMXT5UHX2ByX5Vki304zi6dWafBem2dTUJevfMqdhIbRLM2M-X2kL55SIDPeVPsgQE5vbeDqqUxMsLzzMHN45l0dPHXY9nUaLRCakwcVm6B7wK5WFAy0f12AJfYbeN2yc/s320/flamingo+scarf+070.jpg" border="0" /></a> Oh, and what am I making? Oh, only the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/baby-sweater-on-two-needles-february">third-most popular baby pattern on Ravelry</a>. </p><p>I told you I'm not cool.</p>Margaritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572570912551422923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114280231026167949.post-20366075870432029992008-08-07T13:54:00.001-07:002008-08-13T11:57:17.248-07:00Flamingo Scarf goes down on the farmI'm home again, home again, home again! The travel was sort of exhausting, but I'm oh-so-glad to be here. On the way here I spent about ten hours either waiting at the airport or watching horrible dreadful reality TV on the plane (<a href="http://www.jetblue.com/">Jet Blue</a>, I love you so), which meant about ten hours of quality time with the Flamingo Scarf. It is coming along quite nicely, although I am remembering once again that while I love wearing scarves, I hate knitting them.<br /><br />I do seem to have a bit of trouble assimilating this concept.<br /><br />Anyway, the scarf has grown significantly, so I decided to take it for a little photoshoot around the farm.<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQabtrOhkf91xdiTSU1iVbl2JP5iuX7KlVlKxIs-d2FyOGF-WRjeccORtZokiP0BksIUmlruA5leauhWRSo4Hj79YyRFv8CvBtuLYwFHueUmypIKMLAnw2f50z13mrjv-7Or1o7WQ8VkQm/s1600-h/flamingo+scarf+008.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231882511986958290" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQabtrOhkf91xdiTSU1iVbl2JP5iuX7KlVlKxIs-d2FyOGF-WRjeccORtZokiP0BksIUmlruA5leauhWRSo4Hj79YyRFv8CvBtuLYwFHueUmypIKMLAnw2f50z13mrjv-7Or1o7WQ8VkQm/s320/flamingo+scarf+008.jpg" border="0" /></a> Flamingo scarf enjoys the sunflowers.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mJk7b5tmLQm5vWJkSjeahxRE_545OLw1OruufHC-VgHKKthvdbhDikR4hgw7JYWsg7S6bZm8ym7_6FyMPHXZIXuV7EPr66kzLpe9g4koAb-e9OdRpHWb7lUoGciWRj4mds8FJCzI0SnT/s1600-h/flamingo+scarf+014.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231882510526732226" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mJk7b5tmLQm5vWJkSjeahxRE_545OLw1OruufHC-VgHKKthvdbhDikR4hgw7JYWsg7S6bZm8ym7_6FyMPHXZIXuV7EPr66kzLpe9g4koAb-e9OdRpHWb7lUoGciWRj4mds8FJCzI0SnT/s320/flamingo+scarf+014.jpg" border="0" /></a> Close-up of the pattern.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXBcketgNe3sDrgYFp35tfHQOdzAKLfpSP8AvkzoLBciAkEEw0yRYBWxxPnXLDbEjFnLjjljVK6AtLisM26ckzrBzT6JzPh4sAANb8oAyC7a46tHk5IWAyRyZJljSSq6mBx26zItLJrUm/s1600-h/flamingo+scarf+017.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231882511898983202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiXBcketgNe3sDrgYFp35tfHQOdzAKLfpSP8AvkzoLBciAkEEw0yRYBWxxPnXLDbEjFnLjjljVK6AtLisM26ckzrBzT6JzPh4sAANb8oAyC7a46tHk5IWAyRyZJljSSq6mBx26zItLJrUm/s320/flamingo+scarf+017.jpg" border="0" /></a> Flamingo scarf finds a kindred spirit! This scarf is really quite easy (easy enough to be boring, actually) now that I've memorized the pattern.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb49wt8F4MvBBr8-esrnGdI17DLYWXfF383KhYTRslg35RIN78BT1mYbrWfyYDATTFKoTThYbb5OkWOTDn4ZYOt3FNaYpFBTeC_nwk3L0XL64UPn6p_5Dzjc5U8wZ5WnwcxNm_eGHx2js4/s1600-h/flamingo+scarf+007.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231882511735569442" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb49wt8F4MvBBr8-esrnGdI17DLYWXfF383KhYTRslg35RIN78BT1mYbrWfyYDATTFKoTThYbb5OkWOTDn4ZYOt3FNaYpFBTeC_nwk3L0XL64UPn6p_5Dzjc5U8wZ5WnwcxNm_eGHx2js4/s320/flamingo+scarf+007.jpg" border="0" /></a> Reggie is not amused (but see how long it's gotten?) </p><p>It does curl a lot, at least pre-blocking, so of course it'll be much wider and longer than this once I'm done.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9y34oYpog32KUiB7IVtjKeJ2QrtApLyydiKvkSxcs6tcao4b1rf68NyGlYQ1T1bQ77qT9QMWI3HnBY_7u2qSM11IIhpIcqnHjpIkL832gxM8XJc6mR6V6yuWeqk83oH_pDO73dwAUp-S/s1600-h/flamingo+scarf+020.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231882513893669954" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK9y34oYpog32KUiB7IVtjKeJ2QrtApLyydiKvkSxcs6tcao4b1rf68NyGlYQ1T1bQ77qT9QMWI3HnBY_7u2qSM11IIhpIcqnHjpIkL832gxM8XJc6mR6V6yuWeqk83oH_pDO73dwAUp-S/s320/flamingo+scarf+020.jpg" border="0" /></a> Flamingo scarf checks out the pumpkin blossom.<br /><br /></p><p></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbhLTDRjBwZQeenr-dORh5TahYvFxE-cUuJOtdFBLBGwIJ82qCqVSg1-bQeai9jCbXtmhSPJ2aH9npmlrP7g4EloG7ot__gpkcG1HHRhOL6K5tefg_KpfQaR1vSJdHttY55wyoRmoG7UG/s1600-h/flamingo+scarf+023.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231882908948000946" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQbhLTDRjBwZQeenr-dORh5TahYvFxE-cUuJOtdFBLBGwIJ82qCqVSg1-bQeai9jCbXtmhSPJ2aH9npmlrP7g4EloG7ot__gpkcG1HHRhOL6K5tefg_KpfQaR1vSJdHttY55wyoRmoG7UG/s320/flamingo+scarf+023.jpg" border="0" /></a>Signage to the contrary, the chickens were not particularly interested one way or another.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KSlfDPmJRehaD2aeQmD42o_DoQ-MnU_7qPZHOf1ilCwler3AbOHZ_tL899eZ5fqQIkFp4o5KflZFGrtd-0uPcFhDeuethLboy84vW1rMIf7kskxir4N1TB4ZdqrQC8YINICHkVqkeyOJ/s1600-h/flamingo+scarf+025.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231882911198822482" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KSlfDPmJRehaD2aeQmD42o_DoQ-MnU_7qPZHOf1ilCwler3AbOHZ_tL899eZ5fqQIkFp4o5KflZFGrtd-0uPcFhDeuethLboy84vW1rMIf7kskxir4N1TB4ZdqrQC8YINICHkVqkeyOJ/s320/flamingo+scarf+025.jpg" border="0" /></a> But they did leave me a present!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYvoIwB1cCqrQqavuYuYq5SXo2ddo1ynGJuUCeY_CJuqVD0enZqXEcmHvpShw_gO1Id6MWmdbJyUJmJqu12nt0Hqfzp1QY3yFOUEb9mLsZaCgDzokRZ2JLN9iZ0QkJd5X-QFOuPYdsNDU/s1600-h/flamingo+scarf+038.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231882916138984610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMYvoIwB1cCqrQqavuYuYq5SXo2ddo1ynGJuUCeY_CJuqVD0enZqXEcmHvpShw_gO1Id6MWmdbJyUJmJqu12nt0Hqfzp1QY3yFOUEb9mLsZaCgDzokRZ2JLN9iZ0QkJd5X-QFOuPYdsNDU/s320/flamingo+scarf+038.jpg" border="0" /></a> Not everyone is allowed a photograph, though--<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3So2GOV97vU6IpCCdXb8ZYHJQvb-kCoICDXqiSOqSc_OYAvAGjSWw11i0C9yrQOGDdugIvmTGuQCAqPFI0s8WIu2k4jFApk9StR_WYYWf1GGDbGo01sDCw2SAdb82jXaJjZha8c45dIx/s1600-h/flamingo+scarf+031.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231882912850379170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU3So2GOV97vU6IpCCdXb8ZYHJQvb-kCoICDXqiSOqSc_OYAvAGjSWw11i0C9yrQOGDdugIvmTGuQCAqPFI0s8WIu2k4jFApk9StR_WYYWf1GGDbGo01sDCw2SAdb82jXaJjZha8c45dIx/s320/flamingo+scarf+031.jpg" border="0" /></a> Some of us are far too inquisitive and rambunctious to be allowed ANYWHERE near my delicate lace scarf.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbsSzWqTKNUZDF6bNhl7KNjzPfMv_eDzq2cstdKH-OArpf-DXEwWd0W9T8OVCkd8aHqecn3aR1HUGOJdCwN6bUTNvmx3-u2uQTK_u6p2M4xGW8mWP4kxWPa_GXzAs4gkoIjD5o13XytwG/s1600-h/flamingo+scarf+033.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231882916367941602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSbsSzWqTKNUZDF6bNhl7KNjzPfMv_eDzq2cstdKH-OArpf-DXEwWd0W9T8OVCkd8aHqecn3aR1HUGOJdCwN6bUTNvmx3-u2uQTK_u6p2M4xGW8mWP4kxWPa_GXzAs4gkoIjD5o13XytwG/s320/flamingo+scarf+033.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMQictLqQ_WWyDSsyqK8mvL93ttYCGN6s6lu1xKr60PEcUDoDG-TAngH2rV1XnhOK_GUegZ5wbpipu73yWXptb5jG34WVCMoA1-OUaIJLkEt0XKXjoo2flx7Br4Xn6nVb1uUkF7G2r7jo/s1600-h/flamingo+scarf+034.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231883104965601890" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgMQictLqQ_WWyDSsyqK8mvL93ttYCGN6s6lu1xKr60PEcUDoDG-TAngH2rV1XnhOK_GUegZ5wbpipu73yWXptb5jG34WVCMoA1-OUaIJLkEt0XKXjoo2flx7Br4Xn6nVb1uUkF7G2r7jo/s320/flamingo+scarf+034.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUo1vErXfDw92hidOP-m7QlgCjx0j0BjrJX1lPi_nhhBQjq24jFE4BCFYXUoDFDb9-ILJyxKYXusAKfn02r074sQ-8Cp55ps6gZgGfNdW4377tdQ5dAHFBwZNtoyrBBOooVvvZvey2Uzpi/s1600-h/flamingo+scarf+035.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5231883103350572194" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUo1vErXfDw92hidOP-m7QlgCjx0j0BjrJX1lPi_nhhBQjq24jFE4BCFYXUoDFDb9-ILJyxKYXusAKfn02r074sQ-8Cp55ps6gZgGfNdW4377tdQ5dAHFBwZNtoyrBBOooVvvZvey2Uzpi/s320/flamingo+scarf+035.jpg" border="0" /></a> </p>Margaritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572570912551422923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114280231026167949.post-3387812685206253012008-08-03T19:32:00.000-07:002008-08-03T19:50:32.595-07:00Want want want covet covet covetI want it I want it I want it I want it I want it! It's red and lacy and FAST and pretty and I want it, I <a href="http://ysolda.com/store/sweaters/liesl/">WANT</a> it.<br /><br />Those of you who are knitters and have been reading the internets lately might know of what I speak. (As an aside, those of you who are not knitters but merely friends of mine hoping I will post another picture of my rack will be sorely disappointed. Just saying.) <br /><br />I want it. I was first inspired by <a href="http://cassiana.typepad.com/too_much_wool/2008/07/seriously-now-f.html">this one</a>--I think that if (no, WHEN) I make my own I will probably make the same mod--to eliminate the purl ridges after the yoke. Then I did a little googling and found <a href="http://www.familytrunkproject.com/2008/06/the-48hour-sweater.html">this</a> one and that was it--I was done for. I had to have this sweater, and I had to have it in red, and I had to have it NOW. And as it turns out, <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/liesl/queues">I'm not alone</a>. (Ravelry is my NEW FAVORITE TOY). <br /><br />The process of knitting and eventually wearing this sweater and having it all for my very own, yessss precious, is slightly complicated--complicated by my finances (i.e. I have no money for groceries, let alone yarn)(although given a choice between the two I am not entirely sure what my choice might be)(pathetic, I know)(moving on now). Complicated, also, by the fact that in eleven short hours I will be getting on a plane and flying across the country. <br /><br />But I have a Plan. It involves ripping some WIPs that are getting on my nerves anyway, it involves washing and re-dying that yarn and putting it to new use, it involves a lot of things that are going to make a big mess in the kitchen and remind my mother how extremely pleased she is that I am home (not really). <br /><br />In the meantime, I'm going to go pack my Flamingo Scarf in my carry-on bag and hope for lenient airport security. I'm a little worried about those metal straight needles I'm using for it--I've never had a problem flying with my knitting before, but I also usually use wooden circs. We'll see. I'm putting in a lifeline just in case.Margaritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572570912551422923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114280231026167949.post-69674257928495122132008-07-29T18:55:00.001-07:002008-08-03T19:51:02.948-07:00This is my Gathered PulloverLadies and gentlemen...this is my Gathered Pullover.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEoR37UKMmFvrzAcmSrMMGAsu7NVYJWG63m8TzwW77PTAyUIdDWcR7XyAhllvlu1j3WztwFY1O0wzloBRcw1mTnvnnq938-4k0GFqH0lW_DpEmi-8f4z2hRXRjvI0OswZ1wv68LvFbmVwV/s1600-h/01gp+013.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228620349441743042" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEoR37UKMmFvrzAcmSrMMGAsu7NVYJWG63m8TzwW77PTAyUIdDWcR7XyAhllvlu1j3WztwFY1O0wzloBRcw1mTnvnnq938-4k0GFqH0lW_DpEmi-8f4z2hRXRjvI0OswZ1wv68LvFbmVwV/s320/01gp+013.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is the sleeve that I cast on in January and knit in the movie theater while watching Singing in the Rain. I kept knitting in March on the bus on the way to hockey playoffs, and I cast off the first sleeve in Princeton, NJ. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NtQgBdbISpsVrvupjZt1wO_xhMvlP4UsGw4A1tEHkVp8P9FxhBWYjbMDLiKSQZHMjq963gaFrjHiRfJi89D9VCU_E0IcfTaPYCGHYLG8CBCQvEEtp8D8kEdQGSAzbIbNhyphenhyphenLi7jcaezl1/s1600-h/02gp+016.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228620382088543858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-NtQgBdbISpsVrvupjZt1wO_xhMvlP4UsGw4A1tEHkVp8P9FxhBWYjbMDLiKSQZHMjq963gaFrjHiRfJi89D9VCU_E0IcfTaPYCGHYLG8CBCQvEEtp8D8kEdQGSAzbIbNhyphenhyphenLi7jcaezl1/s320/02gp+016.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is the body that I cast on in May during breaks, whilst my friends and I wrote/filmed/starred in/edited/premiered a movie in twelve days (really). <br /><br />And that I kept knitting on the metro all around Washington DC. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyY0i3We2HfjS4CIeqPNzpMMzv7VLAPTkL597_kZ7cHCKy2t61aAgzhuVm4mNyP2IHFCTwNKPmKjv_CELBDsZMXzdb6ie5A-Zbc9X8O6c7F612hUCkn5XepZM5tiSDWC0WY_NqXx23Jp2d/s1600-h/03agp+019.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228620383586668706" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyY0i3We2HfjS4CIeqPNzpMMzv7VLAPTkL597_kZ7cHCKy2t61aAgzhuVm4mNyP2IHFCTwNKPmKjv_CELBDsZMXzdb6ie5A-Zbc9X8O6c7F612hUCkn5XepZM5tiSDWC0WY_NqXx23Jp2d/s320/03agp+019.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />This is the cable that I cabled while watching <a href="http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/">Season 3 on DVD</a>. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZa3_nNjvkIxTrRiRP1EkT2Tcdq41l-O5WJy-wRUVgx7-08vI6LbY5NCGf8CfgjYTTjw2VK6olkRu6E8WsFTkmv2HHv2IprjeE4Y0ugUQZZBPFpUt6N4s0dTHVQ7xUJdhxDWeyaTHcD5bx/s1600-h/03gp+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228620391262881026" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZa3_nNjvkIxTrRiRP1EkT2Tcdq41l-O5WJy-wRUVgx7-08vI6LbY5NCGf8CfgjYTTjw2VK6olkRu6E8WsFTkmv2HHv2IprjeE4Y0ugUQZZBPFpUt6N4s0dTHVQ7xUJdhxDWeyaTHcD5bx/s320/03gp+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />(I would also like to take the oppurtunity to point out that I think my new sweater looks quite nice with my new necklace, purchased at <a href="http://www.easternmarket.net/">Eastern Market</a> this past weekend.<br /><br />This is the back and its pretty spectacular pooling. I think it looks sort of cool, though, and the color difference is subtle enough that it doesn't immediately scream HEY LOOK I'VE GOT A LIGHTNING BOLT ON MY BACK. Well, I hope not. And can't you see where I used another (darker) skein for the top of the back? Oh, the joys of handdyed yarn. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zESRnICJgtvHft4tPgcTDoVoVkar6LZaiXoNWEYBguYa1RCJ9jbmnTjTb-gbn9LBIZtvn6lex7oFWB8xHoYtN0Qb6n379wQMwjC5aRQhWoAhVbNClfOBwjIWK8f_fac62ob9bonioi_M/s1600-h/05gp+020.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7zESRnICJgtvHft4tPgcTDoVoVkar6LZaiXoNWEYBguYa1RCJ9jbmnTjTb-gbn9LBIZtvn6lex7oFWB8xHoYtN0Qb6n379wQMwjC5aRQhWoAhVbNClfOBwjIWK8f_fac62ob9bonioi_M/s320/05gp+020.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228626400423912370" /></a><br /><br />This is the shoulder that I finished while watching <a href="http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/">Season 4</a> online.<br /><br />This is also the seam that I sewed while talking to my friend <a href="http://ypmbluegrass.blogspot.com/">Chris</a> on the phone. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60Fb0m0ie9_O1MdWutkibCbVcffcrVQRGfHuUYBYjTXWsWUWmsnn_ARo6bxE1WJ1kXI_l4rEOdLBBuKHRbKQ3wyIoAAFmASLT0iOohiqbUUFrSUcUlWj1JYXwRCkoQtUZlrtaxgzfCWvZ/s1600-h/04gp+018.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228620398899745906" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg60Fb0m0ie9_O1MdWutkibCbVcffcrVQRGfHuUYBYjTXWsWUWmsnn_ARo6bxE1WJ1kXI_l4rEOdLBBuKHRbKQ3wyIoAAFmASLT0iOohiqbUUFrSUcUlWj1JYXwRCkoQtUZlrtaxgzfCWvZ/s320/04gp+018.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yes, this is it...this is, finally, at long last, my Gathered Pullover!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTu-xuyKHz3kQItkgWQ1SvT05J-eoJSYb7vXRN40olZB2PATwD67N_jWHEMtsDvwlCVUAQsq1I2nDAaEhQmn6rz_TykIV-dP3RwCPVj0tH6sGi5BnGX-MMNZYEtT-e80xQVMSZFv250_HL/s1600-h/gp+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228620562314218610" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTu-xuyKHz3kQItkgWQ1SvT05J-eoJSYb7vXRN40olZB2PATwD67N_jWHEMtsDvwlCVUAQsq1I2nDAaEhQmn6rz_TykIV-dP3RwCPVj0tH6sGi5BnGX-MMNZYEtT-e80xQVMSZFv250_HL/s320/gp+021.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Ta-dah!<br /><br /><b>Project Specs</b>:<br />Pattern: <a href="http://www.interweaveknits.com/galleries/bonus/winter2007/jason.asp">Gathered Pullover</a>, by Hana Jason, Winter 2007 Interweave Knits. 36" (second-smallest) size. <br /><br />Yarn: Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sport in "Denim," 4.5 skeins. I LOVED this yarn! While I was knitting I was a little worried because it just seemed so slippery. The more I looked at finished GPs elsewhere, the more I became convinced that this sweater needs a fuzzy yarn, not a slick one. When I finished the knitting, though, I tossed it in the washer and dryer (gulp) and--miraculously--it fuzzed right up! It didn't felt, obviously (hooray for superwash), but the fibers are just the tiniest bit stuck together and there's a little bit of a halo. And it is oh, so unbelievably soft. There was a little bit (/a lot) of a pooling issue, but I'm pretty easygoing about that sort of thing. If I were more uptight (and let's face it, less lazy) I would have knit alternating from two separate skeins, but hey. <br /><br />Needles: Clover bamboo DPNs, size 8, for the sleeves, and mystery metal size 8 circ (inherited from my grandmother, so maybe Susan Bates) for the body. <br /><br />Start date: January 20 (ish)<br />Finish date: July 27 (yyyyeah, I know.) <br /><br />Modifications: Made the sleeves two inches longer than the pattern called for, mostly by accident (I was watching a movie, I got distracted...) When I tried them on, they were (surprise surprise) far too long, so then I ripped out three inches and now they're good. Sheesh. Made the body two inches longer, this time on purpose. Sewed together the seam at the front neckline, like many other have. <br /><br />Verdict: I love it! Oh man, I love it! I think this is the best sweater I've ever made (not that <a href="http://bulkybluewool.blogspot.com/2007/09/sweater-stories-finale-aka-ugliest.html">some other sweaters</a> were particularly hard acts to follow, you say. Shut up.) I love how light it is, and I love the plunging-yet-classy neckline and I love the cable detail. All that stockinette in the round was a little bit of a slog, and partly the reason it took so long--it was boring enough that I wanted to save it for when I was movie-watching/metro-riding/etc, which during the busy semester is not that often.<br /><br />But in the end?<br /><br />Totally, totally worth it.Margaritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572570912551422923noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114280231026167949.post-29831991029991058222008-07-28T20:28:00.000-07:002008-07-28T20:49:01.241-07:00Hi, I'm Rita, and I'm late to the partySo basically the point of all this is that I'm horribly uncool. There are some people who always seem to anticipate trends--they're wearing/knitting/listening to/doing whatever the Next Big Thing is, before it's even a Big Thing. <br /><br />I am so not one of those people.<br /><br />Examples:<br /><br />1) I just started watching <a href="http://www.nbc.com/The_Office/">The Office</a>. It is hilarious! Yes, say my friends and every other college student in the world, we knew this two years ago. <br /><br />2) Last week I read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Kite-Runner-Khaled-Hosseini/dp/1594480001/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1217302900&sr=8-2">The Kite Runner</a>. Bestselling, blah blah blah, came out...ah yes, the summer of 2005. <br /><br />3) I am thinking of knitting a <a href="http://www.knitscene.com/2006/projects.asp">Central Park Hoodie</a>. Wait, what is that, you say? I've never even heard of it! It's not like EVERYBODY IN THE ENTIRE WORLD has already made one, or anything.<br /><br />4) And finally, proving that once again I am more that a bit behind the times...<br /><br />...today I joined <a href="http://www.ravelry.com">Ravelry</a>! My username is RitaA. So far it reminds me very much of <a href="http://www.facebook.com">Facebook</a> for knitters. Facebook and knitting are pretty much how I spend all of the time I should be doing homework, so I expect my academic productivity to decrease accordingly. <br /><br />Nonrelatedly, in lieu of knitting news, here is a funny picture:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5EtewajJK8KWViNxALkQrchYM2J53AO9vMKzq_0E6vslaEdwq-dg7HG7yrHs6ZM5xnkIEzJED8mILqyvdqxrPoukhyLWy51F3eE08pbRGM-LpSFjyHjbMXCmWDZ6PZCJankfG58PGDP8/s1600-h/P6150011.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5EtewajJK8KWViNxALkQrchYM2J53AO9vMKzq_0E6vslaEdwq-dg7HG7yrHs6ZM5xnkIEzJED8mILqyvdqxrPoukhyLWy51F3eE08pbRGM-LpSFjyHjbMXCmWDZ6PZCJankfG58PGDP8/s320/P6150011.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5228274150836645890" /></a><br /><br />Yes, that is my face.Margaritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572570912551422923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114280231026167949.post-5021819816413971972008-07-27T10:13:00.000-07:002008-07-27T10:22:19.384-07:00Gathered Pullover: so closeSo, so close.<br /><br />I finished the bodice: <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_sQx1KIuTDtyzvEtcAz2CWkVEe0Io7-ABMVE4r0EJ3e2HyDUu6WKX7vKuZDLD9RtdcfvLRUuI6rng8rH3n4e5yZsrMRh_SaIxtxZKreu63TVUMpVLLszXG3yBOR5q0GAO65NGcBW534m/s1600-h/more+july+044.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1_sQx1KIuTDtyzvEtcAz2CWkVEe0Io7-ABMVE4r0EJ3e2HyDUu6WKX7vKuZDLD9RtdcfvLRUuI6rng8rH3n4e5yZsrMRh_SaIxtxZKreu63TVUMpVLLszXG3yBOR5q0GAO65NGcBW534m/s320/more+july+044.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227744864979565218" /></a><br /><br />(sorry, 1 a.m. and bad overhead lighting does not make for good photographing. But I was just so excited!) <br /><br />The end was in sight. When I tried it on, though, the bottom (the cast-on edge) was really, really tight. I thought long-tail cast-on was supposed to be pretty stretchy, but this was just so binding and immovable. <br /><br />So I picked out the cast-on, all 184,724 (approx.) stitches, and re-bound off with a sewn bind-of a la EZ. Stretchy, flexible, and totally worth the crick in my neck.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjub_VEkhkf-Hj_k2BA41NFZCAHW43nMVLW2A7EipYP1bl0FcEj9xSO6maFdxpuFHKkdEQ_CVoPkPV986_PeISK61Q8fMubLV5dqXiRi4sYaqE36eXJuitTuYKTyL2jxpOPIuYd8GhlynDA/s1600-h/more+july+048.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjub_VEkhkf-Hj_k2BA41NFZCAHW43nMVLW2A7EipYP1bl0FcEj9xSO6maFdxpuFHKkdEQ_CVoPkPV986_PeISK61Q8fMubLV5dqXiRi4sYaqE36eXJuitTuYKTyL2jxpOPIuYd8GhlynDA/s320/more+july+048.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227744895469843026" /></a><br /><br />I really should look up a better cast-on next time, though. <br /><br />Anyway, the point is that I am now So. Close. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOtYToxlInYyxCumkl_RFfipEXKY8tAG58aUZOpavGFZzquBl4MtkXdPaQ7-ITpVB6qWpmh9D88xgq7zto281zq4h3T4OrksCW6CeZ-ltPz85Mihyphenhyphenr3C81yhyJeMjvTgI54_EF0CpHsvKB/s1600-h/more+july+053.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOtYToxlInYyxCumkl_RFfipEXKY8tAG58aUZOpavGFZzquBl4MtkXdPaQ7-ITpVB6qWpmh9D88xgq7zto281zq4h3T4OrksCW6CeZ-ltPz85Mihyphenhyphenr3C81yhyJeMjvTgI54_EF0CpHsvKB/s320/more+july+053.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227744896253889346" /></a><br /><br />So close.<br /><br />Meanwhile, the Flamingo Scarf resists being photographed, but it is a pretty color! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6pWJnB4e2rAPdPmxyeyc_sPp9Kp9MzLo3E2Kc96MtOqVhRuOE5JZdWpBD4AKB0xzOtvfSSax2mNGxfkl48fVrpTOyPv7OpufOmG_17LeV2zeBVWa4DnlGJ4yqd_OGAA-PfN4kzb9DUjL/s1600-h/more+july+039.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK6pWJnB4e2rAPdPmxyeyc_sPp9Kp9MzLo3E2Kc96MtOqVhRuOE5JZdWpBD4AKB0xzOtvfSSax2mNGxfkl48fVrpTOyPv7OpufOmG_17LeV2zeBVWa4DnlGJ4yqd_OGAA-PfN4kzb9DUjL/s320/more+july+039.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5227744897676813922" /></a>Margaritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572570912551422923noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114280231026167949.post-84690384826485731382008-07-19T10:04:00.000-07:002008-07-27T10:24:42.318-07:00My Knitting Fantasy LifeIn my knitting fantasy life, I am knitting <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEspring08/PATTtempest.html">Tempest</a>. I even have the colors and the yarn picked out: Fleece Artist Blue Faced Leicester 2/8 (the recommended yarn, even!), in <a href="http://www.colorsongyarn.com/yarns/fleece_artist/blue_face_leicester/2_8.htm">“Aurora” and “Amythest.”</a> (link to a site that has both colors) I can see it, in my imagination—I can see how the almost-solid Amethyst picks up the purple tones in the Aurora. Since this is my fantasy and I can do whatever I want, I can also see how the sweater knits up in two weeks with no trouble at all, and how I'm not even bored with knitting an entire sweater in laceweight yarn, and how it fits perfectly and hugs my curves in a tasteful (not too tight) way. And since I’m fantasizing, I’m wearing Tempest for an evening stroll in a moonlit garden with a handsome fellow, or perhaps to my exciting and stimulating job (instead of the certain spinsterhood and unemployment that I am convinced awaits me after graduation).<br /><br />I love this sweater. I love the fitted shape, the teeny little buttons, the wearability of the classic shape paired with the possibilities for wild colors. My fantasy sweater is beautiful.<br /><br />Back in reality, meanwhile, there is no moonlit garden, I need to do laundry, my kitchen floor is suspiciously sticky, and I’m drowning in an ocean of denim blue and I’m worried it’s not going to fit.<br /><br /><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224772677647927378" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxdNYAtr-Ty0c68hckqouaeeDjhIc1Nwkpc8AjfzbqB2nBfoRZvCOGTrK8wH0zbPDo-QFbCM9uoYnTSgZSvvSMP-avVRlD-xQs7SWvllI8Zov6pFOZ_CmAvmj_4yE-pvDDxJ_BM-QrSyB5/s320/more+july+001.jpg" border="0" /><br /><br />I tried it on when I finished the front last night, and it sure looks like it’s going to be too big in the bodice—but it’s impossible to tell because the back isn’t finished. So I’m knitting as fast as I can, thinking in my faultless knitter’s logic that if I knit faster, it will fit better. Much like how knitting faster helps keep you from running out of yarn. <br /><br />On the bright side, if it does work, I've already finished the sleeves, so I'm superclose to being done! At any rate, if I manage to pull this off and it does fit—-or if I’m going to be wearing an expensive and time-consuming sack-like object—<br /><br />It is pretty! I had to color-correct this photo like crazy because um, newsflash, taking pictures at 11 p.m. does not do so much for the natural lighting, but check out how the cable turned out:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxP9O6jgVY4TxBrJn8uAQwHhJ2ATnX1iCgxE9w8dVAG43FJsFaBEJ0MxK-Hs35NPwfJ6vDRWdkKg9_lqgffP20RQoCIKqCynF6VVUzleoGbIxMciJFiYTByiXILCEb5h4UnibOccJNZIJV/s1600-h/more+july+005.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224772680424164722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxP9O6jgVY4TxBrJn8uAQwHhJ2ATnX1iCgxE9w8dVAG43FJsFaBEJ0MxK-Hs35NPwfJ6vDRWdkKg9_lqgffP20RQoCIKqCynF6VVUzleoGbIxMciJFiYTByiXILCEb5h4UnibOccJNZIJV/s320/more+july+005.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Nonrelatedly, yesterday I saw these guys singing a capella and dancing in the metro:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozLchZ3d0QKeGWxHDZBTEPH7ntdZL_sZ4p_1ytx_e-KSPRVFpKYFg8qeMHhZHotcDskF-AhwzNipiKIDdDR20qfthEcLo_o-N2IUPEZ1J0BcXpIs3-Hpw5XaWDl3yQqzypDLUEB42d-or/s1600-h/more+july+006.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224772681676022162" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozLchZ3d0QKeGWxHDZBTEPH7ntdZL_sZ4p_1ytx_e-KSPRVFpKYFg8qeMHhZHotcDskF-AhwzNipiKIDdDR20qfthEcLo_o-N2IUPEZ1J0BcXpIs3-Hpw5XaWDl3yQqzypDLUEB42d-or/s320/more+july+006.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />If you can't make it out, they're all wearing oversized Barack Obama YES WE CAN shirts. I love DC. <br /><br />And finally...my Flamingo Scarf (for that, I have decided, is the best description of the color), poses in the sun on the train platform. Little does this innocent little lace scarflette suspect the massive (not really, I'm just a whiner) tinking that lies ahead. Lesson learned: don't drink and knit, kids.*<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEckgQ2XPDSGD91pR4iPCaQYz6tohC22czs3-l-_EmWu3n6yibfNyfbYCeQ7l56N4_cAM6SGOAWJkY4yu0sERoH2BjzUefZB6HZxBynLDiM9B-vCkTJqFss_kQPSuqeCaCi-BoL1byF7JP/s1600-h/more+july+012.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5224772685900202130" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEckgQ2XPDSGD91pR4iPCaQYz6tohC22czs3-l-_EmWu3n6yibfNyfbYCeQ7l56N4_cAM6SGOAWJkY4yu0sERoH2BjzUefZB6HZxBynLDiM9B-vCkTJqFss_kQPSuqeCaCi-BoL1byF7JP/s320/more+july+012.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><br />*Although as of thirteen hours ago, I am twenty-one! So said drinking and knitting, while not optimal for the chart-following, is at least now legal.Margaritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572570912551422923noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114280231026167949.post-36337686175118290812008-07-09T19:28:00.000-07:002008-07-12T14:19:32.991-07:00Necessity is the mother of inventionBeing a poor college student, meanwhile, is sort of the mother of necessity, so does that make poor-student-hood the grandmother of invention?<br /><br />Maybe. But so what do you do, poor college student, when you want to knit your <a href="http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns/scarves/kidm-mist-lace-scarf.html">pretty scarf</a> but you can't print the chart because you have no printer, and you can't keep track of your rows because you have no sticky note?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihysM7jFwnTe3to2u8cw1uJqILR5fO1KolJSBv8XdTCcmWdl5uwSzCQ0hCId9aJEV9theYa6muCeygxKzbfabi3OPfjOY2msV7A1EdUnwWY8_KnzrsITSZf7TBlX0lgkiLMB3or-fzdUzB/s1600-h/july+021.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5221207189550596866" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; CURSOR: hand; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihysM7jFwnTe3to2u8cw1uJqILR5fO1KolJSBv8XdTCcmWdl5uwSzCQ0hCId9aJEV9theYa6muCeygxKzbfabi3OPfjOY2msV7A1EdUnwWY8_KnzrsITSZf7TBlX0lgkiLMB3or-fzdUzB/s320/july+021.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />Yes. You improvise.Margaritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572570912551422923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114280231026167949.post-42410726360139094832008-07-07T19:27:00.000-07:002008-07-27T10:25:10.325-07:00How to make a sockHow to make a sock in 8,251(ish) easy steps<br />by Rita<br /><br />1) Buy sock yarn. <br />2) Vastly overestimate your knitting abilities and the speed with which you will finish previous projects. Carry sock yarn all over three continents (I do not exaggerate). <br />3) Finally cast on (on the train from Valencia to Barcelona while listening to Harry and the Potters, which for some reason I remember very clearly. Funny, actually because it was SO LONG AGO). Decide to do a picot edge. <br />4) Instead of a using a provisional cast-on and then unzipping it, attempt to pick up your already cast-on stitches. With sock yarn and tiny needles. On a moving train.<br />5) Develop a raging headache <br />6) Make a bizarre twisted Mobius-looking picot edge<br />7) Decide you can't face doing it again. Charge ahead bravely.<br />8) Knit the leg on a plane over the Atlantic<br />9) Upon landing and unpacking, shove the sock in progress in a corner somewhere.<br />10) Ignore for three months<br />11) Dig out sock, examine.<br />12) Decide cannot take any more of knitting leg. These will be short socks. <br />13) Knit 3/4 of heel flap.<br />14) Get distracted by something (school? Band? Pretty new yarn? Who knows)<br />15) Ignore sock for five more months<br />16) In an effort to avoid studying for finals, dig out sock, finish heel flap, turn heel<br />17) Knit sporadically for a month or so<br />18) Finally, finally finish toe while spending four hours on a plane that's stuck on the tarmac, while listening attentively to the scintillating (rather one-sided) conversation of seatmate (age 6). <br />19) Decide twisted picot cast-on is just too ugly for words. Also, foot-amputatingly tight. <br />20) Attempt to rip out picot edge<br />21) Ripping is harder than it looks. I have to unpick each and every godforsaken little stitch. <br />22) Oh god, my neck is killing me.<br />23) What's happening to my eyes? Is it normal to need bifocals at age 20? <br />24) Screw it. Where are the scissors? <br />25) Yep, short socks. <br />26) Finally get rid of the remnants of the doomed picot edge. Decide to knit a short little 1x1 rip instead.<br />27) Knit ribbing. <br />28) Ignore sock for three more weeks (seriously, this is pathetic)<br />29) FINALLY work up the energy to look up a sewn bind-off and finish sock. <br />30) Eleven months after cast-on...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDUyyKp68U6rQtj-nae3tRCIU9McF5U8Fbw9ORinAQHJgisYmKZaxytdO0LRMdG5bpC8J9K5RnslfZhxz8FMiGO7strAvE6tCFVmg_MhD4j5B9XRNIg1aLBKGdYXpy9KRvaLczMxQPBx7/s1600-h/july+030a.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDUyyKp68U6rQtj-nae3tRCIU9McF5U8Fbw9ORinAQHJgisYmKZaxytdO0LRMdG5bpC8J9K5RnslfZhxz8FMiGO7strAvE6tCFVmg_MhD4j5B9XRNIg1aLBKGdYXpy9KRvaLczMxQPBx7/s320/july+030a.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220467386819313202" /></a><br /><br />I made a sock! Now, do you think by the time I finish the second one my grandchildren will want to wear them? <br /><br /><i>Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock, colorway "Tuscany," approx. 3/4 of a skein for one sock.<br />Needles: I forget. Wooden DPNs, size 1. <br />Pattern: Standard flap-heel sock recipe; originally with picot edge, but, well...<br /><br />If I am completely honest I am not entirely thrilled with this sock. I used 72 stitches on size 1 needles, but it's still pretty loose around the ankle and foot. Next time I might try 68, or even 64. And would you look at the POOLING! I hear Lorna's Laces is pretty bad for that, actually--although a different stitch count might help. Except oh wait, I have to make another (identical) sock to make this thing called a PAIR. Drat. On the other hand, I do like the stretchy sewn bind-off!</i>Margaritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572570912551422923noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114280231026167949.post-29436482661903470952008-07-07T18:54:00.000-07:002008-07-27T10:25:49.725-07:00Midsummer Progress ReportName: Rita<br />Grade: Is "college" a grade? <br />Subject: Achievement of Summer Knitting Goals<br /><br /><i>Category 1: Gathered Pullover</i><br />Grade: B+ <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyzzmbk-GFOSlqDGa4AiYTR48SFarS1Vn6JSeh_9j-NZHLLLKKG1Upb6i-j4bV2-Z7SJrcmyD8HxdHXCuHGFFLtMjY9xYNq8HKHnwtWvCE3drpE4wzfwmyFltCjUP_D4VyVEj9RAV_ADK/s1600-h/july+037.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizyzzmbk-GFOSlqDGa4AiYTR48SFarS1Vn6JSeh_9j-NZHLLLKKG1Upb6i-j4bV2-Z7SJrcmyD8HxdHXCuHGFFLtMjY9xYNq8HKHnwtWvCE3drpE4wzfwmyFltCjUP_D4VyVEj9RAV_ADK/s320/july+037.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220460346546841170" /></a><br /><br />Points given for successful "gathering" of cable. Points deducted for the fact that I started this sweater in January. (Sorry the picture sucks--you can actually see the cable a little better in real life). <br /><br /><i>Category 2: Trellis</i><br />Grade: <a href="http://bulkybluewool.blogspot.com/2008/06/damn.html">INCOMPLETE</a><br />Yeah. About that. <br /><br /><i>Category 3: A baby sweater. Any sweater. Just knit a damn baby sweater.</i><br />Grade: A<br />Body completed, sleeves on the way! The sweaters for the small people, they go fast. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGBG4_ff41lx2LYBQToWjJz2xPmiYXX-Tu6hnJ50uIMRcYv_CUrcj0wph4bVvykxffLFEPP7hJWdKFk8gS4dDKa2bqHWiFdRrKJFMmq1GM6yOBhr83eE2pqbJZvKldlwZ83_LhqZ8irZm/s1600-h/july+042.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggGBG4_ff41lx2LYBQToWjJz2xPmiYXX-Tu6hnJ50uIMRcYv_CUrcj0wph4bVvykxffLFEPP7hJWdKFk8gS4dDKa2bqHWiFdRrKJFMmq1GM6yOBhr83eE2pqbJZvKldlwZ83_LhqZ8irZm/s320/july+042.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220460348843449874" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tCDDqq2wSueOmoaTfQobl2xqhf1dwC8MXSlO8gf7RNalRbKEISI5MGnLLNefVluBlJdPFoCsDe2NWl3skqP7hxHFN7Nnt8k2vnq8eC1A8coYkqYtErJC-0eG9nRuIn_ELo6oaHFNLEpF/s1600-h/july+043.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3tCDDqq2wSueOmoaTfQobl2xqhf1dwC8MXSlO8gf7RNalRbKEISI5MGnLLNefVluBlJdPFoCsDe2NWl3skqP7hxHFN7Nnt8k2vnq8eC1A8coYkqYtErJC-0eG9nRuIn_ELo6oaHFNLEpF/s320/july+043.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220460352957980050" /></a><br /><br />Garter stitch around the bottom. Simple and cute, no? I'm going to jazz it up with some embroidered flowers around the edges. It's a little shiny right now (that would be the microfiber, I think) but my swatch sort of softened and fuzzed a little when I put it through the washer and drier. <br /><br /><i>Category 4: Finishing up old stuff</i><br />Grade: A!<br />Details to come...but here's a teaser. Does it...could it be...is that a <i>sock</i>?!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwKqh3UI5D0DB60kyiemJZxhA9XoYXPxaIiAaQJd4MEEGY_ziXj6p09kBIBBR7afkhrzvfXSjGG0so5epLHyGDeXM8z6Lr-46nt-GRcOqbpsWMUGxbykBxmVDJyMcvwYOxb2WGpd2-VB7/s1600-h/july+030.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAwKqh3UI5D0DB60kyiemJZxhA9XoYXPxaIiAaQJd4MEEGY_ziXj6p09kBIBBR7afkhrzvfXSjGG0so5epLHyGDeXM8z6Lr-46nt-GRcOqbpsWMUGxbykBxmVDJyMcvwYOxb2WGpd2-VB7/s320/july+030.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220460360340139906" /></a><br /><br /><i>Category 5: Not starting new projects until successful completion of categories 1-4</i><br />Grade: FAIL<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xf4WluZKoNiK7XkIc-zyZrpjqVF8Ai0vlatjqcIHz4Y6ix5F_V081qNFhmnf72LJQbfkIAMhv7yLM7lb1GRJbfql_uYPtVXFWRhvMs8LFv3lzBsRNTC9hDghmGoQf8RQJAYtI5BRh71q/s1600-h/july+023.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0xf4WluZKoNiK7XkIc-zyZrpjqVF8Ai0vlatjqcIHz4Y6ix5F_V081qNFhmnf72LJQbfkIAMhv7yLM7lb1GRJbfql_uYPtVXFWRhvMs8LFv3lzBsRNTC9hDghmGoQf8RQJAYtI5BRh71q/s320/july+023.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220460366437846370" /></a><br /><br />Um. Yeah. I would just like to say that this is ENTIRELY <a href="http://zomgcandy.com/">Rosa</a>'s fault. All of it. Why, she came right over here and put a gun (made of candy) to my head, and she told me that if I didn't cast on for a new project RIGHT THIS VERY INSTANT she would...um, she would...yeah, OK. But it's true, though, she did gift me the yarn for this project (Drops Alpaca, lovely and soft and an impossible color to describe. Is it salmon? Or hot pink? Or coral?) And she has been knitting lace and telling me all about it, and what can I say, all the miles of blue stockinette, interrupted only by tan stockinette, finally got to me. I'm weak. <br /><br />The pattern is from <a href="http://www.straw.com/cpy/patterns/scarves/kidm-mist-lace-scarf.html">here</a> and looks like it will be lovely. Assuming I don't get bored halfway through, what with how I hate scarves but always seem to forget that. <br /><br />Relatedly (not really, except in the category of "stuff I made"), you know what's awesome? Baking!<br /><br />Before: ugly-ass "pie." <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFqkFFZn3UoTI5E9HLIMifj5geecj5yxVne2suNyCvotlCn0d7UpavN5RNi9og2EzIdS3AuYOsXNPJi5hEW_B2H99yoT00LNrhaR3ptR3DGPkkHPAplWFgbtx3ejBQ5VgORfbjI-u7_C4/s1600-h/july+007.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmFqkFFZn3UoTI5E9HLIMifj5geecj5yxVne2suNyCvotlCn0d7UpavN5RNi9og2EzIdS3AuYOsXNPJi5hEW_B2H99yoT00LNrhaR3ptR3DGPkkHPAplWFgbtx3ejBQ5VgORfbjI-u7_C4/s320/july+007.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220462312868695394" /></a><br /><br />After: Crispy, peachy, deliciousness! <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0u7R_2kwFDOOwiNVp8L3hsA93mfoIPEBH1_mjsvCwwd4_3lSNkR8hlzj7h9OpsGt_qe6YLoEVSSZFiAfRGG4ztuhS3__6f8T0SQkdfkRf2sUbX2nB2cj6wf0dhl0YRoi-7m_sTFUUhWga/s1600-h/july+008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0u7R_2kwFDOOwiNVp8L3hsA93mfoIPEBH1_mjsvCwwd4_3lSNkR8hlzj7h9OpsGt_qe6YLoEVSSZFiAfRGG4ztuhS3__6f8T0SQkdfkRf2sUbX2nB2cj6wf0dhl0YRoi-7m_sTFUUhWga/s320/july+008.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5220462316705452578" /></a><br /><br />Seriously, this was just about the easiest thing ever. I bought frozen pie-crusts (I was very slightly ashamed of this, but then recalled that the last time I tried to make a pie I accidentally put <b>four cups</b> of vinegar in the crust. I am not even kidding.) Then I chopped up some peaches, added some flour and sugar and cinnamon and nutmeg and stuff, and tah-dah! Delicious.Margaritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572570912551422923noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1114280231026167949.post-443887747365504552008-06-21T17:38:00.000-07:002008-07-27T10:26:20.527-07:00Option #3 it isA new pattern. In spite of my deep emotional attachment to Trellis and all those cute cables, I just couldn't afford more yarn and didn't want to knit a sweater that would stand up on its own, so a new pattern. This one could not be more different from Trellis and its cables; I'm making an incredibly simple top-down raglan cardigan from <a href="http://www.jimmybeanswool.com/freeknittingpatternjimmysweaterset.asp">here</a>, and maybe a hat to match if I have enough yarn. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJikOZmZq7mfPAGFqRx2_xvs6F_hZZ1NNfmvJnfh_vPbaasie_NdBwhiOmbiWbzGioGAtsWH2TjnXVI-yuwSOLPS8P6fqJfwmZRNd0aGR6POm7Xz2VKpSN01fN9s5UG1gT9tLU3S6OLl-/s1600-h/june+002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitJikOZmZq7mfPAGFqRx2_xvs6F_hZZ1NNfmvJnfh_vPbaasie_NdBwhiOmbiWbzGioGAtsWH2TjnXVI-yuwSOLPS8P6fqJfwmZRNd0aGR6POm7Xz2VKpSN01fN9s5UG1gT9tLU3S6OLl-/s320/june+002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214499223093849426" /></a><br /><br />And I just found out, when I was at home, that the baby is a girl! So I think I'll embroider some sweet little flowers to jazz it up a little. <br /><br />Look at those nice paired increases! This should be a pretty easy knit (note to knitting gods: now that I have said that, please do not light my needles on fire. Thank you). <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12Wage3I65IDRf6TCSPTZQOsFJlYaCn6tcJkcnYWtN8XdowJwIP-7DH7Bi-NsZY3Sl52Np9EAzXKPLWAonUvfIhs1h4Q6gaKX8eu7LrWf0W1CH3XpACcACRSz4fzZ0ROQhNmD0cUhKMx2/s1600-h/june+006.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12Wage3I65IDRf6TCSPTZQOsFJlYaCn6tcJkcnYWtN8XdowJwIP-7DH7Bi-NsZY3Sl52Np9EAzXKPLWAonUvfIhs1h4Q6gaKX8eu7LrWf0W1CH3XpACcACRSz4fzZ0ROQhNmD0cUhKMx2/s320/june+006.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214499225244589330" /></a><br /><br />And my other projects are coming along, too! It's amazing what a few weeks with a 9-5 job and no homework will do for your knitting. The sleeves on my Gathered Pullover are finished (for the second time, after the first attempt ended in <a href="http://bulkybluewool.blogspot.com/2008/05/well-crap.html">crap</a>), and the body (not pictured) is just up to the cabling at the bust. I might even have an actual sweater, for an actual grown-up person, to show off one of these days! But don't get too excited. <br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUl482vHiUdszhHkgVtSB_cEv644g4aes4vhm3sKFOD4P7Y-k1DNe_5zdNtwbikf00LwClZP9geMKupRX1E8DjqCpwr8PH5d4BKns8BDuysaCED2TgHvx-Unpr7h7kQ6rqaMQgVG7ZyVX-/s1600-h/june+008.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUl482vHiUdszhHkgVtSB_cEv644g4aes4vhm3sKFOD4P7Y-k1DNe_5zdNtwbikf00LwClZP9geMKupRX1E8DjqCpwr8PH5d4BKns8BDuysaCED2TgHvx-Unpr7h7kQ6rqaMQgVG7ZyVX-/s320/june+008.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214499226809677778" /></a><br /><br />Oh, that reminds me, though--there's an FO I never showed off! It's not a knitting project, actually, but I'm still quite proud. It's a lovely linen skirt, in pattern "I don't remember" from "Simplicity? I think? Or maybe Vogue?" <br /><br />I must confess that while I did all the cutting and the lion's share of the sewing, I did not QUITE finish it before I had to go back to school after last Christmas break, so I had a little help. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhburwbT_9ho1SYWXhysF60Dh-grlxAbA9lu9XtO8v4xECb4gJ3f5U3CxprercmhWijMBaIDOFsrHsD6yTtRGYPVIgJz5PN0G2UvvHiusEfsb3JLRTBnseXPUtsg6LGlh8ZwtFHXUUCiD3d/s1600-h/june+013.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhburwbT_9ho1SYWXhysF60Dh-grlxAbA9lu9XtO8v4xECb4gJ3f5U3CxprercmhWijMBaIDOFsrHsD6yTtRGYPVIgJz5PN0G2UvvHiusEfsb3JLRTBnseXPUtsg6LGlh8ZwtFHXUUCiD3d/s320/june+013.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214499227947728386" /></a><br /><br />See that nice piping? That would be Mommy. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7aAmiH_RULmpIPqXj3K4fIWZq8t2T1ZXlYP71qUOTyJekyyftLCHF_b9fxfttCMaHBoTpjWoJ8KGqMqZEFaXqDunHvufhBF_gMb0sSWS-18yZtFRfKisHc0o9i6sfuJ5ZhMChaLhE0iaW/s1600-h/june+020.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7aAmiH_RULmpIPqXj3K4fIWZq8t2T1ZXlYP71qUOTyJekyyftLCHF_b9fxfttCMaHBoTpjWoJ8KGqMqZEFaXqDunHvufhBF_gMb0sSWS-18yZtFRfKisHc0o9i6sfuJ5ZhMChaLhE0iaW/s320/june+020.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214499226602770802" /></a><br /><br />But I am quite pleased and proud, though, and I wear it a lot. There was one screw-up; I had intended it to be a nice high-waisted skirt, sort of fifties-style. When I tried it on, though, it ended up falling significantly below my belly button. This means one of two things:<br />a) I magically lost fifteen pounds between the cutting and the trying on, or<br />b) I am a doofus who measured wrong.<br /><br />You decide.<br /><br />But still, though, I really, really like it--the linen has a nice weight and drape to it, and it's perfect for summer.<br /><br />Plus, I get to do this!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCBy2ALlTbXJFTd-7A3kB4IqhkUdKcAF-euO-ZvC9iUqv2u_aQn_C1a6oO3RIsOdQcaTV5N13uOwmkLw5z-xnqWwgzN5T7CARoUaX_xmd5Zd3NEe826JS-tOr7F1RZbs6JkhYgeNyYxdf/s1600-h/june+021.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiCBy2ALlTbXJFTd-7A3kB4IqhkUdKcAF-euO-ZvC9iUqv2u_aQn_C1a6oO3RIsOdQcaTV5N13uOwmkLw5z-xnqWwgzN5T7CARoUaX_xmd5Zd3NEe826JS-tOr7F1RZbs6JkhYgeNyYxdf/s320/june+021.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5214499376592347394" /></a>Margaritahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14572570912551422923noreply@blogger.com4