Grab your knitting needles and come relax with me.
Monday, December 31, 2007
It is FINISHED!!!!! and on to new things.
Yes, I do think that the number of exclamation marks are quite necessary. The Adamas Shawl is finished! I finished it on Saturday, blocked it, snapped a few pics, and now I am ignoring it while it quietly tells me--YOU NEED TO WEAVE IN THE ENDS!
It took me over 4 hours to cast off and 2 hours to block it with my new dressing wires. Most of the time was spent arranging the beads just right.
It's also on Ravelry as well--all the specs and the hordes that have begun knitting this up. Since imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, I am knitting it using the same yarn as KnitMongrel. I love the way the bag looks old in these colours. I was tempted to knit it in red, but I like these neutral shades.
I bought the yarn using my Michael's gift card that Jamey got me for Christmas. They are having a 30% off yarn sale this week. If you care to peruse my flickr yarn set, you'll see the haul. I got yarn for more Lorelei hats and a cardiganette for me as well.
I spent hours last night winding the yarn for my Swallowtail Shawl from Interweave Knits Fall 2006, designed by Evelyn A. Clark. It was horrifyingly annoying and I am getting a swift! I can wind it myself--but trying to use my arm and knee as a swift was getting on my last nerve. Didn't help that the yarn had three breaks! In any case, I was able to cast on and complete the first chart this morning. I need to snap a picture of it for Ravelry and of course for your benefit beloved reader.
I need to finish the Swallowtail asap--I've heard of people knitting this up in a week or two. So that'll get my full attention, as it is a gift. Maybe someday I'll actually knit a shawl for me. I plan to knit on the Celtic Tote when I need a good travel project.
Oh shoot--I still need to start the socks for my niece. Heck I need to finish the gauge swatch and finish up the numbers for the design. Knitting bunnies may be cute and irresistible, but they sure are rascally.
So I am still knitting on the Adamas. I got zero knitting time before, during and after Christmas. Poot! But I am on the last patterned row. I am so close I can TASTE it.
Christmas Eve I also got my dressing wires, so I can start blocking with ease. If I manage to finish it today, I'll block it tomorrow morning, so it'll be dry before bed time.
I shouldn't use if because it WILL be done today. (Even though laundry is calling my name...poot)
Now that I am almost done, I am mentally rubbing my hands together in antipation of the next project. The Swallowtail Shawl! everyone says it can be finished in two weeks. Let's see. And perhaps even finishing up a Lorelei Hat while I am at it.
I am averaging two rows a day on the edging of the Adamas. Not good. It's harder to see the colour variations in the beads (I don't want all the same colours to clump up together) at night...so I have been knitting the beaded row during the day and by the time I finish that row and do the purled row night has fallen and I can't see the beads as well...that and all the Christmas stuff going on.
Last night I made a HUGE batch of sweet potatoe casserole, made bread, cleaned up and then did some last minute Christmas shopping for my brother. See, I knew he was coming for Christmas, but it didn't really sink in that he was going to be here for Christmas and that he needed more gifts and a stocking. I still have cookies to bake...even though I went to the grocery store last night, I totally forgot that we needed baking soda but I did get the honey! (We've been needing honey for weeks and I kept forgetting to pick some up at the store.)
Speaking of honey, I started a bee group on Ravelry. I'm excited that I've gotten a good sized member ship so quickly. I'm looking forward to sharing the bee love and find new bee inspired knit patterns (and learn more about apiarists).
I am on row two of the beading on Adamas--row 5 on the edging, for those following along. It's going a bit slow (with my blogging at all--LOL) between adding the beads and attempting to knit while a certain cat camps out on my lap. But I really can't complain too much, Gina is keeping my lap warm. (I really ought to upload a piccie of her...)
I am neglecting holiday preparation to finish this shawl. I am soclose to the finish line--it's 2 am and I am not even a mite tired.
I am wondering two things about the beads: I chose a slightly variegated mix of beads and when do I stop beading? I am wondering if I should plan the colour lay out more, go totally random, or sorta plan and make sure I am not stacking the blues or purples together. As to when to stop--most of the beads are matte but i have a few that are super shiny and lavender. I want to save those till the very end. But do I stop beading before the bind off--or include the beads in my bind off?? I have 2 full more rows before I need to worry about that--but I like to have it finalised so I can stop obsessing.
Quiet deserted museum with lot's of interactive kid friendly features? What do you call that? I call it prime knitting time!! I am about to start the edging of the Adamas shawl--can you hear that i am nearly DONE!! AHAHAHA! My first lace shawl and it should be in time for Christmas, can't say the same for the other one that I was planning as a Christmas gift.
I thought I was being so clever, starting the shawl in the summer--so I would have plenty of time. Oh well... Maybe someday I'll get this Christmas knitting thing right.
I am still working on the Adamas Shawl. I am almost finished with row 2 of the very very last repeat. It was supposed to be done last week--oops. Bad bad Birdy...no cookie for me. I should have been finished this week...and it's seriously pushed my small amount of Christmas knitting back. I have a week and some change to finish another shawl and some toddler socks.
My Secret Santa gift was well received--Brenda loved the yarn. She has pictures on her blog (scroll down a tiny bit). I will eventually someday (as soon as I can find the camera cable and upload the pics) get the images of the dyeing process on the blog.
Sorry I've been MIA--I blame PMS and nice overdose of U2.
I've been busy decorating for Christmas and frantically knitting on the Adamas...and having a birthday. Yea me I'm 30!!
I got lot's of yarny goodness. Jamey gave me some cash to blow at the Yarn Barn. I bought the following.
I have been salivating over that red sock yarn for months. The lace weight too--but I would pet and spend minutes fondling that sock yarn. The creamy sock yarn caught my attention--and I had been trying to decide between it and the red (Lobster Pinch!). Jamey saw my--um--predicament and carried it to the counter for me and gave me a wink, "You owe me for this one."
Smirk.
When we got home yesterday from Day Two of my Birthday Extravaganza, my Knit picks order was sitting in the mail box--MORE yarny goodness. I got a ton so if you really want some yarn pr0n go to my Flickr page or my Ravelry page.
Oh and before I forget: let me introduce to you some one you will see a lot on this blog. Betty!!!
It's my new dress form my Momma got me for my birthday. It's great for modeling my designs AND when I tread into the dastardly waters of sweater design--I'll have some real life measurements to go by--instead of my skinny self.
Sigh--I spent WAY too much time today taking photos and organizing my new yarn stash when I was supposed to be knitting on the shawl, but I think my mood such as it was (major FEP mood) better suited for computer time and not delicate lace time.
Edit: Erm, yeah disregard "one" and replace that with "two". Remember this designer can not count.
Woohoo!! I have one more repeat to go on the Adamas Shawl. Then the edging and then I am DONE!!
Just in ttime to gift.
I've been so looking forward to this edging. I've been planning on adding beads for a while. I am a tad worried about the weight of the beads, but I am als planning on adding a life line. (Gasp! Birdy uses a lifeline--say it isn't so!!)
What's funny is that I am still on the first hank of 440 yard of laceweight...it's supposed to use two hanks...and some have used three. Hm, we shall see in a day or so.
I also (finally) took pictures of my bracelets that I had made for the craft fair. I had hoped to get them online by Cyber Monday, but it's been so cold-I couldn't go outside to get the natural light for the pics. I need to retake some, but I think by the weekend I'l be able to offer those for sale in the shop.
Here's Lorelei's Lamp Hat. I decided to add eyelets to weave a ribbon through. I bought pink and lavender ribbon ust for this hat. It'll loo so cute once it's finished. I am putting it on the back burner till I finish the Adamas...but now that I am on the main bidy of the hat it should go fast.
I really can't wait till I finish my Christmas Knitting (the Adamas, the Swallowtail, and two pairs of toddler socks), because I have some patterns to write and some patterns to re-kit. I bought some yarn today from Knit Picks -- to appease the Knitting Bunnies and for Christmas knitting.
It's maddening--because always one more row ends up being hours of knitting time. (Kinda cuts down on the cleaning time, though) Constant struggle. Of course when you're working on a top down triangle shawl each row gets longer and longer.
Amazing: the power of knitting!! With all the technical problems I had this morning--the onl thing that kept my head from bursting open was the calm repetition of knitting the Adamas. I couldn't get too tense because it's lace and lace doesn't not respond well to force.
Unfortunately, the knitting couldn't prevent the headache.
If you stoped by the Other Blog yesterday you know that Lorelei would NOT consent to a hair cut to fix the mess she made of her hair. So I am currently planning on knitting her up some hats to cover up her head. Thank GOD it's getting cool and hats are an appropriate accessory. I have a lace hat on the needles from a year ago (yes still) but I think I made it too big so it should fit her. Only problem is I got lost in the pattern and I hadn't had the will to try hard enough to find my place. NOW I have motivation. I have one other hat idea--but after that I am going to need help. If you know of any resources for cute girlie hats let me know in the comments.
I am toying with the idea of sewing dolly hair to the hats as well I am a total hair mom and this is Murphy's way of sticking it to me.
I found my camera today. It was misplaced so I didn't get many pictures of the craft fair. Funny enough it was right next to my bed. Which really isn't funny...because it's getting tiresome. (I am always losing it) Anyhoo--so this means more pictures. I got a temporary image editing software thingy--so I can edit my pics for the blog.
Since most knitting blogs have pictures--I got to get off my lazy butt and make sure I have pics.
But tomorrow--it is nearly midnight and WHY am I blogging?
Because I am knitting and the blog was sitting open right next to me--begging to be written in.
I have about 3 weeks to finish the Adamas Shawl and I think I have 5 repeats and an edging to complete. Because I am at the end--the stitch count is nuts and each row takes forever...it's hard to keep focused and interested.
So I launched the blog today--a bit premature since the whole website isn't ready yet. I still have two pages to finish coding AND we need to set up payment methods in the store. BUT the blog is finished and I wanted finally release it from draft.
I still have a few minor things to work out for the blog layout. (I aplogise for the blogger var--I started this blog as a blogspot and even though it's on my server I still have the bar. I think I still have it because my old blogspot points here...just in case...but I hate the fact that you could get p0rn if you select next blog buttin (I have so many times--some idiot thinksit's fun to use blogspot as a pointer)
Anyhoo--Knitting. I already have a blog--but I collect blogs and enjoy compartmentaling my bloggy self. I figured I needed to separate the knitting and see about driving up traffic. I am sure I'll be geting confused soon--but it'll be fun.
Oh yes KNITTING.
My craft show went well--I learned A LOT. I spent two solid weeks kitting bracelets...by the Thursday befpre the Saturday show, I had a knitting blister. My bracelets were very pretty and very unique. I thin too unique. So I learned that I needed to make traditional colors (I got carried away with the pretty yarn and bead colors) and my prosective buyer/user is young adult. I also learned that I ought to have knitted up more teddy bear sweaters. But I did sell two bracelets--enough to pay for the booth ad some yanr for me as a balm for my knitting blister.
Now that the craft show is done--I can knit with bigger needles. Of course, it's still thread--since I am finishing up some lace. Last post I did NOT want to talk about MS3. Well, folks, back burner till after holdays. In October I went to the Austin Knit oUT and as I was showing it off--I caught the stole in one of my rings an broke a thread. I performed some quick and dirty surgery and put it away till I have the time to permenantly fix the thread.
So I am back to knitting the Adamas Shawl. I have 5 more repeats and then the edging and I will be done with my first lace shawl. Then it's on to Swallowtail Shawl and THEN to work on my first lace shawl design.
