Grab your knitting needles and come relax with me.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Tiger Socks: An FO!!
Woot! Finally I finished something.
Mic's Tiger Socks (rav link with details). I finished them on Monday (Lorelei's birthday) while we were at the library.
What to work on next? My swallowtail is very close to being finished--I just need to work on the beading. Sandy thinks I should work on the Celtic Tote next. She has a good point. But I have the Austin Knit Out in a few days--it would be fun to arrive with a new shawl--IF I can get it finished. Hmmmm.
I did work on the Lace Ribbon Scarf--it's my only other project that is immediately available on the needles. I finished one ball of yarn. So now it's half way done.
So I am think of giving some monogamy in my knitting a try. I tend to have at least 5 knitting projects going on a one time...and I really don't spend a significant amount of time on any of them. Sorta just skipping around.
So I really don't get anything finished.
It's getting rather aggravating--especially when I don't feel right starting new projects because I have nothing finished.
But what to concentrate on, Lace Ribbon Scarf, Swallowtail Shawl, Tiger Socks, Celtic Tote or those two skinny lace scarves I have been working on my my little shop.
Jamey suggested I work on the project that is closest to the finish line. That would be the shawl, but it's in time out (I am beading the edging and the beads are giving me troubles--and I need to tink half a row). I think the socks are next, then the tote and skinny scarves. Course I am really loving the Ribbon Lace Scarf--so I don't want to stop knitting that. And knitting on plain jane vanilla socks doesn't sounds appealing.
I've made some good progress on my crayzee scarf--which let's you in on my mood lately. Sigh. Oh well, life is brightening and I am perking up. I am really LOVING this yarn, Claudia Hand Painted Lace in Silk...it's so yummy.
The pattern on the reverse side (front? maybe--it'll depend on my mood when I start wearing it--some day) has been giving me trouble...mainly me forgeting to SSK or KTOG when I am supposed and me trying to ladder back.
On vacation when I went to On the Lamb (I just love that shop and it's owner--Joe is awesome), he pointed out that Claudia's Hand Painted yarns is just up the road 30 minutes away. I am sure the entire knitting world heard my jaw thunk to the ground, "Really?!?!" Sadly, we were leaving the very next day so there was no time for me to take a field trip. Next year? I am so going to Harrisonburg and try not to drool all over the yarn. And hopefully I'll have something to show them as well (yes another Knitting Bunny).
Speaking of On the Lamb, I nearly fainted when I saw the pile of malabrigo lace weight AND on SALE!! Woot! Forgetting (once again) that I am a knitting blogger, I neglected to take a picture of the lusciousness. But I did manage to rescue to skeins and brought them home with me.
I just want to eat them all up.
Yes, I have a small weakness for Malabrigo lace.
Once I finished, my Super Secret Project (to be unveiled soon), I was free to start this beauty. (Yes i also have a small weakness for scarves).
It's Lace Ribbon Scarf (Rav link) by Veronik Avery. This is such a simple fun scarf. I barely need the pattern any more. Great semi-mindless knitting.
Not so mindless, the Swallowtail Shawl (Rav link). Now I understand the nubs do suck--I have had tink back trying to fix a nub gone wrong. I have cursed when a nub tried to go wrong. Bad BAD nub!! I am half way through the second set of nub horror and hopefully can finish soon.
I am considering adding beads to the edging--I just need to find them. I have a sneaky suspicion Jamey borrowed them for his stitch holders. I am looking forward to having this off my needles.
Although I am not sure if I am going to start the Bee Fields Shawl (rav link) or if I want to start a shawl of my own design. I guess it depends on my level of laziness. Grin.
Before I leave for today, I wanted to show you a work of art from Jamey's Grand Mother. I love it (although I may replace the buttons).
Jamey brought home some beads on Sunday that we had been looking at a few days before (Beading 2 Go had a half off sale). I have settled on some yarn/beads pairing and I am excited to start something.
First, there is the Friendship Shawl. It's from Alison Hyde's new book, she calls it Michelle. It's called friendship because there's going to be three of us--one of whom lives in Australia--will be knitting on this. (I do need to see if everyone else is ready--heck I need to get some needles free!)
Then there's a brand new bunny that's been sparking in my brain. I am seeing perhaps a faroese-style shawl...with a leaf panel down the back in this yarn/bead combination.
Funny--while the yarn color was a bit washed out--the beads look perfect--although the smokey grey ones are a bit more light--esp one on one.
So between this brand new shawl bunny and the new sock bunny--there's bunnies everywhere.
I am very behind. Read further down a few posts for WHY? So we have an abundance of posts for today.
Leap Day--was a fantastic day!
Anne and I met up with a knitter we met through Ravelry. She's from Sydney, Australia and was in San Antonio for a conference. Being the friendly sorts we are (when she asked about local knitting stores and restaurant recommendations) we offered to take her out to local eateries and our beloved Yarn Barn. It's becoming quite the tradition to take out of towners to Blue Star Microbrewery. They have an awesome menu and a terrific homemade root beer. (Jamey was off and watched the kids and Anne's grandson-so it was a wonderful child free afternoon). I stuffed myself with a fantastic tortilla soup and a salad. Then on to the Yarn Barn.
For three hours or so. Aww it was great--we left at 5.30, only because they closed. Because Yarn Barn is going out of business (read why here, everything was 20% off or more. We had a grand time. We all made off like bandits. The other's more than myself...grin.
Wrapped in Comfort by Alison Jeppson Hyde and Skacel Merino Laceweight in what I like to call wildflower. I have been salivating over this book since it came out. I really like Alison and love her blog. While I don't normally buy pattern books--I wanted to support her and I am really intrigued with her shawl construction. I was also pulled in by the fact that each pattern has a story. Anne, Cecilia and I each bought a skein of the merino and we are all going to knit the shawl called Michelle, as a remembrance of this wonderful day and the start of a great friendship.
I bought the Jitterbug for my friend Leah, because it's BURNT ORANGE. It's been calling me for months and it was the last hank in the cubby and it was time that that poor hank went to a good home. The two hanks is Drops Alpaca, it's a light fingering. I feel in love with this color--it's rusty, but with bits of blue, borwn, red, and green in it--like autumn.
I bought the embroidery thread and beads for some more caralets (beaded, lace bracelets). It's silk, I normally knit them in cotton, but I want to try something more elegant.
Yes, those are size 0000 dpns...that's 1.75 mm. I can't wait to try them out using some cotton thread. Oooo!
I actually put some yarn back...I was eyeing some more jitterbug for myself in Saraha--beautiful shades of purple, cream, brown, black, orange....it sounds weird but it was beautiful. I had to go sit at the tables and start knitting because I could feel myself going crazy with all that yarn, needles, and books...not to mention the racks and racks of patterns. I think all three of us sat at the tables sorting through our piles, stuff to definitely buy, maybe buy, and I don't reeeeaaly need this. Anne bought three of Barbara Walkers stitch dictionaries. Now--if I need a stitch pattern--I can go to my library of Anne instead of the San Antonio Library (who has nasty late fees).
I am looking forward to our friendship KAL--I just need to wind that massive hank of lace weight--1375 yards!! I know I have other things ahead of it in queue, but--it's for friendship!! We'll see how far that flies with Jamey.
I was also spotted by a fellow Ravelry member--she recognised me by my avatar and Anne shouting "Birdy" all over the store...grin. We had a good talk. We also met with two newbie knitters soon to be full on knitters soon under our careful "guidance" smirk.
All in all a grand day--the night not so much, but the day was a great way to spend leap day.
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.
