Grab your knitting needles and come relax with me.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Really Finished - Isobel
I finally blocked Isobel today and it was dry just in time for a photo shoot at sunset.
Stats for those that missed it: Isobel by Jacquelynn Vance-Kuss knit with two hanks of Debbie Bliss Pure Silk. It blocked to be about 7 inches by 72 inches.
I highly recommend this pattern. It's easy lace and it's crisp and pretty.
This post written under the influence of Jason Mraz. My own official song of Summer 2009.
Right now I am hating socks and all I want to do is throw all the socks in progress in the bin. Grr...argh! I admit it is rather extreme (I am blaming hormones), as it's only one sock that is giving me fits...the others are blameless and are behaving themselves. I am just very aggravated.
The heel will not fit over my heel.
Sigh. It's not the sock's fault. It's MY foot. I have a high instep and I neglected to take that into account. It's easier though to be mad at socks than my own feet. I can change/fix my socks...my feet those are unfixable. AND really I do like my feet, a lot actually. And so the sock (all the socks actually) will suffer.
It's so sad. I have to tear out SO much. The entire heel and the inch I already knitted PAST the heel. I was so excited about being able to knit this up to my knee, with that band swirling up my leg. Well, at least I discovered it now and NOT after I was done knitting that knee sock.
That would have sucked.
In other knitting news: I finished the Isobel a few days ago...but it still needs blocking. I bought new pins on Monday, but was in no mood to block it Tuesday (mad about the socks and other things). Tomorrow, I think I'll squeeze in some time to block it. It's fabulous and I miss knitting on it. Knitting with silk is just wonderous during the summer when the weather is so hot and swarmy.
Granny's Shawl is coming along great as well, but it's ceasing to be a good carry along project.
So I have been looking at my project page and stash pages on Ravelry...trying to find some inspiration. Nothing on the needles seems to please me. I have some nice cool type yarn, but I feel worn and stretched and designing just doesn't appeal. But I think I need to force myself out of this rut. I do have several designs that need to be started and just because I am not feeling super duper creative doesn't mean I should slack off.
You know what I mean?
Being an artists does take a lot of discipline. You gotta go hunting for that spark of genius.
I started Granny's Shawl yesterday. There really is nothing like the thrill of starting a new knitting project. It's almost as thrilling as finishing a project. Which is why I chose to start the shawl rather than finish the Isobel scarf. Grin.
But, I am feeling guilty...so after a few more rows of the shawl I think I will attend to finishing up Isobel. And if I do that, I can totally kill two birds with one stone, as I need to block that Super Secret Project of mine.
Stats for the shawl. The pattern is entitled: Feather and Fan Comfort Shawl and it's on Knitting-And.com, by Sarah Bradberry. I am of course using that new Marble Chunky I got for the purpose...and I am really loving this yarn. It's very soft and very pretty.
On another (and completely un-related) note, July is National Ice Cream month. I thought you needed to know. I am pestering my husband to buy me some chocolate ice cream.
The best part about vacation for me is vacation yarn shopping! We were so buzzing busy this year it's amazing I got to go to any yarn shops. My mom took me to two yarn shops in the D.C area (I am highly disappointed in her lack of enthusiasm over the 10 other shops she won't look for). And i scored some MORE red lace weight.
It's funny: after YEARS of searching for red lace weight and coming up empty, suddenly I have been able to find some nearly every where I go. I got these pretty specimen (and as you can tell it's rather large) at Aylin's Woolgatherer.
I found some pretty Schaeffer Anne at Knit Happens in Alexandria. My Mom hated trying to park (in the rain no less), but I told her Knit Happens happens to be my favourite yarn store in her area.
I am seeing a pretty elven scarf for this yarn.
We were only in Waynesboro a short time so I couldn't go to my all time favourite yarn shop (poot!), but next year I WILL take myself to On The Lamb (many times in fact!).
On the way our of Myrtle Beach we stopped in Knitting Up A Storm. We got yarn for Granny's Christmas presents and yarn for me.
This is for a warm shawl for Granny, I am thinking a triangle shawl with a feather and fan pattern. Something like this. I might chance up a few things...not sure if I will use the exact stitch pattern. And I will definitely chart it out. Written out lace instructions are just too long and cumbersome.
I will be making some felted slippers with this yarn. Not totally sure what sort...I was thinking I would like a high cuff to keep her ankles warm, but I also like the lower style too. We shall see.
So pretty and soft...I am thinking it will make pretty cowl or something.
I knit quite a bit on vacation--with the 24 drive up (and back) and the driving all over VA and down to SC. Then there's the beach and pool--even with 70+ SPF I still don't spend much time in the sun and water...so I knit under umbrellas.
I knit on my beach sock when I was at the beach and poolside.
I had completed the toe increases before I left for vacation and while on the drive I frogged a few dozen rows. I was going for a pattern but I came to my senses and just kept it simple.
I did bring nearly all my projects, but really the only other project I worked on was the silk Isobel scarf.
It's nearly finished. And in the heat we endured on the drive back...silk was the only fiber I wanted to touch.
I was also on vacation from the Knitting Bunnies, but on the drive back inspiration hit and I got some great ideas for the wildflower scarf that's been simmering in my cerebellum. Now that I am back home, I got some patterns to work on and some gift knitting and perhaps some baby knitting, as well (and NOT for me).
As a knitter packing (getting ready) for vacation is a bit more involved that it is for the "muggles." Since we go to the same place every year, I already know the locations of all the area yarn shops. Before Ravelry I found them by searching online; now it's easy peasy using the myriad of Ravelry's search features and forums. It is a little known fact that vacation yarn doesn't count in a Yarn Diet. Grin. So for me what's left: what knitting to bring.
I am project whore. I have several going on at once, because for me different projects suit different moods and environments. Example: lace should not be worked while waiting in line at a post office, but a sock or are a simple patterned scarf--totally. Knowing I am going to have a 2 hour wait at a Doctor's office: break out the lace or difficult cables. Nevermind there are different projects that sooth a rumpled or excited spirit. Anyhoo, I must pack accordingly for vacation.
I already decided to start a new plain jane sock (out of that lovely Acaundadia sock yarn I bought last week)--that's gonna be my beach sock or talking with people sock...mindless...just keeps my hands busy. Now car knitting (since we are driving 24 hours to get to Virginia), I will need a varied amount of knitting. I will get bored so I need to have a variety of things to keep me occupied. I am thinking of bringing along my neglected Swallowtail Shawl. I am nearly done and I am working on border nupps (pronounced NUPS!! I am sorry in no way should it be pronounced noops, that us just SILLY. If it was MEANT to be pronounced NOOP then it would either be spelled noop or nupe!!! Sorry small side rant that has been bubbling up for quite awhile) and beading. My only "fear" or concern, is I may finish it while on vacation and will have to wait on blocking until I get home. Yes, stupid concern I know.
As I am trying to decide what to bring, I will invariably just bring all my current projects (at least the top six in my Ravelry project tab). I think the hardest part is to resist the urge to bring virgin yarn, all my Barbara Walker books, and the Knitting Bunnies. YES, the knitting bunnies are staying HOME!! This is a vacation after all...
I am knitting with Debbie Bliss's Pure Silk. Ah, it is so nice. Hang around me long enough and you learn that I have a raging selfish need/craving for silk. I will push you out of the way in order to get to the silk bin in a yarn shop (most LYS I have been to keep their yarn organised by fiber, so yes there is a bin or a cubby or a table just for siiiiilllllk). Yum!
Anyhoo I have been saving this silk and this pattern for a year and I finally started it this weekend at WHIBSIB. It's goin' fast, however I have Super Secret deadlines so she'll prolly be ignored till June. Insert sad face here.
Speaking of Super Secret. I lost a whole days worth of work when I realised I had accidently attached a size 4 needle and a size 6 needle to my KP interchangeable cable. (I thought the fabric was looking looser than it ought to). Sigh, so I had to frog and curse and fix the problem. Bleh. (You may have heard me curse on Twitter)
I have about 2 or 3 things (maybe 4) in the Super Secret queue (okay FIVE! The bunnies are jumping!!). So lot's of hinting and tip-toeing and holding of the breath. I can give a hint--they will be scarfish and or stoleish (so shoot me, I LOVE scarves! I love things I can wrap around my self and twirl around myself)
WHIBSIB (What Happens In Buda Stays In Buda), my yearly Knitting Retreat with my beloved gals pals from Lone Star State Knitters was this past weekend. MUCH hilarity ensued and a nice recharge was had.
Pictures!
Flip through that...
My mates and I only went to one yarn shop, Hill Country Weavers. But it's my favourite in that area and I never get to go to it. THIS is yarn heaven. Yarn coming out of bins and shelves at you--it's just the best. And of course I FORGOT to take pictures of the yarn shop. Sigh. But I got stopped by nearly everyone to comment on my Clapotis (rav link). It was cool. I fell in love with some lace weight and of course I took it home.
It's Prism, lacewool...in ember. It screams Autumn! I love what it looks like in the yarn cake as well.
Yes that IS David Tennant...grin.
I also fell in love with this lace weight bamboo from Habu Textiles.
It's GOLD. This is gonna be a FUN lace project to design. It's gonna have to take it's place in the ever growing queue, but it'll be brilliant to work with. My head is dancing with the possibilities.
We also ate lunch at my favourite pub IN THE WORLD. Whose Guinness, I imagine, is comparable to any pub in Dublin--it is THAT good. Smoooooth as silk. They also have fantastic burgers and fries. I already miss it. I also took a few snap shots of my first apartment (it's next door to the pub). Dreary dreary place.
Folks demanded to see the Flit N Float live, and I got many oohs and aahs. I also got to see one of the gals knitting up hers (such a thrill) AND she had me sign her pattern. Grin, I felt like such a rock star. I had a few gals try to nick my Aegis as well... Well, why not it's gorgeous (if I saw so myself). Smirk.
I finished a washcloth--to add to my collection (I need to take pics of all the one's I finished...4 now?) and I started knitting the Isobel (rav link). I haven't taken pics yet, but the link goes to the one that inspired me to use the same yarn, Debbie Bliss-Pure Silk. I need to take a piccie of it--I finally have enough done that pictures make sense.
I am also working on a brand new Super Secret Project. Right now I am swatching--bleh! I swatch ONLY if I ABSOLUTELY have to. But so far so good.
This post written under the influence of 
