Grab your knitting needles and come relax with me.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Keep Knitting...
I have ten inches left of knitting left on the meditation rug. Right now: 382 stitches per round. Depending on how things work out, I think I will have 764 stitches for my border and then I will make a knitted on edging with intricate cables.
I will be lucky if the main portion of this rug is done by closing ceremonies of the Winter Games. I have 90 rows left, but all of this garter stitch is the boring part...the border and edging is the fun part! That will be thrilling...if I can decide the order and placement of the runes. lol
In other knitting news: I think I will be taking my socks out of time out. I am feeling the sock itch again. (No there is NOT a cream for that!) Not sure which sock I will take out first...prolly the cute bees kness knee highs...because I don't beed to seriously rework them like i need to rework the Cat Bordhi socks I am working on that refuse to go over my heel.
Refresher pictures!
These are super cute no thinking required (not my pattern afterall)
Like the cute strappy, but it's pulling the instep too tight. Must solve the puzzle, but I do not, at this time, want to spare the brain cells.
These (I forgot to mention them above), need more design work. I am stalled creatively on these.
Right now my brains is stuck on a few other things more lacey in nature. It's a good thing because I have a new project that I welcomed into my lap (Super Secret though) and my knitting bunnies have been working over time weaving a pattern in my head.
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).
I pretty much spent this weekend knitting socks. I wanted to start my new Corolis Sock before we left for vacation. And then I saw my poor neglected Harry Potter ribbed sock, had to knit on that some. And POOF there went my weekend.
And now I have SOCK pictures!!!
First the Corolis Socks (not sure that will stay the name...whirly socks?).
I am LOVING how the colour is turning out. But next question: which side will be the instep (the top)?
I am leaning toward this side as the top, but I will have a better idea for sure as it progresses. I am still stuck on a name...because the colour of these socks...they need a special nome. Not just Corolis (that's the name of the structure of the socks...and the name is being USED all the time). I like being unique.
I worked the heel on the Harry Potter sock on Saturday, ALL DAY and practically all night. I wanted to finish this heel!!
The new Harry Potter movie is coming out in little less than a month and a friend suggested that wearing them to the film would be Harry-tastic! Grin. I was planning on knee socks...let's see how that works. I was also planning on those ribs doing some traveling up the leg, we'll see how that works out as well.
More Pics!!!
This sock uses the Upstream Sockitecture from Cat Bhordi's book.
I also worked on some jewelry...you can see the results on my other blog and some good news as well. Here's a sneak peek...
Yeah, so that idea of plain jane sock, lasted all of five minutes. Those that know me well probably snickered while they read my last post, "Birdy, YOU plain jane? You never do plain jane!"
I decided to knit spiraling corolis socks with a whirl pool toe.
I took this yesterday, now I am a full inch in and am about done with the toe increases. (I bought a long awaited book last night and it cut into my knitting time). I also got distracted by another sock. I pulled my Harry Potter sock off the back burner. I discovered I was done with the arch increases and could start the heel. It was so long abandoned, I had to dig around and figure out what the hell I was doing. Grin.
I bought a new sock bag as well, and the bag is the perfect fit for the yarn cake. All snuggly and cozy. ;-)
I am not sure what to call my new socks. So far there is a definite stain glass feel to them. And with the band that will be going up the sock... Shrug. I may cable the band (yeah yeah I can't do simple, can I?).
Hopefully I'll have some good progress pics Tomorrow or Monday.
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...
Last night was my knitting clubs monthly potluck: once again no piccies. Saturday was so high energy, I was too pooped to snap. I had taken nearly 70 pictures that afternoon of the Aegis scarf, I took about 50 more today. Not sure if I am happy with how they turned out.
The pattern WILL be up Monday. I have to decide what pictures I want to use in publishing it and polish up the formatting in the pattern as well.
So I'll ask y'all a question (or two): What do you like to see in pattern pictures? What is it that makes or breaks whether you'll buy/knit up a pattern based in the image?
Last night, I was finally persuaded to take the dive and join Facebook...so I did in spades. I joined both as an individual and a business so look for me (if ya want) as Birdy Evans or Birdy's Knits. So far I feel lost and I am a definite newbie. And since we are on the subject of social networks, I am also on MySpace, as the same.
Now that I am finished with Aegis and before I start a new design, I decided to start some socks. I decided upon the Bettie's Lace Stockings (rav link) from Spring 09 Interweave. I just started them so I don't have proper in progress pics. I did decide to do my own toe (instead of following the pattern, so I had to rearrange some things when the lace pattern started). I am using some of the new sock yarn I got for my birthday, a delicious red yarn.
I picked up the needles on the Lace Ribbon Scarf and the Snow Flurries Blanket. I'll prolly start sketching my new design this week...letting the knitting bunny work itself into a slather sometimes makes the design have a bit of punch to it. Grin.
Woot. Stayed up late last night finishing it. The pattern ought to be ready next week. It's blocking and I have been told to let Handmaiden SeaSilk dry for a few days (please join me in hoping my cats stay off of it!). And then I still need to take the final pictures.
But here is the scarf blocking: it blocked out to 12 inches by 57 inches.
I decided to play around with the edging as a finished the scarf--it's slightly different from the beginning. I am just glad it's done--it was a fun scarf to knit and the yarn was absolutely sublime to work with.
Speaking of yarn I had 6 grams left of the 100 gram hank. I cut it very close--but that's good--one wants a project that uses up a whole hank of expensive yarn.
Oh and the yarn smelled EVEN better while it soaked than it did dry. LOVE this yarn. Grin.
My Photo Set, if you want to check out all the beauty shots, as well as the rumpled mess it was pre-blocking. Oh and I got to use my new foam mats to block--love them!
P.S.: What do work on next? I am itching to start the lace knee highs I have been jabbering about. BUT the Knitting Bunnies need tending too. AND I still have several projects, yet unfinished, that well need some finishing. Oh the dilemmas us knitters face. Grin.
In my surfing this weekend, I saw these wonderful stockings (THIGH HIGH) and thought: I must blog about them. And then I PROMPTLY forgot! Until, I read this blog post this morning, which reminded me about my own Socks That Neverend. (And I really love her "heading thingy": knitters=angry mob. So very very true). And then of course reminded me about my blog find a few days prior.
Total aside (with a elevator version of "This Is The Song That Never Ends" playing in the background): I really am on fine form today. I am seriously resisting the urge to insert various dashes and parenthesis--I have SO much to say about what I am saying, I am beginning to think I need foot notes. BUT WHY? It's just random thoughts, not even important or relevant thoughts. Don't mind me: I think the caffeine has hit the blood stream. ;-)
Okay, stockings...these Mothering Day stockings ARE so up my alley. I want to knit them SO bad, BUT, dude, it would take me TWO YEARS to knit these things. As you may recall, it took me a year to knit my Neverending Socks...and those were merely knee highs, NOT thigh high. And then there's the having to resize them to fit my skinny chicken stick legs. But...even then...I want to make these stockings. The are SO me.
AND THEN this weekend, when I bought the new Interweave Spring: I saw the Bettie Lace Stockings (rav link). Dude, I gotta make these too!!
What is a girl to do? This is not the first time I wished for 2 or 3 extra pairs of arms.
I learned something about myself this week (well lot's of somethings, but this is a knitting blog...so I am talking about something knitted). I need to have socks on the needles. It just feels wrong not to have a socks to knit on.
The opportunity presented itself at the Austin Knit Out last Saturday (Sept 27th) in the form of this luscious and much coveted skein of sock yarn.
It was a door prize and I won one of the two balls in the offing!! It just came out in our area and has been eagerly awaited for at least 5 months in the knitting/Harry Potter community. Now there is a discussion if the colors make sense....they are all named after characters from Harry Potter, specifically the Half Blood Prince. This beautiful skein of yarn is named "Harry und Ron." (This is yarn from a German yarn company. In fact they also made the yarn I made Micci's Tiger socks out of and I really like this yarn.)
I started knitting the socks as soon as I came home. They are my own design. Not sure what I am calling them, but the plan is knee high, 4x2 ribbing with gusset increases at the top of the foot, so the ribs will start to travel. They are gonna be marvelous! However, I frogged them after screwing up the toe increases (yes another toe up--luv me some toe up). As of right now I have already begun the gusset increases. But not to far in where you can actually see the gussets traveling.
I took pictures this morning before I started the gusset increases and it should be a few days of knitting before I can take pictures that show the travelling ribs.
Socks on foot
Sock unfulfilled
Sock, behind.
My favourite bit of the sock are those two green bands with the fire coloring in between them. Oh and this range of colors is the entire spectrum this colorway represents. I am just about to start knitting the blue again.
I am not sure how the colors relate to Harry or Ron, but I love the color. Fun and funky socks: just how I like them.
They are so beautiful! It's so cool seeing something I did being used--which is a duh moment because OF COURSE she's gonna knit with it. I can't wait to see the socks in person.
Just after I saw these bee-uuu-tiful socks from Cookie A. I want them! Not sure though, since I have freakishly skinny feet. Smaller needles, thinner yarn?
