Thursday 30 April 2009

Sloooooooow

When I started this blog, it was partly out of interest in knitting, partly to catalogue what I knit and how I went about it, and partly because I had a lot of time on my hands. At the time, it seemed like my work load was constantly shrinking because many of the tools I use were getting faster. Between the new computer and a new printer (of my very own), the amount of time it took me to get my work done had been halved. A bit belated, my company finally caught up and gave me more work, so I no longer have so much time to kill - thankfully. I really am much happier being employed the whole day, even if I do wind up too tired at night to do much more than comfort knit.

Last night, however, I did finally finish my Earl Blue socks. Pictures will follow as soon as the weather improves. We finally been getting some much needed rain this week, but that makes for bad pictures. They are really, really soft and comfy and spiffy looking and I love them. The yarn makes a great "plain" sock, because it's not too plain but also looks good with a design in it. The only problem is, that I love them so much, I'm afraid to wear them. I don't want to ever wear them out. That would be a tragedy.

Friday 24 April 2009

Knitting Gone a Little Mad

But it looks like they had fun doing it and raised quite a bit of money, so Go Them!

Knitted Villiage

Tuesday 21 April 2009

Knitting Math

I came up with a new maths formula for knitting this evening. It goes as follows:

Lack of Attention+Overconfidence=Frogging

I've begun knitting the second Earl Blue sock, knit with Knit Picks Essential Kettle Dyed sock yarn, which is fabulous. Soft, yet durable. I love it - Damn. I never should have linked. They're having a sale on colours they won't be restocking and I'm broke. I really would have liked to get some of the Ivy. Bugger. So, back to knitting, it took me a bit to get back into the rhythm of the pattern, but when I did, it started to go well. After all, it was an easy pattern and a pleasant knit. Only, after a few rounds, I started to think that all of this 1x1 ribbing was irritating, after a few more rounds, I started wondering how I ever managed to get the first sock done, then, another 10 rounds or so later, I start thinking it's a complete pain in the proverbial and blast if I was going to continue with it. It was then that it hit me. I should have stopped the ribbing and switched to stockinette when I started the pattern. *headdesks* I decided that this might be a good point to check the pattern again, as in read from the beginning, and not only did I miss the bit about the ribbing, but I also forgot that I needed to increase by two stitches. I console myself with knowing that I only had to frog it all once and not twice. Let this be a lesson to me. Always check the pattern again, even if you've already knit it before. Simple things can save you a lot of effort put in creative swearing when you've messed up the basics, yet again.

Friday 17 April 2009

Insert Fantastic Title Here

Because I can't come up with one.

I am really bowled over by a package I received from ProseKnitic this week. I won a comment contest on her blog and she, crazy and wonderful woman that she is (she has a career, 4 children, knits, DOES STEEKS, and blogs all in her stride), sent me this:


Those of you who know me, even slightly, will know that these are my colours. It's fabulous yarn and something I would have never purchased for myself. I now need to find a project that will do it justice. I may have to think on it a while. Thank you so much Holly!

I have been knitting this week, just not as much as I thought I would. I'm on vacation and I always assume I'll have more time and motivation than I usually wind up having. I did try and knit out of doors with the dogs, but either the wind was blowing (not good with lightweight cotton yarn) or the dogs felt I should be petting them and not knitting. Plus, I'm doing some free lance work, so it wasn't all free time anyway. However, I did manage to finish the Hermione Scarf and Hat and have now started on "matching" handwarmers. I won't be using the full pattern for this, since having holes in handwarmers is a bit counterproductive. Hats and scarves with holes are OK because the scarf wraps around itself and most people have hair on their heads to help with warmth, but bare hands are just cold when it's cold outside. Ergo, I'm just doing the cable and leaving out the eyelets. It's a bit of a construction site because I'm trying something new. I'll let you know how it goes when I finish the first of them.

Unfortunately I haven't made any more progress on the Arwen. I should really be working on that instead of the handwarmers because it's cooled off, but I don't feel like it at the moment. It will get done in time to wear it next winter.

Friday 10 April 2009

Hermione's Scarf

Yet again I've been bad about updating. Life seems to zip on by these days without leaving me enough time to either knit or write about knitting. It's all I can do to keep up with my book blog these days.

I've made progress on Arwen. The hood is finished and it's now waiting for the sleeves. Unfortunately, the weather's gotten warmer and I'm not fond of sitting with nearly a kilo of wool in my lap when it's this warm, so it's going to have to wait a bit. That will, however, give me time to decide whether I want to just pick up stitches at the arm holes, or if I should do shaped sleeves (cuff up). I'm afraid picking up stitches will make the shape unwearable. I'm going to have to peruse my patterns to see if I can find any reason to do one or the other. In the meantime, I have a picture of the back panel. I'm pleased with this, if I do say so myself.


My alternate project for warmer days is a scarf based on the Hermione Hat.

The yarn is Kappa Color, in the colorway Toy. I've used it before and like it very much. It's comfortable and makes great spring/fall items. The pattern itself is a little too easy and a little too difficult. It's so easy that I tend to forget to pay attention and too difficult because if you don't pay attention, you wind up frogging quite a lot. I swear I'd be finished with this if I hadn't had to rip back several times. Ah well, that'll teach me to knit when I'm tired.