Sockapaloooza

Well, I bet no one out there even knew I was participating in Sockapaloooza! From my knitting lately (or lack thereof), I certainly wouldn't have guessed. I started these Pomatomus (sp?) socks during my trip.

pomatomus

I restarted once because I was nowhere near gauge, but I was still only a repeat in when I got home. (The observant among you will note that I didn't remotely follow the instructions for the heel, which looked interesting now that I've looked at the pattern. I now have to decide if I should do the toe as written. The really observant will notice that I added two stitches to every repeat. It was the only way I could fix the gauge problem since I didn't have any larger needles with me.) Sadly, as it stands now, I will have to send my sock pal a note that the socks will be delayed, but they are on the way...

Absent

Well, I'm away from work for the next little while, so I don't know how often I'll be posting, but I'll see if I can get a few in. Yesterday I started my trip in Halifax, and today we're spending the night in St Stephen, NB. We've managed to see a lot of the countryside, as there is a lot of driving between meetings. However, there are also a lot of early mornings, which is why I'm on my way to bed now... (We are an hour ahead.)

I am getting some knitting done in the car. I've finished 1.5 repeats on Pomatomus socks in some Fleece Artist. They look really good, but I'm pretty sure I'm nowhere near gauge, so they won't fit. I'm going to block tonight to see if they grow any... Otherwise, I'll figure out how many more stiches I need tomorrow and start again. I figure I can add a few stitches to every repeat or I can add a 7th repeat if I need somewhere in the vicinity of 22 stitches. Given the sizing right now, that seems like a probable course of action.

DNF

DNF

Now that its 11:30, I have to admit, I'm a DNF in the Knitting Olympics. I have somewhere between 5 and 6 inches left on the body before I'll be done. I am impressed that everything else is done though, including the weaving in of ends. I think it looks pretty good, and that I will like it when it is done.

I don't think I really considered how hard this event would be on me. After the first weekend, my hands and wrists were achy. Given that I have a history of tendon problems in my hands and that I work on a computer all day so couldn't afford to have my hands claw up, I ended up barely knitting during the week. Oh well, there are no excuses in the Olympics. I think if I were to do this again, I would pick something slightly smaller and pace myself more to spread my knitting time out over the full three weeks instead of cramming it all into the weekends. And get a new chair that would help me have better posture and support my elbows. That would be better for my hands and back. I guess, I've got a few years to train.

Feb 17

I'm behind in posting this. This was my progress as of midnight on Feb. 17. I had sincerely intended to take a picture on Sunday evening, but as you can see, it didn't happen. Oh well... Someday I will post on a regular basis.

Nerves

I'm now decidedly nervous about my Olympic knitting... My lack of posts indicates a significant absence of actual knitting time. I will try and show a picture tomorrow, but basically, I am at mid-chest on the body and I've finished 1 and 2/3 arms. I need to finish the second arm, pick up and knit the neck band, and then do something like 18 inches of stockinette for the body! :O I am now seriously doubting my ability to get it done, but all I can do is see...

Progress

try 2, day 2

Here is my progress, just over 24 hours after starting my second effort. So far, all of my stitch counts are right. I have 6.5 inches along the raglan increase, so I have a few more inches left before its time to put the sleeve stitches on holders. It doesn't seem too bad, although a week of work is going to put a significant dent in my progress. I'm off to bed, and to ice my wrist in preparation for tomorrow.

Project Specs:
Pattern: Knit and Tonic's The Essential Stripe
Yarn: Debbie Bliss Alpaca and Silk, in an off-white, orange and blue
Needles: Size 4

The heights?

olympic challenge

So, I kind of let this whole Olympic thing sneak up on me. (As you can see - I haven't even managed to post the button to my blog yet.) Thursday night, I realized that I was supposed to start knitting on Friday, and I hadn't even finished swatching. That, and all of my stitch markers were already on projects. I did manage to sort everything out, but I didn't actually cast on until this afternoon. Now, a few inches in, I've decided to rip. I found a few mistakes, too many to fudge, and I decided that if this is the Olympics, I might as well do this right.


first try

Lessons Learned: Count decreases, don't just assume you've done them.

under the weather

I haven't been feeling spectacular for a couple of days now. Nothing specific, just headachy and sore. And everything seems to take more effort than it really should. So, I've been sticking close to home and finishing things up. (Although not entirely. I worked out this morning, just walking. I probably overdid it, since I already wasn't feeling well. My reaction to not being able to pay for all of my items at the postal counter at the Bay was entirely out of proportion. When I'm overtired, sometimes my inner two-year-old gets away from me.) I finished my tivoli T and my 'peas and carrots' socks (pictures to come).

I did want to write a quick post about my sock angel socks. I made these for someone from the Sockapal2za exchange whose sock pal didn't come through. These socks have caused me a lot of grief. I sincerely hope they fit her. I had measured out the gauge and they should fit, but then I keep reading different opinions from people on the amount of negative ease needed for socks. That, and stockinette socks always look big because I'm used to seeing socks that stretch more. Anyway, here they are.


socks

Project Specs:
Yarn: Lana Grossa Mega Boots Stretch, colour 707
Pattern: basic short row toe, short row heel, stockinette, with a picot bind off
10 stitches/inch

Akkk...

... So, my trip that has already been rescheduled many times has been postponed again. I'm understandably frustrated, but there are reasons. Anyway, I'll be around when I didn't expect to be; just in case anyone is interested.

SP package

This is a quick photo essay of the yarn I spun for my secret pal, Mel. This is the roving I bought at Rhinebeck in early October (yes, I'm slow... it took me until January to get it all spun, plied and washed.) She also got a pair of not-yet-felted fuzzy feet, but you'll see on her blog that she's an old pro at felting, so that shouldn't be a problem.


spindle


yarn drying


finished

I have no idea how much yarn this came out to. Hopefully Mel can think of something to knit with it.

Knitting spot

Oh right, and when I was talking about not being deserving of participating in SP7, did I also forget to mention that I just sent my last package to my spoilee, Mel? Yeah, its only a month late. Anyway, I have a short photo essay about the making of her gift, but I'll wait until she gets it to post that.


knitting spot

So, I've seen this meme around, and thought I'd throw mine out there. The couch is really the only comfortable seating option in my apartment, so that's where I knit. I have to use one of the plastic chairs when I want to spin or read blogs. Please note that it isn't always this clean (see pictures that follow, which are mostly for my mom, who complained that she didn't know what my place looks like. She'll notice that I haven't gotten any neater.)


view to left


front view


view to right

Happy New Year

Happy New Year!

I know, I'm a bit slow on the draw with the good wishes and all. What can I say. I also think this will be a picture heavy post, because my back is being disagreeable, and typing only seems to aggravate it.


SP gift

First, have I mentioned that Kelly was a great Secret Pal? Above you see copies of both Yarn Harlot books, a cake of Hello Yarn in Maple, fiber post cards from Cafe Press, a Knitwhits cat toy kit, a 'Fuck off I'm Knitting' mug and a set of Zephyr stitch markers (shown close below). I've been so well spoiled that I felt I shouldn't even sign up for SP7. I will wait until SP8 when I'm feeling a little more deserving.


stitch markers


grey fairisle

And a picture of another modified Sophie bag. I've determined that I didn't end up getting a picture of the ocean-coloured bag I embroidered after felting, which is unfortunate. Or of the two hats I made for my dad and brother-in-law. Although Jose did say it was the only hat that has fit him perfectly, so I was pretty happy with that.

Also, work is frustrating. I'm supposed to be travelling sometime soon, and the departure date has changed at least 4 times in the last week. I wonder what happened after I left this afternoon to have a massage treatment for my back? I guess I will see tomorrow.

high/low

Hey all! I'm sorry to have disappeared for so long. I do have a lot of knitting content to post, but things have been a bit crazy. Somebody is committing fraud on my account (writing large cheques to themselves, I'm not certain how they got the cheques) so its been taking most of my energy to deal with that for the past week.

So, since I have a plethora of photos to post, I thought I'd start with some of my Christmas knitting, now that its been given. I made five felted bags, based on the Sophie pattern, with modifications to each. They are all knit in Patons Classic Merino.


red


cable detail

I increased the size of the red, added the cable up the sides, and had three strands for the handle with a flat section where they meet in the middle (so I could continue the braid on each side).


blue

This is the original size knit with one strand of mohair held with the wool. It didn't shrink as much during felting.


grey w/ eyelets

This bag has an eyelet pattern around the top, which is difficult to see in this photo but looks alright in person.

I made knit flower pins for the blue and grey out of white yarn from the stash. Sadly I forgot to photograph them before I came back to ON.

(Yes, I know there are only three pictures. I'll have to find the other three later.)

thanks

I have to give a shoutout to my Secret Pal Kelly! I just received my last package, and let me tell you, she is fabulous! I will try to post a photo and a proper description on Saturday (when its not pitch black), but given the amount of stuff left to be done before my flight Sunday am (early!), I'm not promising anything.

As well, I wanted to reveal my Secret Pal Mel. I swear, your last package will be on the way soon (although probably not until next week).

Hmmm... I think that's all for now.

standby

Sorry, but I think the blog is pretty much on standby until after Christmas. I leave for home a week today, and I have just realized that I have a lot of stuff to do before I my flight. I've also been preoccupied with a personal situation that I'm not quite ready to discuss here.

Rest assured, I have been knitting. The Ribbed & Fair Isle Vest is taking forever, and I have a whole post worked out in my head in which I complain about the construction and charting, but that will have to wait until I have time to write it all down. I'm also making another pink baby sweater. I know I already have one, but I know a lot of pregnant friends, and I wanted to see if I could improve on the pattern. After that I'll have to make something for a boy, because while I'm all for non-gender specific colours, not everyone would be willing to dress their boy in a bright pink cardigan. I guess those are the main things.

busy!

I'm sure everyone else is feeling it too! Sorry for not posting though. I haven't been home before 9 yet this week.

In knitting news, I've finished the baby sweater. There are also details of the yoke and lace bottom.


baby finished

I think it looks pretty good. I'll now be keeping a feeler out for someone to give it to (I do have some potential receivers, in mind). I'm now working on the Rib/Fair Isle Vest from the Vogue Knitting Fall 2005 issue. I've finished the ribbing for the back and haven't worked on it since Sunday.

So, did I mention that my Secret Pal is absolutely fabulous? Cause she is! She got real Grecian items sent to her for me! Cause I've always wanted to go to Greece! Isn't that amazing? I got postcards, a key chain, lavender soap, and perfume, lotion and body wash in a fragrance called Greek Waters! And it came all the way from Greece!


SP Gift

I don't normally get political here, but Tuesday was the UN day of solidarity with the Palestinian people, and I went to an event put on by CEPAL. I was quite impressed by the program they run in the refugee camps in Lebanon (they send teachers for the summer to provide English instruction and other activities).

Parcels

I love getting packages! First, I ordered this yarn from kpixie with the help of a gift certificate from my great secret pal! I'm thinking of making an Hourglass Sweater with this.


peace fleece

Then, I got this package from my favourite boy in the whole world!


giftee

I actually bought most of the movies from him (he had doubles) but he added surprises to make it that much more fun.

sitting pretty

coffee table art

1. I can't do a post without pictures lately, so when Hello wouldn't cooperate yesterday, I just didn't post (especially since I'd taken pictures especially to post).

2. I lose track of time easily. Whole days fly by without my realizing. This is my excuse for why I didn't stop in to either of the spinning workshops at the Ottawa Valley Weavers' and Spinners' Guild these past two weekends (Hi Daisy!) I'm not good enough to be willing to spin for a full day, but I really should have gone just to see what good spinning looks like.

3. I have been knitting away on the baby sweater, and surprise! Someone I know is pregnant! I'm curious to find out the gender. Maybe I have some kind of sixth sense?


baby sweater with sleeves attached

The pattern is interesting, although I'd make a few changes next time (like joining the sleeves before doing the raglan decreases instead of after)

4. So, I don't like winding yarn by hand. In fact, I sort of hate it, which is why my chair has been out of commission for almost two weeks.


winding by hand

Often in a situation like this, I'd ask Daisy (hi again!) to bring her swift and ball winder to knitting night, but she hasn't been coming and the coffee shop has been really busy the last few times. Anyway, I think I'm ready to spoil myself (although not until after Christmas). Any recommendations for brands/types?

5. I have been swatching. (This is mostly for my information, so if you're not interested, you can stop reading now.) First, there is Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk on size 6. I get 25 stitches and 26 rows to 4". Then, the wool mohair Duet from Rhinebeck on size 7.

Interesting

Has anyone else heard about this? It's a 101/1001 blog, where one must define 101 goals and then try to achieve them in 1001 days. It sounds interesting, and I was trying to decide if I wanted to try it too. The problems are that 1) my goals are often big and undefined and 2) I'm not necessarily ready to talk about them on the internets. I suppose it would be a helpful goal setting tool (since they are easier to achieve if they are more defined rather than less), but I would also want to have control over who could read it. Is there a way to do that?

In knitting news, I've come to a conclusion. Samus is too big.


(And don't I look dorky when I try to take pictures of myself? I never know what to do with my hands)
Or at least its much larger than it was before washing. The length is nice, but it goes halfway around me again widthwise. The arms are good to the elbow, but I can almost fit football pads in the shoulder area. I think its a combination of a large gauge change during washing and my slightly unrealistic expectations about the pattern. I knew that it wouldn't be fitted. But falling off me is a bit much. However, I've just measured it and my sweater is actually smaller than the schematic says it should be. I'm going with my initial impression that it needs a belt and two belt loops along with the zipper, and it should be good.

Sunday pm malaise

It's Sunday afternoon again. Tomorrow will be a little rough. It's been almost like a four day weekend for me, as I had (easy) training on Thursday to transition into the long weekend.

Well, even without a new project, I found something to work on this week.


baby sweater

I'm knitting this from some random nylon yarn from the huge stash of baby yarn and patterns I inherited from my grandmother on 3.25 mm needles (from my secret pal!). I don't have anyone in mind for this, I just needed something to work on. I have finished both sleeves to the point where the join the body for the raglan shaping. Now I'm working on the lace panel around the bottom of the cardigan. I'm having problems because I'm not really a conscientious knitter a lot of the time (see lace detail). I've had to fudge one row to make things line up, and I now need to frog almost two rows to do another fudge. Things aren't lining up because I somehow have two extra stitches.

I have knit a pair of fuzzy feet, which will be felted soon. I need to figure out how they fit once felted so I can make any changes needed to pairs that I will actually give away.

fuzzy feet

I have also been Kool-aid dying my Knitpicks Colour Your Own.

kool aid
The top skein was dyed with 1 package each cherry, strawberry and orange. I used my Deep Dutch skillet and heated the water to warm, and used warm dye solution in a measuring cup with spout and poured over the surface.

The bottom skein is 2 packages strawberry kiwi and 1 package orange. I used a similar dyeing technique except the dye solution was refigerated prior to pouring. The dye didn't disperse as much as compared to a warm solution, leaving more lighter and white areas.