Category Archives: Knitting

Contests, Knitting, Randonymity

In which I have a non-sock, non-bib FO

33 Comments

I think May was very pleased with how much everyone appreciated her blogging yesterday. Isn’t she a good little helper?! 😉

Kat with a K tagged me with a fun little book meme, so I’ll actually play along for a change.

The Page 123 Meme

  1. Grab the book closest to you.
  2. Open to page 123 and look down to the 5th sentence.
  3. Post the text of the next 3 sentences on your blog.
  4. Include the title and the author’s name.
  5. Tag 3 People.

Ok, I cheated a little bit and didn’t do this at work, which is where I discovered the tag – I’m sure that UNIX for the MS-DOS User would be quite fascinating, but… So, here’s what you get from Lambs of God by Marele Day:

Margarita had an idea. She held the walking stick by one end and thrust it into the car. She managed to hook the handle around the folder and pull it carefully toward her.

I’m sure that will make more sense to me later, since I’m only on page 11 right now… I’m not tagging anyone – play if you’d like!

Since I’ll be meeting the KnitOwl for coffee in a few hours, I thought I’d bring along a little knit owl:

Of course, no knitted item can leave my home without a little feline interaction…

“And if I’m cuter than the big kitty, I’m certainly cuter than a washcloth!” -M

Knitting, Randonymity

My new sock hates me, this I know

49 Comments

Carole edited the most recent issue of Yarnival – check it out, because there’s lots to read and think about!

For those tracking gas prices, that same Holiday gas station hit 1.879 this morning. Before you all start thinking about moving here, the current temperature is -5°F, with a windchill of -15°F. Brrr!

We had a few more inches of snow Sunday night.

A tiny drift even formed on one of my window ledges, causing Chaos to have to crane his neck to see outside.

“The conditions under which I must live! Shocking, isn’t it?” -C

A few weeks ago, the wonderful Deb gave me skein of Colinette Jitterbug sock yarn in bright charcoal. I was in such a hurry to get it rolled into a ball Friday that I forgot to take a picture of it in the skein – whoops. Anyway, sock attempt the first was a dismal failure – the stitch pattern (from Kristi’s very cool Gentleman’s Sock) just wasn’t right for how the colors played out in this yarn (but I will be using that stitch pattern for other socks). Plus my usual sock formula and 2.0mm needles didn’t work for this slightly heavier-than-fingering sock yarn. RIP!

I went up a needle size to 2.5mm, cast on fewer stitches, and tried a garter stitch rib (one round K2P2, one round knit). The stitch pattern worked, but the sock was way too big, the fabric too loose, and the pooling bad. RIP! (I was starting to feel a bit like Goldilocks at this point.)

Fortunately, I had some 2.25mm needles, and things were going great – the sock fit, the colors were spiraling instead of pooling, and all was rosiness and light. And then… The pooling again.

Here’s the sock from the top. See that nice light grey spiral starting where the stitch pattern starts? That made me happy.

I had trouble getting a good picture of the bottom of the sock, due to the *a-hem* assistance I received – but do you see the black blop on the bottom center of the sock? That’s pretty much just going straight up the bottom of the sock now – no spiraling at all.

“Do you see the problem there, May?” -C

“Wait, I’m not sure I… Oh, I do see it, big kitty!” -M

“What do you think, big kitty? Can this sock be saved? Or should Mom just give us the yarn to play with?” -M

In your dreams, Mayhem, in your dreams! Any ideas on how to force the sock to keep spiraling instead of pooling? I’m usually ok with pooling, but sometimes it just doesn’t work – and this is one of those times. (And I’m not sure I have it in me to rip out and start over again!)

Knitting

Finished Object Friday!*

66 Comments

(*Idea shamelessly stolen from V!)

But first… I can’t even remember the last time I saw gas prices this low. Be sure to check out the lovely grey skies, too! And yes, that is some snow in the background – while Minneapolis only had 4″ of snow on New Year’s Eve, the ‘burbs out where I work had twice that much.

So here it is, the second week of January, and I already have four FOs! I blame 24 for this surge in knitting productivity. It will come as no surprise to any of you that my first three FOs were… bibs. The two in front are for a shower gift; the one in back will go to a craft sale to raise funds for Knittymama’s local greyhound rescue chapter.

“If I sit on the damn things, she can’t put them on me.” -C

Nothing wrong with his logic – but, alas, Mayhem didn’t pay attention to Chaos’ words of wisdom.

“Hmph. Usually I’m better off if I don’t listen to the big kitty.” -M

“Do I at least look like a superhero?” -M

And the fourth FO – the purple and black stripey socks, from the yarn Jeanne dyed for my birthday! Do you like my new sock blockers?! I can’t believe what a difference they make for modeling finished socks!

“Yay! She didn’t make me model the socks!!” -M
Knitting

2006: The Knitting Year in Review

44 Comments

But first – thank you all so much for your well wishes! I felt quite a bit better on Wednesday. Whew! Oh, and Chaos and Mayhem are quite full of themselves for receiving the Cutest Couple Award in the 2006 JenLas. I fear prima donna behavior ahead…

How Did I Do on My Knitting Resolutions for 2006?
So so. Out of my five resolutions, I did some knitting from stash – but I also significantly added to my stash. I didn’t look very hard for a new weekly knitting group, but I did meet a lot of great local knitbloggers who I enjoy hanging out and knitting with. I didn’t go to a single knitting retreat. I did knit quite a bit more in 2006 than in 2005, when I only finished 17 projects. Finally, I did knit several things for the community – a scarf for the Red Scarf Project, a hat for a local homeless shelter, and some cage liners for animal shelters.

Finished Objects: 45 total
13 pairs of socks
12 baby bibs
5 scarves
4 baby sweaters
3 bags
2 hats
2 cage liners
1 afghan square
1 baby blanket
1 iPod Shuffle necklace
1 Hourglass Sweater

Works in Progress
I’m actively working on my stripey black and purple socks (although I ditched the lace and am doing 2×2 rib), a baby bib, and a fortune kitty.

Skeletons in My Knitting Basket
Um, everything in this post is still a UFO, except the baby blanket and the purple Trekking socks! However, I am going to tear out the moebius cat bed. (Those cats have an entire love seat and 1/2 of a queen size bed to sleep on! They don’t need a cat bed!) I might tear out the sock yarn baby sweater, too.

Favorite Project of 2006
Hmm, that’s challenging! I love the Hourglass Sweater that I knit for the Knitting Olympics, but I am also very pleased with the baby bolero, the baby sweater I knit in October, and the baby sweater I started December 26 and finished December 31. That one doesn’t sound familiar, eh? 😉 It was knit from classic light purple Mission Falls cotton that I had in my stash.

Here’s a closeup of the buttons:

And if you survive through the rest of my 2006 retrospective, there might be a few pictures of May and this sweater at the end…

Major Knitting Accomplishment
Completing my Hourglass Sweater for the Knitting Olympics and completing it early.

Favorite Yarn
The Brooks Fiber Farm Four Play I used for the aforementioned Hourglass Sweater. It was the best silk and wool blend I’ve ever used.

New Techniques
Again with the Hourglass Sweater – I learned how to do knitted hems… and how to do them without sewing.

Whew! We’ll see if I have enough ambition to look ahead to 2007 for Friday, or if I save that until next week.

“Oh oh, this looks like it might be an article of May-sized clothing!” -M

“Drat.” -M

*nonchalant whistling* -M

“Although I must admit, it is a comfy place for a little intimate bathing…” -M
Knitting, Those Cats

In which no cats were forced to wear baby socks

33 Comments

Ok, I actually did do a little bit of Christmas knitting – I knit a pair of socks for my friends’ baby from some of the stripey purple and black yarn Jeanne dyed for my birthday. I immediately attempted to get pictures of a cat wearing them, but the cats, they were having none of that. Instead, I present pictures of baby socks lying on or near cats. I know it’s a poor substitute.

“Why did you put these things on me?!” -C

“Maybe if I ignore them, they’ll go away.” -C

“Don’t you move those things any closer. I’m getting wise to your sneaky ways, Mom.” -M
Knitting, Reading

Another completed project of which you were completely unaware

36 Comments

I thought of another good weird thing after I put together my list – I can’t bear to have those stupid little postcard subscription things in any magazine I receive, so I go through and rip them all out when a magazine arrives.

It’s so hard to get out of bed at this time of year! Not only is it dark dark dark, it’s chilly, so I don’t want to crawl out from under the flannel sheets and down comforter. Plus, when my alarm goes off, both cats come in (if they weren’t there already) and snuggle and purr. Flannel, down, warm purring cats… I think I need to go back to bed!

Reading Update
Back Story by Robert B. Parker. This is one of the Spenser novels and I just read it for the tiny bit of Jesse Stone crossover in it.
Blue Screen by Robert B. Parker. I just read this Sunny Randall novel a few months ago, but it was fun to reread it after reading the Jesse Stone novels, since Sunny and Jesse get together in this one.
Shakespeare’s Champion by Charlaine Harris. This was (I think) the second Lily Bard novel and I read it totally out of order, since I finished the others weeks and weeks ago. You should definitely read these in order if you can – and it should be easier since this one was reprinted at the beginning of this month.

Knitting Update
The gifting season can be difficult for the knitblogger – you’re working on these great things, but you can’t blog more than evasive hints in case the gift recipient happens across your blog entry and the surprise is ruined. But on Saturday afternoon, I finished another 13-stitch wide Arrowhead Lace scarf and since it was a birthday gift presented Saturday evening, I can actually blog about it!

This particular scarf was made from SWTC Bamboo in Fiery Red. I was so excited to have finished it that I promptly wrapped it and forgot to take any pictures with the usual suspects! 😮 They’re probably pleased that they missed out, actually.

Why yes, that might actually be genuine Naugahyde in the background! (As opposed to artificial Naugahyde?!)

The usual suspects kept busy at home.

*glug glug glug* -M

“Licking the empty bowl isn’t going to bring Mom home any sooner to feed us our late supper, big kitty.” -C
Knitting

In which I am only vaguely coherent, due to having no brain left after 6 hours of finishing on Sunday

62 Comments

Many thanks to the inimitably funny Tink of Pickled Beef for awarding me a “Playful” Golden Spork Award! I am honored!Oh, yeah, you’re probably curious about what the heck I finished on Sunday, eh, since all you know I’m knitting is a pair of socks? 😉 Well, some of you might remember that I’ve been working on a moderne log cabin baby blanket, which is a shower gift for a baby born in, um, *whispers* early May. Of this year, at least!! Anyway, I don’t think I’ve even mentioned this blanket since September… I probably finished the knitting in September or early October, but I still had the finishing to do. Lots and lots of finishing – innumerable ends, mostly (damn knotty skeins), but also mattress stitch at the four corners on the border. Have I mentioned how anal I am about weaving in ends? It involves splitting plied yarn and weaving in twice as many ends as if I hadn’t split the yarn… Anyway! I knew this was going to be a horrific finishing job, so I’ve been dawdling on it (especially since I can’t read while I finish). Finally, the next book in the series I was reading was only available (through my library system) on cd, so I buckled down and listened to that and finished the blanket. Darn book was only 5.75 hours long, so during the last 15 minutes I was left with nothing to do but weave in ends… Ack.

Without further ado, I present you with the Chaotic (and Mayhemic?!) Moderne Log Cabin Baby Blanket. (It actually is rectangular, although you can’t necessarily tell that from these pictures – it was hard to lay it out with all the “help” I got… Really, all you have to do around here for a photo opportunity is create an attractive nuisance…)

“Why are you standing on the coffee table, Mom?” -C&M

“You’re not the boss of me, big kitty!” -M

“Don’t sass your elders, May.” -C

“Run away!!” -M

“I wonder if this would taste like tuna?” -C
“Hmm, can I gnaw a hole in this before Mom gets off the coffee table?” -M

Knitting, Reading

Monday again?!

27 Comments

Thank you all so much for the kind words about Kureyon-Chan!! And many thanks to Frarochvia for convincing me to submit the pattern and for being my test knitter – check out her lovely buttonless version! I’m really looking forward to seeing what everyone does with this pattern. Chaos and Mayhem definitely liked modeling these bags better than modeling bibs! 🙂

Reading Update
Edge of Evil by J.A. Jance. This is the first book in a new mystery series by Jance (who’s better known for her J.P. Beaumont and Sheriff JoAnna Brady mystery series). This book introduces former broadcast journalist Ali Reynolds, who starts a blog…
Danse Macabre by Laurell K. Hamilton. I know, I know, I just read this most recent Anita Blake book a few months ago. But after re-reading the rest of the series, I thought I should read it again, too. I’m conflicted – the series seems, to me, to spend way more time in the bedroom than really necessary for the storyline and the plot is creeping along (this book covered maybe 48 hours), but I keep reading the damn books, don’t I?!
Motor Mouth by Janet Evanovich. The second in a series of NASCAR murder mysteries. I think I just need to admit to myself that I love the Stephanie Plum series and give up on Evanovich’s other stuff…

Knitting Update
I’ve been working on yet another pair of socks for myself. These are from the yarn Jeanne dyed for my birthday – I love how stripey they are! The yarn is far more purple and black than it appears in this photo…

“Stripes, schmipes – let me at those Addis!” -M

Knitting, Those Cats

My MagKnits pattern!

75 Comments

At long last, it can be revealed – go check out my felted bag pattern in the December issue of Magknits: Kureyon-chan! Kureyon-chan, or K-chan, takes a single skein of Noro Kureyon or similar feltable yarn.

“Dah-lings! Don’t you think I look simply smashing with this bag?” -C

“Oh! But this one, it matches my eyes!” -C

“And although Mom didn’t mention it in the pattern, these make great cat toys – just add catnip and you’ll get mayhem!” -M
Contests, Knitting

Fee, fi, FOs, fum…

39 Comments

Scout’s having a contest! Caption the picture before Friday and the caption that makes her laugh hardest will win something from her shop.

Bloglines is wonky again – it took 23 hours for my RSS feed from yesterday to update. Grrrr. And I’m sure the only reason I almost (well, within 40 posts) caught up in bloglines yesterday was because it wasn’t updating.

May is doing great!! Her incision is less than 1/2″ long and she doesn’t have any stitches – looks like they used surgical glue maybe?! Chaos is getting over himself and isn’t hissing at her (much) now.

You may not remember, but this is, ostensibly and occasionally, a knitting blog. (I’ll pause to let you recover.) That said, I’ve actually knitted a few things (besides bibs!) recently.

I finished my luridly striping socks over the weekend – 63g of Kona fingering went a bit further than I expected, especially considering my size 11 feet.

“I know that if I look directly at those socks, I’ll probably go blind.” -M

The extra yarn is to the left – I knit each sock toe-up from opposite ends of the ball to make sure I used as much yarn as possible. Interestingly, while one sock had a pink toe and the other a black toe, due to quite a bit of variation in my warping board technique (my stripes weren’t consistent), both socks ended at the exact same spot in the colorway. (Please note that this picture was taken before May’s surgery, when she had a furry tummy…)

Several weeks ago, I knitted a narrow arrowhead lace scarf that I hoped to use at work, when I wear my hair up and my neck gets chilly. I knit this with my not-Rhinebeck La Lana Phat Silk. Unfortunately, my picky neck found this merino-silk blend too scratchy. Right now Jeanne is testing it around her own neck. I was so annoyed, I didn’t take a final picture of this after blocking/ironing (the ironing really made the silk shine).

“Could you work this into a cat bed for me maybe? With a little cashmere, too? I don’t have any fur on my tummy anymore and it’s chilly!” -M