Knitting Goddess #9

BOO!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

posted by Christina @ 12:37 PM |

Recreating My Vision...

I consulted with the aunt about Ocean Vines, and asked the aunt the braided cables. She didn't like the braided cables and suggested cables around the neck, which sounds super cool, only I don't know how to do that on a flat back edge.

I'm also leaning towards a cable pattern running up the middle instead of the side. Hrm. Difficult decisions.

I really liked my original idea, too. Poop.

Edit: I've thought about it. I've thought about it for a whole 20 minutes. And I've come to several conclusions, lined up as bullet points for you.
-My aunt's version of what I think is old lady-like/dowdy is probably not what I think is dowdy. I enjoy simple, old fashioned knits quit often. I really liked the sweater I made for my mom that had a diamond cable combination and I'd wear that.
-There's a difference between dowdy and classic. I think my idea is more classic. I like that I could still wear this sweater in 10 or 15 years. (Of course, I couldn't be able to because I'd lose 50 pounds between now and then).
-The more I think about it, the more the one cable running up the middle feels ooky. And in the end, the only person who I want to like the sweater is me. And I like the idea of the cable far more than the one complex.
-The corrugated ribbing (and I'm not ashamed to say I stole the idea) will add a modern touch to the sweater. As will the fitted waist.
-Cable neckline. Really friggin' cool idea. Have to wait until I know what I'm doing design wise a bit more.
-If the vines part of Ocean Vines disappointed me this much, I have a feeling that the Flamin' Rosedale will disappoint me in a similar fashion. Must swatch and see.
-If I'm going to do yoga tomorrow, I need to go to bed now.

posted by Christina @ 10:28 PM |

Wearable Astroturf... I Mean Art! Yeah, Art.

So, the Crowns Scarf is interesting. And it's very fuzzy. And I've gone through a skein of fun fu and it's up to my belly. And I started it yesterday.

Of course, it is 15 stitches and on 10s and in garter stitch. And I have had a lot of metro time today.

I've had to hide the Crown. The Dog likes playing with it. It's fuzzy. I think he thinks that it is a new life form that he can play with. I'm also very sure that it will not be blocked, or at least, the brim won't be steams. Worn wrong side out, it gives the brim a very cool effect. Pictures... eh, when I feel like it.

Also, considering I have 4 hours to kill tomorrow night before I have to be at a 5 minute meeting for work (at 10:30. Don't ask), I think I'll go up to DuPont and see 'My Life Without Me' and continue knitting. Sarah Polley is so yummy. I could see Proof again... eh. Naw. I think I'll sneak in for an ASL interpreted night, though. Just to see if I can understand the interpreters.

Ocean Vines will probably have braided cables instead of the leaf repeats. Although if I make the leaf pattern smaller... or only one shoulder... still no. And probably corrogated ribbing and cables on the sleeves, which I wasn't going to do before. Must reswatch. Swatch. SWATCH.

I've gone loopy. It must be bed time.

posted by Christina @ 11:57 PM |

Poll...

Is down. Because I actually found a pagan crafting webring. It's small, but still there!

Of course, it's webring.org and they're annoying. But scroll down to see the MagickStitchers!

posted by Christina @ 5:51 PM |

And in other news...

The Crowns scarf had about 2 feet down. Now it has 6 inches.

Why? I realized that carrying cotton and eyelash would not make a light, drapey scarf. It makes a scarf to keep the cold out. I want the other kind.

So, I ripped, single stranded (which I REALLY hate), and reknit on a size larger needles. And now it's light and filmy and drapey and pretty and 6" long.

BUT I might be making one for the receptionist at work. (Money = good. I just don't want to overcharge her. It's a non-profit, she can't make much). And one for my aunt's birthday/Christmas present.

Oh crap. When IS my aunt's birthday?!

Edit: I asked my mom. December 11th. Crap.

posted by Christina @ 11:12 PM |

Swatchy Swatchy!

I have swatched for Ocean Vines to be hit by a torrent of indecision. First, here's the test swatch which caused the blitzkrieg of yarn stores to find Christina's Imaginay Wonder Yarn (Also known as Cascade 220 Color lot 9410). This is my main yarn, a Turkish handspun yarn my aunt brought back from Hungary and gave me for Christmas (a year ago. Or two. I dunno).


Then I swatched with my Wonder Yarn with the leaf pattern. And I realized that a 24 row repeat on a 20 stitch panel is going to be big when I'd previously swatched at 4 stitches to an inch. Very big.


That's a normal sized mass market paperback next to it. (One More for the Road by Ray Bradbury in case you're curious. I enjoyed it.) So, it's about a 4"-5" wide swatch. I was planning on having two panels of intarsia leaves climbing up the sweater to the shoulders, when I thought it was, you know, an inch wide. I've figured it out, and I'd have about another 4" in between the two. There's about enough space on me for 3 repeats. I'm just wondering if I'm going to look a little old lady like or not...

It's a REALLY pretty leaf pattern. But it's huge. This is the main problem. I think it'll look okay, but the tides of indecision are tossing me up on the rocks or something.

posted by Christina @ 8:51 PM |

POLL TIME!

<-----

Your answer is appreciated. =)

Edit: The poll is down. It's making the site not reload. Never mind.

Re-Edit: We're trying again.

posted by Christina @ 10:58 AM |

Funny Things!

I consolidated two funny link posts into one! So...

If you haven't seen today's Chopping Block, do it.

DO IT NOW!

And another wackily knitted item!

posted by Christina @ 7:32 PM |

OK Class...

I'm going to turn around. I'm going to count to ten. And when I turn back around, I want to see my size 4 circulars, my ONLY pair of size four needles (that aren't DPNs) sitting on my desk. Ok?

1... 2... 3...

Edit: Found! 3 days later in a tub o' knitting stuff that I hadn't thought to check before. w00t.

posted by Christina @ 12:24 AM |

Huh.

I always thought I was a 42" bust.

I just measured. I'm 40". 41" if I take a deep breath.

I guess this is good? Rosedale at 42" will certainly fit, then.

Side note about Rosedale: That panel on the right in the picture is intentional? It's an intarsia rectangle in a different skein? Funny, I just thought it looked ugly. My flame lace will be SO much cooler.

posted by Christina @ 7:52 PM |

Too Much of a Good Thing... is Bad?

So, yesterday, I went to Bethesda and bought yarn. Today I went to Alexandria to usher for MetroStage. I got off of the bus, cross the street to see if return times are posted, and what's standing there in front of me? Springwater Fiber Workshop. It's wonderful. It's FABULOUS. It has looms. It has drop spindles. It has CARDED AND DYED WOOL READY TO BE SPUN! (I can't find this outside of ebay. If only I had my drop spindle!!!)

I usher, I clean up the programs (pretty good show, too), and I have general kinds of fun. I also have about 50 minutes to kill before the next bus and it's starting to rain. I go back to Springwater. I look around for 20 minutes and I find my yarn. My perfect, complimentary green yarn. The yarn color that I had had in my head since I first came up with the sweater. Not too dark, with other colors mixed in (but not variegated), worstead weight wool.

The problem? I bought 2 skeins yesterday to be the same yarn.

I bought two skeins of the Cascade 220 (100% Peruvian!) anyway. I like the color so much better. It blends. The other color is a really pretty green, though.

So now I have a problem. (Aside from the compulsive money spending, yes I know about that) I have two skeins of green (enough for a hat or scarf) from a store that only gives store credit and an aunt who doesn't wear green and a brother who looks good in green but doesn't wear sweaters. And California is not cold enough for a hat, scarf and I doubt he'd wear the fuzzy feet type slippers either.

So, I think I'm going to exchange them at Knit & Stitch and get a nice novelty yarn that will make a fun yet elegant scarf for Erica. Or something. I dunno.

posted by Christina @ 7:42 PM |

I went to Knit & Stitch = Bliss in Bethesda today, and it lives up to its name.

Got 2 skeins of Lambs Pride for Ocean Vines. Will reswatch for that when I have some free time. Probably in the next two days.

Then I got suckered into the flea market across the street and got a super deal of Molly's xmas present. She reads this, so there will be no pictures.

I HAVE to stop spending money soon. Really. I hadn't been intending to buy the thing, but I saw it and thought of her. It was in a place where I had to ask what the price was, and you know how with some vendors, once you ask what the price is for something, you have to leave having bought something? She was one of those. And despite not having a whole lot of money, I got it. And it was an excellent deal, too. I kinda feel bad that I cheated the lady by pretending I had less money than I did, but you know, I'm not exactly rolling in cash here. So, whatever. No guilt.

Also, in my grand Penelope syndrome (I'm thinking of writing an article for knitty about this), I'm pretty sure icylove has to be completely frogged and reknit. It's really about 3" too big on me, and that's all to the bad. I don't know if I've lost weight or if the cotton stretched more than I thought it would from the swatch, but, yeah. It's dead. It's going in a drawer for a while until I'm less annoyed about this.

It's my first major design project. I knew there would be problems. It just pisses me off. I'll be using Vogue's Ultimate Knitting Book's modular stitch counts for Ocean Vines (which may be renamed Blue Mountain Ivy), so hopefully that won't suck so much. I kinda want to submit THAT pattern to knitty too.

posted by Christina @ 1:13 AM |

Remember, it's purely hypothetical...

posted by Christina @ 12:04 PM |

Missing in Action

Mama Kate is out of the commission for the rest of the month because the site is too popular.

I am very sad.

posted by Christina @ 4:56 PM |

ICYLOVE

ICYLOVE IS FINISHED! (again)

So, now, of course, I'm not sure I like it.

I'm a knitting perfectionist. I have a Penelope complex. I keep picking at the design and I'm never really satisfied with it.

Of course, all of the pictures came out blurry. So you'll have to wait a day.

But the Fair Isle looks good on the wrong side as well as the right.


At least, I like THAT.

Now I'm starting to think I don't like the hip shaping and the placement is odd, and I did 9 rows of k1p1 rib on the collar and only 5 on the cuffs and that's not symmetrical and there's no way I'm ripping it out completely, etc...

First design project (that wasn't a hat. Hats are fairly easy). All I'm saying is... I designed this for me. I get disappointed when I don't turn into Cindy Crawford, I guess.

posted by Christina @ 8:23 PM |

PICTURES!

So, there was this thing with employees on Dupont tonight. At 8:30. I get off work at 6. Right. So I checked blogs at work for 45 minutes and then had some time to kill.

So I wandered around DuPont and found some Xmas presents. (Fuck you, I know it's October. I'd rather do it now BEFORE they jack the prices up) One I didn't buy cuz I didn't want to carry around the bag, but for Jeri:


In case you can't read the bottle caps, they say 'beer.' This is PERFECT for her. I promise, it is. I saw the caps and knew I had to make them right then and there.

NO TELLING JERYLYN!!!

Also, I finished the Bucket Hat a week ago and have been one lazy mother fucker busy, and haven't posted a picture.


It's very, VERY fuzzy. I'm really liking the effect with the roll brim, so I dunno if I'm gonna block that out or not, but I definitely need to block it to give it that flat shape.

Also, check out Artichaut's blog. But, maybe wait a bit until it goes out of test phase.

posted by Christina @ 1:06 AM |

None of my daily blogs will update and my friends page on lj appears to have broken. So, update. I guess.

Picked up a bunch of books at a library book sale. 8 for less than $5. Some 70's knitting/crochet patterns that are HYSTERICAL and a few plays. I rule. I am queen of knitting bargains.

OK, no, not really, but, you know...

And icylove's sleeves are SO MUCH BETTER now. Of course, now they pull the shoulder shaping to the side and show mountains of cleavage, which is why I'm making the neckband more than one row long. Have I mentioned the conspiracy to keep this shirt from being finished?

I will swatch for Ocean Vines probably Tuesday, and start trekking out to yarn stores to search for a good, matching wool yarn in a heather green.

Or, you know, I'll knit more fuzzy eyelash.

posted by Christina @ 12:15 AM |

I am so jealous.

posted by Christina @ 1:37 PM |

A blessing. A blessing upon Vogue Knitting Book's modular knitting section. Sleeve caps fit after the 3rd time ripping out.

I promise to take pictures and update the pattern (and maybe even add some sizes) once I finish the second cap, sew, and add the collar edging.

posted by Christina @ 12:29 AM |

The sleeve cap is the bane of my existence.

At least for designing.

See, the sleeves for Icylove were never right. So, last night, I popped House of Yes into the DVD player (good, except for the last 30 seconds, and the only time I've seen Freddie Prinze Jr. well cast) and ripped and reknit one sleeve.

6 rows too long. I WILL get it fixed this time round. Probably at this family dinner thing tonight where I'll meet 50,000 cousins I've all met before, when I was 8.

At least it's a good conversation starter.

I downloaded the free version of KnitWare for sweaters. Hopefully, this will help with the next major project (Ocean Vine), which should be undertaken once I finish these stupid sleeve caps for icylove.

posted by Christina @ 5:41 PM |

I found the Curmudgeon's Gallery of Ghastlies. Join me in enjoying the sheer hideousness of these things.

Remember, kids. Friends don't let friends knit fugly garments.

posted by Christina @ 3:44 PM |

Meet up went well. Not what I expected, but it went well.

Edit: Oh, right, I forgot. Cute coffee guy working behind the counter was teasing us about knitting all night. Then on the way out, when one woman was giving another meet-uper and me a ride to the Metro station, he started talking about us actually making socks for him, and charting in a logo he has for himself. One response was "We don't knit for money, we knit for love!"

Since I do occasionally knit for love of money, I would have been up for it, though I hate making socks. I really wish I could have stayed and discuss terms with him, especially since he was cute, but I couldn't pass up a free ride to the mile away metro station. So, instead I tossed out the fee of $50, he looked like I shot his puppy. Depending on the quality of the sock yarn, I could have knocked it down to $30, and I'd make him wrist warmers or something with the logo for $20, if I used Red Heart or something.

But Politics & Prose is an awesome store, with the "really cool kids" (not in the preppy way, like me. In the- hey! You're cool! sorta way) who worked behind the counter and at the desks. I have to go back, even though it's about an hour and a half commute at night. The sacrifices I make to go meet knitters.

Other than that... aside from constantly losing my pattern photocopy of Mom's shirt, things are pretty much normal.

Oh, and I'm a row away from finishing the bucket hat, but I may frog and add another strand of eyelash.

posted by Christina @ 11:54 PM |

This morning I woke up to find yarn strewn across the hallway and my hat in progress on the top step.

The Fred Dog has struck.

I would have had a really cute series of pictures about that, but it was early in the morning and it didn't occur to me until I was on the bus.

Also, that whole knitting on 2 5" circular needles? Really fricking annoying. Maybe it was because I'm using the Denise Kit and had to switch needles, but it gets really close and tight and I like DPNs a whole lot better. I don't have size 7s DPNs. Blarg.

But I have most of a hat. It's very much astroturf. I'm so stylish.

posted by Christina @ 9:45 AM |

Happy Accident!

So, remember that estate sale where I got that great yarn for $5? I had an epiphany today.

It goes perfectly with my knee length blue skirt that I can never find a good matching shirt with. (Except for the one I borrowed from Molly. But she's on the other side of the country right now) PERFECTLY. Don't believe me?


I'm so good I scare myself.

I think once I finish everything else I want to make, I'll make a WhiteLies shirt for it. I'm leaning towards Bella as a cardigan with the Nicole camisole if I had enough left. But then, Valentine and Marta look good too.

I am so gosh darn smart.

posted by Christina @ 8:40 PM |

Typical Christina Whoops!

So, instead of fixing icylove or Molly's thing, I knit more of the bucket hat. I even finished the main part of the hat and started picking up stitches for the top of the hat.

After knitting 126 rows, I'm supposed to pick up 105 stitches. I normally pick up 1 stitch per row. So, I just started picking up normally, and the next thing I knew I was at 80 stitches and had about half of the hat left. OK, maybe a third. But still.

It should look ok, and if it doesn't I can always frog. These directions are just kinda weird though.

posted by Christina @ 11:03 AM |

SWEEEEEEEET!

I work in a fairly casual office, which is participating in National Denim Day. Since everyone wears jeans anyway, I thought I'd really grunge down- sweatshirt, t-shirt and my cow pants I made.

And my 'I Knit' hat. It's making my day, and helping my tension headache disappear.

posted by Christina @ 12:54 PM |

Knitting Astroturf

So, last night, instead of say, finishing the 12000 projects I currently have on the needles (I couldn't find a ball of yarn for Molly's thing, Mom's forsythia is metro only, the needles I needed for icylove are in use for Mom's forsythia), I decided to shell out $5 and get me a bucket-o-chic.

I agree with the comments. This pattern is exceptionally weird. For one thing, she wants you to count 126 rows. Not stitches, rows. No joke.

And then there's the double stranding in one place. I'm knitting this out of eyelash. We shall see.

But anyway, I've swatched and cast on (cannibalizing needles from Molly's thing. Don't tell!).

I'm knitting peacock fun fur stranded with kitchen cotton (or something, I'm at work) in fern. The result? I look like I'm knitting astroturf.

Silly question though. Anyone know why the purl side is much furrier than the knit side? I assume I have to simply brush it out, but it does seem a little odd...

posted by Christina @ 4:28 PM |

Frogger

I think I have another frogging project, for when I finish the other 20,000 listed on the side of the blog. Its name will be Frogger v3.0

Note for the KnitWits: Frogging is when you rip out more than one inch of a project, or a whole project... you rip-it, rip-it.

See, back when I was young, foolish and naive, knitting only scarves, baby blankets out of stockinette, and other foolishnesses, about 3 years ago, my mom bought me enough yarn for a sweater and a pattern.

This first pattern was Beach, in that it was a simple raglan sweater with rolled sleeves, waist, and mock turtle neck. Again, being young, innocent and naive, I found my size and blindly followed the pattern, not pausing to consider my own body measurements.

The thing was a tent on my, the sleeves were 4" too long, and the sweater could have easily been a tunic. I wore it maybe twice, then stuck it in a drawer until the summer. I frogged it and started to reknit.

Then, about six months later, still naive, I picked out a sweater pattern from one of those Michael's pattern pamphlet thingies that cost more than the yarn, but you don't know why because the patterns are godawful. I knit the sweater. I wore the sweater. I realized I had made it 3" too short for me, and then I frogged and reknit to the correct length. That is, waist length.

So, now I have a sweater that ends at my waist and is a full collar sweater. Despite measuring desired sleeve length, they're too long because the pattern was designed for someone with much broader shoulders than I have- those seams end at the tops on my biceps. It's also a box- no fitted anything. In it, I look like an overly preppy secretary when I wear a collared shirt, and just weird when I wear a normal collar.

So, I think once I finish everything else (probably next summer), I'm gonna frog it AGAIN and make a nice, hip length, fitted v-neck sweater. I really do like the yarn- it's a pretty red-blue acryllic that's a great color on me.

When all's said and done, I will have spent more than 3 months on this sweater. That's more than sitcom.

I never check when I knit, and I occasionally make impulsive pattern decisions. Hopefully, this will change.

posted by Christina @ 10:52 AM |

Mice: Finished
Tickets: Filled out

Now, here comes the hard part.

Mailing the little guys.

posted by Christina @ 12:07 AM |

Grr, again!

I picked up the Interweave Knits to get me a pattern for my bucket hat.

Poop, poop, and double poop.

It doesn't look like what I want. It doesn't look like what I think is a bucket hat at all. I think it looks kinda ugly, actually.

Despite having heard terrible things about the pattern, I think I'm gonna have to fork over $5 for Bucket-o-Chic. It may involve picking up 200+ stitches and drive me abso-frigging-lutely batty, but it'll look how I want it to look.

posted by Christina @ 12:58 PM |

My knitty hat is here!

Life sucks. But I have a knitting hat and a 'Don't hate me cuz I'm gorgeous, fear me cuz I'm a witch!' shirt!

posted by Christina @ 9:19 PM |

Almost Yom Kippur...

And everyone's gone all quiet and reflective.

Being Pagan could make me Jewish in that sort of 'Well, Christians think we're evil and going to hell' sort of way. But then, do that and I could be Catholic again.

So, here is my reflective moment for the day.

Today, I left the audio book and the mountains of unpacking and the estate sales, and snuck into a matinee of Casa de los Babys. I had spent my life savings at the concessions stand, so I sat down with my milk duds, my diet coke, turned the cell off and pulled out my knitting, completely content.

Partly it was because I wasn't with people and worried about what they would think, partly because it was almost a completely empty theater, but I sat and knit my mom's bright pink forsythia shirt for the hour and forty minutes of the film. Stopping occasionally to pop a milk dud in my mouth or suck down some caffeine and nutrasweet masquerading as liquid, I lost myself in looping yarn and watching both truly splendid acting and excellent direction.

Basically, I got to knit and watch a movie. That's something I haven't done in a long time.

No braiding my hair and constantly shifting. No drone of the aunt playing jewelbox or discussing the plot or our plans for tomorrow. I could completely let go and watch the movie.

Just like later tonight I watched Lyon's Den, then Law & Order with a similar result. I got to knit and relax. Something I haven't done in a week, maybe. Maybe longer.

So, my reflection for you blog readers is this:
No matter how much you love Rob Lowe, Lyon's Den is some truly bad television.

Edit: Yes, I know that reflection is stupid and out of nowhere. So? It's funny! At least, I thought so.

Also, the aunt has some BEAUTIFUL cranberry colored wool from Turkey that I really want to swap with my wheel of heather red she already gave me. It'd be perfect for the flamin' rosedale.

posted by Christina @ 12:32 AM |

I read Keyboard Biologist daily. She has a new sweater done every week, or every couple of days.

HOW DO YOU HAVE SO MUCH TIME TO KNIT? TELL ME WOMAN!

Back when I was working 20 hour a week, this wasn't a problem, but now, I want the secret...

That and how she can afford all the sweater kits with gorgeous expensive yarns she uses.

posted by Christina @ 6:31 PM |

Digital Camera Goodness!

I cleaned up at that estate sale. My takings:


There's 8 more skeins of the blue. Total? $6.25.

And under penalty of death, you are NOT to show my mother her Christmas presents:


And her birthday and Mother's day stuff too!

I rock. This make two holiday time presents taken care of so far. (Well, sort of. I have a little bit of Molly's done, but it was $2, so that would make me too much of a cheapskate)

posted by Christina @ 3:34 PM |

CURSES!

So, I'm knitting and listening to books on tape. This is the first time I've gotten to knit in 3 days. I'm about to change needles to go from ribbing to sweater body and I want to compare with the back, already knit, in the hall closet along with the Christina yarn stash in a big plastic tub.

Which has lots of toiletries from the Aunt's shipment in front of it, so I couldn't conceivably open the closet unless I moved all of that.

This is also where all my knitting needles are, including the 6s and 7s of my Denise kit. At least, I think. I know I put those two needles somewhere Thursday night, but I don't know where.

And it's at a good point in the book too! ARG!

posted by Christina @ 1:09 AM |

Yarnaholics anonymous!

Hi! I'm Christina and I'm a yarnaholic...

Seriously. I've bought so much yarn lately, it's ridiculous. I snapped up 10 skeins of yarn and a handful of knitting nedles for $5.25 at an estate sale today. As well as Mom's Christmas present.

It'll probably be for a sweater for charity, because it's this turquoise blue that I don't think would look good on me. But it might... Hrm...

That and a big chunky yarn lilac skein which would make a good hat. I might go back and get the 12 skeins of Paton's fingering weight yarn in rubber duckie yellow. I don't know... Prolly not.

Also, 3000+ hits!

At the estate sale, while I was looking through the yarn, I found an unfinished project, a baby pink afghan still on the size 10 needles. It did not come home with me. The woman is still alive, but in an Alzheimer's wing of a retirement home. She won't be knitting anymore, and I wouldn't have the heart to unravel that.

posted by Christina @ 5:27 PM |

Argh!

Out of catnip and yarn for tails and one mouse left!

NOOOOOOOOOO!

Of course, I skimped on the catnip with the last two.

I figure it's better than overstuffing (less likely to leak) and will still get the kitties higher thank kites.

posted by Christina @ 10:05 PM |