Why Haven't I Been Blogging?

I've been a little busy finding and buying this:



Well, almost buying. The closing is next week! But absolutely no time or thought for knitting.

Wow...

It's been a while since I've blogged. Things have been happening life-wise, but not so much knitting wise. And I realize that I missed the Maryland Wool and Sheep show. WTheck??? Where is my head? Oh, well, I don't need any more yarn to frog or not knit. 'Kay?

I start things, I don't like them, I rip them out. At least I've been starting them. It's sad that I can't figure out what I've done wrong, or what it is that I don't like, but I suppose that's typical for me.

My latest obsession is market bags. At a work thing, we're having going green suggestions, and I want to display some bags. I've looked at millions of patterns, and some I've liked and other's not so much. Some of the patterns must be beyond my skill level (evidently, judging from the now-frogged results), or I just don't get it. So I decided to kind of wing it. I did a long-tail cast-on on two circs, just as if you were going to make toe-up socks. Did a bunch of yarn-over increases to get to about 100 stitches. Knit a row, then a row of K2t,YO, and then knit a row, alternating the last two rows. I'm quite pleased with how it's coming out. Depending on how much yarn I have (I want a biggish bag), will determine what kind of handle or handles I choose. The yarn is nearly 2 skeins of Trendsetter's ScoubiDu, in the Ocean colorway. But just because I'm happy with it now doesn't mean it won't be frogged in the future!

Dragon-skin Wrap Minus the Dragon Skin

On Saturday, I had a lovely dim sum lunch with friends. One of them asked me to fix the sweater I had made for her daughter. So I'm finally able to get a picture! See where the tie is coming off? I was afraid it was going to be difficult to fix. But this should be pretty easy. So, what do you think of my second sweater?

Impending Insanity, or Indecision Will Drive You Crazy

I've been spending the last couple of weeks trying to decide which pattern to use for that gorgeous Tess Yarns silk/wool blend. And not making a decision. In the running are Debbie Bliss' Cabled Jacket, Twist and Shout by Robynn Weldon, Gaelic Mist by Lisa Lloyd, and Bell-Sleeved Jacket by Daniel Adamczyk.





Gaelic Mist

Bell-Sleeved Jacket

The Cabled Jacket would be an awful lot of cabling, and I'm not sure I have enough yarn for this project. Okay, I'm positive I'm about a 1000 yards short of the necessary amount. But I'm sure that I could make it work with only 1400 yards.

I like the Twist and Shout, but I'm not positive I want to have it, or use this yarn for it.

Gaelic Mist, if you look at pictures of those who have actually made it, doesn't seem to draw in around the waist and sleeves the way the sweater does in the book. And I'm not sure I like how the cables end. I'm not fond of reverse stockinette, either, although several people have said that this makes the sweater.

The Bell-Sleeved Jacket would be an ambitious undertaking at the best of times, and this pattern is evidently riddled with errors! I love the look, but I think I need a great deal experience before I tackle this one.

Any thoughts or suggestions?

Swatching, Swatching, Here We Go Swatching Again

This is the Cultivated Silk and wool from Tess Yarns that I picked up at Stitches East in Baltimore last fall. I finally began winding some of it, and cast on a small swatch to try to decide the best needle size.







The swatch with the 6's is a little too firm and stiff. The swatch with the 7's is nice, and has better drape, I think. The swatch with the 8's has even more drape, and makes a nice fabric. I'm not sure why I felt the need to try to swatch with 5's, but I did, and it's very similar to the 6. This yarn is wonderful to work with, the fabric feels amazing, the slight color shift is absolutely beautiful.

I haven't found the perfect pattern for it, yet. I'm hoping that swatching will help me to decide.

Isn't this gorgeous???

Something To Look Forward To!

I registered for a couple of knitting classes at the local adult school. Let's see if this gives me the kick I need to start and actually finish something. And finish it well. I am really looking forward to both of them.

Knitting 102
This class is designed for those of you who had Knitting 101 and want to go further or for those who feel that their skills are more advanced than an introductory course. We will learn more advanced techniques such as knitting in the round, making garments from the neck down, socks many ways such as toe up and on circular needles. We will be able to make a sampler using intricate cables and a variety of special stitches. Special attention will be paid to reading patterns and finishing projects so that they look like an artisan made them instead of homemade. You will need to bring your current or desired projects,knitting worsted weight yarn and size 8 needles to class.

KNITTING 103: FINISHING TECHNIQUES
If you have knitted garments that you have put away because you do not know how to put them together, bind them off, add edgings, this class is intended to let you get those garments out to finish and use. We will cover all those problems and include seaming, picking up stitches for neckbands and sleeves, blocking, buttonholes and any other technique needed for you to have a finished garment. Reading charts, duplicate stitching, I cord borders will also be included as appropriate. Since this class will not teach knitting,you need to know how and have some garments you need help on, however,please bring size 8 needles, straight or circular and smooth knitting worsted to class as well.

Now, doesn't that sound like fun?

The Liesel Scarf

Since I obviously don't want to work on Arwen, and the Harry Potter scarf is good for a take-along project, I wanted to start something a little more difficult to work on at home. I have some beautiful Louisa Harding Grace, in a gorgeous green, that I thought would make a wonderful leaf-themed scarf. After searching Ravelry (gotta love Ravelry!) for hours and hours and days and years, I finally found a pattern I thought would do - and it's even free! It's the Liesel scarf, and it's not too hard. Famous last words. After working nearly an entire skein, I realized that about 5 inches back I had started working the wrong side as the right side (and vice versa). Sigh... So I ripped it out, and re-started. I have managed one pattern repeat. I think this is going to be another long-unfinished project. No pictures of the disaster, out of respect for the deceased.

Happy Imbolc!

Imbolc ("IM-bulk")is an ancient festival generally celebrated on January 31, February 1, or February 2. It is also known as Candlemas, Brighid ("breed"), and Oimelc ("EE-mulk") which means ewe's milk. Imbolc is a Greater Sabbat in the Wiccan year.

The celebration signals the middle of the season of long nights and anticipates the upcoming season of light. Celebrants make Corn Maidens from corn and wheat. The Maidens are dressed up and placed in a cradle known as a "Bride's Bed". A wand, usually tipped with an acorn or other large seed, is placed in the bed with the Maiden. The Maidens are generally kept year round as a symbol of fertility.

Other interrelated interpretations of the festival center around the Irish Goddess Brighid, known for her healing, smithcraft, and poetry gifts. Additional interpretations revolve around the birth of lambs and the lactation of the ewes. Still others celebrate Imbolc as the recovery of the Earth Goddess after giving birth to the Sun God.

Imbolc Chant
Now I banish winter.
Now I welcome spring:
Say farewell to what is dead
And greet each living thing.
Now I banish winter.
Now I welcome spring.
BLESSED BE!

And this poem always gave me hope that spring would return:
"Summer is a-coming in,
Loud sing cuckoo;
Groweth seed and bloweth mead,
And springeth the wood new,
Sing cuckoo!

Ewe bleateth after lamb,
Loweth after calf the cow;
Bullock starteth, buck verteth,*
Merry sing cuckoo.

Cuckoo, cuckoo, well singeth thou cuckoo,
Thou art never silent now.
Sing cuckoo, now, sing cuckoo,
Sing cuckoo, sing cuckoo, now!"

I'm in the Knitting Doldrums

I'm not sure what the problem is, really. I have two WIP's. Although, I'm not sure you can call Arwen a WIP, since I mostly refuse to look at it. So I'm really only working on the Gryffindor scarf. And I have other projects to start. I really do. But... But. I don't really want to. It's not that I don't have yarn! Lord knows, I have plenty of yarn! Lovely, luscious, pettable, lay-down-and-roll-in-it, can't-stop-touching-it yarn. Then I look at patterns on Ravelry, in magazines, in books, in my giant pattern notebook, and nothing really says "knit me!". Oh, some of them sort of capture my interest, but then I'd want to modify. And I don't think modify is really part of my skill set right now. So I look at patterns on Ravelry, in magazines, in books, in my giant pattern notebook, and, well, nothing. There's a niggling thought in the back of my mind that perhaps my knitting obsession is over. And while it was longer-lived than most of my obsessions, I really don't want that to be the case. I guess what I'd like to know is: Has this ever happened to you? And what on earth did you do about it? HELP!!

With the New Year, It's Time For a Change

As you can see, I've gotten a new look for the blog. It's still a blogger template, so it's not terribly unique or different. But I felt it was time for something new, a clean sweep.

Happy Year of the Ox! Don't forget to celebrate!

Bitterly Cold

You'd think with all this cold, there'd be a lot of knitting going on. Nope! But here's a pic of the lagoon iced over.

STASH

I took some pictures of my stash (heh heh), in the hopes that I would feel compelled to knit something other than a scarf. Or just to start knitting and use some of it. I have some pretty stuff, right? Notice how so much of it is green. Weird, huh?


Here it all is, covering my bed.


The green yarn on the left is Tess Yarns silk. The greyish silver in the back is Karabella's silk for the wyvern wrap. That dark red is Elann Alpaca in Oxblood. There are 3500 yds of it!



That greenish-blue yarn is from Maple Creek Farms; it's a silk/wool blend and the softest thing you've ever touched. There's some Tilli Tomas silk in the Ruby colorway.



I didn't have a sudden burst of inspiration, but I sure enjoyed fondling my yarn. What patterns do you think I should consider?

New Year's Knitting

While I did knit, you can't say everything I planned on knitting was done. In fact, not a whole lot of knitting was done. This is the Harry Potter scarf for the Boy, the first of what I hope will only be two scarves. But it's coming along, and the boy likes it a lot. You can also see my new knitting needles in the pictures, a Christmas gift from my uncle. These are signature needles, with the middy points, and the teardrop top. I do love them, and they make a nice, even product.

Knitting Plans, Or the Best-Laid Plans of Mice and Men Gang Aft Agley

Or something like that... You could look it up, if you really care. At the moment I don't, particularly.

The Boy and I are getting ready to visit relatives. The car is mostly packed up. I have a small bag of clothes for myself, and one for The Boy. There is a small Christmas bag of presents (cash doesn't take up a lot of room, and the kids love cash). There is a much larger bag of Christmas tasties and other food. An insulated bag is waiting to be packed, with ice, to remain cold for the duration of the ride. The alcoholic beverages will be in that bag.

But the largest packing conumdrum consists of knitting. There are four large bags of knitting projects, and two smaller bags of possible knitting projects. I'm trying to stuff all of these into a larger bag, so I only have to carry one bag. If I do bring everything, it is obvious that I am completely insane, or vastly over-rate my knitting speed. I intend to finish Arwen. I want to knit, in it's entirety, a sweater of Sheep Shop 2 yarn. I'm bringing some cottons so I can finally make some market bags. I'm bringing two skeins of Lang Tosca to make an I-Don't-Know what. But something, I'm sure. Five skeins of Elsebeth Lavolde's cashmere to make Fiona Ellis' Leaf Tank. 10 skeins of Cascade 220 to make two or three Gryffindor scarves. A little Manos to make mittens to match the hat and scarf previously made for the boy. The patterns to make these things. I keep going through my stash to see what else I can bring, along with its pattern, in case I run out of something to knit. Socks? I have socks I need to make. Lace? I have lace I need to make. The 3500 yds of oxblood alpaca? I should do something with that. I have every knitting needle I own, including the Signatures I just got for Christmas (thanks, Uncle!), every pair of scissors, every single small bag for knitting notions, several larger bags to hold these projects, and the large overnight bag I'm hoping to stuff all of this into.

Even if I stay awake 24/7, doing absolutely nothing except knit, I won't finish any one of those projects, never mind all of them.

Yeah, I'm certifiable.

Happy New Year!! And may your knitting be filled with FO's!

Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year!!!!

Another UFO!

Well, almost. It's drying as we speak, and then I'll weave in the ends.

Don't Look Now - It's a UFO!

Finally! I finished Odessa. That hat nearly killed me. I just couldn't seem to understand the pattern. It's blocking, now, so pictures will be forthcoming after it's dry. But wow! I finished something! I finally finished something!

Pretty Pictures of the Noro Striped Scarf

Not quite halfway through:

By Jove! I Think She's Got It!

I've ripped the Noro half a dozen times, looking for an edging I like that works. It is similar to BrooklynTweeds. Knit the first and last stitch of the 1st row, and slip the first and last stitch, purlwise, wyif, of the 2nd row of that color. I am getting a slight tightness on the edge that is carrying the colors, so I'm making a conscious effort to loosen the slipped stitch a lot. The stitches are so loose that the needles tend to slide out. But looking pretty good, eh? Now, the colors. I think the colors I've chosen are both having a strong tendency towards being very dark or dull. But they are playing off of each other beautifully. Perhaps a man scarf? I'm not making it for anything or anyone in particular, I just wanted to play with the colors and see what I could do. So, what do you think?

Yes, I Admit It, I'm Fickle

It's not like I don't have the Arwen to finish. Or the Odessa. Or all of the other things on my queue, like the bloody pirate, or two different socks, or the wyvern. Things I've swatched for, things in their own little bags waiting to be started. But I am working on any of that? No. What did I start?





I know you recognize this. Remember the Noro Silk Garden I had bought? I love how the colors are coming together. But see how badly my slipped stitch edges look? So I ripped it. After doing a great deal of research on how to do slipped stitch edges (with little success, I might add), I'm going to try again. I'm also going to try to get away with making 2 scarves out of the 4 skeins. We shall see!

The Eleventh Day of the Eleventh Month

Stand for two minutes of silence. Of course that was supposed to happen at 11 a.m., but hey.

It's been exactly one month since I posted. I'm still knitting Odessa, and I've started on Arwen again. The sleeves are coming along nicely.

I attended my first Stitches East this past weekend. Wow! I've been to conventions before, but I'd forgotten how overwhelming they can be. There's always so much going on! I did hit the market (of course! More yarn for my collection so that I can pretend to knit!), and there will be eye candy later in the post. But the highlight was the CSI: Cable Stitch Investigation with Fiona Ellis, complete with evidence bags. She's so friendly, charming, and funny. Amazingly creative, and a patient teacher, too. I think I actually have a chance of conquering that cable in Arwen. And I shouldn't have too much trouble (famous last words) charting the cable for that sweater I want to create.

One thing I kept seeing in the market, that I didn't get or try, were felted scarves (or things). But you don't knit and then felt the item, you somehow layer fibers and then felt it. That piqued my interest, and I think I'll be looking into that in my future.

Here's all of my loot, booty, plunder, treasure, preciousssssss in a beautiful pile:


My first stop upon stampeding into the market was, coincidentally and not at all on purpose, Tess Yarns. I looked, and fondled and stroked, and looked some more, but didn't purchase until Saturday.

My first purchase was at Creative Designs Unlimited. Mmmmm, look! Aren't the shell buttons the coolest? And they are reversible! I intend to use them for the Sheep Shop Sweater. And how could I pass up the dragon shawl pin? The detail is amazing, and I love the ebony twisted shaft.


What was it that I couldn't stop fondling at Tess Yarns, and had to return to buy? This 50% cultivated silk and 50% merino in a sage sort of green. I managed to grab enough of it for the celtic knot sweater (remember that? Thought I'd given up on it, hadn't you? Nope!), but now I'm not sure if that's what this wants to be. I will be swatching for sure.



My next had-to-have purchase was from Maple Creek Farms. This is also a 50/50 silk and wool blend, but this one is more of a fingering weight. It's also green, but a watery bluish-green, and it is as soft as the softest thing you can imagine (cloud? baby's bottom? name your poison!)!


My next purchase was from Brooks Yarn, four skeins of the Acero, and 2 of the mohair. I have no plans for either, but I'm sure they will speak to me. I really loved all of their yarns, and had such a hard time making my decision.





I have to say, all of the vendors had such wonderful things, it was really hard sticking to my budget. I appreciated the incredible variety, from books, to notions, to needles, to roving, to bag handles and slipper soles, and of course all of the yarn, yarn, yarn-y good yarn! And I must add, if Sanguine Gryphon had had enough of any one of her silks to make a sweater, it would have been going home with me. I dodged a bullet there!

And yes, I'm already planning to attend next years Stitches East in Hartford, Ct.

Knitting News

I'm sorry for the long delay in posting. My great-aunt died on September 11th, and I haven't felt up to it.

Well, no pictures, but I did finish the baby sweater. No time to take pictures, because the girl I made it for was leaving for her maternity leave, and I wanted to get it to her. It wasn't exactly the dragon skin, because I couldn't manage the pattern. So let's call it a dragon skin-less wrap. It came out okay, but I wasn't thrilled with it. My skill, not the fault of the pattern! But I did learn a few things that should help when I'm ready to tackle Wyvern.

For that beautiful Sheep Shop 2, colorway G093, I found this pattern,the Drops 103-1, and started it. I modified it quite a bit. I didn't want seams, so I did in one long piece on circs. The gauge is off; the pattern calls for 11 stitches to 4 inches, I get 12. So I tried to decrease to make up for it, and it was too small. Also, I wanted seed stitch instead of the edging the pattern called for. After finishing the body, I decided to rip. The size wasn't right, it didn't look right, I just wasn't happy with it. The yarn is gorgeous, and the seed stitch looks awesome. So I'll be starting it over.



Here it is, being ripped. Don't mind my messy bed. Maybe I should put it aside for a while, and oh, I don't know. Finish Arwen???

MORE New Yarn

While shopping somewhere, I saw a beautiful seed stitch jacket. But I didn't want to pay $200 for it, so I decided of course I could make it myself. After questing for - and failing to find - the perfect soft, chunky yarn in cream and bits of light blue, I finally found something that will certainly do - and perhaps be even MORE beautiful. It's Sheep Shop Yarn Company's sheep number two in the 6093 colorway. What do you think?

Birthday Yarn For Me

And this is one of the beautiful things I received for my birthday from a favorite uncle. It's Woolen Rabbit's Laceweight Merino in the Tupelo Honey colorway. I think a finely knit sweater is in order. What do you think?

There Is Actual Knitting!

So to bring us up to date... I RAN OUT OF YARN FOR THE BLANKET!!! Yes. I did. With 10 ever-shortening rows to go. OKAY?!?! Fortunately, Personal Threads was able to come to the rescue. In less than 48 hours from ordering, I had two more skeins of the Trendsetter Scoubidou in my hands. How is THAT for service?!?! Kudos to Personal Threads, and I can finish the blanket. We won't mention or even think about dye lots. Alrighty then!

I gave up trying to make the dragon skin wrap - even I know when I've been beaten. I am making the wrap, it just won't have any dragon skin. That's going much better. I have the ties and right front finished. The left front is making nice progress, and I see a finish by Monday as certainly possible. Haha, famous last words.

Not another

2 weeks have gone by!! I'm nearly finished with the baby blanket - which is a good thing - I'm so ready to be done with it!

And I've started - and frogged - the Dragon Skin Wrap six times. So that is going so well. Not sure how to fix the troubles I'm having, except to perhaps chart it out entirely row by row, and if I'm going to complete it in time for the Ravelympics2008, I don't have time to do that. So that's kind of where things stand. Very frustrating - as usual!

Finished Manos Scarf

I think I mentioned that I actually finished something! I've been getting very discourage. maybe this is the boost I need. Anyway, here's a pic of the finished scarf. Sorry, I didn't realize it's not much of a close-up.

Baby Blanket!

I'm finally using that Trendsetter Scoubidu for a baby blanket. It's a very simple pattern from Lion Brand, called the Diagonal Baby Blanket. What do you think?



The colors look a little darker here, and the lighter green is much more interesting in person, and it actually looks like the play of light on ocean water.

Wool Garden's Sock Yarn

You Know...

your life has spiralled out of control into crazy town when you haven't blogged in a shamefully long time! Eeeeeeeek!

But there hasn't really been any knitting to blog about. I haven't finished Arwen. And when I took a sleeve out to work on it, some stitches had come off the needles and unravelled, and I'm so not ready to tackle that.

I'm working on the manos scarf for my son, but haven't managed to finish it. That could be because that skein of yarn is the never-ending skein! I knit and I knit and I knit, and, magically, the skein never diminishes. I have no explanation for this. Leprauchans? Gnomes? I'm not sure, but I would like to finish it someday in the not-too-distant future!

I did pick up some great yarn at the Kutztown Festival, by The Wool Garden. Pictures and details of the home-sheered, spun, dyed sock yarn to follow. I also snagged some of their handmade area rugs.

If anyone has any inspiration for smaller, quickly completed projects to kick-start the slow slump, please get in touch!