Meet Vera

5 oz of Lorna's Laces superwash merino roving, spun into 280 yards of somewhere between dk and worsted. I'll have to check the wpi after she's all washed. But here she is!


The roving was bright pink, with brown, pale pink and some olive greens. I didn't want it to end up in stripes, because I was afraid of any pooling that would happen (see the ugly Breeze sock fiasco), so instead I plied two singles together, offsetting the colors, to let whatever interactions happen that wanted to happen.




Overall, I'd say the skein wants to be bright pink. The pink is so dominant. But there are these interesting smudges of browns and greens as well. I can't wait to knit this into the shifting sands scarf.

I feel like I'm getting a much better handle on this whole spinning thing. It seems like I'm stuck in a bit of a "somewhere between dk and worsted" rut, though. I'll have to try really hard to spin something... thicker. Or thinner. I suppose either way would be new to me!

My new stash home

I finally bought a new dresser to house my stash. I can't wait! We bought it at an awesome furniture sale so now all I have to do is stain it and presto, my yarn has a new home! Check it out. Isn't it beuuuuutiful!


Currently, my stash is stored in the sad coffee table so hopefully, I can get it out of there soon!
On another note, here are updates to my current WIPs. First is the shifting sands scarf for my mom, second is the clementine shawlette for my bridesmaids:This weekend, the ladies are knitting ornaments at Snoop's house. I can't wait! =)

Addendum to my previous post

Augh.

Etsy, DAMN YOU AND YOUR BEAUTIFUL HAND DYED FIBER.




Fiber diet too. Starting now.

:(

But I have 8 oz of merino/tencel winging it's way to me! Yippee!! :)

A Vow

Let my Knittas be my witnesses.

I hearby swear off buying any new yarn until (at LEAST) January, 2008.

Yes, I'm going on a yarn diet.

I've never really, TRULY felt the need to go on a yarn diet before. I've always just accepted the natural accumulation of yarn that has come from being a fiber-holic, and the natural accumulation of UFOs and WIPs that come from being a process knitter. It's always been about the challenge of a new pattern, the triumph of getting a design out of my head, onto a page, and then onto the needles (even if it never comes OFF of the needles). But I think things are getting a bit out of hand.

See, I have this weird categoric memory -- ask Kid SSK. We rock climb together, and I have this bizarre ability to remember every route she or I have pretty much EVER climbed at the Sunnyvale Planet Granite. It used to be the same with my yarn. I was always able to remember exactly where and when I bought any of the yarn in my stash, and what I had intended to make with it. But I was looking in my stash this past weekend, in preparation for the great Destash and Stash Organization of 2007 (Take 2 -- don't ask), and I came across several skeins that I swear I've never seen before.

This is a problem.

So, the yarn diet. It's time, it must be. Now, I know that two and a half months of yarn dieting may not seem like a lot, but I just don't want to set myself up for failure. Also, please note that we are coming into the height of Holiday Knitting Season, which is historically a period of yarn-buying weakness and knitting insanity for me. I've already gotten a good start on knitting socks for everyone I know, and have a huge stockpile of sock yarn (mostly accumulated within the last month), so I'm thinking I should be okay. Also, with my new found love of spinning, I'm in danger of spending the REST of my income on fiber, so something has to give.

You heard it here first, girls. And I'm really going to need your support on this. NO NEW YARN FOR MCR UNTIL THE NEW YEAR.*

*The only exception is exchanging the second hideous skein of CTH variegated sock yarn that I just bought. This doesn't count as buying new yarn since the money has already been spent. ;)

tales from the frog pond: my first lace

Harumph.

I frogged my very first toe of which I was so exceedingly proud. I realized once I went to start the main body of the sock that I had somehow completely botched the increases and ended up with too few stitches. Like... "enough to notice" too few.

I was undaunted, and frogged without a moment's hesitation. I was only 14 rows in, after all, and figured it was good practice at working the toe of a toe-up sock.

Well. I re-did my work last night, slightly under the influence of pain killers and High Victorian drama. I realized this morning that everywhere I was supposed to do an M1 increase, I instead did a yarn-over. Note that this is 4 times every round. For 14 or so rounds.

Perhaps third time will be the charm...

regia silk... don't make me cut you

The one-armed wonder perseveres, despite oppression of the UltraSling II®.

So much to tell, so few arms to do it...

1. I finally got around to casting on Mr. Dashing, which I'm working using some combination of Magic Loop and Side Loop knitting. This is officially my second go on this project. I first cast on around nine months ago with overly-thick, cheap yarn. I know, I know. I was a noob. It was turning out chunky and inelegant, and eventually I frogged it and began summer projects (which are now shamefully hibernating in the closet).

Needless to say, the Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo I'm using this time around is a vast improvement. In fact, this might be my most favoritest yarn thus far. So soft. So snuggly. Yummy yum yum.

I decided that I wanted an elbow-length arm warmer, so I'm working 5 cable rounds instead of 3. Nearly finished with the first one. I need to analyze the sequence and location of my cables... which got a little haphazard... before I work the second one. I was going to do both at once using a super long cable, but I chickened out at the last minute.

2. Amidst a haze of Romantic and High Victorian film adaptations (thanks, MCR!), I realized that mid-October was upon me. Thus blossomed a mild panic about my first pair of socks, Widdershins, which I hope to knit as a birthday present for my mom by November 6th.

I created my first toe last night, and I'm exceedingly proud. I was braced for the worst (recalling LP's sock-induced nervous breakdown last summer), but things seem to be going really well. Despite having never cast on for a toe any other way, I feel that Judy's Magic Cast On is indeed magical.


There is, however, a sour grape in my sweet, sweet bunch. Upon the recommendation of the very knowledgeable MCR, I'm using Regia Silk. The yarn is lovely, and I have every confidence it will knit up beautifully. BUT... when I pulled out the center of my first ball to wind it and prepare it for work, I found a little knot about a yard in. This wasn't a tangle, but rather a place where the yarn had been cut. Annoying.

Not wanting to deal with this nonsense on my very first sock, I dug out the second ball and pulled out the center. Lo and behold, another knot, in almost the exact same place. What the hell?! I paid $8.95 for each of you! Why you gotta play me like that?!

3. I'm pleased to announce that Ravelry will soon feature each and every one of my knitting projects in my relatively short knitting history! It's a bit of a cheat, as I don't have all that rich a history, but I'm tickled pink nonetheless. The only missing link was my very first scarf, which I photographed earlier this week and will be adding to my notebook shortly. It's just a garter stitch scarf with a moss/garter edge (yes... moss stitch. again, I was a noob, and I didn't know any better). It's made with pointedly inclement acrylic, which is unfortunate given the amount of time and effort (see "noob" above). One of the many reasons I love my husband is that he cherishes this scarf, as plain, impractical, and scratchy as it is.

I feel oddly complete.

Adventures in Sockland or, the good, the good and the ugly

First, an FO:

Pattern: Highland Schottische Kilt Hose, by Nancy Bush in Folk Socks
Yarn: Regia Silk 4-Ply in Charcoal
Needles: Addi Turbo 32" size 1 1/2 (2.5 mm)




I love these knee-high stockings. They're super comfy and warm, and they fit perfectly. I was a little concerned that they'd make my ginormous calves look ginormous-er, but I don't think they do.

They went super fast, continuing my insane sock knitting frenzy. I started them two weeks ago, the third pair in as many weeks... the second one took about 4 days. I like them with my little mary janes. But I can also wear them to relax in. Ah, Kilt hose. How do I lurve thee...


Next, though comes a sad, sad tale of yarn that tricked me with it's pretty colors and squishness.

Ah, Cherry Tree Hill supersock merino, how I loved your greys and blues and lavenders, how I loved the soft snowiness of your white and the leafiness of your green.

But how you tricked me. Pretty, pretty yarn. Knits up so so ugly.
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This shot doesn't even do justice to the hideous pooling and flashing on the instep. A big chunk of white next to a triangular pool of purple. Gah. Horror of horrors. KBull described it as an "'80s couch." Totally. I have two other skeins of cherry tree hill supersock that I just added to the stash, and I may just have to return them. I can't stomach another betrayal.

These were supposed to be for my sis for christmas, but the Birch Breezes of Horror have (mercifully) been frogged, and I cast on something to relieve my aching eyeballs.


Pomatomus from Knitty, by Cookie A. In Koigu KPPPM, two skeins of which I bought at Stitches this past February. This yarn started off as Monkeys, but quickly became Elfines (scroll all the way down), but didn't like being either of them. But Pomatomus, I love already. There's something about the texture and direction of this pattern that really takes to variegated yarns in a way that many other patterns don't (eh hem. Breeze?).

So, the Poms and I ride off into the sunset together, leaving birch in a stringy puddle of 80s couch hideousness in the dust.

Knittas in the House

This lovely Sunday, I hosted a knitting day with my knittas m.c. rib, KBULL, and snoop frog. With lots of lovely munchies and girly movies playing, we had a ball (or should I say skein?).

I finally completed my Mr. Greenjeans and am now in the process of steam blocking the rib band before sewing on the button and officially wet blocking it. Here it is blocking on my new knitter's block:

I'll post pictures of me in it soon!

Oakland knit/crochet show and the 49ers game

Phew that was a busy day! A knit show and football game all in one day! I would normally complain about the "petite" nature of this knit show (Stitches is WAY bigger) but with less than 2 hours to shop, it actually worked out better this time! I hit the Oakland knit and crochet show early Sunday morning and with the recommendations of m.c.rib, went straight to the Article Pract and Red Fish stalls to get my knitter's block and lace yarn! Check them out:

More lace yarn from Terrilyn Needleworks:

Malabrigo lace yarn:

Afterwards, off I went to the 49ers/Seahawks game to accompany my mom. The game sucked (49ers lost 23-3) but the day was beautiful and the knitting totally made up for it!

I made great progress with my Mr. Greenjeans at the game. I am now on the second sleeve and will hopefully be blocking it soon before I do the rib band. I'll hopefully get started on some lace shawls soon to show off this fancy yarn! =)

Wisp

I started the Wisp yesterday, and this is as far as I got (after ripping half of it out and redoing it). It's nice because I can work on it while watching tv but it's not totally boring. The only problem is that my wrists and elbows are killing me. I think it's because of how I hold the yarn and needles. Something about the super thin yarn makes me change my hand positions to something very bad for me. Hopefully I'll be able to change that so I can get back to this.

hand-spun wonderment

My lovely friend Rebz, whom I met on the Intrawebs (ain't it the darndest thing), just sent me some beauteous hand spun yarn as a gift. Squeeeeeeeeeee! X-D

The color is a bit hard to describe... it has a little touch of everything depending on how the light hits it (kinda like McR's McAwesome Engagement Ring).

I'm very much looking forward to spending some quality time with it, in the hopes that it will whisper to me what it wants to be.

Thanks, R!!! Lurve it, and lurve you!

What do we think?

Spurred by Nina's experiments with the Urchin, I tried making Ysolda's Gretel pattern out of some Debbie Bliss Alpaca Silk from the stash. Now, this yarn is heavenly to knit with. I LURVE it.

Not sure about the hat, though.
What do we think?

Do I look French?

This is my ooh la la face. How does it look?





And then, of course, there's pouty french face. Non?







Eez eet moi?'Cause, I'm about to run out of yarn... and I'm not quite done yet.

Oops.

Should I bother getting another ball of yarn, or consign zeez one to zee etang de grenouille? reebeet?