Still more progress!

Not any progress on the Sea Urchin actually, though I plan to work on it tonight .. maybe. The decreases are daunting to me, but after I finish them, really I don't have a lot to do so it's in my best interests to get them done.

I started a pair of socks though. Only one of a pair .. I wasn't wanting to do the whole two socks at a time thing while driving .. but it's a sock. And I'm mostly finished with the foot. It's my first toe-up sock, so I get to learn how to either work a short-row heel, or figure out how to do one with a heel flap. I have destructions for both, so we'll see.

Jason also started a pair of socks at the same time. I'm unsure how happy he is with it, or if he'll keep working on it, but I'm proud! It took him a while to get the toe right, and he's not pleased with how it's looking at the moment because he didn't mirror the increases, but he's also not willing to undo it and start over -again-, and I don't blame him.

I'm glad I got bit by the sock bug finally though. I have bunches of sock yarn. And if I use up what I have, that means I can get more!

I'm also rearranging my queue on Ravelry, to include only things I actually have the yarn for and intend to knit. I can use favorites for everything else.

More progress

I've been on a roll since I finished that shawl .. which Mardelle adored, by the way, which made me feel good. It's the first thing I've knitted for anyone really, besides the stuff for Brandon last Christmas. I picked up that Sea Urchin sweater I'd started almost a year ago, and have managed to get to the beginning of the sleeve decreases now. I'm pretty damned proud of myself, actually. I've made a lot of progress on it, not to mention already deciding I want to make another one. It'd be real pretty in a fingering-weight cotton, I think.

Finished Object!!

I get to be excited about this one, because it's not only an actual finished object that's not a dishcloth, or a quick 1-hour phone case, but it's a gift for a dear family friend -and- a bit of stash-busting as well! Oh, and it was supposed to be my project for Project Spectrum, too! It was done before May .. just not finished!


The color is more green than these pictures show, but I think the green bedspread eats all that green up. I ran out of yarn .. 500 yards of it too! .. so I ended up trimming it with some Araucania Azapa, which is a yummy Merino/Silk/Alpaca blend.


It came out pretty good, if I do say so myself. And I'm so pleased with the result, I think I might take the pink I have of the Brooks Farm Duet and make another, maybe for my niece, or maybe even me! I haven't decided yet. I am becoming a bit more fond of softer and warmer pinks, though.

Project Spectrum 2009

I think I'm going to try harder to do more with this this year. I really like it when I manage to keep with a project that I start. it just seems like something always gets in the way. Now that I have better control of my camera than point-and-shoot, I'm going to commit to posting something for this at least once.

There, I've said it. Now there's no way out.

Project Spectrum

March 2009 marks the beginning of the 4th cycle of Project Spectrum! This year’s theme is the compass rose and the four cardinal directions. In many cultures, each of the cardinal directions - North, East, South, and West - are associated with a certain color. Using this traditional model of four distinct colors representing the directions on the compass rose, we will explore the ways that these four colors can be mixed, blended and combined with others through our projects, as well as taking notice of these colors around us day to day.

Just as the cardinal directions are linked to a color, each direction is also linked to a season, an element, and a natural material in many cultures. This quartet of features (color, material, season, and element) are a part of this cardinal direction. As a participant in Project Spectrum, you can choose to simply explore the colors associated, or even the textures of the natural material. If you choose, you can interpret the directions through the lens of the associated season or of the element. Your interpretations can be literal or esoteric. You can explore the science or the philosophy. Like the Project Spectrums of years past, it is totally up to you!

NORTH (March/April)
Color: Green
Material: Stones/Gems/Rocks
Season: Winter
Element: Earth

EAST (May/June)
Color: Yellow
Material: Wood
Season: Spring
Element: Air

SOUTH (July/August)
Color: Red
Material: Metal
Season: Summer
Element: Fire

WEST (September/October)
Color: Blue
Material: Glass
Season: Autumn
Element: Water


Think of the liberty of having four colors - you can blend the colors and explore the different hues, or you can combine the colors with others in the rainbow, comparing and contrasting. You can play with hues of color where green meets yellow, or before red shades into blue.

What is a knitter?

What is a knitter? She – or he, as we have learned that there are many men who enjoy the craft as well – is someone who appreciates the value of a handmade garment, something that will last years longer than anything bought in a department store. A knitter knows – sometimes instinctively and sometimes through years of practice, trial and error, or observation – the magic that comes from looping strands of twisted fibers continuously to create fabric. A knitter can touch a skein of yarn, looped and twisted upon itself in ways that would make a contortionist blink, and see its potential as a lacy shawl, able to be pulled through a wedding ring, or a warm, textured sweater, worn to ward off the chill of a winter’s day. A knitter might maintain a stash which makes her (again I am saying ‘her’ where I might just as easily say him) the envy of her knitting circle, or she might only purchase yarn for the projects she is currently working on. In short, a knitter is someone who values the craft of knitting and all that goes into it.

Open Letter to my Knitting

Dear WIPs

Please don’t think that I’m neglecting you when I cast on yet another project. I’m not, I promise. You have known all along I have PADD (Project Attention Deficit Disorder), so it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I am lusting after yet another yummy thing to put on needles. Owl? Oh yes, don’t worry, I’ll come back to you. Sea Urchin sweater? I haven’t forgotten you. I’m just a little tired of dealing with your neckline. Wrapigan? Think about it, you’re miles of stockinette. Would you stay constant? Serenity cable scarf? You’re complicated enough to not be easy right now .. and I’m a bit concerned about your color at the moment. I’ve already had to start you twice. Give me a break. The two chevron scarves I started .. one of you is a gift, true. But the recipient doesn’t expect you any time soon, and the other is just for me. I can wait. Baby blocks? Yes, you’re for a baby shower in a month. I know I need at least three times six squares, more if possible. But I simply must cast on for my Jayne hat!

Love, Me, the knitter with PADD.

The Way Knit Was

There are a lot of ways to hold knitting needles, but in Victorian England there was only one correct way for a proper lady to knit. The needles were not to be held, as the common women did, beneath their palms. A lady with concern for her appearance was always to knit holding the needles like a pencil, as she would for drawing, painting, or other artistic pursuits. It was better to look elegant than to knit efficiently. Holding the needles that way is very tiring for your hands, as modern knitters churning out heavy sweaters will notice. But if you were only supposed to worry your pretty little head about lace knitting, you wouldn’t mind so much.

Yarn Harlot's Page-a-Day Knitting Calendar (1/29/2009)

Project Updates and Stash Enhancement

Some of the yarn I got for Christmas. This is alpaca sock yarn. How yum is that!?!

Knitpick Essential (soon to not be named Essential anymore so now it's a collector's item!) that Jason got me for Christmas. I looove the color. I think it's destined to be Monkey's.




The four above are all Manos del Uraguay The bright teal and the orangey one are their bulky wool, and the wine and the grey tones ones are the wool/silk blend. All four are sooo delicious to touch. Got these at a huge discount in Brevard at Charlotte's Fibers for her pre-Superbowl sale.


Also purchased at Charlotte's Fibers at the same sale, these are both JoJoLand Melody, and will made wonderful socks that do not have to match. Hooray!

Marie has made several of these really awesome ribbed vests that while they seem like endless knitting would be awesome for keeping warm. So I bought this Fibranatura Mermaid in a luscious red color to make one for me.

This seemingly tangled mess is destined to be a Colinette Absolutely Fabulous Throw, when I get the nerve to wind all that yarn and get started with miles of feather and fan.


The above are the fourth and fifth installments of the Seven Deadly S(p)ins club, Pride and Greed. Both of these I plan to finish, though at the rate I knit, who knows when I'll get to them.

My Malabrigo hat. I love the colors .. I think I could have made the hat a little bigger, though. but the thought of ripping out to make it bigger is so daunting. I know I should but .. ugh!

There actually has been a great deal of progress on the Wrapigan. I'm to the second armhole now .. just started the second ball of the yummy alpaca I'm using, and though I'm dreading binding off and casting on all those stitches, because then it's just another mile of stockinette before I can bind off and be done, it'll be so worth it to have this to throw on when I'm chilled.

One thing I'm sad about is that the end of the shaping part meas the end of using my cute little bee stitch marker. Jason got me these for Christmas. Six bees, plus a single rose. So cute!

This is a project I started just to use up some stash. It's Brooks Farm Duet in a deep foresty-green. I'm making one of those really simple triangle shawls .. for as long as the yarn will hold out. I have no idea if I have enough to make this any substantial size, but we'll see. If not .. well, I can always frog and try something else.

The sixth installment of the Seven Deadly S(p)ins club was Envy .. not Lust as I suspected it might be with Valentine's Day coming up. It's beautiful, though. Handwarmers. I can't wait to get these started!

I made this to be the cover for a rice-bag I haven't yet made. It'll be perfect for my stiff and sore neck though.

What I'm knitting now.

I decided it was high time I learned how to knit two socks at once. Double magic loop .. skeeery! I like it though, especially the progress I'm making, though I think I might still knit socks on DPNs too. I just like the way they feel in my hands!

The Wrapigan is still chugging along. I'm actually close to making the second armhole, but it's gotten heavy and I had other things that frankly caught my interest more. But it's not forgotten. not a UFO yet!.

I've found several dropped stitches in this, and I'm thinking I'm going to start over once more. I'm frustrated by this frankly. I really like the yarn, but I can't make it do what I want it to do, and lace ..even this simple feather and fan .. is defeating me.


These were -supposed- to be finished for Christmas, but since Brandon was staying with us at the time, knitting them with him present was .. problematic. They're almost finished now though. I'm going to end up posting the pattern on Ravelry, since it's my own.