There is progress, I swear!

So I'm a very, very bad blogger. But I'm not a very, very bad knitter! (At least I hope I'm not!)

I took the plunge recently and started my very first sock. Well, -technically- it's my second, because I finished the mini sock for the mini sock-blocker keychain. But as far as socks that would fit a human of any size, it's my first sock. And though I've been a mite concerned about the stitch numbers, it's looking good now, so I'm pretty sure I've done alright thus far.


I absolutely love this pattern. Just some slipped stitches and pur rows to give it substance. No complicated lace or anything. This gives me confidence that I actually can knit socks.



See how lovely the pattern is! I just adore it. I made the cuff a wee bit smaller than the pattern called for, because I'm not a fan of cuffs. We'll see how that works out in the end, I suppose.


I knit a heel flap! And I (successfully?) turned a heel!


I picked up (probably a few too many) stitches for the gusset, and have remembered to knit the even rows as well as the decrease ones!

I suspect I'll be done with this sock this weekend, and will immediately cast on the second one, lest I get caught in the 'one sock' trap I hear so much about.

As with everything now, project details on Ravelry.

Quote of the Day

Homespun is like boot camp for knitters ..

From a post in the the Coast to Coast AM listeners Ravelry group.

FO - Sock Blocker Keychain

Details on Ravelry

I figure if I can knit a sock this tiny, it's time for me to try a real one.

Project Spectrum 2008: Fire

Early Easter

Because Brandon is going home today, we decided we could have easter a little bit early. So lastnight we gave eachother our easter baskets. Jason got me some DPNs, size 0, Some absolutely gorgeous bamboo/merino yarn, and a book: 2-at-a-Time Socks. (And some candy too .. yay candy!) I'm so excited about it! Just about every sock pattern in it I can see myself knitting and wearing .. I just have to figure out the technique!




Our other gift to us was a home theater system, something that'll grow with us, that's not just a 'set' with a receiver and speakers, but that we can add to and change pieces of. You can read the fun of my annoyance with setting up av equipment in my boring blog

FO - Heartstrings' Beaded Smoke Ring

I finished this a long time ago .. not long after we got back from Spain in August. But I never took pictures. So .. here 'tis.




Details on Ravelry

Blog-quote of the day.

".. I’d rather have my exposed liver julienned by a flock of psychotic, inbred geese than try to shake off another fistful of Styrofoam peanuts, while I scream ineffectually down the darkened hallways of my own private Hell."

That quote is from The Worsted Witch's blog. Yes, it's an older post, but I'm playing catch-up.

FO Alert!

I actually finished something .. and something for myself!


Don't mind the priority mail box beneath it. I'm not about to ship them off anywhere. I just have been mailing things like a fiend today, and didn't think to move it before I snapped the photos.



Details on Ravelry

Spring Knitty

It's been out a few days, and I've finally managed to decide which patterns I'd really like to knit. Not that I don't already have a huge queue for Knitty patterns but .. isn't that why we all love Knitty?

Jaden
Nob Hill
Yosimite
Honeycomb
Salto
Laminaria
Brighton
Spirogyra
Marjorie
Posey - Just because I think they're an interesting construction.

Fetchings

Still working on my Fetchings .. Revelry is actually taking away from my knitting time .. but that's just because I'm going through all the groups I joined and trying to decide which I really like, and which .. well .. I probably won't keep up with.

Hello Again

I've been neglecting blog-landia, and the reason is a bit embarrassing. I let myself get a bit too addicted to WoW. A bit too engrossed in the need to gather as much gold as possible. But I've had an epiphany, and have discovered I don't -need- to be on the game every day. And with that discovery, I've found time to actually knit again.

I've also become more active on Ravelry. I even started my own group, in preparation for my friend Larissa's book release this summer. Her fantasy novel _Shorn_ is being released in June, and we're all -very- excited. I've been adding my stash to my Ravelry the last couple of days, which has been a lesson in obsession for me. I found yarn I had forgotten I had. And that, my dears, is most certainly a crime.

Elann.com Wishlist

Sonata Print - Sea Shell & Rose Garden
Sonata Solids - Pecan & Burgundy Rose
Seta Lana

Winter Knitty

Ice Queen
Quant
Tudora
Chevrolace Socks
Azure Socks
Jeanie
Modern Lace Henley

Previous Knitty Issues

This post is backdated just because it's meant to be a way for me to keep track of all the Knitty patterns I eventually would like to try. I will eventually go through Ravelry and add them to my queue

Fall 2007

Muir
Henry
Roam
Cherie Amor
Neiman
Mr Greenjeans
Foliage
Totally Autumn
Back to Basics Socks
Diamond Waffle Socks
Oblique
Juno Regina

Summer 2007

Tangerine Twist
'Vog On Socks
Sweetpea Socks
Unmentionables

Spring 2007

Carolyn
Isabella
Dashing
Queen of Cups Socks
Vanilla Spice
Victoriana

Winter 2006

Calorimetry
Legwarmer Socks
Emerald
Venezia
Brown Bag
Thermal

Fall 2006

Ivy
Lizard Ridge
Cable Net Socks
Intolerable Cruelty

Summer 2006

Fetching
Widdershins Sock
Universal Sock

Winter 2005

Pomatomus Socks
Starsky
Mrs Beeton
Thula Socks

Fall 2005

Pumpkins

Spring 2005

Soleil
Branching Out

Winter 2004

Tempting
Wine Cozy

Fall 2004

Cozy
Clapotis
Leaves
Leo

Summer 2004

Hush-hush

Spring 2004

Honeymoon Cami
Frill

Fall 2003

Sonnet

SAFF 2007 Pictures

SAFF 2007

This year we went with the intention of only doing shopping; there were no classes we really -had- to take, and because of work and such, we couldn't stay but for one day. So Jason, Brandon and I headed out early Saturday morning, cash in pockets with the decisions made that we would only spend what cash we had.

It was, as it had been last year, quite overwhelming. My first stop, of course, was Brooks Farm Yarns, where I purchased a couple of hanks of simply gorgeous 100% mohair. I eyed some of their other stuff, but wasn't really there for wool, and I'm still working on my sweater so didn't need to buy yarn for another.

I then headed up to another of the vendors I liked last year, Yarnsmiths, and found that they had branched out into sock yarns .. specifically specialty ones. I picked up three different types, two of which had a good bit of Cashmere in them, one of which that was mostly silk and some nylon, which should make some lovely socks. Then I stopped at the booth of the woman who we took a couple classes with last year, Melanie Koenig, and I picked up a couple of pairs of birch DPNs and also, after being convinced that I should try out the Denise interchangeables - which she had me do then and there, handing me some yarn and letting me walk off with them - I purchased the pink Denise set. Later on at other booths I found the larger cables for the pink Denise's, so now I'm all set with those, and also got some Lantern Moon ebony DPNs, and the Knit Cards set I've been eyeing for a while... just to have them.

The only other yarn I got was some angora, which I'm going to, along with the angora I bought last year from the same people, make some hand-warmers out of; and some alpaca, one skein from a pinto and it's been spun and plied so that it'll stripe perfectly, and a couple of skeins of some beautiful cream-colored Suri alpaca, from New Era Fiber, I'm probably going to make into a lace shawl.

The really -big- purchase of the day though was Jason's. He went ahead and purchased himself a Kromsky rigid heddle harp loom. It's a big purchase, but it's a beautiful loom, a lot nicer than the Ashfords, aesthetically, and since he already has a Kromsky wheel, it was only fitting. I'm a little frustrated, because the stand was the wrong size, so we'll have to send it back and get a replacement. But I'm sure that won't be a problem. It looks like it came from the manufacturer that way, so we may have to go to them directly .. dunno though. He also got enough gorgeous alpaca to make me a pretty beautiful shawl, once he feels confident with the loom and stuff, so I'm pretty excited about that.

My answers below...

Here's what the formatting means:

Bold = have already tried this
Italicized = Plan to try this
Unemphasized = Have no desire to try this

• Afghan
• I-cord
• Garter stitch
• Knitting with metal wire - I have the cutest pattern for candle holders .. just need time to try it!
• Shawl - *looks at her stash* So much yarn for shawls, so little time.
• Stockinette stitch
• Socks: top-down - I will. Next year, if not before then, I will cast on my first sock.
• Socks: toe-up - I will do this too.
• Knitting with camel yarn - And quiviut too!
• Mittens: Cuff-up
• Mittens: Tip-down - Someday, yes, though I don't even usually wear mittens.
• Hat - Monkey hats count, dammit!
• Knitting with silk - This gets both because I've knitted with silk blends, but not pure silk. Yet!
• Moebius band knitting - I do plan to try this, though it's all kinds of intimidating.
• Participating in a KAL - This gets both because I have both participated ( dishcloths ) and plan to do more. They're kinda fun!
• Sweater - Still working on. But I started, so I can count it!
• Drop stitch patterns
• Knitting with recycled/secondhand yarn - Need to find something to do with it, but I will .. and hopefully, mine won't melt!
• Slip stitch patterns - Looooove mosaic knitting!
• Knitting with banana fiber yarn - Jason got me some too .. can't wait!
• Domino knitting - Do huh? Though, I did find links. Looks like it's similar to mitered squares, but it's a little more complex. I smell a book I might want.
http://www.amazon.com/Domino-Knitting-Technique-Vivian-Hoxbro/dp/193149911X http://www.interweave.com/knit/books/domino_knitting.asp

• Twisted stitch patterns
• Knitting with bamboo yarn - Got the yarn, just need to knit the poncho before the little girl is too big!
• Two end knitting - Not to my … hey .. yes! I did this with my first Ball Band Dishcloth!
• Charity knitting
• Knitting with soy yarn - Yes please! And corn too!
• Cardigan
• Toy/doll clothing - Monkey Hats!
• Knitting with circular needles - Totally .. like all the time.
• Baby items - Only because I have a few actual friends that have them.
• Knitting with your own handspun - I won't say I plan this because I do not think I have the patience for spinning. But one never knows.
• Slippers - Someday. Probably felted, even.
• Graffiti knitting - I love the idea. I so want to, just to have done it.
• Continental knitting - I have totally tried. But my hands don't like it.
• Designing knitted garments - One day. I will design my own.
• Cable stitch patterns - Looooove cables.
• Lace patterns - Usually love lace. I need a better system for keeping track of where I am though.
• Publishing a knitting book - I have an idea in mind. Just need to see if I can implement it. Oh yeah, and learn to design my own patterns.
• Scarf - This gets both because I have done them, and plan to do many more. Nyah.
• Teaching a child to knit - Not unless I teach Savannah.
• American/English knitting - Wha?
• Knitting to make money - Yes please!
• Buttonholes
• Knitting with Alpaca - This gets both because I've knitted with blends, but not pure alpaca. Have some though!
• Knitting with Angora - I totally added this because it should be there! And I plan to, definitely!
• Fair Isle knitting - Someday. Probably in socks or mittens!
• Norwegian knitting - Isn't this Fair Isle?
• Dying with plant colors - This sounds -soooo- fun!
• Knitting items for a wedding - My sister and niece have to get married -someday-.
• Household items
• Knitting socks (or other small tubular items) on two circulars
• Olympic knitting
• Knitting with someone else’s handspun yarn
• Knitting with dpns
• Holiday-related knitting
• Teaching a male how to knit - Nyah. Even if Brandon has a girl card, I taught Jason!
• Bobbles - I'm sure they have a use.
• Knitting for a living - This would be a dream come true for me right now.
• Knitting with cotton - All the time. I always have at least one dishcloth on some needles somewhere.
• Knitting smocking - Eeew. Oh .. but wait .. pillows. This is a maybe.
• Dying yarn - Cannot wait to try this.
• Steeks - Scarey, but I'll try it. One day.
• Knitting art - I agree with B .. knitting is art!
• Fulling/felting - Love felting.
• Knitting with wool - Love wool.
• Textured knitting
• Kitchener BO - For socks, this is almost a necessary.
• Purses/bags - Of course!
• Knitting with beads - Several projects, in fact!
• Swatching - A necessary evil.
• Long Tail CO
• Entrelac - Scarey, but I so want to.
• Knitting and purling backwards - If this is twisting stitches? Yes. If not .. umm .. wha?
• Machine knitting - Like Brandon, it's cheating, but cheating I can get behind in some instances.
• Knitting with self patterning/self striping/variegating yarn - Variegated yes. Self-striping eventually. Probably not self-patterning though.
• Stuffed toys - Bunnies!
• Knitting with cashmere - Mmm. Yes please. Even a blend will do me fine.
• Darning - Once I've made my own socks, definitely.
• Jewelry - I made a bracelet! Just need a clasp.
• Knitting with synthetic yarn - I learned on it!
• Writing a pattern - Goes along with the knitting a book. I want to .. but will I ever get that good?
• Gloves - Eventually, yes!
• Intarsia - Scarey, but I wanna do it!
• Knitting with linen - Talk about dishtowels!
• Knitting for preemies - Only in the case of charity knitting, but sure.
• Tubular CO - I'll try it, if nothing else.
• Freeform knitting - If this means that silly scrumbling thing, no thank you.
• Short rows - In socks, no doubt, if nowhere else.
• Cuffs/fingerless mitts/armwarmers - I even found the perfect fingerless mitt pattern. And these are different than fingerless gloves, B. Fingerless gloves have half-fingers.
• Pillows - Because one day, I'll have furniture that needs pillows.
• Knitting a pattern from an online knitting magazine - Knitty.com rules!
• Rug
• Knitting on a loom - Weaving, yes. Using a knitting loom? No.
• Thrummed knitting - Another thing I had to look up, but it has potential.
http://fiberfreak.blogspot.com/2006/01/thrum-de-dum.html
http://www.yarnharlot.ca/blog/archives/2004/09/15/mitten_what_mitten.html
• Knitting a gift - So many.
• Knitting for pets - Isis needs cat toys, after all!
• Shrug/bolero/poncho - I have at least a poncho in the works. And I need a shrug!
• Knitting with dog/cat hair - Interesting idea, but I don't have a dog/cat that I could get enough hair from in my lifetime.
• Hair accessories - I will try again with the knitted scrunchy.
• Knitting in public - All the time!

Soundtrack to my life.

Directions:
If your life was a movie, what would the soundtrack be?

1. Open your mp3 library
2. Put it on shuffle.
3. Press Play.
4. For every question, type the song that's playing.
5. When you go to a new question, press the Next button.
6. Don't lie and try to pretend you're cool.
7. Don't skip songs.

My Movie:

1. Opening credits: "In His Eyes" - Jeckyl and Hyde soundtrack
2. Waking up: "I'll Fly Away" - Alison Kraus, O Brother Where Art Thou soundtrack
3. First day of school: "Jump Into the Fire: - Tripping Daisy, The Craft soundtrack
4. Fight song: 'Heffalumps & Woozles" - Classic Disney Volume 3
5. Breaking up: "Bitch" - Merideth Brooks
6. Happiness: "Bring Me To Life" - Evanescence
7. Life's okay: "You Oughta Know" - Alanis Morisette
8. Mental breakdown: "Malchik Gay" - T.A.T.U
9. Driving: "Sleep to Dream" - Fiona Apple
10. Flashback: "All I Really Want" - Alanis Morisette
11. Getting back together: "Heartbreaker" - Pat Benetar
12. Wedding song: "You Learn" - Alanis Morisette
13. Birth of first child: "Something So Beautiful" - Kyler England
14. Final battle scene: "Beauty Has Her Way" - Mummy Calls, Lost Boys soundtrack
15. Death scene: "The World Has Gone Insane" - Jeckyl & Hyde Soundtrack
16. Funeral song: "How Soon is Now" - T.A.T.U.
17. End credits: "Going Under" - Evanescence

Ann at Crossroad Knits asked us "Where is your knitting?".

My knitting is everywhere, though I try to keep it in some organized fashion. I'm not that good at the whole organized thing though, at least not in this case, mainly because I have more stuff than I have places to store my stuff. We're working on changing that though, with a new home possibly in the near future, but back to the knitting.


Here I show my knitting nook in its normal state. A mess. But at least I can sit in the chair now .. that's a huge improvement. Great natural light when I'm knitting during the day, and the overhead ceiling fan has natural light bulbs for when I'm watching tv with honey and Brandon.


This is the basket honey got me for christmas .. the one that made me cry when I opened it because it was filled with goodies, and just showed how well he knows me. It serves as a perfect knitting nook backet, because it can close, it doesn't take a lot of floor space, and is beautiful. Inside you can see the handles I finally got for my Promenade Bag, the finished back piece of my tunic sweater, and a bunch of other odds and ends that are awaiting me having time to knit them.


Also beside my chair is a bookcase, seen in the background, and a side table on which a basket of yarn sits. This basket is filled, mostly, with fun fur, so that whenever I get fed up with a projects .. it happens, y'know .. I can pick up needles and some fur and make up a quick hat. And they are quick indeed. :)


This is the newest addition to my knitting bags. I got this one at Walgreen's for $5, and also picked up an LED book light for $2.50 ... $7.50 for two excellent knitting accessories .. can't beat that. Inside here you can find the dishtowel I wove, the yarn and beads for my Heartstrings Cowl, the yarn and beads for my beaded scarf, and the string and beads for my knitted bracelet, as well as the just barely started front of my tunic sweater. This is the bag I carry around with me now, since it has lots of room.


Last but by far not least is the Candleflame Shawl I'm knitting for a friend. It's nowhere near complete, but it sits right now on my desk amongst the other yarn I've piled here for Project spectrum, mainly because I try to work on it while I'm working on schoolwork in my office.

That's where my knitting is. Where's yours?

KnitPicks Order Update

I've calmed down some .. okay, a lot, since I ranted about the shoddiness of KnitPicks' shipping system. But I have to show the rediculousness of the situation.

Carrier ID: 02081979197917509006 Manifest ID: 1939174 Status: Sortation Center Departure Est. in Home 02/06/2007 Date Time Description Location February 10, 2007 6:04 AM Sortation Center Departure NEW BERLIN, WI February 6, 2007 2:14 AM Sortation Center Arrival LOS ANGELES, CA February 5, 2007 5:42 PM Sortation Center Departure SAN PABLO, CA February 3, 2007 1:16 PM Sortation Center Arrival SAN PABLO, CA February 3, 2007 3:45 AM Sortation Center Departure LOS ANGELES, CA February 1, 2007 1:20 PM Sortation Center Arrival CHARLOTTE, NC February 1, 2007 5:21 AM Sortation Center Departure GROVE CITY, OH January 31, 2007 8:34 PM Sortation Center Arrival GROVE CITY, OH

Above you will see the tracking information for my original package. Now see .. I live just outside of Charlotte, NC, so the fact that the foolish thing had made it now to Wisconsin just completely amuses me.

On 2/7/07 I finally, after getting a -very- unsatisfactory email back finally from a KnitPicks representative, I called and as soon as someone finally got to me I requested a supervisor. She handled me well in my distinctly irate state, and informed me that yes indeed something had gone wrong, as she could clearly see. Now, why the first person to handle my email couldn't see that I do not know. Oh wait, I do. She confused my order with another she was looking at .. as she told me in a follow-up email. *scoff*

Michelle, who was the supervisor I spoke with I beleive, assured me that another package would be shipped 2-nd day air the next day, and I would also receive a $10 credit for my trouble. Now .. my other issue with this is UPS' 2nd-Day Air doesn't in fact take two days if it starts out on a thursday or friday, since apparently they don't run trucks on Saturday, which is unsatisfactory to me, but that's something I can't blame KnitPicks for. I'll just start requesting they ship it another way, and if they won't I won't be ordering from them. Elann will be happy to take my money and ship to me any way I want I'm sure.

So now I have a second package on its way to me.

Your package is on time with a scheduled delivery date of 02/12/2007.
Tracking Number:	** *** *** **** *** *
Type:	Package
Status:	In Transit - On Time
Scheduled Delivery:	02/12/2007
Shipped to:	ROCK HILL, SC, US
Shipped or Billed on:	02/08/2007
Service Type:	2ND DAY AIR
Weight:	2.50 Lbs

Package Progress
Location	Date	Local Time	Description
GREENSBORO, NC, US	02/09/2007	12:42 P.M.	ARRIVAL SCAN
COLUMBUS, OH, US	02/09/2007	2:43 A.M.	DEPARTURE SCAN
COLUMBUS, OH, US	02/08/2007	9:49 P.M.	ORIGIN SCAN
US	02/08/2007	4:45 P.M.	BILLING INFORMATION RECEIVED

If it doesn't arrive Monday, I'll be taking it up with UPS this time, since I can't understand how "2nd-Day Air" can take 5 days to get to me.