tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64683346800544620862024-02-18T20:38:46.944-07:00Winterlime KnitsKaiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962273893928934473noreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468334680054462086.post-91907158457196115532016-04-17T09:11:00.000-06:002016-04-17T09:11:11.127-06:00FO: The curse has been broken.<p>Look, I know it's been a long time. I'm not going to make any excuses. I'm just checking in to tell you one very important thing.</p>
<p>The curse that has hung over me since this blog was started, <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2014/08/the-saga-of-pickles-socks.html">the curse of Pickle's socks</a>... <b>has been broken.</b></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmg_guIG7nP-bPVD6DavuVZS_-4aEDUySr9HtXTDiLx8yRW3ZwR7lNcr4E_kvM8TMB4SPF7DycPOayVkfZOacnY-h7OTrkBqu5hFJSHqsoA3W4PjR5BzJ44PE_WjQ1_cgG7oZ1btpap7k/s1600/taatpickle3.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmg_guIG7nP-bPVD6DavuVZS_-4aEDUySr9HtXTDiLx8yRW3ZwR7lNcr4E_kvM8TMB4SPF7DycPOayVkfZOacnY-h7OTrkBqu5hFJSHqsoA3W4PjR5BzJ44PE_WjQ1_cgG7oZ1btpap7k/s640/taatpickle3.JPG" /></a></p>
<p><b>Started:</b> June 30, 2015</p>
<p><b>Finished:</b> August 2, 2015</p>
<p><b>Pattern:</b> <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/francie-2">Francie</a> by Rebekkah Kerner. I've <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2014/06/fo-spring-grass-francie.html">knit this pattern before</a> for myself.</p>
<p><b>Yarn/yardage used:</b> Textiles A Mano La Paz, in an unnamed colorway that ranges from dark green through dark blue and purple. This is DK weight, non-superwash wool. Not the kind of stuff you usually knit socks from. I'm unsure of the exact yardage, because 1) I gave these socks to Pickle without weighing them first and 2) I can weigh the leftovers now, but I don't know how much was in the cake to begin with.</p>
<p><b>Needles:</b> Size 3 Karbonz interchangeables. This was, I think, the first project I ever tried with my now-beloved interchangeables.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPFNeNvOimsDNgk2WAum3jH8PDYRTOo6DDihenVryKtnCeSPxlpL5EunwDoI5i_n4wm0z_BX7NRQvWx5-p2insVl1APdZhyphenhyphenuP3IojIyyH4edEnYvsXhwcgQdRIMyt17PMoYliVWfx7ac/s1600/taatpickle.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPPFNeNvOimsDNgk2WAum3jH8PDYRTOo6DDihenVryKtnCeSPxlpL5EunwDoI5i_n4wm0z_BX7NRQvWx5-p2insVl1APdZhyphenhyphenuP3IojIyyH4edEnYvsXhwcgQdRIMyt17PMoYliVWfx7ac/s640/taatpickle.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>You might remember that I tried all sorts of things in order to break the curse of Pickle's socks. I tried changing needle sizes several times. I tried sneakily changing the yarn. I wanted to change the pattern... but that would have made Pickle sad. In the end, what seems to have worked is changing both needle sizes and yarn... <i>and</i> technique.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgCPFoGNKEmGd7_vxRTeanFqxfC2e0GPmU243VW-Iep5u6lZxiPKAduOs8Ir1ALyNwm_nDvHCabcOMFNvbKUm6CizyP5Eh7dCWbFpkjpWRtw4uu4Hi6hBE5Wz_GBmr2FDOhCnHQ0_yns/s1600/taatpickle2.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpgCPFoGNKEmGd7_vxRTeanFqxfC2e0GPmU243VW-Iep5u6lZxiPKAduOs8Ir1ALyNwm_nDvHCabcOMFNvbKUm6CizyP5Eh7dCWbFpkjpWRtw4uu4Hi6hBE5Wz_GBmr2FDOhCnHQ0_yns/s640/taatpickle2.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>Yes, that's two-at-a-time socks on one very long interchangeable cord - the first time I've ever tried something like this. It will probably also be the <i>last</i> time, given how fiddly and tangly I found the whole process to be. Hey, I'm willing to go to great lengths to break long-standing knitting curses, but for everyday? Hand me my trusty old DPNs, please.</p>
<p>But that's not all. How do I know the curse is really and truly broken?</p>
<p>I knit him another pair.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMqA5ulamrhQ9YPCQ4_82hoN4bTEqR6FxOhyphenhyphenU8n1nr9-Xe0Xr5YNZ6Xj45K626Nr_4ZHz33Kb9KfUBSa1VYjWM9lXKpJAt-NQLthNJoXHxhKS13-0EkGaiuwby-AL5KmDClMfBV9qGoY/s1600/swordfish0.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMqA5ulamrhQ9YPCQ4_82hoN4bTEqR6FxOhyphenhyphenU8n1nr9-Xe0Xr5YNZ6Xj45K626Nr_4ZHz33Kb9KfUBSa1VYjWM9lXKpJAt-NQLthNJoXHxhKS13-0EkGaiuwby-AL5KmDClMfBV9qGoY/s640/swordfish0.JPG" /></a></p>
<p><p><b>Started:</b> September 18, 2015</p>
<p><b>Finished:</b> October 4, 2015</p>
<p><b>Pattern:</b> <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/the-password-is-swordfish">The Password Is Swordfish</a> by Heidi Nick.</p>
<p><b>Yarn/yardage used:</b> Dream In Color Smooshy, in Night Watch. <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2012/07/ravellenic-training-part-2.html">The original cursed yarn</a>, bought all the way back in July 2002! I used just shy of 400 yards.</p>
<p><b>Needles:</b> Size 1.5 Karbonz DPNs.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0DaerER515qJChqR_kyLTAe1pq9ztNJix8xphcQzFh_ULZfZKGa3kv5T_nPjP6Ld2hOwJyL2rYl9UR5erNnQAMkOqfY6GTQ_zfJliO0MtMQEEab0D9cyF-Z89bQQIQH5tYi-_mi0-yA/s1600/swordfish.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu0DaerER515qJChqR_kyLTAe1pq9ztNJix8xphcQzFh_ULZfZKGa3kv5T_nPjP6Ld2hOwJyL2rYl9UR5erNnQAMkOqfY6GTQ_zfJliO0MtMQEEab0D9cyF-Z89bQQIQH5tYi-_mi0-yA/s640/swordfish.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>Original yarn, original needle method... all is well again with my sock-knitting mojo. I did change the pattern, mind you, and I converted the pattern to toe-up. I've become a huge, huge convert to the ways of the Fish Lips Kiss heel since I <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2014/07/socks-sunday-honeycomb-socks-wip.html">first posted about it</a>, and now I use the heel technique and the cardboard foot tracing for almost every pair of socks I knit.</p>
<p>So there's that! You might have noticed that my photographs are less polished-looking and more cluttered than they used to be. Suffice to say that I started a new job and moved into a new house at pretty much the same time last year, and my DIY lightbox didn't survive the move. I plan to make another one, when I can find the time to. (Who knew that starting a standard 40-hour-workweek job would cut in on my free time so drastically, right?)</p>Kaiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962273893928934473noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468334680054462086.post-82366522597343395042015-01-08T16:38:00.000-07:002015-01-08T16:38:22.232-07:00Resolutions.<p>Now, I know I'm a week or so late to the party, but I'd still like to share my problem with resolutions with you.</p>
<p>First of all - simply put, my desktop computer suddenly died on me the day before yesterday. I'd just inherited it from Bandit a few weeks ago, when he got his new iMac. It had been a top-of-the-line gaming computer back in its day, but it was now years old, and it had started to show its age. Occasionally the USB keyboard wouldn't register on startup until I unplugged it and plugged it back in. Then the monitors started not registering on startup, which was a more serious thing, since the display ports were on the back of the tower and much less convenient to get to than the USB ports. Then, in the middle of use, it just locked up and died. Bandit opened it up and found that one of the fans had stopped working; his verdict is that either the motherboard or the processor had died.</p>
<p>So now I'm back on my laptop (well, technically, it's his laptop - another gaming machine that I've appropriated for my own use). It's always tough to move from a familiar machine to an unfamiliar one, but moving from a familiar machine back to a previous familiar one is... odd. I instinctively go to the places where I feel my files should be, and some of the time I'm wrong but other times I'm <i>right</i>. And I had just gotten used to having two monitors at 1920x1080, when all of a sudden I have to go back to the single laptop lid monitor at 1600x900. We fiddled with the displays until somehow all of a sudden I had <i>three</i> displays at 1600x900. That was too disorienting for me.</p>
<p>So there you have it. That was my problem with resolutions.</p>
<p><i>*crickets*</i></p>
<p>Bad puns aside, 2015 has been a little rough getting out the gate - technological difficulties being only one of the frustrations that have cropped up so far. I won't go into details, but it's really made me think about adulthood and taking charge of one's life. One of the things I've decided was to make a concrete list of resolutions for the first time in my life. Heading the list are what I'm sure are three of the commonest resolutions out there:</p>
<ul>
<li><b>Start working out.</b> I've always been small and frail and weak, and I'd like to build up some stamina and energy.</li>
<li><b>Cook at home from scratch more often.</b> I grew up with homecooked meals every day, and I miss that.</li>
<li><b>Keep better tabs on our finances.</b></li>
</ul>
<p>But those are the kinds of vague, general resolutions that one never quite achieves, just improves on a little year by year. I have a couple of more specific goals that are directed at my known weaknesses:</p>
<ul>
<li><b>Be more mindful of punctuality.</b> I tend to have a hard time getting moving, so I usually show up to events just barely on time or a few minutes late. I'd like to fix that.</li>
<li><b>Drink more real tea.</b> I love looseleaf tea - another thing I grew up with as an everyday thing. Instead of buying sugary bottled teas, I'll make an effort to put a pot on the stove every morning and work through my boxes of Earl Grey, lychee tea and rosebuds.</li>
<li><b>Renovate my wardrobe.</b> Ninety percent of my wardrobe currently consists of either T-shirts with graphics on them or long black skirts. The long black skirts can stay, but I'd like to phase out some of the older T-shirts from my teenage years and introduce some plain long-sleeved shirts as staples.</li>
</ul>
<p>And my knitting resolutions? I've decided to go fairly light on these, in hopes that I'll actually achieve them!</p>
<ul>
<li><b>Catalog and photograph everything in my stash to go up onto Ravelry.</b> I'm actually not far off from achieving this at the moment - of the 56 yarns I have listed in my stash, only 11 don't have photos - but I'd like to make it a habit to enter any new yarn into my Rav stash as soon as it comes into the house.</li>
<li><b>Knit more things that I'll actually use.</b> I have this tendency gravitate towards patterns that will teach me new techniques or broaden my horizons, disdaining simple things like scarves or potholders. Well, I finished a woollen potholder on New Year's Day, and let me tell you, it is the most effective and most useful potholder I have ever come across. Especially in conjunction with my resolution about making more tea.</li>
<li><b>Write up my dragonscale gauntlets pattern!</b> I've been sitting on the pattern for over a year now!</p>
</ul>
<p>Have you made a list of resolutions this year, or have you decided instead to choose a word to focus on for the coming year? How have you fared with resolutions in years past?</p>Kaiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962273893928934473noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468334680054462086.post-38843310996177276652014-12-30T16:05:00.000-07:002014-12-30T16:05:05.130-07:00Hello again!<p>It's been a while, hasn't it? I planned to take a break only until the end of November when my Master's thesis defense was originally scheduled. After two postponements, however, I finally held my defense on December 12th, flying in the day before and flying out again the day after. Then right after that there was a flurry of holiday preparations to make, and then the post-holiday visitors... I've managed to get a surprising amount of knitting done in stolen minutes here and there, and even take picturea, but this is the first time I've made time to sit down and get back in touch with the blogging world. (Expect a ton of comments as I go through the backlog of my blogroll in the next few days!)</p>
<p>I wanted to get at least this one post in before the end of 2014, so that I could get you all up to date on what I've been doing during my hiatus before I dive into New Year's resolutions and the like.</p>
<p>First... I passed my defense! While I was in town for it, I stayed with Shannon and Eli who were the best hosts ever, considering that they were also dealing with hectic end-of-year things. Shannon even let me destress with some of her stash yarn when I asked for some skeins to wind - one project was not sufficient yarny comfort for me, even on a trip of only two days. I really miss the weekly crafternoons that Shannon, Alexis and I used to have; maybe someday we'll all live close enough again to meet in person. Or failing that, maybe the two of them will join me in the knit-blogosphere (get on that, guys!).</p>
<p>Second... I regret to say that none of the WIPs I highlighted in my last post have progressed very far. The Whispers top and Bandit's socks just stopped holding my interest, so they're now languishing in my storage ottoman, which is where my WIPs go to <s>die</s> hibernate. Dreambird, on the other hand, made it to four whole feathers before I discovered that the Mini Mochi I was using for those beautiful gradient feathers... was full of knots. In fact, both skeins were full of knots. And they weren't just ordinary knots either. They were knots that were tied with no regard for preserving the color repeats. I spent a day undoing all the knots and winding the yarn up into five separate mini-cakes, none of which could be easily joined together in a smooth transition. Maybe at some point in a few weeks or months I'll have come to terms with the task, and start snipping and regrafting the colors, but for now, it's sitting at the bottom of the WIP bin.</p>
<p>I did, however, finish a WIP older than any of these.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3uhTIXQFpix6I0x_gK4xWE-SX6D4dxMNmRKh_UHXHHyMUi-nrGijdBZ6KR-pFvXICvlOrRI9ShrhbsEA1mQpF1-dT5KCf56-wipUNEVpDw1gpM29Zr-hfyLJYB7YO3mSbdWNEu31qDE/s1600/twistedduchess.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo3uhTIXQFpix6I0x_gK4xWE-SX6D4dxMNmRKh_UHXHHyMUi-nrGijdBZ6KR-pFvXICvlOrRI9ShrhbsEA1mQpF1-dT5KCf56-wipUNEVpDw1gpM29Zr-hfyLJYB7YO3mSbdWNEu31qDE/s640/twistedduchess.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>In March I started planning for the second Vericon charity auction shawl of the year (<a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2014/10/fo-celestarium.html">Celestarium</a> being the first). The recipient wanted a shawl that would evoke dragons, and that would fade gradually from brown at the neck to green at the edges. After a bit of back and forth, we decided on the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/y-ddraig-shawl">Y Ddraig</a> pattern and the Elphaba colorway from <a href="http://www.twistedfiberart.com/">Twisted Fiber Art</a>, an indie dyeing company that specializes in gradients. When Elphaba finally rotated into TFA's active colorways in June, I happily snapped up a triple evolution in the imminently-discontinued Duchess base, a lovely merino DK weight. I cast on and... the dark dye immediately started coming off all over my hands and needles.</p>
<p>No one else in the TFA forums seemed to be having any trouble at all, and the color wasn't actually fading from the yarn itself, so I figured that it was just a bit of excess dye crocking off of oversaturated yarn. I gritted my teeth and knitted, and knitted, and then I got too fed up of having to scrub at my hands after every knitting session and put the project into the Storage Ottoman of Hibernation.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaoCl9fBscAJxiYMZPEzDaxaUS-zD_xeVHVTmAYj9rvBL6KEcrATFG3yDqkohwt4u7E6lh9A8WIT9vt6FeK03HMWNEs5_1bn90hAxn1whAAGKdCdTKzJOpUVk0hwng35sO37Tpa5BtI4/s1600/photo_2_medium2.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXaoCl9fBscAJxiYMZPEzDaxaUS-zD_xeVHVTmAYj9rvBL6KEcrATFG3yDqkohwt4u7E6lh9A8WIT9vt6FeK03HMWNEs5_1bn90hAxn1whAAGKdCdTKzJOpUVk0hwng35sO37Tpa5BtI4/s640/photo_2_medium2.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>In the midst of thesis-related stress, I decided to pick the shawl back up again. As it turned out, it was perfect for stress knitting. The pattern was soothing - simple and repetitive enough to memorize, but engaging enough to keep me mindful of my stitches and not allow my mind to wander off. And the dye issue kept my knitting sessions short; as soon as the dye built up on my hands I knew it was time to set the knitting down and start working again. I had just finished the brown section when I held my defense.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5xnRy6Y8cPlex2Lbjeo9yQIdQGXCN2cAso7L-P2A22GNLBW-Tt0fIbIAdXEcB_X5aqLZwiXHwu3DLRPPsJcrBsBLX5JBR4nYgiiCGORzGIz7lKnaQE68DDfoWZTC4OUdPug2dOzklRw/s1600/yddraig2.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe5xnRy6Y8cPlex2Lbjeo9yQIdQGXCN2cAso7L-P2A22GNLBW-Tt0fIbIAdXEcB_X5aqLZwiXHwu3DLRPPsJcrBsBLX5JBR4nYgiiCGORzGIz7lKnaQE68DDfoWZTC4OUdPug2dOzklRw/s640/yddraig2.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>Free of the thesis-related stress, I found the rest of the shawl went surprisingly quickly - except placing beads, which the original pattern didn't call for but which my recipient wanted. My tiny beading hooks, bought for beading on lace or, at the very most, light fingering, tended to just split the DK yarn rather than bead smoothly. I finished knitting on December 21st, and blocked it on December 22nd.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwS-m7rJzgVkSnK-sRc-CIuw8DzUTZSDViZ3EdaeWHrynhhyphenhyphenhx4dHZwusDVOoCj0xghyRaxQepj9gRO8oSIcq10RaLuni2RMIn1pNg_gp1PyAUAKIzvcVecFIRh2T53JfdQa2sgQLwGWE/s1600/yddraig1.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwS-m7rJzgVkSnK-sRc-CIuw8DzUTZSDViZ3EdaeWHrynhhyphenhyphenhx4dHZwusDVOoCj0xghyRaxQepj9gRO8oSIcq10RaLuni2RMIn1pNg_gp1PyAUAKIzvcVecFIRh2T53JfdQa2sgQLwGWE/s640/yddraig1.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>Keturah helped.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65C7AUtj1nh3DMJoa1CFfQvVKqM15A1JRsrV_ADM8WLQlQ4CFu_YYwrHlX2MNQkXD_j5wxCZe678J_96jKMZWvDF5b2CKCsd5gx1_bqvVYMzC_DJqiLmYUZMvMystcEF-6kghhcn5P3w/s1600/yddraigcat.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi65C7AUtj1nh3DMJoa1CFfQvVKqM15A1JRsrV_ADM8WLQlQ4CFu_YYwrHlX2MNQkXD_j5wxCZe678J_96jKMZWvDF5b2CKCsd5gx1_bqvVYMzC_DJqiLmYUZMvMystcEF-6kghhcn5P3w/s640/yddraigcat.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>The same day I cast on a pair of my self-designed dragonscale gauntlets, also a charity auction commission item. These took just a week to finish, even with something of a false start on the first gauntlet as I tried to recreate my pattern. I've made some tweaks to the design since I <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2014/04/fo-retrospective-roundup-socks.html">first posted about them</a> in April, and I think they look much sleeker and nicer now.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwW2c1Kmws4LILrTxzPMg-YGi9W-FwUZZKpxZ7jsxnYq1WjQTjg0ONFwQ-SGwtdjOmyHiTKXE4MCUMYfTKHF4W-KhbjfvbwTflgsX9jGCtDjemyIwd9a2zGmAvV6C2tWOyTTkRERahEo/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwW2c1Kmws4LILrTxzPMg-YGi9W-FwUZZKpxZ7jsxnYq1WjQTjg0ONFwQ-SGwtdjOmyHiTKXE4MCUMYfTKHF4W-KhbjfvbwTflgsX9jGCtDjemyIwd9a2zGmAvV6C2tWOyTTkRERahEo/s640/photo+2.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>One of my New Year's resolutions will be to finally get the pattern written up and made available as a PDF. I might as well get all my notes in one place, because I have two more pairs of these to knit in the next few weeks!</p>Kaiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962273893928934473noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468334680054462086.post-49482000717640623212014-10-20T12:48:00.000-06:002014-10-20T12:48:42.789-06:00Putting (the knitting) life on pause.<p>So I've decided to finally face down the fact that I'm defending my thesis in almost exactly a month, and address it with the proper reaction: panic!</p>
<p>While my normal instinctual response to panic is to grab needles and yarn, I'm working towards channeling my frantic energies <i>away</i> from the knitting, and towards more productive things like writing, revising, and emailing people. I've barely looked at Ravelry for weeks, and I have a backlog of thirty posts on my blogroll to read. I don't expect this situation will change much before the end of November.</p>
<p>So here's where I am now:</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObeHMzyW8m4UrTK44fcah2V9b-DwdkQXkUjYmKoMFp274251HeR5RexwZF1hgwbGsEpJPDTvk4eIQG3zEGEGEj1bOZZFrIRVt3Z5BjlLgAxjKWQ7k4zBL2knqKJO_Ec6WYudjChr4AJ8/s1600/DSCN0451.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiObeHMzyW8m4UrTK44fcah2V9b-DwdkQXkUjYmKoMFp274251HeR5RexwZF1hgwbGsEpJPDTvk4eIQG3zEGEGEj1bOZZFrIRVt3Z5BjlLgAxjKWQ7k4zBL2knqKJO_Ec6WYudjChr4AJ8/s640/DSCN0451.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>Remember these socks? I started trying to knit socks for Amy out of this yarn... <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2012/11/sad-sock-saturday.html">back in 2012!</a> After a few sizing mishaps and much frogging, I began again with the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/slide">Slide</a> pattern by Cookie A on May 1, 2013. I <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2013/05/socks-saturday-halfway-there.html">finished the first sock</a> on May 18th, then knit halfway through the second one... and just stopped. They sat in their bag for over a year, nearly a year and a half. It was the RemRants monthly WIPdown that finally motivated me to dust them off again and finish the second foot.</p>
<p>I finished them on October 9th. Amy came over on October 17th and tried them on... and they were too small. Again.</p>
<p>Fortunately, all that was required to fix them this time was to unpick the grafting on the toes, add four rounds, and then regraft them.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HtTXqreri_rrLvzF2tCbaaa9BfAgWqWW1xbxZmFgQomA7xjiip8MRXXhc_3KmaNombb0kmH9m7GollZj0C4qPKjoYHBRLn7KjpRhLk1IXTdruh9Fh9lgMdZiFH0-RSLUmhLb-LiUYOg/s1600/DSCN0474.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0HtTXqreri_rrLvzF2tCbaaa9BfAgWqWW1xbxZmFgQomA7xjiip8MRXXhc_3KmaNombb0kmH9m7GollZj0C4qPKjoYHBRLn7KjpRhLk1IXTdruh9Fh9lgMdZiFH0-RSLUmhLb-LiUYOg/s640/DSCN0474.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>The Slide pattern is really great, by the way. I plan to knit myself a pair with plain gray wool after I finish a few more WIPs.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABnhzYo55ABN8senH48f3bmcfl7DR4yYtIlzPLP_Xi5Z3JgBHcytQ4oOThgiW4RZft06FPCzmUkRxCgJm-nntd9axNCPFmaX9Xbr2ZrGfJptg-iM7M49mb1I5crNlVSjO-lVwjPq49PA/s1600/DSCN0470.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiABnhzYo55ABN8senH48f3bmcfl7DR4yYtIlzPLP_Xi5Z3JgBHcytQ4oOThgiW4RZft06FPCzmUkRxCgJm-nntd9axNCPFmaX9Xbr2ZrGfJptg-iM7M49mb1I5crNlVSjO-lVwjPq49PA/s640/DSCN0470.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>Whispers might be the next WIP to come off the line. I've finished all the knitting; all that's left is the sewing up... but I tried it on and I'm not sure the armholes will be big enough once I graft the front and back together. I'm waffling between frogging the top and adding a few more rows somewhere, and just grafting it and trusting that blocking (and not having to hold it up while still on the needles) will take care of the difference.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFB2SoG7fB7WcqVyirvDevz0KVbGlf-s3ZCWOCGsDgpGkFqe4-d-ey7bflLl90hLpMuK6MWVil8P3fZgM2H0YjmX0NMPe20E7Osrw4X6iQQG_b_ZQP0DrcjnqvSoH0W5Z5lQchCcSg1AU/s1600/DSCN0467.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFB2SoG7fB7WcqVyirvDevz0KVbGlf-s3ZCWOCGsDgpGkFqe4-d-ey7bflLl90hLpMuK6MWVil8P3fZgM2H0YjmX0NMPe20E7Osrw4X6iQQG_b_ZQP0DrcjnqvSoH0W5Z5lQchCcSg1AU/s640/DSCN0467.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>Bandit's fourth pair of socks is coming along nicely. I've knit to the cuff of one sock, and I've started the second sock with the other end of the skein in order to make sure I can divide the yarn up evenly. (I've complained before about how big his feet are, but to put it in perspective: each foot is 96 stitches around, and there are a hundred rows of the darker yarn between the contrast toe and heel!)</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEhAm6QzCTyb2jq61HzeFyBlO7Gpw_iNldgHz7IDLxpW2_Ejrk3aqT1r06dlvzFPIMrg64q7FqMPW-No4iTrO9feeVXNnRbQielIjKCGbuxguppFNFfTJX60Ha0AqkSwYSSwYZ8gZG_w/s1600/DSCN0476.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjEhAm6QzCTyb2jq61HzeFyBlO7Gpw_iNldgHz7IDLxpW2_Ejrk3aqT1r06dlvzFPIMrg64q7FqMPW-No4iTrO9feeVXNnRbQielIjKCGbuxguppFNFfTJX60Ha0AqkSwYSSwYZ8gZG_w/s640/DSCN0476.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>Finally, my most recent guilty obsession: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dreambird-kal">Dreambird</a>. I've coveted one so long, and it's starting to get chilly enough to need a nice big snuggly shawl, and I'd be using up two of the oldest yarns in my stash, and I'd just finished two WIPs in a row... Yeah, I broke my WIPdown rule just a teeny bit in order to cast it on. Knitting it is utterly fascinating. I'm using Cascade Yarns Eco Alpaca for the charcoal-gray background yarn, and it's so beautifully smooth, it knits like butter. The feather yarn is Crystal Palace Mini Mochi, the first yarn I'd ever bought for myself at a LYS. It's a very loosely-spun single, so I'd had trouble finding projects where it would hold up under use <i>and</i> where its medium-length color changes wouldn't pool in an ugly way. Dreambird seems to be written just for such yarns. The pattern is rather wordy and confusing, but careful reading and then a bit of practice clears it up quite nicely.</p>
<p>So with that, I'm officially hitting pause on the knitblogging. Hopefully I'll keep myself industrious enough that my knitting won't change too much in the next month or so. See you all in December!</p>
<p> </p>
<p><i>(P.S. Not only did I break my WIPdown rules, I also broke my cold sheeping. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/craftyyarn">Craftyyarn</a> is closing in a few days, and after the 50% clearance coupon, most of the yarn is less than $4 a skein. I bought <u>four thousand yards</u> of laceweight for $24. Check it out!)</i></p>Kaiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962273893928934473noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468334680054462086.post-41599003605617185592014-10-01T15:59:00.001-06:002014-10-01T15:59:57.001-06:00FO: Celestarium!<p>I've finished knitting the Northern skies.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmH5lVWwhtl2RuZCw85bntL-rdVDTitdXCUE20tvnmwIKQzE0_BnxmCTt-XVtRuAer7CtfGWykgDN5gpxM0SGiPJ3yyB9x5Tfldx1YcC0Fazb9ZWT4cXAyLkfyeLRibOvZFGH1uwVIyFc/s1600/celesdone1.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmH5lVWwhtl2RuZCw85bntL-rdVDTitdXCUE20tvnmwIKQzE0_BnxmCTt-XVtRuAer7CtfGWykgDN5gpxM0SGiPJ3yyB9x5Tfldx1YcC0Fazb9ZWT4cXAyLkfyeLRibOvZFGH1uwVIyFc/s640/celesdone1.JPG" /></a></p>
<p><b>Started:</b> May 5, 2014</p>
<p><b>Finished:</b> September 30, 2014</p>
<p><b>Yarn/yardage used:</b> Silk/merino lace in the Aegean colorway, from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/BlackSheepDyeworks">Black Sheep Dyeworks</a>. I held two strands doubled, so my best guess is that I used a total of about 2000 yards.</p>
<p><b>Beads:</b> About 450 size 6/0 beads. The color? Well, FusionBeads calls it "Silver Lined Transparent Light Aqua Rainbow". So there you have it.
<p><b>Needles:</b> Size 4 Addi Turbo Lace circs, with the longest cables I could find (47"). They still felt rather short, though, since the finished circumference of the shawl was well over 100 inches.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI8dIND9hbV6mHqoDhVJXplUwxbhwxlSLm84EN9r0hli2QJ_P0h_EffUWykgBHtI2FEP81Nr9Q7PN47i6WXmKTqNUZs7jyxaFWBKIiU3FNHev975zHv83W2-8T5FTnVv3Zz3VQRtdtSe8/s1600/DSCN0459.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI8dIND9hbV6mHqoDhVJXplUwxbhwxlSLm84EN9r0hli2QJ_P0h_EffUWykgBHtI2FEP81Nr9Q7PN47i6WXmKTqNUZs7jyxaFWBKIiU3FNHev975zHv83W2-8T5FTnVv3Zz3VQRtdtSe8/s640/DSCN0459.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>The recipient wanted a pointy edging, so I followed the lead of many other Celestarium knitters and adapted the edging from the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/lunar-tide">Lunar Tide</a> shawl. When I went to start the edging, I found that I somehow had over 200 leftover beads. Now, the pattern calls for 370 beads, and I'd bought three packets of 150 each, so... who knows how that happened? I just went ahead and added beads to each of the 82 pattern repeats in the edging.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDiE4IvxGFtiaEGl8U5pgFpWp-IIwL7IYBW3gWkOjfdmlNU4h074h5xHuIU4DnA662vwntlv5boUjoYwlz9CJkHPyW8N8Zxbio2suad7MD37qHCE-SKj8jpwppEMv-C55-_nlZkn11rJM/s1600/DSCN0460.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDiE4IvxGFtiaEGl8U5pgFpWp-IIwL7IYBW3gWkOjfdmlNU4h074h5xHuIU4DnA662vwntlv5boUjoYwlz9CJkHPyW8N8Zxbio2suad7MD37qHCE-SKj8jpwppEMv-C55-_nlZkn11rJM/s640/DSCN0460.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>This was an odd knit for me in a couple of ways. For one thing, it was only the second project that I've knit to someone else's specifications. You see, when I knit something as a simple present for someone, I might elicit some suggestions on color and fiber, but I always make the final decisions on pattern and yarn. Often the recipient doesn't even know they're getting something until I've finished knitting it. But the custom knitting that I auction off at the Vericon charity auction seems to carry this weight of responsibility with it. I need to make sure that that what I produce comes as close as possible to the commissioners' dream shawls in all respects. So I flood them with options for fiber, color, weight, pattern, and beads. I've been fortunate in that both commissioners so far have been knitters themselves, and so they know what they (and I) are getting into. I've been doubly fortunate in that they've both picked shawls that I had already wanted to knit anyway, making the commission knitting feel just like personal knitting.</p>
<p>Which brings me to the second way in which this is odd: I want to keep this. I want to use it. This is extremely strange behavior for me. <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2014/08/knitting-confessions-2.html">I'm a process knitter</a> who never actually uses any of my finished knits. Sure, I wear my socks sometimes, but I don't knit socks so that I can have the pleasure of wearing my own pretty handknitted socks. I knit socks because I enjoy knitting socks, and then I wear the socks because I need to put on socks and these were the ones that were lying around. I knit shawls because I enjoy knitting beautiful intricate lace, and then they get put away somewhere. I'll wear them maybe once a year. (This realization is what prompted me to start offering my custom shawl-knitting services for auction in the first place. <i>Someone</i> may as well enjoy the fruits of my labor.)</p>
<p>So why do I want to keep and use Celestarium? Is it because I've spent so much time with it? Is it because it falls on the right side of the "everyday stuff" and "fancy special-occasion stuff" divide in my mind? Is it just because the weather's grown chilly recently?</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgns1d6MBFzYvYGig2qtGI0Ixu4WpQRFVcCFZnyWYwsFKrZXOgVwK_o6a1T0CMOdh5Fea7MleKVlsVxwCbVjJer-B2H8MFj89caApMSqSDDEfxq7KiFx_O8zQpw5rmRoLQ2YNDVLIBSNnI/s1600/DSCN0452.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgns1d6MBFzYvYGig2qtGI0Ixu4WpQRFVcCFZnyWYwsFKrZXOgVwK_o6a1T0CMOdh5Fea7MleKVlsVxwCbVjJer-B2H8MFj89caApMSqSDDEfxq7KiFx_O8zQpw5rmRoLQ2YNDVLIBSNnI/s640/DSCN0452.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>Who knows. The urge to keep it, though tangible, is not very strong, and it's getting mailed out to its proper owner today or tomorrow. If I continue to miss it, well, I have some lovely dark blue-purple Malabrigo lace that has been waiting in my stash for two and a half years to learn what it'll become.</p>Kaiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962273893928934473noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468334680054462086.post-28148862571487144972014-09-24T13:13:00.001-06:002014-09-24T13:13:43.370-06:00FO: Cold Springs.<p>Whew, it's been a while. Two days after I got home from my trip, there was a big get-together at our place, and after that I just wanted to go to bed and sleep for a week. I couldn't even bring myself to get excited about my knitting. Yesterday, though, I finally finished and blocked the fingerless mitts I'd been knitting as a quick birthday present. (If anyone knows a better way to block fingerless mitts, please let me know!)</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi136b9o2UmLszdhjhiPm5VePjHO_7XdiksOPaeI_HXA-xeap5fLyxlk3RFR29bGnF2lAa2BLLKy90ab5tdDssLtkHxtlLpYz7dQtzR0t4RHZJpmRcbYgKM2qFAX74fPZzwjOFPRP3NAiY/s1600/coldsprings4.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi136b9o2UmLszdhjhiPm5VePjHO_7XdiksOPaeI_HXA-xeap5fLyxlk3RFR29bGnF2lAa2BLLKy90ab5tdDssLtkHxtlLpYz7dQtzR0t4RHZJpmRcbYgKM2qFAX74fPZzwjOFPRP3NAiY/s640/coldsprings4.JPG" /></a></p>
<p><b>Started:</b> September 9, 2014</p>
<p><b>Finished:</b> September 23, 2014</p>
<p><b>Yarn/yardage used:</b> Skaska Designs 50/50 Merino & Silk, about 240 yards (19 grams). I was using the partial cake left over from <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2014/05/fo-hanami.html">Hanami</a>, and now have 39 grams left in the cake.</p>
<p><b>Needles:</b> Size 2 DPNs. This was a mistake. The pattern calls for size 1s if working with laceweight, and despite my being a tight knitter, size 2s were simply too big.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxPCrBgNT0tyBpx7pnlNsadP3GBvOVSqUSUivzfCGP-HN-Ggv_gobK2G-1NuZNqoZi8Ebxf-6rGj1In3nYuPNDx7-68iLl_8vdWi-R6po5BWahw_rgdDryxf5SMIhBXcfvqk5V9XZ7Bk/s1600/coldsprings5.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxPCrBgNT0tyBpx7pnlNsadP3GBvOVSqUSUivzfCGP-HN-Ggv_gobK2G-1NuZNqoZi8Ebxf-6rGj1In3nYuPNDx7-68iLl_8vdWi-R6po5BWahw_rgdDryxf5SMIhBXcfvqk5V9XZ7Bk/s640/coldsprings5.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>The pattern is <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/hand-springs-fingerless-mitts">Hand Springs Fingerless Mitts</a> by Micol Day, and I highly recommend it for a quick and easy knit. (I'm fairly certain that if it hadn't been for all the travel and subsequent burnout, I could have finished the pair in ten days or so.) The lace chart is intuitive and easy to memorize, and the pattern even includes a printable page with little circles next to each row that you can poke out with your needle tip to mark your progress. I'm rather surprised to see that this pattern has so few projects on Ravelry - it and <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/ice-queen">Ice Queen</a> are quickly becoming my go-to quick gift patterns.</p>
<p>Also, I came home to a lovely surprise - I won the birthday giveaway hosted by <a href="http://www.midnightscribbles.com/blog/">Marsha</a> of One Geek to Craft Them All!</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllkuXV0i9cbD7ZD11DeEsRfkk2lLqaiZlZcomSBbDuNjbQorIko1oDlCg8musBwWjP9Lxq0Kg-v5Y5C5IwgOvBxweyj8sZZmU99dO5aadDBj2cwDhRAMvOz9j6R_2MNE2gUTIJQ5eimA/s1600/prizes1.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjllkuXV0i9cbD7ZD11DeEsRfkk2lLqaiZlZcomSBbDuNjbQorIko1oDlCg8musBwWjP9Lxq0Kg-v5Y5C5IwgOvBxweyj8sZZmU99dO5aadDBj2cwDhRAMvOz9j6R_2MNE2gUTIJQ5eimA/s640/prizes1.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>I'm especially in love with this journal; the leaves are handmade paper, and the folios are handsewn. The cover even has tiny mirror shards on it.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dvjtXKD5rDjbYRMBiDVDQA7X_PYK3ao604IaDojpe446U5IEzmhwc81nvQmlaBtoDbgBrN1EoehoEhx-7U78H2L0CzJsvhweO_9B-Tgci_BmsjSIz_qCa7JRQY9y0lzjHoNntYYwS9A/s1600/prizes2.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0dvjtXKD5rDjbYRMBiDVDQA7X_PYK3ao604IaDojpe446U5IEzmhwc81nvQmlaBtoDbgBrN1EoehoEhx-7U78H2L0CzJsvhweO_9B-Tgci_BmsjSIz_qCa7JRQY9y0lzjHoNntYYwS9A/s640/prizes2.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>I have a habit of collecting lovely journals that I always feel a bit too intimidated to actually write in. I'd like to change that before the end of the year; I've been thinking a lot about creativity recently and realized that I never stopped being <i>inspired</i> to draw or write or express myself in creative ways, I just stopped <i>doing</i> them. I think it's probably about time to stop being afraid and just have fun doing the things again.</p>Kaiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962273893928934473noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468334680054462086.post-4867371592303555852014-09-12T12:53:00.003-06:002014-09-12T12:53:55.089-06:00A week on the East Coast.<p>Hello from sunny (and humid!) New Jersey! I'm spending a week on the East Coast - two days here with my parents, then the weekend in New York City with friends, and two more days with my parents before I head back.</p>
<p>I have to admit, it's refreshing to get away from the towering heap of WIPs for a while. I'd been working almost exclusively on Celestarium, and it can get hard to provide entertaining updates about what amounts to "progressed a little further on the charts" every week. Granted, I did manage to finish all the charts and start on the edging before I left:</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8WkT_9fUh-MWLR3A_4keXGfKFUcRHVKMrqJT2OYBYFcoLOn_4K2KkEHeRi9tGaroQGLOSI19X9RtC1doLCWzxXPRKl7ypOdjScfhAxoNN6hxezM07vbgpDAjeRXJWNSVeFnXtHDAQjQ/s1600/DSCN0438.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl8WkT_9fUh-MWLR3A_4keXGfKFUcRHVKMrqJT2OYBYFcoLOn_4K2KkEHeRi9tGaroQGLOSI19X9RtC1doLCWzxXPRKl7ypOdjScfhAxoNN6hxezM07vbgpDAjeRXJWNSVeFnXtHDAQjQ/s640/DSCN0438.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>But even so, I've only managed to knit 16 repeats out of 82. The next Celestarium milestone will be quite a while in coming.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, I've already broken my self-imposed ban on new projects. But it's for a good cause, I promise! Part of the festivities on Saturday (uh oh... is that tomorrow already?) include a birthday party at an upscale teahouse. I decided on Tuesday that it would be nice to knit a pair of fingerless gloves as a present. Fingerless gloves are quick and easy, right?</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0Qj8tNedFxNKTToqFi9y82akXn1MMn8qCHn9dKDfGL7lSPLzNrdMZD7BwhHgVWtuXRzHSmXPC-BraV7Zc9SaEEl5rGEur4SaKCs5ROMXdR1jZPYBSbVST_O8g2kR_YJ3PtIH-Xl9prs/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_0Qj8tNedFxNKTToqFi9y82akXn1MMn8qCHn9dKDfGL7lSPLzNrdMZD7BwhHgVWtuXRzHSmXPC-BraV7Zc9SaEEl5rGEur4SaKCs5ROMXdR1jZPYBSbVST_O8g2kR_YJ3PtIH-Xl9prs/s640/photo+3.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>Well, apparently not quite so much when you knit them in laceweight on size 2 needles. I cast on the first glove on Tuesday night, knit all day Wednesday in the airports and airplanes, then bound off late Thursday night. There's no way I'll be able to finish the second one today. Another WIP for the growing mental burden, I suppose. At least this isn't breaking my cold sheeping, as I'm using the leftover yarn from the Hanami stole.</p>
<p>(As a side note, the pattern calls for size 1s, but all of my size 1s were in use on various sock projects. <i>No problem,</i> I thought as I pulled out my 2s. <i>I'm a tight knitter!</i> ...I think this is the only time I've knit anything only to have it come out much too big.)</p>
<p>I deliberately packed light in order to have room for the mountain of things my mother will inevitably press on me, so the only other WIP I brought with me is Bandit's latest pair of socks. But I've also brought a Very Important Knitting Mission. Tomorrow, I will make Pickle stand on a piece of cardboard, and I will trace his foot, and I will cut it out. He will have his damned socks before the year is out, and <i>they will fit.</i></p>Kaiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962273893928934473noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468334680054462086.post-3110456829581105202014-09-08T11:22:00.000-06:002014-09-08T11:22:59.470-06:00Knitting Confessions #4.<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc47AKgkFELWrLcUMBgzDxWXvok5kkjYo0jBpbMbNWYlej3u06U_cjDnR3a-mcCnkX4RrriB6a5xApGEbiNzs3L_GZlwzJJvfqnRfAnFrZG-FOKNcnJAvf0Ga67kPmaNIrSuDZAUTFNSk/s1600/knittingconfessions.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc47AKgkFELWrLcUMBgzDxWXvok5kkjYo0jBpbMbNWYlej3u06U_cjDnR3a-mcCnkX4RrriB6a5xApGEbiNzs3L_GZlwzJJvfqnRfAnFrZG-FOKNcnJAvf0Ga67kPmaNIrSuDZAUTFNSk/s1600/knittingconfessions.png" /></a></p>
<p><b>Like most things in the world, knitting has a set of rules and conventions. Sometimes, we knitters break them. This is my knitting confession.</b></p>
<p><u>Confession #4:</u> I have a weakness for pretty stitch markers.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FNuHmPkqmY8K1auIih54Q8LHFVBFMQREBD8r8fkKzbZgVv_C63HE_4K7gI05eeNTH5VpY4UckaZBKSOvF0iDFDqjltLPCrcj-X-ksBCTPJgSINdYO8L6B3AlvjkO-TtqnkP0Ups-z3E/s1600/DSCN0445.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5FNuHmPkqmY8K1auIih54Q8LHFVBFMQREBD8r8fkKzbZgVv_C63HE_4K7gI05eeNTH5VpY4UckaZBKSOvF0iDFDqjltLPCrcj-X-ksBCTPJgSINdYO8L6B3AlvjkO-TtqnkP0Ups-z3E/s640/DSCN0445.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>I mean... everyone does, right? How can anyone resist decorating their needles with these little gems? They're undoubtedly functional (and as a lace knitter who constantly seeks out new challenges, I should know) and I believe that their beauty is an intrinsic part of their function. The more striking and distinct they are, the easier it is to recognize exactly which stitch marker and therefore which portion of the pattern you've reached.</p>
<p>And yet whenever the topic of stitch markers comes up on the Ravelry forums, you always get those people who say "oh, I just tie scrap yarn in a loop" or "I just cut rings off of a plastic drinking straw". I've started getting the urge to say, "Oh honey, just take some of my extra stitch markers." Because loops of waste yarn and slices of drinking straws are fine as makeshift stitch markers - as are leverback earrings and rings, both of which I've used in a tight spot - but they're not a permanent solution. They're easy to lose or disregard or accidentally knit into the project. A dropped loop of scrap yarn looks just like trash. But I can't tell you how many times I've discovered a dropped stitch marker and immediately knew I needed to double-check my project. Or times that I've paused at the end of a row to admire all my beautiful little markers, and immediately noticed one was missing. It's probably saved me hours of miscounting and frustration. Using tools you care about - it really works!</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbtUPIjdjdQq8cRnAh5seOFt7snP24_CouFZt7v_OdhcU4Bim3sqPDQFRhCMi6YdgFJoXmuo80q6F-mtbX6rdlHNQAstGF6cOJrT91jX4Aawk6ISVe-BwX9flQqEQTIUSd1kLjuwsh4Q/s1600/DSCN0444.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQbtUPIjdjdQq8cRnAh5seOFt7snP24_CouFZt7v_OdhcU4Bim3sqPDQFRhCMi6YdgFJoXmuo80q6F-mtbX6rdlHNQAstGF6cOJrT91jX4Aawk6ISVe-BwX9flQqEQTIUSd1kLjuwsh4Q/s640/DSCN0444.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>Nice stitch markers don't have to be expensive, either. I started out with simple brass-colored jump rings from a fly-fishing supply store. Fifty of these cost me about $3 - less than half of the shipping cost! A few years later, when I was first introducing Amy to the wider world of knitting, she made a set of about twenty red-and-black stitch markers for me out of her old beading supplies. However, after I ordered my first set of grab-bag markers from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/LadyDanio">Exchanging Fire</a>, I became well and truly hooked. I've made her Scorpion Honey (brown and gold) and Destiny (green and white) sets my go-to markers for projects that require more than just one or two stitch markers.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoajwaV1_4mGUj9wdrFIERTbCAXe3oXaOPv6wDTqnlqsxFhBt-tBPno0LzUEJkIfEwEoN7RwZ_STtvRiekCtfw23MHZEK_Zu7c0aT4XzLhmwCGuXim5b2qwzYuy2h7jAQPczN2nV0eDMU/s1600/stitchwish.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoajwaV1_4mGUj9wdrFIERTbCAXe3oXaOPv6wDTqnlqsxFhBt-tBPno0LzUEJkIfEwEoN7RwZ_STtvRiekCtfw23MHZEK_Zu7c0aT4XzLhmwCGuXim5b2qwzYuy2h7jAQPczN2nV0eDMU/s640/stitchwish.png" /></a></p>
<p>I keep a constant eye out for new stitch markers to put on my Etsy wishlist. They make convenient, relatively inexpensive little treats to reward myself with or to serve as a pick-me-up when I'm down.</p>
<p>What kind of stitch markers do you own? Do you have favorites, or do you use them all equally?</p>
<p><div align="center"><a href="http://stitchedupto.blogspot.ca" title="Knitting Confessions"><img src="http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt213/bhallelujah/confessionsbutton.png" alt="Knitting Confessions" style="border:none;" /></a></div></p>
<p align="center">Join this week's link-up <a href="http://stitchedupto.blogspot.com/2014/09/knitting-confessions-4.html">here</a>.</p>Kaiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962273893928934473noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468334680054462086.post-66698847553007431702014-09-01T12:06:00.001-06:002014-09-01T12:06:26.581-06:00Knitting Confessions #3.<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc47AKgkFELWrLcUMBgzDxWXvok5kkjYo0jBpbMbNWYlej3u06U_cjDnR3a-mcCnkX4RrriB6a5xApGEbiNzs3L_GZlwzJJvfqnRfAnFrZG-FOKNcnJAvf0Ga67kPmaNIrSuDZAUTFNSk/s1600/knittingconfessions.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc47AKgkFELWrLcUMBgzDxWXvok5kkjYo0jBpbMbNWYlej3u06U_cjDnR3a-mcCnkX4RrriB6a5xApGEbiNzs3L_GZlwzJJvfqnRfAnFrZG-FOKNcnJAvf0Ga67kPmaNIrSuDZAUTFNSk/s1600/knittingconfessions.png" /></a></p>
<p><b>Like most things in the world, knitting has a set of rules and conventions. Sometimes, we knitters break them. This is my knitting confession.</b></p>
<p><u>Confession #3:</u> You know <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2014/08/cold-sheeping-wipdowns-and-other.html">that yarn diet I was talking about yesterday</a>? Cold sheeping and everything?</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwaVi0V7zbgZh-YqiCLRddOEsd6nnLa0hT6bdYKqeVkwKPtNUAjebtrACudGROAsQCOAkk5r41e9mp2ILONIqRGZOULrviMku5LM3HHa-g2P_AI0yjfmxtI4CmmldxJ85MJHRKdzFCw_I/s1600/DSCN0431.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwaVi0V7zbgZh-YqiCLRddOEsd6nnLa0hT6bdYKqeVkwKPtNUAjebtrACudGROAsQCOAkk5r41e9mp2ILONIqRGZOULrviMku5LM3HHa-g2P_AI0yjfmxtI4CmmldxJ85MJHRKdzFCw_I/s640/DSCN0431.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>Needles don't count.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmZcGcNJBA3HaiULdmizMl88uVNkNx8wGGSAjWwMnEK4tRwp88M3N8_jZkK5mhnhnZ3P0XphAf6kSugBMjWLSuMNQ3DXm9RNiwahbpcjLMMT_uhs8xAFQ9HPldPm4DqBU5VxNt06XnLY/s1600/DSCN0428.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmZcGcNJBA3HaiULdmizMl88uVNkNx8wGGSAjWwMnEK4tRwp88M3N8_jZkK5mhnhnZ3P0XphAf6kSugBMjWLSuMNQ3DXm9RNiwahbpcjLMMT_uhs8xAFQ9HPldPm4DqBU5VxNt06XnLY/s640/DSCN0428.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>Stitch markers might count... but not when they're gifts, taken straight from my Etsy wishlist. These lovely shell stitch markers are from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/lavenderhillknits">Lavender Hill Knits</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZHHk_ps82q9yngyd-fDD_gqj7vWJjk7K0ATaWKi7ELkFuBqBdBCoQpYSG6QVeQDAgsUDYn4YKCcNxSlte09ZnMdDHi8Gn4NRLVWcXiG7SaWjQETftbBvFPJTQgev3doAQY0TfdhUlo4/s1600/lanagrossa.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9ZHHk_ps82q9yngyd-fDD_gqj7vWJjk7K0ATaWKi7ELkFuBqBdBCoQpYSG6QVeQDAgsUDYn4YKCcNxSlte09ZnMdDHi8Gn4NRLVWcXiG7SaWjQETftbBvFPJTQgev3doAQY0TfdhUlo4/s640/lanagrossa.JPG" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNDJ7z06A383GxD1b-O-GCkKYsYod5Nsydn-alNX73HWFZgAi1GBnoXLkDjNCU6tv49UKNKjKtD2jFC_m0snncXhSKiIJSo9zAxK2EPyY4Ym7emz4MLarERVMSDCnnJtJ22Bt6vvXD8o/s1600/DSCN0423.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzNDJ7z06A383GxD1b-O-GCkKYsYod5Nsydn-alNX73HWFZgAi1GBnoXLkDjNCU6tv49UKNKjKtD2jFC_m0snncXhSKiIJSo9zAxK2EPyY4Ym7emz4MLarERVMSDCnnJtJ22Bt6vvXD8o/s640/DSCN0423.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>Amy was knitting a cowl for her mother, but wasn't sure about her yarn choice - white mohair held together with pink bamboo. I helped her frog what she'd knit so far. Then I remembered I had a skein of Lana Grossa Lace Lux, which was soft and luxurious and very close to the color she was going for. So I offered it to her, and in return she gave me the white mohair (which I'm fairly sure is Rowan Kidsilk Haze). So... trades don't count. (By the way, have you ever tried to wind mohair into a cake? Don't do it. There's fuzz <i>everywhere</i>.)</p>
<p>Amy and her husband Jordy also gave me a gift certificate to a local yarn store for my birthday. Whatever I buy with that won't count. And, as Ivy of <a href="http://pumpkinspins.blogspot.com">Pumpkin Spins</a> pointed out, if Bandit or anyone else gives me yarn, that <i>definitely</i> won't count.</p>
<p>This is not a hint. Not at all.</p>
<p><div align="center"><a href="http://stitchedupto.blogspot.ca" title="Knitting Confessions"><img src="http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt213/bhallelujah/confessionsbutton.png" alt="Knitting Confessions" style="border:none;" /></a></div></p>
<p align="center">Join this week's link-up <a href="http://stitchedupto.blogspot.com/2014/09/knitting-confessions-3.html">here</a>.</p>Kaiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962273893928934473noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468334680054462086.post-31532076571901633422014-08-31T12:37:00.000-06:002014-08-31T12:37:04.304-06:00Cold sheeping, WIPdowns, and other awfully grown-up concepts.<p>Last week Bandit and I sat down and made a budget. It was designed to be what I call a Terribly Responsible Budget - we went back through our bank statements and extrapolated how much we would be paying for food, rent, utilities and various kinds of insurance each month. Then we started ruthlessly cutting back on luxuries. Subscriptions to Spotify, Audible and satellite TV got the axe. Eating out was forbidden; we cooked solely at home for two weeks and discovered that we could make healthy, tasty meals for less than $40 a week. (At the end of the two weeks, we caved and got burgers to use up a coupon we had. We quickly discovered that fast food tasted disgusting after so much home cooking!)</p>
<p>I decided to do my part by voluntarily giving myself a monthly yarn budget of $0. That's right - I am cold sheeping. At the beginning of July I resolved to buy no more yarn until my birthday. This turned out to be a rather painless resolution (with the exception of a few moments in yarn stores), so I see no problem in maintaining it until the end of the year.</p>
<p>For one, I've discovered the joys of shopping from stash. This was a concept I'd never really understood before - why not just, you know, <i>not</i> build up your stash with yarn you aren't going to use right away, and then shop from actual shops when you need something? Well, this is why: shopping from stash is shopping from a place that only stocks yarn that you like. It's like a yarn store that's perfectly tailored to you.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQUONtvnYT4J1gFhqqEJI68EpEnpwKF3vZIfGJtzIXAJrtsC9AFPvvaDYknz4PScaHBWCH7mSg0Ti34edNfXt5sWJs_SNf-2sNUqTzpJJjWV6pogvAfr4J9CXkSE2tfHgVGpLQmg44Bc/s1600/stashshopping1.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxQUONtvnYT4J1gFhqqEJI68EpEnpwKF3vZIfGJtzIXAJrtsC9AFPvvaDYknz4PScaHBWCH7mSg0Ti34edNfXt5sWJs_SNf-2sNUqTzpJJjWV6pogvAfr4J9CXkSE2tfHgVGpLQmg44Bc/s640/stashshopping1.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>I've been looking at all the beautiful yarns I have, and they've been sparking project ideas left and right.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcEhHuw7XbeHV7DC4p7p_KR2t8kJUBQJzCBxtFnHYFjsZpTUdxU1D65REQX3Jch4igd5YMRndDCoAYB-c3NWjLV9mbNSq287TzLQZB68qEa0NHvY8IitacK4v_P4t3u8rLOYSyUA34-Y/s1600/stashshopping2.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimcEhHuw7XbeHV7DC4p7p_KR2t8kJUBQJzCBxtFnHYFjsZpTUdxU1D65REQX3Jch4igd5YMRndDCoAYB-c3NWjLV9mbNSq287TzLQZB68qEa0NHvY8IitacK4v_P4t3u8rLOYSyUA34-Y/s640/stashshopping2.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>Which brings me to the second, and much more difficult, part of being a Responsible Grown-Up Knitter: <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2014/08/state-of-knits-birthday-edition.html">I have eleven WIPs</a>, and I really need to finish them. I've decided, after some agonizing, that I need to finish at least five of them before I can cast anything else on. Fortunately, I'm in good company here - there's a monthly WIPdown hosted on RemRants, and the My Sister's Knitter Rav group has just started a WIPdown as their quarterly knit/crochet-along. Both are very lively and encouraging communities, and I look forward to cheering everyone else on towards their WIPdown goals!</p>
<p><i>Un</i>fortunately, however, my knitting output has drastically decreased lately. This is, unsurprisingly, because of the kitten. She's begun to grow up and calm down a little, but she still loves to play with yarn or any other wiggly thing. I can no longer safely keep my projects by my computer and knit a few stitches here and there, which is what the vast majority of my knitting time consisted of. It looks like I'll have to start scheduling blocks of uninterrupted knitting time for myself in order to get anything done.</p>Kaiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962273893928934473noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468334680054462086.post-63428259245972360922014-08-25T19:26:00.001-06:002014-08-25T19:26:12.811-06:00Knitting Confessions #2.<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc47AKgkFELWrLcUMBgzDxWXvok5kkjYo0jBpbMbNWYlej3u06U_cjDnR3a-mcCnkX4RrriB6a5xApGEbiNzs3L_GZlwzJJvfqnRfAnFrZG-FOKNcnJAvf0Ga67kPmaNIrSuDZAUTFNSk/s1600/knittingconfessions.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc47AKgkFELWrLcUMBgzDxWXvok5kkjYo0jBpbMbNWYlej3u06U_cjDnR3a-mcCnkX4RrriB6a5xApGEbiNzs3L_GZlwzJJvfqnRfAnFrZG-FOKNcnJAvf0Ga67kPmaNIrSuDZAUTFNSk/s1600/knittingconfessions.png" /></a></p>
<p><b>Like most things in the world, knitting has a set of rules and conventions. Sometimes, we knitters break them. This is my knitting confession.</b></p>
<p><u>Confession #2:</u> I'm a process knitter.</p>
<p>I realize many of you will nod along, completely able to relate, and perhaps even wondering why this even counts as a confession. Believe me, it does. I'm not "more of a process knitter", I'm not "mostly a process knitter", or anything else of the sort. I'm a process knitter. I knit things because I need to have things on hand to knit at all times. Looking through yarns and patterns excites me, having yarn and needles in my hands calms me, and having a finished object makes me feel proud and accomplished.</p>
<p>Then the project comes off the blocking board and...</p>
<p>I can't even tell you where most of my FOs are at the moment. They never get worn. They scarcely even get looked at. I knit things because I fall in love with the pattern, not because I need to wear or use them.</p>
<p>This may be why, even though I am in complete sympathy with selfish knitters, I usually end up deciding to knit things for other people instead. I know they'll probably get more practical use out of my knits than I will.</p>
<p><div align="center"><a href="http://stitchedupto.blogspot.ca" title="Knitting Confessions"><img src="http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt213/bhallelujah/confessionsbutton.png" alt="Knitting Confessions" style="border:none;" /></a></div></p>
<p align="center">Join this week's link-up <a href="http://stitchedupto.blogspot.com/2014/08/knitting-confessions-2.html">here</a>.</p>Kaiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962273893928934473noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468334680054462086.post-59245233490508371622014-08-19T18:19:00.000-06:002014-08-19T18:22:10.561-06:00Knitting Confessions #1.<p align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc47AKgkFELWrLcUMBgzDxWXvok5kkjYo0jBpbMbNWYlej3u06U_cjDnR3a-mcCnkX4RrriB6a5xApGEbiNzs3L_GZlwzJJvfqnRfAnFrZG-FOKNcnJAvf0Ga67kPmaNIrSuDZAUTFNSk/s1600/knittingconfessions.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc47AKgkFELWrLcUMBgzDxWXvok5kkjYo0jBpbMbNWYlej3u06U_cjDnR3a-mcCnkX4RrriB6a5xApGEbiNzs3L_GZlwzJJvfqnRfAnFrZG-FOKNcnJAvf0Ga67kPmaNIrSuDZAUTFNSk/s1600/knittingconfessions.png" /></a></p>
<p>I'm joining a brand-new link-up hosted by Brandy of <a href="http://stitchedupto.blogspot.ca/">Stitched Up In Toronto</a>! She came up with a great concept which I'm sure everyone can relate to and which will inspire many different kinds of posts from different kinds of people.</p>
<p><b>Like most things in the world, knitting has a set of rules and conventions. Sometimes, we knitters break them. This is my knitting confession.</b></p>
<p><u>Confession #1:</u> I'm a lace knitter who never uses lifelines.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQKnRDtk7TPpjsr3QOMl4YdhayYtjgXHow0ldLcd70fqIJfaaGNhQQ5UOoeQVXDovtkJ_zGBibbRDqc3fD1rNqsTFqBkPdFAn8vQ9qDs_Mt3kxO0vE7wu39CuBPXBQ7eqolSWuP9dtzs/s1600/DSCN0289.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJQKnRDtk7TPpjsr3QOMl4YdhayYtjgXHow0ldLcd70fqIJfaaGNhQQ5UOoeQVXDovtkJ_zGBibbRDqc3fD1rNqsTFqBkPdFAn8vQ9qDs_Mt3kxO0vE7wu39CuBPXBQ7eqolSWuP9dtzs/s640/DSCN0289.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>I don't even know <i>how</i> to put in a lifeline or rip back to one. I've never done it before. I've never needed to.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgede8Qrsc3QQyI8qrIslQFiN_RQSDbEdS9LQUJxBuV0pnj7eTpYg5VznYwVz-G9lvtLqMRIiP2I4NsrneqwoGYLz_sVzMLGQvTxhUfp24nWgLE3k2z2ukwBXbE0r53vyAWhVRw75SgUfM/s1600/DSCN0374+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgede8Qrsc3QQyI8qrIslQFiN_RQSDbEdS9LQUJxBuV0pnj7eTpYg5VznYwVz-G9lvtLqMRIiP2I4NsrneqwoGYLz_sVzMLGQvTxhUfp24nWgLE3k2z2ukwBXbE0r53vyAWhVRw75SgUfM/s640/DSCN0374+(2).JPG" /></a></p>
<p>I often peruse the "how do I start learning lace?" threads on Rav. The advice in such threads often boils down to the same themes: take lots of breaks, knit under really good lighting in a place with few distractions, don't knit dark colors (or if you must, put a white sheet on your knees), make sure there's enough contrast between your yarn and needles, and above all, lifelines lifelines lifelines.</p>
<p>I do none of these things.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHKyWH82_0T4RMRLiNeJEyOhcTn5ivaxBmWs5ZHJeBk0r37tkW4hobwJY0bZVQ_6kv3eWF4qBMC770_5pduq03PlBPjCK7nkypbdUI74yx45CXMKch6hBeb3wjlNI-Bi_8gCye8dtuhY/s1600/20140528_103736.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcHKyWH82_0T4RMRLiNeJEyOhcTn5ivaxBmWs5ZHJeBk0r37tkW4hobwJY0bZVQ_6kv3eWF4qBMC770_5pduq03PlBPjCK7nkypbdUI74yx45CXMKch6hBeb3wjlNI-Bi_8gCye8dtuhY/s640/20140528_103736.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>I've found that the only things I need in order to knit lace are the yarn, the needles, the ability to read the pattern accurately, the ability to read the knitting to make sure it matches the pattern, and a lack of any particular trepidation about knitting lace.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivCUdZD99ThXV9ZK4dHBQJqzzHNjsP-nv-DahmML_c1m893m-ftEIreOwnj-ABEOHtnwYd-3nG2w1mb4EdI_aKY-XPLYMgF9rIV8dURMSqR0ZFS1lHT7HlYiLoAFkLKTaloCr728f1vw/s1600/DSCN0515.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjivCUdZD99ThXV9ZK4dHBQJqzzHNjsP-nv-DahmML_c1m893m-ftEIreOwnj-ABEOHtnwYd-3nG2w1mb4EdI_aKY-XPLYMgF9rIV8dURMSqR0ZFS1lHT7HlYiLoAFkLKTaloCr728f1vw/s640/DSCN0515.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>And time. Sometimes, lots and lots of time. I won't claim that I've never had to go back to fix a mistake in my lace knitting - but I don't rip. I tink back, stitch by stitch, carefully and laboriously. I don't curse while I do it. I keep track of where I am, where the mistake happened and where I should be after I fix it.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnAqugrzQNyl4hDRQjdLtzEq2aLnfewEVOECw3HsbQvfryH9G5GOWQT0cGILNjzrNoValGfPdmX69cc7YLYQHKcosdb3b9mBqzjZAdTVwmZprMKcfUDV841FQs3XS-OoVY2ZgJQWFTQw/s1600/goldstars2.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxnAqugrzQNyl4hDRQjdLtzEq2aLnfewEVOECw3HsbQvfryH9G5GOWQT0cGILNjzrNoValGfPdmX69cc7YLYQHKcosdb3b9mBqzjZAdTVwmZprMKcfUDV841FQs3XS-OoVY2ZgJQWFTQw/s640/goldstars2.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>It works for me.</p>
<p><div align="center"><a href="http://stitchedupto.blogspot.ca" title="Knitting Confessions"><img src="http://i613.photobucket.com/albums/tt213/bhallelujah/confessionsbutton.png" alt="Knitting Confessions" style="border:none;" /></a></div></p>
<p align="center">Join this week's link-up <a href="http://stitchedupto.blogspot.ca/2014/08/knitting-confessions-straight-needles.html">here</a>.</p>Kaiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962273893928934473noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468334680054462086.post-26858956455452043272014-08-16T14:50:00.001-06:002014-08-16T14:50:10.972-06:00State of the knits: Birthday edition!<p>Yesterday was my birthday! (Man, I'm getting so old.) My parents gave me two wonderful birthday gifts this year. First, they financed my move; last weekend I finished moving in with Bandit. Second, they sent me a box of chocolate-covered strawberries.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDNoM9z_DzDGMwmP00P_jZ5WGjqu_0vTYo0jSHWL7j8YvTejcDDl5zv0mIoUqeV9nRpH_VTtejNkklZGK21bJPLZGRnKqnltFooAmoctwz_yhGPmZNnWn1qp7D1E5MgVoO_YZiERkTk4/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtDNoM9z_DzDGMwmP00P_jZ5WGjqu_0vTYo0jSHWL7j8YvTejcDDl5zv0mIoUqeV9nRpH_VTtejNkklZGK21bJPLZGRnKqnltFooAmoctwz_yhGPmZNnWn1qp7D1E5MgVoO_YZiERkTk4/s640/photo+4.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>Now, I've always thought of my stash as fairly small and reasonable. But I have my stash all in one place for the first time in years, and I'm not so sure anymore:</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJgr_1RWAeQ7_uuoC3f8wrUyEsviQPaTk9zF7z3wr8rFJLnaHDGQY9Xxk3yYppARGsbDGjROgAoIQF2OjNV7oncSwKBGYZ9f1JbSH-sERH-0gLuo9wBAkSDxr4SVBiEeWoILFt0iW7k0/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRJgr_1RWAeQ7_uuoC3f8wrUyEsviQPaTk9zF7z3wr8rFJLnaHDGQY9Xxk3yYppARGsbDGjROgAoIQF2OjNV7oncSwKBGYZ9f1JbSH-sERH-0gLuo9wBAkSDxr4SVBiEeWoILFt0iW7k0/s640/photo+1.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>The 18-quart/17-liter tubs on the left are from my place, and the 16-quart/15-liter tubs on the right hold the stash that has been living at Bandit's place. Top left is workhorse yarns, featuring a lot of Cascade 220 and some worsted yarn that I experimented with dyeing many months ago. Bottom left is luxury yarn: anything laceweight or with silk or cashmere in it. Top right is a bit more luxury yarn, and bottom right is sock yarn and more yarn for dyeing.</p>
<p>Then there's an entire fifth tub and a hollow storage ottoman devoted to holding all my WIPs:</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqftnxAwNWql-ojxDa0_iUzEY-Nho9jIyD86LpqcYZ-zyxke43NfllxSJ-50QniNu5H7iX9ZOXGS7oQDES8iqmamUcwvEXnrCHoURiLYkhhahj8xD51fhwY2mA1Uze0VqeSa_WwE9fAQ/s1600/project1.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqftnxAwNWql-ojxDa0_iUzEY-Nho9jIyD86LpqcYZ-zyxke43NfllxSJ-50QniNu5H7iX9ZOXGS7oQDES8iqmamUcwvEXnrCHoURiLYkhhahj8xD51fhwY2mA1Uze0VqeSa_WwE9fAQ/s640/project1.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>Starting from the top and going clockwise:
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/winterlime/jacke---cardigan-opera">Jacke/cardigan *Opera*</a> in gray Skaska silk/yak laceweight. Currently in the middle of the second sleeve.
<li><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/winterlime/lapis">Lapis</a> in Blue Sky Alpacas Alpaca Silk, in the Peacock colorway. Hibernating because of a sizing issue.
<li><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/winterlime/y-ddraig-shawl">Y Ddraig</a> in Twisted Fiber Art Duchess Evolution in the Elphaba colorway. I would be knitting on this a lot more if the dark colors weren't bleeding so much onto my hands and onto the needles.
<li><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/winterlime/whispers">Whispers</a> in DyeForYarn merino/baby camel, in the Closing Pandora's Box colorway. Well on my way to being done with the front!
<li>Dishcloth I'm making to practice two-color double-knitting, using gray and blue Cascade 220 Superwash.
<li>Slide socks for Amy that have been hibernating so long that they don't even have a Ravelry project page.
<li><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/winterlime/ink">Ink</a> in MadTosh Merino Light, in the Mare colorway. So close to finished. Hibernating for some unknown reason.
<li>In the center: <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/projects/winterlime/celestarium">Celestarium</a> in Black Sheep Dyeworks silk/merino lace, in the Aegean Multi colorway. According to the progress chart, I'm about 40% through, though it feels like I'm a lot further in.
</ul>
<p>And if eight WIPs weren't enough already, I gave myself permission to cast on as many new projects as I wanted for my birthday:</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBkQ0qo47QGOCnPSSY0hNx9e_g14H31jXJwZVlNwYGQfe-9XKuYWnnEdQKW5carrlUkYlSjWO8Hc6FWFwwv0lSf-BoU0UUhjHhJD-TySczn3rgDUZxAOu57oYlJUyre6PrlNZItPQl8g/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheBkQ0qo47QGOCnPSSY0hNx9e_g14H31jXJwZVlNwYGQfe-9XKuYWnnEdQKW5carrlUkYlSjWO8Hc6FWFwwv0lSf-BoU0UUhjHhJD-TySczn3rgDUZxAOu57oYlJUyre6PrlNZItPQl8g/s640/photo+3.JPG" /></a></p>
<ul>
<li>Blue tonal cakes on the left: The Cursebreaker. I've knitted half of one cuff of Pickle's socks so far, and... these may actually turn out to be too <i>big</i>. I've decided that if these socks turn out too big, Pickle can deal with that. He'll own a nice pair of bed socks, and I'll buy some other yarn and knit some other pattern for him.
<li>Gold yarn in the middle: Povetkina's Dyeworks mulberry silk. Still designated for Sheherazade, soon to be cast on.
<li>Black and green on the right: Zitron Trekking XL, Bandit's next pair of socks. I've cast on the toe of one already, but in a contrast yarn (left over from my spring-grass Francies). I really hope that this one ball of yarn will be enough for both socks.
</ul>
<p>What do you think? Enough stash? Too many projects? Have you ever banished several projects to deep hibernation while casting on a slew of new ones?</p>
Kaiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962273893928934473noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468334680054462086.post-20973891867606273042014-08-08T17:30:00.000-06:002014-08-08T17:30:08.677-06:00The saga of Pickle's socks.<p>You know, the story of the dark curse that hangs over this pair of socks-to-be is nearly as old as this blog itself.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTLZd_RgX4lQFp7r2TY1U9RfyfXLrPK2w_y-Su1LylOSZOG-RKj-uNw7Vyqy487rs55LtTMBGGjhJalN3Eedo11ISM4CJfYkE5mv4ZCeTU58m0MZQJ44P01pT5JBPk2F1UDCtjURxvgc/s1600/paz.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnTLZd_RgX4lQFp7r2TY1U9RfyfXLrPK2w_y-Su1LylOSZOG-RKj-uNw7Vyqy487rs55LtTMBGGjhJalN3Eedo11ISM4CJfYkE5mv4ZCeTU58m0MZQJ44P01pT5JBPk2F1UDCtjURxvgc/s640/paz.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>
<ul>
<li><b>July 2012:</b> Pickle and I go to the LYS, <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2012/07/ravellenic-training-part-2.html">and he picks out the yarn.</a></li>
<li><b>August 2012:</b> <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2012/08/socks-saturday-from-michigan.html">I blithely cast on the socks on my way to Michigan,</a> little knowing what mortal horrors I am entering.
<li><b>August 2012:</b> <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2012/08/itchy-fingers.html">Resentment at this first attempt sets in.</a>
<li><b>September 2012:</b> <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2012/09/unsocks-saturday.html">First attempt is frogged.</a>
<li><b>February 2013:</b> <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2013/02/state-of-knits-2013-part-3.html">I find what I judge to be the correct pattern for attempt two.</a>
<li><b>April 2013:</b> I start Pickle's socks again <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2013/04/socks-saturday-so-uh.html">and immediately steal them</a>.
<li><b>April 2013:</b> <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2013/04/fret-not.html">I explain what I mean</a> by stealing Pickle's socks.
<li><b>April 2013:</b> <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2013/04/socks-saturday-not-again.html">Attempt two is frogged as well.</a>
<li><b>Sometime during my long blog hiatus:</b> Attempt three is knitted on smaller needles, and is frogged.
<li><b>April 2014:</b> I report briefly on <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2014/04/fo-retrospective-roundup-socks.html">the death of attempt four.</a>
<li><b>June 2014:</b> I <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2014/06/fo-spring-grass-francie.html">finish a pair of Francie socks</a> and figure out why the socks I knit from this pattern run so absurdly small.
<li><b>August 2014???:</b> Roll up your sleeves. It's time to break this curse.
</ul>Kaiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962273893928934473noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468334680054462086.post-17111079062500840932014-08-06T19:03:00.001-06:002014-08-06T19:14:52.921-06:00FO: Bandit's Honeycomb Socks.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqy7_jR4XMWn6P49OXvEpTh5CliNdzzJfbDoa2cencBZ3rhhjT9D9YciM03x8LMAhP7HBEYMQ_L8cnU87f3Zu-1vSxpg8_sjQYNPnvcAKzz6dXiiK5geCqCJeDj-QK6ad5C-E36SM0Nx0/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqy7_jR4XMWn6P49OXvEpTh5CliNdzzJfbDoa2cencBZ3rhhjT9D9YciM03x8LMAhP7HBEYMQ_L8cnU87f3Zu-1vSxpg8_sjQYNPnvcAKzz6dXiiK5geCqCJeDj-QK6ad5C-E36SM0Nx0/s640/photo+1.JPG" /></a></p>
<p><b>Started:</b> July 26, 2013</p>
<p><b>Finished:</b> August 4, 2014</p>
<p><b>Yarn/yardage used:</b> Two skeins (175 yards each) of Koigu Painter's Palette Premium Merino (KPPPM) in the lyrically named colorway P613. I enjoyed having one skein for each foot, avoiding dividing-ball-into-two-equal-portions shenanigans. Contrast toes, heels, and cuff accent in Kraemer Yarns Saucon Sock; I kind of just have a big ball of this kicking around and don't bother to measure yardage.</p>
<p><b>Needles:</b> DPNs in sizes 1, 2 and 3 (the latter two for the toes only).</p>
<p><b>Notes:</b>
<p>Well, these socks have been a long time coming. They were supposed to be a birthday present for Bandit last year, and then when I picked them up again recently, they were supposed to be a birthday present for him this year. Apparently late sock gifts have just become <i>de rigueur</i> around me.</p>
<p>They did not, of course, actually require over a year's worth of actual work. I cast on the toe of one sock, knitted an inch of the foot - and then stopped. Yarn and needles languished in a project bag in my bedroom for month after month. I finally picked them up again in late June, and finished them surprisingly quickly.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8Aw8fgpp1pxM0mbPwnfayGnSFyanlalFeuMu7ukZ4fznWSjPt0GGNGXLS9_ypHCdPfAI5ggSWsiczTn0KLT2pDMDv7YCQgCq2TlvNNcyg1F3mKM_Qn6xpM-NPOXUY9vsg2M86HHw6zs/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8Aw8fgpp1pxM0mbPwnfayGnSFyanlalFeuMu7ukZ4fznWSjPt0GGNGXLS9_ypHCdPfAI5ggSWsiczTn0KLT2pDMDv7YCQgCq2TlvNNcyg1F3mKM_Qn6xpM-NPOXUY9vsg2M86HHw6zs/s640/photo+2.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>I don't remember exactly why I put them into hibernation for so long, but it probably had something to do with mortal dread of the <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2013/04/socks-saturday-fo-bandits-socks-redux.html">heel fiasco</a> that occurred the last time I tried to knit toe-up socks for Bandit. I had no idea when or how quickly to start heel increases, and my attempts to wing it resulted only in lumpy, uncomfortable sock heels. (Bandit says that pair of socks is in his closet. We <i>never</i> use or even venture into the closet.) I associated toe-up socks with guesswork, frustration, and bitter recriminations. After this pair, though, I shall never fear toe-up socks again. The Fish Lips Kiss Heel is really quite a miracle. It's easy to determine when to start the heel, easy to memorize and knit, and even easy to incorporate a contrast heel. It's worked in the same way both toe-up and cuff-down. Best of all, Bandit says that it's the most comfortable heel I've knit yet.</p>
<p>I think it's safe to say that I'm getting my sock mojo back at long last. Now... do I dare attempt Pickle's cursed socks for the fifth time?</p>Kaiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962273893928934473noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468334680054462086.post-36794711987911884692014-07-25T16:47:00.003-06:002014-07-25T16:47:53.717-06:00Of catproofing and audiobooks.<p>It's amazing how many things you have to catproof once you adopt a curious and apparently tireless kitten. Keturah has learned that my laptop is off limits, but she takes great delight in vexing us by drinking from our water cups, playing in the bathroom sink while we brush our teeth, and diving into the jungle of power cords behind the TV. She chews on charge cables, earbuds, and of course, my knitting. We've taken to exiling her from our presence whenever she does something particularly offensive. The problem is, when Bandit is working during the day, the only place I can exile her is the living room where his home office is, and the only place he can exile her is the bedroom where I am! We've concluded that, short of shutting her into the bathroom or laundry room all day, the only solution is to get a bigger apartment.</p>
<p>The problem was somewhat alleviated when Bandit bought me some practical early birthday presents: a <a href="http://www.waterbobble.com/">Bobble</a>, one of those water bottles with a carbon filter built into the mouthpiece, and a Bluetooth headset.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaIBeUv6dbldYQ7PVaj7ng594SqprR5uSbtOmd2vgJoPQ8CTm9Hhyphenhyphen4VtSMXW3KoTVOK6SEEtA9GBruX1rRGlGntVDVe7t9raA8k6cZMttbyHmUG-HVql97zWD9jmY5MmPmzW8So8tVX8/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkaIBeUv6dbldYQ7PVaj7ng594SqprR5uSbtOmd2vgJoPQ8CTm9Hhyphenhyphen4VtSMXW3KoTVOK6SEEtA9GBruX1rRGlGntVDVe7t9raA8k6cZMttbyHmUG-HVql97zWD9jmY5MmPmzW8So8tVX8/s640/photo+1.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>I love this headset. Its main body sits around one's neck, and the earbud cables are magnetically held in the hollows at its tips when they're not in use. It's extremely lightweight and provides excellent sound quality as well as a pretty reasonable maximum battery life. And I can't get over the fact that I can now roam freely around the house while taking calls or listening to music! It's a welcome reprieve from feeling not just mentally but <i>physically</i> shackled to the computer when I've got a headphone cord keeping me on a tight leash.</p>
<p>Best of all, when I'm trying to relax, I no longer have to guard against feline assaults on my knitting <i>and</i> my audiobook <i>and</i> my drink. Just the knitting. I can defend my knitting perfectly well. Most of the time.</p>
<p>Although this morning I discovered a giant loop of yarn tugged out from what had been a single stitch on my newest project. Not long ago I rummaged through some of my older stash and tried to match up individual skeins to potential patterns. This lovely, light skein of 55% merino/45% baby camel from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/DyeForYarn">DyeForYarn</a>...</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1vr_c0nmzObunp-Ii1bWjgXTcG0dfNdHwslXSMlKhvd-flZ0FZi8ZqWXEg82y-GzdWFO9aHcZ858A7It-bY2LKvkpNZYuarW7ByJgsgn5rGf_c67Ms1BFKxJxmjgRYk0dXsmAxThyGQ/s1600/wollekamel.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1vr_c0nmzObunp-Ii1bWjgXTcG0dfNdHwslXSMlKhvd-flZ0FZi8ZqWXEg82y-GzdWFO9aHcZ858A7It-bY2LKvkpNZYuarW7ByJgsgn5rGf_c67Ms1BFKxJxmjgRYk0dXsmAxThyGQ/s640/wollekamel.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>...seemed perfect for the <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/whispers">Whispers</a> top by Veera Välimäki. I'm shortening the bottom ribbing by an inch because I'm cutting it dangerously close on yardage. This skein of yarn has 75 fewer yards than the pattern calls for, and no one seems to have any more of this colorway. But I have faith in <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2014/06/fo-spring-grass-francie.html">the yardage god who loves me</a>.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7C3D1fvJ7g64Ez98kIlzsa4IVpXJghWbIz2PrxckhDeqr0q332BUY1zXJGHPsOZ-0N1YIGAqZCF11DVWTIyNPkD6use23yj8U5gWO1aRYDY1vytP4U_vru4DOqystFCG_C0LQGlV9gc/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx7C3D1fvJ7g64Ez98kIlzsa4IVpXJghWbIz2PrxckhDeqr0q332BUY1zXJGHPsOZ-0N1YIGAqZCF11DVWTIyNPkD6use23yj8U5gWO1aRYDY1vytP4U_vru4DOqystFCG_C0LQGlV9gc/s640/photo+3.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>I'm listening to <a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/History/Catherine-the-Great-Audiobook/B00609RYH2">Catherine the Great: Portrait of a Woman</a> by Robert K. Massie while I knit this. I know that many of you enjoy listening to audiobooks while you craft, but does anyone else pair specific projects with specific books? I knitted <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2014/05/fo-hanami.html">Hanami</a> while listening to the early Sherlock Holmes stories, and a good deal of the <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2013/04/fo-nouveau-beaded-capelet.html">Nouveau Beaded Capelet</a> while listening to Jane Eyre. I plan to knit a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/y-ddraig-shawl">Y Ddraig</a> shawl while listening to <a href="http://www.audible.com/pd/Fiction/New-York-Audiobook/B0034IHX28">New York: The Novel</a> by Edward Rutherfurd (I love his historical fiction!), and I've been saving a lecture series on Byzantium for my future <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/sheherazade-beaded-lace-shawl">Sheherazade</a>.</p>
<p>I also finished the second heel on Bandit's socks, and the cuffs are slowly growing now.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK35BHWSdseaIKjJ_PBTw2zo4eiZT_sy89EP09Rm3YJcdoiRaJb_o2iG3_NHUvYE4C6aHHoZY6EuWYihN-w8A1QGqzLm622K6umKdynyj1Gf2HpFrkG_5uGEzpVxxO1VwhxtpxRhR-lcs/s1600/photo+5.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhK35BHWSdseaIKjJ_PBTw2zo4eiZT_sy89EP09Rm3YJcdoiRaJb_o2iG3_NHUvYE4C6aHHoZY6EuWYihN-w8A1QGqzLm622K6umKdynyj1Gf2HpFrkG_5uGEzpVxxO1VwhxtpxRhR-lcs/s640/photo+5.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>The socks don't get an audiobook at all. I work on them almost exclusively on the living room couch in the evenings while watching Bandit play video games, or with a Starcraft stream going in the background. After all, I have to have knitting in my hands at almost every hour, even in dangerous kitten-infested rooms. These sturdy socks are the most likely to withstand an ambush.</p>Kaiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962273893928934473noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468334680054462086.post-29589961992954250372014-07-20T12:14:00.000-06:002014-07-20T12:14:08.723-06:00Socks Sunday: Honeycomb Socks WIP.<p>Well, despite the kitten's best efforts, I have managed to get a bit of knitting done over the past two weeks. Yuuret is all done, all blocked, and awaiting only thread and needles that are small enough to fit through the holes on the clasps. I'll have an FO post for it soon.</p>
<p>I've also picked this pair of socks back up. I started them for Bandit last summer and set them aside over the winter. When I first got these skeins of Koigu KPPPM, they reminded us both so strongly of honeybees and honeycomb that I decided to find and incorporate a honeycomb motif into the stitches. This one is taken from <a href="http://www.knitty.com/ISSUEdf11/PATTapisdorsata.php">Apis Dorsata</a>, a free shawl pattern from Knitty.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpE-qsIvvkfv5Kcvi6th8MHmbl3hyYKkcpwoR90u_qBrLwPIQX5WmJE83TOCVvMZ_Dd64pYM1o6PwKYgBXRhWQSx2DZ6mPp6g9gXzi-eCvkyrvM1jiJ3__om6oZ0vfoC2parvtnrRics/s1600/sock2.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZpE-qsIvvkfv5Kcvi6th8MHmbl3hyYKkcpwoR90u_qBrLwPIQX5WmJE83TOCVvMZ_Dd64pYM1o6PwKYgBXRhWQSx2DZ6mPp6g9gXzi-eCvkyrvM1jiJ3__om6oZ0vfoC2parvtnrRics/s640/sock2.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>The toes and heels are knit from Saucon Sock by Kraemer Yarns - a cotton/acrylic/nylon blend. I wouldn't want to knit a whole sock out of it, but it's been good for contrasting toes, heels and cuffs, especially for skeins that run a little on the less-yardage side.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclFBG5lgtjeVTKpzQalU3BfE-A59YHr9EdMkXH_IXkVUIjxB0xDy-HSr2ZOawT0dSHTRtpJHtQPWFPD-kEbvoSeVUa4wj_a8gN4V7N7Qp5VCU5hjgiwauM2qM0Ionn8Pu9UtRi1SLttk/s1600/sock4.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclFBG5lgtjeVTKpzQalU3BfE-A59YHr9EdMkXH_IXkVUIjxB0xDy-HSr2ZOawT0dSHTRtpJHtQPWFPD-kEbvoSeVUa4wj_a8gN4V7N7Qp5VCU5hjgiwauM2qM0Ionn8Pu9UtRi1SLttk/s640/sock4.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>I decided to try out the Fish Lips Kiss heel. I'd had problems trying to figure out where to start the heel <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2013/04/socks-saturday-fo-bandits-socks-redux.html">with my last pair of toe-up socks for Bandit</a>, so I was super excited to see that the FLK heel provided an easy way of determining this. I traced Bandit's foot on cardboard, cut out the foot shape, and then used the mathematical formula provided in the pattern to determine where the heel hinge was. (That's the lighter pencil line on the cardboard, about an inch under where the darker one is. I had also tried to do it just by feel, but measured it incorrectly; that's what the darker line is.)</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKuk-i5ZV54qglyuHiwhua37GKVG9f1LJ65sDW2HXKlbybVu8EG9PgkdjDNrVHSvKLKJ76328vnA8FRLah-o5qUz42nlwpac8B9ddYjFmN9qbXwZxoocbkiE6Oyz2KhthvBFEvyb69brM/s1600/sock5.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKuk-i5ZV54qglyuHiwhua37GKVG9f1LJ65sDW2HXKlbybVu8EG9PgkdjDNrVHSvKLKJ76328vnA8FRLah-o5qUz42nlwpac8B9ddYjFmN9qbXwZxoocbkiE6Oyz2KhthvBFEvyb69brM/s640/sock5.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>Just for comparison's sake, this is my own cardboard foot tracing next to Bandit's.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_XTH3k7w7eBK4Kz8xxRMV3vT0FI7yIo7ery3qRlaCoV3xEJjvaQ1WL9__p_K8HcVxh2VoWWefRuycCWEiAV9qR6UDZWkVeupPK6UCdlj4s9ueCA4zZSDNL0_Lix4Qzwvvb7r_CkiQezs/s1600/sock7.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_XTH3k7w7eBK4Kz8xxRMV3vT0FI7yIo7ery3qRlaCoV3xEJjvaQ1WL9__p_K8HcVxh2VoWWefRuycCWEiAV9qR6UDZWkVeupPK6UCdlj4s9ueCA4zZSDNL0_Lix4Qzwvvb7r_CkiQezs/s640/sock7.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>I knit the first sock up to the heel hinge line, fitting the sock over the cardboard form every so often to check my progress, and then started the second sock, to make sure that the body of the two would match. Yesterday afternoon I finally got the second sock to the hinge line as well... and then I began the heel. The heel was done by early evening.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOUDwgW4P0LoM1EBkT1Cj5rZTBtknKqqCOsymC_G-6I1WQkYnyOZWrff_a4OnRo_tVNCsnQ47TeltYACTT52VH06eiD7gKrqW8ml7wue8W9a8yNoLYggmDtq3nF2Ft8p4ve2np6kphhYw/s1600/sock6.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOUDwgW4P0LoM1EBkT1Cj5rZTBtknKqqCOsymC_G-6I1WQkYnyOZWrff_a4OnRo_tVNCsnQ47TeltYACTT52VH06eiD7gKrqW8ml7wue8W9a8yNoLYggmDtq3nF2Ft8p4ve2np6kphhYw/s640/sock6.JPG" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsawVSdUWqEyjRB7zjjl5Tc1xLext5psubqEqwnIfzLQghFnzMTma-6mOtHandsltAaE22gAo0SnAP-Hu99UnO5pDxHUjH3bIjJ3vFZRUUiK05sciULNDEnwyROddQC_1GleU4LnvOv-Y/s1600/sock8.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsawVSdUWqEyjRB7zjjl5Tc1xLext5psubqEqwnIfzLQghFnzMTma-6mOtHandsltAaE22gAo0SnAP-Hu99UnO5pDxHUjH3bIjJ3vFZRUUiK05sciULNDEnwyROddQC_1GleU4LnvOv-Y/s640/sock8.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>The heel is called Fish Lips Kiss, by the way, because when it doesn't have a heel in it, it kind of flattens out and looks a bit like fish lips.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGuxaYBfK8sMcRBrCZ2iYb5piakBfs1f2lYKkIKXXXwC5JVrvk_nxexcZco5HuwW04c1yWC_uB13PhbSdGQv03Rsf7CqdsqZYSfjmQItcnCQA2tOKcXFUtO3B8mPe2_4jliXZoNJGj4A/s1600/sock9.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGuxaYBfK8sMcRBrCZ2iYb5piakBfs1f2lYKkIKXXXwC5JVrvk_nxexcZco5HuwW04c1yWC_uB13PhbSdGQv03Rsf7CqdsqZYSfjmQItcnCQA2tOKcXFUtO3B8mPe2_4jliXZoNJGj4A/s640/sock9.JPG" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxT7v-0Xpe9r6Kfd9Cvjf0bzq4C1OC2LYzQmVT9YDHaDgC14Hdm_g2KyegAa4B-500YhhS1Xg4sDh9-Bm7BmX_Q0kGYNwL8miE2bcvIEJr8ZUTnFl8-eOLuHBpbkkPRuEWfExNF8JRqc/s1600/sock10.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirxT7v-0Xpe9r6Kfd9Cvjf0bzq4C1OC2LYzQmVT9YDHaDgC14Hdm_g2KyegAa4B-500YhhS1Xg4sDh9-Bm7BmX_Q0kGYNwL8miE2bcvIEJr8ZUTnFl8-eOLuHBpbkkPRuEWfExNF8JRqc/s640/sock10.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>I have to say, this heel has been absolutely lovely to knit. The cardboard foot form, by itself, cut out a lot of the frustration and guesswork of knitting a toe-up sock. But the heel construction is a marvel. It's simple to memorize, involves no counting, and makes for a join that's surprisingly seamless and free of holes. And best of all, the pattern is only $1. A few of the sixteen pages, I feel, could have been left out entirely - they smack a bit of empty promotion and self-congratulation - but once one finds the real meat of the information, it's precious information indeed.</p>
<p>Keturah, by the way, got very curious about my lightbox while I was photographing the sock. I warned her that if she kept exploring around in it, I'd take pictures of her.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguATPNj5B0qy4BAgEO_chizFOCWattfaxceStrwKct6TCHIfh-KBgNjzPWVNw3TLNBDJe7dW_4qG0dq1z91LNhxQJwWghXmqFUgPC5VXtUwNJ03oHDTmbNlxSAJNbyV9Bgow9s1Ld8ffE/s1600/sockcat.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguATPNj5B0qy4BAgEO_chizFOCWattfaxceStrwKct6TCHIfh-KBgNjzPWVNw3TLNBDJe7dW_4qG0dq1z91LNhxQJwWghXmqFUgPC5VXtUwNJ03oHDTmbNlxSAJNbyV9Bgow9s1Ld8ffE/s640/sockcat.JPG" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWp25AAEn5nxfwz7E9Kc9R7LnaQN9NYZ6LrNw0Yhh-ZiICG9HW2VkK01rqdIV9S1Fe01t4Cfx5FdBEoXYbsVvK-fwBTvUJuENtLD2uc1Fs3VJeaFMz4gCa9fkOL2vUbNRYf1omup98QMw/s1600/sockcat1.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWp25AAEn5nxfwz7E9Kc9R7LnaQN9NYZ6LrNw0Yhh-ZiICG9HW2VkK01rqdIV9S1Fe01t4Cfx5FdBEoXYbsVvK-fwBTvUJuENtLD2uc1Fs3VJeaFMz4gCa9fkOL2vUbNRYf1omup98QMw/s640/sockcat1.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>She didn't heed my warnings.</p>Kaiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962273893928934473noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468334680054462086.post-65952118118941814752014-07-08T21:51:00.000-06:002014-07-08T21:51:11.813-06:00Kitten!<p>Bandit and I adopted a kitten!</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxutqq-4Kv7aDv9mXZU1oqucOXwYIHw_Z5eBksL4C3rYI9OyKhzJ5a8cfsB_XV28C0pQphsZePQw9xcHnb99WXfKD1N_JUNsx6rsCmr1Or_7kOWTHUljIk0cs9oTXgNzjHbgoZCTboNmI/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxutqq-4Kv7aDv9mXZU1oqucOXwYIHw_Z5eBksL4C3rYI9OyKhzJ5a8cfsB_XV28C0pQphsZePQw9xcHnb99WXfKD1N_JUNsx6rsCmr1Or_7kOWTHUljIk0cs9oTXgNzjHbgoZCTboNmI/s400/photo+1.JPG" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45HhxgdcmySn5WlsJ5JpKJuPp7zhHmneScH8A38-iJ_8q0P0C5nCIAmuaeoxD6fWJWqweS_QKN42tTcGfOsVmt1bL7kTqLf3Ph-fBjPaaMSZ13HDUVStiwkxEZRdie0pelURIUdHzv0E/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj45HhxgdcmySn5WlsJ5JpKJuPp7zhHmneScH8A38-iJ_8q0P0C5nCIAmuaeoxD6fWJWqweS_QKN42tTcGfOsVmt1bL7kTqLf3Ph-fBjPaaMSZ13HDUVStiwkxEZRdie0pelURIUdHzv0E/s400/photo+2.JPG" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhHCW9yCd0nai1DpCqVwRXO-uEh0P0ihggVzn6XlHFAvuvWZcZ4yGztRP7LQSeiwDGtuMpbdzbWtSC_4a5Hoot2a52cI77NprhXV8lJg9g6RpbvZhnlmD25NrNWqh6eceFjk_kr5i7co/s1600/photo+4.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXhHCW9yCd0nai1DpCqVwRXO-uEh0P0ihggVzn6XlHFAvuvWZcZ4yGztRP7LQSeiwDGtuMpbdzbWtSC_4a5Hoot2a52cI77NprhXV8lJg9g6RpbvZhnlmD25NrNWqh6eceFjk_kr5i7co/s400/photo+4.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>And it turns out that kittens are a handful and a half to deal with. I've gotten little Keturah mostly trained not to walk across the keyboard, and am slowly working on getting her to leave my yarn and project bags alone. Any advice from all you veteran cat-owners on how to make them respect the knitting?</p>
Kaiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962273893928934473noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468334680054462086.post-24895414829951105362014-06-27T11:50:00.001-06:002014-06-27T11:50:05.896-06:00FO: Storm Warning 2 (Nuriel)<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwym6QLpX3sUVFO96qwDkhXcijvyr8NcSqTtEqbV_d_OKhxRYf55WSiKiKMv7lbkMMftasA5ocp4_UrzqtxGhrzaFM7vv4apmDl4VIx7hN7SDkNzSuPT325_D08ZJ_IC_gHHICFNgTbU/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQwym6QLpX3sUVFO96qwDkhXcijvyr8NcSqTtEqbV_d_OKhxRYf55WSiKiKMv7lbkMMftasA5ocp4_UrzqtxGhrzaFM7vv4apmDl4VIx7hN7SDkNzSuPT325_D08ZJ_IC_gHHICFNgTbU/s640/photo+1.JPG" /></a></p>
<p><b>Started:</b> June 11, 2014</p>
<p><b>Finished:</b> June 25, 2014</p>
<p><b>Yarn/yardage used:</b> Mountain Colors Jeannette (65% cashmere, 35% silk), 158 yards (exactly one skein)</p>
<p><b>Needles:</b> Size 6 circulars</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5WHRwOCj-cUpW9LqwylhlQCKzGBZu28109KsC7tFNWPbiKu6oqgqTy5igsQxBszesSBXIgSQOIivSJbX4a6IPUQwPRavKPkkS53xRXrxpBJWsFYYBewJ7yk2CYR1Vw9DeLzj8b8LE80/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX5WHRwOCj-cUpW9LqwylhlQCKzGBZu28109KsC7tFNWPbiKu6oqgqTy5igsQxBszesSBXIgSQOIivSJbX4a6IPUQwPRavKPkkS53xRXrxpBJWsFYYBewJ7yk2CYR1Vw9DeLzj8b8LE80/s640/photo+3.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>I don't think I have much to say about this, other than:
<br>1. This pattern isn't so bad when you have a relatively small skein of yarn that won't drag the project out into the dozens of repeats and hundreds of garter stitches.
<br>2. I used up every inch of this yarn.
<br>3. This yarn feels like knitting with a newborn kitten.</p>
<p>(Also, I seem to have misplaced my big box of pins, so the border leaves aren't being blocked as neatly as I'd like.)</p>Kaiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962273893928934473noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468334680054462086.post-16424314283570404342014-06-20T17:50:00.000-06:002014-06-20T17:50:38.488-06:00Gems and goodies.<p>Fortunately for my recent fit of esurience*, I've had some beautiful little treats sent my way recently!</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTL2NhI2pLfbIQVWjODiJJSWMLtr2Kf_hvpYiQTv2v3P3OCr_NTw7fpmHY82zyUlBJm7s9D5uYhK2GyHzIFNS-BiF0273UK3FFVmohK1e1srxA9RLRHIz-1hldEP9DH4vvIF8YFqSNeA4/s1600/goldengoodies.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTL2NhI2pLfbIQVWjODiJJSWMLtr2Kf_hvpYiQTv2v3P3OCr_NTw7fpmHY82zyUlBJm7s9D5uYhK2GyHzIFNS-BiF0273UK3FFVmohK1e1srxA9RLRHIz-1hldEP9DH4vvIF8YFqSNeA4/s640/goldengoodies.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>The golden yarn is mulberry silk lace in "Gold of the Aztecs" from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Povetkina">Povetkina's Dyeworks</a> on Etsy. I can't tell you how thrilled I was when I found yarn in shimmering true gold. I'd <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2014/05/some-scattered-things.html">resolved to knit</a> Sheherazade in gold with dark ruby beads, but it <i>had to be gold</i> - yellow or orange would have ruined it for me. This yarn is an absolute marvel. It took a little over two weeks to get to me from Russia, but 1) it came all the way from Russia and 2) it's so worth it.</p>
<p>Moving on clockwise... I was lucky enough recently to have won a giveaway hosted by the <a href="http://www.dull-roar.com/">Dull Roar</a> blog and sponsored by Alicia of <a href="http://woolendiversions.com/blog/">Woolen Diversions</a>. Alicia kindly offered me my choice of scents of her Sweet Sheep solid lotion bars - and I have to say, Alicia's done an excellent job with her products. It was well-packaged so that the lotion arrived still solid and intact through temperatures in the low 90s yesterday, but warms and melts quickly in the heat of one's hands. The green tea scent that I chose smells just like a freshly-opened canister of looseleaf tea. It's a very pleasant and mild scent, not at all overpowering, accompanied by the faint warm smell of beeswax. The scent fades within the hour (a huge plus for me; I don't wear perfume and hate having a smell clinging strongly to me all day!) but my hands stay plump and soft for hours and hours, even in the dry climate of Colorado. I'll definitely be using this for a long time to come! You can find Alicia's lotion bars and lip balms in her Etsy store, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/SweetSheepBodyShoppe">Sweet Sheep Body Shoppe</a>.</p>
<p>Below that tin are three of the six removable Melody stitch markers that I bought from <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/Twiceshearedsheep">Twice Sheared Sheep</a>. Yes, in addition to very affordable recycled luxury yarn, Twice Sheared Sheep also sells beautiful stitch markers, row counters, shawl pins and more. I bought this set for myself on Tuesday night, as a little prize for getting all of my thesis postponement paperwork done, and they were in my mailbox on Thursday afternoon! The seller does live only an hour away from me, but still, that's remarkable speed in posting the package. The other three markers are already doing their duty on projects.</p>
<p>Finally, I went down to my LYS today and picked up two tiny crochet hooks and a pair of size 4 Addi Turbo Lace circs in the longest cable size they had, 47 inches. My Celestarium is now in its final set of charts before the lace edging, and nearly 600 stitches around. It was becoming a bit of an ordeal to try to squeeze all of them along a 32-inch cable. So now I have five sets of long size 4 circs (as well as two sets of short circs) of various lengths, and as soon as I shift projects and needles around and cast on the Sheherazade, all five will be in active use. The two tiny crochet hooks are, of course, for beading. My 0.5 mm hook was too small to reliably catch the DK weight yarn for Storm Warning, so I picked up a 0.85 mm and a 1.00 mm hook to see if either will work better.</p>
<p>What knitting treats have you picked up recently?</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p>
<p>*<b>esurience</b> <i>(noun)</i> overwhelming desire for more. I like that I can use this word to describe my craving for yarny things without the ugly stain of moral defect that "greed" or "avarice" would leave.Kaiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962273893928934473noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468334680054462086.post-79667766692907754742014-06-17T23:03:00.004-06:002014-06-17T23:05:46.932-06:00Hedonism?<p>There's something in me that struggles against the very concept of austerity and discipline and self-denial. I can be frugal at need, sure, but when it comes right down to it, I'm a hedonist at heart. And right now, right when I've dropped far too much money in a few days on yarn, and really <i>should</i> be reining back on my knitting budget for a couple of months... I can't stop thinking about all the yarn and patterns I want and all the projects I want to cast on.</p>
<p>I've been looking at lace and light fingering summer tees and tops, longing to buy a pattern or two:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/summer-vines"><img src="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/colie75/223728895/RTClose_2981_medium2.jpg"></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/stardust-7"><img src="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/deenulya/188033137/DSC_0187_medium2.JPG"></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/nesoi-tee"><img src="http://images4-b.ravelrycache.com/uploads/mimknits/233952428/Nesoi1_medium2.jpg"></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/bonny-4"><img src="http://images4-d.ravelrycache.com/uploads/tincanknits/158693729/IMG_4731-ed-sm_medium2.jpg"></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/mokoshi"><img src="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/amirisu/214162725/_MG_3876_medium2.jpg"></a></p>
<p>And I dove into my stash to pull out the two most luxurious yarns I own and feast my fingertips on new projects:</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGur3MMN8-x_97oWFCeaHZRwrrOO82qlWa-JAeYmZRmO2yF2OBX8ZSnGBvYtLNU7e-Im9pyW0rdwK-VWfGGrtE6CCzOLDoDWV_L53VHaO0sojVbhBAFfHBAzb50pKQ-_Ocn8e6ZfDQc8/s1600/opera1.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhGur3MMN8-x_97oWFCeaHZRwrrOO82qlWa-JAeYmZRmO2yF2OBX8ZSnGBvYtLNU7e-Im9pyW0rdwK-VWfGGrtE6CCzOLDoDWV_L53VHaO0sojVbhBAFfHBAzb50pKQ-_Ocn8e6ZfDQc8/s640/opera1.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>I cast on a <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/jacke---cardigan-opera">Jacke/Cardigan *Opera*</a> a few weeks ago with the fine, sleek Skaska silk/yak laceweight that Bandit sneakily bought for me at last year's wool festival. The pattern is essentially an octagon knitted from the center out, with armholes added when the diameter reaches the width of one's back. Stitches are picked up afterwards for sleeves, and the edgings of both the sleeves and the main body are knit in a beautiful lace pattern.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/jacke---cardigan-opera"><img src="http://images4.ravelrycache.com/uploads/diewolllust/123652148/Jacke-Opera-Swenja1_medium.jpg"></a></p>
<p>I can't help pausing every so often to pet this yarn. It's sturdy, with great stitch definition, yet at the same time it's so sleek and soft and light and warm. And my superpower of never running out of yarn is apparently kicking in at full force. I went down three whole needle sizes, from the suggested 7 to a 4, to make a denser fabric. I've just passed the armholes, at an unblocked diameter of 16 inches. And I still have 85 grams left of the 98-gram cake.</p>
<p>But as much as I love this yarn, project monogamy is a bit too much to expect when I get restless. And so I also dug out the most absolutely decadent yarn I own: Jeannette by Mountain Colors. Fifty grams of 65% cashmere 35% silk. I do not exaggerate when I say that this yarn feels like knitting with cotton candy, or a baby kitten, or a cloud.</p>
<p>I only had the one skein of it (it was $48 a skein) so I had to find a pattern that would work well with 158 luscious yards.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7H156v0Nqv0YKj90jhVLc3BzxhJc_08e-lqbJSq68ZCiYua3pHIBwpmU8PDvAc7qytgkOfJh3QwvsDKbxfaEG-3QqvQi7ntMNEX-ix7oR39-BUuXMcuzPIr1wypK_JLr_MfgxF7wUXM/s1600/stormwarning1.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI7H156v0Nqv0YKj90jhVLc3BzxhJc_08e-lqbJSq68ZCiYua3pHIBwpmU8PDvAc7qytgkOfJh3QwvsDKbxfaEG-3QqvQi7ntMNEX-ix7oR39-BUuXMcuzPIr1wypK_JLr_MfgxF7wUXM/s640/stormwarning1.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>Did I say that I was <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2014/04/fo-retrospective-roundup-shawls.html">never knitting Storm Warning again</a>?</p>
<p>I'm sure I never said anything that rash, right?</p>Kaiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962273893928934473noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468334680054462086.post-13035911952206519052014-06-10T00:17:00.001-06:002014-06-10T00:17:24.778-06:00Estes Park Wool Market 2014<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTc4IuImv-FjCKqY_DnwS5n5ZTSCQBqHkIyQ7jLFsKJ7wCSq67SQYYWZsD4mRnsKKw5PnoHac4tB_2P7uMyYInfs11V8_W8fkqM3psE8tH1htZwkRjqhJBECa7-AOtd6qD9n-eRA6Q9ug/s1600/fb91ff25867de79599b9d132019dbd3c.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTc4IuImv-FjCKqY_DnwS5n5ZTSCQBqHkIyQ7jLFsKJ7wCSq67SQYYWZsD4mRnsKKw5PnoHac4tB_2P7uMyYInfs11V8_W8fkqM3psE8tH1htZwkRjqhJBECa7-AOtd6qD9n-eRA6Q9ug/s1600/fb91ff25867de79599b9d132019dbd3c.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>On Saturday, Alexis, Shannon, Eli and I went to the Estes Park Wool Market again. Alexis drove, and Shannon and Eli packed a generous picnic for us to enjoy while we watched the llama competitions. It was pretty chilly, though, and the llamas didn't seem be doing much while we were sitting in the stands, so we quickly ducked indoors as soon as we were done.</p>
<p>We saw goats! (And alpacas. But we didn't visit the sheep or angora rabbits or any of the other animals this time around.)</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2ivW5_EPytMB8oePfqHkqb6txIUAbbw3aW8DUQ2ITcuBira5wTfmmv2hywlgsAt5nGPpmJymhGrBS-y1i_Onqat95GSzHC-hNj9hJ_Y8WmGrHlUFiCHjjloiNdqt2rqXj93v60CzJOw/s1600/estes1.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz2ivW5_EPytMB8oePfqHkqb6txIUAbbw3aW8DUQ2ITcuBira5wTfmmv2hywlgsAt5nGPpmJymhGrBS-y1i_Onqat95GSzHC-hNj9hJ_Y8WmGrHlUFiCHjjloiNdqt2rqXj93v60CzJOw/s640/estes1.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>We were trying to determine which one was Bandit. Probably the black one stealing bites from the feed bag in the next pen?</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4J5pmca44VtrW_FEBcMGSC3BcRZr4riZF8yw31cnWD4vpu_FjbNc1h-aWm9fYAIOwXH8A9zQSRWB_AfcUDEO-IxZ8Ml8eB4tsHbUHzJZF-3REEOpLSJf4j1_gynfVE6tUbmmICzrVG4Y/s1600/estes2.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4J5pmca44VtrW_FEBcMGSC3BcRZr4riZF8yw31cnWD4vpu_FjbNc1h-aWm9fYAIOwXH8A9zQSRWB_AfcUDEO-IxZ8Ml8eB4tsHbUHzJZF-3REEOpLSJf4j1_gynfVE6tUbmmICzrVG4Y/s640/estes2.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>This year the alpacas and goats were housed in the big warehouse that had held all the vendors in previous years. The marketplace was in a larger and more modern-looking building.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTM2XO2iNfatuog8TOsrB3MxwIm23F6ObUllUO2vanQF4CtogmvyFoFs_jafU1royWDpIYYDUOoCHh_PsWcl_mC-z-ffp-sxq-DXnhFE9U5p62xGIJm-E2HapSQ7eYAtmpoE_CouUjYeI/s1600/estes4.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTM2XO2iNfatuog8TOsrB3MxwIm23F6ObUllUO2vanQF4CtogmvyFoFs_jafU1royWDpIYYDUOoCHh_PsWcl_mC-z-ffp-sxq-DXnhFE9U5p62xGIJm-E2HapSQ7eYAtmpoE_CouUjYeI/s640/estes4.JPG" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZE8eXFqnJwes4TqUA6NJBsB2m3utaihLk0srC5DULIkBWw4fiN6dfLOxKfGQ_6kItoLAqiS9vfHaQgP7vtOBZ623sFC9Fj1h0o9ByTPRjsW430peR3oN0qJ7oJVjeq1CUK_P1x-BsSQ/s1600/estes5.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZE8eXFqnJwes4TqUA6NJBsB2m3utaihLk0srC5DULIkBWw4fiN6dfLOxKfGQ_6kItoLAqiS9vfHaQgP7vtOBZ623sFC9Fj1h0o9ByTPRjsW430peR3oN0qJ7oJVjeq1CUK_P1x-BsSQ/s640/estes5.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>Most of the time I was too preoccupied with being tempted by yarns to take many pictures. However, after we'd all browsed through the stalls once, we went back to make purchases and I got a few pictures then.</p>
<p>There were yarns with all sorts of surprising things spun into them:</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYV-1goiZTa4W9oRddelUd-8ePMsGQOYFFr9HPrf57b7m7C7beTu7tjOnl23eHJYAjrhXZiSQ2lKKaPmm6W5Ul9aVdArZs65K12TINxWE2cPlBwwK6LW3zdvfPIV1U7SNOF0xYVfe8AT0/s1600/estes8.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYV-1goiZTa4W9oRddelUd-8ePMsGQOYFFr9HPrf57b7m7C7beTu7tjOnl23eHJYAjrhXZiSQ2lKKaPmm6W5Ul9aVdArZs65K12TINxWE2cPlBwwK6LW3zdvfPIV1U7SNOF0xYVfe8AT0/s640/estes8.JPG" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZHkuY9bqlTixW7f7jL58Fd7_cV0OZayR7JbgckfNChM_61lPul3fKd6_-jzjD9GGBd8RfysSC1dJgTgiz570B7YslxMcBNPdMx4XG8hxDx81L_zoxZ8_dslA6ZUgDVxhQO8rCwAPnoM/s1600/estes9.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4ZHkuY9bqlTixW7f7jL58Fd7_cV0OZayR7JbgckfNChM_61lPul3fKd6_-jzjD9GGBd8RfysSC1dJgTgiz570B7YslxMcBNPdMx4XG8hxDx81L_zoxZ8_dslA6ZUgDVxhQO8rCwAPnoM/s640/estes9.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>The Buffalo Wool Company had some gorgeous samples on display:</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKahzVu1Fej0ZLe-VdtRmzeqQtTh_j8vSgoFCZCJktenYZ3N6W-xnE6j3Pcyp4dqDxUK0a-sVoZrcQd8PpXRyVEaMy_pDC7ty3IyobXjA-jASer5xsZtc32XzyxnwoX9x3zMVhQewrCc/s1600/estes3.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEKahzVu1Fej0ZLe-VdtRmzeqQtTh_j8vSgoFCZCJktenYZ3N6W-xnE6j3Pcyp4dqDxUK0a-sVoZrcQd8PpXRyVEaMy_pDC7ty3IyobXjA-jASer5xsZtc32XzyxnwoX9x3zMVhQewrCc/s640/estes3.JPG" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZGIB5VYKr4YH-6QMIQe-KuD2YMutO6_y5F3XGh6lmaH1q8KEzeV63Q5Kr0t0cB1iiDWjy12K8VscWcDis5n4HyBi0cdzZi9dbaq_LnLfxiUhmch82UGU1Y0DMU-k729UXH64Xxwukiw/s1600/estes6.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZGIB5VYKr4YH-6QMIQe-KuD2YMutO6_y5F3XGh6lmaH1q8KEzeV63Q5Kr0t0cB1iiDWjy12K8VscWcDis5n4HyBi0cdzZi9dbaq_LnLfxiUhmch82UGU1Y0DMU-k729UXH64Xxwukiw/s640/estes6.JPG" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3h57XN0aE9nPvWEwxR2arpTF54F37ASpE6wG_W7ssfxcU1clbk5-r3eTIAlyk-T8ncMA1Zej3P_FplIa5mbx5B-bs-RVpzyKwW_juOkB5nUutvfG6l0ny63cOhrtNtVdr5MOvJwewMM/s1600/estes7.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO3h57XN0aE9nPvWEwxR2arpTF54F37ASpE6wG_W7ssfxcU1clbk5-r3eTIAlyk-T8ncMA1Zej3P_FplIa5mbx5B-bs-RVpzyKwW_juOkB5nUutvfG6l0ny63cOhrtNtVdr5MOvJwewMM/s640/estes7.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>And the Fiber Optic Yarns booth had a WALL OF SHAWLS:</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5qNpKCKo0QzEdN_NA90hQ3E1ij2WQYX4dlhX6Evk3GsT37YJlGaj0eoi3rTbrb51Owk7S0iARjRM3f4QThglmMaSZghbzSkCEStuRtBIcFFbGC5uWm7DoXH3pdGmOkdnbkCwgQ68gjU/s1600/estes10.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5qNpKCKo0QzEdN_NA90hQ3E1ij2WQYX4dlhX6Evk3GsT37YJlGaj0eoi3rTbrb51Owk7S0iARjRM3f4QThglmMaSZghbzSkCEStuRtBIcFFbGC5uWm7DoXH3pdGmOkdnbkCwgQ68gjU/s640/estes10.JPG" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQTAIlE1Sb34F5R7goiz4_2nR9B6wcTX5BcDqg39AIr0okIHFuKbT1lI6oTrr917vCVfJape480DEruFP8rWLJkZ6IYmr-6dWS8jbCoCk-B837BlvqL82SCteAcrzCOnMDA2-lWkMKHg/s1600/estes11.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuQTAIlE1Sb34F5R7goiz4_2nR9B6wcTX5BcDqg39AIr0okIHFuKbT1lI6oTrr917vCVfJape480DEruFP8rWLJkZ6IYmr-6dWS8jbCoCk-B837BlvqL82SCteAcrzCOnMDA2-lWkMKHg/s640/estes11.JPG" /></a></p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6RBv-7XrthkpRZ1hIEhVXe-q97szkwJyeLePLK7SwIKuWdJajpU-7EFW7R4Azki_dINkqM0F7CHgsir3eKqh8BTtQkWSsSjR5u66ZLhQsBZxVe1E_ol9ck97j_pAPiTY0HVS1kvePphA/s1600/estes12.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6RBv-7XrthkpRZ1hIEhVXe-q97szkwJyeLePLK7SwIKuWdJajpU-7EFW7R4Azki_dINkqM0F7CHgsir3eKqh8BTtQkWSsSjR5u66ZLhQsBZxVe1E_ol9ck97j_pAPiTY0HVS1kvePphA/s640/estes12.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>Can you see why this wool market is like Christmas for me? I look forward to it eagerly all year!</p>
<p>I wanted to treat myself, of course, but I also wanted to be a little more sensible with my spending than in previous years. Accordingly, I only made two purchases - and neither of them, amazingly, was from the Skaska booth. Skaska Lace understands my soul too well, and it was simply too dangerous to linger at their booth too long.</p>
<p>Instead, I got two skeins of recycled cashmere from Twice Sheared Sheep.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeG5TWwNj_PBwHS3BWyIY0FcluDZuSW-2fE57PtI_8z3ngJYk25ckDu5iDgqs21NPRDOrAKNdbysT0RSX6N6K8yHw5MF7z5e3IPZAGfoSSauK0k9RA-uyceXyOe05t17RRY9hODjDe_Y0/s1600/estesyarn4.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeG5TWwNj_PBwHS3BWyIY0FcluDZuSW-2fE57PtI_8z3ngJYk25ckDu5iDgqs21NPRDOrAKNdbysT0RSX6N6K8yHw5MF7z5e3IPZAGfoSSauK0k9RA-uyceXyOe05t17RRY9hODjDe_Y0/s640/estesyarn4.JPG" /></a>
<p>That's a total of a thousand yards of laceweight cashmere you're looking at - for only $12 per skein. How could one possibly pass that up? There was also merino for $8 per 500-yard skein, and even better deals in their bargain basket (bargain yarns are the most brilliant and most evil way of parting a knitter from her money). Alexis, Shannon and I all ended up buying something from this booth. I think this yarn is probably destined to be a luxurious laceweight top.</p>
<p>I also got a big skein of La Paz, by Textiles A Mano...</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwty7qRJjrdYm9gAfcRlX1W33gN6qYfCJz0Nt-zNiQOH4av7AF1hJv2NC_64nHH2ZfQzsaP2_q9FfHqSCiECUYMlxOvzvoLEDNpC2yB8FTUPA9gxrzsvZoYW2si-xE0HYSitJ59n6I14/s1600/estesyarn2.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwty7qRJjrdYm9gAfcRlX1W33gN6qYfCJz0Nt-zNiQOH4av7AF1hJv2NC_64nHH2ZfQzsaP2_q9FfHqSCiECUYMlxOvzvoLEDNpC2yB8FTUPA9gxrzsvZoYW2si-xE0HYSitJ59n6I14/s640/estesyarn2.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>...for a super-secret project.</p>
Kaiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962273893928934473noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468334680054462086.post-31688881164154324562014-06-06T18:24:00.003-06:002014-06-06T18:25:17.543-06:00FO: Spring-Grass Francie.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiull667_GlxTS_vBRutSEnIt_tCr0rvxj6Z2deDfc2Kmc45QbV8NNr94ir6PdL0RmJTDSMKhgJ8YIDtezgMml6rUvqvvDeIWu7C0hoMkkYhOM1jK7WiTXikTK3Z_tKPdroEzMMIzCBdPA/s1600/DSCN0418.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiull667_GlxTS_vBRutSEnIt_tCr0rvxj6Z2deDfc2Kmc45QbV8NNr94ir6PdL0RmJTDSMKhgJ8YIDtezgMml6rUvqvvDeIWu7C0hoMkkYhOM1jK7WiTXikTK3Z_tKPdroEzMMIzCBdPA/s640/DSCN0418.JPG" /></a></p>
<p><b>Started:</b> May 27, 2014</p>
<p><b>Finished:</b> June 6, 2014</p>
<p><b>Yarn/yardage used:</b> Artyarns Ultramerino4 (discontinued), color 131, about 130 yards each</p>
<p><b>Needles:</b> Size 1 DPNs, one set each of 4" Hiya Hiyas and 6" Knitter's Pride Nova</p>
<p>So.</p>
<p>Let me take a moment to share with you what I know of knitting theology.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSI6vMCuYTsp5V3UGhCjbIF6Z1Sfs8qI18WwXYYOIRSAcqPpWEiZx8JDFUYZAQszgUDKoFsZ_pqtHQYAvqiTFpEPK5EZ3oveIRi4w8jKL-V-a4keUQsroH51C7D1EBHV0wH_tkAMUpRc/s1600/DSCN0417.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTSI6vMCuYTsp5V3UGhCjbIF6Z1Sfs8qI18WwXYYOIRSAcqPpWEiZx8JDFUYZAQszgUDKoFsZ_pqtHQYAvqiTFpEPK5EZ3oveIRi4w8jKL-V-a4keUQsroH51C7D1EBHV0wH_tkAMUpRc/s640/DSCN0417.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>There is the swatching god, who is the stereotypical trickster god: almost always full of lies, but occasionally telling the truth just to throw you off guard, for maximum amusement. There is the sock god, who for at least the past year has borne an implacable hatred of me (maybe, in true Greek heroic fashion, I forgot to make the proper sacrifices to it at some point?) And then there is the yardage god, who loves me. I always seem to finish projects in well under the yardage required. In fact, I have never, ever knit a single project and come up short on yarn (well, except that <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2013/01/state-of-knits-2013-part-2.html">one pair</a> of <a href="http://winterlimeknits.blogspot.com/2013/05/socks-saturday-yardage-chicken.html">socks for Amy</a>, but we'll attribute that to the machinations of the jealous sock god).</p>
<p>It took me until this pair of socks to realize that all of these are merely different faces of the same monolithic, overarching deity.</p>
<p>Now, I've always known that I was a tight knitter. I don't help matters by recklessly going down needle sizes in search of a more pleasing fabric. For most of what I knit (shawls and... shawls), this doesn't matter. I've kind of vaguely suspected this might have something to do with my sock troubles, but...</p>
<p>These socks are tight, okay. Really, really tight. I knitted them as written, with the recommended needle size. They're advertised as being able to fit a calf/ankle circumference of 10 inches, due to the stretchiness of the ribbing. My feet are size 6 and my ankle circumference is less than 8 inches. Putting these on and taking them off requires a lot of shoving and sliding and scraping and squishing.</p>
<p>Why is this?</p>
<p>The pattern calls for a gauge of 8 stitches per inch, in not-stretched-out 2x2 ribbing. I have no convenient way to measure my ribbed gauge. But my stockinette gauge is 9.5 stitches per inch.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9_bViy6FH2qTrcAZcoy0R6ObYCQWi-Hk99hNjh9MDAGDEy0FREo2VrU8qUlmId_ORiVw9kTPfUr1Gi4VsSj1Vd8cAOe_8SdaIqD_kjxjSqy11obLq-fE2vmo7xfPLgF6ihLXxx9ARes/s1600/DSCN0421.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE9_bViy6FH2qTrcAZcoy0R6ObYCQWi-Hk99hNjh9MDAGDEy0FREo2VrU8qUlmId_ORiVw9kTPfUr1Gi4VsSj1Vd8cAOe_8SdaIqD_kjxjSqy11obLq-fE2vmo7xfPLgF6ihLXxx9ARes/s640/DSCN0421.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>Maybe the blocking god will magically fix everything?</p>
Kaiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962273893928934473noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468334680054462086.post-5096599045492834172014-06-02T15:19:00.002-06:002014-06-02T15:23:52.266-06:00Getting back on the sock train?<p>Thank you all so much for all your kind, lovely comments on the Hanami! I do like it much better now that it's a beautiful finished project sitting docilely on the coffee table. I'm even almost (<i>almost!</i>) tempted to knit another one with the remainder of the yarn!</p>
<p>Meanwhile, I've temporarily put aside some of my other WIPs to attempt a pair of socks again. I got these two little skeins of Artyarns Ultramerino4 a while ago (I even think you can see them in my stash-at-Bandit's-place post last summer), and I planned to make myself a pair of plantlife-inspired socks. Now that I've propitiated the sock gods with my giveaway offering, I'm hoping this sock curse has been lifted from me. I'm testing the waters with <a href="http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/francie-2">Francie</a>, the pattern that I've attempted for Pickle's socks three times now.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxzXtiXewARiaMEMj5ZGp_pBHh5n67VeUwRUFPnVN3FYrrYLKwyuDu2P9mEP7ot6Tgc49BZ9Iv408QwV78BlvQNZsT_c4hDXOwMC3wfMjF92tyGyjtNeywIVVsAlxjU3H32B188INLAM/s1600/grass1.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCxzXtiXewARiaMEMj5ZGp_pBHh5n67VeUwRUFPnVN3FYrrYLKwyuDu2P9mEP7ot6Tgc49BZ9Iv408QwV78BlvQNZsT_c4hDXOwMC3wfMjF92tyGyjtNeywIVVsAlxjU3H32B188INLAM/s640/grass1.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>Now, Francie is a beautiful, well-written pattern that produces beautiful, uniquely-shaped socks. But because of the shaping, it's only written for one size. It so happens that this size works well for me, with my little size 6 feet. Not so much for any of the guys I know, whose shoe sizes are all in the double-digits. This pair of socks is working up beautifully, with a very nice fit, but I'll definitely have to do some pattern tweaking when I knit it again for anyone else.</p>
<p>I'm knitting these two-at-a-time, on two sets of DPNs, for two reasons. The first is that I want to make sure that I do exactly the same thing on both socks, in terms of counting rows, picking up stitches, and so on. The second is that I started out with a pair of 4" DPNs. Four inches, as it happens, is exactly the right size for the nonworking end of the needle to stab me in the palm with each stitch. After a day knitting with a protective bandage on my palm, I decided to just buy another, longer, set of DPNs. And since I now had two sets, I might as well put them both to use, right?</p>
<p>I plan to use the leftovers from both balls for contrast toes and cuffs for the next pair of Bandit's socks.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_cosbanS09Qjp1yuEV_QeUHfOgpGTFavHCFH9heFrOVi8_c2b9-tUJdbO8up_thSaPj3CP-8_d6QOPQefMNEcT-IbAzQMEtxjKfXex5snnixwOEO1-73lxV8d2Fdh96Hbxi8Dd_zkN4/s1600/trekking.JPG" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_cosbanS09Qjp1yuEV_QeUHfOgpGTFavHCFH9heFrOVi8_c2b9-tUJdbO8up_thSaPj3CP-8_d6QOPQefMNEcT-IbAzQMEtxjKfXex5snnixwOEO1-73lxV8d2Fdh96Hbxi8Dd_zkN4/s640/trekking.JPG" /></a></p>
<p>He picked out this skein of Zitron Trekking XXL for himself. It's got some fascinating colors in it - forest green, dark olive green, hints of muted lime-green. I can't wait to see how it knits up - whether it's self-striping or whether it's more evenly variegated.</p>Kaiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962273893928934473noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6468334680054462086.post-54866561181613455662014-05-28T14:35:00.001-06:002014-05-28T14:35:53.201-06:00FO: Hanami.<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2NMRqun32lUjC_FXhkBGopAJn1wugcDS0EA95rN7adOO_XQsucQLexauvIEMlyzLWWF5TXKRuYXuYdmoWrNDxPVR5sG41jk_hx8izuC6f-hT6MXtzKueWLR-DRUoWtOmmoCMpXmAa5g/s1600/20140528_103951.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL2NMRqun32lUjC_FXhkBGopAJn1wugcDS0EA95rN7adOO_XQsucQLexauvIEMlyzLWWF5TXKRuYXuYdmoWrNDxPVR5sG41jk_hx8izuC6f-hT6MXtzKueWLR-DRUoWtOmmoCMpXmAa5g/s640/20140528_103951.jpg" /></a></p>
<p><b>Started:</b> April 5, 2014</p>
<p><b>Finished:</b> May 23, 2014</p>
<p><b>Yarn/yardage used:</b> Skaska Designs 50/50 Merino & Silk, about 600 yards (I still have over half a skein left).</p>
<p><b>Beads:</b> 24 size 8/0 ice-blue silver-lined beads left over from the Nouveau Beaded Capelet.</p>
<p><b>Beaded cast-on:</b> Surprisingly fiddly. I couldn't manage to get the beads consistently showing on the right side.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljoejepZ4SA76aIgonJMk8iw64nRX57WsE1Y_m2RZ-pKxz4-0s8UiOLRqqho8kbOClblCGf-LGtd_9MVoNP8Vnv3LgJCAMrsz-GbP5-vUsyqgKlv3fy9OFq8qOkSgmQUFFsOg2ls39Fo/s1600/20140528_103820.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljoejepZ4SA76aIgonJMk8iw64nRX57WsE1Y_m2RZ-pKxz4-0s8UiOLRqqho8kbOClblCGf-LGtd_9MVoNP8Vnv3LgJCAMrsz-GbP5-vUsyqgKlv3fy9OFq8qOkSgmQUFFsOg2ls39Fo/s640/20140528_103820.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>This project was difficult for me. I'm not sure why. It's a lace pattern, which I love, using yarn that I love, on sharp slick lace needles that I love. Maybe it was the unmemorizable pattern. Maybe it was the fact that it was rectangular. Maybe it was the time limit, or that I had sset myself a strict goal of sixteen rows every day.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgek-9ENvl5-LPkosJ8Ddzli6Gx6i7TU9pPYvtI5kgwB-Ip9ntm-9XX6Ifry0gFtB3ceW0VmhRFCUAVWy73-XKQrVnnbxwlUN25xe_JA4y9vAXZb22wNnc0LR_n6drWLLCl8-nTqT8jKSs/s1600/Hanami1.png" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgek-9ENvl5-LPkosJ8Ddzli6Gx6i7TU9pPYvtI5kgwB-Ip9ntm-9XX6Ifry0gFtB3ceW0VmhRFCUAVWy73-XKQrVnnbxwlUN25xe_JA4y9vAXZb22wNnc0LR_n6drWLLCl8-nTqT8jKSs/s640/Hanami1.png" /></a></p>
<p>I finished knitting a full week behind schedule, though still well before it was actually needed. It sat for a few days before I bought another set of blocking boards and borrowed blocking wires from Amy.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_79RcSDC4hcqwknGVbbN4cBaBMhAjq1z55UHLPz5XFEH4zVD6b9mhdOiWo_pkybGbiropU2EokQdp-hcB5LlLug6PsTQkzoJC73E1HbE_cxwAU0A4wsn5iYW4OBfPWF2rUr7lru9dYsU/s1600/20140528_103736.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_79RcSDC4hcqwknGVbbN4cBaBMhAjq1z55UHLPz5XFEH4zVD6b9mhdOiWo_pkybGbiropU2EokQdp-hcB5LlLug6PsTQkzoJC73E1HbE_cxwAU0A4wsn5iYW4OBfPWF2rUr7lru9dYsU/s640/20140528_103736.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>On the day I finished, which was also Bandit's and my third anniversary, I gave myself permission to buy more yarn and start new projects, as a reward. Given that just a few weeks ago I was saying I needed to cut down on the number of WIPs in order to feel better... that may have been slightly counterproductive.</p>
<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61aRGYgUQZTjTNWEjHFw-D6vedRGRIOkXJZEK7YpHP4DTmst032QsZvORybbh2KR6rzd43KXIsNaLWxJO-zlj8SH8pOq_vVthW-RrWUi_zgkBf743EWXfyetZhzzENpSUklUApvdB2HY/s1600/20140528_103907.jpg" imageanchor="1" ><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi61aRGYgUQZTjTNWEjHFw-D6vedRGRIOkXJZEK7YpHP4DTmst032QsZvORybbh2KR6rzd43KXIsNaLWxJO-zlj8SH8pOq_vVthW-RrWUi_zgkBf743EWXfyetZhzzENpSUklUApvdB2HY/s640/20140528_103907.jpg" /></a></p>
<p>I do feel a lot better now that this is off the needles. I might even grow to like it now that I'm not responsible for knitting it anymore.</p>Kaiyahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05962273893928934473noreply@blogger.com19