knitting – Page 22 – Behind the Smile

September 4, 2008June 24, 2010

Occasionally I finish things

Pattern: Spey Valley from Nancy Bush’s Knitting on the Road
Yarn: Plymouth Happy Feet, I don’t recall the color
Mods: I did my own heel, shortened the leg and used a standard French (?) toe.
Time to knit: FOR-FREAKIN’-EVER.

Turned out nice, they’re pretty comfy. It was the wrong yarn to use for this pattern, a plain color would have shown the very nice pattern on the leg, which is lost in this variegated yarn. Still, I’m pleased with them.

Meanwhile, I’m working on the following:

On the left are Malvina’s birthday socks, the eponymous Embossed Leaves socks in a sassy orange from Cherry Tree Hill. Then, in Tofutsies, is the Undulating Rib. Both these socks are in the Interweave Favorite Socks book.

I don’t know if I like working with the Cherry Tree Hill, it has a weird texture. But, the color is great, and let’s face it, I’m happy enough to be working with Red Heart, so whatever. I quite like the Tofutsies; I’m glad I have another sock (and another skein, courtesy of the Momma) to work on – the fabric is nice. I forget what chitin is (ground up sea slugs or something) but I like it.

From here on out, it’s pretty much going to be Christmas related projects, which I am totally going to blog about because that’s how I roll. I just won’t say who they’re for, hah. I think I’ll be trying out some fingerless mitt patterns, and hat time for sure. I owe Sam a hat for his birthday (since he lost another one I made him) and there will be some weaving projects for Christmas as well. The project I am currently working on is going well – I really got better tension this time around, so practice really does make perfect.

August 21, 2008June 22, 2010

We Interrupt This Broadcast

To announce that I totally got a raise last week! A sweet sweet raise!

I’ve been meaning to update this thing, but I have been busy, apparently. Busy getting raises. Hah. Actually, I’m trying to think what I did last week that prevented me from updating but I am drawing a blank…

Oh, I did go to the Gem Faire at the Scottish Rite Masonic Center in Sacramento on Saturday. I went with my cousin Janelle and we had a great time! We also hit Bead Fetish, U Bead It, and Rumplestiltskin while we were up there. And I, like, bought yarn. (oooh, shocker!) I REALLY wasn’t even going to go to Rumplestiltskin because, dudes, um, I have yarn. But we went to lunch at the waffle place on S and 10th (the name of which I CANNOT ever remember) and that is but a block away from Rumplestiltskin which is on R and 11th (ish). So we went over there and I caved like the weakling I am.

But you GUYS they had new Kaffe Fassett Design Line yarn from Regia! I hate that guy! Yet he makes awesomely colored yarn! I find this annoying! I think he annoys me because my mom has some old books of his that are from the eighties, and let’s face it, the eighties have a lot to answer for, fashion-wise. So there was this guy with all these ugly color combos on eighties clothes that were just completely horrendous.

But then I saw the first wave of the sock yarn, and kind of changed my mind about the color thing (art school helped too). And in his latest book, Kaffe Knits Again (or whatever) were patterns I would actually knit! Not that I remember what they were. So, I apologize for judging you too soon, Kaffe Fassett, you rock. Especially this latest stripey color combo. Which I want to cast on right away but CAN’T because I totally have socks on all my sock needles, dangit.

Anyway, the other yarn I got was me being totally seduced by a floor sample that was already knit up. It’s Online Supersocke in some awesome colors that did not photograph well at all at 10 p.m. (Go figure.) But let me assure that it is pretty danged awesome. They had all the colors of the Supersocke from what I could tell, along with a ton of the Noro sock yarn. I like Noro colors, but it’s not my favorite to knit with. I did make those crocheted Noro scarves last winter, though. That was okay.

So, I bought yarn. I was bad. Bad to the bone.

I also spent approximately $200 on beads, including these awesome electroplated leaves:

On the left are maple seed pods (“helicopters”) and on the right is a cypress leaf.

I made the seed pods into earrings that I am wearing today. They are really fun.

IN CONCLUSION I LIKE TO SPEND MONEY.

(I bought this at Target, it is AWESOME.)

Actually, I am kind of “stocking up” because I will actually be moving in October (I KNOW, right? My sweet sweet life of mooching will be over!) and will be paying crazy San Francisco Bay Area rental costs and will NEVER HAVE MONEY AGAIN. Except, I might still, since I got that raise. And I only have one more credit card payment and I own more than half of my car, so things are looking pretty excellent!

Hey, it took me 28 years, but I finally have my shit together, more or less.

August 11, 2008June 24, 2010

I’ve fallen and I can’t get up.

…That’s what you’ll hear when my sock yarn collection collapses upon me. Yes yes, I bought more, shut up:

How could I resist real wool sock yarn from a big box chain store? I couldn’t, I tell you what. Actually, I have some Kroy socks that have held up quite well – but have never actually seen it in stores (I think I ordered one skein from Herrshners back in the day, not realizing that I probably should have gotten two…footies ahoy!). Anyway, I got the Kroy and the new Soles & More (the Joann Sensations line) at JoAnn’s Superstore the other day, after my initial shock that they Actually Had Sock Yarn wore off. The Red Heart Heart & Sole (awkward!) I got at a Michael’s in Redding. I don’t know if they have it at “our” Michael’s in Pleasant Hill, but that Michael’s kind of sucks – I prefer the Michael’s in Antioch, which always seems to stock more stuff AND I can go to when I’m killing time before a Brentwood board meeting.

Anyway, my initial impression on the yarn, just by touch is favorable. The Heart & Sole (Red Heart) feels VERY similar to the new Lion Brand Sock Ease, and also boasts aloe in it, much like the Sockease and also Austermann Step. The Kroy is surprisingly soft, and the colors quite vibrant. Also: stripey! Yay!

Anyway, the other thing I did was finally block the Swallowtail Shawl in some floral-scented Soak, and it turned out magnifique! What a great pattern.

Closeups:

Pattern stats:

Pattern: Swallowtail Shawl by Evelyn Clark (available for free on her website)
Yarn: Araucania Ranco Solid in Daffodil (Purchased at nearby LYS Fashion-knit)
Needles: US 4 29″ circulars, Susan Bates
Mods: None, except for I didn’t swatch, so I think it’s smaller than it’s supposed to be.
Thoughts: Nupps were easy, I don’t know what everyone is bitching about. I totally used a crochet hook to make them on the purl side, I didn’t even bother with that nasty p5tog. I will totally make nupps again, but then it turns out I am a shameless bobble hussy, so there you go.

Aaaaand, that’s all she wrote.

Next time on Behind the Smile: book reviews and weaving update.