September 30, 2007
Laundry, $13. Knitting Encouragement , Priceless
The only plus to weekly trips to the laundromat is that it is exclusive knitting time. I mean, seriously, I couldn't do anything else while I'm there. I've tried talking on the phone but it's too loud. I've tried running other errands, but it just makes the laundry take longer because you're not there to restart the dryers. So I knit.
Today I was working on the dude's birthday socks and the lady next to me says the yarn is gorgeous and asks what I'm making. So we talk for a minute about socks and why I prefer toe-up and two-at-a-time. She said she could never do socks because the heel was too intimidating. So I encouraged her to try it again, maybe a different way.
Now two good things came out of my laundry time this week: I got to knit; and maybe I encouraged a future sock knitter! Here is a shot of the socks on me feet, that's why they look baggy. They fit the dude just fine and I'm about to turn the heel.
Today I was working on the dude's birthday socks and the lady next to me says the yarn is gorgeous and asks what I'm making. So we talk for a minute about socks and why I prefer toe-up and two-at-a-time. She said she could never do socks because the heel was too intimidating. So I encouraged her to try it again, maybe a different way.
Now two good things came out of my laundry time this week: I got to knit; and maybe I encouraged a future sock knitter! Here is a shot of the socks on me feet, that's why they look baggy. They fit the dude just fine and I'm about to turn the heel.
September 29, 2007
Fall(se) Alarm
Well! I was kind of excited about the cold weather we had last week. I mean, I didn't move to Chicago because I'm a summer gal. Y'know? I even started a chunky knit vest on telephone poles, I mean, size 13 needles. And now it's high 70's, low 80's and I'm wearing capris and a t-shirt today. Big...humid...sigh.
So let's dream about that chunky vest some more, shall we? When Karen and I went to Renegade a couple weeks ago*, of course we stopped at Nina on the way. Tempted by a million things but kinda worn out by tiny needles, thin yarn and protracted projects, I needed a chunky fixx! This thought hit me a split second before I saw the basket full of Rowan Little Big Wool on clearance at 60% off. Yeah, I know! I picked up all she had left--green, ivory and pink.
I already had a chunky vest pattern in mind--a basketweave outerwear number with a zipper and hood. It took me a while, but I found the pattern in my magazine stash (details soon). It was actually a special advertising for Nashua Handknits (whose website is fucked) but the gauge is compatible. The vest moving along nicely but I need to get a better set of #13's.
In lieu of a fuzzy photograph of chunky basketweave, here are the most recent buttons I listed in my etsy shop.
*Do you like how I totally forgot to mention Renegade, hanging with Karen and all the cool stuff we got? Yeah, I'm scatterbrained like that.
So let's dream about that chunky vest some more, shall we? When Karen and I went to Renegade a couple weeks ago*, of course we stopped at Nina on the way. Tempted by a million things but kinda worn out by tiny needles, thin yarn and protracted projects, I needed a chunky fixx! This thought hit me a split second before I saw the basket full of Rowan Little Big Wool on clearance at 60% off. Yeah, I know! I picked up all she had left--green, ivory and pink.
I already had a chunky vest pattern in mind--a basketweave outerwear number with a zipper and hood. It took me a while, but I found the pattern in my magazine stash (details soon). It was actually a special advertising for Nashua Handknits (whose website is fucked) but the gauge is compatible. The vest moving along nicely but I need to get a better set of #13's.
In lieu of a fuzzy photograph of chunky basketweave, here are the most recent buttons I listed in my etsy shop.
*Do you like how I totally forgot to mention Renegade, hanging with Karen and all the cool stuff we got? Yeah, I'm scatterbrained like that.
September 21, 2007
I put a spell on you
Finally, the curse of the endless elephant has been lifted! I sewed on the tusks and the eyes this evening after dinner. But maybe I shouldn't have put that tab under my tongue before I did the eyes...
The peepers are a bit surreal, but of course I'm joking. If I were tripping I would sewn the eyes on where the tusks go!
I should have put something else in this picture to give you an idea of the size of this beast. Let's just say it's lifesize. The Field Museum wants it when I'm done to replace one of their displays.
And as a tribute to CO, here is the tiny tail-io action.
If anyone would like a skein and three quarters of light grey Classic Elite Spotlight, they are welcome to it! Otherwise it will be promptly burned. Not that it isn't a fabulous yarn, but I never want to see it, smell it or touch it again.
At this point, I don't even remember what pattern this is. I think I mentioned before that it was from Tracy Chapman's Toys to Knit, but I stopped using the pattern right after I made the head. The next stuffed toy I make will be MUCH smaller and have fewer pieces to seam. Like the Heartstrings Bunny, upon which one cannot improve.
Well, you guys have a bitchin' weekend. I have four days off and big plans. Anxiously await the photos!
The peepers are a bit surreal, but of course I'm joking. If I were tripping I would sewn the eyes on where the tusks go!
I should have put something else in this picture to give you an idea of the size of this beast. Let's just say it's lifesize. The Field Museum wants it when I'm done to replace one of their displays.
And as a tribute to CO, here is the tiny tail-io action.
If anyone would like a skein and three quarters of light grey Classic Elite Spotlight, they are welcome to it! Otherwise it will be promptly burned. Not that it isn't a fabulous yarn, but I never want to see it, smell it or touch it again.
At this point, I don't even remember what pattern this is. I think I mentioned before that it was from Tracy Chapman's Toys to Knit, but I stopped using the pattern right after I made the head. The next stuffed toy I make will be MUCH smaller and have fewer pieces to seam. Like the Heartstrings Bunny, upon which one cannot improve.
Well, you guys have a bitchin' weekend. I have four days off and big plans. Anxiously await the photos!
September 14, 2007
Friday is for bullet points!
• I am #10,988 on Ravelry's waiting list. At this rate I will get an invitation to join in three and a half months.
• Renegade is this weekend! Three blocks from my house!!
• Last week three girls walked past our shop window who were knitting while walking down the sidewalk. And I thought I was talented for chewing gum and knitting at the same time.
• I haven't knit much this week because I'm making mad button samples for The Sampler's October boxes. Wanna see what 150 buttons looks like? Stay tuned.
• Laura at cosmicpluto knits! has another divine and sublime pattern on Knitty. This one is a versatile hoodie that makes me want to go stash diving and cast on as soon as I get home.
• Have a stellar weekend!
• Renegade is this weekend! Three blocks from my house!!
• Last week three girls walked past our shop window who were knitting while walking down the sidewalk. And I thought I was talented for chewing gum and knitting at the same time.
• I haven't knit much this week because I'm making mad button samples for The Sampler's October boxes. Wanna see what 150 buttons looks like? Stay tuned.
• Laura at cosmicpluto knits! has another divine and sublime pattern on Knitty. This one is a versatile hoodie that makes me want to go stash diving and cast on as soon as I get home.
• Have a stellar weekend!
Labels: links
September 09, 2007
As Saturdays should be
A chair, a lake, sunshine and socks. The only way yesterday could have been better is if I hadn't got this horrible sunburn.
I made a couple inches of progress on these socks yesterday while at Montrose Harbor. The Sock Recipient was fishing the whole time. Later in the day we went to Humboldt Park and fished the lagoon where, fortunately, I sat in the shade. I didn't get any sock knitting done there because my hands were full.
This is what you get when you turn loose a knitter/dog mom with a new camera on a beautiful day! I took a million more and may make some new flickr sets available to friends and family.
Oh, and I bought our train tickets to go see my new nephew so I really need to get moving on his gift! When they were in Ethiopia, they were able to find out his birthdate and it turns out his birthday is the week we will be there! Step one is the dig through the stash for kid appropriate yarn in a substantial quantity. That will determine the pattern I choose in step two.
How was your weekend?
I made a couple inches of progress on these socks yesterday while at Montrose Harbor. The Sock Recipient was fishing the whole time. Later in the day we went to Humboldt Park and fished the lagoon where, fortunately, I sat in the shade. I didn't get any sock knitting done there because my hands were full.
This is what you get when you turn loose a knitter/dog mom with a new camera on a beautiful day! I took a million more and may make some new flickr sets available to friends and family.
Oh, and I bought our train tickets to go see my new nephew so I really need to get moving on his gift! When they were in Ethiopia, they were able to find out his birthdate and it turns out his birthday is the week we will be there! Step one is the dig through the stash for kid appropriate yarn in a substantial quantity. That will determine the pattern I choose in step two.
How was your weekend?
September 03, 2007
Shield your eyes
Happy September everyone! I hope the rest of you are being treated to the gorgeous weather that the Third Coast has right now. I am celebrating Labor Day by mopping, vacuuming and scrubbing. Woo hoo! But once everything is clean, we will be grilling some burgers and corn.
The last two weekends I've had a chance to do some dyeing. The silk dyeing I like to do--shibori--involves two or sometimes three layers of color so last week I started several scarves and yesterday I finished up a couple. Since silk takes dye so well, some scarves turn out more, er, vivid than expected.
I know. Child of the 70's much? Fortunately the other scarf I finished, although the colors are just as bright, is tone-on-tone and therefore not as busy. For now let's just focus on my pretty flowers on the back deck. Usually I have a chair where that drying rack is sitting, and I'll sit there with my coffee and knitting and pretend I can't smell the dumpsters from the two restaurants on either side of my house.
I also made a few more button sets for my etsy shop and plan to make another set or two today. In knitting news, I have started the final leg (literally) of Endless the Elephant. Mansocks have been bus knitting, but since I rode my bike to work every day last week, I have only worked on them a few minutes at a time while it was slow at work.
Finally, I doubt anyone but me noticed a complete lack of Massive Dark Lens Distortion in the photo above that has plagued my photography for the past year. That's because I got a new camera and I'm so thrilled! Thrilled that I can once again take photos as beautiful as the things I make. And doubly thrilled that I got such a sweet deal on it! It's an Olympus (natch) SP-510 UZ and I feel strongly that it needs a new name, pronto. If you've read down this far and you come up with the best name for my new camera, I'll send you something!
The last two weekends I've had a chance to do some dyeing. The silk dyeing I like to do--shibori--involves two or sometimes three layers of color so last week I started several scarves and yesterday I finished up a couple. Since silk takes dye so well, some scarves turn out more, er, vivid than expected.
I know. Child of the 70's much? Fortunately the other scarf I finished, although the colors are just as bright, is tone-on-tone and therefore not as busy. For now let's just focus on my pretty flowers on the back deck. Usually I have a chair where that drying rack is sitting, and I'll sit there with my coffee and knitting and pretend I can't smell the dumpsters from the two restaurants on either side of my house.
I also made a few more button sets for my etsy shop and plan to make another set or two today. In knitting news, I have started the final leg (literally) of Endless the Elephant. Mansocks have been bus knitting, but since I rode my bike to work every day last week, I have only worked on them a few minutes at a time while it was slow at work.
Finally, I doubt anyone but me noticed a complete lack of Massive Dark Lens Distortion in the photo above that has plagued my photography for the past year. That's because I got a new camera and I'm so thrilled! Thrilled that I can once again take photos as beautiful as the things I make. And doubly thrilled that I got such a sweet deal on it! It's an Olympus (natch) SP-510 UZ and I feel strongly that it needs a new name, pronto. If you've read down this far and you come up with the best name for my new camera, I'll send you something!
