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February 28, 2006
Bandwagon
In this world I believe we all want to think of ourselves as unique. And really, we are. No two people are alike and no two people like exactly the same things. However, it appears that there are some things a whole lotta knitters are drawn to. Jaywalker is definitely one and Clapotis is without a doubt another. I have yet to make either. Until now.
Yep, I started Clapotis. And I'm using some lovely Fleece Artist Leanne sent me as part of the Knitter's Review Secret Pal exchange. The yarn is lovely and I'm really enjoying the simplicity of the pattern. It's a nice contrast to the complicated charts and fingering weight yarn of the Chalet Socks. Plus, I think Clapotis will be the perfect weight for spring and early summer. I know it's been knit a thousand times, but some things are just worth the hype.
In other knitting news, Dani dyed some lovely sock yarn for me in University of Wyoming Cowboys colors (brown and prairie gold) and it came yesterday. Look at how lovely it is.
And here's a close-up. Isn't it fun? I just love it and can't wait to knit it into a pair of socks.
February 27, 2006
Socks
I finished the Tech Guy Socks on Friday night. Well, it was actually early Saturday morning (somewhere around 1 am) when I finally grafted the toe, but finished they are. Travis wore them on Saturday and since he left for work at about 6:30 there were no modeled pictures. But here they are fresh from their first wash.
Project Details:
Pattern: TechGuy Socks
Yarn: Tongue River Farm Sock Yarn
Needles: Addi Turbos size 3 - my first attempt at socks with the 2 circular method. I like it. I like it a lot. I don't know that I'll completely give up dpns, but I see some benefit to the whole circular needle thing.
Modifications/Thoughts: I made the leg 9 1/2 inches rather than 7 or 8 as specified in the pattern. I used a size 3, rather than a size 4 needle, and I subbed a wrapped short-row heel and toe for the yarn over short-row method.
I don't think I like this yarn. It's very hairy and is a lot different from "normal" sock yarn. I don't really know how to describe it (and I don't have a good picture, of course), but this is my best shot - the yarn is a 2-ply, but each ply is very loosly spun (almost not at all), which makes it less than ideal to work with. It's kind of scatchy - in fact, Travis said it was scratchy, which isn't good because he really does wear wool socks on a regular basis (not handknit, but thick wool socks still). And he said they stretched out over the course of the day and by the end of the day weren't staying up. Not good. And look at the sole after one wearing and washing (in the sink in cool water)
Looks felted to me, although doesn't appear to have shrunk. What do you think? So, all in all a good pattern, but next time I make Travis socks I'll use fingering weight and go for a softer yarn.
Next up: Sockapaloooza! I cast-on and will hope any gauge issues work themselves out (yes my friends, that is denial). If I have to rip it, so be it, but I might as well get started and see how things shake out.
Still waiting for needles for Butterfly and I started a little something else - more on that tomorrow.
February 23, 2006
Good And Bad
Thank you all for the lovely comments on my view. We're very lucky to be able to live in a place without close neighbors and with such wide open spaces. Although our neighbors are much closer than what I had growing up. I grew up on a cattle and horse ranch and our closest neighbor was 10 miles away and the nearest town was 35 miles away. Next time I'm at the ranch I'll take some pictures for you - that really is a great view. Despite the view, sometimes living in Laramie is less than ideal. I don't really mind the cold, winters are supposed to be cold. The most disturbing thing about the time we spent in Texas was the fact that it never really got cold - I just couldn't quite get used to that. But, the problem with Laramie is that the wind blows - pretty much constantly and usually in the 20 to 60 mph range. Let me tell you, it gets old. And poor Travis. The guy works outside and is putting up a big 4 story commercial building this winter (don't even get me started on the crazy people who thought building a building in the middle of winter in Wyoming was a good idea) and it's been just miserable. Add to that the fact that Travis hates the cold and we're talking fun and games at my house. But, anyway, I saw this view this morning when I was leaving my house and since none of the pictures from yesterday really gave you a good look at the mountains, here's another one.
On the knitting front I've turned the heel on Tech Guy Sock #2
and am anxious to be finished. I'm hoping the foot will knit itself before the weekend.
As for the swatch of Lorna's Laces I told you I got gauge with, clearly I was smoking crack or forgot how to count (option 2 is really the better choice here). I recounted it last night and we are not at 15 stitches/2 inches, but 18. Not good. So, there's gonna have to be some reswatching with the LL. I'm wondering if I wasn't still hardoring some resentment towards the yarn after the whole big ass tangled mess and didn't knit it just a little tighter than I would normally knit such lovely yarn. We shall see.
Posted by Stephanie at 9:16 AM | Comments (21)February 22, 2006
Front Door
Cara tagged me with a meme - "The View From Your Front Door" because she thinks I live in a beautiful place. Honestly, I really love where we live. I love my house and that we have some land for the horses and not a lot of neighbors. But, some days I wonder what the heck we were thinking moving back to Wyoming - the weather, the job market, the shopping - all less than ideal. Yesterday the temperature with the wind chill was somwhere around -25 and today we're having a heat wave - it's 10 degrees! But, the point of this here meme is to show you all the view from my front door.
That's the view this morning when I opened the front door and looked straight out. I was hoping the horses would be out, but they were in the barn eating breakfast.
Looking out the front door to the left gives you a view of the barn, sometimes a train, and the eatern sky.
If you look to the right, you see the pasture, the neighbor's pasture, and the mountains in the distance. And a whole lot of brown grass.
I decided that while I was showing you pictures from my front door, I might as well include the view from the patio door - also looking east.
And a view from the garage door, looking west.
And I found some pictures I took last summer when the grass was green, just so you know that it isn't brown all the time. Because let's face it, brown grass is pretty ugly.
In knitting news, the second Tech Guy Sock continues. Ribbing, ribbing, and more ribbing. I'll show you a picture when something exciting happens. Until then, know that I'm working on it and am excited to be done so I can start the Chalet Socks for my sock pal.
Oops, I forgot to tag some people for the Front Door meme. Hmmm. I'm going to tag Diana because she lives in a place so very different from me, Blossom because it's warm where she is (and I'd like to see a little something other than brown grass), yaiAnn because she lives on the other coast, and Rebekah in the heart land (or at least somewhat). If you haven't done this meme and want to, consider yourself tagged.
Posted by Stephanie at 10:45 AM | Comments (29)February 21, 2006
Fun?
You'd think that after a long weekend, I'd have lots of knitting to show you. But, I don't. Mostly because I had to reknit the toe on the Tech Guy sock three more times between Friday and Saturday. The first time the short rows looked great, but it was still too long. Some might think I didn't learn my lesson from the first time, but I think Travis' foot was shrinking just to screw with me. The second time I may have over compensated just a tad because it was too short (yes, I know - clearly I have yet to master the art of the tape measure). And the third time if fit. Praise the knitting gods, do a happy dance, and have a stiff drink! So, I give you one completed Tech Guy Sock.
Despite my very strong desire to throw the ball of yarn out of a car window while cruising down the road at 65 mph, I didn't. Instead, I cast on for the second sock. I can't very well let a stupid sock get the best of me, so onward we go and I can only hope that the lessons I learned on sock #1 will stick in my little brain so sock #2 can go much smoother.
Yesterday morning, in an attempt to distract myself from Tech Guy Sock #2, I decided to wind my Lorna's Laces and swatch for the Chalet Socks. You'd think that with a ball winder and swift, this would be a quick and painless process. Clearly, I have angered the knitting gods.
I mean, they're pissed.
I lost about 3 hours of my life untangling that holey mess, but eventually I won (although I had to hide the scissors because I was tempted to just start chopping things up). I swatched.
And, I. GOT. GAUGE. 7 1/2 stitches per inch on US #1s. Woo Hoo. Sockapaloooza, here I come.
February 17, 2006
Sockumcision
Thank you all for your advice on the Tech Guy Socks. After much consideration and internal debate, I decided to rip the sock back past the heel and reknit the heel and foot. And being basically a lazy person, my solution to ripping out the toe was this:
Yep, I cut the toe right off - scissors and yarn together did cause some minor heart palpitations. Margene tells me that's what is commonly referred to as a sockumscision! I just love that. Makes me laugh every time I think about it. The reality was that I'd closed all those holes and woven in the ends. There was no way I was going to be able to rip it out and have my sanity when I was finished (and my sanity is tentative anyway) - so cutting was really the only option.
After the sockumcision, I ripped out the foot and heel and was left with my 9 1/2 inches of ribbing.
I decided that I couldn't let a stupid short-row heel beat me, so I got out my wrapped short-row instructions and reknit the heel. And it looks much better!
I ended up putting 29 of the 60 stitches on the heel needle (so the ribbing worked out right) and did 8 wrapped stitches on each side and 13 unwrapped stitches in the middle. The heel is much wider and fits Travis a lot better. And the best thing is there are no holes! I'm annoyed with myself that I didn't stop when I did the heel the first time. I knew the heel was too narrow and that I wasn't happy with the short rows, but I kept knitting. Why is that? It really would have been a lot simpler to just stop and fix it at the time rather than rip out half a sock. I wonder how many times I'm going to have to learn that lesson before it sinks in.
I'm so glad today is Friday - I was fairly certain it would never get here. The weather is total crap today - it's something like -30 with the wind chill. The only good thing about that is it'll be a perfect weekend for knitting by the fire.
Posted by Stephanie at 9:35 AM | Comments (21)February 16, 2006
Not Lovin' It
I'm not lovin' this Tech Guy Sock. I finished the first sock last night and let me tell you, I have issues. I don't for one minute think it's the pattern because I know it's me. Overall, I like the ribbing pattern and the yarn is nice for a rustic, durable sock.
My issues arise with the heel and toe. Despite a whole lot of assistance, I just don't love the yarn over short-rows. Mine are loose and sloppy
and leave large holes everywhere.
Aside from the huge ass holes, the heel's too narrow and the toe's too long. On the toe and heel issue, those of you who are devoted short-row people, how many stitches do you generally have between the short rows for the toe and heel on a man's sock? This pattern says 8 and that's just too narrow for Travis' feet. And I should have known better than to knit to within an inch and a half from the desired length before starting the toe shaping, the resulting toe is about an inch too long (and I measured carefully and subtracted about a 1/4 inch - maybe I need to allow for a bit more negative ease?). I did get to perfect my grafting skills because I had to graft thirty stitches on this sock to attach the short-row toe to the instep stitches. Practice is always a good thing. Despite all this, I've discovered that I like knitting socks on two circulars - which is good to know. I guess the only thing to do is rip back to before the heel shaping and go back to a wrapped short-row. Any other suggestions?
February 13, 2006
I Am Pleased To Present...
The completed Ombre.
Project Details:
Pattern: Ombre Blanket from Last-Minute Knitted Gifts
Yarn: Plymouth Alpaca 3-Ply Sport
Needles: US #11 Addi Turbo 40"
Modifications/Thoughts: No modifications, except I substituted the Plymouth alpaca for the Blue Sky Alpaca specified in the pattern. This project took forever (as I'm sure most of you know). And really, for the most part, I've been pretty diligent with working on it. It has no business being in a book called Last-Minute Knitted Gifts, even if it is in the "More than 8 Hours" section (I started this project in late October). I'm going to have to think long and hard before I make another throw, but I know my mom really loves this blanket and will take wonderful care of it. She's already snuggled under it and thinks it's wonderful. Really, there's nothing better than having a hand knit gift loved and appreciated. So, in the end, it was all worth it.
Posted by Stephanie at 8:26 AM | Comments (48)February 12, 2006
Gauge Sucks
Can I just tell you how freakin' much I hate knitting a gauge swatch and having it tell me my tension is too loose or too tight. I know, I know. That's the whole purpose of the stupid things, but jeeze. So, here's the deal. Last night I wound all the beautiful Hebridean yarn into little balls, got out my 3.25mm Holz & Stein ebony needles I've been saving for this project and started my gauge swatch (yes, you know what that means - Ombre update tomorrow). By the time I was done it was late, so I steamed it as directed and waited until this morning to measure it's little gauge goodness. The required gauge for Butterfly is 28 stitches and 32 rows to 10cm. And what do I have? I have 32 freakin' stitches. Ok, deep breath. Put the beautiful ebony needles away and pull out the 3.5mm addi turbos and start again. Oh, and in the process of digging through the needle stash I happened upon a 3.25mm addi turbo for my socks. It's just amazing what I find in the yarn closet I tell ya. So, I labor over my gauge swatch all morning and finish it just awhile ago. I steam it and measure with anticipation. Guess what my gauge is? Yep. 32 freakin' stitches.
How the #$%^ is that even possible? I knit the second swatch on larger needles. This should not be happening! Look at them. They look exactly the same (well, the H&S one looks a lot better, but they're the same size!). So, needless to say I pulled out the 3.75mm needles and after I get over the crushing disappointment, I'll try again (I'm starting to worry that knitting all these stupid gauge swatches will result in my running out of yarn down the road). Keep your fingers crossed and any suggestions on why this gauge business is the way it is would be most appreciated.
February 9, 2006
Nordic Mittens
As promised, here are the finished Nordic Mittens (did you hear that? finished!)
I had in my mind the perfect photo shoot for my lovely mittens - playing in the snow and building snowballs. Snow clinging to the wool and the nice contrast between the bright white snow and the black and red mittens. Then I crashed back to reality. Snow? There's no snow around here. Wind we have, snow - not so much. So, you get the lame office shot. Sorry, it was the best I could do.
Detail Shots:
Project Details:
Pattern: Vinternatt Mittens Kit. Size medium
Yarn: Strikkegarn Rauma Yarn (included in kit) - about 1 1/2 skeins of red and not quite 1 skein of black.
Needles: 3.25 mm and 3.75 mm dpns (I had to go up a needle size on both to compensate for a tighter gauge - that's the first time that's ever happened to me, usually I have to go down a needle size).
Modifications: Um, not a single modification. It was all I could do to follow the pattern There may very well be some mistakes, but don't tell me about them if you see them. My tension improved tremendously on the second mitten. I think it might have been that I stopped gripping the needles like they were going to jump out of my hands, and that I stopped wrapping the right hand yarn around my pinky six times, but I'm just guessing.
The TechGuy socks are progressing nicely. I made quite a lot of progress yesterday.
Did you notice? Yes indeed, I am knitting that freakin sock on one 24" circular needle. Magic loop on a 24" needle is not ideal. Why would I do it then, you ask. Well, because of this. WTF is up with that?! I wasn't even pulling on it or anything, just knitting with it - and about 10 stitches into the round too. So, I'm off to the LYS at lunch to see if I can get some addi turbos and return this little sucker. Jeeze. Oh, and on a side note, I remembered why I didn't love the magic loop. It makes my right pinky sore - the cable almost rubs a raw spot on it. Weird.
February 8, 2006
Ombre? Who's That?
Ombre saw absolutely no action yesterday. I know, I had big plans to get to the half way point, but you see...this thing came up. What thing? Well, ... the second Nordic Mitten was almost done - like only half the thumb and the facing left to knit done. So, what else could I do except finish it last night? Yeah, I could have done it today on the drive and at lunch, but there wasn't enough knitting to hold me for the whole day, so clearly I had no choice but to finish it at home and start a new portable project for today. No choice, I tell ya. Mitten number 2 took a swim and is blocking as we speak. Pictures tomorrow.
As for the new project - I had a hard time choosing, but choose I did. The other day at the guild meeting a couple of ladies were talking about knitting socks on 2 circular needles and how we needed to have a guild meeting dedicated to learning this method together. Yeah, that's clearly what we need to do. Are you freaking kidding me? My whole anti-class personality came out and I decided I'd just learn it on my own. I mean really, could it be that complicated? I've knit with a magic loop - surely it wasn't going to be that hard. But, I sent an SOS to one of my favorite 2 circular pals and heard a report on the method from our favorite Jaywalking Knitter just to be sure I wasn't completely crazy. Purly referred me to this website and off I went, with a stop for some needles along the way.
I decided I needed a relatively simple pattern for my first attempt and since I've been meaning to knit Travis some socks and I had some sport weight yarn that's supposedly indestructible, I decided on the Tech Guy Socks. So, last night after finishing the mitten I wound the yarn into a ball.
Let me tell you what - I had to wind the last bit by hand because it wouldn't all fit on my ball winder. This is one big ass ball of yarn. Here's proof.
That, my friends, is the biggest ball of yarn I've ever seen - 8 full ounces of Icelandic fiber goodness. I don't think I need to worry about running out of yarn! I cast-on last night and got the hang of the whole 2 needle thing - seems pretty simple and fairly quick. I finished the cuff ribbing and have just started on the 3x1 ribbing for the leg. Mindless knitting is great sometimes.
Ombre tonight. I promise.
Posted by Stephanie at 11:38 AM | Comments (13)February 7, 2006
Life's Little Mysteries
AKA My Weird Personality
What makes a person ask for advice and then completely disregard the overwhelming majority? Clearly, I'm sick. The most popular choice for the Sockapaloooza socks was the Gentleman's Socks, which I agree are quite lovely. But, after much debate and changing my mind over and over again, I've decided the Chalet Socks are it (despite a bit of caution on this pattern because of the rather complicated charts). Charts? I ain't 'fraid of no stinkin' charts! Ok, maybe a little, but what's knitting without a bit of a challenge? I can always declare defeat and go with the Gentleman's Socks. I've ordered 2 options for yarn - Lorna's Laces in Island Blue and Footpath in Leaf. I probably won't decide until I knit a bit with each of them and see which one I like better in the pattern, and which one gives me the right gauge. I don't normally worry too much about gauge for socks, but I think socks that actually have to fit someone else will require a bit more care on my part. So, the gauge will be checked and yarn and needles will be tweaked until the proper gauge is achieved! So there.
I only managed two rows on Ombre last night, but I only had 30 minutes of knitting time. Karate really takes the bulk of my Monday and Thursday evenings. But, I figure 2 more rows done is two rows I don't have to knit tonight. I'll be past the half way point on the last stripe by the end of today. More happy dancing for that.
Posted by Stephanie at 9:11 AM | Comments (13)February 6, 2006
Ecstatic!
I am very happy to report that Ombre has officially entered the home stretch! I spent the entire weekend knitting on it and am on the 15th row of the last stripe. Every time I think about it, it makes me want to do a happy dance.
Saturday was the knitting guild meeting. And while it would have been so much easier to take the Nordic Mitten, I took Ombre and managed almost 3 hours of fairly uninterrupted knitting time (that time served as the catalyst for the rest of the weekend). Although there was a break in knitting for this photo:
The Sport Rib Sock was happy to model for the photo and was in good company with others of its kind.
The guild started making the Great American Aran Afghan a number of years ago and it's almost done. Since I haven't contributed, I volunteered to make one square (see the tree on the right side, three squares up from the bottom - that's mine). I have no idea how long it will take or how difficult it will be, but I do know that my square has bobbles - grrr. I think I'll stick that project in somewhere in the next month or so. I figure it's best to just get it done and over with. Although, I really don't think it will be too time consuming (or at least I hope not).
Knitting on Ombre will continue throughout the week and I hope to have it finished sometime next weekend. Butterfly is on the horizon.
Posted by Stephanie at 9:30 AM | Comments (13)February 3, 2006
Random Thoughts And Questions
I am so very happy to report that Sew? I Knit! is up to sixty members and we're still getting more sign-ups! (insert happy dance) You still have another 10 days or so to sign up if you're interested. YaiAnn, Mari, and I actually worried that no one would want to join and we'd be the only three. Clearly, we were wrong. And did you see this? Isn't that cool? Well, you don't have to think it's as cool as I think it is, but know that I think it's pretty freakin' fabulous.
Now, on to knitting randomness. As I'm sure most of you know, Sockapaloooza pals have been assigned. And it appears my sock pal is quite lovely and talented (although I've yet to meet a knitter I couldn't say the same things aobut). However, why the heck didn't anyone tell me how hard it is to pick out a pattern for someone else? Dude. I need help! I want bright colors - spring and all that, and yummy yarn goes without saying - and I want something that will challenge me, but not something totally out there. I have a couple of ideas, but I'd really love your input. I like the Chalet Socks from Folk Socks, Shooting Stockings, Bed Socks, Cycling or Golf Stockings, or Gentleman's Socks from Knitting Vintage Socks. Another consideration is the incredibly popular Jaywalker. Thoughts on which of these would make a good or bad sock exchange project or other ideas are welcome and appreciated.
Ombre is seeing some serious action this weekend. My goal is to finish color 10. There's a guild meeting and the Super Bowl - I think I'll have some quality knitting time and next week I'll be on the last color!! Butterfly, here I come. Have a wonderful weekend.
Edited to add: Due to some very sound advice (and seconded by more than one of you), Jaywalker is off the table for the sock pal. Although I really am going to knit myself a pair with that lovely picot edge...one of these days.
Posted by Stephanie at 8:08 AM | Comments (18)February 2, 2006
Mitten Number 2
I've been kind of quiet about the second Nordic Mitten, but it's really going well. The 2-handed knitting gets easier as time goes on, and my tension is considerably better on this one. I'm about half way through and will make good progress next week because I get to just ride along in the car on the commute.
I knit another 4 rows on Ombre last night and I swear I will eventually finish that blanket. I'm worried because I wanted to have it done by the middle of February and that isn't looking likely. Why does it have to take so freakin' long to finish this project? Yes, I'm whining, but come on already. Jeeze.
In exciting news, this morning Phil saw his shadow. When Travis heard that bit of news he scoffed (he really did) and said he'd be ecstatic if we only had six more weeks of winter. He's predicting something more in the range of 12 weeks, but he is a bit of a pessimist (although if you ask him, he'd say he's a realist - whatever). All I know is that I wish the wind would stop blowing.
Posted by Stephanie at 8:57 AM | Comments (21)
