May 09, 2005

New Project

I finished my socks on Friday night. 

And then I wore them on Saturday.  I love them.  Super comfy and cute too.  So, since the socks were completed I had to start another project.  The package in the mail wasn't the Goa (which, according to the UPS tracking number I got from Knitting Garden, will be arriving on Wednesday) so I was left with the dilemma of what to start next.  Since I also don't have the Phildar Licorne for the zip cardi, I cast on Ronnie in red Jo Sharp SoHo Summer.  This is my first Christmas project for the year.  I made some progress over the weekend, but not as much as I would have liked.

So far the stitches have been fairly even, but I'm working with metal needles because the rosewood ones I ordered from Knit Happens aren't here yet.  Hopefully today.  The only bummer is that since I've started this and I will need to cast on the seed stitch shell as soon as I get the Goa, the zip cardi is going to have to wait until I finish one of these projects.  Oh well, I guess there's lots of summer yet and I shouldn't get too impatient.

The knitting guild meeting didn't happen.  Apparently you were supposed to rsvp, but I went back and looked at the e-mail and can't find that direction anywhere.  Oh well, I ended up spending some time with the lady who had planned to host.  She sells yarn out of her house.  Stuff that she gets directly from manufacturers and mills.  She has some yummy stuff.  I wish I'd known about her before Jenn and I had ordered the alpaca for the ombre blanket (from Last Minute Knitted Gifts) because she had lots of yummy alpaca and could have gotten us what we needed for less than we paid.  Oh well, there's always next time!  :)  Anyway, she seems like a good source for yarn.

My in-laws were in town for my brother-in-law's college graduation, which made for a busy weekend.  We had a good time, but I don't know where the weekend went.  Back to the grind and to top it off, I have to go to the dentist this morning.  Routine cleaning, but I never enjoy the dentist.  Yuck.

Have a great day.

Posted by Stephanie at 08:10 AM | Comments (0)

May 05, 2005

New Computer

I am in desperate need of advise.  It has reached the point that I must buy a new home computer.  My laptop is possessed and shuts itself down at random moments.  Very annoying because I usually lose whatever I'm working on.  So, I would love to hear what computers you all would recommend - mac, dell, gateway, etc.  I only use my home computer for blogging, surfing, and the occasional invitation design, so lay it on me.  Thanks for your help.

I got the Jaeger pattern book last night and I just couldn't resist swatching.  I'm happy to report that I got gauge with the recommended size needles (size 5).  I only need 2 more balls of yarn, which I'm going to try to track down today and I think I like knitting cotton on bamboo needles better than metal (I swatched on metal because that's all I have in a #5) so I think I'll order some bamboo needles too.  The sock is nearing completion, so I may cast on for this project this weekend.  My yarn from Knit N Tyme was shipped this morning, and I paid for express shipping - it should be here the first part of next week.  I can't wait to try my luck again on the zip cardi.  Maybe this time it will be better.

The Knitting Guild is meeting on Saturday morning and I'm going to try to go for a little while.  I have a hair appointment at 11:30, but the meeting starts at 10:00.  I figure I'll just go at 10:00 and leave a little early.  Do you think it's ok to leave early?  Have a great day.

Posted by Stephanie at 08:35 AM | Comments (0)

May 03, 2005

I May Have Appeased Them

The Knitting Gods, that is.  I almost hate to say this for fear of retribution, but what the heck - here goes.  My sock is coming along nicely.  I've noticed an evening of stitches from the start and now, which pleases me immensely.  I successfully turned the heel and am making my way up the leg.  I should be able to finish it this week (Knitting Gods willing) and then I will move on to another project.  I ordered Goa in orange for the Vogue Knitting seed stitch shell.  It will be a gift and I imagine it being a fairly quick project.  Maybe just what I need right now.  Otherwise, I'm still waiting for the Jaeger pattern book to arrive from Knit Happens, but I expect it any day.  If that arrives before the Goa, I may start on the sweater for my sister, but we'll have to see (and of course, I must finish the sock first).  I'm looking for a pattern to use the Rowan 4-ply cotton and I like some of these - what do you think?

Well, I don't have anything else to share.  Have a great day.

Posted by Stephanie at 08:13 AM | Comments (0)

April 19, 2005

Elizabeth Zimmermann Is A Genius

Thanks Linda for the link to the thread on Knitter's Review on bind-offs for toe-up socks.  I used the Elizabeth Zimmermann Sewn Cast-Off and it worked like a charm.  My sock now fits and it was a lot easier than the method in Vogue Knitting.

Sorry for the dark picture, but for some reason I couldn't get my camera to give me a better quality picture last night (operator error, I'm sure).  I started the second sock and have the toe done.  I imagine I'll get a lot done on it while I'm waiting for my surgery on Thursday.

The Phildar Zip Cardigan (I think its name is Gilet) is coming along nicely.  I've finished my first ball of yarn and am about half way up the back.  It's going faster than I thought it would with the 4-ply and size 2 needles.

The thing about cotton is that you can see every irregularity in the stitches.  The pattern is reverse stockinette stitch and you can really see the slight variation in tension in some spots.  Will this get better after I wash and block it? 

It's supposed to rain and maybe snow here this evening.  The moisture is good since we've already had our first wild fire of the season, but I wish it would just rain rather than snow.  I'm so tired of snow.  Oh well, beggars can't be choosers.  Have a great day.

Posted by Stephanie at 08:17 AM | Comments (0)

April 12, 2005

Short Row Heel

I have successfully completed my first short row heel.  I see that there is one tiny hole on one side - should have picked up an extra stitch there, but I don't care.  I did it and it looks good.  What do you think? I worked on it this morning on the commute and tried it on.  It fits!  I'm so excited.  I'm guessing you couldn't tell, so I thought I'd mention it.  Heehee.

I'm calling Knit Happens the minute I get done here to order the yarn for my Phildar cardigan (it has a name, but I can't remember it at the moment - I'll work on that for next time).  I'm also going to ask about the lantern moon needles.  I don't know what the return policy is, but I'm going to check.  I'm excited to get started on that project. 

I found a pattern for legwarmers.  It's over on streets and YOs and is from Last Minute Knitted Gifts.  I think they're super cute and look to be a bit longer (which is what I was after, if you remember).  I'm going to go out this week and get that book, which I've been meaning to do for what seems like forever (if I can find it around here, if not, I'll have to order it - maybe I'll ask at Knit Happens and just have them send it with my order.  That may be the easiest solution of all.)  Good thinking.

I got a new purse and wallet yesterday.  I really only needed a new wallet, but since I was ordering one, I thought I ought to get a new purse too.  Don't you think? It's funky and fun and good for spring/summer, at least I think it is.  It's better than the boring black one anyway.

I've decided on a coffee table and need to go put a down payment on it (they have to order the one I want, which will probably take 6-8 weeks).  It's from Western Heritage Furniture.  The one I like is the ghostwood diamondback top with the bartlett legs and the natural tacks.  What do you think?

So that's all I have to tell you.  Karate tonight and birthday lunch in the office today, so the knitting prospects look slim today.  Have a great day.

Posted by Stephanie at 08:51 AM | Comments (0)

April 08, 2005

Socks and Babies...

... well, my babies anyway.  I absolutely love daylight savings time.  It's actually light when I get home from work.  So, in honor of the daylight I took some pictures of my babies to share with you.  Here you have Fritz and Toast respectively.  Both Quarter Horses.  We rope off of them.  Toast used to be a race horse, and he was quite good when he remember that it is important to pay attention to what you're doing when you're running really fast down a track with a bunch of other horses.  Unfortunately, he forgot about that most of the time.  Fritz has never experienced the thrill and defeat of racing and was raised on my dad's ranch.  He's a sweetie, but has an owie on his leg (I took a picture, but chose to spare you the gory details - be grateful).  And then there's Riley , who you've met before, obsessing about his orange ball.  He's really quite amusing because the ball is hard plastic and too large for him to get into his mouth so he just pushes it around with his nose and barks at it.  Makes me laugh every time.  If you look very carefully you can see the very beginnings of green grass in the pasture.  I'm just holding my breath that more will grow and it isn't just teasing me.  I get so jealous of those of you who spring has already chosen to bless because it's still so far away for us.  Maybe sooner than I think??

I got Rebecca put together last night and am quite pleased.  I still have to weave in the ends and knit on the ties, but she fits and looks good - not too short although I need a cute camisole to wear with her - Target over lunch might be able to help with that.  I also am making good progress on my sock.  The colors aren't as purpley as they look here - magenta and green and brown.  I took this at the beginning of the evening so I have even more done now.  Here's the toe.  What do you think of the short rows?  I think they turned out pretty well considering it's my first time trying them.  Here's a close-up.  The color in this last picture is the closest to the actual color.  Probably because I took it without a flash!  :)  I'll have pictures of Rebecca when I get her completed and you can let me know what you think.  Have a great weekend.  I'm hoping to get lots of knitting done because it's supposed to snow here this weekend (yuck). 

Posted by Stephanie at 09:56 AM | Comments (0)