The Ego Buster!

First let me say: earflaps in fair isle suck. Oh wait, I think I've already said that. I'm still on the first earflap. Considering how many times I started those suckers, it's nothing compaired to how many time I've had to pull back rows as I've knit them (it's almost a knit 3 rows, rip 2 process).

Let's face it: I'm fairly cocky when it comes to knitting. I skim directions, do my own thing... sheez, I barely even swatch (the ultimate in cocky). This project has kicked my butt. A true test of my skills, and I'm failing fairly well, thank you very much.

My stitches are very uneven, I've had to do a lot of ripping/tinking/restarting. While I think the pattern is quite lovely, my knitting skills have not done it justice. I will hold off final evaluation until after blocking (the knitter's best friend), but I will honestly say that the desire to do another fair isle chullo is non-existant.

Bring on a cabled project... and soon!

Now shooting for the 10th Anniversary....

That is the start of Matt's Salt Lake 2002 Olympic sweater. Started in 2001. All that lovely black stockinette stitch (is there anything less mindless than knitting st. st in the round?). Lovely, no?

Uh, no. The issue is that it has been 9 years since I started that sweater. That is the 48" finished size. For my currently 38" chested husband. Yep, it ain't gonna work anymore. So like many of the projects that I had started for him at that time, it needs a complete start over.

After some serious debating/measuring/discussion on ease, we decided that the 42.5" would be roomy and not sloppy. Matt hates oversize sweaters, and it's the advantage of knitting him sweaters rather than buying them. I'll shorten the body and sleeves and hopefully he'll have a sturdy well fitting sweater... just in time for the 10th anniversary of the 2002 Olympics!

Plus it gives me a distraction from earflaps.

Procrastination Technique #2

As we established yesterday, blogging is an excellent way to avoid knitting earflaps (is earflaps one word or two? hmmm ear flaps doesn't look right, does it?)

Today we cover the "it's almost done, why not just finish it" procrastination technique:


A crochet afghan that I've been using as my breakfast project for a while now. It has a few ends to weave in, but it's basically done.

Let's do some project stats, eh?

Pattern: Sweet Tangerine by Barbara Schaffer (pattern is from the Leisure Arts booklet: Contempary Cottage Afghans)

Yarn: Lion Brand Woolease in Sage

Changes to the pattern: none

Problems with the pattern: none

Overall thoughts: wonderful pattern. The pattern stitch was easy and interesting to do. The resulting afghan is just what I wanted. One of the prettiest crochet afghan patterns I have ever seen. The Woolease is great afghan yarn for our house (machine wash and dry: whoot!) and the sage color is right up my alley! (editor's note: the photograph is not accurate. The color of the yarn is a true sage, not the light green as shown).

So tomorrow we'll discuss the benfits of sock drawer organization and how it's not really procrastination (oh what? you thought I would be knitting earflaps. HA!)

Blog equals Procrastination!

Yep, I'm updating my blog purely in avoidence of earflaps:


I'm very glad I used a smooth acrylic yarn for my crochet cast on, as the Naturespun yarn is very sticky. It was pretty easy unzipping the temporary cast on to get the stitches back on the needles.

This hat really really needs a good steam block! It's a snug fit right now (which Matt likes), but the steaming should help (hopefully) even out my stitches and give just a little more ease to the fit.

I must confess, I'm dreading those earflaps. I really can't procrastinate any longer, and I do have a plan that might make it easier for me. We'll see... I can always just throw on some ribbing if all else fails, right???

Heading towards the polar cap

The Polar Chullo is progressing a little more smoothly. I think the second set of polar bears are a little less wonky than the first set. I'm on the next to last chart for the body of the hat (then I'll have to tackle those earflaps: but now I have a strategy!).

While this is not my first fair isle project, those polar bears are the longest floats I've had to deal with. I tried the weaving process and had way too much bleed thru, so I ended up doing them the traditional way. I really do need more practice, and maybe I should even read one of my technique books (oh ya... those knitting books aren't just for the pretty pictures. Who knew?).

So fair isle is football friendly, but not movie (or video game cutscene) friendly. It's the chart reading/counting that will be my continual challenge with fair isle. I even avoid cable projects that I have to follow a chart row by row.

I have decided to restart Matt's Salt Lake City again (all that black st. st! now that's good cutscene knitting!). I also have to remember that I'll be making the smallest size this time, so it'll go faster. Right???

Ya, those are some pretty wonky looking polar bears. Let's hope they enjoy a nice steam bath.

So Matt's polar chullo is moving along. Slowly. Awkwardly. He thinks I just need more practice (and I think he's compiling a list of projects for me to practice on).

StephCat left me a great suggestion on the earflaps on my last post. She suggested I knit them in the round, thus making a two sided (and much warmer) earflap. Brilliant. I had thought of steeking the earflaps, but doing them in the round makes total sense and I'm going to give it a try.

I will confess that I don't think I'm ever going to embrace fair isle. I love how it looks, don't get me wrong. I have sooo much respect for those that do it flawlessly. I just feel so incredibly awkward doing it, plus it's not good for cutscene knitting (you can't just pick up and knit. There's that whole chart reading thing).

However, I will keep plugging along and do the occassional project for Matt (yes, I do have the Salt Lake City Olympic sweater to re-do. Uh, who started a 48" sweater for Matt again????. edit: I tried to find a link to the sweater and seems that the 2002 Olympics were soooo long ago that this pattern is gone. Best I can do is my first dog hair encrusted attempt, which is here).

So I'll finish the current chart section on the Polar Chullo before I start playing Fallout: New Vegas.

Earflaps... we don't need no stinking earflaps!

Yes, that is the start of a chullo. Specifically the Polar Chullo from Twist Collective.

I don't knit a lot of fair isle. There are many reasons. I'm not a fan of multiple strands of yarn at one time (and one of the reasons I don't use hand dyed yarns often, thanks to having to alternate rows). I'm a slave to the pattern with fair isle. It's like doing cross stitch where every stitch has to be counted and done correctly (and ripping back is a royal pain in the tuckus). Oh, and it doesn't help that I pretty much suck at it.

However, Matt is a HUGE fan of the fair isle style. Yes, he likes the cabled projects I knit him. He likes cables just fine, but he's been wanting me to knit him a fair isle project for some time now. He's also been wanting a chullo for a while as well. It will keep his ears nice and warm on those cold morning dog walks. So I figure this would be a good project for me to practice my fair isle skill and kill two birds with one stone for him (btw: he still wants a fair isle vest and/or sweater. He thinks the chullo will be good practice for me).

Well.... I started the Polar Chullo as per the directions. Starting with the earflaps. Which of course are knitted flat. On size 1 (US) needles. Did I mention I SUCK at fair isle. Add working flat to that and after 7 attempts (no exaggeraton), I realized that this chullo was going nowhere fast. Enter the brilliance of a crochet cast on (my favorite cast on, btw). I decided to do the body of the hat, then do the earflaps top down later. Why do it now when I can procrastinate (that's always been my motto!). So we'll see how it goes, but I'm already well underway with 11 rounds done (and only had to tink back one row!).

If all else fails, he'll get solid or striped earflaps, but at least he'll have some cute polar bears on his dog walks!

Comfort Zone

The TLC Ribby is done. I'm glad I decided to drop the scoop and re-do the yoke. This will be a lot more comfy for me. Plus, it's finished (no more debating on how to do the too deep scoop/fake double layer).

Let's do some project stat's, eh?

Pattern: Ribby Pulli by chicknits (this is my 4th finished one, I believe)

Yarn: TLC Cotton Plus

Problems with the pattern: I found the scoop to be way too low for me, but I am short (I also have to shorten the sleeves about 6")

Changes to the pattern: I did a fake double layer on the sleeves. I was afraid that I wouldn't have enough of the multi to do the long sleeves, and figured this was a good way to save some yardage. The bonus is that the multi colored yarn did that icky color stacking spiral thing (which I personally hate), so doing the white sleeves ended up having an additional advantage. Used a 2X2 ribbed mock turtleneck.

Overall impressions: since I'm feeling a little frumpy right now, I won't judge that aspect on the sweater right now. I will say that I love the idea of the fake double layer sleeves. The yarn is soft (and did I mention easy care???) and it's a comfy fit. Perfect for what I wanted.

So it's done... and I can move on. I'll get a lot of wear out of this, especially on cooler days (too warm for a wool sweater, yet too cool for just a long sleeve tee).

hmmmm.... that also means I have a set of empty knitting needles, doesn't it?

Prevent Defense?

I've been playing around with some projects lately, and I'm still working on the yoke for my TLC Ribby. I really wanted something "New!". So here's a new project (sorta):


This is actually a restart. I've always loved this Jean Frost cardigan (it's called "Bobbly-pointed edges" and it can be found in the Best of Knitters: Jackets).

I originally started it in Cotton Ease. I loved it, but I kept screwing up the lace pattern (what? I have to pay attention on the wrong size???? eeks). After some thinking, I also realized that the Cotton Ease might not block well for the lace (of course I could "swatch and block" uh. huh.). Instead, I decided to just simply start over. A fresh start.

I also decided to start with a sleeve. I really should do this more often, as I find it really helps with the second sleeve syndrom later.

I'm making a few changes. The sleeve is going to have to be a little wider and much much shorter (the sleeves are too long on the tall model from the book... imagine them on me!).

My first version, I just didn't do the bobbles, but I do think it looked odd without. So I did them, but I made a smaller bobble. I think it's just enough.

I'm also using a great yarn. Kathmandu DK, so it's going to be very light and soft. At first I wasn't sure the pattern stitch would show up, but I'm happy with it. (btw: the color is Hot Pink!!, not as mulberry as the photo shows. I tried to color correct it in photoshop, but gave up).

So when I feel like concentrating, (did I mention that the lace pattern is worked on BOTH sides??), this is the project right now. When I need mindless, it's the TLC Ribby. Of course that's when I'm not playing Fallout: New Vegas.

Re-booting

Fallout: New Vegas is a little... buggy. Okay, it's super buggy with lots of crashes and weird happenings. I lost about 4 hours of game play due to a corrupted file save, so I'm now rebooting often (and anytime the load screens start to take too long to load). I'm well over 80 hours of saved game play (not including crashes and corrupted files). It's been a decent game, but very frustrating (for obvious reasons).

So, while my Xbox takes a little rest, I thought I would do a quickie blog post. I'm still slowly plugging along on the TLC Cotton Plus Ribby Pullover (man, that's a mouthful! TLC-CP-RP? hmmm, not much better). I'm really glad I decided to frog the yoke back and do a mock 2X2 ribbed neck. Much more my taste, and I know I'll get a lot of wear from it once it's done.

Those first couple of rows of yoke are always tight on the circular needles, but after about 8 rows, I'm in a good rhythm. Hopefully I can get it done during the World Series.

Meanwhile, I'm still looking for inspiration. I'm finding lots of projects on Ravelry that I love, and I've even pulled out some yarn/needles and cast on a project or two, but I can't quite find that passion for a project. I feel a bit like I'm slugging thru projects rather than enjoying them. I know that magic project is out there, so I'll keep looking (and swatching/casting on) until I find it! I mean, I'm not even BUYING yarn (what's up with that??? think I've actually hit max. capacity?).

In the meantime, the Xbox is ready for a reboot, the coffee cup is refilled and I'm ready to head back to the Mojave Wasteland!

Eight Years Later...

... and I'm still blogging. Granted, no longer daily (and this year we'll even say "rarely"), but I'm trying to be more consistant again. I find that it really helps for me to keep track of what I'm working on.

I started blogging back in 2002 as a way to keep track of my knitting progress. The idea was to help me stay focused on projects. It certainly has helped on some levels, and I'm so glad that I've been journalling projects for the last 8 years.

I've gone back thru a lot of my blogs (mostly since I switched to blogger a few years ago, the pre-blogger blogs are basically gone). It's fun to read what I thought of projects as I was working on them. It's scary how many projects were started and stalled (or were frogged). It's also amazing how totally krappy some of my photographs were (still not great, but a HUGE improvement, that's for sure!)

This was the project I was working on when I first started blogging:


Cornwall by Alice Starmore knit in Cascade 220

The photo is more recent (it's dated 2008), as I re-photographed it before I changed the neckband. Matt never liked the open neckband, so it was frogged and after many attempts, a ribbed neckband was put back on (which I don't have a photograph of anywhere. Hmmmm, need to fix that! Where's my model????)

So, while blogging isn't quite the "thing" anymore (let's face it, most twitter or facebook now, plus there's Ravelry), I plan on continuing to blog. I love having a reference for my projects! So thanks for all the page hits over the years, I hope you keep stopping by occassionally!

Rainy days are for frogging!

Even tho' Fallout: New Vegas arrived this morning, I hope to spend some time with my TLC Ribby today. (If I can stop playing Mass Effect. I have issues).


I love everything about this top... except the neckline. The photo is one of many attempts to try to do a double layer insert. It's not working.

I finally realized that the biggest issue is the scoop. It's too scoopy (it's waaaaaay too low for me) and it's not what I actually want. I realized that I'm going to be happier with a traditional 2x2 rib neckband.

So I'll frog it back to the start of the neckline (which is basically the entire yoke) and re-do it. This pullover is perfect for this time of year and I love the colors. The TLC Cotton Plus is soft and easy care.

Meanwhile, the mitered crochet afghan is done and waiting for me to switch laundry so I can wash and dry it. Matt and I have decided that it's perfect for Project Linus (good size and kid friendly colors), so I'll drop it off later this week. I'll have finished photos/project stats probably tomorrow!

On The Border!

The mitered crochet throw is getting close to being finished. I'm at the border, which always takes longer than I think it's going to take!

I did end up doing an extra 5 squares. The afghan is written for 5 blocks by 6 blocks, making the finished size 48" X 57". Even as vertically challenged as Matt and I are, that's not a comfy length for us. 5 extra blocks, and it's now 5 blocks by 7. Fortunately, I had some of the light periwinkle in my stash so I didn't need to buy any extra yarn for it.

Have I mentioned how much I love these colors? I hope to have it done today, then I think I'm going to tackle a knitting project that I've been ignoring for a bit. Winter is coming!

Mitered Squares

My mitered blocks crochet afghan is moving along quickly. I have about half of it sewn together:


I have to say, I LOVE the colors!

This has been a fast project so far and I think I've learned some valuable things about myself.

I learned that I prefer to do individual blocks, even if they do need to be sewn together. My hexagon afghan is annoying to work on, as I'm attaching as I go. I just can't get into a groove with it.

I learned that I prefer to do my blocks in the round blocks rather than do the mitered blocks. They are easier to seam up (even tho' I'm actually crocheting these blocks together).

I found out that color is my first priority (after washability for afghans). While I love the colors of this afghan, let's face it: Red Heart Super Saver is not a real "snuggly" yarn. The cornmeal is actually quite harsh (there's a huge descrepency between colors on softness, that's for sure). However, the colors totally make this afghan for me, so I can live with the texture of the yarn.

I also learned that weaving in ends after completing a block is prudent (yes, I've learned that lesson before, but I guess I needed a refresher on that one!).

So I should have this baby done by the end of the week. I already have an other afghan ready to go when this one is done (and yes, I'm still working on three others at the same time. Yay for short attentions spans!)

Still Knitting! Really!

I know that I've been showing more crochet projects than knitting projects of late (mainly, as I have been working on more crochet than knitting). However, that does not mean that I'm not knitting. I'm just not knitting as much as usual (yes, we can blame Bioware for some of that too).

Meanwhile, I am still trying to knit all the sweaters from A Fine Fleece. Here's some progress updates:


Corduroy, this simple gansey has been perfect for my current attention span knitting. Simple and mindless. Great to pick up and knit a few stitches during cutscenes or long load screens. I'm loving how the Knitpicks City Tweed DK is knitting up. Yes, it's going to pill like crazy, but oh how soft and warm is this sweater going to be!


Since I love the City Tweed DK so much, I decided that to use the aran weight for Amanda. I originally started this one in Brooks Fiber Farm Rialto, but reality hit and I knew I wasn't going to have enough yarn (which is too bad, as it was turning out beautifully). I'm thrilled with the pattern stitch/drape/color of this so far. This is an other great just pick up and knit project!


Meanwhile, I decided that I loved Matt's Staghorn so much, I needed to knit one for myself. In yummy Black Water Abbey (the yarn color, Iris, doesn't photograph real well. It's either too purple or too blue. The real color is somewhere in between). This is a great cabled project for me. The cables are easily worked (not only do I have the patterns memorized, I don't need a cable needle to work them). So it's an other just pick up and knit project.

So lots of projects being worked on (as usual) with out a lot of finishing (as usual). Eh. Things get done when I get them done!

Crochet Squared

I'm really digging the colors Matt helped me pick out for the mitered crochet throw. I've got the pattern down, but I am having some gauge issues:



My gauge relaxes as I go, so my squares aren't very square.

It has gotten better (my first two squares are unusable), but I have to really watch how loose I get, especially on the last two colors. I'm hoping that sewing the blocks together will help them square up. However, I'm avoiding weaving in ends, just in case I need to go back and rework these blocks (ya, has NOTHING to do with me procrastinating on the weaving in ends thing).

I'm actually debating if I should do the last color in a smaller hook just to help tighten up the last two rows?

More on afghans

I admit I was going to do an actual knitting update today, as I do have a few knitting projects underway. However, the afghan phase is still in full effect.

Matt and I had a few errands to run, so I picked up a couple of skeins of yarn to do a mitered square afghan. I've been playing with the colors and this is what I've decided on:


Now all I have to do is figure out how to keep my squares "square" (my gauge relaxes as I go, so I really need to concentrate).

For some reason, my knitting has a bad case of startitis. I can't seem to stay focused on a single project. The afghan projects are getting much more attention (depending on where in the house I'm sitting).

Maybe the afghan phase is due to the dreary weather... or maybe the still fresh memories of last winter? Maybe I'm more into crochet right now (I like my sweaters knitted and my afghans crocheted). Or maybe it's not having to worry about fit?

Afghans!!!!

Let's give a shout out to fall! Now that October is here, the temp has dropped to cool and comfortable and the leaves are definitely turning (and falling, but don't tell Matt. Raking season is one of the drawbacks this time of year), it's time to dust off some snuggly soon to be winter projects:

I'm a fan of afghans, especially sampler afghans. and green (I will say that in real life these greens are not as close in color as they would appear in the photos. Really. Well, mostly.)

This is a sampler crochet afghan I've been working on for a few years, but had to rip a bunch of it back (I was losing stitches as I went, and I prefer a retangular afghan. Just sayin'):


This is an afghan from a Leisure Arts book (doing it in Woolease, which I'm finding I don't love to crochet. It's very splitty, especially with the FPS):


Here's an other samper square afghan. This one has been around for a while. I'm actually using two different booklets and using which squares I like. I'm hoping I took good notes as to which ones I've already done:


Now this one doesn't quite fit in with the rest. First, it's not green and second, It's Done! Woo!


Just a quick summery on this one. It's small. I only had enough yarn to make 16 squares, and I just used the A-Z Sampler pattern that I used for this one. It's a soft, cozy, lapghan and I'm very happy with it. Ya, I like making afghan squares. Bring on some more!

The Disaster Zone

After several years of procrastination, I've spent about 2 hours in my sewing room this morning doing a little purging.

It's bad. Really bad. The room has many issues, not the least of which is that it's basically an attic space. This has several drawbacks: first it's got temperature issues (it gets HOT! especially with my steam iron on). It's also tucked away from regular house activity... with lots of soft cozy fabric for the mice to find. Ugh. It's also the "don't know where to put it" room.

Since my energy levels have improved a bit, I've been meaning to tackle it. However, every time I would walk into the room, I would get overwhelmed and turn around and go play Mass Effect 2 (or Dragon Age, depending on my current obsession).

Fortunately (or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it), my hand has been forced. We have to replace our shingles on the roof, and we always planned on adding some dormers to the room when we did.

While adding dormers and changing the roof angle will give me a much more usable space, I now HAVE to clean out that room, as we have a contractor coming today for our first quote. Eventually, I'll have to take everything out of that room (eeeeks!), but it's a great way to purge an overwhelming stash of stuff (do I really still need to keep the oil paints from college? I mean really? when was the last time I painted?)

Well, I guess I should head back to tackle some more. Enough procrastination, eh?

Epic Fail

So here's the third finished project in as many days. This one, however, will be looking for a new home:


This project has been nothing but a pain in the ass from the beginning. I had gauge issues (then decided to go up a size, so Matt could wear it over a jacket... shouldn't have bothered). I found the directions VERY hard to follow and made globs of mistakes that required a lot of ripping back. The zipper installation is not the best (not the worse either).

The icing on the cake: Matt doesn't like it. Not his fault. I know that Matt does not like the smell of natural wools (we went thru this when I made him a pullover out of Paton's Ballybrae). However, I didn't think that the Bartlett was that bad (I wear it and don't notice it, but I think knitters find the smell pleasant. You know... smells like wool). I will also say that while the idea of "oversized to wear over a jacket" sounded like a good idea... the 44" is still way too big for him.

So the Bartlett stash is now for me (even tho' the oatmeal is sooo not my color, I have enough left over from this project to make me something) and I'll find this very warm wooly vest a new home. Let's do some project stats:

Pattern: October Vest from Interweave Crochet Fall 2009

Yarn: Bartlett Fisherman in Oatmeal

Problems with the pattern: found the directions very hard to follow. Paragraph breaks didn't coinside with structure of garment. Hard to keep track of where you are (row counts would've been nice).

Changes to the pattern: none... not that talented of a crocheter to tweak.

Overall impressions: While I think the final product ended up okay, this was a doomed project from the start. Way too many mistakes on my part, used a yarn that didn't suit Matt in a size that didn't fit him. Part of my stubborn nature wants to try again with a different yarn, as the style is very him, but I think he'll get a knitted vest next.