Stash Enchancement

So, there was some major stash enhancement in the last few weeks. It started with the Webs Anniversary sale and went downhill from there.

Then my mom visited and we had some time to kill, so we went to Knit Cafe. I'd never been before, and it was an overall pleasant experience. I ended up with some Pehuen from Arucania in 07 (greens and browns) and 05 (pinks and purples) and some Regia Color for socks. I also picked up Knitting Nature the new book from Norah Gaughan. It is one of the most interesting and beautiful knitting books I've seen in a while. It is a great intersection of math, biology and knitting. I think my first project from it will likely be the Knitaround Leaf Tank, but there are so many gorgeous patterns.

Then, yesterday I visited Stitches From the Heart. I doubt it would ever be my favorite yarn store, but I enjoyed the experience and will go back. The store is a non-profit organization, the proceeds go to provide knitted items for premature babies. They have an interesting selection of yarns. There are a number of the cheaper acrylic, a lot of Berroco yarns, and a wide variety of other stuff, including a pretty large pattern selection.

And, in online stash enhancement, I've been trying to buy the Diagonal Triangle Top from Art Yarns in a store, but hadn't yet found it. I wasn't going to use the suggested (very expensive) yarn, but when I found it online for a good price, with free shipping, no sales tax and 10% off (new customers) I decided to splurge and give it a shot. It was hard to pick a color, but I finally decided on the Pink Dawn. I love the more green/blue colors, but wasn't sure how they'd look with jeans or with black, but the pink dawn should be good with jeans or under a suit.

Olive Madness

So, for some reason the two main things I have on the needles right now are olive colored. One is the Biker Jacket in the olive Felted Tweed, and the other is the Minisweater in the olive Noro Lily. Both are getting closer to completion.

I've only got a few more rows to go on the Minisweater before I do the edging and then switch to the sleeves. The pattern has you do the sleeves flat and then seam them, but I think I'll just do them on DPNs. I might also add in a bit of detail like on the sleeves on this Kim Hargraves pattern.

As for the biker jacket, I finished one sleeve, and the body pieces are seamed up. I'm worried the sleeve will be bigger than I want. Looking at the pattern the sleeves are pretty loose, and I'm actually knitting a bit tighter than the suggested gauge (suggested is 18 stitches and I'm getting about 19 per 4 inches). So, just one more sleeve, and then the waist and sleeve bands, then the rest of the seaming, and sewing in the zipper. I've never sewn a zipper in anything, so that is a bit worrisome. I haven't yet bought a zipper, I keep forgetting to take a sample of the yarn when I go to the fabric store. Hopefully it won't be too hard to match, but I may have to make a trip to the Fashion District.

Colors....

I joined Project Spectrum today. April is for oranges and yellows, probably the only two colors I never wear. Somewhere I've got some orange Cotton Ease, otherwise I'm going to try to have to find some stuff around. The following months however, should be a lot easier.





Tags: Project Spectrum_

Smooch Frustrations

I "finished" the Smooch tank the other day, but I'm really not liking the eyelets on one side. The directions were a bit lacking, and just said to reverse the shaping of the other side of the V-neck, but I wasn't really sure how to reverse the YOs and the decreases. The decreases on each side are so different, and it bugs me. A good wet blocking might fix it, but I don't think it will. This thing has languished for so long on the needles, I really want to get it done, but right now I'm just too frustrated.



Right now I can't even remember what I did to get them to look like that it was so long ago. I should go check the blue blog because I think she messed with the eyelets on the trim to make them look the same, so there might be some advice for me there.

Also, I knit the front pieces way too long, and I seamed them with the back about 10 rows below where they actually end.

Tags: Smooch_

Fishy

I finally finished the fish from JudyKits. I was a bit worried about the shape of the fish, before putting on the fins it really looked too long and skinny. But, once the fins were attached it looked a lot better, though I think the nose is still a bit too pointy.

I'm not sure what I'm going to do with the fish. The original plan was to gift it to our friends for their soon-to-be-born son's ocean themed bed room. Well, they've moved and the son is at least two now and he's got a baby sister now.



Yarn: Hand dyed cotton (included in kit)
Needles: Bryspun, 6s
Pattern: Clownfish from JudyKits.com

Opps, I just realized he isn't yet a true FO, he's still missing a mouth. But I'm still going to count him as a FO.


Tags: FOs_

MiniSweater Progress

I cast on last Wednesday (on the flight) for Glapyre's Minisweater. I'd been searching for a cardigan or shrug to wear with this dress, but was having a hard time finding something in olive color. I'd just about given up when I remembered that I had some yarn in the color and that I might be able to whip out something quick.

I was hoping to get it finished so I could wear it to a wedding on Saturday, but I realized I'd need to deal with getting a button and I decided that my time should be spent better on school work. But, I'm still progressing along nicely, with the hope of being able to wear it to a wedding over memorial day weekend (yes, it is the season for weddings). I separated out the arms last night and am progressing nicely, so it shouldn't really be a challenge to get it done on time.






Note: The yarn I'm using is Noro Lily that I bought a while back on sale, and I'm loving this yarn. It is so soft and luscious. Bonus note: In real life I don't look that busty and/or lopsided.


Tags: WIPs_,
Minisweater_

Biker Jacket Seaming

I worked a bit today on seaming the Biker Jacket. Things are going much better after blocking, it makes it much easier to see the stitches I want to sew into.

I'm using the mattress stitch, which I wish I'd taken the time to learn before. I've never done much seaming, the most I did was on the Octopus, and there was so much there, but I didn't really do anything specific. But, now that I've learned the mattress stitch it makes things so much easier and better looking. And, once you get going it actually goes rather quick.

But, I'm having trouble seaming with the yarn I'm using. It keeps breaking, but I'm not sure if that is because the piece was so worn out from being ripped out so many times. I'm going to start over tomorrow with a new piece and hopefully that will work better.

Tags: Biker Jacket_

KSSP Questions

KSSP questionaire

1. We know you prefer natural fibers, but which ones do you adore? On the same note, what yarns make you absolutely cream yourself?
As I currently live in Southern California, but am in the process of moving to Hawaii (it is a long process, which includes working there this summer), I'm trying to get more in to cottons and silks and away from the warms wools, alpacas, etc.

2. What other crafty shit do you do? (ie, spin, crotchet, bead, put babies on spikes, etc)
I've really forsaken most other crafts since I started knitting. But I do a bit of sewing, beading, soap making and paper crafts. Oh, and cooking- I think that counts as a craft!

3. Do you have any allergies? (smoke, pets, fibers, perfume, etc.)
Nope

4. What yarns do you absolutely hate?
The normals- crappy acrylics and novelty yarns.

5. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?
Amazon
Wists

6. What's your favorite scent? (for candles, bath products etc.)
Vanilla and florals, fresh fruity (but not overly sweet) things.

7. What do you like to eat? You know you want chocolate!
Unformtuanly, I'm trying to do South Beach Diet, so I'm supposed to stay away from most sweets (limited amounts of dark chocolate are okay).

8. What are your pet peeves?
Can't think of any right now- but I know I have a ton, but most are related to the stupid behavior of people.

9. What's your favorite thing to knit?
I don't think I could pick one thing, depends on the mood.

10. What are your favorite colors?
I wear a ton of stuff in purples, also like reds and pinks. Recently I've been getting into grass green.
I pretty much like all colors except orange and yellow.

11. What new knitting technique do you want to learn?
There are so many. I've kinda hit a rut where I just don't want to slow down to learn new things, but up on my list are cables and colorwork as well as socks.

12. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Particular brand?
I knit almost exclusively with my Denises, so I guess the answer is circulars (much better for traveling)

13. Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?
I was a big bamboo fan, but now I knit mostly with my Denises. I tend to dislike metal, but I've only tried the crappy craft store metal ones.

14. Any crap that you collect obsessively to fill a void in your life?

I would say yarn and knitting books- but that isn't crap. Otherwise, not much else.

15. Any books you've been dying to have?
See the wish lists. Here is a (I think uptodate) list of all the knitting books I do already have (dosen't include pattern booklets without ISBNs)

16. What is the air-speed velocity of a swallow carrying a coconut?
No clue

17. Are there any yarns that you'd like to try but aren't available to you for one reason or another?
I recently fell in love with Regia's "Candian Color" which doesn't seem to be available in the US.