Totally Unstitched

2009-08-05T09:50:00.000-05:00

just in time for Sock Summit '09, i'm moving my blog over to http://girlunravelled.wordpress.com/

see you there!

2 posts in 2 days!!!!

2009-04-02T09:51:00.002-05:00

In order to further my goal of using up some of my sock yarn stash before Sock Summit in August, I have gone and purchased Cookie A's Sock Innovation book last night after work.

Oh my, oh my, the socks I will be making soon!!!!

I just have to decide which pair comes first.

renewed commitment

2009-04-01T14:16:00.003-05:00

mostly b/c i'm a wee bit bored at work! but also b/c of some things that happened in the last week have reminded me that i really don't blog for all of you out there (although i love that you come and visit), but that the real reason i keep this blog is to have a running commentary on where knitting is in my life.

and its been in my life a lot since the start of the year. quite a few socks, a vest, some hats and then it all got interrupted by my first attack ever of asthmatic bronchitis. shocking really, but for about 2 weeks, knitting was far from my thoughts and even farther away from my fingers.

but i am well on the way to recovery, so the knitting has picked up again. there are 2 different pairs of socks on my needles as well as some final fixes to mittens i made for a friend's children. yes they won't be able to use them this year, but i made them big enough that they will still fit next year.

here's a fun update! one of my favorite things to knit is socks. fast, portable and the perfect place to try out odd pattern stitches, they really are fantastic. and this year, i'm going to Sock Summit!!!

Sock Summit (for those who don't know) will be held in Portland, Oregon in August of this year. It's basically Dragon Con for sock knitters. Some really incredible teachers, amazing lectures, and of course, fantastic opportunities for stash enhancement!!!

but the problem with stash enhancement is that i already have a lot of sock yarn at home. Granted, not as much as some people (yes, i'm looking at you). But while Glenna C and I were wondering how our stash of sock yarns kept growing, we were also making plans to buy more sock yarn in August, which immediately stressed me out a bit and made me a wee guilty.

so i came up with a plan and a bit of a challenge. glenna and i sort of informally agreed that we were not going to buy new sock yarn until August, but allowing ourselves two instances of "oh, look what followed me home from the yarn shop!" or "i was knocked out and someone put this skein of sock yarn in my bag!" Really, she has 2 events coming up in the next few months that could make it impossible not to buy yarn, and i have a stressful job and sock yarn is my sedative.

now to make it seem more "real" to us, i encouraged her to gather up all of her sock yarn, take a picture of it, and post it to her blog. it will give her the visual reminder of just how much stash she can bust through, and then have no guilt in spending when we are at Sock Summit!

and then i decided to do the same. b/c really, i can't expect her to do something i wouldn't do myself, right? so below is (most) of my sock yarn (i found a few stragglers out in the living room). looking at it, i have PLENTY to keep me busy between now and August. and remember, another 2 skeins from the RSC, one in May and one in July, that don't count as new purchases b/c i actually "purchased" them in January. now, i just need to get that Cookie A sock book...

a slew of sock yarn!!!

to the one or 2 people who actually look at my blog, keep me honest!!! no sock yarn until August!!!!

yeah i suck

2009-01-12T22:55:00.004-05:00

i really am the laziest blogger out there, but eventually even i will update this blog.

but i have just one thing to post right now:

remember this sock?

this is the Eye of Jupiter sock, made with Eye of Jupiter yarn from Sereknity. I only made one b/c i got pissed that the show was going away for a hiatus (otherwise know as "torture the fans"), but vowed that i would return when the series came back.

well, my beloved show, which will break my heart (if you spoil me, i will stab you with a knitting needle) returns on Friday for a final batch of episodes.

while i have banished the yarn to the depths of the stash closet, i know exactly where it is. and so it will be pulled out and the sock will be worked on.

i promised TPTB that when they gave me my show back, i would finish the sock in time for the series finale.

and i will get started on fulfilling my promise, as soon as i get back from Toronto this weekend.

so say we all.

slipping into bad habits

2008-12-08T19:44:00.002-05:00

let me explain. wait, too long, let me sum up.

interviewed for a job, dealt with more red tape than exists in Washington, DC, argued back and forth, got the job, started the job and have been inundated.

oh, and then i decided to cook thanksgiving dinner for some friends.

in between all of that, there has actually been knitting and yarn shopping. but i realized i turned 2 skeins into gifts before i got a chance to photograph them. oops.

more than likely, i won't really get a chance to update before chistmas. but i'm off starting dec 24th going straight through to jan 5th, so i promise to catch up on my blogging then!!!

oh, Rhinebeck!

2008-10-21T10:07:00.007-05:00

another year, another closet needed for all of the yarn. le sigh...

well, Rhinebeck was its usual fun and excitement, with a bit of crazy thrown in. crazy wake up times, crazy lines (advice: peeps at the Fold- CASH ONLY LINE!!! also, BIGGER BOOTH!!), crazy amounts of food. but always seeing good friends and good yarns make up for all of the crazy.

this year, the weather was perfect sweater wearing weather. in fact, it was a bit cooler than was comfy, so it almost became a coat wearing day, but luckily there were a lot of very crowded barns to wander through when it got too chilly.

oh, and in those barns, there was yarn! would you like to see?

well, since you asked so nicely.

Wild Apple Farms 100% Wool

I got enough of this to do my next project from "A Fine Fleece". I've decided i need to do Two Hearts in a nice big size. one that i can hide in when the job search gets to be too much. Glenna has told me that I'm allowed to swatch it to take the edge off of the startitis that i have developed.

the line at the Fold was insanity itself. they need to get a bigger booth, in a better location, and they need to have a cash only line. because any line that loops around itself is (almost) too long a line for yarn. almost. but i did score some lovely skeins! lookie!

STR- Lightweight in Lenore

STR- Mediumweight in Thraven

STR MILL END- Mediumweight in a Brown/Pink. Mill Ends are an incredible deal (about a 3rd off of the normal price) and what I will be checking out more often.

This is the Holiday Yarns Sock Yarn that I got in a lovely shade of Amethyst

a skein of ? sock yarn colorway "Beaches". I'm thinking i need some contrasting yarn, b/c i almost have enough for knee socks.

we got home exhausted, but kitty was wide awake and eager to play with the yarns, too! here he is attacking Glenna's knitting sack

oh and this is me in Espresso. it is my new most favorite sweater. but given all the beautiful sweaters i saw at Rhinebeck, it may not hold that place for long! i am truly fickle!

sadly, the knitting gods caught up with me, and destroyed my plans to finish my current sock project in a timely manner.

i broke a freakin' needle!!

so now i have to figure something out to try and finish this sock soon. i put in an order with knitpicks, so hopefully i'll get the replacement needles soon (i ordered metal needles so hopefully they will last a bit longer), but i think i can make do with the 4 needles and just find another needle to cable with. i have discovered i really like doing cables with another DPN rather than a cable needle, and no, i don't know why.

ok, so now that i have made my update, i'm going to think about changing and maybe leaving my house for a bit. i feel the need to cook, and its mostly b/c its so damn cold in my apartment.

mwahahahahahah!!!

2008-10-16T17:54:00.004-05:00

my powers of mind control are greater than i thought!!!!

they just announced that BSG is coming back Jan 16, 2009.

my protest sock worked!!! woo-hoo!!!

now this means i have to finish the second sock. and that means finding the yarn. and that means finding the yarn before Rhinebeck, or it could get buried by the purchases and never be heard from again. and that could tempt the wrath of whatever from high atop the thing, and i'd never finish another knitting project again.

(wow, two TV fandoms in one post!!!)

this is a picture of the heel of my Eye of Jupiter sock:

tomorrow, the wonderful Glenna arrives and there will be tea and scones, frolicking in Central Park, yarn shopping (as warm up to the weekend) and Mac and Cheese for dinner.

and then Saturday, RHINEBECK!!!!!!!!!!

not that i'm excited or anything

it is done, and i did it!!

2008-10-12T20:55:00.004-05:00

now, where are my bagels and muffins? most of my friends will get the reference.

so the Espresso sweater is done. DONE, i tell you! ends weaved in, all blocked, buttons sewn own. and it is beautiful!

click on the pictures to get full sized shots.

side view

kitty is curious

and the Shetland Triangle shawl i started on Tuesday and cast off my needles tonight. seriously, one of the fastest patterns i've ever done. here is a WIP picture. i'll post more of the joy that will be blocking it tomorrow when I actually don't have to be in my bed while the shawl dries. plus, i will be able to lock the curious kitty out of my room while i block it.

it was such a great pattern to knit. i will absolutely be making this again!!!

a light at the end of the tunnel

2008-10-05T08:26:00.002-05:00

i can see it, i can see it!

the sweater is almost done. i've already seamed everything and woven in all of the ends. the only thing left to do is attach the collar, which will be a bit fiddly but not heinous. well, then the button band and buttons, but that's just icing.

one thing i have noticed this past summer with the 3 upper body garments i have done. i think all of my sweaters are too short! looks like i need to add an inch (maybe even 2) to the body of the sweater, probably one inch above the waist shaping and an inch below. that will bring it down a little further on my hips as right now, all of my sweaters are hitting just above the biggest part of my hips. its not too bad if i make sure to keep my tee-shirts tucked in, but if not, the whole look is sloppy. granted, some of that may be because tee-shirts are made so damn long right now, but i think the next sweater i make (still deciding) will be a bit longer.

anyway, here is a picture of the sweater ALMOST done:

soothing the soul

2008-10-02T19:09:00.003-05:00

i needed a break from job hunting, worrying about the cat, and getting angry at all of the construction around my apartment.

i needed peace and quiet. i needed natural beauty. i needed a new place to knit.

The SIP (sock in progress) goes to Wave Hill

One of the most beautiful days ever. Totally worth the schlep.

More pictures here.

all of a sudden, the sweater of doom with the sleeve from hell, and the sock pattern that has 72 stitches involved in some sort of cable every 4 rows? they just don't bother me as much.

woot!

2008-09-25T12:09:00.002-05:00

why am i wooting? new yarn baby!!! prepaid too, so I don't have to worry about my Rhinebeck budget!

my Socks that Rock subscription just came and while I can't post a picture (at least a week so that there are no spoilers), its beautiful, probably my favorite of all the colors so far. its deep fall colors and there is this greeny-yellow (like a dark chartreuse) that on its own i would hate, but combined with the blues and purples really does remind me of a tidepool.

and combined with me eating Braised Short Ribs with Cheesy Polenta? makes being sick at home not so bad.

:)

i'm going to go drown my sorrows in yarn. and knit that damn sweater faster so that i can knit more socks!!!

ok, no pictures.

2008-09-21T14:46:00.002-05:00

which is sad, i know, but this isn't about pictures.

1) the damn sleeves of the Espresso sweater have proved to be one big errata, which might be me, but i doubt it. the website for the book already shows there was a mistake in the measurement of the schematic. needless to say, i hit the maximum width somewhere around my elbow. i'm now contemplating unravelling the entire sleeve back and employing Calculus (gasp!) to calculate rise over run and to see where my increases should be. so the sleeves are moving to the side and i'll do the collar.

2) the puncture wound is healing nicely. there was a little bit of a blip when the doctor decided he needed to make sure that there wasn't an abscess (about 2 inches of the needle went into my, um, buttock). and that hurt a bit.

but nothing like the tetanus shot i had to get. no, my knitting needles aren't rusty (that's not the only time you need a tetauns shot). i got the damn shot of friday, today is the first day that i can lift my arm above my shoulder and the site of the injection is still hot and red. and i haven't slept on my left side in 2 nights and i'm getting sort of cranky.

i'll let you all know when i've managed to figure out the damn sleeves.

you know its going to be a bad day

2008-09-17T08:37:00.001-05:00

when the first thing you do after waking up is sitting on a knitting needle and puncturing yourself.

can i go back to bed?

temptation

2008-09-13T17:48:00.002-05:00

now, i know what i said. i really need to concentrate on the Espresso sweater so that it will be ready for Rhinebeck (5 weeks, baby!!). i know i was going to stay loyal and not stray to another project.

i broke.

Interlocking Leaves from the fall issue of Knitty. its been a while since i really loved anything from Knitty, but i fell in love with these at first glance.

and of course, i pulled out the malabrigo sock yarn i got from Glenna (who just scored some more ~~crack~~ yarn.

don't worry, i'm still working on Espresso. The back and the left front are done, the right front is in progress. it will be done in time for rhinebeck.

as will my socks. and that's all that will be on my needles until both are done.

*fingers crossed*

oh what a beautiful morning!

2008-09-10T09:24:00.009-05:00

its really lovely in NYC right now. fall is absolutely on its way. warm during the day, cool at night and soon it will be comfy to be in my hand knits all the time.

in that vein, i have 2 new FOs! woot! and both are absolutely in preparation for Rhinebeck which is less than 5 weeks away (and I really need to get cracking on those plans, huh?)

anyway, first up we have a pair of Yummy Mummy Wristwarmers. I had gotten so sick of stockinette that they were a needed respite and i was so happy to have something intricate to play with. the nice part is that in doing this pattern, i finally figured out how to know which way to cross cables without looking at the chart, and that's a nice little shortcut to know.

i also finished the Embossed Leaves socks and I loved doing this pattern. This was the first time I used Koigu for socks and i love the feel of it. I can totally see why people freak out about this stuff! Its the Koigu i bought in SF and i'm happy i have one skein left although i have no clue what i'm going to do with it. But that can be decided later.

and then there is the lovely Espresso Cardigan from "A Fine Fleece". I'm making it out of the Malabrigo Worsted that i picked up in SF. I'm really, really happy with how well the stitch definition is showing up. So far the back and half of one of the fronts is done. And since I'm done with the wristwarmers and the socks, i'm going to concentrate on the sweater b/c i'm absolutely wearing that to rhinebeck. and since its a cardigan, if its as hot this year as it was last year, i can take it off to cool down when i need to (please don't let it be in the 70s this year! that's just wrong for October!).

Here are some of the in progress shots.

The back, with the small cable detail at the base.

And one of the fronts.

and the cable detail:

And in yarny goodness news, 2 weeks ago (i know, i really should post more), Martha came down to NYC for an actual vacation (gasp!) and consented to be my yarn mule. Glenna had picked up one of the few skeins of Malabrigo Sock Yarn in existence and sold one to me and sent it down with Martha. And as a thank you for letting her stay (silly girl, there is never a need for a thank you, if my apartment were bigger, i'd have people over all the time so that i can entertain them), Martha brought me a skein of STR in the Lettuce Knit colorway. So basically one of my favorite yarns in a color way that is a nod to one of my favorite yarn stores. gotta love it!

aren't they pretty! the top is the STR, the bottom is the Malabrigo. loves them ever so much!

now, to decide what to do with them. after i'm done with the Espresso sweater.

lazy days of summer

2008-08-18T10:59:00.008-05:00

well, i'm officially bored with my summer vacation. luckily, august has not been so hot that i want to die, so i've been able to continue knitting.

and so i have a few FOs to show!!!

BSG socks! well, sock. Made with the "Eye of Jupiter" yarn from Sereknity

but the best part is the heel! Eye of Jupiter, indeed!

I used the RPM pattern from Knitty.com to do the swirls on the foot and leg and then just inserted an afterthought heel and basically knit a toe with a decrease pattern that resembles a star. love it!! but i had a case of Second Sock Syndrome, so right now its only one sock. I probably should do the other before Rhinebeck ;)

Speaking about Rhinebeck, i finished a perfect fall sweater. I did the Hourglass Sweater from Last Minute Knitted Gifts in Malabrigo Worsted in Cabernet and its as rich and comforting as a glass of red wine.

And one more summer knit. This one was thrown together from 2 separate patterns from Knitting Lingerie Style. I might even wear it to dinner or drinks this week!! The yarn was the Hana silk yarn I purchased at Artfibers in SF. It has the most incredible drape and sheen to it, it almost glows. And I look really good in navy, so this color was an excellent choice for me.

And finally, from my Socks that Rock club membership, a cute pair of socks. While I tend to love pastels, I don't love them all jumbled into one skein like a tub of sherbert, but I loved the pattern used and have actually enjoyed the way the yarn looked once it was knit up. So another happy FO!

Now I'm working on a quick pair of wrist warmers with cables, the Espresso sweater from "A Fine Fleece" (easily one of my favorite knitting books although it intimidates me horribly), and thinking of doing Elizabeth Zimmerman's Baby Sweater on 2 Needles. Pictures of those will come soon.

But now I leave you on this August day with a picture of the other resident of the house, being his usual lazy self. Precious little thing, isn't he?

less than a month later!!!

2008-08-02T20:05:00.005-05:00

woot! i managed to post less than a month after my last post!!!

well, the job search has commenced, mostly b/c i've mostly finished working on the apartment and am starting to get bored. and when i get bored, i get mopey. and then downright morose. ergo, job search.

but in the meantime, i've been doing some knitting. now, if you were expecting photographic evidence of said activity, you are doomed to disappointment.

mostly b/c i was too busy taking pictures of my stash!

actually, more like pictures of stash management. previously, all my yarn was shoved willy-nilly into plastic bins and while it was all nice and safe from evil moths and such, it was not the best way to have an idea of what i possessed. which led to a massive amount of yarn shopping when i felt i had NOTHING to knit with.

Before: Neat, but unorganized

During: Uncontrolled Chaos

After: Order restored

categories include- 1 skein, Remainders, Fair Isle, Bulky, Cotton, etc. And Sock Yarn. There is A LOT of sock yarn.

sadly, i had a massive allergy attack during the cleaning. i've been tested for dust mites, etc, but i'm starting to become a wee bit nervous that i may be allergic to fibers given off by the myriad variations of yarn i have in my collection.

so how do you explain to your NYC allergist when you have to call and ask "can we check and see if i'm allergic to sheep?" that could get me some funny looks, i'm thinking

oh, i just give up

2008-07-06T21:40:00.006-05:00

yeah, its been 2 months since i updated this blog. i give up on making promises to update once a day/week/month/year. i'm letting go of the guilt (sort of).

well, the biggest news is that in the last 3 weeks, I quit my full time job. a bunch of small things just avalanched into issues that I no longer wanted to deal with and I realized that my ability to go anywhere in the company was limited. therefore, it was time to leave and re-evaluate.

so what have I been doing?

knitting :)

first off, knee socks!!!

and an in-progress shot

these were cool b/c i did an afterthought heel, which was necessary b/c i only had so much of the main yarn color and I didn't want to waste it on a heel flap. so you just knit a tube, pick up a bunch of stitches and basically knit another toe! worked so well that the BSG socks will follow a similar vein!

the yosemite sweater is finished! i made the sleeves longer. it looks totally shapeless in the pictures, but it looks really great on. sadly for the (small) viewing public I have out there, its freakin' 90 degrees in NYC and there is no amount of money that will induce me to try on that sweater for a picture. you'll just have to wait for fall, when I will probably wear it to death.

and a scarf, made out of 1/2 a skein of the yummy Malabrigo lace weight I purchased at Knitty City when Glenna was in town.

http://www.blogger.com/img/gl.link.gif
i love this scarf and suspect it will be made a few more times for Christmas gifts. Its insanely easy and is so damn soft you just want to roll around in it nekkid. good stuff, that Malabrigo.

It was heartbreaking to hear about the fire at the Malabrigo headquarters. So of course, I went on a wee bit of a spree. I had picked up 5 skeins of the Malabrigo Worsted in "Paris Night" at ImagiKnits in SF, but when I heard about the fire (and subsequent delay in being able to get more Malabrigo) ordered 6 skeins in "Cabaret". i know the yarn is not plied, and will probably pill like crazy, but i don't care! yarn that soft needs to be made into garments for me to wear, to hell with the upkeep!!!!

current projects include the Hourglass Sweater from "Last Minute Knitted Gifts" (in the "Cabernet" Malabrigo) as well as the BSG socks. And I just (sort-of) finished a tank top, knit out of the 100% silk yarn ("Hana") that i fell in love with at Artfibers. Sadly, I don't see it on their site right now, which is worrysome. i loved the yarn, and the only complaint i had was that the color bleed a bit and so i noticed my right thumb (which pushes stitches around) was a bit blue. i need to finish the straps and weave in the ends and then I will post a picture. i sort of made up the pattern by combining 2 different patterns from "Knitting Lingerie Style" and i'm really quite happy with it! I'm hoping to get it done this week as I have a bachlorette party to go to on Saturday and i think it would look amazing. i just can't wear the white skirt with it, since I'm afraid it might bleed.

there are also some sewing projects taking place, and that's been fun. its been almost a year since i had a working sewing machine and its great to hear that lovely sound.

so fingers crossed that the "vacation" will allow me to work on projects and post more often. but you know, i'm not making any promises.

2008-05-06T08:02:00.002-05:00

well, i have 5 projects on needles right now, because with my seasonal insomnia comes knitting ennui.

1 pair of stockingette socks that are perfect for mindless knitting in front of the tv. sadly, i haven't been watching that much tv, ergo the socks are just sitting there taunting the cat.

the yosemite sweater progresses. body is done (FINALLY!!) all that is left is the placket and the sleeves. problem is, its now too large to take with me, so i really just need a nice weekend day to head to the park, sit under a tree and knit. maybe this weekend.

a lace sweater that is destined to be ripped back b/c my gauge swatch lied to me. this is a polite blog, so i will not repeat the words i used when i realized this.

a sweater based on the tulip baby sweater. sadly, its for someone i don't like, but its family, so i'm sort of screwed on that one.

and my current little travel project, a little lace scarf using my Malabrigo Lace Weight yarn. i wish i could find the smart card for my camera so i could post pictures of it, b/c its so beautiful and it is allowing me to regain my self-esteem when it comes to lace.

so here is the plan to deal with this glut of WIPs.

1) don't worry about the socks. there is plenty of tv to watch and they'll get done...eventually.

2) finish yosemite in the next 3 weeks. I'm going to SF on vacation over Memorial Day weekend and that sweater will be joining me, preferably finished.

3) rip out lace sweater. swear at it some more.

4) finish the baby sweater this week. i need to give it to the mom-to-be in about 10 days anyway.

5) fawn over the lace scarf and rub it against my skin as much as possible. i freaking love that stuff.

and then my project for my travels?

this yarn, made into socks.

as evidence of my utter geekdom, the colorway is called Eye of Jupiter. yes, its BSG inspired yarn. And before you say anything, let me just say something.

Bite me :)

let me explain

2008-04-27T08:33:00.004-05:00

well, maybe just sum up.

its been quite the 6 weeks here, and while most of it is boring personal stuff (existential crisis at work which has led to a massive amount of yarn shopping), there has also been quite a bit of knitting and knitting events going on!!!

the first was the pilgrimage to go see the Yarn Harlot on her stop in NYC. as always, she is a blast to experience as she is witty and sarcastic and ever so Canadian that it makes me smile with joy.

and it was extra special b/c Glenna C came down for the book signing and stayed for the weekend. We got there late for the book signing, but the other women from my knitting circle got there early enough to get seats. And between Glenna, Melanie, and Holly, I ended up with 3 close friends all pictured on the Harlot's blog!!! That's pretty big stuff!!! Go here if you want to marvel at the awesome that is Glenna's Venezia Sweater, Melanie's first sock and Holly's 3rd project which was an Endpaper mitt (I'd been knitting for 5 years before i braved that thing!)

the stress at work led to a whole ton of "yarn shopping as Xanax". Rather than try and post all the pictures here (i did a LOT of yarn shopping), I will simply direct you to Flickr where you can survey the damage for yourself. And there has been more purchased since then. Seriously, its been a really crazy month at work.

So pictures of some FOs (I need to start a list at the side, i suspect this will be a very prolific FO year)

Here is Catherine's sweater. Catherine is the daughter of one of my oldest friends (we met the first day of University- 17 years ago!) and as befitting her Irish heritage, just had to make her a green sweater.

Here is her sweater:

and here is Catherine in her sweater smiling at her daddy.

So freakin' cute!!!

I also finished a set of mermaid gloves. here i was, all intimidated by yet another of cookie a.'s patterns, but it was simple and soothing and stunningly beautiful.

here is one glove at its midway point. the set is actually done, but i can't find my stupid camera (i know its here somewhere!!)

the first set i made was a wee bit too small. luckily they only used up one skein of shu bui sock yarn i bought. this pair will be gifted, and i will make a new pair for myself, with some minor adjustments. i really loved knitting the pattern and will have to make the socks very very soon.

i am still working on the Yosemite sweater. there was a minor setback, due to the fact that i can't read, but its been fixed and i'm almost done with the body of the sweater. i would show you my progress, but again am thwarted by the lack of camera situation.

now i'm just knitting an uncomplicated sock in some yarn. by uncomplicated, i mean its in stockinette and while a bit boring, i can knit while re-watching episodes of Battlestar Galactica (shut up! yes I'm a geek. and i love it!) and do so without making mistakes.

And finally, before I leave the house today, this must be tackled.

the remains of the Icarus Shawl

After a year of hiding it in the back of my closet, i will finally tackle the pain of frogging it (ouch) all because i was stupid and never put in a lifeline.

i have learned my lesson. i will never do lace again without a lifeline.

NEVER NEVER NEVER NEVER

2008-03-13T08:19:00.004-05:00

so spring is actually on the way. i mean, tomorrow its supposed to be over 50! woot!

in celebration, I had started making this sweater:

totally cute, just enough of a challenge. sadly, the yarn I chose, while beautiful, did not display the pattern to its best advantage, so into the frog pond it went.

then yesterday, the Spring issue of Knitty was posted and oh joy! I found this sweater!

love it! its snug and lovely and the cable is a crazy easy pattern. I'll make the sleeves a bit longer.

i was a good girl and swatched and adjusted my needles, etc, etc.

and the damn swatch lied to me. I'm 5 rows in (and this thing is knit in the round, so almost 300 stitches per round) and the damn thing is big enough to fit me AND my cat!

grrr. i want a spring sweater dammit! I'm having a fairly crap week and I need some good knitting mojo!

tonight, I will frog (again), and start the smaller size with a size smaller needles.

*grump*

2008-03-02T15:26:00.003-05:00

omg! two posts in about a week! *ducks to avoid flying pigs*

yes, I'm trying to post more than once a week. and since i finished a pair of socks this afternoon, i decided not to wait.

and here they are! really hope i'm not breaking too many RSC rules.

here are my dragon socks.

they took a long time because of the 2 business trip I had. the first sock took almost a month. the second took barely a week.

i'm thinking i'm going to wear them tomorrow b/c this winter never wants to end and i need something bright.

but just in case spring is on the way, I think i'll start on my sweater :)

2008-02-25T08:58:00.002-05:00

oh my god, i suck at this so badly! so my pledge to update once a week pretty much went out the window the second week of the new year. blame it on the never ending cold (seriously- it was the plague) and the back to back business trips, both of which were extremely successful.

the crazy ass work thing in Vegas ended up with me and my team being awake for 43 hours straight, but hey, we won, so there! and i managed to impress some serious people big time. now i just have to parlay that success into real work mojo. we'll see how well i do at that part.

in the yarn world, i've done a few things since that post.

1) I lost the damn hat. The one that I almost cried over. Yeah, gone. My hope is that someone at the swanky restaurant saw it and went "oh, squishy and pretty!" and that it has found a good home rather than getting trampled under feet.

2) I made gloves, which it seems i forgot to take pictures of. dammit. but that will be rectified this weekend.

3) finished a sweater (finally!). no, not the lindsay sweater. i'm going to have to rip out the collar and redo it as i got a bit over-enthusiastic with the damn thing and now its basically a blanket. but i finished the Mrs Darcy sweater and it is oh so cute. pictures to come, but for a sneak preview, Glenna C. posted this picture of me wearing it when I went yarn shopping with her and Martha during my trip to Toronto.

4) Oh yeah, I went yarn shopping in Toronto. My credit card was melting. Go here to see the pretty pictures. I bought 9 balls of the Madil Desire to make this sweater from Interweave Knits, and that will start as soon as I am done with the first installment of the 2008 Rockin' Sock Club sock.

5) Yes, I got my RSC stuff, but sadly, I cannot show it to you until I am all done with the socks. The pattern is fantastic and will be used again, and while I like the color of the yarn (beautiful bright reds in honor of Lunar New Year) I'm not crazy about how the pattern is causing the color to pool. But still, they are hand knit socks and I'm convinced hand knit socks are the key to world peace.

So tonight is Monday and that is knit night. This makes me happy. Also? February is almost done and that means winter is winding down and that makes me ecstatic b/c this winter has kinda sucked for a lot of people in my life and that really pisses me off.

I'll have to start that Slyph sweater. A spring sweater in a pretty blue yarn? Says spring to me!

2008-01-08T08:58:00.001-05:00

god, its been absolutely forever since i updated this blog. the holidays were meh, but i survived them fairly intact although somewhat bitter and eager to hid in bed for long stretches of time.

and to sooth the savage beast, I knit. and shopped. and knit. oh and shopped.

of the shopping:
-2 new pairs of shoes
-2 purses
-a bathroom storage unit
-a new Blackberry (and sadly, this was an impulse buy!)
-tickets to "The Farnsworth Invention" (come on, its Hank Azaria in an Aaron Sorkin play!)
-membership in the Rockin Sock Club
-and more yarn

yeah, it was an expensive Dec.

but I also knit! and made some cute stuff!

looky!

Huckleberry Scarf- made out of a merino-silk blend that is the softest thing ever

Koolhaas Hat- made out of the same yarn as the scarf. Beautiful yarn, but a bitch to work on with this pattern. Slippery yarn + cables= me cursing loudly

Plus lots of yarn:
Rowan Felted Tweed- destined to be mittens to match the hat and scarf

Artyarns Supermerino in a lovely blue-green

Punta del Este Mericash- a merino-cashmere blend that i would love to roll around in- naked:

My goal is to update the blog at least once a week, but i would much prefer 2-3 times a week. My other goal is to use up more of my stash b/c i realized I have enough yarn right now to keep me knitting steadily for the next 2 years. seriously, its a disease. I won't cut out all yarn purchases, but i will try to use up yarns in my stash for projects on my Ravelry queue before getting distracted by shiny new projects.

like all good resolutions, we'll see how long that lasts

2007-11-05T08:01:00.000-05:00

I'm back from London and Paris! And all I have to show for it is one measly Monkey sock.

oh, and 2 pairs of boots, one pair of shoes, a few new tops, some serious geekster stuff from the British Museum, The Maritime Museum at Greenwich (where the prime meridian is at), the Musee d'Orsay, and the Musee Rodin. Not to mention, enough french lingerie to sink a ship.

oh and some yarn from Le Bon Marche.

pictures to come as soon as I figure out what time zone I'm in.

and then there was Rhinebeck

2007-10-23T09:45:00.000-05:00

well, the Lindsay sweater didn't get finished in time, but since it was almost 70 degrees, I guess it really didn't matter.

but how incredible was it?

a minivan, designed to fit seven, crammed full of 8 knitters, bagels galore and countless carrot cake cupcakes made by the lovely Glenna C.

and a wool fair that beats anything you could imagine. a beautiful blue sky, fall trees in stunning russets and golds, amazing food. and yarn. lots and lots of yarn.

also? i purchased a spinning wheel. :)

rather than post every single picture up here, i figure i'll post one important one and then send you off to flickr for the rest.

this is what greets you when you come off the highway:

picture courtesy of abbieprime.

here are the rest.

crisis (sort of) averted

2007-10-01T12:12:00.000-05:00

so last night, i finally bit the bullet and started the shawl collar of the Lindsay sweater. although my short row technique may not be the best (don't look too closely at the wrapped stitches), i think its actually coming along quite nicely.

see?

and, upon closer inspection,

the color is actually closer to the burgundy. the short rows are bringing the collar and the shoulders closer to the neck. and once the short rows are done, we have about 25 rows left after that!

and as for rhinebeck, it looks like it will only be 5 of us. and my friend holly from my knitting group drives (thank god) so we must gift her with coffee and treats...

gulp

2007-09-25T10:16:00.000-05:00

ok, totally freaking out about 2 things

1) the Lindsay sweater. I think my gauge was off b/c its feeling a little snug. this makes me very nervous. I have the arms seamed up as well as the raglan on the shoulders and its just...snug.

i think i'm going to plan on doing extra short rows when i start the shawl collar. that should help some of the ease on the body of the sweater.

2) rhinebeck. ok, so the original plan about hiring a small bus went bust when i got the $1500 quote. no way in hell am i paying that. right now, the most economical option is renting a car (probably a minivan) but that requires people who can drive it. i cannot drive. i have one friend in the group who can drive, but if we end up with enough people for 2 cars, we may be in a spot of trouble. still, 7 or less people means a minivan and that would be awesome. enough room for the peeps and the yarn.

and as a side note, knitting baby socks sucks. they come out looking all wonky. so the family that i am knitting socks for may be getting a kitty and a sheldon for the kids and socks for the adults. b/c the socks for the adults are already done and that makes me happy.

Update: so looking at the picture of the lindsay sweater, the extra short rows should work. the ribbing actually goes pretty deep into the body of the sweater. i guess that's my weekend project.

i am unmotivated to work

2007-09-21T14:14:00.000-05:00

but not to knit. my cute little knee socks are going well, but they have distracted me from my Lindsay sweater. All the pieces are knit, I just need to seam it up and then deal with the ribbed edging. I think I am intimidated by it.

But I have to finish it b/c Glenna C is seriously cranking on her Ribby Cardi.

Even 4pm on a Friday is not close enough to the weekend for me...

ok, so i suck at blogging...

2007-09-18T08:26:00.000-05:00

actually, i don't really. what i suck at is time management, a historical problem for me, but lately just a bitch.

work is in full steam right now. Q3 is upon us and in advertising, that means its the Holiday season already. We'll be rolling at this hellish pace until mid-November when work comes to a screeching halt until mud January.

On top of that, b/c I am a crazy person, I decided to go back to school. I'm taking courses at the Hunter College School of Social Work which is a graduate level only school. One course only this semester. Thank god, b/c I have to read about 100 pages per week and we had a paper due on the second class. After not having been in school for 12 years, this is one hell of a scary ride. But it will help me decide if I want to apply to the school on a matriculated basis. This is a school that has about a 15% or less acceptance rate and a fairly high drop-out rate b/c the program is hell. If you go full time, you start clinical rotations 3 weeks after classes start. For 21 hours a week, you get to help people when you are still so new you are convinced you will do more harm than good. But that's to decide later.

And the knitting continues. One reason I haven't been able to post is b/c a major project I am working on is actually a present for someone who reads this blog. I've run into an issue with one part of the project, so chances are I may send the completed portion as a good faith symbol.

Since I always work on multiple projects at once (the train project, the mindless tv project, etc), I have been working on a sweater. It is based on a sweater that a character on CSI:NY was wearing. I saw the sweater and hit pause on the Tivo in order to start squealing.

Here's what it looks like:

It pretty cool b/c I knit the back first and then the sleeves and the curved front get knit as one. Now I have to seam it up and then do the shawl collar. The collar will require a massive amount of short rows to achieve the look I want and so this will be a coffee house project.

I can't wait until its done b/c it needs to come with me to two places.

The first is the Sheep and Wool festival in Rhinebeck on October 20th. For knitters, this and the Maryland fair are sort of the Meccas. We look forward to it all year and of course, we always wear our best hand knits. We'd like to say its all about showing pride in our work and sharing our ideas, but really, its also a bit about oneupmanship. I'll admit it, I want to see envious looks towards my sweater!!!

But its the second destination for this sweater that really excites me. And its a bit bittersweet one for me.

I'm headed to Europe for my birthday this year. 4 days in London, where I will meet up with some friends. I will go be a silly tourist and a champion shopper. There is a store there that specifically carries boots for women with wide calves. and those suckers are HOT!!!

But from London, I will be taking the Eurostar over to Paris. And this is the bittersweet part. This is my first real trip to Paris (passing through on a train from Italy to London in 1994 does not count). But this is also the trip that I was supposed to go on with my mom last year for my birthday. In fact, we talked about it the day before she died.

Last year I couldn't take the trip. Not only was I still emotionally raw, I was broke. Paying my rent and her mortgage was too much for me. I ended up using all of her retirement money. The house wasn't selling. And then there were the fun legal fees of the probate lawyer.

But the house has finally sold, all my bills are paid off (read: student loans) and so this year, I'm taking the trip that I always promised myself. I finally going to Europe not to visit family, but rather to spend time discovering a wonderful city and wandering around and hoping to get lost. It would have been wonderful to go with my mom, but she would be happy that I'm getting this chance.

2007-07-25T09:47:00.000-05:00

almost 3 weeks wiothout blogging! i am a bad, bad, bad blogger

but its because i actually went on vacation.

more on that later, but today's post is to wish Sarah Olivia a very happy FIRST birthday!!!!!

yayyyyyyyyyyy (please picture kermit screaming like a lunatic when you imagine me saying this)

2007-07-06T09:16:00.000-05:00

so i just realized that all the work I went into posting over the weekend was for naught. since blogger didn't save it.

well, shit...

2007-06-29T08:02:00.000-05:00

when i'm at work, i remember that i need to post some pictures, but of course i left the CF card at home. at home (which I have seen little of this week due to one birthday party and many more insane nights at work) all i do is collapse and totally forget to post.

so, i will just say this.

i have too much yarn. i will provide photographic evidence of this over the weekend. but i have enough yarn currently bagged and tagged for almost 10 projects. a shawl, 5 pairs of socks, fingerless gloves (up to the elbow with a cute cable pattern), a tank top, a nightgown, and a fall/winter sweater. then there is the yarn that hasn't been tagged for any particular project and was bought in moments of weakness. that fills 2 large Tupperware containers.

and so here now, i make a vow.

I will only buy yarn 3 more times this year. Once when I go back up to Toronto (probably in August for a business trip), at Rhinebeck in October, and if I go away over my birthday, I will have to keep up the tradition of buying yarn when I travel. Since I'm trying to see if I can afford to go to London and Paris over my b-day, there must be some yarn shopping there.

it will be fun for you all to watch me go through withdrawal. the shakes start first, the drooling in front of yarn shops later.

pictures to come over the weekend. plus a progress report on the Icarus shawl which is now up to 375 stitches per row. currently we have a love/hate thing going on.

2007-06-18T20:11:00.000-05:00

1) camera with new battery- check
2) new card reader to load pictures taken with camera with new battery- check
3) blog back on track- CHECK!!!!!

yes folks, i have a camera and a computer and this can only mean one thing...

totally unstitched is back on track!

which of course means a lot of catching up...

YARN PORN!

a fantastic skein of Handmaiden Sea Silk in a colorway I can't remember

fleece artist sea wool- and i just realized they don't list the colorway- still, one of my most favorite sock yarns

socks that rock- in january one colorway. named after january one one of my favorite bloggers

and some Tahki Cotton Classic that shall be made into a bag of some sort

i realize that i am going to need a more neutral background. my quilt clashes just a bit ;)

the first 2 were purchased in Toronto, which is just about one of my favorite yarn cities. its just insane how crazy i get when go there. sadly for my pocketbook, my company has an office there and occasionally they send me up. and like sirens, the stores call to me and lure me to their shores.

so now that i have all this yarn, what ever shall i do with it? hmmm, i guess more pictures later!

2007-05-08T07:42:00.000-05:00

woot! i have a picture (well, of one FO). I really do need a new digital camera.

so this is a picture of the pink sock at work.

pattern; Interweave Knits. I don't remember the issue, but its the cover of their book of Favorite Socks. I only did the leg repeat twice (instead of three times) b/c I have freakishly large calves and didn't want to do the necessary math to adjust the pattern

yarn: 1 skein of Fleece Artist Nova Socks in Rose. Bought from my friend's online store, The Skein

Totally fun pattern to knit. Once you get the lace pattern in your head, it flies by. The first sock took about 15 hours to knit, but the second only about 10.

And yes, I still get a kick out of (most of) the looks I get on the subway. I mean, really people, its just knitting! It would be like me looking at someone working with power tools! I don't do it myself, but its not like I can't learn!

Anyway, onto the next project (or two). One Clapotis for a friend, and an Icarus Shawl for me. yikes!!!!!

oh, for the love of god

2007-03-30T19:39:00.000-05:00

i really keep meaning to post some of the completed projects of 2007. but sadly, my stupid camera is missing its memory card.

so i guess you will have to be satisfied with a list of what's on my needles right now.

*a baby kimono and pants set for my therapist who is preggers. she also got hit by a taxi cab a few weeks ago. baby is fine, but her knee was damaged, so she's in a wheelchair right now. so no therapy. which means, i need to knit more.

*a shawl for my aunt made out of Handmaiden Sea Silk. but while i love the yarn, i am uninspired by the patterns so far, so it will get ripped out again.

*a ear band thing in a lovely alpaca yarn. its very easy but i made the mistake of putting it down and haven't gone back to it.

*a tank top for summer in a fantastic cotton. i'm designing it myself, so it will be simple, but I can't wait to finish it.

The baby stuff just needs to be sewn up, so that will be the first FO. But then it will probably be the tank top. Because summer is coming to NY, and that is tank top season.

Now, where the hell did I put that memory card?

2007-02-27T21:31:00.000-05:00

welcome to my new blog where i mostly talk about knitting and how it fits into my life. or how life fits into my knitting. you never really know which one is going to come out on top somedays.