Saturday, April 30, 2005

Blurgh

Sick. I didn't knit at all yesterday. I made it through the workday, mostly bouyed by the cute new glasses I picked up in the morning, and then a lunch out with friends, but by about 4:00 the well ran dry.

I want to work on my Tie One On some more, but I also don't want to make a bunch of delirious mistakes, or coat the whole thing with bacteria. Meh.

Greg is very sweetly taking on the vast majority of Ellie/house/errand stuff today, and brought me chocolate last night. Him, I love. The pestilence, not so much.

Thursday, April 28, 2005

Knitting Over Lunch

At least a few times each week, I knit in my cube over my lunch break.

Pros:
Yay, knitting!
Relaxing in the middle of the day
Progress on projects
Mind, lulled by knitting, occassionally comes up with great work-related ideas, like today's Excel lookup formula brilliance

Cons:
Cuts into eating time
Cuts into blogging time
Cuts into reading other blogs, while eating, and wishing I could knit one-tenth as well as other people time

Pros definitely outweigh cons at this point.

Over today's break I worked more on Tie One On. I have about 9.5 inches so far, and in 1.5 more I get to start working the stripe pattern with the contrast yarn. I'm glad the rows get shorter as I work up the pattern, because they are looooonnnnnng right now. Also, the bamboo circulars I'm using don't have the smoothest join, so I'm constantly having to stop and scootch stitches onto the left needle, which is a bit annoying. On the whole, though, it's going pretty well, and I think the gift recipient will like it.

Amazon Associates

You know you want these. And I know I want the wee percentage when you buy from these links. Go to Amazon through here, or the link on the sidebar, and I can buy more yarn to knit more things and blog about them for your reading pleasure. It's a win-win all around, guys.

Vogue Knitting

At Knit's End

Last Minute Knitted Gifts

Lots of Knitting Books

Knitting DVDs

Knitting Magazines

California Knit Bloggers

Being a knitting blogger in California, I got the wacky idea to join the California Knit Bloggers ring. Check them out for a great list of sites. Just because we don't have wintery winter doesn't mean we can't knit some cool stuff out here on the left coast.

Tuesday, April 26, 2005

I'm about three inches into my Tie One On, a few rows past the first decrease. The main yarn I'm using on is a Rowan Classic Yarns Cashsoft DK: 57% extrafine merino, 33% microfiber, and 10% cashmere, in the mirage color. Very soft to work with, quite nice.

I think I was getting used to the 6/7 size I'm using for the ChildHood sweater. I know there isn't much difference between the 10.5 needles I used for the sari scarves and the 11s I'm using for this, but it feels like knitting with saplings, sort of a prehistoric "Me have stick. Me have string. Me knit loincloth!" thing.

Weave As You Go

I want to try this method of weaving in ends while knitting, as pictured by Jen at Xtreme-Knitting Blog.

Monday, April 25, 2005

Tie One On

I popped out at lunch today to pick up materials for the mellow version of Tie One On from the spring Knitty. I have finally used up my Valentine's Day gift certificate from Eva's (just in time for Mother's Day, ahem). I chose a soft light blue wool blend, with a contrast confetti ribbon in other blue tones. (Yarn is in the car, or I would post brand and content.) It's to be done on size 11 needles, so it should be a relatively quick knit. I'm aiming for no more than two weeks.

One thing that I'll have to learn on this project is how to pick up stitches. Stitches from the body are picked up on either side of the front to start the ties, and I haven't done that before. I should be able to figure it out with the help of Vogue Knitting, the internet, and wild experimentation.

Sunday, April 24, 2005

Birthday Scarf Pattern

150g recyled sari silk
Size 10.5 needles

Cast on 13 (or desired width)

Rows 1-4: Knit
Row 5: K1, *wrap yarn around right needle twice, K1*, repeat between * to end of row
Row 6: K1, *drop wrapped stitches, K1*, repeat between * to end of row

Repeat these six rows until scarf if about 1 inch shorter than desired length.

Knit 4 rows.
BO all stitches.
Weave in ends.

Mom's Birthday Scarf


Mom's Birthday Scarf
Originally uploaded by ShelbyD.
Drop stitch scarf in sari silk

Friday, April 22, 2005

Drop stitch sari scarf V2 is complete

Just in time, too - Mom's birthday is on Tuesday. I finished it up over lunch today and had a couple of coworkers that are about her height try it on for me to check the length. I will take some pics of the finished item before mailing and post the dead simple pattern as well.

Bias Scarf Pattern

This the pattern I worked out to make my sari scarf. This is a general pattern that should work with any type of yarn and an appropriate straight needle size. I worked my bias knit scarf out of recycled sari silk yarn with size 10.5 needles.

You will be working the increase/decrease pattern on every other row. To help you keep track of whether or not it’s an increase row, mark one of your needles with a rubber band, loop of contrasting yarn, or other device.

Set up rows:
Cast on 1.
Row 1: Kfb
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: Kfb, kfb (Note which needle you worked this row with, marked or unmarked. You will be working increases/decreases every row that you work with this needle.)

You should now have 4 stitches on your needles.

Increase rows:
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: Kfb, knit to last stitch, kfb

Repeat these two rows until the edge of your piece is your desired scarf width, ending with Row 2.

Straight rows:

Row 1: Knit
Row 2: K2tog, knit to last stitch, kfb

Repeat these two rows until the longest edge of your scarf is the desired length, or until 10:00 the night before you really want to wear it, ending with Row 2.

Decrease rows:
Row 1: Knit
Row 2: K2tog, knit to last two stitches, k2tog

Repeat these two rows until you have four stitches left on the needle.

Finishing rows:
Row 1: K2tog, k2tog
Row 2: K2tog

Cut yarn and draw yarn tail through last stitch. Weave in ends.

Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Ellie Ramone


Ellie Ramone
Originally uploaded by ShelbyD.
Cute shot of Ellie at the Riverview

Monday, April 18, 2005

Public Service Announcement

The following is a Very Special Message from shelby knits:

Listen up, kids. Don't drink and knit.

I know that all the cool girls are tossing back cosmopolitans while cabling cashmere, but drunk knitting only leads to heartbreak. Let me share this cautionary tale.

Over the weekend, we visited my mother-in-law and her lovely gentleman friend. Saturday evening we went out for dinner at the restaurant where my sister-in-law works, and Greg ordered us a pitcher of beer. Let me say that between pregnancy, nursing, dieting, and general prudery, the last few years have not been laden with Sloshy Shelby occassions. As such, I have apparently become a very cheap date.
Two glasses of beer, which in my college days occassionally substituted for breakfast, left me a teensy bit loopy. Loopy enough that I announced as we climbed into the car that I was a little drunk. Not "where are my pants?" drunk, but slightly impaired.

After telling your mother-in-law that you're drunk, don't try to retain the appearance of normalcy by picking up your knitting back at the house. If you do, (because sitting time means knitting time, drunk or not, right?) don't further attempt to act all sober by initiating conversation that requires more than 2% of your attention.

I think I could have handling tipsy knitting or tipsy chat, but the combo led to knitting a row I should have purled. Not so bad, true, if I would have noticed right away. I did not. I got a few more rows into it before I found the Idiot Ridge right in the middle of all my pretty pretty stockinette.

The real reason not to drink and knit is that you may end up having to UNknit while still a wee bit off. With cotton yarn. And without any reference material to make sure I was unknitting the right way. Thank god the in-laws go to bed early, so I could concentrate.

Of course, not long after I got the mistake taken out, I fell asleep with my knitting on my lap. The one good thing about the whole thing is that I didn't drop any stitches when I did so.

So, please remember, alcohol and alpaca don't mix. Stitch Sober!!

What Kind of Knitting Needles are You?

interchangeable
You are interchangeable.
Fun, free, and into everything, you've got every
eventuality covered and every opportunity just
has to be taken. Every fiber is wonderful, and
every day is a new beginning. You are good at
so many things, it's amazing, but you can
easily lose your place and forget to show up.
They have row counters for people like you!


What kind of knitting needles are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Sunday, April 17, 2005


Childhood sweater: Before Finding Neverland Posted by Hello

Childhood sweater: After Finding Neverland Posted by Hello

Front of Haiku. Still sans buttons. Posted by Hello

Back of Haiku. Note crappy shoulder seams. Posted by Hello

Detail of box stitch on Haiku Posted by Hello

Thursday, April 14, 2005

Childhood Sweater

I inherited the yarn for this kid sweater from another knitter. I'll be working it in Rowan Cotton, with no hood, in burnt orange and cream. I did up a gauge swatch last night, and have all my materials ready to go. We're taking a road trip up to Sequoia this weekend, so it's great that I'll have something to work on during the ride.

Wednesday, April 13, 2005

Scarves and Sigma

I'm carrying around the beginnings of another drop stitch scarf in my sari yarn. I'm using a slightly different pattern this time - drop stitches every sixth row rather than every second row. It's also a bit narrower than the bias scarf.

Speaking of the bias scarf, I will probably be putting it up for sale after documenting the pattern. My goal is to set up a finished pieces and patterns for sale section on this blog.

I'm feeling all garment-empowered after seaming up the Haiku. I ordered some cotton and a new 24" circular needle today to make this Sigma tank for myself. And I saved 40% off of the needle - Joann.com is having a 40% off one item sale today.

Haiku

Haiku is now done.

No buttons yet. And too big.

Some seams look iffy.

Tuesday, April 12, 2005

Bias Scarf is Done

I'm wearing it at work today. Well, the back of my chair is wearing it right now, since it's not too cool in the office. It looks great!

I really need to finish up the Haiku sweater. I keep neglecting it for new projects. I am so close to being done with the knitting, and then it's just seaming the shoulders and sleeves. I wanted to go out for buttons over the weekend, but it didn't work out. I may check Joann.com today (using my affiliate link, naturally, and you should do that, too).

Kim got her drop stitch scarf in the mail yesterday. I'm so glad it made it in time for her birthday. She sent me a really nice email this morning saying that it's "exactly the perfect thing." So happy to have a gift go over well.

Caught Knitting


Caught Knitting
Originally uploaded by ShelbyD.
Greg snapped this with his new Sidekick last week, while we were out to dinner with Ellie.

Annie's Attic - New Affiliate

Check out Annie's Attic for great prices on notions, supplies and patterns for knitting and other crafts. There's also a new button on the sidebar for Annie's. Shop often!

Monday, April 11, 2005

Bias Knit Sari Silk Scarf


Bias Knit Sari Silk Scarf
Originally uploaded by ShelbyD.
This is my current project in progress. I like the way the bias knitting forms diagonal stripes, and I thought it might also help alleviate the vertical stretching issue. I haven't decided what to do with it when I'm finished, but I just may keep it for myself.

Completed drop stitch scarf


Completed drop stitch scarf
Originally uploaded by ShelbyD.
This is in the mail on its way to Oregon right now in honor of Kim's 30th birthday.

Detail of drop stitch scarf


Detail of drop stitch scarf
Originally uploaded by ShelbyD.
It's less pink than it looks in this photo. Damn flash.

Ellie adopted this hat I designed

She seems to like wearing it, and keeps grabbing it with her jacket when it's time to go out. I need to write the pattern down before I forget what I did.

Baby Blanket - Complete


Baby Blanket - Complete
Originally uploaded by ShelbyD.
Finished the Big Bad Baby Blanket last week.

Friday, April 08, 2005

Spring Knitty

The Spring issue of Knitty has been published. Love this tank, this camisole, this pretty lace shrug, and these wraps.

Wednesday, April 06, 2005

Current and Planned Projects

I've added a short section on the sidebar to note what I'm working on, and what's coming up next.

After I posted those photos last night, I finished the hat. It is somewhat goofy looking. I only have three rows left on the blanket, which I should be able to finish handily during the commute tonight.

Tuesday, April 05, 2005


Stack o' sari silk Posted by Hello

You can see the individual skeins here Posted by Hello

Ellie and her baby Posted by Hello

Ellie's baby models her new hat Posted by Hello

Current hat design I'm working on as my portable project Posted by Hello

New Affiliates

I've added three new affiliate links to the sidebar:

Create For Less offers 50,000 discount craft supplies

half.com is offering a $5 discount to new buyers

Name Trains, just one of the great child's gift ideas from 2Blockheads.

Please check them out, along with eBay, Joann, and Fabric.com. Happy shopping!

Sari Yarn Arrived

My kilo of recycled sari yarn, purchased via eBay , arrived in yesterday's mail. It looks beyond cool - lots of red and blue, with yellows and purples and greens. I spent much valuable baby-blanket finishing time winding the hanks into balls, where it can sit and de-kinkify for a few days before I start to work with it. Photos coming soon. I think my first project will be a simple scarf for a friend's birthday.

The eBay seller I bought it from, knittersknot, seems to have lots for sale most of the time, in varying quantities. I also noticed a few other sellers by searching on "sari silk."

Monday, April 04, 2005

Intervention Required

Hi, my name is Shelby, and I'm a hat-oholic.

Ellie's baby doll is the proud owner of a new striped hat I finished on Saturday. I took some photos but haven't got them up yet.

I got almost two inches into another hat at lunch today with some of the mixed lot of yarn I got an eBay. I know that's it's 75% wool and 25% acrylic, dk weight, but I don't remember the brand - I had the genius idea of wrapping the ball of yarn around the label, so that I wouldn't lose it. It didn't dawn on me until too late that I won't be able to read it, either, until I get back down to the center of the ball. Idiocy.

Working with the wool is so nice, though. It's so springy and resilient. I haven't done any wool yarn since I made that scarf for Greg. The blend I'm using now doesn't bother me too much - my finger was only a bit itchy after an hour of knitting over lunch.

Sunday, April 03, 2005

The End in Sight

I may actually finish this baby blanket before the young person is born. And here I was alternately worrying that I would put it aside again and again until the kid is in college, and thinking that I've worked on it so much that I hope he gets all Linus about it and takes it to college with him. I have about 15 rows left, which I may even be able to knock out tonight while we sit in our room watching Arrested Development.

Friday, April 01, 2005

What Kind of Yarn Are You?

You are Merino Wool.
You are Merino Wool.
You are very easygoing and sweet. People like to
keep you close because you are so softhearted.
You love to be comfortable and warm from your
head to your toes.


What kind of yarn are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Twist Hat Pattern - Free!

I have completed a version of the rainbow twist baby hat pattern, after coming to the conclusion yesterday that it would be easier to explain the pattern stitch than try to get a row-by-row rundown written. Using more general directions allowed me to write for different sizes, as well.

I am making the pattern available for free via this site for a limited time. Please let me know if you would like to receive a Word document via email containing this really cute, easy to do pattern.

Stitch 'n' Bitch Nation

Last night, during the gleeful suburban spree of steering an enormo cart through Costco, Greg came upon Stitch 'n' Bitch Nation for a mere $9.49. I leafed through it last night while putting the kid to bed, and it looks like some fun patterns. (I will say, though, that calling a poncho a "hands-free" shawl doesn't make it any less of a poncho.) There's one particular project in there that I must make for my sister-in-law, and couple of sweaters I may even tackle for myself.

As for project progress, I did a few inches on the baby blanket last night, and cast on another attempt at a hat this morning.