Friday, November 30, 2007

Eve of December

It's cold tonight - I have the laptop on my lap right now more for warmth that to surf. I started a little holiday hat for the Biscuit tonight. We have our company kid party tomorrow, and plan to get our holiday baking and whatnot going this weekend.

Thursday, November 29, 2007

Cyber Monday, Thursday, Whatever

I just did about 70% of my Christmas shopping, online, on Amazon. Gotta love the interwebs.

I finished up the Cash Iroha scarf today, including the fringe. I cast on for a Kureyon bag about three times and finally settled on a decent width.

Wednesday, November 28, 2007

Knitting in the News: Sock Industry Tariffs

I heard this story on NPR yesterday about the sock industry of Fort Payne, Alabama, and the role sock tariffs played in trade agreement decisions. I recommend it.

Tuesday, November 27, 2007

Happy Accident Scarf Pattern




The mistake rib stitch pattern is very easy but looks more complicated than it is – every row is the same. If it did evolve from a mistake, it was a happy accident that results in a lovely fabric

This stashbuster scarf makes use of all those little dribs and drabs of yarn you probably have left over from other projects, too small for single skein projects but too big to just throw out. For best results, use the same weight of yarn and the same type of fiber. Beyond that, mix colors and styles to your heart’s content. A multi-colored corkscrew fringe adds another element of fun to this design.

Your stripes will be random widths, depending on how much yarn is in each ball. For example, if your stash happened to have several small balls of yarn that are the same colors as the highlighters on my desk, you may end up with something like the sketch. I have a lot of Cascade 220 wool remnants from a log cabin blanket I’m making that will be perfect for this project.

Materials

500-700 yards of aran or worsted weight yarn, random amounts of various colors (see notes above)
One pair size 10.5 needles, or size needed to obtain gauge
Tapestry needle

Pattern notes
Mistake Rib: *K2,P2* to last 3 stitches, K2, P1

Gauge: 20 stitches = 4 inches in mistake rib pattern

Sizes: Child/SouthernCalifornia (Tween/Central California, Woman/Northern California, Man/Minnesota)

Scarf
Cast on 23 (23, 27, 31) stitches. Work every row in mistake rib pattern. Whenever you come to the end of a ball of yarn, or when the spirit moves you, change to a new yarn.
Work until piece is as long as the intended wearer is tall, or about 42 (56, 64, 70) inches from cast on row.
Bind off in pattern.

Corkscrew Fringe

Make 20 (20, 24, 28). Each corkscrew can be a different color, you can make matched pairs, or all corkscrews can be the same color.

Cast on 36 stitches.
Row 1: Increase by knitting into front, back, and front again of each stitch
Row 2: Bind off, purlwise
Twirl around your finger to form into corkscrew shape.

Finishing
Attach 5 (5, 6, 7) corkscrews to each side of each end of the scarf. Center a corkscrew at the end of each prominent rib of knit stitches.

Weave in all ends. Wear with flair.

Monday, November 26, 2007

Too Many Knits


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Originally uploaded by gldyas
The girls on Thanksgiving, sporting an array of mismatched things I've made for them.

Sunday, November 25, 2007

Mistake Rib Scarf


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Originally uploaded by gldyas
This is the beginnings of a narrow scarf in Noro Cash Iroha, done in mistake rib over 23 stitches. I plan to put on a fringe on it when complete. It's a bit longer today than pictured, about 18 inches, but probably won't grow too much more tonight, since I have some work to do that I've been putting off for most of this four-day weekend. Monday morning is a scant 15 hours away.

Saturday, November 24, 2007

RIbbed Jacket and Hat


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Originally uploaded by gldyas
Finished baby set for Shauna's friend. Sarah was down for Thanksgiving and is acting as a courier for this set by taking it up with her on the long bus ride back home today.

Friday, November 23, 2007

Black (purple, brown and green) Friday


Noro #40
Originally uploaded by ShelbyD
I didn't do a lot of shopping today, but I did go in the LYS and buy yarn for two Christmas gifts. I got five skeins each of grey Noro Cash Iroha and some lovely mostly-purple Noro Kureyon (not pictured - this photo is what I think is my first Kureyon ever, from April 2005). The Cash Iroha is destined for a scarf and the Kureyon will become a bag.

I need to get my knitting planned out for the next month, since I have some differing deadlines. In order of when things need to be done:

1. First sweater set for Shauna's friend, baby due in December - done today.
2. TPW ornament exchange ornament - knitting is done, exchange is arranged sometime next week. I need to some finishing and get the send-alongs I've planned.
3. A mid-December birthday gift - not started
4. Some ornaments for us or as gifts - optional, really
5. Big-Foot Bunny for Pumpkin's Xmas - most pieces are done, but lots of sewing to do
6. Kureyon bag
7. Post-Xmas, another sweater set for Shauna's other friend

That's just the deadline associated knitting, I also have other projects for me, like my Tilted Duster already in progress and set aside while I work on higher-priority things. I would like to get that finished while its still cool enough to wear it.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving


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Originally uploaded by gldyas
Just a photo of what I am most thankful for. Had a very nice day today, but it's 9:30 and I'm already beat. The girls had a great time playing with their cousins, and I made a hat.

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Ribbed Jacket in Progress


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Originally uploaded by gldyas
I have quite a bit more done than shown in this photo from Sunday - I'll finish the knitting tonight, and probably take hat materials with me tomorrow for holiday knitting.

Tuesday, November 20, 2007

Night Out

We had a work dinner this evening, and though I'm usually not able to make it due to family stuff, I went out with the group and had a nice time. I worked on a Christmas ornament before we ordered, a little stocking that I'm making out of the remains of my Watermelon yarn.

Monday, November 19, 2007

Completed Kimono


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Originally uploaded by gldyas
Finished up this weekend, just in time tomorrow's baby shower for Greg's co-worker.

I'm a few rows away from finishing the collar on the ribbed jacket, the current baby knit. I need to decide what kind of hat to make to coordinate with it.

Sunday, November 18, 2007

Hand-Dyed Yarn


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Originally uploaded by gldyas
These are my skeins of yarn that I wound up the other night, from my summer dyeing. I'll make some socks with Ziploc (in the upper left), and maybe a Swallowtail Shawl with Heather (front left). The other three are single skeins of worsted, most likely destined to become baby items. I'd like to make something for the Biscuit from Skittles (front right). I'd also really like to do some more dyeing. Maybe I can fit some in during the holiday shutdown next month.

Saturday, November 17, 2007

Party Knitting and Books, Books, Books

I took the Ribbed Jacket with me to a birthday party for one of Pumpkin's school friends this afternoon. During the party I got to the point of dividing for the fronts, and tonight I finished one sleeve and front. I don't think I'm going to need as much yarn as the pattern calls for, but I am also planning to make a coordinating hat and it will be nice to have some extra.

I updated my Amazon wish list today with several books, including:


Vogue Knitting Stitchionary Volume One: Knit & Purl


The Vogue Knitting Stitchionary Volume Two: Cables


The Vogue Knitting Stitchionary Volume Two: Color Knitting


A Treasury of Magical Knitting


Favorite Socks


A Gathering of Lace


Victorian Lace Today


A Second Treasury of Knitting Patterns


Charted Knitting Designs: A Third Treasury of Knitting Patterns


A Fourth Treasury of Knitting Patterns


Knitting Around


Elizabeth Zimmermann's Knitter's Almanac

Friday, November 16, 2007

Small Sweater Update

Tonight I sewed the ribbon closure on the Mason-Dixon baby kimono. I think it turned out cute. I'm also increasing for the sleeves on the Ribbed Jacket I started last night.

Thursday, November 15, 2007

New Projects

I cast on tonight for a Debbis Bliss Ribbed Sweater, a cute little pattern that will be a nice unisex piece. I'm using the ecru Rowan All Seasons Cotton that I bought yesterday. I was able to get gauge tonight by moving down to a size 7, from the recommended size 8.

Work is going to be nuts for the next four months. I got another project today that is going to take a lot of attention and patience, and of course it's on top of existing responsibilities.

Wednesday, November 14, 2007

False Starts

Finally made it to the LYS today. I bought yarn for the two baby sweaters I'm making for my MIL and a set of size 9 dpns for the second sleeve of my Tilted Duster. I bought some Rowan All Seasons Cotton and some Cascade Luna. I swatched the All Seasons tonight but didn't get gauge. I switched needle sizes and started swatching again, but was distracted by Project Runway (yay!) and went up a needle size when I should have gone down one. I didn't have the right size needle right here in the basket, so I decided to cast on for the duster sleeve. Which, as it turns out, is not on size 9 needles, it's on size 10. Oops. I cast on anyway, and will be Magic Looping it on a circular as I did the first.

During the morning commute I made an inner ear for the BFB and started on the first sole. It's too dark when we leave work now to knit on the way homw.

Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Ah, Leisure

Even after a long day at work, Tuesday night is usually nicer than Monday night. For one thing, it's as far away from the next Monday night as an evening will be. I took it easy after the kids were asleep, not even knitting, just watching a recorded episode of Top Gear with Greg and reading recaps of a few of my guilty pleasure shows on Television Without Pity.

I didn't get a chance to go yarn shopping today, alas. Will have to try later in the week.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Wind Night

In between updating presentation stuff tonight, I wound up three more balls of Cascade 220 for my Tilted Duster and several skeins of my hand-dyed yarn from the stash closet, to take advantage of having the swift and winder out. I had three skeins of worsted and two of sock weight, one skein in each of these colorways: Berryblue, Old Dirty Jeans, Heather, Ziploc, and Skittles.

Not much actual knitting done today - one inner ear for the bunny. I hope to get a lunch break tomorrow and pop out to the LYS.

Sunday, November 11, 2007

Signs of Life

I may live. It's practically been a lost weekend, since I was conscious for about four hours total yesterday and was hardly energetic today. Greg took care of the meals and errands for me, and kept me plied with medicine. Im still snurfly and coughing, but on the whole I am feeling better and will make it through the work day tomorrow.

In another sign of impending recovery, I've started knitting the second ear of the BFB. After this I move on the contrast color for the soles of the feet and the inner ears, then do all the sewing up and stuffing.

mulligan

I was too sick yesterday to eat, knit, or surf the web, so I missed my daily post for NaBloPoMo.

Friday, November 09, 2007

Mason-Dixon Baby Kimono


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Originally uploaded by gldyas
This is practically done. I'm putting it up today in an effort to shame myself into sewing on the tie closure sometime this weeken, which is all that remains to be completed. It's a baby gift for one of Greg's coworkers.

Yesterday my MIL asked me if she could buy two baby sweater and hat sets from me for two of her work friends adding babies to their families in the next few months. Both are not finding out the gender, so I'm going to do up something unisex for each. I plan to go shopping tomorrow for materials. I've picked out two Debbie Bliss Patterns I haven't made before that look really cute and should be fun to make.

Thursday, November 08, 2007

An Arm and a Leg

Those were the Big-foot bunny parts I knit today.

Wednesday, November 07, 2007

WIP update - Big Foot Bunny


IMG_1473.JPG
Originally uploaded by gldyas
Doesn't that look like fun? I don't remember the last time I jumped in a pile of leaves. I don't have an in-process picture of the Big-Foot Bunny yet, so this one of the recepient will have to do. So far I have the body and almost all of one leg done.

I was home with the Biscuit today, since she was booted out of day care yesterday afternoon for a fever. I was hoping to get a little knitting done, but it didn't work out. Greg and I are about to sit together and watch a movie, though, so perhaps I can get some in now.

Tuesday, November 06, 2007

Spiral Sock


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Originally uploaded by gldyas
I have this sock going as a traveling project. I'm most of the way done with the leg.

Not much time to blog tonight - the baby is a little sick and I'm probably looking at a frequently interrupted night of sleep, so I'm going to try to relax a bit early.

Monday, November 05, 2007

Endless Log Cabin


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Originally uploaded by gldyas
I should hardly even be calling this a work in progress, since a few days ago I moved this out of the project caddy in the living room into a drawer in my stash closet. It was taking up too much room in the caddy and making me feel a bit guilty. I've been working on it off and on for a year now. The problem with this log cabin is that as you go on the rows just keep on getting longer and longer. It's been in the closet before and I'm sure it will emerge once again, maybe after holiday knitting is through.

I thought this neverending project was a good topic for a Monday night. Mondays are harsh. I have a lunch meeting every Monday, busy work days, and after the girls are asleep I have to get back online and put together work for an early Tuesday meeting. I have my email up in another window right now waiting for final updates to come in. Oops, here's one now...

Sunday, November 04, 2007

Tilted Duster Update


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Originally uploaded by gldyas
This project has been slow going. It isn't difficult, but I do need to refer pretty often to the directions, and I can't do that unless the kids are asleep. It's also been less of a priority than the baby gift knitting recently.

So far I have the back and fronts done and sewed together, and last night I finished the first sleeve with about eight inches of yarn left in the ball. I will need to wind up some more before starting the other sleeve. I may pick up the collar and/or sew on the sleeves prior to starting the skirt.

Saturday, November 03, 2007

Lullaby Shrug


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Originally uploaded by gldyas
My in-laws came down to spend the day with us today. We hung around the house for a few hours, walked around the mall a bit, and went out to dinner. They will be visiting my FIL's daughter on the East Coast in about a week, when she is due to have her third baby, a little girl. This photo is a WIP picture of the baby shrug I made for the baby. The pattern is from Debbie Bliss Simply Baby, and the yarn is some Berroco Lullaby from the stash. I also made up a ruffled hat to go with the shrug - the hat may be a little big to wear with the shrug but it turned out really cute nevertheless.

Friday, November 02, 2007

Watermelon + Monkey = Watermelonkey


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Originally uploaded by gldyas
I made myself a pair of Monkey socks at the beginning of October out of the Watermelon colorway I dyed on some Knitpicks Bare this summer. It was a fun, fairly fast knit. If I make the pattern again I will knit the purl stitches of the pattern, which should make it go even faster.

Today I bought some Bernat Organic Cotton to make a bunny toy for Pumpkin for Christmas (she can read now, but she doesn't read my blog, so I think I'm safe in mentioning it). She saw the pattern in the Knitted Toys book by Zoe Mellor I bought recently, and asked for one, and I think I have enough time to get one done for her before Christmams. I don't other holiday knitting commitments yet, but would like to make some ornaments. First step is to swatch the cotton.

This evening I have been working on the first sleeve of my Tilted Duster from the fall issue of Interweave Knits. I'm working it in the round rather than back and forth, and am just about ready to start shaping the sleeve cap. This is only the second shirt with sleeves that I've made for myself, and the first long-sleeved garment.

Thursday, November 01, 2007

Spark Socks


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Originally uploaded by gldyas
The hardest part of making these socks for the Biscuit was trying to snap a photo of her modeling them. They're made out of some of my self-dyed yarn, and the stitch I used for the leg and upper foot was a simple four-row repeat that resisted pooling and resulted in "sparks" of color in each row. I haven't seen it anywhere, but as with most knitting patterns I'm sure several people have thought of it.

Spark Slip Stitch, over a multiple of four stitches
Worked in the round
Row 1: *K1, slip 1, K3*
Row 2: Knit
Row 3: *K3, slip 1*
Row 4: Knit

To work back and forth:
Row 1: *K1, slip 1, K3*
Row 2: Purl
Row 3: *K3, slip 1*
Row 4: Purl