Xmas!

By now my family knows that anything knit related will be warmly received on Christmas-an of course, responded in kind :) Here's what I scored this year...

• Lion Brand Homespun in the Mediterranean colorway.
• Lion Brand Wool-Ease Chunky. One skein Oatmeal, two Charcoal, and an olive-y color I forgot the name of.
• An 11oz skein of colorful brushed yarn
• The book Cables, Diamonds, Herringbone on the construction of Fisher men's sweaters.
• $50 to my local Ben Franklin :0
• Two skeins of Red Heart Classic in white and an electric blue

Not bad...not bad...lol I already have plans for some of it! The Wool-Ease has already been turned ino half a scarf for my dad. The brushed rainbow is already on the needles for a knit Fall Shawl. It's meant to mimic the crochet version, and isn't the funnest pattern I've ever worked on by any means. I'm still debating whether to frog it or keep going.

Here you tell me...if you were working on a shawl with 75% of the rows being purled (ew) when you knit continental, and the few knit rows only contained ONE plain knit stitch each, and you loathe the pattern with every fiber of your being...but the picture really looks warm...what would you do? Oh, and the yarn doesn't frog well. But you don't have any square, rectangular, or circular shawls and want to give one a try. Well? Lemme know!

Let It Snow!!!

Hoo boy! The snow is here! We had to go to school, but left a little early to compensate for any busing delay. As is, plows can't keep up, cars are stuck, and the tree outside my window is barely visible. On the plus side however, a full foot of the fluffy stuff sure is pretty, and great for sledding once the storm abates :)

I had forgotten that in the back of the Chicks With Sticks books is always a few knitting patterns, and once I rediscovered this I started the Butterfly Socks with a denim multi of sock yarn, one of Emily's contributions. I also found some leftover turquoise Debbie Bliss Baby Cashmerino, and made a test swatch of the Edge-Anything Lace. I'm dying to knit up some Selbuvotter items, but I have yet to find any kind of dk wool in decent colors locally. Will have to go on Knitpicks and wait for the mail...

Anyway back to knitting gifts. Time is running out!

Birthday Bliss!

Ahhh what a day! At school I was the lucky recipient of hugs and well wishes from many of my friends, and will be again tonight at the Music Department Christmas party :) I was going to have my party around now, but who can throw a better or bigger bash than all my chorus and musical friends?

Before I left for school though, I was already treated to chocolate cake for breakfast and a bunch of new knitting books!

• Chicks with Sticks (Knit Two Together)
• Charmed Knits
• Selbuvotter
• Knitting Without Tears

My dad also picked me up a copy of Interview With A Vampire by Anne Rice, which is so great already and will become this marking period's English project subject.

Some of my friends know me better than others-my neighbor Andy, who I've known for practically forever, showed up to carpool with two skeins of Light and Lofty yarn, in blue and white. He was rewarded with cake. Later in chorus, Emily showed up with two colorways of sock yarn! Yay!

Haha I'm going to go sift through all of my new books and yarn now...and then get ready to go see my friends all over again! Woot!

A Warm Reception

Sensai loved the socks! Yay! I gave them to her after class on Monday, and got several hugs in return :) I had to leave a bit after that, but on the way out I saw my other sensai's incredulous look (the no-knitting-in-karate sensai) when he saw them. It was the funniest thing ever. Priceless. I wish I had brought my camera. One of my friends there who stayed later than I did said after I left she was sliding across the wooden floor of the dojo and almost fell backwards! Sounds like her. Glad she likes them. Here's a pic of them a few days before I gifted them-

Lot's of stripes! I may have to make myself a pair!

Congrats Socks Are Done!

Yeah you heard me-DONE! Have been for a day or two now! The only problem is having the patience to wait until Tuesday (or more likely Thursday) until I see Sensai Nancy. I'll probably get mocked beyond belief by everyone else, but whatever she'll appreciate them!

In the meantime...Muscari Socks drove me up the wall, so I frogged them in favor of another Monkey pair for the same friend. Branching Out scarf soon maybe...new Interweave Knits is in my possession. Overall, just knitting away until my birthday sometime this month, when I'm hoping my rents will supply me with all the knitting books I asked for! Wish me luck!

Plain and Simple

In the interest of getting Sensai Nancy's socks to her as soon as I could, I chose to knit a pair of the YH's Basic Sock Recipe again. I'm using Heart and Sole from Red Heart, and I don't know what colorway this is but it ROCKS and almost makes up for the lack of fancy stitching! I'm on the gusset of the second sock, no SSS problems here, and was about to get back to work on it with a movie. First, though, I have to take inventory...

I have no time or money for Xmas gifts this year :'( However my immediate family is in need of the following...

Dad-He has a sudden desire for a scarf, ideally one similar to a scarf he saw in the Gap. Different ribbings and blocks of manly colors.

Mom-Someone accidentally ran her Center Square hat through the wash, sooo...felted. Unevenly so. Another one of those is in order.

Lil' Sis-Not sure. I made her dolls clothes recently so she hasn't asked for anything.

Me!-A copycat Noro scarf. You know, the 2 row 1x1 rib scarves everyone is making? Like the Yarn Harlot for example? Only Noro of any kind is way out of my price range, so I'll follow the advice of a Ravelry forum I saw and try Paton's SWS instead. Never used it, but it seems beyond soft! And unlike Noro, is much more affordable and is carried by a shop right down the street!

Anyway, must finish socks!

WOOT!

Ok so here's my exciting bit of info for today...While I was at musical, the usual dojos got together for a good old-fashioned karate grading. (I'll test later at a makeup grading with another musical buddy and a student who was sick that day). One of my instructors, sempai Nancy, has now become SENSAI Nancy! OMG! I'm so happy for her-she's the first female sensai in the USA IFK!!! This is such a big deal, and I wanted to make her a congratulatory pair of-what else? Socks!

Haha I'm still debating on what kind though. A plain pair would be quick and stretch a bit more than cabled, and they'd look better in multicolored yarn. But it almost feels like a cop-out on this sort of an occasion. I think I'll end up with plain ones, just because I have no cash to go and buy solid yarn for fancy cables. Or maybe a lace pattern would be better...I don't know! Any suggestions?

Nothing Gold Can Stay

So quotes Ponyboy in The Outsiders. And it's true.

Our last show was put on Sunday afternoon. It's over.

This time it was the Seniors' turn to talk in the spirit circle, where each class gets a chance to speak before a show to the cast about musical and their experience. By the end there was nary a dry eye in the band room-even the guys were crying over the end of what I consider the best experience I've ever had, and the fact that our beloved seniors will never have another performance with us. I'll never have another practice with Jack Scott whispering hysterical things in my ear backstage, or fight with my fave stage crew member over whether I need to smile or not. They don't have to leave yet, but they will, and we'll just have to face next year without them all.

So throughout act one, each scene was the first time this year I have had to feign a smile onstage. And throughout act one, the adults scolded us for crying and causing our makeup to run. But I for one didn't completely pull myself together until intermission, and many others didn't either. After the show we bonded together for the last time, all 60-70ish of us, stage crew and all, at the cast party. One of my fellow freshman and I straightened our guy friends' hair. (One looked uncharacteristically emo, another like a girl). The dj's played good music, and I danced with a bunch of my friends of all ages and genders. It was great,and a really fun time. Even the adults got involved! But by the end I was crying again, the whole way home. Because really, we were all each other's family. I have no older siblings, and have gained so many of them only to suddenly realize that at some point I'll have to say goodbye to all of them. All I can say is the fact that all of us were so reluctant to let this experience end means that it was a great one, and hopefully all the seniors will come back next year to help make the show a success, and cheer us on. I love you all musical cast, and couldn't have wished for a better group of people to put on this amazing show with! Hugs!

Ironic, Isn't It?

I obtained a Ravelry in the hopes of organizing my knitting supplies.

I joined the Knitty coffeeshop to become connected with other knitters.

My blog was to share my knitting with any who may wish to check it out.

All were to help my knitting skill along the way.

The irony?

I am online so often my knitting itself is being replaced by it.

I think I need to step away from the keyboard now...

And start a sweater for my dog.

She's super skinny.

It started snowing today and she needs the warmth! :)

Opening Night!

OMG I just got home from opening night of the musical!!! We did sooo good the leads all were fabulous-my friend who played Martha was hysterical, and my other friend who played Jack Scott (the school's announcer person) didn't fall this time so all was well. Coach Bolton and Mrs. Darbus were completely in character to the point of believing they were seriously adults. We sounded amazing, harmony was great, dancing crisp, FABULOUS. Now we only have to keep it up for five more shows...wish us all luck! Or no, that's bad luck-break a leg! But not really! Haha woo-hoo!

Finally! Contact!

My lack of knitters in the real world has caused me to take action. I am now online at the Knitty Coffee Shop, under teenage_knit_wit. Forums galore, both knitting related and not. Lot's of fun. I have actually found some SnB's in the area on there, but since I feel iffy about revealing my location and meeting up with people I don't think there's any help there. I'll have to go local sometime when I don't have karate, and hop down to the group that meets at the local coffee shop.

I also have procured a Ravelry under teenageknitwit, and though it is in it's early stages of organization the ability to look up almost any project and see everyone else's FO's b4 diving in has me hooked. I'm thrilled.

Thirdly, I brought a dk black scarf to work on in between acts of my school musical, and got some interest from my friends! One of the girls from my softball team had learned and forgotten, and wants me to reteach her. Another friend has never knit in her life, but wants to try it out. On top of that, all of my other friends were intrigued, at least to the point of pensively watching the process while they talked to me. Maybe I don't need to find a teen knitting circle around here...maybe I need to create one from scratch! We'll see if it amounts to anything.

Oh, and I finished the Banana Berry scarf, fringed it, and handed it over. It was much appreciated. Job well done! :)

Happy Halloween!

Nothing to do with knitting, but lots of fun. I ended up going to one of my best guy friend's house for the big night. Initially we weren't supposed to go trick-or-treating, since there were enough of us that there was a little concern about us emptying the neighborhood's candy bowls. We went anyway though, and I ended up traversing the waterfront with a hippie, a cat, a princess, the Grim Reaper, Edward Scissor hand, a south-of-the-border dude, and my personal favorite-a ticked off m&m. (Meaning one of my guy friends showed up in only a werewolf mask, stating he had worn this every Halloween since sixth grade because his mom won't buy him another costume. But with a quickly borrowed outfit, he combined the two and became a ticked off m&m). Myself? I went as a pirate, using what I could still locate of the costume from two years ago.

So after covering part of the neighborhood, we headed back to the house, inhaled two huge pizzas in 10 minutes and proceeded to watch Shutter, a horror movie perfect for Halloween night. (It was unrated, which had us on our guard, but we dutifully fast-forwarded through anything questionable and instead paid attention to the creepy spirit terrorizing a young American couple temporarily living in Tokyo. Unexpected ending. Usually horror movies are so outrageous in plot and storyline that they don't even make a 4 on my rating scale, but this one may have made 6 or so. Not bad at all.

So it was a great Halloween, and I got much more candy than I should have considering the amount of the block the actually visited. I hope it goes as well next year-here's a late Happy Halloween for you!

Unexpected Victories

Today was dubbed by my parents a day for housework all around. Of course with that came cleaning my room; and my room is full of...yarn! So in the hopes of becoming more efficient and reducing the number of yarn containers I use, I grabbed a huge Tupperware bin and rearranged all of my other baskets and boxes into new categories. Yet somehow I still have the same number of boxes and baskets as I did when I started, only one is too big to keep on my bookshelf and has no other place to go. At first I sat there and tried to comprehend how a larger container could yield the same amount of space-but then I realized that the others were no longer spilling over with their contents, and the skeins were no longer falling on the floor every time i went to take one out. Whatever, I guess it's a fair trade-space for time.

More surprising-in a good way-was what I gained cleaning out my WIP basket. I sorted thought, tossing the projects I new I would never finish: a beach bag with screwed-up bottom, a flower washcloth that was abandoned after three petals, a scarf who's yarn somehow disappeared. Some others were not abandoned, but altered into sudden completion. A shawl for my mom was first-one of my dogs had chewed an end of the circular needle off 15 inches into it. But with a separate size 11 needle I bound it off, fringeless, for my sister's American Girl doll :) Ta-da!!! I had yet another shawl in the works for my mom anyway after that, so no biggie. The other improv FO was a super funky scarf, the Fibonacci Numbers Scarf from Knitty Gritty. I only had a foot or two done, but it was made of about ten different kinds of yarn, most of which have been misplaced or used. So...I bound it off, sewed the ends together, and got a cowl out of it!

So-instant gratification has a whole new meaning now. Wait long enough to go back to a WIP, and it's almost like you never actually had to knit on it in the first place-just bind off and wear. Cinchy.

Ahhh...Zen!

I had forgotten how calming a simple garter stitch scarf could be. Mindless-there's no charts to follow or lace patterns to memorize. Cinchy-a colorful yarn does the job all on it's own. Still entertaining though, as a smooth yarn = great stitch definition which means you need to pay some degree of attention to the stitches as you loop them across the needles. It's a nice change from lacy cabled fine-gauge socks. Although I'm sure after a dozen of these scarves will slow my heart rate during a hectic first quarter of school, I'll probably be craving something obnoxious, like cabled-lace-entrelac kilt hose or who knows what for winter break. (If there is such a thing as cabled-lace-entrelac kilt hose, the designer should be dubbed the unchallenged Dalai Lama Knitter, and the socks in question should immediately be put on display in the Smithsonian next to the Hope Diamond). Yes, this Banana Berry Scarf is being strung together for a friend. But the Zen that comes from it's creation is mine for the keeping :)

Oh By the Way...

Um if any fellow bloggers know anything bout comments...

How do you get them to show up on your blog? And how do you set it up so you can respond to comments via email?

I can't figure it out and I feel bad leaving the few commenters I have in the dust. WitchyOne in particular considering she's the only one commenting! Haha and cuz I'm sorry you haven't been receiving fabulous alpaca gifts in the mail...I guess Aunt Nan just likes me better! ;) Just kidding glad to have at least one fan. And my mom says hi to her fellow dem.

But seriously if anyone has any idea what I'm doing wrong leave a note I'm clueless!

Another Convert! At Last!

Ya'll know bout my bud I gave the stumpy-yet-stretchy scarf to today? Well for one thing she loved it-and for another she informed me she used to knit herself, and after digging out her old needles and yarn and pulling up a YouTube video she got a few feet into a scarf herself as well :) I'm immensely proud, even though I had little to do with her learning process. (Although it can be argued without the spark there is no flame...alright I'll allow myself cockiness. I helped indirectly). So-I gave a gift and got one in return. Gotta love it-early holiday spirit is here along with the fall air! Mmmm...I love it! Haha enjoy it yourself too before it's gone!

Together...Together...Together Everyone...

Yep, our school is working on a production of High School Musical and I'm in it. No big lead for a freshie like me, just an extra, but still a ton of fun. I must confess the movies never made my list of flicks to obsess over, and I believe that was due to my annoyance with everyone's infatuation over the actors and actresses. It's a whole different story now, as instead of covergirls dancing and singing along it's my friends and I, not to mention we have some songs in the musical version that were missing from the actual movie. Our director rewrote almost all of the songs for four or five part harmony so the guys wouldn't have to kill themselves to reach the higher parts of their range for the whole show, and when we work on the songs they sound pretty good, some almost operatic. The challange comes when we get back up on stage and need to concentrate on dancing and just having enough breath support as well as not slipping up and singing whatever part we hear. The show isn't until the week before Thanksgiving and we've already completed act one and part of act two, so out director is also writing an extremely lengthy medley, (we call it the megamix) with every song in the show in it, just like last year when the classes before mine did Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Should be interesting to see how this plays out.

And along with musical has come knitted requests :) A hat for my friend playing Martha, who also pretty much sings for our whole alto section. Everyone listens for her, so if she doesn't know it? Neither do we. Things get ugly when she misses a practice. A scarf in Super Saver Banana Berry for another bff, who isn't in musical this time around but has done it in the past. And finally another gift for the alto-playing-Martha, who needed a quick scarf for a party and ended up with a shortish one made of Lion Brand Homespun in lack and some kind of slightly graduated tan strung together on size 19 needles. The stretch has almost made up for the stubbiness caused by trying to stretch leftovers. Should get it to her by tomorrow. Toodles.

Little Progress...

I used to get huffy whenever a favorite blog of mine didn't update regularly...now I have much more sympathy. School, musical, karate...it's nearly impossible to get anywhere near the computer, if indeed there has been any progress on the needles to write about at all. So far there hasn't been much. Here is my progress as it stands:

The Breeze socks-I got as far as halfway through the heel when I realized i had forgotten my friend's shoe size and am constantly forgetting to ask her yet again. (The yarn is pretty to look at though)!

The Muscari Socks-Recently started at a finer gauge than I usually work in, the pattern is very elegant and, true to the promise made on the pattern intro works surprisingly well with self-striping yarn. Usually any cabling is lost in the colorful yarns I prefer, and lace just isn't always quite as cozy for winter socks. The only downside is the superfine gauge I mentioned and the resulting extra time between now and a finished project, but with the economy plummeting more knit for my buck may turn into a plus.

Well I had better finish my homework. At this point with the crappy student loan situation, a scholarship is my ticket to college. That and busing tables. Wish me luck!

Ils sont finis!

French for they are finished...as in the plain socks pour moi (for me). Yay! The Yarn Harlot was right again-2x2 ribbing does stay up better than 1x1. Much less ankle saggage. Pomatomus is terminated for now, in favor of a lace ankle sock-Breeze, I think it's called. Only one skein of yarn and very cute. Then at some point I have resolved to attempt dking socks. I can't let myself wimp out. (However I will use variegated yarn from opposite ends of the skein so i can tell which string to work with when the colors differ...)

For now though, I am finishing up a garter stitch scarf I started a few years ago in an unknown Paton's yarn, slightly chunky in a delicious chocolate brown with flecks of orange, yellow, and an olive green. Even though the stitching of a more inexperienced me is far from perfect, the colors scream autumn to a degree that keeps me from caring. Time for a day of movies, pj's, tea and cider. I love lazy weekends.

I'm Alive! Really!

Sorry for my absence, but the first few weeks of high school are proving mentally taxing. Jammed lockers, obnoxiously complicated schedules rotating on a two-week basis (no, I'm not kidding. Two weeks.) and having to plan hairstyle and clothing around P.E. like never before due to the increased length of the class compared to middle school. It's exhausting, and some of the seniors in my advanced classes look like they eat freshman for breakfast, but it's all becoming easier and easier. I'm sure my views will change once I have to bring the baby simulator home for child psych, but this is going to continue to be a positive day so let's not think about that.

I'm thinking about terminating the Pomatomus socks...charted designs are great for boring summer days, but they make it hard to relax after trig homework and musical practice. Not that I'll cheat my friend out of the pair of socks-she'll need the calm, as she happens to be bringing home the baby simulator tomorrow, but I'm thinking I want something that doesn't need that degree of concentration. Ha, i mock myself as the exhaustion of the day makes me delusional. I was about to suggest I dk the socks, two at a time, one inside the other. That would defeat the purpose of simplification. Silly me. That would be cruel. I'll save that for when I'm so emotionally numb from bio lab write-ups that I need to be shocked awake :) Haha omg I'm so sleep deprived...I'd better go do something about that.

Hey, where'd the font selection go? If anyone has any idea what happened to it let me know I miss my old font choice :( lol

Knitting Fever

Home sick with a fever, which is down from 103 but still kickin'. Ugh. I'm typing now only because my mom has me on Tylenol or Advil, I forget which. She had me go without it for a few hours to see if the fever would come back, and hoo boy! I couldn't even knit I was so out of it! Once I was yet again happily (and legally) drugged, though, I was able to finish the first of the plain socks. I wasn't in the right state of mind for Pomatomus, and haven't been for a few days now. My deepest apologies to my friend who is patiently waiting for them, but I'm too dizzy to follow a chart. If I can't knit it with my eyes closed, it won't happen for a while.

(There would be a pic here if I was on the desktop, where my email is, but I'd prefer to stay horizontal so...laptop).

They're made with Kroy Jacquards in Tutti Frutti (I don't have the label with me, so I apologize for any iffy spelling). Usually my socks come out a bit tight for even small feet at first, until they're worn around a few times. These, however slide on perfectly and for some reason you can't see the toe decreases that well from the top, but I love that so no complaints here! For those of you who haven't seen this color before, it's pretty snazzy :) The stripes of lime green, neon pink, and bright orange are broken up with speckled black and white sections in between each color. Very cute.

I should go-dizzy again. I'll post again after the doctor tells me how to get rid of this.

Just a Quick Note

Really quick post-I gave my friend her Monkey socks and I couldn't get a pic cause no phones or cameras are allowed in class, but she loved them. Yay! (And I discovered the color of Sock-ease was called Taffy).

School again...and socks to make it all better!

First day of high school...wow that place is big compared to the middle school! The weirdest thing is having classes with people in other grades. It happened a lot today, as I take all of the advanced classes I can. Trig in particular is interesting, as I am one of three freshman among sophomores bumped up a year, juniors, and I think a senior or two. I got turned around once going from chorus to child psych (a class I opted to take instead of the required parenting class), we had to observe slugs in bio, my flip-flop busted a strap, and I have lunch right in the middle of English which is super inconvenient, but overall it wasn't too terrible. Maybe high school won't be so bad after all.

Now on a more fiber-y note....

I finished the Monkey socks for my dancer friend, and I won't be able to get a pic right away but just know they look super amazing even with funky kitchener stitching on one of them. I'll probably give them to her in Chorus tomorrow. I started a pair of Pomatomus (is that spelled right?) socks for yet another bff, and after realizing I get sick reading charts in the car I started a pair of plain socks for moi, using the basic sock pattern from Knitting Rules by Stephanie Pearl-McFee.

Anyway I have an essay due tomorrow for AP World History so I have to get on that before we go out to dinner...I wonder if mom will mind if I work a sock gusset during dinner...

Ooooooo...pretty!

Omg wow! Wow wow wow wow wow!

Okay...so the other day I got a super duper surprise in the mail :)

My great aunt, you know, the one who owns the amazing yarn store out out Oregon?

She sent me a goodie bag full of yummy stuff!

First up was some Cascade Fixation in different shades of purple for even more sock-filled fun! Omg I gotta run around and dig out another fabulous pattern, only for myself for once.

The next skein I pulled out was PINK! Like my room! Haha it's imported alpaca that was hand dyed that beautiful color, and I have four whole skeins of it to myself!

Last, but by no means least, as it is possibly my favorite, was two big fat skeins of hand spun beige llama, from when my aunt used to own a llama ranch! It's so pretty...I'm thinking something aran-ish, but I'm not sure yet. Regardless, it will all be safe in my stash while I figure it out :)

Thanks again Aunt Nancy!

Lot's and Lot's of News!

Ok, for starters here's the promised Froot Loop pic.

I know you can't see the pattern at all, but we were rushing home from karate, and my recipient/model has started JV swimming and is too sore to stand for very long. Excuse the pants in the way, our uniforms were still on.

Anyway, I babysat my two younger cousins for two days so the oldest could stay at a friend's house, and as I sat on the couch with my first Monkey sock they all ended up bringing out various projects of their own. They all sat down with me, and soon were asking if we could start a knitting group. Later that day, I was chaperoning a trip to the yarn section of Ben Franklin, supervising the purchase of yarn and the appropriate needles, and doling out patterns from the library I am attempting to build.

My sister is working on a shawl for our older cousin's baby, with some ambitious finishing for her consisting of backing the shawl and embroidering the baby girl's name onto the fabric. I didn't attempt that at her skill level, and although she refuses to acknowledge the fact that a quarter yard won't be enough to back the whole shawl, I'm proud of her for doing her own thing. I have a feeling she'll get into free forming as she learns more and more about garment construction.

The middle cousin was working on a rectangular shawl for her mom, with stripes of normal and reverse stockinette in kinky white cotton. She desperately wanted it over with and begged me to think of any way at all she could end it NOW. I suggested a doll blanket, so she happily cast off and handed it to my sis for her American Girl doll. She picked up a ball of sock yarn at the store, and with my size 2 US needles and a written copy of one of my patterns, she's working on a sweater each for her and her sister's American Girls.

The youngest had been knitting a simple potholder, a solution to avoid a whole scarf, but her yarn tangled and she cut it off. So at Ben Franklin, she grabbed two skeins of Grande yarn in white and navy, her school colors, and size 13 US needles for a striped school spirit scarf. (She also got some thick woolly tweed I'm unbelievably jealous of, and will have to buy at some point before it sells out).

I? Well...sock yarn for a change...haha I was restricted to two skeins each of different brands by my wallet, and had to pass up that gorgeous tweed :( I think I'm starting to understand that lecture I received from my mom before we left. Something about me never having money, and a yarn addiction...nope never mind. There's no way she was talking to me. She must have been on the phone with someone. I also finished one of the Monkey socks, and aside from varying tightness in my kitchener stitch that made for a wonky toe, they look fairly good. I like the lace pattern a lot, and knitting thought the back loops of the picked-up gusset stitches works better than I had expected. I could kick myself for not listening to that advice when I heard it months ago. The heel was giving me aneurysms for not being reinforced, but I think it would take attention from the lace and we wouldn't want that, now would we? Besides, tall-ish socks look funny in shoes. I prefer to bum around the house in them, where a reinforced heel isn't needed. I can only hope my friend agrees with me.

And by the way...Ugg boots are really comfy with hand knit socks for anyone interested. Just thought I'd throw it out there.

Finally!

Oh wow I finally finished the Froot Loop socks! They're going to one of my friends tonight at karate-I'll post pics once she tries them on. I wonder how my instructors will react...I brought my knitting to a karate tournament for something to do between my fight and the extreme fighting, and my sensei was totally and completely appalled. To this day he will bring up the fact that one moment I was making a girl cry to get first place in my division, and the next he saw me I was knitting a pink cell phone case. As he now says, "there's no KNITTING in karate!" Psh. How does he think those muscle shirts guys wear under their uniforms are made? Honestly. Some people...

Anyway after the marathon session that was the size 9 1/2 Froot Loop socks, I'm working on a pair of size 5 1/2 socks in blue-and-brown Lion Brand Sock-Ease. The pattern is Monkey from Knitty by Cookie A. for one of my other friends who's a pointe dancer and could use some TLC on her feet. Thankfully her feet are small-after how I dragged out the last pair, I'm in need of a quick victory.

So right-pics tomorrow or whenever this week, and...hopefully some pics of blue socks by next week. Wish me luck! Needles of fury...

Temporary Deviation

Oh my gooseness Phelps broke the record with EIGHT gold medals in a single Olympics!

Now back to knitting...

Like I said earlier I can't say much about my current project, since it's my youngest cousin's Christmas gift. I can say a bit though, like it's made out of variegated Super Saver in a tan and raspberry pink colorway that's super cute, and it's constructed out of mitered garter stitch squares all knit in one piece. Her sister will probably receive a replica made out of a blue-and-brown colorway, and while I know their brother's present will be green-and-brown and the same type of garment, I need to find a more manly pattern for him. :) I don't think he'd appreciate receiving the same item as his sisters.

I was completely geeking out earlier, oh wow. I decided to check out the Llamas and Llambs Boutique web page, a really nice yarn and craft store my great aunt owns out in Oregon. I was checking out the list of suppliers for fiber and needles, and oOoOoOoOo I almost swooned when I saw all of the names I covet! Cascade? I've never used it, but the colors are b-e-a-u-tiful! (To quote Bruce Almighty). Opal sock yarn? Crystal Palace? As I said-geeking out. If I actually saw the shop I'd probably start drooling. If I ever can afford a plane ticket to Oregon I'll have to bring a bucket.

Well it's my little cousin's birthday party today, so getting dressed sounds like a nice idea. (Of course, some non-secret knitting project will be stashed in my purse)!

Be Forewarned...

Ok...so I haven't finished anything in forever...and I decided to hurry up and change that. I bought a lot of Red Heart Super Saver to make Christmas presents for my cousins, since it's dirt cheap, indestructible, and comes in a bajillion colors (even though it's scratchy before you wash it a few times). I cast on for my first project, and it was going well enough that I thought, "Hey, I'll post the WIP on my blog since I haven't finished anything and I need to post SOMETHING."

...but then I remembered that if I post that on my blog it kills the surprise element of Christmas gifts...

...So I have nothing to write about.

And may not until Christmas.

Don't say I didn't warn ya'.

Maybe I'll finish some socks eventually just to have something to post about.

Pure Irony

It figures. I considered bringing the Esperanza Cardigan to the lake with me. But no, I thought it would be to warm. It is august after all. I brought socks to work on.

It's freezing.

I needed a WIP that could keep me warm while I knit.

I started a shawl.

The Feather and Fan Comfort Shawl. I have already used this pattern once to get rid of some partial skeins of Super Saver, and after the first few washes it was soft enough and plenty warm. I have more extras, and they don't match quite as well but I don't mind at this point because it's either this or succumb to my parents and wear a sweatshirt. (In case you are not a parent, teens refuse to wear any form of warm clothing if they are told to. I t must be either a fashion statement or because the teen in question desires it. We would rather freeze than obey). It's cold enough I may even check out Knitty for that nose warmer pattern.

Weird august.

Enjoy it while summer is still here!

Uneventful Soak

I'm so proud of myself-really I am! I feel like an overprotective parent with my child home from their first day of school. Why? Well I...I...

I washed the socks!

I've only ever stuck any kind of knitting in the washing machine if it was Red Heart or some other extremely synthetic yarn, something with an unbelievable tolerance for abuse and cheap enough that if it was lost to the soapy suds I wouldn't have just lost my life savings. I fully understand that the Slippery socks weren't entirely wool. I also recognized that what wool there was in the fiber content was washable. All the same, as I poured the detergent into the slot on the washing machine I was breaking out into a sweat. On my limited budget I couldn't even afford to replace the oh-so-cheap Kroy sock yarn if I screwed up. The drying process was even worse-the instructions said to dry on low heat, but after two runs they were still super damp. I kicked it up to medium heat and the whole 48 minutes the pair was in it's little spinning torture chamber I was losing it. What if they shrunk? What if they stretched? What if they stuck to each other? What if the color bled? What if flying monkeys sabotaged them? What if I was finally going crazy? What if, what if, what if...

They came out fine. A bit snug at first, which stopped my heart for a moment when I tried them on again. It was temporary though, and after five minutes of walking around they fit perfectly just as before.

*sigh* I had best get used to this. I have a sock marathon ahead of me...a group of my friends have their birthday's in a small block of time, and I will have to crank out several (belated) birthday pairs.

1) Froot Loop in Kroy, a pale blue-navy-magenta-violet colorway.
2) I dunno what pattern, but it will be worked in even more orange-navy-pink-violet Kroy.
3) Pattern unknown, blue Sock-Ease with brown streaks.
4) Plain stockinette, Sock-ease in Sour Ball (yes, I knew the colorway name! Woot!)

Then I start on the family...three aunt's, my uncle's girlfriend, my other uncle, several grandparents, many cousins, and by then replacements for my mom...geeze I think after my friend's socks I'll take a break on something that doesn't involve making two of the same item. Like a simple shawl. Or a monotonous afghan. Something where I can hide when I just can't turn another heel.

Alright I'll work now if you insist...I need to actually have an FO to post someday!

The Circle is Complete!

Yayyy! My knitting circle is home from Cali and I am so excited to finally see them! I just realized that this year two of the three of them will be starting middle school...have they really lived here that long? I don't believe it. I'll have to drop in with a new WIP soon-if you guys are reading this I'll be over as soon as possible!

Have as lovely a day as a Monday can ever be!

Slippery Socks are Finally Finished!

Yes, it's true. I at long last have a pair of woolly, cabled, hand-knit socks for myself! I have only ever made one full pair, for my mom to lounge around the house in, and they ended up with the toe of the second sock much smaller than the rest of the pair. (I think it was my excitement to finish them that made me grip my working yarn extra tight, and I can't blame myself for that so my mom will have to manage). I will post pics when I can locate the whereabouts of my camera, which seems to have mysteriously disappeared.

As to the updates to my W.I.P's list...

The cute amigurumi dog is no more, I am sorry to say. I ran out of the necessary orange yarn, and since the whole point of me learning to do this was to use up scraps I refuse to purchase more. The Trellis Cardigan went horribly wrong, as I set it down for a month without noting where I was past the armhole decreases and it turned out wonky when I tried to figure it out for myself. Little Zoe will just have to do with some sort of hat for her first birthday, or whatever else I can whip up on a $5 budget. The Esperanza Cardigan is still on hold, and will remain thus until the mercury plunges. There is no way I could stand knitting in 90 degree heat with an extra-long sweater back trailing over my lap. Not gonna happen. (Unless, of course, my parents suddenly decide to acquire central air).

On a brighter note, I started a pair of socks for one of my bff's. They are yet another Knitty pattern, Froot Loops. They have a bit of cabling to keep it interesting like Slippery, but these cables are worked over a repeat of seven stitches and four rows and thus is much easier to memorize and execute. I have the first done, and cast on for the second last night. I hope they finish soon, as I have two more skeins of Kroy sock yarn in a playful colorway, and my first ball of Lion Brand Sock-ease to try out calling my name. It's back to the sticks for now...I hope my sister can work the fire extinguisher-the bamboo needles are starting to smoke!

Knitting Circle Longing

I am currently knitting circle deprived.

I didn't really have an official group to begin with-my friends have never gotten as hooked on knitting as I have, and while my local yarn store has a well-established one no one is even close to my age and thus I feel out of place. When I first desired a group I hadn't yet discovered the unlimited resources of the internet knitting community, and needed someone to talk to about knitting. Badly. So what did I do? I taught my sister and cousins to knit!

My sister has done well, accepting a small degree of my advice at first and now slogs through everything herself. The oldest of my locally-based cousins dropped it, as he would rather play with an Xbox than play with yarn. He does humor me though, not getting exasperated if I pull out the sticks while I wait for a turn on Guitar Hero. The middle child knits on and off. She has completed a few scarves for her dolls and took part in a community blanket with her girl scout troop, but she usually loses her needles before I can teach her much beyond knit and purl. Oh well. like her brother she has learned to tolerate and even take an interest in whatever WIP I show up on their doorstep with. The youngest is terrorized by the three cats tangling her yarn, but she seems to like sitting with me on the couch and knitting while we watch tv. All in all, the four of them make up the closest thing I have to a knitting circle, a circle of which I am now deprived.

My sister is still here of course, but two people hardly make a circle. The other three members (who may not even know of their membership) have gone with their grandma and other cousin to visit their family in California for a month. I'm glad they can see everyone, but I miss them all and their fiber acceptence. I suppose if I want knitting companions, I'll have to go check out my local LYS.

Oh and guys if you're reading this I really miss you and can't wait to have you home again. Have fun in California! (And for goodness sake would it kill you to drop an email once in a while? Just kidding. Love you all!)

Shopping of a Different Sort

I know when my parents gave me that much-needed cash, I said I was going to have a Knit Picks field day. I know. But I caved, and blew it all at the yarn section of my local Ben Franklin. I also know I raved about how beautiful the yarn would be when it showed up on my doorstep. Well I didn't buy yarn. I decided that if I was going to get through the summer with any brain cells intact at all, I would need some mental stimulation. Books!

I first walked past the display case full of amigurumi, the cutie critters resembling Japanese cartoons. The turtle with the tie-dye shell was too cute, the little brown dog too adorable, and the books too conveniently placed below them. I reached for Amigurumi World: Seriously Cute Crochet by Ana Paula Rimoli. I prefer knitting to crocheting, but the occasional switch will keep me awake through those mind-numbingly boring days that seem to drag on forever.

Next I passed the needles. What did I see but a pack of four sizes of sock needles for $10! Socks are a great project to take on summer trips, and the great array of yarns for them beautiful and affordable so I snatched up the bargain before anyone else caught wind of it. (When I got home of course I noticed there was only three of the promised four sets in the package. That's what I get for being cheap!).

By this point I had finally made it to the actual yarn section, but as I loaded my arms with Kroy sock yarn to go with my needles, the wool blend rubbing against my arms, I realized that today was one of those days that was too hot to knit. I know, I know blasphemy. But I couldn't bring myself to even consider fiber on a ninety degree day. I left and on the way out passed...a basket of even more knitting books! I supposed if I couldn't knit physically, I would do the best I could mentally on it and grabbed a copy of At Knit's End: Meditations for Women Who Knit Too Much by the Yarn Harlot, Stephanie Pearl-McFee. Now when the mercury rises, my fiber obsession can continue!

What will I do now? Well I suppose I'll sit an inch from the air conditioner and search the web for wool I won't see until my wallet feels a little heavier.

Home is Where the Knit is

Ahhhh...as much as I love the lake, it's good to be home!

Excuse my non-needle beginning to this post, but my fourth of July couldn't have been better. At the lake on the third of July the whole waterfront community takes part in what is referred to as "The Ring of Fire." At about 10:00, every house on the water lines the beach with flares so the entire lake is red all the way around the perimeter, with few streetlights to interfere with the spectacle. Multiple firework shows, amateur and professional, continue throughout the night, and are even better than usual as you get them twice-once in the air, and again in the water. If anyone happens to visit the Finger Lakes at this time of year, I suggest looking into this, as it is a gorgeous sight to welcome Independence Day.

Now that I'm done advertising local events, I can continue on my yarn meditations. As a result of the grades on my finals, my parents gave me a substantial sum of money to take with me on vacation. (Just to brag, I got 100% in both french and social studies, 97% in accelerated earth science, and a 99% in double accelerated geometry. Not bad, right)? With a good portion of it left, and more on the way for yard work, I plan to take advantage of my luck and browse Knit picks! Yay! Clearance is my best friend, and when it meets pure wool in delicious colors I just about pass out from excitement. What can beat a box of yarn meeting you when you get home? While I'm at it I'll take an order for the sweater my mom intends to have in her possession by autumn and have even more amazing fibers delivered to my door. Maybe I'll even buy a book on the history of knitting since they're having a book sale...I can't take it anymore I have to shop! Excuse me and I'll let you know how I fare.

Lakeside Knitting

My parents decided to take a trip to the Adirondacks as a celebration of their 15th anniversary, and as a result my sister and I have been on a vacation of our own. My aunt lives in Florida, but last year bought a summer home in the finger lakes as incentive to visit more often. This is where I have been spending the last week, either curled up in the hammock with a good read or purling away on the deck. It is beautifully calm, and the perfect place to work on some summer knitting.

What am I knitting this summer? Well I have decided to begin what should have been started a long time ago. Though I have been knitting for three or four years now, I have never finished a sweater. Not even a baby cardigan. I was shocked to realize i had been so lax, and decided that my cousin's daughter was in need of a little something to keep the chill away on her first birthday. And with a bit of tan acrylic I indirectly inherited, I began the Trellis pattern from Knitty. I got past the armhole shaping on the back when I realized I was being both cheap and lazy. Cheap for not investing in some decent yarn for such a monumental knitting leap as a first sweater, and lazy for skimping out by knitting a garment for little people. I have until September for her birthday, and set it aside in favor of a project for myself.

My next choice was the Esperanza Long Cardigan from the 2005 Pattern-a-Day Knitting Calender, in Lion Brand Homespun Windsor. It's been going super fast on size 10 1/2 needles, and I have to say the foot after foot of stockinette isn't nearly as monotonous as I thought it would be. The color is so delicious I have yet to get bored, and I think that this will be the perfect sweater intro (plus it will give me practice with knitting set-in pockets!). My biggest concern now is the seaming...I'm afraid I'll ruin all of my hard work with my iffy hand-sewing skills! But I shouldn't worry prematurely-it's time to go back to the needles. Have a wonderful Fourth of July!

New for summer!

I only have a quick moment to post before the meeting about next year's AP classes, but I am excited beyond belief...new, new, new online knitting stuff! The summer Knitty issue is out, and that alone is reason to cheer, for I have been faithfully checking the website every day and HUZZAH! I need check no more! On top of that Jacquelyn Landry's adorable Blithe sundress is out, and I must say it is in the top three choices of what to knit for my second niece's birthday (or whatever it is that you call your cousin's child). They live in England and her birthday isn't until September, so I'm not sure how practical that is, but it's so unbelievably cute. Maybe I'll use that as an excuse to knit a little cardigan to match! I can feel the gears turning...all I need is a magical yarn fairy to show up at my door and I'll be completely satisfied. (Hey, it never hurts to dream)! Ciao for now...

Slow Going

Summer approaches, and everything seems to be dragging on at a snail's pace. This is typical, but never has this carried through to my knitting. At least, it never has until very recently and quite frankly I am rather irked.

Here's what I mean...last Friday, I started the second Slippery sock. That was six days ago. It should be finished, and would be under usual circumstances. Is it done?

Hardly.

Honestly, I'm starting to get worried. What could possibly cause this evil phenomenon? Second sock syndrome? I think not. This pattern is too interesting for that. Friends? No. I don't usually get the chance to have them over throughout the week because of all of my advanced classes and the homework that results. My parents would most likely say "boyfriend," but i haven't seen him much outside of school either. Even extracurriculars are starting to end as summer begins. What else does my life consist of? School. Only the upcoming Regents could have such a strong effect on my knitting. At least it will be summer soon, and I'll have all the time in the world for all of my unfinished projects!

Sick day...

I was home sick today with a weird stomach bug and quite frankly I'm bummed as I had to miss karate because of it and I'm testing for a new belt in a few weeks. I pretty much nursed a cup of full-caffeine green tea and honey until my stomach settled down enough for me to finish the first of a set of socks I've been neglecting.

Now I do realize that they are two totally different designs...I have a huge problem with second sock syndrome, and thus I deemed it necessary to choose two patterns and alternate them. Today I finished the cabled green specimen on the left, much to my satisfaction and delight.

The pattern is Slippery from Knitty.com, knit with Kroy sock yarn. I liked the pattern, as the design kept me fairly interested for the duration of the project. I'm not crazy about the yarn though...the colors were nice, but it managed to split constantly throughout the minicable method I employed, and split stitches are my biggest knitting peeve!

Excuse my poor photography abilities, but this is a general idea of what the panels look like. My Kitchener stitch is not the best either...if anyone has an alternative method, it would be much appreciated!