when "good" gauge goes bad

I was happily knitting along, 13 inches completed...when I discovered that I had picked up an extra stitch a few rows down when my needle caught on a few plies of yarn.

when I dropped the stitch to remove it, the gap was way too big.

so I decided to rip back to where it all started.

when I took the piece off of the needles, something wasn't quite right.

it's supposed to be 42" in diameter.

*sigh*

More yarn?

I had a weak moment a week ago, when Webs was having a free shipping special.

ok. seven weak moments.

Araucania Ranco Multy-goodness.

Asymmetrical Cardi - sort of

I omitted the cables and used the funnel collar stitch instead

but the whole thing really came out a bit larger than I would have preferred

it's made of Vanna's Choice Yarn, in Taupe. US 9.

this is what it looks like when I scrunch it all together in the back ;-)

it's very warm, and the Wal-Mart buttons are really cute!

and I got a lot of compliments on it when I wore it on Wednesday!!

My father requested a scarf from me, he wanted a machine washable red and grey variegated yarn, but I wasn't able to find anything that was suitable.

So, I bought Caron Simply Soft Eco (Wine Country and Charcoal) - it's made with 20% recycled plastic bottles - and it's REALLY soft! And hey - I'm saving the planet - what could better than that?!

I'm doing the Scrunchable Scarf, he wants it to be 10" wide and 60" long, I may need to buy some more skeins!

I started to knit Aquaphobia with my Lorna's Laces yarn in Tuscan, but it looked all kinds of crappy, so I opted for Nutkin instead. I'm much happier now!

Since I had already cast on with the K1/P1 ribbing, I just ripped back to there instead of doing the foldover hem that Nutkin indicates. I'm also omitting the YO and doing an M1 instead. I saw someone on Ravelry do that and seems to be OK so far, the sock is a "little" tight over my ankle.

Socks? Done.

Finished Primavera last week.
Wore them yesterday!

maths deflation

Rip.

Roll.

Drip.


Then I knit a gauge swatch and psyched myself up for 'rithmatiking.

It consisted of this
20...x
-- = --
4....42

20x = 840
CO = 210

I've now knit over six inches of stockinette in the round. And the fabric looks so much better.
...pondering over hem yarn...

let 'er rip

Many, many moons ago, I knit Dave a sweater.

There were so many things wrong with this sweater, most of which were a result of my newbieness to knitting - I read the yarn label and saw the needle icon with a '5.' So I used a US 5.

It wasn't until I was unable to put the pieces together myself, and the "professional" finisher asked me what size needles I'd used, that I realized I should have used US 8/Metric 5.

I've refused to let Dave wear the sweater in public, and it has languished in its tight-knit fabric state for four years.

Then I saw PugMama's sweater on Ravelry (non-ravelers can see brooklytweed's here).

So I immediately purchased my very first Elizabeth Zimmerman book.



And this long holiday weekend *sigh* (I can't wait!), I'll be ripping, reading, and rithmatiking.

I'm excited about the other patterns in this book, too! The Tomten Jacket. The Seamless Raglan Sweater. The Snail Hat. What is this Zimmerman Scarf all about? And a reversible hat?

All I need is four more hands.

the woman dressed in velvet

when it was 90 degrees yesterday, because her office was too cold, would probably like a pair of these


have I posted this picture before? This is from a Phildar email that I received today.

The pattern looks ridiculously simple.


Impromptu (fingerless gloves)


K2,P2 ribbing in the round.
Knit to length desired for arm coverage.
Knit back and forth (splitting after a K2).
Knit enough rows for thumb to fit through comfortably.
Rejoin knitting in the round.
Knit enough rows for desired finger length.
Bind off.

an italian-themed sock

This week I cast on for Primavera.

Playing with Colinette Jitterbug in the Toscana colourway, that I purchased at Stitches West earlier this year and using Addi Turbos, US1.
I'm letting my finger heal from being poked by my KnitPicks circulars.

I have finally joined my last skein of the afghan - I figure as long as it's 90 degrees outside, Adrienne won't be needing the blanket finished any time soon. :-P


I have fallen in love...

with this woman's sweater.
She is from Poland and has done a beautiful job with this Drops pattern.
She used a Polish yarn called Oliwia which is 25% wool and 75% acrylic and size 4.5mm needles.

I don't think I'll be able to get my hands on that yarn - but I sure will have fun researching a substitute!

And I am having second thoughts about starting Lucetta next.

I have started thinking about doing the Cozy
(again, RIP: the first one that I washed and felted)

in my orange Norma yarn (from France) instead.

the little scarf that could

my pattern (that one over there on the right -->) was born over two years ago
originally designed for a friend who was moving to france
it was withheld from the general populace due to "photo inadequacy"
and had quite a drama attached to it

it's now been set free and warmly welcomed into the open arms of Patternfish

its original pattern name has been removed to protect the innocent and its new name "says it all."

Aberdeen

Knitpicks US2
Sensations Soles and More, 1 skein and a tiny bit of a second.
I am very pleased! Especially with getting the pattern to match up for each foot!
Yay! Socks and flip flops!

somebunny's going to be very happy!

In our Ravelry Bunny Lover's Group we had a Bunny Swap!

Oh yes, we had fun discussing how our bunnies would travel to each other's houses if we mailed them.

This really what we meant though...

And below finished socks - merino and silk - Mmmmm.

Sensational Knitted Socks Pattern
Argosy Luxury Yarn, Hanna Sport, Latte & Roses, 2 skeins
KnitPicks US 3

leftover sock yarn bits

I'm smitten with this scarf pattern

another good reason to check out
the Random Stripe Generator

I just need to knit more of the sock yarn that I have so that I can more leftover bits!

look at me, I changed my template!

I was driving home last night and looking at the Saddleback Mountains and I just fell in love with them all over again.

I think living by the ocean would be nice, but there is something very grounding about being so close to parts of the earth that are so big and solid.

Searching for images of the mountains last night, I found this one.

When the wind isn't whipping through the canyon practically pushing my car off the toll road, this is a very nice place to be.

I know I haven't posted any knitting updates in awhile - we've been working hard to get our house back in order post-remodel.

I have one more skein left for the lapghan for Adrienne and I'm getting ready to turn the heel on my second Aberdeen. The first sock is so freaking cute - I can't wait for the weather to hurry up and turn cold so I can wear my socks!

I'm anxious for the lapghan to be finished - next up....Lucetta!

bad news/good news

The bad news is that I won't be able to knit at work anymore.

The good news is that I start a new job on Monday!

The bad news is that I can't knit at jury duty.

The good news is that I was EXCUSED!

The bad news is that this yarn is on backorder.

The good news is that good knitting friend Joice just happened to have two skeins (Seven Dwarves) in her stash and was willing to part with them!

Feet First

This is what I was talking about!

This pattern is called Aberdeen, from Berroco #275, Feet First.

I ordered mine from Patternworks!

four-day weekend

I took Friday off from knitting, I mean working.

But, I haven't done much knitting.
I've done a lot of sleeping. Cleaning. Moving appliances. Eating potato chips and onion dip in bed while watching, "Shrinking the World's Heaviest Man." That was my dinner last night.


I started this project two Thursdays ago.







This is my second Tura Maeve.
They've made the pattern corrections since the first time I made it.
Yarn: Knit Picks Shine Sport, four skeins.
Needles: Knit Picks Circular US 4.

Just finished putting the buttons on today.

I cast on for these socks yesterday, using Argosy Luxury Yarns, Hannah Sport in Latte & Roses. I tried a lace pattern, but it didn't please me. Plus the K1, P1 ribbing was loosey-goosey.

So I ripped it out and did a twisted K1, P1 and stockinette to let the beautiful yarn colors be displayed.

Ahh much better.


Here is the yarn that my sister-in-law got me for my birthday (months ago...)!

Rio de la Plata.
She also gave me a book!


While I was buying buttons for the baby dress yesterday, I HAD to wander over to the yarn section. Lookie what I founded!

I'm thinking of making a pair of socks that I can wear with flip flops - you know, the kind with the separate big toe?!

impromptu baby gift

For one of Dave's co-workers.
Errr...rather for her impending bundle of joy.

Hat, socks, yarn.
US2, knitpicks 32" circular, magic loop method.

what I get paid to do

Get-together Cable Socks
Moda Dea Washable Wool
US 2/US 5
Very soft!


Adrienne's Lace Wrap/Afghan
...what I knit while I sit in front of the command center hotline waiting for issues to be called in.



Sure...it looks pretty nice on the outside.


But I'm having a hard time with the finish work - the bias tape and elastic look ridiculous.
I haven't touched in this in about three weeks.

another moment of weakness

rowan kidsilk spray
$9.30/skein @purl soho

intended for lucetta

Knot A Problem!

Hey Ravelers!!

Wanna join my group?

A group for people who love to untangle or detangle skeins of yarn that are in a big, giant, tangled mess!

I started reading posts on Ravelry about people who got so frustrated when their yarn tangled - and then others' responses about how to get through it and tips and tricks - that's when I realized that I wasn't alone!

I have always enjoyed creating structure in chaos, I think that's why it's so satisfying for me to work on messed up ball of yarn.

A year or so ago, a knitting friend had a big pile of silk that she spent a lot of money on. She said that her daughter offered to "help" her wind it up.

Well, it became a pile of knots before she knew it, so I offered to untangle it for her - it took four hours.

As much as I love untangling, its only drawback is the time that taken away from knitting.

There's been discussion regarding offering our services... it will be interesting to see what happens!

Dear Gmail "Hackers,"

All the time and energy that you put into creating a spambot to send an email from my account to everyone that I ever sent, received, or thought about sending an email to could have been better spent creating something like this:

A gift for my RPG-loving friend, Andy:

d4, with stuck and stitched on felt numbers.

A housewarming gift for my friend, Adrienne:



Lion Brand Lace Wrap, converted into an Afghan.

A gift for ME!



Butterfly, take two...the first one, even though I did three different and separate gauge swatches, was WAY too big.

I actually find knitting very therapeutic, especially when I've spent the day explaining to multiple people that no, I am not trying to sell them electronics, and while I spend four hours of my evening uninstalling and installing anti-virus software, and scanning my home laptop for viruses.

Apparently I have no right to feel that I received any special attention from you, because other people in this great world wide web have had been the recipient of your talents as well.

In case you haven't read about yourself, here are the links:

One angry, and now extremely cautious gmail user.

You've been working on your UFO for a long time!

The board post I was searching for all day yesterday, but didn't find until today, when I read about another Ravelry user having her gmail hacked yesterday, too.

Where people can post comments on your FO.

Maybe some day you'll be turn your cracker skills into something productive for the world.
--S