A Longish While

It has been several months since my last post. While I have been silent, I haven't stopped knitting...exactly.

Here's what's been going on. In May, my dad (and one of the chief readers of this blog) died of a long and protracted illness. I am so very glad that he is no longer in pain, but I needed a little time before I was ready to come back here.

In other news, I was promoted at work to an Ops Lead position. This means more money (hooray!) and less time to knit at work (boo). By less time, please understand that I mean "none."

So there you have it. I'm still alive, still kickin', still knittin', about to learn spinnin' (thanks Jess!), and fixin' ta get back into quiltin'.

And that's all the news that's fit to print.

Oh wait, and one other thing: Rowan (of the adorable sweater-grubbing) has started Kindergarten. He had his little pre-Kindy-garden test today and they said he did very well and they were looking forward to having him. Woo hoo!

That Which Is Gonna Be

Earlier this week I posted on the projects that I have in progress (with the notable exceptions of the "rilly sekrit gift for someone who doesn't read this blog" which I cannot show pictures of for reasons that ought to be obvious, and of the green spring tank top that was at work the day I hornswaggled Jess' camera.)

So anyway, I digress. Frequently.

While I was out takin' pictures of my current and recently completed projects, I also took artistic, gardenish shots of the projects that I've lined up in my queue.

Here we have a project I'm pretty excited about. there are a lot of things about this little stripedy cardigan that I really like. (Oddly, one of the things I really like is also one of the things that I'm proposing to change....the color scheme).

What I don't like is the construction (seaming up ickle stripes doesn't sound like my idea of a good time), and the weird poofty ribbing thing around the bottom.

So, in an unpredented fit of ballsyness, I decided to revamp the pattern. The swatch there is my idea for a new color scheme. More details as I have them.

For Rhiannon's birthday, I intend to reprise the Flower Basket Shawl in another gauge. I'll be using Knitpicks Palette in Fog. I plan to up to size 9s or so, to make it nice and airy. I should swatch. Wouldn't that be craziness?

I must admit, I find it mildly disconcerting that I'm making such a "grown up" item for this daughter. Scroll up a second and look at the cardigan I'm about to make Morgan....when did Rhi grow up? Where was I when that happened? The sweater I'm knitting Morgan is more like what I'm making Rhi "ought" to be like, ya know? In that place inside my head where Rhiannon is still six?

In other news, I've also got another Flower Basket Shawl lined up for a friend who is going to pay me actual pennies. (I'm excited.) I'll be using Knitpicks Alpaca Cloud in Midnight. I plan to use size 8s, or maybe 7s....we'll see how it goes. I'm looking for that balance between too airy and too small.

That Which Is

While I don't actually sit around and try to come up with abstruse or bizzare titles for my posts, I do seem to have a knack for it, don't I? I want to show a bit of my current projects, and a bit of what I'm lining up to work on next. Hence the title. These fall under the "That Which Is" category. Tune in for "That Which Will Be" and pictures of upcoming projects.

First we have That Shawl. You know the one. The one I will be knitting during Ragnarok, when I bless out Fenris for eating the sun, because its TOO DARK TO SEE TO KNIT!

And a close up of the lace edging:
This beauteous piece of work is in Knitpicks Shadow, a 100% Merino lace weight wool in "Oregon Coast" The variagations in this yarn are lovely.



Behold sock #1 of "Gladd Raggs." I'm way behind the group on this bad boy, they were supposed to be done on April 1. Alas. Woe. Etc.

I'm actually considerably farther along on this now than I was when the picture was taken. I've turned the heel and begun decreasing the gussets. I've also altered the pattern to continue the lace down the front of the sock. We'll see how that goes, ya?


And finally, of course, Rowan's ARRRRR Pirate Sweater. Since this picture was taken I've actually worked the intarsia up to the crossed bones. I hate intarsia. In case I hadn't mentioned that yet, here in this forum, let me just put it out there in front of godandeverybody, I hate intarsia. Evil, evil, needleart from tartoros. (Please note that I am not objective on this subject.) So why am I knitting this sweater, you ask? Dude, have you met my son? He has Jedi mojo, a helmet of +2 Cuteness and Persuasion.....I'm besotted. Is the thing.

You can't see much from the pictures. It's black and cream Lion Brand WoolEase, and all but about 2/3 of the front is completed.

Spring Has Sprung!

The grass is ris!
I wonder where the birdies is?

Things are spring all over here in Middle Tennessee. We have entire flox of...flowers in our front yard. The trees are blooming, the noses are running—in short, its my very (second) favorite time of year. And with the world around me being so industrious, how could I help but get caught up in all of the very NEW-ness of everything?

What does this mean? Why, new knitting projects of course!

But before I show you what's coming up in my queue, I'd like to point out that I have finished something. The observant among you will have noticed that my counter now reads "4" projects finished in 2006, and Morgan's Heart Cardie's ickle meter is up to 100%. Yes, genties and ladlemen, I finally finished the sweater that I started knitting her back in 2003. Good thing I was bollocks with gauge back then, because it fits her perfectly now.

I like to call this next shot my "Heathcliff on the Moors" photo. I would like to state for the record that the child loves her new sweater, and was grinning like a fool the 15 seconds before and after this picture was taken. I'm just sayin'.

Book Review: Inspired Cable Knits by Fiona Ellis

I'll start out by saying that I have a particular fondness for cables. The traditional styling, the celtic flavor.... I'm all over that. However, it is very often the case that the knitting patterns that utilize cables have a tendency to fail to live up to the promise of their design elements. The sweaters are, in a very real way less than the sum of their parts. Or, to be less tactful, they suck.

This is not the case with Fiona Ellis' new book Inspired Cable Knits.

It is very rare that I look through a new knitting book and find even two patterns that I would consider knitting. From this book I can think of four off the top of my head that I am seriously considering knitting (and here's the kicker) for myself. Yes, Ellis includes a size range from XS up to, in some cases, a 52" chest.

The very best part of the book though, is Ellis' commentary on the design process. The book is broken into four basic design concepts or inspirations: time, change, energy, and nature. Each design reflects in some way its parent category, with detailed descriptions of why she chose each element.

Each sweater is laden with symbolic meaning, what do the empty spaces represent? Why does the cable curve to the right rather than to the left? There is a language hidden within each sweater, a secret communication between the knitter and her project.

The concept of mindful, symbolic meaning within a project deeply appeals to me. I am inspired, much as the book's title promises, to not only create some of the sweaters held between the pages of the book, but also to deepen and enrich the intention hidden within my own designs.

Projects Completed in 2006

1. Flower Basket Shawl
2. Rhiannon's Magic Stripe Socks
3. Half-Circle Pi shawl for Morgan
4. Heart Cardigan for Morgan
5. Funkadelic Warshrag
6. Peach Socks
7. Mystery Shawl 2 Ragnarok Shawl
8. Flower Basket Shawl for Rhiannon
9. Calico Yarf Scarf for Gretta

Projects Begun in 2006

1. Flower Basket Shawl
2. Mystery Shawl 2
3. Glad Raggs
4. Arr! A Pirate Sweater
5. Tank Top
6. Peach Socks
7. Funkadelic Warshrag
8. Better Be Gryffindor! Scarf
9. Dancing Sockies
10. Flamin' Fingerless Gloves
    
11. Rhiannon's Flower Basket Shawl
12. Calico Yarf Scarf
13. Cream Eyelet Socks
    

Nothing to see here folks, move along

So, I wonder if I should count sewing projects in my "started/finished" counter? Possibly, I am overthinking this. On hand the first, this is a blog wherein I have occasionally mentioned other crafts. You know, like quilting. I also sew. I initially intended this as a knitting blog, but dude, I barely have enough RAM (random access memory) to keep up with this blog. Its not like I'm gonna start a second sewing/quilting blog. Now, on the other hand (I do have two, ya know), I had originally intended the counter to motivate me to finish knitting projects.

Why do I keep insisting on compartmentalizing my life?

I put together a seriously cute bag for the Bardic Olympics. I'm gonna try to borrow Jess' camera to get a picture of it before it escapes out into the world. I'm meant to make a ritual robe for Himself this evening. See? If I counted those, my numbers would totally go up.

I'm such a dork.

Shawl? What shawl?

I think that my grand plan to complete my shawl through slow but steady progress would ultimately be more successful if I were to ever, say, pick it up. I haven't knit a single lacey stitch since I publicly announced I would complete two repeats a day. I think I'm just tired of the durn-blamed thing. I will do better.

Meanwhile, I have completed the back of Rowan's pirate sweater up to the point where I need to start shaping for the armholes. Go me! He is really excited about it — I picked up the sock I'm working on and he said "But I want you knit my pirate sweater!" Demanding little booger.

And, speaking of the socks, I'm an entire 13 rows into the Glad Raggs pattern. Size 1 needles are wee and ickle, and sharp. Ouch. That's all I'm sayin'.

A Case of Startitis

Apparently too much knitting monogamy is bad for you. That's the excuse I'm looking to use anyway. I'm at the point in the MS2 shawl where I will be adding edging until I die. In fact, I'll die, and I'll keep knitting the edging onto this shawl.

So, my current plan is to do at least 2 full repeats a day. That will effectively bind off 10 stitches a day. Until I die. Yup.

So, meanwhile I've started a pirate sweater for Rowie, from Little Badger Knitwear by Ros Badger and Elaine Scott. There is serious cuteness ahoy.
I cast-on on Sunday and have finished two sleeves and about 1/3 of the back. Dude, I so rock. This sweater will be done before I die, yessirreebob, in fact it could totally be done before the four year old graduates from college from kindergarten. He is already highly enamored of it. You'll remember how excited he was about his Weasley sweater.

I've also begun the Gladd Raggs socks from the Six-Sox Knitalong. I'm using lang jawoll in a brown/natural ragg -- its groovy, it even comes with extra ickle yarn for the toesies and heel. Hee. Who knew that reinforcing yarn would make me giddy?

For yet another child, Morgan this time, I am planning a stripedy cardigan. I am loosely basing it off of a pattern in the 2005 Knit It mag. By loosely I mean "am totally re-working the directions, shaping and making up. In different yarn." This will be more of a "inspired by" project. I am pretty proud that I have progressed to a point in my knitting where I feel confidant enough to do that. Which is not to say that it will work, mind you, but I'm brave enough to try.

Rhiannon will be receiving a Flower Basket Shawl in the medium-gray Knitpicks Palette, and I'm comissioned to do another for a friend out of Midnight Alpaca Cloud. My queue is filling right back the hell up.

What happened to February is For Finishing you ask? Dude. Its March. March is for Making (New Things). Get with the times.

Okay so I totally intend to keep working on finishing things. Really.

Happy Birthday, Baby

Jess' post about her pretty girl prompted me to take a turn bragging about one of my kids as well. Rhiannon turned an amazing 12 years old this past Thursday. Happy birthday my beautiful, talented, amazing girl.




Here she is with her Olympic Gold scarf. Yeah, she made that. All by her onesies, and in plenty of time to get the gold. I am so proud of her.

This is me, still working over time

Man, I'm even starting to bore myself.

Although I've been striving mightily, my knitting monogamy came to a screeching halt. I've started working on the tank top I keep in my drawer at work (emergency knitting). I'm also starting to plan the pirate sweater I'm going to knit Rowan.

This morning as I'm driving to work I'm on the phone with Carl, getting him to measure the gauge of Rowan's Weasley sweater for me. All so I can do math to plan the sweater here at work. I am such a dork.

All of your overtime are belong to us

Still no gold.

Still working overtime.

Still too lame tired to blog properly.

The hateful shawl is proceding apace — I have the edging approximately 1/3 down. We hates it forever, precious. It is going to be a lovely shawl.

Blog button!

So, in a fit of frustrated creativity, I made myself a blog button. The back ground for the button is Rowan's Weasley sweater (which he has nearly outgrown, by the by).

I didn't get the gold

My plans for the Knitting Olympics did not include the national roll out of Borders Rewards, nor 11+ hours of mandatory overtime. Alas! Woe! While I might be able to afford some yarn, I did not finish my shawl.



This is me, Sunday night.

I think this picture speaks for itself.

Olympic Progress

My Olympic progress thus far has been (in my not so very humble opinion) pretty spectacular.

Day 1: completed Clue 1 and a few rows of Clue 2
Day 2: completed Clue 2
Day 3: completed all but a skosh of Clue 3
Day 4: completed Clue 3
Day 5: a day of rest

My big plan for this evening includes watching more Olympics and picking up approximately 5 trillion ickle stitches in my lace weight merino. That'll be fun.

Pre-Olympic Jitters

Well, I haven't finished anything else. I have made some progress however. My green tank top is coming along nicely, and I guess I better find the pattern soon so I can do the shaping. I've also been working on Morgan's Cardigan. I engineered the shaping for the cardigan front neck(s), and figured out a button-hole that would suit my purposes. I have the second front about 1/4 of the way done. Then I have sleeves and the making up.

Meanwhile, in Harlot-town and Torino both, the Olympics are starting tomorrow. Which means my other finishing efforts are going to be set aside until the MS2 is complete. I am rationalizing thusly: Stephanie allowed for swatching, and I figure if something's swatched then its started. Therefore, the MS2 qualifies for both events. Tidy, eh?

I'm not feeling an overwhelming landslide of finished-ness. I keep repeating to myself "You went from 19 UFOs down to 7....today is February 9.....this is a marked improvement.

Drive By Posting

Its my day off so, rather than write about knitting I'm going to go curl up with a cup of tea and knit read a romance novel. More news (with pictures!) tomorrow.

How Cool am I? Or, "And Then There Were Seven"

So, in a fit of extreme groovitude, I finished Rhiannon's socks last night. That's right folks, I finished my first UFO on the first of February.

Woot!



And the ubiquitous "Sock on Feet—Action Shot!"



Project Specs

• Lionbrand Magic Stripes sock yarn in colorway "Purple"
• Two size 2 circulars
• CO 60 sts.
• Project begun — some time in December 2005
  
• Project finished — February 1, 2006
  

February is For Finishing, Day One

Okay, I'm all excited, because I've roped three other fools serious knitters into Finishing with me. In my incredible geekitude, I've even made a blog button and added a list on the sidebar.



As we finish things, let me know, and I'll start a counter, and post either a link or a picture of the item, if you have one.

I have kicked major patoockus on Rhiannon's second sock, and might conceivably have it finished today or tomorrow. Now wouldn't that rock?