Damn Tempting
Patterns. Damn tempting patterns. I don’t like how you taunt me from those glossy pages.
Enola was nice enough to leave a Jan/ Feb 2011 copy of Knit Picks magazine at my work for me. I keep trying to remember if there was something specific she told me about, or if it was just something she offered me. (I have the worst memory for…well, anything)
There are so many awesome things in this magazine! I’ve already found about ten things I want but don’t need, need(sort of) but can’t afford, and just plain won’t use but irrationally must have.
The patterns I want, I’ll probably never use, so buying the whole dang book would be kind of a waste. But, the needles (maybe that was the reason she left it…hm) are so nice! There are some really sweet sets. I even want the circ set, and I friggin hate using circs.
I just found myself looking at this really pretty roving and thinking “I could buy that and the drop spindle. I’ll make my own yarn. But I’ll need the perfect project for my beautiful hand-spun. Surely intarsia is the perfect use. Hey, you know what would make that super easy? Knitting yarn bobbins. That’s what. And if I make these beautiful intarsia socks with my lovely hand-spun yarn, I need these sock blockers…Holy CRAP. Is that a Sweater Wizard program??? I NEED that! Oh my god, superwash merino worsted!” etc.
…help.
In a Knot
Hi! I feel like I’ve been gone a lifetime. I finally got the internet set up at home again and I truly hope I will be able to post more often now.
On to business, then. I spent the better part of two weeks trying (barely) to get this ginormous knot out of my yarn. Oh, wait. I haven’t filled you in properly yet, have I?
Rewind:
I started DH’s sweater finally and have decided to use the Bernat Urban Camouflage Pattern book (pattern 1b: Men’s Hooded Cardigan). I’ve finished knitting the back:
Not even half done with the whole...
Then I started the front right (or left) whatever, anyway I finally got a center-pull ball going right and then I just knit away, never actually pulling the ball out of my bag. Then one day, BAM! Giant knot. Like, it looked like someone Rubik’s Cubed my yarn and then rubbed it together to sort of felt it.
A co-worker of mine helped to untangle the mess in five or ten minute intervals over three days. Several times, I almost just cut the thread and started a new skein, but the thought of more ends to weave in than ABSOLUTELY necessary made me push on. I’m happy to report that the knot is gone, but unhappy in that there is now a section of the sweater that is a bit thinner than the rest and also a bit rougher.
But, I have continued on past the unfortunate bit and now have about 5 inches left to knit before the neck, or armhole…or whatever. Okay, sue me if I don’t read ahead. I also don’t knit a swatch.
Hold on! Calm down now. It’s okay, I swear. The only swatches I’ve ever knit are the two ( Jan.1st and 2nd) from the Vogue Stitch-A-Day Calendar, which I intend to sew into a blanket when I’ve gotten through a whole year. Actually, I think it was the 2010 calendar…or maybe 2009? It just shows how often I work on that particular project.
Oh and when I started this sweater, I set aside a different project. It was Laurel Socks from Toe-Up Socks for Every Body by Wendy Johnson. See:
It's a bit further along than this, but you get the point
At any rate, this project used a chart and now I’m not entirely sure if I know where I left off. I will try to pick it back up when I finish Josh’s sweater…which will probably be after the winter…
In a Rut
I can’t knit anything! Every time I go to start a project, I somehow manage to talk myself out of it. I’ve got about half a toe-up sock done. Worsted weight, if anyone needs to know. I’ve stopped knitting said sock because I realized that I forgot to write down how many stithces I started with and the increases I did. That makes the first attempt no good since these are meant as a gift.
So, should I frog it and start again? Or maybe I should just finish it, eyeball the second sock, and then hope they match. But if I do the latter, I’ll have to do a whole new pair if they don’t match…
I hate when I can’t knit!
Stupid green stripes
By now you all know how much I detest green stripes. Stupid Slytherin…..
Anyway, my Dad’s Christmas socks (which are now my socks) turned out quite nice. I like how snug they fit on my feet. I like how warm they are. I like how I managed to make them look professionally done (if I do say so myself). But then I washed them.
The yarn I used seems to have a bleeding problem. The socks are now black with (the darkest) green stripes. Sure, not many people will be looking that closely, but I know they’re there. They’re sitting there all green and stripey. They’re just mocking me all day while I walk.
“Green. Stripe. Green. Stripe. Green. Stripe.”
I hate you green stripes. I hate you…but my feet are so cozy.
Yay, maybe
I just sent my resume in to Domtar. Yay! If I’m lucky, I’ll get this awesome job and I’ll be able to stop stressing about my bills. Another yay! And …you know… buy more yarn…
A round of applause
Okay, not really. I didn’t finish the dang sock yet, but I’m almost there. Just a few more inches of ribbing and I’ll have it all done. Then I’ll take pictures and reveal them on Ravelry. And when I’m done, I’ll need to play on Rav for a bit and get some ideas for my next project! And then the project after that and the project after that, and then I might start Dad’s socks again…maybe.
Socks on hold
Okay, so I finished one of my dad’s socks only to find that it didn’t fit him. That means I get to finished the second one (which I’m half way through, yay) and make another pair. I’ve come to the conclusion, though, that I might just have to kill myself if I knit any more black socks on those god forsaken size 0 needles.
So, I’ve told him that I shall knit something else after this current pair and get back to his socks eventually. I’m sure he’ll get them for Christmas next year.
I think I need a sweater.
SSS
That’s right. Second-Sock-Syndrom. I have it and I don’t want it. One of Dad’s Christmas socks down (yes, I know it’s a bit late) and I don’t want to do the second one. I have to though. It’s the only thing I brought with me to take to the Raven tonight. I have no choice in the matter.
I’m also just 5 minutes from home and want to pop in for some different yarn and needles. The only problem with that plan…okay, another problem with that plan is that I don’t have another project planned and would have to bring all of my books, needles, and a great deal of yarn too.
I think I’ll just suck it up and start that other sock.
Running Out of Time
Okay, so I haven’t actually started Dad’s socks yet. I started but then frogged it as I was on the wrong size needles. I have the yarn, pattern, and needles right there in my purse. Do you think I’ve so much as pulled them out and attempted to start again? Nope. Not even a little.
I finished Anna’s Cottage Socks, I have that hat for Tonya, and about 10 or 12 scarves for random people. I still need to make a pair of slippers for Shane and a pair for Sammy. Oh and that pair of slippers I told Kim I’d make her…I think I’ll just give her the Sea Slippers…do I even still have those? Hmm. I guess I’ll be knitting all weekend.
In fact, I’ll just finish this right about here, so I can get going to work, have some food, and start those damn socks before I actually have to punch in. ^^
Just popping in
Just wanted to point out that I have lost my internets and will be posting when I get the chance at the library. *sob*
Also, I have started some cottage socks for Anna as a way of putting off Dad’s Christmas socks.
