Saturday, August 25, 2007

The Dragon sleeps

I pulled the dragon scale scarf out to frog it, and I just. couldn't. do it. It's much too beautiful to frog. However, I'm not very interested in continuing on it at the moment, so it's going into the UFO pile. I'll pick it back up later.

The Lady of the Forest does need to be frogged, but she's hiding from me at the moment.

I got my Ravelry invitation last night (id: Linnet) and promptly went nuts adding stash, books, projects, etc. I'm beginning to be frightened by my stash and I've barely skimmed the surface of it. (9 miles of yarn so far and that's just what was in easy reach...)

I'm going round and round up the leg of my sock now. I'm not sure how long I actually want it to be, so I guess I'll just eyeball it. I thought the foot was going to be a touch small, but it actually fits perfectly. I'm not sure I'll end up with a matching set of socks, but there will be two of them.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Gusset increases!

I'm finally to the gusset increases on the sock. Hurray! It took less than 2 weeks to get here, too. :) I'm having fun knitting again! After knitting and frogging and swatching and frogging, it's nice to be getting somewhere on a project. Of course, there's always a second sock, but I won't think about that right now.

I can't believe that summer's almost over. Actually, it's just now starting to feel like summer around here, which is fine with me, isn't that why we pay outrageous prices for everything? I'm more than happy to skip 3 digit temperatures.

I think the dragon scale scarf is headed back to the frog pond. I'm just not liking the way it's turning out. I love the scaly effect, but I don't care for the garter border. Of course, I had to wait until it was 3 feet long to decide this...I've set it aside for the time being. After a suitable amount of time, I'll decide whether it needs to go ribbit, ribbit.

Sunday, August 19, 2007

SP 11, sock progress

I've heard from both my upstream and downstream pals for SP 11. Yay! I'm really looking forward to it. Since my downstream pal is in Finland, I'll have to really think about what I want to send. International postage is really expensive! $37 flat rate for up to 20 lbs, and that's the least expensive option I've found so far.

I'm almost to the gusset increases on my sock. It's actually not quite that bright and the pooling isn't as obvious in real life. It's a toe up, magic loop sock, my first for both. Magic loop is working much better for me than DPNs did, although I have discovered that 4 DPNs are easier to work with than 3.

I frogged my Malabrigo dropstitch scarf. I just wasn't liking it. The color, Applewood, just isn't me, either. Maybe it will eventually tell me what it wants to be, or perhaps it wants to go live with someone else. I also frogged both Touch Me scarves, wincing as I did so. Chenille doesn't survive frogging well, but it had to be done. The red one was started when I had a much tighter tension, and there was no way I could match it, even by switching needles. The Vintage Velvet in purple Touch Me Due wasn't working, since the horizontal stripes were clashing with the vertical cables. So I frogged 'em.

I only have one UFO left, the Karaoke Lady Eleanor. I love the colors and the pattern is nice and mindless once you get going, but I'm tempted to just sell the remaining 9 balls of it and frog the rest, because I just don't like the yarn.

My WIPs are just the sock above and the dragon scale scarf, which I am determined to finish by Labor Day. I'm over halfway done, that shouldn't be a problem.

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Why didn't anyone tell me how much fun this is?

I'm making good progress on my sock from this weekend. It's not perfect, but I'm pretty proud of it, considering that it's my first toe-up, magic loop sock ever. Plus, short rows, which I am terrible at. But still, it's fun! I knew sock knitting was supposed to be fun, not wrestling with an octopus. I'm using STR Fire on the Mountain, in what was supposed to be beaded rib, but is something else. It's pretty, whatever stitch it is. I haven't decided what kind of heel I'm going to use, but it's coming up soon. How can a sock knit on size 0 needles, in fingering weight, knit up faster than worsted on size 5 needles?

I went to one of my LYS yesterday, but didn't purchase anything. I was definitely tempted by all the Claudia hand paints - I'll take one of each, please, but I nobly resisted. My bank account thanks me. I also had an idea percolating in my head when I saw the new Noro yarn, Hotaru, but I couldn't find the right yarn to go with it, and the project didn't fully materialize, so I put it back. I have enough projects in the stash already! I'm supposed to be on a yarn diet, anyway.

Non-knitting content:
I'm still employed. I finally reached my recruiter yesterday, and she said that the client loves me, and in fact, have requested more people like me. The recruiter and I agreed that I only need to stay until the end of this assignment in mid-September, and that I won't be shuffled to another assignment within this particular client. That was yesterday. Today, my manager at the client called and wants to have a meeting tomorrow, to discuss "switching things around." I have a feeling I'll be talking with my recruiter again after that meeting, but I'll see how it goes.

SP 11 Questionnaire

1. What is/are your favorite yarn/s to knit with? What fibers do you absolutely *not* like?

I love knitting with wool. I find most other natural fiber yarns itchy, including alpaca, llama, angora, and especially mohair. I don't like knitting with most acrylics, although there are some man-made fibers I appreciate, like tencel.

2. What do you use to store your needles/hooks in?

It depends. Most of them are in WIPs! :) I primarily use interchangeable circulars, so they stay in their cases when not in use.

3. How long have you been knitting & how did you learn? Would you consider your skill level to be beginner, intermediate or advanced?

I've been knitting since 11/05. I'd consider myself an advanced beginner.

4. Do you have an Amazon or other online wish list?

No

5. What's your favorite scent?

I like citrus-y or "clean" scents.

6. Do you have a sweet tooth? Favorite candy?

I like licorice a lot, as well as mint and ginger. I don't care for chocolate.

7. What other crafts or Do-It-Yourself things do you like to do? Do you spin?

I also crochet occasionally. I don't spin. Yet.

8. What kind of music do you like? Can your computer/stereo play MP3s? (if your buddy wants to make you a CD)

Mostly country/folk, with some other stuff for variety.

9. What's your favorite color(s)? Any colors you just can't stand?

I like jewel tones, both bright and muted. I love hot pink. I don't like orange (unless it's with the hot pink) or yellow.

10. What is your family situation? Do you have any pets?

Single, two middle aged cats.

11. Do you wear scarves, hats, mittens or ponchos?

I wear scarves occasionally, but no hats, mittens, or ponchos.

12. What is/are your favorite item/s to knit?

Right now it seems to be things destined for the frog pond! I don't think I have a favorite item to knit yet.

13. What are you knitting right now?

My first toe up socks, a dragon scale scarf, and some other WIPs that are probably UFOs at this point.

14. Do you like to receive handmade gifts?

Yes.

15. Do you prefer straight or circular needles? Bamboo, aluminum, plastic?

Circular needles, all types have their uses.

16. Do you own a yarn winder and/or swift?

Yes to both.

17. How old is your oldest UFO?

About 1.5 years old. It needs to be frogged, since my gauge has changed dramatically, but I haven't seen it in a while.

18. What is your favorite holiday?

Halloween. I love the costumes.

19. Is there anything that you collect?

I collect various types of dragons. Dragons are always welcome in my home!

20. Any books, yarns, needles or patterns out there you are dying to get your hands on? What knitting magazine subscriptions do you have?

I can't think of any off the top of my head. No subscriptions at the moment, I prefer to see the magazine in person before purchasing it.

21. Are there any new techniques you'd like to learn?

Fair Isle or intarsia are on my someday list. I'm currently practicing lace techniques.

22. Are you a sock knitter? What are your foot measurements?

Well, I'm knitting my second sock ever, so sort of. Foot circumference: 8.5", length of foot 9.5".

23. When is your birthday?

June 12.

24. Are you on Ravelry? If so, what's your ID?

No.

Saturday, August 11, 2007

I have decided on socks

Socks will be my project this weekend. Since I all I do is knit and frog these days, there is no guarantee that there will be anything sock-like here on Sunday night, but I'm going to try. I'm also easily distracted - ooh, shiny! - so who knows what I will have to show for the weekend.

I've also decided that I have enough yarn for any possible project I could want to make - socks, bags, shawls - lace or not, sweaters, scarves, an afghan or two, and dishclothes, if I count the Sugar 'n Cream which I keep on hand for waste yarn. I even have crochet thread, so I could make doilies if I felt so inclined. Which is a long-winded way of saying that I'm going on a yarn fast. Stitches West is six months away, in February, so I'm saving my yarn money for that.

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Bacon!

My biggest regret on becoming a vegetarian over 15 years ago was giving up bacon. (And corn dogs, but there's a satisfactory replacement for those.) Fakin' Bacon? I hope you like tempeh. I sure don't. Smart Bacon? Ew, no. Morningstar Farms Bacon Strips? They've been justifiably accused of tasting like bacon-flavored Fritos. Not that there's anything wrong with bacon-flavored Fritos. But now, there's bacon salt! It really does taste like bacon, and it's vegetarian and kosher-certified. No actual bacon is involved. It comes in 3 flavors, original, hickory, and peppered, and all are tasty. Bacon! It's what's for breakfast, lunch, dinner....Ok, it's salt, so it's not health food, but still, bacon flavor without guilt or fat! I've even heard it's possible to make a respectable BLT by salting the tomato. I'm currently pondering how to use it to make a tofu rub. Or real corn chowder, substituting the bacon salt for the bacon. Mmmm.