Monday, April 29, 2013

Blogger Fail

So, I got exactly two days into the week-long blogging exercise.  My main excuse is that I had to go out of town unexpectedly Thursday to Saturday, but that really only excuses me from two days!  The Day 3 exercise was to produce an infographic of some sort.  My idea was to make a Venn diagram showing the intersection of socks, lace, and pink yarn in my projects, but I had a problem finding a Venn diagram-maker that (a) was free and (b) could deal with three concepts.

I will admit that, despite this failure, I LOVE Venn diagrams and Boolean logic.  I remember learning about Boolean logic in 6th grade and, for the first time, being interested in math.  However, I didn't see any possible use in my future life for it.  Little did I know that I would become a librarian and use Boolean logic constantly in complex MEDLINE searches!

So, although I fell down on blogging, I did cast on for a new project over the weekend, and it is neither pink nor socks.  It does involve some lace, though.

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The pattern is Cladonia, which I think I queued the week it was first published!  The blue yarn is madelinetosh pashmina in Betty Draper's Blues, and the other is Blue Moon Socks That Rock Heavyweight in Corvid Fledge.  In person, the Corvid Fledge looks much more purple.  The lace edging will be in Betty Draper's Blues.  I'll be taking this project to my conference that begins Saturday in Boston.  I'm also taking a sock, for a little more portability!

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

Day 2: Mascot Project

For Day 2, Eskimimi wants us to select a project that "embodies that house/animal."  Although she suggests that we might blog about "the journey" to select this pattern, but frankly, since I am of the House of Bee and have already knit not one, but TWO bee-themed projects, I will cheat and talk about those!

The first was the Honeybee Stole, by the incomparable Anne Hanson, which I finished in February 2008. I made this stole for my (very) tall sister.  It was supposed to be 7 feet long, but, lightly blocked, mine turned out to be 11 feet long.  This was the project that made me admit that I have a problem with loose knitting!  I don't have a decent picture of it, but you can see some of the bee patterns here.

Honeybee

My other bee-based project was more recent.  I made the Buzzy Bee Baby Blanket for a friend of mine last summer.  Frankly, it was adorable.

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Because I had made it from KnitPicks Swish Worsted, I threw it in the washer and dryer.  Unfortunately, one bee tried to "escape" or, maybe, commit suicide.

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See the crochet hook and markers there -- I was trying to fix it!  I finally gave up and just sort of re-knit all the stitches, making this bee look like he had lost a wing.  The blanket was still pretty dang cute!

I have another bee-themed pattern (and the yarn for it) in my queue.  The Bee Fields triangle shawl has been in line since 2007.  I even purchased the suggested yarn -- Wooly Wonka Merino laceweight in Buckwheat Honey.  This is a very "not me" color, but seemed so perfect for the project.  I'm thinking this needs to move up a ways in my queue....

Monday, April 22, 2013

Busy as a Bee

I have been such a bad blogger of late.  I write blog posts in my head all the time, but actually posting them is hard. I think that's because I don't like to have a post without a picture and for some reason (maybe the grey, grey winter weather which still lingers here?), I have had no inclination to take pictures.

Steven posted about Eskimimi's Knitting and Crochet Blog Week, and I decided being forced encouraged to post daily might get me back into the groove.

Eskimimi is providing prompts for each day, and today's is to assign ourselves to a Hogwarts-style house.  It took me about 3 seconds to choose.





From the Houses of Bee, Manatee, Monkey, and Peacock, I am definitely a Bee.   Bees are described thusly:

Bees are busy and industrious, but can flit from one interesting project to the next as bright and shiny things capture their interest.

Ah, yes.  I do have a short attention span, and always have multiple projects on the needles.  I also have a tendency to abandon projects, although I will frequently pick them up later.

For example, last time I blogged, I asked about advice on what to knit out of my MadTosh Vintage.  I wanted to knit a worsted-weight shawl, with lace or some sort of interest.  I got several suggestions, but instead -- the new Knitty came out, and I started a pair of socks (one done, although I've knit twice).  I also went back to my Whispering Pines shawl, which has been languishing for well over two years!  So, yes, "bright and shiny things" to capture  my interest!