The first surprise of the week is that the orange baby hat turned into the ugliest thing I've ever seen. You know how sometimes you're knitting along and think, "Is this right?" but then you reassure yourself that it will be just fine when it's finished and blocked? And it almost always is? Yeah, well, not so much with the orange baby hat. It's my fault - I used a thinner yarn, and didn't go down enough in needle size. So it was frogged. And the baby who was getting hat is now getting a baby-sized Mitred Square Blanket, from M-D Knitting.
The second surprise is that I walked into my kitchen yesterday morning and stepped into water. Yes, some sort of leaky pipe. Leaky pipes are really interesting in Texas, where most homes are built on a concrete slab and most of the pipes are in the slab. Luckily, I have a home warranty, which should cover most of this repair, if the plumber ever actually shows up.
The third surprise is better -- the Knitty Surprise is up! And look -- there's a reversible cable scarf. Actually, there are two versions of it. It's totally different from the one I knit for the Red Scarf Project, but I like it a lot. Next time I need to knit a scarf......
Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
Cabling
Just a quick post, because it's late and I have nothing much to say (except that one of the February babies was born yesterday, so I'm hat-knitting!).
However, it my last post about the reversible cable scarf, I meant to say that I have become a convert to cabling without a cable needle. I had tried it before and actually found it more fiddly than cabling with a cable needle. But I am an easily bored knitter, so about halfway through the scarf, I decided to try it again, just to keep myself interested. This time, I followed Grumperina's instructions, which, apparently, were originally from Annie Modesitt. They are both brilliant! And this time, I really enjoyed it. I'm not throwing away my cable needles (usually, I just use an extra DPN anyway) but now I've got more cabling options!
However, it my last post about the reversible cable scarf, I meant to say that I have become a convert to cabling without a cable needle. I had tried it before and actually found it more fiddly than cabling with a cable needle. But I am an easily bored knitter, so about halfway through the scarf, I decided to try it again, just to keep myself interested. This time, I followed Grumperina's instructions, which, apparently, were originally from Annie Modesitt. They are both brilliant! And this time, I really enjoyed it. I'm not throwing away my cable needles (usually, I just use an extra DPN anyway) but now I've got more cabling options!
Saturday, January 20, 2007
FO: Red Scarf
I finished my scarf for the Red Scarf Project. Sorry for the slightly blurry bathroom photo.
Specifics:
Pattern: His/Hers Reversible Scarf from Cables Untangled (36 stitches cast on, rather than 48).
Size: 5 inches wide and 6 feet long
Yarn: Tough, washable Plymouth Encore Worsted in color 174 (which I would call Barn Red) -- about a skein and a half
Needles: Size 6 (for 4 rows of ribbing on each end), size 8 for the rest
Now I just have to get it mailed off!
In other knitting news -- look what arrived yesterday! It's a boxful of Beaverslide Dry Goods Fisherman Weight Wool in Wood Violet. This color and several others are current on sale for $6.75 for a 210 yard skein! (The color is truer in their photo than mine, so you might want to click that link.) This will eventually become Arwen from the Winter 2006 IK, after I finish this baby knitting and my sister's second Wine and Roses Mitt, also from the Winter IK.
And in case you were wondering, Simon helped me measure the Red Scarf
while Harley watched. This photo emphasizes what my sister refers to as Harley's "cushion-like shape." She's a very serious kitty, and she really does have legs.
I love this pattern! I'll definitely use it again.
Specifics:
Pattern: His/Hers Reversible Scarf from Cables Untangled (36 stitches cast on, rather than 48).
Size: 5 inches wide and 6 feet long
Yarn: Tough, washable Plymouth Encore Worsted in color 174 (which I would call Barn Red) -- about a skein and a half
Needles: Size 6 (for 4 rows of ribbing on each end), size 8 for the rest
Now I just have to get it mailed off!
In other knitting news -- look what arrived yesterday! It's a boxful of Beaverslide Dry Goods Fisherman Weight Wool in Wood Violet. This color and several others are current on sale for $6.75 for a 210 yard skein! (The color is truer in their photo than mine, so you might want to click that link.) This will eventually become Arwen from the Winter 2006 IK, after I finish this baby knitting and my sister's second Wine and Roses Mitt, also from the Winter IK.
And in case you were wondering, Simon helped me measure the Red Scarf
while Harley watched. This photo emphasizes what my sister refers to as Harley's "cushion-like shape." She's a very serious kitty, and she really does have legs.
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Ice is for margaritas
(Haloscan, which I use for comments, had some issues last night. I wasn't notified of any of your comments, it wasn't keeping count of comments, and you may have had problems leaving comments, too. I'm sorry about that; I think the problems have been solved. Email me--see the email link over there on the right?--if you can't post, okay?)
It was all I could do not to call this post "Ice, ice, baby!" Because we still have ice and are still sitting at home waiting for it to melt. I know that many of you are thinking, "It's just a little ice!" However, in San Antonio, ice is for margaritas. It shouldn't be on my patio furniture.
You can't tell it from the picture, but there's a layer of ice about a third of an inch thick on the seat of the rocker. Click on the picture, and you'll go to my Flickr page, where you'll see more pictures of my ice-encased backyard. I'm hoping it will kill the weeds!
We never get ice like this. My first winter in San Antonio (January 1985), we got a 13" snowfall, which is about 30 years worth of snow for us. It was gone in about 36 hours. The ice has been here for 3 days now! Luckily, it is now up to 33º, and the rain is supposed to stop. I suspect we'll be back at work and school tomorrow.
In knitting-related news:
It was all I could do not to call this post "Ice, ice, baby!" Because we still have ice and are still sitting at home waiting for it to melt. I know that many of you are thinking, "It's just a little ice!" However, in San Antonio, ice is for margaritas. It shouldn't be on my patio furniture.
You can't tell it from the picture, but there's a layer of ice about a third of an inch thick on the seat of the rocker. Click on the picture, and you'll go to my Flickr page, where you'll see more pictures of my ice-encased backyard. I'm hoping it will kill the weeds!
We never get ice like this. My first winter in San Antonio (January 1985), we got a 13" snowfall, which is about 30 years worth of snow for us. It was gone in about 36 hours. The ice has been here for 3 days now! Luckily, it is now up to 33º, and the rain is supposed to stop. I suspect we'll be back at work and school tomorrow.
In knitting-related news:
- Remember the Namaste Everyday bag I bought at Loopy Yarns when I was in Chicago about 6 weeks ago? Well, one of the handles broke, where it attaches to the bag. I tried to repair it with superglue and with double-sided tape, but it didn't work. So early last week, I emailed Namaste. Kelly responded immediately, very apologetic, and said it sounded like a manufacturing defect. She said they would send me out a new one, along with a free shipping label for me to use when I sent the old one back. Well, the new one came on Monday. I'd show you a picture, but it looks just like the other one. I was really impressed with Namaste's service, though.
- I'm taking part in Rebekah's Yarn Focus Challenge, to try to force me to knit from my stash for 3 months. It began on January 15. I hope that this way, not only will I save some money, but I'll get some of those projects in my (mental) queue knitted! You are allowed one day a month to buy yarn, so it's not like you're totally deprived. And I also have some yarn coming Beaverslide, destined to be, I hope, the Arwen cardigan, from the Winter IK. It was ordered before Monday, so it doesn't count towards the YFC.
- And last Saturday night, while we were supposed to be cropping (scrapbooking), I taught my friend Melissa to knit! She learned really quickly, and was not only knitting and purling, but doing ribbing by the time I left. If we ever go back to work, I'll show her how to bind off! ;-)
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
And the winners are....
Before I announce who won EZ and sock yarn, I'd like to thank everyone who commented over the last week! Wow! I figured that my local knitters and those of you who I'd "met" virtually would comment, but I also got comments from lots of new people, too. So -- thank you all!
Everyone who commented between my January 8 post and last night at 10:00 p.m. was included in the drawings, although I pulled out the duplicates. There were two drawings: one for sock yarn that included everyone and the other for Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitting Without Tears, for those who didn't own it. I had originally thought that Simon could choose the names for me, but that seemed unnecessarily complicated (as is anything involving cat cooperation!), so in the end, I numbered both sets of entries and used a random number generator to choose the winners.
Drum roll, please...
Both have been notified and I'll be giving Amy her book when I see her next Sunday (no, the drawing wasn't rigged!). And I'll let y'all know when Nicole and I figure out what sock yarn she'll be getting.
Thank you again for all the great comments!
Everyone who commented between my January 8 post and last night at 10:00 p.m. was included in the drawings, although I pulled out the duplicates. There were two drawings: one for sock yarn that included everyone and the other for Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitting Without Tears, for those who didn't own it. I had originally thought that Simon could choose the names for me, but that seemed unnecessarily complicated (as is anything involving cat cooperation!), so in the end, I numbered both sets of entries and used a random number generator to choose the winners.
Drum roll, please...
- Amy wins Knitting Without Tears
- Nicole (apparently blogless) wins the sock yarn
Both have been notified and I'll be giving Amy her book when I see her next Sunday (no, the drawing wasn't rigged!). And I'll let y'all know when Nicole and I figure out what sock yarn she'll be getting.
Thank you again for all the great comments!
And the winners are....
Before I announce who won EZ and sock yarn, I'd like to thank everyone who commented over the last week! Wow! I figured that my local knitters and those of you who I'd "met" virtually would comment, but I also got comments from lots of new people, too. So -- thank you all!
Everyone who commented between my January 8 post and last night at 10:00 p.m. was included in the drawings, although I pulled out the duplicates. There were two drawings: one for sock yarn that included everyone and the other for Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitting Without Tears, for those who didn't own it. I had originally thought that Simon could choose the names for me, but that seemed unnecessarily complicated (as is anything involving cat cooperation!), so in the end, I numbered both sets of entries and used a random number generator to choose the winners.
Drum roll, please...
Both have been notified and I'll be giving Amy her book when I see her next Sunday (no, the drawing wasn't rigged!). And I'll let y'all know when Nicole and I figure out what sock yarn she'll be getting.
Thank you again for all the great comments!
Everyone who commented between my January 8 post and last night at 10:00 p.m. was included in the drawings, although I pulled out the duplicates. There were two drawings: one for sock yarn that included everyone and the other for Elizabeth Zimmerman's Knitting Without Tears, for those who didn't own it. I had originally thought that Simon could choose the names for me, but that seemed unnecessarily complicated (as is anything involving cat cooperation!), so in the end, I numbered both sets of entries and used a random number generator to choose the winners.
Drum roll, please...
- Amy wins Knitting Without Tears
- Nicole (apparently blogless) wins the sock yarn
Both have been notified and I'll be giving Amy her book when I see her next Sunday (no, the drawing wasn't rigged!). And I'll let y'all know when Nicole and I figure out what sock yarn she'll be getting.
Thank you again for all the great comments!
Winter in San Antonio
Winter in San Antonio usually means 60º days. It will get down to freezing a couple of nights during the average winter, and these nights will be considered to be very, very cold. We are much better equipped to deal with strings of 100º days than freezing nights.
If it weren't sleeting outside right now, I'd take a picture of my barbecue grill, with its cover encased in ice and icicles hanging from the edges. Instead, here are the icicles that have formed on the edge of the overhang near my patio.
Yesterday's high was 37º at about 1:00 a.m. It dipped down to 32º around 6:00 p.m. last night and got down into the high 20s. It's been raining/sleeting most of that time. No snow, thought. The high temperature today is predicted to be 33º, and it's supposed to continue raining/sleeting through tomorrow morning. Three days in a row with weather like this! Unheard of!
San Antonio is pretty much shut down. They ran "Arctic Blast" news until 10:00 this morning. We didn't even get the Today show! We did, however, hear about how, if you must go out, you can scrape your windshield with a credit card. Oh, and you should probably wear a hat. (What can I say? It doesn't get cold here!)
I guess it is good knitting weather, though. And some of you may recall that there was a contest that ended last night. Simon and I will be working on drawing winners' names later today. Right now, he's busy.
If it weren't sleeting outside right now, I'd take a picture of my barbecue grill, with its cover encased in ice and icicles hanging from the edges. Instead, here are the icicles that have formed on the edge of the overhang near my patio.
Yesterday's high was 37º at about 1:00 a.m. It dipped down to 32º around 6:00 p.m. last night and got down into the high 20s. It's been raining/sleeting most of that time. No snow, thought. The high temperature today is predicted to be 33º, and it's supposed to continue raining/sleeting through tomorrow morning. Three days in a row with weather like this! Unheard of!
San Antonio is pretty much shut down. They ran "Arctic Blast" news until 10:00 this morning. We didn't even get the Today show! We did, however, hear about how, if you must go out, you can scrape your windshield with a credit card. Oh, and you should probably wear a hat. (What can I say? It doesn't get cold here!)
I guess it is good knitting weather, though. And some of you may recall that there was a contest that ended last night. Simon and I will be working on drawing winners' names later today. Right now, he's busy.
Monday, January 15, 2007
Lots of cables
I'm chugging away on a red cabled scarf for the Red Scarf Project.
It's the His/Hers Reversible Scarf from Cables Untangled, except over 36 stitches rather than 48. The color's a little off - it's really a darker red. The yarn is Plymouth Encore Worsted, which should be easy care for the college kid/recipient. It's currently 33 inches long, and I'd like it to be twice that, so I need to chug a little faster!
I just realized I never showed y'all this.
This is the cashmere lace-weight I'm using for my sister's fingerless gloves (the second one is waiting for the red scarf to be finished). I'm very happy with this center-pull ball, which I wound using my nostepinde. It pulls much more smoothly than either store-bought center-pulls or ones wound on my ball-winder!
And finally -- it's 32º F (0º C) here in San Antonio, and it's drizzling. The mere threat of daytime ice shuts everything down here. Luckily, everything's pretty much already shut down for MLK Day. Random unusual fact: San Antonio's MLK Day March is one of the biggest in the country.
It's the His/Hers Reversible Scarf from Cables Untangled, except over 36 stitches rather than 48. The color's a little off - it's really a darker red. The yarn is Plymouth Encore Worsted, which should be easy care for the college kid/recipient. It's currently 33 inches long, and I'd like it to be twice that, so I need to chug a little faster!
I just realized I never showed y'all this.
This is the cashmere lace-weight I'm using for my sister's fingerless gloves (the second one is waiting for the red scarf to be finished). I'm very happy with this center-pull ball, which I wound using my nostepinde. It pulls much more smoothly than either store-bought center-pulls or ones wound on my ball-winder!And finally -- it's 32º F (0º C) here in San Antonio, and it's drizzling. The mere threat of daytime ice shuts everything down here. Luckily, everything's pretty much already shut down for MLK Day. Random unusual fact: San Antonio's MLK Day March is one of the biggest in the country.
Friday, January 12, 2007
Why does my car hate me?
You'll remember the woman who rear-ended me just before Thanksgiving (who turned out to be uninsured and hard to find) and the little old lady who turned left in front of me just before Christmas (luckily, she was insured!). A couple days ago, an odd light came on on my dash -- it wasn't even shown in the manual! It only stayed on a couple minutes, so I sort of forgot about it. Then last night, it came on again, for just a few minutes. I went to the Saturn website and found out that the symbol means low coolant.
Because there was mechanical damage as well as body damage in the second accident, Saturn told me to bring it in. I needed an oil change, and Saturn washes your car when you bring it in for service, so I took an extra-long lunch hour. The good news is there's no sign of damage. I'm supposed to watch it, though, just in case.
Finally, when I left work this evening at 6:00, I had a flat tire! It wasn't even the tire that has the very, very slow, unidentifiable leak. One of the university policemen put the spare for me. And I guess I know what I'll be doing in the morning....
And don't forget -- the contest continues until Monday at 10:00 p.m. central time. Thanks for all the comments!
Because there was mechanical damage as well as body damage in the second accident, Saturn told me to bring it in. I needed an oil change, and Saturn washes your car when you bring it in for service, so I took an extra-long lunch hour. The good news is there's no sign of damage. I'm supposed to watch it, though, just in case.
Finally, when I left work this evening at 6:00, I had a flat tire! It wasn't even the tire that has the very, very slow, unidentifiable leak. One of the university policemen put the spare for me. And I guess I know what I'll be doing in the morning....
And don't forget -- the contest continues until Monday at 10:00 p.m. central time. Thanks for all the comments!
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
How to get more comments on your blog....
A few days ago I was in a meeting with faculty members from several different departments. One mentioned his department's very popular journal club. It's been meeting weekly for more than ten years. Another faculty member expressed amazement, saying that his department starts a journal club, it's very popular for a few months, then dies out. "How do you keep it going?" he asked. The first faculty member grinned and answered, "We feed them!"
Yes, free food will get people to come to meetings IRL. How do you get them to comment on your blog? Well, with knitters, you promise sock yarn and EZ!!!
I can't believe all the nice comments I've received! Keep them coming! ;-)
Yes, free food will get people to come to meetings IRL. How do you get them to comment on your blog? Well, with knitters, you promise sock yarn and EZ!!!
I can't believe all the nice comments I've received! Keep them coming! ;-)
Monday, January 08, 2007
Happy Blogiversary to Me!
Unbelievably, I've been doing this for a year. This is my 156th post. I'm not sure what I expected when I started my blog, but I've really enjoyed it. Plus, I've "met" so many of you!
So, in honor of this esteemed occasion, I'm holding a contest. I think I told you how I have an excessive number of brand-new copies of EZ's Knitting Without Tears. So -- I'm giving a copy away -- all you have to do is leave a comment!
Since I know that quite a few of you already own this book, there will be another prize, too -- enough yarn for a pair of socks. It will be either Koigu or Lorna's Laces, although I haven't pulled out the exact yarn. In fact, maybe I'll wait to see who wins, and try to find a yarn that person likes.
If you'd like to be in the drawing for ONLY the yarn (because you already own the book), note that in your comment. If you only want to be in the drawing for the book (what??? you don't want sock yarn?), note that. If you don't tell me which drawing you want to be in, you'll be in both (twice the chance to win!!!).
All comments (on any post) between now and next Monday at 10:00 p.m. central time will be entered in the contest. And I hope this all makes sense! If not -- well, you can comment. ;-)
Thanks to all of you who have made this so enjoyable this year!
So, in honor of this esteemed occasion, I'm holding a contest. I think I told you how I have an excessive number of brand-new copies of EZ's Knitting Without Tears. So -- I'm giving a copy away -- all you have to do is leave a comment!
Since I know that quite a few of you already own this book, there will be another prize, too -- enough yarn for a pair of socks. It will be either Koigu or Lorna's Laces, although I haven't pulled out the exact yarn. In fact, maybe I'll wait to see who wins, and try to find a yarn that person likes.
If you'd like to be in the drawing for ONLY the yarn (because you already own the book), note that in your comment. If you only want to be in the drawing for the book (what??? you don't want sock yarn?), note that. If you don't tell me which drawing you want to be in, you'll be in both (twice the chance to win!!!).
All comments (on any post) between now and next Monday at 10:00 p.m. central time will be entered in the contest. And I hope this all makes sense! If not -- well, you can comment. ;-)
Thanks to all of you who have made this so enjoyable this year!
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Hey, Linda!
Here's one Wine and Roses Mitt. The pair will be a belated Christmas gift for my sister, Linda.
Sorry for the blurriness -- it's hard to photograph your own hand!
Pretty much all I've done this weekend is work on this, and numerous loads of laundry. It's really too bad Linda knows she's getting these.....
Tomorrow is my blogiversary. Watch for a little contest!
Tomorrow is my blogiversary. Watch for a little contest!
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Christmas Knitting Continues
I mentioned in my last post (briefly) that one item of Christmas knitting wasn't completed. That would be the Wine and Roses Mitts for my sister. Instead of completed mitts, she got a ball of cashmere lace-weight yarn and a picture. I've got this much done so far, and I must say that they take quite a bit more attention than the Fetchings did!
These two project need to get done! I also have two February babies to knit for, so I need to continue knitting frantically. I think I'll make the Mason-Dixon Baby Kimono for one, but if anyone has a nice, easy baby sweater pattern, feel free to suggest something for the other. But remember these ruffle-topped socks? Risa mentioned that she was knitting some socks from the same yarn, Lorna's Laces Shepherd Sock in Black Purl. It reminded me of these, which I haven't touched since early November. I'm through the heel on the first sock, and now I really, really want to get back to them!
Monday, January 01, 2007
Happy New Year!
My family arrived late on the 26th and left at 6:00 this morning. Two hand-knit gifts were completed (and another was not). Much yummy food was prepared and eaten. A lot of knitting-related gifts were received. Cats were terrorized by a visiting dog who is used to a kitty playmate. Here are some pictures.
First, my tree-decorating assistant, Harley, takes her work very seriously. She spends a lot of time lying beneath the tree.
Blackie, the visiting dog, comtemplates the first FO, a Christmas Warshrag. (Doesn't he look innocent? The cats would disagree. In Blackie's defense, he lives with a cat who likes to play -- everything from wrestling to ear-washing. Simon and Harley didn't get it.)
First, my tree-decorating assistant, Harley, takes her work very seriously. She spends a lot of time lying beneath the tree.
Blackie, the visiting dog, comtemplates the first FO, a Christmas Warshrag. (Doesn't he look innocent? The cats would disagree. In Blackie's defense, he lives with a cat who likes to play -- everything from wrestling to ear-washing. Simon and Harley didn't get it.)
It was a very bookish Christmas. From the top, there's The Knitting Answer Book, Knit Fix, Knitting Without Tears, Cables Untangled, and Victorian Lace Today. In the back is The Little Box of Scarves.
Here's the most ingenious knitting-related gift, though! It's a skein of Illini sock yarn from the amazing Scout, along with the book A Century of Orange and Blue: Celebrating 100 Years of Fighting Illini Basketball. This great gift was from my SnB Secret Pal, Courtney, who doesn't seem to think that my obsession with Illinois baskeball is at odds with knitting. Thanks so much, Courtney!
I also got a couple other great, non-knitting books: The Pastry Queen, which I've wanted for ages and which I need to get for Mom, too, and Billy Morrow Jackson: Interpretations of Time and Light. Billy Morrow Jackson was an Illinois artist (both a graduate and professor emeritus of the University of Illinois) best known for his prairie landscapes, which I love. I also receive this CD (explanation why here) and a red crockpot large enough to actually be useful!
And finally -- the piece de resistance! Although I gave it to her unbound-off and unblocked, Mom's Forest Canopy Shoulder Shawl was completed before she actually left. Here it is being blocked, with help from one of my feline assistants
and here it is, being modeled by Mom!
Specifics
Pattern: Susan Pierce Lawrence's Forest Canopy Shoulder Shawl
Yarn: Garnstudio DROPS Alpaca in color 3720 (about a skein and a half)
Needles: Size 8 Denises
Finished size: 55 inches across, 26 inches down the center spine.
Modifications: Absolutely none, although if I had had more time, I would have added one more pattern repeat.
This pattern is really well-written and easy. It probably would be a good "first large lace" pattern, even though I had some intermittent problems, probably from trying to knit too fast - I'm a really slow knitter, and just need to accept that fact! For some reason, the second half of the 9th (of 10) repeat really kicked my butt - I tinked back three rows, because my lifeline was in row 2 and I didn't want to rip all the way back. However, I did make use of the lifeline I inserted in row 2 of each repeat at least twice.
And finally -- the piece de resistance! Although I gave it to her unbound-off and unblocked, Mom's Forest Canopy Shoulder Shawl was completed before she actually left. Here it is being blocked, with help from one of my feline assistants
and here it is, being modeled by Mom!
Specifics
Pattern: Susan Pierce Lawrence's Forest Canopy Shoulder Shawl
Yarn: Garnstudio DROPS Alpaca in color 3720 (about a skein and a half)
Needles: Size 8 Denises
Finished size: 55 inches across, 26 inches down the center spine.
Modifications: Absolutely none, although if I had had more time, I would have added one more pattern repeat.
This pattern is really well-written and easy. It probably would be a good "first large lace" pattern, even though I had some intermittent problems, probably from trying to knit too fast - I'm a really slow knitter, and just need to accept that fact! For some reason, the second half of the 9th (of 10) repeat really kicked my butt - I tinked back three rows, because my lifeline was in row 2 and I didn't want to rip all the way back. However, I did make use of the lifeline I inserted in row 2 of each repeat at least twice.
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