What the Deuce?

This is the afghan that never ends....

2009-01-28T14:00:00.000-05:00

...it just goes on, and on, and on.....

I started this last year for my MIL and made great progress on it, until it got bigger and warmer. To warm to have on your lap during the summer months. I have made a deal with myself that i can't start anything new until this is finished so I have been trying to work on it every night while watching TV. Doesn't require any real though at all, so hopefully it will be finished soon. I will finish it, i will finish it, I will, I will, I WILL.

Also, finished a BSJ for the new baby. Briefly considered adding a collar, but I don't think I will be that motivated. Or have the time. Cute, no?

Also, finally bought buttons for the Tomten I knit for Sweet P eons ago. I wasn't in too big a of a rush because, well, I didn't really check my gauge, and lets just say it will be at least another year until it will fit her. Oops. Over all I think it turned out really nicely!

Other things will also be put aside temporarily to knit up some projects that have a deadline. They are small and will lend themselves well to all of the sitting and waiting I will be doing at the doctors' offices from here on out. Everything is fine, but because I see my primary OB and an OB that specializes in Gestational Diabetes at EVMS, I'm now seeing one doctor or another every week to monitor blood sugar and fetal development.

P.S. For anyone interested, I couldn't decide between the ring sling and a Moby, I found one of each barely used for GREAT prices on Diaperswappers. I'll try them both. Mobility with the new baby is a real priority and it seems that these might work for different situations. Thanks for all of your input!

Bear with me...

2009-01-09T13:09:00.002-05:00

In addition to cleaning out all of the random things in our house to make space for the new person who will be living here, I'm going through all of the stuff we had when Sweet P was a baby and making a list of things we still need. Turns out we don't really need much of anything; all of the big stuff is already taken care of. This time, though, I would really like to try some sort of sling to keep the new baby in when we are running around on errands and various classes and such. The one feature that I really would like is that it be adjustable and breastfeeding friendly.

Three that I am considering:
Sweet Pea RingSlings
Maya Wrap Ring Sling
Zolowear Ring Sling

Anyone have any thoughts or opinions about these are any other style sling? I have tried to find something like this to see IRL, but haven't had any luck. Is one better than the other? I'm leaning toward the Sweet Pea slings because I like to try to support smaller companies, but would love some feedback from moms who have actual experience. Thanks!

Actual Yarn

2009-01-07T10:04:00.003-05:00

Recently I've been doing lots of spinning. My husband very thoughtfully gave me a 1 yard niddy-noddy, nostepinne, and two toy wheel spindles last November for my birthday, even though he had no idea what anything but the spindle actually did or functioned as. I already had a toy wheel spindle that I hadn't touched in a month or two but his gift renewed my interest. The spindles are kind of heavy, 1.5 - 2 oz., good for plying and thicker weight yarn, but I really wanted to try something lighter so I went on a spending spree and ordered lots of fiber from some really great shops on etsy and a lighter spindle. So I present to you what i consider to be my first real yarn.

It's a 50/50 superwash merino/tencel in the "Fraises" colorway from Squoosh. Very pretty. I didn't plan out how I was going to spin it in any way, so unfortunately to me it came out kind of muddled. I've got about 200 yds of sport to DK weight. Can't find any pattern that I like to knit this into, so it will sit until I find something.

So after doing my part to stimulate the economy, I now have 5 spindles, and quite a bit of fiber. I have some superwash merino hanging to dry that I will try to get pictures of if the sun ever somes out.

I also did lots of christmas knitting which I will not detail here because there was alot of it and, well, I don't feel like it. If you feel so inclined, it's all on my Ravelry page. What I am working on right now is Kingscot. Jaeger Extra-Fine Merino DK. It's yummy. But also difficult to take good photos of because of the color which is indigo. I've completed the back and left front but you'll have to wait to the sun to come out for more pics.

In other news, we are oficially in nesting mode here at the house. The new baby will be here in a mere three months (!) so it's time to rearrange bedrooms to accomodate. And take down wallpaper. Fun. But I'm very much looking forward to painting and having everything in it's place. In addition to the bedrooms, I will finally be tackling a small makeover of the mezzanine level of my house. Hubby is very skeptical of my color choices so I have recruited a more expert opinion. Paint samples this weekend!

Who?

2008-11-22T17:08:00.007-05:00

I have absent from this space for an unseemly amount of time, but I have things to show for it! During the hiatus, I spent lots of time knitting (of course) made some quilts for my new niece and nephew, and started and completed various other little things here and there not to mention, worked and took care of my daughter and started cooking the new bun in the oven. (As an aside, I use that phrase a lot, but don't particularly care for it. Like when people describe childbirth as "popping them out." Makes me cringe. If only it were that easy. Excuse me, but I am making a human.)

Ahem.

So quite a lot of this interim has been spent working on a mitten design that I've had in my head. It's taken forever to get it from swatch knitting and penciling in charts to something that I think would be usable.

Pattern: Lillyfield Mittens (Ravelry Link).
Yarn: Knit Picks Palette in Cream and Salsa Heather, 1 ball each.
Needles: Small size US1 2.25mm, Large size US2 2.75mm.
Sizes: Small, up to 7.75" hand, and Large up to 9.5" hand.
Price: USD $5.50 available through Ravelry

I worked very long and hard on this so I hope it is well received. I've got more ideas kicking around in here so you will see more of this stuff soon.

XOXO, Baby

2008-06-06T16:21:00.008-04:00

Soooo....

I was able to finalize the baby blanket pattern that I wrote up recently and was able to host it for free up on Ravelry.

I knit it up last summer for Sweet P, because, well, I meant to do it before she was born.

It's knit in strips and seamed together. I attached a soft cotton flannel backing to hide any messiness leftover from seaming, but I also just really liked the way the flannel went with the blanket. All together it's wonderfully warm and cozy. Sweet P won't sleep without it.

Pattern: XOXO Baby Blanket (Ravelry link)
By: Me!
Size: Approx. 32" by 32"
Yarn: 600-700 yds worsted, baby friendly yarn.
Gauge: 16sts/22rows for 4 inches

Click Here to Download a 1.4mb PDF.

Thanks for looking!

P.S. I know I've been tagged. Working on it. :)

Proofreading Help

2008-04-16T11:13:00.002-04:00

I know it's been a while. Surprise, surprise...

Things have been going on though, just not alot of spare time to blog about them. I'm getting there. :)

One of the things I've been doing is trying to write out patterns for some of my projects. Some I plan on offering for free and others I'd like to offer for sale. The first one I finished (mostly) is a baby blanket that I will be offering for free, but before I do, I would love for it to be proofread by one or two other knitters. No real need to test knit this one, unless you would like to do a small swatch of one or two blocks, but just double checked for me to make sure things like the long hand directions and the charts match and to make sure it makes sense.

Whadayasay? Any takers? I'd be really appreciative. Leave a comment and I'll make arrangements to email you the pdf.

Thanks a bunch!!

This and That

2008-02-27T08:07:00.002-05:00

I did finish the Ivy League. I really did. It's washed, blocked and folded upstairs on the buffet. Last Friday, I had a few free minutes with no one else in the house and decided to take photos of all he things I have been working on. (Unlike Carly, who was participating in February is for Finishing, I have zero discipline when it comes to not starting anything new. I continually tell myself that I only want to have a maximum of 2 WIP's at a any given moment but that always goes right out the door the second I come across something new that I would like to knit. Then I start it immediately. Yes, I have chronic startitis.)

Anyhoo.

My camera died after about 6 photos were taken. Stopped working mid-shoot, lens extended and everything. Went black, and I couldn't turn it on or off. Even though I had just put fresh batteries in that morning, I changed them again. Nothing. I jiggled it, I shook it, I took the memory card in and out, rearranged the batteries and still nothing. It just stopped working.

I managed to get a few photos of the vest, but no modeled shots. For your viewing pleasure:

Pattern: Ivy League Vest by Eunny Jang
Size: the largest size, 41.75 bust
Yarn: Knit picks Palette in Cream, Mist, Fog, Twig, Salsa Heather, and Garnet Heather, 1 ball of each
Needles: Knitpicks Harmony Option Circs Size 5 and 3
Notes and Ravelry link here.

I finished a bag that I knit a couple of weeks ago for my sister-in-law, which I knit for her because she constantly uses a bag I sort of freehand crocheted together and lined badly. I wanted her to have something a bit nicer and more well put together. So here it is, at long last:

Pattern: Brea Bag by Norah Goughan
Yarn: Peace Fleece Worsted in Lena's Meadow, 2 Hanks
Needles: Clover 29" bamboo circs size 9
Notes and Ravelry link here.

I've also decided that for every two or three projects I knit that I'm going to insert a project to donate somewhere. Right now I'm on a cute chemo cap kick. I want people who are undergoing this treatment to have something cute and/or stylish to wear. I already have lots of soft cotton blends in my stash. Anybody want to join me on this quest?

The Ivy Leagues

2008-02-05T08:10:00.000-05:00

I mentioned briefly in a previous post that I had ordered the yarn from Knitpicks to make an Ivy League vest and then never talked about it again. When I saw this pattern I thought "Aha!" this is perfect to try a more challenging fair isle/colorwork project with out doing and entire sweater which I just don't think I'd have the patience for. I also decided to try a different color scheme than the one in the pattern because I'm partial to reds and I like to be a little adventurous. So here is the ribbing:

Looks great, takes forever. Corrogated ribbing really slows things down but I think it was worth it.

The rest of the way it's gone pretty quickly and it's super fun to watch the pattern work up right before your eyes.

As you can see, I'm nearing the shoulder and should be done with the main body of knitting pretty soon. I won't venture a guess as to how soon because then inevitably I will obsess about some other project.

I've got another project that's finished and photographed so if I can manage to get the pics onto the computer without incident than that will be next.

On a side note, I went out on a super fun shopping trip with Carly on Saturday and scored enough Elsebeth Lavold Silky wool in a pumpkin color for a sweater for 50% off!!!! She also showed me the Fabric Hut in Norfolk which is Massive, with a capital M. I picked up some cotton lining for the Celtic Tote I'm working on. After talking with her and seeing this place I'm totally inspired to try more sewing projects for the house now. Yay!

Oy vay

2008-01-28T08:47:00.000-05:00

My computer ate my pictures. This is very frustrating, as there were quite a lot of pictures on the card I was trying to upload. Now I need to go retake those pictures, which will have to wait. Good thing I had already transfered the steeking pictures a few days ago, or I would be having a little wee meltdown.

A Story in Pictures

2008-01-25T10:48:00.000-05:00

Above we have the Uncut, Unreinforced Vest.

With crocheted steeks.

Up close.

Strong coffee, brownie, scissors.

Wheee!

A cut armohole steek.

Picked up stitches.

Voila!!!

It has been washed and is drying as we speak. All I need now are buttons!!

Genius

2008-01-24T14:49:00.000-05:00

Whomever invented steeking is a genius.

Never. Seaming. Again.

(not so) Massive Update

2008-01-24T12:21:00.000-05:00

Somehow, I missed a bunch of stuff in the time warp that was December and January. So this post is (half) dedicated to catching up on all of the projects I have yet to even mention here.

First up:
Raglan Lace Sweater

Pattern: Child's Raglan Sweater from a Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns
Yarn: Knitpicks Shine Sport in Silver Sage, a little less than 4 balls
Needles: a whole bunch of size 4s

I like it. It was a good practice piece. I got worried in the raglan decrease section that it was looking too big and started decreasing more rapidly which resulted in a short bust area and a very small neck opening. But since I hate frogging we will simply not button the top button and will call it a learning experience. Besides, Sweet P seemed to like it. :D

Charade Socks
Yarn: Knitpicks Bare wool and nylon
Needles: 2.25 mm US 1 dpns

I'm really happy with the way the color came out considering it was my first dyeing attempt. As for the pattern, it's nice but it's getting super monotonous.

Nutkins

Yarn: Colinette Jitterbug
Needles: knitpicks 2.50mm dpns

Overall, eh on the yarn and eh on the pattern.

And lastly for today. Yesterday, I finally got in the the yarn that has been backorderded for my mom's vest. Last night while at my knitting group, i finished the main body of knitting and am now ready to cut my first ever steeks. I want to be done with this project in the worst way so I have been really thinking of nothing else. This morning I crocheted the steeks. I also took pictures. Then I think tonight I will be cutting, and taking pictures. Tomorrow I hope to find enough time to post the pictures I will hopefully take. Wish me luck!

Catching up

2008-01-14T10:43:00.001-05:00

It seems I have gotten a bit behind again. The end of December and the first part of January have been very hectic. Between the holidays and my family member's surgery and ER visits and stomach bugs, there was precious little time for anything else. I did manage to finish the the Raglan Lace Cardigan for Sweet P. Buttons and all. To prove it, I took photos. I would show you the photos if blogger would kindly cooperate with me. Not today, I guess. It turned out well except for the fact that the neck is WAY to small. Rather than rip and reknit, I decided that when she wears it we will simply leave the top button unbuttoned. I generally chalk these kinds of mistakes as learning experiences and leave it as is. I know that philosophy would make some people loopy, (you perfectionists out there, you know who you are :) but this way I know I can go back and see what I did so that I can avoid it in the future.

I also, dyed my first hank of yarn! With koolaid! On the stove! Exclamation! Again, photos will have to wait til blogger fixes their problem, but Hoo Wee, was it fun. I almost didn't have enough patience to wait for it to dry and wound into a ball to knit it up.

I Swatched

2007-12-21T07:52:00.000-05:00

No really, I did. Really.

It was only about an inch high and 48 stitches long but it was enough to give me guage for the Ivy League Vest. According to the tracking information I should be recieving my order tomorrow!! Included in the order are 2 hanks of undyed sock yarn which I'm really excited about trying. I found several tutorials on Knitty about different methods and color recipes.

Also here are socks that I have been frantically finishing!

Vinnland

Knit Picks Essential sock yarn in burgundy on 2.5 mm US 1.5 needles. More details here if you are on Ravelry.

Swirly Socks

My own improvised pattern. SWTC Tofutsies on 2.25 mm US 1 needles. Details here.

If don't post before Tuesday, Merry Christmas everyone!

Finishing

2007-12-17T22:22:00.000-05:00

Lest I fall behind, allow me to provide an update.

Since I only briefly mentioned it in the last post, the recital went well aside from the usual glitches that can be expected and everyone heaved a big sigh of relief, or at least I did, when it was over. I like doing recitals and think that they are very important, but hoo boy, it's alot to do. Now I think I can even enjoy some Christmas music. Harry Connick, Jr. anyone?

So, a little math has been going on in the knitting category:

1(one) bind off away from finishing the Vinnland socks.
+
1(one) applied I-cord, several woven in ends, and 5(five) buttons away from finishing Sweet P's Sweater.
+
1(one) swirly sock and 1(one) bubble mitt away from finishing both of those.
=
One big guilt free purchase of the yarn necessary to knit the Ivy League Vest and to try my hand at koolaid dying some sock yarn. Rational or not, my order is on it's way.

Hooo Boy!

Two by Two

2007-12-10T13:57:00.000-05:00

So, true to my fickle self, all of my other projects have been put on hold to work on these socks. I am really surprised at how much I am enjoying it because I really only chose it because I had the recommended yarn on hand. It is a clever variation on the standard (and very boring IMO) 2x2 rib. Makes for very fun knitting:

And look, no holes in my short row heel!!

I actually didn't use the recommended short row heel in the pattern, but used the technique I saw in a video of Cat Bordhi on You Tube of all places. I finally understood how to do hole-less heels after I saw that video. Woo hoo!

P.S. Despite all of my stress, the recital and the dreaded trip to the DMV went just swimmingly. As a treat for completing these tasks, I went to Joann's. It was on the way home. That's a good excuse right?

*!?% DMV

2007-12-07T07:56:00.000-05:00

I realized as I was paying bills yesterday that I forgot to renew my drivers' license. As I was searching for 800 documents for proof of legal presence one of my first thoughts was "I should cast on a new sock to take with me" which is of course ridiculous because a) Sweet P will most likely be with me which means no knitting and, b) I have plenty of things to finish already.

I cast on for this yesterday during her nap when I should have been folding programs.

Blech

2007-12-05T21:35:00.000-05:00

I'm beginning to feel a bit of pressure this holiday season. In fact, writing this post is the last thing I should be doing as I still have Lots Of Things To Do to prepare for my students' recital this weekend. After about 2 p.m. on Saturday I think I will begin to feel a bit more holiday cheer. 3 days and counting...

My philosophy this year has changed quite a bit since Sweet P is older and will be able to enjoy all of the things that little ones generally do this time of year like lights, and pie and the smell of fresh pine trees, and Christmas music. I actually feel like a bit more of a kid myself this year.

If you need a chuckle, visit this site. I stumbled across it on Ravelry of all places. Here is our little ditty, but it's probably only funny to ourselves.

And since everyone likes photos, here is one of a lovely basket my mother made for us.

After the recital is over, I'm looking forward to getting the house decorated and am sure it will get me in the mood.

Magic

2007-11-30T19:02:00.000-05:00

Anyone else hear Olivia Newton John when they say that word, or is it just me?

I wanted to show you what I think is the magic called blocking. This is the Print o the Wave stole I knit last year, off the needles, pre-blocking. I used Knitpicks Alpaca Cloud, Midnight I think, and US 4 needles. A big lump of bumpy knitting.

This is the stole blocking on my bed.

And here it is being modeled by my mom:

Despite giant blobs in the body where I dropped stitches and tried to pick them back up, I was really happy with the way it looked after blocking. But I did learn a lesson: Never knit lace in black or dark yarn unless you want to pull all of your hair out. It is for more patient people than I to knit lace in black because I will certainly never do that again.

Bad Blogger

2007-11-28T22:19:00.001-05:00

Hi. I'm Jen. I am a procrastinator. I think that I may even rival Carly. I had a post saved as a draft on Sept. 28th. Geez. It was an entry to Carly's blog contest that I obviously didn't win.

So in other news, I succumbed to the pressure and curiosity and am on Ravelry as berkleegirl. I must say that it is super convenient and puts all kinds of information that I spend lots of time searching for in one pretty well organized place. Love it. I've added many of the projects that I never blogged about to my notebook there and I will try to start fresh by keeping up to date here again.

Here is a lace shawl that I started eons ago from Victorian Lace Today.

It's been ripped.

It would have looked like this.

I didn't have the patience for it.

I got these.

I love them.

Sweet P helped me open them:)

Oops

2007-09-27T19:54:00.000-04:00

So, tomorrow turned into the next day and the next, and I never got those modeled shots up. Life got really busy there for a bit. What the heck happens to the time anyway? Did we humans complain about life's tempo before we started keeping watch of the clock? I mean, did cavemen grunt to their families about how the sun seems to pass overhead more quickly every day?

Thanks for bearing with me through that pseudo-philosophical thought. Moving on.

For your viewing pleasure:
(This photo strategically taken to hide my horrid lack of any kind of manicure in what seems like forever. Truly embarrassing.)
Still not blocked. Again with the busy stuff that has gotten in the way.

Far more interesting things to follow later tonight, including a contest entry.

Also a sneak peak:
I realize, of course that some of you ladies, at the meet-up have seen these things already, but I've got to dole out my goodies slowly on the internets so that this post will not be a mile long.

The Continental Experiment

2007-08-30T20:38:00.000-04:00

Or, "Lessons I learned about Gauge." Please amuse yourself with my first attempt at colorwork. These are Eunny Jang's Endpaper Mitts. Don't see it? Here's a closer look.

Significant difference, The left mitt is much looser. When I realized this, I scoured the internet for videos on how to hold the working yarn properly when doing two handed color work. Then I figured it out and my gauge got more consistent.

Yikes.

Finished Product with hand models on tap for tomorrow.

Modified Cable Twist Socks

2007-08-25T13:52:00.000-04:00

Ta Da! I'm very pleased with this FO. The color absolutely makes me happy.

Here are the details:

Pattern: Cable Twist Socks from Hello Yarn modified to 70 st. for fingering weight sock yarn.

Yarn: J. Knits Superwashme Sock in the California colorway. I love the colors J. Knits offers, monochromatic hand dyes, and the price is great, I'm just not sure about the feel of the fiber itself. A little plasticky, maybe. They feel great on and turned out to fit perfectly but have not been washed yet so hopefully that will improve the feel a bit.

Needles: 2.25mm Size 1 Clover Bamboo dpns. I know that everyone has a preference for certain needles and these are definitely mine for socks. Metal is far too slippery for me, and I have yet to try wooden.

Modifications: Other than what has already been stated, I tried the Eye of Partridge Heel for these and liked it OK, but I think it will be more effective when used with a solid color.

I've got several other longtime projects that are being finished up so more FO posts soon. I will also try to get some "action" shots of the socks before too long.

TooDoLoo kids!

Mostly Finished

2007-08-17T08:26:00.000-04:00

Cabled Cardigan. It's seamed, and the collar has been knitted on. Unfortunately, I am unhappy with the width of the collar and will be ripping the bind off and adding rows. I loathe ripping. Really loathe it. I get so relieved and satisfied when I finish a project that when I realize there is something wrong with it I get really irritated. It must be done though, because I actually want to wear this sweater. Other than the collar I am really quite pleased with it.

More fun FO's and a lessons learned in stranded knitting coming up. Don't' touch that dial.

Did anyone else notice...

2007-08-07T20:38:00.000-04:00

.... that the Counterpane Pullover (fall 2007 Interweave Knits) and the Center Motive Pullover (fall 2007 Vogue Knitting, #28, pg 144. I skimmed the website and did not see a photo to link to.) are shockingly similar. They appear to be designed by different people, but I am surprised no one caught this. I mean, wow.

Chug Chug

2007-07-25T19:04:00.000-04:00

Nothing new has been started here. The first of the California socks is finished and the second one is almost halfway complete. But then I had an itch to work on something thicker than fingering weight and picked up a cabled sweater that I've been working on since the winter. Boy, before I had the baby I sure could finish projects at light speed! Now it's really just a couple stitches here and there if I have a few free minutes during a nap or after bed.

Anyhoo, the sweater is out of Peace Fleece, whose color I can't recall at the moment, using pattern instructions from a Knitter's Handy Book of Sweater Patterns . Peace Fleece is very roughly spun but knits up surprisingly (to me) smooth and fairly soft. I'm not really worried about that because I don't mean it to be worn next to the skin. I love the heathered, tweeded look of it and found it very reasonably priced. I've read that it wears like a bullet proof vest and the stitch definition is great.

It's a belted, low V-neck cardigan with a shawl collar The cable I used was from the Vogue Stitchionary Volume 2 number 58. It's meant to be a sweater jacket so I planned it to have quite a bit of ease. The fronts back and one sleeve is finished and I am chugging away on the last one. So close to the finish line, I've gotten antsy and want to just be done with it already so I can have it put together by the fall.

Sunny California

2007-07-14T07:49:00.000-04:00

These are a modified Cable Twist socks from here inspired by the ones I saw here. I'm working them in a new sock yarn for me, J. Knits Superwashme in the California colorway. I was trying to find an interesting pattern to show of this yarn but that didn't get lost in it and I think I have succeeded.

I will try to finish this pair before I begin the pair I have planned for my MIL, but it's really hard to resist when you get that package in the mail. New stuff!! Must use it right away!! Forget everything else until I need a break from this!! Amass a ginormous pile of WIP's!!

The next couple of posts I will show some of the other projects I've got going. I generally don't have any rhyme or reason for what I choose to start. Usually when I see something I'd like to try I obsess about starting it until I do. A positive way to look at it is that I've always got something else to go to when one thing or the other starts to bore me or I just need a change.

the Zillionth Jaywakers

2007-07-05T14:38:00.000-04:00

So, I know I'm a little late to join the Jaywalker bandwagon. I started a pair of these when they were first published in Plymouth Sockotta and couldn't figure out why I didn't have the slightest desire to finish them until I realised that I hated the yarn. Detested is probably a better word. I was beating myself up for starting another project and not intending to finish when *ping* (insert cartoon light bulb here) I noticed that my hands felt rough and scratchy from the stuff sliding over it and it had zero cush or give. Blech.

I decided to give it another go with some Lorna's Laces in the Safari colorway that I was given for Christmas. Not my favorite color combination, but this time I was able to finish the socks in no time and really enjoyed it.

I'm a pretty avid reader of knitting blogs and it's so easy to get inspired seeing all of the really cool creative things that people have made. Maybe someone somewhere will be a bit inspired by some of the things that I have done and love to do.

For those of you who like the close-ups:

Funny Faces

2007-06-19T15:09:00.000-04:00

We love to make faces in the Coleman Family.

Magnolia

2007-06-19T13:33:00.000-04:00

This is the next test post, this time with photo. Hope it works.