All Purpose

So I have the summer blues, so this post will be totally random probably. I haven’t done crap on my August xmas socks. I cast them on, knit to the heel and realized they were too big. I’ve cast on again and done the cuff, but I”m afraid these are too small now, and since I need to finish my mom’s cruise present I’ve been ignoring these socks. I’ll need to finish them later in September though, or something.

This month has been rough. I’ve been struggling with headache, nerve and muscle pain since the beginning of the year and while I’m pursuing treatments nothing seems to work that great. So I hurt. A lot. Every. Day. I love my knitting but right now thinking about knitting is better than actual knitting for me some days. Combine that with my desire for some cool weather so I’ve been dreaming about knitting the February Lady Sweater, and I’ve come up with a list of 4 different yarns that would be lovely (Classy, STR HW, Malabrigo, Nature Wool).

I am really in love with Dream in Color yarns right now and everyday I have to restrain myself to keep from ordering enough for like 4 projects. The colors look so great. I really need to go check out some in person before I determine what I really want, but I’m trying to hold off until next Thursday so I have a halfway chance of getting it on sale if I can’t resist. I like so many of the colors that I’m like, well if I do a Clapotis in Baby then I could do color A, and if do a FLS in Classy then maybe B, oh then what about a FLS in C as well. It’s ridiculous. I do have a 1 skien of Smooshy that I bought after selling some stash yarn.

I’ve been thinking about sock clubs again…I think I might be burning out on socks. I know it’s shocking, but I think the “have to knit 1 pair per month” thing is getting old. I’ve pared down my sock gift list now because of this. Maybe I’m just pissy because I want some socks for me, and at this rate I won’t be getting any until next year. Anyway, uh back on topic. So I’ve been mighty tempted by Blue Moon Fiber Arts and their Rockin’ Sock Club. I almost signed up for it late this year, but then decided it just wasn’t fiscally responsible. I know sign ups for next years club are in a few months (like October) so I’ve been trying to figure out if I want to save up for it or what. I did some math and I realized if I bought 1 skien of every BMFA color I like I’d spend like $300, and I’d be getting like 15 skeins of yarn, and the sock club will be almost that much (it was $250-ish this year) and I’d only get 6 skeins of yarn…and some patterns. So I think I will once again be strong and forgo the sock club this year. Maybe if I can afford it I’ll sign up for a smaller club later in the year.

Let’s hope I snap out of this soon…

No Comments | In: fever, knitting, life, work in progress | tags: BMFA, buying, cardigan, doldrums, Dream in Color, knitting, knitting fantasy, sock clubs, STR, work in progress. | #

I could do something in crochet instead. I really hadn’t thought about that, but there are a couple of patterns I found on Ravelry that might work for either my Louet (I’ll have leftovers from the $1.50 Cardi anyway) or the Tilli Tomas. First, there’s Short and Sweet from Stitch ‘N Bitch Crochet: The Happy Hooker, which might be good for the silk. I’d probably still need to make it for my sis, but I think the color would be great on her anyway so…

Then there’s the Cap Sleeve Summer Cardigan which is cute. I might make it a little longer but I think I could maybe make this AND the $1.50 cardigan with the Louet I have or I’m sure I can find another project for the Louet that doesn’t require quite as much yarn.

Finally there is the Lacy Days of Summer which would is very cute as just a top if you made it shorter. I’d have to track down the magazine though, and while I really want to knit or crochet an empire waist top for summer I’m not sure this is the one.

Can you tell I’m not getting much done at work today?

No Comments | In: crochet, fever | tags: crochet, project fantasy life. | #

Not much is going on actually, I have started/frogged/started a new sock project like 3 times. First it was going to be Jaywalkers, then the swatch looked like ass (completely my doing not the patterns) and it wasn’t doing it for me. Frog. So I found Charade and started that, then I realized I forgot the cuff. Frog. Started again, got almost done with the cuff found a dropped (but also extra??) stitch 5 rows down. Frog. Started again last night. Hopefully the third time is a charm. The Claudia yarn I’m using doesn’t seem to like the frogging too much so it better be the last frogging or I’m going to have to cut off the used portion before I CO again.

I’m also dreaming and scheming for my next sweater/tank/cardi/pullover/tee project even though I know I probably won’t realistically cast on for it until later in May or even June depending on how things are going with the family stuff. I had swatched for the $1.50 Cardigan back in March I think. I finally was able to get gauge, but got disenchanted with the project, probably just because of everything going on.

I thought then that I wanted to do a smaller project first and swatched and then cast on for Catherine’s Mini Cardi (Rav link), but after a couple of rows realized despite my swatch results I needed to go down a needle size. Then I really started debating whether the cardi would look good on me, and now I’m thinking I’d rather do something else with the yarn, like maybe Sahara. Of course I’d need more yarn for that. Ah, I just had a brilliant idea…I could make Sahara for my sister and then I think I’d only need 1-2 more skeins. I still can’t buy the yarn or pattern until June though.

I also thought I might do my Fern Wrap Sweater, but I’m doing this in wool so even though it’s short sleeves I know I’m not going to be wearing it until like December. I really want to do a tank/tee for ME for NOW, but I really don’t have the yarn for that right now so I guess I’ll keep making notes on yarn ideas and patterns and if I find myself in the position to start a bigger project before June I’ll go back to the $1.50 Cardigan, since it’s in pieces and has lace and is done in a wool/linen blend yarn it shouldn’t be too terrible to knit it.

2 Comments | In: fever, gifts, knitting, work in progress | tags: knitting fantasy life, project ideas, socks, work in progress. | #

Ok, really just one more. I finished my first ever socks! Woot. I finally realized that, yes “working one more stitch each row…” does mean row 1 is p5, row 2 is k6, row 3 is p7, etc. Sheesh. I guess I shouldn’t wait more than a week to cast on my second sock or else I’ll forget everything I figured out about the pattern. I also found that charting this out on graph paper was really helpful too. So socks are done and the second sock turned out GREAT, I figured out the weird toe thing from the Kitchner finish and I got the toe decreases in the right place this time. I don’t think I’ll re-do the first sock, since these were for me, and besides it’ll show my improvement as I move onward with sock knitting.

I got my buttons for Ovaltine AND I sewed them on, so Ovaltine is way done now. I have made a little progress with the trim for Ella’s blanket, but frankly I do not think that is going to get done this month. That trim is some slow ass knitting.

So I’m basically down to 3 WIP’s (ha more on the #3 later), go me. I actually did a gauge swatch for the $1.50 Cardigan last week, but it’s too small so I need to re-do with the prescribed needles. It’s odd because I automatically went down a needle size to do the swatch, but I guess the lace knitting is different. I think I’ll have to do the reverse stockinette in the smaller size though to make it work. Anyway, I’m going to try to swatch for that today.

I also started gauge swatches for 2 sock projects but had to abandon both. The first is for a pair of socks for M. I am using Cascade 220 though and my biggest sock needles are US 1 and I tried a few rows of that and it’s just too stiff. I think I only need to go up maybe 1 size though. I also tried to swatch for Jaywalkers but again my US 1′s are actually too big for this and my US 0′s are in my suitcase which I believe is in Dallas now. Perhaps I’ll get it back today.

So all this sock activity is based on my desire to be in a sock club. I really do see the appeal in socks now and would love to try a club sometime. The problem is that most clubs are closed or if they are about to reopen require payment now and I can’t do that because of my no spending rule. So I realized I had bought 3 skeins of sock yarn recently (before march!) plus I had the socks for M. to make with the gray Cascade I have, so 4 pairs of socks. So I decided to do my own sock club (I totally got this idea off of some Ravelry forum which I can’t remember now). Anyway, this weekend I picked patterns (free ones) for the yarns and printed them out and put each yarn in a bag with the pattern and put those in a little box.

M.’s is supposed to be first, but I’m trying to decide of purchasing new needles is ok on this no spending regime. I think he wants the socks asap, and I do think I can afford to buy them right now so I’m leaning toward yes it’s ok because I also know I’ll do his socks right away if I get the right needles. If I decide to hold off on his socks though I’ll have to wait until I recover my bag to start the Jaywalkers, either way it’ll probably be until at least Thursday before I seriously start either of these.

So back to those WIP’s I have. So Ella’s blanket I should be able to finish maybe in April if I have enough yarn for the trim. I’ve pretty much decided if I run of yarn to finish that’ll have to wait until after my no buying time is over. So if I run out of yarn it won’t be until June or July that I finish.

I’ve also got the Noro throw I’m working on (Cavendish) using Noro Silk Garden. That is a long term project that I have no deadline for and that I do a little at time on, so no rush there.

I also have this crocheted blanket that I just found hidden in my desk when I did a little cleaning last weekend. I should finish this and it might actually make a good Ella blanket too, but not until she’s a bit older maybe. At any rate I have to pull it out to see how much I have left to do, etc.

In other news, I’m doing a bit better than last week, but have not gotten back on track with my 365 project. Will try to start today again. I was supposed to be in Atlanta right now at a conference, but the crazy weather yesterday killed my plans so I’m in Austin waiting for my bag to return from DFW (I never made it to DFW, but the bag did).

Oh, and I’ll be adding pictures to this post later today…

No Comments | In: fever, finished object, gifts, knitting, ravelry, work in progress | tags: blanket, cardigan, finished object, gauge swatching, photos, ravelry, socks, travel, work in progress. | #

Ok, so I did the gauge swatch for my first socks last night and I “cast on” in Ravelry all in an attempt to force myself to get over my irrational sock fear. I need to block my swatch before I measure, but I think I actually did get pretty close to gauge (which I hear is very important for the socks). I did indeed start with needles one size down from the recommended size-see learning in action.

So it took me about an hour, maybe a little more, to knit 30 sts over 40 rows on size 1 (SCARY) needles. And the yarn is so darn pretty, that it kind of psyched me up a bit and now I’m feverish to really cast on for those socks. I hope to do that after pilates tonight.

I didn’t really do anything else last night because after I finished my swatch I felt slightly dazed from listening to 2.25 episodes of Stash and Burn and knitting on such wee needles with such teeny yarn.

No Comments | In: fever, knitting, ravelry, work in progress | tags: gauge, ravelry, socks, work in progress. | #

Ok, so I looked and I feel a little less bad about having to repurchase the Ovaltine yarn. I realized after looking at my PayPal account today that I actually paid for more than half the new yarn with the $ I got from selling off some of my stash yarn. So that’s good.

I had planned on using that money to pay for the 4 skeins of Manos that I’m buying off a fellow Ravelry-er (uh, how do you say that, Raveler?). So that’s bad. So I decided to closely evaluate my yarn haves vs. my desires and I put some more yarn up for sale/swap. Hopefully to offset the Manos purchase AND to allow me to purchase yarn for some projects I want to work on after I finish Ovaltine.

I didn’t get a damn thing done knitting-wise yesterday but since M. is out of town and it’s Thursday (thank you CSI) I will totally get my 2nd front piece done and maybe start the sleeves tonight. Or I may finish the front of Ovaltine and start a sock. Or I could do Ovaltine and work on the blanket. I’m dizzy with the possibilities. Just me, the dog, the couch and the tv, and the best thing (well not that it’s the best thing that my hubby is out of town on v-day) is that even if tv sucks I have ALL the Stash and Burn podcasts waiting to be caught up on. So I’m set for tonight. Just need to figure out dinner since our fridge is not working.

No Comments | In: fever, knitting, stash, work in progress | tags: csi, money, socks, sweater, tv, work in progress, yarn. | #

Ok, sorry for the lapse (for the like 2 people who might read this). I’m all better now and back on track.

So I finished the hat, finally! It turned out pretty good. I could’ve made it a little longer still, but it turned out nice and it’s very cozy. I do have big hair right now so maybe if I cut my hair it wouldn’t creep up so much…anyway, I’m happy with it.

Chugging along with the blanket, square number 8 is underway:

Disaster strikes on the Sweater Workshop sweater. You know I read yarnharlot‘s blog and she often talks about not mocking the knitting gods. I laugh at these posts because they are well written and funny, but damn she has a point. So I was getting all smug last weekend about being way ahead of the game with the sweater. I had the back and 2 sides of the front done and I was well underway with the sleeves. Then it happened. I decided to block the pieces I’d finished and in a fit of complete laziness and utter stupidity I put the pieces in the washing machine. Hey, in my defense, I tried to felt some stuff in there before and it never worked since it’s a front-loading energy saver. AND I did run it on cold/gentle cycle. It was total carnage. I ruined my finished pieces. They are all felted and shrunk and ALL the weaving in came undone. A total nightmare. Pictures of the horror to come soon. *sigh*

So I reordered some more yarn (that really hurt), and started again with the back. I’m over the initial trauma I guess, though the cost of having to buy more of that pricey yarn is smarting a bit. I’ll post some pics later…

In stash news…

Yeah, I know I am supposed to not be buying things. But I rationalized that if I paid cash for something I’d be allowed. I know. But here’s what I’ve got…

More sock yarn:

More just everyday wool:

And the extra balls of Rowan Biggy Print, which I don’t really have a pic of. Really that’s not too bad. I need to exert more self control. I did get very tempted by some Mountain Colors Mountain Goat in some beautiful colorway, but I did not go back and get it. I was good.

And one last thing…in honor of having discovered Stash and Burn. I knit through 1744.5 yards of yarn in January, but only 1261 yards were truly from my stash. The rest was ordered for the project they went into.

No Comments | In: fever, finished object, knitting, stash, work in progress | tags: finished object, hat, socks, stash, stash burning, sweater, work in progress, yardage, yarn. | #

Ok, no pics right now (I’ll add them later I guess), but here’s what’s going on around these knitting parts.

I started my sweater workshop at HCW’s. There are 8 of us in the class and it seems like it will be pretty good. I realized in class that I am bad at knitting math because when the teacher was trying to explain to me about gauge and needles, etc I just did not get it. Later when I was mulling over my DPN purchase at the front I did finally get it, but now I’ve forgotten again. So does that make me old? Senile? Absent-minded librarian?

Anyway, the workshop is going to be good even though it’s straining my wallet a little right now. I think it will be worth it in the end. I have managed to do all my “homework” already. I knit the entire back of my sweater (not as impressive as it sounds since the needles are BIG and the yarn is super bulky) and did my swatch for buttonhole practice.

Let’s see I also got mad fever to knit a hat (probably because it was so freakin cold last week) and when I saw Malabrigo + hats on Ravlery, well that sealed the deal. So I totally cast on and completed a hat over the weekend only to discover that yes swatching is important. I almost always have to knit 1 needle size down for gauge so why I thought this would not be the case for a hat, I don’t know. I frogged and restarted last night, should be able to finish tonight I hope since it’s getting cold again.

We got new furniture (yippee!) and I have this Noro Kureyon that I have been trying to find a use for, so I made 2 coasters last night. It’s really true that energy efficient front loading washers are not made for felting, but oh well they still turned out pretty well. So my reasoning on this was that the Noro is nice and multi-colored so it’ll go with everything and wool is a wicking fiber. Plus I really hate those particle board coasters because when drinking cold drinks (ie, beer) they stick to your glass. So I think wool coasters are the way to go for the entire house.

I so have sock fever. I am not sure if I’m just attracted to the yarn (there is some gorgeous sock yarn out there) or what, but I really want to give these a try. I accidentally bought 2 skeins of Mountain Colors (made near where I used to live in Montana!) last week and had them balled (so of course I can’t return them now) so I need to make some socks with them I think. I cannot for the life of me find a pattern that freakin makes sense though. I see HCW’s has a sock class in March, I might take it if my wallet has recovered from the sweater workshop, but I don’t know if I can wait that long to learn about socks.

2 Comments | In: fever, finished object, knitting, ravelry, stash, work in progress | tags: coasters, finished object, hat, ravelry, socks, stash, sweater, wool, work in progress. | #

Got my Ravelry invite! YES. I am so staying up late playing on this.

2 Comments | In: fever, ravelry | | #

Ok, so I just checked my Ravelry status and only around 1700 people ahead of me! So maybe in 3-4 days I’ll have my invite, I’m so excited I can hardly stand it. I cannot believe that there are over 4000 people behind me now too, ravelry fever continues I guess.

No Comments | In: fever, ravelry | tags: fever, invite, waiting list. | #